cingular
Latest
LG CU405: an update for Cingular's CU400 in the works?
Perusing the FCC's approval documents never fails to unearth the darndest things. Take, for example, this little gem -- the CU405 from LG. Now, the bottom line is that we've virtually no details on this phone, other than what little we've gleaned from the test reports: WCDMA 850 / 1900, Bluetooth, clamshell form factor. But in all likelihood, it's safe to say that we've got some super-mild update of the CU400 recently released on Cingular. Could it be that LG's lowliest 3G flip for the Americas will get a freshening to support AT&T's upcoming video share service for 3G devices? Only time'll tell, but we're liking the chances of video share finally launching in the not-too-distant future.
A quick look at AT&T's upcoming launches
Rumormongers we aren't (no, seriously!) but we've been tipped off to a handful of Cingular AT&T releases waiting in the wings for the that seem totally plausible -- so we thought we'd better do our good civic duty by passing the deets on to our readers. First up, the Motorola V3xx will hit in your choice of black or gold, bringing what should be a decent choice for low- to mid-range 3G action. The Samsung SYNC, meanwhile, will turn blue in time for Valentine's Day, and -- speaking of blue -- the Pantech C3 will get hooked up with Bluetooth to make the C3B. Best of all, if it checks out, this stuff should all go down some time before the beginning of April.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
50-percent of your iPhone purchase to pad Apple's wallet?
Sure, LG's KE850 Prada handset will set users back a cool $778, and the Google Switch just might pop in to make things a bit more interesting, but a recent research report has unveiled that Apple's sure-to-be-sold-out iPhone is a lean, mean, profit-generating machine nonetheless. While Apple's well-known for selling its iPods (and to a lesser extent, its Macs) for much, much more than it cost to manufacture, even we're a bit taken aback at how hard those corporate buyers must be workin' those suppliers on this one. According to iSuppli (no affiliation with Apple, of course), the 4GB iPhone will yield a "49.3 percent profit margin on each unit sold at the $499 retail price," while the 8GB rendition will kick back a 46.9-percent margin. You heard right, they're supposing the $499 mobile only costs Apple $245.83 to produce, while the 8GB flavor demands just $264.85. Of course, this isn't the first time a hot-selling product has been broken down by the numbers to prove just how ripped off we're all getting (if these numbers are to be trusted, that is) -- but hey, unless you've got the means to buy capacitors and LCD touchscreens by the boatload, you're probably stuck paying exactly what they ask. Plus if all this sudden competition gets a bit too heated, don't think Apple doesn't have any room to introduce a (highly desired) price drop.
Who won't be getting the iPhone?
To find out that the Apple iPhone (heard of it?) would roll out locked to Cingular on a multi-year exclusivity agreement was difficult enough for some folks to swallow. Imagine, then, the pain and suffering that'll be experienced by those in areas that Cingular has forsaken. Case in point: the Burlington Free Press has noted that Cingular offers not a sliver of coverage in the quaint state of Vermont, leaving well over half a million good citizens (Ben and Jerry included, we reckon) without their fix. While our initial instinct might be to buy the phone elsewhere and just roam 'til the cows come home (literally -- this is Vermont, after all), Cingular policy states that a customer's address must lie in a directly covered area -- and even for the few that manage to skate by that one, the carrier's known for canceling accounts that roam excessively. Of course, Cingular points out that eager buyers are more than welcome to buy it contract-free without activating an account, but there's not a lot of fun in that; meanwhile, Apple's staying mum on the subject, perhaps for fear of further agitating hundreds of thousands of irate Vermonters. And the problem is by no means limited to Vermont: residents of large parts of Maine, Virginia, West Virginia, New Mexico, the Dakotas, Arizona, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Colorado (among other states) might find that Apple has passed them over come June, unless Cingular goes into turbo mode lighting up new service areas. Anyone out there willing to move for a cellphone?[Thanks, Craig]
More details on RIM's BlackBerry 8800, 9x00 series
We hate to temper the joy of BlackBerry-philes everywhere anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 8800, but we're starting to hear whispers of a "9xxx" series -- specific model number unknown -- that one-ups the 8800 with a 3G radio, support for backup to microSD, and a new processor and UI for Q4 launch on Cingular. Granted, the fourth quarter is a ways off yet (assuming they're talking calendar quarters, not fiscal quarters), so Boy Genius has blessed us with a few new details on the 8800, too. The Pearlesque 8800 will apparently hit Cingular mid-February with a slightly shorter keyboard than the 8700, making it easier to type. What it won't do, though, is come with a cam (great news for businessfolk with paranoid bosses) or WiFi. Hey, it's still a pretty hot upgrade from the 8700 though, right?
