Looks like Bell is getting ready to crank up the Holiday Promo Machine. According to a report over at MobileSyrup, on December 1st Bell will unveil a new ‘Skullcandy Mash Up Package’. The package will be available anyone willing to sign a new 3-year sentence, er, contract with Bell.

So what do you get? Well, for $69.95 you’ll get to choose one of the following packages:

• Red and white Samsung Vice with matching red/white Skullcandy Lowrider headset
• Black Samsung Vice with matching chrome/black Skullcandy Lowrider headset

I should also note that each package will come with 10 free Sony music downloads, to help you workout those new Skullcandy headsets.

Side Note: Check out the new Skullcandy NBA Player Series headsets, coming soon… Neat-o.

There have been rumblings for the last couple of months about a next generation BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Pearl code-named Striker, but in the way of details, we only knew it would have 3G. Well, today the veil has been lifted, and there’s a batch of pictures and a short clip giving us a full hardware tour. In terms of styling, there’s a lot borrowed from the latest BlackBerrys, like the Storm2-style battery door and chrome-finished siding, and the optical trackpad and sharp beveled edge of the Bold 9700, but anyone who used the original 8100 series phones will recognize the similarities immediately. The SureType keys have changed little, except for maybe a little extra rounding, but notably absent is any influence from the Pearl Flip, which featured a completely flush keypad with frets between the rows. Maybe RIM would just like to forget that one, and go with what works, eh? Hardware aside, OS 5.0 is purring like a kitten on there, and Wi-Fi and 3G are both confirmed. Since the home screen is asking for a SIM card, we can only say it’ll be coming to GSM carriers for now. I’m curious what kind of screen resolution it’s packing, but it’s expected to be in the same ballpark as the Bold (HVGA). More specifics are likely on the way, so stick around!

Hit the jump for a quick hands-on video!

Read the full article »

The metaphorical ink on the just-leaked Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Motus spy pic hasn’t yet dried and were already hearing rumors that the Android handset will sport some really unique features. If you thought the form factor was a bit odd, you’re going to want to sit down for this. Word has it that the Moto Motus will feature a “reverse flip keyboard,” and (as if that isn’t crazy enough) something called a “rear directional touchpad.” Of course, the Motus is also rumored to be packing the usual assortment of smartphone features.

All this is completely unconfirmed at the moment, but Android And Me are saying that the Motus will feature a 3.1-inch touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera (with LED flash), 3G data, WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth 2.0. Android 1.5 OS should be running the show with Motorola’s social network-savvy Motoblur UI skinned atop. As for the geeky specs, were expecting a 528 MHz Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM) MSM7201A CPU, 512 MB ROM / 256 MB RAM, quad band (850/900/1800/1900Mhz) GSM radio, and a never-been-done-before quintuple (yes, thats five bands) WCDMA radio pulling down 3G service on the 850Mhz, 900Mhz, 1700Mhz, 1900Mhz, and 2100Mhz bands! For those of you keeping score, that would mean the Motus can hop on any 3G network in the world (even T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) USAs wonky 1700Mhz 3G network) and work as the mobile gods intended.

The “reverse flip keyboard” kinda, sorta, makes sense, given the quirky looking keyboard in the spy pic. That “rear directional touchpad,” however, is just plain confusing. A touchpad on the backside of the touchscreen? Your guess is as good as ours. Whatever it turns out to be, we’re hoping it changes the way we think about interacting with touchscreens.

[Via: MobileCrunch]

You see the handset in this here blurry spyshot? It’s apparently the Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Motus that was rumored in a leaked roadmap not too long ago. We know, it looks like it was taken by Mr. Blurry-cam’s drunken step-brother after a booze-fueled night of fun, but Engadget Mobile has confirmed that what we’re looking at is another Android-powered smartphone from Motorola.

The Motus looks like a respectable smartphone from what we can see in the spy pic, but we’ll have to wait until we put hands on it to really get a feel for it. That keyboard might prove to be a sticking point, but, again, that’s us just talkin’ to the wind. The Motus has a lot to live up to…

[Via: EngadgetMobile]

It was, gosh, way back in August when Simon reported on this one. He spotted the BlackBerry 8530 in Verizon (NYSE: VZ)’s internal systems, and noted that it looked like a Lavender color option was in the works.

Today, while doing my usual morning rounds, I noticed a pic of said device, and I’ve included it for you above. Nothing game changing here, but it is at the very least good to see the Verizon branding at the bottom… Rumor has it the 8530 (in black and lavender, aka ‘violet’) is going live on Verizon November 20th… Wait… that’s tomorrow! Hold on tight and let’s see what we get!

