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ARTICLE: Sprint: Nope, we're not raising our ETF to match Verizon

11/6/2009 6:45:00 PM

With any material change when it comes to wireless companies, it's almost expected that the other carriers will follow suit. Case in point: Verizon's decision to raise their ETF (early termination fee) to $350 for smartphones and other "high-end" devices. Within minutes of the announcement, Twitter and technology websites were buzzing about whether other carriers would pursue the same policy.

In a tweet from Sprint's official account today (seen in the picture above), the carrier confirmed that they aren't planning to make changes to their early termination fee. So, that's one down, two more to go (AT&T, T-Mobile). Anyone care to speculate on which direction they'll go?

Via: PhoneArena

VIDEO: iPhone 3GS vs Motorola Droid: DogFight, Pt 2

11/6/2009 4:31:00 PM

iDon't but DroidDoes? Let's find out. PhoneDog DogFight Part 2: iPhone vs Moto Droid

ARTICLE: Dutch hacker sends alerts to jailbroken iPhones, freaks out users

11/6/2009 3:23:00 PM

Imagine hanging out somewhere, minding your own business, maybe checking email or texts on your iPhone, when suddenly this message pops up on screen:

If you have a pristine, fully sanctioned iPhone, you can breath easy. Those with jailbroken phones may want to pay attention to this, though: A Dutch hacker has figured out how to tunnel into jailbroken iPhones, via SSH, and remotely turn on the message, "Your iPhone's been hacked because it's really insecure! Please visit doiop.com/iHacked and secure your iPhone right now! Right now, I can access all your files."

Understandably, this shocked and unnerved some unsuspecting users in the Netherlands. But was it a random act of helpfulness by some magnanimous stranger? Not exactly. Once on, the alert didn’t go away until the user plunked down €5 via PayPal for instructions on how to remove the hack.

Luckily, the young man wasn’t a thief or data vandal, and no illicitly gotten info was pilfered. He was just a precocious opportunist looking to make some coin — or at least he was. His parents must’ve found out about his shenanigans, because he wound up posting the instructions for free, issuing an apology for this wacky scheme and returning the money. (Kind of like Mom marching you right back into the store to pay for that Snickers bar you pocketed, no?)

But how did he do this to begin with? Sometimes in the jailbreaking process, users forget to change the default root password on their iPhone. All he had to do was find such a handset in range. Scary stuff. Luckily, this guy wasn’t out to do damage. But the next guy might.

So consider this a PSA: If you’re going to break into that phone, don’t leave the backdoor open. Another hacker might follow you in.

Via: Engadget Mobile, TUAW, Ars Technica

ARTICLE: Dell Mini 3iX passes through the FCC with 3G and Wi-Fi

11/6/2009 2:35:00 PM

The boys at the FCC have just given approval to the Dell Mini 3iX in US form factor - 3G on the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands, along with Wi-Fi. It will offer a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 3G connectivity, GPS, a microSD card slot, and a 3.0-megapixel camera. No word on what Android OS it will be running, but the hope is that it will run Android 2.0 "Eclair" out of the box (or some sort of newer Android build).

Though conventional logic states that the device will be heading to AT&T at some point in early 2010, I wouldn't hold my breath. Yes, the fact that it passed through with 850/1900 MHz 3G bands is promising, but we've seen the same thing happen in the past. My hope is that as time progresses, we'll get some leaked documentation from AT&T, but until that happens, I would recommend taking the thought with a grain of salt. Pricing and availability have yet to be determined, but with the holiday shopping season heating up (Droid, Droid Eris, Behold II, and more), I'm a bit surprised that this phone isn't out on the market.

Stay tuned to PhoneDog.com - and our Droid-centric website, DroidDog.com - for more information.

Via: IntoMobile

ARTICLE: T-Mobile reports disappointing third quarter earnings

11/6/2009 2:10:00 PM

Last but not least, we take a look at T-Mobile's third quarter earnings. Step up to the plate, T-Mobile, it's your turn!

