Tracking a phantom pulse

Cell Phone Editor

| August 21, 2009

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Yesterday I posted on the FCC's approval of a Huawei device refered to in the application materials as "Model Number:T-Mobile
Pulse/Pulse/U8220." The phone, which has a flat edge on top and bottom (first image below), is also stamped with the model number: "FCC ID: QISU8220."

While the model numbers differ slightly, most bloggers, myself included, drew from the preliminary specs of the U8230, which was unveiled in Singapore in June. This still seems like a reasonable association. But now, a Dutch retailer is muddying up the waters by pre-selling an item called the T-Mobile Pulse for € 257 next to a confusing render (rounded edges):

This cheaper looking device may or may not exist as a separate entity, but it is not representative of the final appearence of the 8220 (appreciate the translation link, Android Guys).Thankfully, a shot branded "U8230" by Engadget - and many others now - more closely resembles the FCC snap. It definitely has sexier lines, and that metal panel at the bottom is pretty slick (notice the flatter edges, which match the FCC U8220 image):

Huawei U8230

Whether or not any of you needed clarification, I did. So there it is: the U8220 and 8230 could very well be the same device headed to different countries, or just have other very subtle internal differences. As of now, most are expecting the following specs from both:

3.2 MP cam
3.5" (Yay!) HVGA display - 480 x 320
2 Gigs internal with an SD card on top
Exchange support
Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi

At $350 US with no contract, I'd really like to get my finger on that Pulse - if it has a capacitive touch screen. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I will now curl up with my mediocre blogger shame.