Is the new Blackberry smartphone handset – the first with Blackberry OS 6 phone in Australia – a shining beacon for RIM, or just a flash in the pan?
The line between a personal phone and a business phone is blurring quicker than a chalk drawing in the rain and its apparent that RIM is paying attention. Whereas older BlackBerry models have traditionally screamed “professional” louder than a pinstripe suit, the newly launched Torch 9800 has a slightly different aesthetic.
In fact, the new handset has almost a “reverse mullet” feel – the party’s at the front and the business is at the back. Or at least there’s a full QWERTY keyboard waiting to slide down from behind the screen, with a very satisfying clunk. Speaking of the screen, despite the 480×360 res on the 3.2in HVGA display, it actually feel quite bright and crisp when used. The touch is pleasantly responsive and one actually wonders why RIM included the traditional BlackBerry track pad at all – it’s certainly not been used much in this office.
Despite the hidden keyboard, the Torch doesn’t feel overly thick or heavy, although it certainly doesn’t sport the svelte lines of certain other phones.
Starting up from a fresh install of the battery takes a bit over two minutes, but the Torch has cunningly disguised its hibernation mode as “powered down” so in normal use, the total time elapsed between hitting the power button and ready to rock and roll is actually 3.4 seconds.
Weirdly, the home screen doesn’t scroll side to side, but the applications pages do. This means you’re not getting the nice widget-style home screen functionality of an Android or Windows Phone 7. The 624MHz processor may not sound like much, but it works perfectly, with applications opening quickly and everything feeling remarkably smooth.
The new OS 6 is also quite enjoyable, although hardly a quantum leap from the old one in terms of look and feel. What changes there are however, are welcome with universal search across all messages, contacts, apps etc being a great addition for users.
In all, our first few hours with the Torch were pleasant, although hardly a life-changing revelation that would make us consign all other phones to the dustbin of history. But dedicated CrackBerry addicts will find a lot to like here.
The Torch is available exclusive on Optus for the immediate future, available for $0 on the $79-per-month plan. RIM has stated that the unit will also be available from Tesltra and VHA when the Optus exclusivity period ends.
Hello from The Utility Blog. Its our intention to give you as much honest and up to date information on what’s happening in the UK utility market and where you should be looking for Cheaper Utility Bills.. What’s hot and what’s not. What deals you should be looking and scams you should avoid like the plague. We will be looking at all the major companies, taking note of their good and bad points, their customer services and any current offers. We will also take time to explore some of the new kids on the block are they all they are cracked up to be? So in a nutshell where to go to get Cheaper Gas , Cheaper Electricity , Cheaper Broadband and Cheaper Phone bills BUT with one eye on their customer services and one on the best deals we will aim to offer a balanced account of what’s the very best choice. No axe to grind, no spam to push just honest up to date old fashioned advice. If you have any news or details on offers I should know about or new money saving tips I can pass on please feel free to contact me. John Williams (Head Blogger…)
Scottish and Southern Energy will cut its gas bills for domestic customers by 4% from 29 March, the company has announced.
The average annual household bill will drop by £30 as a result, the energy provider said.
The move comes a month after British Gas cut its standard household gas prices by an average of 7%, and others are expected to follow suit.
The changes come after a period of lower wholesale costs.
The company said that its average dual fuel standard credit bill would stand at £1,162, although prices alter depending on where people live in the country.
‘Challenging business’
Scottish and Southern has 3.5 million gas customers but nearly 10 million customers across the UK who use gas or electricity or both. Electricity prices will remain unchanged.
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It supplies gas & electricity as Southern Electric, SWALEC, Scottish Hydro & Atlantic.
Those customers who have relatively low gas usage will not see the full effect of the price cuts. Fixed charges – the initial charge for the first tranche of gas used – will increase from £53 to £98. Prices will be cut for gas used above this level, leaving a net effect of a 4% cut for the average customer.
“Energy supply is still a challenging business, with significant upward price pressures which run counter to reductions in wholesale costs,” said Alistair Phillips-Davies, the company’s energy supply director.
“We will do everything we can to make sure customers get value for money from energy supply, with energy efficiency and customer service continuing to be top priorities.”
The company has also followed demands from the regulator and consumer groups by removing the price differential for pre-payment gas meters.
Pre-payment meter customers will see their annual bill fall by 9%, or £70 a year on average.
“This is a great day for social justice and means that almost 300,000 people, many of whom are on lower incomes, will now find it easier to pay for their energy and heat their homes,” said David Orr, of chief executive of the National Housing Federation.
Single fuel gas rates will fall by 7%, or £56 a year on average, moving single fuel gas prices in line with dual fuel.
Other suppliers
Gas providers have come under pressure to cut bills after prices that they pay on the wholesale markets fell.
The latest moves by Scottish and Southern and British Gas should push the others in the “big six” energy suppliers into cutting prices, according to Tom Lyon, energy expert at price comparison website Uswitch.
“Hopefully the other four will follow shortly, which can only be good for customers,” he said.
“But we will never get back down to levels enjoyed a few years ago.”
The falling prices were still relatively small compared with the increases across the market in 2008, he said, and there was little likelihood of any drop in electricity prices.
Robert Hammond, energy expert at watchdog Consumer Focus said: “This is good news and hopefully will spark the price war that has been conspicuous by its absence since British Gas cut its gas bills last month.
“Wholesale gas and electricity prices have been falling for months and we believe price cuts for both should have been passed on before the winter started.”
But Mark Todd, director of website energyhelpline.com, criticised the delay on the price changes, as British Gas had announced its cut with immediate effect.
He also warned that “some [energy] companies may not cut prices at all even though wholesaleprices have fallen as much as they have”. People in Pubs all over Britain will no doubt be talking about the rip off prices many companies charge and HUGE profits the fat cats are making whilst the rest of the economy struggles along.