It hasn’t been a secret for months, but Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam has confirmed that a multitude of devices from RIM, Palm and Android-based devices are coming to the nation’s largest network in the next six months. → Read More
It seems like all the attention these days is focused on smartphones. The reality is, not everyone who needs and uses a cellphone wants a pocket-computer and/or to pay for the hefty data services required to take advantage of said smarties. With that in mind, it’s nice to see that Samsung is still working on improving its more standard fair / “dumb” phones, if you will. The recently released Alias2 is a primary example of Big Sam’s innovation-meets-pedestrian-handset tactics. Like its older sibling, the Alias2 sports a dual-hinge allowing the phone to flip open like a traditional clam-shell, as well as in landscape orientation. But unlike like its blood-brother, the most intriguing (not to mention, innovative) feature of this second-gen, messaging-centric flip phone is the inclusion of Samsung’s “Magic Key” e-ink (think Kindle-tech) back-lit keypad. → Read More
Well, the rumors are true, Verizon Wireless will begin offering the HP Mini 1151NR on May 17 for $199.99 after a $50 MIR with a 2-year mobile broadband contract. Verizon also announced new mobile broadband pricing that’s still going to hit your checkbook pretty hard. For $40 a month you get 250MB of data per month, but if you go over you’ll end up paying 10 cents per MB over your 250MB allotment. So, you’re obviously going to get the $60 plan that allots 5GB a month of data and if you end up going over that you’ll only be paying 5 cents per MB. → Read More
Two bits of BlackBerry news/rumor for you to digest. One, it looks like RIM will officially unveil the niagara at its Wireless Enterprise Symposium next week in beautiful Orlando. The niagara, you’ll recall, is supposedly the greatest BlackBerry in the history of the world: a 3G world phone that’ll be available on Verizon Wireless. (Expect it to be available within the month, now that’s it May and all.) → Read More
A fascinating bit of Apple gossip for your Tuesday morning, gossip that piggybacks on the never-going-to-die “iPhone on Verizon Wireless?” rumor. Does an “iPhone lite” interest you? Or perhaps a “media pad that would let users listen to music, view photos, and watch high-definition videos” that makes calls using Wi-Fi? → Read More
Of the 4.3 million iPhone subscribers that AT&T added to its books in 2008, about 40 percent of them were new customers. It’s that type of growth that has AT&T scrambling to retain its exclusivity arrangement with Apple, which is expected to expire next year. If that agreement were to expire, Apple would be free to take the iPhone to other wireless carriers, like T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless (though Apple would have to develop a CDMA version of the phone first to bring it to VZW). → Read More
Sierra Wireless just broke the mold with the USB 598. The wireless broadband access USB modem is meant for Verizon Wireless, but thanks to the carrier’s open network policies, the modem can be purchased from retailers other than VZW. This means, our contract hating or poor credit friends, you can buy this modem for a decient price of $199 directly from Sierra Wireless instead of dealing with rebates and blood oaths directly from the carrier. → Read More
I can’t tell you how many iPhones I’ve seen in the past 24 hours here at SXSW Interactive. The best, though, is when you see these people cursing AT&T, saying things like, “Why would AT&T beef up its network in Austin when it knows 8 zillion iPhone users will be swarming the city for the next week?” This phenomenon—people being unhappy with the cellphone service, despite the flashy ads promising “amazing speed” and “more bars all over the damn place”—was picked up by the Times. The important thing to take away is that while companies are trying their best to improve cellphone service, there’s several technological hurdles that they have to overcome in order to deliver a truly worry-free phone. → Read More
A study is about to be released that says consumers are paying a hell of a lot more than they need to for cellphone access. The average person in San Diego—let’s assume the data can be extrapolated to the rest of the country—pays $3.02 per minute for cellphone service; removing outliers from the equation—people who pay for a ton of minutes but only use a few of them—and the figure drops to between $0.50-$1.00 per minute. → Read More
Verizon Wireless launched its creatively named CDM8975 Push to Talk handset today. This new business-meets-multimedia walkie-talkie mobile phone was developed by Personal Communications Devices and comes dressed to impress, er, ready for the job site as it’s wrapped in an “industrial clamshell.” The CDM8975 will be available beginning March 9th, online and in good ol’ fashion meatspace, for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement. Can’t you just feel the excitement building?! Specs after the jump… → Read More
Spyshots of a supposed Verizon-branded Casio Exilim camera-phone have surfaced on a Korean blog. The images (posted by a random forum member) of this rumored clamshell device reveal that it will include a 5.1mp camera…and not much else. → Read More
Bonnie Cha over at CNet has the scoop on the Storm OS update we’ve all been waiting patiently for over the last two weeks. If you actually bought this girnormous piece of poo then you can update using the Desktop Software Manager or wait for the OTA that’s said to be going out at 12:30 AM EDT. Regardless of what this update can do, I won’t be changing my review of the Storm. It really is the worst device RIM has put out on the market and I love BlackBerrys. Update → Read More
I might not be a fan of the Storm but that doesn’t mean it won’t be flying off the shelves come tomorrow. You see, it’s not meant to be a gadget lover’s device. Just hear me out then flame away if you feel the need to. RIM felt the urgency to fill the gap between they’re entry level Pearl phones and their higher-end Bold. They obviously felt threatened by Apple and rightfully so. Hell, everyone else did and they began pumping out all sorts of touch-screen devices to combat Apple and everyone has failed. As I said in my review, the Storm is at the top of that pile but that means nothing at this point. → Read More
The Storm touches down at Verizon on November 21 for $200 after a MIR and 2-year contract agreement. [Update]: $35 activation fee. → Read More
Get thee to Best Buy as soon as possible if you want to pre-order a BlackBerry Storm, which, as we all know, is the first BlackBerry with a touchscreen. A crisp $50 bill and a smile is all that’s required to pre-order this, Verizon Wireless’ “we’re cool, too!” device. There’s the small issue of not knowing exactly what the final price will be when it’s released later this month—speculation puts it at between $199 and $299. I, for one, hopes Verizon charges something outrages, like $800, just as a goof. Presumably all you have to do is inquire about the device once in the store. → Read More
We still don’t know one very important thing about the BlackBerry Storm: how much is the thing gonna cost? Vodafone, which carries the Storm in the UK, may have just provided us a few hints. Pricing plans for the phone have leaked, and the phone itself goes as low as €49 ($62) with the most expensive monthly plan. That brings us to Verizon Wireless, which, you’ll remember, is a joint venture between Verizon and Vodafone. If Vodafone is willing to to sell the first touchscreen BlackBerry for as low as $62, how low will VWZ go? Say, $0, maybe? Not likely, but don’t be surprised to see the Storm selling for a tantalizing low amount. Again, as if I need to remind you, take all of this with a grain of salt. Then, with the same grain of salt, enjoy your weekend. → Read More
