Best Buy Prices Nokia Lumia 920 at $149, HTC 8X at $99
Best Buy has made the Nokia Lumia 920 and the HTC 8X Windows Phones available for preorder on its web site. Best Buy is charging $149.99 for the Lumia 920 and $99.99 for the 8X. Best Buy is offering the black, cyan, white, red, and yellow versions of the Lumia 920, and the purple version of the 8X. Customers must sign a new two-year contract with AT&T; in order to get those subsidized prices. The off-contract full retail price is listed as $599.99 for both phones. AT&T; has previously committed to selling both devices, but this is the first time a price point has been given for either phone. Best Buy does not list a shipping date for the Lumia 920 or 8X, but says they will ship "when available." AT&T; has not said when the devices will go on sale.
Motorola Talks Jelly Bean Updates for Its U.S. Devices
Motorola has updated the list of devices that will receive updated versions of Android and is revealing for the first time those slated to get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The Droid RAZR M, RAZR HD, and MAXX HD are all schedule to receive the Jelly Bean update before the end of the year. Other devices that will be updated to Android 4.1 include the Atrix HD, Photon Q, Electrify 2, and the Droid RAZR, RAZR MAXX, 4, and Bionic. Motorola didn't say when this second group will receive Jelly Bean. Devices not on these lists are likely to be updated only as far as Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Review: Motorola Droid RAZR HD / MAXX HD for Verizon Wireless
Motorola is gunning to take down the competition with the RAZRs redux. Phone Scoop tackles everything you wanted to know about the Droid RAZR HD and Droid RAZR MAXX HD in this full review.
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T-Mobile Drops 200MB Entry-Level Data Plan
T-Mobile USA is no longer offering its low-cost 200MB data plan to new post-paid smartphone customers. The least expensive option is now a 2GB Classic Unlimited Plus plan, which costs $20 per month. The 200MB plan had cost $10 per month. According to T-Mobile, the change will not impact existing customers who already have the 200MB plan. The 200MB plan will be available only to customers who choose to pay full price for their handset (or supply their own) and enroll in one of T-Mobile's Value plans. T-Mobile believes the change will protect its smartphone customers from overages and throttling. The change went into effect October 10.
Samsung Rugby Pro Arrives October 21 for $99
AT&T; announced that the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro wil be available online and in stores starting October 21. The device, which is a ruggedized Android smartphone with a 4-inch display, 5-megapixel camera, and PTT, costs $99.99 with a new contract.
from AT&T;
Sony to Trim Jobs, Close Phone Assembly Plant
Sony today provided more details about previously announced job cuts and other cost-saving measures. The company plans to lay off approximately 2,000 people from its headquarters and plant in Gifu, Japan. Another 2,000 workers employed in Sony's European offices will also be let go. Sony earlier this year said it would cut up to 10,000 jobs by March 2013. In addition to the job cuts, Sony also plans to shutter a manufacturing facility that makes camera lenses and mobile phones. Sony believes these changes will help it save about $380 million in costs per year.
Google Play Store Teases Carrier Billing for Verizon Devices
Owners of Android devices that run on Verizon Wireless's network will soon be able to pay for Google Play Store purchases via their wireless bill. The official Twitter account for the Google Play Store revealed this information on Twitter, but didn't provide any further details. Verizon is the only carrier among the four largest that doesn't yet support carrier billing in Google Play. The feature will be enabled in the coming weeks.
MetroPCS Selling Samsung Galaxy S III for $499
MetroPCS today announced the pending availability of the Samsung Galaxy S III. The device will be available in select stores beginning this weekend, and in all stores and online by October 22. It includes all the same features available on other variants of the device, and supports MetroPCS's LTE 4G network. The MetroPCS version of the Galaxy S III is sold without a contract and costs $499. Service plans range from $30 to $70 per month.
Sony Provides Rough Jelly Bean Update Roadmap
Sony Mobile today revealed a list of its devices that will be updated to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. According to Sony, the bulk of its 2012 Xperia lineup will receive Jelly Bean, including the Xperia T, TX, and V. These devices will begin to receive Jelly Bean during the middle of the first quarter of 2013. Other devices slated for Jelly Bean include the Xperia S, acro S, ion, P, go, and Xperia J. Sony will provide more information with respect to the timing of the Jelly Bean update for this second list of phones at a later date. Most of Sony's 2011 devices will be updated as far as Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwhich, but not Jelly Bean.
Huawei Summit Shows Up on T-Mobile.com for $49
T-Mobile USA recently listed the Huawei Summit for sale on its web site. This bar-style device appears to be almost identical to the Prism, also made by Huawei and on sale with T-Mobile since May. Both phones feature a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, 3.2-megapixel camera, and support for T-Mobile USA's HSPA+ high-speed network. Other features include Wi-Fi (with Wi-Fi Calling), GPS, and Bluetooth. According to T-Mobile's web site, the Huawei Summit runs a proprietary operating system. The software appears to be based on Android. The user manual describes an Android interface, except lacking Gmail and possibly Google's Play Store. It costs $49.99 with a new contract.
Sprint Buys Into RIM's Mobile Fusion Suite
Sprint today announced that it is now offering Research In Motion's Mobile Fusion device management software to its business customers. Mobile Fusion allows businesses to manage not only their company's BlackBerry smartphones, but also Android smartphones and the iPhone used by company employees. Mobile Fusion is a key piece of RIM's business support software as it transitions from BlackBerry 7 to the BlackBerry 10 platform and BES 10.
Latest Version of Swype Syncs Dictionaries Across Devices
Nuance Communications has released a new beta version of its Swype keyboard for the Android platform. This update adds a number of new features, including the ability to save and sync user-generated dictionaries across multiple devices. Swype now also includes more themes, supports more languages, offers better options to tablet users, and adds support for an evolving dictionary that is updated based on how language changes through popular culture. Swype for Android must be downloaded from Swype's web site.
Sprint Invests Just Enough in Clearwire to Give it 50.8%
Sprint has purchased some Class A and Class B shares in Clearwire from Eagle River Holdings, according to regulatory filings cited by the New York Times. The stock purchase, which was not given a monetary value, raises Sprint's stake in Clearwire from 48% up to 50.8%, giving it majority ownership of the company. The Times notes that gaining control of Clearwire was not a necessity for Sprint to receive $20.1 billion in financing from Japan's Softbank, but it "simplifies the relationship." Late Wednesday, AT&T; expressed concern over the amount of spectrum that Softbank could come to control with its ownership stake in Sprint and Clearwire.
AT&T; Uneasy with Clearwire Portion of Sprint-Softbank Deal
AT&T; today issued a statement once it learned that Sprint may take a controlling interest in Clearwire in order to facilitate its deal with Softbank. "Softbank's acquisition of Sprint and the control it gains over Clearwire will give one of Japan's largest wireless companies control of significantly more U.S. wireless spectrum than any other company," said Brad Burns, AT&T; vice president. "We expect that fact and others will be fully explored in the regulatory review process. This is one more example of a very dynamic and competitive U.S. wireless marketplace, which is an important fact for U.S. regulators to recognize." AT&T; isn't officially protesting the deal yet, but Burns' comments indicate that AT&T; wants to be sure the Federal Communications Commission, Department of Justice, and other government regulators weigh the potential impact on spectrum ownership the proposed deals might have. Sprint was a highly vocal opponent of AT&T;'s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA, which regulators shot down last year.
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Sprint to Wrest Control of Clearwire from Other Investors
Sprint is preparing to regain control over Clearwire without actually acquiring the company. Citing people familiar with Sprint's plans, the Wall Street Journal reports that Sprint is negotiating with Clearwire's other investors in order to regain a majority interest in the company. The deal, if struck, would give Sprint the ability to appoint the entire board of directors overseeing Clearwire. This would give it control of Clearwire by proxy. According to the Journal's sources, gaining control of Clearwire was a condition of winning the $20.1 billion investment from Japanese network operator Softbank, which was announced earlier this week. Terms of the deal between Sprint and Cleawire's other investors, which include companies such as Intel, were not disclosed.
Google Delivers Stand-Alone Android Calendar App
Google today released a new, stand-alone Calendar application for the Android platform. According to Google, the new Google Calendar is the same software that was previously only available to the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus. It includes features such as the ability to snooze events from the pop-up notification; send preset messages to event attendees; pinch-to-zoom in/out of individual days; and set a home time zone for use when traveling. The new Google Calendar app is available to all handsets running Android 4.0.3 and up. It is a free download from the Google Play Store.
FCC Outs Casio G'zOne Smartphone for Verizon
Documents seen on the Federal Communications Commission web site provide details about a previously unannounced device from Casio. The FCC confirms that the Casio C811 runs on an LTE frequency used by Verizon Wireless, in addition to Verizon's CDMA frequencies. The FCC shows that the C811 also runs on international GSM spectrum bands. Other features revealed by the FCC include a microSD slot, Wi-Fi, and NFC. A drawing of the C811 shows G'zOne branding, which is used for Casio's rugged line of devices. Given the presence of LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, and international GSM support, it is likely that the C811 is an Android smartphone bound for Verizon Wireless. Neither Casio nor Verizon Wireless has provided any details about this device.
Review: LG Optimus G for AT&T;
AT&T;'s variant of the LG Optimus G features slightly different hardware and software when compared to the Sprint variant. Is different, in this case, better? It just might be. Here is Phone Scoop's full report.
