Engadget Mobile http://mobile.engadget.com Engadget Mobile http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget Mobile http://mobile.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[AT&T loses request for injunction against Verizon's Map for That ads]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/18/atandt-loses-request-for-injunction-against-verizons-map-for-that/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/18/atandt-loses-request-for-injunction-against-verizons-map-for-that/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/18/atandt-loses-request-for-injunction-against-verizons-map-for-that/#comments Looks like AT&T's not getting its holiday wish after all -- a federal judge just ruled against Ma Bell's request to have Verizon's Map For That ads pulled off the air. That doesn't mean that this whole thing is over, though: the judge called the ads "sneaky" and said that it was possible people might misunderstand them because "most people who are watching TV are semi-catatonic." Whether or not that's enough to support a legal conclusion that the ads are misleading is a fight for another day -- specifically December 16th, when AT&T will have a second chance to argue its case. Still, this is a big win for Verizon -- everyone ready to be inundated with these ads for the next month?

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AT&T loses request for injunction against Verizon's Map for That ads originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsatandtattbreaking newsBreakingNewscommerciallawsuitlegalmap for thatMapForThatverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessWed, 18 Nov 2009 18:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson closing four facilities, laying off 2,000 employees worldwide]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/18/sony-ericsson-closing-four-facilities-laying-off-2-000-employee/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/18/sony-ericsson-closing-four-facilities-laying-off-2-000-employee/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/18/sony-ericsson-closing-four-facilities-laying-off-2-000-employee/#comments Sony Ericsson has yet to make this public, but we've learned that the flagging handset maker has caved once more to the pressures of the modern phone market place. If you'll recall, 450 employees were nixed from the company's payrolls in September of last year, and now the entire Research Triangle Park facility is being shuttered. In an internal announcement made this morning, SE is fixing to close four total sites: RTP in North Carolina, a smaller Miami facility and operations in Kista (Sweden) and Chennai. All told, 2,000 employees will be trimmed, with severance packages being offered to those who qualify. As of now, the departing individuals have yet to be chosen, with employees in RTP given the opportunity to apply for jobs elsewhere (likely in Atlanta or California). We're told that the cuts will happen "in stages," with project teams being assembled as we speak to work out the logistics. Frankly, we aren't as shocked as we are saddened to hear the news -- SE has refused to keep pace with the other handset makers, and its decision to wait until next year to ship an Android device is indicative of the choices that have kept it in the shadows these past few years. Here's hoping this restructuring effort actually gets things headed in the right direction.

Update: And it's official. SE will also be shutting down small offices in Seattle and San Diego, with its North American headquarters shifting from RTP to Atlanta and its research and development operation transitioning from RTP to Redwood Shores, California.

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Sony Ericsson closing four facilities, laying off 2,000 employees worldwide originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscellphoneEricssonfiredfiringlay offlay offsLayOfflayoffsncnorth carolinaNorthCarolinartpsesmartphonesoftwareSonySony EricssonSonyEricssonWed, 18 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon responds to AT&T's Map For That lawsuit: 'the truth hurts']]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/16/verizon-responds-to-atandts-map-for-that-lawsuit-the-truth-hurt/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/16/verizon-responds-to-atandts-map-for-that-lawsuit-the-truth-hurt/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/16/verizon-responds-to-atandts-map-for-that-lawsuit-the-truth-hurt/#comments Sure, Verizon's doubled down on the 3G map ads in response to AT&T's false advertising lawsuit, but eventually the company's lawyers had to file a response and, well, ain't nobody backing down in this one. Here's the freaking introduction:
AT&T did not file this lawsuit because Verizon's "There's A Map For That" advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon's ads are true and the truth hurts.
Yeah. It's gonna be like that. Verizon goes on to argue that even AT&T concedes the maps are accurate, and that pulling any of the ads off the air without proof that they're misleading consumers would be unfair, and that at the very least both parties need time to investigate further. Honestly? We've read it over a couple times now and while the legal arguments are certainly interesting, it's hard not to get the impression that Verizon drafted this response with publication in mind -- check out this quote:
In the final analysis, AT&T seeks emergency relief because Verizon's side-by-side, apples-to-apples comparison of its own 3G coverage with AT&T's confirms what the marketplace has been saying for months: AT&T failed to invest adequately in the necessary infrastructure to expand its 3G coverage to support its growth in smartphone business, and the usefulness of its service to smartphone users has suffered accordingly.
See what we mean? Now, we still think there's some merit to the idea that Verizon's ads improperly conflate 3G coverage area with 3G service quality, but that's really not what AT&T's arguing -- hell, it's busy pimping EDGE. We'll see if these two can solve their differences and get back to work, but we've got the feeling this thing ain't over yet.

Update: Here's the PDF, in case you're interested.

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Verizon responds to AT&T's Map For That lawsuit: 'the truth hurts' originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atandtattbreaking newsBreakingNewslawsuitlegalmap for thatMapForThattheres a map for thatTheresAMapForThatverizonverizon wirelessverizonwirelessMon, 16 Nov 2009 21:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia E72 in stores now, somewhere]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/16/nokia-e72-in-stores-now-somewhere/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/16/nokia-e72-in-stores-now-somewhere/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/16/nokia-e72-in-stores-now-somewhere/#comments Amazon's US pre-order site hasn't heard the news yet nor has Nokia USA's on-line store. Nevertheless, Nokia assures us that the E72 is "in stores now" and should cost €350 (as announced) before taxes and carrier subsidies are applied. Remember, this S60-powered followup to the much loved E71 sports a new 5 megapixel autofocus camera, 3.5-mm headphone jack, microSD slot (4GB included in the box), A-GPS and integrated compass, 10.2Mbps HSDPA, and new optical navigation pad right where a thumb would like it. The E72 also packs the latest version of Ovi Maps and Nokia Messaging with homescreen access to your IM accounts. Now scram buster and let us know if your pre-orders have been filled -- this baby's not going to unbox itself.

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Nokia E72 in stores now, somewhere originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewse72edgehsdpahsupahsupa1NOKnokiaon saleOnSaleS605thEditionsymbianumtsMon, 16 Nov 2009 07:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung unveils Android-equipped Galaxy Spica i5700]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/15/samsung-unveils-android-equipped-galaxy-spica-i5700/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/15/samsung-unveils-android-equipped-galaxy-spica-i5700/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/15/samsung-unveils-android-equipped-galaxy-spica-i5700/#comments The long-rumored little brother to the Galaxy, the i5700, has finally been made official by Samsung -- and sure enough, it'll go by the trade name "Galaxy Spica." Sammy's latest Android-powered set clocks in at 13.2mm thick and comes equipped with a 3.5mm jack (which, frankly, every smartphone in the world should be including at this point), an 800MHz core (presumably the same as the Moment's), and an Android first: built-in DivX support. This one appears to be a no-frills Google Experience device considering the number of times that "Google" is mentioned in Samsung's press release, but for some Android connoisseurs, the purest, unskinned look and feel is preferred. Sammy says it's already out in Europe and the CIS and will be coming to the Middle East and Asia shortly.

