Sony Ericsson Aspen Unveiled: Aspen Features & Specifications Official Aspen WinMo 6.5.3 Smartphone Launched, Billed as ‘The Business Phone with a Conscience’

Just ahead of TFTS attending Sony Ericsson s UK MWC event later this
month (TFTS readers can expect live posting and live hands on reporting
from the event, incidentally) Sony Ericsson have acted to officially
unveil their latest smartphone " namely the Windows 6.5.3 Sony Ericsson
Aspen (known previously by the codename �Faith ).
Sony Ericsson have, of course, mailed us the full, official press
release " see below " but if you re looking for a snapshot concerning
what the Sony Ericsson Aspen brings to the table then you can factor in
HSPA 900/2100 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, HSPA 850/900/2100 and EDGE
850/900/1800/1900 support a 2.4 � 65,536 color 240 x 320 (QVGA)
resolution TFT capacitive touchscreen supporting handwriting
recognition, a QWERTY keyboard, a 3.2 megapixel camera with 4X digital
zoom offering up multishot and self timer functionality, integrated
media player supported by integrated stereo speakers whilst, in terms of
connectivity, both Bluetooth A2DP and WiFi are in evidence.
For those looking to delver a little deeper concerning what the Sony
Ericsson Aspen offers, here s the full low-downNetwork Support: UMTS
HSPA 900/2100, GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS HSPA 850/900/2100,
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900Display: 2.4 � 240 x 320 pixels 65,536
color touchscreen TFTConnectivity: A-GPS, Bluetooth A2DP, Micro USB,
WiFi, 3.5 mm audio jackMusic Capabilities: Inbuilt FM radio, Sony
Ericsson media player, Windows Mediaยฎ Player Mobile, PlayNow,
Equalizer, Music tones (MP3/AAC), Album artWeb: Internet Explorerยฎ
Mobile, Pan zoom, Web feedsVoice: Polyphonic ring tones, Speakerphone,
vibrating alertsMessaging: Email, Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync,
Handwriting recognition, instant messaging, MMS, SMS, predictive
textEntertainment Applications: 3D gaming, Facebook, YouTube, Skype,
MS Today, Google Maps, Google Mobile, SPB Traveler Weather, CNN,
Twitter, Windows LiveOrganiser: PDF support with reader, alarm clock,
calculator, calendar, MS Office Mobile, notes, Outlook Mobile, phone
book, stop watch, tasksSize: 117 x 60 x 12.45 mmWeight: 130 gramsTalk
time GSM/GPRS: Up to 10 hoursTalk time UMTS: Up to 8 hoursStandby time:
GSM/GPRS: Up to 450hrsStandby time: UMTS: Up to 600 hrs
Sony Ericsson Aspen Official Press Release:
February 2, London, UK " Today sees the announcement of Sony Ericsson
Aspen , the business mobile phone with green credentials at its core.
The newest edition to the successful Sony Ericsson GreenHeart
portfolio, Sony Ericsson Aspen , allows easy multi-tasking combining the
touch experience and a real QWERTY keyboard. Organise and adapt panels
to change during the day and use Slide View for quick access to common
features.
With Sony Ericsson Aspen , view and edit office files easily and
comfortably with one touch operation, or just access the internet in one
click. The QWERTY keyboard is made for fast and easy typing. Simple
email set up allows for a maximized messaging experience on the
go. Secure the phone s contents through the Microsoft MyPhone service,
which remotely erases phone data when the handset is lost or stolen.
�Sony Ericsson Aspen is the business phone with a conscience, perfect
for any consumer or company who want to make a green choice in their
daily work life. � Said Quentin Cordier, Global Marketing Manager, Sony
Ericsson. �An affordable GreenHeart phone with the latest version of
Windows Phone, the Sony Ericsson Aspen has a rich user interface and
powerful productivity tools. But it s not all about work, stay in touch
with the fun parts of life with Media Browser and PlayNow , with simple
access to social networks and quick and easy access to media files. Find
the fun with a-GPS, Google Maps and snap pictures with the 3.2megapixel
camera. �
Sony Ericsson Aspen Modern office at your fingertips " latest version
of Windows PhoneEasy multi-tasking " Sony Ericsson Slide View and
customisable panelsMaximised message experience " QWERTY keyboard and
finger friendly touch experienceGreenHeart " for a greener choiceStay
in touch with the fun parts of life " access fun applications at
PlayNow such as games and new musicMedia browser " access music,
photos and videosSocial network tool (Windows Live Messenger, Facebook
)Human curvature design " fits into the palm of the hand
Sony Ericsson Aspen supports HSPA 900/2100 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900,
HSPA 850/900/2100 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900.

