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Verizon Razzle: the twisting phone

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Smartphones, Music, Portable Audio / Video,

Verizon has announced the Razzle, a mobile phone with an intriguing control interface. The Razzle has a lower half that twists. On one side, you’ve got a QWERTY keyboard, and on the other, stereo speakers with music controls. As for the other features, it has a 2.2-inch display, 1.3 megapixel camera, GPS, and microSD expansion card. You can order it now from Verizon’s web store.

IREX DR800SG e-book reader set for October launch

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Handhelds,

A new e-book reader is set to enter the market as IREX announced that their 8.1 inch display version is planned for an October release. Like Plastic Logic, IREX is partnering with Barnes and Noble for the digital catalog, and teaming with Verizon for the 3G wireless downloads. IREX has also partnering to sell its e-readers (model number DR800SG) to Best Buy stores nationwide for a price of $399. This price include 2GB of built-in memory, leather cover, and user-replaceable battery.

HTC Touch Pro2 available for purchase from Sprint

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,

It looks like the HTC Touch Pro2 is now available for purchase from Sprint. Head on over to a Sprint store, or the Sprint online store, and be ready to drop $350 on their newest smartphone. Yes, that $350 is after both the carrier subsidy and rebate, but no one ever said that living on the cutting edge of mobile tech would be inexpensive, right? The HTC Touch Pro2 has a 3.6 WVGA display and an EVDO-Rev A connection that can be supplemented by WiFi where available.

Oh, and if you wanna save some money on this one, Verizon Wireless will be selling it for $199 after mail-in rebate, in just 3 days.

Verizon AD3700 USB Modem

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Accessories, USB, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi,

Verizon Wireless announced its long-awaited ZTE AD3700 USB modem on Friday. This modem plugs right in to the USB port of your laptop, and gives you EVDO in the United States and HSPA around the world with 3G service. It launched over the weekend with a price of $79.99, after $50 rebate.

Verizon Wireless opts to end handset exclusivity agreements (with a catch)

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,

Verizon Wireless announced this morning that their President and CEO, Lowell McAdam, has sent a letter to lawmakers on Capitol Hill announcing that “Effective immediately for small wireless carriers…any new exclusivity arrangement we enter with handset makers will last no longer than six months - for all manufacturers and all devices.” At first glance, that’s kind of a big deal. After all, handset exclusivity is something that can be very financially beneficial to a carrier (see AT&T and iPhone as one such example.) So here’s the thing, when you re-read that statement, you discover that this exclusivity thing will still be in effect as it pertains to AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. It’s only the small wireless carriers, those with 500,000 customers or less, that will be able to pick up handsets that are exclusive to Verizon Wireless after a six-month period. Still, it’s better than nothing, but the cast majority of non-Verizon Wireless mobile customers won’t benefit from this news.

In other words, this is a blatant attempt by Verizon Wireless to look like the nice guy while the FCC and congressional inquiries into exclusive handset deals proceed. This isn’t much progress at all. It’s just a political play that we can guarantee wouldn’t have happened if lawmakers weren’t taking a peek behind the curtain. What’s more, Verizon is hoping that other carriers will follow their lead with this move, specifically AT&T with the iPhone.

You can see the entire letter after the break.

Click to continue reading Verizon Wireless opts to end handset exclusivity agreements (with a catch)

Slacker makes debut on BlackBerry Storm

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Music, Software,

You know that Slacker streaming radio service that we’re so fond of in these parts? Well, BlackBerry Storm owners will be able to start enjoying Slacker directly on their phones, starting today. Verizon Wireless is pushing the Slacker Radio app to BlackBerry Storm phones, and the app will connect to V CAST as well. If you are listening to a track that is also available on V CAST, you’ll see an icon come up that will let you purchase and download it instantly, without interrupting your flow. If you’re on a BlackBerry Storm, check it out.

Verizin FiOS Widgets Bazaar brings Twitter and Facebook to your TV

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Internet, Software,

Remember those rising files Facebook and Twitter features we told you about? Well, they finally arrived. Verizon FiOS is in the middle of rolling out its Widget Bazaar, which includes Twitter and Facebook integration. You’ll be able to see what others are tweeting in regards to the show that you’re watching in the read-only Twitter widget. For example, if you’re watching a baseball game, you can pull up the Twitter widget to see what others are saying about the same game.

A Facebook widget is also being introduced, and will allow you to see a basic view of your news feed, even allowing you to see your friends photos. While you can’t do any manual updates, the Facebook widget does support sending status updates showing what shows you’re watching. The one caveat here, is that you can currently only have one Facebook profile on a files cable box.

There are other features here as well, as blip.tv, DailyMotion, and Veoh videos will be available to Home Media DVR subscribers.

According to Verizon, this is just the beginning. Their plan is to allow developers access to their open platform so that more interactive files TV applications will be available.

Read More | Verizon FiOS WIdget Bazaar Release

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3G speed test: Verizon wins, AT&T dead last

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Internet, Science, Wireless / WiFi,

No shocker here. Wired.com did their own independent tests to determine the fastest and slowest average 3G network speeds in the US, and Verizon came out on top. The survey included 15,000 participants, with 12,000 of them reporting back with data that was valid and usable for the tests. Verizon clocked in with an average download speed of 1,940 kbps, T-Mobile dropped in at second at 1,793 kbps, Sprint took third at 1,598 kbps, and AT&T was way behind at just 901 kbps. That’s just sad, and very telling when you consider the complaints from many an iPhone user as it pertains to 3G speeds.

Granted, this wasn’t the most scientific of studies, as the test included 8153 AT&T users, compared to just 856 from Verizon, but hey, the info is still useful, right?

Amazon launches Amazon Wireless, selling mobile plans

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Hot Deals, Internet, Wireless / WiFi,

Amazon has launched Amazon Wireless beta, an online storefront where you can purchase voice and data plans from AT&T and Verizon, with T-Mobile and Sprint also coming soon. Normally, we wouldn’t give something like this a second look, but it’s Amazon, and they will be pointing consumers to this wireless portal from within the main Amazon site. The nice thing about Amazon Wireless is that you can compare offerings from the carriers in one easy-to-use spot, rather than visiting 2-4 different sites. Even better, all that mail-in rebate stuff goes out the window if you end up buying your mobile phone and plan on Amazon Wireless - all discounts are instant. Amazon Wireless beta is open now, and currently has over 130 phones up for sale.

Verizon Decides to Offer BlackBerry Tour to Existing Customers

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds,

It looks like Verizon has decided to start offering the BlackBerry Tour to existing customers. Originally, Verizon planned to only offer the Blackberry Tour to new and qualified customers. However, due to all the negative press, it appears that they’ve changed their tune, as their BlackBerry Tour page now states that “existing customers will be able to upgrade or purchase the Blackberry Tour.” They haven’t given any further info on how existing customer upgrades will work, however they say interested customers should come back to the website tomorrow for more information. We are definitely liking the fact that mobile providers seem to finally started to be listening to their customers. As you recall, AT&T changed their iPhone 3GS upgrade policy due to heavy backlash from current iPhone 3G customers who wanted to upgrade immediately.

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