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Samsung unveils Android-equipped Galaxy Spica i5700 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsedgegalaxy spicaGalaxySpicagsmhsdpai5700samsungumtsSun, 15 Nov 2009 22:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Pre WebOS 1.3.1 update available now]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/14/palm-pre-webos-1-3-1-update-available-now-a-day-early/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/14/palm-pre-webos-1-3-1-update-available-now-a-day-early/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/14/palm-pre-webos-1-3-1-update-available-now-a-day-early/#comments webOS 1.3.1 was always destined to come alongside the launch of the Pixi, but it's surprised us by showing its face a day early. No app catalog bombshells here, but there are a slew of more minor fixes and updates that should make users experience a great deal smoother. Is this the update that finally unlocks access to the GPU and provides the speed boost Pre owners are waiting for / advances the iTunes chess match another step? We'll let you know once our unit reboots, for now here are a few highlights from Palm's list of changes:

Update: Downloaded, applied and rebooted. iTunes still isn't spotting our Pre as a device to sync with, and at least for the moment there's no great speed increases to speak of, but we have noticed a few more key tweaks that owners are sure to like -- setting a specific ringtone for text messages is exactly what we've been looking for.
  • Yahoo! now appears as a Calendar/Contacts/instant messaging synchronization account.
  • You can forward a text or multimedia message by tapping the message > Forward.
  • A new option is available for restarting the phone: press and hold power > Power > Restart. The prior restart method (Device Info > Reset Options > Restart) is still available.
  • Widescreen videos (including YouTube) now display in widescreen mode on the phone by default, instead of being cropped.
  • If you tap to play a YouTube video embedded on a web page, the YouTube application launches and the video plays in the app.
  • You can select a unique ringtone for new message alerts: Open Messaging > application menu > Preferences & Accounts > Sound > Ringtone.
  • While listening to a song with album art displayed, you can tap the screen below the art to display a playback slider. Dragging the slider jumps forward or backward in the song.

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Palm Pre WebOS 1.3.1 update available now originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3.1bellbreaking newsBreakingNewscdmacellphonefirmwarepalmphonepixipresprintupdateweb os weboswebos 1.3.1Webos1.3.1yahooSat, 14 Nov 2009 00:49:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile launching BlackBerry Bold 9700 on November 16 for $199.99]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/13/t-mobile-launching-blackberry-bold-9700-on-november-16-for-199/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/13/t-mobile-launching-blackberry-bold-9700-on-november-16-for-199/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/13/t-mobile-launching-blackberry-bold-9700-on-november-16-for-199/#comments Anyone looking for the hottest T-Mobile-powered BlackBerry experience that money can buy need only wait a few dozen hours now, because the carrier has just revealed that it'll be launching the latest rendition of the Bold -- the 9700 -- on Monday, November 16 for $200 on contract. Your hard-earned cash reels in T-Mobile's very first 3G BlackBerry underpinned by a 3.2 megapixel camera and 480 x 360 display, beating AT&T's launch by a solid six days. Enjoy, folks.

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T-Mobile launching BlackBerry Bold 9700 on November 16 for $199.99 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9700blackberryblackberry osblackberryosboldbreaking newsBreakingNewsedgegsmhsdparesearch in motionresearchinmotionrimt mobilet-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsatmobileumtsFri, 13 Nov 2009 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell Mini 3i officially set for imminent launch in Brazil and China]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/13/dell-mini-3i-officially-set-for-imminent-launch-in-brazil-and-ch/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/13/dell-mini-3i-officially-set-for-imminent-launch-in-brazil-and-ch/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/13/dell-mini-3i-officially-set-for-imminent-launch-in-brazil-and-ch/#comments It would appear those leaked and unintentional early peeks at Dell's first foray into smartphones did not happen in Brazil and China by accident. Hans Erickson of Dell Latin America has announced the decision to "give priority" to those two countries, who will be first to experience the Mini 3i's Android glory, with China receiving devices "in the coming days" and Brazil getting 'em later this year. Interestingly, China Mobile will be making do without 3G, while Brazil's Claro will be offering a 3G-enabled handset. Dell remains mum on pricing and the rest of the spec, though all the information so far indicates that Brazilians will be able to buy the same WiFi-packing FCC-certified 3iX handset that's heading to the US. Either way, we've got another heavyweight's presence in the smartphone market, and we'll be even happier once we know what Dell's value-add will be.

Update: Official Dell press release is out making it clear that this is just the "initial" smartphone from Dell.

[Via Yahoo! Brazil, thanks Marcos R.]

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Dell Mini 3i officially set for imminent launch in Brazil and China originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidavailabilitybrazilbreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewschinachina mobileChinaMobileclarodelldell minidell mini 3idell mini 3ixDellMiniDellMini3iDellMini3ixmini 3imini 3ixMini3iMini3ixothersreleasesmartphonetouchscreenFri, 13 Nov 2009 06:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Behold II hits T-Mobile on November 18th, unboxed today (now with video!)]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/12/samsung-behold-ii-hits-t-mobile-on-november-18th/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/12/samsung-behold-ii-hits-t-mobile-on-november-18th/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/12/samsung-behold-ii-hits-t-mobile-on-november-18th/#comments Dubbing itself the "multimedia powerhouse" for T-Mobile's expansive Android lineup, the Samsung Behold II has just been confirmed for that rumored November 18th launch on T-Mobile (still no word on price, though we're hearing a predictable $200). The slate-style touchscreen handset has a 3.2-inch AMOLED display, and puts it to good use with a hearty skinning job on the part of Samsung, porting in most (but not all) of its TouchWiz UI -- unfortunately for us, that silly cube menu made the cut. Underneath is Android 1.5, and what seems to be a pretty standard processor.

Hardware-wise there's really nothing to complain about on this phone. It's heavy, relatively thin (not iPhone-thin, but just fine), with solid materials and wonderfully tactile face buttons. The screen is everything you'd expect out of an AMOLED display, though high-resolution phones like the Droid dampen that enthusiasm somewhat. One wonderful Samsung addition to the traditional Android experience is a "real" camera button on the side, which can even register half-presses for focus. For someone who doesn't want a physical keyboard, but doesn't want their handset to feel like a toy (sorry, myTouch) there's plenty to love. However, we're more concerned about the software side of things. We're not morally opposed to Samsung adding in TouchWiz, but we are afraid of anything that has the potential to slow down the OS, and on first glance we'd say it's notably less responsive than stock Android. We'll of course be going further in-depth to see just how usable this iteration is, but let us just put this out on the table: a virtual 3D cube to launch media apps is no way "intuitive," "helpful" or "cool." OK, maybe it's kind of cool, but seriously Samsung, stop it. Check out our unboxing below.

Update: We added some video after the break. Behold the cube!

Continue reading Samsung Behold II hits T-Mobile on November 18th, unboxed today (now with video!)