Sony Ericsson Faith Smartphone Spied Eco-Friendly Sony Ericsson Faith to Run WinMo 6.5

Spying mobile phones in the wild is always cool when you get to know a
thing or two regarding what's under the hood. A good example is this n
ew Sony Ericsson Faith smartphone that has leaked ahead of its official
debut. Resembling a bit with Nokia's E61/E71, the new Sony Ericsson
Faith is a QWERTY handset that supposedly falls in the company's
eco-friendly GreenHeart range as it's made from recycled plastic and
without the use of any harmful chemicals.
Despite the fact that we were expecting all new mobiles from Sony
Ericsson to run Android, Faith , proudly runs Windows Mobile 6.5.3. It
also features a 2.4-inch QVGA touchscreen display (320 x 230 pixels),
supports quad band networks including GSM and UMTS/HSDPA, brings WiFi
and Bluetooth connectivity. On top of that there's also a 3.2 megapixel
camera, 256MB of flash storage space, a microSD card slot to expand that
and a microUSB port.
For now there's no word when this sleek new Sony Ericsson Faith will
make it to the market or how much it will cost, but we're certain it
will appeal to the green minded.

BlackBerry Tour 9650 Teased as Coming Soon BlackBerry Tour2 (Essex) Official on RIM's Facebook Page

If the BlackBerry Tour 9650 made a first appearance online in October
2009 and then a later unofficial debut on the Christmas Eve, today, the
good folks from RIM have updated their Facebook account by officially
confirming that the Tour 9650 (also known as BlackBerry Tour2 or
BlackBerry Essex) is indeed under the hammer and that it's coming soon
— with us having absolutely no idea what soon means, although
we've been hearin
g rumors that it's either spring or summer 2010.
Although RIM hasn't released any details concerning the smartphone's
debut, what we know so far is that the BlackBerry Tour 9650 is not that
much different from the original Tour when it comes to size and overall
appearance, but gets a new optical trackpad to replace the trackball for
better functionality and Wi-Fi connectivity, while other appealing
changes might include a snappier processor that will be borrowed from
the Storm 2.
BlackBerry Tour2 is supposedly featuring a 3.2-megapixel camera,
built-in GPS and BlackBerry Maps like the Tour did.
No word on much the new smartphone it's going to cost, but we're
sticking close to a $150 price tag if you're going for a contract.

BlackBerry Magnum Makes a Video Appearance Touchscreen & QWERTY Keyboard Hybrid BlackBerry Smartphone to be Launched Soon?

The BlackBerry Magnum appears to be RIM s first hybrid smartphone. We
have talked about it earlier on here at TFTS and today we seem to have a
more than welcomed hands-on video for you of the Magnum in action.
I guess what happened one night is that a BlackBerry Bold and a Blac
kBerry Storm met for drinks and a movie. Before you know it one thing
led to another and the Magnum appeared. The Magnum took the looks and
the QWERTY keyboard from the Bold and the touchscreen from the Storm.
When I say it looks like the Bold I really mean that. It seems that the
original Bold was the source of inspiration for the Magnum. Almost all
the buttons are in the same places. The keyboard looks the same and
event the back is similar. Sure it lacks the trackpad but you ll have a
SurePress screen to do all the menu navigation you want.
The video below shows the Magnum being compared with two of RIM s
hottest smartphones, the Bold 9000 and the Bold 9700. What it doesn t
show is the operating system. It will be interesting to see where RIM is
going with its touchscreen UI.
After we ve just seen the iPad, which comes with a great user interface,
we can t but wonder what the next iPhone will bring. Naturally we will
also start to ask questions about the competition and their future
products. Besides Android and webOS we ll be looking forward to see RIM
ready to impress us with a couple of new phones this year.
The Mobile World Congress in Spain is getting closer and closer and one
could only hope that cell phone manufacturers will have some very hot
handsets to show us.
The MWC is a good place to unveil a product like the Magnum, although,
as you can clearly see in the video below, the prototype is not quite ready.