In the third quarter, the nation's fourth largest wireless carrier lost 77,000 net retail wireless customers, a dramatic turn from the 670,000 additions in the same quarter last year and the 325,000 in the second quarter. T-Mobile lost a total of 140,000 postpaid subscribers in the quarter, and gained 63,000 prepaid subscribers in the same time period (hence the 77,000 number you see above). T-Mobile's ARPU (average revenue per user) was at $47 in the third quarter, down from $48 in the prior quarter and $52 in Q3 of 2008. Churn hovered at 2.4 percent, higher than the 2.2 percent reported in the second quarter of 2009 and flat when compared to the same timeframe last year. Data ARPU sat at $10 for the third quarter; an increase from $9.90 in the previous quarter and $8.90 in Q3 of 2008. The carrier had 32.14 million subscribers at the end of September.

T-Mobile blames the subscriber losses on fewer gross adds and more churn as a result of the FlexPay program, which allows those with credit-challenged backgrounds to obtain a wireless device on a two-year agreement. One thing is universal across all of the financial reports released in the past few weeks, however: data revenue is going up. As subscribers turn to smartphones and other data-centric devices, carriers are reaping the benefits, and it shows on paper.

Via: FierceWireless

ARTICLE: Droid Day: Can Android really compete with iPhone's huge Apps?

11/6/2009 1:29:00 PM

Today's a big deal, whether you care about Android, iPhone, Verizon, AT&T, Motorola, or none of the above. The biggest wireless provider in the land is now selling Google-powered smartphones. With all due respect to Sprint and T-Mobile, both of whom I love, with Verizon in the game we'll really start to see whether or not US consumers have love for Android.

To that end, I present to you John Walton, PhoneDog Editor Extraordinare and Founder/Managing Editor of DroidDog.com.

Or, as I like to call him, the guy to whom I pose incendiary one-liner questions about Android.

Today's topic? Can Android really compete with Apple if Android apps are limited in size by the lack of internal memory on Android phones? Or, in other words, iPhone games and apps can get all big and crazy because iPhones have 8/16/32 GB of internal storage. Android apps can't get all big and crazy because they have to be saved to internal storage and there ain't no Droids I've seen with internal gigabytes of room. You want to play Myst or FIFA 10 on a mobile phone? That's a big app.

So, John, what's the deal? How will Google and Android developers cope with this limitation? Or is it really a limitation?

John's answer, of course, is yours for the taking on DroidDog.

And speaking of Johns weighing in on this topic, the ever-entertaining John Biggs weighed in over on MobileCrunch, as well.

ARTICLE: AT&T releasing white BlackBerry Curve 8900?

11/6/2009 12:35:00 PM

Sure, they launched the Bold in white, but do you think that's going to stop them? Of course not. It looks as if the BlackBerry Curve 8900 is getting ready to be re-launched in white - at least the back part of the device. Missing from the Curve 8900 iteration of the white color scheme is the matching keyboard (instead, they kept it black). Considering the use that most keyboards go through, I think it's a smart idea. Pricing and a release date aren't known as of yet, but I imagine that it will be priced somewhere near the current Curve 8900.

What do you think? Good idea, or quick to get dirty?

Via: BGR

ARTICLE: Price Check: Droid with 1yr, 2yr or no contract

11/5/2009 9:39:00 PM

Mobile Content Today posted an interesting breakdown today. Writer Todd Ogasawara ponders, not whether to get the Moto DROID, but how to get it: At the discount price (with two-year contract), partial discount (for a one-year contract) or full price (no contract at all). I know some of you guys might be wondering the same thing, so here’s a summary of what Mr. Ogasawara came up with:

The choices:

$200 price (after a $100 mail-in rebate) with a two-year contract
$270 (after a $100 MIR) with a one-year contract
$560 at full retail price with no contract restrictions

(The last two bits of info come courtesy of Verizon's @DroidDoes Twitter account)

Using a minimum $70/month plan price as a baseline, the breakdown works out thusly.

After two years of service:
$200 (subsidized phone with 2-yr contract) + monthly fees = $1,880
$560 (full price phone, no contract) + monthly fees = $2,240

After one year of service:
$200 (subsidized phone with 2-yr contract) + monthly fees + $350 ETF (early termination fee) = $1,390
$270 (partially discounted phone with 1-yr contract) + monthly fees = $1,110
$560 (full priced phone, no contract) + monthly fees = $1,400

After 6 months of service:
$200 (subsidized phone with 2-yr contract) + monthly fees + $350 ETF = $970
$560 (full priced phone, no contract) + monthly fees = $980

In each case, the subsidized phone (for the designated time length) is the most affordable way to go — except in the last scenario. There’s no subsidy or contract for six months, so the comparison pits a full price DROID against a fully subsidized one. Turns out, even with the ETF, it’s still less expensive to get the handset via two-year contract and then dump it six months later. Too bad it’s only a $10 savings, though.

