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]

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The New York Times seems to have been busy with mobile news today, first we saw the $100 off offer on a Samsung Go netbook and now they have unveiled a free mobile app for select BlackBerry handsets.

The newly released app will allow users to browse the New York Times online or cache the content for offline use, which sounds nice for those who may be traveling. The catch here is that the app is only available for a select few BlackBerry handsets including the Storm (original and 2), the Tour and Curve 8900.

Those interested can download the app by pointing their mobile browser to http://nytimes.com/bbapp.

Read [NYT] Via [CrackBerry]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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 »

In an early Thanksgiving present, Google has rolled out Google Navigation to Android 1.6 users.  Phones such as the T-Mobile G1 and myTouch can all access the free turn-by-turn navigation Google announced with the Motorola Droid.  Be jealous no more, or at least, less jealous.

Also included in the release is layers for these phones.  Now, users can overlay their maps with transit maps (oh so handy!) as well as info from my maps, Wikipedia and more.  Sales of phones still running Android 1.6, like the HTC phones with the Sense UI, will be helped by this addition.  Nice move Google.

Users can download the latest version of Google Maps from the Android Market and begin navigating all over the US (the only place it will work) today.  The service is in beta and is free.

Note: some Android 2.0 functions will not work on Android 1.6.  For example, the “navigate to” voice command will not work on the older Android release.

Read: [Official Google Mobile Blog]

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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

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Reduce the stress of traveling with all your details in one easy to access place: TripIt.  The info-keeping service has launched a beta version of its application for Android just in time for the holidays.  TripIt has had an app on the iPhone for some time.

TripIt allows users to simply forward confirmation emails from Travel agents, travel websites or even directly from the airline or hotel.  TripIt converts these confirmations into travel plans and stores them for your trip.  Users can quickly call up the info, pertinent weather data and on the latest iPhone version, see a map of the terminal so you can plan your sprint to make your connection.

Having your info in one secure place is comforting but also very useful.  TripIt provides links so you can get the very latest info on your flight, often well before the agents at the gate get it.

The availability of the app on Android is a good sign.  The service from TripIt is fantastic (I use it) and opening it up to more users is a very good sign.  Oh, and the basic service is free.

Read: [GigaOm]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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Though it is still not yet ready to ship, potential customers can at least take some pleasure in knowing that Amazon has lowered the price of the Nokia N900 down to $479.99. Granted I would still say this is a little on the pricey side, but its hard to argue that $480 sounds much better than the regular retail price of $649. Sadly though, this lower price does come with a little catch in the form of a mail-in-rebate.

Basically the final price is $479.99 but in order to see that you will have to pay $529.99 and then fill out and send in to get your rebate back, which happens to be $50.

Still, all things considered this is not all that bad looking of a device, especially if paired with a T-Mobile SIM for connectivity.

Product [Amazon] Via [Engadget]

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If you are like me, you can’t remember what wines you love and what you just end up pouring down the sink.  94 Wines looks to solve that problem by offering 94 different, purportedly high quality wines and an ultra-geeky way to find out which you might like.

94 Wines uses a quick 6-question survey that pits flavors and textures against one another.  Questions like sorbet or ice cream? Tapas or full meal?  Butter or olive oil?  The questions end result is three wines that would suit your tastes.  But the fun doesn’t end there.

A QR code (fancy bar code) is on each bottle.  With their mobile phones, users can snap an image of the code with their phone and decode it with available apps, even for the iPhone.  Each bottle can be labeled with a custom QR code for your order.  Users can leave messages for one another, private messages sent to your user profile, images, you name it.  Making wine more social is the name of the game.

The bottles are simple, attractive and if there is good wine in them, the more the better.  Each bottle costs about $12 which certainly isn’t expensive.

The concept is great.  Unfortunately, 94 wines is currently only available in the Netherlands.  You’ve been thinking about moving anyway right?

