Phones

Nightlife SMS alerts from Down2night

Attention Seattle-based readers: you now have access to the alpha test version of Down2Night, a text-messaging service that keeps you up-to-date on what's happening after dark. Seattle's the first city that this just-launched service covers, but it's hoping to expand soon.

It actually sounds like a pretty cool idea. "Subscribe" to your favorite bars, clubs, and the like, and you'll get an SMS alert in the "early evening" that details the goings-on at your hotspots of choice that night. Down2Night also hopes to add incentive features so that businesses can use it … Read more

More Samsung phones at 3GSM

At technology trade shows, Samsung has a history of going all out. While most manufacturers introduce maybe five phones tops, Samsung usually unveils double that number. And as 3GSM closes this week in Barcelona, Samsung again showed that it thinks "less is more" is just plain rubbish. We showed you six new models earlier in the week, and now here are five more fresh out of the Samsung labs.

Designwise, the SGH-P110 is the most interesting of the bunch. Though we were just about to sound the death knell for swivel phones, Samsung attempts this unique swivel-flip design. … Read more

The thinnest flip-phone (of the hour)

Claiming that you've got the world's thinnest phone is a boast that might last a day or two tops, even if it's true. But NEC may well have those bragging rights for a few hours, at least in the flip-phone category.

Its n703iu is just 0.45 inches thick when closed, Electronista says. Making it even more interesting is the outer shell, which features 49 LED lights that change patterns to indicate when calls, e-mail or other functions are at work. It also has the obligatory 1.3-megapixel camera and MP3 player.

The 3G handset will be … Read more

Another ugly phone, but one for charity

We've seen some over-pimped phones in our day, but this has got to be one of the ugliest. And, believe us, that's saying a lot.

It's not just the garishness that typically defines these monstrosities. In this case, the special-edition LG "Fusic" handset looks like it has some kind of disease, thanks to--what else?--an overabundance of Swarovski crystals.

We can't rag on this item too much, though, because it's been released for a charity event. MobileWhack says the special Fusic will be auctioned this June to raise funds for the Jermaine Dupri Foundation. … Read more

A phone that knows what time it is

Dick Tracy cliches aside, this long-promised watch-phone could finally become a reality as soon as next month. Australia's SMS Technology claims that its M300 is the "world's smallest phone," a mobile device that could otherwise be easily mistaken for a digital wristwatch that can work with any GSM network. It has a color screen, MP3 player, USB port, speakerphone and Bluetooth compatibility. I4U News says it's scheduled to start shipping March 25 for about $500 in a variety of colors--yes, including pink.

T-Mobile gets the Samsung Stripe

We heard tell that the Samsung Stripe would be going to T-Mobile earlier this month, and it turned out to be true. The GSM carrier launched the Stripe today, so named because of the vertical gray stripe down its middle. As we mentioned previously, the Stripe is on the lower end of T-Mobile's offerings: it features a simple VGA camera with 4x zoom, Bluetooth, instant messaging, a speakerphone, T-Mobile's MyFaves support, and not much else. Also dubbed the Samsung SGH-T329, the phone is now available for a very affordable $49.99 after a rebate and a new contract.… Read more

Seeing pink?

If giving your girlfriend roses, teddy bears or chocolate isn't your thing, may we suggest these cool gadgets in pink? Choose from a list of cool pink MP3 players, adorable pink cell phones, pretty pink digital cameras to capture the moment or challenge her to a few games of Super Mario on the pink DS Lite. Whatever you choose, I don't think you can go wrong with pink on Valentine's day.

Verizon launches the Samsung SCH-u740

Verizon Wireless updated its lineup today with the dual-hinged Samsung SCH-u740, a much-needed upgrade to the maligned Samsung SGH-d307. We saw the u740 earlier this year at CES and were delighted that Samsung made several improvements to this dual-flip, QWERTY keyboard wonder. On the aesthetic front, no longer do the QWERTY keys perform double duty as navigation controls (there are separate keys for that now) plus the u740 simply looks way more stylish with its champagne-and-black color scheme. But the most notable difference comes in the way of its impressive feature set: a 1.3-megapixel camera, a camcorder, a music … Read more

T-Mobile named U.S. carrier for Nokia 5300 XpressMusic

Originally announced back in September, the Nokia 5300 XpressMusic phone was only available Stateside if you bought an unlocked version for well over $300. T-Mobile is going to announce Wednesday at 3GSM that starting February 28, the carrier will sell it for $99 and a two-year contract.

It's a good price for a phone that CNET Reviews was pretty impressed by: it's a GSM/GPRS/EDGE slider phone with Bluetooth support, has a 1 GB SD card slot, 1.3-megapixel camera, standard 2.5-millimeter headset jack and an adapter for the headphones of your choice. That way you … Read more

Crave tackles 3GSM

The annual 3GSM cell phone extravaganza is under way in Barcelona this week, and though Crave isn't in sunny Spain, we've been blogging away to bring you the top news from the show.

Smart phone diva Bonnie Cha waded through a ton of smart phone news to deliver info on the new RIM BlackBerry 8800, a trio of new Nokia E series smart phones, the Nokia 6110 Navigator, and the long-awaited GSM Motorola Q. Cha also covered the HTC Vox (and accurately pointed out its lack of 3G), the Nokia N77, and the I-Mate Jaq3.

Nicole Lee, who … Read more