Good news also comes for developers, as they can now submit unlimited updates to their applications free of charge (as opposed to $99 a pop). Marketplace customers can purchase applications on a credit card or they can choose to be billed through their carrier. Customers will also be able to return applications they didn’t like within 24 hours for a full refund. Very cool!
Nokia E71x
Samsung Propel Pro
Alltel Wireless
This comes as good news to all the “Chatty Kathy’s” with Alltel wireless. Now those customers on the MyCircle 10 and MyCircle20 plans will be allowed to add 5 new people free of charge.
It's All about Flash
Engadget reported the highly anticipated AT&T launch of the Nokia E71x might be delayed due to the late discovery of a firmware bug. Seeing as how the device has been available unlocked to North American’s for over eight months now, a couple more weeks shouldn’t be much to wait for the “extra-special” and glitch-free AT&T version. Don’t be discouraged my friend, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Word is the delay means the E71x comes with a price break for you at $149.99 after mail-in rebate, and of course a two-year contract.
Sony-Ericsson’s Najmi Jarwala stepped down today as president of Sony Ericsson USA and Head of Region North America (U.S. and Canada). Anders Runevad, second-in-command as executive vice president of Sony Ericsson and Head of Global Sales & Marketing, will take over this dual role until the company can find a replacement. After rumors started circulating last week that it may be splits-ville for the partnership, a company spokesperson confirms that Ericsson “has no plans to abandon its joint venture.” However, that’s only one-half of the partnership.
It appears that Opera Mobile is about to get a leg-up in the race for mobile browser supremacy. I suppose that would all depend on your criteria, but that’s neither here nor there. According to Forbes magazine, a spokesperson for the company blabbed it would be announcing deals with some U.S. carriers at next month’s CTIA in Las Vegas. Our guess is one or more of the four major carriers; Sprint, AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile. Opera is already working with T-Mobile Europe, so inking a stateside deal only seems natural.
If you’re going to pick up a sexy-slim Nokia E71x on the 24th, prepare to get your YouTube on. Hot on the heels of YouTube’s new Mobile site, Google developers have created a YouTube application for S60 3rd-edition handsets. This application allows for all of the same Web search methods (recently added, most viewed, top rated, etc.) and once the video is selected it will play in full screen. The application however does not allow users to upload videos from their phone. The good news is it’s free and you can get it here.
Windows Mobile 6.5 was unveiled last month at MWC in Barcelona sporting its not-so-sweet Honeycomb user interface. After negative feedback from the mobile phone community as well as their own employees, Microsoft decided to redesign the new software. This week at MIX09, senior technical product manager Loke Uei Tan demonstrated what appears to be the final version of 6.5. While the layout remains the same, the icons have been enlarged to make them more touch-friendly and the hexagonal honeycomb outlines are gone. Scrolling has also become more fluid and precise. Looks like an overall improvement to me!
[photo credit: BGR]
Nokia E71x – While it’s not the “Piranha” which was rumored to be debuting, this is still a device AT&T customers should get pretty amped over. Not many carriers in the states carry Nokia smartphones. This device is said to make its debut on March 24. This Symbian device will cost somewhere around $150 with a 2-year contract. [photo] 
LG Zenon – The Zenon is a 3G-capable GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA device with a full QWERTY, 3 megapizel camera, Wi-Fi and a GPS.
Sony Ericsson C905 – This little bugger has an 8.1 megapixel camera and has already hit the market in the UK. There have been reports of staggering return rates due to firmwire meltdowns and speaker faults, so I would wait until those problems are ironed out until purchasing. Who knows, that might even push back the release here in the states.
History in the making folks! “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and (correct me if I’m wrong) the first “special guest” appearance by a mobile phone. I, like the phone, was speechless!
The recession continues to sucker-punch nearly every industry and the mobile world has received its fair share of bruising. However, it’s an exciting time at Palm right now with their highly anticipated Pre and webOS nearing release. The company is taking advantage of downtime before the big release to remarket 18.5 million shares of its common stock – which should amount to just over $100 million. Palm is saying it’s going to use half of that to repay Elevation Partners, and the other half to fund the Pre release as well as future research and development. The company said it’s hoping to finalize the sale by the end of the month. Hopefully Palm will be sitting pretty financially after the Pre release, and the same goes for Sprint (they sure need it).If you’re into rugged smartphones Motorola brings you the MC55. Perfect for developers and “on-the-site” execs alike, this all-too-manly phone comes with some impressive specs to boot:
June 29, 2009, is the two-year anniversary of the first shipment of the iPhone.
Not one of those people will still be using an iPhone a month later. Think about
it – if you bought the first iPhone you bought it because you wanted the coolest
product on the market. Your two-year contract has expired. Look around. Tell me
what they’re going to buy.
We don't know the future, but we can sure tell you what we're not buying right
now. And besides, we don't know too many early adopter types that could resist
the siren call of 3G halfway through their existing iPhone contract, thereby
re-upping their contract for another few millenia. That should be plenty enough
time for Apple to whip up something new... or at least for Roger to get a
haircut.
Taiwanese manufacturer Mio recently unveiled a 3.5G GPS mobile phone that runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional OS. I’m a sucker for slick, simplistic designs, so this device had me at first glance. Mio claims the Explora K70 is able to deliver “the best possible GPS positioning” not to mention positioning tools. The Explora also delivers quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity as well as tri-band HSDPA/HSUPA connectivity. Let’s get to the specifics, shall we? This device includes a 3 megapixel autofocus camera with geo-tagging, 3.5-inch TFT touchscreen that delivers 240 x 400 pixel resolution, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0 and MicroSD memory expansion capabilities. As usual, no official word of pricing and availability with this early announcement, but we will be sure to let you know once more information is released. All I have to say is the Nuvifone should get prepared for some stiff competition. 
Esentially, if this rumor pans out those who don't yet qualify for an upgrade can trade in your current device (must have papers to prove it is less than 2 years old and must be in "fair" condition) for a newer/different device. Sounds like another viable option for those of you who switch phones quite a bit.
