With all the Black Friday deals this year, a cell phone carrier would probably be the last place on your list of places to visit.  Verizon realizes that, and is offering its Back Friday deals from Friday to Monday.  Not a bad idea for those who are busy running to other retailers, and also those who need a bit more time to decide on buying anything with a two-year contract.

Included in Verizon’s Black Friday deals is a price drop for the Gateway LT netbook.  The netbook usually runs $100 with a two-year contract but will cost only $30 for the weekend.  Also included in the deals are $10 smartphones, including both the HTC OZone and BlackBerry Pearl.  Not the newest smartphones, but for $10, not a bad option.  Not only will one be $10, but a second, identical smartphone, will be free, though will likely require a second contract.  Other deals include $30 buy-on-get-one-free feature phones like the Nokia Twist and LG Versa in addition to a $50 mail-in rebate fr the MiFi, knocking it down to $50.

Overall, the deals from Verizon aren’t too bad.  They definitely knock the price down for some decent devices.  A $30 netbook isn’t bad at all if you plan on getting one with a two-year contract.  $50 for a MiFi, even after a mail-in rebate, is a decent deal as well, and probably the most useful out of the bunch for many people.  With those exceptions, chances are you can most of the deals any other time of the year, though they might not have the buy-one-get-one-free deals, and they might come from other retailers, which can be an issue for some people.

Read [Electronista]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Not to be left out, it looks like AT&T has plans not only for a Black Friday sale, but a weekend full of sales that was described as “Black Friday through Cyber Monday.” According to the announcement the sales are expected to begin as of 12:01 am EST on Friday November 27 and run through the weekend. Here is what you can expect in terms of the deals;

Friday: Savings Begin.
Incredible deals on some of the most popular touch screen devices go live.

Saturday: 24-Hour Blackberry Sale.
Free Pearl 8110 or Curve 8310; $49 Curve 8320; or $99 Curve 8900. Two-year agreement with a minimum $69.99 plan required.

Sunday: Free Quick Messaging Device Sale.
*Choose from the Solstice, Neon, Magnet, Karma or Propel. Two-year agreement and unlimited messaging or data service required.

Cyber Monday: 1 Cent Sale.
*Purchase for only one penny the Nokia e71x; Sony Cybershot; Curve 8900; Pantech Reveal; or, Samsung Jack. Device offers rotate every three hours. Two-year service agreement required.

Read [AT&T]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Possibly my favorite gadget purchase of the year is the MiFi. And it looks like those in Canada will soon be able to get one of their own by way of Bell. I should point out that this is still in the rumor stage, which means we are still awaiting an official announcement.

However, assuming for a minute that the rumor is indeed true, then the Bell MiFi 2372 will be available beginning on November 30. And price wise it will set any would be purchasers back $249.95 or $99.95 with a three-year agreement.

That said, this MiFi has some similarities to the version found here in the US with Sprint and Verizon in that it will allow up to 5 users to connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot that it creates. But there is one nice difference in this model, it comes with a memory card slot that can support cards up to 16GB in size. Portable Wi-Fi is good, but portable Wi-Fi with built-in storage is even nicer.

Via [BGR]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Quickly becoming the place to buy cellphones on the cheap, Walmart is bringing its low-cost ways to the weary cell phone buyer.  One has to wonder about some of the deals on their site offering up to $100 to take home some very decent phones.  Have they gone too far?

$100 in your pocket #1: Sidekick Slider from T-Mobile

Walmart will send you a check for $100 after you agree to a two year contract with T-Mobile on their LetsTalk site.  Is the Sidekick that bad a phone?  Or is it the recent trouble Microsoft ran into with Sidekick owner information?

The phone was launched back in 2007, and only received 3 out of five stars for most reviews.  The keyboard isn’t fantastic and it is a bit chunky by today’s standards.  It is probably a safe bet that the incident that involved user data being lost is not likely to happen again.

$100 in your pocket #2: BlackBerry Curve 8330 (pink) from Verizon

This BlackBerry, first sold back in 2008 might be an older model, but it is one of the best.  Featuring GPS, 2.0 mp camera and of course, the great BlackBerry messaging service.  Getting paid to bring this one home is icing on the cake.

While there are other phones that offer you a bounty to order them, there are many that are free as well.  Phones like the original BlackBerry Bold, considered to be the best BlackBerry ever by many, Samsung Instinct and lots more.  If you are looking for a new mobile phone this holiday season, check out Walmart’s LetsTalk site.

Product Page: [Walmart]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

It has been a long time since HP released an interesting iPAQ device.  Now, with the release of Windows Mobile 6.5, it looks like the iPAQ is back once again with the Glisten.  The HP iPAQ Glisten is a smartphone heading to AT&T targeted at business users over everyone else.

The iPAQ Glisten looks to be a good alternative to those who like the BlackBerry-esque form factor, but either require or prefer Windows Mobile 6.5.  It has a 2.5” AMOLED touchscreen, along with a QWERTY keyboard and five-way directional pad.  In terms of specs it holds 256 SDRAM/512 MB Flash memory, GPS, 3.1 MP camera, 3G and Wi-Fi (complete with a dedicated on/off switch, which could prove very handy).  It runs stock Windows Mobile 6.5, along with Flash support in the browser, and built in apps for Facebook and HP’s Snapfish.

