mobile

Microsoft is working to hijack Verizon Wireless' search deal from rival Google, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The software giant is counting on Google's recent regulatory distraction in offering more generous revenue sharing and higher payments, the newspaper reported late Thursday.

Google has reportedly been courting the No. 2 wireless carrier for months to make its search engine the default on Verizon phones, but Verizon is considering both offers, according to the Journal's sources.

Microsoft showed its desire to move into Google's search territory earlier this year when it made a multibillion-dollar bid … Read more

Samsung continued its fall deluge of new phones Thursday when it introduced two cell phones for T-Mobile. The Samsung Gravity is a messaging phone in the style of the recently-announced Samsung Rant, and the Samsung Behold (we don't know where Samsung comes up with these names, either) offers a full touch screen.

Though we thought the Rant was Samsung's answer to the popular LG Rumor, we see now that the Gravity (aka the SGH-T459) more closely resembles the LG phone. Features include a slide-out alphabetical keyboard for rapid messaging, a 1.3-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, a speakerphone, organizer … Read more

While Sprint customers are just pleased as punch now that they finally have their HTC Touch Pro, AT&T subscribers are wondering when they'll get the same privilege. Well, if the rumors are to believed, it could be as early as November 11.

The Boy Genius Report got its hands on some internal AT&T documents stating that the carrier's version of the Touch Pro, dubbed the AT&T HTC Fuze, would go on sale November 11 for $299.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. BGR also posted some photos … Read more

I'm a month-to-month T-Mobile customer with a Nokia 6133 that is on its lest leg. I want to get a phone with a full Internet browser and I'm deciding between the iPhone and the T-Mobile G1. I'd also like access for my Yahoo mail, but I don't need my work e-mail. Which do you recommend? Also, I don't own an iPod or use iTunes (I usually use Amazon to purchase music), so I'm concerned about moving to an all-iTunes environment. - EJ

That's a a very good question, EJ, and the answer depends on your individual needs and desires. Though the iPhone is the better overall device (at least right now) a person in your situation should seriously consider the G1. Here is why.

I always tell people who are considering purchasing an iPhone 3G that there are three reasons to buy one. Forget the slick design and the flashy and user-friendly interface; I recommend buying the iPhone for its Web browser, its media player, and (to a somewhat lesser extent) its support for third-party applications. These three areas are where the iPhone performs very well, so I advise basing your decision on a comparison of those points. Sure, the design and interface are important, but I'd treat them and the e-mail integration as secondary motivators. And of course, I wouldn't base my decision on call quality alone, as the iPhone 3G still suffers in that area.

When boiled down to those three points, the G1 offers a compelling alternative to the iPhone. It also has a Web browser and media player and it supports third-party apps. While those apps are limited for now, more will come in the future. And as Bonnie Cha and Nicole Lee reported in their G1 review, the media player and browser offered satisfying performance. Sure, they may not be as good as on the iPhone, but they may be good enough for you. And here's another advantage for you: the G1's integration with the Amazon MP3 store means you wouldn't have to switch over to iTunes. And on a similar note, the G1 would enable you to stay with T-Mobile if you're happy with its service. … Read more

Investments to the tune of $17 million are a rarity these days, but app-factory RockYou has done just that: the San Francisco-based company has announced that Japanese mobile giant SoftBank and Korean telecom investment company SK Telecom Ventures have invested $17 million to create a new joint venture to build apps for the Asia-Pacific market.

RockYou's Series C venture round, which pulled in $35 million, was in June--with the fresh $17 million, the company has raised $67 million so far.

This marks the entry of RockYou, which is best known for its Facebook and MySpace widgets, into the mobile … Read more

Ever since the Motorola announced the ZN5 last June, we've been waiting with bated breath to get our hands on the fancy camera phone.

Monday, it finally lands at T-Mobile. Designed in partnership Kodak (yes, that Kodak), the ZN5 is hardly the first camera phone we've seen, but it certainly stands at the top of the list. Camera options are top-notch, the photo quality is excellent, and the integrated Wi-Fi makes getting photos off the phone a breeze. Of course, it is a phone too, and on that front it succeeds by offering good call quality.

Other features … Read more

Thumplay, a Web site dedicated to your every mobile entertainment desire, announced Tuesday the official launch of a direct-to-mobile (or computer if you choose) MP3 download site. Tracks are 99 cents each or you can pay $9.99 a month for 10 credits with each credit good for one track. Or they can be used for other content on the site.

In general, I don't get too excited about the world having yet another music download site, but since Thumbplay is open to more than just one carrier, works with a ton of mobile devices (basically anything with a … Read more

Updated on 10/21/08 with more detail.

Starting Friday, Americans won't be the only ones able to test drive the newly opened beta for Skyfire's mobile browser.

Now Canadians can, too, after one or two tweaks to Skyfire's registration process gives northern numbers the green light.

While Canada may be the first country outside of the U.S. with a chance to download the mobile browsing alternative, it won't be the only one for long--Skyfire won't announce particulars, but did say that it expects to expand its service to other countries soon. This is … Read more

Napster and AT&T announced Thursday that Napster Mobile is now available to more than 13 million AT&T customers.

As part of AT&T Mobile Music, Napster Mobile is now available on more than 25 AT&T phones, including the new BlackBerry Bold, the Pantech Matrix, and the Samsung Propel.

According to Napster, the expansion was possible thanks to less restrictive DRM. If your phone is compatible, you can purchase and download songs over the air from Napster Mobile for $1.99 each, which also includes a PC copy. If you choose, you can also … Read more