Dialed In

On Call: Is carrier exclusivity really a problem?

Try as I might, I can't get that worked up about carrier exclusivity. If a cell phone carrier and a manufacturer want to pair up and offer a handset for a certain period, I'm not going to oppose it purely on principle. Granted, such deals may not be fair to absolutely everyone, but I'd argue that there are much bigger problems with how the U.S. wireless industry operates.

Yet, a few U.S. Senators don't appear to agree. On July 7, a few weeks after a Senate committee grilled national carrier reps on device exclusivity, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) wrote letters to both the federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department's antitrust division asking the agencies to investigate the issue and suggest possible regulatory proposals.

"The practice of large cell phone companies gaining exclusive deals to the most in-demand cell phones is a serious barrier to competition," Kohl wrote. "Consumers are unlikely to obtain cell phone service from companies if they cannot obtain desired handsets."

I'm no carrier lackey, but I find it fascinating that Congress is just now noticing that carrier exclusivity exists. The practice, which is hardly unique to the United States, has been around for a long time. So from where is the sudden interest coming?

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Dialed In 86: Android Rachel

It's a slow week for cell phones, especially with Bonnie out on vacation in Maui--the lucky girl. But we still have some mobile news, like rumors of a new LG Chocolate, inklings of a Sony Ericsson Android handset, and the brand new MyTouch 3G from T-Mobile. We also go over our reviews and answer some of your questions.

Listen now: Download today's podcast Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)

Rumors New LG Chocolate? Sony Ericsson's Rachel, plus new Android interface

News Preorder your MyTouch 3G Samsung Omnia photo gallery A month for cell phone courtesy … Read more

A month for cell phone courtesy

Forget Independence Day, Bastille Day, and Canada Day, there's something a lot more exciting going on in July than just celebrating your country. According to a Palm Beach, Fla., etiquette expert, we're also in the middle of National Cell Phone Courtesy Month.

The "National" part is debatable, since no national body like the U.S. Congress has backed the event, but in a country with a National Frozen Food Month you can't be too picky.

While some of you may rightfully wonder if "courtesy" and something as obtrusive as a cell phone can … Read more

The 411: Pre vs. iPhone, Limited Bluetooth, Amazon deals

Welcome to the 411, my new Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

I have the new Palm Pre and I am very concerned about the battery drain. The last phone that I had was the Instinct and was a smartphone and a good phone. But it was not an iPhone, so when the Palm Pre came out, I was happy that they had a phone that can holds a match to the iPhone. But the battery has me worried so I went out and got an iPhone 3G 8G and am trying it out. The iPhone is really a great device. But I have heard that AT&T has poor signal and service. I have been with Sprint for nine years and love their service and signal is dependable and the everything plan is great and affordable compared with AT&T. Do you have any help for me making this choose. -- Bradford, via e-mail

You'll have to decide which is more important for you--battery life, proper coverage, or affordability. As you've already mentioned, the Palm Pre has problems with battery life, and AT&T sometimes has poor coverage depending on your area (You should investigate this further in your own home and office instead of just relying on random hearsay though--you might find that you have good AT&T coverage in your area). It's also not as if the iPhone doesn't have battery issues either, depending on how much you use it. Since you seem to be more keen on sticking with Sprint though, I would suggest you stay with the Palm Pre for the time being, despite the poor battery life. Our own Bonnie Cha has released a brief how-to on maximizing the battery life on the Palm Pre. If that still isn't good enough, I would encourage taking a look at some of Sprint's other smartphones like the HTC Touch Pro, which might have a slightly longer battery life.… Read more

Rocking out with stereo Bluetooth

Now that the iPhone OS 3.0 firmware has added stereo Bluetooth functionality to the Apple iPhone, we thought it would be a good idea to revisit stereo Bluetooth and what it promises.

Stereo Bluetooth, or A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), is essentially a Bluetooth profile that lets you stream music from one device to another without the use of wires. The technology has been around for years, and almost all music phones have this feature. In fact, it was quite a big letdown that the original iPhone and iPhone 3G did not have this built in when they first launched, considering the iPhone's iPod heritage. Still, it's better late than never. The iPhone OS 3.0 update also brought stereo Bluetooth to the iPod Touch 2nd gen. If you have a music player instead of a phone, you can also purchase additional stereo Bluetooth adapters, like this Motorola D650 iPod adapter.

