Big props to Engadget for getting a Helio Kickflip before I did - word on the street is they actually shelled out some cash to buy one, as opposed to waiting for the loaners that most tech journalism runs on. But there seems to be a lot of UD (uncertainty and doubt, without fear) about Helio both on the Engadget Mobile comments thread and on the Howard Forums discussion board, so I thought I'd clear some things up with 10 answers.
1. Helio, as it's shipping now, is not a power user carrier or an Internet focused carrier. It is a carrier targeted at young people with relatively deep pockets and a love for social networking. Keep that in mind when you look at their services. Yes, this approach makes me sad, as you know; I've been told it may change in the future, and I hope it does.
2. No, you cannot connect your Helio phone to your PC as a modem so your PC can access the Internets.
3. No, it doesn't have a Web browser. Only WAP. I'm not sure whether you'll be able to load the third-party Opera Mini browser, though -- that's something I aim to check out.
4. No, it doesn't have Bluetooth.
5. No, it doesn't have a native email client. You access email through WAP.
(If answers 2-5 concern you, look again at answer #1. This is not a power user service right now. It's for people who want a great-looking cell phone with a good camera and lots of games that posts to MySpace.)
6. No, you can't use the Helio phones on Verizon or Sprint or any other carrier, and you can't use Verizon or Sprint phones on Helio. If you like the phones, subscribe to the carrier.
7. No, it's not going to be sold in any countries other than the US for now. While I could imagine them expanding into Canada in theory, they're definitely not going to Europe or any other continents. With a US-based subscription, the Helio phones can roam in 36 countries including China, India, and South Korea (if they have roaming agreements) -- but they're doorstops in western Europe.
8. Yes, all of this may change, and soon. Helio has said they'll be releasing more power-user devices in the future. Sky Dayton ruled out PC-modem tethering in an interview with Gizmodo recently, but he's changed his mind about things before.
9. Yes, you can put your own media on the device, as long as it isn't DRMed. The phones come with a Windows (not Mac) app called Media Mover that will supposedly reformat videos for the phone. I'm still not sure whether you can use your own media as ringtones, though. I'll have to check that out.
10. Yes, Helio's primary network for now is Sprint. They're using Sprint's network for EV-DO coverage, their coverage map is identical to the one on the Sprint Web site, and the data services will work when you're in a Sprint EV-DO city. But they have deals with Verizon as well, so their coverage may improve/expand.
More soon, when I get the phone. I promise.
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May 5, 2006 1:39 PM
Wow, sucks since you can modem tether with Sprint phones already. I have when these MVNO's disable features already available on their parent networks :-( Would have been really cool, as it would rock to go to a friends with your Kickflip (equipped with a 512 mb transflash card) and plug it up to the TV and watch some mp4 files.
May 7, 2006 11:46 AM
Anyone know if any of the UI is Flash Lite based? It was rumored Helio would put Adobe Flash Lite on the devices ... however, I'm not getting any concrete answer from Helio (US based office). I know Pantech (they make the device) is big on Flash ... Wondering if the phone has it ... even if the "Mobile Flash" they are talking under their specs supposedly isn't Adobe Flash at all. Tech support in the US were telling me "Mobile Flash" meant the ability to download images from sites. Lousy term if that is the case. Would be nice to clearify this once and for all. Right now the phone is was too locked down to tell definatively.
November 30, 2006 4:15 AM
Dude, your comments regarding the Helio phone and service are so misleading and incomplete. For one, the Helio phone is using the Sprint network for its operation since Helio is one of Sprint's many MVNO partners; and is not Verizon's MVNO. Technically a Helio phone (which is a CDMA phone operating in the same PCS "A-band" that Sprint owns) will not work for a user with a Sprint phone account. i.e., if you have a Sprint phone plan, you will not be able to use a Helio phone with your Sprint plan, unless the phone is hacked. You see, when a phone powers up the Sprint network validates and verify your account type (i.e. is it Helio or Sprint) and phone type you have. Once validated, your phone will be instructed by the mobile switching center to operate (i.e., search for available channel, etc..).
As for using the Helio phone as a modem for your computer/laptop, this is possible provided that the Helio phone has a USB connection and that the user has a multimedia plan (or data plan). Helio (and Sprint too) sales people will advise the normal user that this cannot be done since the quality involved is not good (cause the 3G data network build out is not complete yet), it downplay their data card sales, and/or it will slow down their network until full 3G is available.
November 30, 2006 8:41 AM
Dude, this post was written six months ago, before I'd laid my hand on a Helio phone!
At the time, Sky Dayton himself insisted that Helio had business deals with both Sprint and Verizon, and said that modem use wasn't possible.
Obviously, things change with time.
May 16, 2008 1:29 AM
You can now get Helio without any deposit requirements. I recently signed up with the promo link I got on my email. Here it is:
www.prepaidhelio.com
You also get discounted prices for the handsets, one month of free service after 4 months on Helio and a deluxe accessory pack.
This is basically equal to Sprint's SERO plan or also known as the employee discount plan, but I have called and verified that this is available to anyone that orders at the link above.
February 21, 2009 10:43 PM
Helio is a pretty decent carrier, I have owned it for a year now and I have NEVER ever ran out of signal, One time I drove from Florida to Massachusetts and I used my phone frequently and still never ran out of signal. I pay 100/month unlimited everything. Only thing about Helio is that they still don't have verity of phones. Other than that go grab one today.