T-Mobile release scheduled revealed: Blackberry 8900 included

This screenshot of T-Mobile’s internal release schedule reveals pink’s upcoming lineup for the first two months of 2009 and T-Mobile well, February is most definitely your month T-Mobile people! You’ve got two major handsets dropping on the 18th: the 8 megapixel Samsung Memoir and yes, that’s right, the highly anticipated BlackBerry Curve 8900. Can you hold out another month and a half? Here’s what you’re looking at over the next two months:

January 21: Sony Ericsson TM506 in scarlett
January 21: Nokia 7510
January 28: T-Mobile Shadow
February 4: Motorola Renew
February 4: Samsung t119
February 18: RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900
February 18: Samsung Memoir

Samsung to Build Its Own WiMax, LTE Chips

Samsung is taking steps to begin fabricating its own WiMax and LTE chips for cell phones and other devices, according to the EETimes. Samsung said the move is being taken, in part, to eliminate the licensing fees it pays to chipmaker Qualcomm. Getting rid of the licensing fees could reduce the cost of Samsung's handsets. Samsung already has a fabrication plant located in Texas, and is one of the world's largest suppliers of memory. Samsung did not provide any sort of timeline for the development and fabrication of these chips.

AT&T Selling iPhones for $99

AT&T is currently selling refurbished iPhones on its web site for $50 less than new retail price. Until Dec. 31, the carrier is also offering an extra $50 off, bringing the cost of an iPhone 3G (refurbished, 8 GB) down to $99.

Google Provides Peek at New Android Features

Google has shared a list of new features that will eventually be included as part of the Android platform through its Android Developers Web site. The key upgrades include support for stereo Bluetooth, cut-and-paste capabilities in the browser, and video capture. There are numerous other new features, including the ability to save MMS attachments, new commands in the VoiceDialer application, and better management of downloads. Google didn't say when these changes will be included in a version of Android that is available for download.

Exec: Samsung to Intro Android Phone in Second Quarter 2009

According to an unnamed Samsung executive being quoted in a Korean publication, Samsung is "accelerating the development process for [a] Google phone in order to meet the specific need of local carriers. [Samsung] will be able to release [a] Google phone in the second quarter of the next year in the U.S. market." Samsung Telecommunications America would not confirm the quote's accuracy, but did admit that Samsung is a member of the Open Handset Alliance, and is currently working on products based on the Android platform.

Google Optimizes Search Results for iPhone and G1

Google has further refined the way search results are delivered to the Apple iPhone and the HTC G1 Android phone. From now own, each phone will receive results that are optimized for the device. Google says the results will load faster and are formatted to fit the screen. Users will no longer have to zoom in-and-out or scroll side-to-side. Lastly, Google added buttons that are more finger friendly, and expandable maps for local business results.

AT&T Testing 7.2Mbps Downloads In Chicago

An AT&T spokesperson recently commented that the company has been trialling 7.2Mbps downloads in Chicago, and will boost those speeds to 14.4Mbps in the near future. According to AT&T, it plans to upgrade its existing HSPA network to HSPA+ before transitioning to LTE. Some of AT&T's competitors, such as Verizon Wireless, have indicated that they may begin rolling out their next-generation LTE networks as early as late 2009. Chicago also happens to be one of the markets picked by Clearwire/Sprint for its WiMax network. AT&T didn't say which network technology was being used to reach the 7.2 and 14.4Mbps download speeds, but did say that it expects to begin rolling out its LTE network in some markets within two years.

AT&T offers 3G iphone for activation at home

All you potential iPhone 3G buyers who loathe the thought of having to go into an AT&T store to activate your newly purchased phone can rejoice today as AT&T has finally enabled home activation for the iPhone 3G. This time it is not some convoluted pre-activation process, this is the real deal. Buy the phone online, receive it at your home or office, and activate the phone via iTunes from the comfort of your computer. While we haven’t spoken to any of our ninjas to confirm this yet, we did speak to three customer service reps as well as someone in the office of the President - each confirming that at-home activation is a go. Note that for the time being, it looks like only new account and new line activations apply. Those looking to upgrade your current equipment will still have to head down to a store

T-Mobile Responds to HTC G1 International Roaming Issue

T-Mobile issued a statement today to clear up confusion with respect to the HTC G1's data usage when roaming overseas. The statement reads, in part: "If a T-Mobile customer would like to use their T-Mobile G1 while outside the country, they should contact Customer Care before they leave to ask that the WorldClass feature be added to their service at no additional charge. If they choose, customers can also disable data roaming on the G1." However, some third party applications available for download in the Android Market can turn data roaming back on, negating the "off" setting. Users are warned to check each application to see if and when it requires access to the Internet, and disable it before traveling abroad.

Verizon has been singing, “Give me the green light… I’m ready to go right now,” as its Alltel acquisition has finally been given the official go ahead. After receiving approval from the FCC, Verizon has finally been given the green light by the Federal Trade Commission as well. The FTC has decided to remove the biggest speed bump to the deal, its antitrust review. Although the $5.9 billion dollar merger will make Verizon and Alltel the largest wireless provider in the US combined, the FTC didn’t think there would be any antitrust issues (Verizon is, after all, divesting 100 markets in the US to comply with the FCC). Now after receiving the seal of approval from the FCC, Justice Department and FTC, Verizon is hoping to finalize the deal by late this year or early next year. Verizon surely has its work cut out for it as it’s forking over that $5.9 billion and taking on Alltel’s $22.2 billion in debt - but hey, at least Big Red can claim to be the largest network in the country now.

Samsung 8 mega pixel "Memoir" may strike T-Mobile

The Internet has been graced with blurry, less than detailed shots of what appears to be an upcoming 8 megapixel monster from Samsung. We’re not sure if this is going to carry the rumored “Memoir” name, but we’re hearing a lot of references to the T929 Leica, which is a rebradned Pixon that we mentioned not too long ago. Onto more important things, it looks like this will be packing an 8 megapixel camera and a touch screen. So far, there isn’t much to be told but if it’s anything like the Samsung Pixon then it might be a pretty exciting device for TMO folks to look forward to. However, it seems it will be more like the Samsung Behold than anything else, which could be good or bad news depending on your take on the Behold. While it’s been speculated that this handset might be Android-powered, we’re going to keep our reservations about that one since Samsung hasn’t been as vocal as other manufacturers regarding jumping on the Google bandwagon. Hit the jump for an additional pic!

