Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 delayed to end of the year

It's a little difficult to delay a device that hasn't gotten a more specific release window than "the second half of 2008" (from official sources, at least), but Sony Ericsson is doing its darnedest. The scuttlebutt at IFA is that the XPERIA X1 has been delayed to the end of the year, and a Sony rep confirmed to us that it's looking like December 2008 or January 2009. To blame is the software, specifically Windows Mobile 6.1 (or perhaps SE's implementation of it), which appeared to be actively destroying the display units Sony has on display at IFA -- of the three devices, one had some green status lights, one didn't work at all, and one turned on briefly, only to crash hard and never return again... a pretty poor showing for day one of the show. Some hands-on shots are below, glaringly void of actual device usage

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 delayed to end of the year

It's a little difficult to delay a device that hasn't gotten a more specific release window than "the second half of 2008" (from official sources, at least), but Sony Ericsson is doing its darnedest. The scuttlebutt at IFA is that the XPERIA X1 has been delayed to the end of the year, and a Sony rep confirmed to us that it's looking like December 2008 or January 2009. To blame is the software, specifically Windows Mobile 6.1 (or perhaps SE's implementation of it), which appeared to be actively destroying the display units Sony has on display at IFA -- of the three devices, one had some green status lights, one didn't work at all, and one turned on briefly, only to crash hard and never return again... a pretty poor showing for day one of the show. Some hands-on shots are below, glaringly void of actual device usage

Blackberry BOLD hitting AT&T October 2nd

With hope of a summer release fading with the passing of each and every day, Boy Genius Report cites a "pretty solid bit of info" that the BlackBerry Bold is now pegged for launch on AT&T on Thursday, October 2. So if you see a throng of three-piece suits starting to gather around your local store around September 28 or 29, yeah, that's probably why.

Google Announces Android Market

Today Google announced the Android Market, which will be an open content distribution system where users can find, purchase, download and install content on their Android-powered phones. Google will host the service and allow developers to use it to get their applications into the hands of end users. It will have a rating and feedback system similar to YouTube. Google says the process for getting content into the Android Market has only three steps: register as a merchant, upload and describe the app/service and publish it. The Android Market will be a beta feature on the first wave of Android handsets. Google says decisions about how it will function are still being made, so it is not yet a final product. Google expects the market to offer free and paid content. Google will finalize the market after Android officially launches, and provide a software update to the first wave of phones.

iPhone Security Flaw Exposed

A flaw in the iPhone's software can allow anyone to bypass the password-locking feature of the phone and get access to the phone's Favorites menu. Once in the Favorites menu, other parts of the iPhone can be accessed, such as Mail, Safari and SMS. This flaw negates the password-lock feature and exposes user data to anyone with knowledge of the method used to get past the password lock. A temporary solution has been discovered. In the iPhone's Settings menu, click on "General", then click on "Home Button", then click on either "Home" or "iPod". Choosing one of these two options will prevent anyone from accessing the Favorites menu, and keep most user data safe.

Nokia Removes Native VoIP from N Series Phones

Starting with the N78 and N96, Nokia has removed the pre-installed voice over IP client normally found on N Series phones. The client allows users to make phone calls through the Internet, rather than via traditional cellular networks. Nokia confirmed that the SIP stack on the phones will still support VoIP services, but users will have to add their own VoIP clients to N Series devices running S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 in the future. The VoIP client will remain on Nokia's business-focused E Series devices.

Apple introducing new ipods on September 9th

There's been a lot of iPod chatter in the air lately and now MacRumors and Ars Technica say that we'll be seeing El Steve boom-boom some new gear on September 9th. No specifics on what's in store, but new nanos are obviously on the table, as is that rumored subscription service and possibly a new iPod touch at a lower price. Anything you guys hoping for?

Company to Offer Motion-Based Phone Charger

A company called M2E Power is developing technology that will harness the kinetic movement of the human body to charge electronic devices, including cellular phones. The charging station would be a small device worn on the body. Whenever the wearer moves, such as walking or running, the movement will create and store electrical energy in a battery. The battery can then be used to charge or power a mobile device. M2E Power suggests that 6 hours worth of activity could provide 30 to 60 minutes of talk time. The company expects to have the device to market in 2009.

HTC Introduces Diamond, Sans Touch

HTC today announced the S740, a follow-up to the S730 that brings the styling and features of the Touch Diamond to a non-touch-screen Windows Mobile Standard device. Like the S730, the S740 sports a standard bar shape and numeric keypad, plus a physical QWERTY keyboard that slides out from the side. The S740 is intended mainly for Europe, with HSDPA 7.2 in the 900/2100 bands, but also includes quad-band GSM, making it compatible with US GSM networks. Other notable features include a 3-megapixel camera, memory card slot, WiFi, GPS, 528 MHz processor, and FM radio. HTC expects to ship the S740 in September.

Nokia Shares More Details About the N85 and N79

This morning Nokia officially announced the N85 and N79 handsets, which are targeted at the North American market. Both run S60 3rd Edition with Feature Pack 2 and house tri-band HSDPA 3G and quad-band GSM/EDGE radios for world-wide roaming. They will also both include GPS, FM receivers and transmitters, stereo Bluetooth / 2.0+EDR and Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity. The share 3.5mm headset jacks, both with TV out included. Each has a Carl Zeiss optics 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash and autofocus. They will be available in the fourth quarter.
N85: This dual-slider follows up the N81 is a slimmer package. It has a 2.6-inch OLED display will come boxed with an 8GB microSD card, but supports cards up to 16GB. It has dedicated gaming buttons to support Nokia's N-Gage gaming service. It will cost between $550 and $600.
N79: This bar-style phone is the successor to the N78. It's stand-out feature is the interchangeable back panel. It will be boxed with three panels, which also interact with the on-screen themes when switched. It has an accelerometer and will automatically switch between landscape and portrait modes. It will be boxed with a 4GB microSD card. It will cost between $450 and $500.

UTStarcom Blitz Goes on Sale at Verizon Wireless Site

Verizon Wireless has made the UTStarcom Blitz available for sale via its web site. This messaging-focused device has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 1.3 megapixel camera with dedicated camera key and self portrait mirror. It has a 2.5mm headset jack, but includes stereo Bluetooth and a slot supporting microSD cards up to 4GB. The Blitz is limited to a CDMA 1X radio, so it is not compatible with many of Verizon's V CAST services. It costs $70 after discounts with new agreement.

Sony Ericsson Reveals TM506

Sony Ericsson today announced the TM506, a thin clamshell phone for T-Mobile USA. The TM506 - Sony Ericsson's first 3G phone supporting the AWS band - marks the return of Sony Ericsson to T-Mobile's lineup, after the T610 debuted in 2003. The TM506 was first revealed in documents made public by the FCC, but official launch is now confirmed for early September. The phone will weigh 3.4 ounces and be 0.69 inches, about as thin as Samsung's T639. Key features include 2 megapixel camera, aGPS with TeleNav Navigator, stereo Bluetooth, and HSDPA data.

price drop unlock 3G iPhone: 16GB $999, 8GB $899

Upnext Wireless is proud to announce the price decrease on the new Apple 3G iPhone unlocked. 16GB white is now retailing at $999.99 from previos price of $1399.99. 8GB is now retailing for $899.99 from previously $1299.99. Fully unlocked on any GSM simcards, internationally worldwide.

got an iPhone need it unlocked? come and visit us for the unlocking service and free your phone. $129.99 fee to unlock your AT&T 3G iPhone.

just arrived "new" Nokia 5610 FREE after rebate

T-mobile USA has announced that the Nokia 5610 XpressMusic is now available to its subscribers. This music-centric slider oddly features a sub-standard 2.5mm audio port, though an adapter is included so you can use your favorite 3.5mm headphones. The microSD card slot (with a 1GB card in the box) and an innovative slider form factor provide plenty of storage and easy access to your tunes.
However, the 5610 XpressMusic isn't just for music. This cell phone also sports a respectable 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and a dual-LED flash. Bluetooth 2.0 is on board, as well, with A2DP support for stereo headsets. The phone is also incredibly pocketable, measuring in at 98.5mm x 48.5mm x 17mm (3.9" x 1.9" x 0.7").
With quad-band GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz) connectivity and support for T-Mobile's myFaves service, the 5610 XpressMusic should suits T-Mobile's customers just fine. It is priced at FREE with a 2-year commitment after a $50 mail-in rebate and is available in your choice of black with red trim or white with silver trim.

Is this the LG Qwerty PRADA 2?

Remember those rumored specifications for LG's so-called Prada II? Yeah, particularly the part about the slide-out keyboard? If the image above has any traces of legitimacy, you could be looking at the Prada II. Good thing an image is worth quite a few letters, 'cause that's all the details we've got to go on for now.

AT&T and LG Introduce the Invision

Today AT&T and LG announced a new mobile TV-focused handset. The Invision is a quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band 850/1900 HSDPA 3G-enabled device that AT&T also calls the smallest device able to access its mobile TV services. It has a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0 plus stereo Bluetooth, and XM radio. It will have a slot for microSD cards up to 8GB, and can use AT&T's video share service. It will be preloaded with Napster to Go. The Invision is available at all AT&T retail stores and online starting today for $99 with new two-year agreement.

Palm Provides More Details About Treo Pro

Today Palm officially announced the Treo Pro. It will run Windows Mobile 6.1, and will include 802.11b/g Wi-Fi -- controlled by a dedicated button -- and integrated GPS. Palm has added its own touches to the Windows Mobile platform, including a new screen saver that shows the time and includes message and other status indicators. The Treo Pro supports Microsoft Direct Push email through Exchange ActiveSync. It will have quad-band GSM/EDGE radios, as well as tri-band UMTS/HSDPA. The Treo Pro will have a slot supporting microSDHC cards up to 32GB, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, 3.5mm headset jack, microUSB for data and charging, and a 2 megapixel camera. It will first be available from Vodafone and O2 in the U.K. starting in September, and will be available unlocked for $550 in the U.S. directly from the Palm web site and other online retailers.

Nokia unveils 8800 Carbon Arte luxury phone

Nokia has just announced its latest luxurious handset, the 8800 Carbon Arte. Milking the 8800 product line for all that it can, Nokia has built this latest handset from high-end materials such as carbon fiber and titanium.
Despite its luxury casing, this cell phone supports only tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900MHz), with UMTS (2100MHz) support for European 3G networks. Bluetooth is on-board, as well, with A2DP support for stereo headsets. A whopping 4GB of internal storage provides plenty of music and photo storage capacity.
The Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte packs a punch with its 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera, while an on-board photo editing suite makes it simple to edit your pictures. Unique features include the ability to tap the area below the screen to reveal the display clock, and users can simple flip the phone face down to silence an incoming call.
The Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte is set to be available in Q3, priced at EUR1100 (US$1616) before taxes and subsidies.

Clamshell BlackBerry Makes Appearance

A major international retailer today published details about a previously unannounced BlackBerry with a clamshell form factor. The 8200 series contains the same features as Research In Motion's Pearl 8100 series, including a SureType keyboard, trackball navigation, 2 megapixel camera, memory card slot, and quad-band GSM. An 8210 variant includes GPS, while the 8220 sports Wi-Fi instead.

Visa and Partners Power Mobile Banking Alerts

Today Visa and eight financial institution partners announced a new pilot program whereby Visa cardholders can receive SMS alerts directly on their phones whenever there is activity on their account. Most transaction types can be tracked, and the notifications are sent within seconds or minutes of when the transactions take place. The eight banks participating in the pilot are: PNC Bank, SunTrust Bank, U.S. Bank, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo in the United States, and Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank Financial Group, and Vancity in Canada.

T-Mobile to Offer Android Phone Before Christmas

According to informed sources cited by the New York Times, T-Mobile USA will be the first network operator to launch a phone running the Android platform. The Times' sources said the phone would be manufactured by HTC, and could be available as early as October. It will feature a touch screen and a sideways slide-out keyboard, which is a design used by HTC on its other smartphones. Google, the company behind Android, and T-Mobile did not comment on the details.

Samsung Announces New Bio Phone

Today Samsung announced a new phone made partially from bioplastics. The E200 Eco is a new bar-style phone, and its entire exterior case is formed from bioplastics, which are materials extracted from corn. The E200 has a 1.3 megapixel camera and media playback capabilities. Its charger has been made without a flame retardant material that is harmful to the environment, and the phone's packaging will be made from recycled materials. The phone will be available in Europe in September. No U.S.-based carriers have announced plans to carry it.

Samsung to Boost Performance of Flash Memory in Smartphones

Samsung recently announced new software that will greatly improve the way its flash memory behaves in smartphones running the Windows Mobile, Symbian, Linux and RTOS platforms. The software makes communication between the memory chips and the phone's operating system more efficient. It also has an improved file system. These two improvements combined should result in fast boot times and faster downloading to memory and searching memory. Samsung did not indicate exactly when this new software will be available.

HTC Touch PRO available in UK

Vodafone expected the Touch Pro to touch down in the UK this month, and sure enough, said expectation has become a reality. HTC's mighty WinMo-powered smartphone is now available from official UK distributor devicewire, and if you just so happen to use pounds as your primary currency, you can claim one of your own for the eye-popping price of £514.99 (including VAT). We won't bother converting that into dollars -- trust us, you're better off pretending you don't know.

Apple 3G iPhone Unlocking Service "new" price $129

Unlocking service for the new Apple 3G iPhone is available at participating upnext wireless retail locations. Normally, pricepoint is available at $199 but take advantage of the new unlocking service charge price cut to $129. Unlocking service will allow to utilize T-Mobile simcards or any simcard you wish to travel oversea international.

special: price drop on the 3G unlocked iPhone 8GB to $899

good news....the new pricepoint on the Apple 3G iPhone 8GB will be lowered from $1299 to $899 as of today fully unlocked. stocks are available this week.

Nokia Brings More GSM To The Fold

Nokia today announced the 3610 Fold phone. This mass-market clamshell phone is quad-band to support GSM networks worldwide. Like the company's 6555 and 3555 3G phones, the shape of the 3610 Fold forms a smooth curve on the back when open. Key features include a 1.3 megapixel camera, 2-inch display, and a memory card slot supporting up to 4 GB. The phone is expected to ship within six weeks.

Sony Ericsson Tees Up the T700

Today Sony Ericsson announced the T700. This bar-style phone has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios and supports European 3G networks. It has a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and video recording capabilities. On the music side, it has stereo speakers, stereo Bluetooth, and an FM radio. It supports Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync for corporate email, as well as POP3 accounts. It will be available in select markets later this year in three different colors.

Nokia N85 hits FCC with two flavors

We're still trying to figure out exactly how Nokia intends to position the N85 slider in its Nseries lineup, and frankly, the FCC documentation that's been outed for it isn't helping much. Seems there are two versions of the thing: one with no 3G -- likely for China -- and another with WCDMA on the 900, 1900, and 2100MHz frequencies. That little dose of 1900 in there will be enough to give owners partial access to 3G while out 'n about in the colonies, but by and large, the phone appears destined for Europe where 2100 (and to a lesser extent, 900) is the name of the game. Both do quadband EDGE, so at the very least, you'll be able to roam the better part of the globe and get some semblance of coverage -- just don't expect it to be particularly speedy everywhere you go. To be fair, Espoo's been getting pretty good about crafting special versions of its hottest handsets that are ripe for North American use, so we're not giving up hope just yet that there's a third version floating out there.

Verizon Completes Acquisition of Rural Cellular

It's taken more than a year, but Verizon has just officially announced that it has completed its purchase of Rural Cellular, which you may also know by its business name, Unicel. This latest announcement follows a conditional approval from the FCC earlier this week, which required one of the two companies to sell licenses in six markets in order to "improve competition" -- a compromise Verizon seems to have been more than willing to accept. All told, Verizon will be forking over $2.66 billion in cash and assumed debt for the company, which will increase its customer base by more than 625,000, and expand its coverage area by 4.7 million people, including markets in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Alabama, Mississippi, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.

T-Mobile Launches 3G Network in Las Vegas

Today T-Mobile announced the launch of its 1700MHz AWS 3G network in the Las Vegas market. Customers with compatible phones will be able to use the 1700MHz spectrum for voice and UMTS 3G data services. Phones that support T-Mobil'es 3G will automatically find the 3G network. T-Mobile also said that it will be expanding its 3G footprint to 20 additional markets by the end of the year, and is preparing to announce an HSDPA-capable phone and "new and compelling data-centric, all-in-one devices." T-Mobile did not elaborate as to what those devices would be. Nor did it say which specific markets it will be adding.

can the Nokia "tube" assasin the 3G iphone?

Like detective work? Good, this one's for you. That's the supposed first picture of Nokia's Tube which we've enhanced a bit to see all the detail. According to Symbian-Freak, the device code-named "Tube" will be Nokia's first touch S60 device but will not be a flagship phone. Another higher spec'd phone will ship "shortly after." The display is said to be between 3- and 3.5-inches with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a camera (with another up front based on the picture) which they say is "way better" than the iPhone's but not on par with the existing N-series shooters. The phone is said to ride atop quad-band GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA radios with built-in Bluetooth, WiFi, uPnP support and a stylus. Something you'll apparently need judging by that skinny scroll bar. GPS? Yup, that too. No multi-touch on this model but it is said to provide haptic feedback in a package supposedly smaller (maybe a little bit wider) than the N73. We also notice an "XpressMedia" label on the phone which would indicate an affiliation with Nokia's XpressMusic class of media devices. You'll also notice that the icons have been slightly revised since we went hands on with the S60 Touch UI back in February. Real deal or not, it's a mystery worthy of your skills

HTC diamond / touch pro for Verizon and Sprint

There's no doubt that both of HTC's forthcoming handsets (yeah, the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro) are coming to Sprint and Verizon. What we're still curious about, however, are the respective launch dates and the eventual names. phoneArena has it that the Touch Diamond will go by HTC Victor on Sprint and HTC Diamond on Verizon, with the former packing a slightly speedier CPU, an aluminum frame, accelerometer, 4GB of internal memory and EV-DO Rev. A support. As for Verizon's, expect it to boast half the RAM (128MB), a wimpier CPU, microSD expansion slot and a stainless steel frame. Moving on, we're told that the Touch Pro will be rechristined HTC Herman for Sprint and HTC Raphael (nice to re-meet you!) for The Network. Finally, we're clued in on a September 2nd release date for Sprint's Victor, while the Herman is expected a month later. As for Verizon? It'll probably be 30 or so days behind in both instances thanks to a presumed exclusivity agreement with its nemisis.

Blackberry now available in CHILE

Movistar's Chilean outpost has now become -- somewhat surprisingly, may we add -- the very first carrier in the world to launch the BlackBerry Bold and put it into subscribers' hands. The carrier's making sure everyone knows what a coup they've managed to pull off, too, proudly proclaiming "FIRST ONES IN THE WORLD" with a red banner draped across the Bold's image on Movistar's site. Pricing seems a little high at 299,990 Chilean pesos (about $588) on a two-year contract, but hey, you've gotta pay to play; just how badly do you want to be one of the first people on the face of the planet (John Mayer notably excepted) to put this thing to use?

firmware 2.0.1, could render iphone unlockable

As some of you already know, updating your iPhone to firmware 2.0.1 means that you've lost access to all your jailbroken apps. That's pretty much expected and should be rectified by the DevTeam soon enough. What's notable from an unlocking perspective, however, is that Apple's 2.0.1 release also updates the iPhone 3G baseband. This puts iPhone 3G owners in a bit of a quandary: update now via iTunes in desperate hopes of the stability and improved keyboard response we've been seeing but do so at the risk of not being able to unlock your iPhone 3G in the future (if and when the DevTeam gets around to releasing it for firmware 2.0). A lot can happen in the course of a 2 year (or longer) carrier commitment. According to the DevTeam, you'll get all the benefits of Apple's 2.0.1 update (without the pesky new baseband) just as soon as they can kick out the updated PwnageTool (current version is 2.0.1) onto the Internets. Decisions, decisions.

Delta to Offer Wi-Fi On All Flights

Delta Airlines said it will offer Wi-Fi broadband Internet access on its entire U.S. fleet by the middle of 2009. Delta is using technology provided by Aircell, which recently said it will use LTE to provide 4G connectivity speeds to its airline customers. The service will be rolled out on Delta's McDonnell Douglas aircraft first, followed by its Boeing aircraft. Customers will be able to use their Wi-Fi-equipped smartphones, PDAs and laptops to connect to the Internet during flights. Delta will charge $10 for access on all flights under 3 hours and $13 for flights longer than three hours.

Motorola Rocks Out with Three New ROKRs

Today Motorola announced three new ROKR-branded mobile phones. All three are music-focused devices and have FM radios with RDS, full-sized 3.5mm headset jacks and stereo Bluetooth. They each have a slot for microSD cards and include Motorola's Crystal Talk technology. They will become available in numerous world markets at various times during the third quarter.
EM30: This bar-style phone slightly resembles the ROKR E8 and shares its quad-band GSM/EDGE radios, 2 megapixel camera, and ModeShift, which switches the keypad between standard phone controls and music player controls. It loses the E8's scroll wheel and replaces it with a standard D-pad and soft keys. The EM30 can support microSD cards up to 8GB.
EM28: This ROKR is a clamshell that will come in two different tri-band GSM/EDGE configurations 850/1800/1900 and 900/1800/1900. It has dedicated touch-sensitive multi-modal music controls that are part of the front display. The EM28 has a 1.3 megapixel camera that also captures video, and it can support microSD cards up to 2GB.
EM25: This slider will be available in two different dual-band GSM/EDGE modes, one 850/1900 and one 900/1800. It shares the EM28's 1.3 megapixel camera and offers FMShare, which will share a radio station with others by sending it in a text message. It will support microSD cards up to 2GB.

Bond 007 featuring titanium SE C702

It's Bond time again and that means the inevitable glut of merchandising tie-ins. First out of the gate is a limited edition Titanium silver Sony Ericsson C902 Cyber-shot which does the honor of promoting the release of the latest 007 exploit dubbed Quantum of Solace. Besides the color, 007-themed wallpapers, screen savers, and "spy-style" game demo, the C902 slider that actor Daniel Craig will sport during the November theatrical launch is just like the C902 launched way back in February. Oddly enough, no pictures of the new 007 model were provided by Sony Ericsson in the announcement. Fitting though, given Q's disquieting absence from the film we weren't expecting much.

Deutshe Telecom to offer E-Book reader

Details are really light on this one at the moment, but Germany's Der Spiegel apparently has it on authority that Deutsche Telekom is working on an e-book reader of its own, a move that follows a similar initiative from France Telecom's Orange division. Apparently, Deutsche Telekom's offering, dubbed News4Me, will be tailored specifically to delivering an "individual electronic newspaper" to users, with its content and layout able to "adapt constantly to the way that you read" -- we'd assume it'd boast some other standard e-book reader functions as well. Unfortunately, there's no indication at all as to what the device itself will be like, but Deutsche Telekom is reportedly set to begin conducting tests with "a few dozen" customers in Berlin sometime this fall -- assuming it's able to line up deals with newspapers and other content providers before then, that is.

Motorola's Handset Business Gets New Leadership

Motorola has appointed Dr. Sanjay Jha as Co-CEO of Motorola and CEO of Motorola’s Mobile Devices business. He will run the day-to-day operations of the mobile phone business and is charged with reviving the division. He was previously COO of Qualcomm.

watch out SEGWAY, Toyota's Winglet is here!

Prepare to step aside Segway, you had your chance to revolutionize personal transportation. Introducing the Toyota Winglet. Still under development, Winglet's body has a 10.4 x 18-inch footprint and stands 1.5-, 2.2-, or 3.7-feet tall (depending upon the S, M, or L model chosen) and features an electric motor capable of a max 6km/h cruising speed for up to 10km a jaunt (only 5km for the S model). Like the Segway, the user controls the Winglet by shifting his weight to move the transporter forward and back or to make tight turns. Winglet will begin consumer testing at the Central Japan International Airport near Nagoya and Laguna Gamagori resort this Autumn with further testing in more crowded environments planned for 2009. It's planned to hit a production stride in 2010. Hey Toyota, here's a hint: you'd better start lobbying for sidewalk legalization ASAP if you're hoping for global success. All three pictured after the break in order of S, M, and Large.

AT&T iPhone exclusivity extends till 2010

Apple's deal with AT&T obviously got re-done in order to get the iPhone 3G on the street for a subsidized $199, but it looks like Steve gave in on a little more than revenue-sharing when he re-upped with Ma Bell: USA Today says that AT&T's US exclusive on the iPhone has been extended for an additional year, until 2010. The extension isn't officially announced, but it's being cited in the context of a long interview with AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, who's quoted as saying things like "The iPhone has repositioned AT&T as the premier wireless brand in the world." So yeah, dude's a fan -- and with iPhone customers spending almost double on rate plans than the average AT&T customer, it's not hard to see why. Looks like our dream of glorious data plan price wars will have to wait until Android makes a splash later this year.

NTT DoCoMo's Customers Can Use AT&T's Network in Hawaii

Today, NTT DoCoMo announced that its customers can now roam both voice and data services on all of the Hawaiian islands using AT&T's WCDMA network.

Nokia Cuts Phone Prices

According to Reuters, Nokia has slashed the price points of many of its phones by about 10%, placing added pressure on rivals. Nokia holds 40% of the world market for cell phones.

T-Mobile Adds Parental Controls to Family Plans

Today T-Mobile announced that it will be adding more advanced parental controls to its family plans. The new feature, called Family Allowance, will give parents control over what services can be used on their children's phones and to what extent. They can set limits to the number of text messages that can be sent, set limits on downloads, such as ringtones or games, and set limits on the number of minutes used in any given month for phone calls. Once a monthly limit for one of the services is reached, that service is shut off and no longer available to that line. The tool is controlled via the T-Mobile web site, and parents will receive notifications when limits are reached. Family Allowance will be available beginning in August and will cost $2 per month.

T-Mobile Kicks Out a New Sidekick

Today T-Mobile announced the newest version of the Sidekick. The 2008 model has a smaller footprint than previous generations of the Sidekick, but it retains the familiar, swivel-out screen, controls and track ball. The stand-out feature are the Sidekick's interchangeable shells. Customers will be able to use the T-Mobile web site to design their own custom shells ($15) or pick from pre-designed shells to personalize their Sidekick. The Sidekick 2008 has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios, as well as Bluetooth 2.0 with support for stereo Bluetooth playback. It ups the camera to 2 megapixels with video capture, and has a microSD card slot for additional media. It is boxed with a 512MB card. It can access T-Mobile's MyFaves calling plan, as well as multiple email and IM accounts. The screen is a 2.6-inch WQVGA display, and the Sidekick 2008 uses USB for data transfer. It will be available online and in Upnext Wireless stores for $50 with new agreement.

FCC Approves HTC Touch Diamond with U.S. 3G

Documents seen on the FCC site reveal some details about a new version of the HTC Touch Diamond. The Touch Diamond was first announced by HTC in May. The original version did not support U.S. 3G spectrum bands. This new version seen on the FCC site includes WCDMA 850/1900, and also confirms Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and Wi-Fi. HTC has not said when this variant of the Touch Diamond will become available. HTC announced a CDMA variant of the Diamond earlier this month.

Nokia Drops BlackBerry Connect from E Series, E71 Available At U.S. Flagship Stores

Starting with the E66 and E71, Nokia has dropped support for Research In Motion's BlackBerry Connect service. BlackBerry Connect was software that ran on the E Series devices, which are aimed at business users, and allowed Nokia phones to retrieve corporate email. Nokia has its own push mobile email product, which it acquired when it purchased Intellisync several years ago. Nokia views RIM as a competitor, and would rather its customers use Nokia technology for push email. The E71 recently went on sale at the Nokia flagship store in Chicago, and beginning today, it is also available at the flagship store in New York City.