smartphones

Just after Verizon Wireless revealed that it would offer the Palm Pre in the next six months or so, Sprint has pushed back and asserted that it will have the exclusive on the Palm Pre through 2009.

The confirmation came on Thursday afternoon from Sprint spokesman James Fisher, who simply said, "We have the Pre through 2009." The length of the exclusive isn't really much of a surprise given Sprint's track record of exclusives in the past, which usually last six to nine months. It falls within Verizon's timeline.

Sprint has struggled behind its competitors … Read more

During an investor conference Webcast on Thursday, Verizon Wireless executive Lowell McAdam revealed that the carrier has big plans for device launches for the rest of 2009--launches that include the Palm Pre and RIM BlackBerry Storm 2.

"Over the next six months or so, you will see devices like Palm Pre and a second-generation Storm," Lowell said. He added that Verizon will also support Android phones, but was less specific about the time frame, only saying that they would be available later this year.

Verizon plans for the Pre comes just a day after AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said … Read more

I usually follow a simple rule when it comes to consumer electronics: I avoid buying any first-generation products. That doesn't mean I haven't ever done it, but I tend to wait for generation two or three before I plunk down my dough, particularly when it comes to heavily hyped stuff.

As I've written before, I'm a prime candidate to buy the Palm Pre. I'm a Sprint customer who has a contract conveniently expiring in June and I have a phone (the Mogul) that's on its last legs. Ideally, the Pre would cost $50 less and not have a mail-in rebate, but at least Sprint didn't price the thing at a pure $299, as I'm sure it would have preferred to do. Pricing aside, the biggest hurdle I'm facing is the fact that the Palm Pre is a first-gen phone--and platform--and I'm really not a first-gen guy.

By contrast, the iPhone will be on its third generation and its platform is already fairly mature. We'll find out exactly how the new third-generation iPhone specs out at next week's WWDC event, but it's safe to assume that many of the small, nagging kinks that were found in earlier editions of the iPhone will have been ironed out. I don't expect it to be perfect (no phone ever will be, because there's always something better around the corner), but I feel pretty good about getting a lot more iPhone for my $199 than those who purchased the original non-3G model (which was originally $599--with contract!) or even the iPhone 3G.

Sometimes, of course, a brand new product can come along that's so far ahead of the pack that even the introductory version is too tempting to avoid.… Read more

Speaking at the D Conference in Carlsbad, Calif., AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson spent the better part of Wednesday morning defending AT&T's network and addressing complaints about how the carrier was ill-prepared to handle all the demands of the iPhone. It's an interesting discussion, which you can catch here in CNET News' Ina Fried's report.

However, here's something else of interest. During the discussion with host Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal, Stephenson added that he sees AT&T selling the Palm Pre once Sprint's exclusive deal with the smartphone … Read more

Update 11:47 a.m. PDT: This story has been updated with additional information about Verizon Wireless' international roaming voice and data plans. Information about roaming in Japan and South Korea has also been updated.

It's summer time. And you know what that means: Harrowing international travel with your cell phone.

While the sour economy may be keeping some travelers closer to home this summer, good deals on flights and hotels, and the growing strength of the U.S. dollar are enticing some travelers to grab their passports and book a flight to Europe and other parts of the … Read more

If you weren't overwhelmed enough with all the upcoming smartphones slated to come out this summer, this will surely blow your mind. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Engadget Mobile hit the jackpot and got its hands on what appears to be a slide deck of all the remaining smartphones AT&T has planned for the rest of 2009.

The list is both exhaustive and impressive and includes devices from all platforms, such as the aforementioned Web OS-based Palm EOS and Android-powered HTC Lancaster, as well as some surprises from Nokia and HP. Here are just a few of … Read more

We already know that Sony Ericsson has plans to release a Google Android phone in 2009, but ever since joining the Open Handset Alliance in December 2008, we haven't heard a peep from the company. That is, until now.

Speaking at a launch event in Taiwan, Peter Ang, Sony Ericsson's Asia-Pacific vice president of marketing, told reporters that its first Google smartphone will arrive in the "near future" and that it will run Android 2.0 (aka Donut). Ang added that the device will have Sony Ericsson's unique style and though he did not elaborate … Read more

NEW YORK--The nation's second largest wireless phone company came to the Big Apple this week to strut its stuff.

At an event in a swanky boutique hotel in midtown Manhattan, AT&T representatives displayed several new handsets that are launching soon or have just launched on the carrier's network. Included in the lineup were several new smartphones, such as the hot Nokia e71x and the BlackBerry Curve 8900, which goes on sale Friday.

In addition to its new smartphones, AT&T showed off some new budget-friendly phones, such as the $20 Samsung Magnet and the new… Read more

Earlier in May, AT&T announced plans to bring the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 to its shelves in early summer and looks like the carrier is making good on its promise.

The newest Curve will be available in stores and online on May 22 for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate. Though the smartphone isn't scheduled to be in stores till Friday, it looks like you can actually purchase it from AT&T's Web site now.

AT&T's RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 is largely like T-Mobile's version, … Read more