Skype Lite Expands Phone Compatibility

Skype Lite, a mobile Skype client, was recently made available to a wide range of handsets. Some of the devices include the Nokia N96 and E71; the Samsung A717 and A737; and the Sony Ericsson C902 and K770. Skype Lite can be downloaded directly to compatible handsets from the Skype Web site.

Verizon Wireless Targets LTE Build Out for 2009

Verizon Communications executive vice president and chief technology officer Dick Lynch said that the company is planning to begin deploying its long term evolution (LTE) next-generation network as early as 2009. He said, "We expect that LTE will actually be in service somewhere here in the U.S. probably this time next year." Verizon Wireless will have to transition subscribers from its CDMA network to the newer LTE network, which will likely take years. In addition to the LTE network transition, Lynch also said that it will roll-out femtocells -- with Wi-Fi on board, too -- to boost in-building coverage. The combination of LTE, with femotcells and Wi-Fi will enable Verizon Wireless to deliver broadband to a wide range of devices

Google Offers Unlocked G1 to Developers

Google has made an unlocked version of the HTC G1 available to registered Android developers for $399. This version of the G1, called the Android Dev Phone 1, is both SIM unlocked and bootloader unlocked, freeing it up for use on other networks and with customized versions of the Android operating system. In order to buy it, you must be a registered Android developer ($25 to sign up). Google makes it clear that this device is not intended for end users, but qualified developers can purchase it in the U.S., U.K., and 16 other international markets.

Verizon Wireless Launches the Nokia 2605 Mirage

Today Verizon Wireless announced the addition of the Nokia 2605 Mirage to its lineup. The Mirage is an entry-level flip phone that has dual displays, a VGA camera, Bluetooth 2.0, speakerphone and 1X data. It is also compatible with Verizon's VZ Navigator service. The Mirage will cost $50 after rebate with new agreement. It is available starting today.

Land Rover Contracts with Sonim to Make Branded Phones

Land Rover and Sonim Technologies have entered into an agreement to develop and launch co-branded mobile phones. A total of three phones are already in the works, with two -- the Land Rover S1 (pictured) and Land Rover S2 G4 -- slated for launches in the first half of 2009, and the third following later in the year. The phones will be rugged, submersible, and certified to withstand salt, fog, humidity, transport and thermal shock and a 1.6-meter drop to concrete from any angle. Land Rover and Sonim are working with designer Scott Wilson to create the products, which will use GSM-based radio technology

Nokia May Turn to Linux in High-End Handsets

Speaking to Reuters, Ukko Lappalainen, vice president at Nokia's markets unit, said that the company is considering the use of open-source Linux in future handsets. Nokia already uses maemo Linux in its N Series Internet tablet devices, and suggested that it would use maemo rather than Google's Android platform. Lappalainen said that it would use Linux in its high-end phones

FCC Reveals T-Mobile Shadow II

Documents that appear to show the successor to the T-Mobile Shadow have become public on the FCC web site. The HTC-made device is very similar to the original Shadow, with the main differences being Windows Mobile 6.1, a faster processor, and a more rounded design. The draft user manual also lists separate battery life times for GSM and UMA, indicating the phone may support T-Mobile's UMA-based Unlimited HotSpot Calling service. The documents show nearly identical features, including 2.6-inch QVGA display, spinning scroll wheel, slide-out 20-key text keyboard, 2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, microSD memory card slot, and quad-band GSM/EDGE. No information is available on a release date.

Kawaii phone by Motorola

Kawaii Mobile Phone.

Designer: Joseph Liang.

The word “Kawaii” in Japanese is close to the word “Cute” in English. The difference is, there’s a large “counterculture” tied to Kawaii.

Ted Rogers passes away at age 75

Today is a truly sad day in telecommunications. One of its longest serving CEOs, Edward Samuel “Ted” Rogers, has passed away at the age of 75. Long suffering from congestive heart failure, Rogers was admitted to the hospital in early November and eventually discharged to the care of his family with Alan Horn taking the role of interim CEO. Unfortunately, Rogers passed away early this morning in his Toronto home but thankfully he was surrounded by friends and family.

Motorola Tunes In Another ROKR

Motorola announced a new ROKR phone today, the EM35. The EM35 is a slider aimed at the music-loving crowd, and has high-quality audio processing, along with dedicated music control buttons, built-in stereo speakers, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio with RDS and built-in internal antenna, and a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack. It has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios for network connectivity; a 3.1 megapixel fixed-focus camera with video capture, and runs Motorola's Linux-Java platform. Other features include the FastScroll navigation wheel to zoom through menus and pre-installed widgets for accessing Web-based content. It also has a new music application that enables users to listen to music while connected to the music store. Motorola said the device will be available by the end of 2008.

Nokia Announces Its 2009 Flagship Device, the N97

Today Nokia announced its flagship smartphone for 2009, the N97. The N97 has a large 3.5-inch screen (640 x 360 pixels, 16:9 wide-screen) for touch-based input, as well as a full physical QWERTY keyboard for messaging. The N97 is the first Nseries device to have a QWERTY keyboard, which slides and tilts when open. The N97 offers an extensive set of features, including S60 5th Edition, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, dual LED flash, Carl Zeiss optics and video capture at 30fps in the 16:9 format. It has 32GB of built-in storage (expandable to 48GB), as well as Wi-Fi, aGPS, FM radio, and FM transmitter. It carries quad-band GSM and HSDPA for 3G connectivity. It supports Flash Lite 3.0, as well as Flash Video in the Internet browser. It has Bluetooth 2.0+EDR with A2DP stereo, as well as a 3.5mm headset jack with TV out, and stereo speakers. The N97 was built for social networking, and has what Nokia calls "So-Lo" (social location) services. The N97 will be available in the first half of 2009 for approximately $695. A version with 3G for the US will be available shortly after the European version.

Nokia Introduces New Messaging Services

Today Nokia announced a revamped set of email and instant messaging services. The new services, tied to Nokia's Ovi platform, enable users to access most POP3/IMAP email from their S60 handsets, as well as many of the major instant messaging platforms, including Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Hotmail, Gmail and Google Talk, and AOL Mail. Nokia is also rolling out Web-based access to Mail on Ovi, which offers users spam filters and 1GB of storage for email. Users will be able to set up and access Ovi email accounts from their PCs. The beta version of Mail on Ovi will roll out globally in December 2008. Nokia Messaging will roll out to select markets in the first quarter of 2009, with other markets following later in the year. Nokia will add support for Series 40 devices over time.

