smartphones

On the opening day of CTIA Fall 2009, Samsung and Sprint started things off with a bang by announcing the Samsung Moment, the second Google Android phone to be released for both companies in the United States. The Moment will be available starting November 1 for $179.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate, but customers can preregister for the smartphone starting today at Sprint's Web site.

Unlike the Samsung Behold II, which will be available from T-Mobile on November 2 for $199.99 with contract, the Moment features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard in addition … Read more

By now, you've heard about the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 and some of the new features added to Microsoft's mobile operating system, such an improved Internet Explorer Mobile, My Phone backup service, and Windows Marketplace for Mobile. However, what if you want to get the benefits of 6.5 without having to get one of the new smartphones?

Well, to help current Windows Mobile phone owners, Microsoft has posted an update guide that outlines upgrade eligibility. Essentially, devices running Windows Mobile 5.0 and Windows Mobile 6.0 are out, but Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphones, … Read more

Microsoft has officially launched Windows Mobile 6.5, an upgrade to its mobile operating system. While not a major overhaul of the OS, 6.5 does bring a number of enhancements and new services. Interface changes were made to make Windows phones more touch- and consumer-friendly. Internet Explorer Mobile got some much-needed attention, adding new navigation tools as well as Flash Lite support. Microsoft also launched its own app store, Windows Marketplace for Mobile, and a backup service called My Phone.

Of course, with new software, there also comes new hardware. Microsoft has already said that it will launch more … Read more

Google and Verizon Wireless on Tuesday announced what would have once seemed a very unlikely partnership, pledging to "advance the discussion" in the mobile computing market with a family of jointly designed devices to appear over the next few years.

Eric Schmidt and Lowell McAdam, CEOs of Google and Verizon Wireless respectively, worked on this partnership for 18 months before they were ready to officially bring it to light, they said Tuesday morning in a Webcast press conference. Two mobile phones running Google's Android mobile operating system will launch on Verizon's network by the end of … Read more

With the official launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 underway, Sprint got in on the action and announced the upcoming availability of its first Windows phone, the Samsung Interpid.

The Intrepid will be available starting October 11 for $149.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate. Aimed at business users, the smartphone has world roaming capabilities, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and support for Sprint's EV-DO Rev. A network. The Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional phone also features a 2.5-inch touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard.

There are plenty of apps and services on the device … Read more

On Tuesday, Taiwanese handset manufacturer HTC unveiled its fifth Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphhone, the HTC HD2. It will be the company's first Windows Mobile phone to rock HTC's Sense user interface, which debuted on the HTC Hero. The HD2 will also be powered by Qualcomm's new 1GHz Snapdragon mobile processor and boasts a 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) capacitive touch screen. Other highlights include Bluetooth 2.1, a 5-megapixel camera, and a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack.

The HTC HD2 will be available through select European operators later in October and will ship to other regions of … Read more

Full Web browsing is not just for smartphones like the iPhone. AT&T is now bringing full HTML Web browsing to "dumb" feature phones, as well.

The company announced four new handsets in the past few days that all come embedded with a full HTML Opera Mini mobile browser it calls att.net. The company says the new browser will make the mobile Internet browsing experience faster, more location-aware, and easier to use.

The browser will offer users three different ways to access the Web. There is a home screen that allows subscribers to browse Web sites … Read more

With the launch of the first round of Windows Mobile 6.5 devices just a day away, AT&T threw its hat into the ring and announced two of its own Windows phones, the HTC Pure and the HTC Tilt2.

The Pure is a rebranded version of the HTC Touch Diamond2, which we took a look at earlier this year, and sports some design changes and, of course, the new features of Windows Mobile 6.5. This includes the Microsoft's MyPhone backup service, an improved Internet Explore Mobile browser that offers Flash Lite support and better navigation tools, … Read more

On Sunday, T-Mobile continued its commitment to the Open Handset Alliance and introduced its fourth Google Android device, the Samsung Behold II.

The Behold II is scheduled to launch later this year, though a specific release date and pricing were not announced at this time. It's the first Android smartphone by Samsung to be released in the United States and joins the carrier's other Google devices, which include T-Mobile G1, the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G, and the upcoming Motorola Cliq.

Just like HTC and Motorola, Samsung has put its own spin on the Android operating system by using its … Read more