Finding the best mobile phone deals isn’t always easy, and with so many service providers claiming to offer cheap phone plans, it can be hard to find the right plan for you. We’re here to make the decision simple and painless with our PhoneSale guide to cheap phone plans.
There are two main types of phone plans available:
Pay Monthly Phones - Pay monthly phone plans are contract based, where a set rate is agreed with by the service provider. These plans are normally 1 to 2 years depending on the provider’s terms and conditions. With pay monthly plans, you are often offered a choice of cell phone devices, which may be anything from cheap touch screen phones, to the latest and greatest Android or iPhone.
Usually monthly commitment plans will bundle multiple features and charge premiums depending on your usage of them. This can mean more monitoring responsibility if you’re on a budget.
With endless mobile phone options available on the market, it can be almost impossible to decide which one would be considered the best to buy. From CDMA to GSM, 4G to HSPA+ the vocabulary can be daunting and the differences much more difficult to spot. The PhoneSale team has compiled a list of what we consider the best mobile phones of 2012, with the intent of making it easier for you to choose the right smartphone device to match your needs.
Best Camera Phone
Apple iPhone 4S –
The Apple iPhone 4S has an incredible camera and an ultra fast processor. The phone features an 8 megapixel camera which offers an amazing flash, autofocus, f/2.4 aperture lens, and to top it all off a CMOS backside illuminated sensor, which enables 73 percent more light than the previous model. The camera is excellent in low lig ... more
People wish to unlock cell phones for a number of reasons, the main two being that it enables you to easily switch service providers, and allows you to buy pre-loaded sim cards for use when travelling abroad.
Most cell phones are tethered to a particular service provider, but if you want the freedom to change, then you need to learn how to unlock a phone.
Mobile phone unlocking is actually a lot easier than you may imagine. The process is fairly simple and you do not need any specialist technical knowledge to get the job done.
Important Note: This is a general guide of how other users are unlocking their phones. We do not claim any responsibility for unlocking your Android, iPhone or other device. In the end make sure you tread carefully as failures or mistakes can have you end up with a 'bricked' (non-working) device.
How to Unlock Your Android
Wireless Dat Service (WDS) released a study that found Android devices costing wireless carriers billions in repairs 'as they try to evolve their customer service strategies to keep pace with the rapidly growing ecosystem.' WDS teams around the world conducted a study over the past year analyzing over 600,000 customer service calls. The study, entitled Controlling the Android, revealed the potential downside to the rapid adoption of Google's Android operating system across numerous wireless manufacturers and carriers alike.
WDS found that hardware failures among Android devices were more common than that of
Google has opted to give customers $10 if they use Google Wallet to experience paying everyday vendors with one's smartphone. Due to lackluster adoption rates, Google is ramping up its Hamiltonian promotion for its mobile payment service at select stores across five major US cities and at participating merchants such as Walgreens, Jamba Juice, Footlocker, and Peet's Coffee & Tea.
As HTC phones become more popular stateside, the handset manufacturer aims to lure iPhone customers and other potential smartphone shoppers with a 70% spike in shipments, as cited by the company's third quarter earnings. Despite a recent loss in the heated Apple Patent Cases, the 'Tiny Giant' of a phonemaker isn't doing so bad in the numbers that count.
'Here in the States, Taiwan's own HTC is pulling rank; the aforesaid handset maker edged out more
BlueStacks App Player allows you to enjoy the latest app releases of Android on Windows machines, using the comfort of your large screen or faster hardware compared to your phone.
BlueStacks has been released as an alpha, to have those on Windows 7 try apps from their Android phone on a PC using BlueStacks Cloud Connect. Ten pre-loaded apps are available upon downloading BlueStacks, allowing you to trying Android on Windows 7 netbooks, tablets, laptops, and PCs. The alpha stages allow up to 26 more apps to be installed, with more to follow in the future.
Upon installation, an Android gadget is placed on your desktop, where you can launch apps from Words With Friends to Pulse News. BlueStacks displays Android on Windows, in virtual ... more
Many, upon news of the iPhone 4S release, were disheartened to hear that the newest Apple device did not look so new at first glance. Though the hardware is still only comparable to that of the high-end smartphone market and nothing too revolutionary, the iPhone 4S' software end is quite the contrary.
Siri was introduced as Apple's new 'virtual intelligent assistant' providing iPhone 4S users a new method of interaction with their phone and its apps using voice commands. Texts, emails, calendar dates, and directions are amongst the basic commands one can alter or create by simply commandingf with Siri. Apple turns up the dial with Siri as your commands are tied in with location-based recommendations and searches that highlight upon keywords in your voice ... more
US Senators have introduced a bill requiring mobile carriers to define 4G technology once and for all, giving the federal government more regulatory fuel to the wildfire of cutthroat wireless competition.
Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, as well as Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut, aim to quash the confusion regarding wireless carriers' loose definition of 4G technology and speeds by introducing a bill to disclose information on 'true' 4G phone releases and network experiences.
The bill would force carriers to provide details on anything marketed as 4G technology such as guaranteed data speeds, network reliability, and even conditions that could affect services touted by 4G technology. The Federal Communications Commission would evaluate the speed of 4G services for the top wireless ca ... more
Aside from the iPhone 4S launch that is sure to generate revenue for the top-tier wireless carrier, AT&T released news on its near-future debut of slimmer LTE phones based on new technology not found in the devices of its top competitor, Verizon.
The phones are set to launch in the fourth quarter of this year, though AT&T did not say which manufacturers are making the technology in question. The phones will be using a feature called 'circuit-switch fallback' or CSFB, allowing phones to run 4G LTE speeds normally and switch back to 3G when LTE coverage is unavailable.
Compared to Verizon's 4G LTE phones, AT&T's LTE phones do not use separate 4G and 3G devices, each of which require separate power sources. CSFB allows manufacturers to make ... more
Sprint customers will be glad to hear that 4G LTE network technology will be available to them over the next couple of years as the accompany plans an aggressive deployment of Sprint 4G networks consolidated under its 'Network Vision' plans.
While looking to keep up with AT&T's commencement of 4G LTE services and Verizon's already established networks, Sprint has partnered with LightSquared to enhance its network and keep competitive in the wireless market.
“Our progress deploying Network Vision enables Sprint to extend and evolve our 4G leadership and to improve the experience for 3G customers. Our next-generation network and cutting-edge device lineup, combined with the industr ... more
You and your friends may text each other to see what's up and perhaps plan an outing, while others around the globe in developing countries send text messages for health-related services.
mHealth Alliance and other related programs send text messages to remind patients about upcoming health evaluations, available vaccinations, and informative texts as to preventing disease.
In Africa, for example, the spread of malaria is abated by healthcare workers as they send text messages to people regarding vaccination reminders and tips on how to deal with disease transmitters such as mosquitoes.
The iPhone 4S, a welcomed upgrade for some and a disappointment for others, was unveiled during Apple's 'Let's Talk iPhone' event. Engadget released a comparison chart that we at PhoneSale feel our readers may benefit from reading when comparing top shelf phones from all makes.
Compared in the chart were three of the latest smartphones touting the latest technologies expected from manufacturers: the Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Titan, and more
Owners of HTC phones beware: Android Police has reported on security flaws that expose personal data on devices using recent versions of the HTC Sense user interface.
HTC released an update on its Sense software that adds logging tools for gathering personal information and usage data, for a reason that HTC has not disclosed at this time. The flaw allows apps that request a common permission to access information such as phone numbers, user accounts, email addresses, and location data -- all of which are vulnerable without an official patch from HTC or rooting the device, acc ... more
News of Apple's October 4th unveiling event continues to trend news media, but Apple may want to consider what the consumers want as a recent study finds that consumers are willing to switch with an iPhone 5 that is caught up with current technologies offered by other manufacturers.
InMobi, a worldwide mobile advertising network, released findings in their iPhone-focused study entitled 'iPhone 5 and the Mobile Market' detailing customer expectations for the upco ... more
The NFC Forum released news on a standardization protocol allowing phones enabled with NFC more cross-platform compatibility amongst users and simplified development for app developers.
The NFC Forum's standardization protocol was published in their '16th specification' of the non-profit's continued advances with NFC technology. Called SNEP or Simple NDEF Exchange Protocol, peer-to-peer data exchanges can be made between NFC enabled devices, regardless of make. Examples in which SNEP could be used are highlighted on the NFC Forum's release.
Simplified transfer of contact information - one person's phone can be configured to automatically send business card information when ... more
HTC Cell Phones has launched a counter claim against Apple in the form of an official International Trade Commission investigation, striking back in an ongoing patent infringements case between the companies. While Apple was the first to file claims against HTC for twenty iPhone patents, HTC has retaliated by requesting the ITC investigate the Taiwanese company's own claims against Apple.
The ITC released a press release stating that though they have agreed to launch an investigation on Apple, the case still needs a proper administrative law judge and hearing thereafter to proceed.
With the wireless industry being as complex as it is, consumers find it harder and harder to filter media hype from fact. For every consumer, there is a wireless device, and for every wireless device, is a myriad of companies, acquisitions, and mergers. As with any product or service, wireless providers continuously one-up one another in order to claim the highest market share. Such one-uppery results in the dissolution of former flagship devices as seen with RIM and Blackberry, or the amalgamation of greats such as AT&T and Apple.
Contrary to the recommendation of financial advisers around the globe, BlackBerry phones have been found to be adopted primarily by those of the highest average incomes. The study, conducted by Prosper Mobile Insights, found that the wealthiest income brackets were the most likely to own a BlackBerry phone over that of iPhone and Android owners respectively.
Prosper Mobile Insights' semi-annual Simultaneous Media Usage Survey defines a wealthy household as one that brings in an income of $150,000 or more a year. Within the top income bracket, 11.3 percent of smartphone owners have a
92. Hangouts on your phone
In life we connect with others in all sorts of places, at all different times. And the connections you make unexpectedly are often the ones you remember the most. We think Hangouts should keep pace with how you socialize in the real-world, so today we’re launching it on the one device that's always by your side: your mobile phone.
Up until public release, Hangouts were only ... more
In a move that many media outlets call a push towards widespread 4G adoption, Verizon Wireless has announced network 'optimization' for the top five percent of its unlimited 3G customer base.
Network optimization, as Verizon calls it, is a trend that wireless providers have turned to in order to relieve network congestion. Many news outlets and analyists are quick to call it throttling due to its cap on the top percentile of network data users, slowing 3G to unbearable speeds by modern standards. Unlimited data users are confused as to carriers' definition of 'unlimited' since it has become a trend to penalize those who use an excess of 2GB of network data.
Verizon's disclosure explains to the consumer that unlike throttling, the ... more
Smartphones are undoubtedly the modern Swiss Army knife, and we grow more reliant on them as technology continues to cram functionality into our trusty devices. We walk about our daily lives with, say holders for our LG Cell Phones, cradling our treasured tech, GPS at the ready for when we are lost or looking for a bite to eat. Our tip is calculated by the smartphone. So are our social lives.
There are many who feel that smartphones and all other mobile devices are the bane of basic human contact. Proximity and intimacy are slowly being replaced by cell phone hands-free sets and front-facing cameras.
One designer at the Berlin University of Arts thought upon this an ... more
Mobile messaging has a new contender from the Samsung side of the ring: ChatON. As boasted by Samsung (on their SamsungTomorrow Youtube channel), ChatON is a global mobile communication service that can be utilized in 120 countries and currently supporting 62 languages. Not only this, but the app is available across all major mobile devices. Available for smartphones and feature phones alike, as Samsung strategically allows functionality for its premier messenger service on Android, iOS, Blackberry, and even the PC using a web-based client.
Currently RIM's Blackberry Messenger is the choice app for use with other Blackberry users. iPhone users are looking forward to the forthcoming iMessage app which will integrate mobile messaging within iOS platform devices. Facebook and ... more
Forget that Facebook or twitter app--when it comes to staying in contact, conducting business and using that front-facing iPad or Android camera, the PhoneSale team believes there's nothing that does better than the video chat and voip options on the Skype Mobile App.
Skype Limited, makers of the awesome application once tethered to computers has managed to come a long way in just a few short years. First plagued by limitations set by various phone companies (aka fat-cats scream ... more
Do you remember when you parents told you not to stand so close to the microware because it could cause cancer? Now parents have moved on to ask if the younger generations will be more susceptible to cancerous brain tumors because of cell phone use.
With young people using cell phones you would think they would be more susceptible to those dangers. As a young person with a developing nervous systems and smaller
head circumference, it would appear that radio frequency electromagnetic fields would penetrate more deeply. But in a recent study the contrary is found.
Swiss researchers found that children and adolescents who use mobile phones are not at a statistically significant increased risk of brain cancer compared with people their own age who do not use the mobile devices. In this one of a kind study, researchers reviewed the medical records of children aged 7 to 19 years with brain tumors. These medical records identified through population registries. To find ou ... more
What do you imagine buying when you go to your local 7-Eleven? Do visions of Slim Jim's and Slurpees flash in your head?
