Email application update available

There is a new update available for the email on 3 application on the INQ1. This is part of Update1 from INQ.

Its available over the air again, and can be accessed by going to Menu > Apps > MShop > INQ, the selecting download new email client. By the time you read this it may also be available as an automatic update when you log into the email application, prompting you to download it.

This update addresses some issues people have been having with the application and improves its overall stability too.

Get downloading!

Trevor.

First INQ1 update live NOW!

There is a very important software update available for the inq1 from today.

It is for the Windows Live Messenger (msn) Client – all I had to do was log into it and I was automatically prompted to download a new version. It is done "over the air", and the user need use no cables, or involve any PC's.

I *strongly* advise everyone to download this update – even if you dont use WLM, this forms part of the update that increases battery life.

In an age where mobile manufacturers release handsets then forget about supporting them, leaving them in an the abyss with no updates, how pleasing it is to see INQ pushing out the first of many updates today.


So there we have it – go forth and update!


Cheers for now,


Trevor.

INQ1 voted best handset 2009!

Last night, INQ won the "best handset" at the Global Mobile Awards! They were up against such giants as Nokia and the new G1.

What an amazing rise to glory for the boys over at INQ, this is an excellent achievement - well done at all the chaps at INQ for shaking up the industry with their fresh approach to social mobiles.

http://www.globalmobileawards.com/winners.shtml#winner_cat3a

With such accolades for their first handset, imagine how good the INQ2, INQ3 etc could be?

Exciting times at INQ towers!

INQ1 gets its first update.

I was invited over to INQ's HQ in London this evening for an informal meeting about the INQ1 handset.

It was announced that the handset has been short listed for the best mobile device along with 4 other handsets for the GSMA Awards 2009! Well done INQ for being recognised for getting so much right with their first handset!

The first INQ1 update was also discussed. Its been deemed “update1”, and there's no need to hook up the device to your PC with cables, its totally done over the air! As the phone logs into an application it does a small network check to see if there's a newer version available.

The update centres around four points.

1)Improved Windows Live Messenger (msn) performance
2)Improved stability
3)Pre-caching of facebook photos
4)Improved battery life

All aspects of the update are highly welcomed. The pre-caching of the facebook photos will speed up the handset while using the facebook app, and the increased battery life is excellent to report!

It should be rolled out over the network 4-6 weeks from today. (05/02/09)

Jeff Taylor, INQ's marketing director, also reported that all future updates will be rolled out across all INQ handsets as new ones launch later this year – future proofing the INQ1 to some degree. He also stated that INQ will never stop looking to do things better, so this should be the first of many updates to keep the handset right up to date.

Good news all round.

Trevor.

My INQ1 Facebook group goes from strength to strength

Over at my INQ1 facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=97909725135&ref=ts , I am pleased to report that I'm seeing lots of traffic passing through the site every day now.

It has also turned into an unofficial forum for the handset, with people posting and answering many questions every day.

It currently has 153 wall posts, 15 separate active chat topics containing a further 101 posts and boasts 240 members.

Why not pop in over there and take a look, its a very friendly environment and most questions get answered within hours of being posted.

My thoughts...

Having used my inq1 as my main handset for the last 2 months, (it launched on 3rd Dec, where has the time gone!) I feel in a position to give everyone my thoughts on it.

I love the facebook, Windows Live Messenger and Skype integration. The fact that all my messages appear in one, single, neat inbox is excellent.

I also love the facebook client. It's really nice whilst on the underground to be able to see everyone's status, send them messages and generally "do" all things facebook when not in an area of reception. As soon as I pop out of the station and back into reception, it just syncs up in the background - wonderfully simple.

The INQ1 is an excellent handset for anyone into their social networking and I fully recommend it to anyone.

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas from the INQ1 blog!

I hope Santa bought you everything you hoped for, and for some of you, it included an INQ1.

I have found a nice little piece with Frank Meehan, CEO of INQ about the 2009 outlook for handsets and mobile operators over at http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/Inq_boss_discusses_where_mobile_internet_is_headed_in_2009.html
hosted by mobiletoday.co.uk

Things look very good indeed for companies like INQ that continue to drive mobile data usage in an affordable package.

INQ1 poor reception issues

It's with great regret that I write this post.

Both myself and lots of people in different forums are finding that the reception (signal) on this handset is way below the standard required of it. If I compare it to my N73, that has full 3g reception. My INQ1, sat in the same place will bounce from 3g, to 2g, to no signal whatsoever. This is not a faulty handset issue, as I have had mine replaced for another issue.
This sadly is making my lovely INQ1 almost unusable.

I can't get a sensible answer out of 3 at all. No one is able to tell me if this is a software update fixable issue, or just bad hardware we are stuck with.

Loads of people over here are discussing the same issue, http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/topic.php?uid=97909725135&topic=7341
Also see here,
http://www.3g.co.uk/3GForum/showthread.php?t=89964
and here
http://www.3g.co.uk/3GForum/showthread.php?t=89031 - bottom of that page.
Yet more info about this over at http://www.3g.co.uk/3GForum/showthread.php?p=404497#post404497


This is a great handset, but this issue is spoiling lots of peoples enjoyment of it.

Free 1 month INQ1 Trial from www.3mobilebuzz.com

For all of you living in the UK, 3 mobile buzz have given my INQ1 facebook group 2 handsets to trail for 1 month in a competition. We will randomly pick 2 people to trail the new INQ1 handset for a month, in exchange for your thoughts there on the facebook group. Head towards http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50291967795#/group.php?gid=97909725135&ref=ts then click on the INQ1 trail discussion group.

This offer is kindly being bought to us by http://www.3mobilebuzz.com , THE website for all the latest buzz about all things 3.

Make sure you take a look and bookmark it, if you like 3, you'll love this website.

Faulty INQ now replaced

My INQ developed a fault over the weekend where the back cover would fall off. After comparing it to my girlfriends INQ1, we noticed that the catch at the top that pushes down to release the cover wasn't returning to its normal uppermost position, so the cover was never actually held on properly.

I popped into my local 3 store in central Reading and spoke to Nick who quickly replaced the handset there and then, with no fuss whatsoever., top bloke. We had a good chat and he reported very strong sales from the first weekend of it being on sale.

After setting up the replacement I'm pleased to report that once again, I'm fully INQ'd up!

INQ1 Launch video

Here is the official INQ1 launch video taken from their channel on youtube. It features Kevin Russell, CEO of 3 UK, Frank Meehan, CEO of INQ mobile and the thoughts of people present at the launch party.

They give a good overview of the ideas and ethos behind INQ and how it links in so well with 3.

It captures the spirit of the INQ and 3 brands very well, as forward thinking, relaxed brands, willing to engage and interact with their customer base.

Long may the relationship continue!

INQ1 Adverts in London

Here are some photos of the levels of advertising going on in central London surrounding the INQ1.
Posted here with the thanks of Ashley Benigno from INQ. http://www.flickr.com/photos/inq_mobile

2 year warranty

I'm not too sure that most people have picked up on this, but whilst reading through all the literature included with the INQ1, I have noticed that the handset comes with a 2 year warranty.

This should put peoples minds at rest who were worried about this not being made by a large brand name mobile manufacturer.

They obviously have faith in the build quality and integrity of it!

I have an INQ1 !

Earlier on today I popped into the 3 store in Basingstoke and bought 2 INQ1 handsets from a really helpful sales chap, Phil.

One is to be used as my girlfriends handset and one will be mine. It is replacing my trusty N73 which I have had ever since X-Series launched back in 2006. I have included some photos whilst I was un boxing it.

The first thing I noticed is that I have a 1gb micro SD memory card in mine - the website implies this is an extra they are only giving away for the first month or so. Will let you know if get clarification on that.

There is a full manual on a CD, with user help flash cards included (with funky artwork on the back). These flash cards seemed to cover almost everything you might need to know an a day to day basis. Nice to have the CD too as a fall back, if your query is an in depth one.

Also included is a handsfree headset, usb cable, battery and wall charger.

My initial thoughts are that the handset is very well built indeed, and has a solid quality feel to it.
The buttons have a reassuring click to them, and the slider mechanism is better than my other half's Nokia 6500S. The other thing that amazes me is how light this is. It hardly feels like I'm holding a phone! (I do have big hands though).

The auto landscape feature is a nice one, as you tilt the handset over the screen auto-rotates.

Lots more to come as I start to really use it, but for now - the INQ1 is live, and I like what I see.

INQ1 in store NOW

Hi,

The INQ1 handset has hit 3 stores today – limited stocks so get one now so you don’t miss out.

Happy “INQ”ing

Trevor.

50,000 pre registered INQ1 interest !!!

I spoke to a 3 store yesterday (Thu) and found out that a staggering 50,000 people have pre registered their interest in the new INQ1 handset!

I knew it would be popular, but not that popular!

They said that the initial batch in the UK is only 6,500 so expect it to sell out fast, and with word that they hit stores today, (Friday 5th), go and buy one today if you don't want to miss the boat!

Trevor.

Two interview's with Frank Meehan

Two good interviews with Leila Makki from Telecomtv and Frank Meehan from INQ.
Good look at the handset in one and also an overview of the company and its vision for the future and why it entered the market.

The more I see of the INQ1 the more I love it, it's going to be flying off the shelves this Christmas, take my word for it.

Mini INQ1 video review

Ruth Owen from Stuff TV has this mini review of the INQ1.
Enjoy!

INQ1 now on 3's website

Just noticed that the INQ1 is now available to buy on 3's website over at http://threestore.three.co.uk/inq.aspx?id=1201

It is available for £80 with a free £10 top up on pay as you go or for free on all pay monthly price plans.

As the website is now taking orders I would expect it to hit 3 stores any day now.

Facebook group now live

Thought I'd draw everyone's attention to the fact that my inq1 facebook group is now live, just search for inq1. It will hopefully be THE place to discuss the handset once it launches. (Later this week hopefully).
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=97909725135

Handset overview

I thought I'd better give a general overview of the INQ1 handset itself.
It is made by INQ, a company owned by Hutchison, who also own 3. This if their first handset, hence it being called the INQ1.

The main feature is the deep integration of facebook. I don't just mean a web browser that links to the site – no, this is a client based application. In plain English that means all the info, your contacts, your wall, your news feed etc is stored on the phone itself.

It means you can still look around facebook and poke mates, respond to messages, in fact do anything while out of reception, and the next time you wander back into reception it will automatically sync back up, actioning all of your pokes, whatever in fact. Very handy if you ever use your phone on the tube.

Another benefit of this is that all access is instant. Click on your news feed or your wall for example and they will instantly appear with all their respective data, as it's stored on the handset. Very clever indeed.

And the integration doesn't end there. All your facebook friends will be imported into your phone book, linking their current profile picture and status with their entry. If they change their profile pic, it will automatically change on your handset. Instantly. No user intervention required.

If someone sends you a facebook message, it will appear in a central messages area, along with all your text messages. You will have the choice to reply either by text or facebook message or call them. Equally when looking through your phone book, you will have the option to call, text, poke or Facebook message them.

This is the sort of deep integration that's getting the mobile industry excited at the moment.
Couple that with unlimited free Skype calls built in, and unlimited free windows live messenger too, it's good times ahead for the INQ brand.

Available on the 3 network, look at the value of this contract. Admittedly this is the cheapest, lowest tariff, but get a load of this.

£15 per month
Free INQ1 handset
Unlimited internet access, emails, Skype, Windows live messenger
Unlimited Texts to any network
Unlimited 3 to 3 calls
75 cross network calls

It's also available on Pay as you go for £80, with unlimited internet access / Skype / Windows Live Messenger costing only £5 per month, all in. For a prepay deal that's pretty astonishing.

As if all that wasn't enough if you plug it into a computer it will auto install all the software allowing you to use it as a mobile broadband modem. No Driver CD's required. Fantastic!
It has a 3.2 MP camera and a 1GB memory card included.

Could this be the mobile to make Nokia, Sony Ericsson and the rest wake up and take notice?

The handset is rumoured to be on sale on the 4th - 5th December.

INQ1 stats

Here are the stats for the new INQ1

Size: 97 x 47.6 x 14.4 mm
Weight: 110g
Battery: 329 hrs (standby) 324 min (talk time)
Camera: 3.2 megapixels
Screen: 2.2" QVGA (high res) / 262K colours
Colours: silver (black coming soon)
Memory: internal 50MB / external 4GB

A couple of things I've noticed looking at those figures. Firstly, the standby time is a huge 13 days, and the talk time will last you a massive 5hours 20 mins! That's quite some going.

INQ1 mobile cell phone blog.

Hi,

Welcome to my blog about the exciting new handset from Hutchison, the INQ1. Dubbed by many the "facebook phone", I will have one on launch date, rumoured to be the 4th - 5th Dec.

Check back then for a properly hands on review. I will be using this handset as my ONLY mobile from this point on.

Search for INQ1 on facebook too, and join my group for info as I find it out.

Cheers for now,

Trevor.