Windows Live Comes To Nokia Smartphones

source: Nokia

Nokia and Microsoft today announced that Windows Live software is available to S60 users in select EMEA countries. The software gives S60 third edition users access to Windows Live Messenger, Hotmail, Contacts and Spaces and integrates many of these services into the phone. It is available as a free trial in 11 countries but will require a subscription in several of them after the trial runs out. Also in today's announcement, Nokia said that additional Windows Live services will come to both S60 and Series 40 phones next year. Yahoo! also has a similar deal with Nokia.

Alltel adds MAP AND GPS features.

Alltel launched a new location-based service application that will help subscribers find maps and directions to various points of interest. The service, which can be downloaded from Alltel's Axcess store, is called Where. Subscribers with GPS-enabled phones can use it to find places such as restaurants and gas stations, and will be given real-time weather and traffic conditions along with the mapping and driving directions. It will work with five phones to start: the Hue, the LG AX8600, the Samsung u520, the Wafer and the Wave. The service will cost $2.99 per month.

Source: Alltel

Nokia unveils an AWESOME flip phone

The Nokia 6555 is a quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band WCDMA 850/2100 3G clamshell that also has two cameras for video sharing services. It is an addition to Nokia's style collection, and has a curved profile when open. The hinge is hidden, creating a smooth back to the phone. It has dual displays and the interior screen has QVGA resolution. The camera is 1.3 Megapixels and it also has Bluetooth, support for up to 4GB in the microSD slot, and it runs the Series 40 platform. It is available in several colors and goes on sale next month for 200 Euros.

Source: Nokia

Verizon Wireless Announces New Integrated Music Service

Verizon Wireless is partnering with MTV and RealNetworks to deliver a comprehensive digital music service that stretches across PCs, MP3 players and cell phones. MTV and Real have formed a new company called Rhapsody America, which will offer MTV's URGE content via Real's technology. Verizon has teamed up with this new entity and will add its V CAST Music service to the mix, allowing subscribers over-the-air access to Rhapsody content, which includes album art, music, ringtones and videos, from their handsets. In addition, Verizon stated that it will offer phones that can hold up to 8GB of media by the end of this year, and 16GB in 2008. Music from Universal will be DRM free from the start, and Real's other DRM-free music will be added over time. Verizon did not state what format the OTA tracks would be available in, nor anything on pricing or when the full service will launch.

Source: Verizon

Google Probably Entering Auction 73

Google CEO Eric Schmidt said the company would probably participate in the 700 MHz auction next year. Google had been hoping the FCC would mandate that companies that won the new spectrum resell access to it at a wholesale price. However the FCC did not include this provision, and only set aside one-third of the spectrum for open access to all device and software. However additional comments from Schmidt indicate the company sees providing wireless access as yet another way to allow the internet to grow and keep it open.

Source: Reuters

Verizon releases the NEW Q9M Smartphone

Verizon today made Motorola's Q9m smartphone available to online buyers. Although the Q9m is similar to the HSDPA Q9h, this EV-DO version features slightly different styling and downgrades some features. It shares the Q9h's keyboard, screen, Windows Mobile 6 standard (Smartphone) and stereo Bluetooth but uses Mini SD instead of MicroSD and downgrades the camera to 1.3 Megapixels. It also features a new multimedia home screen. The Q9m is only available from Verizon's website for $250 with a 2-year contract and rebates.

Two Nokia Handsets RUSH the FCC

source: FCC

The FCC recently approved two new handsets from Nokia, including an 8GB version of the N95 and the first 3G Nokia for T-Mobile in the U.S. No carriers have announced plans to carry either phone.

N95 8GB: This update of the N95 boosts the capacity of the internal memory from 4GB via card to 8GB internal. Most other specs remain similar, including its quad-band GSM/EDGE and 2100 MHz 3G radios. It also brings over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Its appearance has changed a bit, though, and it includes a piano black finish and the keys are a bit smaller than the original version. 6263: The 6263 is a U.S. variant of the 6267 flip. It has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios as well as AWS 1700 MHz WCDMA. This will make it T-Mobile's first 3G phone from Nokia. Features that it will likely carry over from the 6267 are stereo Bluetooth,

Firms Create Visual Voicemail for Mass-Market Handsets

source: Action Engine / SimulScribe

Action Engine and Acision worked together to create a visual voicemail service for BREW, Java and Windows Mobile phones. The on-device application will allow operators to offer visual voicemail services to their subscribers. The application replaces the standard voicemail box and lets users see and scroll through their voicemails, play messages in any order, and manage them like email. It also converts voicemails to text and sends them to an email address of your choosing. The service is similar to SimulScribe's visual voicemail product for BlackBerries and Windows Mobile (beta). SimulScribe's service allows users to consolidate all their voice lines into a single voicemail box where they are converted to emails and sent to your BlackBerry or Windows Mobile device so they can be read and managed more easily.

Qwest First In US With HTC Slide-Out Smartphone

Qwest Wireless today launched the HTC 5800 "Fusion," a small candybar style smartphone with a numeric keypad on the front and slide-out QWERTY keyboard underneath. This is the first version of HTC's Libra / S720 to launch in the States. It features Windows Mobile 6 Standard (Smartphone), stereo Bluetooth, 2 Megapixel camera, and MicroSD slot. Although it is distinctively a smartphone, the Fusion shares DNA with HTC's slide-out Pocket PCs available on all major US carriers. A similar GSM version called the Vox has also been announced by HTC but has not been shown for any US carrier yet.

Source: QWest

US version of the Nokia N95 passed FCC

A third version of the Nokia N95 multimedia computer has cleared the FCC. This newest version includes quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band WCDMA 850/1900 for use in the States. It carries over most specifications from the standard European version, including 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooth, GPS and a 5 Megapixel camera. It runs the Symbian S60 platform, and has a microSD slot for media storage. None of the versions are officially offered by any U.S. carrier, but this version will work on AT&T's 3G network. There is no word on what pricing will be.

Source : FCC

Sprint to make new walkie talkie phones for BOTH networks

print today also announced that it will launch CDMA handsets with Nextel Direct Connect early next year. This is not a hybrid CDMA / iDEN technology, but rather a compatible Push To Talk technology using the CDMA network which Sprint successfully tested late last month. Sprint said these handsets will come in a variety of styles, from ruggedized to sleek, and a variety of manufacturers. Sprint will continue branding their walkie talkie service Nextel Direct Connect as these new CDMA handsets will be able to work with iDEN handsets as well as each other. Sprint will also add new features to Direct Connect with these phones, including a single number for voice and PTT as well as PTT voicemail.

Source: Sprint

Smallest Palm Smartphone Coming To Sprint

source: Gear Log

Sprint today showed off the Palm Centro at a preview event. The Centro has similar specs and features to the Treo 755p, but in a much smaller body - the smallest one Palm has created to date. It will be a 90 day Sprint exclusive, and is expected to launch for $99 with a contract. Sprint also showed off several new handsets that are coming including CDMA versions of the HTC Touch and Blackberry Pearl as well as a new messaging phone from LG and a candybar phone from Sanyo.

NEW THIN HELOI FIN PHONE RELEASE

Helio today is launching the Fin, Helio's first flip phone. It is based on Samsung's Ultra series clamshell, like Sprint's M610 and AT&T's A717, but even thinner at 11.4 mm and with an upgraded 3 megapixel camera. The Fin shares the rest of the Ultra's features including stereo Bluetooth, microSD slot, large QVGA display, OLED caller ID display, and 100 MB of internal storage. The Fin shares the Ocean's new unified messaging app. Helio is also launching two new services for both the Fin and Ocean: turn-by-turn GPS-enabled driving directions by Garmin, and an update to the HOT (Helio On Top) home screen feature that can integrate any RSS feeds the user wants.

Source: Helio

2 NEW iDEN PHONES COMING OUT. Boost/Nextel

The FCC has approved two additional entry level iDEN handsets. The i290 and i425 are both slim candybar handsets, similar in style, but with slightly different styling and screen types. Both are clearly based on the same platform as the i335 seen last month as they share the same shape and features. The i290 is a plain, unbranded device that will likely come to Sprint. The i335 seems to be a ruggedized version of this handset. The i425 for Boost adds a dedicated web access key and voicemail indicator. It is not known whether will Boost will launch this iDEN model or shift completely to the unlimited CDMA calling plans it is experimenting with.