Or is it?

The analysis contains a flaw: Mr. Ogasawara didn’t take into account that the ETF gets prorated down (by $10) for each month of service completed. So if a user got a fully subsidized phone, then broke the two-year contract after half a year, that would make the fee $290 and put the total amount spent at $910.

In other words, the total cost savings would actually be $70.

What’s the moral of the story? If you’re planning to use a no-contract Droid for at least six months, don’t. Instead, get the contract and pay the fee. Then when you’re done with it, you can sell it and kick the extra cash toward the next hot device you’re drooling over.

Via: Mobile Content Today

ARTICLE: First Impressions: Motorola Droid (Verizon)

11/5/2009 9:05:00 PM

The Droid by Motorola is arguably Verizon's largest launch in recent memory. Huge ad campaigns (some of which are getting them into legal hot water), early retail store openings, and more, the smartphone is Verizon's flagship for the rest of the year. What's more, the success of the Droid is incredibly important for Motorola, as they've struggled to retain a competitive edge since the launch of their RAZR device in 2004 (I know, I can't believe it has been five years either).

The Droid is the first retail device running Android 2.0 out of the box, and in my opinion, is the best Android device on the market. It appeals to all demographics with its neutral design (more on that later), feels sturdy, and feels like it's worth $199.99. It's a business device just as much as it is a consumer one.

What I like about the Droid: The design, the OS, and the beautiful screen

The Droid is the most well-built Android device to date, period. Sporting metal, glass, and a minor amount of plastic on the back, the Droid houses an absolutely gorgeous 3.7-inch WVGA display, and gives off a vibe of an expensive phone. I've always argued that the Android platform suffers from a lack of professional devices, and the Motorola Droid (along with the Sprint HTC Hero) does a good job of filling that gap, thanks to the design and Exchange support. Despite the fact that Android still retains a "geek" appearance to an extent (that is, it's still not as user friendly as other devices), Android 2.0 does a good job of shortening the divide.

For me, one of the most notable improvements in Android 2.0 is the support for multiple Gmail accounts. As a BlackBerry user, I'm used to strong e-mail support, but it was always frustrating to be limited to one push Gmail account on previous Android devices. I have five Gmail accounts, and it always left me prioritizing which one was the most important of the bunch.

What I dislike about the Droid: The keyboard and the battery life

The Droid's physical keyboard may be a challenge for some. Granted, the "different strokes for different folks" philosophy applies here, but the Droid's keyboard is flat, and was hard to reach with my right thumb due to the placement of the D-pad. The phone offers an on-screen keyboard that works in both portrait and landscape modes, and it's also a love or hate thing. If you're used to the fluidity of the iPhone keyboard (sorry, the Verizon ads force me to compare it), you may not like it. I will argue this point as long as I'm in the industry: there's always going to be a contingent of users that prefer a physical keyboard to a virtual one. I happen to be in that group, and for me, the stock virtual keyboard on the Droid doesn't cut it. There are plenty of alternate solutions, so I'm sure that those familiar with the process have already considered this.

Simply put, the battery life isn't great on the Droid. With a full charge, I was able to make it about 9 hours before the phone powered off. I understand that Android devices are loaded with widgets and that, along with the ability to multitask, makes the battery decline significantly faster than similar devices on the market. Having said that, the potential inability to make it through the day with a moderate level of use may be frustrating to road warriors and those away from charging solutions.

Conclusion: My favorite Android device

The build quality, beautiful screen, and overall design make this my absolute favorite Android device on the market today. If I was to purchase a device on my Verizon account (and it wasn't a BlackBerry, of course), the Motorola Droid would be my first choice. It just feels good. It's a sturdy device, and appeals to the professional crowd with Exchange support and a modest look (a demographic that Android needs to take advantage of).

