Breaking news: Microsoft buys Sidekick-creator Danger, Starbucks drops T-Mobile for AT&T
Having trouble with that hostile takeover bid for Yahoo!? Don't worry, go buy a handset innovator in the meantime! Microsoft announced that they have acquired Danger, Inc., provider of software and services powering many a mobile device including T-Mobile's popular Sidekick family of handsets. One can only imagine that a Windows Mobile Sidekick will soon be in the offing, and maybe WinMob will be getting the "cool teen" treatment as well.
Meantime, Starbucks dropped something of a mini-bombshell in announcing that they're ditching T-Mobile Hot Spots in favor of AT&T Wi-Fi service at some 7,000+ retail outlets across the U.S. The new deal will offer free Wi-Fi access at Starbucks for "qualifying AT&T customers and any Starbucks Card holder" as well as two pay-per-play plans: $3.99 for two hours of access and $19.99/mo for a membership that includes access to all 70,000 or so of AT&T's hot spots across the globe.
Read: Microsoft Press Release
Read: Starbucks Press Release
ROKR you like a Hurricane. Moto's new ROKR E8 features a morphing keypad, touch sensitive nav wheel, and 2MP camera. It's a T-Mobile exclusive. Three hot touchscreen phones - which one's right for you? This is the loooong version of a head to head to head between Instinct, Vu, and iPhone. If you're not up for 15 in-depth minutes, check out the short version for the summary. Three hot touchscreen phones - which one's right for you? This is the short version of a head to head to head between Instinct, Vu, and iPhone. If you're up for 15 in-depth minutes, check out the looong version.
The 5300 was a neat little music phone, but chunky. The new 5310 is sleeker, slimmer, and sexier than the original. 2MP Camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, Stereo Bluetooth, myFaves, and a 1GB microSD card. And it's cheap, too! I headed to NYC to check out T-Mobile's new 3G data network. Doug and I pit the Samsung t819 against AT&T's LG Vu in a Mobile Web speed test. Doug and I run a speed test in Brooklyn: iPhone on EDGE vs Vu on 3G vs t819 on T-Mobile's new 3G network. Take this one with a grain of salt, but iPhone Atlas (who I hadn't heard of before now) has "received corroborated word that an AT&T employee memo lists MMS ... as a feature of the iPhone 3G." To iPhone Atlas' credit, they say to take their report with a grain of salt as well, so start shakin' ...
MMS isn't a new technology by any means, but the first-gen iPhone doesn't have it. Conventional wisdom says that Apple would just as soon have you use their Mobile Me online... Thanks to a PhoneDog visitor we were informed of service issues AT&T is experiencing in Central Virginia and Charlottesville. Problems being experienced included dropped calls, and outgoing messages not completing. AT&T has not announced when they expect to have the issues resolved. Visit cvillain.com for more information and to read additional customer comments. Today, AT&T announced the pricing plans for this month’s arrival of the highly anticipated iPhone 3G.
iPhone 3G will be available for $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model. These prices require two-year contracts and are available to the following customers:
iPhone customers who purchased before July 11
Customers activating a new line with AT&T
Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for an upgrade discount
Existing AT&T... The BONDI initiative is a new platform for secure mobile application development backed by industry giants including 3 Group, AT&T, T-Mobile, Telenor, Telefonica, Telecom Italia and Vodafone. The goal is to create a secure web service interface to be used by web developers across multiple device platforms.
