The Ocean 2 seems better in the following respects: the keyboard is improved and one can now read the symbols on the keys under poor lighting conditions; the telephone function seems to work better — I believe I can stay connected in places where I previously could not and the sound of the calls are improved. Google Maps runs marginally better. Texts and emails that are in the process of being drafted are not lost now when a call comes in. I think the organizing of text messages like a chat is an improvement. The Microsoft Exchange connector seems to work more consistently, although Synchs are interrupted more often than with the original Ocean.

The Ocean 2 is not as good in the following respects: The camera is inferior optically and the absence of a flash makes it much less useful. Also, I miss having the flash as an emergency mini flashlight. The touch-sensitive pad in the middle of the rocker is generally more annoying than useful and appears to be more of a gimmick than a useful tool. Hiding the Micro SD card slot under the battery is a bad idea. The new battery design, with a flimsy cover, does not seem as durable as the old design, although the new one is easier to open. I don’t like that one has to go to Contacts every time one sends an email; the old method of keeping your most recent email contacts accessibly by typing the first few letters of their name without going to Contacts was more convenient. Cannot access Ocean 2’s internal memory from PC when connected via USB.

Problem: My Ocean 2 has had one really annoying problem. The phone stops ringing randomly. If the phone stopped ringing, the only way I could restore the ring was by removing the battery. It would then ring for an hour or half a day and then stop ringing again. I’ve called VM twice to work on the situation; they are now sending me a replacement phone since none of the other things we tried have fixed the problem.

BTW: I completely disagree with the article author who would get rid of the number pad. The number pad is very useful, both for dialing phone numbers and for operating Google Maps.

I really want to get a thinner phone with a great phone plan as Helio/Virgin Mobile. I love just payin’ the $65 a month (with taxes of course) since I’m a big texter/internet user. But at the same time, I’d want something that wouldn’t look like I have a tumor growing out of my thigh.

So, I might be looking into getting another service soon once I find a decent one without a high ass texting and data plan. Unless Helio/ Virgin Mobile step up their game ASAP. They need to start advertising more so they can get more financing to make better phones. I love when people asking, “Oh what phone is that?” and I go “Helio Ocean.” I get the weird looks with the occasional, “What the hell is that?” Haha.

He’s saying he got the same price, same service, and a better phone. He didn’t waste money. No need to be a jerk and “yell”.

That said, after trying countless iPhones and Blackberry Storms, I completely fell in love with full featured mobile browsers and was willing to make the jump over to a larger device, but the reviewer’s comments about the Ocean 2 are spot-on; it’s still a brick.

PLEASE remove the dial pad and make it thinner, I WANT to purchase one of these things, but I’m afraid I won’t be doing so at its current width. I’m also a bit disappointed to hear about the flat keypad, given that I text so much on my Fin I’ve worn slight cracks in the keypad, and depending on the material and quality of the skin covering the buttons, I may do the same with the O2.

In any case, thank you very much for the review – I still love Helio and there isn’t a day that passes where it doesn’t sell itself to my friends with features and price. Regardless, other services are catching up and with much more versatile devices, so I’m hoping VirginMobile can continue to inject some much-needed innovation and keep Helio ahead of the crowd.

sucks, but they should have used their 2 years a little more wisely. alot of customers will be lost over this.

An besides that Sprint CS has gotten way better they want to please you the customer so they do everything they can if you know how to talk to them nicely and not like a crazy ass screamer.

the ocean 2 can’t hold a torch to the htc touch pro,TRUST!!!

I am with Helio becasue of the service contract.

At $99 (with instant rebate, at Fry’s), the original Ocean fit the bill perfectly.

But that was 2 years ago. Before the iPhone. And, more importantly, before every cellphone maker decided to up their game to compete with the iPhone.

Later this month, Helio (err… “helio, kinda”) is finally going to release the phone they should’ve released back in 2007?

It’s all too little, too late. A giant brick phone with an “optical sensor” 1/10th the size of the original iPod’s click wheel? To hell with that.

I really wanted to stick with Helio – their prices and customer service were the best I’ve ever experienced. But, once they were bought by Virgin and therefore decided to move their customer service over to people with sub-par English comprehension and a complete disregard for customer care – they just became another company I wanted nothing to do with.

I don’t even know who to blame for the Ocean 2, but it’s a slap in the face. Fuck ‘em. I’m done with Helio.

The worst part is that – while I love Apple’s products and the iPhone in particular – AT&T has terrible 3G service, overpriced phone plans and (from what I’ve heard) customer service shittier than most… I’m stuck choosing the lesser of evil.