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VIDEO: Samsung Omnia Lite (Unlocked GSM) - Hands-On

7/3/2009 1:35:00 PM

Noah gets some time with the junior member of Samsung's new Omnia Trio: Omnia Lite.

ARTICLE: My nitty gritty Hero post

7/3/2009 11:55:00 AM

While I'm definitely not tired of HTC's Hero, I needed to write about a couple of other things real quick before coming back at you with the full specs and PR photos. We can speculate on the carrier and talk about Sense later. This post is about the hardware. Folks looking for this probably want to get straight to the menu, so let's do it; straight dope, no filler. Well, no more verbiage, anyway.

Processor: Qualcomm® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz
Memory: 512 MB ROM, 288 MB RAM
Dimensions (LxWxT) 112 x 56.2 x 14.35 mm (4.41 x 2.21 x 0.57 inches)
Weight: 135 grams (4.76 ounces) with battery
Display: 3.2-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with 320x480 HVGA resolution

Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP
Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
3.5 mm audio jack
5.0 megapixel color camera with auto focus
microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
G-sensor
Digital Compass
GPS

Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery capacity: 1350 mAh
Talk time:
- Up to 420 minutes for WCDMA
- Up to 470 minutes for GSM
Standby time:
- Up to 750 hours for WCDMA
- Up to 440 hours for GSM

Network
HSPA/WCDMA:
- 900/2100 MHz
- Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:
- 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

And just in case anybody think's I pulled off a post without doing anything but copying and pasting a press kit, allow me to wildly speculate that the feature which makes the US version of Hero different from that of Europe and Asia, could go beyond color. The US Hero may be the first phone to ship with Donut. I pulled that out of thin air, just so you know.

ARTICLE: How will the US Hero differ from others?

7/3/2009 11:45:00 AM

An official press release, seen here, states that "The HTC Hero will be available to people across Europe in July and in Asia later in the summer. A distinct North American version will be available later in 2009." So what will be so different about the American version of the phone?

About six minutes into my first video from a sit-down with HTC's CIO, Horace Luke, he mentions that the company is working on hashing out the Teflon coating with other colors, as the white model is the sole device currently featuring the material. The only other Hero hue seen in the wild thus far is brown. The HTC 09 centerfold, as I like to call it, showed a pink phone. Check out the vid below for a quick peek at a some other variations.

It seems pretty reasonable to associate the other colors with the distinct nature of the US model, but it's possible that HTC has more in mind. Whether or not this could include a Donut is unknown, but both are expected by the end of the year.

Video from Android Community

VIDEO: Samsung Omnia 2 i8000 (Unlocked GSM) Hands-On

7/2/2009 7:25:00 PM

Will it come to Verizon eventually? That'd be cool - Samsung Omnia 2, unlocked version, hands-on with Noah from PhoneDog dot com

ARTICLE: iPhone App: Fotochat blows (really)

7/2/2009 7:05:00 PM

Seriously, I thought someone was pulling my leg when I saw this. The most featured new function on the recently released Fotochat iPhone app is something called, "Blow your Love."

Yikes. Okay, well that got my attention. Here's the scoop: Turns out the app plugs into the Fotochat dating community, allowing users to blow into the microphone end of their iPhones to find nearby Fotochatters — based on age, city and profile — who also just blew into his or her device. Photos of matches are then displayed, which lets the user literally chat up the newfound connection right on the handset.

This wacky "app du amour" comes from a French-based company called UTEL, who of course also created the Fotochat dating network. It claims that there are already 1.4 million users in the community, though it's unclear how many of them are in France or here in the States (or whether the stat is even true. I have some doubts).

I don't know what to make of this. I'm glad to see creative implementations of unique features, but this one's kind of out there. I went to the site to see if the app or the company was for real, and saw several large company logos — like Virgin, McDonald's, etc — under the "Partners" section. Looks good, but that doesn't prove anything, so I looked around and also saw this when I clicked on "Historic":

Talk about your really, really poor translations. I can't figure out what it's trying to say. But wait. It gets even better. The full press release had me in stitches. I'm putting it here for your reading pleasure. (Now, I do not endorse this app, nor have I even tried it. In truth, I'm actually a little afraid of this one. This is here purely for your entertainment.)

BLOW ON YOUR IPHONE AND MEET NEW PEOPLE

Paris, 18 June 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Following the successful release of Fotochat for mobile (with 1.4 million girls and boys already registered), the newest version of Fotochat is now available on iPhone.

