The INQ1 gets an update

At a small (but select) gathering tonight INQ – the makers of the ‘social’ handset the INQ1 – that grew out of the operator Three announced ‘Update 1′, an over-the-air refresh of the INQ1′s application suite which makes a number of improvements and feature-additions.  These improve Windows Live Messenger performance, give better general stability, pre-cache Facebook photos for performance and improve the battery life (the improvement is described as ‘significant’ – up to 50% longer depending on use).  Users will be prompted to update the software in 4 to 6 weeks.  INQ’s marketing director Jeff Taylor commented that INQ expected to provide further updates in the future and that, where possible, new features would be distributed to all INQ devices as additional handsets were added to the range.

At the event, the team also announced the INQ1 had been short-listed as one of five devices in the GSMA Global Mobile Awards ‘Best Handset / Device‘ category to be announced at Mobile World Congress in a fortnight and the launch of a media and blogger-relations programme ‘INQ+’ intended to provide a forum for feedback and beta testing of forthcoming software / devices.

iPhone 3G Update

As the storm dies down here’s what we know:

• O2 are sold out of all iPhone 3Gs online.
• There are no white 16GB models to be offered from launch.
• The PAYG version won’t be launching any time soon – possibly not until Christmas.
• Carphone Warehouse are selling new connections on-line, but upgrades must be done by phone or in-store. The telephone line is busy(!)
• Neither O2 or Carphone Warehouse stores will take advance orders. However, staff seem poorly briefed and are complaining they haven’t even been told the information published on the respective websites.
• There are unsubstanciated rumours that numbers of units available in-store on launch day will also be very limited (this could, of course be part of th ehype around Friday so take with a massive pinch of salt).

Favourite moments of the day so far:

“You can’t upgrade your original O2 contract hasn’t finished yet” – Carphone Warehouse store manager.

“Our upgrade site broke because we don’t have enough iPhones. It’s Apple’s fault for not sending enough” – O2 store staff.

I suspect the world won’t end if I (or plenty of others it seems) don’t get new iPhones on Friday, but as an enthustic customer I’m irritated that after several hours of trying I wasn’t able to place an order or even get a unit reserved somehow. O2′s site says ‘first come first served’ but that’s not been the case today… and that’s a great way to piss off customers.