iPhone 3G - Even Faster (Comedy?)

Getting juicy tips and phone rumors is always incredibly exciting… but on the flipside you get “news” announcements like the iPhone 3G is even faster music video:

We have no clue what the heck this is or what it is supposed to mean. Is it iPhone 3Gay Pride? Is it dissing the iPhone? We don’t know but its funny in a pitiful way.

[Thanks bizarre, anonymous tipster and watermarker!]

iPhone 3G Guided Tour

All you iPhone Fanatics eagerly awaiting July 11th like little kids on Christmas Eve, feast your eyes on the iPhone 3G guided tour which should distract you from the fact that you don’t have the device for about 10 minutes and 28 seconds:

Finished watching? Now you probably remember that you don’t yet have the iPhone. Gotta love/hate that itching sensation called yearning.

uReady for the iPhone 3G?

AT&T has just released details on their July 11th launch of the iPhone 3G complete with in-store information, pricing plans and more. What do you know - they seem to have tacked on some additional fees and charges that make the $199 pricetag a bit more irrelevant.

Interesting points to note:

Here is info on the Service Plans available with the iPhone 3G:

And if you really feel like reading the entire press release, we’ve posted it below. Please note that there is a website set up for iPhone 3G FAQ and such here. And the PR text you requested:

AT&T Announces iPhone 3G Pricing and Tips to be iReady

Online Resources Available to Help Customers Prepare for Purchase

Variety of Attractive Plans Combine Voice and Unlimited Data

Dallas, Texas, July 1, 2008

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced iPhone 3G pricing for new and existing AT&T customers, several attractive voice and data plans, and tips on how to be “iReady” when iPhone 3G goes on sale at AT&T retail stores at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, July 11.

“We can’t wait to offer iPhone 3G to our customers, and we want to make sure the buying process is as easy as possible,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T’s wireless unit. “Considering all the great new features of iPhone 3G, we think our pricing and monthly plans present a tremendous value for consumers and businesses alike.”

Pricing and Eligibility

AT&T is making it easy for customers to prepare for their iPhone 3G purchase by posting “Get iReady” tips and frequently asked questions at www.att.com/iphone. The site also will include a link for customers to check their upgrade eligibility and other wireless account information.

iPhone 3G will be available for $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model. These prices require two-year contracts and are available to the following customers:

  • iPhone customers who purchased before July 11
  • Customers activating a new line with AT&T
  • Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for an upgrade discount

Existing AT&T customers who are not currently eligible for an upgrade discount can purchase iPhone 3G for $399 for the 8GB model or $499 for the 16GB model. Both options require a new two-year service agreement. In the future, AT&T will offer a no-contract-required option for $599 (8GB) or $699 (16GB).

Current customers may also choose to wait until they become eligible for an upgrade discount. Eligibility is generally determined by amount of time remaining on a current contract and payment history.

Current AT&T customers who are upgrading to iPhone 3G will pay an $18 upgrade fee and new AT&T customers will pay the standard $36 activation fee.

Voice, Data and Text Messaging Plans

AT&T brings iPhone 3G customers the best coverage on the globe and the largest mobile-to-mobile calling community with unlimited calling to AT&T’s 71.4 million wireless customers. iPhone 3G customers can choose from four individual AT&T Nation plans, which bundle voice and unlimited data (e-mail and Web browsing).

  • AT&T NationSM Unlimited: Includes unlimited Anytime Minutes for $129.99 a month.
  • AT&T Nation 1350: Includes 1350 Anytime Minutes and unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes for $109.99 a month.
  • AT&T Nation 900: Includes 900 Anytime Minutes and unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes for $89.99 a month.
  • AT&T Nation 450: Includes 450 Anytime Minutes and 5,000 Night & Weekend Minutes for $69.99 a month.

All AT&T Nation and AT&T FamilyTalk® plans for iPhone 3G include nationwide long distance and roaming, Visual Voicemail, Rollover®, unlimited Mobile to Mobile calling, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Three-Way Calling and Caller ID.

AT&T will offer FamilyTalk plans, with bundled voice and unlimited data, starting as low as $129.99 a month for two iPhone 3G lines. Up to three additional iPhone lines can be added for $39.99 each.