It has kept the look & feel and super simple navigation that made this mobile service so successful, while adding a truly fun and romantic functionality which will soon be part of your life!

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/utel/38816/

« Blow your Love » ©
Blow on your iPhone and it will find someone who is ONLINE near you and matches your profile (age, city, preferences)

Your iPhone sends thousands of little hearts to the screen and searches for a person of the same age group and city as you, who also just blew on her iPhone... Her high-definition picture appears on your screen.

You can then begin to send real time messages. It's magic!

Fotochat is one of the best Casual Dating service. It allows you to meet new people, in a very simple way, wherever you are.
Fotochat equals after work fun, every day at any time, in 2 clicks and one puff of breath. It means lots of love for the entire summer!
Fotochat will be available at AppStore as of June 21, 2009. Registering takes exactly one minute, and the free LITE version will let you discover the service. This service remains free for girls 24/7.

It's summertime, time to blow!

There are far too many cockamamie apps to try and cover them all, but this one had me laughing from Hello. If you're tempted to try this out, you're a braver person than I am. Here's what you need to know, in a nutshell:

•You have to register to the app work
•There are 3 versions: Fotochat Lite (free to search), Fotochat Silver ($11.99, to send unlimited priority messages to Fotochatters for a month) and Fotochat Gold ($30.99, to send unlimited priority messages to Fotochatters for 3 months)
•Some negative reviews on iTunes accuse this of being a fake service, with bots or paid people chatting with users. Can't say whether that's true or not, but proceed at your own caution.

ARTICLE: BlackBerry Tour News: Verizon reverses course; Sprint restrictions

7/2/2009 7:00:00 PM

The BlackBerry Tour news continues today, with an interesting reversal of policy on Verizon's part. Those frustrated by Big Red's decision to allow pre-ordering for new customers only can rest easy (and turn on their computers), as the company officially reversed the policy and is allowing existing subscribers to take advantage of the pre-ordering goodness. Pricing is set at $199.99 after mail-in rebate, and can be ordered beginning tomorrow.

On the other hand, Sprint (via Twitter again) went the other direction and announced that they will not offer pre-orders for the Tour, opting instead for a first-come, first-served model. And the countdown to July 12th continues...who knows what will happen tomorrow?

Source: BGR

ARTICLE: Hero FCC docs hint at AT&T

7/2/2009 5:35:00 PM

Speculation regarding which carrier will launch Hero in the US led most of us to the Sprint conclusion. But as Engadget Mobile reports, FCC filings indicate the device utilizes the 1900 and 850MHz bands. These are the frequencies required for an AT&T data plan.

I'm reluctant to say this, but we're probably all thinking it anyway: is Android ready to challenge the iPhone directly? Looking at the devices currently known to run on Google's OS, I'd say Hero is definitely the one for the job. By the way, I concur with Chris Ziegler's sentiments; I need to hold the phone a little more before I can make accurate assessments. I need a Hero.

ARTICLE: Zer01 Mobile officially launches...sort of

7/2/2009 3:15:00 PM

It's one thing to inform the public that you've launched your product, but it's another thing when that product actually becomes available to the masses. Zer01 Mobile, the startup that rocked CTIA 2009 earlier this year, officially "launched" yesterday. For $79.99, one can get unlimited nationwide calling via VoIP, unlimited messaging, unlimited data, and international calling to 40 countries for an extra $10. Add on the fact that the deal is sans contract, and it sounds good, right?

Unfortunately, since the company hasn't announced any distributors as of yet, the product isn't available for purchase. So for those hoping to pick up a device that literally does it all for under $80 per month, you'll have to hold out a bit longer.

Source: Engadget Mobile

VIDEO: Samsung Jet (Unlocked GSM) Unboxing

7/2/2009 2:10:00 PM

Samsung says their Jet in smarter than your smartphone. Is it? Dunno, but Noah thought it looked pretty cool.

VIDEO: Samsung Jack (AT&T) - Unboxing

7/2/2009 11:20:00 AM

Blackjack beget Blackjack II beget ... JACK! Samsung and AT&T's new Windows Mobile smartphone out of the box with Noah from PhoneDog dot com.

VIDEO: HulloMail brings voice-email to Android for free

7/2/2009 9:55:00 AM

Launching in the US on the Fourth of July, HulloMail will initially be available to Android users only. iPhone, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile device support will follow. HulloMail converts your voice mails to an MP3 and sends it as an attachment to your email account, making it compatible with IMAP and keeping you synched up. You won't need to change your number like Google Voice users, and if GV feels like overkill to you, HulloMail might be the right alternative. I'll be checking out the beta over the next few days.

ARTICLE: T-Mobile's promotional summer plan returns

7/2/2009 9:45:00 AM

Maybe I'm the only one (oh wait, no, Congress thinks the same as well), but monthly cell phone bills are still entirely too high, even in 2009. Thanks to owning a BlackBerry (and the giant "data plan required" caveat that comes with it) I regularly pay upwards of $120 per month. Bitter? Me? Nah.

Well, maybe I am a bit bitter, particularly when I look at T-Mobile's summer promotional plan, returning yet again this year. For $39.99, the subscriber gets 1,000 anytime minutes, nights and weekends, and nationwide calling with no roaming or long distance. Granted, T-Mobile's network may not be as built out as its competitors, 3G may not be fully deployed yet, and additional services aren't included, but $40 is a steal for 1,000 minutes.

Anyone going to jump on this? Stellar deal, considering $74.99 prior to taxes and fees would get you 1,000 minutes, unlimited data, and unlimited messaging!

Source: TmoNews

ARTICLE: Bill Nye explains iPhone 3G S’s fingerprint-proof screen

7/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

Gizmodo got an exclusive with Bill Nye the Science Guy, and I'm totally jealous. The celebrity science nerd penned a "Giz Explains" column about the science of "oleophobia" and how it relates to the new iPhone's screen.

"The new 3GS iPhone has a coating that helps you leave no, well hardly any, prints -fingerprints. The glass screen is coated with a polymer, a plastic that human skin oil doesn't adhere to very well. People in the chemical bonding business like to call the finished surface ‘oleophobic.'"

He goes to explain that, etymologically, the word comes from the Greek root meaning "afraid of oil." So having an oleophobic screen means it has an aversion to the grease from your fingers or cheeks, which basically clings together instead of smearing on or sticking to the display. To make that work, Apple bonded an organic, oleophobic polymer to the glass so we can all enjoy pristine, fingerprint-free displays.

If you're a chemistry geek interested in the nitty gritty of how all that works, go ahead and indulge you inner scientist by clicking here.

[via Gizmodo]

ARTICLE: BlackBerry Tour Roundup: New launch dates and pre-ordering woes

7/1/2009 3:45:00 PM

With July 12th around the corner, news about the BlackBerry Tour 9630 continues to circulate, and we're here to provide you with the most up-to-date information as it comes in. On today's news radar, Sprint announces a July 12th offering of the Tour, and Verizon Wireless decides to offer pre-ordering to new customers only. Fair? Cruel? You decide!

Smashing the original July 20th rumor, Sprint, in a message on Twitter, officially announced its intent to launch the Tour on July 12th. Arriving on the same day as the Verizon version, it will also be $199.99 after instant and mail-in rebates. As of now, Sprint hasn't issued an official press release beyond the Twitter blurb, but good news for Sprint customers nonetheless. It sounds like they're on the ball this time, as opposed to the delayed Curve launch last year.

On the other hand, Verizon appears to be giving the cold shoulder to its current customer base. In somewhat of a shock to existing subscribers, the carrier today announced that pre-orders of the Tour 9630 are available for new customers only. Of course, the issue is worthy of discussion: is Verizon doing the right thing by offering pre-ordering to new customers versus its loyal, tried-and-true customer base?

Source: BGR

ARTICLE: Can we expect an Android/Tegra team up?

7/1/2009 12:25:00 PM

If you're not familiar with Nvidia's Tegra chip, now would be a good time to tuck that name away somewhere in your memory banks. As Noah showed us at the Nvision 2008 show, Tegra brings Hi-Def video and resource hungry UIs to the end user with plenty of power to spare, thanks to the unit's low power consumption. If the buzz is to be believed, Tegra represents a new generation of mobile devices that challenge perceived performance of current mobile computing standards.

TheStreet.com recently interviewed tech reporter James Rogers (embedded below), and he mentioned industry speculation that Nvidia's rumored alliance with one of the top-five mobile OEMs concerns Motorola or Samsung. Unwired View reports that the general manager of Nvidia's mobile unit, Mike Rayfield, has declared that we could see a Tegra phone by the end of the year.