[Via: PhoneArena]

Now that Windows Mobile 6.5 is getting out there into the public, it’s time we started seeing something regarding the next generation of Windows phones. Apparently an early demo of WinMo 7 was shown to a private audience; some folks, like @ryanblock, kept their yap shut about it (presumably under the force of a non-disclosure agreement), but some of SoloPalmari’s impressions made it out to Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Translate before getting DCMA’d in the face:

Revolutionary, no need to take away: the next version of Windows Mobile, as shown by the leaks and the first screenshots of the new system, the Web will soon be spring, we are faced with an upheaval of the logic of interaction and not just a substantial revision of the interface. The concept of “applications”, as the programs continue to live their important identities, will bend to the principle of “user experience”.

Finally the performance, the fluidity in the display of screens, images and icons becomes a priority. As powerful and versatile Windows Mobile will be next, will never submit to slowdowns and delays in the response. How will, indeed, as they did to achieve this result is not yet technically clear. But developers say Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is certain: the experience of use to forget the “old” Windows Mobile.

Those are some very promising (if awkward) words, and if Microsoft delivers, WinMo could be set for a resurgence to properly compete with the rest of the smartphone ecosystem. That’s a best case scenario, of course, since Windows has a lot of ground to make up for, what with new players like Android stealing the spotlight and riding a lot of momentum. Many of the important updates coming to WinMo 7 aren’t entirely secret – we’ve seen lots of bits and pieces, and one especially beefy leaked strategy document, but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more juicy tidbits, especially now that Microsoft is starting to get comfortable talking about the update.

[SoloPalmari via MobileTechWorld]

It is being reported that Telenor is mulling acquisition of Pakistan’s Warid Telecom for around $1.3 billion. If this proves true and Norway-based company succeeds, it will leave the Dhabi Group with 7% of Warid, while other 30% will stay with Singtel.

According to Pro Pakistani, the talks went through in a smooth way, with Telenor agreeing to paying the value that was pretty acceptable for Dhabi Group.

Pakistan telecom market includes 5 big players: Moblink with just over 28 million customers, Telenor and Ufone with just under 20 million customers, Warid Telecom with around 17 million, and China Mobile (NYSE: CHL)-owned Zong with with just under 6 million customers.

And for the record, China Mobile had previously tried to buy out Warid Telecom but reportedly failed to reach an agreement on the price…

[Via: CellularNews]

The most promising thing coming from Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) these days is the Android-powered X10, but not so fast – they haven’t put all of their eggs in one basket. This here is the Kurara, a Symbian smartphone with 8 megapixel camera with LED flash, ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz processor, 3.2″ touchscreen, and HD video recording at 720p. Also called the U5, the usual fixings like GPS, Wi-Fi (with DLNA support), 3.5mm, microUSB and HSDPA/HSUPA connectivity are packed inside. We’ll have to see more of the device to pass judgment, but maybe SE should take a hint from Motorola (NYSE: MOT) and focus on Android for the immediate future. No release date, target markets, or pricetag just yet, but we’ll be keeping an eye out.

[via GSMArena]

Last night Michael Arrington from TechCrunch posted an article claiming that he has some magical inside knowledge about an upcoming Google Android phone. He believes that Google (NSDQ: GOOG) will make their own mobile device, with their own Google branding, but that it will be built either by Samsung or LG. Google will then sell this device as something they’ve created. When is this mythical creature supposed to be announced? January.

The same incorrect information was released by Ashok Kumar, an analyst with Northeast Securities, and published by Scott Moritz from The Street, almost a month ago. I had this to say about the Google phone rumour:

“Google would never, ever, make an Android device. That would hurt their relationships with current vendors, it requires a completely different skill set than what any Google employee currently has, and most importantly it would tarnish the image of Android since all other devices would be compared to Google’s hypothetical ultimate smartphone.”

A few days after that article on The Street hit the net, Tom Krazit from C|Net had a chance to speak to Andy Rubin, Vice President of Engineering for Android at Google. He confirmed my sneaking suspicion that Google would never hurt their partners:

“We’re not making hardware, we’re enabling other people to build hardware.”

And he later added Google does not want to “compete with its customers”.

So I’m sorry Michael Arrington, but you’re wrong.

Update: Michael responded to this article on TechCrunch. He says that it’s possible the Google phone is IP only and will work via voice over IP. I still don’t buy it.

Shaw Wu from the Kaufman Bros. analyst firm has claimed that a 9900-series BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) is in prototype phases, packing a touchscreen slider form factor. The supposed device will mix the traditional BlackBerry style with the Storm, which makes me think it’ll be a portrait slider like the Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre. Now, I’ve been calling for a slider BlackBerry for awhile now, and there have been similar rumors floating around about the 9100 Striker (although it’s in the Pearl family) and the landscape-oriented Mr. T; patent designs from RIM certainly show they’ve been thinking about it, but I’ll believe it when I see it. This new Storm 3 device has a lot of potential for appealing to consumers who still hate SurePress for typing, although it would go against the slim and trim look the latest BlackBerrys have been adopting. In any case, the 9900 should be landing sometime in 2010, according to Wu’s contacts in the supply chain, so cross your fingers.

[via Electronista]