News

Verizon recently launched its new Blitz phone. The handset comes in an electric blue color scheme with a QWERTY keyboard and features a 2.2" display, set in landscape orientation, with 220x176 pixel resolution, a 1.3 megapixel camera, a microSD card slot for extra storage and bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP.

The Blitz does not support 3G nor over the air music downloads.

The Verizon Blitz is currently available online and costs $69.99 when purchased online with a 2-year commitment.

Today Nokia unveiled its latest candybar smartphone, the N79. The handset features a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics and an LED flash, with a 4GB microSD card included in the box for storing plenty of photos, an FM receiver and transmitter, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and a built-in GPS receiver.

It also comes with the innovative smart Xpress-On covers, which are user-changeable colored housings. When you install a new Xpress-On cover, the theme of the phone's user interface also changes to match the cover. The phone's d-pad is also a touch-sensitive NaviWheel, allowing you to quickly scroll through long lists using your thumb.

The Nokia N79 supports quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and dual-band UMTS (900/2100MHz) partnered with WiFi for lightning-fast local data transfers.

Nokia has announced its latest dual-sliding smartphone, the N85. The phone comes with a large 2.8" AMOLED QVGA display, which should result in brighter, more vibrant colors and lower power consumption, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash, a built-in GPS receiver, which can be used to navigate or automatically geotag your photos, an 8GB microSD and a 3.5mm audio port with TV-Out functionality which allows you to easily enjoy your music or video content.

The Nokia N85 is a true world phone, with quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and tri-band 3G UMTS (850/1900/2100MHz or 900/1900/2100MHz) support.

The Nokia N85 is set to be available in Q3 2008, though pricing details are not yet available.

Today the new S740 was u nveiled by HTC. The phone features a 2.4" QVGA display, a 3.2 megapixel camera, 256MB of internal storage and a whopping 256MB of application RAM, a microSD memory card slot which provides extra storage room for media files and apps, WiFi and Bluetooth, an FM radio and GPS navigation module.

The handset comes equipped with 7.2Mbps HSDPA 3G support for the 900 and 2100MHz frequency bands, as well as quad-band GSM/EDGE support.

The 1000mAh battery should provide for up to 6.3/5.3 hours of GSM/UMTS talk time or 11.6/16.6 days of GSM/UMTS standby time. The HTC S740 is scheduled to become available across Europe in September of this year. No word yet on pricing or specific carrier availability.

Motorola has announced its new Push to Talk (PTT) technology for EV-DO Rev. A networks. Like the original technology seen on Nextel, Motorola claims its new system will provide instant, direct connections between users. Motorola spearheaded the consumer PTT movement with its popular iDEN network technology, and hopes to improve on that with this recent announcement.

Motorola's new PTT system allows for faster connection speeds, lower latency, and improved quality of service. The new system also supports PC-based connections, which could allow for companies to more effectively manage their field representatives.

Nokia's 2680 slider was recently seen on the FCC, with AT&T's logo on the front of the phone. The 2680 is an entry-level cell phone that sports a plain-jane VGA resolution camera, Bluetooth, and a built-in FM radio.

The Nokia 2680 is set to be available in Q3 2008, with pricing set at EUR75 (US$117). Nokia says the 2680 will be available in your choice of Slate Grey, Night Blue, Orange, or Violet, though there's no indication which color AT&T will pick up.

Today Virgin Mobile USA announced that it has completed its acquisition of fellow MVNO Helio, which was until now owned by its original SK Telecom and Earthlink parents. In return for Helio, Virgin has payed an equivalent 13 million shares worth of its common stock, worth roughly US$38 million, to SK and Earthlink. Virgin Mobile USA stock is currently trading at US$2.72.

On top of the payments made, SK Telecom and Virgin Group, a UK based venture capital company, will each invest an additional $25 million into Virgin Mobile USA in exchange for preferred stock. SK telecom will also receive two seats on Virgin Mobile USA's board of directors.

The Helio deal marks Virgin Mobile's move into the post-paid market. Previously it had only offered pre-paid mobile services through an agreement with Sprint

Verizon Wireless, the USA's second largest carrier, and Google, the world's largest internet search engine, will soon close a deal whici concern Google's internet search service for mobile devices integrated into Verizon's cell phones.

If the deal completes as expected, Google would become the default search service for Verizon handsets, replacing Verizon's own search system. It is being reported that when, and if, this deal goes through, it would be Verizon's intent to put access to Google's search on the standby screen of its phones.

Sony Ericsson has announced the relaunch of its PlayNow Arena, which offers users quick access to mobile games, applications, and, more importantly, music.

It offers a catalog of 1 million music tracks from the major record labels, including Sony BMG, Warner Music, and EMI.

The Sony Ericsson PlayNow Arena's music will be sold DRM-free, meaning that they can be transferred and played back on any MP3 player, without restrictions. Pricing is roughly in line with other mobile music offerings. Tracks sold in Sweden, for example, will cost SEK9 (US$1.40). Sony Ericsson plans to expand PlayNow Arena to 5 million tracks and global availability by 2009.

A fuzzy image of a Verizon slide discussing the company's mobile email service shows that the carrier plans to launch several new handsets over the next few months, all of which will support its Mobile Email application. The unannounced Motorola VU30 Rapture appears to be the next to launch, on September 9th, followed by the Samsung U440, LG VX8360, Motorola V6c, and Nokia 7205 later in the year.

Verizon's Mobile Email application allows users to access their web-based email directly from their cell phone, with free alerts for incoming mail.