Stereo Bluetooth headphones come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some, like the Motorola Rokr S9 HD, are meant for active lifestyles, as it's shaped to hug the sides of the head. Others, like the Samsung SBH-600, are meant for serious audiophiles, especially with its promise of surround sound and bass boost. We also like the mono-to-stereo headsets, like the Plantronics Voyager 855, that can change from a mono headset to a stereo version simply by connecting an additional ear bud. One of the more popular stereo headsets among our readers is the Jabra BT3030, which isn't really even a headset so much as it is a pendant that you can use with any pair of 3.5mm-compatible headphones.… Read more

Dialed In 85: BlackBerry Tour coming to a town near you

Things are finally slowing down after a few busy weeks of cell phones news, so this week, we finally catch up on some neglected listener e-mails and questions. Plus, we talk about the RIM BlackBerry Tour that's coming to both Verizon Wireless and Sprint on July 12 for the same price (I smell a battle) and discuss the week's latest reviews. Unfortunately, Kent doesn't sing in this episode but hopefully, everyone will still have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend.

Listen now: Download today's podcast Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video) News … Read more

On Call: Apples and Androids

Q: What are the main differences between the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS? With the iPhone 3G being just $99, I'd rather not spend the extra $100 for the 3GS if I don't have to. - James

A: The extra $100 for the iPhone 3GS gets you a few things. They aren't mind-blowing, but they are worth an extra $100, depending on your point of view.

Voice control: This is a welcome and nifty feature that performs well. Not only can you make calls using only your voice, but also you can use the iPod player. It's particularly useful if you'll be using the iPhone while driving. Video recording: Another feature that was long overdue. The video quality is quite good and the editing tool is unique and very easy to use. Accessibility options: The 3GS is the first iPhone to offer a broad range of accessibility feature, like Voice Over, which will read a description of the onscreen controls. Other options will further assist visually impaired users. Compass: The compass and its integration with the Google Maps feature are neat, but I don't see myself using them that much, though you might feel differently. Better battery life: The iPhone 3GS promises double the battery life of the iPhone 3G. We're still testing our iPhone 3GS, but it did seem to last longer than its predecessor did during preliminary use. I'm hoping that it lives up to expectations, as short battery life is one of the drawbacks of both the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G. Faster performance: We have found the the 3GS is faster than the iPhone 3G. It opens applications more quickly and turns on in half the time. If price is your main issue, then I think you'll get a great iPhone experience with the $99 iPhone 3G. But, if money is third our fourth on your criteria list, I'd say that you'll enjoy the added features from the iPhone 3GS.

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Dialed In 84: iPhone 3G S review

It wouldn't be a week in cell phone land if the Dialed In crew didn't have a lot to talk about. And since it's been two weeks since our last show, you can bet that this episode is chock full of cell phone news and reviews.

Leading off is the CNET review of the iPhone 3GS. We're still getting through the lab tests, but we've combed through the new features in depth. Meanwhile, Bonnie enthralls us with a long list of major smartphone news including Flash Player 10 beta and T-Mobile's second Google Android … Read more

The 411: Transferring from a Razr

Welcome to the 411, my Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

Hi, I currently have a Samsung Glyde through Verizon Wireless. As with many owners I have had my share of problems with it, I'm on my third replacement. I have been looking for a new phone for some time and also considering a switch possibly to Sprint for the Palm Pre. The problem I have is deciding to switch or wait for a better phone on Verizon, the Storm2 and Omnia i8910 (HD) come to mind. I mainly use my phone for the internet, email, and messenging. Any suggestions? --Derek, via e-mail

I'm sorry to hear you've had so much trouble with the Samsung Glyde, though you did not specify what went wrong. As for possible replacements, the Palm Pre is certainly an attractive device, but do note that you might not have to switch to Sprint to get it. Verizon has already mentioned that it hopes to get its own version of the Palm Pre next year. Or, as you mentioned, you could also wait for the BlackBerry Storm 2.

Also, I think you confused the Samsung Omnia 2 with the Omnia i8910 HD---as far as we know, the Samsung i8910 HD is a GSM product and will not be going to Verizon. It sounds like you want a phone with a keyboard, which the Samsung Omnia 2 would not have. Since it seems like you're willing to wait for a new phone, I would suggest waiting around until the Palm Pre gets approved for Verizon and take a look at that.

Update: After some thought, you might want to consider the LG enV Touch as well. It is similar to the Samsung Glyde in that it has a touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard. You'll also be able to keep your current data plan without additional charges. It's definitely not as advanced as the Pre, the Storm, or the Omnia though, so it depends on your priorities.… Read more