Nokia Refurbs Maps Product

Nokia announced a next-generation version of its Mobile Maps product today. This combination of Nokia Maps plus Ovi allows people to pre-plan their journey at home on their PC and synchronize with their phone, giving access to pre-planned routes and destinations. Nokia Maps will also include a number of new features such as aerial images, 3D landmarks for 216 cities and terrain maps, as well as a new route overview during routing and during Drive, the purchasable turn-by-turn car navigation guidance. Other new options for Nokia Maps include access to real-time information such as camera alerts, safety spots and traffic information for selected countries, as well as Wcities event guides that give real-time information for events and movies. This new version of Nokia Maps is available as a beta from the Nokia Labs site.

Clearwire to Ditch 'Xohm' Branding

Clearwire announced that it will forgo using the Xohm branding created by Sprint for its WiMax network. Instead, the WiMax network will be referred to as the 'Clear' network. Sprint and Clearwire made the official announcement about their completed merger this morning.

Sprint and Clearwire Finalize Merger

Today Sprint announced that it has completed the merger of its Xohm Wimax unit with Clearwire Corporation. Sprint contributed all of its 2.5 GHz spectrum and its WiMAX-related assets. Comcast, Intel, Time Warner Cable, Google and Bright House Networks all combined to contribute $3.2 billion in cash to help the company get started. Clearwire plans to provide Wimax-based high-speed wireless Internet services.

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic Goes On Sale

Nokia has made its touch-screen 5800 XpressMusic phone available in several markets, including: Russia, Spain, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Finland, and others. Nokia didn't mention when it will become available in other markets. Nokia also announced that it will cease selling handsets in Japan. It will keep its luxury Vertu brand, but Nokia will no longer develop phones for the Japanese market. Nokia didn't explain how this will affect its plans to launch a premium MVNO service in Japan in 2009.

Motorola Gives Us a Hint of Its Future with the QA30

Today Motorola announced the QA30 Hint messaging phone. The Hint is a squarish slider that has a full QWERTY keyboard, threaded SMS and IM conversations, and access to multiple email accounts. The Hint comes with a 2 megapixel camera with video capture and supports microSD cards up to 8GB. It has dedicated music control buttons and a 3.5mm headset jack for regular headphones. According to FCC documentation, the Hint is a CDMA phone with Bluetooth and EVDO, in both 850/1900 and 850/1700/1900 versions, meaning network operators with AWS spectrum could sell the Hint. The Hint will be available with Alltel starting November 28th for $99 with contract, after a $50 mail-in rebate.

Verizon Wireless Announces the Samsung Omnia

Today Verizon Wireless announced that it will be selling the Samsung Omnia. The Omnia, which was first announced earlier this year, includes Samsung's TouchWiz user interface as well as Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. Features include a 3.2-inch wide touch display, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, WiFi, and 8 GB of internal memory plus a memory card slot. It has a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, geo-tagging, auto-panorama, stabilizer, face detection, smile detection, and video editing. FM radio and auto-rotation round out the features. The Omnia will be one of the first phones able to access Verizon's new VZAppsZone, where users can discover and download third-party content. The Omnia will be available via sales channels starting November 26 and in Verizon Wireless retail stores on December 8. It will cost $250 after rebate with new agreement.

Nokia Introduces the 6260 Slide

Today Nokia announced the 6260 Slide, a new quad-band GSM/EDGE phone with HSDPA 10.2Mbps / HSUPA 2Mbps 3G capabilities. Other radios include GPS, Wi-Fi, FM radio and stereo Bluetooth v2.1. The 6260 Slide also has a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash and video capture. The 6260 runs Series 40 6th Edition, supports microSD cards up to 8GB, and has stereo speakers. The 6260 has a 2.5mm headset jack that supports TV out. It will cost $385 and will be available in the first quarter of 2009. At the same time, Nokia also released a new SDK for Series 40 6th Edition. The SDK provides application developers and network operators with new tools to create applications and services for Series 40 phones.

HTC TouchPRO Available from Verizon Wireless

Today Verizon Wireless announced the availability of the HTC TouchPRO Windows Mobile phone. It costs $350 after rebates with new agreement.

Nokia to Launch MVNO in Japan

Nokia is planning to offer wireless services of its own in the Japanese market. It will use NTT DoCoMo's network and launch a high-end MVNO with its most advanced and expensive models. Nokia has only 1 percent marketshare in Japan and the move may help Nokia better penetrate the market there. The service is expected to launch in in the second quarter of 2009.

Apple Adds More Features to the iPhone

Today Apple released firmware version 2.2 for the iPhone. The updated software brings several new features to Google Maps, including Street Views; Public Transit and walking directions; the ability to see the address of dropped pins; and the ability to share user location information via email. It brings some updates to the email application, including fixes to mail retrieval and better formatting for HTML emails. The update also stabilizes Safari, decreases call failures, improves the voice quality of visual voicemail messages and makes podcasts available for download from within the iTunes application. The update is free.

Clearwire Shareholders Approve Sprint Merger

The shareholders of Clearwire have approved the merger of its WiMax business with Sprint's Xohm Wimax business. The merger has already been approved by the FCC. Sprint and Clearwire expect to close the deal by year's end.

LG Prada II

A Bluetooth watch for the 2nd version of the LG Prada. A gadget of luxury, coupled on the new telephone equipped with a sliding keyboard. The watch makes it possible to be informed calls and will also post the SMS on its screen 0,9 inch OLED.

Conceived by Korean manufacturer LG, exclusively for the Prada mark.

Nokia Adds Lotus Notes Support to S60 Phones

Today Nokia and IBM announced that the S60 platform will now support IBM's Lotus Notes email program. This means that S60 3rd Edition phones can connect to corporate email accounts via Lotus Domino Server software, called Lotus Notes Traveler. Traveler enables real-time syncing with email, calendar, address book, journal and to-do list data. The new software will be available in December.

Google Adds Contacts Sync to BlackBerries

Google has recently added some features to its Google Sync for BlackBerry product. One new feature is the ability for BlackBerry users to automatically sync their Google contacts over-the-air with their BlackBerry. It offers two-way synchronization between your BlackBerry's built-in address book and your Google Apps/Gmail contacts automatically. In order to enable this feature, users will need to download the most recent version of Google Sync. The software is free.

