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For world travelers on AT&T and T-Mobile, it’s understandable that you want to unlock your phone when you travel overseas.  In a kind gesture, T-Mobile has reduced the requirements that must be met prior to them unlocking your beloved wireless device.  Before today, FlexPay, postpaid, and prepaid (provided you’ve had a minimum $10 balance and have refilled the account in the past month) customers were required to wait 90 days before receiving an unlock code.  As it stands now, FlexPay and postpaid customers will be able to receive their code after 40 days of service, while prepaid customers will be able to receive theirs after 60 days of service.

It’s important to note that the account must be in good standing, with no service interruptions or past-due balances.  It’s free, and enables you to put any kind of GSM SIM card in your device.  Why not?  Hit the comments section and let us know how it goes!

Via Engadget Mobile

The Apple rumor mill moves like clockwork. First you get the constant stream of rumors all year long. Then you get spikes in rumor traffic leading up to the usual times on the calendar: January (post-CES / ex-MacWorld), Spring (WWDC), Summer (iPhone refresh), and Back to School (iPod event). And then, in the week that always falls between Apple announcing a media event and the event actually happening, the rumor mill goes bezerk. 

Yesterday, Apple announced a press gathering for next Wednesday morning in San Francisco. Ergo, today the rumor mill has switched into overdrive.  The latest? We’ve got rumors about the Apple Tablet, iPhone OS 4.0, and even Apple’s iLife multimedia creation suite, which currently only runs on Mac OS X for computers, not iPhones.

BGR says they’ve got iPhone OS 4.0 intel from one of their “trusty Apple connects,” who must be Mr. Blurrycam’s silent partner. Notably, BGR says to look out for the following in the next generation of Apple’s mobile platform:

• iPhone OS 4.0 will only run on the 3G and 3GS models, which makes sense to me (sorry original iPhone owners). The update will be the much-needed dramatic overhaul that I’ve been waiting for, and according to BGR’s sources it will “put [Apple] ahead in the smartphone market because it will make [iPhones] more like full-fledged computers.”
• The OS refresh will include “Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient”
• Everyone at Apple is “really excited” about iPhone OS 4.0

Important new features will include improved multitasking (backgrounding of apps), improved syncing of calendars and contacts, system-wide multi-touch gesture support. That last bit of info jibes with earlier reports that the OS 4.0 will power iPhone, iPod Touch, and the new “iTablet,” though the tablet may run a slightly modified version of the OS.

All Things Digital has been focusing on the content aspects of the tablet launch, which could prove incredibly important to the magazine and newspaper industries (something us hardware junkies may be overlooking in our gadgetlust). According to today’s MediaMemo post:

• Look for the New York Times to join Steve Jobs at the Apple event next Wed. That means some kind of newspaper content being delivered via the iTunes Store
• Look for some kind of E-Reader content coming to iTunes, as well. There’s been lots of buzz in the past few days about publishing giant HarperCollins holding negotiations with Apple as of late
• Don’t expect any big music labels in the house next week. The Apple tablet may well play music (it’d better), but beyond iTunes LP support, the device doesn’t look to offer anything new in the music content arena. Music videos? Sure. But not music itself.

I’ve got some thoughts on iTablet and the future of magazines and newspapers that I’ll pull together in a separate post. For now, let’s leave it at this: Something’s coming from Apple next Wednesday, and it’s going to involve content and content delivery methods as well as hardware. Whatever it is, we’ll keep you informed right here on the Dog.

And, oh yeah, there are also reports that Apple will launch iLife 2010 at next week’s event.  iLife is Apple’s multimedia software suite for creating and managing music, photos and video. While the software is currently only available for use on Mac OS X laptop and desktop computers, it wouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibility for Apple to include some media creation/editing software on the tablet computer. Then again, it would also make sense to position the tablet as simpler and lower cost than Apple’s MacBook/MacBook Pro line of full-fledged notebook computers, thus keeping iLife off of iTablet.

What say you? iPhone OS 4.0 – are you excited? Are you expecting another Apple phone revolution, or merely some evolutionary steps aimed at keeping pace with Android and WebOS, the current pace-setters in the modern smartphone arena? Sound off in the comments!

[Via: BGR, All Things D, AppleInsider; Image Via: FunkySpaceMonkey] 

We learned a few days ago that the Motorola MOTOROI was en-route to Korea for the country’s first (Motorola) Android release, but it turns out that the rest of the world will be getting some MOTOROI love as well.  Speaking at the Korean launch of the MOTOROI, Motorola Korea chief Rick Wolochatiuk explained that the new handset “will be launched in other markets around the world,” with the United States targeted for a March release.  The MOTOROI offers a 3.7-inch WVGA display, 8.0-megapixel camera with 720p video capture and a Xenon flash, HDMI-out, multitouch (which I doubt will make it to the US version), and more.  

Could the MOTOROI be the mythical “Motorola’s unique form factor smartphone” that is slated to hit AT&T in the “first half of 2010?”  The GSM side could certainly use a Motorola DROID counterpart.

Via Engadget

The blitz is on! PhoneDog is giving away dozens of new cell phones to kick off 2010! Free to play and free to win! Click here to play!

Editor’s Note: Apple just announced a media event on January 27 in San Francisco to announce their “Latest Creation.” Tablet, anyone? We’ll find out next Wednesday.

There are more leaks and rumors in the Apple world regarding their (hopefully) coming soon tablet. According to one of the “insiders” mentioned in a Boy Genius Report article, the tablet is basically an “iPhone on steroids” and the multi-touch gestures are “out of control.” I’m guessing that’s out of control in a good way. The tipster also said that it’s powered by a zippy ARM CPU, not that we expected Apple to do anything less than amazing. With an ARM processor the tablet will deliver incredible speeds and performance while reducing power consumption, something Apple has been good at in the past. Using an ARM processor will also cut down on the hardware cost for Apple meaning that maybe I won’t have to sell my first born in order to buy the tablet. Maybe. This is Apple we’re talking about.

The “multi-touch gestures” that the tipster is talking about is more than likely the product that Fingerworks was bragging about (before Apple shut down the web site in January). If this is what will be implemented into the Apple tablet, then get ready for a wild ride. The multi-touch touchpad is designed to allow the user to do pretty much everything by simply employing a few pre-programmed gestures, whether it’s scrolling, turning up the volume, or going back a page. In a press release from a while back, FingerWorks described it this way: “Mouse operations like point, click, drag, scroll, and zoom are combined seamlessly with touch-typing and multi-finger gesture everywhere on the MacNTouch’s surface.” Sales Manager Jeff Green adds “People are amazed by all the things a hand gesture user interface provides. We have a large number of easy-to-use gestures that cover just about every common computer operation.” Seriously, this stuff is off the chizain!

The tablet will be running on the iPhone kernel, but the tipster didn’t know of any updates in the OS so far, supposedly Apple wanted to avoid leaks. Of course, all of this is just rumor for now. No matter how reliable a tipster may be, we won’t really know until Apple officially releases anything – possibly at their just-announced media event next Wed., January 27.

So now the speculation is that it will be a giant iPhone. Something tells me that’s not the case. I mean, that’s just not Apple’s style. If they’re going to give us something new and exciting, they’re going to give us something completely new and totally exciting. Not only that, but it would be kinda disappointing if it were just a giant iPhone. I mean, really? That’s the best you’ve got?

Sure, it’s running Android 1.5 and has a resistive touchscreen, but after my brief hands-on look at CES 2010, I can say that the LG GW620 is a decent mid-level Android device – particularly given that it’s LG’s first foray into the Android market. 

The LG GW620, branded as the “InTouch Max,” has landed on Virgin Mobile and T-Mobile in the United Kingdom, where £20 (approximately $32.50) monthly and a two-year T-Mobile agreement will net them the device for free.  Virgin Mobile is offering the device for free with a £22 monthly bill and an 18-month agreement.

Head over to T-Mobile UK and Virgin Mobile for more information, including pricing and availability.  Whether it will arrive in the States or not is anyone’s guess (I could see this taking off on Virgin Mobile USA), but the low to mid-level device category is one that Android needs in order to be successful.  The fact that devices like this are hitting the market is a positive sign for Android’s long-term viability.

Via Engadget

Thought AT&T was going to let Verizon lower their unlimited plans without recourse?  Of course not.  On the heels of Verizon’s announcement Friday regarding changes in their unlimited plan pricing structure, AT&T followed suit and lowered their plans as well. 

The new price plans, which take effect today, look exactly the same as Verizon’s – unlimited talk for $69.99, and unlimited talk and text for $89.99.  Family plans mimick Verizon’s changes as well, with unlimited talk (two lines) for $119.99, and unlimited talk and text (two lines) for $149.99.  Unlimited text messaging remains the same at $20 for individual lines, and $30 for family plans.

Though the requirement only applies to the new unlimited plans (from what I can decipher from this press release), a $20 monthly text or data feature is now requred on individual lines, while a $30 monthly text or data feature is required on family plans.  The good news is that text messaging will cover this – so if you have unlimited text messaging on your individual or family account, you’re good to go.

The full press release is below.  Who’s contemplating a switch?

AT&T Announces New Unlimited Plans

AT&T* today announced new unlimited plans across all devices –including its industry-leading lineup of smartphones — to provide more value and choice for customers who want to talk, text and surf on the nation’s fastest 3G network.

“With more than twice the number of smartphone customers as our nearest competitor, we are committed to offering great value and choice for customers who want to talk, text and surf on the nation’s fastest 3G network,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Our new plans reflect customers’ continuing desire to do more with their phones – including talking and browsing the Web at the same time. Plus these new plans make it even more attractive to choose AT&T which already offers customers the best 3G experience and the industry’s most popular and innovative devices.”

The new plans, which will be available beginning Monday, Jan. 18, can be ordered at AT&T’s 2,200 company-owned retail stores and kiosks, through convenient online service at www.att.com, or at one of the thousands of authorized AT&T retail locations.

• Feature Phone customers may choose unlimited talk for $69.99. Family Talk customers (prices assume two lines) may choose unlimited talk for $119.99 per month. Texting plans remain unchanged at $20 for unlimited plans for individuals and $30 for Family Talk plans.
• Quick Messaging Device customers may choose unlimited talk for $69.99 and Family Talk customers may choose unlimited talk for $119.99 per month (for two lines). These plans require a minimum of $20 per month for individual plans and $30 per month for Family Talk plans in texting and/or Web browsing packages for new and upgrading customers.
• All smartphone customers, including iPhone customers, may now buy unlimited voice and data for $99.99. For smartphone customers with Family Talk plans (prices assume 2 smartphones), unlimited voice and data is now available for $179.99. Texting plans remain unchanged at $20 for unlimited plans for individuals, $30 for Family Talk Plans.

Beginning Monday, existing AT&T customers can change to any of the new plans without penalty or contract extension with the online account management tool at www.att.com/wireless.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

In perhaps another positive sign that the BlackBerry Tour2 (Essex) 9650 launch is imminent, a Verizon employee snapped a picture of the Cellebrite machine, clearly showing the device listed along with its fellow ‘Berry brethren.

The thing that caught me off guard is the naming in the system – notice that while the Storm, Storm 2, and Tour are all listed by name, it remains the Essex (its original product code name).  Is it possible that the device will be branded as the BlackBerry Essex 9650 at launch?  It’s possible, but I highly doubt it.  Like anything else, Cellebrite machines require regular updates, and my guess is that an update will come just after the 9650’s launch that will change the Essex moniker to the official retail name.