Source: FCC

AT&T Adds 3G Trax to Lineup

AT&T has added another music phone to its portfolio, the LG CU575 trax. The trax is a quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band UMTS/HSDPA 3G clamshell. It has an external touchpad that lets users access their music, stereo Bluetooth, and a microSD slot that supports cards up to 4GB for media storage. The trax has a 1.3 megapixel camera and is also compatible with AT&T's 3G services, such as Video Share. It goes on sale August 14 for $129.

source: AT&T

Sanyo to sell their handset business???!?!?!

Sanyo is reportedly in talks to sell off its handset business. Despite mild success in Japan and the US, handsets are still a loss maker for Sanyo. They are looking at other Japanese handset manufacturers as potential buyers - most likely Sharp and Kyocera. Sanyo previously tried to split off its handset unit into a joint venture with Nokia's CDMA division, however that deal failed shortly after it was announced leaving Sanyo with the money-losing business.

source: Reuters

HTC Iris Approved By the FCC

The FCC approved a new CDMA smartphone by HTC yesterday. The documents make clear that is has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, in addition to CDMA EV-DO. Additional rumors around this device claim it's a Windows Mobile candybar with a thumb keyboard similar in style to new Blackberries. No carriers have announced plans to carry this device, but it is compatible with Verizon and Sprint's networks.

Source: FCC / Unwired View

Nokia Issues Advisory On BL-5C Battery

source: Associated Press / Nokia

Nokia today has offered to replace 46 million BL-5C batteries manufactured between December 2005 and November 2006. The batteries, manufactured by Matsushita, could be faulty and overheat. Nokia said 100 cases of this have been discovered so far. The BL-5C is used in some of Nokia's most popular models such as the 1100, 6230, and 6682 as well as some Nseries and Eseries handsets. Owners can enter their battery serial into a web form and Nokia will replace models that are from the potentially hazardous lot.

First HSUPA Data Card Approved

The FCC today approved the Option GlobeTrotter Express HSUPA, the first HSUPA data card for use in the US. The new card from Option has Tri-band (850/1900/2100) HSUPA - the latest 3G standard capable of download speeds up to 7.2 Mbps and upload speeds over 2 Mbps. The card also offers compatibility with older 3G protocols, WCDMA and HSDPA, as well as quad-band EDGE. This spring AT&T announced it would be rolling out an HSUPA upgrade to its 3G network later this year. This card will likely help AT&T launch the upgraded service.

Source: FCC

NEW Moto Q9 coming to CDMA

Motorola has leaked the existence of the Q9m, a CDMA version of the new Q9, by publishing a picture of the model in a new charging stand. Motorola has not officially announced the Q9m, so it is unknown if it matches the specs of the Q9h. However the picture does clearly show a Verizon-branded device running Windows Mobile 6 Standard as well as showing off a new home screen with multimedia shortcuts. The HSDPA Q9h features 2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooth and 256 MB of on board memory.

Source: Motorola

Will Nokia be able to produce same quality?

Nokia has decided to hand off its 3G chip development to STMicroelectronics. STMicro will license Nokia's 3G technology to design and build chips for cell phones. Nokia is also going to license its modem technology to other manufacturers. The move comes as Nokia is in the midst of restructuring its internal organization. It had traditionally used Texas Instruments to build its chips, but Nokia will now use STMicro, Broadcom, Infineon and Texas Instruments to supply a range of GSM, EDGE and WCDMA chips for its handsets. The new arrangement will allow Nokia to draw from a wider base of suppliers and let it refocus on other core competencies.

Somebody CONTROL the roaming rates

FCC Sets New Roaming Rules

source: RCR News

The FCC has decreed that wireless network operators have to let competitors' subscribers roam onto their networks for what it calls reasonable and non-discriminatory rates. The new ruling will apply to voice, SMS and PTT services, but not other wireless data or broadband services. The FCC vote was unanimous, but didn't set limits on what those roaming charges should be.

Tmobile coming to landlines???

FCC Reveals New HotSpot @Home Router - With Phone Jacks source: FCC / Engadget Mobile

The FCC has approved a new Linksys Router with T-Mobile HotSpot @Home branding in some of the documents. This new model includes 2 SIM slots and 2 phone jacks in addition the previous ethernet jacks and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi. Although not much detail is revealed in the manual, it appears that the two SIM cards will provide separate telephone numbers for the two phone jacks, one of which can be hooked to a regular phone, while the other is more flexible and can be connected fax machines and other wireline devices as well as phones.

Yet, another buy out.

