As an apparent answer to all those Nexus One customers who have been complaining that Google (NSDQ: GOOG) is taking too long to respond to customer service emails/inquiries, Google has rolled out a new Nexus One customer support hotline. Now, instead of just emailing the traditionally closed and uncommunicative search giant, Google is offering Nexus One owners and soon-to-be users a phone number that they can call to talk to a live person. Combined with the Google’s decision to lower the Nexus One return fee, it seems Google is looking to boost the Android phone’s flat sales.

Here’s Google’s statement on the matter:

“By design, we focused initially on providing the best possible customer support through our on-line channel, and our experience in the four weeks since the Nexus One launch enabled us to significantly enhance that on-line support offering. We have been able to address a large majority of customers’ inquiries successfully through on-line support, in combination with phone support from our partners, HTC and T-Mobile (NYSE: DT). That said, our approach with our new consumer channel is to learn fast and continue to improve…Live phone support from Google, combined with an optimized on-line support experience, enables a superior Nexus One customer experience.”

Starting today, Google will field all your Nexus One customer support questions through their new toll-free phone number. If you’re in the US, just dial (888) 48NEXUS (63987) between 4 a.m. and 7 p.m. to talk to a real, live person. If you’re thinking about calling to get technical support or in reference to your T-Mobile service, you can find phone numbers here.

Google’s Nexus One sales have been fairly flat since the Android phone was launched earlier this year, but things may change with Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s decision to reduce its early termination fee. The Nexus One maker has been getting some bad press surrounding the Nexus One’s $350 early return fee – something Google calls their “equipment recovery fee” – and has even drawn an official inquiry by the FCC. It’s not clear why, exactly, but Google has announced that it has dropped the fee for returning a Nexus One down to $150.

Still, the drop in fees doesn’t make the Nexus One a cheap smartphone to return. Google’s new $150 “equipment recovery fee” rides on top of T-Mobile (NYSE: DT)’s $200 ETF fee, so it’s still going to cost you a pretty penny to give the N1 back to Google. If you return the phone within 14 days of purchase, you’re free and clear of the penalty. But, should you return the phone after 14 days, you’ll be stuck paying Google’s fee in addition to T-Mobile’s ETF.

Check out Google’s new Nexus One terms of sale here.

If you’re thinking about updating your iPhone to the latest iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware, you might want to note that the update will essentially stop you from unlocking your iPhone for use on GSM networks that aren’t your official iPhone carrier. The iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware comes bundled with a new baseband firmware version (05.12.01) that makes it impossible to unlock the iPhone to use on, say, the T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) USA network. We’re telling you this because we’re a bit surprised by new stats from Medialets that indicates that 14% of iPhone users have updated their iPhones to the new iPhone OS 3.1.3 since last week.

The baseband modem is the piece of technology that allows your iPhone to communicate with wireless networks like AT&T (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile. It’s this baseband modem’s firmware that controls whether or not you’re allowed to surf multiple GSM networks, or just the one that sold you your iPhone. The thing is, there are hacks out there that will unlock almost all versions of the baseband, but none of them work on this latest version. Even the latest iPhone hacking utility, PwnageTool, won’t be able to hack this new baseband to work with unlocking utilities like blacksn0w or ultrasn0w.

Medialets also mentions that 87% of those that updated to iPhone OS 3.1.3 came from the previous iPhone OS 3.1.2 firmware. The only real benefits of the new iPhone OS are it’s less buggy batter meter and better support for third-party apps that were reportedly crashing with 3.1.2. Considering that most people probably don’t need the iPhone OS 3.1.3, we thought it was only right that we let you know what you’re losing by updating your iPhone.

In the end, if you don’t travel or could care less about using your iPhone on other GSM networks, just ignore this post. This concludes our Public Service Announcement. You’ll now be returned to your regularly scheduled programming.

[Via: Medialets]

One of the things we’re most excited to see at Mobile World Congress 2010 is the unveiling of the Windows Mobile 7 platform from Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT). Ever since the iPhone came on the scene and showed the world just how horribly behind the times Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system had become, we’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about what to expect in the revamped WM7. They’ve mostly painted WinMo 7 in a positive light, but the latest rumor chops our excitement down a notch. Word on the street suggests that Microsoft will not allow multi-tasking in Windows Mobile 7. That means you can only actively use one mobile app at a time, much like the iPhone OS.

