Nokia
Nokia N97
Nokia N97
This is going to be one sweet phone…. Now we need wimax, connectitivity to power the new economy!
New Android Phone Going to Hit Market!
Specs:
2.5 inch touchscreen
3G Networking
Bluetooth 2.0
Xperia X1 Still Headed to the U.S. Soon, Despite Component Shortage
Sony Ericsson says production problems it’s having with the Xperia X1 won’t delay its release of the in the U.S., which is scheduled to happen in the next few weeks.
Verizon’s Acquisition of Alltel Passes Final Hurdle
The FCC has approved Verizon’s proposed acquisition of Alltel, which will create the largest mobile phone provider in the United States.
OtterBox Impact Case Now Available for BlackBerry Bold
Otter Products, has released a case from its Impact Series for the new BlackBerry Bold. This skin-style case combines durable silicone with impact absorbing features.
HTC Touch Pro Expected to Debut on AT&T in Three Weeks
Exactly when the AT&T Fuze, this carrier’s version of the HTC Touch Pro, is going to launch is unknown, but a new source gives an approximate date.
Spb’s Travel/Itinerary Software Updated
Spb Traveler 2.0 has been released, adding several features and a new user interface to this travel/itinerary application.
Verizon Considering Phone with Detachable Accessories
Verizon may offer a smartphone with a clip-on keyboard, game-pad, and speakers. It will apparently also have a 3-inch touchscreen and EV-DO.
Apple Appoints New Head of iPhone/iPod Engineering
Apple has just named a former IBM vice president as the new head of its iPhone and iPod hardware engineering teams.
BlackBerry Bold Now Available from AT&T
The long-awaited U.S. release date for the BlackBerry Bold has arrived at last. This smartphone is now available from AT&T. Updated
Redfly $200 Special Offer Extended to Mid-November
For the past month or so, the Celio Redfly has been available at half price. This offer was going to expire at the end of October, but has instead been extended for two more weeks.
LG and Microsoft Will Continue to Work Together
Microsoft and LG have signed an agreement that will keep the two companies collaborating on smartphones.
AT&T Fuze demo units make their way to AT&T retail spots
Busting at the seams with excitement over the HTC Touch Pro AT&T Fuze? We can’t blame you - it’s a pretty little piece. Fortunately, it doesn’t look like you have too much longer to wait. Tucked inside the latest batch of shipments to AT&T corporate stores is a nice little treat: Fuze demo units.
While this doesn’t necessarily mean a launch is looming around the corner, it’d be surprising if it didn’t go down within the next few weeks. If you’re dying for some QWERTY-enabled TouchFLO but just can’t see yourself with Sprint, start planning a trip to AT&T near the end of November.
[Via BGR]
Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.
Sony Ericsson announcing new stuff tomorrow, W705 expected
Much like you can always expect new iPods in September, you can always expect new Sony Ericsson announcements in November. Right on schedule, Sony Ericsson is expected to make an announcement tomorrow. A few details from the announcement have already leaked out and, from what we know so far, this one’s looking to be all about the Walkman series.
First up is the W705 (”Rika”), which looks to be a remodeled G705 doppelganger. It seems like they’ve polished up the body’s aesthetics a bit, so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see a few spec changes as well.
Also expected is the MBS-900 portable wireless speaker, which looks a whole lot like a Sony Ericsson branded smoke detector. (Pic after the jump)
[Via SEMCBlog]
Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0
FCC clears the Xohm/ClearWire merger
Jeez - busy enough day, FCC? Hot on the tails of the “white space” decision and approving Verizon’s buyout of Alltel, the FCC has cleared the merger of Sprint’s Xohm WiMax service with ClearWire - no doubt coming as a disappoint for some other carriers.
To recap the details announced back in May, Sprint will own 51% of the new company, which will take on the ClearWire name. ClearWire will have 27% ownership, while Google, Time Warner Cable, Brighthouse, Comcast, and Intel Capital will own the remaining 22%.