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Samsung Behold II hits T-Mobile on November 18th, unboxed today (now with video!) originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeholdbehold iiBeholdIibreaking newsBreakingNewsfeatureshands-onsamsungt-mobiletouchwizunboxingThu, 12 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Saygus VPhone to bring video calls and a bit of chub to Android and Verizon]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/10/saygus-vphone-to-bring-video-calls-and-a-bit-of-chub-to-android/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/10/saygus-vphone-to-bring-video-calls-and-a-bit-of-chub-to-android/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/10/saygus-vphone-to-bring-video-calls-and-a-bit-of-chub-to-android/#comments If you know that your personal happiness lies somewhere in the Verizon / Android abyss but neither the Droid nor the Droid Eris are hitting the spot, you might consider trying something completely out of left field. How "left field" are we talking here? Well, for starters, odds are good that you've never heard of a company called Saygus, and its shiny new QWERTY slider, the VPhone, won't be offered directly from Verizon -- it's a product of the carrier's Open Development initiative. Sure enough, that handset we spied a few days back is real, and the specs are all panning out: 624MHz PXA310 XScale core, 512MB of Flash on board coupled with 256MB of RAM, 3.5-inch capacitive WVGA touchscreen, WiFi, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, front-facing VGA camera and -- of course -- EV-DO Rev. A support. The current incarnation is running Android 1.6, but it should be running 2.0 by the time of its launch next year, along with getting some Google-certification to let it run the Google apps. Saygus' real thrust here is apparently two-way video calling (good thing they picked Verizon, huh?), though they aren't showing it off just yet. The hardware itself is rather chubby, but it leaves room for an oversized QWERTY keyboard that could very well solve your Droid woes. No word on price or a firm release date.

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Saygus VPhone to bring video calls and a bit of chub to Android and Verizon originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsev doevdoopen developmentOpenDevelopmentsaygusv1verizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvphonevphone v1VphoneV1vzwTue, 10 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia N900 is now shipping!]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/10/nokia-n900-is-finally-shipping/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/10/nokia-n900-is-finally-shipping/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/10/nokia-n900-is-finally-shipping/#comments Nokia's Maemo-based future has begun: the N900 is shipping. According to Nokia CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, the eagerly awaited handset is now en route to at least some pre-order customers. We'll soon see if this new generation of Nokia smartphones will be enough to generate the type of mass-market / high-margin appeal that Nokia needs at the top end of its product portfolio or if it's just a tentative first step on a potentially wobbly new platform.

Update: Nokia's official blog says to expect the Maemo 5 device to land in "Europe, the Middle-East, Russia and North America" shortly. However, it won't be compatible with the new 3G SIM cards from 3 in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and Austria until a software update hits sometime later this year.

[Thanks, Juhana J.]

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Nokia N900 is now shipping! originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewslinuxmaemon900nokianow shippingNowShippingOlli Pekka KallasvuoOlli-Pekka KallasvuoOlli-pekkaKallasvuoOlliPekkaKallasvuoreleaseshippingTue, 10 Nov 2009 04:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Motus gets FCC approval, Sholes Tablet looking legit]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/09/motorola-motus-gets-fcc-approval-sholes-tablet-looking-legit/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/09/motorola-motus-gets-fcc-approval-sholes-tablet-looking-legit/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/09/motorola-motus-gets-fcc-approval-sholes-tablet-looking-legit/#comments Whenever a Moto with triband HSPA hits the FCC, we're naturally going to end up scouring the documentation -- what can we say, it's in our blood -- and today we've found a model claiming to be the rumored Motus. As a refresher, this is a device we'd heard would rock the Android midrange with a 5 megapixel AF cam, 3.1-inch QVGA display, and HSPA for a Q1 '10 release, so it's not much more than a tweaked CLIQ as far as we're concerned -- but the big news here might actually be that the Motus filing adds legitimacy to the leaked roadmap where we'd originally heard of it. That document made mention of a "Sholes Tablet" that takes the already-high-end DROID / MILESTONE further upmarket with an 8 megapixel cam and xenon flash, and as you can imagine, we'll be listening to our friends at the FCC pretty intently over the next few weeks to see if we can catch that one sliding through.

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Motorola Motus gets FCC approval, Sholes Tablet looking legit originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsedgefccgsmhsdpahsupahsupa1motomotorolamotusumtsMon, 09 Nov 2009 18:11:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM unveils tighter Adobe partnership, new app payment platform, OpenGL ES support, more]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/09/rim-unveils-tighter-adobe-partnership-new-app-payment-platform/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/09/rim-unveils-tighter-adobe-partnership-new-app-payment-platform/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/09/rim-unveils-tighter-adobe-partnership-new-app-payment-platform/#commentsThere aren't any new devices in the mix, but RIM has unleashed a torrent of BlackBerry OS-related news today at its BlackBerry Developer Conference in San Francisco that's sure to make devs happy in the short term -- and you know how that goes: when devs are happy, it doesn't take long before end users reap the benefits. Here are the highlights:
  • BlackBerry devices running OS 5.0 and higher will be able to benefit from OpenGL ES support, the 3D platform used by many of the world's high-power smartphones for delivering killer games. There's a beta of the SDK already, so let's get cracking, everyone -- we need some first-person shooters that totally negate BlackBerry's ultra-productive image.
  • A new plugin for the Eclipse development environment should make building BlackBerry app GUIs easier than ever, which should hopefully lead to prettier apps; it'll be available in mid-2010.
  • BlackBerry Theme Studio is now available, simplifying theme creation with support for changing the home screen layout, fonts, icons, colors, cursors, and more; it supports BlackBerry OS 4.2.2 and higher, which means that virtually every BlackBerry in a pocket (or holster) today should be able to take advantage. The timing's perfect on this one, because RIM has also announced that themes can now be submitted to App World.
  • BlackBerry Payment Service has been announced for mid-2010 availability, bringing in-app payments, subscription support, and a variety of billing options, which all sounds far more robust than the PayPal-only setup they've got going today.
  • The Push Service made available to Alliance Program members earlier this year will be made available to all comers in "early 2010," making it easy to push bite-sized chunks of "time-sensitive alerts" to phones quickly and easily.
  • BlackBerry Advertising Service has been announced for 1H 2010 availability, bringing a unified ad platform for developers with a variety of existing ad networks on board. If this means more free apps in App World, we're all for it.
  • Expanding on the Flash partnership previously announced, RIM has teamed up with Adobe yet again to unveil tight integration with Creative Suite 5 with direct file exports for BlackBerry-optimized formats and the creation BlackBerry-specific web layouts. End users will also be able to pull files directly off their BlackBerrys into consumer offerings like Photoshop Elements. This particular news seems pretty fluffy since Adobe products are already capable of opening and saving media formats that the phones can use -- but as with many of the other announcements here, we're on board as long as it means better-looking apps.
Sure, we wouldn't have complained if some crazy Storm2 with a QWERTY slide had unexpectedly shown up, but all things considered, BlackBerry software shops have to be salivating at the bounty here.

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RIM unveils tighter Adobe partnership, new app payment platform, OpenGL ES support, more originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryblackberry developer conferenceblackberry osBlackberryDeveloperConferenceBlackberryOsbreaking newsBreakingNewsopengl esOpenglEsresearch in motionresearchinmotionrimMon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DROID and DROID Eris now cash sentient on Verizon]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/06/droid-and-droid-eris-now-cash-sentient-on-verizon/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/06/droid-and-droid-eris-now-cash-sentient-on-verizon/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/06/droid-and-droid-eris-now-cash-sentient-on-verizon/#comments
After weeks of buildup the day is here: the DROID (and his little HTC buddy, the DROID Eris) is now for sale on Verizon's website. As expected Motorola's new flagship will set you back $200 after $100 online discount and two-year commitment while his underhyped Eris little bro is a penny shy of $100 after the same discount and contractual prostration. If you're looking to shed your contractual duties then you can hand over $560 in non-Android green for the option of going month-to-month.