Alltel Blackberry Curve 8530 Availability Confirmed Alltel Customers Getting Their Hands on the Curve 8530 Starting Today

Alltel customers should be happy to know that starting today they get a
new BlackBerry model to choose from the carrier's offer. Much like the
handset that has landed with Sprint last month, Alltel's Curve 8530
brings the same QWERTY keyboard, WiFi connectivity and multimedia
capability, for a much cheaper price and a much shorter contract (one year).
Originally priced at $499 (that's if you don't sign your name on a
contract), Alltel will throw in a $360 online discount and a $100
mail-in rebate for the new BlackBerry Curve 8530, which now sells,
online only, for $39.99.
Alltel takes pride in bringing the most advanced and versatile
handsets to our customers so they can experience the world around them.
If you're looking for a smartphone that has advanced capabilities for
both business and personal use, the BlackBerry Curve 8530 will help you
make the most of every moment, said Paul Bowersock, Senior Sales
Operations Leader for the Alltel Divesture Trust in a press release today.
For those out of the know, the Curve 8530 comes with a 2 megapixel
camera with digital zoom and video recording, 256MB of storage space and
a microSD/SDHC card slot supporting up to 32 GB, built-in GPS with
BlackBerry Maps and geo-tagging functionality, Stereo Bluetooth support
and HTML web browsing.
Meanwhile Sprint and Verizon customers are looking for the new
BlackBerry Tour2 to make the rounds with its improved specs.

Free Streaming Music Heading to Apple? Apple Discusses Free Music with Four Major Labels; iTunes Cloud Music Streaming Support Coming Soon

While people keep talking about the upcoming tablet, the iPhone 4G and
iPhone OS 4.0 Apple execs are busy with something totally different, but
complete
ly related to the core of their business. It looks like Apple is
interested in offering free streaming music to its customers and given
that iTunes is a big part of portable Apple gadgets such a
free-of-charge music service will be very well welcomed.
Although not confirmed yet it, looks Apple wants to bring the music to
the cloud. Thus the user will be able to access music from any connected
devices. The music would be stored and streamed from the cloud although
this will imply some heavy Internet use from consumers. But with all the
wireless hotspots around available today, music streaming might just
happen sooner than expected. Not to mention it will free up some of that
storage space that one could use for depositing other stuff instead of
music files. Say more games maybe?
Lala, a music company familiar with music streaming services was
acquired by Apple in December for $85 million. Following the purchase
analysts expect Apple to use the newly gained technology to transform
iTunes into a cloud-based music store. Our future playlists will be
pushed to the cloud and thus they will be easily accessible from
anywhere on Earth where there s an Internet connection.
Apple is said to have met with four major music labels regarding the new
music service but I think it s highly unlikely for the Cupertino-based
company to launch a new version of iTunes next week. Free-of-charge
music streaming is definitely something achievable and the cloud idea
could benefit a lot of Apple faithful customers. But there s no
indication that Apple has been preparing a new iTunes version for the
January 27 media event. And we all know how last time Apple updated
iTunes its new features have been leaked well ahead of the actual launch.
What about you? Ready for some cloud-based music streaming?

BlackBerry Magnum Hybrid Smartphone Pictures Leaked BlackBerry Magnum to Feature Touchscreen and Full QWERTY Keyboard

The BlackBerry Magnum is not official yet but it s a handset which will
be getting a lot of attention from faithful BlackBerry fans but not
only. The handset is going to be one of the first RIM creations to
feature both a touchscreen display and a full QWERTY keyboard. It s a
Storm meets Bold kind of a phone which should have been conceived a long
time ago.
One of the most important things people love in a BlackBerry is the
full-featured, easy to play with, QWERTY keyboard. The Storm and the
Storm 2 replaced the keyboard going touchscreen and virtual QWERTY
instead. That was not a bad idea but neither the Storm nor the Storm 2
managed to fight the iPhone. Not being the iPhone killer that people
expected, the Storm didn t exactly made it to the BlackBerry hall of fame.
Handsets like the Bold or the Curve series are far more popular than the
Storm so, needless to say, RIM will not dump the QWERTY keyboard for
good anytime soon. That s why I still wonder why instead of making the
Storm in the first place not create something like the Magnum? It would
combine the usefulness of a full keyboard with the touchscreen interface
that would get you faster through the menus.
Sure the Magnum doesn t look like a true iPhone competitor, does it? But
who s to say that a true iPhone competitor should be all touch but no
QWERTY? The Palm Pre has a keyboard and so does the Droid, and other
Android smartphones for that matter. They are all supposed to be iPhone
killers, aren t they?
As you can see the Magnum has been spotted already and we hope to see it
at MWC 2010. There are no specs available at this point but it s not
pretty difficult to imagine a BlackBerry Bold 9700 or Curve 8900 with a
touchscreen, is it? Take out the trackpad and you ll get something like
the Magnum.
We have no arrival dates for this baby yet folks, but according to leaks
and rumors, the Magnum is not the only hybrid smartphone from RIM out
there. A certain Dakota is also going to sport the same features at some
point in the future.

Vodafone BlackBerry Tour2 Availability Rumored Leaked Image Hints to a BlackBerry Tour2 Release Date on Verizon, Soon

The new BlackBerry Tour2 has made appearance in a leaked image picturing
a CelleBrite device that mentions it along with the likes of the
BlackBerry Bold and the Storm 2. Previously known as BlackBerry Essex or
the BlackBerry 9650 (which we already covered last year just before
Christmas), the smartphone is expected to debut soon on Verizon Wireless
as the leaked image comes from a source renowned for knowing the ins and
outs around Big Red.
Although we have absolutely no idea what soon means in days, weeks or
months, what we know is that the BlackBerry Tour2 adds an optical
trackpad , Wi-Fi connectivity and a presumably snappier processor
(nothing confirmed on that one yet) to the original Tour that used to
boast a 3.2-megapixel camera and a 2.4-inch display (borrowed from the
8900) that does 480×360 resolutions.
For those wondering, CellBrite can be used as a collaborative POS system
to transferr contacts from one phone to another — one that quite a
few carriers have in their invetory.
No word on how expensive the BlackBerry Tour2 it's going to be, but you
can make sure we'll be all over it when there's something to write about.

BlackBerry Presenter Gets Official RIM Takes PowerPoint Presentations Seriously with the BlackBerry Presenter

I was pleasantly surprised to see RIM thinking out of the box today as
the first product the company unveiled at CES 2010 wasn t a new
BlackBerry smartphone. What RIM launched was a tool m
eant to help you deliver PowerPoint presentations while you re on the
go. The BlackBerry Presenter is the device in question and it will be
available in a store near you soon.As BlackBerry smartphones are the
weapons of choice for many professionals out there so it only makes
sense for RIM to launch such a device. The BlackBerry Presenter will
help you deliver fast presentations without having to bring your laptop
along. A BlackBerry smartphone is still required in order to make the
Presenter run.
Glenn Laxdal, Vice President, Product Management, Research in Motion had
this to say about the new gadget:
Mobile professionals are always looking to carry less when travelling.
BlackBerry Presenter equips mobile professionals with a simple, secure
and convenient way to deliver presentations directly from their
BlackBerry smartphone, giving them the freedom to leave their laptops
behind.
Would you really leave the laptop behind? Well in case you answered yes
then you need to know what the BlackBerry Presenter can offer you:
Conveniently small and light — 3.4 x 2.4 x 0.9 and 140g Video
Formats Supported: NTSC, PAL Video Cable Support: S-Video, VGA Power
Connection: Micro USB Display Resolution Support: 640×480 (VGA),
800×600 (SVGA), 1024×768 (XGA) Bluetooth Version 2.0 + EDR,
Class 1.5 Carrying Case: Synthetic Leather Support for most PowerPoint
animations and transitions No additional file processing required
– present files directly without having to pre-process the file on
the PC Languages Supported: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish
The Presenter will connect to your smartphone thanks to its Bluetooth
support and thus you will be able to deliver any presentation no matter
where you are. The device is compatible with the BlackBerry Curve 8520,
8530 and 8900, The BlackBerry Bold 9000 and 9700, the BlackBerry Tour
9630, the BlackBerry Storm 9500 and 9530 and the BlackBerry Storm2 9550.
The BlackBerry Presenter is currently on display at CES 2010 and it will
be available for sale later this year for $199. Any takers?