T-Mobile Launches Web2Go, Overhauls Data Plans

T-Mobile is re-launching its T-Zones Web portal as web2go. The new portal is completely redesigned and meant to provide a better mobile Web experience to feature phones. Web2go will let users create their own customized home page with links to the sites they visit most. The revised portal also offers T-Mobile customers access to the web2go marketplace, where they can download ringtones, wallpapers and other content. Web2go also has a dedicated section for downloads, so users can more easily manage their content. T-Mobile is integrating Yahoo's oneSearch into web2go to power search. The new portal is available on most T-Mobile phones starting today. Lastly, T-Mobile is now offering several new data packages to simplify customer billing. The bundles include options for Web, e-mail and messaging across all compatible phones and devices. Plan details can be viewed on the T-Mobile Web site.

Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Edition available in China

For those who have managed to remain completely unaffected by the current state of the global economy - and who really dig Kung Fu - this may be the best thing to happen to you since your money. Nokia China has just made a special edition N96 available and it packs all kinds of punch (sorry). Sort of. Basically you’re looking at an N96 with the image and signature of Bruce Lee on the back cover, a bluetooth headset and a special wrist strap and pint-sized nunchaku. The price of admission - ¥8,788, which works out to roughly $1,286. Wow. That might seem like a pretty steep price to pay, but you’ll surely be the envy of, umm… Of someone, we think. We can’t imagine who, but someone.

Shortage on Blackberry Storm Friday.

We were told all along there were more than enough Storms to go around on launch day, but a couple of our solid tipsters have hit us up to inform us there might be some issues. First off, we’re told that a last minute security flaw was found in the OS and they had to be re-flashed again. This will delay the shipments of the units to stores. Here is an example:

A Verizon Corporate store that was promised 100 units on launch day is now getting 20 Thursday, 40 for Friday, 40 for Saturday, etc.
The stock is spread out instead of being sent in large quantities.
Our Verizon ninjas want to stress that stores will definitely have stock, just not nearly enough as was originally planned.
We were also told to report that this was a RIM screw up (?) and not a problem on Verizon’s end. We have no idea what that means…
All other retailers like indirects, Best Buy, etc., will take backseat to corporate-owned stores. We’ve even heard Best Buy’s launch might get pushed back in light of the new situation.

Carphone Warehouse list Curve 8900 coming in time for the holidays.

Carphone Warehouse, the giant UK retailer for all major UK carriers minus Vodafone, has listed the BlackBerry 8900 Curve on its website and has announced that it is slated to arrive in December for the holidays. While nothing has been revealed in terms of which carriers the phone will be available from, so far T-Mobile is the only carrier who has announced that it will be carrying the new Curve. It is more than likely that Orange will be offering the device as it supports the UMA feature of the device. That said, Carphone Warehouse has apparently confirmed that it will also be selling the device SIM free — good news all around for anyone who will be in the market for a BlackBerry with an amazing 480 x 360 screen, WiFi, GPS and a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus. For those of you looking for 3G however, not so much.

Verizon Touch Diamond pushed back to January 09

The CDMA world is still waiting on a firm release date for Verizon’s iteration of the sleek HTC Touch Diamond and a new rumor might not exactly be the news we were hoping for. Initially it was thought that HTC’s sexy touchscreen handset would be headed to Big Red in October, then back in September we learned that internal training might not even take place until December. The latest rumor now puts the release date at some point in January of next year. Let’s hope we’re still looking at a December release which would make the Touch Diamond a holiday option, though its omission from the latest rebate sheet covering now through January 31st isn’t a promising sign. Well, at least we know the Touch Pro will be released in time for the holidays.

icePhone: an upcoming triple flip with windows mobile

The concept is interesting to say the least; a triple-flip 3G smartphone with a touchscreen, full QWERTY keypad and third function panel that can flip to face downward beneath the keypad and double as a gaming controller. Whether or not we’ll ever see it in production however, remains to be seen. A company by the name of The Medical Phone Ltd have begun showing off this unique contraption and claim that it is currently in production, though there was no working demo shown off at a recent expo it attended. As the company’s name might suggest, the handset began as a concept for a survival-based device that would pack a full first-aid guide and various other functionality. Of course this niche marketing would drastically limit the device so it has been fanned out a bit though it still has some interesting emergeny features such as a one-touch emergency button that phones 911, the closest hospital and your doctor simultaneously. It also actives the integrated GPS so you can be found, assuming whoever it contacts has some sort of device equipped to communication with the IcePhone. Spec highlights:

GSM Quadband 850/900/1800/1900, GPRS/EDGE
7.2 Mbps HSDPA UMTS 2100 connectivity
Freescale iMX31 532 Mhz CPU
3″ 240 × 400 px 65K color transflective TFT touchscreen
Windows Mobile 6.0 Pro OS
3.1 mpx camera with autofocus and LED flash
Built-in GPS
Wi-Fi b/g
1250 mAh battery
Dimensions: 127×60.8×23.3 mm
Weight: 210 g
According to The Medical Phone Ltd, the IcePhone should be available in Thailand soon and in the UK before May of 2009, retailing at an even $1,000. We shall see…

ifun turn your iPhone into a Wiimote or projectile

Is iFun cool? Yes, very much so. Is risking the livelihood of your iPhone or iPod Touch in the name of gaming a good idea? Well, the jury is still out on that one. As seen in the relatively cheesy video above, iFun is a gaming suite by SGN that allows users to connect to a computer and use an iPhone or iPod Touch as a motion-controller while playing games. It’s reportedly a bit laggy, but still a very cool use case for Apple’s touchy devices. Still, we have to recommend you tread with caution here as there’s a reason the Wiimote has a wrist strap - to prevent it from flying out of your hand and impaling your TV. It’s one thing to sacrifice a $30 Wiimote to the gods of gaming but it’ll be hard to shrug off a $200+ loss when that iPhone slips out of your hand and smashes all over your wall or desk. Our advice? Listen to Shaq: “The law of physics states that a body in motion stays in motion. And if you have two objects that meet in the air, the smaller object is going to fall much harder at the same rate of speed it was going.”

Nokia E71 coming to AT&T as E71x

There it is people, looking sexy as ever - we can only hope that the “X” doesn’t stand for “Xtra crippled”. It looks like we’re now pretty close to seeing AT&T formally announce the E71, rebranded as the E71x, as a welcome addition to its smartphone line. The 6650 made it through the AT&T branding process relatively unscathed so we’re hoping the E71 can do the same. In terms of pricing, we’re hearing it should be in the neighborhood of $150 with a 2-year contract but that’s unconfirmed for the time being. So, S60 fans, start your drooling. Hit the jump for two more shots including a close up of the various AT&T apps you can expect.

Facebook for BlackBerry to be revamped in January

Let’s face it — the Facebook for BlackBerry appication isn’t anything to write home about. Most everything it can do can be achieved through simple SMS commands, so it’s really nothing more than looking at an ugly face through some seriously strong beer goggles. When MySpace for BlackBerry was launched a lot of people were impressed with how much it could do, something that brought up feelings of resentment for how little the Facebook app can do. Thankfully word has reached the net that BlackBerry users will be able to upgrade to a revamped Facebook for BlackBerry, specifically version 1.5, in January 2009. Designed for tighter integration with the address book and calendar of the BlackBerry, users will be able to view and save friends phone numbers, birthdays, and events to their calendars. Pretty neat-o, but it really begs the question as to why this wasn’t implemented long ago.

Confirmed: iPhone 3G coming to Wal-Mart on December 28th, select Sam’s Club stores as well

Shortly after we posted about the iPhone coming to Wal-Mart this morning, it seemed like all of our ninjas came out of the woodwork to bombard us with info. Rather than post an update, we want to lay out what is now confirmed info. First and foremost, it looks like Wal-Mart will indeed begin selling the iPhone 3G on December 28th in select locations only. When all is said and done, about 2,500 locations will offer the iPhone 3G. Some stores will also be getting live demo units to display just like Best Buy Mobile. What’s more, we’re also now getting word that 69 Sam’s Club locations (locations that use the Wal-Mart ordering system, not the Radio Shack ordering system) will offer the handset as well - also beginning on the 28th. As Sam’s Club is a division of Wal-Mart, this certainly makes sense. Unfortunately it looks like everyone is still in the dark with regards to pricing and we expect it to stay that way to avoid slowing MSRP iPhone sales during the holidays. Won’t people be happy when they find out Apple’s handsets popped up at discount prices three short days after Christmas? Hit the jump for some internal Wal-Mart correspondence.

Top 5 Cell Phone Makers Launch Green Charger Initiative

The world's top five handset manufacturers have launched a new campaign meant to reduce the amount of electricity consumed and wasted by mobile phones. The companies involved include Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and LG Electronics. The companies have implemented a rating system for cell phone chargers -- from zero to five stars -- that gives consumers a better idea of how efficient their chargers are. This will help them easily choose a more efficient charger. Cell phone chargers continue to draw electricity when left plugged in, even if the phone is not connected. Up to two-thirds of all the electricity consumed by cell phones is wasted by chargers that remain plugged into the wall.

Motorola Shoots Off Another 5MP Camera Phone

Motorola announced the VE66, a new phone that includes a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, LED flash, image stabilization and red-eye reduction. The VE66 is a slider that also has an MP3 player, FM radio with RDS and Wi-Fi. The VE66 is also the first Motorola phone to incorporate the use of widgets for Web-based content. Motorola did not state exactly what bands the VE66 supports, but it expects the VE66 to be available in the fourth quarter.

Kodak Tackles LG and Samsung for Patent Violations

Eastman Kodak has filed patent infringement lawsuits against cell phone makers LG and Samsung claiming the two are violating some of Kodak's digital imaging patents. The patents in question concern image compression, image capture, data storage, and previewing video content. Both LG and Samsung said they will fight the lawsuits. Kodak licenses its imaging patents to many other handset makers.

AT&T Offers Up LG's Incite

AT&T recently began selling the LG CT810 Incite, a Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone. The Incite has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios, tri-band 850/1900/2100 Mhz HSDPA, GPS, Wi-Fi, FM radio, and stereo Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. It has a 3-inch WQVGA touch screen for interacting with the phone's features. Specs include a 3 megapixel camera with video capture and Video Share. It has an accelerometer for switching between portrait and landscape mode and supports microSD cards up to 32GB. It costs $200 after rebates with new agreement.

Government Can Locate Mobile Phones Without Carrier Cooperation

Documents recently uncovered by the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation show that the federal government has the power to locate mobile phones without having to ask cellular network operators for help. Typically, the government needs to prove probable cause before it can access phone records to determine the location of suspects. Using "triggerfish" technology, the government can side-step that process. Triggerfish devices emulate cell phone towers and can trick a cell phone into broadcasting its serial number, phone number and other data that can be used to locate the mobile phone. The language in the documents unearthed by the ACLU and EFF specifically states that this technology can be used to circumvent the need for law enforcement to display probable cause to a judge before attempting to locate a suspect via their mobile phone.

Sony Ericsson G705 just released "$399.99"

The G705 handsets feature Google search on the standby screen as well as a built-in A-GPS module that backs up Google Maps and Wayfinder navigation software. The G705 is also the first Sony Ericsson cell phone to be compatible with Google's YouTube video service, meaning that videos recorded on the G705 can be uploaded directly do Google, and other YouTube videos can be viewed on the G705.

Sony Ericsson G705 available at Upnext Wireless at $399.99 without activation.


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HTC HD is released at Upnext Wireless

The Windows Mobile 6.1 powered HTC Touch HD smartphone features a large 3.8" 800x480 touchscreen display and offers the company's TouchFLO 3D user interface. Other notable features include a 5 megapixel shooter, GPS navigation, and HSDPA 3G connectivity Retail price without activation is $899.99
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T-Mobile's Gravity Goes On Sale

Today T-Mobile announced the availability of the Samsung SGH-t459 Gravity. The Gravity has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios and a full QWERTY keyboard that slides out sideways for messaging. The Gravity also has stereo Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel camera with video capture, and supports microSD cards up to 4GB. It is preloaded with a number of messaging and email clients, an MP3 player, and mobile Web access. The Gravity costs $50 after rebates with new agreement and is available in retail stores starting today, and on the T-Mobile Web site beginning November 18.

Verizon Wireless Announces the Samsung Saga and Renown

Verizon Wireless is adding two more world phones from Samsung to its ranks. Shared features include EV-DO 3G for data in the U.S. and quad-band GSM/GPRS radios for roaming abroad, stereo Bluetooth, support for microSD cards, and 2 megapixel cameras.

Saga: This Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional smartphone has a touch screen and full QWERTY keyboard. It includes an optical mouse, Wi-Fi, and the Opera Mobile browser. The Saga will cost $200 after rebates with new agreement and is available via telesales starting today, with December 1 set as the date for retail availability.
Renown: This clamshell is a feature phone that has visual voice mail, an MP3 player and access to Verizon's V CAST services. It will cost $180 after rebate with new agreement and will be in stores starting December 1.

