Tuesday, April 10, 2007

HELIO Mobile. Do NOT call it a phone...

... Oh but I will! I'll call it possibly the coolest collection of phones I've seen in a long time.

As a rabid mobile user (don't even have a home phone) I'm often looking for plans that fill my needs and phones that can utilize that plan of choice. With most carriers this is where the fork in the road shows up. You're faced with either a phone that is way too much for what you may be using it for, or a plan that makes your phone burst into flames every time you try to use plan features. On top of that many today, regardless of age, conduct business (both lifestyle and official) in different ways. With email, texting, picture messaging and more. I often find myself doing less talking on my mobile device but using it more.



Enter HELIO Mobile. Now the concept is not altogether new. Other services like Boost and Amp'd provide similar services. HELIO is unique in that they are not pay-as-you-go making them a bit more tantalizing to mainstream users, not just youngsters. Their plan offerings are what they all "All-In" meaning that all of the niceties that most mainstream providers offer (web, txt, picture mail, etc...) are automatically included. The only cost you incur is plan minutes. Hmmmm... Interesting that such a plan can be offered. Also included is a very cool buddy beacon to peep where your pals are, direct connection to the MySpace community, juggernaut and GPS with Google Maps. That's a huge offering considering their target market is 18-32 yrs old.

The phones... er... mobile devices?! SWEEEEEEET! Sexy, sleek, modern and anything just short of a Star Trek communicator fancy! They rock, straight up. No other way to say it. Feature-rich media powerhouses to match the plans that are offered guarantying you get the most out of your user experience.



The added icing on the cake is that Helio is a "borrower" in that they piggy-back Sprint's digital network. So why is it that a plan can't be devised for those on mainstream networks? Good question. The pitch is that the company is aimed at the young set of users who do more with their mobiles but as with most trend-spotting the youth market drives what the rest of consumers will soon see. I know a ton of ordinary suits that would clamor for this service provided that they begin to offer more "grown up" phones... oops I did it again didn't I?

(click any of the photos to zoom to Helio's website)

--Steve G.

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