Palm Treo Pro to AT&T? Why?

WM Experts is speculating that the Treo Pro might be coming to AT&T…

Palm has just confirmed on the quarterly conference call that the Treo Pro will be released officially a US Carrier (Yeah, we’re going with AT&T on that). Unfortunately, we don’t have any idea yet about pricing or availability.

The question I have is not if the speculation is true or not, it’s why would they want to do this? Why come out with a completely unlocked version and then move to a “US carrier” later?

AT&T Mirage? The Samsung Omnia

Engadget Mobile is reporting on a rumor that the Samsung Omnia that some are trying to slap the iPhone killer label on, might be coming to AT&T as the AT&T Mirage.

The Omnia has already become a pretty popular Windows Mobile device and it sure would be nice to see another solid WM phone added to the AT&T device lineup. I just wish people would stop calling everything with a touch screen “the iPhone Killer”. It’s not like Apple invented the touch screen anyhow.

Source: Engadget

AT&T Launches a Mobile Social Networking Application

My Communities is a downloadable gateway for users to create and manage multiple social networking accounts through a single dashboard view on their mobile phone – so AT&T customers can now access their personal SNS accounts from wherever they may be.

Some of these SNS include MySpace, the mobile-only community Rabble, LiveJournal and Xanga, and Photobucket. My Communities also features AsianAve, BlackPlanet, MiGente, FaithBase, and GLEE, for users of the more niche social networks.  When the service is updated with additional sites, subscribers will be updated and have instant access to them, with no upgrade required. 

My Communities is available on 30 devices for a monthly subscription of $2.99, and users can upload photos, view and respond to new messages, approve and deny friend requests, and view and post new comments across multiple sites. 

Read on for the Press Release…

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Network Settings Lock on Windows Mobile 6.1 Devices

Did you know that Windows Mobile 6.1 adds a new level of locking to your device?  There is now a lock for the carriers data network settings. What does it do?  In effect it prevents you from modifying the carriers pre-loaded data settings.

There are folks that want/need to modify those values and if you are one then head over to Mobile Jaw and find out a little more about it and how to easily UNLOCK IT!

As an aside, if you are one of the folks that just upgraded your BlackJack II ROM, you might well be very interested in this post…..

AT&T Offers Free Phones to Gustav Evacuees

Thanks AT&T, this is one heck of a gesture. There aren’t that many phones, but anything is great. It’s really nice to see big companies helping others.

AT&T Inc.  today announced the availability of at least 2,000 GoPhone devices with $15 in air time to residents who have been ordered to evacuate their homes due to Hurricane Gustav. The phones will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last to residents who live in any area that government has declared a mandatory evacuation area  

The phones will be available at all company-owned AT&T retail locations in Houston and San Antonio, both cities seeing large numbers of incoming evacuees from Louisiana and far southeast Texas. AT&T is rushing extra shipments of GoPhones to the Houston and San Antonio stores, and they are expected to be available as early as Monday evening. AT&T company-owned stores can be found at http://www.wireless.att.com/find-a-store

“In times of crisis, the ability to connect with family and friends is a necessity and, at the same time, comforting,” said Chris Penrose, vice president and general manager for AT&T’s wireless unit in south Texas. “Hopefully, this offer will allow many of those forced from their homes by Hurricane Gustav to take care of critical needs or simply reconnect with loved ones.”

In addition to providing Go Phones to Evacuees, the press release put out by AT&T also offered some tips…

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HTC Touch Pro - Coming to America

Who gets it? T-Mobile or AT&T? Crunchgear seems to think T-mobile is the winner, or do they. They are just following a lead from T-mobile enthusiast site, but it’s got to be one of the two. One of the reasons some think it will hit T-Mobile is that AT&T already has the Tilt. I don’t buy that idea. AT&T wouldn’t mind throwing another hot phone in their line up.

What about “NO CARRIER”? That’s a big possibility too right? Look at the Shift and the Advantage. HTC has clearly stuck their chest out and shown that they are the maker behind alot of the hot phones out there and seem to want brand recognition. Is it possible that they might go solo on this one? I doubt it, but it is quite possible.

In addition, Arne Hess has a video online of showcasing the Touch Pro’s hardware.

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AT&T Blackjack II Gets Blue and Pink Versions

Looks like the all so popular BlackJack II is getting into the color choice game.

I am liking the styling on the back, but the 2 tone look ain’t doing it for me. If it were that same blue all over, I think that I would like it much better.

3G Apple iPhone has the best Battery Life?

PC World has done some battery testing and it looks like the 3g iPhone edged out the Samsung Instinct by a narrow margin. The test looks fairly complete, but Gizmodo points out that they forget to include Nokia devices, maybe it was intentional? We all know that Nokia has some magic dust in their batteries.

PC World says that the result is remarkable knowing that AT&T’s HSDPA/UMTS network is very power-hungry because voice calls use the more battery-demanding 3G band. By contrast, the Samsung Instinct—which runs on EVDO—switches to CDMA for voice, which they say it uses less power. In theory—as the results show.

My 1st Gen iPhone had a less than stellar 1st day in the battery life department. I used the leaked Rom on Thursday and it could have contributed to this. James Fee, former moderator/admin here, pointed me to a MacRumors post stating that this leaked ROM could have been designed for the 3G iPhone Hardware. I went ahead and reflashed to the Official ROM. We’ll see how it goes.

Source: PC World via Gizmodo

Nokia to acquire Symbian Limited

Visionary move embraces openness and accelerates innovation

Nokia announced it has launched a cash offer to acquire all of the shares of Symbian Limited that Nokia does not already own, at a price of EUR 3.647 per share.  The net cash outlay from Nokia to purchase the approximately 52% of Symbian Limited shares it does not already own will be approximately EUR 264 million. 