Android's involvement in all of this is perhaps wishful thinking at this point, but it is a lovely thought. Light weight and open operating system meets super powered G/CPU in sleek new handset? Count me in.

ARTICLE: DIY: Make your own cheap iPhone tripod mount

7/1/2009 12:20:00 PM

Man, I love DIY stuff. This one's no exception.

Given the fact that new 3G S owners have proven — in large numbers — to be vid-crazy, the following YouTube clip will be really handy for someone out there who's trying to figure out how to mount their iPhones for shake-proof captures.

Obviously, this isn't intended to be a permanent case for the device (how would you stick this in your pocket??). But as a camera accessory, as opposed to a phone accessory, this works nicely. The only beef I have with it is that the hardware isn't retractable. That would've made this a near perfect solution for would-be iPhone photogs or videographers. Even so, it's still pretty sweet.

If you've got an engineering brain that just can't help but tinker with accessories or hardware, please share them by emailing info@phonedog.com, attn: AL. Creativity fused with practicality is just an awesome thing, and we'd love to give you a little spotlight on your projects.

And now, here's the vid.

ARTICLE: BlackBerry Bold arrives in South Korea

7/1/2009 11:45:00 AM

It's safe to say that its been a while since the launch of the phone, but the BlackBerry Bold has finally landed on the shores of South Korea. Thanks to a modification of a former law that gave local manufacturers Samsung, LG, and Pantech a significant edge, the device will begin shipping in a localized form soon. Though the market is currently dominated with all kinds of devices and the extent to which a BlackBerry will penetrate the market is unknown, we're betting that there will be at least a few adopters.

Source: Engadget Mobile

ARTICLE: Geektech: how to run Android apps under Ubuntu

7/1/2009 8:40:00 AM

So you want to see what the Android fuss is about but don't want to ditch your contract or can't afford a new phone? Well you can try out an Android emulator on your Ubuntu computer, and it's really not too difficult. Marius Nestor has put together a super-easy tutorial for setting up an Android virtual device.

It's basically a list if copy/paste commands, though you'll need to change your username and the directory if you prefer a simpler name like the one I used; ~/androidsdk. The SDK is useful for Android phone owners as well. For example, when performing processes that require adb.

If you are new to Ubuntu and/or run into any problems on the way, I strongly suggest hitting up the Ubuntu Forums. The friendly and helpful folks over there are responsible for literally hundreds of thousands of converts to the Linux fold. I already had the SDK, so the process literally took less than five minutes for me. The Cupcake Emulator isn't nearly as quick (on my box) as an actual Android phone, so patience is required--especially during boot time.

ARTICLE: New Palm Pre sales figure: 300,000 sold this month

7/1/2009 8:35:00 AM

Talk about your comeback stories. Rocky's got nothing on Palm.

According to Edward Snyder, an analyst at Equity Research, Palm has sold 300,000 units of the Pre in June. This is based on numbers checked against manufacturing and retail channels for the device. PreCentral adds that the analyst reported May sales figures topping 70,000.

That would be a total of 370,000 devices in two months. The previously struggling Palm shipped 351,000 phones in the whole fiscal quarter preceding that.

Customer having his new Pre rung up. Photo via PreCentral.net

According to PhoneArena, Ed is considered a skeptic in the industry, so it's fascinating that his numbers are showing such huge numbers. If these are the pessimistic numbers, then I can't imagine where all this is going to go.

Good for us phone fans that Snyder can. He predicts — at the current rate of 15,000 units manufactured per day — that Palm will ship 1 million of the new smartphones by the end of its first quarter after the Pre launch.

He also believes that a WCDMA version of the phone (in other words, a GSM Pre) "appears imminent." And while Sprint may hold exclusive rights to sell this handset in the U.S., that doesn't mean other carriers couldn't offer other phones loaded with WebOS. In fact, he predicts Verizon will be selling one early next year, with AT&T following shortly afterward.

Verizon and AT&T jumping on board the WebOS train? Well, that may not be a new rumor, but this kind of validation — from someone other than a fanboy — is just plain exciting.

[via PhoneArena, PreCentral.net]

ARTICLE: Would you suffer through ads for cheaper plan fees?

7/1/2009 8:30:00 AM

Some mobile users in Germany will be able to opt-in to targeted ads in exchange for discounts off their cell phone plans.

Alcatel-Lucent is providing German carrier E-Plus with equipment that puts ads on mobile devices based on demographics. Users who agree to receive 10-25 ads per week receive extra minutes or free text allotments on their cell plans. Customers have to enroll, and participants voluntarily fill out a checklist of activities or topics before receiving focused pitches based on those interests.

