Helio, a venture of SK Telecom and EarthLink, began U.S. cellular phone service today by targeting niche segments such as teenagers.
Photo: Pantech Hero Photo 1
Running on rented space from Sprint Nextel, Helio leverages 3G plus the multimedia features of its devices - the Hero and Kickflip - to give its members unique community features like MySpace on Helio, Mobile Internet and Yahoo! Search, gifting and begging of content, group picture and video messaging, and news feeds to keep them connected.
At launch, Helio's service portfolio includes the following:
MySpace on Helio
MySpace on Helio is a mobile service designed specifically for MySpace users that allows them to post photos directly from their Helio device to their MySpace page as part of a bulletin, message, comment or personal picture collection.
The mobile service offers a user experience similar to the online MySpace environment while optimizing for mobile devices. This includes the ability to read and write MySpace mail, post and reply to bulletins, read and write blogs, view profiles and add new friends. Helio members also receive extra photo storage on MySpace. Unlimited access to MySpace on Helio is included in Helio's All-In Memberships.
Helio On Top (H.O.T.)
Helio On Top (H.O.T.) gives all Helio members click-free access to their favorite content and information. The service, developed by Helio, lets members program live content feeds to be sent directly to their idle screen. Helio members can personalize their live feeds by selecting from an assortment of sources for 10 different live "channels." Helio On Top content partners include Fandango, Fox Sports, IGN, MTV News, MySpace, POPSUGAR, Surfline, The Onion, Yahoo! and more.
Messaging
Helio's messaging platform supports video, picture and text messaging and adds features that lets users share multimedia with multiple friends. Also, members can attach up to three pictures in one message and broadcast to up to five friends at one time to create a virtual slideshow.
3D Games + Reviews-Driven Games Portal
Through a partnership with IGN.com, Helio members have access to independent game ratings and reviews within the portal to reference while making a purchase decision. The game service also offers Helio members a number of custom tools including animated previews of in-game footage, "cheat codes" free-of-charge for purchased games, a "wish-list" function that allows users to catalog favorite games for purchase later, a "download locker" for free-of-charge re-downloads of purchased games and the ability to "rent" titles before you buy. All Helio games are priced at a flat $5.99 to buy, or members can opt to trial games by renting a game for a week for only 99 cents.
Gifting and Begging
Helio also makes it easier for its members to share purchased mobile content among friends with Helio's gifting and begging features. Gifting is the ability for a Helio member to purchase a music video, game or piece of personalization content directly from their handset and have it delivered, over the air, to another Helio member's device. Begging is just the opposite. Users can "beg" another Helio member to purchase content for them, and a friend can respond by purchasing and having it delivered directly to the handset of the person that begged for it.
Mobile Internet + Yahoo! Search
Helio members can access mobile Internet sites optimized for a mobile screen. Anchoring Helio's mobile Internet services is a partnership with Yahoo! giving Helio members services including Yahoo! Search, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Photos, Yahoo! Finance and more. Helio will also offer content from leading partners including Fandango, FUEL TV, IGN, Jimmy Kimmel, POPSUGAR, Slate, Surfline, The Onion and many more.
Download or Stream Video
Helio members can choose from hundreds of their favorite music videos for download or can stream their favorite clips from brands such as ABC, ABC News, Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports, FUEL TV, IGN, MTV Networks' brands including COMEDY CENTRAL, IFILM, Logo, MTV, Spike TV and VH1, Ripe TV, RocketBoom, Speed, StupidVideos.com, and WireImage.com. At launch, all video streaming is included in Helio's All-In Memberships and music videos can be downloaded for $2.49 each.
Hero and Kickflip
Helio's launch devices, Hero and Kickflip, feature 2.2-inch, 262K-color high-resolution QVGA LCD displays, removable memory, and a 2.0-megapixel camera with digital zoom and flash for capturing pictures and video. Hero also packs full duplex stereo speakers and a co-processor chip that delivers high-quality music and video for an exceptional entertainment experience. The Hero is available for $275 and the Kickflip is available for $250.
