Last week we had word there will be a launch of a Samsung mobile on Monday, looks like we were right as they announced the Tocco Ultra Edition. In what’s one of the most misleading product naming of all time, it bears little or no resemblance to the original Tocco handset.

Tocco is Italian for touch, making the first version’s branding OKAY in our books – as it was a full touch screen handset. Why then would Samsung name a slider phone Tocco? It’s not as if tacking on the words ‘Ultra Edition’ goes anyway to clear up the confusion. Most would assume it would be a greater handset than the original with that naming alone, how wrong they would be.

The original Tocco came along with a 2.8-inch QVGA LCD, this so-called updated model has the same screen size but comes along in WQVGA display. This puzzled us, seeing as both screen sizes are the same and the “W” just means wider but the new handset has a smaller width.

Samsung has also downgraded the memory on the phone from 240MB, to just 75MB. Another strike against them having the audacity to call this handset ‘Ultra’; it’s starting to become very strange as to why they would even consider giving it this name.

They’re calling this the world’s first touch screen phone to have a 3 x 4 keypad; we’ve looked around and are willing to give them that. Samsung has also upped the coverage from Tri band to Quad band in this newer Tocco, along with increasing the camera from 5 to 8megapixel.

To their own admission, they are calling this their flagship handset of 2009, due for a release March. They haven’t really started off on great footing, let’s just hope it picks up for them later. A rebranding of the product would be a good start.

Now back to business The INQ 1 has had a lot of coverage here on MIR, both positive and negative.  Both Ewan and Jonthan both have handsets, and thanks to the chaps at 3mobilebuzz and Trevor from the INQ 1 Blog, they have kindly sent me one to test for a month!

I am going to be covering the handset in three parts and the first one is due later on this week, I will be looking at all different aspects of the device. I am really looking forward to reviewing this phone. Sadly I am unable to use the device as my main handset, as I am not a 3 customer and my primary number is with T-Mobile UK.

If you have any questions or anything you want me to test specifically, leave a comment below or drop me an email ricky@mobileindustryreview.com

It’s really straight forward to enter and to start creating a demonstration application. What’s more, Esendex will give you all the facilities you require, including a two-way number to test with and a bunch of text credits.

I’m a big, big supporter of two-way text messaging services. I can’t tell you how annoying it is getting a text from a company (a reminder for an appointment, or the like) only to find out I can’t reply to them by text. Or that the application is one-way and they haven’t given a return path. Ergo, I’m really looking forward to checking out the entries and profiling them all.

If you’d like some assistance with your entry, or a bit of advice, let me know (ewan@smstextnews.com) and I’ll put you straight on to Esendex — I’m judging the results (along with Mike Short of the Mobile Data Association and Adam from Esendex) so I can’t get involved directly. I’ll be cheerleading big time though.

When I was up at the Esendex Nottingham HQ, I took this QIK video featuring Adam Bird. In the footage, he talks about the competition, the motivations for doing it and gives us a tour around the office. Have a watch:

Nokia N73 software version 4.0812.4.x released – 22 May 2008

This software version includes support for mobile TV (when used with SU-33W receiver) and Express Mail clients. This release also includes updates and improvements to Nokia Maps and improved Java support.

I fired up the Nokia Software Updater thinking that ‘they’ll surely have fixed that Vista problem by now’…. but no. Still screwed.

Arse.