Mobility Watch

Touch Diamond

Is the Verizon Touch Diamond out of touch and synch with demand? The rumors I’ve read floating around the world wide wait seems to think so. I’m seeing ‘low specs’ an ‘months late’. What do you think? Will you be camping out to buy one?

From pdab.net:

Detailed Technical Specifications of Verizon Touch Diamond

Brand: Verizon
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Manufacturer: High Tech Computer
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Hardware-Designer: High Tech Computer
Release;Date: October, 2008
Physical:Attributes
Dimensions
(width x height x depth): 51 x 101 x 14 millimetres
2 x 4 x 0.6 inches
Bounding_Volume: 72.1 cubecentimetres
Mass: 110 grams (battery included)
Software;Environment
Embedded;Operating_System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
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Operating_System-Kernel: Windows CE 5.2
Microprocessor,-Chipset
CPU: Qualcomm MSM7500
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Width:of:Machine;Word: 32 bit
CPU:Clock: 400 MHz
CPU-Core: ARM1136EJ-S
Level-1+cache: 16KiB data cache / 16 KiB instruction cache
Instruction+Set: ARMv6
Memory,_Storage:capacity
ROM-type: Flash EEPROM
ROM+capacity: 256 MiB
RAM-type: mobile DDR SDRAM
RAM;capacity: 128 MiB
Graphical+subsystem
Display+Type: color transflective TFT display
Display+Color:Depth: 16 bit/pixel (65536 scales)
Display+Diagonal: 2.8 ” (72 millimetres)
Display;Resolution: 480 x 640 (307200 pixels)
Viewable_Display;Size: 1.7″ x 2.27″ (43.2 x 57.6 millimetres)
Dot-Pitch: 0.09 millimetre/pixel
Audio_Subsystem
Audio:Channel(s): stereo sound
Analog/Digital Converter
(Recording): 16 bit nominal quantization
44100 Hz sampling frequency
Digital/Analog Converter
(Playing): 16 bit resolution
44100 Hz holding frequency
Microphone(s): mono sound
Loudspeaker(s): mono sound
Audio+Output: Proprietary plug
Cellular:Phone
Cellular_Networks: CDMA800, CDMA1900
Cellular-Data_Links: cdmaOne, CDMA2000 1xRTT, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rel. 0
Cellular;Antenna: Internal antenna
Call_Alert: 40 -chord melody (polyphonic)
Vibrating_Alert: Supported
Speakerphone-: Supported
Phone+Controller: Qualcomm MSM7500 (QDSP4000, QDSP5000)

Blackberry Storm

My Nokai 9500 Communicator feels so much better now that this has come up.

But despite a marketing campaign that cost more than $100 million, the smart phone has gotten off to a bumpy start.

Some early buyers have complained about technical bugs with RIM’s first touch screen BlackBerry, although others say most new gadgets have problems that need to be ironed out.

People familiar with the matter say Verizon Wireless, is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the device, sold roughly 500,000 units in the first month after the Storm’s Nov. 21 launch.

That is a promising start, though well off the pace of AT&T Inc.’s sale of 2.4 million iPhone 3G devices in that device’s first full quarter on the market.

Some Storm owners have complained about everything from clunky software for typing on the touch screen to the device’s sluggish performance with basic tasks like dialing-by-voice or taking photographs.

Verizon femtocell

It’ll be available in Verizon stores and online starting January 25 for $249.99 — not a bad deal for Verizon, considering you’re saving them the expense of erecting a tower.

Not to be outdone, AT&T seems to still have femtocells somewhere on the front burner with surveys going out to subscribers asking whether they’d be interested in a “small, security-enabled cellular base station” they can call their own (via engadget).

Fierce wireless has this to say: What remains to be seen is what Verizon will charge for the femtocell device and the service plan. Sprint charges around $50 for the product and $15 per month for service. Verizon’s commitment, broader than Sprint’s thus far and the only one by a U.S. telco that has both local wireline and wireless networks, may well bring femtocell deployment to its tipping point in the U.S. market.

Is this a wireless technology you would use? I would, if it would mean cheaper, faster internet connections, download times and page loads.

It looks like two of the world’s greatest consumer electronics giants are teaming up to bring together an astounding product. That is, if this is your kind of product.

Well, what happened is that there was a press conference set up by Samsung. And during that mentioned event, the spokesperson for the company was informing the public about a new mobile phone that they would be creating for another giant, Verizon.

Samsung says their new phone is known as the Samsung SCH-U740 and it does look like a dual-flip kind of phone. I believe it can be used not only for calls and for receiving text messages but you can also use it for instant messaging as well.

Samsung also did relate that their new mobile phone for Verizon has got its keypad and number buttons shifting from number mode to alphabet mode, depending on the kind of program or application that the user is using.

[Via GearLog]

Nokia is holding firm on its decision to stop making CDMA phones - and launching another model for Verizon, the 6315i, actually manufactured by Pantech.  (The entry-level Pantech 6215i launched last month.)

This phone may actually be a good choice if you’re a Verizon Wireless customer looking for EV-DO capability at a reasonable price.  That is, if you consider $79.99 under a 2-year contract reasonable, including activation.

Along with your EV-DO in a clamshell you’ll get a 1.3 megapixel camera, external music player controls, microSD memory capability and Bluetooth (without OBEX).  And it’s available now.

[via Phone Arena] 

I like CNET’s review about this phone. It is the perfect summary of what this phone offers.

The good: The compact and snazzy Samsung SCH-A950 features speedy EV-DO performance with access to V Cast videos and the Verizon Music Store; a 1.3-megapixel camera; Bluetooth; a speakerphone; a convenient jog dial on the front for music playback; and a TransFlash expansion slot.

The bad: Unfortunately, the Samsung SCH-A950’s numeric keys are small and slippery. Also, Bluetooth is restricted to wireless handsets, and you must convert MP3s to WMA format for playback on the phone.

This  metallic red phone is perfect to match those red ladies shoes or red dress.  Great for on-the-go women with style.
Samsung SCH-A950 Features

VCast Music

• Download music and store it on your phone with quick access with the easy thumb wheel.

1.3 Megapixel Camera

• Capture your memories with quality and clarity, and share them with
  loved ones.

TransFlash Memory Card Slot

• Capture more photos and video clips with a removable TransFlash
  memory card.

Bluetooth ® Wireless Technology

• Go Mobile. Supports headset and hands-free Bluetooth profiles.

Speakerphone

• Enjoy clear communication with the a950’s dual external stereo speakers.

In a recent FCC auction for enhanced inflight wireless services, Verizon was the loser.  As the parent company of the Airfone inflight phone operation, losing the auction meant Verizon would have to shut down Airfone by the year 2010.  It now appears Verizon isn’t going to wait that long - Verizon says it will end its inflight commercial airline service by the end of the year.   

Verizon inherited the Airfone service when it bought GTE in 2000.  And it hasn’t made any profits since from the phones aboard a thousand United, US Airways, Continental and Delta Airlines aircraft.  Airfone’s pricey service just wasn’t worth it - customers with their own wireless handsets were willing to hold off on making calls until landing, rather than pick up that Airfone.

And it appears Verizon was going to have to retrofit its Airfone equipment on commercial planes within the next two years - just to stay on board those planes through 2010.  Not a sensible investment.  And with its ongoing video rollout, plus broadband and wireless businesses, Airfone was more of a nuisance than a core business.

But while Verizon isn’t going to continue inflight commercial operation of its Airfone service, there is still a chance that the operation could be sold off or a partnership made, perhaps involving AirCell, one of the winners of that FCC auction.  And Airfone’s separate service to private and government aircraft will apparently remain on the air, in the air, for now.

[via New York Times]