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Verizon Picks Up Ramcell

source: Verizon Wireless

Ramcell, a regional network operator with coverage in Kentucky and Oregon, was purchased by Verizon Wireless for an undisclosed sum. The spectrum licenses and 51 cell sites will allow Verizon to cover an additional 300,000 people in Kentucky and 274,000 people in Oregon. Ramcell's TDMA network in Kentucky will be transitioned to CDMA technology, including EV-DO Rev. A. Verizon will also upgrade Ramcell's CDMA network in Oregon to EV-DO Rev. A. Both network upgrades should be complete by mid-2008.

RAZR2 comes out soon!!!

RAZR2 To Be Available Via Most U.S. Carriers

source: Motorola

Today, Motorola announced that most U.S. wireless operators will begin selling the Motorola RAZR2 in the coming weeks. Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon Wireless will all carry versions of the device, which was originally debuted by Motorola in May. Sprint and Verizon Wireless will both be selling the V9m variant for $250 and $300, respectively. It will be available from Sprint's online store beginning August 22, and in Sprint retail stores by September 4. Verizon has not given a firm availability date yet, but said it will be sometime in September. The other U.S. carriers have yet to announce specific pricing and availability, but all plan to offer the device in the near future.

Finally.. A new Nextel phone

1 new hybrid..... 1 new nextel

Motorola Shows Off Two New Nextel Phones source: Gearlog

Motorola yesterday previewed two new walkie talkie phones for Sprint.

• ic602: A successor to the Blend / Buzz line of CDMA / iDEN hybrid phones. Features the same clamshell design but adds a camera to the Buzz's monochrome external screen.
• i335: An entry level ruggedized candybar phone for the iDEN network with a sleeker look than past models. Features a small color screen and the typical walkie talkie and speakerphone features.

Court denies Qualcomm's appeal

With 2 Days Left, Administration Denies Qualcomm Veto

source: Forbes

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab today denied Qualcomm's plea to reverse the import ban on products using its 3G chips. Qualcomm will now approach the Appellate Court one last time before the ban goes into effect on August 8. Some carriers have chosen to license Broadcom's patents on their own to ensure new product launches after Wednesday's deadline, while Qualcomm and Sprint have been testing a work-around. Qualcomm has not publicly made any efforts to reconcile with Broadcom directly. Should no stay or resolution be reached by Wednesday, carriers who have not licensed Broadcom's technology will only be able to launch models that had been imported into the U.S. before June 6th's ban

Samsung makes flip phone with new keypad style

T-Mobile Begins Advertising New Samsung Slider

source: FCC / T-Mobile

T-Mobile has begun feature the Samsung T729 / Blast in commercials recently. This slider is the follow up to the T719 clamshell and includes a similar SureType-style keypad with two letters on each key in a QWERTY arrangement. Recent FCC documents and support documents from T-Mobile reveal the T729 features a 1.3 Megapixel camera and Bluetooth like its predecessor and appears to add a MicroSD slot. The keyboard can be used in any application, however no mention is made of any Blackberry email application in the documentation. Neither T-Mobile nor Samsung have officially announced the T729 but since ads have started, a launch will most likely occur soon

Nokia releases 2 really cool Nokia phones

Nokia Sheds Light On the Prism Collection source: Nokia

The two Prism phones announced by Nokia today are part of its fashion phone collection and will be available in the third quarter of this year. Both feature the diamond-cut styling and prism-like, light-refracting surfaces. They run Series 40 3rd edition.

• 7900 Prism: This monoblock phone with an anodized aluminum back contains quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band WCDMA 850/2100 radios. The display is an organic LED and can show 16 million colors. The wallpaper changes hue over the course of the day to reflect the time and changes in signal strength. It has a customizable set of colors that users can choose from to set the backlight behind the main display and under the keypad. It also has a 2 megapixel camera with flash and 1 GB of internal memory. It will cost 400 Euros.
• 7500 Prism: The 7500 is a step down from the 7900 in that it is tri-band GSM/EDGE and does not have 3G. It has a standard QVGA display rather than the OLED. It retains the 2 megapixel camera and flash, but loses the internal memory for a microSD slot instead. It is also made mostly of plastic and will cost 210 Euros.

Samsung passes up Motorola

Motorola sales have been slipping in the wireless division which allow Samsung to pass them up the 2nd spot just behind Nokia.

Personally, I am not a fan of Motorola phones and never will be. They go for quick cheap flash thrills and are not making a solid phone w/ reliable software. Remind me of Microsoft vs. Apple.


I like: Samsung, Blackberry, Treo(Palm One) , Nokia

Personal Blackberry 8830 Sprint review

Just started playing w/ the new BB 8830. Cant complain about anything. I love all the features. I REALLY LOVE the GPS and maps feature.


Things I like so far
-------
The new ball is much better than the old scroll wheel
internet is too fast
great colors and LCD
great battery life


cons
-----
soft speaker
confusing message folder
confusing to send to a standard text


overall once you get use this phone it is amazing. We all love it at the office.

Getting them activated was another story. The people are sprint do not exactly know what they are doing. They ended up telling me I had to take them to a sprint store to activate them. THe guy helping me said they were just idiots. Nuff said.

Get this phone if you want a good solid PDA. Touch screen isnt my thing.

We just switched from Nextel to sprint

Just retired our Nextel plan for our company and got Blackberry 8830 phones for all of our lines. This is the best blackberry yet.

I have used the old nextel blackberry and you cannot even tell they are made the same company.

So far it has made our business operate a lot smoother and we input all of our day to day operations in there.

Blackberry chat is always a plus too.

GOOGLE IS TAKING OVER!!!!!

Google Shopping Phone To Carriers and Manufacturers
source: Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal today reports that Google has shown a handset reference design to manufacturers, asking them to design a handset that meets the same specifications and runs an operating designed by Google including a new browser and integration with many of Google's popular online applications. The designs include a still and video camera, Wi-Fi and possibly 3G and GPS, as well as a full QWERTY keyboard. Google doesn't plan to require manufacturers to license the design or the software, in hopes as many as possible will develop compatible handsets. Nor is Google working on an exclusive with any one carrier, reportedly approaching all of the national carriers in the US. Google hopes that advertising will offset the service costs, allowing subscribers to use the phone for free. MVNOs such as Blyk and Mosh Mobile, which recently started a beta test in the US, also intend to offer ad-supported service.

T-Mobile Begins Advertising New Samsung Slider

source: FCC / T-Mobile

Updated. T-Mobile has begun feature the Samsung T729 / Blast in commercials recently. This slider is the follow up to the T719 clamshell and includes a similar SureType-style keypad with two letters on each key in a QWERTY arrangement. Recent FCC documents and support documents from T-Mobile reveal the T729 features a 1.3 Megapixel camera and Bluetooth like its predecessor and appears to add a MicroSD slot. The keyboard can be used in any application, however no mention is made of any Blackberry email application in the documentation. Neither T-Mobile nor Samsung have officially announced the T729 but since ads have started, a launch will most likely occur soon.

RIM finally adds WiFi to phones

RIM today announced a Blackberry 8310 for Vodafone Germany. The 8310 has the exact same form factor as the Curve available on AT&T but adds GPS to the feature set. Users will be able to get driving directions and find points of interest using pre-installed navigation software with the built-in GPS. The phone also features Bluetooth, a Micro SD slot, 2 Megapixel camera, multimedia player and a 3.5mm headset jack. The 8310 has some country-specific features, like a QWERTZ keyboard, however it is likely models will be announced with additional keyboard layouts, such as a QWERTY one, which could come to the US.

source: Research In Motion

Amp'd Mobile To Be Folded Into Prexar

source: Prexar Mobile / Amp'd Mobile

Prexar, USA Telephone's mobile unit, has agreed to buy certain portions of Amp'd Mobile's wireless assets and will take on Amp'd's customers. Former Amp'd subscribers will likely be able to keep their phones and phone numbers, and can sign up for new services from Prexar through the company's Web site. Prexar says that Amp'd subscribers should be able to transition their services seamlessly and without interruption. Prexar offers 4 different voice plans, ranging from $40 per month to $180 per month, and also offers messaging plans for additional charges. It offers three handsets of its own to new subscribers.

Good news for ampd customers.. I guess.

FCC Defines 700 MHz Rules

source: Associated Press

The FCC today voted on rules for use of the 700 MHz spectrum which will come up for auction next year. Early reports from the meeting indicate Chairman Kevin Martin's proposal for open access will be a condition on about one-third of the lots - winners of those airwaves will have to allow any non-threatening devices and software to run on their networks. The FCC did not approve Google's request that winners be forced to sell access to their networks on a wholesale basis.

This could get interesting......