Stay tuned for my full review, coming soon!

ARTICLE: A look at the Cubetastic Behold2 interface

11/5/2009 7:26:00 PM

Our pal John Walton has a post up on Droiddog with a video that offers a look at the Samsung Behold2's interface. If you’ve been itching to see the Android phone “Cube”-style, check it out by clicking here. (And say hi to John for us.)

Actually, the vid itself came courtesy of David over at TmoNews. In addition to the glimpse of the UI, he also offers a short preview vid of the Behold2, which is on view at the same Droiddog link. (By the way, David rightly points out that the apparent lag in the interface is actually the result of choppy video, so don’t blame the handset.)

Via: Droiddog.com, TmoNews

ARTICLE: Sprint announces BlackBerry Curve 8530

11/5/2009 7:25:00 PM

Not to be left in the dark, shortly after the official Verizon Wireless announcement regarding the BlackBerry Curve 8530, Sprint came out with an announcement of its own. Though no firm date or price point have been established, the nation's third largest wireless carrier confirmed that it will launch in the future. My guess is that the price point will be somewhere in the $99.99 range after a $100 mail-in rebate, however with the Tour available at Best Buy for $99 (with an instant rebate), I'm hoping that the carrier offers it at an enticing price point.

The full press release is below. Sprint BlackBerry users, is it worth the upgrade?

BLACKBERRY CURVE 8530 SMARTPHONE COMING TO SPRINT FEATURING AMERICA'S MOST DEPENDABLE 3G NETWORK AND AFFORDABLE PRICE PLANS

Next generation of popular BlackBerry smartphone adds Wi-Fi, external multimedia buttons and BlackBerry App World; visit HYPERLINK "http://www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530" www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530?to pre-register for BlackBerry Curve 8530 from Sprint

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. Nov. 5, 2009 Sprint (NYSE: S) announced today it will add the new BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone to the wireless industry's best lineup of devices. Beginning today, customers can visit HYPERLINK "http://www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530" http://www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530 to pre-register for this next generation of the popular BlackBerry wireless device on America's most dependable 3G network1 with the affordability of Sprint's Everything Data plans featuring Any Mobile, AnytimeSM. Pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.

BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone makes it even easier to enjoy music on-the-go with dedicated keys to skip to the next song on a playlist, pause or play. It comes preloaded with several multimedia applications including BlackBerry Media Sync, Sprint Music Store™, Sprint TV™ and Pandora™. It also boasts dedicated applications for a smoothly integrated social networking experience with Facebook®, MySpace™ and Flicker™. BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be available in three color options Black, Royal Purple and Red.

"BlackBerry Curve 8330 has been a tremendous success for Sprint. BlackBerry Curve 8530 continues that legacy with the addition of several important features that make it a winner for both entertainment and productivity," said Kevin Packingham, Sprint Senior Vice President of Product Development. "This is one device that can really do it all with the email, calendar and contact synchronization BlackBerry is known for as well as the latest multimedia and social media features. We are anxious to bring it to our customers who also appreciate the strength of our network, the affordability of our rate plans and our Ready Now customer service experience."

Sprint's BlackBerry Curve 8530 will offer BlackBerry App World™ for instant access to thousands of applications. Sprint has employed an open Internet approach, and the Sprint Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party developers, since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in 2001.

VIDEO: Unboxing: BlackBerry Bold 9700 (T-Mobile)

11/5/2009 6:40:00 PM

BlackBerry Bold 9700 unboxing by Aaron Baker from PhoneDog.com. 624 MHz processor, trackpad, 3.2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, and OS 5.0. Is it a worthy upgrade to its predecessor?

VIDEO: Verizon HTC Droid Eris (Hero) - Hands-On

11/5/2009 5:06:00 PM

Noah gets some time with Droid Eris, Verizon's version of the HTC Hero, which goes on sale Nov. 6. Android 1.5, HTC Sense UI, and multitouch.

ARTICLE: Baffling MyTouch ad on eBay. (Was the seller off his meds?)

11/5/2009 3:28:00 PM

Take a look at this. What is wrong with this picture? (If it’s not hitting you, take another look. Do you see it?)

That phone better be encased in solid gold and rubies to justify that Buy Now price. More likely, a horrendous (and hilarious) typo was made. Either way, it’s not surprising that there haven’t even been any feeble attempts at bids, much less any takers.

Talk about overvaluing your handset. Geez….

Via: eBay

ARTICLE: Rumor: AT&T to sell 8GB iPhone 3GS for $99

11/5/2009 2:44:00 PM

In case you missed the “R word” in the title, this is strictly rumor category:

BoyGenius Report says there are no less than two sources claiming that AT&T and Apple are mulling over the possibility of offering a cheaper, lower-end iPhone to compete with all the Droid hoopla. If the rumor’s to be believed, it might happen in time for Christmas.

I know, I know — iPhone: You either love it or hate the bejeebers out of it. But if they did offer an 8GB model for a C-note, would you grab it? At this price, they’d practically be stocking stuffers…

Via: BoyGenius Report

VIDEO: The DROID Stealth Commercial

11/5/2009 2:23:00 PM

We’re on the cusp of D-day (DROID day), and the Droid PR machine hasn’t let up. This is the recent commercial touting the device. Which one do you like better: This movie preview–style Stealth commercial or that now classic “iDon’t” ad?

ARTICLE: Has Tmo’s HSPA 7.2 Mbps network rollout begun?

11/5/2009 1:50:00 PM

In a previous post, I got slammed for perceived bias against T-Mobile. I mentioned the voice outage that affected various users across the country, coupled with the Sidekick/Danger data gaffe, and implied that cost savings might not be worth this kind of hassle. Truth is, if any carrier was plagued with these kinds of issues within such a short period of time, I would’ve called them out the same way, so I wasn't apologetic then. But I might be eating my words now — especially if that recent blowout had anything to do with what I’m about to report:

It seems Tmo is preparing to launch its new HSPA 7.2Mbps 3G network. Not only that, but various subscribers are already experiencing sudden bouts of fast speeds. The guys at AndroidandMe confirm that on average, users — specifically in Chicago and New York City — are getting 5.4Mb/s and 3.8Mb/s, respectively. (Apparently, a simple reboot is all that’s needed to enable the crazy fast 3G connectivity.)

While there hasn’t been an official announcement on the rollout yet, most are predicting it will happen by the end of the year.

This puts everything in a new light. T-Mobile’s official word on the outage was that it was due to a back-end system software glitch that resulted in “abnormal congestion,” but there were no specifics mentioned of why or how that happened — or which back-end system caused the gaffe. TmoNews wonders if it could be tied to this 7.2 rollout.

Oh boy, if that’s true:

Then I am truly sorry, Magenta, for besmirching your network. Rollouts are never smooth, and if errors happen in the course of upgrading to a lightning fast new 3G network, then it’s all for the good. No, not good — really amazingly great. So I’m sorry, Tmo. I like your funky personality. I love your customer service. And your phone lineup is getting better by the day. So can we be friends again? Please?

As for all the Tmo customers in the house, are you experiencing a boost in 3G speeds? Report in and let us know. (If you’re wondering how to check, AndroidandMe has the following how-to: “Download the Xtreme Labs Speedtest and post your results (make sure WiFi is turned off). Run the test a couple times and share what you find. If your phone is rooted, tether it to your laptop/netbook and try running a test on speedtest.net. I have found I received much higher download speeds when tethered vs. just testing on an actual device.”)

Via: AndroidandMe, TmoNews, PhoneArena, PhoneScoop

ARTICLE: Mini-Review: Tweetie 2 for iPhone

11/5/2009 1:30:00 PM

If you’re addicted to Twitter like @CarlosGraves is, and you are sick of iPhone apps that get laggy and drain your battery, then look no further! Tweetie 2 (or 2.0) has arrived! Twitter is my main social network, so naturally I want an application that will be smooth, sexy, and most importantly – reliable.

If you use the original Tweetie 1x and want to upgrade but notice that it costs $2.99 to upgrade (yes, even if you bought Tweetie 1), this might change your mind. Because of this, you might ask, “What’s so different in Tweetie 2 that I have to pay for it again?” Well surprisingly, there are a lot of new features packed into Tweetie 2. The most notable is the revamped UI (user interface). If you use the Mac desktop version of Tweetie, you’ll likely find Tweetie 2’s look to be a combination of that and iPhone Tweetie 1.

At the bottom of the new UI, you have the usual tabs (left to right) – Friends, Replies, Direct Messages, Search/Trends, and More. In the “More” tab, you have – My Profile, Favorites, Go to User, and Drafts (A new feature in Tweetie 2). Now to get more in depth with some of the new features...

The main goal with Tweetie 2 was to make it easy to use, but also very stylish. For example, the refresh system - To refresh, all you have to do is pull down on your current list of tweets and you will see a message at the top that says “Release to Refresh”. This is one of the more obvious changes in Tweetie 2. Another key feature that I really love is the tab notifications. Every time Tweetie 2 refreshes, the tab with new tweets or messages gets a little glow underneath it. I like this a lot better than a system like Echofon’s (formerly Twitterfon), which gives you a numerical tweet-count.

Have you ever seen a tweet you liked in your twitter stream, but forgot who it was from? Well now you can find out with ease! Twitter 2 introduces a search bar at the top of your friend stream so you can search for those amazing tweets even if you don’t remember who crafted them.

But my absolute favorite new feature in Tweetie 2 is the full landscape support – and when I say full landscape, I mean FULL landscape! Every screen in the app can be auto-rotated into landscape mode, which is perfect for people who are horrible at typing in portrait mode (Editor’s Note: Like Noah). Another cool must-have feature in Tweetie 2 is the ability to edit your twitter profile. Tap into the My Profile section, and you have the ability to change everything about your profile, even your picture!

Like I said before, this new and refurbished app will cost you $2.99 in the App Store – but it’s a very worthy buy in my opinion.

ARTICLE: Part 4: Guide to Windows Mobile

11/5/2009 1:25:00 PM

Lars Aronsson of GeekedOut.se has put together one of the most comprehensive guides to Windows Mobile available on the web. There is so much information we decided to break it down for our readers in numerous blog post. The first part covered Tweaks, Tips, and Optimization for Windows Mobile. Part 2 highlights essential software while Part 3 covers User-interfaces. This new section is a quick look at some great modifications and windows mobile goodies.

Modifications and Goodies

This is a little list of some nice user-interface modifications and enhancements, along with links to their corresponding original threads when applicable.

HTC Enlarge Start Menu - HTC's larger version of the start menu
Touch-HD cabs - Lots of nice extracts from the HTC Touch HD
Extra CABs for the Touch-IT 5 ROM - Plenty of sweet add-ons, check it out
HTC Footprints - Geotagging app
TouchResponse - Vibration feedback
FingerSuite - Replaces the standard menus
FingerKeyboard 2.1 - A finger-friendly touchscreen keyboard
FInixNOver VGA Battery/Network Icons - A better battery meter
AnX1 Landscape mode for TF3D
SE X1 Icons (SEX1cons) - New taskbar icons
Wisbar Advance - Task management and interface customization tool

ARTICLE: November’s bevvy of Big Red phones

11/5/2009 12:17:00 PM

Beyond the DROID and DROID Eris, Verizon’s LG Chocolate Touch, BlackBerry Curve 8530 and Samsung Convoy have also become bona fide. The carrier announced official launch dates for these additions to the lineup, including:

LG Chocolate Touch (November 5, $79.99 after $50 MIR)
This music-oriented phone offers Dolby Mobile, so users can customize audio prefs to crank the bass or clarity, in addition to a slew of audio-related features.

FM radio with 12 presets
Integrated Song ID
Dedicated side key (to access favorite songs)
Bluetooth with support for headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, stereo, phonebook access, basic printing, object push for vCard and vCalendar, file transfer, basic imaging and human interface device
“Join the Band” lets users play along with built-in instruments, including: a full drum kit (snare drum, kick drum, floor tom, hi-hat cymbal, ride cymbal, crash cymbal, and even a cowbell) with finger tap input, and a piano function (with a full scrolling 88-key keyboard)
Dolby Mobile equalizer, with customizable prefs for headphones, plus Natural Bass, High-Frequency Enhancer, and Sound Level Controller
Social networking (including Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace) with a dedicated key that lets users upload pics and vids
3.2 MP camera and camcorder with 5 different resolutions, zoom, panoramic shooting feature, integrated image editor and manual controls for white balance, color effects, brightness and self-timer.