Nokia has received irrevocable undertakings from Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ), Panasonic Mobile Communications Co. Ltd. and Siemens International Holding BV to accept the offer, representing approximately 91% of the Symbian shares subject to the offer.  Nokia also expects Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. to accept the offer.   

The acquisition is a fundamental step in the establishment of the Symbian Foundation, announced today by Nokia, together with AT&T, LG Electronics, Motorola, NTT DOCOMO, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Vodafone. More information about the planned foundation can be found at www.symbianfoundation.org.

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iPhone Update … No tethering allowed

Well this is certainly a bummer for those that were expecting to take advantage of their new iPhone’s capabilities. 

With the iPhone 3G’s significantly faster data transfer rates and ability to perform voice and data functions simultaneously, potential buyers have become intoxicated with the idea of tethering the device: using it as a cellular modem for laptops — a service AT&T and other carriers offer for many other portable phones. iPhone Atlas has learned, however, that AT&T will not be offering tethering capabilities for the iPhone 3G.

Check out the story here at iPhone Atlas

via

Free WiFi for Laptop Connect

The BGR had  some good news today for folks that have laptops (and possibly all smartphones later on) letting them know that effective tomorrow, May 20th, there will be FREE WiFi Access to over 17,000 WiFi locations throughout the U.S. if you are a Laptop Connect Customer with a plan that is $60 or higher. What will you get? Customers will have unlimited access to over 17,000 WiFi locations at no extra charge including locations in Starbucks and McDonalds. Customers will need three things for this free access:

• A laptop card. FREE WiFi for Smartphones is not available yet, but will be later in 2008.
• The latest version of Communication Manager (version 6.8). Once loaded this version will automatically log onto AT&T hotspots.
• A Laptop Connect plan of $60 or greater.

Finally! A way to block spam text messages on my AT&T cell phone.

Last time I checked, I could not find a way to block spam text messages through my AT&T account. Today, I received another spam text message, so I decided to look around again, and I was delighted to discover that AT&T now provides a way to selectively block text messages. I have no idea when AT&T started providing this option - I never received any kind of announcement of it and I haven’t seen anyone blogging about it, so I think it is a little known, probably recently released, option.

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AT&T & Starbucks

AT&T Inc. and Starbucks announced the beginning of the rollout of AT&T Wi-Fi service at company-operated Starbucks stores, kicking off a nationwide effort that will continue through 2008. The companies have already started the deployment of AT&T Wi-Fi service at Starbucks locations in San Antonio, making it the first market to deliver the complete AT&T Wi-Fi experience in the U.S.

Also, as of May 1, qualifying AT&T high speed Internet and Wi-Fi customers will have complimentary Wi-Fi access at more than 7,000 Starbucks locations nationwide. For millions of AT&T customers, that means more speed in more places — and for free — is on its way.

And as of May 1, qualifying AT&T customers can connect to the Internet from Wi-Fi enabled company-operated Starbucks locations nationwide by simply selecting “ATTWiFi” after powering up their computers. Free AT&T Wi-Fi service is currently offered with AT&T’s three higher-speed residential broadband packages, all small business broadband packages and with all AT&T U-verse offerings with high speed Internet service.

AT&T

AT&T Launches AT&T Navigator

AT&T Navigator Now Available on a Suite of GPS-Capable Wireless Devices, Including the New MOTO(TM) Z9

For any one who is constantly on the go but sometimes not quite sure where to go or how to get there, AT&T Navigator is here to pave the way. AT&T Inc. announced today at CTIA Wireless 2008, the immediate availability of its company-branded GPS-enabled navigation service, AT&T Navigator.

AT&T Navigator is designed to provide you with clear and precise audible and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, including full-color moving maps, using GPS directly from your wireless phone. Working with TeleNav, whose navigation service has been available on AT&T PDAs since 2006, AT&T is now introducing its own branded next-generation GPS navigation service for all consumers. The service is available on GPS-capable PDAs and handsets, including the new consumer-focused Motorola Z9.

“AT&T Navigator offers travelers a more convenient alternative than using printed maps or expensive stand-alone navigation devices by allowing them to use a device they always have with them — their wireless phone,” said Mark Collins, vice president of Consumer Data for AT&T’s wireless unit. “AT&T Navigator is an ideal tool for all of our customers, whether they are trying to get directions to a new restaurant uptown, an important business meeting downtown or the high school reunion out of town. It’s truly an example of handset personalization and mobilization at its best.”

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The Motorola Z9 is here ….

AT&T Inc. and Motorola, Inc. announced at CTIA Wireless 2008 that the MOTO Z9 slider handset, which is exclusive to AT&T in the U.S., will be the first phone to include AT&T Navigator, bringing the company’s Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation service to an even greater number of AT&T customers.

The MOTO Z9 is the first AT&T consumer phone to offer AT&T Navigator for turn-by-turn directions! 

Included Features

• 1.3 MP camera with 8x zoom
• AT&T Navigator and GPS support
• Stereo Bluetooth® wireless capable
• Video record, playback, and streaming
• AT&T Mobile Music with integrated MP3 player
• Cellular Video - Get news, sports, video, and more
• Picture and Video Messaging - Send photos, video and more
• Instant messaging - AOL, Yahoo!, & Windows Live
• High-speed data access via broadband 3G network
• Download ringtones, games, music and more
• microSD removable memory card capacity
• Browser for full HTML web surfing
• Advanced speech recognition
• Mobile email capabilities
• Speakerphone