[Via Gearlog, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read -- Motorola DROID
Read -- HTC DROID Eris

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DROID and DROID Eris now cash sentient on Verizon originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsdroiddroid erisDroidEriserisfor saleForSalegooglehtcmotorolaqwertysalesliderverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 06 Nov 2009 01:01:00 EST<![CDATA[BlackBerry Curve 8530 now official on Sprint]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/blackberry-curve-8530-now-official-on-sprint/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/blackberry-curve-8530-now-official-on-sprint/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/blackberry-curve-8530-now-official-on-sprint/#comments As we revealed this morning, the BlackBerry Curve 8530 -- a CDMA remix of the 8520 now available on T-Mobile -- is coming to Sprint to do battle with its Verizon-branded cousin. Unlike Verizon, which promises a November 20 launch for $99.99 on contract after rebate, Sprint isn't revealing pricing or availability details for the low-end BlackBerry -- but naturally, if they're smart, the answers will be "cheap" and "soon," respectively.

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BlackBerry Curve 8530 now official on Sprint originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8530blackberryblackberry osblackberryosbreaking newsBreakingNewscdmacurveev doevdoresearch in motionresearchinmotionrimsprintThu, 05 Nov 2009 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon broadband data goes prepaid]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/verizon-broadband-data-goes-prepaid/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/verizon-broadband-data-goes-prepaid/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/verizon-broadband-data-goes-prepaid/#commentsHeavy users are still going to need the 5GB monthly postpaid option (and really, let's be honest, a lot of us need well more than 5GB), but the occasional "crap, I really have to grab that spreadsheet off the intranet" moment might be well-served by Verizon's new prepaid data option announced today. "Occasional" really is the key word here, because it's not cheap -- $15 per day for 75MB, $30 per week for 250MB, or $50 per month for 500MB -- but hey, we guess we've gotta get Big Red used to the idea of offering a la carte data for a while before it becomes affordable to the masses. In the meantime, it'll be offered bundled with a USB760 modem (pictured) in Verizon and Best Buy locations starting on November 16.

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Verizon broadband data goes prepaid originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsbroadbanddatamodemperipheralsprepaidusb760verizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwThu, 05 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Convoy is a rugged push-to-talker for Verizon]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/samsung-convoy-is-a-rugged-push-to-talker-for-verizon/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/samsung-convoy-is-a-rugged-push-to-talker-for-verizon/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/samsung-convoy-is-a-rugged-push-to-talker-for-verizon/#comments For some reason known only to its users, push-to-talk and mil-spec protection seem to go hand in hand -- and that trend continues with Samsung's Convoy for Verizon. The beefy little flip offers 810F compliance for resistance against shock, dust, vibration, salt, fog, humidity, sunlight, and temperature extremes, EV-DO-based push-to-talk, Bluetooth 2.1, and a 2 megapixel camera plus VZ Navigator support. Verizon's also touting its "long battery life" (we'll be the judge of that) with a 1300mAh pack on board, so you should be able to chirp-chirp your way through the night if you play your cards right and you've got some willing participants on the other end. Look for this one to drop (quite literally -- it's rugged, after all) on November 15 for $49.99 on contract after a $50 mail-in rebate.

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Samsung Convoy is a rugged push-to-talker for Verizon originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscdmaclamshellconvoyev doevdoflipruggedsamsungverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwThu, 05 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon's LG Chocolate Touch skips on the BL40 influence]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/verizons-lg-chocolate-touch-skips-on-the-bl40-influence/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/verizons-lg-chocolate-touch-skips-on-the-bl40-influence/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/verizons-lg-chocolate-touch-skips-on-the-bl40-influence/#comments We've suspected it for a while, and now it's 100 percent confirmed: Verizon's latest Chocolate device, the Chocolate Touch, takes absolutely zero influence from the lovely BL40 with which it shares a name. That said, it definitely seems to continue the Chocolate line's music-oriented tradition with an integrated FM radio, dedicated music key, stereo Bluetooth, equalization tech from Dolby Mobile, and a curious "Join the Band" function that lets you add in your own beats to the music with a full on-screen drum kit. It's got a 3.2 megapixel cam, full touch display, and for the impatient among us, the best news might be that it's available today -- yes, today -- for $79.99 on contract after rebate.

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Verizon's LG Chocolate Touch skips on the BL40 influence originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscdmachocolatechocolate touchChocolateTouchev doevdolgverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwThu, 05 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[BlackBerry Curve 8530 brings optical trackpad to Verizon]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/blackberry-curve-8530-brings-optical-trackpad-to-verizon/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/blackberry-curve-8530-brings-optical-trackpad-to-verizon/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/blackberry-curve-8530-brings-optical-trackpad-to-verizon/#comments Twinning nicely with its 8520 counterpart currently available on T-Mobile, RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8530 marks the brand's new low-end full QWERTY device with a 2 megapixel camera, 528MHz "next generation" core and QVGA display all paired up with EV-DO and WiFi, marking Verizon's newfound commitment to launching WiFi on BlackBerrys that we first saw on the Storm2. It's got a full 256MB of storage on board (expandable with 32GB microSD cards, theoretically, when they're available) and is going to see duty in your choice of black or "smoky violet" -- just hold out for November 20, when it'll materialize for $99.99 on contract after rebate.

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BlackBerry Curve 8530 brings optical trackpad to Verizon originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8530blackberryblackberry osblackberryosbreaking newsBreakingNewscdmacurvegsmresearch in motionresearchinmotionrimverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwThu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon's DROID ERIS by HTC does Android and keeps it cheap]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/verizons-droid-eris-by-htc-does-android-and-keeps-it-cheap/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/verizons-droid-eris-by-htc-does-android-and-keeps-it-cheap/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/05/verizons-droid-eris-by-htc-does-android-and-keeps-it-cheap/#comments Verizon is making no secret about which Android device it wants to make waves this week -- that'd be the DROID from Motorola -- but there's another model that'll be available the same day with one-tenth the fanfare: HTC's DROID ERIS. Codenamed Desire ahead of launch, the phone is essentially Verizon's custom remix of the venerable Hero as found on Sprint and various GSM carriers around the world, featuring a 5 megapixel camera, 3.2-inch capacitive display, WiFi, 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD expansion up to 16GB. Check it out in your local store hiding somewhere in the shadow of the DROID starting Friday for $99.99 on contract after a $100 mail-in rebate, which -- if you can forgo a physical keyboard, faster processor, and high-res display -- works out to a cool hundred less than Moto's entry.

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Verizon's DROID ERIS by HTC does Android and keeps it cheap originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewscdmadesiredroiddroid erisDroidErisev doevdohtcverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwThu, 05 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC HD2 officially coming to US, out in Europe and Asia today!]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/04/htc-hd2-officially-coming-to-us-out-in-europe-and-asia-today/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/04/htc-hd2-officially-coming-to-us-out-in-europe-and-asia-today/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/04/htc-hd2-officially-coming-to-us-out-in-europe-and-asia-today/#comments Be still, our beating hearts! HTC has just pressed the "Go" button for European and Asian shipping of its latest object of desire, and it's served notice to American phone lovers that the HD2 is coming to them soon as well. Slated for a "major US carrier" some time "early 2010," it'll land squarely in the same time bracket as the XPERIA X10, which should lead to some really quite interesting decisions to be made, presumably by March 2010. The WinMo 6.5 device might be shipping now, but you'll have to wait at least until the 9th of November before you can spill your Euros for it, and we expect to see a flurry of pricing and contract information filling that short waiting time. Full PR after the break.

[Via MobileTechWorld]

Continue reading HTC HD2 officially coming to US, out in Europe and Asia today!

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HTC HD2 officially coming to US, out in Europe and Asia today! originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>availabilitybreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewscellphonehd2htchtc hd2HtcHd2releasesmartphonewindows mobilewindows mobile 6.5WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5winmoWed, 04 Nov 2009 06:02:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile USA down all over the place? (update: yes)]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/03/t-mobile-usa-down-all-over-the-place/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/03/t-mobile-usa-down-all-over-the-place/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/03/t-mobile-usa-down-all-over-the-place/#commentsWe're getting reports from sea to shining sea this evening that T-Mobile service is down or intermittent on both voice and data -- particularly bad timing in light of the recent Sidekick drama. We've tested in New York and it's definitely down for us -- both voice and data -- so how's service treating everyone out there?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: We just got an official statement from T-Mobile, and it's confirmed -- service is down. Here's the statement:
"T-Mobile customers may be experiencing service disruptions impacting voice and data. Our rapid response teams have been mobilized to restore service as quickly as possible. We will provide updates as more information is available."
Update 2: All service is now restored, according to the company -- they say about 5 percent of users were affected by the outage, though circumstantial evidence would certainly suggest that the number is higher (especially considering that New York City was one of the dead zones).

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T-Mobile USA down all over the place? (update: yes) originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsoutaget mobilet-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsatmobileTue, 03 Nov 2009 19:24:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T sues Verizon over 'there's a map for that' ads]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/03/atandt-sues-verizon-over-theres-a-map-for-that-ads/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/03/atandt-sues-verizon-over-theres-a-map-for-that-ads/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/03/atandt-sues-verizon-over-theres-a-map-for-that-ads/#comments Whoa -- we just got word that AT&T is suing Verizon for false advertising over Big Red's "There's a map for that" ads. We're reading the complaint and motion to stop the ads right now, but here's what AT&T says is the big problem:
In essence, we believe the ads mislead consumers into believing that AT&T doesn't offer ANY wireless service in the vast majority of the country. In fact, AT&T's wireless network blankets the US, reaching approximately 296M people. Additionally, our 3G service is available in over 9,600 cities and towns. Verizon's misleading advertising tactics appear to be a response to AT&T's strong leadership in smartphones. We have twice the number of smartphone customers... and we've beaten them two quarters in a row on net post-paid subscribers. We also had lower churn -- a sign that customers are quite happy with the service they receive.
AT&T also says its network reaches about the same number of people as Verizon's, so we're thinking it's a little miffed that it's being portrayed as an also-ran here. We'll update as we learn more, keep it locked!

Update: So this seems like a very narrow lawsuit, actually. As we've been told, AT&T thinks Verizon is trying to fool viewers into thinking that they can't use any AT&T phone services outside of 3G coverage areas by showing two essentially different maps. Since Verizon's entire network is 3G, the gaps in the red map are actual service gaps -- but Verizon doesn't show that the gaps on the AT&T map might be covered by AT&T's huge 2G network. We can see how that could be misleading, but at some point you've got to compare apples to apples, and AT&T even says it has "no quarrel with Verizon advertising its larger 3G network" in its complaint, so we'll see how the court reacts.

Update 2: Interestingly, Verizon's already changed the ads once at AT&T's behest, editing them to remove the phrase "out of touch" and adding a "Voice and data services available outside of 3G areas" small print disclaimer at the end. Apparently that wasn't enough for AT&T, which says the ads still confuse non-technical viewers into thinking AT&T provides no service at all outside of its 3G coverage.

Update 3: Okay, we've read everything -- there's really not much more to this suit than the arguments over the maps. We're thinking Verizon could have easily dealt with this by just using dark blue and light blue on the AT&T map to differentiate between 3G and 2G coverage, but at this point we don't think Ma Bell is all that interested in anything except getting these ads off the air. All that said, it's hard to deny that Verizon's ads made a perfectly valid point: using an iPhone on AT&T's network in New York or San Francisco is an exercise in frustration, regardless of whether you have 2G or 3G, and we've had zero problems on Verizon. Let's just hope AT&T is working as hard to fight these ads with its actual service as it is with its lawyers.


Continue reading AT&T sues Verizon over 'there's a map for that' ads

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AT&T sues Verizon over 'there's a map for that' ads originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisementadvertisingappat and tAtAndTattbreaking newsBreakingNewsinjunctionlawlaw suitLawSuitlegalmapmapssuittheres a map for thatTheresAMapForThatverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwTue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bell confirms HSPA launch on November 4]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/02/bell-confirms-hspa-launch-on-november-4/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/02/bell-confirms-hspa-launch-on-november-4/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/02/bell-confirms-hspa-launch-on-november-4/#commentsOne-half of the worst-kept secret in all of Canada over much of the last year -- the HSPA networks being prepped by Bell and Telus -- is finally launching in just two short days' time. Bell has announced that its shiny new 21Mbps airwaves will be available to the public at large starting November 4, along with a host of devices ready to take full advantage of it; perhaps most impressive, though, is that they'll be covering fully 93 percent of the country's population out of the gate, which should make the new network a viable option immediately for would-be switchers. Your move, Rogers.

[Thanks, Shawny]

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Bell confirms HSPA launch on November 4 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gbellbell mobilityBellMobilitybreaking newsBreakingNewscanadahsdpahspahsupahsupa1umtswcdmaMon, 02 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[GSM DROID with multitouch pinch-to-zoom demoed on video hating America]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/02/gsm-droid-with-multitouch-pinch-to-zoom-demoed-on-video/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/02/gsm-droid-with-multitouch-pinch-to-zoom-demoed-on-video/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/02/gsm-droid-with-multitouch-pinch-to-zoom-demoed-on-video/#comments The GSM flavor of Motorola's DROID, or Milestone as it will be known in Europe, has multitouch built-in to the UI. For reasons we can only assume have something to do with an unspoken intellectual property agreement between Google and Apple, the US version of the user interface lacks multi-touch features like pinch-to-zoom even though the underlying 2.0 OS supports multitouch events. However, the video of a GSM DROID headed to Europe clearly shows this feature at the 3 minute mark. No really, see for yourselves after the break.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading GSM DROID with multitouch pinch-to-zoom demoed on video hating America

