News

Sprint's Palm Centro will offer users a few new features and enhanced overall stability such as an updated setup wizard and better support for Gmail's IMAP mail service, performance updates for Bluetooth connectivity, Sprint TV, and AOL Instant Messenger. The camera shutter sound is also now set to 'on', by default.

AT&T begins selling iPhone 3G today in its retail stores at 8 a.m. local time across the United States, along with a variety of attractive monthly plans that combine voice and unlimited data use. iPhone 3G uses the nation's fastest 3G wireless network, which reaches 300 major metropolitan areas.

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

Current customers who are not eligible for an upgrade discount can purchase iPhone 3G for $399 for the 8GB model or $499 for the 16GB model. Both options require a new two-year service agreement. Current customers may also choose to wait until they become eligible for an upgrade discount. Eligibility is generally determined by amount of time remaining on a current contract and payment history.

Nokia has released a new chat application, dubbed Nokia Chat, to its Beta Labs site. This application resides as a tab in the S60 phone book application and allows users to chat with each other using their Nokia Account.

Nokia Chat also integrates nicely with Nokia Maps, allowing users to not only broadcast their current location, but to send that location during a chat, so that the recipient can easily locate you. This is handy for friends meeting in a foreign city, especially.

Verizon and LG's sweet tooths have combined to offer the LG Chocolate 3, a new clamshell music device that's ready to rock.

The handset comes in Black and Light Blue color schemes, equiped with an external front navigation wheel and dual stereo speakers.

The Chocolate 3 features a built-in FM transmitter, so you can easily broadcast your tunes to any FM radio, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, for full wireless stereo music enjoyment, and a microSD card slot.

The LG Chocolate 3 supports Verizon's high-speed EV-DO network for a robust internet experience, and also supported the carrier's VZ Navigator GPS navigation service.

The LG Chocolate will be available from Verizon on July 13th, priced at $129.99 with a 2-year commitment and a mail-in rebate.

FCC approved recently the CDMA version of the HTC Touch Dual. The device supports CDMA networks such as those from Sprint and Verizon.

The GSM version of the HTC Touch Dual features a slide-down numeric keypad, in addition to the large touchscreen display.

Virgin Mobile's phone lineup reads like a gang roster, with phone names like MARBL, Wild Card, and Red Cyclops. Adding to the membership recently is the TNT!, an entry-level clamshell. The oddly named TNT! offers a speakerphone and a WAP web browser as its main features, but is available for use on Virgin Mobile USA's recently announced unlimited calling plans.

A couple of new Nokia cell phones appear to be destined for China.

The first up is the 8208c, a dual-slider feature phone that has a look similar to that of the Nokia N96. This 3G handset works on CDMA based EV-DO Rev A networks, like those run by Verizon and Sprint in the USA.

The 8208 comes equipped for multimedia as well as navigation. The spec sheet claims that the 8208 should be able to provide users with up to 20 hours of music playback on a full charge, and the secondary slider function will provide users with access to dedicated music playback keys - just like on the N95. A 3.5mm audio jack will let users enjoy the music with their regular headphones, too. A 3 megapixel camera is also on-board, and a built-in GPS module will be on the device as well.

Other features of the 8208 include a 2.2" QVGA resolution display and a microSD memory card slot that can support cards as large as 8GB in capacity. There is an FM radio built-in, and the 8208 also sports a micro-USB connector. The phone is rated for up to 11 days of standby time or up to 4 hours of talk time.

No word on when the 8208 will be officially announced, or when it will actually be available.

The new Nokia 3608c clamshell was spotted on the Chinese CDMA market.

Key features of the 3608 include a 1.3 megapixel camera, dual color displays, and GPS support. It also comes equipped with external touch sensitive music keys, an FM radio, and support for microSD memory cards as large as 4GB in size. Bluetooth stereo support is also included, as is a speaker independent voice dialing application.

Nokia lists the 3608 as having a "Series 40 Nokia like UI", so it seems clear that this isn't really a S40 device in the traditional sense. It is also unclear whether the 3608 is made for Nokia by another company, such as has been done with Pantech in the past. In any event, the spec sheet claims that this fashionable clamshell cell phone will be capable of up to 3.5 hours of talk time or 11 days of standby time on a full battery charge.

No word on when the device will be announced officially or when it might be available for purchase.

A study by leading independent UK mobile pricing analyst Pure Pricing yesterday revealed that 3 of the UK's new Business tariffs top all of their business Monthly Indicators. The 3 Business packages take number one position in all six user scenarios, which are designed to independently analyse operator offerings to businesses.

Additionally, the research shows that for the first time ever the new Business Mix and Match tariffs allow people making 400 monthly minutes of calls to pay less for 18 months of use than for 12. The lowest cost for a user making 400 minutes of calls per month on a 12 month contract is GBP306 on 3 Business 600; however, on an 18 month 3 Business Mix & Match 300 contract the total cost is GBP230, a 25% cost saving.

3's new Business Mix and Match tariffs also mean that an individual using 400 minutes per month over a 24 month life can save GBP205, or 40%, on the nearest competitor.

The Pure Pricing Monthly Indicator research is calculated for six different business user scenarios which vary the number of users on the account, total usage and the customer life. The research takes into account a single person using 400 minutes per month and five people using 2000 minutes.

Jo Lynch, director of Pure Pricing said, "Our Monthly Indicators try to provide as independent as possible overview of the market, allowing for a simple breakdown of what each operator is offering UK consumers. Recently we have seen an increase in pricing activity from the UK operators within the business segment, which is generally leading to both increased value and price reductions for small businesses. 3's new business tariffs are a good example of this."

Motorola's Vegas VE20 clamshell has slipped through the FCC, on a straight path to Sprint. The handset comes in a silver color scheme and it reminds of the RAZR and KRZR.

The Vegas VE20 features a 2 megapixel camera with no flash with a microSD card slot for memory expansion and below the screen, there seems to be touch sensitive keys, meaning the typical rewind, play/pause and fast forward.