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Verizon's HTC Apache, the XV6700, reviewed
Those of you who already own Sprint's version of the HTC Apache, the Audiovox UT Starcomm PPC-6700, will no doubt feel a bit smug when reading how PC Mag suggests that Verizon's crippled version of this WM5 smartphone "should send power users running to Sprint." Besides its black facade, the XV6700 is mostly identical to the PPC-6700 (416MHz Intel XScale, 64MB RAM/ 128MB flash ROM, EV-DO, WiFi, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel cam, QVGA display), but two key Verizon-specific differences should make you think twice before choosing this handset. First, unlike Sprint, Verizon does not allow the phone to utilize WiFi and cellular at the same time, meaning that you actually have to switch off the cellular radio if you're at a hotspot, and thus can't receive calls while pulling data packets. Not that you'll be pulling many of those packets in the first place -- Verizon charges more for 10MB of EV-DO usage ($25) than Sprint charges for unlimited transfers($15) -- and forget about Bluetooth DUN, because the big V doesn't offer a modem plan for this model.Update: Make sure to check out the comments for a not-condoned-by-us workaround that promises to thwart Verizon's nefarious anti-WiFi agenda.
Verizon will help launch MySpace band contest winner
Think your band's got what it takes to impress a guy with 50 million friends? Well if you've the musical chops to win over Tom Anderson and his MySpace army (and the suits at Verizon- they have the final say on the winner), you could be the lucky beneficiary of more Verizon publicity than the "Can you hear me now?" dude. The big V is teaming up with the 'Space to hold the "Calling All Bands" contest, where some unsigned band will have a song produced and distributed through the V CAST download service. And since this is a mobile carrier we're talking about, the song will be made available as a ring tone, and even an annoying ringback tone, to Verizon subscribers. As if all that exposure weren't enough, Verizon is also ponying up to make a music video featuring the winning band, which--you guessed it--will be downloadable from V CAST as well.[Via MocoNews]
Verizon's UTStarcom CDM-9945 approved by FCC
Our buddypals over at the FCC have loosed a but of information on a new mid-range EV-DO handset bound for Verizon in the US, the KTF / UTStarcom CDM-9945. They were showing this one off at CES year, and we can expect it to feature a 1.3 megapixel camera, MicroSD slot, and Bluetooth when it gets released sometime this summer.[Via Phonearena, thanks crossblade]
Skype releases second PPC client update in as many months
Less than two months after Skype released version 1.2 for Pocket PC, which added Windows Mobile 5.0 and slower-processor support, comes yet another upgrade that includes a key feature WM5 smartphone users will find appealing. Besides numerous bug fixes and some appearance tweaks, version 2.0 enables an automatic cellular data connection if WiFi is unavailable. Users of current and previous versions have had to manually enact a data connection by opening a browser or email app if they wanted to make Skype calls over a 3G network. Keep in mind that calls made over WAN connections are subject to carrier data fees along with regular Skype charges, where applicable.
Sanyo and Nokia to form new cellphone venture
We have few details as to what's really going on here (namely because these guys are being a little stingy on the info right now), but Sanyo and Nokia have announced they're setting up shop together with a joint cellphone venture to make CDMA 3G devices. What kind, what they'll look like, how much they'll cost, who gets them, whether they'll be badged Nosanyo or Sanyokia-- we know nothing, just that the two handset giants will be signing off on this enigmatic new company in Q2, and the doors open to Nokanyo HQ in Q3.
South Korea to build a "mobile paradise"
The South Korean Ministry of Information and Communication has apparently heard the legend of the Engadget Mansion--where a multitude of wireless signals peacefully cohabitate the airwaves--as they've recently announced plans to transform one of the country's districts into a Mansion-like "mobile paradise." Ubiquitous WAN, WLAN, and digital TV signals await the lucky residents of the M1 project, or "Pimp my District" as we like to call it, who will have a choice of CDMA/EV-DO, GSM/UMTS, and WiBro networks plus DVB-H, MediaFlo, and T-DMB terrestrial DTV formats. This project is part of a larger long-term technology roadmap for South Korea, known as u-IT839, which was codified in 2004 and updated this year to reflect advancements in fields like RFID and IT services. Although we certainly envy the as-yet-undetermined district about to get bathed in a flood of data-goodness, we'd like to point out that there are already thousands of mobile paradises right here in the US- we call them Starbucks.[Via Smart Mobs]
Pantech showing off 30 new phones at 3GSM
Looks like Pantech is going to roll deep at 3GSM, the massive wireless industry trade show which is going down this week in Barcelona. Telecoms Korea says they'll be showing off at least thirty new handsets, including the PU-5000 (pictured at right), a new slider-style UTMS phone with a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, a 2nd VGA camera for video calls and the PU-8000, which has a two megapixel digital camera and a wide horizontal display. Altogether they're going to be showing off 13 new GSM handsets, 12 new CDMA handsets, and five new UMTS handsets.
BenQ-Siemens goes Greek with the Venus, Hermes, Ulysses, & Cupid
Well, we've got just a taste of what to expect in the very near future from the Euro cellphonefest next week that is 3GSM. BenQ-Siemens apparently has got four (or more) new phones with namesakes of Greek lineage in the pipeline, clockwise from upper-left: the Venus C3's got external music playback buttons, as you can see, but we don't have any other firm details; the Hermes B is also slanted heavily toward music playback (on the entry level tip) with what appears to be top-facing audio playback buttons; the Ulysses B1 looks way too much like a Nokia 6020, but done right and with 3G; finally, the Cupid slider is more business oriented, apparently honed for ease of use and its simple, sober style. Expect to get some more hard detail on these guys next week.