The rumor goes on to mention that Windows Mobile 7 will allow apps to be “paused,” rather than allowing them to continue running in the background. That pretty much means Windows Mobile 7 will allow apps to save their current state when the user closes them or switches to another app. When the “paused” app is reactivated, the user will see the app exactly as they had left it – text intact, cursors in the same place, document scrolled to the same position, and maps pointing to where you left off. The rumor also makes mention of a push notification system, similar to the way iPhone apps notify iPhone users of updates even when the apps are not running.

There are a lot of things about the iPhone OS that we’d love to see in WM7. There’s the intuitive interface, the finger-friendly buttons and menus, the lack of a stylus. Microsoft would do well to emulate Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s iPhone OS on those fronts. But, when it comes to multi-tasking, we’d rather see Microsoft going down a different road. Push notifications are great, but they’re still a compromise. Allowing apps to save their state (pause) is handy, but still not the same as allowing apps to run in the background. Granted, multi-tasking is resource intensive, but seeing as how it’s already 2010 and we’re not flying around in spaceships or eating food made by replicators, it’d be nice to at least have a Windows Phone that can multi-task.

As for the user interface, Microsoft is rumored to be using design elements from its Zune HD interface. The interface is codenamed “Metro” and is said to be clean and soulful. It’s this interface that Microsoft will unveil at MWC. Unfortunately, we’re also hearing that apps will only be allowed to install through official channels, like Windows Marketplace for Mobile. The days of side-loading apps on your Windows Phone might soon come to an abrupt end.

We’ll know more next week, at Microsoft’s press conference in Barcelona. Make sure to keep an eye on IntoMobile, we’ll be coming to you live from Mobile World Congress with complete coverage of the event!

[Via: PPCGeeks]

It’s only been a handful of days since Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) released their iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware update through iTunes, and the iPhone Dev Team has already come out with a way to jailbreak the new firmware. The new firmware does little more than fix buggy battery level indicators and Japanese language keyboards, so most of you probably won’t need to install the update. But, there’s invariably going to be a subset of jailbroken iPhone users that can’t resist the urge to update to a brand spankin’ new firmware. For those of you in this group, the iPhone Dev Team has released PwnageTool 3.1.5 to jailbreak iPhone OS 3.1.3!

The PwnageTool utility creates a custom iPhone restore file that you can use to update and jailbreak your iPhone in one felled swoop. PwnageTool 3.1.5 will strip the iPhone OS 3.1.3 update file of its newer baseband modem firmware and replaces it with an older version that can be unlocked with ultrasn0w – this allows you to keep using your iPhone unlocked on any GSM carrier in the world. If you were to update your currently unlocked iPhone 3GS to iPhone OS 3.1.3 without PwnageTool, iTunes will replace your iPhone’s baseband firmware with a new version that cannot be unlocked.

For those of you using a newer iPhone 3GS or had previously updated your firmware to a newer version (05.11.07), you’re going to want to avoid updating to iPhone OS 3.1.3 altogether, if you plan to use your iPhone on unofficial GSM carriers. As long as you stay at iPhone OS 3.1.2, you can jailbreak your iPhone 3GS using blackra1n or PwnageTool and then run GeoHot’s blacksn0w unlock utility to free your iPhone of GSM lockdown.

Get PwnageTool 3.1.5 here.

Are you having trouble coping with the reality of not having one of Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s “magical” iPads in your hands? Rather than sweat through the next couple months in want of the slick tablet device, you can try to trick your desires into submission with a DIY iPad. It’ll be made of paper and no more useful to you than any other placebo, but it might just be enough to help you sleep at night.

If anything, printing out, cutting, and assembling the paper iPad will kill some time as you wait for the tablet to launch in a couple months.

Credit for the iPaperPad goes to Revolutionary Concepts‘ Jess Silverstone.

[Via: JohnChow]

The Nexus One has been multi-touching itself with all kinds of pinch zoom functionality for days now, while Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Droid users have been left wanting a quick and convenient way to zoom in and out of web pages and Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Maps. Today, thanks to an otherwise unassuming update to the Android Google Maps app, Droids across the nation can now pinch-zoom their hearts out.