Set up to help web developers create more function-rich, user friendly and relevant applications, the initiative is designed to drive the use of data services on mobile. TmoNews has a little more dirt on the upcoming Shadow II, and whlie its nothing groundbreaking it's at least promising. The next-gen Shadow looks much like the current version, with a few more rounded corners and some other cosmetic updates. The big deal here is that it looks like Shadow II will support TMo's Hotspot@Home UMA calling service, making it the carrier's first H@H-compatible WindowsMobile device.While it'd be nice to see a high-end T-Mobile device with 3G support, I... If you can't get 3G at least you can get some cool music phones. First T-Mobile launched the low-end but entirely capable Nokia XpressMusic 5310, and now they've unleashed the Motorola ROKR E8. I was pretty impressed by the E8 when I played with it at CES in January. The "ModeShift" morphing keypad is a pretty clever way of offering context-sensitive controls and menus on a non-touchscreen phone, and the music player looked pretty nice. Think of the E8 as a higher-end... |
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Latest cell phone videos- Video: Motorola ROKR E8ROKR you like a Hurricane. Moto's new ROKR E8 features a morphing keypad, touch sensitive nav
- LG Dare ReviewLG's Dare for Verizon might well be the best camera phone currently available through a US carrier.
- LG Dare Part 2Noah can't wait to tell everyone about the new LG Dare from Verizon Wireless, so here is another
- Glance @ LG DareNoah sent over his first live shots of the LG Dare while high up in the mountains of Glacier
- Secret lifeMany thanks to Andrew over at INFORM for calling our attention to his company's video, "The Secret
- Instinct Video Review Pt 8One last Instinct video covering GPS, Visual Voicemail, and the Calendar. Overall it's a really
- Touchscreen Showdown Video Three hot touchscreen phones - which one's right for you? This is the loooong version of a head to
- Video: Three TouchscreensThree hot touchscreen phones - which one's right for you? This is the short version of a head to
- iphone airDiscovered at MacWorld 2008, is this the new iPhone air? It's paper-thin and light as a feather.
- Video: Nokia 5310 XpressMusic The 5300 was a neat little music phone, but chunky. The new 5310 is sleeker, slimmer, and sexier
Latest cell phone reviews- Samsung Instinct-M800What’s Good: Supports every feature Sprint offers; EV-DO Rev. A data speeds; Good touchscreen
- LG enV2What’s Good: Sleeker and smaller than the original EnV. Comfortable QWERTY keyboard and QVGA
- Motorola Z9What’s Good: Great voice quality; fast 3G data speeds; good GPS system; mobiTV compatibility;
- Samsung GlydeWhat’s Good: Touchscreen and Full QWERTY Keyboard in Compact Body; Clean Menus and “Croix” User
- Nokia N82What’s Good: Incredible Camera w/Xenon Flash; Full VGA Video Capture; Excellent Web Browser; WiFi;
- BlackBerry RIM Pearl-8120 TitaniumWhat’s Good: Integrated WiFi for Web, Email, and HotSpot@Home UMA Calling; Trackball is easy to
- LG VenusWhat’s Good: Beautiful display; Context-sensitive menus; Extensive feature set; VZ Navigation works
- Nokia N810 SilverWhat’s Good: Stylish, compact design with large touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard; Excellent
- LG Rumor WhiteWhat’s Good: Compact, rugged design with full QWERTY keyboard; Easy to use; Auto-rotating display;
- Samsung MystoWhat’s Good: All kinds of multimedia, Web, and location-based features; Super slim profile; Speedy
New & coming soon phonesHot off the presses... here's what's available now and expected to come to market soon! - LG AX300Carrier: Alltel
Contract Price: $20 with instant rebate
Hot Feature: Small compact design - LG Decoy VX8610Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Contract Price: $99.99
Hot Feature: Integrated Bluetooth headset - LG DareCarrier: Verizon Wireless
Contract Price: $199.99 - after online discount
Hot Feature: I-phone competitor - Nokia 6301Carrier: T-Mobile
Contract Price: $129.99 before rebate
Hot Feature: Sleek slider - Samsung t339Carrier: T-Mobile
Contract Price: $49.99
Hot Feature: T-Mobile's HotSpot@Home service
More latest releasesHot phones - check 'em out!Check out these cool phones. Get full specs, images, pricing, read user and expert reviews, watch videos and much more... Most Popular Mobile ContentCheck out these popular artist, ringtones & videos, or visit our mobile content section to get the latest chart toppers and other mobile content for your cell phone!
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