By now most of the US has seen or at least heard of Verizon’s ad campaign ‘There’s a Map for That’.  Unfortunately At&t didn’t appreciate the ads and eventually filed a case in federal court against Big Red because they believed the maps were being misinterpreted by consumers to think that At&t did not offer any data service in the white areas of their 3G coverage map.  To help set the record straight, the PR team from At&t has released a statement breaking down the facts of the carrier’s data network.

At&t’s 3G network currently reaches 233 million people or 75% of the population while their slower EDGE data network reaches 301 million people or over 96% of the population and finally their GPRS data network, the slowest of the three, reaches 303 million people.  The purpose of the press release was simple, let the nation know that At&t offers data services that cover 97% of the US population.  Unfortunately this does not address the less than stellar reception I have on my iPhone 3GS at home, but at least I can rest well knowing I could have data services if reception permits.

On a side note, many people who use CDMA networks such as Sprint and Verizon Wireless might find it interesting to note that At&t devices with 3G service are capable of sending and receiving data while talking at the same time.

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Now that all four major US carriers have launched their unique versions of the HTC Touch Pro2 it is time to sit down with At&t’s unit, the Tilt2.  The Tilt2 has some big shoes to fill if it hopes to replace the Tilt for At&t customers but without any notable changes to the processing speed or memory capacity can the device live up to the hype.  As we look to answer this and many other questions in our formal review we’d like to start off by showcasing the device in a video unboxing with a rundown of the notable features and a walkthrough of the user interface.  While you will not find a 3.5mm headphone jack on the At&t Tilt2, you will find Windows Mobile 6.5 and for many die-hard Windows Mobile users this along with a larger keyboard and higher resolution screen than its predecessor, might be enough for the Tilt2 to earn a spot in their smartphone collection.  We can’t render a verdict on the Tilt2 just yet, but what we can tell you is that Windows Mobile finally has a device with a top-notch speakerphone and that in itself is a remarkable milestone.

As we continue to release videos to YouTube we’d like to take a moment to ask you, the readers, what you would like to see changed in the videos.  Delivering content that you feel is relevant is our goal so please take a moment and give us some feedback on the last three videos we’ve released to YouTube.

Cellfanatic YouTube Channel

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Today we take a look at the Nokia N97, Nokia’s latest flagship device.  In this unboxing video we walk you through your first steps with the N97 along with a rundown of the menu and user interface.  We end with a few quick words on our initial impression and prepare for the formal review later this week.  This particular N97-1 has been updated to the latest firmware so I can confirm that the device is running very smooth and I haven’t run into any problems using the device in the few short days that I’ve been using it.  If you have any questions about the phone or would like me to record additional videos showing off certain features feel free to leave a message in the comments section on the website or YouTube, enjoy.

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When we first saw the YouTube video leak a GSM version of the Palm Pre in Mexico the first thought that raced through our minds was whether or not we’d see a carrier branded Pre in Mexico.  Today thanks to a press release from Palm we can now confirm that Telcel will offer the Palm Pre in Mexico on November 27.  The device will be available on Telcel’s More for Less Unlimited Internet Plans, but at this time no official device pricing has been released.

The Telcel Palm Pre features the 3.1-inch HVGA resolution touchscreen and slide-out QWERTY keypad we’ve seen on the CDMA version for Sprint.  Where the device differs is the HSDPA/GSM/UMTS connectivity which is being used on the GSM version being sold in Europe.  There was previous speculation that the GSM Palm Pre coming to Mexico would have a reduced storage size, but we can confirm that this is not the case and the device will feature 8GB of internal storage like the CDMA counterpart.  We can also confirm that it does not feature a memory slot like the rumors suggested.

[via Palm]

AT&T announced a new 3G LaptopConnect device from Sierra Wireless, the AT&T USBConnect Lightning, will launch in retail stores beginning November 22. The Lightning will be compatible with AT&T’s High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology. It comes pre-loaded with AT&T Communication Manager (ACM) 7.0 software to help customers manage their connections.

With the upgrade to HSPA 7.2 technology, AT&T continues investments to deliver the nation’s fastest 3G network. AT&T plans for initial deployment of HSPA 7.2 in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami by the end of the year. The company plans to deploy HSPA 7.2 in 25 of the nation’s 30 largest markets by the end of the second quarter of 2010, and to reach about 90 percent of its existing 3G network footprint with HSPA 7.2 by the end of 2011.

The Lightning will be available at no cost after a $100 mail-in rebate with a DataConnect Plan of at least $35 a month. Pay $99.99 after two year agreement and receive a $100 AT&T Promotion Card.

Sure we knew that Apple had sold a lot of iPhones, but a report from Strategy Analytics today has confirmed that Apple has just passed Nokia to become the world’s most profitable handset manufacturer. Alex Spektor, Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, “With strong volumes, high wholesale prices and tight cost controls, the PC vendor has successfully broken into the mobile phone market in just two years.” Neil Mawston, director of the Wireless Device Strategies service at Strategy Analytics, believes that Nokia must do better in the U.S. market if it wishes to recover, adding, “A successful fight on Apple’s high-profit home turf can simultaneously help to revitalize Nokia’s margins and to put a check on Apple’s surging growth.”