The Google Maps 3.4.0 update is now available in the Android Market. Fire up your Droid, head over to the Android Market, and update your Google Maps app. It’s that simple. Well, it’s not as simple as the over-the-air update for the Nexus One, but at least you can control when you get the update this way. You’ll be up and multi-touching your Droid like it’s going out of style in no time flat.

Hey, iPhone, looking over your shoulder much?

[Via: I4U]

The iPhone AppStore has and always will be controlled Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s iron-fisted app approval team, which is fine, because that usually means iPhone users can expect reliable and high quality apps. But, when Apple uses its control over the AppStore to censor more than just “adult” content, it starts to feel a little Big Brother-ish. Finding itself directly at odds with Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s Android platform, Apple has reportedly prohibited an iPhone app from mentioning “Android” in the app’s description. The Flash of Genius iPhone app’s description wasn’t obscene or erotic in any way, it just happened to mention Google’s Android Development Challenge.

Having Apple filter apps through its “decency” screen is one thing, but to censor an app’s description of the word “Android” just rubs us the wrong way. This is the notice that the developer of Flash of Genius, Tim Novikoff, got from Apple:

“During our review of your application, we found that your application contains inappropriate or irrelevant platform information in the Application Description and/or Release Notes sections.

“While your application has not been rejected, it would be appropriate to remove ‘Finalist in Google’s Android Developer’s Challenge!’ from the Application Description.

“Please log into iTunes Connect to make appropriate changes to the Application Description now to avoid an interruption in the availability of Flash of Genius: SAT Vocab 2.2 on the iPhone App Store.”

Now, Apple didn’t come right out and say it, but it’s clear that Apple would drop the Flash of Genius app if the developer didn’t remove its claim to fame in the Android space. The app is live on the AppStore at the time of this writing, sans any references to the mobile operating system that shall not be named.

Is it right? We say no, but you might disagree. Either way, let us know what you think in the comments below!

[Via: PCWorld]

The Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Milestone launch on TELUS (NYSE: TU) might not be all that exciting for the HSPA-less residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but it sure is exciting for everyone else on Canada’s TELUS network. Following on news that the Motorola Milestone will soon be hitting Canadian airwaves, Best Buy has seemingly confirmed what the carrier has been reluctant to admit thus far – the Milestone will go live on February 18th! More to the point, GSM Droid hopefuls in the US will want to mark down that date in their calendars as the first day that a GSM variant of the Motorola Droid will be available with AT&T (NYSE: T) 3G compatible frequencies.

The implications here are huge. The Motorola Droid is so far a Verizon-only affair. Big Red’s network is completely incompatible with AT&T’s network, so the option of unlocking a US Droid for use on AT&T’s 3G network is out of the question. But, unlocking a TELUS Milestone for use on Big Blue’s network is totally within the realm of possibility. Imagine a Droid that will surf on a 3G network that lets you surf the web and make a voice call at the same time.

Now, get to working on figuring out just how you’re going to get a TELUS Milestone across the border.

[Via: MobileSyrup]

While not quite up to the kind of sales numbers that the iPhone and Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Droid have been enjoying, Google’s Nexus One has managed to find 80,000 new homes in January. Following up on a report that Google sold 20,000 Nexus One Android phones in the first week of sales, it seems Google has been selling their first smartphone at a steady rate of 20k per week. The sales figures – which come from Flurry Analytics by way of the WSJ – aren’t anything to write home about, and definitely won’t give Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) or Motorola reason to lose sleep at night, but they do hint at an interesting potential future for the Nexus One – that of the undercover blockbuster hit.

Again, 80,000 units sold during a launch month is not impressive for the a smartphone of the Nexus One’s pedigree. But, keep in mind that sales have been steady and decently strong – again, not compared to the iPhone, but 80,000 is not a small number in and of itself. Also, keep in mind that the Nexus One is only fully functional on T-Mobile (NYSE: DT)’s 3G network. Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone will be launching the Nexus One in the spring, which will open up the Nexus One to a whole new market. It’s also rumored to hit AT&T (NYSE: T).

When the Nexus One goes live on Verizon, the phone could very well go from undercover status to a true-blue blockbuster success. What do you think, dear reader? Will the Nexus One come into its own once it hits Verizon? Will sales continue to lag (relatively) throughout the year? Keep in mind that Android 2.1 OS will be rolled out to other Android phones by that time.

[Via: I4U]