BlackBerry Tour2 9650 Surfaces Tour2 Essex Specs & Quick Review, Pricing & Availability Yet to be Confirmed

Leaked sometime back in October, RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Tour2 9650
(also known as BlackBerry Essex) has just been spotted out by our good
friends from BGR, who have also done a quick review on it. At a first
glance the Tour2 is similar to the original BlackBerry Tour when it
comes to size and the overall appearance, but a more in depth look and
things are looking way better.
Speaking of better, the most significant exterior change is the new
optical trackpad that replaces the trackball — it works great,
just as you'd expect . Under the hood there's a snappier processor
borrowed from the Storm 2 that promises to take away the lag time
experienced with the previous Tour.
There's also Wi-Fi connectivity as the old Tour didn't have it and the
same amazing QWERTY keyboard that makes for a great addition when you
need to answer emails or send text messages.
BlackBerry Tour2 is expected to hit on Verizon early 2010 but there's
nothing official to confirm a release date or a price tag.

Upcoming 3G BlackBerry Pearl 2 Caught on Video RIM's BlackBerry 9100/Stratus/Striker Makes New Appearance, Still Lacks Specs & Release Date

Last month our TFTS ninjas got their hands on a bunch of photos with the
Pearl 2, or as others call it the new BlackBerry 9100 or Stratus or
Striker or whatever you want to call it. However, the rumor that RIM are
actually working to resurrect their Pearl lineup was a bit frustrating
as we didn't know very much about the phone. Well it looks like we're on
it again, this time with the stylish handset leaking online on video
disclosing a bit more than the first time.
Styled after the newest Bold model, the new BlackBerry Striker (internal
codename) have grown a bit compared with its older siblings in the Pearl
lineup. The smartphone got an upgrade and now packs a 3.2 megapixel
camera with flash, has both Wi-Fi connectivity and the much needed 3G
support, loses the QWERTY keyboard in favor of a tweaked SureType
keyboard and features a new optical joystick to the whole deal and a
bunch of multimedia buttons on the side.
Running on BlackBerry OS 5.0.0.350, if you're not that fond to a QWERTY
keyboard for texting, email or IM, then the new Pearl 2 sounds like a
pretty darn good choice. As for its biggest drawback, we don't know when
exactly it's going to be launched and who'll carry it.

BlackBerry Curve 8530 Available on Sprint Today Curve 8530 Officially Shipping from Sprint, Price Slashed to $50

As previously reported just a week ago, the new BlackBerry Curve 8530
has just been confirmed on Sprint (surprisingly, right on s
chedule — as it was supposed to be delayed till Jan 10th) with the
smartphone shipping from the US carrier's warehouse, starting today.
Following to last month's release on Verizon, the Curve 8530 features
the same goodies under the hood but has been listed for only $49 with a
new Sprint contract (after mail in rebate), which is $50 less than on
Big Red.
Speaking of features, the Curve 8530 boasts a 2.5-inch display, the new
BlackBerry OS 5.0, WiFi, EVDO Rev.A and Bluetooth connectivity, a 2
megapixel camera and a 3.5mm headphone jack. And did we mention that the
handset features a full QWERTY keyboard for better messaging and social
networking (great since there's access to BlackBerry App World), a new
trackpad interface for better navigation, some 256MB of storage space
and a built-in GPS navigator?
Looking for more details if Sprint offers 3G speeds in your area or what
the new BlackBerry Curve 8530 will pack, head over to the company's
website and get your hands on one. Makes for a great Christmas gift,
isn't it?

