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The Boy Genius Report: N75 delay, red Pearl confirmed!
So, first the good news: a recent market pricing document from AT&T shows that the N75 is still in the cards. Now, the bad: it's anybody's guess when it might finally get around to launching. Said document simply (and ominously) shows "Launch Delay" in the N75's row, indicating that S60 fans could be in for more of a wait to get their US 3G on -- as if they haven't waited long enough already. Let's end this little tid bit on a bright note, though, shall we? There's a red variant of the Pearl in the pipe, which may very well make for RIM's least business-oriented product yet (our apologies if your original black and gray piece is starting to look a little drab now). No word on a launch date there either, but we're guessing -- nay, hoping -- that there are fewer technical hurdles involved with the color changed than with the N75.
Suggestion of iPhone savings
Reader Derek went to his local Cingular dealer to pick up a Blackberry Pearl last week. Upon examining his receipt, he found that it said, "iPhone 2 year agreement savings: $150.00" (you can see an image of the entire receipt at Derek's site). On one hand, it looks like the folks at Cingular need to re-program their registers. Secondly, we can speculate that this indicates a discounted 2 year plan on iPhones. That could take some of the sting out of $499US.Thanks, Derek!
AT&T rolls out unlimited M2M texting for $5
Not to be outdone by fellow megacarrier Verizon, AT&T's pulling out all the SMS stops this week, too. A new option available on all messaging plans adds unlimited mobile-to-mobile texting for an extra five bones, bring the total cost of the 200, 400, 1000, and 3000 message plans to $10, $15, $20, and $25, respectively. As with Verizon's $20 deal, we'd be a little concerned about the long-term health of our thumbs, but if they're gonna stop functioning, they may as well go out in a blaze of picture message glory.[Thanks, Will]
AT&T unleashes Motorola V3xx Gold
If there's one thing AT&T's 3G offerings have lacked thus far, it's been a gaudy overabundance of yellow metal. Well, problem solved. The midrange V3xx has been re-rendered in a lovely gold shade, decidedly more flashy than the original gunmetal gray variant. Features carry over, meaning we get the same 1.3 megapixel shooter, microSD expansion, fabulous HSDPA radio, and just-can't-get-enough RAZR styling for the price of $99.99 after contract and rebates have been applied. Look for it in stores now -- or, if you're like us, you'll keep those wallets firmly shut for the maxx.[Thanks, Rich]
FCC sees Pantech C150 for AT&T (we think)
Pantech seems to be getting awfully buddy-buddy with the US' largest GSM carrier as of late -- or at least that's what the FCC would have us believe, spilling the proverbial beans recently on the 3G C600 and the C510 with that new-skool AT&T branding atop its shell. Believe it or not, it seems the partnership is going to run a little deeper still; this here "C150" just showed up on our FCC radar, and thanks to the FCC's interest and the letter "C" in the name, we suspect this one will also be heading over to Cingular / AT&T. The low model number suggests that this will be a cheap or free entry in AT&T's lineup, which is corrobrated by the fact that the handset rocks just three bands of GSM coverage (850 and 1900 both included) and precisely zero bands of WCDMA. Is Pantech sneaking up on LG's market share here or what?
Blackberry 8800 now on Cingular
Straighten your ties and button your suit jackets, RIM's promiscuous debutante -- the Blackberry 8800 -- is up and dancin' on on Cingular's website. $500 list, or $300 after $50 mail-in rebate and 2-year contract, the 8800 brings everything we expected: quad-band EDGE, GPS, microSD expansion, Bluetooth 2.0, push-to-talk support, and 5-hours talk / 24-days standby in a 0.55-inch device weighing just 4.73-ounces. 3G data? No. WiFi? Not this time. For that we'll have to hold tight for the anticipated mid-year launch of the 8820. [Thanks, President and everyone who sent this in]
Cingular's BlackBerry 8800 unboxed
He got us those original BlackBerry 8800 shots, so we're guessing these unboxing pics of the phone here were no sweat for Boy Genius. We still can't claim to be crazy about the device, which launched last week, but we're sure plenty of suits will be glad to replace their aging CrackBerries with this fancy new QWERTY version. As a side note -- could Cingular's boxes be any more boring?
Apple posts WWAN Support Update 1.0
Earlier today, Apple posted WWAN Support Update 1.0 for Intel-based Mac portables. According to Apple, this update offers support for the following: Available on the Cingular network: Novatel Merlin XU870 ExpressCard (HSDPA) Available on the Sprint network: Novatel Wireless Merlin EX720 Express Card (EVDO Rev. A) Novatel Wireless Ovation U720 USB Modem (USB Adapter, EVDO Rev. A) Available on the Verizon network: Novatel XV620 ExpressCard (EVDO Rev. 0) Novatel V740 ExpressCard (EVDO Rev. A) Novatel Wireless Ovation U720 (USB Adapter, EVDO Rev. A) Thanks, Alex!