Whether your love or hate Apple and the iPhone at this point, it looks like they’ll both be here to stay in the smartphone community for some time.

[via iLounge]

According to Telecoms Korea, Samsung will use Windows Mobile in 50 percent of their devices next year and they will reduce this to 20 percent by 2012.  To replace Windows Mobile, Samsung will use Android and their own operating system, Bada.  Earlier today Samsung announced the launch of its own open mobile platform, Bada.  Bada will become available in December and looks to be the new addition to Samsung’s mobile ecosystem which will enable developers to create applications for millions of new Samsung mobile phones.  The move by Samsung to leave Windows Mobile behind is clearly a sediment shared by other manufacturers after the lackluster release of Windows Mobile 6.5, but the real question is whether more manufacturers will follow Samsung, Motorola and HTC.

Dr Hosoo Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Media Solution Center at Samsung Electronics said, “By opening Samsung’s mobile platforms we will be able to provide rich mobile experiences on an increasing number of accessible smartphones.” He added, “bada will be Samsung’s landmark, iconic new platform that brings an unprecedented opportunity for operators, developers and Samsung mobile phone users around the world.”

The official website (www.bada.com) will open on November 10th and will feature a range of information on bada including updates on product launches, features, and event notices. Samsung will also host an official launch event for bada in London, UK in December and will also unveil its bada software development kit (SDK) to developers for the first time on this date.

[via SymbianWorld and CoolSmartPhone]

Two new devices from PCD are hitting T-mobile this morning, the affordable T-mobile Tap and the T-mobile Jet USB data stick.  The Tap is currently listed on T-mobile’s website for $79.99 on the Even More plan or $179.99 on the Even More Plus plan.  The T-mobile Jet is available for free after an instant $149.99 discount on a mobile data plan.

The T-Mobile Tap™ lets customers enjoy fast Web browsing with T-Mobile web2goSM over T-Mobile’s 3G network – the faster 3G network offering a quicker way to search and find information online while on-the-go. The Tap is easy on the eyes in many ways, from its stylish finish to a generous 2.8” color screen. The Tap is available in two fashionable colors — berry and midnight blue. The Tap supports Instant Messaging (MSN, AOL, Yahoo! clients are pre-loaded) as well as personal e-mail. A high quality 2 megapixel camera with video capture and playback ensures that users can capture any moment. The Tap also features GPS for use with location based services powered by TeleNav and stereo Bluetooth®, a music and video player (MP3, MP4, MPEG4, H.263).

T-Mobile Jet™ a new USB data stick manufactured by Huawei and brought to the market by PCD. The Jet offers fast wireless connectivity on T-Mobile’s 3G Network.
For on-the-go users who want high speed connectivity for corporate network, personal email and Internet access, the Jet offers access to the T-Mobile network at 3G speed wherever it’s available. This 3G USB wireless modem can also be used for text messaging.

The Jet has a small and stylish form factor, measuring (H) 3.2” x (W) 1.1” x (D) 0.5” and weighing 1.1 oz. The USB connector rotates 270?, offers convenient set up and folds into itself for protection when not in use. Perfect for storing and accessing multiple files, the Jet’s internal memory is 128 MB Flash / 64 MB RAM. Optional storage is also available, as the Jet features a microSDSM card slot allowing storage up to 8 GB. The Jet is compatible with a wide range of computers and supports Windows® XP, Vista or 7 or Macs that run Mac OS. Additionally, the Jet can run on multiple bands including GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), GPRS Class 12, HSDPA / UMTS AWS.

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Opera Software today announced that Smart Telecom of Indonesia has selected Opera Mini for the Samsung Pinger and Nexian C951. The Nexian C951, available to Smart subscribers, features a pre-set “O” hot key, an Opera shortcut to ensure that users are always just one click away from the Web.

The BREW-based Samsung Pinger and Nexian C951 use Opera Mini 4.2 to deliver a desktop-computer-like Web experience to the small screen. As the world’s most popular mobile browser, Opera Mini has already made a significant impact in the Indonesian mobile market. Indonesia steadily ranks second in overall Opera Mini usage by country, surpassed only by Russia. Indonesians are using Opera Mini predominantly to access social-networking sites such as Facebook and Friendster from their mobile phones.

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Starting today, Verizon Wireless customers have exclusive access to Mobile Magic, the first Disney-developed mobile application that enables them to easily navigate Disney parks on both coasts, providing helpful and timely information. With either a swipe of their fingers or the touch of a few keys, guests can access an array of park features on their Verizon Wireless phones, including:

• Updated attraction wait times and FASTPASS return times for the park they are in
• Locations of their favorite attractions, characters and restaurants, with GPS-enabled maps
• Restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks
• Tips on what’s happening in the parks
• Trivia games to play against other parks guests

New content will continue to be added to the Mobile Magic application as the attractions and opportunities at the Disney parks and resorts continue to evolve.

Exclusive to Verizon Wireless customers, Mobile Magic is available for download and purchase for $9.99 for a 180-day subscription*. Customers can find the application in the Media Center/Get It Now® under the Travel and Navigation category. Verizon Wireless customers can also text MAGIC to 2777 to purchase the application on a wide variety of feature phones. Download and message charges may apply. Airtime or megabyte data charges may apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications.

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