Filed under: Cellphones

While Best Buy’s been selling mobiles (and holding out on Wii hopefuls) for some time now, the big blue retailer is diverting a bit more fundage towards the cause. Aside from continuing to offer phones and plans in typical stores, Best Buy is opening up a smattering of New York-based Mobile stores to handle your cellular needs (and probably hassle you for an extended warranty as well). While details about the store layout and initial offerings are a bit scant at this point, we do know that nine locales will be opening up in the Big Apple alone, with a red (as in, not black) PRODUCT (RED) RAZR being their “exclusive” offering. The stores will partner with Verizon Wireless, Amp’d Mobile, Sprint-Nextel, and Cingular, and should have a plethora of promotional goodies surrounding each and every door to snag your attention.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Cellphones

Sprint still hasn’t quite learned the fine art of not getting shown up by CDMA rival Verizon for prompt releases of the hottest phones, partially on account of Verizon’s tendency to lock up lucrative exclusivity agreements that last anywhere from a few months to life of the model (as is the case with the CDMA Chocolate). Fortunately, as foretold by our friends at Phone Scoop, Sprint’s K1m comes relatively hot on the heels of Verizon’s. Thanks to a different UI and color scheme, the Sprint variant barely resembles its stablemates and it’ll be interesting to see whether customers ultimately do a better job warming up to it. The Sprint K1m can belong to anyone willing to part with $200 and sign on the dotted line — or, as Sprint likes to say, $399.99 minus $200 in “instant savings.”

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Laptops, Wireless

Good news for EV-DO junkies out there looking for a USB and/or Rev A fix: Novatel‘s lineup of Rev A products are now official, and are coming to an OEM or carrier near you this fall (we’re thinking Sprint would be a fairly safe guess under the “carrier” category). The lineup includes that MCD3000 USB modem we saw hit the FCC the other day as the U720, which is apparently “about the size of a small cell phone,” the Merlin M720 PC card — which is already out for Sprint as the S720 — and the Expedite E720 PCI Express Mini card. The latter is for laptop manufacturers to pop into their own products, so we probably won’t see a retail release, and an ExpressCard version is notably absent. The good news is that all three of these pack EV-DO Rev A for 3.1Mbps speeds, along with the traditional GPS support, Rev 0 and CDMA compatibilities. According to Novatel, they’re “currently ramping shipments at major carrier or OEM customers,” and like we said, those S720 cards are already out, so these really should be right around the corner.

[Via Laptoping]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

---

SPONSORED BY: BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time.

Filed under: Cellphones

We hate to see a nifty technology like FOTA (firmware over-the-air) getting such a bad rap early on in the game, but in the same breath, our mommies always told us “measure twice, cut once” — and we think that’s an imminently appropriate adage in the aftermath of Sprint’s recent attempt to re-up Fusics already in the field. It seems the firmware update, pushed just a couple days ago to customers’ handsets, quickly and efficiently bricked each and every one of them. The whole situation is a full order of magnitude more frightening than Nokia’s similar experience with the E70, seeing how Nokia’s update was optional and at least required the user to manually perform the upgrade. Naturally, Sprint’s pulled the bogus firmware and is offering a free replacement to affected customers, but it’s still a shame that they’ve cost Fusic owners a trip to the Sprint Store.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

---

SPONSORED BY: BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time.

Filed under: Cellphones

No shocker here: Sprint officially launched the Treo 700wx today. The specs haven’t been a secret for a while, but we’ll run ‘em down for you anyway:

• Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC (duh)
• XScale 312MHz CPU
• SDIO slot
• 128MB NVRAM (60MB user)
• dual-band EV-DO / 1xRTT
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• Bluetooth 1.2, IR
• 240 x 240 touchscreen
• QWERTY keyboard

Apart from the extra RAM, the 700wx is about the same as its predecessor, the Treo 700w (which Verizon has had exclusively since January). Retail price is $499.99 after “available discounts and promotions,” and $649.99 without.

TreoCentral has a first look, CNET, Laptop, and MobileTechReview have reviews.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

The 700wx looks to be trickling into Sprint retail locations as we speak, and it seems everything we’ve been told about the device so far has been spot-on: it really is bound for Sprint, the addition of the “x” to the name is legit, and it rocks double the RAM (much to the chagrin of plain ol’ 700w users everywhere), though we weren’t necessarily expecting the big, scary floating head on the box. Still no solid word on an official availability date, but stores who’ve received them have apparently been instructed to keep them under lock and key until Sprint proper starts offering them, meaning the previously-reported August 27 date for business customers still seems perfectly plausible. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a Treo 750 rumor mill to attend to.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

It wasn’t too hard to tell who Motorola was giving the wink and nudge to with their “Harmony” project to mix iDEN with WiMAX, but now the word is out that Sprint is indeed going to go with WiMAX for 4G service. Sprint has been planning a new network for a while, but they’ve been on the fence in regards to tech. WiMAX seems a pretty sensible choice these days, with handset heft from Moto and Samsung, Intel’s backing, and even a bit of friendly competition and roaming partnership potential from Clearwire. Sprint, who hasn’t exactly confirmed this report, is said to be thinking of having the network built out by 2008, at a cost somewhere between $1 billion and $4 billion. We’ll be standing by for Sprint to give all these information leaks their stamp of approval, but really Sprint, it wasn’t too hard to guess.

[Via dailywireless]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Sprint-Nextel, CDMA

If the i880 wasn’t really doing anything for you when it surfaced in the wild, perhaps this here i885 will. Motorola’s upcoming halo iDEN devices will see service on both Nextel and Boost, sporting pleather and faux snakeskin exteriors — pick your poison — and a trick button-operated flip mechanism. (If they’re going to get creative with case designs on us, we can only hope they deep-sixed the standard Nextel “beep beep” while they were letting those creative juices flow.) Besides minor cosmetic differences, the phones’ guts are presumably identical; both should be rocking 2-megapixel shooters, music players, and dual color displays. We’re getting mixed reports on whether these are CDMA hybrids, but even if they aren’t, the pair gives Nextel much-needed love in a market segment they aren’t typically accustomed to servicing.

[Via Mobile Magazine]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Sprint-Nextel, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

Alright, Sprint users: who's pumped to land a SLVR of your own? Show of hands, please. How about you Verizon folks? The handful of you with your arms raised high right now, bursting at the seams with anticipation for Moto's rumored CDMA port of the L7, don't have much longer to wait. Buried in with the goodness that Motorola dropped on us Monday was the official news that the L7c is indeed a real device -- though beyond the fact that it rocks EV-DO, we aren't given much to go by. Exact dates, carriers, thickness -- you know, the important details -- all remain mysteries, though Sprint and/or Verizon will clearly be getting the device, and some duration of exclusivity seems to be a logical assumption. The SLVR's GSM variants haven't managed to rock many boats, but decently-equipped candybars are a slightly rarer breed on US CDMA networks, so we can imagine some level of excitement here. Motorola Q-style pandemonium, probably not, but excitement nonetheless.

[Via Mobile Guerilla]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Sprint-Nextel, Misc

It sure feels like Sprint usually just can't buy a break when it comes to quality customer service. This time around, JD Power's sometimes basement-dwellers have been called out for an automated line that was just a little too ready and willing to dish out customer data to anyone who called in. Basically, you'd call the line, enter any Sprint customer's number of your choosing, and promptly be asked to verify the customer's compu-spoken name and home address --among other juicy details -- while calling another number would spit out their bill balance. Understandably, this raised a ruckus in the user community; to their credit, Sprint patched the system rather quickly and issued a statement to that effect -- but not without going into full CYA mode, pointing out that "this process operated well within the bounds of applicable federal and state privacy laws."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Handsets, LG, Sprint-Nextel, EV-DO

If you’re thinking about picking up LG’s Fusic (otherwise known as the LG550) you might want to block off some time to read Phone Scoop’s incredibly thorough review. The handset, which is available now from Sprint, gets high marks for design and advanced features like excellent battery life, A2DP and an FM transmitter, but is hurt by the fact both music players (one for songs purchased from the Sprint Music Store and one for everything else) can’t multitask, so if you need to check your texts, you’ll have to do it in silence. The review goes on to admit that even with interchangeable faceplates and a very familiar scroll wheel, the Fusic is geared more toward the occasional listener than the audiophile, so don’t go making a spot in the junk drawer just yet.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Handsets, Sanyo, Sprint-Nextel, CDMA

Some of us have had it up to here with RAZR variants, accessories, and knockoffs, but it appears slim flips are here to stay regardless of what a few grumbling Engadget editors have to say on the matter. Sprint customers looking to get in on the action without breaking the bank might look toward the Sanyo Katana, which has just been put through PC Magazine's tests and emerged with a 3.5 / 5. The reviewer digs the Katana's QVGA display, rated 4 hours of talk time, and strong reception, but takes a hit for serving up distorted sound at high volumes. Personally we'd be lost without 3G, but if the prospect of an EV-DOless Sprint phone doesn't send you running, the Katana can be yours now for a song on contract.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Sprint-Nextel, CDMA, Misc

In a move that surprises absolutely no one keeping up on the aftermath of Sprint Nextel's merger, the acquisition of Sprint affiliate UbiquiTel has closed this week in an all-cash transaction valued at $1.3 billion. In exchange for taking on UbiquiTel's $300-odd million of net debt, Sprint Nextel adds an additional 452,000 direct subscribers and gains territory in 9 states for a total of roughly 8.3 million in population. Even better, they avoid the wrath of yet another affiliate miffed by the non-compete clause busting merger, which added Nextel territory to many areas serviced by Sprint affiliates and vice versa. With the billions Sprint has now shed on affiliate buyouts, mergin' ain't as cheap as it used to be, it seems.

[Via The Wireless Report]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Handsets, Sanyo, Sprint-Nextel

As expected, Sanyo’s new RAZR competitor the 6600, otherwise known as Katana, has been finally been unsheathed and is now up for grabs on Sprint’s website. The dual band/tri-mode phone (sorry, no EV-DO) weighs in at a paltry 3.4 ounces and packs a pretty out-dated VGA camera, along with Bluetooth functionality, and support for Sprint’s PCS Vision service. Three of the four color options are available directly from Sprint (Mystic Black, Blue Sapphire, and Cherry Blossom Pink), with the Polar White version we saw earlier reportedly a Radio Shack exclusive but apparently not available yet. Price is a fairly reasonable $79.99, providing you’re willing to sign a two-year contract and wait who knows how long for that $50 mail-in rebate.

[Via Slashphone]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sprint has unveiled its latest phone in their arsenal of Samsung handhelds. This thing is cheap, has nice features and won't sleep with your mother. For a mere $50 this phone will give you a wireless backup utility, Sprint PCS Ready Link (or walkie-talkie functionality), Bluetooth, VGA camera, Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia and all wrapped in a cute, black case.

All-in-all it doesn't seem like that bad a phone. It is far superior than the freebie phones that carriers give out but still won't break the bank with the $50 price tag—with two year contract, of course. It is kind of nice to see Samsung pushing some lower end phones compared to all of the other high end uber phones that they have been hocking lately. – Travis Hudson

Sprint Unveils the Samsung A640 [Mobiledia]

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Sprint-Nextel, CDMA

Nextelites saving your pennies for the i880, hold up just a minute. Deets are emerging on the ic502, and while it's not the highest-end phone around, you could be the first kid on your block packin' hybrid iDEN / CDMA heat. As usual, the FCC has done the honors, releasing the user's manual where we see that the ruggedized flip will support CDMA on the 1900 band only, iDEN on 800, and old-skool walkie-talkie on ISM 900; handoff between networks is not supported. Otherwise, not much to talk about -- no Bluetooth, no camera. On second thought, that i880 is looking pretty sweet, ain't it?

[Via phoneArena]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

While much of the world awaits 3G to grace their airwaves, a coalition of companies in the wireless industry are putting together a nonprofit organization in the UK this month to promote the development of 4G. The “Next Generation Mobile Networks” group, consisting of founding members KPN Mobile, Orange, Sprint Nextel, Vodafone, and T-Mobile plus add-ons China Mobile and NTT DoCoMo, is looking to 2010 for the commercial deployment of 4G devices – that’s less than four years away, folks. We’re somewhat skeptical 4G is going to come together for any substantial population in that amount of time, but just in case, we’re going start compiling our list of things to do with 2.5Gbps of WWAN bandwidth now.

[Via EE Times]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Sprint-Nextel, T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone, NTT DoCoMo, Misc

While much of the world awaits 3G to grace their airwaves, a coalition of companies in the wireless industry are putting together a nonprofit organization in the UK this month to promote the development of 4G. The "Next Generation Mobile Networks" group, consisting of founding members KPN Mobile, Orange, Sprint Nextel, Vodafone, and T-Mobile plus add-ons China Mobile and NTT DoCoMo, is looking to 2010 for the commercial deployment of 4G devices -- that's less than four years away, folks. We're somewhat skeptical 4G is going to come together for any substantial population in that amount of time, but just in case, we're going start compiling our list of things to do with 2.5Gbps of WWAN bandwidth now.

[Via EE Times]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, Sprint-Nextel, CDMA

The A640 isn’t new to us, nor is the fact that it’s coming to Sprint, but we thought we’d pay this flip another visit now that it’s gone all official on us. We’ve heard rumors that it packs Bluetooth 2.0, but otherwise the feature list is pretty uneventful, with a VGA camera and Ready Link support in the package. If the A640 speaks to you in ways that other Samsung flips simply haven’t, it’s available for $49.99 on contract from your friendly Sprint outlet.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Handsets, Sanyo, Sprint-Nextel, CDMA

When we were young'uns, we walked eight miles to grade school in waist-deep snow, and if we had to get in touch with our folks, we did it the old fashioned way: with a quarter and a pay phone. And we liked it. Times are changing, though, and virtually every carrier has come to the table with a kid-friendly service, device, or both. This time it's Sanyo's turn, bringing the SCP-2400 in five tasty colors with an integrated parental control feature. The software allows parents to enter in a list of phone numbers the user is allowed to call and / or receive calls from, restrict data usage, and hopefully turn off texting to prevent the ridiculously early onset of RSI. The SCP-2400 drops into the weary hands of parents with excessive phone bills in early July for $29.99 on contract after rebates.

[Via Slashphone]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Video

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Handsets

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments