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Verizon XV6800 in the flesh
Hold on, Apache owners, your knight in shining armor is just around the corner! At least we think it is, now that we've seen some shots of a Verizon-branded XV6800 doing its thing in the wild. It may not look much different than the XV6700 it replaces, but we figure that if the EV-DO Rev. A doesn't tempt you -- or the promise of a Rev. A upgrade at some point, at least -- the 2 megapixel camera and 256MB of Flash just might. Hit the gallery for more pictures.[Thanks, anonymous tipster] Verizon XV6800 in the wild
AKU3 for Verizon's XV6700 WM5 device 'officially' going to be launched
Just when we thought mighty Verizon had given up on official WM5 update support for the XV6700, this comes along in the form of an official email response to one of our readers in a response from UTStarcom, distributor of many things HTC ending in "6700" in relation to WM Smartphones -- "AKU3 will be coming out sometime late March or early April". While that response is quite the vague picture and is by no means filled with detail, we have to give it up to Verizon Wireless who has decided (apparently) to throw some support love up for existing UTStarcom XV6700 owners. You know, the ones who paid more than a few bills for their WM devices in the first place and who are most likely avid wireless data users and decent data revenue subscribers. Verizon, you just scored a point in our book.[Thanks, Huntley]
UTStarcom to release PC5750 for Verizon
Verizon sure has tricks up its sleeves, especially when it comes to the Rev A network that it's been holding back from us. The Network is getting all its ducks in a row to have the UTS PC5750 release in February with the device priced at $269.99 full retail, $199.99 on a one year and $149.99 on a two year indentured contract. The device is a Type II PC Card (no luck if you need an ExpressCard) and UTS has increased the memory capacity of the device to 64MB Flash / 32MB RAM, making it the most well-endowed UTStarcom data card to date. [Thanks, HTC Kid]
Windows Mobile AKU 3.3 hacked for Verizon and Sprint 6700
Is your Sprint PPC-6700 or Verizon XV6700 feeling down, running poorly, or are you just sick of the bad performance? Fret not Windows Mobile lovers, hope may be in sight. As both carriers have given up on supporting the device and won't be releasing any updates to correct performance issues, a well-skilled hacker comes in to save the day and release AKU 3.3 for each phone. He's also been working on AKU 3.5 and Crossbow. If anyone is brave enough to install these unsupported updates, drop us a line.
UTStarcom stays low-key at CES with CDM8935, CDM8960
Aw, c'mon, UTStarcom... the SMT5800 (aka HTC Libra) and XV6800 are, like, half the reason we even bothered coming to CES to begin with! Alas, the frequent rebrander of HTC and other Asian handsets has decided to stay virtually under the radar for the show, choosing to show the ho-hum CDM8935 and CDM8960 clamshells for CDMA networks instead of anything remotely approaching smartphone territory. The 8935 is microscopic, measuring just 3.3 by 1.7 by 0.7 inches and weighing in at under three ounces, though you pay for the portability in features; the main display is a 128 x 128 piece and the camera shoots just VGA. Next up, the 8960 packs EV-DO, a 220 x 176 main display, and a respectable 64MB ROM and RAM with miniSD expansion. No North American carrier deals have been announced for either handset, but we suspect these could be brought to market on the double if and when a deal gets signed.
UTStarcom's dual-mode GF210 clears FCC
What deep, dark secret lies within the casing of this perfectly unremarkable looking UTStarcom candybar? It's got dual-mode hardware, that's what. Yep, GSM -- US-friendly 850 / 1900, no less -- and WiFi, coexisting in blissful harmony to hook its user up with SIP-based VoIP at home and GSM on the road. It's a crying shame, then, that no amount of technological geekery would allow us to feel comfortable talking on the homely GF210. Hey, T-Mobile, would ya please hurry it up over there?
Three new Verizon Pocket PC phones leaked on Engadget Mobile
We have an early Christmas present for you Verizon smartphone users: three new Windows Mobile Pocket PC devices leaked over on Engadget Mobile, including the oh so hotly anticipated CDMA followup to the HTC TyTn / Hermes. Check 'em out:Verizon UTStarcom XV6800: the CDMA TyTn lives!Verizon's Samsung i760 out-BlackJacks the BlackJack?Verizon UTStarcom SMT5800: Libra comes stateside in green?
Verizon UTStarcom SMT5800: Libra comes stateside in green?
We knew the UTStarcom SMT5800 was headed for the States, no doubt, but we didn't know Verizon was going to be picking it up in... nasty ass green. Seriously, what's the deal? Plus they took that hawt Hermes-style keyboard and gave it the MDA-style oval keys, not our idea of a nice changeup. Still, you'll have tetherable Rev A EV-DO, 128MB flash memory, 96MB RAM, microSD, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 2 megapixel camera. Big ups to Roc A Fella and HTC Kid on landing this, the third hot Verizon leak today.See also: Samsung i760, UTStarcom XV6800
Verizon UTStarcom XV6800: the CDMA TyTn lives!
