Category Archives: Press Release

Archos’ G9 Honeycomb Tablets Headed Our Way September 20th Starting at $300

Posted by on September 15, 2011 No comments

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Archos definitely has the best-priced Honeycomb tablets coming out and, thankfully for you, it won’t take long to head to store shelves. They’ve just announced September 20th availability with final pricing plans for two of the G9 tablets (two configurations each).

First up, we’ve got the 8 inch model. This one has a 1GHz dual-core OMAP4 processor and 8GB of internal storage (more configurations head) for just $300. They 8 inch line is topped out with a 1.5GHz dual-core OMAP4 and either 16GB or 250GB of internal storage for $329 and $369, respectively.

There are also 10 inch variants with the 1.5GHz OMAP4 processor and 16GB and 250GB of internal storage for $400 and $470, respectively.

Great prices for great specs, though we can’t say we’re huge fans of the design. For $300, are any of you going to be up bright and early to order one of these online? Read on for full press details.

ARCHOS G9 Tablets Available Starting September 20, 2011

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ARCHOS, an award winning technology innovator and pioneer in the tablet market, announce the availability of its new G9 AndroidTM tablets starting on September 20, 2011. The ARCHOS G9 tablets introduced on June 23, 2011 are an unrivaled combination of speed and affordability.

With its 8” G9 tablet, ARCHOS will be the first to market with a dual-core, Android Honeycomb 3.2 tablet under $300 featuring an OMAP 4 processor with an ARM Cortex dual-core A9 at 1 GHz for $299. Pushing the technological boundaries even further, the ARCHOS G9 “Turbo” will be the first and only Android tablet in the market under $400 to use the OMAP 4 dual-core processor up to 1.5 GHz, which gives it 50% more raw computational power over its 1 GHz competitors.

Powered by Android 3.2 ‘Honeycomb’

Android™ 3.2 ‘Honeycomb’ is specially designed and optimized for tablets, giving a full web experience for on-the-go web browsing, communication and applications. With Adobe® Flash® 10.3 support for the true web experience and with the constantly growing number of apps in Android Market™, ARCHOS G9 tablets are your versatile tool for your connected life.

ARCHOS G9 tablets will include access to Android Market, which has more than 250,000 applications available for download. Whether you’re after games, news, tools or widgets to personalize your Honeycomb experience, there are plenty of apps to make your ARCHOS G9 tablet your own.

ARCHOS G9 tablets also come with a suite of GoogleTM mobile applications including Google Talk™ with video chat, Gmail™, Youtube™, Google Maps™ with Street View and Navigation (beta) and Google Calendar™.

Flash storage or 250GB hard drive storage

To give you more space for your media and apps ARCHOS G9 tablets are available with flash storage and 250GB hard drive storage capacities. Using an intelligent caching system on the hard drive versions, your 250GB G9 will feel as fast and responsive as a flash device but gives you storage space to spare.

Wanting to give users the best of both worlds, ARCHOS paired the Seagate® Momentus® Thin hard drive with a dedicated 4GB flash caching system. This ARCHOS engineered hybrid solution offered on all ARCHOS G9 hard drive tablets is designed to limit spinning and to keep the drive powered down when not in use, which will protect it when on the go as well as preserve battery life.

Price and availability

The ARCHOS 80 G9 tablet featuring a 1 GHz dual-core processor will be on pre-sale starting September 20, 2011 on ARCHOS.com with the following recommended retail price:

ARCHOS 80 G9 8GB - 1 GHZ at $299

Additionally, the ARCHOS 80 G9 8GB tablet will be available online and at select retailers including HH Gregg, Amazon, Newegg, Tiger Direct, Brandsmart and Electronic Express on September 30, 2011.

The ARCHOS G9 tablets running a dual-core processor up to 1.5 GHz will be available in stores and online in October with the following recommended retail price:

ARCHOS 80 G9 16GB – 1.5 GHz at $329
ARCHOS 80 G9 250GB - 1.5 GHz at $369
ARCHOS 101 G9 16GB - 1.5 GHz at $399
ARCHOS 101 G9 250GB - 1.5 GHz at $469

Samsung Transform Ultra Announced for Boost Mobile, Coming October

Posted by on September 15, 2011 No comments

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Boost Mobile is adding another handset to their Android ranks with the Samsung Transform Ultra. The Transform Ultra joins the Galaxy Prevail, Boost’s best-selling Android smartphone, and features a 1GHz processor, 3MP rear camera, and front-facing VGA camera. The slide-out QWERTY Android 2.3 device will be available October 7th at a price of $229.99 in conjunction with Boost’s Android Monthly Unlimited plan, which will see an increase in price of $5 for unlimited data and messaging. Boost’s generous shrinking payments model is still in tact, however, so the longer you use the carrier’s services the lower your bill will drop, eventually bottoming out at $40. Not a bad price at all for an unlimited plan.

