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Leaked: New ATT text messaging plans in preparation for Verizon iPhone

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

ATT new text messaging rates

AT&T customers, get ready for new text messaging rates to go into effect starting next week. As the Verizon iPhone approaches, the company is looking to make their plans look a bit more attractive, and not so different from what Verizon will be offering. Above is an image leaked out of Best Buy showing that AT&T will have two text messaging plans going forward. The first is a new $10 per month for 1000 text messages (with each additional costing $.10,) while the second is the $20 unlimited text plan ($30 for family plans.) Going away are the $5/200 message and $15/1500 message plans. If you're a current customer on one of those plans, you are grandfathered in and can hold onto it, but new customers won't have those choices starting on January 23rd. Also on that day, AT&T will be raising activation fees.

We're not sure how much this will do to keep people from jumping ship, but it certainly makes the texting plans a little clearer. Also, be sure to check out how Best Buy plans to convince customers to choose the AT&T iPhone. War is upon us!

Free iPhone 3GS at Best Buy today, in-store only

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Hot Deals,

free iphone 3gs best buy

Best Buy is giving away free 8GB iPhone 3GS smartphones to customers today. Supplies are limited, and you can only get the deal in-store with two-year new or upgrade activation. Sure, the iPhone 3GS is a year-and-a-half old, but this is the first time we've seen any iPhone given away free with contract. With the holidays and all, you can certainly bet that any teens in your household would love to unwrap this one on Christmas morning. Speaking of which, be sure to peep our 2010 Holiday Gift Guide!

Samsung Nexus S: Next Google phone to launch Dec. 16 with Gingerbread

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,

Google Nexus S

The Google Nexus S is officially the next Google phone, as Google confirmed it this morning, throwing up a product page for the upcoming smartphone. What's so special about it? Well, for starters, it's the first phone to ship with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and Google says that owners of the Nexus S will be the first to receive future software and app updates. It's got a 4-inch WVGA display, tri-band HSPA (but no HSPA+ to take advantage of those faster T-Mobile speeds,) a 5 megapizel camera, front-facing VGA camera, and near-field communication built-in. It has 16GB of storage built-in, and 512MB RAM with a 1GHz Hummingbird processor. Other interesting tidbits include the contour display, which kind of shapes to your face, integrated VoIP support, and gyroscope.

You'll be able to purchase the Nexus S on December 16th at Best Buy locations for $199 with a two-year T-Mobile contract, or $529 unlocked. On December 20th, it'll be available in the UK at Best Buy UK and Carphone Warehouse.

White HTC EVO 4G moves into Sprint stores

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Design, Handhelds,

If you wanted to get your hands on an aesthetically pleasing HTC EVO 4G, but for some reason were against Best Buy, then you'll be pleased to know that the elusive white HTC EVO 4G that was once exclusive to Best Buy is now making its way into Sprint retail locations everywhere, as well as other third party stores. The price will remain the same $199 contract after $100 mail-in rebate. While the front of the phone remains black, the white back will give you that exclusive look that you crave.

Best Buy and Target to start selling used games

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Culture, PlayStation 3, THQ, Wii, Xbox 360,

Taking a controversial page from Gamestop’s book, Best Buy and Target both are in the beginning stages of implementing a trade-in program for used videos games in exchange for store credit. Best Buy has revealed that it will start offering a trade-in program this week in 600 locations, and will begin selling used games “soon”.

Target’s Electronic Trade-In department is currently open in North Carolina, and will increase to 850 stores by December 2010. Unlike Gamestop where you can only trade in video games and their accessories to buy more video games and the like; Target comprises a much larger trade-in spectrum, allowing customers to trade in cell phones, iPods, and video games to receive store credit. This store credit can net you the many different items sold in Target, and is not just limited to digital devices.

This all comes much to the dismay of video game publishers, namely THQ CEO Cory Ledesma who recently discussed how used games “cheat” the video game industry. Despite this, it seems that Best Buy and Target intend to get away with some heavy duty cheating this holiday season.

Look for the Best Buy on Columbia Heights 3100 14th St NW to start accepting trade-ins by December.

Best Buy Focusing on Tablets This Holiday Season

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Handhelds,

While the tablet industry hasn’t exactly skyrocketed yet, Best Buy is gearing for change this holiday season. With the Apple’s iPad being the pioneer for pushing tablets into the spotlight, other new tablets (specifically those powered by Windows 7) will be popping up soon this holiday season, and Best Buy is set to capitlize on the tablet surge. Shawn Score, the president of Best Buy Mobile stated “we will have a great assortment of them. It won’t be 32, but it also won’t be one, like we have today.” Score further stated that “like e-readers over the last couple years, we think customers will think of Best Buy for tablets and expect us to have the right ones.”

As of right now, entertainment giant Best Buy only carries the Apple tablet, but expect tablets from Samsung, Acer and Research In Motion to most likely grace Best Buy stores nationwide this holiday season.

White HTC EVO 4G already in stock at Best Buy

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,

If you’ve pre-ordered a white HTC EVO 4G, don’t be surprised if you get a call from Best Buy today letting you know that your smartphone is ready for pick up. Apparently, despite having an availability date of July 11th, the white HTC EVO 4G made it to stores early, and Best Buy is cool with selling them as they come in. If you need some of that white smartphone goodness, you may wanna give your local store a call. In the meantime, where the heck is that white iPhone 4?

Amazon, Best Buy, Wal-Mart price Kinect at $149

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Rumors, Xbox 360,

Looks like anyone who was hoping that Kinect would sell for a somewhat reasonable price may be a bit disappointed. After Gamestop priced Kinect at $149, and then took it down, we figured it may have been just a placeholder error. However, today, we also have evidence of Amazon, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy all pricing the upcoming wireless gaming peripheral for the Xbox 360 at the same $149 price point. Seriously, you can buy a brand new Xbox 360 Arcade console for that price today, so that is one expensive add-on. See for yourself:

Now we just play the waiting game for official word from Microsoft.

Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, Best Buy to sell iPhone 4 on June 24

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

Looks like Apple is looking to thin some of those long iPhone lines that have become a yearly summer tradition. It has just been announced that Wal-Mart will be selling the iPhone 4 on June 24th, which is the day the phone goes on sale. In the past, Wal-Mart would sell iPhones well after the launch date, so this is a first for them. It’s smart, as there are way more Wal-Mart stores in the country than Apple stores.

In addition, Radio Shack has been telling customers that they would also be selling the new iPhone on launch day as well, bringing that store back into relevancy for the first time since 1992. Lastly, Best Buy has yet to officially announce launch day plans, but they did sell both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS at launch, so this should be no different.

Of course, you’ll also be able to buy the iPhone 4 directly at an Apple Store as well as any AT&T store as well. That’s a lot of options, and that’s not even taking into account that you’ll be able to pre-order the iPhone 4 starting on June 15th so that it is shipped directly to you, thus avoiding lines altogether.

Sprint HTC EVO 4G on sale June 4 for $199

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

Sprint has finally made their plans for the launch of the drool-worthy HTC EVO 4G public knowledge. The company’s first 4G smartphone will go on sale on June 4th for $199 after mail-in rebate. Before rebate, you’ll be paying $450, but if you pick it up at Best Buy (you can pre-order from them now) you get the rebate instantly with no waiting.

As a refresher, the HTC EVO 4G is an Android-powered phone that has WiMAX built in. That, alongside the 1GHz Snapdragon processor are what account for the phones tremendous speed. It also has an 8 megapixel camera for taking photos and videos, and a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front that will allow for video conferencing. Oh, and it has a ridiculously huge 4.3-inch touchscreen.

Aside from the typical Sprint unlimited plan, this phone has a mandatory $10 per month fee for the 4G access. The nice thing there is that, with that plan, you don’t get any bandwidth cap on 4G or 3G access. Seriously, truly unlimited. The other major feature that the EVO 4G sports is the ability to act as a 4G hotspot for up to eight other devices. As it turns out, that is an option that will cost $30 per month. Still, though, when you consider that $30 per month to tether up to eight devices at a time to the speedy Sprint 4G network, that isn’t really that bad at all.

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