Wind Mobile Gets Official in Canada Should Rogers, Telus and Bell Be Scared?

In case you re stuck into a three-year contract with one of the big
three Canadian carriers that looks more and more like life in prison
then you should check out the new name in town. Wind Mobile is the
newest Canadian carrier and Rogers, Telus and Bell should really be scared.
Wind Mobile promises a whole revolution in the Canadian wireless
services market and the top three carriers should pay close attention to
Wind s offers and adjust their own plans and prices accordingly. And
Wind sure has some impressive offers for its customers which can t be
matched by the competition at this point.The best thing about the new
carrier is that there s no need to sign a contract. You can choose
between post-paid and pre-paid plans but you won t get tied to Wind for
any period of time. In fact you could walk away at any time in case you
are not comfortable with Wind s plans anymore. That means there are no
cancellation fees whatsoever.
So why should you go to Wind? Well the carrier is going to offer you
unlimited minutes, unlimited SMS to U.S. and Canada, voicemail, caller
ID, call waiting and call forwarding for $45/month while unlimited
BlackBerry data costs $35/month. It sounds too good to be true, isn t it?
What phones does Wind have to offer? Although the inventory is not
comparable to Roger s, Telus and Bell s, Wind does have some impressive
handsets for you to consider: BlackBerry Bold 9700 – $450 HTC
Maple – $300 Samsung Gravity – $150 Huawei U7519 – $130
I don t know about you, but a Bold 9700 with unlimited calling and data
sounds pretty interesting to me.
Of course, it s not only good news. Being a new carrier, you can t
expect a lot of coverage from Wind which means that you won t be able to
fully take advantage of the new network if you re travelling through
Canada all the time. Furthermore as Wind uses the AWS 3G spectrum, just
like T-Mobile in the USA, you ll have to deal with EDGE whenever you ll
be roaming. Does that sound acceptable to you?
So what do you say, folks? Are you interested in Wind yet?

Sprint BlackBerry Curve 8530 Release Date Confirmed? WiFi Touting BlackBerry Curve 8530 to Hit Sprint Jan 10?

If you re anxiously awaiting the release of the Sprint BlackBerry Curve
8530 smartphone then it looks like you ll need to extend your patience
threshold just that little bit longer as, whilst the Sprint BlackBerry
Curve 8530 was expected to hit on or around 18th December, it now seems
that its availability via Sprint has been set back till 10 January in
the new year. But its not all bad news " indeed, if you re after a
Curve 8530, it appears that the extended wait will very much be worth
your while.
Whilst Sprint have not actually confirmed why the BlackBerry Curve 8530
will be released somewhat later than initially thought, they have
confirmed that the Sprint BlackBerry Curve 8530, unlike the already
available Verizon BlackBerry Curve 8530, will offer up WiFi connectivity
as well as tout the newer BlackBerry 5.0 OS " which may serve as an
indication for the slight delay.
Of course, if you simply cannot wait any longer, you could always opt
for the Verizon BlackBerry Curve 8530 should WiFi connectivity be
something you could live without but, we d venture, few will mind
waiting that little bit longer to get their hands on a WiFi enabled,
BlackBerry 5.0 OS touting Curve 8530.
Besides, its not as if Jan 10th is that far away, is it?