"Transform" Your Communications with the new Android-Powered Slide-Out QWERTY Phone from Boost Mobile and Samsung
The new Samsung Transform Ultra marks another industry first with Boost Mobile as the first no-contract smartphone to include the innovative Mobile ID platform

IRVINE, Calif. (BUSINESS WIRE), September 15, 2011 – Boost Mobile, ranked Highest in Customer Service Performance and Purchase Experience among Non-Contract Wireless Providers by J.D. Power and Associates1, once again enhances its smartphone lineup of Android™ devices with the launch of the Samsung Transform™ Ultra. The Transform Ultra complements the existing Samsung Galaxy Prevail™, which in four months has become the best-selling no-contract smartphone in Samsung’s history. The Transform Ultra is the perfect device for the consumer who desires an Android touchscreen along with a text-friendly full QWERTY keypad.

"If you have been sitting on the sidelines considering no-contract plans or Android smartphones, it’s time to upgrade with the latest Samsung Android devices paired with the award-winning Boost Mobile plans and customer experience," said Andre Smith, vice president-Boost Mobile. "The Transform Ultra device includes the innovative Mobile ID platform, allowing customers to get a running start in exploring Android applications and widgets based on their personal interest."

The Transform Ultra, powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread, features access to Google Mobile™ services and more than 250,000 applications through Android Market. The device has a 1GHz processor, a 3MP rear-facing camera, and VGA front-facing camera for video chat while on the go.

Mobile ID

The Transform Ultra is Boost’s first Android-powered smartphone to come preloaded with Mobile ID, an exclusive service from Boost that allows customers to download and install "ID packs." The packs deliver a complete mobile experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, in a couple simple clicks. ID packs are designed to meet a customer’s individual lifestyle or interests, such as sports, entertainment, fitness and music.

As only one example, the MTV Music pack is a complete music experience, bringing together the best music and pop culture apps, widgets and content on your Boost smartphone. The MTV Music pack gives customers access to the biggest stars and newest artists around the clock. Plus MTV has selected the best music apps to stream, download, identify, search and discover all your favorite music.

Other ID packs that can be loaded on the device include: E!, Socially Connected, Professional, Entertainment, Lo2Yo Latino, Lo2Yo Mujer and Lo2Yo Futbol.

Other Transform Ultra features include:

  • Android 2.3 with Access to Android Market™
  • Touchscreen
  • Full QWERTY Keypad
  • 3MP camera with video
  • Wi-Fi®, GPS and Wireless Web enabled
  • Front-facing VGA camera
  • Easy access to Gmail™ and Google Talk™
  • Bluetooth® capable
  • Speakerphone with voice-activated dialing
  • Supports microSD® cards up to 32GB (2GB card included)
  • Voice mail, caller ID, call waiting and three-way calling

Samsung Transform Ultra will be available Oct. 7 for $229.99 (excluding taxes) at Boost Mobile’s exclusive retail stores, select independent wireless dealer locations across the country and at www.boostmobile.com with free shipping. The Transform will be rolling out in select retails nationwide later this year.

Android Monthly Unlimited with Shrinkage Offer Coming Oct. 6

Effective Oct. 6, Boost Mobile will add an additional $5 monthly charge for unlimited data and messaging services offered on Android-powered devices. Like the existing Monthly Unlimited plan, the new Android plan includes unlimited nationwide talk, text, Web, email and calls to 411. In addition, the new Android Monthly Unlimited plan will still come with shrinking payments where the longer you stay, the less you pay. For every six on-time payments, the cost of a new customer’s Android Monthly Unlimited plan will shrink by $5, eventually getting down to as low as $40 a month, only $5 more than the current Monthly Unlimited with Shrinkage. Payments do not need to be consecutive to qualify for the next savings milestone.