Unofficial patch for Treo vulnerability loosed
If you've been a bit paranoid of late after hearing that a blatant security hole was found in the now-deceased Palm OS, help has unofficially arrived. Reportedly discovered by Symantec, the vulnerability entailed a hole that allowed the operating system's Find functionality to be accessed even when the device was set to Locked, allowing ill-willed hackers to sift through text message history, calendar entries, tasks, etc. The hole had been confirmed on the Treo 650, 680, and 700p, but now users of the handsets can rest a bit easier after applying this patch. As expected, the update simply disables the Find feature, which essentially closes off the last remaining security loophole and protects prying eyes from seeing that backlog of steamy Valentine's Day texts. So if you're looking to unofficially patch things up with your Palm, be sure to hit the read link and get that install completed, but we're not the ones to come crying to if something goes awry.[Via PalmInfoCenter]
iPhone to cost only $300-400 with contract?
If the iPhone's prices of $500 and $600 with contract were a little too much for your wallet to stomach, you might take solace in some new info allegedly leaked from a Cingular AT&T consumer survey (Wait: do wallets really have stomachs?). Engadget has the details on the possibility of the iPhone actually costing a full $200 less, putting the price points at $300 and $400 (for the 4GB and 8GB models, respectively) with a contract, meaning that the $500 and $600 prices could ultimately be for out-of-contract purchases.Now take this all with a grain of salt; this info and the accompanying image would be easy to fake, and the designer in me says it could be exactly that. Nevertheless, a romp through iPhone dreamland couldn't hurt, and more realistic prices of $300 and $400 would put a lot of smiles on the faces of iPhone hopefuls. Heck, at the least, it would mean Steve Ballmer has a little less to say about Apple's first mobile phone.
iPhone to run $300-400 after contract?
Everything we've been told with regard to the iPhone's pricing structure has suggested that the 4GB would hit at $499 and the 8GB at $599, and that this would be an on-contract price -- expensive, yes, but likely still in the right range to keep sales brisk. New advertising allegedly leaked out of a consumer survey suggests that the 2-year contract price could come in a full two hundie lower, though: $299 for 4GB, $399 for 8GB. This would sorta jibe with a Cingular exec's comment regarding the availability of units to folks outside coverage areas at a contract-free price, but perhaps more importantly, it's fabulous news for folks who will be able to take advantage of a contract re-upping. Of course, this is all coming out of a survey -- perhaps gauging reaction to pricing -- so we need to wait for some more clarification from the powers that be before declaring our wallets a little less burdened come June.
Novatel revs up its line with new HSDPA / HSUPA offerings
Novatel's keeping us in the bits pretty well lately, what with those Rev A dongles on Sprint and Verizon, and that XU870 HSDPA ExpressCard hotness. Now they've got a trio of hot new accessories, including a pair of HSDPA devices: the Merlin X950D ExpressCard and the Ovation MC870D USB Modem. The X950D offers up global tri-band HSUPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS, and works in ExpressCard/34 and 54 slots. The real hotness is the 2.1Mbps HSUPA uploads, and those 7.2Mbps downloads aren't bad neither. There's also built-in GPS. On the USB end of things, Novatel's Ovation MC870D (pictured) does 7.2Mbps HSDPA, but apparently doesn't match those hot upload speeds in the X950D. The dongle is Europe centric, hanging out on the 2100MHz band, so Americans will have to look elsewhere. Novatel is also announcing two HSDPA embedded laptop modules for OEMs, the EU870D for Europe and the EU860D for North America. Luckily for those of us wondering where North American USB HSDPA is on this list, Novatel is launching the Merlin XUA-1 ExpressCard to USB adapter, to let you use those cards with any old USB 2.0 port. No word on price or release dates for any of this stuff, but this should be enough to get us salivating, we suppose.
RIM's new Blackberry 8800 gets worked over
The nasty details on the newer Blackberry 8800 are in the form of a review. Is it a sports car or a gussied-up luxury SUV, though? LAPTOP Review sides with the latter, as RIM's latest offering sports onboard GPS (we knew that) and TeleNav software built right in for an extra $10 per month charge. While you won't mistake this for a Motorola Q or even a Blackberry Pearl, the 8800's 2.4 inch screen, large-capacity battery and looks-to-be-quite-useful QWERTY keyboard are the highlights according to the review -- all of which make the 8800 rather wide -- but still holdable. Just like most of you, we're kinda partial to wider screens instead of taller screens -- that is, unless you read your emails in "portrait" fashion. One downer? The voice quality was a little fuzzy on the incoming side according to the review. Price? $299 from Cingular for this EDGE (but not HSDPA) beauty with a 2 year contract for one of RIM's newest with a feature list as long as your arm.
AT&T selects MediaFLO; US moves closer to mobile TV monopoly
It was no surprise to see Verizon and Sprint both select Qualcomm's MediaFLO to power their mobile TV networks; after all, Qualcomm and CDMA go together like peas in a pod. Imagine our surprise, though, to hear that AT&T has also selected the technology over the more globally-accepted DVB-H. The two companies made the announcement today, promising that a MediaFLO-based network will come through to supplement AT&T's existing video content in the second half of the year, picking up MediaFLO's newest features along the way: multicast video clips, datacasting (for, to use their words, "realtime information and entertainment, and dedicated audio. As for American DVB-H? Hiwire and Modeo have to be down in the dumps this morning, though T-Mobile has yet to make any announcements one way or the other. Admittedly, we're pulling for the little guys -- choice is always good, right?Update: Although it is believed that Sprint's VUE trial is powered by MediaFLO, it should be noted that Sprint is still considering all their options and no announcements have thus far been made regarding its mobile TV offerings. Hope springs eternal, Modeo!