PeekFON Coming To Europe Mobile E-Mail Only Device Heads To Europe, only €99

The Peek drew some confused looks when it was firstย announced, as it
was purely a mobile e-mail gadget, with no phone, no apps or no web
browser. Now, the Peek is heading to Europe, courtesy of Spanish WiFi
Router company FON, who says the device is perfect in Europe because of
high cellular roaming charges.
The Peek, now called the PeekFon, will cost a European
e-mailย connoisseurย โ�EUR99 ($146), with the e-mail service free for
six months, after that, Fon will charge โ�EUR13 ($20) per month. This
service is provided via a GSM cellular connection, but the Peek will
also be able to access the e-mail service via Fon's 800,000 WiFi
hotspots in Europe.
An e-mail-only gadget may seem a bit bizarre, but according to Fon, it's
usefulness comes for those who wish to avoid the pricey, long-term
contracts for e-mail with a BlackBerry or iPhone, and the steep roaming
charges that affect European mobile phone customers. FON CEO Martin
Varsavsky doesn't even play around with the idea that his device is
superior, saying that a Blackberry, an iPhone, an Android is a better
product than a Peek and if you have the extra money to sign 1200 euros
contracts and spend a few thousand more for roaming the Peek can t
compete with the complete iPhone, Blackberry, Android experience .
That being said, he did promise Twitter and web browsing functionality
in upcoming newer models of the Peek gadget. The Peek, out now, will set
you back $60 in the United States, or โ�EUR99 in Europe, with the the
service plans for both roughly โ�EUR13/$20 for both continents.

HP iPAQ Unboxed HP's Smartphone Released To Reviewers, 3.1-megapixel camera, touchscreen

Review versisons of HP's upcoming iPAQ smartphone were sent to internet
reviewers, and unboxing videos and hands-on opinions followed. The iPAQ
is sort of an unusual mix of iPhone touchscreen and Blackberry QWERTY as
it features a touchscreen but also a full plastic QWERTY keyboard.
The HP iPAQ Glisten is being sold thr
ough AT T and will only be sold on their online store, which is a bit of
an odd move. The phone is being aimed at business professionals with the
RIM-like full QWERTY keyboard, however, the inclusion of a touchscreen
adds something that most phones in this space don't have. However, I
don't know how many business users will even bother with the touchscreen.
However, the resistive touchscreen is only 2.5 , as it fits in the
Blackberry-like formfactor. The small touchscreen doesn't leave
manyย possibilities. Ideally, you'd put a full touchscreen in a phone
with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but perception is everything HP
probably doesn't want their 'business' phone to have that look.
In addition to the screen, the phone sports a 533MHz CPU, 256MB of RAM,
aGPS and a microSD slot. Unfortunately, the phone comes with Windows
Mobile 6.5, which isn't exactly an award winning mobile OS. The iPAQ
Glisten will be sold on AT T's website for $180 subsidized or $380
without a contract.

Nokia E72 Shipping In the States Nokia's QWERTY Smartphone Now Shipping in US, 5-megapixel camera

The Nokia E72 was released in Europe in November, but now Nokia's E72
has hit American shores. The E72 caters to the business market by
featuring a fast HSPA modem and a full QWERTY keyboard, along with a ton
of e-mailย options and a big camera.
The Nokia E72 is a feature-packed Blackberry kil
ler, sporting the superfast HSPA modem, WiFi support and aGPS. The
5-megapixel camera is perfect for taking pictures on the go, and sports
the Navi Key touchpad for navigating theย Symbianย OS. E-mail is always
the most important feature of these phones, and while the E72 doesn't
have access to the BlackBerry service, it does include support for
Microsoft Mail Exchange and Lotus Notes Traveller edition.
While many tech connoisseursย may get excited over wide touchscreen
phones like the iPhone and N900, discreet business phones like the E72
and Blackberry's offerings still are an important part of the mobile
phone market. The Nokia E72 is being sold directly from Nokia,
unsubsidized, for $469.

Get 50% Off BlackBerry Smartphones from AT&T AT&T Holiday Promotion Includes Cheaper BlackBerry Handsets and Free Samsung Solstice