The average person stops at 7-Eleven to buy things like snack foods and drinks, right?
Things may be changing.
When you now go to 7-Eleven you may be able to purchase a different type of product not commonly seen at convenience stores.
No, no, it is not that bacon-flavored taquito you have been dreaming of (Though that would be amazing. Get on it 7-Eleven!). This product is not edible for most, but it's definitely useful.
In what seems to be a surprise move, T-Mobile USA has announced that it will now sell one of its prepaid handsets at 7-Eleven convenience stores. The reason for the new product coming to the store is a result of RadioShack Corp. last week saying it would take the T-Mobile cell phone off its shelf. T ... more
One of the most dangerous things you can do while driving is texting.
Texting takes your focus away from the road and-more importantly-it takes your eyes away from the road.
In Pasco County, Florida a school bus driver by the name of Dolores Conley was fired today due to multiple, repeated violations she'd commited by texting and making calls on her phone while driving children to school.
Heather Fiorentino, the school's Superintendent, recommended the firing only after the driver had repeatededly been using her cell phone while driving children.
Would you feel safe having your child on a bus with this woman? Would you feel safe knowing that the school only put her on suspension after her 5th violation of the district cell phone rules?
I can understand that driving a bus full of children ... more
Earlier this week it was reported that 9 different states attorneys general subpoenaed both Sprint and AT&T in relation to the latter's proposed takeover of T-Mobile. While it is important to note that individual power to block the merger, they do hold a certain degree of influence over the FCC.
The nine states involved are Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.
Each state is requesting the same data that both companies have already provided to the FCC. Amongst that data, and what appears to be the focus, is information regarding how often customers switch carriers in each individual state.
The thinking behind requesting this data is that it will paint a clearer picture of realistic competition vs. perceived competition.
It has been a long time since RIM was even able to hint at anything remotely close to good news. But shareholders got a taste today as the Canadian based company announced that 7 new Blackberry phones were coming to market in the next few months.
Shareholders didn't really get much more information than that though. One can speculate that the Blackberry Bold 9900 will be one of the 7 phones. And RIM is also famous for putting out the same exact phone on different networks and calling them slightly different things. For example, the Bold 9900 will also have a variant called the Bold 9930.
How many of the 7 new phones will actually be virtual clones of another with a different radio remains to be seen. But considering the fact that RIM hasn't put out a new phone since 2010, anythin ... more
We're never ones to beat a dead horse here at that Phone Sale blog, but when a soap opera is unfolding before your eyes, it's really hard to ignore it. It's kind of like staring at a car accident as you drive past. We know it's perverse, but the ongoing feud between Apple and the rest of the universe is moving at a breakneck speed recently.
If you saw yesterday's blog, you know that Apple has now drug HTC into the fray, filing a complaint with the ITC in hopes of having all HTC electronic devices banned from the US. Naturally, HTC felt a need to respond.
'HTC is disappointed at Apple's constant attempts at litigations instead of competing fairly in the market,' said ... more
We’re about one lawsuit away from getting to the point where you will need a law degree and a supercomputer just to keep track of all the various lawsuits that Apple is currently involved in. We blogged last week about the injunction that Apple filed with the ITC, attempting to block the sale of 4 popular Samsung phones.
Maybe things were getting a little awkward or Apple simply wanted a new dance partner in court, but today they filed a similar injunction against all HTC phones. The actual complaint is a bit more vague than that, asking for a ban on the import of all “personal electronic devices. ... more
While the debate surrounded whether or not cell phone use increases the risk of cancer (the latest reports says no), what can’t be debated is that cell phone use absolutely increases your odds of getting in a car accident.
A study done by the Governor Highway Safety Association (GSHA) determined that using a cell phone while driving is responsible for up to 25% of all auto accidents nationwide. That is a staggeringly high figure.
While talking on the phone was found to be more dangerous, with or without a Bluetooth headset, the real culprit is texting while driving.
To date, nine states have implemented some form of distracted driving laws, requiring drivers to go hands free in order to avoid a ticket. Since those laws first went into effect, the GHSA has determined that hand held use of cell phones has decreased by as much as 50% in those states.
It should come as no surprise that Sprint is vehemently opposed to the proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. Should the merger get FCC approval, Sprint would basically become an afterthought in the US mobile world as Verizon and AT&T would own more than 80% of the total market.
However, if recent speculation is true, Sprint may have an ace up their sleeve.
According to a Citadel Securities analyst, Sprint will be adding the iPhone to its lineup of phones as early as this winter. Given the fact that Sprint is the last major carrier to offer truly unlimited data plans and their rates are cheaper than Verizon or AT&T’s, and suddenly the little guy is a lot more attractive of an option for consumers.
Whether Sprint would get the new iPhone, which is rumored to be arriving in September or they get a beefed up iPhone 4 isn’t clear. One of the most persistent and credible rumors surrounding the iPhone 5 is that it will have a radio capable of work ... more
To say that Samsung has been having a bad couple of weeks would be a bit of an understatement. Yesterday we outlined their legal battles with Apple. In short, Apple is trying to block the sale of their four most popular devices in the United States.
Today we found out that Microsoft is demanding a $15 royalty fee for every Samsung Android phone sold.
This was first reported by Reuters, and stems from several patents owned by Microsoft that they licensee out to various Android manufacturers. Considering that Samsung recently became the top cell phone manufacturer in the world that would be a pretty sizable chunk of change.
The Galaxy S II, which has yet to even arrive in the US, sold 3 million units in its first 55 days of existence. That would be $45 million ... more
By now, anyone who follows the wonderful world of mobile technology knows that Apple and Samsung are embroiled in a rather heated legal battle. It would actually be fair to say that the legal battle has escalated to a full on world war, as the two companies have lawsuits pending in 5 different countries on three continents (Germany, UK, South Korea, Japan and the United States).
Everything pretty much boils down to patent lawsuits and accusations of being a copy cat. Apple claims that Samsung is copying them. Samsung says that Apple is the actual copying culprit.
Last week, Samsung filed an injunction request with the ITC in the US in an attempt to block the import of all Apple iOS devices. That would include all iPhones, iPads, and iPods.
Naturally such an action couldn’t be allowed to happen without an equal but opposite counteraction. Today, Apple filed a similar injunction request, asking that all Galaxy Tabs, Infuse 4G phones, Droid Char ... more
It has now been 4 months since AT&T fist announced their intention to buy out T-Mobile. In that time members of both houses of congress have taken sides, at least one high ranking FCC official has expressed concern over the merger, and various tech giants like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg have backed the merger.
This week, several consumer advocacy groups have sent letters to the FCC, urging them to block this merger. Amongst the groups speaking out against the merger are the New America Foundation,
Public Knowledge and Free Press.
In their letters, the consumer advocacy groups ask FCC chairman to travel the country and host field hearings to gauge the concerns of the public. Should Chairman Genechowski acquiesce to the requests, it wouldn’t be anything new. The FCC held field hearing around the country in relation to the NBC and Comcast merger.
The obvious concerns amongst consumers is that should the merger go through AT&T and Verizon would ... more
It’s been looming on the horizon for some time now, but it is finally here. For the first time in US history, smartphone sales have outpaced feature phone sales.
Nielsen research released their most recent survey of US mobile customers and found that 55% of new cell phone purchases were smartphones.
Overall smartphone penetration still lags behind feature phones. Only 38% of all active cell phones in the US are smartphones. But smartphone sales have been trending up for some time now. The 55% figure is a 34 point jump from this time last year.
Nielsen further broke down the smartphone market. No surprises there, as Android phones still reign supreme with a comfortable 38% share of the total smartphone market in the US. Apple’s iOS is in second with a 27% share, up 2% si ... more
HP seems to be reading the writing on the wall, and is in advanced negotiations to put its proprietary mobile OS, WebOS, into third party devices.
HP bought Palm last year and has transitioned away from the Palm brand name. They’ve released a couple of new phones, and their table device, known as the Slate, has gotten rave reviews. Despite that, HP sits in obscurity in terms of smartphone market share. WebOS lags far behind industry leaders like Android, iOS and Blackberry OS. They even trail Windows Phone 7 and Nokia’s Symbian, both of whom hold less than 5% of the total market.
By getting their OS on third party phones, the hope obviously is that they will have a larger presence on store shelves and will gain some momentum in the fight for relevance in the US market. In theory, it’s a good idea. Quit ... more
You might know Tom Tom as a GPS unit manufacturer. For the second straight month, they have reduced their sales forecasts. There can be no doubt that there is a direct correlation between reduced forecasts and the ever growing smartphone market.
Smartphones are incredible devices. And they could spell the end of several hand held electronic devices that we use every single day. Here is a list of 5 devices you probably have somewhere in your house that are facing extinction.
GPS Units – We hinted at this already, but GPS units are very quickly becoming obsolete. When you take the relatively high price (a good GPS unit will set you back $100+) and the monthly subscription service, there really doesn’t seem to be much sense in investing in one, when smartphones already come equipped with the same technology.
Outside of AT&T or T-Mobile executives, there really hasn’t been an outpouring of support for the two telecom’s pending merger. In fact, there has been some pretty vocal opposition. Sprint is naturally leading the charge, but even members of both houses of congress and members of the FCC have voiced concern over what would create a duopoly in terms of US cellular carrers.
However, today, a letter signed by 66 democrats in the House of Representatives was sent over to the FCC, strongly urging the approval of the merger. Without too much digging, thanks to sites like OpenSecrets.com, one quickly discovers that AT&T was one of the largest campaign contributors to the letter’s author, Representative G.K. Butterfie ... more
It wasn’t long ago that Apple started to sell unlocked iPhones in their stores directly to customers. It seemed somewhat strange as there are only two GSM carriers in the US, T-Mobile and AT&T. AT&T already has the iPhone, and the unlocked version Apple is selling would only work on T-Mobile’s prepaid network. But obviously there was a demand for it, otherwise Apple wouldn’t have bothered.
Yesterday we found out just how huge of a demand there is. Before the Pepcom event, a T-Mobile spokesman announced that there are currently more than 1 million iPhones that call the T-Mobile network home. Considering that T-Mobile only has about 35 million total subscribers, that is a relatively huge chunk. Further break that down to the number of smartphone users, and you can further speculate that about 1 in 15 smartphones on the T-Mobile network are iPhones.
The spokesman went on to say that the majority of the unlocked iPhones are pre iPhone 4 models, but that stil ... more
There is very little that is assured when it pertains to the pending merger between AT&T and T-Mobile. The merger is facing steep criticism and opposition. One thing that we do know is that if the merger does go through, T-Mobile retail stores would be a major casualty.
A merger would mean that AT&T owns 9,200 retail locations. That is a combination of AT&T and T-Mobile stores. What is more interesting is that as it turns out, nearly half of all T-Mobile stores are within a mile of an AT&T store. Needless to say, in order to cut some fat, AT&T plans on shuttering several T-Mobile retail locations.
Right now, about one third of all T-Mobile stores are franchised out to private owners. And a lot of those owners are reading the writing on the wall and selling rather than waiting for the axe to drop.
Despite the inevitability, T-Mobile still needs to operate as though the merger won’t go through, and plans to open 200 new privately owned T-Mobil ... more
A recent study by Nielsen came out suggesting that in the past year mobile data usage has doubled. That figure is based on individual data usage to, not total data usage. That number really isn’t that surprising. But what is troubling for consumers is the fact that data plans are becoming more and more restrictive.
AT&T blamed a lot of the network issues on data hungry iPhone users, claiming they simply didn’t have the spectrum to keep up. They were the first of the major carriers to drop unlimited data plans and move to tiered pricing. If a customer exceeds their data limit in a given month, they will be charged overage fees.
T-Mobile has followed suit, rolling over pseudo unlimited plans. Essentially, when a customer reaches their monthly data limit, their data speeds will be throttled until their next billing cycle begins.
In two weeks, Verizon will put an end to th ... more
The makers of the Titanic decided that life boats were more of a decoration than a necessity. That decision didn’t work out to well for them. Apparently RIM co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Basillie think that Blackberry is too big to fail, and have steered their company into a whole bunch of giant icebergs just to find out for sure.
Just in case you currently run a cell phone manufacturing company or you are looking to start one, here is a handy dandy guide on what not to do.
1) Don’t release a new device for months, and when you do, make sure it is already completely obsolete – The Blackberry Bold 9900 is hitting T-Mobile shelves sometime in August. The last phone that RIM put out was back in December. For the math majors out there, that would mark an 8 month gap between phones. While some of the specs on ... more
Yesterday we looked at one side of the WP7 argument, giving the top three reasons why WP7 was doomed to fail as a mobile platform. But there is a flipside to every coin. Today we are going to look at that other side. There is a reason why IDC is predicting so much growth for this platform over the next four years.
Here are the top 3 reasons why Microsoft is going to defy the critics and become a major player in the US smartphone market.
1. The User Experience – Microsoft picked a rather strange marketing slogan right out of the gate: “The phone to save you from your phone.” People love their phones. The real meaning behind that slogan was that the WP7 platform makes everything easier. Pretty much every established tech blog on the internet gave the WP7 user interface rave reviews. And consumers that have given the platform a sho ... more
A recent IDC report predicts that Microsoft’s WP7 mobile platform will capture 20% of the market by 2015 and be the second most popular mobile OS behind Android. Those are some lofty predictions given the fact that WP7 phones currently hold less than 5% of the smartphone market.
Here are three reasons why the IDC predictions are wrong about WP7
1. Apps – When push comes to shove, every cell phone out there can make phone calls and send texts. The reason people gravitate towards smartphones is the extra things that they can do. That’s where apps come in. We get the fact that WP7 is the newest kid on the block, so we wouldn’t expect the number of apps in their store to compare to the Android Market or App Store. But even taking that into account, the growth rate has been tepid at best.
... more
Apple made some noise this week as they have started to sell unlocked iPhone 4s at their retail stores. Its news that has gotten a lot of folks excited, and a lot of folks wondering what an unlocked phone is. But before you run out and slap down $650-$750 of your hard earned cash on an Apple retail counter, it might be best to learn a few of the pros and cons of unlocked phones so you can make an educated decision. Here are a few things to consider.
An unlocked phone DOES NOT mean it will work on any network – This is absolutely the most important thing you need to understand before buying any unlocked device. An unlocked cell phone will only work on GSM networks. But that does mean that they will work on any GSM network in the world.
Here in the US, we’re talking about AT&T and T-Mobile. Internationally, GSM is more or less the standard, meaning an unlocked device will work in virtually any country on the ... more
Today, T-Mobile announced that they will be giving away 1 year of free data to anyone who signs up for a new two year contract on Father’s day. It’s a nice promotion, and it got us to wondering what the best phones for dads are. Heading into Father’s Day, here is our list of the top phones for dad on each of the major carriers.
A recent study revealed that the average age of gamers was 37. When it comes to gaming there is no phone quite like the Sony Xperia Play. Dubbed the “PlayStation” phone, this phone comes with a slide out game control pad and has exclusive access to dozens of PlayStation games. Running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and rocking a 4.0” display, this phone is a whole lot more than just a toy.
Last week, before we departed for the weekend, we touched on a report from IDC that claimed Microsoft’s WP7 mobile platform could nab as much as 20% of the US market by 2015. Considering where WP7 currently sits (well below 5%), that is a very bold claim.
In fact, IDC is predicting that WP7 will be the second most popular mobile platform in the next 4 years. They project Android to continue their meteoric growth, gobbling up nearly 45% of the market by 2015. Blackberry phones, by contrast, are expected to continue to fall.
Surprisingly, IDC also predicts that Apple’s iOS will also lose market share, dropping to approximately 17% in the same time frame.
The biggest reason for the predicted growth of WP7 is the impending release of Mango. It is the most recent update to their mobile OS, and experts ... more
Nokia CEO Steven Elop is talking to anyone who will listen to him. He has been at the helm of the embattled cell phone manufacturer for barely 6 months and is anxious to turn perceptions around. Having coming under fire internally for dumping the Finnish company’s proprietary smartphone platform and externally for choosing Windows Phone 7 over Android, Elop has seen the company’s stocks and revenues drop each quarter since he took over. But the former Microsoft man knew all along that things would get worse before they got better.
For years, Nokia phones absolutely dominated both the US and worldwide cell phone market. However, as the smartphone revolution began, Nokia’s relevance quickly faded here in the US. Now you can barely find more than one Nokia phone on any of the four major carriers.
Nokia is now hanging their hopes on the Windows Phone 7 platform; a decision that has been largely critic ... more
In the wake of news that Facebook and Microsoft are both backing the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile, Verizon has slid somewhat under the radar regarding a potential spectrum trade deal with US Cellular.
The two telecoms submitted paperwork to the FCC requesting the trade. Verizon is asking for the right to give US Cellular spectrum in Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Indian, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and Oklahoma. In return, Verizon will get some of US Cellular’s spectrum in Indiana and Illinois.
The deal would allow for people with Verizon phones to get better service, while US Cellular would be able to expand into new markets.
While details aren’t available, Verizon would likely be acquiring spectrum in heavily populated areas that are putting a strain on their existing network. US Cellular would likely be getting spectrum in rural areas.
Nobody is perfect, but you would figure that the bean counters over at AT&T would know the tax laws and bill their customers accordingly. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, and in a class action lawsuit files by customers against the telecom giant, a court ruled that they wrongfully collected a boatload of taxes from customers and then passed that cash off to state and local governments.
Just how much cash did AT&T accidently overbill their customers? Just under a billion dollars, which is a staggering figure by any estimation. The exact figure is $956 million. The taxes collected were in violation of the Internet Tax Freedom Act. While AT&T hasn’t admitted to any wrong doing, they have stopped collected the taxes in questions and will try and recoup the taxes back from various government agencies.
They have also been ordered to assist customers in their attempts to get tax refunds from their state and local governments.
T-Mobile is launching a pilot program where they will pay you to port your old Sprint, AT&T or Verizon phone number to their network. The program isn’t going to be launched nationwide. It’s being tested in a half a dozen cities across the country. The cities are El Paso, TX, Philadelphia, PA, Tampa, FL, Kansas City, KS, St. Louis, MO and Providence, RI.
Anyone who buys a new T-Mobile phone and brings their old number with them will be offered between $50 and $100 in credits. In order to get the credit, you have to sign up for a 2 year contract. Feature phones get the lower end credit, while smartphone purchasers get the larger credit.
The credit will appear on monthly bills at $10 discounts until the total credit is used up so long as the account remains in good standing. In other words, make a late payment and your credit goes bye-bye.
This promotion isn’t unique or innovative b ... more
In the midst of a lawsuit brought against them by investors, RIM got even more bad news today. Comscore released their latest cell phone statistics, and the Canadian manufacturer or the once popular Blackberry brand continues to trend downwards.
In almost a perfect reverse correlation, Android phones continue to climb at the same rate that Blackberry phones are falling.
Android gained 5.2% of the smartphone market share in the last three months, further solidifying its place atop the rankings. Blackberry lost 4.7% and slipped into third place behind Apple.
Apple not controls 26% of the US smartphone market, 10 percentage points behind Google. Rounding out the top 5 were Microsoft (6.7%) and HP’s WebOS (2.6%). It is important to note that Microsoft’s numbers aren’t limited to their WP7 platform released at the tail end of 2010.
In a bid for world domination, err, an expanded presence in the mobile market, Apple has renewed a patent application to become a mobile carrier.
That’s right. In addition to buying your phone from Apple, you would also send your monthly payment to Steve Jobs.
Realistically, Apple won’t be able to actual set up their own network. They would have to rent spectrum from someone. Best Buy already does something like this, renting spectrum from Clearwire. LightSquared, which has yet to begin operations, would be another option.
But Apple is targeting bigger fish. In the patent application, they describe a situation where they would rent spectrum from the various carriers regionally. For example, they might rent from AT&T, however, if AT&T is backlogged in a certain region and Verizon has a surplus, then they would turn to Verizon in these regions.
The next iPhone is expected to come with both GSM and CDMA radios, making them world phones. But t ... more
Nokia has come under some fire over their decision to marry themselves to Micorsoft’s WP7 platform rather than Android. We here at the Phone Sale blog have been critical of the decision ourselves. Though we also understand why Nokia would make the decision to choose WP7 over Android.
Had they gone with Android, they would be one of nearly a dozen manufacturers using the Android OS as their flagship OS. While companies like Samsung, HTC, LG and Motorola have all rolled out Windows Phone devices, it clearly is a secondary effort for those companies who focus on the more popular Android OS.
Once Nokia starts rolling out WP7 devices later this year they should be the premier manufacturer of WP7 devices.
But what actually led to the decision to ditch their proprietary OS in the first place?
The other is government use. Apparently, when it rains it pours, as the US government recently decided that it is going to start phasing Blackberries out and phase in Apple phones and Android smartphones.
There won’t be wholesale changes as of right now, but members of Congress, the ATF, the Department of Veteran Affairs, the State Departm ... more
Samsung and Apple are currently embroiled in a patent lawsuit where Apple is alleging that Samsung blatantly stole the design and appearance of the iPhone and used it in their phones. Seeing how all smartphones pretty much look alike, it seems like a bit of a superfluous lawsuit, but one judge doesn’t see it that way.
Last week, the judge presiding over the case ordered 5 yet to be released Samsung phones and tablets to be handed over to Apple, so they could inspect them and make sure that none of their patents had been violated. While that isn’t a total loss for the Korean based electronics manufacturer, it certainly is a major blow.
In an attempt to fire a legal shot across Apple’s bow, Samsung’s lawyers have filed a rather childish and borderline comical demand of their own.
They have asked to be given the iPhone 5 and iPad 3. Why? They claim that in order to avoid being sued, th ... more
RIM, the Canadian company that makes the Blackberry phone, is in trouble. They are in real big trouble. Struggling to keep up with the pace of phones being released on the Android platform, Blackberries have fallen horribly behind in the spec war that dominates smartphone buying decisions. Their market share has plummeted, and sales have been down.
RIM is now facing a class action lawsuit from shareholders claiming that the cell phone manufacturer underreported losses in the quarterly report. The fact that co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie seem to be sticking their fingers in their ears, closing their eyes, and shouting at the top of their lungs until everything goes away has to be disconcerting for anyone significantly invested in the company.
Things are only getting worse too. The only thing really keeping Blackberry phones relevant is their stranglehold on business customers. But A ... more
We all know that Verizon will be scrapping their unlimited data options this summer. It is a trend that has either already been implemented by most of the other major carriers or is in the works as well. Sprint is the only national carrier that hasn’t announced a plan to kill unlimited data. While this is obviously a blow for consumers who use their phones for everything from streaming movies to listening to internet radio, the carriers are also faced with a difficult decision.
Should a carrier charge an overage fee, similar to overage chargers for text messages and minutes, or should carriers simply throttle data speeds until the next billing cycle? The carriers are split on this decision.
AT&T customers already are hit with overage charges for exceeding their data limits. So much so that more than one class action lawsuit has been brought against the carrier in the past regarding phantom data charges.
Samsung may want to hire a new legal team, because the folks they have handling their multiple cases in court are getting worked over like Ed Helms did my Mike Tyson in the Hangover. Actually, Ed Helms probably put up more of a fight than Samsung’s lawyers have.
We’ll start with Samsung’s current legal battle with Apple. Apple is suing, saying that Samsung infringed on several patents surrounding the iPhone and iPad, and used them in several of their more popular phone from the past year. Samsung naturally fired back with a lawsuit of their own claiming Apple was copying them.
In the first real indication that one side is beating the other, a judge has ordered Samsung to hand over 5 unreleased Samsung phones and tablets to Apple for inspection. While the court has said that this isn’t an indication of guilt, it quickly followed up by saying that Apple had produced sufficient evidence that Samsung ... more
It’s been a few weeks since the four major carriers released their Q1 numbers. T-Mobile clearly was the loser after hemorrhaging nearly half a million customers in the first three months of 2011. Often known as the budget alternative to the other three national carriers, T-Mobile phones are typically on par with the very best the other carriers have to offer, but have much smaller monthly rate plans.
T-Mobile’s biggest hurdle is their coverage map, which pales in comparison to AT&T and Verizon. An impending merger with AT&T might have customers jumping ship early in anticipation of severe rate hikes.
But until any merge actually takes place, T-Mobile is operating independently, and as such, is rolling out new rate plans to try and stem the tide of customer depletion. Last week’s news revolved around a new small business plan, as well as new family plans. This week, the company is focusing on i ... more
It seems as though before Microsoft even released their first Windows Phone 7 device it was complete shrouded in dark clouds. And when the phone was finally released, those clouds were blown away by a wind from a hurricane of disaster.
From hardware issues to software deficiencies, Microsoft simply hasn’t been able to catch a break in what is already an extremely competitive smartphone market.
Microsoft hasn’t been forthcoming with their sales figures, but analysts have crunched the numbers and they aren’t favorable. ComScore’s latest poll ranking the top mobile OS’ in the US came out, and Microsoft lost ground on their already meager numbers.
Today, Gartner estimated that Microsoft sold a paltry 1.6 million WP7 devices in Q1 2011.
Verizon, the nation’s leading carrier in terms of subscribers, will be launching their first Windows Phone 7 device next week called the HTC Trophy.
Three short years ago, Sprint rated miserably in terms of customer satisfaction. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) does an annual report, and of the 4 major carriers, Sprint was rated at a 56, which is extremely miserable.
Oh how things have changed. The new index came out, and it appears as though Sprint has been listening to complaints. They jumped into a tie with Verizon for first place amongst the major carriers with a score of 72.
T-Mobile slipped from first to third with a score of 70, while AT&T brings up the rear with a score of 66.
AT&T has long had low ratings when it comes to customer satisfaction, stemming in large part from their inability to keep up with the data demands of iPhone users. T-Mobile’s drop isn’t that severe, but it could be signs that current customers are unsettled about the prosp ... more
Even if you bought your new cell phone straight off the assembly line a week ago, it’s probably already obsolete. At least it seems as though that is the pace with which new phones hit the market these days. Couple in the fact that upgrading your phone typically means buying at unsubsidized prices and it can get pretty expensive if you are trying to keep up with the latest in cell phone technology.
T-Mobile is trying to ease that pain a little bit. Often referred to as the budget carrier amongst the big four, the Bellevue, WA carrier is introducing a trade-in program for old phones.
The gist goes a little something like this. Bring your old phone into a T-Mobile store, an on staff “expert” will give you a quote for your older phone to apply towards the purchase of a new phone. The credit comes in the form of a mail in rebate, and maxes out at $300. Though, most trade ins will likely be for far less than that.
Sprint is offering credits to any new customers who jump ship from another carrier. Business customers can earn up to $175 in credits with the purchase of a new smartphone. Personal use customers can earn $150 if they purchase a smartphone and $50 if they opt for a feature phone.
There is one major caveat though. You have to be currently locked into a contract with another carrier to qualify for the credits. And the credit being offered most likely won’t cover the early any early termination fees that customers would face if they wanted to make the switch.
So if it is a net loss for anyone making the switch, why would anyone actually take advantage of this deal?
It seems rather obvious that Sprint is targeting current T-Mobile customers that might be nervous about the potential merger with AT&T and what will happen to their plans. But that merger ... more
The climb for AT&T to make their $39 billion buyout of T-Mobile a reality seems to be getting steeper and steeper each day. The Senate Judiciary Committee expressed concerns over the merger yesterday, saying that if allowed to go through, it would create a duopoly that would inevitably drive up prices for consumers.
Heading into this merger, AT&T seemed very confident. Six billion dollars worth of confidence to be exact. We already knew that AT&T had agreed to pay T-Mobile $3 billion if the deal fell through. But new documents reveal that AT&T would also have to hand over spectrum and roaming allowances to T-Mobile should the deal fail to pass valued at an addition $3 billion.
The main concern with the proposed merger is that it would drastically drive down competition, driving up rates for AT&T and Verizon. ... more
You’ve probably never heard of Skyhook. They are a location enabling provider. And not too long ago, they were slated to provide location data collection services on two Motorola phones - the Motorola Droid 2 and the Motorola Droid X. Then, all of a sudden, they were booted from the two Motorola phones, and Skyhook filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming that they interfered in the ability to operate their business.
The lawsuit has led to a release of court documents that suggest Android isn’t nearly as open source as they claim to be.
While Google’s Android platform is completely customizable, the court documents reveal that Google has the final say in what tweaks manufacturers can and can’t make. They also can mandate that certain apps be preloaded on all devices, and determine what version of those apps are approved for what devices.
What’s most revealing is that Google has the ... more
Variety is one of the better things about Android. There are double digit manufacturers producing Android handsets, each adding their own little tweaks to the user interface. Then the carriers get their hands on the devices and in some cases add in a few more little customizations. It allows customers to truly find a phone that is almost personalized to their preferences.
That fragmentations is also what is so maddening. Because there are so many tweaks done to the stock Android OS before it gets to your hands, it takes that much longer for updates to the OS to eventually trickle down to devices. Depending on the manufacturer, it could take months to get the latest version of Android, if ever.
That is all about to change. Yesterday Google announced that it has reached a partnership with all major manufacturers and carriers to ensure that the latest Android updates are rolled out to devices in a timely fashion. And those updates would continue to roll ou ... more
Yesterday we talked about how Android had taken over the top spot in the US in terms of who is the most popular mobile OS out on the market. But smartphones comprise less than 50% of the total cell phones in use today. When you add together all the feature phones, no contract phones, and smartphones together, it might be a surprise which manufacturer is leading the mobile race in the US.
Based on the overall popularity of the iPhone, one might think that Apple is a dominant player in the US, but they aren’t. In fact Apple only hold a 7.9% market share, up 1.1% from last quarter thanks in large part to the release of the Verizon iPhone.
Boosted largely by their dominance in the “dumb phone” segment, Samsung phones are far and away the most popular cell phone maker in the US, holding down a 24.5% share of the total number of cell phones in use in the US. Th ... more
It was an inevitability, but ComScore’s latest mobile OS study has come out, and Android is officially the #1 OS in the United States. Android’s popularity has been climbing at breakneck speeds, almost exclusively at the expense of Blackberry phones.
The most recent study shows Q4 2010 vs. Q1 2011. When compared side by side, Android gained 6% of the market while Blackberry dropped 4.5%. Windows and WebOS (HP/Palm) each fell by .9% each. In a bit of a holding pattern is Apple, which stands at 25.5% of the total US smartphone market, a .5% increase.
That figure comes as a bit of a surprise given the launch of the Verizon iPhone 4 in Q1. While the CDMA iPhone sold 2.2 million units since its release, that didn’t really move the needle.
HTC is about to have a huge next few weeks. By this date next month, there will be at least one new HTC phone on three of the 4 biggest carriers in the country.
Yesterday we talked about the HTC Trophy coming to Verizon. It will be the first Windows Phone 7 device to hit Verizon since Microsoft first debuted their new mobile OS in late 2010. While that is a huge release in and of itself, it is probably the least anticipated of HTC’s new phones.
Over on the other behemoth carrier, AT&T, will be debuting the HTC Inspire 4G. In addition to 4G speeds, the Inspire sports a massive 4.3 inch touch screen and an 8 megapixel camera. It will also be the first HTC phone in North America to support the ‘Sense’ cloud services, which can find lost phones and remotely wipe data.
Verizon phones, as Big Red is also adding its first Window 7 phone, the HTC Trophy.
While that is big news for Microsoft to be sure, the spotlight stealers are without a doubt the three Android phones.
First up is the much anticipated Droid X2 from Motorola. It will join Samsung’s Droid Charge as the two newest phones in the Droid family. The X2 is the next evolution of the extremely popular Droid X. The biggest upgrade is the Tegra 2 dual core processor that will make this beast lightning fast.
Then you have the LG Revolution, which is also a 4G device. Rumors have surfaced that ... more
A new study put out by the Consumers Union says that 75% of American’s want universal phones and would even agree to a law demanding as much. Of course, most American’s don’t fully understand the costs involved. When asked if they would be willing to pay more for a phone in order to get shorter contract, only 23% said yes.
Universal phones are more commonly known as unlocked phones. Right now, only GSM phones can be unlocked, and once they are unlocked, they can work on any GSM network in the world. You just need a compatible SIM card. In the United States, all phones sold are locked to a specific carrier.
Several countries around the world already have government mandated laws requiring that all phones be sold unlocked. Those countries also only use one universal cell phone technology, and customers pay full retail price for new phones.
That’s the sticking point for the US market.
For starters, of ... more
Without a doubt, the biggest news to hit the mobile world this year has been the announcement of a $39 billion planned merger between AT&T and T-Mobile. The merger faces some pretty steep competition, and it will likely be at least a year before the FCC either approves or denies the deal.
Part of the process the FCC goes through while vetting a potential merger is consumer feedback. In this case, the FCC has set up a page where concerned consumers, or supportive consumers, can voice their opinion on the matter.
The obvious worry is that the merger will make AT&T so big (over 130 million subscribers) that it will greatly limit completion, leading to unchecked price hikes and a limited selection of new phones to choose from. T-Mobile’s biggest selling point is their bargain priced rate plans. How long would those last post merger.
On the plus side, the merger would give AT&T more b ... more
When it comes to attracting new customers, even the big boys need to come up with new ideas. Carriers want your money for as long as they can get it, which is why the push their post paid plans so heavily and tend to not focus on no contract phones. But the poor economy has customers looking for places to cut expenses, and a monthly cell phone bill is an obvious choice.
As such, the major carriers are starting to shift at least some of their focus more towards prepaid offerings. Verizon has been in the prepaid game, but their plans haven’t exactly been value priced. They had an unlimited plan that included unlimited texts and unlimited talk. But that was priced at $95. Considering the fact that T-Mobile has postpaid plans that include unlimited everything, including data, for $80, that Verizon prepaid plan isn’t anything to get excited about.
But Verizon has had a change of heart, or at least a change of business ... more
Android’s dominance in the smartphone market looks as though it will only continue to rise as a recent survey by Neilsen revealed that 31% of people surveyed are looking to purchase an Android phone when compared to 30% who are eyeing the iPhone.
While that number doesn’t mark a significant difference, Android already enjoys a small lead over Apple, and it appears that lead will be growing.
There are a few factors that could be skewing the results in favor of Android phones. First and foremost, the iPhone 4 has been out for nearly a year already and the iPhone 5 isn’t expected to arrive until September. Meanwhile, Android is coming out with new high end phones at an impressive rate. It’s entirely possible that this exact same survey would yield completely different results in the fall.
The fact that Android is available on all four major carriers while the iPhone is only available on two networks could ... more
One of the more curious images to cross our desks surfaced over the weekend. It is an image of a white iPhone 4 running T-Mobile. As everyone already knows, the iPhone 4 was initially exclusive to AT&T, and earlier this year it became available on the Verizon network. The white iPhone 4 won’t be available until later this week. So all the scam alarms should be going off in your head.
But then there is the fact that unlocked iPhones exist, and can run on any GSM network, including T-Mobile’s network. But this doesn’t appear to be an unlocked version of the AT&T iPhone 4.
There are a couple of possible explanations for this. The most obvious one is that T-Mobile is indeed getting the iPhone, and this is simply a test model given o ... more
There is an interesting article over at Mobiledia outlining how to avoid bill shock when you travel abroad. The obvious answer is to simply get an unlocked phone and buy a prepaid SIM card while you’re abroad. That way you can avoid Verizon’s $20.48 per MB charge for roaming on a foreign network.
Even simply turning your phone could trigger an overage charge as your phone automatically attempts to connect to a local network.
Sprint has a plan for $70 that includes unlimited international data, but that is only good for Blackberry phones.
If you don’t travel abroad that much, you can buy an international SIM card, which will help. But if you spend a lot of time using your passport, going the unlocked route and just using SIM cards from whatever country you happen to be in at the time is by far the best way to go.
... more
There’s a great article in Wired about how the Motorola Droid, and the Droid name in general, saved Motorola and Android from slipping into obscurity. It’s historically accurate to. That phone, and the Droid branding, is when Android truly became Android.
Motorola phones hadn’t really progressed from the time of the RAZR and Android only had three other phones out on the market. But the marketing behind the Droid – and the fact that it was a great phone – have stood the test of time. It became so ubiquitous that people still refer to Android phones as Droids, even if they aren’t actually part of the Droid family.
It got us to thinking about Windows Phone 7. WP7 has been plagued by bad sales, slow OS updates, and hardware issues since day one. We here at the Phone Sale< ... more
Apple is pretty notorious for not wanting customers to mess with their phone in any way shape or form. There have been numerous stories of people taking their iPhones in for repairs only to find that when they are returned, a new type of screw has been put in that isn’t compatible with any screwdriver available to the masses.
Needless to say, they aren’t too fond of people trying to turn their devices into unlocked iPhones. And T-Mobile customers are constantly on the lookout for such devices. To date, it has been extremely difficult to unlock an iPhone. So much so that the standard practice is to jailbreak the phone in order to unlock it.
A service called Cut Your Sim has just emerged though that will unlock your iPhone without the need to jailbreak it. And it works with every model iPhone and is a permanent unlock. The service costs $169 and it works through iTunes, making one wonder if Apple ... more
Just as AT&T and Verizon are raising prices and eliminating options, T-Mobile is introducing new plans that offer more and cost less. Exactly how long those plans will actually be available should the merger with AT&T go through remain to be seen, but starting on the 13th, T-Mobile customers will be able to get acquainted with the word unlimited.
T-Mobile’s “Even More” plan will be offered to customers who by a subsidized phone and agree to a two year contract. It will include unlimited talk, text and data for $79.99.
For people who choose to pay full price for a no contract phone, the “Even More Plus” plan includes everything listed above for $59.99.
For those not interested in doing the math, the $480 you’d save on monthly bills over the course of a two year contract would more than pay for all but 4 of the phones currently offered by T-Mobile.
... more
Cell phone carriers are really trying to push those long term contracts, and why wouldn’t they? For people with a smartphone, over the course of a two year contract, you can pay upwards of $2,500. Even if you are getting a free phone at the outset, over the long haul, a no contract phone is going to save you money.
But contract phones are still king and the companies do everything they can to keep it that way. Verizon and AT&T are the nation’s two largest carriers by a wide margin and both have recently taken measures to ensure that you stick with them long term.
AT&T is being a little more subtle about things, increasing the cost of their no contract phones by $50 across the board. While it isn’t a huge bump, it’s enough to make that subsidized phone on a two year contract that much more enticing.
Verizon is being more overt, as they announced that they will be dumping their 1 year contract option, and ... more
There is a prevailing belief that if the AT&T/T-Mobile merger gets through the Federal approval process, consumers are going to be saddled with higher prices. AT&T’s theory on this is why wait? All AT&T phones are getting an upgrade in the price tag department.
AT&T announced that it is raising the price for early upgrades by $50. And that’s just for the iPhone. If you want to upgrade any other phone early, that will set you back $150. And it’s not just people who are on contracts that will get hit by price hikes. All no contract phones will get an extra $50 tacked onto their price tag.
AT&T claims that the reason for the price increases is because the cost of smartphones is going up. But considering that no contract phones are typically already sold at MSRP, it’s hard to justify increasing the cost of those phones too.
Several AT&T phones have seen their prices slashed by the behemoth carrier, possibly as a sign that a new crop of phones are about to hit shelves.
Two Samsung phones, two Blackberry phones and an LG phone made the list. The only Android phone seeing a price reduction is the Captivate, which will now cost $99.99 with a two year contract. The Blackberry Curve 3G and Torch 9800 will cost $29.99 and $49.99 respectively. AT&T’s two Windows Phone devices are also being reduced. The Samsung Focus and LG Quantum are both $49.99.
With no new Windows Phone devices or new Blackberries in the pipeline, it would seem as though AT&T is looking to clear inventory to make way for a rush of new Android phones. Whatever the case may be, there are certainly some deals to be had with ... more
This year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference has officially been announced for June 6th. For those not familiar with this event, it has been the venue used to announce all new Apple phones. As such, many are speculating that this is when we will be introduced to the iPhone 5.
There are some that aren’t expecting the iPhone 5 to actually come to market until this fall, if not even pushed back into next year. Not only would that fly in the face of everything Apple has done the past several years, it also would be very risky given the growing global popularity of Android phones.
Android recently took the top spot as the most popular OS in the United States, and has seen tremendous growth in Europe in recent months.
Nothing would quite slow down that pace like a new iPhone however. Some of the rumored changes to the iPhone 5 are a larger edg ... more
Apple has a well documented history of making their devices extremely difficult to tinker with or alter in any way. In their mind, they make their devices perfect, so how dare you have the audacity to alter your phone in any way shape or form.
That goes for unlocked iPhones too. Unlocking an iPhone is incredibly more difficult than other brands and models of phones, and if you have recently updated your iPhone 4 to the latest version of iOS, there is no available code to unlock the phone.
A company called Gevy has created a SIM card that works around this problem, and also doesn’t require you to jailbreak your phone. It costs $70, and there are quite a few steps to get it to work. But if having an unlocked phone with an apple on the back is really important to you, then it’s worth looking into.
If that video is legit, and it looks like it is, it pretty much confirms that any phone can be rigged to run on Cricket. Now the only real question is why you would want to leave Verizon – just named the carrier with the best call quality according to JD Powers – for Cricket. Although the money you’ll save on ... more
Rumors have been swirling that sales of the Verizon iPhone 4 have been lackluster. Most pundits point to the lack of lines at most Verizon stores when the iPhone finally went on sale to the public. Verizon CEO Daniel Mead claims nothing can be further from the truth.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mead reported that iPhone sales were very strong, and the reason for the lack of lines was the online availability if the Verizon iPhone 4 a week before it hit shelves.
If you recall, the device sold out online in a matter of hours and even took down Verizon’s servers for a brief period.
It should be interesting to see exact sales figures when Verizon releases their quarterly report. It will also be interesting to compare this quarter to Q3, when the iPhone 5 is expected to be released.
You would think that as the pace of technology increases, and newer improved phones are hitting the market with more frequency, that the rate of upgrades would be keeping pace. But according to a survey, that figure has actually declined. People currently upgrade their phones every 18 months, up from every 16 months.
Several things are possibly contributing to this, mostly the economy. As more and more people are switching to no contract phones to save money, the lack of subsidized pricing could be causing people to hold onto their phones longer. Early upgrade fees could be another reason why people hold onto their phones a little than they previously did.
The length of time that people hold onto their phones is likely to increase as well. Verizon has recently scrapped their new every two program. Previously Verizon customers who served out their full two year contract were given credits they could use towards buyin ... more
We here at the Phonesale.com blog have panned Windows Phone 7 pretty hard. We admit it. Whether it be hardware issues, the general lack of handsets, software update snafus, or slow sales, we certainly have had plenty of ammunition. Another area where WP7 is severely trailing is in app and app development. It’s a new OS though so we don’t expect them to charge out of the gate with 100k apps ready to go.
Windows Phone 7 has finally hit the big time though. They are getting their own Angry Birds app. Yes, the insanely addictive, massively popular game is flying over to Microsoft, which should make WP7 users feel just a little bit less like an outcast.
One of the biggest things holding back WP7 in the US is the lack of a phone on the Verizon network. Up until yesterday, there were no CDMA WP7 phones available. That changed with the HTC Arrive that just was released on the Sprint network. Now rumors say that Veriz ... more
T-Mobile is raising the prices on several of their phones. You read that right; they are raising the prices on phones. Typically when a phone has been on the market for awhile the price drops, but T-Mobile has decided to go the other direction with a couple of the earlier 4G models.
Both the MyTouch 4G and the T-Mobile G2 will be getting upgraded pricing, no setting you back a cool $250 on a two year contract. That falls in line with the pricing on the new Samsung Galaxy S 4G. The Galaxy S 4G is being offered with a $50 mail in rebate, knocking the price down to $199.99 for a limited time.
The really interesting thing about the Galaxy S 4G is that as a no contract phone, it is exactly the same price as the phone it is replacing, the Samsung Vibrant. Both phones will cost $499 off contract despite the fact that the 4G has some upgraded specs.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out with custo ... more
Over the years, Sprint has been a very Blackberry friendly network, and has only recently really started to push out some high end Android phones. It would appear, that Android will be the platform of the future for Sprint as they recently announced that 70% of their phones for sale this year will be run by Googles little green robot.
Sprint hasn’t yet revealed how many total phones they will be releasing this year. But one has to think that a percentage of those phones will be feature phones, meaning their smartphone offerings will be completely dominated by Android.
While it is likely that they will release multiple Blackberry phones in 2011, news out of RIM headquarters doesn’t slate anything new until late Q3, early Q4. That would be about 7-8 months of Google dominance. In fact, the only RIM product to hit Sprint shelves in the first half of t ... more
Its official, Nokia phones will be running Windows Phone 7 moving forward. The announcement came today and really wasn’t a surprise. Steven Elop, the current Nokia CEO, is a former Microsoft executive, and rumors of a partnership have been swirling for some time.
We here at PhoneSale predicted this announcement as well, and even suggested that Nokia abandon its proprietary operating system, and adopt Android or WP7. It’s a good move for both parties involved. For Microsoft, whose phone sales have been tepid at best, they now have one of the best selling manufacturers in the world on board with their Operating System. For Nokia, the move could revitalize their lagging smartphone segment by attaching themselves to a more universally accepted operating system.
Not everything is rainbows and unicorns in Finland today though. Amid the partnership announcement, it was also announced that there will ... more
For the first time in history, smartphone sales outpaced PC sales. The numbers reflect Q4 2010 sales where 100.9 million smartphones shipped compared to 92.1 million personal computers. The change in consumer behavior proves that phones are getting more and more sophisticated, and in many cases have completely replaced the functionality of computers.
One of the major reasons that smartphones have sold so well is the falling prices. With more and more phones hitting the market, especially on Google’s Android platform, competition has driven down prices. The pace at which technology has moved in the mobile industry has also helped drive down prices. When you factor in the subsidized prices that accompany long term contracts, often times smarphones are free. Even as no contract phones, there are several Android devices available for less than $200.
Another reason why PC sales may have slowed is the emergence of Table ... more
Did you know that the iPhone 4 comes in white? OK. It doesn’t. But it’s supposed to. It’s been promised to Apple-philes for nearly 6 months now. But delay after delay has led to a lot of frustration, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak buying a third party conversion kit from a high school kid in New York.
These white iPhones drive people nuts, so this very poor resolution photo taken at a Houston Best Buy will probably cause biblical level overreactions.
Yes, that is the white iPhone 4 that will apparently be offered as a no contract phone for $599. There have been several leaks over the past couple of weeks that suggest the phone is coming very soon. Perhaps before the end of February. It is also believed that the white version of the iPhone 4 will only be available to AT&T customers.
Dell may not be that consistent with the operating systems they choose to put on their smartphones. But they are consistent in terms of how they plan on selling said smartphones. The Dell Venue has arrived on Dell’s website without much fanfare or hubabaloo as an unlocked cell phone. This is pretty much the exact same way the Dell Venue Pro was released on the world.
For those not in the know, the Venue Pro is a WP7 device, while the Venue will run Android 2.2 (Froyo). Why Dell, which has an extremely limited product line in terms of phones, would choose multiple operating systems rather than go for consistency is unclear. What is clear is that Dell makes some pretty spectacular phones.
This is good news for T-Mobile and AT&T customers, who can pick up one of these beauties for $500 as a ... more
The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona is just 12 days away. It’s at this gigantic expo that virtually every cell phone manufacturer on planet earth will officially unveil the latest and greatest phones. There’s really only one exception. Apple is typically nowhere to be found at the MWC.
That doesn’t mean that Apple isn’t going to be dominating headlines in the coming week. The Verizon iPhone 4 officially goes on presale tomorrow, and will hit retail shelves on the 10th. Odds are pretty high that someone is setting up a tent on the sidewalk in front of their local Verizon store right now.
Unfortunately for AT&T iPhone users, if they want to switch networks, they are going to have to buy a new Verizon iPhone. Even an unlocked phone won’t work on Verizon’s network because AT&T runs on a GSM network while Verizon uses a CDMA network.
The next couple of months will be extremely interesting in terms o ... more
We all know that Nokia phones have all but become irrelevant in the US as smartphones have become increasingly popular. But in terms of worldwide sales, Nokia’s Symbian operating system reigns supreme. Or at least it did until Q4 2010 rolled around. Now Google’s Android is the king of the world.
Approximately 33 million Android devices were shipped worldwide from October-December, accounting for 32.5% of the total smartphone market. Nokia came in second with just under 31% of the market. Apple finished third, with 16 million total phones shipped in the same time period (15.8%). Blackberry and Microsoft rounded out the top 5 with 14% and 3% respectively.
Google’s advantage over the other operating systems is that multiple manufacturers produce handsets for the platform, whereas Nokia, Apple and Blackberry have a more limited selection. When you break it down by manufacturer, Blackberry and Apple ... more
George Lucas hasn’t patented iPhone Wars just yet, so that is what we will unofficially call the battle between Verizon and AT&T for now. In the first shot across the bow, Verizon announced that it will offer unlimited data plans for iPhone customers for $30. Some might remember that AT&T used to offer unlimited data, but eliminated that practiced opting for tiered data pricing instead.
Apparently AT&T is having second thoughts, and is about to announce that they are re-introducing their unlimited plans. There is a catch. It will only be for iPhone users, and further still, it will only be available to iPhone users that had previously already been on an unlimited data plan. This is clearly a direct response to Verizon and shows a bit of nervousness on the part of AT&T.
They have a right to be nervous too. Motorola just released their Q4 2010 earnings report and mobile sales were lighter than anticipated. The electronics giant specifically cited the anno ... more
We admit, it’s not nice to kick someone when they’re down. But when a survey performed by Strategy Analytics shows that 25% of the market has never even heard of Windows Phone 7, Microsoft has to be a little upset. After all, they’ve spent a ton of money marketing these devices, so the fact that the people who are supposed to be buying them don’t even know they exist is a problem.
How big of a problem you ask? Well, according to MIcrosoft themselves, they have only sold about 2 million licenses to OEM manufacturers. Even without hard numbers, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that far fewer than 2 million WP7 devices have actually been bought by customers. By comparison, the iPhone 4 sold 3 million unites within the first few months of its release.
One of those manufacturers is Dell, who’e Venue Pro has yet to make it to T-Mobile. Though you can purchase it as an unlocked cell phone direct from Dell. In ... more
If you are currently one of AT&T’s 90+ million subscribers I might have some good news and some bad news for you. The good news is that there is a chance that AT&T will be sending you a coupon for a free MicroCell. A MicroCell is, simply put, a local signal booster for the home or office. The bad news is, if you get one of these coupons it’s because AT&T has determined that you live in an area where their service is even more horrible than normal. To be exact, you live in the worst 7.5% of their coverage map.
The “free” MicroCell comes with several strings attached. The biggest one is that you have to sign a one year contract exclusive of your phone’s contract. Should you cancel your account with AT&T before the year is up you have to either return the device or pay a $199.99 cancelation fee plus $16.67 for every month that you used the device.
Rumors are also swirling that AT&T will roll out a phone trade in program, where customers can trade in their ... more
So Santa (or the Hanukah bot) brought you that shiny new Android phone for the holidays. And then two weeks later Verizon had to go and Grinch it up by announcing they were getting the iPhone 4. Now your new phone looks like a lump of coal. To make matters worse, right around the same time that Verizon made it official that they were going to get the iPhone, they also announced that they were terminating their early upgrade policy.
New phone owners on Verizon were going to be stuck with their old phones for the next 18 months while all their friends who were patient will get to play with their iPhones. So Verizon has come out with a new program for those customers with buyer’s remorse that looks good on paper, but really isn’t that great of a deal if you are familiar with a thing called the internet and a website called craigslist.
Verizon is offering a $200 gift card to people who want to trade in their brand new phones in exchange for the iPhone 4. But ... more
Microsoft has been less than forthcoming in regards to letting the public know just how sales of their Windows Phone 7 devices are coming along. We’ve seen some numbers, then found out those numbers were fudged to paint a better picture. We’ve seen Dell make a switch to Android for their next phone offering. And now LG is speaking up on the matter.
Without going into specificts, LG’s marketing strategy director, James Choi, was very open in a recent interview, stating: “From an industry perspective we had a high expectation, but from a consumer point of view the visibility is less than we expected.'
The Korean giant has been very open about investing in several new high end LG phones for 2011, with the main focus so far pointing towards Android. But that doesn’t mean that LG has given up on WP7 altogether. In fact, in the same interview, Choi mentions how he feels there is still a huge se ... more
By now pretty much everyone knows that the iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon. You probably already know that the 16 GB version will cost $200 on a two year contract and the 32 GB version will cost $300 on contract. What most people don’t know, and hasn’t been widely reported, is that Verizon also plans on offering the iPhone 4 as a no contract phone. Of course, there will be no subsidized pricing on the iPhone 4 if you buy it off contract, and as of right now it remains unclear what the retail price will be.
One thing that Apple lovers will have to do without for the time being is 4G speeds. It’s very likely that Apple’s next iPhone will incorporate 4G technology, and most likely will be introduced sometime in June or July. For people with that need for speed right now, there are several new 4G models that will me flooding the market in the coming weeks.
One of those devices appears to be coming to T-Mobile, and will b ... more
Verizon has announced a press event tomorrow (Tues 11th) in New York City. Tomorrow’s event is probably one of the worst kept secrets in recent memory as to what the press event will announce. What? You didn’t hear? Verizon will officially announce the arrival of the iPhone 4 on their network.
When exactly we can expect to see these phones for sale in Verizon stores is still unconfirmed however. Some sources claim we’ll see them before the end of January. Others are claiming they won’t arrive until the first week of February. Apparently there is an employee vacation embargo for all Verizon employees from February 3rd through the 6th. Could they possibly want all hands on deck to deal with the stampede of AT&T customers seeking refuge in Verizon’s warm bosom?
What we can be pretty sure of is that this will not be the iPhone 5, as some have speculated. There is absolutely no need for Apple to completely redesig ... more
It’s not a big secret that we haven’t exactly been taken in by Windows Phone 7 yet. Between the limited number of phones for sale, a complete lack of CDMA options, and numerous hardware bugs, it really should come as no surprise that these devices aren’t moving very well. It’s gotten to the point where we are seeing some really deep discounts on WP7 phones.
The Samsung Focus, LG Quantum and HTC Surround have all been slashed to just 1¢. If that isn’t a sign that these phones just flat out aren’t moving nothing is. And there are numbers to back things up. ComScore just came out with their most recent data regarding new smartphone sales, and Microsoft actually lost 1.8% of their market share during the 3 month period ending in November, dropping to just 9%. By comparison, Android rose to 26% of the US marketshare, passing Apple, and closing the gap on RIM (Blackberry) by 11%.
For those not necessarily plugged into the tech world, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off to the public tomorrow (Jan. 6th). Such devices as the VCR, digital watch, and the XBOX were first unveiled at this convention. Here in 2011, it should come as no real surprise that mobile technology is the dominant topic. Just about everyone is familiar with the iPhone, Android, iPad and Blackberry’s.
The next generation of mobile is already upon us, and 4G and tablets are carrying the mantel. Of course, there isn’t yet an actual 4G standard out there, so every major carrier is calling their network 4G. And while it remains to be seen what the 4G standard will eventually be, what we do know is that phones are going to be doing their work much much faster. AT&T has already announced that it will have 11 new Android phones for sale in 2011. Two yet to be released H ... more
Apple is the new king in terms of US smartphone users, but that is going to change within the next couple of months. Nielsen’s is constantly keeping us up to date on trends in the cell phone industry, and Android is basically exploding when compared to Apple and Blackberry. In fact, Blackberry has been suffering a steady decline in market share for quite some time now, slipping into second place behind apple, and just barely ahead of Android in the month of November.
A big reason for the Android push is the sheer magnitude of phones for sale across every single major US carrier with nearly a double digit manufacturers to choose from and more on the way. Over the past six months, Android has dominated US smartphone sales. Approximately 41% of all new smartphone owners are choosing Android, compared to just 27% for Apple. The smartphone market has grown as well, with nearly 45% of people who bought a new phone in November havin ... more
The first month of 2011 is most definitely going to be dominated by HTC phones. Verizon will be launching their first 4G LTE phones at the CES convention in Las Vegas on the 6th. Featured amongst the handset is the very much anticipated HTC Lightning Bolt, previously known as the HTC Droid Incredible 4G. This will be Verizon’s first 4G LTE phone, and photos of this phone have been leaked more than the Titanic.
But HTC isn’t stopping there. They are also releasing a much anticipated phone on the Sprint network called the HTC Evo Shift 4G. Even though the phone doesn’t officially go on sale until the 9th, it has already snuck its way onto the Best Buy computer system and Radio Shack ads for $150. The Shift 4G will set you back $450 as a no contract phone.
Clearly 2011 is going to be 365 days long, just like every other year, but HTC is definitely goin ... more
Now that the iPhone 4 has been out for a few months, it stands to reason that there have been quite a few sent back, what with antenna-gate and all. Actually there are several reasons why someone might send their phone back to the manufacturer, and those phones typically become refurbished devices.
Well, as proof that there have been enough iPhone 4s sent back to create an inventory of refurbished devices AT&T started selling refurbished iPhone 4s over the weekend. For phones that look brand new, you can get a 16 gig device for $99. For a 31 gig device you’ll need to fork over $199. The refurbs aren’t being offered as no contract phones, and are exactly $100 cheaper than their brand spanking new counterparts. For individuals who are even thriftier (cheaper), you can buy a refurbished model with a cosmetic defect for an additional $20 off the refurb price.
Speaking of iPhones, for the uber paranoid, you can lock you ... more
Phone manufacturers often times throw out gaudy numbers to demonstrate just how awesome their phones are when compared to their competitors. Samsung is the latest to announce sale figures, claiming that they have sold 9.3 million Galaxy S phones globally since their launch at the tail end of August. That is a shockingly good number for just one line of Samsung phones. It even puts them within eyeshot of Apple’s impressive iPhone 4 figures (though still in a distant second).
LG is another company that had some impressive numbers to share. The Korean company had a pretty lousy year in 2010, largely in part to the lack of any real muscle in the smartphone arena. LG has committed to improving the smartphone presence in 2011, and got a head start this winter with the launch of their Optimus 1 line. In their first 60 days more than 2 million
The iPhone has been so popular that it rarely ever is a part of any special offers or sales. It hasn’t needed to be discounted to sell. Well things are changing, competition is growing, and the iPhone has been spotted on sale in more than one place. We’ll start at Sam’s Club, where in addition to a 30 gallon drum of Cheese Wiz, you can also get an iPhone 4 for $147 on a two year contract.
If you’re not a member of Sam’s Club don’t fret. Today Walmart announced that it will be offering the iPhone 4 for $197 on contract, and they’ll throw in a $50 gift card should you sign that contract. Obviously the $50 gift card is a ploy to get you to spend that money at Walmart, but there definitely is a shift in how quickly phones are being discounted after their release.
Radio Shack has been running a special on Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G and T-Mobile’s MyTouch 4G. The two phones are being sold for $99 and $80 respectively. Obviously all these discounts are based on sig ... more
Nokia hasn’t exactly been tearing it up in the “good news” category. They have announced that they plan to lay off 1,800 employees, and their Symbian operating system has graduated to an irrelevant status in the US smartphone market. They are launching a new operating system called MeeGo, which will see its first phones hit the market in the Q2 2011. Needless to say, people aren’t exactly waiting with baited breath for these phones to launch. In short, Nokia phones aren’t exactly flying off the shelves here in the US.
Nokia makes great phones, and it has been suggested by this blog, and other industry experts, that they should just dump their proprietary OS and start making Android phones. Well that isn’t going to happen, but rumors abound that they are going to be making Windows Phone 7 devices.
Adding a little validity to the rumors is the fact that their new CEO, Stephen Elop, is ... more
Just the other day we blogged about how the way manufacturers and retail outlets are selling smartphones seems to be changing. While several manufacturers are still offering their devices direct to customers as unlocked cell phones, a certain big box retailer may have been offering on contract phones at too good to be true prices. So too good to be true that it was actually a breach of contract.
Best Buy apparently has been ordered to stop selling two Motorola phones, the Motorola Droid Pro and the Motorola Droid Global, by Verizon for selling the phones too cheaply. Best Buy was selling the Pro for $50 on contract and the Global for $100 on contract. According to rumors, those prices are in violation of a contract Best Buy had with Verizon and the carrier is none too pleased. Best Buy is pulling the phones off of the shelf, calling it a recall, but Verizon ... more
The speed of technology is awesome. And we’re not just talking from the standpoint of our phones being able to do more and more. The simple fact is, the faster that manufacturers are churning out new phones, the quicker the prices are dropping on some already pretty amazing devices. Take the G2 from T-Mobile for example. It wasn’t too long ago that the G2 was more or less the flagship phone for T-Mobile, costing you a cool $200 with a two year contract. Now you can get it for $50 with a new contract. The same can be said for the Motorola Droid Pro over on Verizon. It too is going for just $50 on a two year contract. The simple fact is, as no contract phones start getting better and better, the major carriers are needing to find new ways to incentivize people into locking in for long term deals. Cheaper phones are the best method.
Manufacturers are noticing a bit of a pinch as well in terms of competition. There as a time w ... more
Not too long ago Steve Jobs had some fun at the expense of Google, most specifically the fact that Google announced that 200,000 Android handsets were bought daily. Jobs questioned the number and pointed out that sold didn’t mean activated. He more or less was accusing Google of padding their numbers to try and look like they were on the same footing as Apple’s iPhone.
Well today Google is getting their laughs in. According to Google big shot Andy Rubin, 300,000 Android phones are activated every day. Activated being the key word. Those are some pretty heady numbers by any measurement and backs up Android’s meteoric rise in terms of total US market share. In fact Android based phones are on pace to pass Apple for the number two slot behind Blackberry within the next couple of months. And Blackberry won’t be sitting on top too long at their current rate of attrition.
However, when the iPhone inevitably hits Verizon’s shelves, it should cause a spike fo ... more
The Google Nexus S is one of the more anticipate phones coming out for one very big reason. It will be the first phone on the market to run the new Android 2.3 operating system otherwise known as Gingerbread. From a specs perspective this phone, which is made by Samsung, isn’t anything all that impressive. In fact, the memory card on this phone isn’t expandable, which is kind of the bread and butter feature for Android based phones.
Still, this phone is expected to garner a lot of interest, and it will be sold exclusively at Best Buy starting December 16th. The Nexus S will be available for $199 on a two year T-Mobile contract. Or, you can purchase it as an unlocked cell phone for $529. At first we thought we had read that wrong, and the price as an off contract purchase. However, all the literature we’ve read refers to $529 as the “u ... more
Coming off of the success of their free phone Friday promotion in October, Best Buy Mobile has decided that it will give away one free smartphone for each of the major US carriers every day throughout the month of December. The catch being that the phones are only free if you purchase a two year contract to go with them.
In the official press release, Best Buy hinted at which phones will end up on the promotion. Out of the gate customers can look forward to the Droid Incredible on Verizon, the Optimus S on Sprint, the Optimus T on T-Mobile and the Xperia X10 on AT&T. The Optimus phones are two of the newest LG phones marketed as entry level Android Devices. Considering the Optimus S will only cost you $50 on contract through Sprint and the Optimus T is already free on a two year contract with T-Mobile, color us a little unimpressed with day 1’s offerings. The HTC Droid Incredible is easily the best pho ... more
It really isn’t earth shattering news, but Nielsen has confirmed what everyone already pretty much suspected; Android phones and Apple phones are the most desired phones in the US while Blackberry phones are losing their popularity.
The survey found that women prefer the iPhone while men prefer Android devices. Breaking the numbers down further, 35% of current smartphone users plan on buying an iPhone as their next phone while 28% of smartphone and feature phone users plan on upgrading to an Android phone. Coming in a distant third was Blackberry, who owned a 13% interest in the survey. Microsoft measured up at a disappointing 6%, but that probably has a lot to do with the fact that it is a brand new OS and the limited number of handsets currently available.