Google Brings Voice-Enabled Search to the iPhone

Google is set to make a new application available to the iPhone that will allow users to conduct searches by speaking their queries into the handset rather than typing them in. Questions asked are converted into digital files and sent to Google's servers for processing. Once processed, the text is sent to Google's regular search servers and the search results are then returned to the iPhone. It will also use GPS information to return results that are relevant to the user's location. Google competitors Microsoft and Yahoo already offer similar services via their TellMe and oneSearch applications. The application will be available through the iPhone Apps Store.

Sony Creates 12 Megapixel Chip for Phones

Today, Sony announced a new range of CMOS chips for camera phones. The Exmor range includes new modules that rate 5.15 megapixels, 8.11 megapixels and 12.25 megapixels. The modules include the sensor, lens and autofocus mechanism. The "piezo" type lens motor used reduces power consumption when shooting video images. The 8.11 megapixel module will be available to handset manufacturers this month, and the 5.15 and 12.25 megapixel modules will be available to handset makers starting in March 2009. Sony did not announce any specific phones that will be using these modules.

AT&T Brings S60 Back with the 6650

AT&T announced that it has added the Nokia 6650 to its ranks. The 6650 is a clamshell that runs Nokia's S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 and has quad-band GSM/EDGE and 850/1900 WCDMA for AT&T's 3G network. Other features include a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR with support for A2DP stereo, aGPS and a 3.5mm headset jack. The 6650 supports microSD cards up to 8GB. It will be available at AT&T retail stores nationwide starting November 14 for $70 with new agreement after rebates.

BlackBerry Storm to Be Available Nov. 21 for $200

Verizon Wireless is displaying the BlackBerry Storm on its home page. Some of the information included reveals the availability date, which will be Friday, November 21. Verizon also mentions that the price after $50 rebate with new two-year agreement will be $200.

RIM Bringing the BlackBerry 8900 to the U.S.

Today RIM and T-Mobile announced the BlackBerry 8900 in Germany. RIM also said that the 8900 will be launching in most other countries, including the U.S., in the first quarter of 2009. The 8900 has quad-band GSM/EDGE, Wi-Fi and GPS radios. It has a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and autofocus. It supports microSDHC cards up to 16GB, has a 512MHz processor, and the 2.4-inch screen measures 480 x 360 pixels for HVGA+ resolution. RIM did not say exactly when the 8900 will be available in the U.S., nor how much it will cost.

HTC Announces GSM Phone With WiMax On Board

Today HTC announced the MAX 4G, a new mobile phone that is one of the first to include cellular and WiMax radios. The MAX 4G runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and has tri-band GSM/EDGE 900/1800/1900 radios, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, GPS and FM radio. It also carries a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and user-facing VGA camera, accelerometer and proximity sensors, and the TouchFLO 3D user interface. The MAX 4G will only be available in Russia on the Yota network. It is compatible with Yota Mobile's 2.5-2.7 GHz WiMax network. It has a 3.5mm headset jack and supports microSD cards up to 8GB.

from HTC

Nokia E63 breaks free for mass market consumption

The E63 just broke the shackles of the rumor monger to become Nokia's latest messaging device. With a pre-tax, pre-subsidy price of just €199, Nokia hopes to see the Symbian S60 device generate some mass-market appeal. So let's see: WiFi, physical QWERTY, choice of ruby red or aquamarine blue, standard 3.5-mm audio jack, camera with video recording, and the ability to switch from an E-series business mode (corporate email, appointments, intranet) to personal mode (pictures, personal email, and browser shortcuts) with a single key press -- sounds like a winning combination to us. Nokia's even tossing in 1GB of Ovi file storage for free when the E63 begins shipping in the coming weeks -- where, is Nokia's little secret for now. We'll update you with the hard details just as soon as Nokia releases them. Until then, check the blue version after the break.

Update: We were able to hack forth the following detail from the bowels of Nokia's website: 113 x 59 x 13-mm / 126g form factor, 320 x 240 pixel display, quad-band GSM / EDGE with 660 minute talk / 432 hours standby, microSD memory slot with 110MB internal memory, 2 megapixel camera capable of QVGA video @ 15fps, and of course, Bluetooth. It'll also be released in WCDMA 900/2100, 850/1900, and 850/2100 configurations. Sorry, no HSDPA data or infrared like that found on the E71.

AT&T Lights Up HTC's Fuze

Today HTC announced that the Fuze is now available to AT&T customers. The Fuze is a GSM version of the Touch Pro. It carries quad-band GSM/EDGE radios, as well as 850/1900/2100 tri-band HSDPA. Other radios include Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP stereo, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and GPS. It has a VGA touch screen, a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The Fuze runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional with HTC's TouchFLO 3D user interface and supports microSDHC cards. It will cost $300 after rebates with new agreement. It is available via AT&T's web site, AT&T-owned stores, and it will be at other retail outlets in the coming weeks.

BlackBerry Storm Verizon Price Confirmed, Release Date Delayed

According to Verizon sources, the BlackBerry Storm release has been delayed until November 23rd due to a last minute software glitch that needed to be corrected. Sure that's big news, but even bigger news is the price. The BlackBerry Storm will be priced at $199.99 for individuals and "no more than $89.99 for businesses". RIM is serious about not losing business customers to the iPhone. Just weeks away from the release and the battle royale between the Storm and the iPhone

New Blackberry: Bold, Brighter... Worth It?

G1: 'Worthy Competitor' for iPhone

T-Mobile Cameo photo frame launches this month for $99.99

We never thought we'd live to see the day that digital photo frames had cooler phones than our parents. Actually, okay, that doesn't surprise us at all -- and T-Mobile's helping us live out that reality with the Cameo, its Parrot-sourced frame that features integrated GSM hardware and a dedicated phone number that lets loved ones shoot pictures to it from afar via MMS or email. The rumored details have turned out to be spot-on, meaning that you'll be paying $99.99 for the frame plus another $9.99 monthly to keep the line active. An exact launch date has yet to be revealed, it'll be available at some point in mid-November.

Microsoft CEO Confirms Windows Mobile 6.5

Speaking at an event in Australia, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer mentioned that Windows Mobile 6.5 is part of the company's roadmap toward Windows Mobile 7. The existance of a version of Windows Mobile between 6.1 and 7 had not previously been discussed openly by Microsoft. Ballmer did not provide any details about the new version of Windows Mobile and what features it would include, but he did indicate that devices will be running 6.5 starting some time in 2009.

Samsung Surpasses Motorola in the U.S.

Motorola lost the number one handset provider position to Samsung after its market share fell in the third quarter to 21.1%. Samsung made gains and grabbed 22.4%, edging out Motorola for the top spot. Motorola had been number one in the U.S. since 2004.

T-Mobile Announces Holiday Line-Up

Today T-Mobile announced its line-up of new devices for the holiday shopping season. Among the bunch are two new Samsung handsets.

Behold: This touch-based phone has a full-QWERTY on-screen keyboard with haptic feedback, and a 5 megapixel camera with flash that can capture video. It has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios as well as 1700/2100MHz 3G radios, which makes the Behold compatible with T-Mobile's 3G network. The Behold also has a full Web browser stereo Bluetooth, and GPS. It will be boxed with a 1GB microSD card. The Behold will be available starting November 10.
Gravity: The Gravity is a messaging-focused device that has a full slide-out keyboard and support for IM, text, multimedia and video messaging. It also has a 1.3 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth and support for microSD cards up to 4GB. It will be available starting on November 17.

from T-Mobile

AT&T Buys Wayport, Adds to Wi-Fi Hot Spots

AT&T has agreed to acquire Wayport for $275 million in cash. Wayport operates a network of Wi-Fi hot spots at locations such as McDonalds and several hotel chains. The deal will add free Wi-Fi access for iPhone and BlackBerry users at an additional 2,800 locations, including Wyndham, Marriott Vacation Club and Four Seasons hotels. With the acquisition, AT&T will control some 20,000 Wi-Fi hot spots in the U.S.

Verizon Wireless Announces Global Plans for BlackBerry Storm

Verizon Wireless announced some details regarding the plans that will be available for the upcoming BlackBerry Storm. Because the Storm has global capabilities, Verizon is offering a slew of plans that focus on overseas travelers. The Global Value Plan offers discounted roaming charges on calls made to and from 130 countries for $4.99 per month. Verizon is also offering a global flat-rate email, data and messaging plan that covers the U.S. and abroad. The GlobalEmail Data Plan will cost $70 per month alone, or $65 per month when attached to a voice plan. Verizon Wireless has yet to announce the retail price of the Storm, and when it will become available.

Sony Ericsson Uses MTV Event to Announce W705

Sony Ericsson showcased the W705 Walkman phone at the MTV Europe Music Awards today. The W705 carries all the same music features as the W980, which include high-quality audio and Sony's SensMe, Track ID and Shake control functions. The W705 has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios and support for European 900/2100MHz 3G networks. It also has stereo Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and an FM radio with RDS. The W705 carries a 3.2 megapixel camera with photo light and video capture. Other specs include an accelerometer for gaming, Google Maps, the NetFront browser and support for Microsoft Exchange. It will be boxed with a 4GB M2 memory card and will be available in select markets starting in the first quarter of 2009. Another variant, the W705u, will support UMA features.

FCC Approves Sprint / Clearwire Merger

Today the FCC approved the proposed merger of Sprint's WiMax business and WiMax provider Clearwire. Sprint and Clearwire will pool resources and the resources of companies such as Intel, Google and Microsoft to build a high-speed wireless network using WiMax technology. The merger has already been approved by the Department of Justice.

HTC G1 in stock at Upnext Wireless

T-Mobile G1 available in stock for $499.99. The first phone with Google's Android smartphone platform. Multiple input methods include a large capacitive touch-screen, trackball, and large QWERTY keyboard. Other key features include 3 megapixel camera, WiFi, accelerometer, and seamless integration with Google services.

T-Mobile Snags Motorola's Zine ZN5

T-Mobile and Motorola announced that the Zine ZN5 cameraphone will be available for sale starting today for $100 after rebate with new agreement. The ZN5 has a five megapixel Kodak camera with autofocus, xenon flash and panorama shooting mode. It's a quad-band GSM/EDGE monoblock phone and also has an FM radio, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It will be boxed with a 1GB microSD card, but can support cards up to 4GB.

upnext exclusive designer t-shirt giveaway

Purchase any mobile phones with activation or without activation and recieve the 1st designer Upnext t-shirt complimentary.

Exchange Client for Android in the Works

A company called Aardvarks Labs is working on a Microsoft Exchange client for the Android platform. Having an Exchange client would allow users of the HTC G1 and other Android phones to access their corporate email. Aardvark says the client will be available in beta form in the near future, and is slated for a full release in the first quarter of 2009.

Deutsche Telekom May Own Too Much of T-Mobile USA

The Verizon Wireless-Alltel acquisition has caused the FCC to review other carriers and it has found that Deutsche Telekom is violating U.S. law by owning too much of T-Mobile USA. Deutsche Telekom owns 30% of T-Mobile USA, and the legal limit states that foreign entities cannot own more than 20% of an entity controlling a common carrier license. The FCC sent T-Mobile USA a letter asking how it might come into compliance with the law. T-Mobile has 30 days to respond and is considering its options, which could entail some simple paperwork.

Sprint Plans to Revive Nextel Network

Sprint Nextel announced that it is going to "rejuvenate" its Nextel iDEN network. It decided that the iDEN network is a key asset, and it will do what is necessary to reinvigorate the Nextel services and brand. To that end, Sprint and Motorola have extended their commitments to one another. Sprint said it will launch 8 new iDEN phones during 2009. Sprint has strengthened the iDEN network with more cell towers. Sprint also mentioned that it is re-tooling its Boost Mobile pre-paid service. In early 2009, Boost Mobile plans to introduce Boost Unlimited on the iDEN network, offering a nationwide home calling area for one monthly fee. In light of this announcement, it is clear that Sprint no longer intends to sell the Nextel network.

Motorola dropping all but 3 phone platforms

Motorola's chief of its mobile division, Sanjay Jha, is working hard to restore that part of the company to profitability. Motorola currently uses 7 different platforms for its various cell phone models, and Jha has stated he will cut that down to three.

In the future, Motorola's business-focused smartphones will continue to use Windows Mobile, while its low-end handsets will use the internally-developed P2K system. The remaining cell phones will apparently use Google's Android operating system. The reduction in supported systems will likely result in thousands of layoffs, expected as early as tomorrow when the company reports its quarterly earnings.