Unlimited text messaging can be added for an additional $20 ($30 for FamilyTalk plans of up to five lines); $15 (1,500 messages), or $5 (200 messages).

iPhone for Business

Business customers interested in iPhone 3G should contact an AT&T business sales representative or review their account information online to determine their eligibility for upgrade pricing. Corporate e-mail and other business applications require the Enterprise Data Plan for iPhone, which is $45 a month and bundled with an eligible voice plan. Small business customers may qualify for AT&T BusinessTalk, the industry’s only shared plan specifically for small businesses. Additional details on iPhone business offerings are available at www.att.com/iphoneforbusiness.

iPhone 2.0 Software

All iPhone customers will benefit from the iPhone 2.0 software, which will be pre-loaded on all iPhone 3Gs and available as a free download for current iPhone customers. The new software will include numerous enhancements, such as business-class e-mail access via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync; the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK), which allows a business to easily create applications customized to its needs; and the App Store, which offers a wide-range of applications — from games to business, education to entertainment and productivity to social networking. For example, AT&T has developed YELLOWPAGES.COM Mobile for iPhone, which takes local mobile search to a new level by allowing users to discover businesses and local events based on their popularity among other iPhone users, get directions and access business reviews.

[Via AT&T]

Verizon’s Phone Launch Calendar

We now know that Verizon will be getting the HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro (yay) and it looks like there is a whole slate of new phones coming out in the 3rd quarter. PhoneArena got the low down on the showdown and apparently, heres how its going to go down:

Obviously what we’re interested in here are the HTC devices, the Blaze which is a multimedia touchscreen phone in Motorola’s new “Motozine” line, the VU30 which might just be the mysterious “Utopia” and the Palm Treo 800w.

The rest are pretty ho-hum - at least on the surface - but we’ll let you know if anything develops. Lets hear it again for the Touch Diamond/Pro being on more carriers!

[Via PhoneArena]

HTC Touch Pro & Diamond on Sprint, Verizon?!

Sprint and Verizon have signed a deal to carry not only the HTC Touch Pro, but the Touch Diamond as well! CDMA-ers have to be elated as these are 2 of the most anticipated devices of the year. Release dates at this point are unknown, and so are all those ever so important juicy details, but one thing we do know is that the Touch Pro has already been approved by the FCC.

Rumor has it this is their eager attempt to try and snag some people away from the ridiculously popular iPhone. As far as we can tell, the iPhone will not be available on a CDMA network (Verizon & Sprint, etc) for quite some time.. if ever, so this is a nice pickup.

Looks like we’re going to keep a look out for an HTC press release on these bad boys, until then..

[Via Phone Mag & Into Mobile]

Omnia vs. iPhone

We’re not going to make any reference the letter after H cellular device murderer here… those talks are tired. But what we WILL do is show some pictures comparing the Samsung Omnia with the iPhone. Afterall, both of these bad boys will be on AT&T and before you drop some hefty coin, you want to make sure you’re buying what you want.

Not bad looking - either of them - eh? See the difference in the upper left hand corner? That’s the Omnia’s 5MP phone compared to the 2MP of the iPhone - one of the nice edges that the Omnia offers.

The Omnia also appears to be slightly thicker but also shorter and less wide. But don’t get the idea that its “stocky” or “frumpy”… they are pretty compareable as you can see below:

[Via IntoMobile]

Sony Ericsson Remi-nds Us Of T610

We’ve got the scoop on a new Sony Ericsson phone whose details are limited but we know the codename is Remi. The Unofficial Sony Ericsson Blog points out that it looks a lot like the T610 which was quite a hit… so could the codename “Remi” because it “reminds us” or is a “remake”?

Its interesting to note that the 2003 version seems to have a lot of rounded elements while the upcoming “Remi” is more boxy in nature - both the buttons and the phone itself. Which design do you like better?

If you want to know a little more about the phone’s features, this phone is apparently based on the W890 which is a Walkman phone, only this is the unbranded and slightly modified version. Its HSDPA and has 3.2 MP camera (fixed focus only). We’ll keep you updated as official details emerge.

[Via Se-nse]

Motorola Blaze: Verizon’s Next Touch Screen

The LG Dare came out less than a week ago but Verizon Wireless already has another all-touch screen device ready to battle the likes of the Dare, Voyager and Glyde… introducing the Motorola Blaze.

BGR describes the phone as, “A Ming crossed with a PEBL crossed with a RAZR 2.” Hmmm.. interesting. We’ve got (rumored) specs and pictures to give you a better idea:

Pictures:

[Via BGR]

Samsung Instinct Software Updates?

The guys at CrunchGear apparently went forum perousing (or more likely got a tip) that the Samsung Instinct will get a software update on June 30th.

There have been a few little bugs with the Samsung Instinct and supposedly, this quickly pushed update will cure those ailments. So if you’re inclined to believe a rumor from a rumor from a forum that nobody has ever heard of… follow these directions on the 30th and see if the Instinct Gods shine on you that day:

[Via CrunchGear]

HTC Touch Pro Gets Fondled

The “business professional” version of HTC’s highly anticipated and self congratulating HTC Diamond recently got played with by MobileBurn, SlashGear and PhoneMag. The Touch Pro and Xperia will go head-to-head for your hard earned bucks in a few months, but why wait to start information gathering?

The folks at MobileBurn liken the Touch Pro as a Diamond clone… with a slideout full QWERTY keyboard added and an inherently thicker body. This QWERTY Keyboard is of course what helps pit it directly against the Xperia X1 from Sony Ericsson. Early reports of the Xperia were that the tactile feedback on the full QWERTY buttons were less than par, giving the Touch Pro an easy advantage should its keyboard be worthy.

According to SlashGear, although the QWERTY buttons on the HTC Touch Pro are smaller than on some of the other HTC devices, they still have a good feel to them and are “usable”. That sounds like an advantage over the Xperia… but not much of one. And some folks, like the boys at IntoMobile, have contested the school of thought that the Xperia keyboard is dysfunctional to begin with.

Its early… but its nice to see the Touch Pro get played with. Here is the video but unfortunately, the secretive folks at HTC removed the battery beforehand, so its a hardware only demo!

Overall this phone looks pretty snazzy. Kudos to HTC… and well done on offering the same phone with a touch screen only and full QWERTY version - the more options the better!

[Via MobileBurn, PhoneMag, SlashGear]

LG Dare Now Available!

The LG Dare is officially “for sale” on the Verizon Wireless website. If you’re the type that needs to go into the store and play around before deciding, you’ll have to wait until next weekend. With that being a holiday weekend, we’d opt for the convenience of ordering online.

Some of the features of this sexy phone are a touchscreen that comes with a stylus for handwriting recognition, a 3.2MP camera with face detection, LED flash and autozoom as well as picture and video editing tools and a nice multimedia suite. It’s looking pretty good.

Here is the “official” information from Verizon:

Dare to be different with Verizon Wireless’ newest phone - Dare™ by LG. This new handset will surpass your expectations with a large 3–inch touch screen that recognizes your handwriting and gives you tactile feedback. Zoom in closer to find a 3.2 megapixel camera/camcorder with advanced features like face detection for outstanding image quality. Of course, the Dare sounds just as good as it looks with a music player and Bluetooth® stereo. With HTML web browsing and a host of other alluring features, it’s up to any mobile challenge.

Design

  • Large 3″ Touch Screen with Tactile Feedback
  • Virtual QWERTY Keyboard

Camera/Video

  • 3.2 Megapixel Camera & Camcorder
  • Camera Resolutions: 2048×1536, 1600×1200, 1280×960, 640×480, 320×240
  • Video Resolution: 640×480, 320×240, 176×144
  • SmartPic Technology for Improved Image Quality
  • Face Detection – automatically detects a face when taking a picture
  • Panorama, Split Shot, & Frame Camera Setting
  • Image Editor – zoom, rotate, crop, add frames, icons, and write over images

Music

  • Music Player for MP3, WMA, unprotected AAC, & unprotected AAC+
  • Preset Sound Effect Equalizer
  • Multitask While Playing Music
  • Create and Manage Playlists
  • microSD™ Memory Port with up to 8GB Support
  • USB Mass Storage

Bluetooth®

  • Send all Contacts & Calendar Events via Bluetooth
  • Print & Send User–Generated Pictures (JPEG) via Bluetooth
  • Supported Profiles: Headset, Hands–free, Dial–Up Networking, Advanced Audio Distribution (stereo), Phonebook Access, Basic Printing, Object Push for vCard and vCalendar, File Transfer, Basic Imaging, Human Imaging Transfer
Services

    Only Available on Nationwide Plans

  • Nationwide Premium Plan Capable
  • V CAST Music
  • V CAST Videos
  • Text/Picture/Video Messaging/Mobile IM/Voice Mail
  • HTML Web Browser with Touch Navigation
  • Media Center – download games, ringtones, and more
  • Mobile Email & VZ Navigatorsm

General

  • One–Touch Speakerphone & Speaker–Independent Voice Commands
  • Calculator, EZTip Calculator, Calendar, Alarm Clock, Stopwatch, World Clock, Notebook, Notepad & Drawing Pad with handwriting recognition
  • Up to 1000 contacts, 5 entries per contact
  • Device Software Update – Download software upgrades over the air

Specifications

  • Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA
  • Data Transmission: EV–DO Rev. A
  • Dimensions: 4.1″ (H) x 2.2″ (W) x 0.5″ (D)
  • Weight: 3.76 oz.
  • Hearing Aid Compatibility = M3/T3
  • Meets FCC SAR limit. Manufacturer’s highest FCC reported SAR 1.09 W/kg at ear, 0.987 W/kg on body
  • Display: 260K Color TFT, 240×400 Pixels, 2.98″
  • Handset Usage Time: Up to 280 Minutes OR
  • Handset Standby Time: Up to 360 Hours
  • 3.5mm Headset Jack Capable
  • Handset Insurance is Available

Nokia N78 Hits American Shores (Not Stores)

We’ve got a quick little ditty for you: the Nokia N78 is now available in the good old US of A. It will only set high rollers back $560 while it will set chumps back a whopping $560 (see what we did there?).

Remember, that $560 is an unsubsidized price that isn’t tied to any service agreement with a carrier. Carphone Warehouse in Europe is selling the phone with service in that region for about $40 with a 2 year contract. For some reason, no American MNO’s have picked up the phone.

Soooo… you can grab your Nokia N78 online or at one of their two flagship stores in NYC or Chicago.

[Via Gizmodo]

BlackBerry Kickstart Pictured and Compared!

Perhaps RIM has just given up with secrets because it looks like the folks hanging around them are quite the shutterbugs. A plethora of blurry photos of the first ever (and unannounced) Blackberry flip phone - the Kickstart - have surfaced over at BlackberryShack.com. The shot above shows it beside the Blackberry Bold.

While it won’t be the sexiest new BlackBerry - the Bold and Javelin are more our type - this device represents an important step for RIM by appealing to the broad consumer market with several new form factors.  The Kickstart looks like it won’t disappoint the clamshell fans. The familiar Blackberry silver and black design graces the Kickstart along with the beloved/hated Suretype keyboard and now ubiquitous trackball.

Seriously though, with this much leakage happening, someone at RIM needs to find the hole in the dike…. and then show it to us so we can have a look!  Hit the link for more photos.

Read

Openmoko’s FreeRunner Races Towards Release

Off the treadmill and onto the trackmeet! Oddball Korean phone manufacturer, OpenMoko, is headed straight for a July release with its newest device - the FreeRunner. Although originally scheduled for spring delivery, it was postponed. The company now says units should be arriving during the first week of July.

The FreeRunner features a 2.8 inch VGA touchscreen(!), assisted GPS, microSD slot, Bluetooth, USB, WiFi and is powered by a 500Mhz processor. It is noted for its entirely open OS for which development by the consumer is actively encouraged.

The FreeRunner is a follow-up to the Neo1973, which was so popular that Openmoko’s supply of the device is completely exhausted. The FreeRunner will be going for approximately $399 USD, plus applicable costs for getting the device shipped into the country. Those of you who are programming phenoms (or otherwise) and are planning on purchasing the FreeRunner when it arrives next month will want to make sure they get the tri-band version that comes with GSM 850, as this version is meant specifically for the North American market.

[Via The Inquirer]

Motorola’s MING Series: We’re Here Too!

Coming on the heels of Motorola’s biggest announcement in far too long, comes the quiet release of updates to the MING series. Certainly among the more interesting designs in the industry the MING series can, technically, be considered a clamshell (although a somewhat eccentric one). The MING never found popularity in North America but has been a success in China, so in many ways this update is just as important to Motorola as the ZN5.

Announced as a MING series addition today was the A1600, which runs on Linux OS, and features a 2.4 inch QVGA touch-screen, a 3MP camera with continuous autofocus and card reader mode, microSD slot, stereo Bluetooth, a microUSB port, built-in FM radio, and GPS receiver. As with most Motorola products the A1600 falls just a little short, offering neither WiFi nor 3G connectivity. It does however feature quad-band technology (EDGE only), which means it will work well for us North Americans.

The A1800 adds both CDMA (1x only) and triband GSM support (GPRS only) but still lacks WiFi and 3G. We think this will prove an interesting possibility for either Sprint or Verizon should they choose to release it, given that both carriers have recently brought out other hybrid phones (ahem, 8800 series).

[Via GSMArena]

Samsung Omnia: Coming Soon to AT&T

Rumor has it that the Samsung Omnia will suit up for the Blue Team with AT&T offering the phone in the near future. And by near future we mean July, August or September. Seeing as how initial conventional wisdom reported the Omnia wouldn’t make it to the states, this news couldn’t be any more exciting.

In addition to the regular AT&T multimedia features such as AT&T Music, AT&T Video and AT&T Navigator, the Omnia will also feature AT&T Mobile TV!

Here are some other specs to keep your mouth watering:

[Via Samsung Omnia]

MotoZine ZN5 Finally Official

It seems like years ago that we first heard rumors about Motorola’s new “Zine” product line that would supposedly feature a bunch of cool phones. No more dragging it out because we’re finally pulling in news from a Motorola Press Release stating that, “MOTOZINE ZN5 is the first device to carry the MOTOZINE franchise name, Motorola’s new label for its multimedia-optimized devices.”

So there you have it - the wait is over… kinda. According to EngadgetMobile, the phone will first be made available in China and start a World Tour about one month later. And from what we’re hearing, the entire MotoZine lineup could be well worth the wait.

Manufacturers have really been in an arms race over camera phone megapixels with Sony Ericsson having just announced their 8.1 MegaPixel C905. The ZN5 comes in at an impressive and competitive 5MP, but its not the MP alone that give this device photo power.

How about this for the Kodak branded phone:

It sounds like Motorola has a few tricks up their sleeve. If this is any sign of whats to come… the MotoZine line could be a pleasant surprise. Remember, the MOTOZINE ZN5 is just the first of many media-centric devices to be featured on this new brand.

Great… so now our impatience for the rest of the handsets begins!

[Via Motorola]

HTC Diamond Available At… CompUSA?

We’ve been wondering when the HTC Touch Diamond would knock on the American door and it finally has, thanks to the hospitality of the folks at CompUSA had 200+ stores nationwide but they’re now down to about 16 stores and have been purchased by Systemax to help build the assets and value of their TigerDirect subsidiary.

Curiously enough, TigerDirect doesn’t feature the phone on THEIR website but CompUSA does. And while we don’t really care what retailer gets it, we do care about some of the info dropped on that CompUSA page.

For one, it’ll sport a tri-band GSM Radio and it features GPS, WiFi and 3G connectivity. The doozy here is that it will cost $780 without a contract. So, even if you’re looking at a $200 discount for 2-year contract and some type of mail in rebate for $100, the phone is still around the $400 mark. Ouch.

We’d like to compare this with the American version of the HTC Touch Pro, spec for spec and price for price. Because if you’re already spending $400+, why not shell out a tiny bit more and get the works?

[Via IntoMobile]

Exhaustive Review of the Sony Ericsson G900

Folks deciding between two different phones often do some snooping online to find out the deal. Others, like us, are just interested in every single phone that comes out. No matter what category you fit into, chances are that the review of the SE G900 over at the Unofficial Sony Ericsson Blog is WAY more information than you’d ever need.

Hats off to these guys, they really put together a thoughtful review on pretty much every criteria you could ever think of when evaluating a phone. Heck, even the reviewer’s mom offered their input (we kid you not)!

Here is a quick run-through of the most important points, but make sure to visit the Unofficial Sony Ericsson Blog for the Full Review. It’s a real masterpiece.

SE Paris & BeiBei Get PooPooed

Sony Ericsson’s June 17th announcement included 5 new phones but the absence of the phones dubbed Paris and BeiBei were mysteriously missing from the lineup. Now we know why… they have been cancelled.

According to the Unofficial Sony Ericsson Blog, Sony Ericsson may have shelved the two phones because of overwhelming criticism from reviewers, mentioning Mobile-Review.com specifically. Apparently sticks and stones may break your bones but words will cancel phone launches.

Here are some of the scathing comments from Mobile-Review:

  • honestly speaking, this line-up has come out flat-out clumsy
  • It seems to be that over at Sony Ericsson they believe they can stand up to Nokia and without putting much thought into it they keep releasing direct rivals to the latter’s solutions.
  • Since there is the Sony Ericsson G900 out there that comes with UIQ 3.0 (which should seem no different from the 3.3 release to the average user), a better camera (5 Mpix), slightly bigger casing and, more importantly, a comparable price tag (it will by the time the G702 arrives), we are not sure why they would need to bring a slew of similar phones to the market and put them up against one another without own product portfolio.
  • I’m sincerely disappointed, and it’s not the first time by the way, by the strategy Sony Ericsson is currently applying – it’s a dead-end for this particular maker, period.

    • To sum it up, people felt like the Paris and BeiBei were just crappier versions of the Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber Shot and that these crappier versions didn’t offer enough differentiation, and pricetag difference, to be worthy of their own release.

    I guess Sony Ericsson agreed with the criticisms and decided to cut their losses.

    [Via USEB]

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