MWC 2015
The world's largest annual mobile event - Mobile World Congress - takes place the first week of March. We're on the ground in Barcelona to bring you all of the week's news. Tune in here for our full coverage, including hands-on with new phones from Samsung, HTC, Microsoft, and Alcatel.
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YotaPhone 2 Launching in U.S. via Indiegogo
YotaPhone plans to launch its unique dual-screen YotaPhone 2 in the U.S. this spring via crowd-funding site Indiegogo, according to Matthew Kelly, YotaPhone's Managing Director for Americas. The YotaPhone 2 is a high-end Android phone with a large e-paper display on the back that uses no power when displaying static images and graphics, greatly extending battery life when used often instead of the traditional front display. It is compatible with both T-Mobile and AT&T networks, including LTE. It will sell for approximately $600. As usual for Indiegogo, the company will offer incentives to early backers. Those incentives have not been nailed down, but may include a bumper case or even a discount on the phone. After a successful Indiegogo launch, the company plans to expand availability to third-party retailers such as best Buy. YotaPhone is hard at work on its software upgrade to Android 5.0 (Lollipop), which should be available by the time units start shipping in the U.S., or shortly thereafter. The software update will also include an overhauled 2.0 version of the API for third-party app support of the e-paper screen. The company will also launch a white version of the YotaPhone 2, which has a white back and sides, but keeps the black face. The white color is expected by late summer.
YotaPhone Planning Cheaper YotaPhone 2c
YotaPhone is planning a cheaper version of its YotaPhone 2 dual-screen phone that will be called the YotaPhone 2c, according to Matthew Kelly, YotaPhone's Managing Director for Americas. In order to reach a lower price point, the new model will bring some specs down to typical mid-range level, including the front color display. The 2c will keep the same large e-paper touch screen on the back as the YotaPhone 2. The e-paper display uses no power to display static information and graphics, greatly extending battery life when used often instead of the traditional front display. The standard YotaPhone 2 normally sells for about $600. The company is also working on a YotaPhone 3 that it hopes to debut at CES in ten months.
