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The only problem is the look and feel, which is super outdated, though I’m guessing those who search for a rugged device won’t mind.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]

We recently saw the Dell 3ix pop up in Brazil with WiFi and support for wireless frequencies used in the US, indicating that Dell’s Android handset would make it to The States. Today, we have confirmation that the Dell Mini 3iX is indeed headed to AT&T (NYSE: T) (likely in Q1 2010). The FCC has just given its blessing to Dell’s first Android phone, complete with 3G support on the 850Mhz and 1900Mhz frequencies used by AT&T.

The Chinese Dell Mini 3i lacks WiFi to comply with China’s oh-so-reasonable censorship laws, but we’re happy to say the US-bound Mini 3iX will have full WiFi support. It’ll be running a vanilla Android build of some sort (hopefully Android 2.0 “Eclair”) and will feature a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 3-megapixel camera, GPS, 3G data and a microSD card slot.

As for pricing, we’ll have to wait and see. With Verizon (NYSE: VZ)’s Droid and Droid Eris launched today, T-Mobile (NYSE: DT)’s Behold II on the way, and Sprint (NYSE: S)’s HTC Hero already on market, the Dell Mini 3iX has some stiff competition. Hopefully that will mean a cheaper price point.

[Via: UnwiredView]

I haven’t heard about this phone (and manufacturer) before, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad product. Quite the contrary, as its specs include 5-megapixel camera, 3.5-inch WVGA (800×480 pixels) capacitive touchscreen, 624MHz Marvell PXA310 processor, WiFi, GPS, microSD card slot, and that great lookin’ keyboard. We’ve no idea which carrier will end up adding this baby to its portfolio (if any), but the Saygus VPhone V1 certainly looks like a promising device. The only problem I see is in the name – VPhone sounds like something Howard Stern uses to call his wife on Vday.

Anyway, the phone has cleared the FCC and we can only hope it will hit the U.S. market (and other parts of the world, for that matter) just in time for Christmas. Stay tuned…

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

We’ve already seen the Huawei U8220 Pulse passing the FCC hurdle with T-Mobile USA-ready frequencies, and now we have the same/similar device taking the same route, this time sporting the ready-for-AT&T (NYSE: T) 3G bands. That’s 850 and 1900 MHz baby, meaning Huawei’s Android-powered smartphone could end up in AT&T’s (and Canada’s Rogers (NYSE: RCI) Wireless for that matter) portfolio just in time for the upcoming Christmas season. This is not to say we have any inside info — quite the contrary — it’s only to emphasize that’s an option, a viable one, if I might add.

Of course, I wouldn’t expect to see AT&T calling the U8220 – Pulse, as it’s T-Mobile (NYSE: DT)’s brand, and that’s not the point here. The point is to have another major U.S. carrier embracing Android!

As soon as we hear something new, we’ll let you know. Stay tuned…

[Via; AndroPhones]

Nokia (NYSE: NOK) X3 — the non-3G music-centric slider that was announced at this year’s Nokia World in Stuttgart, Germany — has been cleared by the FCC. We don’t have a clue whether some carrier will pick it up, but with this clearance – it’s officially ready for the U.S. market. Since there are no 3G radios involved, it can easily sing along AT&T (NYSE: T)’s or T-Mobile (NYSE: DT)’s networks, relying on EDGE data only. Maybe, just maybe, we see it included in some carrier’s Christmas catalog, though as I said, we have no such information at this stage.

As a reminder, the X3 is a music-centric device sporting dedicated music keys, Bluetooth 2.1, 3.5mm headset jack, 3.2-megapixel camera with flash, stereo speakers, FM radio that works without headsets, 2.2-inch QVGA screen, microSD memory card slot, while Nokia’s feature phone platform Series 40 is running the show.

[Via: Unwired View]

There’s a shortage of wireless spectrum in the US, and it seems TV broadcasters are hoarding more than they need. To answer the “looming spectrum gap,” the FCC has announced that it is considering pulling a “Robin Hood” and taking wireless spectrum away from TV and giving it to wireless carriers. In addition to enacting proposed Net Neutrality rules, the FCC is considering shifting airwaves reserved for digital television broadcasts and auctioned off to wireless service providers – potentially putting upwards of $62 billion in federal coffers, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski believes that the US is on the verge of running out of wireless spectrum to meet the growing demand for wireless services. Under the proposed plan, TV stations would be compensated by the FCC for having some of their spectrum pulled out from under them. But, it’s likely that broadcasters will fight the FCC’s plan. The National Association of Broadcasters “believes it is imperative that policy makers explore spectrum efficiency choices that don’t limit consumer access to the full potential of digital broadcasting,” said spokesman Dennis Wharton.

The proposed spectrum auction is still in its early stages, so it’s unclear if the FCC’s final national broadband plan will include provisions to reallocate spectrum for wireless carriers. We’ll have to wait to see if the FCC pulls the trigger on their “Robin Hood Plan.”

[Via: WSJ]

The Motorola Droid has so far only been confirmed for Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless. In fact, the Droid could become a fantastic hit for Verizon when it launches later this year. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean Verizon will be the only carrier to offer Motorola (NYSE: MOT)’s high-end Android smartphone. Just last week we saw the Motorola Droid pass through the FCC with GSM frequency support, signaling Motorola’s intent to bring the Droid/Sholes/Tao to GSM networks. Today, the folks over at MobileCrunch have been tipped to some solid evidence that a GSM Motorola Sholes/Tao is headed to AT&T (NYSE: T) with full 3G support!

That’s good news for those you of out there impressed enough by Motorola’s Sholes to give the ailing mobile phone maker another chance at glory, but not willing to be tied to Verizon’s CDMA network. A GSM version of the Motorola Sholes probably won’t launch on AT&T with the Droid brand, but should hold onto all the good stuff that makes the Sholes a formidable player in the Android space – 3.7-inch touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera (with flash), 3G data, WiFi and GPS.

And, seeing as how AT&T’s version of the Motorola Droid will support the same 850/900/1800/1900Mhz bands that Rogers (NYSE: RCI) uses for their 3G network up in the Great White North, our Canadian friends have something to look forward to too!

FCC Motorola Droid with AT&T 3G support

[Via: MobileCrunch]

The BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Bold 9700 is just about ready to give CrackBerry addicts in the US a new BlackBerry Bold handset to lust after. Following on RIM’s official unveiling of the trackpad-toting “Onyx” smartphone, the FCC has approved the BlackBerry Bold 9700 for the US. The Bold 9700 unit tested by the FCC apparently featured frequency support on the WCDMA Band IV, which is the same AWS spectrum used by T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) for its 1700Mhz 3G network. We already knew the Bold 9700 would make its way to AT&T and T-Mobile, so this isn’t new news, but it sure is exciting to see the next-gen Bold getting ready to go live.

The Bold 9700 takes the original Bold 9000’s already impressive design and kicks it up a notch. We’re talking faster processor, more application memory, a slimmer form-factor, and a new optical trackpad in place of the trackball that RIM loves to use. That should make for a more enjoyable, and lag-free, BlackBerry experience.

The Bold 9700 also comes pre-loaded with BlackBerry OS 5.0, which Simon had the pleasure of playing with on the Storm2. You’ll still get the same class-leading QWERTY keyboard that first debuted on the Bold 9000, and the same high-resolution HVGA display that made the Bold 9000 a worthy multimedia smartphone – just in a smaller, more refined package.

FCC’s BlackBerry Bold 9700 approval

[Via: Ubergizmo]

As expected, the FCC today posted their proposed draft rules for net neutrality regulations that would apply to wired and wireless broadband data providers. Despite opposition from wireless carriers worried that the FCC would make it harder to manage network traffic and congestion on their wireless networks, the FCC is moving forward with far-reaching net neutrality ruls. In an open meeting today, the FCC outlined its vision to ensure a “free and open internet” for all Americans. The proposed regulations would mostly cement into law four net neutrality guiding principles that the FCC introduced in 2005, but also details two new regulations that would require operator disclosure and non-discrimination.

Read the full article »

FCC has been busy clearing two Samsung devices for the U.S. market.

The first of the two is the Android-powered i5700 aka Spica, which came to FCC in AT&T (NYSE: T)’s 3G flavor (850/1900 MHz). Rest of the specs — aside from a 3G radio — include WiFi, AMOLED touchscreen, GPS, and a 3.2-megapixel camera.

As for the other phone, it’s the Samsung R860 (FCC link), which will apparently come in the same form factor (all-touchscreen). We see the 1700MHz AWS connectivity along with CDMA/EV-DO, hinting us this baby could end up in portfolios of one of the smaller carriers such as MetroPCS (NYSE: PCS) or Cricket.

And that’s it. Hopefully, we’ll soon have something official to report on both devices. Stay tuned…

[Via: Unwired View]