Sprint (NYSE: S) users with BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) and Android smartphones can now use YouMail-powered visual voicemail service free of charge. You know how it works, right? Just like on the iPhone, plus more:

• You can scroll through incoming voicemail messages to see caller information including caller name, time of call, and length of message
• Play voicemails by simply clicking on them
• Share and forward voicemails as an email or post to a blog
• Delete, archive or save voicemails, forever

In order to use YouMail on your phone, you’ll need the YouMail application. Search for it in the BlackBerry App World or Android Market, depending which device you use. Then go to YouMail’s website, sign up for a YouMail account and follow the brief instructions for forwarding unanswered calls to YouMail. It’s that easy.

An over-the-air software update for the Sprint (NYSE: S) Hero is now available, the biggest change being a fix to SMS and daylight savings time bugs. There’s no documented changelog, but if you notice anything different, feel free to drop a comment. If you didn’t automatically recieve the option to update to 1.56.651.2, go to Settings, About, System Updates, then Firmware Update.

[via BGR]

Update: Oh, snap. Official change log here.

Feature Updates and Enhancements

HTC Hero Software Enhancement SW 1.56.651.2 provides feature updates and enhancements to address the following:
• Improvement to camera picture quality
• DST (Daylight Savings Time) issue addressed
• Unable to receive SMS due to full memory
• Memory leak when Bluetooth is in connecting state
• 3.5mm mono when not using headset with mic
• Dialer application causing excess battery draw

Important note: Dedicated Mute/Speaker buttons have been added to the Talk screen

Verification of updates:
To verify the customer has the updated build after the update:
1. Press Menu, Tap Settings
2. Flick Up, Tap About Phone
3. Scroll up and check Software version: After update 1.56.651.2

Cash-strapped webOS hopefuls and deal seekers alike, take note: Amazon is offering Sprint (NYSE: S)’s Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pixi for just $25. The entry-level webOS smartphone hasn’t been on market for more than a week and we’re already seeing the handset hovering dangerously close to “free with contract” territory. As it stands, Amazon will sell you the Palm Pixi for $24.99 when you purchase it with a new 2-year wireless contract through Sprint.

Remember, though, the Palm Pixi’s entry-level price comes with compromises. The 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen is smaller than the Palm Pre’s display. The 2-megapixel camera falls short of the Palm Pre’s 3-megapixel shooter. And, WiFi isn’t an option. Still, you get GPS, 3G data, 3.5mm headphone jack, and 8GB of onboard storage.

If that’s enough to get you to make the jump, here’s a link to Amazon’s $25 Palm Pixi.

Amazon’s $25 Palm Pixi

[Via: Engadget]

In case you missed it, yesterday was Palm Pixi launch day in the US. The new webOS powered ‘mini Pre’ is available for $99.99 on a 2-year contract after $100 mail-in rebate on Sprint (NYSE: S). Ugh, yes, another mail-in rebate!

For the whole skinny head over to Sprint. You’ll need to enter your zip code… Do what I do and enter the standard ‘90210′. Just for fun.

Note: $100 a little too rich for your blood? Check out Will’s post on a $30 option >

A new Motorola (NYSE: MOT) iDEN clamshell has been spotted at the FCC. It’s the Moto i680, which aside from its “rugged nature” and an iDEN radio (800/900 MHz), also comes with two screens (internal and external), camera with flash that can take both photos and videos, Bluetooth, media player, headset jack, microSD memory card slot. In addition, support for PTX services is also included.

The only problem is the look and feel, which is super outdated, though I’m guessing those who search for a rugged device won’t mind. Neither Sprint (NYSE: S) nor Motorola have released any official information about the i680 at the time of this writing…

[Via: PhoneScoop]

The Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pixi is due to hit market on Sunday, November 15th. Following on the slider-style Palm Pre, the Palm Pixi will launch as Sprint (NYSE: S)’s second webOS-powered smartphone. It’ll feature the same touchscreen and gesture-support we first saw on the Palm Pre, but trades screen size for a slate-style QWERTY keyboard and does away with WiFi. Big Yellow will be asking $100 for the Pixi when purchased with new 2-year contract, but savvy webOS fans like you won’t have to pay full retail. LetsTalk.com is offering the Palm Pixi (with new contract) for just $30 on pre-order. If you’re willing to put up the money on pre-order and wait for the Pixi to ship to your door, this is one hot deal.

There’s a lot competition in the smartphone space right now. Android phones abound, and the iPhone is still going strong. webOS has yet to really hit it big in the US, but at just $30, the Palm Pixi makes a strong case for picking the webOS as your next smartphone platform of choice.

The Palm Pixi features a 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen, 2-megapixel camera, GPS, 3G data, 3.5mm headphone jack, and 8GB of onboard storage. You don’t get WiFi, but as long as you’re within reach of Sprint’s network, you’ll get 3G data speeds. It’s a tradeoff that might be worth the discounted $30 entry fee.

Pre-order your Palm Pixi for $30 here.

[Via: Brighthand]

Well what do we have here? A Palm Pixi sighting… at a Walmart? Yeppers, that’s exactly what we’ve got. PalmTwit reader Tom sent this in just awhile ago, while doing some late night shopping at a Walmart in Tennesee. The picture clearly reveals the Pixi, pressed up against the display case, just trying to get out! Apparently the device was listed for $400 retail, but no other on-contract pricing was available, as the device wasn’t in their system just yet.

While Sprint is due to release the Pixi on us this Sunday ($100 on 2-year contract), don’t be surprised if places like Walmart release the thing just a bit earlier. It happens… and by the looks of things it may happen again with the Pixi.

Stay tuned.

Want some extra cash to blow at Walmart? What if I told you Wally World was giving away $100 gift cards with any BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) purchase from November 14th through the 21st? According to the good folks at Gizmodo, that’s exactly what is going to happen.

The new deal will be both valid in-store and online, but will require your purchase come complete with a 2-year contract. If you were planning to pick up a new BlackBerry anyways, the 14th through the 21st would be a good time to do it. $100 in your pocket to blow on holiday gifts or just treats for yourself could never be a bad thing.

Below is the list of BlackBerry devices up-for-grabs at Walmart:

• AT&T (NYSE: T) Curve 8310
• AT&T Bold 9000
• Sprint (NYSE: S) Curve 8330 (Red & Titanium)
• T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) 8520 (Black, White, and Frost)
• T-Mobile Pearl 8120 (Emerald)
• Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Storm
• Verizon Storm2

Go ahead, start pre-planning your BlackBerry shopping over at Walmart.

When times gets tough, big corporations get to slashing jobs. Sprint (NYSE: S) Nextel knows this all too well. Following a round of job cuts that gave thousands of Sprint Nextel employees the dreaded pink slip, Sprint has announced that it plans to lighten their employee-load by another 2,000 to 2,500 by the end of the year.

The depressed economy has proven to be another obstacle to the  No. 3 US wireless carrier’s push to return to profits. Sprint recently reported a Q3 loss of $478 million, despite the carrier’s snazzy new smartphone lineup that includes headlining devices like the HTC Hero and the Palm Pre.

Sprint is also still struggling to get their WiMAX network deployed nationwide. With controlling stake in WiMAX operator Clearwire, Sprint is betting that their 4G WiMAX network will help turn things around. Sprint Nextel is reportedly putting up an additional $1.176 billion to help Clearwire build out its nationwide 4G WiMAX network in the US. That’s going to put a serious dent in Sprint’s pocketbook.

Sprint’s upcoming job cuts are aimed at saving the company $350 million in annual expenses, but will cost the company $60-$80 million in severance pay this quarter.

[Via: WirelessWeek]

Clearwire finally looks poised to go nationwide with their 4G WiMAX network. The company announced today that it has secured an additional $1.5 billion in funding from its partners to help build out the Clearwire network. Clearwire has been pushing to get their 4G WiMAX network up and running throughout the US, but it’s been a slow process. It takes a lot (seriously, a LOT) of money to build out wireless network infrastructure, money that Clearwire doesn’t necessarily have on tap. Sprint (NYSE: S), somehow, does have the money.

Most of the $1.5 billion comes from Sprint Nextel, which is putting up $1.176 billion in additional funds. Despite quarterly losses that just keep adding up, Sprint is fully invested in the Clearwire network. Sprint has majority interest in Clearwire. The carrier donated its own WiMAX assets to Clearwire as part of a deal that would allow Sprint to use Clearwire’s WiMAX network for its own 4G wireless broadband service. And, with their wireless voice business hurting, Sprint really needs WiMAX to be a success.

In comparison, big-name backers like Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Intel will be giving Clearwire $196 million, $103 million and $50 million, respectively. In that light, it’s clear that Sprint is committed to pushing WiMAX to every corner of the US. Let’s just hope it works out.

[Via: paidcontent]