Samsung Convoy (November 15, $49.99 after $50 MIR)
This beast of a feature phone was built to military specifications to endure the toughest of elements. It’s a Push to Talk device that comes with a stereo speaker, extended battery life and multiple messaging options.

Rugged, durable design
Meets military specifications 810F standards for shock and dust resistance, vibration, salt fog, humidity, solar radiation, altitude and low and high temperature storage
Push to Talk over Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO, Rev. A network, for fast two-way communications
High-quality stereo speaker
1300 mAh for long battery life
2.0 megapixel camera with Night Shot, panorama, color effects and more
Bluetooth (v2.1): supports headset (mono/stereo), hands-free, dial-up networking, serial port, object push (vCard and vCalendar only), basic image, basic printing and phonebook access
Personal organizer with calendar, tip calculator, currency converter, notepad, alarm clock, world clock and stop watch
Has VZ Navigator, which allows audible turn-by-turn directions for more than 15 million points of interest and lets users share directions with others

BlackBerry Curve 8530 (November 20, $99.99 after $100 MIR)
The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 — with 3G, built-in Wifi and GPS — seems like quite a nice update to the Curve 8330. It also features a 2 MP camera with zoom and vid recording, expandable memory via hot swappable microSD/SDHC memory card slot (up to 16 GB, possibly up to 32 GB, when next-gen cards are available), 256 MB flash memory, 528 MHz next generation processor, plus all the stand-out email and messaging features that BlackBerries are famous for. (For more on this, hope over here to Aaron’s post on the Curve 8530’s launch.)

In all cases, the mail-in rebates come in the form of a debit card, and the list price requires a 2-year contract. For more info, you can check out Verizon Wireless online or grill the sales clerks at your local retail store.

VIDEO: Verizon Wireless launches in-depth Droid Eris video

11/5/2009 12:15:00 PM

On the heels of tomorrow's Droid Day at Verizon Wireless, the carrier has launched a YouTube video walkthrough of the HTC Droid Eris. Yes, people will inevitably learn the device as they grow accustomed to it, but I like the fact that Verizon is taking a proactive step to launch training videos (and of course, it helps them in marketing the Droid line as well).

Check out the video, and get ready for tomorrow's big day!

Via: Verizon (YouTube channel)

ARTICLE: Samsung introduces Mythic and Flight for AT&T

11/5/2009 11:55:00 AM

The Samsung Mythic and Flight were announced by Samsung Mobile for AT&T this morning, just in time for the holiday shopping season.

The Samsung Mythic is AT&T Mobile-TV capable (though the service will cost you $9.99/monthly), and will offer a 3.3-inch touchscreen with Samsung's popular TouchWiz user interface. Additional features include 3G, a full HTML web browser, 3.2-megapixel camera, AT&T Navigator, and stereo Bluetooth. Available on November 8th, the Mythic will cost $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year service agreement.

The Samsung Flight offers 3G, 2.0-megapixel camera, full HTML web browser, QWERTY keyboard, stereo Bluetooth. The Flight will land at AT&T stores (pun intended) on November 8th as well, and will be offered at $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

For more information on the two devices, check out Samsung's Newsroom.

ARTICLE: RIM and Verizon Wireless announce the BlackBerry Curve 8530

11/5/2009 11:20:00 AM

Despite previous rumors marking the BlackBerry Curve 8530 as the "Curve2," it appears that Verizon opted to keep it as-is. A welcome addition to the carrier's hoiday lineup, the 8530 was announced this morning, and is slated to replace the aging Curve 8330. The 8530 contains a 320 x 240 display, EVDO, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 2.0-megapixel camera, and RIM's new trackpad solution. Launching in "Black" and "Smoky Violet," the Curve 8530 will land on November 20th for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and new two-year customer agreement.

VERIZON WIRELESS INTRODUCES THE BLACKBERRY CURVE 8530 SMARTPHONE

New Smartphone Features 3G Connectivity, Built-In Wi-Fi and GPS, Touch-Sensitive Trackpad and Dedicated Media Keys

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and WATERLOO, Ontario – Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530 smartphone, an exciting new addition to the BlackBerry Curve series of smartphones. The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone gives customers access to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as easy access to music, games and other mobile apps for entertainment on the go.

