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AT&T Asks LG for an Encore, LG Obliges
AT&T on Sunday made the LG Encore available for sale. The Encore is a touch phone with a three-inch display and LG's feature phone touch operating system. The Encore has quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band 850/1900Mhz 3.6Mbps HSDPA 3G, aGPS, accelerometer, and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with support for A2DP. It has a 3 megapixel camera with video capture and is compatible with AT&T's Video Share service. The Encore has a robust media player that includes streaming radio stations and certified Dolby Mobile playback. It is pre-loaded with AT&T's SocialNet software for social networking. The Encore has a 3.5mm headset jack and supports microSD cards up to 16 GB. It is available starting Sunday, September 5.
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T-Mobile Interested in Selling Huawei's IDEOS Phone
According to the Wall Street Journal, T-Mobile USA is in talks with Huawei about the Chinese company's new IDEOS Android smartphone. A source cited by the Journal said that a deal isn't in place yet, but one could be forged within four to six weeks. Huawei developed the Tap touch phone, which was branded and sold by T-Mobile. Huawei has yet to strike a major win with U.S. network operators, and the company confirmed that it is talking to the carriers about distribution deals. The Journal believes the device will be available before the holidays for about $100 on contract. The IDEOS runs Android 2.2, has a 2.8-inch touch screen, camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.
Google Settles Buzz Privacy Suit
Google has settled a lawsuit against it over its Buzz social networking service. When it launched in February, Google automatically used Gmail customers' Google Contacts to build a set of followers. Many complained that this was done without their permission and gave away their email addresses to strangers. Google changed the privacy settings quickly, but the failed launch was enough for some to sue. Rather than pay any claimants, Google is setting aside $8.5 million to be used for attorney's fees and donations to organizations that help aid in keeping user data private on the internet. Google will also make it clearer to users of the Buzz service how their privacy is handled. Buzz is built into the browser-based version of Gmail, and also has dedicated mobile tools, such as a widget for the Android platform.
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T-Mobile Rolls Out Minor Software Update to Curves
T-Mobile is offering BlackBerry OS 5.0.0.822 to its BlackBerry Curve 8900 and 8520 devices. The software can be downloaded over the air directly to the handset. T-Mobile recommends that users of the 8900 and 8520 update their system software.
Adobe Confirms Not All Android 2.2 Phones Get Flash
Adobe confirmed to Phone Scoop in a call that though Android 2.2 is required for Flash Player Mobile 10.1 to work, that doesn't mean that all Android 2.2 devices will be able to access and run Flash Player Mobile. According to Adobe, smartphones need to have a minimum set of specifications in order to run Flash PLlayer Mobile, including a fast enough processor and graphics support. Adobe's web site notes that devices with a VGA screen need to have at least a 550Mhz processor in addition to hardware vector FPU support. Devices with WVGA displays need to have a dedicated Cortex A8 800MHz processor or higher, with the same hardware vector FPU support. Adobe said that the Google Nexus One, HTC EVO 4G, HTC Desire, and Motorola Droid, Droid 2 and Droid X are all certified to run Flash. Adobe noted that it knows of several Android handsets that will be released later this year that won't meet the minimum spec requirements to support Flash, though Adobe couldn't name them because they haven't been announced by the manufacturer/carrier.
BlackBerry Phones Order a Grande Starbucks App
BlackBerry owners can now use a new Starbucks Card Mobile App to manage a Starbucks card and even make mobile payments at select stores. The app lets Starbucks Card holders check their balance, reload their card and also make payments at more than 1,000 U.S. Target stores and in Starbucks locations participating in a trial in Seattle and Northern California. The app also lets users check their My Starbucks Rewards status and find local shops. The app is available now for download on Starbucks' site.
Verizon Offering Prepaid Package for 3G Phones
Verizon Wireless today began offering a prepaid data package for use on 3G capable phones, including a wide range of smartphones and 3G feature phones. Customers will get unlimited data for $30 a month on smartphones and multimedia phones, or multimedia phone buyers can choose a $10 monthly plan that includes 25 MB of data, with a $0.20 per MB overage fee. The new data packages is available in stores today, and will be sold online at Verizon's Web site starting September 28. The featured phones include BlackBerry models like the Curve 8530, both Storm models and the Bold 9650; the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus; and the full Verizon Droid lineup, including the Droid 2 and Droid Incredible, among numerous others. Supported feature phones include the LG enV Touch and enV 3 models, the LG Chocolate Touch, and the Samsung Alias 2, among a few others.
Huawei Joins the Android Party with IDEOS
Huawei today revealed its first Android handset that it expects to sell on a wide scale across Europe, Asia and the Americas. The IDEOS, which runs Android 2.2. Froyo, will come in both a GSM configuration and a CDMA configuration, based on documentation published by the FCC. The IDEOS U8150 has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios and 850/1900/2100MHz HSDPA at 7.2Mbps, making it compatible with AT&T. The C8150 will have tri-band 850/1700/1900MHz CDMA on board, making it compatible with networks such as Cricket and MetroPCS. Other features of the IDEOS Android phones includes GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and support for microSD cards. The IDEOS will also support the Android wireless hotspot feature. Huawei has said prices for the IDEOS will range between $127 and $179. Availability wasn't announced.
Vlingo Checks In to Foursquare
Vlingo today announced the integration of Vlingo's voice commands into the Android version of Foursquare. Foursquare users on Android will now be able to use voice commands to open the application and check into venues through Foursquare. Users will also be able to locate friends and send shout-outs with the Vlingo voice commands. The Vlingo application for Android, which isa free download from the Android Market, also brings other voice commands to Android handsets, including send texts and emails, search the web, update Twitter or Facebook, and have incoming emails/texts read out loud.
T-Mobile Names Its First HSPA+ Phone, the HTC G2
T-Mobile has provided a few more details about what will be its first HSPA+ compatible handset. The HTC G2, according to a T-Mobile published web site, has a touch screen, an optical mouse for on-screen navigation, and the standard set of Android shortcut keys. Based on the image published by T-Mobile, the G2 will run the stock version of Android 2.2, and T-Mobile says it has an 800MHz processor, and Flash Player Mobile 10.1. T-Mobile says more information will become available about the G2 in the coming weeks.
Skype No Longer Kills Wi-Fi in Android App
Skype has pushed out a minor update to its Skype for Android application. The revised application offers several new features. For example, it now supports incoming caller ID, so you’ll be able to see your Skype contacts’ names when they call you. Uses can now copy and paste within instant message conversations, as well as use emoticons. Users will see country names and flags when they dial international numbers, and users can set their location as their status message. Another important chance affects the Wi-Fi radio. The application no longer kills the Wi-Fi radio when Skype is turned on. Skype for Android can still only make phone calls via Verizon Wireless' voice network. Voice calling does not work over Wi-Fi yet. However, with this minor update, users of Skype for Android can at least have the Wi-Fi radio on, where previously the Wi-Fi radio was shut off by Skype. Verizon Wireless' Android and BlackBerry users can download the updated application for free.
Samsung to Focus on Android and Bada
Samsung today indicated that moving forward, Google's Android mobile operating system and its own bada mobile operating system will be the focus of its smartphone efforts. "We are Prioritizing our Android platform. Android is very open and flexible, and there is a consumer demand for it," YH Lee, head of marketing at Samsung Mobile, told Reuters in an interview. This focus on Android and bada comes at the expense of Microsoft's Window Phone 7. Samsung plans to introduce one WP7 handset later this year. Lee said, "There is still some professional, specialized demand there." Samsung will not be developing WP7 handsets in significant numbers, though.
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