PhoneTalk

Today at the Windows Phone Summit being held in San Francisco, Microsoft showed off Windows Phone 8. There are quite a few enhancements that users can expect, but existing Windows Phone 7.5 users won’t get is the ability to upgrade their phones to Windows Phone 8. Existing Windows Phone users will, however, get an update to 7.8, which will have the new Windows Phone 8 Start screen -- it’s a bit of a centerpiece of the upcoming Windows Phone 8.

The idea behind the new Start screen is that you can customize it anyway you want, changing tile sizes giving some activities more significance than others (watch the video below to see it in action). Other noteworthy features are the inclusion of Internet Explorer 10 (that’s a full web browser, not a mobile version), the Wallet (manage payments, deals, and cards you might find in a wallet), and Nokia’s mapping software. We should also note that existing Windows Phone apps will work with the Windows Phone 8 platform.

We can expect to see Windows Phone 8 models from Nokia, HTC, Huawei, and Samsung. Some of the hardware features to expect include a multi-core processor (this will make the phone faster and more powerful), a slot for an external microSD storage card, NFC chip (Wallet apps and connecting with other Windows 8 devices), Nokia maps, and a WXGA display (1280 x768) – that’s HD.

Get a peak at the new Start screen in the Mircosoft video below.

It’s been reported that some people who were among the first to purchase the Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone experienced trouble getting a data connection. According to this CNET article, Nokia has confirmed that there is indeed a glitch in some of the earlier models. The issue is a result of a combination of memory management and software. There will be a software update rolled out to the cell phones on April 16th that should fix the problem. In the meantime, Nokia is offering $100 credit for the service bill to those with affected phones until midnight on April 21, 2012.

At a press conference at CES, Nokia unveiled the Nokia Lumia 900, which will work with AT&T’s 4G LTE network. As is the case with the previous Lumia models, the 900 has the unibody build so there’s no visible seems on the phones adding up to a sleek design. The smartphone also features an 8-megapixel camera featuring Carl Zeiss optics and a front-facing 1-megapixel camera. The Lumia 900 is running the latest version of Windows Phone 7 (Mango) OS and has a host of Nokia apps included on the phone. Get a closer look at the Lumia 900 in the video below.

Today, T-Mobile announced the company would offer the Nokia Lumia 710 Windows Phone in early January 2012. The smartphone will feature a 3.7-inch WVGA scratch-resistant display, a 1.4 GHz Snapdragon processor, 5-megapixel camera, and will work on T-Mobile’s 4G network. Since it’s a Windows Phone users will have access to the Windows Phone Marketplace, Internet Explorer Mobile, Bing search, gaming via Xbox LIVE, and documents via the Office Hub. T-Mobile is including entertainment-centric apps such as Netflix and T-Mobile TV with mobile HD. The Nokia Lumia 710 will be available in black or white and is expected to cost under $100 with new service.

In this editon, learn more about the Nokia N9 MeeGo phone and get a closer look at the HTC EVO 3D for Sprint. Also, find out about the new ZipCar mobile app for Android phones and find out how to enter to win a Motorola Roadster car accessory.

Nokia’s latest smartphone, the N9, is sleek, slim, and offers something new in the way of phone navigation. The Nokia N9 is based on MeeGo, a Linux-based mobile OS – so this is different than other smartphones currently available. One of the more interesting features of the phone is the incorporation of swipe – a technology that lets you swipe the screen to return to the home view whenever in an application.

The cell phone sports a sharp 3.9-inch AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass and 1GHz processor. It also has an 8-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera that can also record 720p video. If you’re interesting in mobile payment options, you’ll be happy to learn the phone has the NFC chip (this is a feature needed if you want the phone to support mobile payments). The cell phone will be available in three colors (black, cyan, and magenta) and 16GB or 64GB models. We’ll learn more about availability and pricing later this year. In the meantime, you can get a closer look at the Nokia N9 in the video below.

The latest Symbian smartphone for T-Mobile, the Nokia Astound was recently announced at CTIA this month. The touchscreen cell phone sports a slick design and plenty of noteworthy features. It comes with an 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash that has the ability to record 720p HD video, supports Adobe Flash Lite, and comes with 8GB of memory (you can add up to a 32GB microSD card). Additionally, the phone has the OVI store for downloading apps and comes preloaded with some games. If you're interested in e-mail support, this phone can handle most e-mail clients including Microsoft Exchange. Get a closer look at the Nokia Astound and see what comes in the box in the video below.

Nokia unveiled its latest Symbian-based smartphone for T-Mobile, the Nokia Astound. This cell phone definitely has a lot to offer, starting with its 3.5-inch capacitive AMOLED touchscreen (so it's viewable in direct sunlight), stainless-steel design, and slim profile. Like many other smartphones being announced recently, the Nokia Astound can also record 720p HD video using its integrated 8-megapixel camera. You can make this phone feel more like your own by customizing the three available home screens and by downloading purchased or free apps from the Nokia Ovi Store. To get you started, the Nokia Astound comes loaded with Twitter and Facebook clients, Fruit Ninja game, Ovi Maps, and Slacker radio. If you're interested in the Nokia Astound it will be available for T-Mobile customers April 6.

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.

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.

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.