Company site: [94Wines]

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This has got to stop. Holidays have got to stop creeping further and further toward summer.  The nutjobs that scheme, “well, if we get our sale out first we’ll be the richest in the tri-state area” are morons.  Seriously, the ABC Family channel is doing a countdown to the 25 days of Christmas.  A frickin’ countdown to a countdown?  Could it get more ridiculous?  Here are 4 entries that attempt it:

Ah crap, the rumors been delayed.
Prepare for Black Friday
FLO TV for straight to TV movies and straight to sale bin hardware
Palm eats its young

An unannounced product gets an set back from an unannounced launch window.

This is just getting crazy.  I blame everyone in media for this: from the big hitters like CNN Money to countless magazines who are reporting on Apple’s coming tablet.  Apple hasn’t announced anything yet we are chomping at the bit to talk about.  Even if launched yesterday, there is no way this tablet could ever live up to the hype.  Not that we as consumer are even sure we want such a thing.  I propose a month moratorium on not mentioning Apple’s iTablet.  Who is with me? 

Yeah, I didn’t think it would work.

Black Friday sales in the toilet

Anyone want to bet on something with me?  The economic data that will come from Black Friday will be dark and gloomy.  They’ll report consumer spending will skip this Christmas much like Kris Kringle wanted to do in the old TV movie.  It is an all but sure bet.  Why?

The monkeys are messing with the date.  These Pre-Black Friday sales are very tempting and are going to lower how much we spend on that one day we use as an indicator.  By stretching the buying season out, we’ll be so frickin fed up with the holidays we’ll throw in the towel before the season even starts.  My inbox won’t stop the deluge of sale announcements, each one, killing a little bit of Santa.

FLO TV for the masses

Qualcomm’s little TV player sure is cute.  The device plays TV, costs $250 and has a $9 monthly fee with 3-year commitment. That’s a total cost of $574 to watch, you know, free TV.  The device is roughly the size of a cell phone, a cell phone that you can probably play some TV on for a fee.  The cell phone in your pocket is free (at this point) and you know, in your pocket.  So watch TV on that.

Even our ever positive editor, Robert Nelson can’t hold back, ” but thinking positive, 9 bucks a month could be worth it for the simple reason that this little device could serve as a nice entertainment device for the child in your back seat. As long as you do not mind handing them a $250 gadget to play with.”  Nice try Robert.

This brings me right back the awesome gadget that just delivers RSS feeds.  I love gadgets as much as the next idiot but come on, quit repeating stuff that is already out there in a better form factor.  Now get to work on flying cars.

Palm eats its young

How are customers supposed to respect a phone that tumbles in price more than $70 its first 5 days on the market???  The 2nd entry in the webOS world from Palm, the Pixi, is so cute and cuddly, we thought it a smash at $79.  But then anarchy reigned and Wal-Mart upset the apple cart at $29.99, then Amazon one-upped even Wal-Mart with $24.99. 

Why devalue the phone so quickly?  Too much Pre inventory seems to be the root cause. The Pre’s price has fallen down like a drunk senior citizen in the early morning.  The Pre began at a reasonable $149 but now lives at the $79 price on Amazon.  The welcome the sibling Pixi got is move over in the sale bin.  Odd reception, even for a sibling.

At the very least, Palm commercials for the Pixi didn’t give anyone the willies as did the Pre versions.  Bonus points to Palm.

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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]

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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]

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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]

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I have not made any secret as to my love affair with Google Voice, and thankfully that is backed up by the fact they seem to be improving and adding to the service little by little. And the latest little tidbit that was updated within Google Voice is dealing with SMS messaging. Or more specifically, the number that will be displayed when you send an SMS message using your Google Voice account.

“But when you - a Google Voice user - send a text message to another Google Voice number from one of the forwarding phones on your account, you probably want Google Voice to display the SMS as from your Google Voice number rather than from a (406) number. This way, the Google Voice user to whom you sent the SMS will see your Google Voice number as the originating number, the single number that reaches you everywhere.”

Personally I chose the “display my Google Voice number” option because, well, I am not sure why I would not want my number displayed.

Anyway, to check your settings or make any adjustments, just click Settings -> Calls and then go down to Caller ID (out). Once there you will see “When I SMS a Google Voice number from one of my forwarding phones.” From there you will have the option to stick with the default, or to have your Google Voice number displayed.

Unfortunately this setting currently only works with SMS messages, but it was noted that “calls will be included soon.” Of course, that just means more Google Voice updates in the future.

Read [Google Voice Blog]

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Sony Ericsson announced their first Google Android based phone yesterday, the XPERIA X10.  The phone sticks with the Xperia slide out qwerty form factor but offers up a new user experience laid on top of Android.  Sony Ericsson showed off a non-retail prototype with an expected release date in Q1 of 2010.

Sony Ericsson needs a hit.  They’ve only two supporting carriers in the US, AT&T and T-Mobile, while they’ve done much better in Europe.  Despite a strong following there, Sony Ericsson continues to lose market share.  Sales were off by 45 percent at the last quarter check-in, year-over-year.  Is this new phone just what the doctor ordered?

Maybe.  The prototypes were running Android 1.6, the penultimate version of Android.  It lacks all the flash and excitement around the newly launched 2.0, but perhaps an update is coming.  The new UI or UX as Sony Ericsson likes to refer to as users experience looks impressive.  Dubbed Nexus, the UI does what all new UIs are attempting to do today: combine social integration into everyday simplicity.  Contacts from Facebook, Twitter, email, and other social interactions are combined and presented in unobtrusive ways to keep you connected to people that matter most.  That is the idea, anyhow.

The phone features Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor and should scream, yet there seemed to be some lag in the prototypes.  Many press and analysts found the UI to be impressive, but less so than competing Android overlays from companies such as HTC (Sense UI) and Motorola (Blur).  The phone didn’t scream unique.  While way too early to judge, using the press and analysts at their announcement yesterday as a sounding board may not have been the best route.  We’ll reserve judgment until we see the full retail product.

At the moment, we’ve no launch date or carrier information to speak of.  The off-contract price is expected to be astronomical, $879, according to the Wall Street Journal, a subsidized price from a carrier should be much less.

Read: [BoyGeniusReports] and [ title="AndroidandMe">AndroidandMe]

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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]

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We have seen a few good deals coming from Walmart including the $30 Pixi and the BlackBerry offers. Not to mention the sales on video games. But after digging through the leaked sales flyer for Black Friday, we now have a complete list of nice prices—including a Blu-ray player for $78. Of course this is a lower end model, its the Magnavox NB500 and it normally retails for $129, but still $78.

Anyway, in addition to the low-priced Blu-ray player, Walmart also has a good selection of HDTV’s, computers, digital cameras, GPS units. Here is a quick rundown of some of the deals that can be found, but the full list can be found by hitting the ‘read’ link below.

DVD Players

• Magnavox NB500 Blu-ray Disc Player - $78.00
• Samsung BD-P1590 Blu Ray Player (Saturday) - $148.00
• Sony BDP-S369 Blu Ray Player - $148.00

Televisions

• Emerson 32” LC320EMFX LCD 720P HDTV - $248.00
• Emerson 42” PL-P42W-10A Plasma 720P HDTV - $448.00
• Flat-Panel TV Stand - $89.00
• Philips Large Fixed TV Mount - $69.00
• RCA 46” LCD 1080p HDTV (Online Only) - $688.00
• Samsung 32” LN32B360 LCD 720P HDTV (Saturday) - $398.00
• Samsung 42” LN40B500 LCD 1080P HDTV (Saturday) - $598.00
• Samsung 42” PN42B400 Plasma 720P HDTV (Saturday) - $548.00
• Samsung 46” LN46B500 LCD 1080P HDTV (Saturday) - $848.00
• Samsung 50” PN50B400 Plasma 720P HDTV (Saturday) - $698.00
• Sansui 19” HDLCD1909 LCD HDTV - $128.00
• Sayno 50” DP50719 Plasma HDTV - $598.00
• Sony Bravia 32” KDL32L504 LCD 720P HDTV - $378.00
• Sony Bravia 40” KDL40S504 LCD 1080P HDTV - $598.00
• Sony Bravia 46” KDL465504 LCD 1080P HDTV - $798.00

