verizon

Verizon debuts Motorola W755

After introducing high-profile cell phones like the LG enV(2) and the Samsung Glyde, Verizon Wireless is showing no signs of slowing down. Today the carrier announced another new handset, the Motorola W755. The W755, available in both purple and black, offers a flip phone design with external music controls. Features include a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, a memory card slot, VZ Naviagtor GPS support, text and multimedia messaging, and a music player. And since it supports Verizon's 3G EV-Do network it is compatible with the carrier's V Cast streaming video service and V Cast Music. The W755 … Read more

Mobile subscribers really do want more choice

Consumers want more choice when it comes to mobile phone service.

At least that's the big conclusion from a consumer survey published Wednesday by IBM's Institute for Business Value. According to the report, 80 percent of consumers said they'd prefer a service provider that gave them more choice in the applications and services available on their mobile device.

This is welcome news for advocates of open networks, such as Google. The Internet giant has effectively lobbied the Federal Communications Commission to include a provision in the recent 700Mhz spectrum auction to force the winner of some licenses … Read more

Nike missiles, Golden Gate Bridge accidents, and Road Trip gadgets

MARIN HEADLANDS, Calif.--This is very surreal.

I'm sitting on a bench on top of a cliff here, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and looking straight at the Golden Gate Bridge.

For the last 15 minutes, there has been a steady stream of sirens from emergency vehicles, and I can see that all traffic on the bridge is completely stopped. I Twittered what I was seeing, and almost immediately, one of my followers replied with details of what seems to be a multiple-vehicle accident blocking most of the lanes on the bridge.

Before this happened, I was planning on starting … Read more

Alltel joins LTE bandwagon

Alltel, the largest rural cell phone provider in the U.S., plans to use the same technology to build its 4G network that AT&T and Verizon Wireless have chosen, a move that should provide better coverage for next generation wireless users.

But don't expect a major 4G upgrade from Alltel overnight. The company said during its quarterly conference call on Thursday that it would likely take three to five years to deploy the new network.

Still, the fact that yet another wireless operator has committed to using Long Term Evolution or LTE, is a big deal. Since … Read more

Touch-screen BlackBerry coming soon?

Research in Motion has a touch-screen BlackBerry in the works that should be out in the third quarter, according to a report Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal has echoed a previous report from The Boy Genius Report that RIM's BlackBerry Thunder will arrive later this year exclusively on Vodafone and Verizon's networks. The device is seen as an answer to Apple's iPhone, which will likely be running on AT&T's 3G network by the time the Thunder arrives.

RIM is by far the leading smartphone company in the U.S., but Apple has come out … Read more

Verizon Wireless and I are back to being best friends

I got a call yesterday morning from the manager at the Verizon store where I had a not great experience last week. I am happy to say that me and VZW are back to being BFF.

All he really knew was that the call center had told him that I had a very negative experience in the store and he called me personally to ask what happened. This is the kind of customer service that I have always seen from Verizon and I appreciate the effort that they made.

As a side note for all you commenters, I am not … Read more

Dialed In 31: Behold the BlackBerry Bold

Have mercy. This week Research in Motion debuted the stunning BlackBerry Bold, and while we're enamored with it, we're not calling it an iPhone killer. Plus, Verizon joins the LiMo Foundation, T-Mobile's tops (again), and what's this about a 3G iPhone? All this and more cell phone reviews and reader questions answered. Listen now: Download today's podcast NewsRIM BlackBerry Bold debuts http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9940313-1.htmlVerizon to join LiMo Foundation http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9943458-37.htmlGoogle chooses 50 finalists in Android challenge http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9942958-37.htmlThe 3G iPhone is … Read more

A look at LiMo phones holds no clues for potential Verizon handsets

Verizon Wireless' announcement that it is joining the LiMo Foundation raises the question of which LiMo-enabled devices the carrier will add to its lineup. Verizon has yet to answer that question, and a look at LiMo's current device lineup holds no clues. At present, none of its devices will work on Verizon's CDMA network. Here's a snapshot of what the foundation currently offers with a focus on U.S. devices.

Motorola U9 The Moto U9 inherits its curvaceous design from the Motorola Pebl U6. It has the same rounded edges and smooth body, though instead of a … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 724: YOU are!

It's episode 724, wherein we argue, but in a happy way. MySpace wins a $234 million antispam judgment they'll probably never collect, and Google blurs faces in Street view, maybe just to be nice. Also, it turns out seniors are more acutely aware of the passing of time (or they hate commercials more than the youngsters do) and Qtrax makes four improbable deals. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 724

Note: We are making a change to our podcast feed system on Monday, May 19. However, you do not need to subscribe to a new feed. One … Read more

Verizon, Mozilla to join LiMo Foundation

Updated 10:00am PT with detail from Verizon's conference call.

The LiMo Foundation is adding several well-known entities to its roster of mobile phone players, including Verizon and Mozilla.

A total of eight companies have agreed to join forces with LiMo to work on a Linux-based operating system for mobile phones, bringing the total number of participants to 40. Verizon and Mozilla are the headliners, but the full roster of new invitees includes Infineon, Kvaleberg, Red Bend Software, Sagem Mobiles, SFR, and SK Telecom.

Reports surfaced over the weekend that Verizon was planning to add a LiMo phone to … Read more