Cingular to become AT&T on Monday
Now that Cingular's co-owners have been united in holy matrimony, it looks like AT&T is wasting no time in killing off the brand to replace it with its own. Like, no time at all -- in fact, ComputerWorld is reporting that AT&T will begin using dual Cingular/AT&T branding this coming Monday. The new scheme will be used for some as-yet-undetermined period of time until everyone feels comfortable that the general populace understands what exactly has become of the nation's largest GSM carrier, at which point the AT&T name'll go it alone. So if anyone out there still has an old-skool AT&T Wireless handset kicking around, here's your opportunity to pull it back out and feel cool again.[Thanks, Sam K. and jetfxr]
iPhone: does Cisco miss out due to prior art?
Apple's argument that Cisco's claim to the name iPhone is "silly" is about to get a whole lot more cogent. Although they hold the trademark, it's still seemingly debatable whether Cisco has rights to the name. Eagle-eyed reader mrsalty points out the fact that Cisco's patent filings for the "Internet telephone" (and at least two others) reference the iphone name and attribute it to the Cidco (a company now owned by Earthlink); the fact that the filing reads with the following language is even less encouraging. "Also known [to Cisco at the time of filing the patent] is a dedicated 'Web phone,' such as the iphone, manufactured by Cidco..." Yikes. It's difficult to tell whether this iphone predates Cisco's acquisition of the patent holdings originally filed by Infogear in 1997, but prior art is prior art, and they admitted as much right in their own patent filing. What's more, the The Internet Phone Company has owned and operated iphone.com since 1995, and we don't see Cisco suing them, either. So basically we really hope this whole thing will be quick and painless since we don't think anyone really wants another RIM vs NTP saga on their hands. Things will get very interesting, however, if it works out such that the iPhone name is released to the commons and everyone and their mother can make an iPhone. (Sony Ericsson aiPhone or Motorola IFON, anyone?) Our advice to the people Behind the Human Network: focus on that human network of yours and let the iPhone go, kid. Update: As some readers have pointed out, yes, a trademark is different from a patent. Our intention is to address Cisco's irregular legal activity that favors other companies using the name iphone, but not Apple. Does Cisco hold the trademark? Yes, it would appear that way. Will Cisco's lack of protection of this trademark hold up in court? We'll have to wait and see, but something tells us Stevie J. wouldn't have gotten up on stage with "iPhone" if he wasn't damned sure they'd be able to use and keep this name.
