Helio Ignores Financials, Launches New Phone

MVNO Helio continues to roll out devices in the face of financial challenges, offering a new Samsung slider handset sporting haptic feedback on exterior keys, RCR Wireless News reports.

Haptic feedback means the keys can vibrate slightly as they’re touched, which is a good way to provide tactile response on a surface that normally does not (such as a touch screen, or soft external keys). That means you can press keys without having to look at the phone to see if you’re touching the correct ones.

Helio has been making news of late largely on the basis of its disappointing quarterly losses. The question now is whether or not the world needs a mobile media-focused carrier, or if it’s better that the four major U.S. operators each offer their own mobile media services. Despite Helio’s funky handsets, we think the latter option will eventually prevail, especially given the string of other failed MVNOs that littered the industry this year.

New Helio device sports haptic feedback [RCR Wireless News]

AllFacebook Marketing Conference returns to San Francisco on June 28-29! Join us and get a how-to guide for marketing to Facebook’s 800 million users. A full agenda will be announced soon. Keep an eye on our event site for more information. Special early pricing is available for only $249 until this Wednesday, February 15, so register today.