Could this become a model for carriers? It wouldn't be out of the question. Delivering ads to willing customers in exchange for a reward has long been a practice here in the States, at least in other industries.

GigaOm cites the NetZero offers of the 90s, when the ISP offered free dial-up in exchange for sending a mountain of irritating ads. A modern take on that might be the "free" laptop scheme, when people complete 25 product offers to get a free computer (which gets that registered email account on multiple lists that deluge people with "male enhancement" offers). But when the corner store registers customers for their mailing lists — whether by offering discounts or invitations to exclusive events — it's somehow not as annoying.

The reason for that has everything to do with the content of the offers. When you shop a store, you clearly already like what they have to offer. Decent discounts or worthwhile promotions for a desired retailer is considered valuable. Ridiculous offers (or worse, scams) that have irritating flashed-out artwork, consistently offer a silly 5% off, or otherwise completely miss the mark? Bad. Really bad.

So if users find value in the offers, then the whole process could actually be beneficial to both parties. The fear is, once users sign on the dotted line, that they're actually registering to be aggravated.

Only time will tell. This opt-in method could become a viable business model, especially for teens or low-income individuals, but only if marketers don't abuse the system.

[via GigaOm]

VIDEO: HTC Dash 3G (T-Mobile) - Unboxing

7/1/2009 12:05:00 AM

The wait between Dash and Dash 3G was long. But it may have been worth it if you use T-Mobile and like Windows Mobile. Check it out, Dash 3G unboxed.

ARTICLE: iPhone 3GS: Apple's crazy resale value astonishes me

6/30/2009 5:40:00 PM

I bought an Apple iPhone 3GS on launch day because Apple PR told me they could get me a review loaner, but it might take awhile. No good - you gotta cover the hot phones as soon as possible in the crazy tech blog world, right? I happened to be near both an AT&T and an Apple store the morning 3GS went on sale, so I walked to AT&T, saw no line outside, and decided to just go in and buy one. I spent $299 for the 32GB model, plus a $36 activation fee and a new two year contract. A lot of cash to fork over for a phone I didn't plan to keep, but it needed to be covered for the site and I figured I could probably sell the thing at recoup a decent chunk of my money once I was done with the review.

So I took the phone home, unboxed it, and uploaded the unboxing video. While waiting for the vid to process I popped over to eBay to see what the going rate was for a new, open-box 32GB 3GS. My eyes just about popped out of my head when I saw the completed auction listings. $600, $700, $800 ... one brand new, in a sealed box phone had gone for upwards of a grand.

I immediately took a few photos of my 3GS, put it back in the box for safe keeping, and listed it on the Bay. I then ordered another 32 gigger from AT&T's online store so I'd have a review unit to do some real testing on. My original 3GS sold for a whopping $760, and a few days later I had replacement from AT&T, which I've since been using for testing. Of course I've now got two new lines of service with two-year contracts, but the way I figure it even after I pay the activation and early termination fees, I'll come out a hundred or hundred-fifty dollars ahead of the game thanks to iPhone's insane resale value. Maybe I'll even keep the second 3GS and instead sell my iPhone 3G, since unlocked 8GB 3Gs are going for upwards of $300 on the Bay.

iPhone's resale value is all the crazier when you consider that anyone can walk into an AT&T store and buy a contract-free device for less than many of them sell for on eBay. The 32GB 3GS I sold for $760? $699 at any AT&T store. Sure, you have to pay tax on top of that, but I just don't get why someone would rather go through eBay than AT&T - it's much easier to return a broken iPhone to an AT&T store than an eBay seller, right?

And no, in case you were wondering, the buyer of my iPhone was not in some place where iPhones and AT&T Stores don't exist. He was in Manhattan - that's New York City. Crazy, huh?

ARTICLE: FCC passes BlackBerry 8520

6/30/2009 4:45:00 PM

Not a fan of BlackBerry's classic trackball? Relief is coming. As rumored, the BlackBerry 8520 — the newest edition Curve — is indeed heading our way. It has just cleared the FCC, putting the handset one step closer to being the first BB in the States with an optical trackpad.

By all accounts, it looks like it's heading to Tmo, but if you'rehoping for a 3G handset from the brand, you'll still have to wait itout for the BlackBerry Driftwood (3G/UMA) this fall. If, however, abudget price and the new hardware nav suits you, this might fit thebill.

