Well Mobile Asia 2008 kicked off in the Capital today and yours truly was here to cover it and I have to say, it may not have been as big as Barcelona at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, but it had all the big players like Samsung, LG, Motorola and the like showcasing their wares, with one disappointing exception from the biggest name in the business – Nokia. I was hoping to see some of what we’ve been expecting to see this year like the 6120 Navigator or the N96. Unfortunately Nokia was simply showcasing their Navigation expertise and some of the older models that we’re used to seeing in and around India like a couple of the E series mobiles and the Xpress Music editions. Nothing to write home about.
However the very first thing you’d see the moment you enter would be the entire Samsung section. They showcased everything right from their Soul to some of the lowest end handsets they’ve released. The Soul was prticularly a treat for the eyes with its intuitive miniature display that serves as a touch sensitive navigation pad.
Their Metal series were not the only handsets that would make you stop and take notice. What I was particularly impressed with was the new part of the “Metal” series - the Gold special edition handsets that were designed for the Olympic Games. The designs may not be different but, hey, gold is gold.
The G800 with its 5 megapixels and most importantly its 3x Optical Zoom feature had people gawking.
Other Models included the odd yet rather appealing Seranta with the Bang and Olufsen music playback system.
They also showcased some of their other handsets that included the Georgio Armani touch screen handset and the E490 that, well let’s face it, looks the same, just with a larger 3.3 inch screen as compared to the Armani’s 2.6 inch display.
Another one of their music edition handsets with dual sliding capabilities – the i45 0 was also on display with it’s special scrolling feature. Samsung went all out showcasing all that would surely suit and tantilise their Indian fans. Among the large array of handsets Samsung also showcased their DVBH ready handset and their business models as well.
Mobile Asia 2008 will continue for 3 more days in Delhi, so stay tuned for more updates.





