There’s more to the Droid than its high-end spec-sheet and Android 2.0 OS. Turns out, Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless is going to let Droid owners use their new smartphone as a 3G modem. But, it’ll cost ‘ya.

In return for allowing you to connect your laptop to your Droid and use its 3G data connection to hop online (tethering), Verizon will ask that you hand over an additional $30 per month – that’s on top of the $30/month data plan that gives you 5GB of data per monthly billing cycle. The tethering option basically doubles the cost ($60) of the Droid data plan, which gives you a total 10GB of data allowance.

The cost might be a bit prohibitive, but at least it’s an option on the Droid. Unlike some other smartphones that we won’t mention by name.

[Via: EngadgetMobile]

Gotta love it when carriers update their networks for a faster and better mobile experience. Case-in-point today comes Hong Kong’s SmarTone-Vodafone (NYSE: VOD). They’ve announced the launch of their HSPA+ network upgrade. The upgrade (in theory) brings peak network speeds of 21 Mbps.

Douglas Li, CEO of SmarTone-Vodafone commented on the upgrade:

“SmarTone-Vodafone will continue upgrading network speeds to 28 Mbps and 42 Mbps next year, paving the way for 80 Mbps and even higher speeds with implementation of LTE…We are firmly committed to delivering best-in-market broadband services and customers will love the difference.”

Besides the groovy network upgrade, SmarTone-Vodafone has introduced 3 new mobile broadband price plans as well. The new plans are designed to meet customers’ different needs. The new ‘Power 3′ plan provides usable speeds of 2.3 Mbps, the ‘Power 7′ offers 2.6 Mbps, and the ‘Power 21′ plan brings speeds of 2-14 Mbps. Depending on your requirements and needs, it looks like SmarTone-Vodafone has a plan tailored for folks in Hong Kong.

[Via: Cellular-News]

Fido customers that have been waiting for a new stylish and compact flip device may not have to wait that much longer for the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) 2720 ‘Fold’. In a little promo image (above) you’ll notice a ‘coming soon’ starburst slapped right on top of the 2720. If you’re looking for a solid, compact flip device, the 2720 fits the bill. Great to have when you need to have a small device you can just tuck away in your pocket.

The 2720 features a 1.3MP camera with video, FM radio, Bluetooth, MP3 player, and 2.5mm audio jack. Pretty basic for sure.

The Nokia 2720 will go for free on a 2-year contract, or $125 contract-free or prepaid. I’ll keep an eye on the Fido site for more information as it becomes available.

[Via: MobileSyrup]

Chalk this one up as a highly suspicious piece of information, but Einar Rosenberg, who is in charge of the Near Field Communications group on LinkedIn, a social network no one really uses anymore except those trying to find a higher paying job and to show off which fancy schools or companies they’ve worked for, is saying that a highly reputable source has told him that there are 4th generation iPhone prototypes floating around with a built in RFID reader:

Had to share this news. A highly reliable source has informed me that Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) has built some prototypes of the next gen iPhone with an RFID reader built in and they have seen it in action. So its not full NFC but its a start for real service discovery and I’m told that the reaction was very positive that we can expect this in the next gen iPhone.

If Apple does it, expect every phone manufacturer and their sister to begin pumping out NFC enabled phones, at least for service discovery and sync.

This just reinforces what we knew based on the two separate patents Apple submitted that had the iPhone enabled to read RFID tags. I’m told that the touch project video and the BT SIG’s specs were all driving forces to push this forward as well as other factors.

Guess I’ll be touching my iPhone to my Mac to link them together to sync iTunes by next year.

This is ballsy, and if it does happen … well then you’re looking at the start of something big. Apple was the one who pushed the rest of the handset makers to start making touch screen devices en masse, so if the 4th generation iPhone due to come out some time in 2010 comes with RFID then you can expect everyone else to follow.

iPhone + RFID + all those devices connected to an iTunes account = wicked awesome.

[Via: Near Field Communications World]

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The app that recently won a Webby Award Honoree for BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Devices has made it’s way to Android. I’m talking about ‘TheStreet.com’ App, and it’s now available for those of you on your Android devices via m.thestreet.com or in the Android Market.

The app delivers up-to-the-minute market data, articles, commentary from the one and only Jim Cramer and much more. No matter if you’re a day trader, or just a casual investor, TheStreet.com app is a worthwhile addition to your app portfolio for sure.

The port to Android was a natural one, according to Kunal Gupta, CEO of the developers at Polar Mobile:

“The buzz around Android is undeniable…With Motorola (NYSE: MOT), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Samsung, LG and other major players taking a significant bet, it is essential for Polar to extend our SMART Platform to support Android devices for our customers. The application market is heating up and we get that media brands need help getting their content out across multiple platforms.”

Again, you can check it out via m.thestreet.com or via the Android Market. TheStreet.com app is also available on BlackBerry and iPhone.

[Read]

Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and Best Buy have announced a partnership whereby Best Buy employees will offer to install the Google Mobile Application for customers purchasing mobile phones from a retail Best Buy store. It wasn’t mentioned how much money Best Buy would receive from Google, but rumored estimates range from “I’m going to leave my job and order a trophy wife from Russia” to “I’m rich, bitch”.

Press Release, with massive amounts of bullshit press lingo stripped out, after the jump.

Read the full article »

So, not only do we have the new Storm2, the Bold 9700 and the Tour 9630 to gobble up on the market these days… It’s looking like AT&T (NYSE: T) may be slapping a new coat of paint on the Curve 8900 to push it out the door. Earlier this morning via BGR, I noticed said White BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Curve 8900. Of course, no pricing or launch details were made available, but what do you think? The 8900 is a solid device, would you pick one up in the new white livery when it becomes available? Or are the new offerings from RIM simply to good to go back to that ‘old’ 8900?

Chances are you’ve noticed one of HTC’s latest commercials on the boob-tube. I first took in one during the Yankee’s punishment of the Phillies a little while back. You can check one of the spots out above. Now, the background music you hear… you recognize it, right? For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what song it came from… I was scratching my head over and over, trying to figure out where I’ve heard that beat before…

Then it came to me this morning.

The song? ‘Sinnerman‘ by Nina Simone. I think the song was featured in the movie ‘The Thomas Crown Affair‘.

Had to share this with you folks. Was bothering me Check out the scene in the movie I’m talking about right here (fast forward to around 2:14). Great scene.

Few advertisements have the power to stop me in my tracks, make me think, and then smile. Dentyne, a manufacture of chewing gum, are running two advertisements in the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit that remind people that communicating with people digitally can never, and will never, reach the fidelity of “face time”. Since leaving Facebook over 3 months ago, and discussing the reasons why with several people in meat space, I’ve discovered that I’m not alone. Many have admitted that they share the same feelings of nostalgia, longing of the days before social networks, and frustration with the digital, you are my friend, you are not my friend, systems of today. The efficiency of which we can communicative with people today removes the effort that was once required to truly know someone.

Now there are people who will argue that online social networking, in moderation, is healthy. The same can be said about masturbation, and that’s all social networking has become. Make a profile, find people you know, say how you feel, read what they said about how they feel, comment on their feelings, give their feelings a thumbs up; it’s remarkably easy to fool oneself into believing that you’re interacting with someone on a meaningful level. “Face time”, exposing your thoughts and feelings in real time, changing the tone, pace, and subject of a conversation based on the area you’re sitting, who is around, and most importantly how the other person moves their body in their seat and the features of their face; the challenges of recognizing, interpreting, and then reacting to someone during “face time” are what you use to discover friendship, truth, and compassion.

A thumbs up doesn’t quite do it. Dentyne realizes this, and they know that many of you have these feelings, but you’re too comfortable in your online social network to take a risk. They’re pushing you to get back out into the world, to experience things without the safety of your laptop. They want you to be prepared for the people you’re going to meet, and to them that means having fresh breathe.

They sell gum, but in the process they try to remind you what life is all about.

[Images from Flickr user "acordova"]

AT&T (NYSE: T) is adding two new touchscreen-equipped Samsung devices to its offering – Mythic and Flight, both which will be available on November 8th.

The first of the two, pictured on the left, comes with 3.3-inch display, 3.2-megapixel camera, Samsung’s well-known TouchWIZ UI, 3G, GPS, Bluetooth, and the ability to sing along AT&T Navigator, AT&T Mobile Music and AT&T Mobile TV services. The price is $199.99 on a contract after a $50 mail-in rebate.

As for the Samsung Flight, it’s a non-3G device that sports GPS, 2-megapixel camera, smaller touchscreen, and supports AT&T Navigator and AT&T Mobile Music services. This one’s obviously cheaper device, hence AT&T is asking $99, again on contract and after a rebate…

[Via: Unwired View]