PhoneTalk

The Sony Ericsson Vivaz for AT&T is a slim multimedia-centric cell phone that's easy to use. Among the Vivaz's most interesting features are its 8.1-megapixel camera and the ability to shoot video in HD. To get a closer look at the phone, watch the video below.

Topics:	In The Know	Music	AT&T Wireless	Camera
	Smart phones	Video	Phones

If you have an AT&T cell phone that supports WiFi then chances are you've seen the AT&T HotSpot icon. The purpose of the HotSpot application on AT&T cell phones is so users can log onto a local HotSpot and use the phone's WiFi connection to surf the web and perform other data-centric tasks such as check e-mail. If you haven't given the feature a whirl, you should. In fact, AT&T is making it available in even more places with hotzones. It's the same idea as a HotSpot in say a store, but it's further reaching and not limited to a single store. Instead a HotZone covers a large area. In this case, the hotzone is in New York's Times Square covering the north central part of Times Square along 7th Avenue, east along 46th Street, and along Broadway. Additionally, AT&T will be launching new hotzones near Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and eventually in the Embarcadero area of San Francisco. There are already AT&T hotzones available in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina and Chicago’s Wrigleyville.

Topics:

Phone Smarts

AT&T Wireless

WiFi

Carriers

Maybe you've heard about storing and accessing stuff from the cloud, but might not know what that means or why you should care. Essentially, the cloud is a way to store stuff (music, documents, photos, etc) at an offsite location that you can access and manage from anywhere and in some cases from just about any device. Take SugarSync, for example. This service works with multiple devices including BlackBerry smartphones, Google's Android-based phones, tablets including the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Apple iPad, and more. The idea is that you get a personal cloud of storage space complete with PIN protection so that you can access your data from any of those devices. You'd likely want to use a WiFi connection to access your SugarSync account from a phone, but you can do it with a basic data connection on your cell phone as well.

The best way to really understand how this works is to give it a try for yourself. SugarSync is now offering new customers (and upgrading existing customers with free 2GB accounts) accounts that come with 5GB of free storage space. That's enough space to save some of your favorite holiday songs, pictures, and even short videos you may have stored on your computer that you want to access on your cell phone. To use the service with your cell phone you'll just need to download the free mobile application that works with your phone.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Storage	BlackBerry	Smart phones
	WiFi	Android	Google	Apple
	Apps

Looking for a phone that doesn't require a contract or a credit check? Then check out MetroPCS. The company offers a variety of phones from simple messaging models to the BlackBerry Curve 8530 to Google Android phones such as the LG Optimus M. Also, of note is the availability of Samsung Craft 4G that uses the super fast LTE network available in Boston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, LA/Bakersfield, New York, Philadelphia, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Plus figuring out the right plan for you won't be difficult since all the plans include unlimited data, text, and calls. Once you get the phone, you'll need to contact MetroPCS to activate service. Come visit us today to see the full list of MetroPCS phones available.

Topics:	Somethin' To Talk About	Cell phone plans	Samsung	BlackBerry
	Smart phones	LG	Android	Google

Verizon's Mobile E-mail app has always offered a way to deliver e-mail to feature rich phones without having to log onto the web. The new version of the app has a bit more functionality that should definitely appeal to consumers who want a smartphone-like e-mail experience without getting a smartphone. Here are some of the highlights:

E-Mail Push- No need to press refresh in the e-mail application, now all e-mail will be delivered more or less in the time they are received.

Microsoft Exchange E-mail- If you're work uses Microsoft Exchange, you can now get your work e-mail on the cell phone and it will also sync your Microsoft-based contacts. A definite plus for staying in touch with work done on-the-go.

Outlook Calendar Sync- All those calendar appointments you keep in Outlook will now sync with your phone, so you won't miss your appointments.

Additionally, Mobile E-mail 4.0 also has an updated interface and a way to easily attach pictures when sending an e-mail. The application is available for Verizon users for a monthly fee of $5 with a Pay as You Go data option or included with a $15 or higher data package.

Topics:

Phone Smarts

Verizon Wireless

Business Use

E-mail

LetsTalk recently launched a contest: “Tis the Season for HTC” Giveaway. Three of the company's Facebook Fans could win one of the following cell phones: HTC Surround, HTC EVO, HTC Incredible, or HTC HD7 (the winner will be able to choose the HTC cell phone they want). If LetsTalk’s Facebook page has over 12,000 friends (it's getting close to making that number) by December 28th, the company will give away one more HTC phone to a fourth winner. Watch the video below to learn how the contest works.

Know all you need to know to win a HTC cell phone? Then click this link to become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page.

Topics:	Observed	Verizon Wireless	AT&T Wireless	Sprint
	Smart phones	T-Mobile	HTC	Android
	Google	Windows Phone 7

Another update has begun to roll out for Sprint's HTC EVO 4G. The latest update includes some nice additions to the phone including Kindle eReader, Blockbuster app, and of course the SWYPE keyboard. Here are some other features included in the update:

-Preloaded try/buy video game: NOVA from Gameloft

-Sprint Zone update

-Latest Telenav

-Latest Visual Voicemail Application

-Latest Sprint TV application

-Scan Now Widget for 4G

The update will appear as a notification for your cell phone. When it arrives, click the link and the follow the directions.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Text messaging	Sprint	HTC
	Android	Google

There's a new way to discover music on BlackBerry smartphones and it comes in the form of a new app, Amazon MP3 for BlackBerry smartphones. The app gives BlackBerry users access to over 14 million DRM-free songs for purchase and download. But that's not all, there are quite a few additional features to the app such as Parental Controls, the ability to use Amazon Gift Cards to buy music, bookmarks (so you don't have to keep searching for the same music you already found), and the ability to share music from Amazon MP3 with friends via BlackBerry Messenger, e-mail, text, Twitter, and Facebook. Let's not forget the daily music deals which include a free song of the day and daily album deals.

If you have a BlackBerry that runs BlackBerry OS 6.0 just type the song or artist or album you're looking for in the search bar and in addition to searching the web and your cell phone, it will now also search the Amazon MP3 app. That said, this app isn't just for BlackBerry OS 6.0 users its also compatible with BlackBerry OS 5.0 and higher. The app is currently in beta and can be found in the Test Center section of the BlackBerry App World market. You can find more information on Amazon MP3 for BlackBerry smartphones by clicking this link. Or you can ask us using via BlackBerry Messenger - all the info you need to connect with LetsTalk via BlackBerry Messenger can be found by clicking this link.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Music	BlackBerry	Smart phones
	Apps

At CTIA in October, Sprint announced ID Packs to help Android users customize their phone. The packs essentially are a way to deck out a cell phone with a theme loading it with corresponding apps and widgets. The latest pack announced today comes from MTV called the MTV Music ID pack. In addition, to various MTV centric apps such as the MTV News App, MTV Photos, MTV Twitter, and the MTV Meter (a daily list of artists currently trending) there are also some popular music apps including Pandora and Rhapsody.

The ID packs also tend to include apps you might not know about. In this case there are two:

SoundHound: An instant music search and discovery application that's similar to Shazaam. Only difference is this app can also recognize songs that you sing or hum.

doubleTwist: Use this app to sync playlists, ratings and play counts to your Android phone with the doubleTwist Player for Android.

Although, the MTV Music ID pack is free to download it's currently only available for three phones: LG Optimus S, Sanyo Zio, and Samsung Transform.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Music	Sprint	Samsung
	Smart phones	LG	Sanyo	Android

The myTouch 4G is the latest Android phone in T-Mobile's myTouch line of cell phones. It has quite a few upgrades and keeps some nifty features users have come to enjoy using on the myTouch phones such as the Genius Button that really lets you find anything and do more with the cell phone. Watch the video below to learn more.

Topics:	In The Know	Smart phones	WiFi	Video
	T-Mobile	HTC	Android	Google

Sound ID's most recent technology enhancement for the Sound ID 510 Bluetooth headset came in the form of an application, called the EarPrint App. The idea behind the app is that users could customize the headset by creating personalized listening preferences, stay informed about the Sound ID 510's battery life via a Visual Battery Indicator feature shown in the app on the cell phone, and finally a "Find Me" feature that triggers the headset to start beeping so it can easily be found. The app has already been made available in the perspective iPhone and Android application stores and now it comes to BlackBerry's App World. The applications will work on BlackBerry Torch 9800, BlackBerry Storm 9550, BlackBerry Storm 9530, and BlackBerry Storm 9520. Support for the Blackberry Bold and Curve will be added at the end of the month.

Topics:	In The Know	BlackBerry	Smart phones	Bluetooth
	Accessories

During the holiday season, LetsTalk shows its appreciation for all its Facebook friends and hopes to make a few new ones with its latest contest: “Tis the Season for HTC” Giveaway. Three of the company's Facebook Fans could win one of the following cell phones: HTC Surround, HTC EVO, HTC Incredible, or HTC HD7 (the winner will be able to choose the HTC cell phone they want). All you have to do to enter the Giveaway is become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page. Not sure how to become a fan? Simply visit LetsTalk on Facebook and click the "Like" button at the top of the page. If you’re already a fan of LetsTalk on Facebook, you’ll still be entered to win a HTC smartphone. The contest has just begun and ends on Tuesday, December 28th at 9pm Pacific Time. We should note that you only need to enter once to win and selecting/deselecting "Like" on Facebook will not increase your chances of winning. Oh yeah, and if LetsTalk’s Facebook page has over 12,000 friends by December 28th, the company will give away one more HTC phone to a fourth winner. So, be sure to spread the word.

Becoming a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page will help keep you informed about the latest cell phone news, let you know when the most popular phones are available, and more. Know all you need to know to win a HTC cell phone? Then click this link to become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page.

Topics:	Somethin' To Talk About	Smart phones	HTC	Android
	Windows Phone 7

The BlackBerry Bold 9780 for T-Mobile has a few enhancements over its predecessor the BlackBerry Bold 9700, namely a higher resolution camera, an updated design, and it runs BlackBerry OS 6.0. To get a closer look at the BlackBerry Bold 9780 watch the video below by LetsTalk's Cassie Fenley.

Topics:	In The Know	BlackBerry	Smart phones	Business Use
	T-Mobile

Arguably one of the cooler accessories we've seen in awhile, the Ventev SoundVIBE Mini-Speaker lets you make the most out of music stored on a cell phone. See how it works in this video by LetsTalk's accessory expert Melanie Bie.

Topics:

Phone Smarts

Music

Accessories

At CTIA this fall, Verizon announced that it would be launching 4G service in 38 markets by the end of the year and in a press conference today the company said it would be doing just that. On Sunday, December 5th Verizon will turn on its LTE 4G network in 38 cities. Consumers will be able to access the service using the LG VL600 LTE USB modem at launch and the Pantech UML290 LTE USB modem (the modems will work with 3G networks when not in a 4G network area) shortly after.

The 4G network is expected to deliver download speeds of 5 to 12Mbps (it would take approximately less than 2 minutes to download a movie trailer) and 2 to 5Mbps for uploads (you could upload a large photo in seconds). Overall, that's pretty fast. The service will cost $50 for 5GB of monthly access and $80 for 10GB of monthly service. If you go over the allotted plan amount of data there's a $10 per GB overage fee.

Among the 38 markets that will have 4G service are many of the major metropolitan areas including:

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Chicago, Illinois
• Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, Dallas, Texas
• Las Vegas, Nevada 
• Los Angeles, California 
• Miami, Florida 
• Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota
• New Orleans, Louisiana 
• New York, New York
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
• Phoenix, Arizona
• San Francisco, California
• Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
• Washington, D.C.

You can learn more about the conference by visiting Verizon's Twitter stream.

Topics:

Somethin' To Talk About

Verizon Wireless

LG

4G

The HTC HD7 for T-Mobile is a Windows Phone 7 smartphone that has a lot of features to keep you entertained on the road. To get a closer look at what the new Microsoft mobile OS has to offer and how to stream Netflix movies on it, watch the video below.

Topics:	In The Know	Camera	Smart phones	Business Use
	WiFi	Video	Games	T-Mobile
	HTC	Windows Phone 7	Microsoft

The Deal of the Week comes from LetsTalk's accessories specialist Melanie Bie.

What is it?We have three accessory specials that will be happening over the Thanksgiving weekend. A BlackBerry Bluetooth headset that supports voice guided turn-by-turn directions. The stylish Clingo Hands Free Car Mount that's designed to work with virtually any phone. Finally, the Naztech 1900mAh Backup Battery Pack is a pocket-friendly device that can give a cell phone a little extra juice in a pinch.

How much? LetsTalk's Facebook fans will be able to unlock coupons for these accessories Friday morning. If you haven't already "Liked" LetsTalk's Facebook page, do it at any time to reveal the necessary accessory coupon found on the tab labeled "Holiday Sale."

Why is it such a good deal? We wanted to pass special savings onto LetsTalk Facebook fans.

Topics:	In The Know	Driving laws	BlackBerry	Bluetooth
	Accessories	Deal of the Week

During the holidays we tend to spend a lot of time in the car driving near or far to spend time with friends and family. We know cell phones can help get us there without getting too lost along the way, but armed with the right applications they can also help make the trip informative. Take the Android application I just discovered: NPR Road Trip Station. It does exactly what it says, it tells you the NPR stations near your location - pretty handy. Of course, you can also download other mobile NPR apps such as NPR News and podcasts, but if you're traveling long distances and like to listen to whatever NPR programming is available the NPR Road Trip Station is the Android app to download. Oh yeah, it's also free.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Driving laws	Smart phones	Android
	Google	Apps

In this installment of Questions and Answers, we tell you where to find Bluetooth phones that will work with a Toyota and how to keep your number when switching carriers. Got a question you want answered? Submit your question here. You can also ask me on Twitter. Got something to add to the answers below? Leave a comment.

How can I find out which phones are compatible with the bluetooth in my 2007 Camry Hybrid? -Seg

You can use this link to the Toyota site to find out which cell phones are compatible with your car. Google Android smartphones are still being tested for compatibility, however, it's likely some of the features will work with the car, but not all.

When I get a new cell phone will I be able to retain my current phone number? - Dan

If you're buying a new cell phone with the same carrier you'll just be transferring your number. If your buying a new cell phone with a different carrier you can still take your cell phone number with you. You can find out more information about number portability by clicking this link.

Topics:	Driving laws	Bluetooth	Q&A	Android
	Apps

The latest model in the Samsung Galaxy S line, the Samsung Continuum is now available for Verizon customers. The Android 2.1 smartphone, has the same beautiful Super AMOLED display as previously announced Galaxy S phones, but a bit smaller (at 3.4-inches) than the Samsung Fascinate. It does have a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash that can also record video in 720p HD. It also has Samsung's Daily Briefing widget for checking your day in a glance, AllShare for sharing media on the cell phone with other DLNA devices available in your home, a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard that supports Swype, and you can turn the cell phone into a 3G Mobile HotSpot. That's a lot of functionality. If you wanted a Galaxy S phone that was a bit smaller, the Continuum is worth a look.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Samsung	Camera
	Smart phones	Android	Google

The LG Vortex is an Android 2.1 smartphone that's pre-loaded with applications making it easy to get started. On board you'll find pre-installed LG applications My Status with Twitter and Facebook to help you stay up to date on all your social media activity. It also supports Verizon-centric features such as Skype Mobile, has the ability to share the phone's 3G data connection via Mobile HotSpot, VZ Navigator, Bing Search, and Bing Maps. Additionally, the LG Vortex has a 3.2-megapixel camera and the ability to record up to 16GB of video.

Also, available today is the upgrade to the LG Cosmos, the LG Cosmos Touch. The updated messaging phone now sports a 2.8-inch touchscreen as well as the expected 4-line QWERTY keyboard. It also has more functionality built-in with the inclusion of three customizable home screens, a 1.3-megapixel camera with zoom. Overall, the LG Cosmos Touch looks to be a good fit for those who want a slick messaging phone.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Text messaging	Camera
	Smart phones	LG	Android	Google

The DROID Pro by Motorola is an Android 2.2 smartphone that's designed with business users in mind complete with enterprise security features and the ability to wipe the cell phone remotely. The cell phone will also work around the globe. To make that easier for users Verizon has included all the adapters needed in the box. To see more about the DROID Pro by Motorola watch the video below.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Smart phones
	International	Business Use	Android	Google

Verizon and T-Mobile recently introduced new data plans so people can pick a plan that best meets their usage needs. Although, those two companies have revised pricing plans all the carriers offer them. If you’re using a smartphone (Android, BlackBerry, Palm, and soon Windows Phone 7) you will definitely need a data plan, even many feature-rich cell phones are beginning to require data plans, such as the Pantech Crux. Data plans are what you need to really take advantage of many of the phone’s services and apps such as streaming music, watching videos from YouTube or other services, uploading photos to sites like Facebook and Picassa, surfing the web, and of course let’s not forget sending and receiving e-mail. Sure, many cell phones today also feature WiFi and you can connect easily to a nearby WiFi network to do many of those activities, but WiFi isn’t available everywhere and you’ll still need a data plan.

So, how do you decide which data plan is right for you? It’s not easy when you only see things like 200MB or 2GB data plans. You need to think about how you use your cell phone. The services that use a lot of data are things like watching a lot of YouTube videos or streaming video and TV shows offered by carriers, streaming music from sites like Pandora, and uploading a ton of photos to different sites. If you do those things a lot during a month, consider a 2GB plan. On the other hand, if you primarily use the cell phone (Read more)

Topics:	Observed	Verizon Wireless	AT&T Wireless	Sprint
	Cell phone plans	Smart phones	Business Use	WiFi
	T-Mobile

Get a closer look at one of the first Windows Phone 7 cell phones coming to T-Mobile, the HTC HD7. You'll be able to see the smartphone's spacious display, how to play games with other XBox players, learn how to watch Netflix videos in style using the HD7's kickstand, and more in the first look video below by LetsTalk's Cassie Fenley.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Camera	Video	Games
	T-Mobile	HTC	Windows Phone 7

The Deal of the Week comes from LetsTalk's accessories specialist Melanie Bie.

What is it? The Technocel Battery Boost can add an extra hour of battery life to any cell phone with a microUSB port. It also does double duty as a microSD card reader so you can easily transfer files, music, or pictures from your computer to your phone since the microSD card shows up as a drive on the computer. Plus, it's small enough to fit on a key chain.

How much? This week the Technocel Battery Boost costs $24.99. Click this link to get the deal.

Why is it such a good deal? Portable chargers designed to extend battery life in a jam can cost as much as $40. The Technocel doesn't only charge a microUSB device in a pinch it also acts as a microSD card reader.

Topics:

In The Know

Storage

Accessories

Deal of the Week

More and more planes are offering WiFi during flight so you can use your laptop or cell phone to to get online all from your airplane seat. However, the WiFi feature isn't exactly cheap to use and not everyone takes the opportunity to try it. All that's going to change this holiday season according to the Google Blog, the company's Chrome Team is offering free Gogo Inflight WiFi service on every AirTran, Delta and Virgin American domestic flight from November 20, 2010 through January 2, 2011. You can learn more about this holiday promotion by clicking this link.

Topics:

Phone Smarts

WiFi

Google

Verizon Wireless announced it would be offering customers two new cell phone options the Samsung Zeal and the Motorola Citrus. The Motorola Citrus is an Android 2.1 touchscreen cell phone complete with a SWYPE QWERTY keyboard. The cell phone was recently unveiled at the fall CTIA show in September (see the video below). The search engine of choice on this phone will be Bing along with Bing maps, however, there will still be access to popular Google features such as Gmail and Google Talk. Available this week, the Citrus will require a voice plan and a minimum data plan that costs $15 a month.

While the Samsung Zeal looks like a newer version of the Samsung Alias 2 with its dual-hinge design and E Ink keyboard (letters and symbols on the keys change based on how the cell phone is opened). In addition, the Zeal has a 2-megapixel camera, a QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode, VZ Navigator, supports Skype Mobile, and will come with the Social Beat Widget for keeping up with social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and news feeds. All and all, those are some pretty note worthy updates over the Samsung Alias 2. The cell phone will be available in black this week.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Text messaging
	Cell phone plans	Samsung	Smart phones	WiFi
	Android	Google

Get a closer look at the myTouch 4G for T-Mobile. The new smartphone runs Android 2.2 OS, sports the Genius Button that helps you accomplish just about anything you need, and has a 5-megapixel camera. To learn more about the myTouch 4G and see what comes in the box check out this video from LetsTalk's Cassie Fenley.

Topics:	In The Know	Camera	Smart phones	Video
	T-Mobile	HTC	Android

At CTIA in September, Motorola unveiled the Motorola DROID Pro for Verizon that's designed with the business user in mind. The Android 2.2 smartphone comes with Quickoffice Mobile Suite, 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities (share the phone's data connection with up to 5 other WiFi-enabled devices), and will work around the globe. To get a closer look at the DROID Pro, check out the video below. The smarphone will be available later this month.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Camera
	Smart phones	Business Use	WiFi	Video
	Android	Google

RIM recently announced an update to its BlackBerry OS, version 6.0. The OS has undergone quite a facelift, but hasn’t lost many of the core features that BlackBerry users value. The new OS is really designed to work well with touchscreen cell phones, however, BlackBerry phones that don’t sport a touchscreen will also be able to receive the benefits of the new OS. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect to find in BlackBerry OS 6.0:

• Improved web browsing: In the previous OS, the BlackBerry web experience had a hard time competing with the browsers found on the latest batch of Android phones and the iPhone. That’s no longer the case. Now, pages load fast, it’s easier to zoom and navigate around them, and there’s even tabbed browsing so you can easily click on a tab to visit other web sites. You can even add your favorite web sites to the home screen so you can easily access those sites in the future.

• Universal Search: This is a big enhancement. If you’re ever looking for anything on your cell phone now you can type once to search everywhere on your BlackBerry and even the web.

• Social Feeds: In prior versions of the BlackBerry OS, if you wanted to stay updated on your social media accounts you would have to download mobile versions of social media sites either from those specific sites or the BlackBerry App world. That’s no longer the case now you can simply enter in your user name and password and see all of your feeds in one screen. You can also type an update once and send it to as many accounts as you want. If you don’t want to use the Social Feeds app, you can always log onto Twitter, Facebook, or MySpace by using the included individual apps. Social Feeds can even keep track of all your RSS feeds.

• Home screen is easier to organize: The new OS supports multiple home screens. The benefit here is that instead of seeing all of your apps in one screen (which you can still do), you can customize other screens such as Frequent, Favorites, Media, and Downloads. This puts all the features you use at the forefront of your cell phone experience.

• Daily events: In one screen you can view all your e-mails, calendar appointments, and even Facebook messages for the day.

• WiFi Music Sync: BlackBerry phones already have a great music player and now with this feature users can view their iTunes or Windows Media Player on their home computers via the (Read more)

  Topics:	Phone Smarts	BlackBerry	Smart phones	WiFi
  	Video

If you have a BlackBerry cell phone and haven’t used the BlackBerry Messenger app yet, now is the perfect time to get started and connect with LetsTalk to receive special offers on BlackBerry phones and accessories. LetsTalk will also be available to answer any questions you might have about your phone. Already use your BlackBerry Messenger app? Why not add LetsTalk as a friend to get the same opportunities? We’d love to hear your thoughts about the app and about your phone. Getting started is easy; either use your BlackBerry to scan the barcode found on this BlackBerry Messenger page or enter us as a contact by adding our pin number: 22f53f18.

The BlackBerry Messenger app lets you connect easily with other BlackBerry cell phone owners and unlike text messages there are no character limitations. You can also share photos and videos to multiple contacts, and even let people know what tunes are playing on your BlackBerry. Why not give it a try? You can learn more about LetsTalk and the BlackBerry Messenger app by clicking this link.

Topics:	Observed	Text messaging	BlackBerry	Smart phones
	Bluetooth

The DROID Incredible just got a bit better. Verizon announced a software update is now available for the cell phone that will upgrade it to Android 2.2. In addition to the OS update there are quite a few noteworthy enhancements included as well such as support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 on web pages, the ability to record video in 720p HD, a text message widget, connect to visual voicemail when WiFi is activated on the cell phone, Skype Mobile, and the ability to turn the DROID Incredible into a Mobile HotSpot with the ability to connect up to 5 other WiFi-enabled devices.

How do you get the update? Well, it's pretty simple. Just look for the System Update notification on your cell phone. Select that and follow the prompted instructions. We recommend leaving your cell phone plugged into a wall outlet during the update. The update will take about 5 to 10 minutes and its best to just let it run its course without interruption. If you want more instructions on how to install the DROID Incredible update click this link.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	Smart phones	Video
	HTC	Android	Google

The Pantech Laser is a stylish new phone for AT&T that offers lots of customization and fun features, such as Draw Commander. It also comes with a 3-megapixel camera and better yet it doesn't require a data plan. Get a closer look at the Pantech Laser and see how it compares to the Sony Ericsson Vivaz in this first look video from LetsTalk's Cassie Fenley.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	AT&T Wireless	Sony Ericsson	Camera
	Video	Apps

Today, Facebook announced three new features that are coming to Facebook mobile: Single Sign-In, Enhanced Places, and Deals. These three enhancements are designed to have you use Facebook on your cell phone for more social activities.

Single Sign-In is all about signing in once to Facebook and then using that to sign-in to other sites that support the feature. The example shown at the event was using Groupon. All you have to do is sign-in to your Facebook account on the cell phone once. When you visit Groupon on the phone, you won't need to enter a user name or password for Groupon you can just sign-in via a Facebook login button.

Next up is Places, which is a lot like FourSquare because you can check out the location of friends, check-in to spots, and search for relevant places nearby. Additionally, you can see a history of places where a friend has been (a feature that is not currently available on FourSquare). The question comes to mind, why would you still use FourSquare? Well, one could argue that FourSquare is a bit more intimate than Facebook Places because if all your friends (really, people do have a lot of Facebook friends that aren't in their immediate circle) sign up for Places that's a lot of people you'll be seeing on Facebook Places. Whereas friends on FourSquare tend to be people in your immediate circle. Additionally, some might find FourSquare more fun to use since it offers up coveted mayorships and badges with the real prize being bragging rights among FourSquare friends. It's antics, pure and simple, and that's a big part of FourSquare's appeal.

Places is also tied closely to the next feature unveiled called Mobile Deals. Now, mobile deals aren't anything new, but they seem a lot easier to get with Facebook Mobile since you'll already be logged into Facebook on your cell phone. For example, in the near future Gap will be giving away a free pair of jeans to people who check-in on Facebook when they're at a Gap store. The company will allot 10,000 pairs of jeans for the promotion and once those are claimed, everyone else will receive a 40% discount. Then there's the North Face promotion that is charity driven. According to the Facebook Mobile press conference today, North Face will donate a $1 to charity when Facebook Mobile users check-in to a North Face store or a National Park.

This is what you can expect from Facebook Mobile in the future. Some apps with these features are already available for Android phones (check out the Android Market) and for iPhone. Let us know what you think? Are these features you want from your mobile Facebook experience?

Topics:

Observed

Android

Apple

The Motorola Bravo was recently announced for AT&T. It's an Android 2.1 smartphone that also sports a 3-megapixel camera, FM radio, and comes with a 2GB microSD card. It also has a couple of enterprise-class features as we learn from this video by LetsTalk's Soo Jin Hwang in the video below.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	AT&T Wireless	Smart phones
	Android

The Samsung Transform was recently announced for Sprint. It's an affordable Android 2.1 cell phone with a spacious slide-out tactile QWERTY keyboard. We take a closer look at the cell phone in the video below.

Topics:

New at CTIA

Sprint

Smart phones

Android

At CTIA earlier this month, Sprint unveiled a few new cell phones and Sprint ID, an easy way load a series of Android apps and themes on a phone. One of those cell phones was the Sanyo Zio by Kyocera, an Android cell phone that doesn't have a lot of extras. Get a closer look at both the smartphone and Sprint ID in the video below.

Topics:	New at CTIA	Sprint	Smart phones	Android
	Apps

At a recent Motorola event the company launched some new cell phones for AT&T and Verizon. Here we have one of those cell phones, the Motorola Flipout. In addition to having a unique design (at first glance you might not even think its a phone), the Motorola Flipout runs the Android 2.1 OS with MotoBlur, has a 3-megapixel camera, and a 5-line physical QWERTY keyboard. Get a closer look at this cell phone by watching the video below.

Topics:	New at CTIA	Motorola	AT&T Wireless	Smart phones
	Android

In this installment of Questions and Answers, we explain Bluetooth technology and keeping your phone number when switching carriers. Got a question you want answered? Submit your question here. You can also ask me on Twitter. Got something to add to the answers below? Leave a comment.

I plan on changing carriers next month, will I still be able to keep my phone number?-Econ

Yes, you will be able to keep your number when you switch carriers. You can find out more about number portability by clicking this link. You also might want to think about backing up your phone numbers in your address book on the cell phone since that isn't always the smoothest of transitions.

What is bluetooth and how does it work? - Arillary

Bluetooth is a universal technology that lets you connect a Bluetooth device to another Bluetooth device wirelessly. This is done by first making the devices discoverable (meaning they can be seen by other Bluetooth devices and are available to make a connection) and then pairing the two devices to each other. Most Bluetooth devices walk you through the steps on how to do this. (Read more)

Topics:

Cell phone plans

Bluetooth

Accessories

Q&A

We know that the four major carriers all have Samsung Galaxy S phone, but they are all just a little bit different and we're not talking about design only. Some models have Samsung's Daily Briefing app, while others have a mobile hotspot feature. The video below breaks it down for you and shows you what exactly differentiates each Galaxy S cell phone. If you missed the Samsung Galaxy S Giveaway on Facebook, you still might want to visit LetsTalk's Facebook page. See why in the video below.

Topics:	Somethin' To Talk About	Verizon Wireless	AT&T Wireless	Sprint
	Samsung	Smart phones	T-Mobile	Android
	Google

Sound ID had an interesting take on how to improve the quality and add functionality to its Bluetooth headsets. It's called an EarPrint app and it basically lets users create personalized listening preferences that can improve sound clarity without raising the volume. The app also has voice announcements about connectivity and status. Better yet it even has a battery indicator that will tell you on the cell phone how much battery life is left on the headset. The free app, which is now available for Android users at the Android Market, works with the Sound ID 510 Bluetooth headset. The app first became available for Apple users earlier this year. BlackBerry users can expect to have a version of the EarPrint app later this year.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Bluetooth	Accessories	Android
	Apps

Earlier this year HP acquired Palm and now we get a peak at what to expect in terms of phones and the webOS. The next Palm webOS phone will be called Palm Pre 2 and from the looks of things it doesn't look a lot different than the original Palm Pre, but it will have a faster processor, brighter display, 5-megapixel camera, and of course WiFi with the ability to share the connection with up to 5 other WiFi enabled devices via the mobile hotspot. The Palm Pre 2 will first be available in France and then will arrive in a few months for Verizon users in the U.S.

Now for webOS 2.0: Overall it looks similar, but yet slicker and has quite a few interesting new features as seen in this thorough Engadget post. The most noticeable feature enhancement is the use of Stacks as in you can now stack cards, which will help you better organize the cards you have open on the phone. There's also better control of what information you bring into the phone via HP Synergy so you can choose what you want you want synched such as contacts and calendars. Then there is Text Assist, which lets you create your own dictionary of learned words and create macros for frequently typed words or phrases (essentially create your own shortcuts). For all those who use Skype, the Verizon Palm webOS phones will have access to that feature as well in webOS 2.0.

All and all it looks like the updates to the webOS will do a lot for the user experience. Better yet owners of existing Palm webOS phones will be receiving an update to webOS 2.0. (Read more)

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Palm	Camera
	Smart phones

Last month we launched LetsTalk's Samsung Galaxy S Giveaway which gave Facebook fans a chance to win the Galaxy S cell phone of their choice. All that was needed to enter the Giveaway was to already be or become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page by clicking the "Like" button at the top of the page. Since we were able to surpass the goal of 3,500 fans before the contest ended on October 3rd there has been two winners chosen.

We still have something in store for the rest of our Facebook fans interested in a Galaxy S phone. Be sure to check back for details or check out LetsTalk's Facebook page. In the meantime, join us in congratulating:

Carol Heuston of Texas won the Sprint Samsung Epic 4G.

Scott Boyle of Arkansas won AT&T's Samsung Captivate.

Topics:	Observed	AT&T Wireless	Sprint	Samsung
	Smart phones	Android	Google

Two years ago RIM introduced its first flip phone, the BlackBerry Flip. Now it has unveiled another flip model the BlackBerry Style 9670. The biggest difference in this model is that instead of sporting just a numeric keypad, the Style 9670 has a full QWERTY keyboard. This feature, of course, makes the new model a bit wider. The cell phone also has a 5-megapixel camera, WiFi, 3G connectivity, Kobo e-reader, and will be running BlackBerry OS 6, the most recent announced (currently only found on theBlackBerry Torch). The Style 9670 will be available forSprint at the end of the month.

Topics:	In The Know	Sprint	BlackBerry	Camera
	Smart phones	Business Use	WiFi

The Deal of the Week comes from LetsTalk's accessories specialist Melanie Bie. Protect yourMotorola DROID X or DROID 2 without breaking the bank.

What is it? DROID 2 Rubberized Shield and Holster combo. The holster has a 360 degree swivel clip and a felt interior to protect the screen of the cell phone. The shield fits seamlessly on the phone, so there's no need to worry about tugging and ruining the shield.

How much? The combo comes with a rubberized shield and a holster for $19.99.

Why is it such a good deal? If you buy the two accessories separately, it would cost closer to $30. Get theShield and Holster by clicking this link.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Smart phones
	Accessories	Deal of the Week	Android

In this installment of Questions and Answers, we talk about transferring contacts between Verizon cell phones and setting ringtones on the T-Mobile G2. Got a question you want answered? Submit your question here. You can also ask me on Twitter.

How do I transfer my contact list to a new Verizon phone? - Bets

Verizon has a service called Backup Assistant. You can download the app on your current cell phone and backup the contacts in your phonebook. When you get your new cell phone simply run the application on your phone and it will load your backed up contacts on the new phone. Additionally, depending on the cell phone you have and the cell phone you get, you can also transfer your contacts via (Read more)

Topics:	Verizon Wireless	Ringtones	T-Mobile	Bluetooth
	Q&A	Android	Apps

This summer RIM announced its new BlackBerry OS and the first cell phone to sport the OS, the BlackBerry Torch. The cell phone has a touchscreen display and the new OS has enough similarities to the previous version that getting up and running on it should be fairly easy. That said, it has quite a few changes that make it a bit more intuitive including easier access to social network sites via Social Feeds. To see what we mean, get a closer look at the Torch in the video below.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	BlackBerry	Smart phones
	WiFi	Video

T-Mobile recently announced the next MyTouch will be available in time for the holidays and will be loaded with high-end features such as video chat, an HD camcorder, 1GHz processor, and 4G connectivity. Sounds like a cell phone you want? You could win one by submitting a video that "Shows off your Genius." If you haven't guessed by now, the video should be about how you use the Genius Button on any existing T-Mobile MyTouch cell phone. If you haven't checked out the Genius Button yet, you should. You can use this button for just about any voice-activated commands, like make a call, send a text, find a nearby location. Why not put your creativity to the test and create a video that shows how you use the Genius Button. You could win the next MyTouch. Click this link to get started.

Don't forget for a limited time you can receive a coupon code for 10% off any cell phone purchased at LetsTalk.com that's good through the end of the year. All you need to do is subscribe to LetsTalk's YouTube channel, favorite a video, and submit a comment to receive the coupon code via a YouTube message.

Topics:	Somethin' To Talk About	Smart phones	Video	T-Mobile
	HTC	Android	Google

Following the unveiling of Windows Phone 7, T-Mobile announced it would be offering the HTC HD7 Windows Phone 7. In addition to running the new Microsoft mobile OS, it's also designed for entertainment with a 4.3-inch display that can be used to watch TV shows and movies streaming over Netflix, play Xbox Live games, and access even more media via Zune. Additionally, the cell phone will offer access to Slacker Radio and T-Mobile TV for watching live and on-demand shows from networks such as ABC News NOW, FOX Sports, and PBS Kids. The HTC HD7 will also have a 1GHz processor, 16GB of internal memory, a 5-megapixel camera with the ability to record HD video. If you liked the HD2, which runs the latest version of Windows Mobile (not Windows Phone 7 and the HD2 will not be updated to Windows Phone 7), then the HD7 might be right up your alley if you want a new phone with the new Microsoft Mobile OS.

Topics:	In The Know	Windows Mobile	Smart phones	Business Use
	T-Mobile	HTC

Microsoft took the lid off Windows Phone 7 at a press conference yesterday to show off the new phone OS and its tag line, "Always delightful, wonderfully mine." The new operating system is a huge departure from what people typically think of when they think about a Windows cell phone. It offers tons of customization, an intuitive onscreen QWERTY keyboard that auto corrects words or lets you revert to the original word typed, integration with Xbox Live (including the ability to edit and create avatars), voice search using Bing, and an overall more fluid user experience. There will also be an update coming in early 2011 that will allow you to cut and paste.

AT&T, the company that launched the first Windows Mobile phone back in 2003, announced that on November 8th it would be offering the Samsung Focus Windows Phone 7. A few weeks later, two more models the LG Quantum and HTC Surround (complete with a kickstand and surround sound speakers) will be available. The three cell phones will have a 1GHz processor and tons of on-board storage (Quantum and Surround will have 16GB of on board memory, while the Focus will have 8GBs of onboard memory). However, Microsoft talked a lot about the "cloud" so you'll have access to tons of content (pictures, music, and movies) that doesn't need to reside on the phone.

Microsoft announced a total of 9 (Read more)

Topics:	In The Know	Music	Storage	Samsung
	Windows Mobile	Smart phones	LG	Business Use
	Video	HTC

The long awaited update to the T-Mobile G1, the G2 has finally arrived. It has quite a few noteworthy design and OS changes, but offers a pure Google experience. Get a closer look at this phone in the video review below:

Topics:	In The Know	Smart phones	T-Mobile	HTC
	Android	Google

On the heels of the T-Mobile G2 smartphone, T-Mobile has introduced another Android 2.2 cell phone the LG Optimus T, a slim touchscreen cell phone that sports a 3.2-megapixel camera, Voice Actions for Android, video recorder, and will come with a 2GB microSD card installed. If you're looking for a basic Android phone without a lot of extras that has the latest Android OS, check out the LG Optimus T.

Topics:	In The Know	LG	T-Mobile	Android
	Google

One of the three Android phones Sprint announced today is the Samsung Transform, which will be available next week. This cell phone will be running Android 2.1 (scheduled be updated to Android 2.2), sports a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3.5-inch HVGA touch-screen display, WiFi, and two cameras: a 3.2-megapixel camera with flash on the back and VGA camera on the front for video conferencing. This smartphone will have the standard fare of Sprint apps, plus a new one just released today: the ability to download Sprint ID packs of apps.

Topics:	New at CTIA	Sprint	Samsung	Smart phones
	Android	Google

Sprint is offering customers a new way to find and purchase apps and widgets on Android cell phones. The idea is called Sprint ID and it's designed to help people find the apps and widgets they want all combined in a single downloadable package. The ID Packs seem to revolve around themes and brands such as entertainment, sports, fitness, and even shopping. For example, the E Entertainment TV Pack would have the E Online application, a Keeping up with the Kardashian's app, and a Red Carpet app that will be available later this year. While a non-branded version of a Pack would be the Health and Fitness Pack that would include apps such Workout Coach, Fitness Tips, Calorie Counter, BMI Calculator and more.

Initially, the ID Packs will be available on the three new Android cell phones that Sprint introduced today, the Samsung Transform, Sanyo Zio by Kyocera, and LG Optimus S. The good news is that the packs will be free to download.

Topics:	New at CTIA	Sprint	Samsung	Smart phones
	LG	Android	Google	Apps

Verizon announced today that it would launch its LTE 4G network in 38 markets by the end of the year. This isn't going to be one market after another, but rather the company plans on turning on all 38 markets on the same day, which should cover approximately 70 percent of the population. Large markets like San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and more are included in the launch. What does this mean to you? Well, in short, Verizon's 4G network will be offering speeds of 5-12Mbps download and 2-5Mbps upload, which is great for video among other apps. While there was no announcement of products that would work with the network, consumers can expect to see USB AirCard devices first. However, the company plans to announce more products at CES that will be rolled out the beginning of next year.

Topics:

New at CTIA

Verizon Wireless

Video

Want a cell phone that you can use on the slopes or at the beach? That's the idea behind Verizon's latest rugged cell phone, the Casio G’zOne Ravine. In addition to its rugged design, the Ravine comes with quite a few outdoor-centric apps installed such as a Walking Counter, Astro Calendar for following the cycles of the moon, Thermometer, Tides to help follow what's happening with the current, Earth Compass, and more. Also on board are push-to-talk functionality, 3.2-megapixel camera, VZ Navigator, voice recorder, and of course a multitude of messaging options.

Topics:	In The Know	Sports	Verizon Wireless	Camera
	GPS	Apps

In this installment of Questions and Answers, we talk about service plans and phone upgrades. Got a question you want answered? Submit your question here. Got something to add to the answers below? Leave a comment.

If I get the basic 500 minute plan for $39.99 a month with T-Mobile, will I have to sign a contract?- Syls

You can get a $39.99 Flexpay plan with T-Mobile. This is a way to get a monthly service plan without signing a contract. However, you'll need to pay the first month's bill upfront and the cell phone may cost a little more.

Is it possible to upgrade just the second line on an account or does it have to be done with the primary simultaneously? - Conan

Yes, you can upgrade the second line on an account without upgrading the primary line.

Topics:

Cell phone plans

T-Mobile

Q&A

The T-Mobile G2 won't be available until next week, but you don't have to wait until then to see it in action. In addition to quite a few updates over the original G1, it also has some new design elements that set it apart from other slider-style cell phones currently available. To see what we mean, watch the video below. You'll also see a few other surprises, too.

Topics:	In The Know	T-Mobile	HTC	Android
	Google

There are just 5 days left in LetsTalk's Samsung Galaxy S Giveaway where you could win a T-Mobile Vibrant, Sprint Epic 4G, Verizon Fascinate, or AT&T Captivate (the winner will be able to choose the Samsung Galaxy S phone they want). If you don't know how it works, it's simple and there's still time to enter:

All you have to do to enter the Samsung Galaxy S Giveaway is become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page. Not sure how to become a fan? Simply visit LetsTalk on Facebook and click the "Like" button at the top of the page. If you’re already a fan of LetsTalk on Facebook, you’ll still be entered to win a Samsung Galaxy S phone.

Now for the "twist": If LetsTalk gets 3500 "likes", aka fans, by the end of the sweepstakes (October 3, 2010 at 9:00pm PST) the company will randomly choose a second winner from its Facebook fans list to win a Samsung Galaxy S phone of their choice as well. Same rules apply to the second winner as to the first.

Becoming a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page will help keep you informed about the latest cell phone news, let you know when the most popular phones are available, and more. Know all you need to know to win a Samsung Galaxy S phone? Then click this link to become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page.

We should note that you only need to enter once to win and selecting/deselecting "Like" on Facebook will not increase your chances of winning.

Topics:

In The Know

Samsung

Smart phones

Android

RIM revealed its tablet this week, the BlackBerry PlayBook, based on its own tablet operating system (OS) and designed to extend many of the business-centric features found on BlackBerry smartphones to the PlayBook such as its e-mail support and out-of-the-box compatibility with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Since it has WiFi, it could be the new device you bring to meetings leaving your laptop at your desk. The PlayBook will also support video conferencing with a 3-megapixel camera on the front and a 5-megapixel camera on the back. While we're on the topic of multimedia, the PlayBook will also support 1080p HD and even have HDMI out. That's a definite step up from the 720p HD support found on some of the higher-end smartphones that have hit the market recently. (To be fair, 720p is plenty impressive on the smaller screens found on cell phones) The PlayBook is expected to be available early next year, however, in the meantime if you want a closer look watch the video below.

Topics:	Somethin' To Talk About	BlackBerry	Business Use	WiFi
	Video	E-mail	Security

There's been a lot of buzz about the T-Mobile G2 and the fact that it's going to be available soon. There are loads of Android phones currently available, so why so much buzz around the G2? Well, for starters the G2 is the evolution of the very first Android phone, the HTC G1 announced just two years ago. The newest model has a few noteworthy changes: it has a trackpad instead of a trackball, a faster processor, will be the running Android 2.2 OS, the ability to capture video in 720p HD, and 4GB of internal memory (the cell phone will also come with an 8GB microSD card and will accept up to a 32GB microSD card). Perhaps the most exciting feature of the G2 is that it's a 4G phone.

When you hear 4G you may immediately think about Sprint's 4G service. While the speeds are similar the technology is different. T-Mobile's 4G network will be using HSPA+, which is essentially an evolution of the existing 3G network. You can click this link to see if T-Mobile's 4G service is available in your area.

If the T-Mobile G2 sounds good to you, click this link to pre-order the phone so you can have one when it becomes available on October 6th. We should note that Friday is the last day to pre-order the G2. If you don't get an order in by then you'll need to wait until it becomes available next week.

Topics:	In The Know	WiFi	Video	T-Mobile
	HTC	Android	Google

Did you know that LetsTalk.com has a YouTube channel where you can see information about the latest cell phones, learn about cell phone plans, watch interviews with cell phone industry experts, and even post questions? It's definitely worth checking out. Additionally, for a limited time you can receive a coupon code for 10% off any cell phone purchased at LetsTalk.com that's good through the end of the year. All you need to do is subscribe to LetsTalk's YouTube channel, favorite a video, and submit a comment to receive the coupon code via a YouTube message. So, why not check out LetsTalk's YouTube channel by clicking this link or visiting LetsTalkdotcom on YouTube? You never know what you might discover.

Topics:

Observed

Cell phone plans

Video

According to the Sony Ericsson blog, Xperia X10 users can expect to see the Android 2.1 update coming to the cell phone at the end of October and later. We should note that just because late October is when the update rollout will start, it doesn't mean everyone gets the update simultaneously. These updates are usually rolled out market by market. Additionally, the update will include a few enhancements besides just the 2.1 update such as HD video recording with continuous auto focus and the availability of 5 home screens for apps. You can find out more information about the update by visiting this blog post on the Sony Ericsson blog

Topics:	Phone Smarts	AT&T Wireless	Sony Ericsson	Smart phones
	Video	Android

Late last week, Samsung announced its Media Hub service would be available shortly and indeed it has arrived. Just this weekend, the Samsung Epic 4G alerted me that it was ready to receive an update. So I plugged the cell phone into the wall (this is good practice when receiving large updates to smartphones) and let the Epic 4G do its thing. A few minutes later, the Media Hub app had content. About the content, there isn't a lot and the movies they were fairly old (for example, it has Transformers, but not Transformers 2), but it has a lot of classics like Top Gun and The Blues Brothers. There was also TV content, you could get episodes of South Park and the Hills. More content will inevitably roll out (the library is already more populated than it was this weekend) and according to the Samsung Media Hub announcement the content should be much more recent especially when it comes to TV shows. The good news is the UI is straightforward and easy to navigate. The main screen has 3 options My Media, Movies, and TV Shows. Once you select one of those categories the content is arranged by sub categories: Comedy, Action, Top 10, etc. for movie options and by network MTV, NBC, etc. for TV shows.

If you want to purchase content you'll need to set up an account, which takes just minutes to do and doesn't require more information than a zip code and e-mail address, which is a plus. Content prices range from about $9.99 to $12.99 to buy movies and $2.99 to rent movies, though not all movies are available for rental and TV shows costs $2.99 to own. You'll need to enter credit card information in order to purchase content, but you can save it so you don't have to enter it more than once. Additionally, there's also an option to Redeem a Card, which is likely a way to gift content.

How well Samsung Media Hub will do is hard to say. The prices are competitive, however, with other media content apps available such as BlockBuster and Netflix (currently on the iPhone) there's definitely plenty of competition available. That said, the mobile content market is still young and there's tons of room for growth. As far as consumers are concerned at this stage of the game, the more choice the better as long as its easy to use.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Sprint	Samsung	Smart phones
	Video	Android	Apps

At an event in New York last night, Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab, a 7-inch tablet that runs the Android 2.2 Operating System and sports a 1GHz processor. The new tablet will be available for all four carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint, but none of them will support voice calls. That said, you will be able to use the front facing 1.3-megapixel camera to make video chat calls using the QIK application. Although, Sprint has already begun to offer 4G service on cell phones (HTC EVO 4G and Samsung Epic 4G), none of the Galaxy Tab models will support 4G, however, there will be one model that is WiFi only.

Also of note about the Tab is the inclusion of a 3-megapixel camera with flash on the back of the device that can record video as well. Once you snap some pictures you can edit, upload and share them. Speaking of video there will be HD video content available that you can watch on the 7-inch LCD display. This fits inline with Samsung's Media Hub venture (you may have already seen the Media Hub app on some of the Galaxy cell phones, albeit without any content to date), which offers the ability to rent or buy movies, and popular TV shows. If you purchase movies from the Hub service you can share the content with up to 5 other Media Hub devices. While, we're on the topic of sharing the Samsung Galaxy Tab will support DLNA. Another feature we are beginning to see on cell phones. This technology lets you share media (music, video, pictures, etc.) with other DLNA compliant devices in your media-sphere.

if you're interested in other forms of entertainment than you'll be happy to know that the Tab has support for Adobe Flash 10.1 and gaming apps. For keeping up with social networking sites you can enter updates using the on-screen keyboard or via SWYPE. There's even access to the Android Market Place, those many of the apps you download will not take up the entire screen though it will take up a fair amount of space. This is because the apps have not been optimized for the 7-inch screen.

There's no definitive date of when the Tab will be available, however, the Galaxy Tab should start showing up in time for the holiday season. You can also expect the Samsung Tab will differ slightly based on what apps each carrier plans on including.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	AT&T Wireless	Sprint
	Samsung	WiFi	T-Mobile	Android

In this installment of Questions and Answers, we discuss how to handle calls and pictures on cell phones. Got a question you want answered? Submit your question here. Got something to add to the answers below? Leave a comment.

How do I transfer pictures from the memory on the Samsung Gusto to my computer? What format are the pictures? - Dowaldo

Typically the pictures should be saved in the jpg format, which makes them viewable in a multitude of programs. The easiest way to transfer pictures from the phone to a computer is to simply send the pictures via e-mail or multimedia message to an e-mail address. However, if you don't have an unlimited messaging plan that can be costly. The other option is to use a USB-to-microUSB cable to connect the phone to a computer and transfer the pictures using Verizon's V CAST Media Manager since the Gusto supports V CAST Media Manager. You can find out more about that feature by clicking this link.

People receiving calls from my LG AX390 cell phone get "restricted" appearing as the caller ID even if my number is in their phone. Is there a phone setting that I can change to eliminate this? - Anno

It sounds like one of two things is happening. Your phone number may be listed as restricted with your carrier. If so, it doesn't matter if people have your phone number listed in their phone, the call will always appear as restricted. To stop this you need to get your phone number listed as unrestricted with your carrier.

The other possibility is that your cell phone may be locked. If that's the case then you would only be able to dial phone numbers listed in your contacts or emergency numbers. If you can place calls to numbers other than those mentioned, chances are the phone isn't locked. That said, here's how you unlock the phone: Menu -> Settings -> Security -> Enter Lock Code (if you haven't set it, the lock code is the last 4 numbers of your cell phone number) -> Restrict Calls -> None -> OK.

Topics:

Verizon Wireless

Camera

Q&A

The latest BlackBerry Curve 3G (9330) will be available for both Sprint and Verizon. Although this BlackBerry Curve will ship with the BlackBerry 5 OS, it will be able to update the OS to the new BlackBerry 6 version. The new model is arguably a bit sleeker than its predecessor the BlackBerry Curve 8530. Additionally, the smartphone comes with GPS, WiFi connectivity, a 3.5mm headset jack with media sync software to easily transfer music and videos from a computer to the BlackBerry, and a 2-megapixel camera with video recorder. Verizon will be offering the BlackBerry Curve 3G in gray and hot pink (see below), while Sprint will be offering the cell phone in gray and purple.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Sprint	BlackBerry
	WiFi

LetsTalk is giving away a Samsung Galaxy S Android cell phone to one lucky winner. That’s right, you could win a T-Mobile Vibrant, Sprint Epic 4G, Verizon Fascinate, or AT&T Captivate (the winner will be able to choose the Samsung Galaxy S phone they want). All you have to do to enter the Samsung Galaxy S Giveaway is become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page. Not sure how to become a fan? Simply visit LetsTalk on Facebook and click the "Like" button at the top of the page. If you’re already a fan of LetsTalk on Facebook, you’ll still be entered to win a Samsung Galaxy S phone. The contest has just begun and ends on Sunday, October 3rd at 9pm Pacific Time. We should note that you only need to enter once to win and selecting/deselecting "Like" on Facebook will not increase your chances of winning.

Becoming a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page will help keep you informed about the latest cell phone news, let you know when the most popular phones are available, and more. To learn more about the contest watch the video below. Know all you need to know to win a Samsung Galaxy S phone? Then click this link to become a fan of LetsTalk’s Facebook page.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	AT&T Wireless	Sprint
	Samsung	Smart phones	T-Mobile	Android
	Google

The latest messaging phone from Sprint, the Sanyo Innuendo by Kyocera, is loaded with style and even a little bit of mystery. The cell phone, which comes in blue, has a concealed numeric keypad that glows through its mirrored finish and disappears when not in use. Open the cell phone to reveal a QWERTY keypad and 2.8-inch display designed with texters in mind. The phone also provides an easy way to stay updated with popular social media apps Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Also, on board is a 3.2-megapixel camera, music player with a 1GB microSD card included, and GPS. So is this the sleekest messaging phone you've seen to date? Let us know by posting a comment below.

Topics:

In The Know

Text messaging

Sprint

Sanyo

The Sony Ericsson Vivaz has arrived for AT&T and this 3G smartphone has a lot to offer. First off, it's a Symbian smartphone (this OS is widely popular abroad) and will let you do many of the things that many other smartphone OS' feature: support for multiple e-mail accounts, a built-in music player complete with a 3.5mm headset jack for listening to tunes, the ability to share the media on the cell phone with other DLNA-compliant home networked electronics, GPS, touchscreen (even has a stylus), and a spacious, vibrant 3.2-inch display. It has an 8.1-megapixel camera and can shoot videos in HD. You can then easily upload pictures and videos to sites like YouTube and Picassa. If you're near an AT&T Mobile HotSpot, you can log onto that WiFi network for even faster video streaming and web surfing. Oh, and it comes in a cool blue casing that gives it a bit more style.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Sony Ericsson	Symbian
	Camera	Smart phones	WiFi	Video

Verizon will be offering a Samsung Galaxy Android 2.1 cell phone of their own starting September 8th. The Samsung Fascinate shares many of the same specs found on other Samsung Galaxy S phones (AT&T's Captivate, Sprint's Epic 4G, and T-Mobile's Vibrant) such as the spacious Super AMOLED display (bright screen that's viewable in direct sunlight), 1GHz processor, and SWYPE keyboard. It also sports a similar slim and sleek design as its siblings. This cell phone will also have the Amazon Kindle reader Android app installed.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Cell phone plans	Samsung
	Smart phones	WiFi	Video	Android
	Google

In this installment of Questions and Answers, we discuss how to fix usability issues on the Samsung Mythic and the Samsung Captivate. Got a question you want answered? Submit your question here. Got something to add to the answers below? Leave a comment.

When I get an incoming call on the Samsung Mythic it asks if I want to accept or not by touch tone. I hit accept but get no response from whom is calling. What button do I press to receive calls? -wrbergner

The best approach is to change how you can answer calls. Right now, it sounds like your cell phone is set to prompt you to answer calls by touching Accept on the screen. You can change it so that you can answer a call with any key. To do this select Settings from the Menu and choose Calls. Next choose General, and then select Call Answer. There you should have an option to change the way you accept calls.

The charger will not stay in the Samsung Captivate, if I move the phone the charger will fall out. Is there a solution? -coraabel

The issue may be that the accessory door at the top of the phone isn't slid open completely. You should hear a click when sliding the door open, that lets you know it's completely open. At that point, you should have no problem inserting the charger correctly.

Topics:	AT&T Wireless	Samsung	Smart phones	Q&A
	Android

Verizon Wireless is offering prepaid data plans for many of the 3G smartphones and 3G multimedia phones that the company offers. Although the prices don't differ for prepaid and contract plans it's still a good offering for prepaid customers that will help them get the most out of data-centric cell phones. Smartphone users can add $30 a month for unlimited data, while 3G multimedia costs 10 dollars a month for 25MB ($.20/MB overage).

3G Smartphones

· BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330

· BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530

· BlackBerry® Storm™ 9530

· BlackBerry® Storm2™ 9550

· BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630

· BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650

· Palm® Pre™ Plus

· Palm Pixi™ Plus

· DROID by Motorola

· Motorola DEVOUR™

· DROID X by Motorola

· DROID 2 by Motorola

· DROID Eris™ by HTC

· DROID Incredible by HTC

· LG Ally™

3G Multimedia phones

· LG enV® TOUCH

· LG enV®3

· LG Chocolate® TOUCH

· LG VX8360

· Samsung Alias™ 2

· Samsung Renown™

· Nokia Twist™

· Casio® EXILIM

Now that data plans are available for prepaid Verizon smartphone and multimedia phones, which do you prefer to have a prepaid or contract plan? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Topics:	In The Know	Nokia	Motorola	Verizon Wireless
	Cell phone plans	Samsung	BlackBerry	Palm
	Smart phones	LG	Business Use	Android
	Google

Today, Apple had its music press conference, but what does that have to do with cell phones? Well, the company also introduced some mobile iOS updates that iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users can expect this year. The first update, iOS 4.1, will be available next week and will be free. The updated OS will fix some known bugs and it will also roll out a few new features as well. Here's the round-up:

HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging: Essentially what this does is takes three pictures simultaneously and then combines them to produce the best image possible. The original image and the enhanced HDR image will both be saved on the iPhone. The idea is that you can take better pictures.

Game Center: This is a new app, that's essentially all about multi-player functionality and the ability to share your scores with other players. As Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, pointed out in his presentation, "If you don't have any friends, it'll auto match you with people." Then they showed a pretty cool app that's in development by Epic Games, code name Project Sword. It's interesting to see how the environment and scene changes when you move through a 3D world and have sword fights with other players. That game should be available for download later this year.

Coming in November will be another update iOS 4.2, which is primarily designed for the iPad, but will be available for iPhone as well. This update will include wireless printing and AirPlay, a way to stream music and video to other devices via WiFi.

Topics:	Somethin' To Talk About	AT&T Wireless	Camera	Smart phones
	WiFi	Video	Apple	Apps

We mentioned earlier this month that T-Mobile would be offering the BlackBerry Curve 3G. The latest Curve (BlackBerry 9300) is expected to run BlackBerry OS 5, but should be updatable to BlackBerry OS 6. It also will have a 2-megapixel camera, the ability to play a plethora of music files, and you can even tether the cell phone to a laptop (via USB cable or WiFi) to use the 3G connection as a modem. The BlackBerry Curve is also expected to come with a 2GB microSD card pre-installed (the cell phone will accept up to a 32GB microSD card).

Does this sound like the BlackBerry you want? You can pre-order one today, by clicking this link. Have questions about the BlackBerry Curve 9300, submit them below.

Topics:	In The Know	BlackBerry	Smart phones	Business Use
	WiFi	T-Mobile

The Samsung Epic 4G (a Galaxy S phone) Android smartphone is the second cell phone on the Sprint network to support 4G connectivity. You can also share that 4G connectivity with up to 5 other WiFi-enabled devices. It also has two cameras: a 5-megapixel camera on the back for taking pictures and shooting 720p video and a smaller one on the front so you can do live video chats. Get a closer look at the Samsung Epic 4G in the first look unboxing video below.

Topics:	In The Know	Sprint	Samsung	Smart phones
	WiFi	Video	Android	Google

The DROID 2 by Motorola is one hot smartphone, but how do the improvements over the original DROID by Motorola rate? The newer model has a speedy processor and an arguably sleeker design. Is that enough for you? To get a better look at the DROID 2 watch the video below. Want even more in-depth details about the Android 2.2 cell phone? Read the full expert review by clicking this link.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Smart phones
	WiFi	Android	Google

According to Dell's blog, the Dell Aero Google Android smartphone is available today with service from AT&T. The 3G smartphone offers access to all of AT&T's WiFi hotspots, sports a 5-megapixel camera, comes with a 2GB microSD card and will accept up to a 32GB microSD card. The phone is running the Android OS 1.5, however, Dell has added some additional features to it that will give you a bit of a different experience than that of a basic Android 1.5 smartphone.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Smart phones	Video
	Android	Google

This summer it seems like a new smartphone is introduced every other week, but here's something slightly different. Verizon has added a cell phone from ZTE to its line-up. While it's not a smartphone, the Salute F350 is an attractive slider phone, that should appeal to people who want a basic cell phone that will also let them keep up with all their social media accounts. The Salute lacks a music player, but has a 1.3-megapixel camera and Bluetooth functionality that lets users share vCards and vCalendar appointments among other things.

If you're really interested in a ZTE smartphone, stay tuned. According to this Fierce Wireless article the company plans on launching a smartphone in the U.S. market next year.

Topics:

In The Know

Verizon Wireless

Text messaging

Camera

We just got in a DROID 2 by Motorola one of Verizon's newest cell phones. Although, we haven't had much time to put it through its paces here's a few of our first impressions.

For starters, the design of the cell phone feels just as sturdy as the original DROID by Motorola, however it looks a lot sleeker with it's metallic casing and streamlined front design. It also has some heft to it so it feels solid in the hand. The display is bright, letters and icons are crisp, and best yet it's completely visible in direct sunlight. The tactile QWERTY keyboard is a bit different. It's definitely roomier likely because its exchanged the four-way navi keypad on the side of the keyboard in place of four arrow keys that sit at the base of the keyboard. We also found the keyboard easy to use and the keys are big enough that mistypes are not an issue. Additionally, the on-screen dial pad is big and easy to read.

The DROID 2 by Motorola runs the latest Android 2.2 OS and has a 1GHz processor, which means the cell phone is pretty fast. There's literally no lag time when switching between applications and loading web pages is quick, though not noticeably faster than say on the DROID X by Motorola that runs Android OS 2.1, but also has a 1GHz processor. The cell phone also has its fair share of features and apps, such as DLNA connectivity so you can share media from the cell phone with a DLNA-capable TV, BlockBuster for renting movies, an Amazon Kindle reader, 3G Mobile HotSpot so you can share your 3G data connection with up to 5 other WiFi-enabled devices, Skype Mobile, and a Social Networking app to organize all your social media accounts.

The Android phone also sports a 5-megapixel camera and we're happy to report that the shutter is fast. Image quality is also good as you can see in the picture below. (Note: We had to resize the image to fit this blog, but when shown at original size you can see more detail.) We were able to easily transfer this picture from the DROID 2 by Motorola to a MacBook Pro via Bluetooth. We'll have a more in-depth expert review of the DROID 2 by Motorola up shortly, so check back for updates.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Camera
	Smart phones	WiFi	Android	Google

Get a closer look at Sprint's first Android phone with Push-To-Talk, the Motorola i1 in this video by LetsTalk's Michael Cera. The cell phone runs Android OS 1.5 and is also built to military spec so don't be afraid to drop the Motorola i1.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Sprint	Smart phones
	WiFi	Android	Google

As we start to see Google's Android 2.2 OS make it's way to more and more handsets, Google has found ways to let users do even more with the most current OS. The company held an intimate tech briefing to highlight some more ways to use Android 2.2 cell phones. Here are a couple you might want to try for yourself:

Google Voice Action is all about doing more with your Android cell phone with just your voice. For example, you can tell the phone to launch a radio app and presto it's launched. You can launch Google maps and get directions. You can even have text translated into different languages. Let's not forget the one item people will really use - sending text messages via voice dictation. This service is currently only available for Android phones that run the Froyo OS 2.0, such as the DROID 2 by Motorola or updated HTC EVO 4G.

Chrome-to-Phone was first demoed at the Google I/O conference earlier this year. Now the app is available for Android 2.2 phones. Essentially what you need to do is install the mobile phone extension to the your Android 2.2 cell phone. For example, watching a YouTube video, but need to head out. Simply press the phone icon and the YouTube video will launch on the Android 2.2 handset and start playing the video.

Topics:

Phone Smarts

Android

Google

Apps

Earlier this week Verizon announced it would be adding the DROID 2 by Motorola to its line-up. The newest DROID offers quite a few enhancement over the previous version of the DROID by Motorola. For starters, it has a speedy 1GHz processor and the ability to turn the DROID 2 into a Mobile HotSpot so you can share the 3G data connection via WiFi with up to 5 other devices. Additionally, the new Motorola DROID 2 will also have more memory: the cell phone will have 8GB of internal memory and ship with an 8GB microSD card. Plus, the DROID 2 is shipping with the latest Google Android OS 2.2. If you liked the original DROID, but wish it was faster and could do more, then the DROID 2 by Motorola could be the perfect smartphone for you. Better yet, you can get it today by clicking this link.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Storage
	Smart phones	WiFi	Video	Android
	Google

You might have seen some discussion about the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 around the blogosphere and rightfully, so. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is well poised to compete with the most popular Android cell phones recently released. The Sony Ericsson smartphone will have a speedy 1GHz processor (similar to DROID X and HTC EVO 4G), an 8.1-megapixel camera, spacious 4-inch display, and WiFi. Also, on board are quite a few Sony Ericsson-centric features. Watch the video from Sony Ericsson to learn more about the Xperia X10.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Sony Ericsson	Camera
	Smart phones	Android	Google

T-Mobile is adding the BlackBerry Curve 3G to its line-up. This world phone will be available in two colors smokey violet or graphite grey. It has the slue of features you'd expect including WiFi connectivity, 2-megapixel camera, GPS connectivity via TeleNav, and it will come with at 2GB microSD card pre-installed (the cell phone will accept up to a 32GB microSD card). Although, the BlackBerry Curve 3G will initially be running the BlackBerry OS 5, it will be updatable to the recently announced BlackBerry OS 6.

Topics:	In The Know	BlackBerry	Smart phones	Business Use
	WiFi	T-Mobile

The BlueAnt T1 Rugged Bluetooth headset has a few extra design features that give it a little bit more durability and a little extra assurance that voice activated dialing will work well. Watch the video below by LetsTalk's Pat Connor to learn more.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Driving laws	Smart phones	Bluetooth
	Accessories

We've seen glimpses of the new BlackBerry OS for a few months now and finally, today BlackBerry unveiled the BlackBerry Torch. The latest BlackBerry for AT&T will run RIM's new OS 6 and sports a design that we haven't seen from BlackBerry yet. The Torch will have a spacious 3.2-inch capacitive touch screen (that's just a smidge smaller than the one found on the BlackBerry Storm that slides up to reveal a full tactile QWERTY keyboard, much like the design of the Palm Pre. The cell phone has a sleeker looking design than the Storm, but measures just about as thick. It also has a 624Mhz processor (not as fast as the one found on the HTC EVO 4G, but still plenty fast), WiFi (support for 802.11n - more secure WiFi), 4GB of memory on board and will also come with a 4GB microSD card. Additionally, the cell phone has a 5-megapixel camera with flash and 2x digital zoom and the ability to record video. Did we mention it's also a world phone so you can use it in other spots around the globe.

The real story here is what the new OS 6 has to offer:

Universal Search: You can simply type on the home screen to find something. Universal search will scan folders, apps, Internet, email, and more.

Improved Web Browsing: The web experience is more like the one you find on your computer at home. The user experience is much improved over the web experience on current BlackBerry smartphones. It even offers tabbed browsing so you can have multiple web pages open simultaneously.

Social Media: In the new OS, all your social media feeds appear in one place via RSS feeds. When you type an update you can send it to a single social media account (Twitter, Facebook, etc), or to all your social media accounts.

Multimedia: There's now an integrated YouTube app. There's geotagging for photos so the cell phone will automatically add the location of where the photo was taken. Finally, the WiFi music sync lets you tag music not on the device for future syncing.

Finally, at the press conference it was announced that the BlackBerry Torch will be available with AT&T service on August 12th for $199 with a new contract.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	BlackBerry	Camera
	Smart phones	International	WiFi	Video
	GPS

The LG dLite is a cute compact flip phone for T-Mobile that comes in two colors: blue and pink. It also offers quite a few ways to personalize this cell phone. To learn more about the LG dLite watch the video below by LetsTalk's Pat Connor.

Topics:	In The Know	Text messaging	Camera	LG
	T-Mobile

The HTC EVO 4G has been out for just a couple of months and already it will be receiving an over-the-air update to Android 2.2 (codename Froyo) according to this PC World article. We checked in with Sprint's community board to get more details. According to the site, the roll out will start going to phones on August 1st in waves. Sprint customers should start receiving alerts on August 2nd with instructions on how to download the app over-the-air directly to the HTC EVO 4G.

The updated OS is expected to include the ability to voice dial over Bluetooth, the ability to store apps on a microSD card, an improved web browser experience with a faster JavaScript Engine and support for Flash 10x, and more. Before installing the update you may want to backup your data, although the update shouldn't affect existing data; it's also just a good idea to have a backup of all the stuff on your cell phone. Also, you'll likely want to install the update over the WiFi network and keep the HTC EVO 4G plugged in during the process.

We're looking forward to the update and will have more on how it enhances the EVO 4G once we receive and install it on our test phone.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Sprint	Smart phones	WiFi
	HTC	Android	Google

Verizon's latest messaging phone, the Samsung Intensity II is a lot like its predecessor, the Samsung Itensity. It has both a numeric keypad and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, music player, and a 1.3-megapixel camera with night vision. The big differences here are that it comes in different colors (deep gray and metallic blue) and the Intensity II is a bit more eco-friendly. The cell phone's exterior battery cover is made from 35 percent post-consumer materials such as recycled plastic and the box is 60 percent recycled paper. As for phone features, the Samsung Intensity II has a high-efficiency charger that sounds when the battery is fully charged so it doesn't need to stay plugged in longer than necessary. There's also an eco-calculator for tracking car fuel mileage and more.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Music	Text messaging
	Samsung

If you're someone who has a wallet full of loyalty cards or stored in a drawer somewhere CardStar is a mobile app worth checking out. In short, the app in its current form lets you store all your loyalty card information in one place (currently available for the iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry smartphones). In addition to having the information in one spot, it can also locate nearby stores and you can even use it in the store to redeem loyalty points or discounts when purchasing items. Sounds pretty good already, doesn't it?

The newest version of CardStar adds quite a few new features in its latest software release. According to CardStar CTO Danny Espinoza the latest update is "bringing location into old style loyalty programs." The company is doing this by integrating FourSquare into the app and consumers who use FourSquare a lot will be eligible for unique promotions. For example, every time you go to CVS and use the app's FourSquare feature you become eligible for additional promotional opportunities. Instead of just becoming the Mayor of your local CVS store, you may even get more perks for your CVS loyalty card. Additionally, you can choose to save that particular CVS as a Favorite Place and each time you're in that store it will open the app for you.

The company has also added another feature called CardStar Connect that lets you create an anonymous user ID so when you get a new smartphone (iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry) you can download the app enter your user ID and the app will get all of your loyalty information so that you don't need to re-enter it on each new cell phone you use.

The newest update will initially be available for iPhone users (and will work with phones running iPhone OS 3 and later - so you can even it use it on an iPod Touch) this week at the app store. While versions for Android and BlackBerry cell phones will be coming soon. To learn more about getting CardStar (by the way, the app is free) visit MyCardStar.com.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Customer service	BlackBerry	Android
	Apple	Apps

AT&T just came out with its latest Google Android smartphone, the Samsung Captivate. This cell phone is part of Samsung's Galaxy S line and as such is loaded with high-end features including a speedy 1GHz processor, 720p HD video recorder, the Android 2.1 OS, and even 3D motion-gaming. All of this in a slim package. To get a better look at the Samsung Captivate watch the video below by LetsTalk's Pat Connor.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Smart phones	WiFi
	Video	Games	Android	Google

The LG Prime is a touchscreen cell phone for AT&T that works with a prepaid plan. This cell phone has a touchscreen and a fairly thin form factor giving it a sleek style. To see what else the LG Prime has to offer, watch the video overview below by LetsTalk's Pat Connor.

Topics:	In The Know	Text messaging	AT&T Wireless	Cell phone plans
	LG

The latest flip phone available for Verizon is the Samsung Haven. Now, it may be slim on features (it lacks a camera and music player), but it does get the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. At a time when cell phones offer so much functionality, there are still phones available that focus on making calls. There's even a dedicated ICE (In Case of Emergency) button on the keypad that can be programmed to any number. It also comes with Well-Being and Health Tools. There's a reminder alarm with up to five alarms, a fitness trainer that offers 15 unique stretching techniques, four different healing music selections to help relieve stress, and a medical information application that lets users make medical notes and stores info about allergies and current medications.

Topics:

In The Know

Verizon Wireless

Cell phone plans

Samsung

It seems like kids are getting phones at a much younger age these days. So many have phones by the time they enter middle school. But these phones don't have to be high-end models loaded with features. After all, kids are known to lose things on occasion - even cell phones. If you're looking for the perfect back to school cell phone for your tween, consider the latest LG model for T-Mobile, the dLite. This simple flip phone is fairly compact and comes with its fair share of features including 3G connectivity, a 2-megapixel camera and a hidden LED matrix on the outside of the phone that displays the time and caller ID information. It also has T-Mobile Social Buzz so keeping updated on all the social networking sites like FaceBook and MySpace couldn't be easier. Better yet, this phone won't break the bank and comes in two fun colors bubblegum (shown below) and electric blue.

Topics:	In The Know	Text messaging	Camera	LG
	T-Mobile

SanDisk has teamed up with the widely popular DJ, Tiësto, to give budding cell phone videographers a chance to have snippets of video captured on their cell phone appear in a Tiësto video. So how does it work? Simply, attend any of the Tiësto shows listed below and use your cell phone to shoot video of the event. Then, upload the video to www.wakeupyourphone.com/tiesto. At a later date Tiësto will select his favorite fan-generated clips for use in the track’s official music video.

You'll need to purchase a specially marked SanDisk microSD card (any size is just fine) case that highlights Tiësto that will be available wherever SanDisk products are sold. On the packaging there will be a code that can that can be entered on wakeupyourphone.com/tiesto that will allow you to download exclusive tracks on his “What’s Next” virtual mix CD. If you're planning on seeing one of the shows, why not try your hand at capturing video? Remember video can potentially take up a lot of space on a microSD card depending on the recording format, so it's probably best to store it to a microSD card anyway. Here are the dates of Tiësto's shows: 

• July 30 London Victoria Park 
• July 31 Berlin Dream (Tempelhof Fluhagen) 
• Aug 21 Moscow Open Air Venue 
• Sep 3 Frankfurt Cocoon 
• Sep 17 Stockholm Annext 
• Sep 21 London Scala Club 
• Sep 23 Paris Queen Club 
• Oct 1 Abu Dhabi Yas Island 
• Oct 30 Los Angeles LA Convention Center

Topics:

Observed

Music

Storage

Accessories

I bet you've heard of the "cloud," but might not know how it affects you. The cloud is not necessarily new, but it's getting more and more popular. So how does it work? Think of it as a place to store all your data (music, photo, documents, etc) and being able to get to it from just about anywhere whether you have your computer with you or not. Thinking about it that way, wouldn't it be nice to be able to access your music or photos on your cell phone without having to take up a lot of your phone's precious storage space?

If that sounds good to you, then check out SugarSync. The company announced SugarSync for the BlackBerry and essentially what it does is let you store songs and even playlists to the SugarSync cloud and then stream that music to your BlackBerry. When you want to hear a song, just stream it from your cloud storage and listen to it on your BlackBerry. Of course, this applies to DRM-free music files. So if it's music you bought a while ago at an online store it might not work for you. The app is free to download from the BlackBerry App World and you get 2GBs of space to store music. You can store at least 50 or so songs on that much space. If you have a more robust music library then sign up for the 30GB a month plan that costs $4.99 a month.

So what's the catch? Well data is the catch meaning you'll need an unlimited data plan. However, if your BlackBerry supports WiFi and you're near a WiFi connection you can also stream music that way as well.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Music	Cell phone plans	BlackBerry
	Smart phones	WiFi

At CTIA, the Motorola i1 was unveiled at an event with Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs. It's a phone designed to take hard knocks, but to also offer the Google Android OS. The cell phone is finally coming to Nextel on July 25th. It will run the Android 1.5 OS and will be loaded with apps for the workforce such as Xora, a mobile workforce management solution that offers businesses with real-time visibility into field operations, and helps automate payroll and job workflow processes, and TeleNavTrack that lets businesses use wireless barcode scanning to track inventory and assets, manage deliveries, better predict arrival times, change schedules on-the-fly and deploy workers. Of course, since it's a Nextel phone, it will support Push-To-Talk.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Sprint	Smart phones
	Business Use	WiFi	Android	Google

We're starting to see the Samsung Galaxy S phones start to surface in the market. First, it was the Samsung Vibrant for T-Mobile and now the Samsung Captivate has arrived for AT&T. Like other Samsung Galaxy phones, the Captivate has a 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen (great for viewing in direct sunlight and helps conserver battery life), a 1GHz processor, and runs Android 2.1 OS. The cell phone also sports a 5-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and will be able to record video in HD. Don't worry you'll have enough room to store any videos you shoot on the Captivate's 16GB of internal memory - plus, you can always add up to a 32GB microSD card if that's not enough room.

Additionally, the phone has 3G connectivity and also offers 802.11n WiFi (this is more secure). If you want to share media stored on the phone with your own home theater equipment you can if it's all part of a DLNA network. If you're thinking of upgrading to this Android and phone and are worried about having to transfer contacts, just go to www.att.com/addressbook to manage contacts & have them automatically synchronized between phone & online address book.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Samsung	Smart phones
	WiFi	Android	Google

The Nokia e73 Mode for T-Mobile has arrived. This Symbian smartphone has a lot to offer in a slim package. Most notable is the inclusion of "Modes" where you can set a Mode for work and a Mode for after work. To see the Nokia e73 Mode in action check out the video below by LetsTalk's Pat Connor.

Topics:	In The Know	Nokia	Camera	Smart phones
	WiFi	E-mail	T-Mobile

Last month, Verizon announced the Motorola DROID X. The new Android phone sports a 4.3-inch display, the ability to record video in 720p HD and a microHDMI port, features found on Sprint's HTC EVO 4G. However, it has a few more features that differentiate it from the the EVO 4G. For staters, while the cell phone comes with Google's Android 2.1 OS it will receive an over-the-air update to Android 2.2 in the coming months. It also has 8GB of on-board memory and comes with a 16GB microSD card. What are you going to do with all that storage space? Probably a lot since it also has the BlockBuster movie rental/purchase app on it, a 8-megapixel camera, and of course a music player. To see the Motorola DROID X up close watch the video below and to learn more about it read our expert review of the latest Motorola Android phone by clicking this link.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Sprint
	Smart phones	WiFi	Video	GPS
	HTC	Android	Google

The Pantech Pursuit for AT&T is a quick messaging cell phone that makes it easy to send messages and even stay up to date on social media accounts. It also has a few other extra features including multiple menu screens, a slide-out tactile QWERTY keyboard, 2-megapixel camera, and driving directions via AT&T Navigator. What's different about it is the cell phone's size - it's not too big, or too small, but is it just right? Watch the video below to decide for yourself.

Topics:

In The Know

Text messaging

AT&T Wireless

GPS

Are you one of those people that has a great idea for an Android app, but doesn't have the know-how to develop it yourself? Google has created a tool to help you do just that. The app is called the Android App Inventor and it looks pretty straight forward to use by just adding functions that you want and typing in the text for those functions. You can even add GPS features to the app, as well. The app will work with both Mac and PC's, but you'll also need an Android phone. The program is in beta so you'll need to sign up with your Google e-mail address to be alerted when you can download it. In the meantime, watch the video below to see how it works.

Topics:

Phone Smarts

Android

Google

The Samsung Vibrant for T-Mobile is one of the Samsung Galaxy line of Android phones and as such it has tons to offer especially when it comes to multimedia features. On board you'll find a month free access to GoGo WiFi for internet access on plans, Kindle for Android from Amazon, a special edition SIMS 3 game, MobiTV (also available in Spanish), and if that's not enough you also get a copy of James Cameron's AVATAR movie on the included 2GB microSD card.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Samsung	Smart phones	WiFi
	Video	Games	T-Mobile	Android
	Google

Sprint's latest Android phone, the Samsung Intercept, will be available on July 11th. The new Android phone boasts a 800Mhz processor. While that's not going to be as fast as the HTC EVO 4G, it's no slacker either. Also on board is WiFi, a 3.2-megapixel camera, Sprint TV, music player (the phone will support up to a 32GB microSD card), and Android 2.1. The cell phone also has a touchscreen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for typing out e-mails and quick messages. All and all, this phone falls nicely between the EVO 4G and the Samsung Moment.

Topics:	In The Know	Sprint	Samsung	WiFi
	Android	Google

The LG Vu Plus is the latest messaging phone to be available for AT&T. In addition to it's full tactile QWERTY keyboard, the cell phone also features a touch screen. It has a fairly straightforward menu navigation and even sports a 3-megapixel camera. To see what else the LG Vu Plus has to offer check out this video overview by LetsTalk's Pat Connor.

Topics:	In The Know	Text messaging	AT&T Wireless	Camera
	LG

The Garminfone has been a long time coming and now that it's finally here, is it the ultimate GPS cell phone? Well, you tell us by leaving a comment below. One of the pluses of the Garminfone is that you don't need a connection to find your way around. It also runs the Android 2.1 OS. To see more of the what the cell phone has to offer check out this video by LetsTalk's Pat Connor.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	GPS	T-Mobile	Android
	Google

The Motorola DROID X for Verizon was announced last week and there's been a lot of comparisons of this upcoming cell phone to the iPhone 4. That said, the DROID X shares a lot of features found in Sprint's HTC EVO 4G. They share a similar form factor, run Google Android 2.1, and can shoot video in 720p HD. The Motorola DROID X runs the straight OS, while the HTC EVO 4G has the HTC Overlay on it to optimize the user experience. Check out the chart below to see how the two cell phones compare.

(Read more)

	Verizon Motorola DROID X	Sprint HTC EVO 4G
OS	Android 2.1 update to 2.2 coming	Android 2.1
Camera	8-megapixel with digital zoom	1.3-megapixel camera on front/8-megapixel camera with digital zoom on back
Memory	8GB on board, 16GB microSD card installed, support up to 32GB microSD card	1GB on board, 8GB microSD card installed, support up to 32GB microSD card
Screen Size	4.3-inch WVGA (854x480)	4.3-inch WVGA OLED (800x480)
HD Features	720p capture	720p
Multimedia options	BlockBuster, VCAST TV	Sprint TV
Video formats supported	H.263, H.264, MPEG4, WMA v10	H.263, H.264, MPEG4, WMV
Audio	MIDI, MP3, WAV, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+	MIDI, M4A, AAC , AAC+, eAAC+, WAV, WMA, MP3
Location Services	aGPS and sGPS	GPS and aGPS
Data Connectivity	3G	3G and 4G (WiMAX)
Processor	1GHz Snapdragon	1GHz Snapdragon
Mobile HotSpot	Support up to 5 devices	Support up to 8 devices
Connectivity	HDMI, microUSB, DLNA	HDMI, microUSB
Rated Talk Time	Up to 8 hours continuous talk time	Up to 6 hours continuous talk time
Dimensions	5.0 (h) x 2.6 (w) x 0.4 (d) inches

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Sprint
	WiFi	Video	HTC	Android
	Google

T-Mobile recently announced the LG Sentio. The 3G touchscreen cell phone also sports a 3-megapixel camera, a customizable home screen, and offers an easy way to stay on top of all the social media networks.

Topics:

In The Know

Text messaging

LG

T-Mobile

Last week, T-mobile announced a trio of new Samsung cell phones aimed at those who are all about messaging. The Samsung Gravity 3 falls right in the middle of that line-up. To get a closer look at the Samsung Gravity 3 check out this video from LetsTalk's Pat Connor.

Topics:	In The Know	Text messaging	Samsung	Camera
	T-Mobile

T-Mobile also announced that the company would be offering a version of the Samsung Galaxy S cell phone, the Samsung Vibrant shares some of the specs other Samsung Galaxy cell phones announced have such as the 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen (ideal for viewing in bright sunlight and helps conserve battery life), the 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, a 5-megapixel camera, and the ability to record video in 720p HD. Like Sprint's Samsung Epic 4G it will also have access to Samsung's Media Hub for renting or purchasing movies and TV shows.

Now for some features unique to the Samsung Vibrant:

• It will come with a preloaded 2GB microSD card that has the entire James Cameron movie Avatar
• The Amazon Kindle reader for downloading and reading books on the cell phone
• GoGo Inflight Internet service, similar to the feature found on the HTC HD2 users will be able to get a month of free WiFI on planes
• Availability date of July 21st

Topics:	In The Know	Storage	Samsung	Smart phones
	WiFi	Video	Games	T-Mobile
	Android	Google

We first saw the Samsung Galaxy at CTIA and now it looks like one version of the Galaxy cell phone line is coming to Sprint. Dubbed the Samsung Epic 4G, this smartphone is the second 4G capable cell phone for Sprint and is no slacker when it comes to features. For starters, it will run the Google Android 2.1 OS, sport a 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen (this will also be visible in bright sunlight and help conserve battery life), 1GHZ Cortex A8 processor to support 3D graphics and more, dual cameras (5-megapixel in the back and VGA camera in the front for video share), the ability to record video in 720p HD, and act as a Mobile Hotspot sharing its 3G/4G connectivity with up to 5 other WiFi-enabled devices.

Not unlike the Motorola DROID X that was just announced for Verizon, the Samsung Epic 4G is also a bit of a multimedia dynamo. Like the DROID X, the Samsung Epic 4G will work with other DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) certified™ home electronics so you can share video, music, and pictures with other DLNA equipment. Although the Epic 4G won't have Blockbuster access it will have access to the Samsung Media Hub where users can rent or purchase video TV shows to be viewed on the cell phone. If reading is more your pleasure, it will also support e-books from Sprint's own Skiff reader, Amazon, Kindle, and more. No availability date has been announced yet.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Sprint
	Samsung	Smart phones	WiFi	Video
	GPS	Android	Google

Verizon has added the Pantech Jest to it's line-up of feature phones. The cell phone features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard that makes typing out messages quickly a breeze. This will also come in handy if you want to update various social network using the Social Beat, a pre-loaded app that lets you connect easily with FaceBook, Twitter, and MySpace. The Jest also has a 2-megapxiel camera that will also record video, a music player, and is compatible with Verizon's V CAST Music with Rhapsody. The Jest will be available July 5th

Topics:

In The Know

Verizon Wireless

Text messaging

According to a tweet from @Sprint the Samsung Moment and the HTC Hero Google Android phones will not be receiving an update to Google 2.2. Both cell phones have already received an update to Google 2.1. If you haven't received that update yet, click this link to find out how to update those Android phones. However, the HTC EVO 4G will be receiving the Android 2.2 update. Additionally, any new Android cell phones the company released with the 2.1 Android OS will be updated to the Android 2.2 OS.

Topics:	In The Know	Sprint	Samsung	Smart phones
	HTC	Android	Google

One of the more interesting features on the Sprint's HTC EVO 4G is the cell phone's ability to shoot video in 720p HD. Even better, the cell phone has a microHDMI port that can be used to attach the cell phone to an HDMI-capable TV so you can watch them on an HDTV, as well. While it might sound complicated, it's really not. To show you how easy it is to use this feature on the HTC EVO 4G is LetsTalk's Accessory Gal Melanie Bie walks you through the process. We should note you'll need to buy an the microHDMI-to-HDMI cable, which costs about $20.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Sprint	Camera	Video
	HTC	Android	Google

Three new Samsung cell phones have arrived at T-Mobile all with an eye on messaging since they all sport slide-out QWERTY keyboards. They also all feature T-Mobile's Social Buzz for staying on top of social networks by integrating popular networking sites into a single application, which runs in the background and alerts you when a new update appears for any of the social networks you follow. Yet they all vary slightly when it comes to design.

The Samsung Gravity T has a touchscreen display with customizable home screens and task bar widgets. Additionally, you can check both web-based and exchange e-mail accounts on this cell phone. Other noteworthy specs include a 2-megapixel camera, music player, 3G connectivity, and the ability to take up to a 32GB microSD card for storing music and pictures. It can also be used in other countries around the world.

Next in the line-up is the Samsung Gravity 3. This messaging phone doesn't only sport a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but it also has a numeric keypad as well so you can still create messages using T9 or the old triple tap method. The Gravity 3 sports similar features to that of the Gravity T and has the added bonus of some preloaded games such as Guitar Hero 5.

Finally, the Samsung :) - yes, that's a smiley face - has a slightly different form factor. Designed to fit in the palm of your hand, the main display of this Samsung messaging phone is a bit more square. While this cell phone can also be used in other countries, will support up to a 32GB microSD card, and has a music player, but the camera only has a 1.3-megapixel lens.

So which Samsung messaging phone fits your style?

Topics:	In The Know	Music	Text messaging	Samsung
	Camera	International	T-Mobile

The newest Motorola DROID was announced, dubbed the DROID X this Google Android cell phone is bound to be a multimedia dynamo. The DROID X has a 4.3-inch display (similar in size to the HTC EVO 4G) that will be ideal for watching videos from BLOCKBUSTER On Demand, Verizon VCAST shows, and videos shot with the cell phone's HD camcorder. BLOCKBUSTER movies will cost $9.99 and up to purchase and $3.99 each to rent. If the movie is rented customers will have 30 days to watch the movie, but once it's started will have 24-hours to watch it. Additionally it will have DLNA and HDMI connectivity options so you can watch those videos on even larger screens. Also on board is a dual-flash 8-megapixel camera, Skype, a speedy 1GHZ processor, Android 2.1 (2.2 update coming) OS, and flash support that will be available later in the year. Similar to the HTC EVO 4G, the DROID X will be able to transform it's 3G data connection into a Mobile Hotspot allowing people to share the phone's data connection with up to 5 other WiFi-enabled devices.

The DROID X will be available for Verizon on July 15th and will require an Email and Web for Smartphone plan that start at $29.99 a month.Those who want to turn the DROID X into a 3G Mobile Hotspot for an additional $20 a month.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Cell phone plans
	Storage	Camera	Smart phones	WiFi
	Video	Android	Google

The FCC has declared this week as "Wireless World Travel Week," and as such has offered some handy tips that can be found in this eWeek article. All the tips are extremely useful and interesting including the one about how a smartphone can be a "tempting target for invasion by the government in some areas." I've been testing cell phones a long time and have made it a practice to take a test phone with me when I travel to see the experience. For example, when I went to Argentina I wanted to see how easy it was to get a prepaid SIM card and stick it in a compatible GSM phone. Finding the SIM card wasn't initially easy until I realized they were sold at local convenient kiosks similar to the way prepaid calling cards are sold at 7-11. Also, the phone had to be unlocked or the SIM card wouldn't work. Having a cell phone with service for that country made it easier to call for reservations at restaurants or keep in touch with the people I was traveling with if we decided to spend our days separately.

On that note, I just got back from a trip to Panama. Initially, I didn't want to take a cell phone with me so I didn't do any preparations in order to have one to test while I was out of the country. I also had no idea what types of outlets the country used. An important point, especially since many countries have a different outlet and if Panama was such a place I'd need to take an adapter. The only thing I knew for certain was that if you wanted to use a phone in Panama it had to be a GSM phone. It was literally a hour before I left for my flight to Panama that I decided to take the DROID Incredible with me.

My rational: I knew I'd need a cell phone when I was arriving back in the states to coordinate a ride home from the airport. I also really wanted to have music with me and the Incredible had tons of my music stored on its 8GB of internal memory. I decided to take the charger too thinking I could always charge it at the airport between flights if I had drained the battery listening to music or playing games while on the plane. What I didn't think about when making the decision was WiFi, Skype, or even the built-in 8-megapixel camera on the Incredible - features that would definitely come in handy.

The cell phone (Read more)

Topics:	Somethin' To Talk About	Verizon Wireless	Music	Cell phone plans
	Storage	BlackBerry	Camera	Smart phones
	International	Travel	WiFi	Video
	GPS	E-mail	HTC	Android
	Google

The LG Ally Android cell phone was announced in conjunction with the Iron Man 2 movie last month and is now available for Verizon Wireless customers. The cell phone's list of features include Android 2.1 OS, 3.2-megapixel camera, WiFi, GPS, and of course a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. To get a better idea of what the LG Ally looks like watch the video below by LetsTalk's Pat Connor. Let us know what you think of the LG Ally by leaving a comment below.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Smart phones	LG
	Bluetooth	Android	Google

At CTIA this Spring, AT&T announced that we would start seeing some Android phones debut on its network this year. The first Android phone was the Motorola Backflip and now that cell phone is being followed up by the HTC Aria. This petite cell phone packs a powerful feature punch: it's running Android 2.1 with HTC Sense (so you get the HTC touchscreen keyboard instead of the Android version, which is arguably easier to use), 3G connectivity and the ability to be used around the world, and of course has WiFi. Other noteworthy features include a 5-Megapixel camera with auto focus, optimized Qualcomm 600MHz processor for a speedy navigation experience, a digital compass, and of course Bluetooth. Although it's not as large as other HTC Android phones, it is pretty sturdy with a rubberized back screwed onto the back of the cell phone. In short, it's a pretty powerful smartphone that won't take up a lot of space in the pocket.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Camera	Smart phones
	International	WiFi	Bluetooth	HTC
	Android	Google

The latest Symbian cell phone to arrive for T-Mobile is the Nokia E73 Mode, which looks a lot like the Nokia e71x. While it may look and feel a bit like its predecessor it has a few noteworthy updates including a 5-megapixel camera, support for WiFi calling, and comes with free OVI Maps. It's also a 3G cell phone, runs the latest Symbian OS, and has the OVI Store. The best feature about the OVI Store is that you can actually purchase an app directly from the Nokia cell phone and have the fee added to the T-Mobile monthly bill.

Topics:	In The Know	Nokia	Symbian	Smart phones
	Business Use	WiFi	T-Mobile	Bluetooth

When the MyTouch first came out a year ago it turned some heads, but it lacked a tactile QWERTY keyboard. Now, the MyTouch 3G Slide for T-Mobile is available and not only sports a tactile QWERTY keyboard, but it also maintains a similarly slim profile of the MyTouch 3G. It also comes in three colors (red, white, and black) and has a new feature unique to the MyTouch 3G slide android cell phone - a genius button. What's so smart about this button? It actually lets you do a ton of things through one interface just using your voice such as creating messages to send via text message to people in your phone book, searching the Internet, and finding places nearby.

Topics:	In The Know	Camera	Smart phones	WiFi
	T-Mobile	Bluetooth	HTC	Android
	Google

The BlackBerry Bold 9650 for Sprint may be a tad bigger than the Bold 9700, but it delivers a lot of the similar functionality and then some. We particularly liked Sprint TV and found the 3.2-megapixel camera didn't disappoint. To learn more about the BlackBerry Bold 9650 read my expert review or watch the video review below.

Topics:	In The Know	Sprint	Cell phone plans	BlackBerry
	Smart phones	International	Business Use	WiFi
	Video

Schools are getting ready for summer break, people preparing for summer activities means graduations and Father's Day are just around the corner. Not sure what to get the Dad or Grad in your life? Why not a cell phone? It's something just about everyone uses. Not sure which cell phone model is right for them? Check out LetsTalk's Dad's and Grads Gift Guide by clicking this link. Whether you know someone who must have the latest gadget or a grad who just needs a cell phone that will help give them a leg up entering the business world, you'll find a mobile for them.

Topics:

Camera

Last week, Verizon Wireless announced that it too would be offering a BlackBerry Bold to customers. The smartphone shares many features in common with Sprint's version, such as WiFi, latest version of the BlackBerry OS, 3.2-megapixel camera, and of course the smartphone can be used around the globe. Verizon will be offering a version of the BlackBerry Bold that doesn't have a camera. However, here's more information on the BlackBerry Bold 9650 that sports a camera.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	BlackBerry	Camera
	Smart phones	Business Use	WiFi

The Palm Pixi Plus joins it's older sibling the Palm Pre Plus on AT&T's network. The Palm Pixi Plus has many of the features found on the Verizon version including a 2-megapixel camera, though it lacks the ability to turn the cell phone into a Mobile HotSpot. That said, it does support WiFi so you can always roam onto a WiFi network for faster web surfing. Are you going to get a Palm Pixi Plus with AT&T service?

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Palm	Smart phones
	WiFi	Bluetooth

T-Mobile's Nokia Nuron has a lot to offer people new to the smartphone world. First, it's one of the few smartphones available that doesn't require a data plan. It also comes with plenty of fun and interesting apps. Case in point is the OVI Maps application that's included on the cell phone. Check out LetsTalk's Pat Connor takes test drive of OVI Maps in the video below.

Topics:	In The Know	Nokia	Symbian	Smart phones
	Travel	T-Mobile	Google

In this installment of Questions and Answers, we discuss hidden costs of buying a cell phone online and smartphones comparable to the iPhone. Got a question you want answered? Submit your question here. Got something to add to the answers below? Leave a comment.

What smartphone is comparable to the Apple iPhone? - Lamothe

The most comparable smartphone currently on the market is likely going to be an Android phone. These cell phones are fast, have beautiful displays, do a good job with video, have a ton of downloadable apps (not to mention there are quite a few free good apps), will support multiple e-mail addresses, and have a similar UI. Here would be my suggestions by each carrier:

Verizon Wireless: HTC Incredible

Sprint: HTC EVO 4G - This smartphone is a bit wider than the iPhone, but has a superior display. Also supports 4G and can be turned into a Mobile HotSpot so you can share the phone's 3G or 4G data connection with up to 8 other WiFi-enabled devices.

T-Mobile: MyTouch 3G Slide - This cell phone even has square-shaped icons similar to those found on the iPhone and also has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

AT&T: Motorola Backflip

If I were to order a cell phone from LetsTalk.com, what are the hidden costs?- Suzie

There are no hidden monetary costs when ordering from LetsTalk. The only thing you may consider a "hidden cost" is that you have to wait two days to get your phone. If you don't want to wait to get the new cell phone, you can always pay extra for overnight shipping. Click this link to find out more about ordering a cell phone from LetsTalk.

Topics:	Motorola	Cell phone plans	Smart phones	WiFi
	Video	Q&A	HTC	Android
	Google	Apple

Before we talk about AT&T's new plans, let’s discuss unlimited data plans across most carriers and the fact that unlimited data isn’t exactly unlimited. These days when you’re talking about an unlimited data plan, you’re typically getting 5GB of data a month and for most people that’s a lot. If you went past the 5GB of data occasionally you probably got a slide from the carrier. Thus it “feels” like unlimited. Is it unlimited? No. Was it ever truly unlimited? Yes, for a hot sec, but that all changed within the last 2 years. (Note: As far as we can tell, the only truly unlimited plan still available is Sprint’s 4G network. It costs extra and it isn’t everywhere.) Nothing is changing for customers with other carriers as of this writing.

What’s happening now for new AT&T customers and existing customers with AT&T Quick Messaging Phone plans will have a more affordable way to get data service with AT&T. While existing smartphone AT&T users can keep the existing $29.99 unlimited data plan with their existing smartphone and roll that data plan over to a new smartphone, as well. The company says that 98% of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 2GB of data a month on average and as such, the company has eliminated the existing 5GB data plan in favor of two plans: DataPlus and DataPro. All this really means is that you're going to have to choose a data plan with a hard cap. So you might start to miss that "unlimited-feeling" data plan from AT&T. Maybe all this is good news to you and you'll start to save some dough.

• DataPlus for an extra $15 a month. You get 200MB of data, which is just fine if you get e-mail and don't download a lot of attachments, occasionally view the web, watch a couple of YouTube videos, and share 50 pictures with social networking sites. Might not sound like you can do a lot for $15 a month, but AT&T says 65% percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 200MB of data per month on average.

• DataPro Plan costs an extra $25 a month. You get 2GB of data, which is fine to send/receive e-mails with attachments, view tons of web sites, watch 200 minutes of streaming video (Think: 3 hours of TV), and post up to 500 pictures to social media sites. Exceed 2GBs of data and you'll pay an extra $10 for another 1GB of data. This means if you were one of the 2% of AT&T customers using up to 5GBs of data a month your monthly data plan will go from about $30 a month to $55 a month. The good news is that if you plan to tether your smartphone (yes, even iPhone) to your computer and use it as a modem and have a DataPro plan it will cost an additional $20 a month instead of $30 a month, which is the current cost for this service.

How do you pick a new plan? Look at your cell phone (Read more)

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Cell phone plans	Smart phones
	Apple

Just shortly after the BlackBerry Bold for Sprint became available, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 for Verizon has been announced. Like the Sprint version of the BlackBerry Bold, the BlackBerry 9650 for Verizon has a solid feature set including WiFi, 3.2-megapixel camera, and of course the smartphone can be used around the globe. Also, on board you'll find a few more Verizon-centric features such as VZ Navigator and the company's Push-To-Talk service. The latest BlackBerry will be available this week. We should also note Verizon will be offering a version of the BlackBerry Bold that doesn't have a camera.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	BlackBerry	Smart phones
	Business Use	WiFi

The HTC DROID Eris for Verizon Wireless had a lot to offer with HTC Sense and Android 1.5. The update to 2.1 is now available for over-the-air download. However, if you're having trouble receiving the update notification, you may need to do a hard reset. (See this blog post to see how to reset the DROID Eris.) But what features does the updated Android OS offer? Watch the video below by LetsTalk's Pat Conner to see what you can expect. To see other Android phones click this link.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	Smart phones	E-mail
	HTC	Android	Google

The much-anticipated HTC EVO 4G for Sprint Android 2.1 smartphone will be available shortly. We got our hands on one and it's definitely as impressive as all the specs make it sound. Slightly larger than a typical cell phone, it's still pocketable and watching streaming videos from the Internet on the EVO's spacious, gorgeous display is quite enjoyable. To get a closer look at what the EVO comes with and all it has to offer watch the unboxing video below. Are you going to get one?

Topics:	In The Know	Sprint	Cell phone plans	Camera
	Smart phones	Business Use	WiFi	Video
	GPS	Bluetooth	HTC	Android
	Google

With many Google Andorid updates becoming available figuring out how to update the smartphone to Android 2.1 isn't necessarily intuitive since it's not exactly the same for all Android cell phones. The good news is that for the HTC DROID Eris it's not too hard. If you haven't gotten the OTA update you'll need to do a hard reset on the phone first. Before you do that make sure you backup all your data on the cell phone since a hard reset basically puts the cell phone back to the settings when it first came out of the box. To help you get the upgrade, LetsTalk's Pat Connor shows you how to reset the cell phone in order to upgrade the DROID Eris in the video below. Shouldn't take too long, but we recommend having the phone plugged in while the cell phone works its magic.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	Smart phones	Video
	HTC	Android	Google

Through the end of the month, that's only a few more days, LetsTalk.com is offering the DROID by Motorola for $19.99 with new service. Better yet, this deal is also available to existing Verizon Wireless users who are ready to extend their contract. The DROID also comes with a Multimedia Station and Car Mount. The Multimedia Station charges your DROID and also lets you check the weather, view photos, play your Mp3's and movies all in a stand that looks good on a desk or bedside table. While the Car Mount lets you mount the DROID in a car so that you can take calls handsfree and get directions to your next destination without ever having to take your hands off the wheel. Better yet, since the mount uses a suction cup you can take it with you no matter what car you're driving. The two accessories alone cost close to $60 at LetsTalk.com. So already the Professional Bundle is a great deal. Click this link to get the DROID by Motorola and Professional Bundle for $19.99.

Topics:	In The Know	Motorola	Cell phone plans	Smart phones
	Business Use	WiFi	Accessories	Deal of the Week
	Android	Google

The HTC MyTouch 3G Slide Google Android 2.1 smartphone for T-Mobile is coming soon. The newest model in the MyTouch family includes a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard (that's why 'Slide' is in the cell phone's name) as well as a touchscreen keyboard option and Swype technology (a way to type out messages without ever having to lift your finger off the on-screen keybaord). It also has a 5-megapixel camera with a flash, WiFi, GPS, and will come with an 8GB microSD card for storing photos, videos, music, docs, and more. Get a closer look at the MyTouch 3G Slide in this overview video by LetsTalk's Scott Price. To see more cell phones that run the Google Android OS click this link.

Topics:	In The Know	Camera	Smart phones	WiFi
	T-Mobile	HTC	Android	Google

Sound ID's latest Bluetooth headset, the Sound ID 510, has quite a few high-end features including noise-cancelling technology, a Touch Sensor to easily adjust volume, the ability to connect simultaneously to two Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, and an Environmental Mode that amplifies surrounding sound for clearer conversations. The really interesting feature is actually a downloadable iPhone app called Sound ID EarPrint App that lets users customize the headset by creating personalized listening preferences, stay informed about the Sound ID 510's battery life via a Visual Battery Indicator feature shown in the app on the cell phone, and finally a "Find Me" feature that triggers the headset to start beeping so the Sound ID 510 can easily be found. The headset will be available on June 6th and cost $129.99.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Bluetooth	Accessories
	Apple

Sprint's Samsung Moment and HTC Hero have finally gotten the Google Android 2.1 update. However, there's a catch. The upgrade isn't coming over-the-air. Users will need to visit the Sprint download site to get the upgrade and then attach the smartphone to a computer to install the updates.

In addition to upgrading the operating system (OS) to 2.1, the Samsung Moment update also includes Bluetooth fixes, keypad backlight optimization, new camera features, Pandora enhancements, swipe use for Unlock/Mute/Speakerphone, and increased speed and performance. Click this link to get the update for the Samsung Moment.

The HTC Hero has two updates available one that includes the Android 2.1 OS and a HTC Sync upgrade. Before you download the Android 2.1 update make sure you have HTC Sync software first. So you'll probably want to download the HTC Sync upgrade first. In addition to the Android 2.1 OS update, HTC Hero users can expect enhancements to the HTC Sense UI, bug fixes, and enhanced corporate e-mail support. While the HTC Sync upgrade includes Outlook 2000 support. Click this link to get the HTC Hero updates.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Sprint	Samsung	Smart phones
	HTC	Android	Google

Verizon announced a new Windows Mobile phone aimed at global business travelers, the LG Fathom. This smartphone has all the specs expected from a cell phone running Windows Mobile 6.5 plus a few extra. Of note, the LG Fathom supports Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) for more secure connections, has a 1GHz processor, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and a spacious 3.2-inch touchscreen that offers tactile feedback. Since this is a world phone, the LG Fathom can be used for turn-by-turn directions and maps in English in more than 20 destinations such as Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In case you'll be in need of restaurants, gas stations or nearby ATMs, the app will offer that information as well. However, there's one feature that seems to be a bit lacking; the microSD slot will only support up to a 16GB microSD card while many other smartphones currently available support up to a 32GB microSD card. Still, that said, it should be plenty for most users.

The cell phone will be available for consumers starting June 3rd and will require both a Nationwide Talk plan and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Cell phone plans	Windows Mobile
	Smart phones	LG	International	Business Use
	WiFi	E-mail	Bluetooth

When we first saw the HTC EVO for Sprint at CTIA it was definitely exciting news. The EVO is loaded with features including the ability to play HD videos, record videos in HD, and a video out port so that you can watch video stored in your cell phone on a HDTV. That's pretty cool in and of itself, but this Google Android 2.1 smartphone does so much more than that.

In addition to supporting Sprint's 3G network, it also works on 4G networks where available. 4G is fast, so fast you feel like you're surfing the web at home with no lag time. It's impressive. In case you’re wondering if you’ll have 4G access, here's a list of cities that have or will have Sprint 4G service. Super fast connections is not all that's included with the EVO; you can also turn it into a mobile Hotspot and let up to eight other WiFi-enabled devices share your connection via WiFi. If you want to activate that feature on the smartphone it will cost an extra $29.99 a month. However, we should note that you can activate and deactivate this plan feature when you want without having to extend the length of your contract.

We should also note the HTC EVO 4G is a bit wider than other smartphones on the market, but it has to be to support the 4.3-inch display that's ideal for watching videos on the cell phone. Oh, and you can even prop it up with the kickstand that flips out of the back of the cell phone. While the EVO sounds bulky, it's actually quite svelte so it shouldn't take up a ton of space in a pocket. The HTC smartphone also has 1GB of memory on board, but comes with an 8GB microSD card and it can take up to a 32GB microSD card in case you plan on storing a lot of HD movies on the EVO.

So how much is this phone going to cost a month? At the very least it will cost $79.99 a month for Sprint's Everything Plan with 450 minutes of talk time. Yes, we know that plan typically costs $69.99 a month, but the EVO has a $10 premium charge a month. It makes sense when you think about the amount of data HD video can take and the fact that you can also do video chat with this Sprint phone.

If this phone sounds good to you, click this link to pre-order the phone so you can have one when it becomes available on June 4th. Supply is limited so if you're one of those people that have to have the hottest phone when it comes out, get your order in early.

Topics:	In The Know	Sprint	Cell phone plans	Camera
	Smart phones	WiFi	Video	Bluetooth
	HTC	Android	Google

The beauty of smartphones today is that you can have the experience you want just by adding or removing apps. Case in point is the Motorola Backflip. Watch the video below to see how you can add Google search (or just about any other search option) to one of the cell phone's five panels and even how to access YouTube from the music player. Want tips and tricks on another phone? Lets us know by leaving a comment below.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Motorola	Music	AT&T Wireless
	Smart phones	Video	Android	Google

If you're a road warrior and use a BlackBerry you might want to consider adding the BlackBerry Presenter to your arsenal. It's a device that lets you project presentations stored on your BlackBerry and then you can use the BlackBerry to navigate through slides. It's a pretty neat trick and will even help lighten your load. Watch this video by LetsTalk's Pat Connor to see all it has to offer and let us know if this is something you'll be adding to your work travel bag by leaving a comment below.

Topics:

Phone Smarts

BlackBerry

Smart phones

Bluetooth

The Palm Pre Plus has finally arrived for AT&T. It also happens to be the first Palm Web OS smartphones to work with GSM networks. On board, you'll find many of the features found on the Palm Pre Plus for Verizon such as a 16GB internal hard drive, 3-megapixel camera, and WiFi. It also happens to be a world phone, so you'll be able to use this Palm Pre Plus in some spots around the globe. Since it's an AT&T smartphone, you'll find many of AT&T's features as well including access to AT&T Navigator and AT&T Hotspots.

Topics:	In The Know	AT&T Wireless	Cell phone plans	Palm
	Smart phones	WiFi

T-Mobile added new monthly prepaid plans to it's line-up for customers who tend to text a lot or want all of the features of a traditional plan without the contract. The new prepaid plans are as follows:

· $15 Per Month Unlimited Text: Includes unlimited text, picture and video messaging, and nationwide voice calls for $.10 per minute.

· $50 Per Month Unlimited Talk and Text: Features unlimited nationwide calling and text, including picture and video messaging, and no per-minute fees.

When compared to other carriers, it's a pretty good deal. AT&T has a similar prepaid monthly unlimited plan for $60 a month. While Verizon Wireless lets consumers add unlimited monthly texting to a prepaid option for $20 a month or if you text a lot of other Verizon customers you can pay $10 a month for unlimited messaging to other Verizon customers plus get an extra 250 messages. While Boost Mobile has a similar $50 a month unlimited prepaid plan, which is on par with T-Mobile's newest offering.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Text messaging	AT&T Wireless
	Cell phone plans	T-Mobile

HTC DROID Eris users will be happy to learn this week their cell phone will start receiving an update, which when finished the Eris will be running Android OS 2.1. Users will also be getting an update to HTC Sense. Here's are some features that can be expected in the update:

•  Pinch-to-zoom is now available when using the Gallery
•  Google Maps with Navigation
•  Enhanced Android Market with access to Verizon Wireless apps
•  Ability to log onto and access multiple Google accounts simultaneously
•  Location-based cinematic full screen weather keeps you on top of changing  conditions.
•  Free Yahoo! Mail is now supported
•  Longer battery life
•  Improved YouTube video playback
•  Transfer contacts via Bluetooth
•  Added support for stand-alone Wi-Fi when device is in airplane mode
•  Faster power-up time
•  Support for Microsoft Office 2007 documents

Some updates to HTC Sense include:

•  Weather wallpaper, so the Eris will reflect the weather outside (based on GPS location) raining, dusk, night, etc.
•  More HTC Widgets
•  Quick Contact - select a name and be able to choose quickly how you want to communicate with them
•  Calendar enhancements that let you combine multiple calendars in one view and a rolling agenda
•  Leap feature that lets you pinch to view mini versions of the 7 panels and then select one

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	Smart phones	HTC
	Android	Google

The official Twitter client for BlackBerry recently became available. Before it's launch there were quite a few other Twitter apps available for the BlackBerry, such as UberTwitter. While the official Twitter client looks good, is it worth the upgrade? I tested it out on the BlackBerry Curve. Watch the video review below to decide for yourself. Be sure to let us know which is your favorite mobile Twitter client by leaving a comment.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	Text messaging	BlackBerry
	Smart phones	Video

Sprint's latest cell phone added to its line-up, the Samsung Seek, is a messaging phone that has its eye on being eco friendly. Well, at least the packaging is eco-friendly. Besides making much of the packaging from post-consumer waste (PCW) paper fiber and being completely recyclable, the company is also including packaging for consumers to send in old cell phones for recycling. The Samsung Seek itself isn't as eco-friendly as other eco-friendly cell phones recently announced by Sprint. What the Samsung Seek does have going for it is that it's comes in a few colors: blue and red versions are currently offered, while the cell phone will be available in fantastic pink on June 6.

The Samsung Seek is a touchscreen messaging cell phone complete with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It includes one-touch access to social networking apps such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Also, on board is a MP3 player, 1.3-megapixel camera, and the ability to sync contacts and calendars.

Topics:

In The Know

Text messaging

Sprint

Samsung

I recently reviewed the LG Cosmos, one of the latest messaging cell phones with Verizon Wireless service. This cell phone doesn't have a lot in the way of extras. For example, it lacks a music player and only sports a 1.3-megapixel camera (that actually captures pretty good images). This cell phone is really meant for those who just want a phone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for quicker text messaging. The good news is the LG Cosmos doesn't require a separate data plan, but if you do plan on texting a lot be sure to get an unlimited text messaging plan. Click here to read my expert review of the LG Cosmos or if you're more visual watch the video below.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	Text messaging	Cell phone plans
	Camera	LG	Bluetooth

I first learned about CardStar at CTIA earlier this year. The company had an app for the iPhone that lets consumers manage all of their loyalty reward information in one place. It's also a bit more interactive than that, it could tell you local stores and even let you get loyalty credits just by showing your cell phone at check out. The service is now available for BlackBerry and Android users. Better yet, the app is free to download. To get the app on a BlackBerry cell phone you'll need to enter this URL http://m.metova.com/cardstar.xjad into the browser in order to download it. I just downloaded a version to the DROID Incredible by HTC from the Android Market. I'm going to give it a try and report back on my thoughts in an upcoming post. In the meantime, here's what the app looks like:

CardStar Loyalty Programs App on the BlackBerry

CardStar Loyalty Programs App on a Google Android smartphone

Topics:	Phone Smarts	AT&T Wireless	Customer service	BlackBerry
	Smart phones	Android	Apple

If you liked the myTouch 3G, but wanted a slide-out QWERTY keyboard consider the HTC myTouch 3G slide coming to T-Mobile in June. The new Google Android smartphone includes quite a few noteworthy updates. For starters, it will run Android OS 2.1, and support a five-pane home screen with the option to increase to seven panes. It will also sport a 3.4-inch HVGA touchscreen display, 5-megapixel camera, pre-installed 8GB microSD card, and the ability to quickly upload videos taken with the HTC smartphone to YouTube or pictures to Picasa. Also of note are these two new features:

Faves Gallery: This is a widget that allows you to choose 20 of your favorite people and the different ways to communicate with them — calls, texts, e-mail, instant messaging, social networking updates. Anytime they communicate with you or update their social network you get a notification in the notification pane and if you're not using the cell phone, a custom green light alerts you there's an update. You can access the new feature through a soft button and an easy-to-use widget complete with photos, contact info and one-touch ability to respond.

Genius Button: Press one button on the front of the myTouch 3G Slide, talk, and it delivers. You can use it to make calls, compose and send texts and e-mails, search the Web or your surroundings. It will even read text messages aloud, and then you can dictate responses naturally as if you were speaking directly to a person.

Topics:	In The Know	Cell phone plans	Camera	Smart phones
	WiFi	T-Mobile	Bluetooth	HTC
	Android	Google

The DROID Incredible by HTC is one hot smartphone. It's slick, runs the Android 2.1 operating system, has a beautiful display, and a slim design. To see more of what the DROID Incredible by HTC has to offer watch my video review below. To learn more about the features, check out our expert review of the DROID Incredible.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	Cell phone plans	Smart phones
	WiFi	Video	Bluetooth	HTC
	Android	Google

We just got in the latest touchscreen messaging cell phone for Verizon Wireless, the Samsung Reality To see what this cell phone has to offer check out this video by LetsTalk's Scott Price.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Text messaging	Cell phone plans
	Samsung

The WES 2010 conference was held this week in Orlando, Florida. This is a BlackBerry conference where attendees get tips on apps, how to use BlackBerry more efficiently, and even learn about new initiatives and see new products available for BlackBerry users. Before the conference even got started, RIM announced 3 new BlackBerry cell phones: BlackBerry 9100, 9105, and BlackBerry Bold for Sprint. I'm sure many consumers were waiting for that news. First, the BlackBerry Pearl candy bar-style phone definitely needed an update and it's no surprise that the new Pearl models trade-in the trackball for the trackpad. That's a feature we're starting to see in all new BlackBerry cell phones hitting the market. However, the 14-numeric keypad found on the Pearl 3G 9105 is interesting. I think that helps extend the company's cell phones to a larger market especially since more and more messaging cell phones have added QWERTY keyboards, making it easier for people to text longer messages. This means we see fewer and fewer candy bar-style 14-key numeric phones available. While the BlackBerry 9650 seems to be a lot like the BlackBerry Bold. The Bold is definitely one of the more popular smartphones RIM offers and is also one of the more feature-rich. The Bold has only been available for GSM carriers AT&T and T-Mobile. It's nice to see this popular cell phone coming to Sprint, a CDMA carrier.

At the show, RIM offered a sneak peak of OS 6.0 as evidence by the video below (Thanks PhoneDog). It's hard to tell all that will be different in the new Operating System, but it does look like the new OS is keeping some of the features customers have come to rely on in the BlackBerry OS, but with a more fluid integration and easy to access multitasking. From the video, it looks like it's designed for a touchscreen (Read more)

Topics:	Somethin' To Talk About	Sprint	BlackBerry	Camera
	Smart phones	Business Use

If you've been waiting for a sleek touchscreen Google Android cell phone for Verizon, you should consider the DROID Incredible by HTC. Sure it doesn't have a tactile slide-out keyboard like the one found in the DROID by Motorola, but it does have HTC's touch keyboard that quickly learns and predicts the word you're typing. While both smartphone's run Android OS 2.1, the DROID Incredible has the HTC Sense Overlay, which offers more screens and tons of user-friendly features like Footprints and Friend Stream. Both the DROID by Motorola and the DROID Incredible are solid phones with similar features. If you're trying to decide between the two models think about how you like to use a cell phone. Namely, is a tactile QWERTY keyboard an important feature for you?

I just finished reviewing the DROID Incredible by HTC and have to say there is a lot to like about it. Top of list is the cell phone's speed. I'm not just talking about flipping through applications, I'm talking about how fast web pages loaded (and that's with 3G, not even WiFi) and how seamlessly it streams videos. While there are a couple of features I'd like to see updated, for example, checking for Twitter updates more frequently than every 30 minutes (you can refresh and get faster updates, but that's not ideal for a heavy Twitter user). That said, it's not a real concern because the beauty of the latest crop of smartphones is how easy it is to update them and receive fixes over-the-air. Click here to read my full review of the DROID Incredible by HTC. You can even learn a few tricks by clicking on the yellow Tip icons in the review.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Music	Cell phone plans
	Smart phones	WiFi	Video	GPS
	Bluetooth	HTC	Android	Google

The LG Lotus was one of the more interesting messaging cell phones released for Sprint: a compact flip-phone that sports a full QWERTY keyboard. The update to that model, the LG Lotus Elite keeps the same form factor, but steps up the features and adds a few nice touches. To see what else Sprint's LG Lotus Elite has to offer check out this video by LetsTalk's Melanie Bie.

Topics:	In The Know	Music	Text messaging	Sprint
	Camera	LG

It's no secret that messaging phones that sport a touchscreen are popular choices for consumers. That's why it's nice to see the latest cell phone in the LG Rumor line, the LG Rumor Touch, sports both a tactile QWERTY keyboard and a touchscreen. To see what else the LG Rumor Touch has to offer check out this video by LetsTalk's Scott Price.

Topics:

In The Know

Text messaging

Sprint

LG

RIM announced three new BlackBerry cell phones today the BlackBerry 9100 3G (9100 and 9105) and the BlackBerry 9650 (a Bold for Sprint). Both models help build out the company's line of smartphones. First, the 9100 3G is a long awaited update to RIM's popular "Pearl" line of cell phones and also signals a bit of departure from the QWERTY keyboard models the company is known for, while the 9650 brings the powerful Bold to CDMA networks and will be available for use with Sprint networks. The 9100 3G will be available in May, though no carrier has been announced. However, since those cell phones are designed to work on GSM networks it will be available for either AT&T or T-Mobile. While the Bold for Sprint will be available on May 23rd. Here's what you can expect to see in the new smartphones:

BlackBerry 9100 Pearl 3G

• It will be available in two models one with a a 20-key condensed QWERTY keyboard and the 9105 will have a 14-key traditional phone keyboard. However, they'll both sport the candy bar-style of the original BlackBerry Pearl.
• BlackBerry OS 5
• 624Mhz processor with 256 MB Flash memory (will accept up to a 32GB via microSD card)
• Optical trackpad - this is different than the scroll wheel found in the original Pearl
• Media player for videos, pictures and music (music plays up to 30 hours)
• Dedicated media keys integrated along top of the handset similar to the BlackBerry Curve 2
• 3.2-megapixel camera with zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording
• Built-in GPS with support for GeoTagging
• WiFi (802.11 b/g/n), 3G connectivity, and Bluetooth 2.1
• Support for BlackBerry Media Sync for syncing photos and iTunes or Windows Media Player music

BlackBerry 9650 Bold for Sprint

• BlackBerry OS 5
• 512MB Flash memory and will come with 2GB microSD card (will accept up to a 32GB via microSD card)
• Optical trackpad - this is different than the scroll wheel found in the original Pearl
• An advanced media player for listening to music, viewing pictures and watching videos, plus there’s a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack
(Read more)


Topics:	In The Know	Sprint	BlackBerry	Smart phones
	Business Use	GPS	Bluetooth

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 was designed with music in mind. Case in point the smartphone sports music-centric buttons at the top of the BlackBerry that let you skip, go back, and play/pause songs without ever having to touch the cell phone's keypad or trackpad. Although, the BlackBerry desktop software is pretty intuitive when it comes to adding media to the cell phone, not everyone wants to go that route to add songs. Instead, there's another option the SanDisk SlotRadio+ microSD card can add a 1,000 popular Billboard hit songs without ever going near a computer. Plus you get an additional 4GB of memory for storing apps, pictures, documents, and even more music if you're so inclined. We should note the product is currently only for select Verizon BlackBerry smartphones. We took this product for a test drive. See how it works by watching the video below.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	Music	BlackBerry
	Smart phones

I remember a few years back when Garmin started to dabble in the cell phone market, it was an interesting concept at the time since this was a little before GPS and mapping apps started appearing in cell phones on a large scale. The idea of having a cell phone and full featured GPS device in a single handset was exciting. Now that idea has become a reality for US consumers when it arrives with T-Mobile service. The Garminfone has come a long way and according to the specs it's going to offer a pretty compelling phone experience as well as GPS navigation services. Here's what you can expect:

• Android 1.6 OS at launch according to PhoneDog
• 3.5-inch touchscreen
• Garmin travel apps that include dynamic, real-time traffic; weather local events; movie listings; and gas prices are pre-installed and easy to access and use
• 3-megapixel camera with autofocus (sorry, no flash)
• A window/dashboard mount that can for the cell phone's battery
• 3G and WiFi connectivity
• Garmin Navigation for driving, walking and public transportation navigation with voice and on-screen directions and automatic re-routing
• North American maps with multiple overlapping positioning technologies
• Text-to-speech technology to speak street names, and the screen automatically switches between day and night modes for easier viewing while driving
• Garmin Voice Studio, an Android application, which allows customers to record and share custom voice directions from family and friends

Topics:	In The Know	Smart phones	GPS	T-Mobile
	Bluetooth	Android	Google

In honor of earth day on April 22nd, Sprint has added a new cell phone to its line of eco-friendly models, the Samsung Restore. Already in the company line-up are the LG Remarq and Samsung Reclaim as well as some eco-friendly accessories. The Samsung Restore is more than just an earth friendly, basic cell phone, it's got quite a few user friendly features that mean you don't have to sacrifice specs just to have a phone that meets eco-friendly guidelines. On board you'll find a slide-out, full QWERTY keyboard with optical joystick, 2-megapixel camera and video recorder, MP3 player with microSD card slot (supports up to 32GB), Mobile Sync to restore contacts if the device is lost, stolen or damaged, and Stereo Bluetooth. The Restore also comes with its fair share of Sprint-centric features as well such as the Sprint One Click customizable user interface, Sprint Family Locator, Sprint Football Live, Sprint Navigation, and Sprint TV.

If you want to know what makes this Samsung cell phone so earth friendly, the Restore's casing is made of 27% post-consumer recycled plastics and 84% of the cell phone is recyclable. For power the Restore has an Energy Star Version 2.0 qualified energy efficient charger (level V) with standby power loss of less than 30mW. The box the cell phone comes in is also 100% recyclable and instead of a paper manual, you'll need to go online to check out the user manual. Finally, just for fun, there's information on the cell phone to help you live a greener lifestyle. The Samsung Restore will be available this summer in either Midnight or Limeade.

Topics:	In The Know	Music	Text messaging	Sprint
	Samsung	Camera	GPS	Bluetooth

Verizon announced the Samsung Reality will be available later this week (April 22nd to be exact). This is another social messaging-centric cell phone that sports Samsung's TouchWiz interface. This is a widget based interface so you'll be able to customize the home screen by dragging and dropping widgets from the side navigation bar to the main display of the cell phone. For example, you'll be able to update social networking sites, post pictures and upload videos to YouTube and other Web sites instantly.

Also on board, is a 3.2-megapixel camera complete with photo editing features, a horizontal slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 3-inch touchscreen display, full HTML web browser, Bluetooth, and tons of messaging options including support for both web-based e-mail and Microsoft Office Exchange corporate e-mail accounts. Since this is a feature-rich cell phones customers will also have to purchase a monthly data plan that begins at $9.99 a month in addition to a voice plan.

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Cell phone plans	Samsung
	Camera

Although, Sprint isn't offering the NFL Mobile app anymore (that application is now available for Verizon Wireless customers), but that doesn't mean you can't catch the NFL draft on your Sprint cell phone. In fact, quite the opposite, Sprint is launching a new app that does exactly that, called Sprint Football Live. Here's what's included in the app:

• Follow all the picks, trades, and news
• Prior to draft there will be access to behind-the-scenes blogs from projected top picks Sam Bradford, quarterback from the University of Oklahoma, and Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle from the University of Nebraska
• A draft tracker
• Mock drafts
• In-depth profiles and analysis of nearly 500 top prospects, breaking news and information from ProFootballTalk.com
• Team-specific news for all 32 teams
• Expert analysis
• Sprint-only blog by NFL insider Jay Glazer

If you don't want to use the app, you can still watch a live telecast of CBSSports.com's draft coverage April 22-24 on Sprint TV.

How much is all this going to cost? If you have a Sprint Everything Data plan it's included with the service.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Sports	Sprint	Cell phone plans
	Video

Verizon Wireless announced today the HTC Incredible will be available on April 29th. The latest Android smartphone in the company's line-up will sport Google's Android 2.1 operating system with HTC Sense, an overlay that adds more functionality and makes it a bit more fun to use. The smartphone will also be one of the fastest Android phones since it has 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Here's a list of other noteworthy features:

• Friend Stream for unified Flickr, Facebook and Twitter updates
• “Leap” view for quick access to all seven home screen panels provided by HTC Sense - Android cell phones only have 5 home screen panels
• 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash
• Bright, crisp 3.7-inch WVGA (480x800) AMOLED capacitive touch display - the AMOLED screen also helps save battery life
• Optical joystick for smooth navigation
• Dedicated, touch-sensitive Home, Menu, Back and Search keys
• Proximity sensor, light sensor and digital compass
• Integrated GPS
• WiFi (802.11 b/g)
• 3.5 mm headset jack

All and all this should be an impressive Android smartphone. Will you be getting one?

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Music	Cell phone plans
	Camera	Smart phones	Video	HTC
	Android	Google

It's just about that time of year again. No, I'm not talking about any specific cell phone event, I'm talking about the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival that takes place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California (that's not far from Palm Springs) that kicks off this weekend on April 16th. Coachella is one of those music events that people get tickets to attend months in advance because the music is that good. The festival has a very electric line-up where in past years attendees saw the likes of Beck with Z-Trip to Nine Inch Nails to The Cure to Broken Social Scene to Kraftwerk to Polyphonic Spree. This year the line-up includes artists like Jay-Z, MGMT, Thom Yorke, Pavement, and Faith No More, among many others.

The good news is that if you didn't get tickets this year or can't make the journey to Coachella you can still keep up with the festival with your Verizon Wireless cell phone. On Friday, April 16th many Verizon customers will be able to watch select music performances streamed live on their V CAST-capable handsets in the Media Center/Get It Now section found under the V CAST Video/Music menu. The service costs $10 a month, but the good news is this is considered a feature so you can add it to your plan for the month of April to see the event and if you don't like what else it has to offer remove it from your plan in May without affecting the length of your contract. To find out more about the service and if you'll be able to see the concert on your 3G phone click this link.

Topics:

Somethin' To Talk About

Verizon Wireless

Music

Cell phone plans

If you have a BlackBerry Curve 2 for Verizon Wireless you've probably been prompted to update the Operating System. There are a few enhancements it brings to the cell phone and one that is now definitely missing. Of note, you'll notice an option for Skype on the main screen. This is in conjunction with Verizon's announcement at CTIA that gives smartphone users (BlackBerry included) the option to make Skype calls to other Skype users using the cell phone's WiFi capability. This helps keeps your minute plan in check and if want to call international users using Skype, you can now. Additionally, you can message them as well using the Skype client.

Completing the download is easy and you can do it directly from your cell phone. However, when the download starts you won't be able to use your cell phone. You can, however, stop the download at any time if you need to make a call or check e-mail, but we found it's easier to just let the download run in one sitting. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes in total. Once the software is loaded, you'll be prompted to go through the set up menus, but this doesn't mean you've lost any of your information. So e-mail, contacts, music, and pictures are still there. However, if you had rearranged the icons on your screen, you'll need to do this again since it goes back to the default settings.

One feature missing once you download the upgrade is the lock key icon. This isn't a big deal if you use a BlackBerry holster, since you can set the cell phone to lock when you put it back in the holster. However, if this isn't your preferred method of transportation for your cell phone and need to lock the BlackBerry Curve, you'll need to set this up manually. The good news is that it's pretty straight forward, just select Options from the main menu and choose Password. Choose Enabled and set a Password. You can even select how many attempts you can make to enter the password correctly before the cell phone locks you out for a time period (a feature you can also set). Once the Password is set and enabled, you'll see the lock icon on the cell phone's main screen and can use the feature at will.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Verizon Wireless	BlackBerry	Smart phones
	WiFi	Security

Today, Microsoft unveiled its latest cell phone project KIN designed for people who like to keep update their social media accounts on the go. The company showed off two models KIN One and KIN Two. KIN One is a bit smaller and meant to fit in the palm of your hand, while the KIN Two is a bit larger and can the screen can be viewed in either horizontal or vertical mode. There new cell phones have some interesting features designed to help people do just what they want with their phone and not a lot more.

KIN Loop: This is the cell phone's home screen and it's always up to date and always on, showing all the things happening in someone’s social world. KIN automatically brings together feeds from Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. If someone's updates are more important to you, KIN lets you prioritize that person's status updates, messages, feeds and photos.

KIN Spot: This feature is all about sharing what you want instead of thinking about what application you want to use to share it. Just drag what you want to share to "Spot" on the cell phone screen. When that's done then you pick how you want to share it.

KIN Studio: Just about anything on your phone can be found online, since KIN Studio automatically backs up texts, call history, photos, videos and contacts, and populates a personalized digital journal. Memory doesn't have to be an issue on the cell phone since you get online storage for saving and later viewing info from your cell phone on a web browser.

Zune: These cell phones are meant to be fun, that's why it's the first Windows to feature the Zune experience — including music, video, FM radio and podcast playback. You can get a Zune Pass subscription so that you can use the Zune software on a PC to listen to millions of songs from Zune Marketplace on the KIN, or load their personal collection.

KIN One and KIN Two will be available in May for Verizon Wireless. There's no pricing information.

KIN One KIN Two

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Music	Text messaging
	Cell phone plans

Apple announced iPhone 4.0 would have 100 new features. The company spotlighted 7 of those features at a press conference this week. A lot of what was discussed had to do with applications and ways consumers can get more apps for their iPhones. Also, the biggest enhancement was about an updated user experience that allows consumers to multitask - essentially easily switch between applications via an updated interface. Here's a quick overview of what to expect:

• Multitasking - The new feature will help preserve battery life and should not have an adverse effect on the smartphone's performance. It will also let you do a couple of things at once. The example given at the press conference was for Pandora. Essentially, you can have Pandora playing in the background, you can get more information about a song being played and then go to iTunes to purchase that song and the music will keep on playing.
• Folders - This will help users better organize their screens and apps. You'll be able to click on an application icon and drag and drop it to the folder. Initially, the name of the folder will be based on the applications iTunes category, but users will be able to change the name of folders.
• iAd - There was a lot of time spent on this feature. Mobile Advertising is coming to the iPhone in a big way. Apple has created a way to have ads interactive. For example, say you're using an application and an ad for a wallpaper appears. From the application you'll be able to click on that wallpaper, purchase it, and never leave the application. The new wallpaper you purchased will appear on your cell phone's background screen. The good news for developers is that Apple will be giving 60% of mobile advertising revenue to the developers of the application from which the ad was purchased.
• Skype - You'll now be able to call and instant message anyone else on Skype for free. You can also call landlines and mobiles and send SMS anywhere in the world, at great rates. Location Services E-Mail - The iPhone will support more e-mail options. There will also be unified mail inbox, fast inbox switching and threaded messages.
• Social Gaming - Think XBox Live on the iPhone. So you'll be able to invite friends to play a game, start a multiplayer game through matchmaking and track achievements and compare high scores on a leader board. That's pretty interactive.

When is the update coming and what devices will be getting it?

According to the Apple Press Release the iPhone OS 4 beta software and SDK are available now for iPhone Developer Program members at developer.apple.com. iPhone OS 4 will be available as a software update to iPhone and iPod touch users this summer. However, only iPhone 3Gs and some (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) iPod Touch models will support all the features.

Topics:	Observed	Music	E-mail	Accessories
	Apple

As more and more features can be found on cell phones, finding a basic touchscreen handset is getting a bit easier. Case in point, the Samsung Sunburst is a compact, touchscreen cell phone for AT&T that's a solid choice for those who want a basic cell phone that looks cool and is fun to use. What makes the Sunburst basic? Well, it runs on AT&T EDGE networks, so no 3G surfing here, but for this cell phone you likely won't miss the speed.

Topics:

Phone Smarts

AT&T Wireless

Samsung

According to the EPA, "an estimated 58 million cell phones are no longer being used but are still in storage. If these phones were reused or recycled, enough energy would be saved to power 10,690 homes for a year." That's a lot of energy. This week you can do your part to help since it's EPA’s Plug-In To eCycling National Cell Phone Recycling Week. Just because your cell phone doesn't have service anymore, that doesn't mean it's useless. Here's a list of things you can do with your old cell phone to make it useful again from Earth 911.com. Plus you can always trade-in your old cell phones at LetsTalk and apply the value of those cell phones towards the purchase of a new model.

So, do you plan to recycle your cell phone? We want to know, participate in our poll on the side of this blog.

Topics:

Observed

Etiquette

Undoubtedly one of the coolest features on the Palm Pre Plus and the Palm Pixi Plus is the inclusion of the Mobile HotSpot feature. This feature lets users turn the Palm cell phones into a HotSpot that can share the connection with up to 5 other WiFi-enabled devices. When the feature was first announced, Verizon was charging an additional $40 a month for it and that's on top of the data plan that's already required with the device. Good news: starting April 1st using the Mobile HotSpot feature isn't going to cost extra, however, this doesn't mean it's unlimited data for every device using the Mobile HotSpot since the Palm Pixi Plus and Palm Pre Plus use the 5GB data plan with this feature. Once you use the 5GBs of data either surfing the web or sharing your data connection via the Mobile HotSpot feature, you'll be paying 5 cents for each additional MB of data you use until your next billing cycle starts. That said, it really will take quite a bit of usage to burn through 5GBs of data in a month. There's no word on how long this promotion will last, but if you purchase one of these Palm cell phones now with a two-year contract or upgrade to a two-year contact you can get this feature. See how the feature works by watching the video below:

Topics:	In The Know	Verizon Wireless	Sprint	Cell phone plans
	Palm	Smart phones	Business Use	WiFi
	Games

Motorola DROID users should be on the lookout for the latest update notification to appear at the top of their cell phone screen this week. The latest Android update is adding a bit more functionality to the operating system. Here's a list of a few noteworthy enhancements that can be found in this update:

• Pinch-to-zoom capability in the browser, Gallery, and Google Maps 
• New Weather and News application plus widget 
• Live Wallpapers
• Yahoo! e-mail is now supported
• Google Maps update that includes better synching with Google Maps on the desktop
• Voice-to-text entry support so a microphone icon will appear on the virtual keyboard, just tap and then speak and then watch the text translation
• Google Goggles will now come preloaded on Motorola DROID cell phones that have been updated

We should note that updating the operating system can take some time and drain battery life. The best bet is to plug-in the Motorola DROID before you start the update and try to do it at a time when you won't need to use the cell phone that much. If you have any problem with the update, visit verizonwireless.com/droidsupport.

Topics:	Phone Smarts	Motorola	Verizon Wireless	Smart phones
	GPS	E-mail	Android	Google