The iPAQ Glisten may not be the most exciting Windows Mobile 6.5 phone compared to others recent releases, but it does seem like a decent choice.  The combination of a candybar smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard, and a touchscreen makes it fairly interesting, and could put it above popular BlackBerries.  There is also a great brand in iPAQ, with it being one of the better PDAs back when those were still around.  The only thing holding it back is the $180 price tag after the $50 mail-in rebate.  Unless users really need Windows Mobile or a physical keyboard, there’s no reason to pick this up over the 16GB iPhone 3GS.  Unless, of course, you hate Apple’s policies for the iPhone and can’t switch the Verizon for a Droid.

Read [AT&T] Read [HP]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Plenty of people nowadays are looking to an iPhone, BlackBerry or something sporting Android for their smartphone needs, but that should not rule Windows Mobile based handsets out.

That said, Verizon Wireless and Samsung have recently announced the upcoming availability of the Omnia II. And in a nice twist on numbers, the Omnia II will be available as of December 2 for $200. Well, more specifically it will set you back $199.99, but that price does come AFTER a $100 mail-in-rebate and along with a two-year commitment.

Feature wise, the Samsung Omnia II is running Windows Mobile 6.5 with Opera 9.5 for browsing and has a 3.7-inch “ultra-briliant” touchscreen display, a virtual QWERTY keyboard and a 5.0-megapixel camera with flash, auto-focus and video recording. Additionally, the Omnia II also offers Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, EV-DO Rev. A, Bluetooth, 8GB of internal storage and has a microSD card slot for additional storage.

Read [Verizon Wireless]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

I first saw the LG X120 netbook back in January of this year during CES, and although it looked to be a decent offering design wise there were a few points that kept me from really being interested. First, it was nothing out of the ordinary in terms of specs, and second it was not available here in the US.

That said, things change with time, and although the specs have remained the same as when I first saw the X120, it is now going to be available here in the US.

So moving on, the fortunate or unfortunate part here, depending on who you ask is that the LG X120 will be tied to AT&T. In other words, it is coming 3G-equipped, and that means it will require an AT&T DataConnect plan.

Anyway, the X120 will be found exclusively at Radio Shack and will set you back $179.99. And as I mentioned, the DataConnect plan is required, which means you will sign a two-year agreement at $60 a month.

Feature wise, the X120 has a 10.1-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and is running Windows XP. The one nice part here is that the X120 also features the SmartOn interface which means you can boot up and connect quickly.

Basically, if you are looking for a subsidized netbook then this appears to be a nice option, but at the same time I have to offer just three words of advise; “Get a MiFi.”

Keep reading to check out the full press release…

LG Netbook Debuts Revolutionary SmartOn Interface That Takes a Shortcut to the Fun Stuff and Puts Users at the Center of Their Social Universe

AT&T’s 3G Mobile Broadband Service to Help People Stay Connected

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/—LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) announced today the newest addition to their innovative product line-up with the launch of the LG X120 netbook. The first of its kind from LG, the LG X120 delivers the benefits of netbook functionality and gives users a shortcut to the fun stuff with a unique SmartOn(TM) interface that makes staying connected faster, easier and just seconds away. Available at RadioShack, the LG X120 is the perfect computing companion for social networkers, college students and young professionals on the go.

Weighing only 2.8lbs, the slim and stylish LG X120 provides the computing power of a laptop with the freedom of a mobile device. Equipped with an innovative SmartOn interface that loads in seconds, the LG netbook connects to web and photos, instant messaging and MP3 player with just the touch of a button. Designed with a sleek white matte exterior and fashionable blue trim, the LG X120 delivers 7 hours of battery life and built-in AT&T 3G wireless connectivity. Users can explore the internet, update blogs and download music from just about anywhere, anytime on the nation’s fastest 3G network.

The LG netbook also features 1GB RAM and 160GB hard drive that offers users ultimate storage space for music, photos and gaming while a generous 10.1” screen with crystal clear LED backlighting creates a viewing experience perfect for watching videos and reading e-mails while on the run. A built-in 1.3 megapixel camera and HD stereo speakers provide clear, more precise video chatting and conferencing with friends and colleagues.

“We created the LG X120 to allow consumers to stay connected on their own terms,” said Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of product strategy and marketing for LG Mobile Phones. “The SmartOn button puts consumers seconds away from the fun stuff such as showing off your vacation photos or picking your fantasy football line-up.”

LG X120 also includes a traditional start up feature booting the complete Windows XP Operating system that allows users to plan a budget or build a basic presentation on professionally based applications. No longer limited to Wi-Fi hotspots, 3G HSDPA provides on-the-go connectivity giving users instant access to all the tools that keep them connected and make them unique.

The LG netbook will be available at select Radio Shack stores nationwide and online at www.RadioShack.com for $179.99 with a 2-year AT&T DataConnect service agreement, a $60 monthly 5GB plan. AT&T DataConnect subscribers also receive access to AT&T Wi-Fi service, which includes more than 20,000 Hot Spots nationwide.

Limited-time offer. Other conditions & restrictions apply. See contract, rate plan brochure and rebate form at store for details. Subscriber must live & have a mailing address within AT&T’s owned wireless network coverage area. Up to $36 activation fee applies. Equipment price & availability may vary by market & may not be available from independent retailers. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but a restocking fee may apply; thereafter up to $175.

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

It’s a bold move on the 23rd of the month to say we are shipping soon, by the end of the month as it doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room.  The Dell Mini 3i must be locked and loaded, ready to explode onto the scene in China where the phone will debut.  China Mobile let loose some interesting specs about the phone.

The Dell Mini 3i runs China Mobile’s OPhone open source OS and comes loaded with localized 139Mail e-mail, Fetion chat and digital maps.  The phone does not feature a 3G radio.  The Mini 3i will come in fashionable Passion Red or Oiled Bronze, hot right?

Specs (from the press release):

Dell Mini 3i OPhone Specifications:   * Form Factor: Tablet/PDA   * Dimensions: 58.35 x 122 x 11.7   * Display: 3.5” nHD, 640x360   * Bands/Modes: Quadband GSM/EDGE   * Weight: <105g (grams) * Bluetooth * GPS * Micro SD (up to 32GB) * Connector: Mini USB

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Yet another BlackBerry is now available with AT&T, this time its the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and it is carrying a $199.99 price tag. Unfortunately that price does come after a $100 mail-in-rebate, which means those interested in the Bold 9700 will need to shell out $299.99. That and, as standard practice you will also need to sign a two-year commitment.

Feature wise, the Bold 9700 offers a 2.44-inch display (480 x 360), 3.2-megapixel camera, 3G, Bluetooth, 256MB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for additional storage.

Additionally the 9700 is sporting the new optical trackpad as opposed to the trackball that many have become familiar with.

Product [AT&T] Via [Engadget]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Sprint has announced it will kick off the holiday shopping season with the launch of the Sanyo Incognito. The latest offering from Kyocera is a sleek messaging phone with a full QWERTY keyboard. Its selling point however is the glossy Titanium Black mirrored external surface that boasts a glow through keypad and OLED display. The glow through keypad is further set apart by the vibrating feedback it gives as each button is pressed. Inside, along with the full keyboard is a 2.6’ QVGA display. 

The handset is designed for Sprint’s EVDO network and also offers video and music players, a 2.0 MP camera, a MicroSD slot, and provides easy access to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, GPS Navigation, email, and other popular apps.

“I’m sure Incognito will be topping many holiday gift lists this season,” said Atsushi (Andy) Kodera, vice president and deputy general manager at Kyocera Communications Inc. “It’s such a clean, sophisticated looking phone but there are so many features at your fingertips when you turn on the glow-through display and open the QWERTY flip. With its amazing combination of style and functionality for less than $50, it’s about as foolproof a gift idea as you’ll see this year.”

The Incognito will be on sale starting Cyber Monday (11/30) and will sell for $49.99 after a $50 MIR and with a 2 year contract. There’s no word yet if Sprint will require one of their Simply Everything plans as well.

Read [BusinessWire]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Can any phone hold onto its price longer than one month?  We’ve seen several phones as of late launch at one price only to be blown out of the water by another retailer just weeks or even days.  The price chopper strikes again, this time with the Motorola Droid which is now $119, down from $199.

The Motorola Droid is Verizon’s hottest smartphone of the moment.  Running Google Android 2.0, the phone features several new features not the least of which is Google Navigation providing turn by turn directions for free.  The phone’s slide out keyboard and extreme customization are among its chief stand-out features.

Dell offers the Droid through Simplexity, an authorized reseller and carriers the same restrictions to new customer and 2-year contract.  The price includes the device as well as FedEx shipping.

Interested?  Just drop the Android in the Dell shopping cart, enter in your zip code and the price is shown at $119.  Sweet.

Product page: [Dell] via [IntoMobile]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Just recently a nice collection of images along with a hands on video of the upcoming BlackBerry Pearl 9100 were made available online. The Pearl 9100 is the successor to the current Pearl 8100, but more importantly it is the first in the Pearl lineup to have 3G support.

Also, in addition to the 3G, the 9100 is also sporting the optical trackpad that we saw on the Curve 8530. Unfortunately we do not yet have a full set of specs to give out, but given the images and video are online I am sure those will not be that far away.

In the meantime check out the video below and then hit the read links below for some more images.

Via [CrackBerry] and [CrackBerry]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

As we expected, and right on schedule, the BlackBerry Curve 8530 is now available with Verizon Wireless. Those interested will can expect to pay $99.99, but that price does come with a two-year agreement and after a $100 online discount. That said, we do have to compliment Verizon for making that 100 bucks as an instant discount as opposed to by mail.

And for those that make the purchase, you will receive a 2.5-inch display, Wi-Fi, GPS, 2-megapixel camera, optical trackpad, Stereo Bluetooth and a 3.5mm headphone jack all in a package that is running OS 5.0 and sporting 256MB of internal flash memory. Additionally, the Curve 8530 also has a microSD card slot for additional storage.

Product [Verizon Wireless]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

That $24.95 Palm Pixi suddenly does not seem like such a great offer now that we learn Amazon has temporarily lowered the pricing for the Palm Pre.

The new price for the Pre is now $79.99, which just to begin with is much nicer than $149.99 (after a $100 mail-in-rebate) that Sprint currently has it priced at.

But additionally, by purchasing your Palm Pre by way of Amazon you will also get free activation (a $36 saving) and not have to deal with any mail-in-rebates. Its just a flat $79.99. Of course, you do still need to sign a two-year commitment with Sprint.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that this offer is only valid until November 23.

Product [Amazon] Via [9to5Mac]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Pantech’s new Impact is now officially part of the AT&T line up today according to Pantech.  The quick messaging device features a haptic touchpad that side flips to reveal a long qwerty keyboard.  The phone will sell for $99 after rebates and contracts.

Remember haptic feedback?  When users press on a touchscreen the phones buzzes to give the sensation of pushing a button is how it is often described.  Pantech uses haptic feedback to give new users the confidence in using a touchpad .  Almost all phone and messaging functions can be performed on the haptic touchpad or users can flip open the screen to bang on the keys.

Instead of a full screen on the front of the phone, the screen is extremely small and the rest is a large touchpad.  The effect looks like a large touchscreen, common on many of today’s phones.  It is a risky move, looking like something you are not.

The Pantech Impact runs on the AT&Ts 3G network for fast data speeds and comes preloaded with AT&T’s new browser The Impact’s large inner color screen is surrounded by speakers.  The device also takes stills and video.

At the moment, I don’t see AT&T’s page for the Impact.  It should be up sometime today.

Press release: [VPO] and [PantechUSA]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

AT&T Wireless’ war against Verizon was dealt a blow when a judge denied the company’s request for a restraining order barring Verizon from airing their “There’s a Map for That” ads that highlight AT&T’s truly pathetic 3G coverage.  AT&T is furious over the new ad campaign, insisting it is misleading to consumers, and vows to continue the fight.  Verizon responded in a legal filing:

“This motion is a blatant effort to ask the Court to do what the marketplace will not do: shield AT&T from truthful comparative advertisements that Verizon has a right to air and that consumers have a right to see.”

One wonders if AT&T would be better off spending money on increasing its 3G coverage than on this silly lawsuit.  It’s inexcusable that a major carrier offers such lame 3G coverage when fellow carriers like Sprint are already offering 4G coverage.  Its clear AT&T made the mistake of resting its laurels on the iPhone and for whatever reason, couldn’t be bothered to invest in its own infrastructure.  This has resulted in a legion of angry iPhone users, who lament having a cutting edge cell phone with little high speed coverage, and angry non iPhone coverage who are unhappy at the burden the iPhone users have placed on the network.

GSM may be the more popular technology, but here in the U.S., given the troubles both T-Mobile and AT&T are having, CDMA carriers Verizon Wireless and Sprint seem to be better choices.  Now if only Sprint could find a competent advertising team…

Read [PCWorld]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

If T-Mobile is trying to drive themselves out of business they are doing a pretty good job. First there was the great Sidekick Nightmare, which caused most U.S. users of the device to lose their data and the company to temporarily halt sales, and then a few weeks ago T-Mobile customers had to contend with an outage that left them unable to make calls or send text messages.  Now it gets even worse.

The company is now reporting that it has discovered a data breach at its U.K. headquarters.  Staff there was caught selling customers’ personal information to numerous third parties.  Those parties then approached customers who were soon to be out of contract with sales pitches for other carriers.  T-Mobile said this was done without its knowledge and that those responsible will be prosecuted.

T-Mobile, which recently announced plans to merge with fellow U.K. provider Orange, seems to be a company totally out of control.  The constant service issues, and the severity of them, paired with this latest news, have left them with a very black eye that won’t soon heal.  Their advertising and P.R. people have their work cut out for them!

Read [PC World]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

So much for having to head in to Walmart to score a low priced Palm Pixi because Amazon now has an offer of their own. For a limited time, well actually until November 23 customers can get a Palm Pixi for just $24.99. Which means you can save yourself five bucks, but better still, you can do so from the comfort of your own home.

Of course, there are a few catches with that price, but honestly would you expect otherwise. First, like I mentioned that offer is for a limited time only. But more importantly, you will have to agree to and sign a two year commitment with Sprint.

With price drops like this, it seems like it is just a matter of time before the Pixi becomes free on contract. Still $24.99 is not all that bad.

Product [Amazon]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

TechCrunch is stacking up a bunch of rumors and is purporting that Google really does have a phone of its own brewing that they will bring to market on their own.  This pinnacle of Android phone will be all Google power, optimized for every Google service (surely including Google Voice, now with VOIP???) and will be a thing of beauty and amazement for all to drool over.  Forgive my sarcasm and hesitation on this one, I’ve been down this road before.

Way back, in 2007, Google said cell phone should be free, supported by advertising.  That got me to thinking, they could actually pull that off.  After all, Google is an advertising company.  Could they finally be prepping a way to make that happen?

Free phones is nothing new but free service, well that would get some attention.  After all, those of us with smartphones know the high price we pay to walk around with the internet in our pockets.  Could Google be moving to provide free service in exchange for access to our eyeballs?

How could they monetize it?  Ads tacked onto emails sent from the phone, ala hotmail?  Ads texted to you periodically?  I’d put up with that to save the $70+ I spend monthly for service.  With pre-screening surveys, Google could make it extremely targeted and a high value ad buy and we’d all agree to it.  OK, not all.

Telecoms would have to push the privacy issue to compete.  They’d need to raise the fear in handing over all your data and preferences to Google.  Their bread and butter are service charges.  Google would provide a major disruption here.

What do you think?  Is the Google Phone real this time?

Read: [TechCrunch]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

It looks like the price of the Palm Pre has just been lowered for those north of the border in Canada. Wireless reseller WirelessWave has recently lowered the Pre to just $49.95. Of course, that does come with the standard three-year commitment with Bell. But it is hard to argue with a $50 Pre, not to mention that price almost makes that $30 Walmart Pixi seem like a rip-off. Anyway, for those in Canada willing to sign a three-year commitment with Bell—head on over to WirelessWave and pick up your nicely priced Pre.

