Engadget Mobile

China Mobile blowing $8.6B to build out 3G network Posted: 14 Jan 2009 01:41 AM CST Filed under: China Mobile Building a wireless network is never cheap -- but when you take into account the fact that you have to cover a huge landmass that's home to well over a billion souls... well, you get the picture. China Mobile has announced that it intends to sink some 58.8 billion yuan ($8.6 billion) this year alone into building out its TD-SCDMA-based 3G network to cover 238 cities across China with roughly 60,000 base stations. In the 3G race, they'll be going up against China Unicom and China Telecom who'll be operating more world-friendly WCDMA and EV-DO networks, which raises an interesting question: will TD-SCDMA equipment be cheaper thanks to royalty loopholes, or more expensive because there's no global scale of economy? [Via mocoNews] China Mobile blowing $8.6B to build out 3G network originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Girl texts 14,258 times in a month, has sore fingers, and only 3 friends Posted: 13 Jan 2009 10:50 PM CST Filed under: Culture, Handsets, ATT In December, Reina Hardesty sent 14,258 text messages, which works out to 470 a day, or one every two minutes. Father Hardesty -- he's not a priest, we just don't happen to know his full name -- apparently caught on to his daughter's madness when he received a 440-page bill from AT&T, which, we're really hoping, was the electronic kind. This story does have a happy ending, mind you: the parents had wisely opted for unlimited texting for the youngster and have now applied an electronic muzzle on her texting after dinner. Girl texts 14,258 times in a month, has sore fingers, and only 3 friends originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola's CES 2009 booth tour Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:36 PM CST Filed under: Handsets, Motorola HelloMoto indeed, we came expecting that we'd likely have to give Motorola a pass, but were kinda chuffed to actually love what they've got going on. We were absolutely wowed by the stainless and svelte Aura, and just couldn't keep our hands-off it. Also on hand were the SURF A3100 and the green-and-made-from-recycled-stuff W233 Renew, with the A3100 being the cooler of those two offerings. A decent showing from a company that really needs it right now, here's hoping we catch more from them at Mobile World Congress next month. Gallery: Motorola's CES 2009 booth tour Motorola's CES 2009 booth tour originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell smartphone rumors flare up -- Android or S60 phone in the works? Posted: 13 Jan 2009 07:23 PM CST Filed under: Handsets So rumors of Dell doing a smartphone have been around forever, but they've started heating up again today -- word on the street is that the company is planning a handset launch as early as next month at 3GSM or Mobile World Congress. That's just chatter we'd ordinarily dismiss as nonsense, but we couldn't help but notice most of the Dell people at the Adamo event were carrying G1s -- and Dell's director of consumer products was super-quick to pull out a Nokia E71 and gush over how well-built it was compared to other devices when we asked him where the Adamo line would be positioned. That jibes with long-standing rumors that Dell's working on Android and/or S60 devices -- rumors that Michael Dell himself refused to put to bed back in July. What does it all mean? Well, we have no idea, but we'd say that Dell's new focus on consumer-oriented design suggests that WinMo isn't really in the running if it is in fact planning a handset. We'll see how it plays out over the next few months -- we could be right, we could be wrong, but either way it should be interesting. Dell smartphone rumors flare up -- Android or S60 phone in the works? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Clearwire to produce portable WiMAX / WiFi router Posted: 13 Jan 2009 06:04 PM CST Filed under: Peripherals, Motorola, Others, WiMAX We can't say a device such as this was inevitable or anything, but given how limited the adoption of WiMAX has been thus far in America, it's definitely a win for everyone involved. According to Sidecut Reports, Clearwire will soon unveil a portable WiMAX / WiFi router built by Cradlepoint (prototype pictured), which will utilize a Motorola WiMAX USB stick to enable WiFi-capable devices to gather 'round and surf on the delightfully speedy WiMAX superhighway. In other words, non-WiMAX handsets that have WiFi modules can tap into the WiMAX network (if they're in a lit locale, that is) via this device, which -- if we may say so ourselves -- is a brilliant design move. There's no word yet on when the box will ship nor how pricey it'll be, but this could be just the thing you've been looking for to replace that painfully expensive cable modem at home. [Thanks, Jeremy] Clearwire to produce portable WiMAX / WiFi router originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Polar's Bluetooth heart rate monitor (for Nokia?) gets FCC approval Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:47 PM CST Filed under: Nokia, Accessories Huh, wonder what's under that white sticker! Don't suppose it could be a "Polar for Nokia" logo, could it? We're betting it is, which means fitness freaks with Finnish phones banded to their arms should be able to start tracking their grueling 20-mile jogs through San Francisco before too long. We know it's Bluetooth, we know it straps to your chest, and we know the all-too-sparse draft manual identifies the pod as the WearLink+, but that's about all we know. Anyone stoked about this? Polar's Bluetooth heart rate monitor (for Nokia?) gets FCC approval originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NSA-approved smartphones give Obama some ugly choices Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:33 PM CST Filed under: Handsets, Others, GSM, CDMA Next week's US presidential inauguration of Barack Obama will have one sour note for the Illinois senator. Sure, he's gonna be the leader of the free world, but the notorious BlackBerry addict will have to give up his smartphone -- and frankly, if given the choice, we'd probably choose cellphone over country. There is hope, however, as CNET outlines two Windows Mobile devices that met the NSA's seal of approval for governmental use back in 2007: General Dynamics' Sectera Edge and L-3 Communications' Guardian. Unfortunately, both options look about as dated as the Treo 650, with exceptionally large antennas to boot. Hey NSA, any chance we can get something a bit sexier on the approval list? NSA-approved smartphones give Obama some ugly choices originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Everything you wanted to know about the Pre (but were afraid to ask) Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:20 PM CST Filed under: Handsets, Features, Palm, Sprint, webOS Always good to turn a massive, Earth-shattering announcement like the Pre into a Reader's Digest version that's just a tad easier to swallow, so we've done our best -- head on over to Engadget to check it out! Everything you wanted to know about the Pre (but were afraid to ask) originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Possible new FCC chair could focus on net neutrality, not cable pricing Posted: 13 Jan 2009 04:00 PM CST Filed under: Culture, Misc Make no mistake, we have all ideas that Julius Genachowski is very much concerned with cable pricing, but according to analysts, putting pressure on operators isn't apt to be his focus. Jules, as he's known around the Engadget offices, is expected to be named the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. His primary concern? Network neutrality. As with most things in politics, the appointment is likely to be a double-edged sword for consumers; on one hand, we'll greatly benefit from a higher-up pushing open internet development and increased deployment, but on the other, we can pretty much kiss any faint hopes of à la carte pay-TV arrangements goodbye. Of course, before he tackles any of that, he'll first have to deal with the impending digital TV transition, which should be immensely riveting to watch from the sidelines. Possible new FCC chair could focus on net neutrality, not cable pricing originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fido and the BlackBerry, friends at long last Posted: 13 Jan 2009 03:23 PM CST Filed under: Handsets, RIM, GSM, EDGE Beautiful isn't it? About time they got it, too, wouldn't you say? So the story goes that Fido CSRs (Customer Service Representatives) have gotten word from above that training for BlackBerry is set to begin some time next week -- so we'll go out on a limb here and say that you can take this launch to the bank. We don't know what set is going to be offered -- so don't let the photoshoppery get you too jazzed -- but rumors are circulating that the old BlackBerry 8100 might be what's up for bids. Can we just add that while we are stoked Canada's other GSM carrier's finally seeing a BlackBerry, how about releasing something that's not reached end-of-life on some carriers, Fido? Fido and the BlackBerry, friends at long last originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pink Samsung Instinct now available on Sprint for $99.99 Posted: 13 Jan 2009 01:52 PM CST Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, Sprint, EV-DO, CDMA Best Buy jumped the gun by a few days, but the pink version of the Instinct is now totally official and totally ready to buy. Even better, Sprint is promoting a limited-time price drop to $99.99 on contract after rebates, making full touchscreen fashion just about as affordable as it's ever been. The Instinct's firmware has been getting pretty decent lately, so maybe it's worth a shot, eh? [Via phoneArena] Pink Samsung Instinct now available on Sprint for $99.99 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Compulab unveils the exeda Android / WinMo handheld Posted: 13 Jan 2009 12:28 PM CST Filed under: Handsets, Windows Mobile, Android We were really hoping to see some wild Android devices at CES, and while we did see one or two interesting applications, we sadly missed Compulab's crazy exeda. Ostensibly designed for the enterprise market, the squared-off handheld features a 3.5-inch sun-readable VGA touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, and a capacitive touchpad that acts as a mouse. Like other recent Asian Android handsets we've seen, the exeda can also boot Windows Mobile 6.1 on its 520MHz Marvell CPU and 128MB of RAM, and the radio setup is similarly flexible -- resellers can pick from quadband GSM / GPRS, CDMA, and 3G UMTS. Craziest of all? The exeda has a 10/100Base-T Ethernet port in addition to WiFi. Yeah, we want one. No details on pricing, but hopefully we'll find out more when it hits in March. [Thanks, James R.] Compulab unveils the exeda Android / WinMo handheld originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone nano now rumored for June, Unicorn delayed again until September Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:57 AM CST Filed under: Handsets, Apple Ready for more iPhone nano rumors? Good, because apparently the Chinese trade paper Economic Daily News is now reporting that Taiwan Semiconductor Company (TSMC) will be handling chip manufacturing for a low-cost device being referred to as... you guessed it: the iPhone nano. While the paper has a fairly good reputation, it is filtered through the lens of DigiTimes on our end, so as usual, take it with the required grain of salt. Still, the source is calling a June launch of the handset on the heels of an order for the components in March. The time frame is reasonable enough, and if history is any lesson here, Apple loves to intro iPhones in the Summer. Given that China has yet to see a deal for the iPhone proper, and a lower-cost entry may be perfectly tuned for vast Asian markets, the nano could gather in a whole new fold of users (and the smaller screen would be less of an issue given the need for character recognition). That theory falls in line with statements from analysts, though as always, putting too much stock in any of this speculation could be hazardous to your health. Just ask Steve Jobs. [Via AppleInsider] iPhone nano now rumored for June, Unicorn delayed again until September originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

National Safety Council calls for nationwide ban on cellphone use while driving Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:56 AM CST Filed under: Culture, Misc There's already been a number of states that have passed some form of ban on cellphone use while driving, but the National Safety Council seems to think that there's still far too many folks out there talking or texting behind the wheel, and it's now calling for an all out nationwide ban on the practice. What's more, the group also says that laws that allow for handsfree cellphone use are "giving people a placebo, in effect," and that they don't, in fact, make calling while driving any safer. The group also seems to be taking particular aim at businesses, saying that calling while driving can increase costs and even open up employers to liability. As you might have guessed, however, the cellphone industry, and the CTIA specifically, disagree with that assessment quite a bit, and instead say that they believe that "safe, sensible and limited use of a cell phone when you're behind the wheel is possible," and that if someone is "driving irresponsibly because of cell phone use, they should be cited for that. And under current law, they can be." National Safety Council calls for nationwide ban on cellphone use while driving originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola exhibiting at CTIA after all Posted: 13 Jan 2009 10:01 AM CST Filed under: Motorola We still haven't been able to get a read on the layoff situation, but a spokesperson for the CTIA Wireless show in April -- a show Moto had been rumored to be skipping -- has let us know that Motorola will, in fact, have two locations on the floor. Of course, that still doesn't mean they'll be bringing anything awesome to announce, but considering that CTIA Wireless is one of the top two or three mobile events in the world, we're delighted to hear that the struggling top-5 manufacturer is going to pick itself up by the bootstraps and make the trek out to Vegas. Motorola exhibiting at CTIA after all originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola passes a couple snoozer flips through FCC Posted: 13 Jan 2009 09:43 AM CST Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, CDMA We don't have model numbers for these new models Motorola just yet, but we're going to take a wild guess: W something. The W series is where the less interesting stuff lies in Moto's lineup, and judging from a quick look, these new ones definitely qualify. They're essentially the same -- silvery gray with external music controls and CDMA radios -- but one adds AWS, presumably for use on MetroPCS or Cricket. Awesome, not exactly -- but better than an AWS V3, we suppose. [Via Cell Phone Signal] Update: Phone Scoop notes that it's actually the VE465. W... VE... what's the diff, really? Read - 800 / 1900 version Read - 800 / 1700 / 1900 version Motorola passes a couple snoozer flips through FCC originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Palm's Mojo SDK for webOS in pictures Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:02 AM CST Filed under: Features, Software, Palm, webOS Okay, look, we like the Pre. We like it a lot, actually -- but failing our ability to get hold of one of those any time soon, we'll gladly take a boatload of screenshots in its place. These shots, taken from a late-2008 copy of the Mojo SDK, show some core goodies like messaging and Synergy contact management -- there's still a lot of stuff missing, yes, but this version has been floating around for a few months now, so the build demonstrated on Pres at CES was likely a good deal fresher. Click on for the full gallery! Big thanks to Boy Genius for hooking us up with shots from his tipster! Gallery: Palm's Mojo SDK for webOS in pictures Palm's Mojo SDK for webOS in pictures originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Prison phone jamming demo canceled, inmates promptly order more pizza Posted: 13 Jan 2009 02:48 AM CST Filed under: Culture There's been a little bit of drama brewing out in DC lately, and for good reason: prisoners' ability to order pizza, drugs, and hits from the comfort of their cells is at risk. After ordering an in-prison signal blocking demo using equipment provided by infrastructure firm CellAntenna, the Washington DC Department of Corrections promptly earned the wrath of the CTIA which took its complaint to the FCC, arguing that such a demo violates the law. The FCC twiddled its thumbs (as federal agencies tend to do), so the association went to court where it sued to block CellAntenna from doing its thing. Before it had a chance to respond, though, the jail canceled its demo -- problem solved. The CTIA agrees that prisoners aren't the type of folks you want toting phones, but suggests that blocking signals from prisons altogether isn't the right way to solve the problem; if we were a guard, we'd probably agree. Prison phone jamming demo canceled, inmates promptly order more pizza originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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