AT T is the carrier to go this month if you re interested i
n walking off with a cheaper BlackBerry smartphone. The company is going
to offer you the BlackBerry handset of your choice for half the price
and, to top things off, the Samsung Solstice free of charge.The heavily
discounted BlackBerry phones will be available starting with today,
December 4, for 50% off after mail-in rebate and with a new 2-year
contract from AT T. Included in the offer is the latest RIM smartphone,
the BlackBerry Bold 9700, also but here s a complete list of discounted
BlackBerry phones found in AT T stores: BlackBerry Bold 9700 –
$99.99 BlackBerry Bold 9000 – $99.99 BlackBerry Curve 8900 –
$74.99 BlackBerry Curve 8520 – $49.99 BlackBerry Curve 8320
– $74.99 BlackBerry Curve 8310 – $49.99
Maybe you re not looking for a BlackBerry smartphone, are you? Well in
that case you could be interested in a new touchscreen smartphone that
happens to come free of charge from AT T. Sure that s not entirely true
as you do pay for that $50 mail-in rebate AT T Promotion Card. This
offer for the Samsung Solstice is valid with a new 2-year contract that
includes a minimum $20 data or messaging package purchase.
While we have extensively covered those BlackBerry phones here on TFTS,
we do owe you more details regarding the Samsung Solstice. The
smartphone will feature a 3-inch touchscreen, virtual landscape QWERTY
keyboard, Samsung s TouchWiz UI, AT T Navigator, AT T Mobile Music,
Napster Mobile, eMusing Mobile, lots of messaging options and a
2-megapixel camera.
As you can see, if you re looking for a new smartphone these days, AT T
definitely has some offers worth considering. So what do you say folks?
What will you choose between the 6 BlackBerry smartphones and the
Samsung Solstice? Or are you still more interested in the Motorola Droid
from the competition?

New Symbian UI Coming from Nokia in 2010 Maemo 6 โ€�Mobile Computerโ€ Also Coming Next Year

For some reason, Nokia decided to announce today its official plans for
next year. Isn t it a little too early for New Year s resolutions? On
the other hand we are looking forward to see some amazing handsets
coming from the Finish manufacturer in 2010. Nokia owes us a smartphone
that would be capable to fight against anything the competition would
throw at it. After all, Nokia is still the number one cell phone maker
in the world.Today, at the annual Capital Markets Day event, Nokia
presented the �key targets and forecasts for the company and its
industry for 2010. �
Naturally, Nokia s CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo talked about Nokia s mobile
OS. Symbian is currently not the most popular mobile OS out there and it
could surely use a makeover next year. In 2010 Nokia will work on user
experience improvements and the Symbian user interface is going to go to
a �new level. � That sounds awfully good in theory but I d like to see
the actual results. Symbian should become one of the top mobile OS out
there, and if that s not possible then Nokia should decide quickly on
moving to greener pastures.
Nokia plans to �deliver a major product milestone before mid-year 2010,
and another major product milestone before the end of 2010. � In other
words we re expecting two important Symbian versions and I personally
can t wait to see some of Nokia s future smartphones. Nokia also intends
to make more touch and/or QWERTY smartphones next year which is only
good news to us. And last, but not least, Nokia wants to provide
developers even better tools for them to create applications and content
for the Ovi ecosystem.
Another important project seems to be centered around Maemo 6. The new
Maemo version should be available in the second half of 2010 when a
Maemo 6-powered �mobile computer � should arrive.
The official press release also contains forecasts regarding its market
share, cost of operations, mobile device volumes, and other numbers
which we re not really interested to see right now. What we do want to
see are better smartphones and a revamped Symbian OS capable to fight
against iPhone OS, Android and BlackBerry OS. What do you say, Nokia fans?

Zune HD Getting More Colors Zune HD Different Colored Models Being Added, Internet Tech Crowd Doesn't Care

The Zune has almost been anย irrelevantย laughing stock in the eyes of
the internet tech blog-reading crowd ever since it wasย announcedย in
2006. The truth is that the Zune isn't that bad, the recent models
aren't bad looking, and the Zune HDย is packed with a ton of features,
like a nice big touchscreen and web browsing capabilities. Well,
now, that Zune HD is getting some new colors for this holiday season.
One of the brilliant ways that Apple has made the (non-touchscreen)
iPods more appealing to the mass market is that they areย availableย in
any color you could possibly want. Microsoft was lambasted as
theย originalย Zune only came in a few colors (including a dull brown,
which wrote its own jokes) and since then, Microsoft has done a fine job
of adding attractive colors.
A whole slew of new colors are coming to Microsoft's little MP3 on
December 1st, perfect in time for the holiday season. If you haven't
checked out the Zune store lately, you should take a peak as the store
lets you customize your Zune's colors and decals. It's pretty neat, and
if I didn't use my BlackBerry Bold as an MP3 player I might buy one.