How the iPhone might be sold unlocked
Loyal reader Sammual pointed us to this post from a "Cingular tier 2 call center tech" where he discusses his impressions of Cingular (not positive), Stan Sigman (ditto), and All Things Steve (big thumbs up). "Jolly Roger" presents the thesis, in a long but interesting diatribe, that the iPhone will actually be sold UNlocked, at least in Apple stores. You would then activate the phone with Cingular or, surreptitiously, with another GSM carrier.My feeling is that this theory may be colored by JR's self-described soul-numbing experience working for Big Wireless. It seems evident that some of the announced features of the iPhone (visual voicemail, EDGE data) are going to be very tightly carrier-linked. Assuming it was even possible to use the phone on T-Mobile or other GSM networks, would it be worth it without all the bells and whistles? Granted, the device is spec'ed as a quad-band GSM unit, so it will roam internationally... guess we'll find out the truth come summertime.Thanks Sam![via ApplePhoneAddict]
Cingular rolls out Motorola KRZR
Verizon, Sprint, Cingular, T-Mobile -- that looks to be the order of American major network KRZR releases now that Cingular's flavor has officially hit the streets. With nothing more than EDGE to shore up its data offering, the K1 isn't exactly a tech powerhouse, but we somehow suspect that the fashion-friendly lines, gloss, and touch controls will sell themselves to a fairly sizable (and profitable) demographic. Cingular customers can put a little piece of Motorola's (in)famous industrial design in their pockets today for $200 after contract and rebates, and on that note, we'd just like to gently remind folks that this is a good hundie over and above the smarter 3125. We're just sayin'.[Thanks, Matt]
Samsung's A727 for Cingular in the flesh
We haven't seen an HSDPA candybar for those funky American bands yet -- much less an 8.9 millimeter thick candybar -- so the Z370-alike A727 should be a warmly welcomed addition to Cingular's small army of 3G devices. To be fair, neither Cingular nor Samsung have actually announced where this handset's gonna land, but a quick check of the main menu reveals a "Cingular Mall" item. We'll let y'all draw your own conclusions.
How the iPhone avoided being leaked
We all knew Apple was going to announce the iPhone at yesterday's Macworld keynote, but we didn't really know, y'know? Despite years of anticipation, false starts, and promised rumors, we can't decide if we're more impressed by what Apple managed to pack into the iPhone's slender frame or their ability to keep the entire thing an absoloute secret. Fortune takes a look at the process, covering the highly secretive cooperation with cell-carrier Cingular, the unusually distributed effort within Apple itself, and the increasing strain placed on the personal lives of employees tasked with long hours and strict confidentiality. Perhaps most interesting was the creation of "bogus prototypes" that they used with not only Cingular executives but with Apple exployees themselves. Lucky for us, an insider deep inside the core of Apple sent us this cameraphone snap of an early prototype featuring a (now absent) external antenna. What is that, a granny smith? Sweet! Errr, rather, sour.
For some, iPhone could cost up to $1349
For everything the iPhone offers, $499 and $599 really is a killer deal. But what if you have to shell out up to $1349 to get your hands on Apple's revolutionary do-it-all mobile device? Nick Starr points out that Cingular still charges a deposit of up to $750 for some customers who have bad credit. Add up $599 for the phone with a $750 deposit and you have one expensive little telephone. Of course, I have to point out that you can earn your deposit back after a year of good standing with Cingular, but still - that's one heckuva a barrier to entry. So never mind how much you have spent already - how much would you spend on an iPhone?
Cingular kicking rear and taking names for iPhone
The bad news: in case you haven't heard, the iPhone's still a few months off yet (boo!). The good news: Cingular is more than happy to take down your 411 right now and you'll be "among the first" -- along with virtually every Internet-enabled citizen in the world -- to hear when it hits (yay!). Contain youselves, folks, and continue to use your indoor voices, please; there's really nothing new here. Big Orange's signup page looks pretty stock, and we wouldn't be terribly surprised if it'd been cobbled together only after actually finding out yesterday just what it was it signed up to exclusively offer along with everyone else. We've also managed to score Cingular's iPhone announcement for business customers; its similarly unrevealing, though it does make note that Apple has banned Cingular from offering discounts on the most important consumer device ever iPhone to business customers. Sorry, Premier customers, but not much of a surprise there. Click on for the full document straight from the horse's mouth.[Thanks, sysengr]
Hands-on with the Nokia N75 for Cingular
Introduction of the N76 has tempered our desire for the Nokia N75 a bit, but that doesn't mean it won't still be the fastest darned clamshell smartphone in Cingular's lineup when it finally gets around to launching. Granted, the one getting passed around at CES is unbranded, but let's be honest: Cingular's the only US carrier rockin' UMTS 850 / 1900 at the moment, and some friends of ours in high-up places have seen the Cingular-branded piece anyway.
The Samsung SGH-A717 for Cingular
The A717, an Ultra Edition clamshell from Samsung, really took us by surprise; it's not mentioned in Samsung's press materials, so there's not a heck of a lot we can say about it beyond the specifications we found and the conspicuous orange splat on the OK button. Thanks to a rotating 2 megapixel cam and tri-band HSDPA, this device should be positioned to fortify Cingular's clamshell video share lineup alongside the LG CU500v. Other specs include an external 96 x 32 OLED, A2DP, and microSD expansion. Click through for more pics.
Sign up to be notified for the iPhone release
If you don't mind throwing your e-mail address into a "please notify me form", Cingular has a new page that allows you to request notification when the iPhone becomes available. Of course, you can probably just read about the iPhone availability here at TUAW, but don't discount the thrill of opening your email and discovering a note directly from Cingular. Which will, of course, prompt you to pop over to TUAW to see what the scoop is all about, right? Right.
Last Apple Phone leak photo we promise
Rob Terrell posted what he thinks is a glimpse of the Apple iPod phone on his blog yesterday, from a Cingular TV ad. Since I have no credibility left on this front I'll let Rob and the picture speak for themselves:"That capture is from the very last shot in the [Cingular] ad.... the Cingular website shows no music playback phones with that shape. Did they just show the Apple iPod phone a day early?"thanks Luis![via Happyapps]
Cingular's Treo 750 announced, reviewed
Though the cover was blown, Palm fanatics everywhere still have reason to breathe a deep sigh of relief today as the Treo 750 has gone official for Cingular. The Windows Mobile Pocket PC handset is the first Palm device launched to leverage Cingular's 3G network -- and what's better, an upgrade to HSDPA is on the way. Specs include 128MB ROM / 64 MB RAM with miniSD expansion, Bluetooth (albeit 1.2), and that much-maligned square 240 x 240 display, all atop a 300MHz Samsung core. LAPTOP Magazine and Pocketnow both came away with similar impressions in their quick takes; Palm's latest entry isn't earth-shattering by any stretch of the imagination, but key enhancements to Windows Mobile 5's shortcomings (threaded messaging!) and 3G data should keep existing Treo users coming back for the upgrade. Look for the 750 in stores this week for $399 on a two-year contract, with online availability rolling in later this month.Read - Palm product pageRead - LAPTOP Magazine reviewRead - Pocketnow review
Verizon poised for SMS rate hike
We wondered how long it would be before other carriers followed the price-jacking ways of Cingular / Sprint-Nextel and decided to raise their own SMS rates, and now it appears Verizon won't be the low guy on the totem pole for too much longer. Word on the street is that The Network could be in the process of raising its SMS rates just like the other guys, which would hike the price from its current $.10 point a whopping 50-percent, leaving you loyal customers to pay $.15 per incoming / outgoing text message. Of course, this sudden, detrimental change to your agreement could warrant an easy way out of that contract, but as always, your miles may vary, and we're starting the countdown until Alltel (sadly) joins the fray right about now.
Cingular to demo video calls at CES
It's been a long time in coming -- and even its latest upcoming equipment doesn't seem to support it -- but Cingular (or should we say AT&T?) wants everyone to know that video calling is still very much on its agenda. Demos of the feature, made possible by WCDMA's capability to rock voice and data simultaneously, will be taking place at AT&T's CES booth next week. We don't know the full lineup of handsets Cingular will be using for the exhibition or whether said equipment will make it into Cingular's lineup down the road, but one device we know will be shown is the LG CU500v, a video call-capable update to the venerable CU500. Yeah, that's right -- that six month old, HSDPA capable CU500 is obsolete. Some of us haven't even worn the new phone smell off our 8525s and BlackJacks yet, but we doubt they're updatable; no front-facing cam, after all.