Interestingly, there is no mention of Symbian, despite Motorola being one of the early members of the new Symbian Foundation. [via Wall Street Journal]

Motorola posts huge Q3 loss, hangs on to #3 spot

Things do not appear to be looking up for Motorola. While some of its latest cell phones, like the ZN4 Krave and MOTOZINE ZN5, seem to be quite solid, the company shipped far fewer phones for Q3 2008 than it had in the prior quarter of this year. Motorola reported that it moved 25.4 million cell phones in Q3, down from 28.1 million in Q2 of this year. It is worth noting that the 25.4 million figure would have put Motorola in the #4 market share position behind LG last quarter. It is a stroke of good luck for Motorola, then, that LG also saw a reduced number of units shipped in Q3, shipping only 23.0 million cell phones, which keeps it in the #4 position for now.

Motorola's Mobile Devices unit posted total sales of $3.1 billion for this past quarter, down slightly from the $3.3 billion figure it posted in Q2 of 2008, but down a massive 31% from this time last year. Motorola as a whole posted a net loss of $397 million compared with the $4 million profit it posted last quarter, due largely to the fact that the Mobile Devices unit entered a huge $840 million loss for Q3 instead of the smaller $346 million loss it posted in Q2.

Today's announcement says that we should not expect the separation of the Mobile Devices unit of Motorola from the rest of the company until sometime "beyond 2009." As part of his plan to make the company leaner in preparation for a possible sale, Motorola's Mobile Devices CEO, Sanjay Jha, is expected today to outline a plan for additional layoffs in his unit, as well as revealing a plan to drastically cut the number of mobile phone platforms his company supports. Multiple news sources have reported that his plans are to focus on Motorola's own P2K platform, Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform, and Google's new Android OS platform.

Motorola RAZR2 V9x Appears on AT&T Site

AT&T recently began selling the Motorola RAZR2 V9x. The V9x shares most features with the V9, but adds support for AT&T's Navigator service and makes other improvements compared to the V9. Among the new features on the phone are access to more features from the external display; Video Share; boosted memory support for up to 8GB; and increased talk and stand-by times. It sells for $200 after rebates with new agreement.

FCC approves the Nokia N85 with AT&T 3G support

The Nokia N85 for North America slipped through the FCC today, sporting much-anticipated tri-band UMTS (850/1900/2100MHz) support for both AT&T's 3G network and European 3G networks. Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) support is also on board as a backup system.

The Nokia N85 features a 2.6" AMOLED(INFO) display in addition to a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual-LED flash. The phone is also loaded up with an FM transmitter, a microSD card slot, and a standard 3.5mm audio port that pulls double-duty for the TV-out function.

AT&T Offers Free Wi-Fi to BlackBerries, iPhone

AT&T if offering free access to its network of Wi-Fi hot spots to owners of the iPhone and certain BlackBerry devices. AT&T has more than 17,000 hot spots at Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and thousands of other locations. iPhone owners and BlackBerry owners need to have unlimited data plans in order to use the free Wi-Fi. Initially just the BlackBerry Bold will be supported upon its release November 4, but AT&T will add support for the BlackBerry Pearl and 8820 later this year.

T-Mobile to unveil new data/messaging plans soon

New rumors have come to light of a few price changes for T-Mobile's data plans across the board. The new pricing apparently offers unlimited data and messaging for $34.99/month for all devices, including BlackBerries. The Android powered T-Mobile G1 already is available with a $35 unlimited data and messaging plan. The new unlimited plans will reportedly be soft-capped at 10GB of usage, after which speeds will be throttled back to 50kbps.

For "Phone First" devices and the T-Mobile Shadow there will be two bucket plans offered: 100MB data with unlimited messaging and 50MB data with 400 messages. The 100MB/unlimited messaging plan is expected to cost $19.99, while the 50MB/400 message plan is slated to come in at $9.99/month.

These new prices and packages are still unconfirmed, and are expected to be officially announced sometime in early November.

Samsung Forges E-Paper Out of Nanotubes

Samsung Electronics and Unidym have demonstrated the world's first carbon nanotube-based color active matrix electrophoretic display (EPD) e-paper. Carbon nanotubes have extraordinary electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The EPD has distinct advantages over today's standard flat panel displays. They have very low power consumption and are highly readable even in direct sunlight. Because the EPD uses carbon nanotubes, applications can include e-paper and displays that are very thin. Samsung and Unidym showed off a 14.3-inch display, but the technology can be used for touch screens, point-of-sale terminals, games, portable computers, cell phones, personal digital assistants, and other hardware.

SE C905 in stock! Only $629.99

The Sony Ericsson C905 has very stunning looks. This device connects with people from any region of the world due to the presence of options such as HSCSD, Bluetooth, EDGE and Internet too. File transfer on this gadget becomes very simple due to the presence of these options. The phone can be used for entertainment purposes too. The 8 GB camera of the mobile can give a resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels. This camera can be used to capture scintillating pictures and videos too. There is also the option to listen to music with the music player and FM radio bringing the latest songs. The user can also play fascinating games on this device. Sony Ericsson C905 is fitted with a battery that gives long hours of run-time. The user can now make use of the WAP browser to surf internet and download files for storing them in the large 2 MP memory of the mobile

Samsung Plans to Offer TouchWiz Phones in the U.S.

Today Samsung announced that it is prepared to bring several new handsets to the U.S. market that run its TouchWiz user interface. TouchWiz has customizable widgets that let users personalize their phone. The icons provide a one-touch access point to a user’s favorite and most commonly used applications and features. Widgets are organized within the widget tray located on the left side of the home screen of the phone. By expanding the widget tray, users can drag and drop widgets onto the phone's home screen. Samsung Mobile expects to launch several full touchscreen devices with TouchWiz technology in late 2008 and early 2009.

Motorola new luxury phone-AURA

Motorola announced its new luxury phone, the Motorola AURA.

AURA features the world’s first circular display with 16 million colors and 300 dpi resolution.

The display is covered with Grade 1, 62-carat sapphire crystal lens, one of the most scratch-resistant materials on earth, and the housing is crafted from stainless steel that is electro- and hand polished, chemically etched, and PVD coated. The handset has an assisted-opening blade that is comprised of a Swiss-made, custom-engineered rotating mechanism with 130 precision ball bearings and custom Tungsten Carbide Coated Gears.

To separate the phone from the full, we should tell you that the AURA sports quad-Band GSM 850/900/1800/1900, EDGE, a 2 MP Fixed Focus camera, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR with A2DP, text and email messaging, multimedia playback, and a yet to be named open source browser. It is expected to launch worldwide at the beginning of Q4 2008.

Nokia Concept

By Designer Mac Funamizu.

Using a nondescript tactile feedback technology, its surface adapts to different purposes while the e-ink screen envelops the phone in graphics and information.