See what CNET Editors have to sayWelcome to the 411, my Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.
Palm Pre may be more expensive to existing customers.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)Hi, I currently have a samsung Instinct with Sprint and I qualify for an upgrade in July. I was looking at upgrading to the Palm Pre, but I was wondering if you have any idea how much it would cost to buy the Pre as an upgrade, because all Sprint is advertising is the $199 with the $100 mail-in-rebate for new customers getting a two-year contract. Thanks - Xavier, via e-mail
As is the situation with the recently announced iPhone 3G S, existing customers frequently don't get to take advantage of the low prices designed to cater to new subscribers. If you want to know if you qualify for the $199 price, you'll need to check with Sprint to see if you are eligible. According to the Palm Pre fine print, existing customers in good standing, who have kept the same device for 22 consecutive months, may be eligible. Also, the $100 mail-in rebate offer lasts only until July 11, 2009. Try signing into sprint.com/upgrade to check your eligibility.
I need your opinion on whether to buy the LG enV Touch or the BlackBerry. BlackBerry is free, Touch is $150, however, the BlackBerry is over 100 more a year in service fees. Using it for MP3, phone and e-mail. Will not be texting. - TC, via e-mail
LG enV Touch may have additional monthly costs associated with it.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)That's really smart of you to note the overall cost of the phone, not just the initial price. However, the enV Touch might also cost you a bit more each month if you opt for the $3 a month Visual Voice Mail or the $10 a month for corporate e-mail. It's also not as good as the BlackBerry when it comes to e-mail in general. For MP3 playback, though, I would opt for the enV Touch, simply because of the V Cast Music access. It also has great call quality. So, if your priority is e-mail, I would go for the BlackBerry, but if it's not, then the enV Touch will do just fine.
Hello Nicole; I am going to be doing an upgrade with Verizon in a couple of months (July). I had a Voyager, which I liked very much (although a little large), and had the visual voice mail and city I.D., but my wife has that one now and I have an LG Dare, which is very quirky, and does not have visual voice mail or city I.D. (even with the latest software updates). Do you know if the new enV Touch has these two features, City I.D. and visual voice mail? I mainly text and use the Internet, any other suggestions with Verizon? I don't wish to change carriers, although I would love an iPhone. I very much enjoy your video reviews!! Thanks!! - Jon, via e-mail
The LG enV Touch does indeed have Visual Voice Mail and City I.D. support, so you're in luck there.
This summer will be extremely busy for all of us here at CNET. Not only is the Palm Pre coming in June, but we're expecting iPhone news at WWDC, a new Nokia N97 for North America, the LG enV3 and enV Touch, and more. Phew! We discuss all that, go over our weekly reviews, and answer your questions, too.
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Rumors of the week
BlackBerry Storm 2 could hit as early as June
Rumor: Nokia N97 NAM to launch June 2
News
On Call: A summer of cell phones
Palm Pre to arrive June 6 for $200
Sprint CEO: Expect Pre shortages
Best Buy Mobile to sell Palm Pre $199.99 without mail-in rebate
Sprint-branded HTC Touch Pro 2 spotted
LG enV3 to launch May 29
LG enV Touch set for June 5 release?
Nokia lays out three new phones
Android 1.5 Update for T-Mobile G1 delayed one week
Samsung Jack coming to AT&T on May 19
Samsung phone has partial keyboard--Bonnie Cha shall not be pleased
Samsung A167 goes to GoPhone
Reviews
Samsung Magnet
Kyocera X-tc
LG 160
Jabra BT4010 Bluetooth headset
Jabra SP200 Bluetooth speakerphone
Upcoming reviews
Samsung Jack
Kyocera Jax S1300
Samsung SGH-A167
Samsung Smooth SCH-U350
Samsung JetSet SCH-r550
Motorola Hint QA30
Aura Spracht BluNote
Motorola Rokr S7-HD
We finally have a release date for the Palm Pre.
(Credit: Palm)Update at Wednesday, May 20 at 10:00 a.m. PST: A few readers have asked about the North America version of the Nokia N97. It should launch June 2.
Though summer is always a busy time for new cell phones releases, so far the summer of 2009 is shaping up to be a doozy. We expect a full load of new handsets over the next three months with June being an especially hectic time for high-profile models. To help you keep track of the news, here's a handy list.
Palm Pre
After months of waiting (and plenty of rumors), we finally learned today that the Palm Pre will go on sale Saturday, June 6 for $200. Palm pushed its "first half of the year" deadline to the very end, but it appears they'll make it.
We're hoping to have a review unit by the time it hits stores so that we can give you the full scoop on this much-anticipated device. Indeed, we're very excited to finally be able to touch it. June 6 was a bit unexpected since Sprint typically releases new devices on a Sunday. But the date does give Palm a two-day jump on what should be the next incarnation of the iPhone.
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Bonnie Cha reviews the
latest smart phones, PDAs, and GPS devices, helping CNET readers get
their hands on the latest mobile electronics. 
Kent German is CNET's
cell phone editor and has been following the wireless industry for
seven years. He's embarrassed to admit he can name almost any cell
phone he sees on the street. 
Nicole Lee reviews cell
phones and their accessories for CNET, thus satisfying her love for all
things small, shiny, and digital.
