October 18, 2006, 1:40 PM PDT
Sprint's Samsung MM-A960
Posted by: Kent German

After months of languishing in Best Buy stores, the Samsung MM-A960 (SPH-A960) is now for sale on Sprint's Web site for a fair $79 with service. Though its silver flip-phone design has little pizzazz overall, especially for an EV-DO handset, it does offer a unique circular external display.

Features are a bit more impressive. Inside you'll find Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera with PictBridge photo printing, a digital media player, a Micro SD card slot, a speakerphone, and speech-to-text dictation. So far our experience with the last feature has been mixed, but we're eager to test it out. Stay tuned.

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October 06, 2006, 10:13 AM PDT
Sony Ericsson W810i comes to Cingular
Posted by: Kent German

It's always a welcome sign when a good cell phone gets some love. Though it's been on the market for several months, the Sony Ericsson W810i has been lost in unlocked phone land with a high price that kept it out of many consumers' hands. Fortunately, though, Cingular is now offering the W810i for a very reasonable $149 with service. Get 'em while they're hot!

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October 03, 2006, 11:21 AM PDT
Sprint goes crazy with the Krzr
Posted by: Kent German

One of the worst-kept secrets in the cell phone world is now out in official news. Sprint said today it would offer its own version of the Motorola Krzr K1m by early November. Sprint's announcement comes just days after Verizon launched the Razr-like handset on its Web site for $199 with a two-year contract. Sprint didn't reveal a price for its version of the Krzr, but the carrier did say it would offer full access to Sprint's video and music services including Sprint TV, Sprint Power View, Sprint Movies, and the Sprint Music store. Subscribers can sign up on Sprint's site for more information.

Sprint also revealed it would launch its own versions of the Moto Razr and Slvr. Stay tuned for exact details on the devices.

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October 02, 2006, 3:36 PM PDT
Samsung SGH-T509 in plum
Posted by: Kent German

T-Mobile is now offering the Samsung SGH-T509 in plum. Almost a black color, plum is expected to be an "in" color for cell phones this year, or so T-Mobile says. The new T509 has the same features as the original silver SGH-T509 and is available for $49 with service.

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October 02, 2006, 3:20 PM PDT
Alltel's new phones
Posted by: Kent German

After my posting from last week regarding the arrival of the Motorola Krzr K1m, several good readers reminded me that Alltel will soon get the device as well. You now can preorder the K1m for its October 5 release; the price is $249, which includes a $150 rebate. The feature set will be largely the same and Alltel will get the same dark gray color scheme. But once again, the conventional wisdom is that another CDMA carrier will pick up the Krzr K1m this month.

Alltel's other new handsets include the Motorola W315 and the Pantech PN-218. The W315 is a simple flip phone with a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, basic PIM applications, text messaging, and a wireless Web browser. It retails for as low as $9.99 with service rebates. The Pantech PN-218 offers a VGA camera with flash, a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, text and enhanced messaging, basic PIM applications, and a wireless Web browser. It's $49.99 with service.

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September 28, 2006, 11:54 AM PDT
Game over for Mobile ESPN
Posted by: Kent German

In a rather ominous message to the growing MVNO market, Mobile ESPN announced today it was terminating its wireless phone service. Disney pulled the plug just hours after confirming rumors that "big changes" were in store for the carrier. According to Mobile ESPN's Web site, the service will stop as of December 31, although the sports-oriented content soon will be available through major carriers. Customers are free to drop the service anytime without penalty, and they'll get refunds for the purchase price of their Sanyo MPVP once their accounts are paid in full.

It's no secret that MVNOs are entering a tough market, especially as they continue to grow in number. Reportedly Mobile ESPN picked up just a few thousand subscribers, and Helio isn't faring much better. It's still too early to say how successful Disney Mobile will be, but I'd guess the family angle has more widespread appeal than phones for sports fans.

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September 28, 2006, 6:29 AM PDT
Moto Krzr lands at Verizon Wireless
Posted by: Kent German

OK, I admit it, this one caught me off guard. Just yesterday I heard from a reliable source that the Krzr wouldn't hit stores until next month, but as of today, the newest Motorola slim phone is on Verizon's Web site. The Krzr K1m (the CDMA version of the device) has a price of $199 with a two-year contract and $299 with a one-year contract. And incidentally, don't be surprised if another major CDMA carrier follows suit with its own Krzr K1m very soon.

When I first heard about the Krzr earlier this summer, I was just beginning to grow tired of the thin phone mania and Razr clones. Sure the Krzr looked attractive in the pictures, but it didn't promise anything new in terms of features. And in all honesty, some of the design touches it promised, such as a "plate of hardened glass," sounded somewhat gimmicky. Yet there's something to be said for having low expectations, because when I finally saw the Krzr in person at CTIA this month, it didn't look quite like it did in the pictures. In fact, it looked better.

As I said at CTIA, the Krzr K1m is far sharper than the Razr, and we like the narrower form factor. (From what we hear, female users thought the Razr was too wide.) The glass front is interesting, though it attracts more fingerprints than a crime scene. Motorola promises the glass will stand up to cracking and scratches, and indeed the phone feels quite solid in the hand. And though I prefered the blue coloring on the GSM Krzr K1, the K1m is still very pretty. Its demensions are 4.1 by 1.7 by 0.7 inches and it weighs 3.6 ounces.

Features on the EV-DO handset include a 1.3-megapixel camera with video recording and playback, a 262,000-color display, a Micro SD card slot, a digital music player, a wireless browser Web browser, text and multimedia messaging, instant messaging, and support for Verizon's VZ Navigator GPS service. Bluetooth is onboard as well, and Verizon is now offering photo transfers via that feature.

So it's like I said earlier. The Krzr K1m is very pretty, but it doesn't do anything other cell phones can't. And of course, we'll have to wait to test its performance before we give our final verdict. For a close look at the Krzr, check out our video.

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September 27, 2006, 2:34 PM PDT
Nokia 6030 comes to T-Mobile
Posted by: Kent German

One of our favorite basic cell phones, the Nokia 6030, has arrived at T-Mobile. Formerly a Cingular exclusive, the simple candy bar handset offers the same set of features, including a speakerphone, multiple messaging options, and an FM radio. The only difference with the new T-Mobile version is that it comes in white instead of black. T-Mobile is offering its 6030 free with a service contract.

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September 26, 2006, 9:56 AM PDT
iPhone in January?
Posted by: Kent German

The latest iPhone rumors predict Apple will launch the elusive device in January. Also, Think Secret is reporting that Cingular will be the launch carrier and will have exclusivity for six months. The iPhone is said to offer a 3-megapixel camera, a 2.2-inch display, and,of course, a digital music player with iTunes compatibility. As for design features, Think Secret says the handset will have an "iconic" Apple design. Take that, Motorola Rokr.

While it all sounds promising (but totally unverifiable), there's one tiny snag. If it's to launch in January, it seems natural that Apple would do so at Macworld. Yet Macworld begins January 8 in San Francisco, the same day CES begins in Las Vegas. Fun!

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September 21, 2006, 1:33 PM PDT
New phones for Verizon
Posted by: Kent German

Verizon has kept itself busy in recent days by adding four new cell phones to its lineup. In addition to the LG VX3450 that it launched last week, the carrier rolled out the Pantech PN-210, the LG VX3400, and the Nokia 6315i. The simple Pantech handset offers no more than a speakerphone, and it's packaged in an equally minimalist form factor. The LG VX3400 is also a basic handset for making calls, with features limited to a speakerphone and a melody composer. On the other hand, the Nokia 6315i offers some high-end features in an attractive flip phone package. Inside you'll find a 1.3-megapixel camera, dedicated music keys, Bluetooth, and a memory card slot, and as a 3G mobile, it supports Verizon's multimedia V Cast service. With service rebates, the PN-210 is free, the VX3400 is $29, and the 6315i is a very reasonable $35.

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