At any rate, it’s nice to see this.  Anyone that works or has worked in the wireless industry knows that seeing a device listed in the Cellebrite machine is usually a sign of an imminent release.  Anyone want to begin speculation of the launch timeframe?

Via BGR

The bandit is back, and he’s packing a bunch of phones in his bag!  From now until January 25th, we’re running a One-Pawed Bandit Giveaway Blitz!  Thought your chances were good before?  Now they’re even better!  Over the next ten days, you have the opportunity to win one of five Pantech Matrix Pro devices!  On that note, special thanks to our friends at Pantech for providing us with giveaway devices.

Here are the details:

• Five (5) Pantech Matrix Pros will be awarded by the One-Paw Bandit between January 15th and January 25th.
• You must register on PhoneDog.com as a fan in order to play.  We promise we won’t send you anything unless you request to be on our mailing list!
• Navigate to PhoneDog.com’s One-Pawed Bandit page directly, or look for the “Win Phones” tab at the top of PhoneDog.com.
• You are given five (5) spins from the website, and an additional five (5) spins from Facebook every day.  Be sure to use them all!  You’d be surprised at the number of wasted spins we see on a daily basis – it breaks our heart!
• Three (3) identical pictures of fruit or three (3) bells does not constitute a win – it must be three (3) phones.
• Be sure to come back every day to increase your chances of winning!

Since January 1, 2009, 67 winners have won a device through PhoneDog’s One-Paw Bandit game.  You could be number 68! 

Get out there and play!

Yes Sprint HTC Touch Pro2 users, you too will be able to upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 in the coming months.

Making it the last Touch Pro2 to receive the update, Sprint seemed to be a bit vague in regards to a release date, telling customers that it will be available for download “by the end of first quarter, 2010.”  The good news?  Sprint says their Touch Pro2 update will go above and beyond and offer “significant enhancements to the Touch Pro2 user interface which will allow additional customization / personalization options and more integration with the applications users access most.”  Sounds like a bit more than the stock 6.5 improvements, in my book.

The Sprint thread can be found here.  Sure, Windows Mobile 7 is far more exciting, but 6.5 is a nice little step up from 6.1.  Who’s excited?

Via Engadget Mobile

According to a tipster reporting to PhoneArena, Verizon plans to match Sprint’s pricing on their upcoming Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus devices.  Using today’s Sprint pricing, that would make the Palm Pre Plus $149.99, and the Palm Pixi Plus $99.99 (both prices are after a mail-in rebate, which I’m sure Verizon will implement as well).  Though the devices look similar, numerous improvements can be found in the “Plus” versions. For more information on the differences between the Plus models and the original units, see my CES post.

The real excitement comes in the potential for a BOGO offer.  Previously reserved for BlackBerry devices, and as of late, the DROID/Droid Eris duo, a BOGO offering would be a great sales boost for Palm, and the start of a beautiful relationship with America’s largest wireless carrier.  Obviously, this is all a rumor at the moment, but given the brother/sister nature of the Pre Plus/Pixi Plus, I can see both of these rumors coming to fruition.

We’ll find out on January 25th.  I’m curious – is anyone holding out for Verizon’s version of the webOS devices, or has everyone already “defaulted” to Sprint, since they’ve had a six month head start?

Via PreCentral

Sprint today announced a “maintenance update” for the Samsung Moment, complete with several system tweaks.

Here’s what the update offers:

• Network Assist GPS to allow indoor location fix
• Updates to several third-party apps, including Visual Voicemail, NFL, NASCAR and Sprint TV
• Change to Emergency Dial on lock screen
• Hard reset available in recovery mode: remove and reinsert battery; press volume down, send and end keys until reboot option pops up; scroll to wipe data/factory reset; press OK
• Various improvements to battery life

The kicker?  The update is only available at Sprint retail locations with a Repair Center, so you’ll have to venture out of the house to get it.  Given how busy the service and repair locations tend to get, I would highly recommend making an appointment before going in.  If you prefer not to brave the crowds, rest assured – Sprint says an OTA version will be available soon.

I’ve used the Moment, and I can attest that battery life is less than desirable.  Here’s to hoping that the update solves the problem!  If you decide to get your device updated, let us know how it goes.

Via Sprint, AndroidCentral

As expected based on speculation earlier this week, Verizon Wireless formally announced changes to their wireless calling plans.

The new calling plans, which take effect on January 18th, will be renamed “Nationwide Talk” and “Nationwide Talk and Text,” and unlimited options will be available for $69.99 and $89.99, respectively.  Family options will be available as well, with unlimited talk starting at $119.99 and unlimited talk and text starting at $149.99 (both including two lines).  Additional lines will cost $49.99.

Prepaid plans will be revised as well, with a $5 price increase across the board over postpaid options.  The unlimited talk plan will be available for $74.99, while the unlimited talk and text will be $94.99.  450 and 900 minute options will be available as well.

In addition to the LG enV Touch and the Samsung Rogue (which were billed as “multimedia phones” last year), data packages will now be required on the LG Chocolate Touch, LG enV3, LG VX8360, Motorola Entice W766, Nokia 7705 Twist, and Samsung Alias 2.  Options include a 25 MB data plan for $9.99 monthly, or an unlimited option for $29.99 monthly.

Existing Verizon Wireless customers will not be affected by the changes, unless they choose to move to one of the new “Nationwide” plans.  While the unlimited plans have been lowered to a reasonable price (are you listening, AT&T?), the concept of data requirements on the phones listed above is a bit frustrating, to say the least.  For those that want one (or more) of the 3G devices above, make sure to buy before Monday in order to avoid the data requirement.

Frank Caliendo, Steve Ballmer, and Dan Hesse at Sprint’s Overdrive 4G launch event at CES 2010.

I was at CES on Thursday, the 7th, and missed an installment of What Up, Droid? Still, the point of these usually-weekly posts is to deliver a 7-day summary of Droid news real short and sweet like, so I’m just going to pick back up with the news starting on the 8th and carry on as usual. But speaking of CES, check out the PD videos of LG’s GW620 and GT540. I also got some hands-on time with Sony Ericsson’s X10, and caught a demo of the Nexus One speech-to-text feature.

Nexus One

Of course there was a lot of Nexus-related news this week. And I went ahead and grabbed one of those bad boys for myself… for the purpose of reviewing. I didn’t get a loaner and wasn’t eligible for subsidy so I had to go all out retail. Good thing T-Mobile finally decided to offer insurance for the Nexus One at $4.79 a month. It’s not the kind of phone you want to be risky with. Not when you purchase it at full price, anyway.

Hackers are already working the phone, offering up tutorials on rooting/unlocking and fixes for known problems. Sales have started off slow, but I think we’re going to see a huge bump within the next few months when the Nexus hits some other carriers. Be sure to check out Andrew’s comparison between the MT3G and N1.

Updates

There was quite a bit of news about Android uptades as of late, starting with the CES announcement that Backflip and Cliq would both be catching 2.1, with a possible 2.0.1 bump during the wait. Eris is looking at another exclusive update and 2.1 is headed for the Milestone. European Heroes and American MT3Gs can expect the update as well.

New Phones

Speaking of the myTouch 3G, that limited edition Fender phone is finally on deck. Looks like we’ll be seeing it on January 20th. I’m most looking forward to the HTC Bravo, which shares a good deal of Nexus One specs but carries the OEM’s custom version of Android + UI, Sense. That one might be turning up in March. Also on the horizon are the Canadian Milestone and probably further out, the Inbrics M1. (I just wanted to link to that cool video of the M1.)

E-readers and tablets

Before I get too far removed from CES, I should point out that e-readers and tablets are all the Android rage right now. The Entourage Edge and Spring Design Alex and the Adam e-ink reader are probably the most significant announcements of the former, while the ICD Ultra and Compal Tegra are fine examples of the latter.

Those are most of the bigger stories from the last week, folks. As always, check out DroidDog.com for all kinds of news on Android apps, phones, hacks, and more.

Noah gets the new Lotus Elite out of the box and into his unfashionable hands. Imagine the LG Lotus with a touchscreen on its front. That’s Lotus Elite!

CES 2010 Wrap-Up: Noah’s Top 5 Devices

4. Google Nexus One

Okay, so officially the Nexus One launched the day before the day before CES started (i.e. the day before Press Day). But Google had a booth at the Pepcom press event in Vegas, and it happened close enough together to fold N1’s launch into CES in my book, anyway.

Despite the insane hype that smarty-pants tech bloggers – like me – built up around the Earth-shattering business model that we hoped Google might unveil, but never did, Nexus One is still a darn good smartphone. I don’t know if I’d venture into “Superphone” territory like Google’s Marketing team, but I will say it’s the best Android device currently available. What it gives up to Droid (hard QWERTY board) and Droid Eris (HTC’s Sense UI) it makes up for with Voice Input, a responsive 3.7″ touchscreen and a zippy Qualcomm Snapdragon processor under the hood.

And it’s thin, sleek, and feels great in the hand.

And it runs Android 2.1 which adds a few nice little UI touches that make the whole package a tad more consumer friendly.

Then there’s the whole “Branded by Google, sold by Google” thing that Nexus One just ushered in. I frankly have no idea what Google’s got in store for their new online retail presence, but if you believe them N1 is just the first in a long line of devices they’ll be selling direct to consumers around the world. A $529 unlocked / $179 with T-Mobile contract Nexus One is either “just another phone” or “the best Android device yet,” depending on how you look at it. But there’s more to the story, even if it turns out we’ll have to be patient about finding out what else Google & Friends have up their sleeves when it comes to branding devices and selling them straight to consumers.

Previous: Notion Ink Adam

Update: Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile are waiving text message fees for those that text message 90999 from their device.

Incredible news today by way of donating: As of 4 PM EST, US wireless carriers had received $5 million in donations from customers. 

To break the data down, that’s $5 million in 48 hours, based on $10 increments.  In comparison, contributions for all of last year (2009) totaled just less than $4 million.  All proceeds go to the Red Cross for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

To donate $10 to the Red Cross, text “HAITI” to 90999 from your mobile device.  The numbers will be revised as I receive them.  $5 million and counting – let’s keep up the good work!

Via Twitter

Music lovers, your device is here.  Featuring a customized battery back, a 3.5mm headphone jack, 16 GB microSD card slot, and new media sync software.  What’s more, the unit offers preloaded content from Eric Clapton, Avril Lavigne, Brad Paisley, and Wyclef Jean.  The myTouch 3G Fender Edition will launch with Android 1.6, but will be eligible for Android 2.1 later in the year.  Sporting a $180 price tag with a new two-year agreement, the limited edition device will be available on January 20th at select T-Mobile stores.

Another myTouch 3G, another color – though I will admit, there are some neat features.  Keep in mind that the phone is a limited edition device, so when they’re gone, they’re gone for good.  Anyone planning to ditch their existing myTouch 3G (or any other device, for that matter) to get their hands on the Fender Edition?

Via PhoneScoop, Fender

Thought that the N900 software update would be released earlier in the week would be the only one?  Think again.

In the second release this week, Nokia included full support for Swiss keyboard layouts, improved compatibility with 3-branded SIM cards, tweaks to Ovi Maps, and support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.  The software update will be available over-the-air and via PC over the next day or so, so be sure to keep an eye out for it.  Two updates, Ovi Store enabled – all necessary improvements to make the N900 functional on the consumer end.

I think the Nokia N900 and Maemo both hold a great deal of potential, but they need to work out a few kinks before it hits the marketplace.  With these little tweaks, could the N900 be inching towards a potential carrier release (T-Mobile)?  Hit the comments section with your thoughts.

Via Engadget Mobile