Available colors: Black and Smoky Violet

Key features:

Easy-to-use, highly tactile, full QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive trackpad for reliable, responsive typing and navigation
256 MB flash memory and 528 MHz next generation processor for enhanced performance
Supports voice-activated dialing and Bluetooth® (version 2.1), with support for hands-free headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth peripherals
3G-enabled (EV-DO)
Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
GPS with support for location-based applications, including geotagging pictures and Verizon Wireless’ VZ NavigatorSM service
2.0 megapixel digital camera with zoom and video recording*
Advanced media player for music, pictures and videos, with dedicated media keys and a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, plus BlackBerry® Media Sync, which makes it easy to quickly sync music from your computer to the smartphone**
Access to BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry® smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, social networking and sharing, news and weather, productivity and much more
Access to e-mail, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and popular social networking sites (including Facebook and MySpace)
Rich multimedia capabilities, including dedicated media keys smoothly integrated along the top of the handset, giving customers an easy, convenient way to control their music and video
Support for BlackBerry services with access to up to 10 supported e-mail accounts, including most popular ISP e-mail accounts such as Yahoo!®, Windows Live™ Hotmail®, AOL® and Gmail, and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server support, which provides advanced security and IT administration features for corporate deployments
Expandable memory via hot swappable microSD™/SDHC memory card slot, supporting up to 16 GB cards today and expected to support next generation 32 GB cards when available

Pricing and availability:

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone is expected to be available from Verizon Wireless beginning Nov. 20 for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan. Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Data plans for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.
For information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

* Video recording requires microSD card, sold separately
** Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies

ARTICLE: It’s official: DROID Eris launches Nov 6 for $99

11/5/2009 11:17:00 AM

Looks like tomorrow’s launch of Big Red’s DROID initiative won't be tied to just one phone. Like the gossip mill predicted, HTC and Verizon are letting the DROID Eris loose the same day, giving customers a choice of Android handsets at two difference price points by two different makers: $199 for the Motorola DROID and $99 for HTC’s DROID Eris (after MIRs).

Here are a few details on the Eris:

3.2 inch capacitive touch screen, plus trackball
Sense UI, with “scenes” feature for customized home screens
5 MP auto focus camera
Expandable memory with pre-installed 8 GB microSD card (up to 16 GB supported)
Supports USB mass storage
Bluetooth and Wifi
3.5 mm headset jack
Integrated GPS and a digital compass
Smart dialer for simplified dialing by name, number or initials
Full HTML browser (with Flash Lite)

If you’re interested in the industry’s least expensive Android phone to date, remember that the $99 price tag requires a two-year contract and — if you’re picking this up from a Verizon store or online — it’s after a mail-in rebate, which comes in the form of a debit card (not check or cash). If you’re picking it up at Best Buy Mobile or another third-party retailer, you may be able to get the rebate on-the-spot.

Still not sure? You can check out Verizon’s marketing promo/demo of the device here, or just swing by a retail location and get handsy with the device, to see for yourself. It’s only one day away.

UPDATE: D'oh!! Aaron beat me to this news by 2 minutes! Sorry for the duplicated post, everyone. But hey — anything worth covering is worth covering right (or, I guess, multiple times). So we're obviously tuned in to this launch. Are you? Is anyone planning to grab this tomorrow?

ARTICLE: Verizon and HTC announce Droid Eris

11/5/2009 11:15:00 AM

After countless rumblings, rumors, leaked pictures, and reviews, Verizon Wireless and HTC have finally made the Droid Eris official. Sporting a 3.2-inch HVGA display, Qualcomm 528 MHz processor, 512 MB ROM, 288 MB RAM, EVDO Rev. A, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, GPS, Bluetooth 2.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack, microSD card slot (with 8 GB card included), Android 1.5, a 5.0-megapixel camera, and HTC's Sense UI, it will be available on November 6th (tomorrow) for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and new two-year customer agreement.

With the Droid Eris, Verizon has two Android devices, priced at $99.99 and $199.99 after mail in rebates. Is it just me, or does it seem like they're priced identically to a certain competitor?