With Sony Ericsson TM506, T-Mobile Liberates Java, Welcomes Opera Mini

Friday September 5, 2008

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T-Mobile has finally seen the light. The upcoming Sony Ericsson TM506 is the first T-Mobile feature phone in ages to actually allow third party Java applications to access the Internet. This enables T-Mobilizers to run important, free applications like Google Maps and Opera Mini (shown at left) on T-Mobile's new HSDPA network, at speeds that our tests have shown exceed 700 kbps/sec.

Since 2007, T-Mobile has locked third-party Java apps off of their feature phones, most recently even crippling some phones' built-in Web browsers to lock them into a walled garden of T-Mobile-only content. It's been a huge step backwards for the mobile Web, and T-Mobile has never really had a good justification for it. With the TM506, they seem to be leaping forward towards Internet freedom on their phones, and I'm hoping this won't be the only one of its kind.

The TM506 looks to be a good all-around 3G phone, too. We'll have a review up soon.

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Posted By: Sascha Segan

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