Dialed In

It's been a slow week but we still have quite a bit of cell phone news for you. We hear that Nokia will be slowing down smartphone production, that Android updates are imminent, and that the FCC is asking Verizon some tough questions about ETF. We also chat about our latest reviews and answer your questions.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

News
Nokia to reduce smartphone offering by half in 2010
HTC Droid Eris to get Android update in 2010
Android 2.0.1 for Droid users
FCC questions Verizon over ETF hike
Sprint to phase out Qchat
Check your wireless coverage on CNET

Reviews
Casio G'zOne Rock
Sony Ericsson Aino
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 (Verizon Wireless)
Top 10 most popular cell phones of 2009

Upcoming reviews
Nokia N900
HP iPaq Glisten
LG Shine II
Powermat

Kent kicks off the podcast this week by reminding our dear listeners that Verizon iPhone rumors are just rumors. Until Steve Jobs says differently, he's not ready to believe a thing. New New Yorker Bonnie is taking the week off, but Nicole signs on to give her take on Android fragmentation, a costly new LG phone and the quality a Rock for Verizon.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Rumor of the week
Verizon iPhone rumors are just rumors

News
Moto Cliq gets software update
AT&T Voicemail to text
Google Maps Navigation arrives for Android 1.6
Differentiation leads to fragmented, confused Android
Developers want a better Android Market
Project with the powerful LG Expo
Casio G'zOne Rock
Kyocera spills three new handsets
Nokia slides out two new sliders
Motorola's iDEN i410
On Call: All about the Droid

Reviews
Prizefight: Samsung Behold II vs. HTC Droid Eris
Pantech Impact
Samsung Omnia II
Sanyo SCP-6760 Incognito

Upcoming reviews
Sony Ericsson Aino
Casio G'zOne Rock
LG Shine II
Nokia N900

Nicole, Bonnie, and I got some great news last week when we learned that our very excellent listeners had nominated Dialed In for the Best Mobile Phone Podcast in the Podcast Awards. Winners are chosen by listeners so you can click through to the Podcast Awards Web site and vote for us. And while you're at it, Buzz Out Loud could use your support for the Best Video Podcast. You can vote once a day between now and November 30. Thanks for your support!

Motorola Droid

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Shortly after we posted our Motorola Droid review, we received quite a few e-mails from CNET readers who were concerned about the phone's inability to support hands-free voice commands and dialing. Indeed, the readers were correct and Motorola's support forums continue to buzz with user complaints regarding the issue.

As part of our original Droid review we did not test whether the handset supported hands-free voice dialing. We apologize for that, but we've now updated the review to reflect our findings.

Below is the passage from the review:

Unfortunately, the Droid does not support Bluetooth voice dialing or commands. In order to use the Voice Dialer feature, you first must select the icon from the main menu (you can move on a shortcut to the home screen). After speaking your command, you then must confirm it via a prompt on the touch screen. Though we found the voice dialing feature to be quite accurate--it successfully picked up a command when we were a few feet away--it is not an ideal scenario for people who need to completely hands-free. We hope this omission is corrected in a future software update.

In the future, we will report on hands-free voice dialing in our smartphone reviews. As more state and local areas pass laws mandating hands-free driving, such capability will only grow more important.

Remember the rumor about Google working on its own Android phone? Well, it's back again, despite the fact that Google has said it's not interested in making hardware. On this week's episode of Dialed In, we discuss the possibility of an actual "Gphone" and its ramifications. Plus, Kent has a few things he would like to get off his chest about Sony Ericsson, and Nicole takes a look at a Bluetooth headset with a one-of-a-kind design.

Also, we're nominated for Best Mobile Phone Formatted Podcast at Podcast Awards, so feel free to head on over to the Web site and vote for our little old podcast. Voting takes place now until November 30 and you can vote once a day. Thanks for listening!