[via mobilesyrup]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

For those of us who are not following the Sidekick as intently anymore, the fact that they have been unavailable may not have been anything to even think twice about. But that said, there are some pretty loyal Sidekick users and this news should be welcomed news for them—T-Mobile has resumed sales of the Sidekick. And to put a little icing on that cake, the return has also come with lower prices.

Effective immediately, those willing to take the plunge with the Sidekick can pick up the Sidekick or the Sidekick LX for $49.99 or $149.99 respectively.

All things considered though, I would imaging that the data is pretty safe at this point. But the data and that past issue aside, there are so many other great options now available for $149.99 and under that almost make the Sidekick seem a poor choice. But hey, like I already mentioned, Sidekick users are a loyal bunch.

Read [T-Mobile] and [T-Mobile]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

New MVNO (mobile virtual network operators) are rare these days.  There was a time when there were many MVNOs, but not any more, let alone new ones launching.  Even rarer among those MVNOs are GSM networks.  Most use CDMA like Verizon and Sprint, with the exception of the newest one, Simple Mobile.

Simple Mobile launched today with a promise to use just about any GSM phone you have and want to use.  There are six phones available from Simple Mobile, including the BlackBerry Pearl Flip, and the network has been tested with 140 other phones including a myriad other BlackBerries, Nokia, HTC, Samsung and Motorola phones among others.  Coverage extends to most major US cities and surrounding areas.  The coverage map looks vaguely similar to T-Mobile’s (minus roaming areas), though that could be coincidence.

With plans starting at $40 for unlimited voice, Simple Mobile looks to be a reasonable choice for some.  Adding SMS brings the monthly payment to $45.  Data can only be bought with 20MB or 40MB caps, making it essentially pointless at $50 and $55, respectively.  Other than the data issues, there’s little reason to choose Simple Mobile over any other MVNO if you live in an area with coverage.  There’s no payment for a phone if you happen to have a GSM phone lying around, or can find a cheap one, and unless you need data it has everything you need for $45 or less.  The plans come out to roughly the same as MetroPCS which requires the purchase of a new CDMA phone.  If nothing else, Simple Mobile is a great option for students who need cheap phone plans with voice and SMS.

Read [Electronista]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

As of this morning, the BlackBerry Bold 9700 is now available with T-Mobile. Price wise, the Bold 9700 will set you back $199.99 on a two-year agreement. Of course, T-Mobile also has the new Even More Plus plans which let you go contract free, but that means you will be paying retail for the handset, which in this case means $449.99.

For the price, you will get the first 3G-capable BlackBerry on the T-Mobile network. But you will also have a device that offers Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS, a 3.2-megapixel camera and an optical trackpad.

Interestingly enough, this release has come in ahead of the AT&T release.

Read [T-Mobile]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The quirky AT&T Reveal features a slider form factor and is a quick messaging phone.  I got some hands on time with the phone and wanted to share my evaluation.  The Reveal currently costs $79 with a two year contract.

Hands on:

With the keyboard tucked up or unslid, if you will, the phone is a simple, well, phone.  You’ve access to numbers and basic phone function.  Pantech did a great job on the feel of this phone, even though it’s plastic the materials feel high-end.  The phone is relatively narrow and feels good in hand.

The keyboard what separates this phone.  The number keys on the main part of the phone stay active even while the qwerty keyboard is slid down.  I found the keys to be too small and too close to the main part of the phone for my large fingers to reach.  In short, I wasn’t a fan.

Enter the preteen.

Figuring I wasn’t the target market for this phone, I let my daughter give it a go.  She normally uses the Pantech Slate, a super-thin quick messaging phone.  She found the Reveal to be fantastic.

She raved about the Reveals many background choices and better ringtones than the Slate.  She found the number pad to be a huge help when texting and she even found she was a faster typist on the Reveal because of it.

She also found the Reveal fits better in jeans than the Slate.  I am guessing width had something to do with this comment.  She also mentioned the camera has more zoom capabilities over the Slate.

Summary

We both found the operating system to be equally simple.  The Reveal does have GPS which might be nice for some.  The form factor worked for both me and my preteen.  I’ll defer to her recommendation as I am sure Pantech was thinking more about the youth of America than a jaded, smartphone wielding blogger.  We give this one a thumbs up.

I am assured (wink, wink) that this would make an excellent holiday present for a teen or preteen.

Product page: [AT&T]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

We all know that Verizon Wireless, and all other cellular carriers mainly exist to make a profit.  They are all companies with many, many customers, after all.  It might be, however, that at least some of their revenue is coming from accidental data usage from customers with no data plans.  Not only that, but it seems as if the phones are designed to facilitate those charges.

David Pogue of the New York Times has received a message from a Verizon Wireless employee who is tired of the charges.  The charges come from customers accidentally hitting a button for services like Mobile Web or Get It Now.  By opening the apps and trying to connect, kilobytes are transferred.  So much as a single kilobyte will get counted as 1 MB by Verizon (and presumably other companies), resulting in an additional $1.99 added to their bill.  That even applies to customers who have data blocks, as some data is transferred in showing the message that they cannot use data.  Combine this easy mistake with the fact that Verizon alone has 87 million customers, and there is a potential for huge revenue.