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GSM DROID with multitouch pinch-to-zoom demoed on video hating America originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsdroideuropegsmhsdpahsupahsupa1milestonemotorolamultitoucho2videovodaphoneMon, 02 Nov 2009 04:34:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC confirmed to be cooking up Android 2.0 update for Hero, other devices unclear]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/28/htc-confirmed-to-be-cooking-up-android-2-0-update-for-hero-othe/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/28/htc-confirmed-to-be-cooking-up-android-2-0-update-for-hero-othe/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/28/htc-confirmed-to-be-cooking-up-android-2-0-update-for-hero-othe/#comments Anyone with an existing Android device and a nasty case of DROID envy today might want to hold off before switching devices, emptying the bank account, and possibly switching carriers in the process, because HTC's got a little bit of information here to end our day on a high note. Here's the full quote:
"Yes, we are working on an Eclair update for the HTC Hero. Because Eclair is a significantly enhanced release, it will require some time to update Sense for this new version of the Android OS. Please be patient while we work to provide you with a tightly integrated experience like the one you are already enjoying on your Hero."
Bottom line, the Hero is signed up for Android 2.0 and it's just a matter of HTC getting Sense ported and tested -- makes sense (no pun intended), and we imagine Motorola will have to go through these same hoops with BLUR. The company went on to mention that it intends to bring the update to all versions of the Hero, though it's up to partners (like Sprint, for instance) to help coordinate how and when that's going to go down. We don't have any information on the sundry Dream and Magic variants around the world at this point -- but it's important to remember that the Hero uses the same processor as its older siblings, so at least there's hope for a good xda-developers port if nothing else.

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HTC confirmed to be cooking up Android 2.0 update for Hero, other devices unclear originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.0Android2.0breaking newsBreakingNewsdreameclairg1herohtcmagicmytouch 3gMytouch3gupdateupgradeWed, 28 Oct 2009 19:19:00 EST<![CDATA[SonyStyle unleashes Sony Ericsson Aino in the US for $600]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/28/sonystyle-unleashes-sony-ericsson-aino-in-the-us-for-600/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/28/sonystyle-unleashes-sony-ericsson-aino-in-the-us-for-600/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/28/sonystyle-unleashes-sony-ericsson-aino-in-the-us-for-600/#comments Though it may not have the most elegant name in the world, we've got to give Sony Ericsson's Aino credit for at least one thing: it's officially launching in the US, unlocked, just a few short months after being announced. You'll be paying a stout $599.99 for the privilege of putting one in your pocket, but in exchange, you'll get an 8.1 megapixel sensor, Remote Play support, tri-band HSPA, and WiFi on a 432 x 240 display. You're not just getting the phone for that outlay, though: SE also throws in a stereo Bluetooth headset, dock, and an 8GB microSD (yes, microSD, not Memory Stick, mercifully) card. It's still showing as backordered on SonyStyle's website, but you should be able to find this in stock both online and in Sony's stores across the land very shortly. Follow the break for the full release.

Continue reading SonyStyle unleashes Sony Ericsson Aino in the US for $600

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SonyStyle unleashes Sony Ericsson Aino in the US for $600 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ainobreaking newsBreakingNewsedgeericssongsmhsdpasonysony ericssonSonyEricssonsonystyleumtsWed, 28 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola DROID official on Verizon: $199 on contract, coming November 6th (video)]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/28/motorola-droid-official-on-verizon-199-on-contract-coming-nov/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/28/motorola-droid-official-on-verizon-199-on-contract-coming-nov/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/28/motorola-droid-official-on-verizon-199-on-contract-coming-nov/#comments We knew good and well this thing was coming sometime in November, and now Verizon Wireless has made it official: the Motorola DROID will hit Big Red on November 6th for $199 on contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate). Naturally, the DROID itself is just the first of what could be many Android-laced phones coming to the carrier, and Verizon Wireless CMO John Stratton even stated that the phone "is wide open" -- pretty big words from a company like VZW. Android 2.0 will be front and center, along with Visual Voicemail, a 3.7-inch display (854 x 480 resolution), 5 megapixel camera (with dual-LED flash), a bundled 16GB memory card and a beta version of Google Maps Navigation(!). For those wondering, yeah -- the DROID is the first phone to offer that, which transforms Google Maps into a turn-by-turn routing system that'll have your dedicated TomTom / Garmin trembling in fear. There's also a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3G, WiFi, voice-activated search and over-the-air Amazon MP3 downloads. With all that, who needs the iPhone, right Ivan?

Continue reading Motorola DROID official on Verizon: $199 on contract, coming November 6th (video)

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Motorola DROID official on Verizon: $199 on contract, coming November 6th (video) originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.0Android2.0breaking newsBreakingNewscdmadroidev doevdogooglegoogle mapsgoogle maps navigationmotomotorolamotorola droidMotorolaDroidnavigationpndsmartphoneverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessWed, 28 Oct 2009 10:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Android 2.0 support officially added to SDK]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/27/android-2-0-support-officially-added-to-sdk/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/27/android-2-0-support-officially-added-to-sdk/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/27/android-2-0-support-officially-added-to-sdk/#comments Google's gone ahead and uncorked the bubbly to celebrate the launch of Android 2.0 "Eclair" today ahead of Verizon's big reveal tomorrow, bundling its announcements into two very important sections: SDK support, meaning devs can go ahead and start targeting the new bits, and a comprehensive list of changes in the latest version. Here are the major changes us lay folk are going to care about:
  • Support for multiple Google and Exchange accounts
  • Third-party "sync adapters" allow apps to tie in to the phone's sync services
  • Quick contact menus for fast access to specific key pieces of contact information
  • Unified email inbox (yes!)
  • SMS and MMS search
  • Text message auto-delete after a user-defined thread size is reached
  • Significantly improved camera controls with white balance, macro, effects, and more
  • Improved keyboard layout, dictionary, and algorithm based on multi-touch support
  • Double-tap zoom in browser, support for HTML5
  • Bluetooth 2.1 support with addition of OPP and PBAP profiles
  • "Better" graphics hardware acceleration

Needless to say, we're extremely excited about the changes Google's made here -- and on top of the Droid, we can only hope this action is coming to legacy devices on the double. We'll find out soon enough (hopefully). Check a video of 2.0 in action after the break!

[Via MobileTechWorld]

Read - SDK support announcement
Read - Android 2.0 changes

Continue reading Android 2.0 support officially added to SDK

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Android 2.0 support officially added to SDK originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.0android sdkAndroid2.0AndroidSdkbreaking newsBreakingNewsgoogleohaTue, 27 Oct 2009 12:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Pixi on sale November 15 exclusively at Sprint for $100 on contract]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/26/palm-pixi-on-sale-november-15-exclusively-at-sprint-for-100-on/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/26/palm-pixi-on-sale-november-15-exclusively-at-sprint-for-100-on/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/26/palm-pixi-on-sale-november-15-exclusively-at-sprint-for-100-on/#comments Just as we'd heard earlier this morning, today's the day that Palm and Sprint come clean with their undercover plans for the former's second-ever webOS device. The Pixi, which we toyed with back on our first Engadget Show, is slated to hit Sprint stores, Best Buy, RadioShack and select Walmart locations on November 15th for $99.99, but that's after a $50 instant rebate and a $100 mail-in rebate that you'll be waiting ages for. Nothing here is all that surprising -- after all, we knew it'd be on shelves before the holiday season -- but the $100 price point is downright depressing. The Palm Pre can be had right now for just $150 (also on contract), and beyond that, both webOS devices are being offered on the exact same network. Throw this thing on Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile, and you've got a whole new wave of Palm customers; as it stands, who's really buying this with the Pre just $50 away?

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Palm Pixi on sale November 15 exclusively at Sprint for $100 on contract originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>availabilityavailablebreaking newsBreakingNewscdmacellphoneev doevdoofficialon saleOnSalepalmpalm pixiPalmPixipixismartphonesprintweb os webosMon, 26 Oct 2009 10:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon Storm2 on October 28th, BlackBerry OS 5.0 for original Storm out now]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/26/verizon-storm2-on-october-28th-blackberry-os-5-0-for-original-s/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/26/verizon-storm2-on-october-28th-blackberry-os-5-0-for-original-s/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/26/verizon-storm2-on-october-28th-blackberry-os-5-0-for-original-s/#comments
If you have an original Storm purchased through Verizon then first, our condolences. At the risk of rubbing it in (since you're still on contract) we have to tell you that the second generation Storm2 -- the full-screen BlackBerry you should have waited for -- just got an official $179.99 (after $100 mail-in rebate and 2-year contract) October 28th release date as expected. Storm owners can, however, take solace in the BlackBerry OS 5.0 update now available for download that boasts several improvements including those keyboard and general usability enhancements we already knew were coming.

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Verizon Storm2 on October 28th, BlackBerry OS 5.0 for original Storm out now originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5.0announceblackberryblackberry osblackberryosbreaking newsBreakingNewscdmaev doevdolaunchos 5.0Os5.0research in motionresearchinmotionrimsoftwaresoftware updateSoftwareUpdatestormstorm 2Storm2updateverizonverizon wirelessverizonwirelessMon, 26 Oct 2009 07:17:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile officially unveils $99 Even More, $79 Even More Plus plans and equipment installment option]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/25/t-mobile-officially-unveils-99-even-more-79-even-more-plus-pl/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/25/t-mobile-officially-unveils-99-even-more-79-even-more-plus-pl/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/25/t-mobile-officially-unveils-99-even-more-79-even-more-plus-pl/#comments Right on schedule with the whispers, T-Mobile lifted the veil off of its new price plan tier structure, Even More and Even More Plus, and from the looks of it all those leaks were pretty much spot-on. The traditional Even More plan is a two-year commitment and discounted phone, with unlimited individual prices starting at $59 per month and going up to $99 if you want unlimited messaging and text, too. Even More Plus scrapes the device discount but offers unlimited individual prices at $49 for voice / $79 for everything. It looks like the only major differentiator is the subsidized handset, but here's where the numbers don't add up: even with the steep $350 discount on myTouch 3G, factoring in that $20 premium would pay for the phone during the 18th month, leaving six months and $120 of extra payments left that have no obvious justification to us. Additionally the FlexPay / equipment installment plan is now available, letting you break up the cost of your phone into interest-free monthly bills. It seems Even More's subsidized phones are offered over four installments (e.g. $37 per month for the $150 MyTouch 3G) while Even More Plus' is two installments (e.g. $25 per month for the same device at the $500 full price). Our initial takeaway from the price tiers is that T-Mobile is doing what it can to drive its consumers away from the traditional and over to the non-traditional (for US, at least) Even More Plus plan, but hey, we're not gonna argue over a beneficial contract-free plan, even if monthly phone payments keep us paying the company for at least 20 months. So T-Mo, any other Project Dark surprises in the cards? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

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T-Mobile officially unveils $99 Even More, $79 Even More Plus plans and equipment installment option originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsequipment installment planEquipmentInstallmentPlaneven moreeven more plusEvenMoreEvenMorePlusflex payFlexPayplanplan pricingplanst mobilet-mobileTMobileunlimitedSun, 25 Oct 2009 11:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon's Droid is a series, not just a phone; Droid Eris coming from HTC]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/23/verizons-droid-is-a-series-not-just-a-phone-droid-eris-coming/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/23/verizons-droid-is-a-series-not-just-a-phone-droid-eris-coming/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/23/verizons-droid-is-a-series-not-just-a-phone-droid-eris-coming/#comments We just got some wild information from a trusted source about Verizon's Android strategy, and let's just say this shakes things up a little bit. Here are the big takeaways:
  • Droid is the brand name being applied to Verizon's Android devices. It isn't a single phone.
  • The Sholes -- the phone we've been calling the Droid so far -- may simply be known as the Droid.
  • HTC's Desire will be coming to market as the "Droid Eris." (Allow us to save you the Wikipedia lookup -- Eris is the Greek goddess of strife.) Interestingly, it's already up on gdgt as such.
  • Droid Eris will be released -- not announced, actually released -- on November 6. In all likelihood, it will not be announced or shown at Verizon's October 28 event -- that will probably just be for the Sholes.
That's all we've got so far, but it's a heck of a change in plans, isn't it? It's interesting that Verizon will be applying a sub-brand to its Android line -- and a pretty solid sign that Big Red's got a serious commitment to the platform going forward.

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Verizon's Droid is a series, not just a phone; Droid Eris coming from HTC originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsdesiredroiddroid erisDroidErishtcmotorolaverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 23 Oct 2009 19:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Access and Emblaze Mobile unveil Else Intuition, the Linux-based mobile OS of your dreams]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/23/access-and-emblaze-mobile-unveil-else-intuition-the-linux-based/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/23/access-and-emblaze-mobile-unveil-else-intuition-the-linux-based/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/23/access-and-emblaze-mobile-unveil-else-intuition-the-linux-based/#commentsACCESS and Emblaze Mobile unveil ELSE INTUITION, the Linux-based mobile OS of your dreams It's been a long, long time since Emblaze Mobile and Access engaged in holy cellphone matrimony, and the fruit of that relationship is finally coming to bear. It's called Else Intuition, a Linux-based mobile platform that comes with such a hyperbolic press release that we can't help but think every other mobile manufacturer should just pack up and go home. It's said to match the functionality of "top ranked MP3 players, best-in-class GPS devices, and more, while maintaining an exceptional ease and simplicity of use." Golly. At this point we only have a few images to go by, and though they do look plenty nice, we wouldn't consider our minds blown just yet -- particularly those of us with a left-handed bias. Remember, Access is the company that turned Palm OS into Garnet OS and then failed to win anyone over with its Access Linux Platform, so what could go wrong here? What's it going to be, readers: WebOS or Else?

Update: Another right-handed pic (ironically taken on an iPhone) added after the break.

Continue reading Access and Emblaze Mobile unveil Else Intuition, the Linux-based mobile OS of your dreams

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Access and Emblaze Mobile unveil Else Intuition, the Linux-based mobile OS of your dreams originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessbreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewsELSEelse intuitionElseIntuitionemblazeemblaze elseemblaze mobileEmblazeElseEmblazeMobileintuitionintuition oslinuxFri, 23 Oct 2009 07:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia sues Apple, says iPhone infringes ten patents]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/22/nokia-sues-apple-says-iphone-infringes-ten-patents/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/22/nokia-sues-apple-says-iphone-infringes-ten-patents/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/22/nokia-sues-apple-says-iphone-infringes-ten-patents/#comments Boom. Nokia's just hit Apple with a patent infringement lawsuit, claiming that "all iPhones models shipped" infringe on ten of Espoo's patents relating to GSM, UMTS, and WiFi. According to Nokia's press release, the patents in question have been licensed by some 40 other companies, "including virtually all the leading mobile device vendors," and Apple's refused to agree to "appropriate" license terms. That's pretty vague, actually -- it could either mean that Apple was willing to license the patents at a price less than what Nokia demanded, or it could mean that Apple refused to pay at all. We'll obviously be covering this one in great detail as it progresses -- stay tuned for a fun decade or so of litigation.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Nokia sues Apple, says iPhone infringes ten patents originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebreaking newsBreakingNewsiphonelawsuitlegalnokiapatentThu, 22 Oct 2009 10:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba Dynario fuel-cell: the battery revolution begins October 29th]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/22/toshiba-dynario-fuel-cell-the-battery-revolution-begins-october/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/22/toshiba-dynario-fuel-cell-the-battery-revolution-begins-october/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/22/toshiba-dynario-fuel-cell-the-battery-revolution-begins-october/#comments We can hardly believe it but the day has finally arrived: Toshiba just launched the first Dynario fuel-cell for portable consumer electronics. That's right, the long promised and highly anticipated direct methane fuel-cell (DMFC) with dedicated fuel cartridge for on-the-go refueling will go on sale October 29th in Japan for ¥29,800 (about $328) plus another ¥3,150 (about $34) for a set of five, 50ml fuel cartridges. Dynario takes about 20 seconds to fill its 14ml fuel tank with an injection of a concentrated methanol solution at which point it's ready to charge USB-connected devices. Dynario's hybrid structure uses a lithium-ion battery to store enough electricity to charge two typical cellphones, according to Tosh. The first run consists of only 3,000 units after which Toshiba will gauge consumer reaction before extending the launch outside of Japan. Boy oh boy, a new age in portability has begun.

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Toshiba Dynario fuel-cell: the battery revolution begins October 29th originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesbreaking newsBreakingNewsdynariotoshibaThu, 22 Oct 2009 01:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon hosting Droid event on October 28]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/21/verizon-hosting-droid-event-on-october-28/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/21/verizon-hosting-droid-event-on-october-28/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/21/verizon-hosting-droid-event-on-october-28/#comments Verizon has yet to give a firm date on when we can all get our hands on some Droids, but we know one thing's for certain: it'll be fully revealed for the first time one week from today, October 28. The invitation that's been extended to the media confirms that it'll come from Motorola (of course), it'll be Verizon's "must-have device of the year," and it's got a very close association with giant, scary, glowing eyes. A far cry from Google's friendly green bot, isn't it?

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Verizon hosting Droid event on October 28 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewscdmadroidev doevdomotomotorolaverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwWed, 21 Oct 2009 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[BlackBerry Bold 9700 announced, launching globally starting next month]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/21/blackberry-bold-9700-announced-launching-globally-starting-next/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/21/blackberry-bold-9700-announced-launching-globally-starting-next/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/21/blackberry-bold-9700-announced-launching-globally-starting-next/#comments Properly replacing one of the most popular, recognizable BlackBerrys ever made is no easy task for RIM, but it looks like they've done a respectable job in officially announcing the Bold 9700, a device we've seen rumored as the "Onyx" through much of 2009. The new model gently massages the original Bold's time-tested formula by moving the camera up to 3.2 megapixels, giving the screen another 40 lines of vertical resolution (480 x 360, up from 480 x 320), and shipping with the brand new BlackBerry OS 5.0 out of the gate. Also notable is that the 9700 replaces the trackball with an optical trackpad --continuing a trend started by the Curve 8520 -- and will ship in both 900 / 1700 / 2100 and 800 / 850 / 1900 / 2100MHz 3G varieties, making the phone a perfect fit for AT&T, T-Mobile, and a multitude of networks in Canada and Europe. RIM isn't announcing specific carrier availability, but they're teasing that it'll be coming on "carriers around the world" starting in November. Follow the break for a quick teaser video from the boys and girls up in Waterloo.

Update: Engadget Germany is at the launch event with RIM's co-CEO Mike Lazaridis. We'll be back shortly with a hands-on.

Update 2: T-Mobile just announced its flavor of the Bold 9700 for the US which it says will be the first BlackBerry that allows voice calling over WiFi.

Update 3: And here comes AT&T, which says the 9700 will be out in the "coming weeks" for $199 after $100 mail-in rebate.

Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9700 announced, launching globally starting next month

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BlackBerry Bold 9700 announced, launching globally starting next month originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9700atandtattblackberryblackberry boldblackberry bold 9700blackberry osBlackberryBoldBlackberryBold9700blackberryosboldbreaking newsBreakingNewsedgegsmhsdpaonyxresearch in motionresearchinmotionrimt mobilet-mobiletmobileumtsWed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell Streak is a 5-inch Android 2.0 MID, packs 3G and WiFi (video)]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/21/dell-streak-is-a-5-inch-android-2-0-mid-packs-3g-and-wifi-vide/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/21/dell-streak-is-a-5-inch-android-2-0-mid-packs-3g-and-wifi-vide/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/21/dell-streak-is-a-5-inch-android-2-0-mid-packs-3g-and-wifi-vide/#comments Well, hello there! Those Dell MID rumors we've been hearing have finally received vindication in the form of a nice, picture-heavy leak courtesy of some industrious folks in Vietnam. What we know as of now is that there's an 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen display (with multitouch zooming), WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G WWAN connectivity, all riding atop an Android 2.0 (aka, Donut Eclair) install. A dual-LED flash 5 megapixel camera adorns the back, and there's a 1,300mAh battery to power all that goodness. See pics below and a video awaits after the break, where an old friend of ours plays with the jumbo smartphone.

[Via SlashGear; Thanks, Nicky N.]

Continue reading Dell Streak is a 5-inch Android 2.0 MID, packs 3G and WiFi (video)

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Dell Streak is a 5-inch Android 2.0 MID, packs 3G and WiFi (video) originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gandroidandroid 2.0android eclairAndroid2.0AndroidEclairbluetoothbreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewscapacitivedelldell streakDellStreakeclairinternet tabletInternetTabletleakmidmultitouchsmartphonestreakwifiwwanWed, 21 Oct 2009 06:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola CLIQ available to T-Mobile customers now, great masses November 2]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/19/motorola-cliq-available-to-t-mobile-customers-now-great-masses/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/19/motorola-cliq-available-to-t-mobile-customers-now-great-masses/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/10/19/motorola-cliq-available-to-t-mobile-customers-now-great-masses/#comments Well now this is a pleasingly rapid transition from announcement to review samples to market availability. Motorola's Android-loving CLIQ (already on sale under the moniker DEXT in the UK), its QWERTY keyboard and all the apps you could desire are now ready to be had, should you already have an account with T-Mobile, the device's exclusive US carrier. It was expected that only pre-orders would be taken today, but it appears for all the world that T-Mobile is ready to start shipping the CLIQ to its loyal customers ahead of the November 2nd full release date. Prices start from the previously reported $199.99 on a two-year agreement -- a move that will give you plenty of time to wonder if you shouldn't have waited for more details about the Droid mashup from Verizon, Motorola, and Google.

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Motorola CLIQ available to T-Mobile customers now, great masses November 2 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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