Mobile ESPN is live
We'll understand if you didn't have enough time yesterday, between basking in the glow of your new high def rig, pounding beers, and munching on god-knows-what to check to see if that Mobile ESPN handset you pre-ordered is active, but service officially started yesterday. Certainly no surprise for anyone anticipating getting all that hot sports content on the go, but now that the switch's been flipped you can feel free to start peeping those thrill-of-victory / agony-of-defeat clips while actually at dinner with your significant other. Good luck, mates.
The Palm Treo 700p?
Is it real? Is it a Photoshop? We'll let you decide, but this image of what Treocentral forums user Merlyn 3D is claiming to be the Treo 700p (that'd be the supposedly forthcoming PalmOS-based version of the Treo 700 series) was apparently snapped some time earlier today. Based on the other shot Merlyn posted, this device (if it is, in fact, real) runs PalmOS Garnet 5.4.9, which means if this thing has EV-DO support (which it damn well better) PalmSource must have done some serious work under the hood.[Thanks, Lawrence]
Verizon gives in, allows DUN from cellphones
Verizon Wireless has given in to consumer demand, and will now allow customers to use most compatible cellphones as broadband modems. Verizon customers have long grumbled about the company's unwillingness to allow customers to use their cellphones to connect computers to the internet, especially since there was never any technical reason not to do so, and many of the phones are capable of connecting over the company's high-speed EV-DO network. Verizon will begin charging $59.99 per month for the service, which initially extends to the LG VX9800 (pictured), Motorola RAZR V3c, Motorola E815 and LG VX8100. Verizon is, however, keeping at least one restriction: DUN via Bluetooth will still be officially off-limits; the only way to legally connect will be via USB cables. Uh huh. But we're ok with that, right?
T-Mobile's launching HSDPA network in Germany
We kind of wish their American counterparts would follow their lead (as usual), but today at Deutsche Telekom's 15th Internationales Presse Kolloquium, DT's wireless division (a little company called T-Mobile, you may have heard of them?) announced they're going to be introducing HSDPA into their domestic (i.e. German) networks at up to 1.8Mbps. Apparently their official launchwill be at CeBIT this year;they also introduced a €35 (about $40 US) or a Euro a day flat data rate, but it'll only apply to UMTS coverage, so don't plan on getting off that easily when it comes time to belly up to the bar for your HSDPA when you're kicking back in Berlin.[Via The Unwired]
Palm Treo 800p coming March 15?
It’s no surprise to hear yet another rumor pop up about a new Palm OS based Treo. This time however, and of course we can’t confirm if it’s true, a regular forum jockey named “slinky” over at TreoCentral says the next Palm Treo will not be a, uh, “p” flavored 700 – instead, Palm will be introducing an entirely new device dubbed the 800p on March 15... the ides of March, a day synonymous with abrupt change. See, slinky claims s/he saw a hush-hush hands-off demo of the “sleek and cool” device in a lobby bar (as these things generally go, right?) and says the new 800p throws down with “fast is an understatement” EV-DO and features 128MB RAM, a WiFi “option,” SD expansion, Bluetooth 2.0, an enhanced 320 x 320 display, a 3.2 megapixel camera, external antenna, and is both slimmer and slightly smaller than the current 650 yet still supports the same ol’ accessories. The looks are said to be “very slick” taking design queues from the Motorola Q and will hit the streets for less than $600. Unfortunately, there is no mention of which Palm OS will power the device or if Sprint will nab the exclusive rights this time around. Make of this what you will, but it does jibe a bit with what we’ve heard before about the Lowrider from Palm's ODM du jour, Inventec Appliance. Hey, we're just reportin' what we're hearing.Update: Yup, it's a hoax afterall. Time for slinky to register a new user name and enter the federal forum relocation program.[Thanks, Sammy]
50 puts EV-DO on a USB key
Finally, there's a convenient way to connect to EV-DO networks with a laptop that doesn't have a PCMCIA slot (like, say, 12-inch Powerbooks). The CCU-550 from Korean manufacturer CMOTech looks like a basic USB flash drive, but is actually an EV-DO modem with maximum throughput of 2.4Mbps. Unfortunately, you'll need to live in Korea to use it. Sure, you can try to import one to the US on your own. But without the blessing of your service provider (meaning Verizon or Sprint), this is just a pretty paperweight.[Via Akihabara News]
Sprint Treo 700w by end of February?
So a bunch of guys over at Bear Stearns, who seem to be even more creepily obsessed with the consumer electronics/media/communications industries than we are, have broken into several overseas manufacturing facilities to discover that the WM5-powered, EV-DO-packin' Treo 700w may be introduced by Sprint as early as the end of Feburary. This contradicts earlier information which pointed to a late-March release, and would also go against the traditional three to six month exclusivity contract that carriers and manufacturers usually sign (Verizon just dropped the 700w on January 5th). By the way, that breaking-and-entering comment about Bear Sterns analysts Ted Chung, Bill Hand, and Andrew Neff is completely false- they got their info the old fashioned way, based on research, networking, and so-called channel checks (unless those are like body checks, in which case we totally stand by our slanderous accusations).[Thanks, Brad; Pic credit: Zack]
Verizon launches CDM 8945, third VCast musicphone
Verizon released its third V Cast musicphone today, the CDM 8945 by UTStarcom- tunes go on a microSD card, and EV-DO provides the bandwidth for those overpriced impulse purchases. You also get a VGA camera (yawn), but a pretty solid 176 x 220 screen for all those TV clips you'll be watching. Being part of the exclusive V Cast music club (along with owners of the LG VX8100 and Samsung a950) will cost $130 with a two-year contract, along with another $30 for the "music essentials" kit, which includes PC software, sync cable and headphones, but no memory card it seems.