This is fairly huge news for 4G mobile broadband fans, as this merger essentially lays the necessary foundation for nationwide WiMax. If all goes well, ClearWire should be offering WiMax to half of the US’ population by 2010 - just as AT&T and Verizon are lighting up their competing 4G technology, LTE. When the battle for 4G technology king comes to a head, who will walk away the winner? The consumer, hopefully.
With the new company carrying on the ClearWire name, is the “Xohm” brand dead? I doubt it. When asked about the fate of the name, Xohm representatives have stated that “new management will be given the opportunity regarding how to position the Xohm name in the market”. While it’s not a household name by any means, Sprint has already done a fair amount of work establishing the brand and associating it with WiMax. I’d imagine that they’ll make use of it in the future, if only as a branding for WiMax dongles and other accessories.
Crunch Network: TechCrunch obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies
FCC gives Verizon/Alltel buyout the greenlight
It’s been nearly five months since Verizon announced their plans to buy out Alltel, but they’ve finally leaped the last hurdle. Just minutes ago, the FCC signed off on the $28.1 billion dollar deal (Verizon is paying $5.9 billion, and assuming $22.2 billion of Alltel’s debt.)
The FCC’s stamp of approval doesn’t come without strings attached, however. Amongst other conditions, Verizon will be required to maintain any roaming agreements Alltel has with other carriers for at least four years. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin originally requested that roaming agreements would be honored for two years, and Verizon responded with the offer to honor them for four. This still wasn’t quite enough for some; though the vote passed 5-0, 2 of those who voted yes dissented, feeling that the roaming agreements should be required for at least seven years.
Before the merger, Verizon had roughly 70.8 million subscribers. With Alltel bringing around 13 million new subscribers to their door, this brings Verizon’s total up to approximately 83.8 million, dethroning AT&T (with 74.8 million) from the number one spot.
What does this mean to Verizon/Alltel customers? Well, “the network” just got a whole lot bigger - Alltel customers will soon have an additional 71 million people or so they can call without gobbling up their minutes. Beyond that, both groups gain access to the other’s device lineup, with Alltel customers now able to take advantage of Verizon’s bring-your-own-handset “Open Development” program.
Crunch Network: CrunchBase the free database of technology companies, people, and investors
USB tethering now possible with the T-Mobile G1
We should probably stress that that the keyword in the headline up above is “possible”. While some crafty gents over at the Tmo News Forums have cranked out a way to let you use the T-Mobile G1 as a USB modem, it’s not exactly the simplest tethering solution we’ve ever seen. Flip some options, install the SDK, install an application on the device, move stuff around, change proxy settings, make brownies, fight crime, play Beethoven’s 9th backwards; it’s pretty deep.
That said, mobile broadband is the best thing ever made, ever. (Ever.) While the first solution for squeezing some broadband juice out of the G1 may not be optimal, everything has to start somewhere. If you’ve got a G1, are in a 3G zone (though it reportedly works with EDGE, if you’re a masochist), and have some time to tinker, give it a shot and let us know how it works.
[Via jkOnTheRun]
Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.
HTC to sell Touch 3G and Touch HD in Taiwan, G1 to land in China in the first half of 2009?
While it’s all still hearsay at this point, Digitimes is reporting that China’s Commercial Times newspaper has sources indicating that HTC might begin pushing the G1 in China within the first 6 months of next year.
HTC is also giving their home country of Taiwan a bit of handset love, albeit not in the form of an Android phone. The Touch 3G was just launched there yesterday, and a report out of the Economic Daily News indicates that the drool-worthy Touch HD is on the way by the end of 2008. So, to recap the Touch HD’s global status: Taiwan’s getting it by the end of the year, Europe’s getting it by the end of the week, and the US is getting it by the end of never.
Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0
Review: BlackBerry Bold for AT&T
How can I put into words how I feel about the BlackBerry Bold? In short: I love it and never ever want to let it go, ever. For any BlackBerry user/fan the Bold is everything you’ve wanted and expected from RIM. Sure, it took a little longer than we all expected, but it’s definitely worth the wait. It’s far superior in every respect from anything that RIM has put out on the market. Of course, those of you with a hankering for a touch-screen need not apply. The Bold is for the hardcore CrackBerry addict or is it?
Let’s begin.
Crunch Network: TechCrunch obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies