Tethering For The Motorola Droid Is Near

Topic: Mobile Phones

Verizon subscribers now have yet another reason to choose the Motorola Droid. While the current incarnation of Big Red's flagship smartphone is fairly hot, it lacks the ability to act as a modem for your notebook. Thankfully, GearLog has it on good authority that Verizon is about to offer tethering on the Droid.

Starting ”early” next year, subscribers who choose the “Broadband Access Connect” plan will be able to use their smartphone as a modem for an additional $15 a month. Of course, your current unlimited data plan won't apply to tethering. Users will have up to 5GB a month. Anything more than that will result in the usual steep penalties.

Posted on Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:25:22 CST | by Robert Evans

HTC HD2 Coming To US Early 2010, Europe & Asia Now

Topic: Mobile Phones

Finally. After months of agonized waiting, we have confirmation from HTC themselves that the gorgeous, snapdragon-sporting HD2 will be making its way to the United States. The HD2 launched today in Europe and Taiwan, and HTC confirmed during in their press release that the WinMo 6.5 smartphone will come to the USA in early 2010. No exact date was given, and the carrier hasn't been identified yet, but at least we know the HD2 is coming.

The HD2 is the first Windows Mobile phone to sport the HTC Sense UI. That makes the somewhat underwhelming WinMo 6.5 operating system a much more attractive proposition. While we don't know what carrier the HD2 will launch with over here, some rumors point to T-Mobile.

Posted on Wed, 4 Nov 2009 05:55:05 CST | by Robert Evans

Verizon To Charge $350 Cancellation Fee

Topic: Mobile Phones

As you've probably heard, Verizon is about to start a huge BlackBerry sale. This sale will include some exceptional deals which, Verizon fears, are ripe for exploitation. In order to prevent customers from cancelling their line and selling their new phone on ebay for a profit, Big Red is about to hike their cancellation fee. Boy Genius has come across proof that Verizon will soon up their cancellation fee for 'advanced devices' from $175 to $350.

Posted on Wed, 4 Nov 2009 05:25:15 CST | by Robert Evans

Nokia 1280, 1616, 1800, 2220 slide and 2690 With Nokia Life Tools Unveiled

Topic: Mobile Phones

Nokia unveiled five new mobile phones for emerging markets. The five new Nokia phones are comprised of the Nokia 1280, Nokia 1616, Nokia 1800, Nokia 2220 slide and Nokia 2690.

Priced at EUR 20, EUR 24 and EUR 26 respectively (before taxes and subsidies), the Nokia 1280, Nokia 1616 and Nokia 1800 support FM radio, prepaid tracker, flashlight, anti-scratch cover and dust-resistant keymat, among other features. The long battery life, with up to 22 days of standby time, is vital for people in areas where access to electricity is limited.
Read more

Posted on Wed, 4 Nov 2009 02:20:48 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

ZAGG Offers invisibleSHIELD for Droid

Topic: Mobile Phones

The Motorola DROID will go on sale this week on Verizon Wireless. To keep your future DROID safe without having to hide its good looks inside a case, ZAGG has announced it is now offering the invisibleSHIELD film custom cut for the DROID.

The film will ship around the 16th of this month and is available for pre-order now. Two kits are available for the DROID with a full body kit covering front and back for $24.99 and the screen cover only for $14.99. Read more

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 14:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

TAG Heuer Unveils MERIDIIST Lamborghini Mobile Phone

Topic: Mobile Phones

I have seen my share of high-end mobile phones aimed at the rich before. The new TAG Heuer MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini mobile phone may be the best looking of them all. The device is housed in black titanium carbide coated 316L stainless steel and takes design cues from the Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640.

The device has a keyboard with the Lamborghini bull and the display is made from 60.5 carats of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The device promises 7 hours of talk time and 28 days on standby. Read more

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Rogers Is Now Selling The BlackBerry Bold 9700

Topic: Mobile Phones

Good news, Canadian RIM fans. Yet another sweet, sweet BlackBerry smartphone is yours to purchase. If Rogers is your carrier and the Bold 9700 is the sort of mobile that makes you weak at the knees, you can order it now online. This new berry doesn't come cheap, though. It'll set you back $299.99, and that's with a 3 year voice-and-data plan. You can also buy this new Bold outright for $599.99.

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:54:11 CST | by Robert Evans

Ericsson Xperia X10: T-Mobile And AT&T?

Topic: Mobile Phones

Today Ericsson made big news with the official announcement of the Xperia X10. This new Android smartphone is far and away the most powerful mobile announced so far. Now that we know just what hardware this baby will pack, the only question remaining is what carriers will get this gorgeous new phone. Ericsson hasn't officially announced that yet, but the fact that they've unveiled it must mean that they are close to ironing out a deal.

Android and Me points out that the X10 could easily be coming out for both AT&T and T-Mobile. How is this possible? Because the Rachel packs WCDMA/UMTS 1700/2100, which means this handset is T-Mo 3G ready. The X10 also has UMTS 850/1900, which is AT&T 3G ready.

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:37:34 CST | by Robert Evans

Dell Mini 3i: Now US Ready?

Topic: Mobile Phones

Here's an interesting bit of news for you Android fans hoping to do your smartphone browsing on a Dell-made gadget. The Dell Mini 3i, confirmed as bound for the US, has just shown up on Brazilian website Celular Cafe (via Electronista). Apparently, this new version of the 3i sports 3G UMTS/HSDPA support on 1850 MHz, 1950 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands.

Why is this important? Because this is the first version of the 3i we've seen that will be compatible with US 3G. The 850 MHz component is pretty clear evidence that a version of the 3i is headed for the US in short order. Y'know, if the word of Michael Dell himself wasn't enough proof of that already.

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:56:53 CST | by Robert Evans

iPhone 4G Parts Spotted?

Topic: Mobile Phones

Alright readers, put on your wild rumor hats and get ready for the craziest bit of speculation I've seen in months. Gizmodo ran a story today about the latest set of iPhone rumors from China Ontrade. In case you don't recall, China Ontrade is a parts wholesaler who posted up images of parts to the iPhone 3GS a month before that device was announced. Today, China Ontrade has images of parts for a fourth generation iPhone on their site.

Since their 3GS images were proved to be legit last time, we have no reason to distrust them on this. Still, it makes no sense for the images to come out now. Parts for the fourth generation iPhone shouldn't even exist until a month or two before the official announcement. No manufacturer, especially one as paranoid about information security as Apple, wants to put their hardware out six months ahead of a release. This could mean that a surprise iPhone launch is around the corner.

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:16:50 CST | by Robert Evans

Xperia X10 Hands-On Shows Why We Have To Wait Until 2010

Topic: Mobile Phones

Sony Ericsson unveiled today their first Android phone with the Xperia X10 formerly known as Xperia X3.
The Xperia X10 looks like a great Android smartphone with a cool UI dubbed UX, powered by the 1Ghz Snap Dragon CPU and a big 4-inch screen.
Engadget had the opportunity to get hands-on with a pre-production model of the Xperia X10. The hands-on video shows that the graphics performance is still far from what the promo video suggests. The software is apparently still in a much unfinished state also.
Read more

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 08:18:48 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr