News

Apple Enables iTunes Music Downloads Over 3G

Today, 1:46 PM   by Rich Brome

Apple today announced that iPhone users can now buy music from the iTunes Store app and download the songs directly over 3G networks. Downloading previously required a Wi-Fi connection. The company also announced that all music will be now available in a DRM-free AAC format. A wider range of pricing was also announced, with songs available at 69 cents, 99 cents, or $1.29 starting in April.

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SlingPlayer Coming to iPhone

Today, 10:55 AM   by Rich Brome

Sling Media today announced SlingPlayer for iPhone, allowing SlingBox users to access their home TV and DVR from anywhere. The software is being demo'd this week, and will be submitted to Apple for approval this quarter.

HTC Brings S740 to US

Today, 10:13 AM   by Rich Brome

HTC today announced the S743, a version of the S740 with support for US 3G networks. The phone is a non-touch Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard device with a bar form factor and numeric keypad, plus a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The phone features a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 3-megapixel camera, memory card slot, WiFi, GPS, and 528 MHz processor. Network support includes HSDPA 7.2 in the 850/1900 bands - suitable for AT&T's 3G network - plus quad-band GSM. The S743 will be available through independent retailers such as dell.com and cdw.com later this quarter.

Motorola Rolls Out Eco, Touch and PTT Phones

Today, 12:00 AM   by Eric M. Zeman   updated Today, 11:00 AM

Today Motorola announced three new handsets that will become available through several different carriers over the course of the next few months.

• Renew W233: According to Motorola, the W233 is the first phone made from recycled water bottles. It has a carbon neutral footprint for those who are interested in keeping their carbon consumption to a minimum, it also cost 20% less to manufacture. In order to offset the energy used to produce, ship and power the W233, Motorola is making investments in renewable energy programs. The bar-style phone has dual-band 850/1900 GSM/EDGE radios, is rated at nine hours of talk time, and uses CrystalTalk for good call quality. It can support microSD cards up to 2GB and has basic messaging features.
• SURF A3100: The A3100 is a touch-based replacement for the Ming device that has been available in Asian markets. It runs Windows Mobile Professional 6.1, but has a new user interface created by Motorola that allows users to interact with most features of the phone on the 2.8-inch display. It has quad-band GSM/EDGE as well as 850/1900/2100 tri-band HSDPA 7.2Mbps 3G. It also carriers stereo Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Other features include a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and VGA secondary camera, support for 32GB microSD cards, and a-GPS. It will be available in select Asian markets during the first quarter. No North American release date has been set.
• Tundra VA76r: This mil-spec, ruggedized clamshell is bound for AT&T's network and offers push-to-talk service via AT&T's Kodiak technology. It is the first phone from Motorola to offer CrystalTalk Plus, which uses a second microphone to filter out and reduce background noise. The Tundra runs Motorola's MOTOMAGX platform, and carries quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band 850/1900 HSDPA 3.2Mbps. It also has a 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, aGPS and support for a 4GB microSD card.

Sprint Can't Offer Service In iPCS Regions

Yesterday, 2:12 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

A judge upheld an earlier decision that bars Sprint Nextel from providing wireless services in areas covered by iPCS. iPCS had sued Sprint and Clearwire in hopes to block the merger of the two companies' WiMax businesses. iPCS is a Sprint affiliate. It offers Sprint-branded service in 80 markets, including portions of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. iPCS currently has about 675,000 subscribers.

UIQ Files for Bankruptcy

Yesterday, 9:11 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

UIQ's CEO Johan Sandberg told Reuters in a recent interview that the company has filed for bankruptcy. UIQ was jointly owned by Sony Ericsson and Motorola, and supplied a version of Symbian to some mobile handsets. UIQ's bankruptcy comes partly as a result of Nokia's purchase of Symbian, which it plans to make available for free. Sandberg said, "There are no opportunities to create a new line of business in the current financial climate." Symbian had been reducing staff levels, but still has 200 employees as of last month.

Verizon: Alltel Deal to Close Jan. 9

Sunday, 9:15 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

Verizon Wireless indicated in regulatory filings that it plans to close its acquisition of Alltel on Friday, January 9. Verizon is paying $5.9 billion for Alltel, as well as taking on $22.9 billion of debt. The acquisition will make the merged entity the largest wireless provider in the U.S., with 78 million customers.

Nokia's USA Site Shows T-Mobile-Branded 7510 Supernova

Sunday, 9:02 PM   by Eric M. Zeman   updated Sunday, 10:08 PM

Nokia's USA-specific Web site has listed the 7510 Supernova with T-Mobile branding on it. The 7510 was first announced in June 2008 and is a flip phone with a push-to-open design, quad-band GSM/EDGE and FM radios, and 2 megapixel camera with LED flash. It will support cards up to 8GB in size. T-Mobile has not announced the phone.

Samsung R470 Pops Up On FCC Site

Friday, 4:57 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

Today new documents seen on the FCC site revealed an unannounced phone from Samsung. The R470 is a dual-band CDMA clamshell with Bluetooth. Photos reveal that the R470 has a dedicated camera key, USB port, microSD slot, dual displays, headphone jack, external control pad, and external speakers. The draft user manual references "easyedge", which is a data service offered by U.S. Cellular.

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Nokia N96 NAM Receives Major Firmware Update

Friday, 11:03 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

Nokia has made a firmware update available to the North American version of the N96. Aside from some major bug fixes (including Bluetooth compatibility, stability, and camera performance), the update also makes the N96 compatible with Nokia's newly-launched Mail on Ovi service.

Google Wants Your Ideas for Mobile Products

Friday, 9:42 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

Google has set up a new site that allows users of Google's mobile products to submit ideas for new mobile products, as well as rate them. Ideas posted to the site will be visible to everyone, and users can rate each idea. Google will use the site as a resource for gauging what users are interested in, and may take users' ideas and develop them into products.

Android Market to Offer Paid Applications

Friday, 8:33 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

Google has informed developers for the Android Market -- the storefront for Android-based applications -- that they will be able to create applications that require payment. Up until now, all the applications available in the Android Market have been free. This has prevented some developers from creating applications for the Android platform. With the arrival of paid applications, slated for some time in the first quarter, more developers may be motivated to create applications for Google's mobile platform.

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