Edge device
320 x 240 display
256 MB internal memory (same as 8900)
1150mAh battery
2 MP camera, no flash

So what say you? 8520 or Driftwood? Or are you jumping ship for thatnice new Tour on Verizon? To help you decide, check out the specs ingreater detail below:

BlackBerry Curve 8520 Features and Specifications

Size: 109mm x 60 mm x 13.90 mm (4.29 x 2.36 x 0.54 inches)
Weight: 106 grams (including battery)
Memory: 256MB Flash Memory
Expandable Memory: Hot swappable Micro SD (located behind battery-cover) SDHC supported
Display: High res 320×240 pixel color display, Transmissive TFT LCD, supports over 65,536 colors, 2.46 inches
Camera: 2MP camera with fixed focus, no flash, 5x digital zoom
Video Camera Format: Normal Mode: 320 x 240 pixel; MMS Mode: 176 x 144 pixel
Keyboard: 35 key backlit QWERTY keyboard
Dedicated Keys: Send, End, VAD/PTT (User customizable), Camera (User customizable), 2 x Volume, Media Keys (Play / Pause/ Mute, Back, Forward)
Device lock: Long press of A* key with lock icon
Navigation: Trackpad Located on front face of device, ESC Key to the right and Menu to the left of the trackpad
User Interface: Intuitive icons and menus
Notification: Tone, vibrate, on-screen and LED indicator; notification options are user configurable
Ringtones: 32 Polyphonic MIDI, MP3, SP-MIDI, WAV
Voice Input / Output: Integrated speaker and microphone, Hands-free headset capable, Bluetooth headset capable, hands-free speakerphone
GPS: Not supported
Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g enabled (Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry Enterprise Server, BlackBerry Internet Server), direct IP web browsing over Wi-Fi, support for UMA/GMA
Bluetooth: Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR (incl. A2DP)
Media Player: BlackBerry Media Player
Audio/Video support
Ports: Micro USB port
Charging Contacts: Charging through Micro USB port. No charging contacts
Battery: 1150 mAhr removable/rechargeable cryptographic Lithium cell
Battery Life: 4 Hours talk, 17 days stand-by
SIM Interface: Supports 1.8V & 3V SIMs
Keyboard Security: Password protection, keyboard, and sleep mode
Network: Quad-Band: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900MHz GSM/GPRS networks, and 850/ 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz EDGE networks
Radio Specs: Quad-band support: GSM 850; GSM 900; DCS 1800; PCS 1900

[FCC via TmoNews, BoyGenius Report, CellPhoneSignal]

ARTICLE: Sprint to get Motorola i465 Clutch

6/30/2009 1:50:00 PM

Check out the geometrically angled keys, balanced by the curved lines, and the muted black/gray/brick color scheme. It's all so... meh.

This thunderously mundane handset, known as the i465 Clutch, debuted to yawns last month on Boost Mobile, a Sprint-owned carrier. (Okay, maybe "yawns" is a strong word. After all, the messaging phone is Boost's first QWERTY device, so someone somewhere was probably glad to see this.)

Now for some reason, the mother ship is calling this home, as well. The i465 Clutch is heading to Sprint for the bargain basement price of $39.99, after rebates. (Sheesh. I think I may have spent more on a Fisher Price toy phone for my nephew.)

The handset — which offers threaded SMS and MMS messaging, POP3 email, Bluetooth, a VGA camera and Direct Connect — is estimated to arrive sometime this summer. So if you are a Sprint subscriber looking for a cheapo entry-level messaging phone (and don't care too much about looks), you won't have long to wait.

[via BoyGenius Report]

ARTICLE: Government getting cozy with Sprint in preparation for 2010 census

6/30/2009 1:00:00 PM

Regardless of the ability to carry the latest device on the market or have the best plan in the industry, Sprint's ability to say that it is the exclusive partner of the US Government is beyond neat. With 2010 rolling around, the US Census Bureau is gearing up for a great deal of analyzing, and as a result, HTC will be supplying the group with specially designed handsets for data collection while in the field. Codenamed 'Census,' a press release by Sprint confirmed that 140,000 of these were activated in April of this year. In addition to the devices, infrastructure and approximately 1,500 wireless cards are being supplied by Sprint, making 2010 the most high-tech census year in history.

Anyone care to speculate on what 2050 will look like?

Source: Engadget Mobile