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Rumor(s) of the week
Rumors of GPhone refuse to die
HTC Passion rumors heat up

News
Switching to Android? Read this first
It's OK, iPhone, the Droid can be good, too
Dell unveils Android-based Mini 3 smartphone
Nokia N900 now on sale in the U.S. BlackBerry Curve 8520 coming to AT&T
AT&T reveals the LG Shine II
An open letter to Sony Ericsson

Reviews
Samsung Mythic
T-Mobile Tap
Jabra Stone
Samsung Behold II
Palm Pixi
Sanyo SCP-3800

Upcoming reviews
Samsung Convoy
Samsung Code

We have special guest Damian Koh from CNET Asia joining us on today's show. He answers our questions about the cell phone market in Asia, and surprisingly, he tells us he actually envies us for the phones that are available only in the U.S. We also discuss the Motorola Droid, Verizon's AT&T-bashing ads, Samsung's Bada, and more.

News
Initial Motorola Droid sales look good
New Verizon ad calls iPhone 'misfit toy
Verizon reveals Casio G'zOne Brigade
T-Mobile to phase out MyFaves
Samsung launching its own mobile OS

Reviews and features
HTC Droid Eris
Nokia 3711
Samsung Flight
LG Chocolate Touch VX8575
Twitter Peek
RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700
Motorola Droid vs. iPhone 3GS prizefight

Upcoming reviews
Samsung Convoy
T-Mobile Tap
Samsung Mythic
Jabra Stone

The Android onslaught continues with the announcement of Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 and the rumors of Verizon's HTC Droid Eris. Though we will get to see the Droid Eris in our hot little hands--and for the bargain price of $99--the X10 may never see life in North America. We're not thrilled that the Moto Droid skimped on the finger-pinching multitouch. Also in the podcast, Nicole talks rips on the Twitter Peek.

Xperia X10

(Credit: Sony Ericsson)

Rumor of the week
Leaked docs confirm Droid Eris details: November 6, $99

News
Verizon to raise ETF for "advanced devices"
Android and iPhone price plan comparison
Xperia X10 drawing new lines in Android battle
Motorola Milestone is GSM Droid LG Chocolate Touch to drop on November 5?
HTC HD2 coming to a U.S. carrier in early 2010
Does cell phone design still matter?

Reviews
Samsung Freeform
Samsung Caliber
Sony Ericsson Equinox

Upcoming reviews
Cricket Captr
Twitter Peek
Samsung Code
Nokia 3711

Yes, we actually have the Motorola Droid in the house, and we couldn't be more excited about it. We dish about Verizon's new Android phone and what it means for the Android platform in general. We also talk about the latest Sony Ericsson phones and go over the week's reviews.

News
Motorola Droid live review
Verizon, Motorola unveil the Droid
Motorola Droid specs
Droid Eris: Verizon's other Android phone
Google releases Android 2.0 SDK
T-Mobile unveils new contract-free specs
Palm Pixi arrives November 15 for $100
T-Mobile launches Sony Ericsson Equinox
Sony Ericsson Aino gets official

Reviews
Samsung Blue Earth
Samsung Moment
Nokia 2705 Shade
Samsung Intrepid
Verizon Wireless Razzle
Doro PhoneEasy 410

Upcoming reviews
Motorola Droid
Sony Ericsson Equinox
Samsung Caliber
Samsung Freeform

The Droid is coming! The Droid is coming! In case you haven't heard, Verizon's first Google Android phone is on the way and the carrier isn't holding anything back, taking some not-so-subtle swipes at the beloved iPhone. We're not going to lie; it's pretty fun to watch. Also on this week's episode, we take a look at the new BlackBerry Bold 9700 and some new senior- and wallet-friendly cell phones from Consumer Cellular.

Rumor of the week
Motorola Calgary to be Verizon's second Android phone?

News
Droid is coming to Verizon
Also in Android News
An Android phone by Google? I think not
On Call: Hello, Moto
RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 announced; T-Mobile and AT&T bound
Doro PhoneEasy handsets to compete with Jitterbug
Two new Samsung phones for U.S. Cellular
MetroPCS nabs its first Windows Mobile smartphone

Reviews
Motorola Cliq
Nokia Mural
Pantech Reveal
LG Bliss
Doro PhoneEasy 345
HTC Tilt2 (AT&T)
RIM BlackBerry Storm 2

Upcoming reviews
Verizon Wireless Razzle
Doro PhoneEasy 410
Samsung Moment
Samsung Blue Earth
Nokia Shade 2705
Samsung Intrepid