Holy crap, it's a Christmas miracle! Look what Santa Roc A Fella dropped in our laps this morning: shots of the CDMA HTC TyTn, courtesy of our new pal HTC Kid! About freaking time. Here we have UTStarcom XV6800 on Verizon, and this thing is seriously no slouch. It improves on the Hermes with more memory, Bluetooth 2, and, of course, features EV-DO with Rev A support. Here's the dirt: WM5 AKU 3 256MB flash / 96MB RAM Thumb wheel 802.11b/g Bluetooth 2.0 BBAC -- BroadbandAccess Connect, i.e. tetherable EV-DO microSD slot We hear Roc's got more coming soon, watch out for it. Big ups to HTC Kid!
UTStarcom Slice gets official for Virgin Mobile
Rumor has it the Slice has been floating around a Wal-Mart here and a Radio Shack there for at least a week or two now, but UTStarcom and Virgin are just now getting around to announcing the slimphone's availability all official-like, and the companies are quick to point out the Slice's main selling point: the candybar is now the thinnest phone (10mm) available in the US without contract. Of course, other critical points to make would be the phone's attractive out-the-door price of $50, while feature-conscious users will still appreciate the MP3 ringtone support with 32MB of storage, reasonable 128 x 128 color display, and that endlessly imitated RAZR-style keypad. Look for the Slice now in stores with online available following on November 2.
UTStarcom serves "Slice" to Virgin Mobile
Though it's known simply as the PCS-1400 to UTStarcom, Virgin Mobile has a history of christening its phones with creative names, and the trend continues here: enter the "Slice." The phone looks a bit like UTStarcom's previously seen UT1200 for GSM networks but rocks CDMA instead (obviously), bringing 10mm-thick slimphone goodness to prepaid users on the cheap -- just $50. Specs are pretty much what you might expect for a $50 phone, with a single-band 1900MHz radio, 128 x 128 display, 32MB of internal storage, and a speakerphone, but no camera or Bluetooth to be found. No word on an official availability date for the Slice, but it looks like Circuit City will be happy to sell you one as we speak.[Thanks, Gusto and Jeremy]Read - Circuit CityRead - Virgin Mobile Slice support pageRead - UTStarcom
Casio G'zOne phone to hit Verizon Wireless' shelves
We have all cringed a bit when our cellphone has dropped out of our pocket or out of our waist holster to hit the cold concrete below and leave our perfect device with scratches, dents, a cracked display, or just simply broken. Well Verizon Wireless customers can rest a little easier with the introduction of the latest device to their ever expanding lineup, the Casio G'zOne (aka the LG CanU 502). And it's not like this phone is all show and no go either, folks, This phone is military spec water and shock resistant, and hooks you up with a 2.0 megapixel camera with video, speakerphone, supports VZ Navigator, Get It Now, and Vcast Video. Roc a fella says the device will be priced as follows: $420 full retail, $350 one year, and $300 for a two year. A little pricey for the rugged, but look for this device to in retail channels on October 23rd.
Pantech, UTStarcom ink deal for CDMA phones
We know who gets the lion's share of Pantech's GSM love in the States, but that leaves a large portion of their product portfolio -- their CDMA handsets -- without a proper home. Sure, they've got the Nokia deal in full swing, but as far as we know that's only good for a grand total of two rebadged models, and Nokia's already indicated they ultimately plan to spread the wealth among several ODMs for their CDMA line. Enter perennial rebadger UTStarcom, a company known for getting cozy with a variety of manufacturers to keep their product line fully stocked. A new deal with Pantech will make UTStarcom the exclusive owner of Pantech's CDMA products in all of North and Latin America (Brazil curiously excluded) for the next three years, pretty much guaranteeing that the Nokia arrangement will end after the two phones they've already agreed upon. With Pantech's stock seemingly on the rise right now, the deal could be a hot one for UTStarcom -- though with the HTC Libra in the pipeline, we can only hope other ODM deals are unaffected.
HTC Libra / UTStarcom 5800 also revealed
Among the other unannounced-announced HTC devices at CTIA this fall: the HTC Libra (aka UTStarcom 5800). Details are yet scarce (so what else is new), but the super thin device will have a compacted keyboard (even by HTC's standards) with an offset space bar as well as an external numeric keypad. But wait, it gets better. EV-DO Rev. A radio. Q1 2007 launch. GSM version inbound for 07. Yeah, we know, we're pretty stoked too.
UTStarcom reveals HTC 6800; Wizard followup will be Herald
Let's face it, the Apache (aka PPC-6700 / XV6700) and Wizard (aka MDA / 8125) are getting a little long in the tooth. We all know HTC's working on a followup for these devices, but it was seriously on the DL that we discovered the UTStarcom 6800, pictured above (and after the break). Ok, so it wasn't totally hidden or whatever, they actually had this thing right on a big banner on the booth, but UTStarcom refused to comment on the device, its launch, or any other details. They were just satisfied putting it up for thousands of industry people to see, and nothing else. For reference, it seems to look like an Artemis up in the face, but slides open like you know what, but now also features caps and function lock LEDs. Oh, we also learned -- not from UTStarcom, mind you -- that HTC's got a Wizard followup in the wings called the Herald (a name we've heard before), which gave us the warm n' fuzzies. Oh, and click on for another shot of the 6800.
Roc A Fella shows three new Verizon Wireless WinMo devices
Roc A Fella's back, people! The word we got from a very recent Verizon Wireless timeline he sent in is that the V's releasing three new EV-DO Windows Mobile devices by year's end. The Pantech 820 (after the break) appears to have had its launch date pushed back to September 29th, but as far as we know the Smartphone will still feature a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash, miniSD slot, and Bluetooth when it hits stores. The other two devices are manufactured by UT Starcom, and are codenamed Libra and Titan, which should both run Pocket PC and have pushemail support with AKU2; the Libra is looking at a November 15th launch date, just a month before the December 15th launch of the Titan (which we don't, in fact, believe has any relation to the TyTn). Other details on the devices are kinda sketchy right now, but we're sure that they'll surface sooner than you think.
UTStarcom joins the slim candybar game
If you're into the form factor, you don't need Bluetooth, and you're looking to save some coin, you might turn your attention to the FCC's deets on UTStarcom's GPRS1226 (or UT1200, depending on what documentation you're reading). Like the SLVR it loosely mimics, the microSD-equipped GPRS1226 emphasizes its music playback capabilities, even offering a dedicated music player button on its side. GSM 850 and 1900 support mean this thing is likely targeted at the North American market; we're not sure which carrier would offer it, but given its meager spec sheet, we're guessing you could walk away with it nearly free on contract.[Via phoneArena]
UTStarcom goes dual-mode with GSM / CDMA T66
The dual-mode concept is a big deal in Asia where carriers like China Unicom have both GSM and CDMA networks floating around, and it looks like UTStarcom wants to cash in with its T66 clamshell. The press release claims the T66 sports not one, but two 2.6-inch displays (we're having a hard time picturing that), music player, 1.3 megapixel camera, and "MP3 broadcasting" and is destined for China Unicom's World Wind dual-mode service. The T66's major selling point is apparently its ability to stand by on both networks simultaneously, a feature missing from first-generation World Wind devices. No word on availability outside China, which doesn't necessarily break our hearts -- but we have to admit, we're a little curious about the "MP3 broadcasting" feature. An FM transmitter, perhaps?[Via Mobilewhack]
UTStarcom releases XV6700 MSFP update
As the Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU2 / MSFP updates get slowly pushed through the woodworks, we must not forget those users especially inclined toward mobile email -- those with Apaches and Wizards, say we. And now that Cingular and Sprint have updates for their respective HTC devices, isn't it about time Verizon did the same? Well, they didn't, but the good news is UTStarcom went over their heads (something you don't often hear about with the V) and released the Message Security and Feature Pack for the XV6700 on their own site. Somehow we doubt this will unlock the phone's crippled WiFi, but stranger still about this scenario is that, UTStarcom's webmaster is apparently very into comics: their metadata holds superman as the site description, batman as the keyword, and batman begins as the subject. Well aight then, we get it, UT Starcom marches to the beat of a different drummer indeed.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sprint launches four new handsets, one oldie
Sprint's launched four new low end handsets today; they'll run you less than a Benjamin with contract, so don't expect much. Clockwise from left: the free Sprint CDM-120 (aka UTStarcom CDM-7025) has a 1.5-inch 65k color display, speakerphone, and MP3 ringtones; the Samsung SPH-A580 has a 128 x 160 65k color internal display, grayscale external display, voice dialing, 1xRTT data, and should run you thirty after contract; the Sanyo SCP-3100 features a 1.8-inch 65k color internal display, VGA camera, and carries a $50-spot price tag; the highest end of the bunch is the multi-colored LG LX350, with Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel camera, 65k color external OLED display and 262k color internal screen, which should run you $80. Not pictured, like George Martin, is the UTStarcom PM-8920, an oldie from 2004 brought back from the dead with 1.3 megapixel camera, and 262k color displays in tow -- now twenty bucks with a contract. Hey, you know what low end phones are great for? Mother's day. Just saying!
