Blackberry Touch in the Wild!
The guys over at BGR got all up close and personal with RIM’s next Flagship Blackberry, the “Touch”. This device is a all touch screen based Blackberry with no physical QWERTY keyboard! Don’t worry, this touch panel is a standard capacitive screen and none of the craziness that was SurePress found in the Blackberry Storm phones. Code named BlackBerry Monaco / Monza (nice Formula 1 reference RIM), the two models are flavored in both CDMA and GSM. Along with new hardware, the Blackberry Touch ushers in the latest software in the form of BB OS 6.1. They guys over at BGR said that is closely resembles 6.0 at this point, so nothing groundbreaking, but we shall see if RIM has any surprises for us when this actually launches.
via [BGR]
Sprint not in favor of the AT&T T-Mobile Merger.
It should come as no surprise Sprint doesn’t like what it sees with the AT&T & T-Mobile merger. Sprint is concerned that competition and customer choice will be greatly diminished. Sprint is urging the United States Government to deny this merger.
28 March 2011Sprint Opposes Proposed AT&T Acquisition of T-Mobile USA
Transaction would reduce competition and harm consumers
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 28, 2011 – Sprint Nextel [NYSE:S], the nation’s third largest wireless provider and a leader in advanced wireless broadband technologies, announced today its opposition to AT&T’s proposed $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile USA.
The transaction, which requires the approval of the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission, and will likely spark a host of hearings in the U.S. Congress, would reverse nearly three decades of actions by the U.S. government and the courts that modernized and opened U.S. communications markets to competition. The wireless industry has sparked unprecedented levels of competition, innovation, job creation and investment for the American economy, all of which could be undone by this transaction.
AT&T and Verizon are already by far the largest wireless providers. If approved, the proposed acquisition would create a combined company that would be almost three times the size of Sprint in terms of wireless revenue and would entrench AT&T’s and Verizon’s duopoly control over the wireless market. The wireless industry moving forward would be dominated overwhelmingly by two vertically integrated companies with unprecedented control over the U.S. wireless post-paid market, as well as the availability and price of key inputs, such as backhaul and access needed by other wireless companies to compete.
“Sprint urges the United States government to block this anti-competitive acquisition,” said Vonya McCann, senior vice president, Government Affairs. “This transaction will harm consumers and harm competition at a time when this country can least afford it. As the first national carrier to roll out 4G services and handsets and the carrier that brought simple unlimited pricing to the marketplace, Sprint stands ready to compete in a truly dynamic marketplace. So on behalf of our customers, our industry and our country, Sprint will fight this attempt by AT&T to undo the progress of the past 25 years and create a new Ma Bell duopoly.”
Verizon Not Interested in Sprint
After the T-Mobile and AT&T announcement, there was a lot of talk that Verizon should gobble up Sprint. Both companies use similar network technologies and Sprint has been hurting for a while now. Well those thoughts were laid to rest when CEO Daniel Mead gave an interview to Reuters saying ”We’re not interested in Sprint. We don’t need them.” He also stated that they are not worried about the AT&T and T-Mobile merger and with enough concessions, anything could get approved. Unlike Sprint, they will not be lobbying the FCC to stop the AT&T-Mobile deal from happening. Looks like Big Red has the gloves on and ready to throw down fair and square. Good for them.
via[Engadget]
OFFICIAL: Verizon HTC Thunderbolt Launching March 17th
Holy crap! I did not think this day would ever come! Now Bill Stebbins can rest easy, his month and half long pre-order is good for something! Verizon has officially announced that the HTC Thunderbolt will be released on March 17th! The first LTE Smartphones to hit the states will run you $249.99 and come with unlimited 4G data for $29.99/month. Maybe the long wait was worth it? Lets see if they worked out those battery woes out.
THE THUNDERBOLT™ BY HTC, THE FIRST 4G LTE SMARTPHONE FOR VERIZON WIRELESS ARRIVES MARCH 17
ThunderBolt™ by HTC Available Beginning March 17
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced that the ThunderBolt™ by HTC, exclusively from Verizon Wireless, is available on March 17 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $249.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
Powered by Android™ 2.2, the ThunderBolt by HTC is the first smartphone to take advantage of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. The ThunderBolt by HTC features the latest version of the HTC Sense™ experience, which offers enhancements including new personalization options, a consolidated e-mail inbox, and unique camera effects and filters. The ThunderBolt by HTC is equipped with support for Google Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™ and Android Market™ with thousands of free apps. Additionally, the ThunderBolt by HTC will feature 4G LTE optimized apps such as EA’s Rock Band, Gameloft’s Let’s Golf, Tunewiki and Bitbop.
Additional features:
- 4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
- 4.3” WVGA display
- 8- megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording
- 1.3- megapixel front facing camera with video chatting capabilities
- Newest generation of the 1GHz Snapdragon processor
- Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices
- 8 GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 32 GB microSD card (Actual formatted capacity will be less)
- Built-in kickstand for easy media viewing
With the ThunderBolt by HTC, customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access and an unlimited 4G LTE data plan is $29.99 monthly access.
Mobile Hotspot allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the nation’s fastest wireless network via an application available on the ThunderBolt by HTC. Mobile Hotspot will be included through May 15 for no additional charge. After May 15, customers may choose to activate Mobile Hotspot for $20 for 2 GB of data per month. Customers can track their data usage by downloading the My Verizon app available in Android Market or by logging on to their My Verizon accounts online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.
For additional information on Verizon Wireless 4G LTE visit www.verizonwireless.com/4glte. For more information about the ThunderBolt by HTC please visit www.verizonwireless.com/thunderbolt. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
HTC Droid Incredible 2 Shows Off
The guys over at Android Spin were lucky enough to get some snaps of Verizon’s upcoming Droid Incredible 2. HTC has upped the screen size to a 4″ panel, and baked Sense UI with some Gingerbread love. This guy will definitely be a hot seller for Verizon and hopefully they won’t have supply issues that plagued the original Droid Incredible. HTC went with a Super LCD vs the OLED , so we don’t think it will be an issue.
- 4.0” Super LCD WVGA
- Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) w/ Sense? (Currently running Android 2.2 until launch)
- 8MP camera w/ flash
- 1.3MP front facing camera
- 1Ghz Qualcomm MSM 8655 processor
- 4GB internal storage
- 768mb of RAM
- 1450mAh battery