What Verizon, AT&T, and presumably the other carriers are doing isn’t illegal, though it can leave customers feeling cheated.  $2 is a lot to pay for a single mistake that the customers probably attempted to rectify almost immediately.  I know I’ve hit those buttons on occasion, and thought I’d fixed it by hitting END or closing the phone immediately, though apparently not.  What’s worse is the fact that some phones can’t even be programmed such that those buttons do launch other apps.  Even if they are reprogrammable, the option to do so is usually buried deep within the menu system so most average users might not be able to find it.

Read [NY Times]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Anyone thinking about picking up the soon-to-be-released Palm Pixi may want to head on over to the land of interesting things people, otherwise know as Walmart. Thanks to a recent addition on the Walmart Wireless website we now know that the Pixi will be just $29.99 for new customers.

And the nice part here is that price comes after a $170 instant discount. In other words, nothing to fill out and nothing to send in and then wait 8-10 weeks to get back.

Of course, that $29.99 price tag does require you to sign up with Sprint, and that means a two year agreement. But hey, its a $30 smartphone, I guess you cannot really complain.

Now I am going to go out on a ledge here, but maybe the Pixi or future similar models will end up being the savior of Palm. Maybe Palm is going to take up the role of the low priced smartphone company. And if that is that case, I guess being available for a bargain price through Walmart makes sense.

Product [Walmart]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

With the release of the Palm Pixi getting closer and closer we are now beginning to see it surface in the real world. Just yesterday the Pixi was spotted in both Walmart as well as a newly released television commercial. Of course, that release day is not until Sunday, which means that despite seeing the handset around it cannot yet be purchased.

As far as Walmart, the Pixi was spotted by one eagle-eyed PreCentral reader who was kind enough to not only snap a picture, but also dig a little deeper—he actually spoke to the employees. Shocking, but that aside, it seems that Walmart is listing the Palm Pixi at $400 but do not fully have it in the system. In other words, despite it being out in the open and looking available, it cannot yet be purchased. But with that your mileage could vary, so hit up your local Walmart if you are in desperate need of being one of the first to purchase and own a Pixi. Just remember sometimes being nice will help when dealing with big-box employees.

In addition to the Walmart sighting, the Pixi also made its commercial debut, which you can check out in YouTube format below. The commercial is interesting to say the least, and on a nice note it is entirely less creepy as compared to the Pre commercials.

Read [PreCentral] and [PreCentral]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

AT&T has just announced a few more available calling plans, or more specifically two more calling plans—each of which will be beneficial to those who are calling Canada on a regular basis.

The new plans are denoted as “with Canada” and include the Nation with Canada and FamilyTalk with Canada plans. In short, either of these plans will allow the user to call Canada and not have to worry about paying high fees.

The plans include;

• No international long distance charges on wireless calls between the United States and Canada
• Anytime and 1,000 Nights and Weekend Minutes for use in the United States and Canada
• Ability to save unused Anytime Minutes with Rollover

As far as pricing, that depends on the number of anytime minutes you choose. The Nation wide Canada plans range from as low as 450 minutes and go up to 6000 minutes ranging in price from $59.99 up to $219.99 a month. The FamilyTalk with Canada plans range from 500 minutes up to 6000 minutes and begin at $89.99 a month.

Read [AT&T]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

An interesting new bit of info popped up courtesy of a listing filed by a Senior Compliance Engineer for Palm on the Bluetooth SIG site.  The listing identifies a “Ring-P” device coming this January.  Could this be a new device or a new carrier?

The Pixi is set to launch November 15 at $100, roughly the same price as the Palm Pre at this point, so we can rule out this is for the Pixi.  The Pixi is a smaller, thinner candy-bar styled webOS phone.  The phones matches up to a smarter Centro replacement; the Centro was a hit for Palm (big unit seller). That leaves either a new device or a new carrier.

My money is on new carrier.  January marks the expiration of six months from the date of Pre’s launch on Sprint.  Many of us believe the exclusive agreement with Sprint was 6 months.  Verizon has said time and time again that the Pre will be on it’s network and after the positive attention of the Motorola Droid launching on the Verizon network, this would continue the intro of some decent smartphones.  Finally.

A new device seems a bit wishful to me.  Certainly the Palm team is working on something, but it is a relatively small group and brewing an OS coupled with two phone launches has probably sucked up most available resources at this point.  I just don’t see it.

Read: [PalmwebOS]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

While we here at Gadgetell have been wondering just how well the Palm Pre is actually doing, it seems like we are still getting mixed signals overall. And in this particular case, the mixed signal is actually a price drop. And a price drop that has quickly followed another price drop.

In this case that means that our friends who are north of the border, well those who are either on or willing to switch to Bell will be able to score a Palm Pre for just $99.95 (CAD).

Now normally I would consider a price drop a nice thing, and and just rejoice in the fact that any would be customers can save a little money, but in this instance I am left wondering if the drop has anything to do with poor sales.

You see, I only say that because the Palm Pre was given a $50 price drop back towards the end of last month which brought the price down to $149.99. And now another $50 price drop has brought it down to $99.99.

Either way, good for Bell customers, maybe bad for Palm and Bell. Maybe now we can see a little bit of that lower Pre pricing come down here to the US and Sprint. Of course, with all the recent press Sprint has been getting for their Android offerings lately, a price drop on the Pre may be a helpful thing.