Apple also moved into the top spot in terms of current smart ... more
In a move that has shocked nobody but the most naïve, Microsoft has released a statement saying that they don’t want hackers to figure out how to turn the new Windows Phone 7 devices into unlocked phones. Not that this is going to stop anyone. Hackers tend not be too keen on listening to the man. Here’s a quick look at Microsoft’s official statement.
“We anticipated that people would attempt to unlock the phones and explore the underlying operating system. We encourage people to use their Windows Phone as supplied by the manufacturer to ensure the best possible user experience. Attempting to unlock a device could void the warranty, disable phone functionality, interrupt access to Windows Phone 7 services or render the phone permanently unusable.'
While Microsoft doesn’t want you to alter their handsets, they sure as shootin want you to buy one. To put in nicely, sales have been below expectations so far. In order ... more
It’s probably just a coincidence, but it seems as though another computer company turned mobile phone maker is offering their devices direct to consumers as unlocked phones. Hewlett Packard, which recently bought Palm and their proprietary mobile operating system, recently started offering the Palm Pre 2 unlocked straight from their website.
Dell has gotten into the act as well. The Round Rock, TX computer company is in the cell phone and tablet game now. The Dell Streak, an Android powered tablet, was previously only available on the AT&T network. Now, for $579, you can buy the Dell streak in three different colors unlocked, straight from the source.
It is interesting to note that it’s two companies known for building computers that are trying out this approach in the US. It does make some sense though. Dell and HP really don’t care which internet provider you use or what software you put on your computer. They on ... more
There’s plenty of room in the US for another cell phone carrier right? Too bad, because we’re getting another one. Cox Cable, based out of Atlanta Georgia is launching cellular service starting today. The service will be rolled out initially in just three markets – Orange County, CA, Omaha, NE and Hampton Roads, VA.
Maybe Cox is miffed that Verizon has entered the cable business so they thought they’d fire a shot of their own, because it really doesn’t seem as though there is any market share left for them to grab up. Regardless, they are committed.
First and foremost, the new network will be CDMA, and new Cox customers will be using the Sprint network when they roam outside of the Cox coverage area without incurring roaming fees. The actual plans aren’t anything new. One hundred dollars buys you unlimited minutes, texts and data. For $40 you get 450 minutes. Where Cox separates themselves from the norm is that they will rebate customers .05¢ for every ... more
It wasn’t too long ago that T-Mobile was touting their tiered data plans for no contract phones. The smallest of the big four carriers was seemingly taking an aggressive approach towards building its customer base by offering more plans and more options. The no contract plans were dubbed “Even More Plus” and were sold right alongside their contract plans that were called “Even More.”
Then mysteriously, the Even More Plus plans disappeared off of the T-Mobile website with no explanation. It was thought that perhaps the different names for the pre-paid and contract plans was too subtle, thus causing confusion for new customers, and perhaps driving them away. Others thought that the no contract plans were too popular, and T-Mobile wasn’t getting enough subscribers on contract.
Today we found out the real answer. T-Mobile is simply not offering their no-contract plans online. You will need to call into customer servic ... more
There’s a war going on in the cellular market that is absolutely awesome if you are a consumer. The phones for sale are getting better and better and are being offered at cheaper and cheaper prices. It wasn’t too long ago that T-Mobile announced the LG Optimus T, a Foyo running Android phone that would set you back zero dollars and zero cents on a two year contract. Even as a no contract phone this bad boy will only set you back about $240.
They also announced tiered data packages. Previously, they only offered unlimited data packages for an addition $30 a month on contract. Now, you can get limited data packages offered at different rates. Roughly 58% of all cell phone users in the US still aren’t on smartphones. Obviously these plans and phones are geared specifically towards individuals making their first foray into the smartphone universe.
Not to be outdone, Verizon recently countered with tiered data plans ... more
Selling 40,000 of anything on its first day of existence seems like a pretty impressive number. That is, until you start looking at a few other numbers. For example: 100 million, or 270,000 or even 160,000. Given those numbers, 40,000 is pretty small. But in the famous words of Austin Powers, “Whoopde doo Basil, what does it all mean?”
Microsoft has reportedly spent $100 million on its marketing campaign leading up to the launch of their new smartphone operating system, Windows 7 phone. After quite a bit of hype and fanfare, the first Windows 7 phones hit T-Mobile and AT&T this week, moving an estimated 40,000 units in the first day. Those numbers fell well short of expectations, especially considering that Android reports that 160,000 new Android phones are activated every day. Or you can consider that when the iPhone first went on sale in 2007, 270,000 were sold in the first day alone.
While it’s entirely possible that people are holding off on buying ... more
Is T-Mobile planning the most elaborate April fools joke ever? Granted, we're about 5 months out, but that's the beauty of it. Nobody is expecting it. Rumors have been flying fast and furious about T-Mobile possibly adding the iPhone to their lineup. We even blogged about it last week. Here's a quick recap for those who missed it.
T-Mobile has started selling iPhone accessories in their stores despite the fact that they don't sell any Apple branded devices.
Their head honcho over in Europe blamed Q3 contract defections on not having the iPhone in their lineup.
T-Mobile's most recent commercial is a clear slam at how AT&T's current network completely bogs down the iPhone.
Taking those three things into account it isn't too crazy to start speculating that the nation's 4th largest carrier is about to land the world's most popular phone. It would be an ... more
Every now and then, something pops up in the cellular world that causes rampant speculation. When it comes to Apple, rumors really fly. Since its inception, the iPhone has been exclusively sold by AT&T. While that exclusivity has been confirmed to be coming to an end early next year – Verizon will be getting a CDMA version of the phone – people have often wondered why the other GSM carrier in the US, T-Mobile, hasn’t jumped on the iPhone bandwagon.
It stands to reason that they could. There are already people out there using unlocked phones on different GSM networks, and it is possible to unlock the iPhone. It’s already likely that people are using their iPhone on T-Mobile’s network. So when an iPhone charging/sync cable shows up in a T-Mobile store, it’s hard not to speculate that T-Mobile is getting the iPhone soon. Of course this could just be a random coincidence. Or maybe T-Mobile know’s there are iPhone users on their ... more
As far as cell phone carriers in the US are concerned, T-Mobile is definitely the smallest (in terms of total subscribers) of the big four. In terms of GSM networks, their main rival AT&T boasts a subscriber base that is 241% bigger than T-Mobile, thanks in large part to their exclusivity with the iPhone. For a long time, T-Mobile seemed content to market itself to families and kind of fly under the radar when it came to advertising mudslinging.
That’s all changed, as T-Mobile has several humungous cannonballs across the bows of its competitors the last few days, most notably AT&T. The most obvious jab at the expense of AT&T is their most recent commercial, which is an parody of the famous Mac vs. PC commercials. Only this time T-Mobile has turned the tables on Apple, depicting the iPhone in drab colors with a frumpy balding executive in a suit, representing AT&T, going for a piggyback ride.
As the US market is becoming increasingly aware of unlocked phones, they have been growing in popularity. Don’t believe us? Check out this report quoting HP’s product manager. Apparently, the Palm Pre 2 will be available unlocked to anyone who wants it straight from HP. We can only assume that this means the Pre 2 will be offered up as a no contract phone, although they may also end up getting a license to sell rate plans too.
This is most likely a stunt to try and capture what small share of the smartphone OS market is left. The Palm Pre 2 will run on Web OS, which is a distant afterthought when compared to Android, Apple’s iOS, and the Blackberry OS. Heck, even the Windows 7 phone is likely going to pass up Web OS before the end of the year, and those phones hav ... more
Pantech phones have become nearly extinct in the US market, and for good reason. The cell phone manufacturer seems to be trying to make a comeback, but their recent offerings seem to be about 3 years behind the times, if not more. With approximately 50% of US cell phone users currently using smartphones, you would think that there was a place for feature phones. However, smartphones have been trending upwards for some time now, and it won’t be too long before feature phones are an afterthought at best.
But the two new Pantech phones recently announced, the Laser and the Crux, are middling feature phones. The Crux, which was just announced this week has some solid features, like a touch screen and a social networking widget. It runs $49.99 after a mail in rebate on a two year contract with Verizon. By contrast, T-Mobile a ... more
The concept of a no contract cell phone or prepaid phone is pretty basic. You pay for what you intend to use, no more no less, and you aren’t tied down to a long term commitment. With so many people starting to shift towards the prepaid arena in an attempt to save a few bucks, it boggles the mind that the phone selection for most prepaid plans is so lacking. At the rate that new phones are coming out for the post paid carriers, you’d think that there would at least be a semi-similar rate of prepaid phones hitting the market. Sadly, that isn’t the case.
Boost Mobile, which is owned by Sprint, just announced a new Samsung cell phone to their lineup. Their definition of new is a bit different than most, as they are releasing the Samsung Seek – a phone they already have – in candy apple red. Since when does slapping a new paint job on a phone qualify as a new p ... more
There’s nothing we like more than a little competition. A lot of competition is even better. These days, the biggest changes being seen in cellular is in the prepaid and no contract phone arena. While post paid contract prices seem to keep getting higher and higher as phones are capable of doing more and more, the prepaid wars are driving prices down. T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile have been trading punches lately, which is great news for consumers.
T-Mobile recently announced a prepaid plan that is basically a hodge podge buffet of texts and minutes capped at 1500 for just $30. Basically you can combine any number of texts and minutes so long as you don’t pass that 1500 threshold. You also get 30MB of data to go with it. Today Virgin counterpunched with a $30 plan of their own. Their magic number is 2000, which thanks to my degree in combinatoric mathematics I know is more than 1500. Where Virgin falls a little short is in the ... more
It’s no secret that no contract cell phones are becoming more and more popular these days. The problem was the phones for sale on most of the major prepaid carriers left a lot to be desired. And the networks themselves weren’t exactly blowing people’s skirts up. That’s about to change for a couple of the major players here really soon.
Cricket mobile currently has just three smartphones in their lineup – the Sanyo ZIO, the Huawei Ascend and the Blackberry Curve 8530. Those phones were only able to enjoy 3G service on a limited regional basis however, due to Cricket’s limited network resources. Well limited just flew out the window as Cricket customers now can enjoy nationwide 3G coverage. Most likely this means that Cricket has signed some sort of agreement with one of the Big 4 to ... more
In case you haven’t heard, getting a prepaid wireless plan isn’t just for drug dealers and spies anymore. Nope, more and more people are crossing over into the realm of prepaid in order to save a little money in the short term and the long term. Boost Mobile, which is owned by Sprint, is one of the leaders in the prepaid arena, and yesterday they announced a pretty cool incentive to pick them and stick with them. They are calling them “shrinkage” plans.
Guys, don’t worry, we aren’t talking about cold water or some sort of long term radiation effect. Boost Mobile is actually talking about your phone bill. For every six months of consecutive service, your bill goes down by $5 per month, with no effect on you minutes, data, or texts. A cynic would say that they are trying to turn a no contract cell pho ... more
Sprint seems to be one of the few major cellular carriers that haven’t been stepping all over their customers lately. A recent judgment against Verizon has forced them to repay $90 million in unauthorized data overages and an independent report found that more than half of the iPhone users on AT&T would switch carriers if the phone were available elsewhere. While Sprint isn’t perfect, the fact that they have avoided that sort of nightmarish press is a godsend in this economy.
In fact, Sprint is getting some ink these days for a different reason. The company recently unveiled a plan that would offer refurbished no contract cell phones at drastically discounted prices. There is an extremely limited selection right out of the gate, highlighted by the Blackberry Tour, which will sell for $80. At least one Samsung cell phone and one Sanyo cell phone will also be ... more
Pantech phones haven’t exactly been captivating the imagination lately, and the latest phones from the South Korean company don’t necessarily blow your skirt up. Pantech is the third largest cell phone manufacturer in South Korea, behind Samsung and LG. Rather than chase those two Samrtphone players, Pantech has seemed content to put out midrange messaging phones, and their latest offering, the Pantech Laser, doesn’t appear to be an exception.
Don’t get us wrong. The Laser has some cool features. For instance, it comes with a 3.1 inch AMOLED screen and a slide out QWERTY keyboard. In fact, the Laser can boast that it is the slimmest slide out phone with a full keyboard in AT&T’s stable. Unfortunately the price isn’t nearly as attractive. In addition to the Laser, AT&T offers several < ... more
Unless you’re running for a major political office or you are currently a sitting US Senator or Congressman, you’ve probably noticed that the economy isn’t doing too hot. As people are tightening their belts the rise of no contract cell phones and prepaid data plans are becoming a more and more popular choice amongst consumers. The big 4 carriers in the US even dabble a bit in prepaid service plans.
T-Mobile has been in the prepaid cellular service game for awhile now and is ready to tackle prepaid data as well. T-Mobile will be offering three separate data packages priced at $10, $30 and $50. The three plans are capped at a set time limit or data usage, whichever comes first. On the surface the prepaid plans aren’t nearly the bargain of a contract data plan, which averages out to be about 6.25 times less expensive ... more
In case you were wondering why that app you downloaded that turns your phone into a paperweight cost $39.99, there is a good change that it was an error on the part of Verizon. The company nicknamed Big Red won’t be going into the red anytime soon, but they sure are shelling out a lot of cash because of a small error on their side. Actually, the sum comes out to about $90 million in errors.
Apparently people who don’t even have data plans on their phones have been getting charged for data usage since 2007 for reasons as ridiculous as accidentally pressing the browser button on their phones. What is even more ridiculous is that Verizon has been aware of the problem since day one and up until now has refused to do anything about it. Noting like piss po ... more
I bet you thought based on the title that we are going to be talking about Verizon’s Samsung Fascinate. Well we’re not. We’re going to be talking about Verizon’s other Galaxy S phone. The Fascinate’s reign at the top of the Verizon galaxy will be extremely short lived as a new player known as the Continuum will take the mantle as the new Samsung cell phone in the Galaxy S line.
The main feature that caught our eyes with this phone is that there will be two OLED screens. In addition to the main display, a second screen right below it will be used to give weather updates, alert you to new Facebook activity, or update you on your RSS feeds. The cool thing is that the second screen works independently from the main display, meaning you can access some of the phones basic ... more
These days it seems like everyone is trying to get in on the no contract cell phone game. Even a certain major retailer is offering such phones, albeit an extremely limited selection of phones. All the major carriers seem to be offering huge incentives on phones to get you to sign on for a long term commitment. While that is all well and good for some, the real cost of signing that contract can be a bit staggering.
Let’s just say that you are on a basic data plan with one of the major carriers. Add on your minutes and texts and you are looking at $85 a month minimum. Multiply that by 24 months and that free phone your carrier gave you adds up to $2,040 of your money right into their bank account. And what if you don’t use up all your minutes or texts? What if you aren’t updating your Twitter at Kanye West levels? Does your carrier prorate your next bill? Of course they don’t.
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In this instance we aren’t using the slang version of ill. Since its inception, the iPhone has been exclusively available to AT&T with a nice contract attached. With carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile rumored to be adding the iPhone to their lineups, AT&T’s stranglehold on the best selling phone in America is tenuous at best. Should other carriers, especially other GSM carriers like T-Mobile, start to sell the iPhone, the possibility of getting an unlocked cell phone with the famous Apple logo on it becomes a very real possibility.
Apparently AT&T has a need to be worried. iPhone customers are ready to jump ship in droves if only the iPhone were offered on other carriers. Nearly half of all iPhone owners surveyed said they would switch away from AT&T if Verizon starts offering the Apple Smartphone.
Taking all of this in stride, an AT&T chief executive had this ... more
Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of Blackberry cell phones, must feel like they are in a bad episode of 24, as seemingly one potential crisis is piling on top of another. Thankfully Kiefer Sutherland is Canadian just like RIM, so maybe they can hit him up for some advice.
Currently JP Morgan Chase has their employees exclusively using Blackberry devices for mobile e-mailing. That is an exclusivity that might be coming to an end as the banking Goliath is considering both the iPhone and Android devices as potential replacements or additions to their arsenal. It would be a move that speaks volumes to RIM’s slipping market share both domestically and internationally.
Multiple countries have considered banning the Blackber ... more
With football season literally days away, I’m already scouting the best sports bars in my neighborhood, looking for that hidden, or not so hidden gem, that offers up everything I’m looking for. A great selection of beers, a plethora of artery clogging appetizers, and some good looking cocktail servers is the perfect combination in my book. There are a lot of options out there and finding the right place to catch the game is a delicate science.
Cell phones can leave most consumers feeling the same way. There are so many choices, and we’re all looking for that aesthetically pleasing phone that offers functionality combined with a boatload of options. Motorola makes a phone that acts as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Apple’s iPhone’s have more apps than a normal person could ever possibly use. AT&T was able to obtain the exclusive rights to the iphone this breathed new life into a falling fast service provider. Unfortunately the superiority of the iPhone created a huge cap between it and the next phone. Even Blackberry who seemed to have a lock on the cell phone world fell to a far second. AT&T had only one big hitter in the line up and fortunately for them the iPhone has delivered.
No longer will AT&T keep all its hope in one phone now that they have signed the new rookie, the Samsung Captivate. This new additional gives the iPhone4 a reason to worry. The Captivate is the first Android phone to break the Apple monopoly at AT&T. In the cell phone world this is almost like Jackie Robins ... more
To quote Oscar winning Best Actor Robert De Niro in Raging Bull, 'You never got me down Ray. You never knocked me down Ray.' This comes to mind when one thinks about Motorola versus Apple. Apple is hitting Motorola with all it has and Motorola is not going down. Motorola is not taking a standing 8 count but rather fighting back with their new phone releases.
Motorola has just released it's new and improved Droid 2. This is a revived model of the original Droid that pushed to the back of the pack quickly due to the release of the Droid Incredible and Droid X. The Droid 2 has quite a few upgrades that make this phone worth a glance...
The Droid 2 operates on the latest Android platform running with the 2.2 software. The keyboard keys have been enlarged due to Motorola ditching the D p ... more
With the release of the Apple iPhone4 and the Motorola Droid X everyone has been wondering what Blackberry was going to do to keep its dedicated users. The wait is over Blackberry has announced the release of its new phone the Torch or 9800. RIM seems to be banking on the idea that the current users are loyal and aren't going to be lured in by the glam of the new phones.
The screen measures at 3.2 inches. The size of this screen could have been overlooked had it been brought up to the current standards set by not only high end phones but most mid to lower end phones. This standard has raised the bar to a minimum of 800x480. The Blackberry Torch seems to fall short right away with a resolution ... more
They are the two major cellular networks in the world and they have both been surpassing one another in speed and performance for years on end. People who use Verizon or Sprint are on a CDMA network while AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers are no doubt using a GSM connection. Depending on where you live and a few other factors, one is better than the other. So, before you decide which network you want to belong to, you might want to have a look at the connection you will use to access the network. Here is our breakdown of the pros and cons of each.
Are you getting enough bars?
The number one factor to consider is coverage. Will you be able to make calls and access the Internet from almost anywhere, or will you be struggling to get bars while you're driving down the highway? In the United States CDMA is king. The Verizon network still boasts more coverage and better reception than my other carrier. AT&T and the GSM providers are one step behind.
Ever since the iPhone was released, people have complained about Apple’s restrictions. While many see the iPhone as a “walled garden” that’s easy to use without any errors, others see it as a prison. They look at the outside world where mobile devices can multitask and run apps that aren’t approved by Apple, and they want to break free. Those who wish to escape Apple’s restrictions have taken to unlocked cell phones, opening up a whole new world of apps and possibilities. The following are a few of them.
1.) iPhonemodem
iPhonemodem is an app that turns your iPhone into a modem for your laptop. It’s great for long road trips and business on the go when you don’t have a good wifi signal. Plus, if you’re already paying for 3G on your iPhone, why should you pay for it twice on another portable device? When you look at the savings, unlocking your iPhone to get this app just makes good economic sense.
Some of the more budget conscious among you might be wondering how much money you can save if you get a prepaid cell phone plan with no contract. With these plans, you purchase minutes and texts as you go without having to commit to a particular carrier. Because every call counts with these plans, you will find that they can really help you put a limit on your spending. Of course, they can also put a damper on your day when you really, desperately, need to make a phone call and you are at a loss for minutes. So the question remains. Are prepaid plans worth your time, or are they only there as an option for people who do not qualify for a monthly contract?
They are if you know how to manage the system and use other calling methods to talk to your friends. Try out Skype. The service isn't completely free, but you will be able to make very low cost calls from your desktop computer, laptop, Wi-Fi enabled smar ... more
In case you have been out of the loop for the last few weeks, a developer working on the new Apple iPhone 4.0 accidentally left a prototype of the device at a bar in Redwood City Washington. After a unsuspecting bystander found the phone, he attempted to contact Apple before he sold it to Gizmodo for $5000. Once the tech blog got ahold of the device, they disassembled it and revealed what are likely to be a few of its new features. We have listed the most important ones below.
1.) Front facing video camera. You can expect the new iPhone to have a camera for video conferencing. Gizmodo's editor made a point of mentioning the camera's increased size. It will probably support 1080 by 720p HD video resolutions, an option that will excite those looking for a solid video camera in addition to their new phone.
2.) A better screen. When Gizmodo's editor attempted to use the iPhone 4.0, he ... more
Skype is a mobile VOIP service that allows computer and cell phone users to make phone calls over the Internet at a much cheaper price than a traditional calling plan. As more people realize its fantastic money saving potential, the service is becoming more popular than ever. This has many network providers shaking in their boots and wondering what it will mean for the future of their businesses. How will people be using this revolutionary service in the next five years?
Apple currently blocks services like Skype over its AT&T powered 3G connection. You can use the service as much as you want while you are at home and running on a wifi connection, but as soon as you leave the house and get on the grid, you have to place your calls through AT&T. Many heavy Skype users have demanded 3G support for the service, but that is very unlikely when you consider the huge stake AT&T has in it.
If you've taken a trip to China recently, you may have noticed all of the cheap high-end cell phone knockoffs. Thanks to poorly enforced copyright laws, knockoff devices usually hit the markets a few weeks before the real devices are released. These devices look so strikingly similar to their real counterparts that we can see how it would be easy to be fooled.
An early iPhone 4.0?
The GiphoneF98 appeared on the market just a few weeks after Gizmodo leaked the Apple iPhone 4.0 prototype. It looks just like the new iPhone, complete with the separate volume control buttons, a front facing camera, and flush design. It also features dual SIM cards and an FM radio.
If you look closely, you can see what appears to be a fake version of iPhone OS. According to the journalists who got their hands on this beauty, it is one of thickest phones they have ever held. You can purchase ... more
The prospect of an unlocked Motorola phone might seem a little odd. Android OS is supposed to be open source, isn’t it? While Android is a much more open platform than Apple’s iPhone OS, users still aren’t given all of the privileges. This results in what some might consider limited functionality. There are some things an unlocked Droid phone can do that an ordinary Droid phone cannot. These features might be worth it if you are willing to spend a lot of extra time digging into the guts of your phone while risking the chance that you might accidentally turn your Droid into a brick.
We won’t lecture you on the obvious concerns we have with any plan to unlock a mobile device like the Droid. We figure you already know enough about it. Instead of doing that, we want to present you with some of the features you will gain from unlocked cell phones, opening up a whole new world of apps and possibilities. The following are a few of them.
1.) iPhonemodem
iPhonemodem is an app that turns your iPhone into a modem for your laptop. It’s great for long road trips and business on the go when you don’t have a good wifi signal. Plus, if you’re already paying for 3G on your iPhone, why should you pay for it twice on another portable device? When you look at the savings, unlocking your iPhone to get this app just makes good economic sense.
Brand new to the PhoneSale.com line up is the Samsung OmniaPro B7330. This phone has everything you'll ever need and more: 3.15MP camera that also records video at 30fps (!!!), Wi-Fi, comfortable QWERTY keyboard, GPS, and it runs Windows Mobile.
I got the chance to experience this phone myself and I must say, it almost made me want to ditch my Blackberry. Yep, that's how good it is.
The OmniaPro is $327.99 if you buy it from us (but even more if you buy it from those other guys). We'll pack and ship it to you for free and send it unlocked to use for any GSM network. ... more
It's been a while coming but I've finally packed my things and moved to my very own site-hosted blog. Not much has or will change; I'll still be providing readers with the latest industry news and site-wide promotions. Stay tuned for more! ... more
Though PhoneSale.com has been in business for a while now, reviews regarding our service and website are scant. We have testimonials posted on our site and thanks to our Twitter, we have at least one Twitterer (Tweeter? Tweeple?) who is very satisfied with the phones we sell. I decided to give a little more information about our operation in hopes of inspiring a bit more consumer confidence.
Products and Pricing We currently carry over two hundred models of locked and unlocked cell phones. All are brand new unless otherwise noted in the title as being factory refurbished. I've personally added most of the cell phones on our site and pull information either directly from the manufacturer's website or from other reliable cell phone resources. We only purchase cell phones from authorized dealers which means none of our merchandise comes from the black market...a problem that you'd undoubtedly run into if you buy phones from cr ... more
In a move that many media outlets call a push towards widespread 4G adoption, Verizon Wireless has announced network 'optimization' for the top five percent of its unlimited 3G customer base.
Mobile messaging has a new contender from the Samsung side of the ring: ChatON. As boasted by Samsung (on their
Forget that Facebook or twitter app--when it comes to staying in contact, conducting business and using that front-facing iPad or Android camera, the 
What do you imagine buying when you go to your local 7-Eleven? Do visions of Slim Jim's and Slurpees flash in your head?
One of the most dangerous things you can do while driving is texting. 
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<td><a href="/blog/article-14328-could-mango-vault-wp7-to-#2-mobile-os-spot.html" class="articleTitle">Could Mango Vault WP7 to #2 Mobile OS Spot?</a></td>
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