Computers

• Acer 17.3” Blue Laptop w/4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive and Windows 7 Premium (Online Only) - $498.00
• eMachines 15.6” Notebook w/AMD Processor, 2GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive (Model # EME627) - $198.00
• HP 15.6” Notebook w/Intel Processor, 3GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive (Model # G60-519WM) - $298.00
• HP 17” Notebook w/4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive (Model # G71-329WM) - $398.00
• HP Pavilion All-In-One 19” Desktop w/4GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, MS213 AMD - $598.00
• HP Pavilion Desktop w/AMD Processor, 3GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, w/20” Monitor (Model # P6243w-b) - $398.00

Digital Cameras

• Kodak C182 12.0 Megapixel Digital Camera - $69.00
• Nikon CoolPix S230 10MP Digital Camera - $139.00
• Sony Cyber-Shot DSC S930 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera - $79.00

GPS

• TomTom One 125-SE GPS - $59.00
• TomTom XL325-SE GPS - $89.00

Read [BlackFriday.info]  Via [Gizmodo]

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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]

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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]

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It has been sometime since we last heard Vonage related news, well aside from the unveiling of Vonage World anyway. This latest bit is not a new product announcement, but may still come as good news for previous customers.

It seems that Vonage has reached a $3 million dollar settlement with 32 states. And this settlement means that previous customers, those that had trouble canceling and were billed after the fact may be eligible for a refund.

The affected states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

But more specifically, the issue at hand deals with certain incentive programs that Vonage customer service reps were offering in an attempt at keeping you as a customer. And according to the Jacksonville Business Journal, those CSR’s were “sometimes too eager to earn their bonuses” and in turn made it “extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible” to cancel your service.

Anyway, if you were one of those affected, or believe you were affected, you may want to pay attention and although your word alone will not guarantee a refund, it was suggested that if “you think you might qualify for a refund, contact your state attorney general’s office.”

Read [Jacksonville Business Journal] Via [Consumerist]

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The European Union Consumer Commission has announced a crack down on sites pushing free ringtone scams and that often target kids and teens.  The crackdown covered all 27 EU countries plus Iceland and Norway and resulted 9 Italian companies being slammed with nearly $3 million in fines.  Of the 301 websites targeted, 54 were put out of business and more than 150 were made to change their advertising.  The commission said it instigated the crackdown after being flooded with complaints by consumers.

The sites often featured cartoon characters and urged visitors to provide their cell phone numbers to get a free ringtone.  What they failed to reveal, or buried in fine print, was that once they had the number the owner would be signed up for a subscription and charged a monthly fee for further ringtones.

These scams are often seen here in the US, both on the web and on TV.  The ads offer free ringtones (or wallpapers, horoscopes, games, etc).  All you have to do is type in your cell phone number or send a text message.  Then you get hit with all kinds of charges. Some services charge $5.99 a month and other a whopping $29.99 a month.  Getting the subscription dropped can be extremely difficult to impossible and your cell provider is often unable to do much.

Mobile phones are a way of life for most of us, and we seldom go anywhere without them.  Scammers know this.  SMS spam is a particular problem because those not on an unlimited plan must pay for each message.  While it has not yet become a huge problem here, giving up your cell number to websites and in response to TV ads can open you up to a flood of it.  It’s important to guard your cell phone number as you would any other piece of personal info.  Don’t give it out to just anyone, and stick to legit sites like iTunes for ringtones and wallpapers or download some software and make your own.  Free offers often come with a steep price!

Read [PC Magazine]

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

While phone freaks are all up in arms about Dell’s decision to launch the Mini 3 touchscreen smartphone in China and Brazil before even mentioning when it will come home to the US, an Android-powered tablet, called Streak, looks to be headed to AT&T next year according to the Commercial Times.

Geek.com says not only will one tablet hit the US carrier next year but the company is hard at work on multiple screen sizes as well.  This news comes on the back of CNN Money discussing the rumored Apple tablet as if it were coming and we should hold back some cash for when it does come.

Unfortunately, Commercial Times doesn’t hold a good track record.  Earlier this year, the paper predicted an Apple tablet would be shown off in Q3.  That, of course, didn’t happen.

The Dell shown here raises some big questions.  Would an internet tablet of similar size to the iPod touch sell with an always-on connection?  If so, wouldn’t AT&T tap Apple to get the iPod on the network?  A knee-jerk response would say no, AT&T doesn’t want to detract from iPhone sales, right?  Well, if that is case, going with #2 Android tablet would circumvent cannibalized iPhone sales but then they are stuck pedaling products the compete with the market leader.

$30 a month for data sounds like a lot for the iPod touch crowd.  Especially if they are already paying for a cell phone and broadband at home.  What do you think?  Let us know in the comments.

Read:[Geek.com] and [DigiTimes]

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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 »

If you have a family member who has hearing loss, then you know the frustration on your end in trying to hold a conversation on the phone.  I have to imagine it is even more frustrating for the one with hearing loss to not be able to hear kids and grandkids as the years pile on.  Radio Shack is here to help with the Clarity D613 Dect phone that not only increases volume but increases clarity making voices crisp.

The D613 is senior-proof: not only does it up the volume but features large buttons and text screen.  The buttons themselves are soft and easy to push for those with arthritic hands.  A answering machine is also built into the phone, but I have doubts if that will get figured out (at least, not by my grandparents).

Carsten Trads, president of Clarity says, “for someone with hearing loss, a simple conversation is one of the best gifts possible. With affordability in mind, we created our new DECT phone for people like your parent, grandparent, sister, uncle or friend who are missing out on these conversations. We all love a good holiday sweater, but we want people to know there are life changing products like this available too.”

Radio Shack has many phones from Clarity, some with positive reviews, some not.  This new D613 with DECT should be a winner but no reviews are listed yet.  All the usual phone functions are there: call waiting caller ID, call screening, call transfer and mute call functions,speakerphone, a 30 name and number phonebook and nine speed dial options. Also included is support for three menu languages (English, French and Spanish).

Product page: [Radio Shack]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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I cannot stress one device enough—a MiFi. They allow you to take a 3G connection with you and share it with up to 5 devices at any time and they can be found with Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

That said, there must be something to these 3G-enabled netbooks because the new offerings keep coming in.

The latest is the Samsung Go netbook, which is heading to AT&T on November 22.

As of now, neither Samsung or AT&T have announced the pricing, but feature wise the Samsung Go will offer users a 10.1-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive.

Additionally, the Samsung Go netbook weighs in at 2.8-pounds and will come with a 4-cell battery that is said to offer up to 4 hours of battery life. Finally, the Samsung Go will be available with the midnight blue exterior.

Read [Samsung]

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Palm let loose their latest release of webOS, their mobile phone operating system.  The release improves a series of features but seems to have left iTunes syncing and an expected speed boost behind.  The Pixi, Palm’s webOS replacement, goes on sale tomorrow.

This update will be performed OTA or over the air by either Pre phones today and Pixi phones tomorrow.  According to Palm’s website:

With this update, your Yahoo! information (such as contacts and calendar events, and messaging) is now integrated with Palm Synergy, along with info from your Outlook EAS, Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn accounts. If you use Yahoo! to manage your contacts and calendar events, it will be integrated into your Contacts and Calendar applications on your Palm Pre. On Sprint, you can also now use Yahoo! IM in the webOS Messaging app.

According to the Palm website for Sprint users, will see other small upgrades here are the highlights:
back up will now save cookies, so passwords and user names on websites now get saved.
correct Google calendar sync
Better formatting in email
forwarding MMS messages
Unique ringtones for message alerts

All in all a good update but seems much more like bug fixing than ground breaking as many owners were hoping for.  That speed boost continues to be out there.  Rats.

Read: [Palm]

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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 »