Read [Bell]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Courtesy of a Best Buy Reward Zone member advertisement, we now know that the Nokia Booklet 3G will be available as of November 15. Which is of course much nicer than the previous time frame of sometime during the holidays.

For those interested, the Booklet 3G will set you back $299.99, but that price does required a two year commitment. Otherwise, those looking to make the purchase contract free can expect to pay the full retail price of $599.99. And yes, for good or bad that contract is with AT&T.

Additionally, although we did know many of the details and features surrounding the Booklet 3G, except the actual release, I did at least get a nice little chuckle from the

“Windows 7 operating system is crazy fast”

comment in the ad. Crazy fast, really? That is the best they can do.

Anyway, for those waiting, well for those that are also a Reward Zone member, you can now head out to Best Buy and get your pre-order in.

Read [Nokia Mobile Blog]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

As if the new Droid phone from Motorola wasn’t enough, Verizon Wireless has announced the launch of the LG Chocolate Touch.  The Chocolate Touch has a 3 inch touch screen, a 3.2MP camera, full HTML browser, 1GB of memory with additional memory up to 16GB easily added via the SD slot, a music player that plays back MP3, WMA and ACC files, a built in FM radio, Bluetooth, EVDO Rev. 0 connectivity and easy access to social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

Verizon is offering the Chocolate Touch for just $80 with a 2 year contract and after a $50 mail in rebate.  Be warned however that the rebate will come in the form of a prepaid debit card, not a check.  The Chocolate Touch looks to be a big seller this holiday season and is just the first in a line of hot new phones being introduced by the big 4 cell providers.  T-Mobile will be offering the My Touch 3G Fender Limited Edition and Samsung Behold II while Sprint will offer the HTC Hero and Samsung Moment and AT&T will have the Pantech Reveal.

Sprint and AT&T are also said to be working on a nationwide launch of new netbooks. Sprint will offer the Dell Mini 10 while AT&T will offer the Nokia Booklet 3G, which will be a Best Buy exclusive over the holidays.  The netbook boasts a 10 inch display, 12hr battery life and Windows 7.  It will be offered for $299 with a data plan or a whopping $599 without.

Read [PR Newswire]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

It looks like AT&T users may soon have one more BlackBerry to choose from, that is assuming we can believe the latest rumor. Sadly, though aside from the above image there are little to no details as to when this is expected to be available. Price wise, it would be safe to think that it would drop at the same price as the existing Curve 8900 in black, which is currently $149.99.

That said, I am not sure I really like this model. Which is a change because I am typically a fan of white phones, but this one sort of looks a little toy like. Maybe it is just because of the image.

Of course, a white BlackBerry Curve 8900 would fit the pattern. After all the black Curve 8900 has been out for a little while now, and it has also been reasonable successful.

Via [BGR]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

We have been seeing some talk about increasing Early Termination Fees (ETF’s), most recently from Verizon Wireless. With that and perhaps in an effort to get the word out, Sprint has come out and stated that they will not be increasing their ETF’s. The message came short and sweet via the official Sprint Twitter account.

One more tweet on ETF policy. We won’t be following suit as other carriers increase fees.

Of course, they then linked to their existing policy in regards to ETF’s. Nothing has changed and the fees are still being prorated depending on what is left on your contract. Which means those looking to cancel an agreement with Sprint can expect to pay an ETF as high as $200 or as low as $50 if you are in month 19 or higher in your two year agreement.

So, basically nothing is new with the policy, but at the same time it is nice to see that there will not be any ripple coming down from the recent Verizon Wireless announcement.

Read [Sprint]  Via [Twitter]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

FCC listings are always a nice way to get an advance look at what we can expect to see product wise, and this latest listing is not any different. The listing is for the Mini 3iX smartphone, which is the upcoming Android based handset from Dell.

Of course, even though these FCC listings tend to give us an advance look, they often do not give us all of the details. And this is certainly a case of that. What we can tell you though is good news and that comes in the form of 3G support on AT&T bands as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

That said, we have already seen this same handset get released in China, and based on those specs it would seem likely that the US version will also have the a 3.5-inch touchscreen display and 3-megapixel camera.

In terms of a release, while nothing has been made official, the Mini 3iX is expected to hit AT&T sometime in early 2010. Which should make it the first Android based handset to become available with AT&T.

Via [Unwired View]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Verizon, Verizon, Verizon—it seems they are determined to get some attention lately. We have seen the endless, but exciting Droid coverage, then earlier today we saw the BlackBerry Curve 8530 get announced.

Now, it looks like Verizon is getting into the pre-paid data game. Which personally I have to say it a wonderful thing. Especially for those who like to have Internet access on the go, but do not need it often enough to necessitate a service plan with a contract.

Anyway, detail wise it looks like customers will be able to get a daily, weekly or monthly option. And as you would expect, each of those levels comes with a set amount of data transfer. Here is a breakdown of the available data transfer along with the pricing.

• Daily – $15 for 75 MB
• Weekly – $30 for 250 MB
• Monthly – $50 for 500 MB

Finally, I think they only thing that would have made this announcement better is if they would have offered the pre-paid service in a plan that worked with the MiFi. However instead users will be able to use the pre-paid mobile broadband plans with the Verizon Wireless USB760 modem which will be selling for $129.99.

In terms of what you can do with the above plans, here is a breakdown which comes courtesy of Verizon.

To assist customers in determining their service levels, the following chart provides examples of different applications based on approximate size assumptions. Actual file sizes may vary.
Data Type

E-mail (1 text page, no attachments)

• Daily: 25,600
• Weekly: 85,300
• Monthly: 170,000

Typical Web page lookup

• Daily: 500
• Weekly: 1,700
• Monthly: 3,400

Low-resolution digital photos

• Daily: 150
• Weekly: 500
• Monthly: 1,000

Read [Verizon Wireless]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Perhaps in an effort to not be outdone by Verizon, at least in terms of the BlackBerry, Sprint has also announced the upcoming availability of the Curve 8530. Though the Sprint unveiling was a little light on the details.

Instead of announcing the handset with a release date and price, Sprint choose to simply offer up an “introducing” style page that simply lists the details of the phone and notes it as “coming soon.”

Otherwise, we can tell you that the Sprint branded Curve 8530 will be 3G and Wi-Fi equipped and available in either black or royal purple.

One nice perk about the 8530 is the optical trackpad which comes in lieu of the trackball. Of course, I suppose that would just come down to a matter of personal preference.

Anyway, like I mentioned, nothing in terms of a release date or price. But if Sprint were smart they would release it very close to, if not on November 20 for $99.99, because after seeing the Verizon announcement that is what customers are now going to expect.

Product [Sprint]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

While there are plenty of people that are getting excited about the upcoming handsets becoming available with Verizon Wireless, we now have one more to add to that list—it is the BlackBerry Curve 8530.

Of course, unlike the Motorola Droid and the HTC Droid Eris, the Curve 8530 is not going to be available just yet. Instead interested customers will have to wait until November 20 to satisfy their BlackBerry needs. Once available, the newly announced Curve will be selling for $99.99, which comes after a $100 mail in rebate.

Feature wise, the Curve 8530 will offer users an optical trackpad and the full QWERTY keyboard that BlackBerry users have come to both expect and love. Additionally, the Curve will also offer users 3G support, WiFi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, a built-in GPS, a 2-megapixel camera with zoom and video recording and 256MB of internal storage.

And just one last bit, the Curve 8530 will be available in both black or smoky violet.

Read [Verizon Wireless]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The lesser known droid, the HTC Eris, is finally shown in an unboxing event.  This Droid, unlike the Motorola Droid, has not hardware keyboard.  The Eris is a touchscreen beauty running Android 1.6 with Sense UI skin for an HTC feel.

Boy Genius notes that their source says the phone feels lighter and thinner than the HTC Hero.  Another tidbit is this phone supposed is the next best Android phone to date, after the Motorola Droid with 2.0 software.

Our Shawn Ingram had this to say about the Eris:
“The Droid Eris appears to be a repurposed model of the HTC Hero.  It features the same Sense UI as well well as the exact same specs as the Hero.  The only real difference comes in the phone’s body, carrier and price.  While the Hero sells on Sprint for $180 (after rebates), the HTC Droid Eris will be sold by Verizon for $99 after a $100 mail-in rebate.  Given the price point it’s obvious that Verizon views it more as the lesser model to the Motorola Droid.  The phone does have a less powerful processor, a lower resolution screen, no hardware keyboard and runs on Android 1.5 as compared to 2.0 on the Droid so that viewpoint does make sense.”

Read: [Boy Genius Reports]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Yesterday, two tech greats chimed in on reviews of the Droid.  Both Walter Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal and David Pogue of the New York Times reviewed the phone and both came away with an overall positive overview.  Neither reviewer could stay away from constant iPhone comparisons.

Mossberg’s review

Mossberg reviewed the Droid and only managed to say, “iPhone” nine times.  He thought the phone would be a success on the Verizon network, perfect for loyal Verizon users who lust after a decent smartphone without jumping carriers.  “I regard it as a success overall. It’s the best super-smart phone Verizon offers, the best Motorola (MOT) phone I’ve tested and the best hardware so far to run Android.”

That is not to say Mossberg didn’t find problems, it is no secret Mossberg is a huge iPhone fan.  Things like, “Unfortunately for lovers of physical keyboards, I found the one on the Droid to be pretty awful,” and “Another downside: The Droid’s screen has only three panels for displaying apps, versus 11 on the iPhone, and some large apps, called widgets, hog much of the space on these panels.”

Pogue’s review

Pogue, gets right to the heart of the matter: “So is it true? Is the Droid an iPhone killer?  No, but it’s certainly a killer phone.”  Pogue mentions the iPhone 18 times in his review but is able to sum up the phone’s successes:

Since Verizon seems to want a Droid-iPhone faceoff, here it is: the Droid wins on phone network, customizability, GPS navigation, speaker, physical keyboard, removable battery and openness (free operating system, mostly uncensored app store). The iPhone wins on simplicity, refinement, thinness, design, Web browsing, music/video synching with your computer, accessory ecosystem and quality/quantity of the app store.

Pogue laments not having multitouch when surfing.  He must use that a lot more than I, as double tapping seems to be my predominate way to focus.  Pogue also points out that the Droid won’t work out of the USA, out of CDMA anyway which is a point to consider.  Other phones like the BlackBerry Storm can do both CDMA and GSM networks so it can make the trip, too bad that wasn’t included in the Droid.

Summary

Both writers liked the phone and would recommend it.  The tone of both reviews wasn’t one of giddy excitement as they had when reviewing the iPhone.  Both suggest the iPhone is still the king though the little droid is getting close.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »