Author: PhoneDog.com – Latest videos, reviews, articles, news and posts

File this one under the “not a surprise” category, but a Morgan Stanley Research survey has uncovered that nearly 17 percent of Verizon’s customers show interest in the iPhone and would probably switch if the device finally came to Big Red.  This is more interest than AT&T’s customers have in the next iPhone, which stands at about 14.6 percent of their customer base.  Katy Huberty, a Morgan Stanley analyst, believes that if the interested 17 percent on Verizon were to switch to an iPhone, this would mean around seven or eight million more iPhones sold every year.  We know that Steve Jobs and Apple love money, so we’re sure that they would like to bring the iPhone to Verizon as soon as possible.

In the same report, Huberty goes on to say that she believes that when Verizon finally does get the iPhone, AT&T won’t lose as many customers as most of us think since most are locked into family contracts which would be extremely expensive to break.  Would any of you AT&T customers switch to Verizon if they got the iPhone at some point?  Tell us your thoughts!

Seeing sequels is a common occurence in this business, but the LG Vu Plus offers enough of improvements over the original to justify the “Plus” moniker.  Offering some welcome improvements over the original device, the Vu Plus sports a 3.0-inch capacitive touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard (a welcome addition to the original Vu, in my book), HSPA 7.2 Mbps support (one of 18 available models, according to AT&T), 3.0-megapixel camera, microSD card slot, and support for AT&T’s Mobile TV and AT&T Navigator.

The Vu Plus will be available in AT&T retail stores and online on June 6th for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.  Have a gander at the press release below, and let me know – interested, or passing it up for something else?

AT&T and LG Introduce the LG Vu Plus, One of 18 7.2 HSPA Capable Devices

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.

Following up on our story last week about Nokia and Yahoo! announcing a partnership, we’ve finally got solid deatils on what this new alliance plans to achieve following the announcement this morning.  The two companies said that they will be merging their strengths in email, IM, and navigation services to enhance the experiences of all of their customers.  While there was no Nokhoo! Phone announched, the companies did lay out exactly how they will be merging their services together:

• Nokia will be the exclusive, global provider of Yahoo!’s maps and navigation services, integrating Ovi Maps across Yahoo! properties, branded as “powered by Ovi.”
• Yahoo! will become the exclusive, global provider of Nokia’s Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat services branded as “Ovi Mail / Ovi Chat powered by Yahoo!”
• Nokia and Yahoo! plan to work on ID federation between their services, beginning by making it easy for people to use their Ovi user IDs across select Yahoo! properties to easily access the online content and services they need

If you just can’t wait to get your hands on the product of this partnership, then we have good news for you: co-branded services should be available in the latter half of 2010 and released globally in 2011.  So now that all of the plans are laid out, do you think that this new partnership will help the two companies fight off Google and Android?

Read the entire press release here.

Jon of Tehkseven rounds up all of the big cellular news PhoneDog highlighted the week of May 16th – May 22nd, 2010.  Hey it’s raining awesome, so this week Jon talks about how Google held their IO meeting in San Francisco where Noah was live to hear the announcement of Froyo, Android 2.2.  Noah also got his hands on the Samsung Galaxy S during the event.  Be sure to check out these stories and everything else covered by PhoneDog last week and beyond.

If you use Windows Mobile devices for your business (or pleasure) and want one last upgrade before Windows Phone 7 is released, then we have good news for you.  Verizon and LG announced today that they will be releasing the LG Fathom, a 1 GHz Snapdragon device packing a touchscreen, a slide out QWERTY keyboard, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and a microSD card slot for storing all of your important business documents.  The Fathom will be released on Verizon on June 3rd for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and a two year contract of course.  The device will be available for pre-order on May 27th.  So, are any of you planning shunning Windows Phone 7 and picking up the LG Fathom?  Tell us below!

The HTC EVO 4G has been one of the most highly anticipated Android devices since Sprint and HTC announced it back at CTIA this past March.  Two weeks ago at a launch party in New York, Sprint unveiled even more details about the phone including the official release date and pricing.  Just last week at Google I/O, Google gave all attendees EVO 4Gs as parting gifts.

If you didn’t already know, Google I/O is a developers conference, so the majority of people attending are developers of Google services, including Android.  And what do developers like to do with their Android phones?  Well root them of course!  Only a few days after receiving their shiny new EVO 4Gs, a few developers did just that, and were eager to share their results with the user community.  Below you’ll see a video of one such developer walking us through the process.  Enjoy!

{Widget type=”youtube” id=”ilSNtLGNw2U” }

Anyone planning on rooting their EVO come June 4th?  Sound off in the comments!

Via Engadget

Sporting a 2.6-inch touchscreen display, Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, 2.0-megapixel camera, music player, Bluetooth, and 3G connectivity (where available), the Samsung Messager Touch can be purchased now in US Cellular retail stores and online for $49.95 after mail-in rebate.  While it’s not the latest Android smartphone, it’s a nice little mid-range device worth considering.  And hey, TouchWiz gives you a decent level of customization, so you can make the device a bit more “you.” 

The full press release is below.  Anyone planning to pick one up?

Samsung Mobile and U.S. Cellular® Launch the Samsung Messager Touch™
Features a 2.6 inch touch screen, full QWERTY keyboard andbuilt-in 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder
 
DALLAS – May 24, 2010 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)1 the No.1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.2, and U.S. Cellular, today announced the availability of the Samsung Messager Touch™ (SCH-r630). The Messager Touch is a fashionable, feature-rich touchscreen messaging phone with a convenient slide-out QWERTY keyboard available in black and vibrant eye-catching blue.  
 
“The Samsung Messager Touch is an exciting new addition to our messaging line-up,” said Ed Perez, vice-president of marketing and sales for U.S. Cellular. “It’s a very cool phone, and our customers can add their personal touch by customizing the functions.”
 
The Samsung Messager Touch is equipped with a full 2.6 inch touchscreen display, which features Samsung’s unique TouchWiz™ interface. The TouchWiz interface incorporates specially designed widgets that allow users to customize and personalize their phone, with instant access to their favorite functions. The Samsung Messager Touch comes equipped with a widget tray, which stores a users most commonly used widgets.  The Messager Touch features preloaded widgets and other downloadable applications such as games, social networking applications and wallpapers through its easyedge(SM) services.
 
The slide-out QWERTY keyboard and touch screen on the Messager Touch makes it easy to view and send texts, videos and pictures via text message instantly. Equipped with a 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder with up to 16GB of MicroSD memory support, users can capture photos and videos and store them instantly. The Samsung Messager Touch also includes a built-in music player to listen to all of your favorite tunes while on-the-go, Bluetooth® capabilities for seamless hands-free communication, voice recognition software, speakerphone, three-way calling, speed dialing and one-touch dialing.
 
Key features include:

• 2.6 inch Touchscreen Display
• QWERTY Keyboard
• TouchWiz™ User Interface
• 2.0 Megapixel Camera with Camcorder
• Music and Video Player
• Text, Picture and Video Messaging
• easyedgeSM Services: Downloadable Ringtones, Wallpapers, Games and Business Applications
• Bluetooth® Connectivity
• Voice Recognition Software
• Standard Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery: Up To 5 Hours
• Dimensions: 2.12” X 4.13” X .59” Inches
• Weight: 3.81 Ounces

The Samsung Messager Touch is available today for $49.95 after mail-in rebate at U.S. Cellular retail locations or at www.uscellular.com. For additional information about the Samsung Messager Touch visit www.samsungmobileusa.com.
 

We’ve been hearing rumors that the iPhone is headed to Verizon since just about when the original iPhone made its debut in 2007.  What we haven’t heard as often is that the iPhone would be headed to Sprint, but that’s exactly what the latest rumor seems to be.  MacRumors has received a couple of tips from sources affiliated with Sprint that have said that the iPhone will indeed be available on the No. 3 carrier later this year.  One of those sources went on to say that the device would be available on Sprint around September, which is approximately when the iPhone has been rumored to be headed to Verizon, as well.  While there’s no way to tell if any of these rumors are true until we hear it directly from Steve Jobs, I’m sure that Sprint would love to have the iPhone, as their CFO Robert Brust has stated in the past.  It may not be Verizon, but there would probably be quite a few people that would leave AT&T for Sprint and their considerably cheaper monthly plans.  When September rolls around, we may finally see the iPhone available on several carriers, perhaps even all of the big four, which would definitely help Apple and the iPhone compete with Android.

Apparently the fanfare of Google I/O is starting to get to Apple fans – well, at least one Apple fan, that is.  MacRumors reader Bryan Webster decided to reach out to Steve Jobs on Saturday – many have tried this, only few have heard back – hoping to elicit a response regarding what Apple’s plans are for “blowing [Google] out of the water” come WWDC.  The statements Webster made were pretty bold, and clearly (at least it seems that way) he wanted Jobs to know what “team” he’s rooting for.

Jobs isn’t known for his lengthy responses, but he seemed confident enough to assure his fans (Jobs must have known this response wasn’t intended for one person) that they wouldn’t be disappointed.  Perhaps his response will tie Apple fans over until WWDC in a few weeks.  What’s more, Jobs himself will be kicking off the conference with a keynote address at 10:00am Monday, June 7.  I wonder if he will have any exciting announcements for us?

If you were going to send an email to Steve Jobs, what would you ask or tell him?  Let us know in the comments!

Via SlashGear, TechCrunch

Steve Jobs to Kick Off Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2010 with Keynote Address on Monday, June 7

CUPERTINO, Calif., May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® will kick off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address by CEO Steve Jobs on Monday, June 7 at 10:00 a.m. This year’s WWDC sold out in a record eight days to over 5,000 developers.

The five-day event running from June 7 to June 11, is focused on providing advanced content for skilled developers across five key technology tracks: Application Frameworks; Internet & Web; Graphics & Media; Developer Tools; and Core OS. Apple engineers will deliver over 100 solutions-oriented technical sessions and labs. WWDC 2010 gives an incredibly diverse community the opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iPhone®, iPad™ and Mac® developers from around the world.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution with the Apple II, then reinvented the personal computer with the Macintosh. Apple continues to lead the industry with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system, and iLife, iWork and professional applications. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store, has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

© 2010 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Carrier: Sprint
Retail Price: $219.99 or via ebay
Phone Price: $0.00 and via Wirefly
Hot Features: 3G capable, 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth technology, full QWERTY keyboard

Here we go again folks.  This isn’t the first “in the wild” spotting of the purported next-gen iPhone, and with just 15 days until WWDC – which will hopefully end the speculation once and for all – I’m willing to bet it won’t be the last.  The first sighting of this phone was here in the US, but lately it seems to be spending some quality time in Asia; first in Vietnam, as we’ve now seen a few times, and now in what appears to be either Hong Kong or China (or both?).

There is, however, one thing about this sighting that sets it apart from the rest.  What’s that, you ask?  This sighting is not merely of a run-of-the-mill black next-gen iPhone, the leaked image contains a white iPhone as well – perhaps for those of us who like to mix it up a bit.  Personally, I’d like to see a nice gray colored iPhone, but I think we all know that some (ahem!) have a hard time seeing things outside of black and white.

The images come from Chinese website Apple.pro who claim the photos in question are proof of not only one, but two variants of the highly-anticipated device.  Don’t get too excited just yet though, as word on the street suggests there’s a possibility these may not be the real deal.  If you examine the pictures more closely, there are a few things that set off that little “fake” alarm we know all too well.  First, there’s a larger than normal gap between the chrome mid-section of the phone and the faceplate, which could suggest that the phone is either not fully assembled or that it’s just not the real thing.  Second, at the bottom of the phone you can see the two screw holes that we saw the first time around, which could mean they come from an earlier prototype than what we’ve seen more recently.

In any case, I’m willing to bet many of the answers to our questions will be laid out before us in the days to come.  If the white next-gen iPhone (fashioned from pure unicorn horn) does in fact exist, will you be putting it on your wish list?  Lets us know in the comments!

Via Engadget, BGR

Congratulations to L. Cortes of CA who won a brand new T-Mobile myTouch 3G on Saturday May 22, 2010 at 8:00PM.  “im just happy to have won finally and i love phonedog.com”

Chances are you already know about Google’s decision to roll out Froyo only days after they said they’d be rolling it out in a “few weeks.”  But if you own a Nexus One (the first device slated to receive the update) and have yet to receive your update, there’s a reason for that.  Apparently this roll-out will be “slow” and “staggered,” which means that while it will eventually make its way to all N1s it may not happen right away.  According to TechCrunch, it appears that members of the press who received N1s at the Nexus One launch event may be receiving updates first, but one thing is for certain, Google has officially confirmed “The roll out to Nexus One devices has begun!”

Now, you don’t think we’d leave those of you who haven’t received the update without a solution do you?  Thanks to the folks over at Phandroid, we’ve got instructions on how you can manually update your N1 to Android 2.2.  Of course, these directions come with the obvious warnings such as: install this update at your own risk, and please (for the love of G-d!) make sure you backup your device first.  Also, according to AndroidandMe this update is only confirmed as working on T-Mobile N1s, and if your N1 is currently rooted you need to get it back to stock.  Alright, enough of the formalities, go get your Froyo on!

Here are the directions (courtesy of Phandroid):

1. Download the Android 2.2 firmware for the Nexus One – here
2. Rename the file update.zip and copy it to your microSD card via USB. [Note: make sure the file is named update.zip and not update.zip.zip.]
3. Power down your Nexus One
4. Hold down the “Volume Down” button as you power the phone back on.
5. A screen should appear showing your phone’s system searching for various files. Scroll down to “recovery” and press the “Power” button.
6. When you see the triangle with an exclamation point symbol, press the “Power” and “Volume Up” buttons at the same time.
7. From the menu that appears, select “Apply sdcard:update.zip.”
8. When the screen displays “Install from sdcard complete” select “reboot system now” and wait for the phone to power back up.

For those of you who plan to wait it out (and I can’t blame you if you do) here’s a walkthrough thanks to the folks at AndroidCentral, to give you a taste of what you can expect to receive, in time.

{Widget type=”youtube” id=”531mrieo2p4″ } 

If you decide to manually update, let us know how it goes.  If you don’t, let us know about that too! 

Via TechCrunch, Phandroid, AndroidandMe

Even after the Google I/O event is over, Android continues to dominate the headlines.  This time we’ve found a supposed photo of the Getting Started manual for a new Motorola Android device headed for Verizon uploaded by the user “wnrussel” over at HowardForums.  Little is known about the device other than the fact that the filename is Shadow, which leads many to believe that this is the 4.3-inch Android device we’ve been hearing rumors about for some time now.  Judging from the photo, the device looks to be running an updated version of Motoblur, possibly on top of Android 2.1 or maybe even Froyo.  What are your thoughts on this new Motorola device?  Tell us in the comments!

It seems that when Google said that Froyo was coming to the Nexus One “in the coming weeks,” it had a big surprise planned as the update has already begun to roll out to devices.  TechCrunch has reported that the update has begun to slowly be released to the Google phone ahead of schedule, and all of the updates to the OS that were promised seem to have materialized.  Many people that have received the update have stated that their devices are indeed much faster than with Android 2.1, so Nexus One owners should check their phone for updates to see if they have a tasty treat awaiting them.

What’s Good: Wi-Fi, trackpad, and more memory.

What’s Bad: Keyboard is oddly domed; besides the positive improvements listed in “What’s Good,” it’s virtually identical to the Tour 9630.  Expensive.

Verdict: If you’re looking for something to replace your Curve 8330 or 8830 World Edition, the Bold 9650 is worth a look.  But for someone using a Tour 9630 or Curve 8530, I don’t think there’s enough to justify the upgrade.  I also think the device is a bit pricey, given that the EVO 4G and iPhone 3GS are also $199.99.

Announced at WES 2010 last month, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 has made its way to Sprint (with no Verizon launch in sight as of yet).  Featuring Wi-Fi, a trackpad, additional system memory, and a few cosmetic changes, the device is more of a revision of the Tour 9630 than it is an entirely new model.

The Bold 9650 ships in a box that’s identical in size to the Tour 9630 (though the Sprint design has changed a bit).  The unit ships with a battery, SIM card for international travel, USB cable, charger, swivel holster, AC adapter, 2 GB microSD card, and instruction manuals.  From a design perspective, the device closely resembles its older brother, the Tour 9630.  Buttons are in the same place, the chrome looks exactly the same, and the keyboard is the same.  Overall functionality appears to be faster (thanks to the increased system memory), but I’m still running tests to determine if it’s true or if it’s just me.

I haven’t had the device long enough to do any accurate battery tests, but I will say that call quality and signal strength seem to be good.  I briefly took the unit to a Sprint dead spot, and was able to make a call, despite having no bars of service.  The people I’ve called can all hear me well, and it’s clear and loud on my end also.  My Bluetooth headset connects perfectly as well.

Other things that I’ve found:

• Call me crazy, but I noticed this on the demos at WES 2010, and my unit has the same “issue.”  If you place your finger on the trackpad and move from right to left, it’s as if the keyboard piece is domed.  It’s a strange feeling – it’s as if they packed a bunch of stuff under the keyboard, and tried to cram the keyboard over it.  Think of it like overpacking a suitcase; sure, it zips, but you have that telltale bulge in the center of it.  It’s just like that.  When I use the keyboard, I feel like it’s going to pop off and motherboard components are going to go everywhere.  Maybe I’ll get used to it.
• Due to the size increase of the trackpad, the bottom row of the keyboard (space bar row) is a bit smaller versus the Tour.  Overall, the rest is nearly identical.
• The trackpad is a nice addition.  Much better – and more reliable – than the trackball.
• Sprint decided to go with the rubberized back this time around versus the glossy back they used on the Tour 9630.  A welcome improvement, as it doesn’t pick up every fingerprint in the world, and it gives the back more consistency. 
• The chrome around the edges looks identical to the chrome around the BlackBerry Tour 9630.  It’ll be interesting to see if Verizon goes with the darker chrome from the Tour 9630, or if they stick with the lighter chrome.
• After the negative comments RIM received about putting the microUSB charging port on the lower right hand side of the device (versus the top left as seen on the Bold 9000, 9700, Curve 83XX series, and others), I was surprised to see that they left it in the same place.  I’m guessing it was for design purposes (easier to modify an existing design and get the Bold 9650 to market versus going back to the drawing board).
• “Bold” is written in large letters just above the camera (which is still 3.2-megapixels).
• The battery door is slightly different on the Bold 9650 versus the Tour 9630; the design is comprised of lines versus the carbon fiber look on the Tour 9630.

Now it’s time to jump off for the weekend and play with…er, “test” it.  Stay tuned for my full review!

Hopefully none of you have been waiting in line outside of your local Verizon store for the LG Ally, because you’re in for a long wait.  MobileCrunch has posted an email allegedly received by someone who pre-ordered the Ally that states that the release date for LG’s new device’s availability is slated to be “on or around May 27th.”  There’s no reason given for the delay, so we’re not sure what’s up.  All we know is it’s good that the delay is only a week and not anything longer, otherwise users may start considering jumping ship to Sprint for their new superphone, the EVO 4G.  Have any of you pre-ordered the Ally and received a similar e-mail?  Tell us!

Months after the announcement was made, the Federal Trade Commission has approved Google’s purchase of AdMob, and it appears that Apple’s plans worked in their favor.  Who would have thought it?  Clearly referencing the Cupertino company and their upcoming “iAd” service, the FTC stated that the Google/AdMob deal “is unlikely to harm competition in the emerging market for mobile advertising networks.”

The official statement, posted on AdMob’s website:

We are extremely pleased with the FTC’s decision today to clear Google’s acquisition of AdMob. Over the past six months we’ve received a great deal of support from across the mobile industry – and we deeply appreciate it.

We are excited to get to what’s next and to start working with Google to develop new products and services for our advertisers, developers, and publishers. We share a commitment to helping our customers navigate and take advantage of the mobile opportunity. Together, Google and AdMob will be able to bring a whole host of new products and capabilities to mobile advertising.

I have to pause to acknowledge the AdMob team.  It takes a tremendous group to stay focused and remain productive during a process like this review.   The Google deal was announced in November of last year.  Rather than sit idle for six months, we’ve launched 15 new products, updated 11 more, and continued building a phenomenal business that is serving an ever growing base of customers.  I couldn’t be more grateful for all this group has done

We will now work with Google to close the deal. Once that happens, we will finally get to the fun part – connecting our teams and products to find ways to better serve our customers. Stay tuned.

Good news for Google, and I’ll be excited to see what comes out of the combined company in the coming months.

Via FTC, AdMob, Engadget

After the Google I/O event and news of Froyo and Google TV in the past couple of days, the big G seems to be on everyone’s mind.  A search provider we don’t hear from as much, Yahoo, may be ready to make take a piece of that mindshare on Monday with a press conference where they are reportedly going to announce a partnership with phone manufacturer Nokia codenamed “Project Nike.”  Kara Swisher of All Things D has announced the new partnership that aims to help Yahoo compete with Google and Bing.  Yahoo, who doesn’t have a mobile existence like Google with Android or Bing with Windows Phone 7, could increase their presence in the mobile space with Nokia. 

Although Nokia doesn’t have a huge piece of the U.S. market, they are a big part of the mobile phone sector worldwide.  However, Nokia is known more for their feature phones than high-end smartphones.  With both companies struggling to stay relevant in the mobile space, a deal like this may be necessary to compete with the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Apple.

Do you think a partnership between Yahoo and Nokia makes sense? Tell us your thoughts!

Via All Things D

Though many have said the Nexus One as a whole was a failure, those that purchased the device might tell you otherwise.  The advantages to having purchased an Android device with a carrier-subsidy are rather obvious, but there’s one thing Nexus One owners will always seem to have over their peers – they’re always the first to get updated to the newest iteration of Android OS.  Why?  Because once the update is ready, Google can send it directly to the N1 without any issues, while in every other case there are middlemen such as carriers and custom UIs to deal with.

Yesterday Google officially announced Android 2.2 at the Google I/O developers conference, which we have known for some time now as Froyo.  Not long after the announcement was made, the Google I/O Twitter account updated their status to say: “Froyo on Nexus One soon! (next few weeks).”  So, while there are those who will continue to scoff at Google’s attempt to change the way business was done in the  wireless telecom industry, Nexus One owners will continuously be laughing themselves all the way to faster updates, more features, and greater efficiency.

If you own a Nexus One, do you feel you can safely say “Who’s laughing now?”  Sound off below!

Via PhoneScoop