FCC makes Samsung SGH-A727's wildest dreams come true
It's no surprise that the FCC might take some interest in the 8.9 millimeter, 3G-capable A727 from Samsung, seeing how it was bearing Cingular / AT&T firmware when we peeped it at CES -- and seeing how ultra-thin candybars are slim for the picking (pun intended) on the US' one and only live WCDMA network at the moment, we're delighted to see the feds issue their stamp of approval. Still no word on when we might see it launch, or whether it'll bear Cingular or AT&T branding when it does, but as usual we'd ask everyone to work nights and weekends to get it expedited, mkay?
RIM and Samsung make nice on naming dispute
And by "make nice" we mean they probably exchanged large amounts of money behind closed doors to keep this lawsuit from getting out of hand. RIM's lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for Central California in December, alleges that not only does Samsung's BlackJack phone cause consumer confusion, but the very fact that Samsung called the phone i600 in Europe proves that it was specifically targeting the US-centric BlackBerry types. RIM, in a statement Wednesday said that the settlement includes "immediate provisions for the protection of RIM's valuable trademarks," and that it "does include limitations on use of the Blackjack trademark, withdrawal of the trademark application for Blackjack, Cingular's retention of common law rights in the Blackjack trademark, and certain reasonable measures to avoid confusion in the marketplace." So it sounds like Samsung won't be getting much more mileage out of this naming convention, though the deliberate "Blackjack" misspelling by RIM -- with that lowercase "j" -- has to grate on Sammy just a little bit, unless of course that was part of the deal. So, can we all just get along now?[Thanks, Marty H]
FCC reveals Pantech C510 with AT&T branding
The phone itself is a pretty uninteresting one -- EDGE data, Bluetooth, certainly nothing on the order of its 3G-capable big brother, the C600 -- but Pantech's C510 has one very important distinction: it's the first time we've seen that new, hip AT&T branding on a phone. For folks out of the loop, that's "Cingular" in 2006 parlance, and it looks like the carrier is about ready to flip the switch on moving its new old new branding to equipment. Of course, the FCC isn't a great barometer for knowing exactly when stuff is going to actually make it into consumers' hands; it could be a month or six (or more) before those three exquisitely-crafted lower case letters are silk screened onto a phone that's actually in your pocket. See the C510 spread wide open after the break (notice the select button -- so long, splat).
Thanks, FCC: Pantech's 3G C600 for Cingular
The Feds are being unfairly stingy with the details on this one, but we'll say this much: when we see a UMTS 850 / 1900 radio getting put through its paces, we know it's pretty much gotta mean Cingular. Pantech is calling this thing the C600, but other than a boring posterior shot and the presence of the aforementioned 3G bands, we know depressingly little. From what we're seeing here, this could be a candybar, slider, or swivel, so if there's any definitively good news here, it's that Cingular's likely going to be adding an understocked form factor to its 3G ranks. Stay tuned, friends.Update: Sadly, it turns out the C600 is a clamshell after all -- we missed a couple shots of the culprit buried in the always fascinating SAR (specifically absorbed radiation) report. Follow the break for the evidence! [Thanks, Eric]
AT&T rolls out pay-per-use PTT
At $10 / month for unlimited use of AT&T's Push To Talk service, we can buy into the value proposition; we really can. The real-time status indicators for your contacts, that Nextel-esque cool of talking at your phone rather than into it -- it's all good. So yeah, AT&T is now throwing down a new pay-per-use option that'd see a charge of $0.15 / minute for PTT use grace your bill. It comes as no surprise whatsoever that it'll be rounding those precious minutes up to the next nearest one, so -- please correct us if we're reading this incorrectly -- every press of that button is going to cost you a bare minimum of 15 cents. Basically, you start to lose out after the 66th minute (if our trusty calculator is in good working order), burying this option well into the "emergency use only" category for most folks. Like text messages, or even plain ol' voice minutes for that matter, an itchy PTT button finger could get ya in trouble mighty quick here.
The Boy Genius Report: Cingular shows its cards
There's something about a carrier pricing sheet showing unreleased models that just gets the hair on the backs of our necks standing on end. Some of these are well, well scooped at this point -- the black and gold Motorola V3xx, Nokia N75, and the Samsung SYNC all gussied up in blue -- but what's new to us are the Samsung "Cardinal" and Nokia "Ram." We haven't the foggiest what these might be, but we can tell you that the Cardinal will go for $230 commitment free or $80 after signing away a couple years of your life, while the Ram will run $210 and $60, respectively. Could it be that Nokia's threat to start naming its phones has some teeth?