For our current Monthly Unlimited customers, we hear you! Existing $50 Monthly Unlimited customers with Android devices as of Oct. 6 can keep their current price plan as long as they don’t let their account expire. Existing Monthly Unlimited customers upgrading to a CDMA Android-powered device on or after Oct. 6, will add a $5 monthly charge on their current monthly payment without losing any of their accrued Shrinkage savings.

Sprint Officially Announces the LG Marquee for October 2nd, Angles it as a Choice for the Style Conscious Citizen

Posted by on September 14, 2011 No comments

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That didn’t take long, did it? After the LG Optimus Black for Sprint was outed at a recent Radio Shack event as the LG Marquee Sprint’s gone ahead and made it official with a nice looking press release. While the Marquee will draw people in due to it’s extremely bright screen, Sprint’s going with the fashion angle, collaborating with design collective MADE to launch the device in style.

Aside from its good, sleek looks, you can expect decent internals that fits this one right into that mid-range crowd. We’ve got the oft-discussed 4 inch NOVA display which LG claims is the brightest mobile phone display on the market, a 1GHz processor, Android 2.3, a 5 megapixel rear camera with a 2 megapixel front camera and more.

Availability? You can begin preordering on September 20th through September 27th. Presale customers will begin receiving their devices on the 29th, but the “official” launch isn’t slated for three days later. All of this comes to you at just $100. Read on for full press details.

LG Marquee from Sprint Celebrates the Perfect Combination of Signature Style and Cutting-Edge Technology During New York Fashion Week

 As Sprint’s first device available for advance pre-sale, customers can buy 
LG Marquee beginning on Sept. 20 at www.sprint.com/marquee for $99.99
 
TLC’s Stacy London and up-and-coming designers team up to
invite consumers to make "The Bright Choice" with a MADE Fashion Week Campaign promoting the thin, light and bright LG Marquee

New York City - Sept. 14, 2011 - Sprint (NYSE: S) and LG Mobile today announced the upcoming arrival of an Android device that perfectly pairs fashion with technology - LG Marquee Android™, exclusively from Sprint. The device will be launched in partnership with non-profit design collective MADE, formally known as M·A·C & Milk, at this year’s MADE FASHION WEEK in New York City. Keeping with the smartphone’s innovative convergence of technology and fashion, LG enlisted Stacy London of TLC’s "What Not To Wear"to act as resident style mentor to five up-and-coming MADE designers as they craft chic carrying cases for LG Marquee.

LG Marquee arrives on the Sprint Network on Sunday, Oct. 2 for just $99.99 (excludes taxes) with eligible upgrade or new two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1 (pricing excludes taxes). It will be the first Sprint device to be sold in advance online. Pre-sale orders begin on Tuesday, Sept. 20, and end on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at www.sprint.com/marquee. Customers who pre-order LG Marquee will begin receiving their devices on Thursday, Sept. 29 - three days before the device goes on sale.
"These days, a wireless phone is much more than just a communication device - it also echoes one’s personal style and taste," said David Owens, vice president - Product Development, Sprint. "Design has become a key factor in the purchase decision and the LG Marquee is sure to turn heads."
"LG believes fashion and technology go hand-in-hand among today’s growing contingent of style-conscious and tech-savvy consumers," said Tim O’Brien, vice president of marketing for LG Mobile. "By partnering with Sprint, MADE and Stacy London, LG effectively showcases three prominent phone features important to consumers: a sleek, thin profile, ultra light weight design and bright display."
LG Marquee is an ideal mobile device for anyone who wants superior performance without sacrificing personal style. The sleek, ultra-thin smartphone features a 4-inch NOVA display and a virtual QWERTY keyboard. Encouraging consumers to make "the bright choice," LG Marquee boasts a remarkably vivid and visible screen, even in direct sunlight.
LG Marquee ships with Android 2.3 and Mobile Hotspot capability supporting up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously. It also offers a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera for maximum versatility in creating and sharing media and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera making your face-to-face video chatting experience even more memorable. Equipped with a 1GHz processor and Adobe Flash technology, LG Marquee makes downloading, posting, commenting, watching and playing faster and easier than ever.
The device features Sprint ID, allowing users to customize up to five screens on the device with a couple simple clicks. Sprint ID allows users to cut through the clutter of Android Market’s more than 250,000 apps by simply selecting from a variety of mobile ID packs featuring apps, ringers, wallpapers, widgets and more. Available Sprint ID packs include: Fashion and Beauty, E!, MTV Music, Green, and NASCAR Sprint Cup.
LG Marquee requires activation on a Sprint Everything Data plan for smartphones2. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge. The Mobile Hotspot option is available for an additional $29.99 per month supporting up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously3 (pricing excludes taxes and surcharges).
Celebrating Technology and Fashion
The LG Fashion Week campaign pairs Stacy London’s impeccable style with the innovative, futuristic eye of MADE. London brings years of fashion-industry experience to her LG style mentor role and will provide each of the MADE designers with creative consulting sessions as they design fashion-forward carrying cases to showcase the clean, modern, minimalist styling of LG Marquee. Participating MADE designers include Kevork Kiledjian, Katie Gallagher, The Lake and Stars, Erickson Beamon and Christian Cota.
"Being able to give our designers yet another platform for growth and exposure is part of the DNA of MADE; and allowing our designers to interact with major brands like LG is a great learning tool for future partnerships," said Jenne Lombardo, Co-Director of MADE.
Celebrating a partnership of Sprint and LG’s rich style heritage, the campaign highlights the increasing influence of technology on today’s design community and includes a Fashion Week panel discussion and product launch reception hosted by London at Milk Studios on Thursday, Sept. 15. The MADE panel discussion, entitled "How Fashion Communicates," will be moderated by Simon Collins, dean of fashion at Parsons The New School for Design, and will take an in-depth look at five key areas where technology has altered fashion design. As part of the esteemed panel, London will provide industry insights to discussion categories including designer communication, the rise of the blogger, public access to real-time happenings, retail and the shift from print to digital media.
The chic and functional LG Marquee carrying cases created by the participating designers will debut on Sept. 15 during LG’s launch event at MADE FASHION WEEK. The event will feature individual designer stations that will display the inspiration behind each case. In addition, at the end of the evening, London will announce her top designer pick for the overall campaign.
 
 
 
 
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 52 million customers at the end of 2Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 93,000 people working in over 120 operations around the world. With 2010 global sales of 55.8 trillion Korean won (USD 48.2 billion), LG comprises four business units - Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solutions. LG is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines, and refrigerators. LG has signed a long-term agreement to become both a Global Partner and a Technology Partner of Formula 1™. As part of this top-level association, LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor of this global sporting event. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.
About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company
The LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a leading global mobile communications and information company. With its cutting-edge technology and innovative design capabilities, LG creates handsets that provide an optimized mobile experience to customers around the world. LG is pursuing convergence technology and mobile computing products, while continuing its leadership role in mobile communication with stylish designs and smart technology. For more information, please visit http://www.lgmobilephones.com.
MADE, formerly known as M.A.C. and Milk, was born from the successful Fashion Week collaboration that started in 2008. Now in its fifth season, MADE FASHION WEEK continues to showcase outstanding design and harness the energy of New York’s creative communities. The compelling program of events - over 35 fashion shows and presentations each season, exhibitions, parties, concerts, panel discussions and an unrivaled online presence on milkmade.com - has translated to success at a retail level and in the press, as well as in the highly coveted digital arena. MADE has expanded as a year-round, dynamic platform for emerging design talent and other innovators and visionaries. MADE provides support to New York’s fashion community in a vibrant atmosphere that encourages creativity, fosters growth and challenges convention. These innovators and visionaries are now a powerful voice in the international fashion dialogue and have initiated a general shift in the industry.

[Update: Early October UK Availability] HTC Sensation XE is the First Official Beats Smartphone

Posted by on September 14, 2011 No comments

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[Update]: We have a solid price and date from retailer Clove UK. They’re expected to begin shipping the device October 7th and all it’ll cost you is £492 inc.VAT. Keep an eye out on their site later today to secure your preorder. [Clove]

It’s like I said – HTC seems to have something to announce nearly every other week. This time, it’s the Android-powered HTC Sensation XE the first phone infused with the Beats technology HTC acquired when they acquired the company itself.

More than Beats integration, though, it bests the HTC Sensation in a few different areas. You’re getting a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3 inch qHD display, a 1750 mAh battery and an 8GB or 16GB microSD card.

You’ll also be getting a pair of in-ear Beats by Dre headphones that has an inline remote control. If I were looking for a new dual-core HTC phone I would not sneeze at this offering. This one’s going to Europe, Asia and the Middle East starting at the end of this month. Read on for full press details.

HTC AND BEATS INTRODUCE NEW HTC SENSATION XE™, THE FIRST PHONE WITH INTEGRATED BEATS AUDIO™

New 1.5 GHz dual core processor and longer battery life extend the HTC Sensation XE’s sophistication and overall experience.

TAOYUAN, TAIWAN - September 14, 2011 - HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, today unveiled the new HTC Sensation XE - the first in a new line of HTC smartphones to feature Beats Audio technology to deliver studio quality audio. Taking HTC’s flagship handset to a new level of high fidelity audio, the HTC Sensation XE offers consumers the ultimate multimedia experience, setting a new standard for audio quality in the mobile market. In addition, the HTC Sensation XE boosts performance and battery life even further with the addition of a blazing fast 1.5GHz dual core processor and an extended battery that enables you to listen, watch, speak and browse for even longer.

“Audio is a crucial part of any consumer’s mobile experience and we are continually pushing the audio boundaries to encompass not only improved voice but music, movies and games,” said Jason Mackenzie, president of global sales and marketing, HTC Corporation. “The HTC Sensation XE offers a truly incredible experience that demonstrates our commitment to place consumers at the center of their mobile worlds.”

The ultimate audio experience

The HTC Sensation XE is the first handset to offer a Beats Audio experience – a combination of software & hardware that allows you to hear music the way the artist intended. When used with the exclusive Beats by Dr. Dre in-ear headphones, the handset automatically switches to the bespoke Beats by Dr. Dre sound profile, delivering audio tracks tuned specifically for the headphones.

Whether you are using any of the many music services available in the Android market you will notice fuller bass and crisper vocals and a new level of clarity and range offering audio the way the artist intended it to be heard.

Beats Headphones

The HTC Sensation XE also ships with a microSD card (8GB/16GB) allowing you to carry thousands of songs. The exclusive Beats by Dr. Dre in-ear headphones feature a remote control, allowing you to pause, play or skip through tracks and answer/end calls while the phone is in your pocket.

Availability

HTC Sensation XE will be available across EMEA and Asia Pacific from late September

Sony Walkman Z Officially Announced for Japan

Posted by on September 13, 2011 No comments

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Sony wants the Walkman brand to make a comeback and will aim to make that happen with Android at the helm. While this isn’t the first time we’ve seen and heard of the device (Sony Ericsson made quick mention of it at IFA in Berlin earlier this month) it is the first time we’ve gotten concrete details and pricing/availability information.

We’re apparently getting three different configurations with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB for 28,000 yen, 33,000 yen and 43,000 yen, respectively. It’s a 4.3 inch WVGA device with a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, Android 2.3, microHDMI, WiFi, Bluetooth, DLNA and an FM Radio alongside Sony Ericsson’s smattering of music apps to make this an ultimate multimedia device.

I must say – I certainly wouldn’t mind carrying one of these around. The nostalgia alone would be enough to justify the cost of admission but a PMP device this powerful is something many of us have been waiting for (only Samsung previously offered a respectable model). Unfortunately there’s no word on when this will make its way to other regions but we’re hoping it’ll be here in time for our friends at the North Pole. [Sony, Press Release (Japanese) via TIMN]

Sprint Combats Distracted Teen Driving With New Application For Parents

Posted by on September 13, 2011 No comments

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Sprint is taking their customer safety to a whole new level with the release of their new custom “Drive First” application for all Android powered devices. In a press release today, Sprint talked more about this new tool parents can use to keep their kids off the phone and on the road while they’re driving. The app will be able to detect when the car being driven goes over 10mph and from there will lock down the device, sending calls to voicemail, answering texts messages with an auto-reply and silencing alerts that could distract your easily distracted teenage driver. While the service is available for Sprint’s entire Android lineup, the service and peace of mind will cost an extra $2 a month. If you want to check out the 15 day free trial, here’s the link. Full press release below:

Sprint Drive First Application Helps Parents Combat Distracted Driving

Mobile Phone is Automatically Disabled While Driving; Incoming Calls Go Directly to Voice Mail; Those Sending Text Messages Receive Auto Response; Distracting Alerts are Silenced

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), September 12, 2011 – Parents worry when their teenager is behind the wheel of a car. Sprint (NYSE: S) is helping ease the minds of parents by launching Sprint Drive First, a new application that automatically locks a mobile phone when a car is moving more than 10 mph, disabling phone functionality, directing incoming calls to voice mail, and silencing distracting alerts for emails and text messages.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashes, 995 involved reports of a mobile phone as a distraction (18 percent of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group - 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA)

How to Get Sprint Drive First

Sprint Drive First, powered by Location Labs, is now available on all Sprint CDMA Android™-powered smartphones for $2 per month per phone and will be offered on BlackBerry® devices and other operating systems in coming months. Parents get started by registering for an account at www.sprint.com/drivefirst. On this website, they will see a list of phones on their account, select the phones to which they want to add the app, and they will receive detailed instructions on how to get the app. For phones already in the market, a software download is required to activate the service.* All Sprint Android-powered smartphones launching after late Q3 will have the Sprint Drive First software preinstalled and will not require a download to activate the service.

Details about Sprint Drive First

Shortly after the car exceeds 10 mph - determined using GPS and cell tower triangulation - the mobile phone will be locked. If the driver is using the phone when Sprint Drive First engages, the call will end and the phone lock screen will appear. Anyone texting the driver will receive an automated message indicating the person they texted is driving. The message is customizable by the account holder.

A locked device displays a home screen with exit and emergency 911 buttons to override the app. Sprint Drive First can be overridden if the user is a passenger in a car, on a bus or train, but the parent or account holder can choose to receive notifications when the service is overridden.

Parents have a choice of programming up to five phone numbers to ring through when the phone is locked as well as allowing functionality of three apps, such as navigation, music or weather.

When the application no longer detects movement it unlocks and full device functionality resumes. Sprint Drive First takes into account stop-and-go traffic, so the driver needs to be sitting idle for a few minutes before it will unlock.

Sprint’s Distracted Driving Initiatives

“Sprint Drive First is another action Sprint is taking to encourage its customers to use their phones responsibly behind the wheel,” said David Owens, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “We want to help our customers arrive at their destination. Texting while driving makes drivers four times more likely to crash their car. The person you want to call or text will be there when you get done with your drive; we want to make sure that you are, too.”

“Location Lab’s goal is to empower today’s parents with the tools they need to better protect their families,” said Tasso Roumeliotis, CEO of Location Labs. “Our collaboration with Sprint not only addresses distracted driving but makes the Drive First technology widely accessible, offering Sprint subscribers an easy way to gain peace of mind when their loved ones are on the go.”

Since 2005 Sprint has worked on behalf of its customers and employees on the issue of distracted driving - including sponsoring national and local driver safety programs for teenagers and adults; releasing a distracted driving pledge for Sprint customers and employees; and developing a robust portfolio of distracted driving mobile applications and resources for general and business consumers.

More information on Sprint’s distracted driving efforts can be found at sprint.com/focusondriving.

Motorola Electrify Intends to Shock US Cellular Customers

Posted by on September 12, 2011 1 comment

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Who says regional carriers don’t get good phones? The folks at US Cellular are proving they can keep up with the big boys by announcing the Motorola Electrify It’s accurate to describe this phone as USCC’s Motorola Photon 4G or Motorola DROID BIONIC

We’re getting a 4.3 inch qHD device with a 1GHz dual-core processor inside. You can also look forward to 16GB of internal storage, an 8 megapixel rear camera alongside a front-facing camera WebTop capabilities, HDMI out with full mirroring and more.

All of this is coming in at $200 (after $100 mail-in rebate and a new two-year agreement). No date to look forward to yet, unfortunately, but we’re always on the lookout. Read on for full press details.

MOTOROLA ELECTRIFY COMING SOON TO U.S. CELLULAR

Android Smartphone Combines Unparalleled Power and Versatility

CHICAGO (September 12, 2011) - U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) announced today that the Motorola ELECTRIFY™ will join the carrier’s cutting-edge device portfolio later this month. The Android™-powered smartphone is designed to deliver the next generation of multi-media features and a powerhouse dual-core 1GHz processer for 70 percent faster overall performance1 and 75 percent faster browsing than leading single core smartphones2. With a best-in-class display, camera, webcam, loads of software applications and a dedicated media kickstand, customers will be able to seamlessly multi-task throughout the day. The ELECTRIFY will be available for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate along with purchase of a data plan.

"The ELECTRIFY is more than a "smart" phone," said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. "Its multi-tasking capabilities make it the perfect personal assistant for customers who depend on their smartphone to meet the ever-changing needs of their busy lifestyles. Our commitment to providing a variety of devices that enhance customers’ lives is one of the reasons consumers who switch to U.S. Cellular join the happiest customers in wireless."

The Motorola ELECTRIFY features a 4.3-inch qHD (Quarter High Definition) touchscreen and a kickstand for convenient hands-free viewing of high-quality movies, TV shows and videos. Plus, with HDMI output and full Mirror Mode, customers will be able to connect the ELECTRIFY to any HD screen (via HDMI cable*), so the entire family can enjoy the latest movies or hottest new Android games on their television at home.

The ELECTRIFY’s premium 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and auto photo-enhancing software will allow customers to leave their camera at home and still capture incredible photos and videos. The device also features a front-facing camera for video chat on-the-go. Customers can take and store tons of photos and videos with 16GB of memory on-board that can be expanded to 48GB with a 32GB memory card purchase.

With Motorola’s exclusive webtop application, customers can expand ELECTRIFY’s power to include a larger screen and full keyboard for amazing functionality and productivity.  Plug ELECTRIFY into the Motorola HD Station* and connect to an HD monitor to launch a full Firefox 4.0 browser, simultaneously surf the web, stream music, and run useful apps. Customers will have instant access to personal and corporate e-mails and will be able to download photos and videos in a flash on U.S. Cellular’s high-speed nationwide network, which has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier.

Smartphone enthusiasts who switch to U.S. Cellular get unique benefits, like new phones faster without continuously signing contracts, free Battery Swap and valuable rewards points for simply doing things like paying their bill on time and referring friends. Points can be used for new phones faster, additional lines, devices, accessories and ringtones. Several of U.S. Cellular’s value-packed national plans are a perfect fit for smartphone customers. The $79.99 Primary Plus Plan is the best value in wireless and offers 5GB of data with unlimited text, picture and video messaging. The plan also comes with 450 voice minutes, free incoming calls, free nights and weekends and free mobile-to-mobile calls. A family of four who switches to U.S. Cellular can save more than $1,000 a year with the company’s National Premium Plus family plan.

For more information about all of U.S. Cellular’s deals, plans and phones, and other restrictions on these offers, visit any U.S. Cellular store, go to uscellular.com or check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.

The Motorola ELECTRIFY will be available for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Purchase of a data plan is required, and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.

1 Based on Quadrant benchmark results
2 Based on industry standard Peacemaker benchmark test
*Sold separately.

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Customer Service Champion and received PC Magazine’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Award. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android, Android Market and Google are trademarks of Google, Inc. Corning and Gorilla are registered trademarks of Corning Incorporated. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © 2011 Motorola Mobility, Inc. All rights reserved.

AT&T’s Sony Ericsson Xperia Play 4G Coming September 18 for $49

Posted by on September 8, 2011 No comments

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AT&T is all set to receive their version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, and though they haved added ’4G’ to its name, you’ll get the same Playstation Certified handset already released in other parts of the world (and on Verizon in the States). The 4G here is HSPA+ (not LTE), and the phone ships with a 1GHz CPU with Adreno 205 graphics, a 4-inch display, and comes in an exclusive “stealth blue” color scheme. Accessories available at launch will include a multimedia dock and music cable.

The Xperia Play 4G will ship with seven games pre-installed when it lands at AT&T on September 18th. Realizing the handset is already getting a bit old in the tooth, the whole thing can be yours for a mere $49.99 in conjunction with a new two-year contract.

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ play 4g keeps favorite video games at your fingertips beginning sept. 18

First PlayStation®-certified smartphone from AT&T available for $49.99 in AT&T stores and att.com

DALLAS, Sept. 8, 2011 -

Key Facts

· The Xperia™ PLAY 4G, combining a PlayStation®-certified gaming device with the capabilities and portability of an Android smartphone, arrives in AT&T* stores, and online on September 18 for $49.99 with a two-year agreement.

· The Xperia PLAY 4G has dedicated gaming controls built into the phone through a slide out controller including directional keypad, dual analog touch joystick, two shoulder buttons and the four iconic PlayStation symbol keys: circle, X, square and triangle.

· Running the Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) platform, the first PlayStation-certified smartphone in the world features a brilliant 4″ 480 x 854 screen and stereo speakers.

AT&T Exclusives

Only AT&T customers can choose the 4G-capable Xperia PLAY, offered in an exclusive “stealth blue” color. The smartphone package is complete with bonus accessories including the Sony Ericsson Multimedia Dock DK300 and MC100 music cable. In addition to providing a convenient charging station, the DK300 converts the Xperia PLAY’s screen to a large clock display, and the music cable lets you connect to external speakers.** The DK300 and music cable come in the Xperia PLAY box, only from AT&T.

In addition, the device is pre-loaded with seven games, some of which are exclusive, at no additional cost including:

· Dungeon Defenders™ Second Wave by Trendy Entertainment
· Asphalt™ 6 Adrenaline by Gameloft
· Star Battalion by Gameloft
· Madden NFL™ 11 by Electronic Arts
· The Sims™ 3 by Electronic Arts
· Tower Bloxx™: My City by Digital Chocolate
· Crash Bandicoot® by SCEA/Naughty Dog/Universal

AT&T customers will have access to more than 150 Xperia PLAY optimized games including Minecraft™ Pocket Edition, Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2 and Dead Space™ 2 for download and purchase through the “Get Games” recommender screen, easily accessible when you slide open the Xperia PLAY’s game controller.

Handheld Gaming and Smartphones Converge

The Xperia PLAY 4G offers a gamer’s wonderland by providing the on-the-go capabilities of an Android smartphone with the immersive entertainment appeal of a portable gaming device.

* Snapdragon chipset including a 1GHz CPU and Adreno 205 graphics processor (GPU)
* Runs on the Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) platform
* Sight and sound: 4″ 480 x 854 screen, up to 60 frames per second graphics, stereo speakers
* Dual camera: 5MP rear and VGA forward-facing, with video recording and chat capabilities over Wi-Fi
* Hundreds of Xperia PLAY optimized games through Android Market or directly from the publishers
* Pre-loaded with seven Xperia PLAY optimized games from publishers such as Gameloft and EA.

Along with the great gaming and Android capabilities, the Xperia PLAY 4G from AT&T includes Facebook Inside Xperia, a suite of Facebook functions integrated into various applications, such as friends’ birthdays in the phonebook, a “like” button in the music player, photo tags in the media gallery, and YouTube video recommendations from friends.

Pricing and Availability

The Xperia PLAY 4G arrives in AT&T stores and online on Sept. 18 and will be available for $49.99 after a two-year contract with minimum data plan.

Quotes

“Gamers and smartphone fans alike will delight in the Xperia PLAY 4G’s instant access to gaming and entertainment,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “We’re excited to offer a device that allows consumers to have fun while still staying on top of everything in their life.”

“Our fans on AT&T have been asking for Xperia PLAY and now we’re giving them everything they need in a smartphone with what they really want - an immersive gaming experience on AT&T’s 4G Network,” said Peter Farmer, Head of Marketing for North America, Sony Ericsson. “In addition to a constantly growing list of games exclusive to and optimized for Xperia PLAY, we know AT&T customers are really going to enjoy the uniquely Sony Ericsson social experience, including Timescape and Facebook Inside.”

Velocity Micro Announces Cruz T408 and Cruz T410 Gingerbread Tablets

Posted by on September 7, 2011 No comments

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Velocity Micro has intro’d yet another Android tablet, the Cruz T410. The 10-inch slate joins the recently announced 8-inch T408 and rocks similar specs, including a 1GHz Cortex A8 CPU and Android 2.3. It also scores a front-facing camera, bundled apps including Amazon Kindle and Angry Birds Rio, and access to the Amazon App Store. Velocity Micro has attempted to make a name for itself in the past by offering budget Android tablet alternatives, but with a $299.99 price tag the T410 might start to edge a bit close to similarly priced tablets of a higher quality and spec sheet. The T408 might be a bit more appealing with its $239.99 price.

Velocity Micro Announces the Availability of Two Remarkably Affordable New Android Tablets

RICHMOND, VA – September 7, 2011 – Velocity Micro, the premier builder of award winning enthusiast desktops, laptops, peripherals, and the remarkable Cruz tablet, announces the availability of two new Android tablets – the 8″ Cruz T408 and the 10″ Cruz T410. Designed by Velocity Micro’s team of world class engineers to emphasize speed, content, style, and value, these newly announced Cruzes provide all of the features consumers are craving while still hitting an attractive pricepoint, making them the perfect devices to tap into a new market of value conscious shopper. The T408 and T410 will retail at $239.99 and $299.99 respectively.

“With these new tablets, we’ve leveraged our years of expertise in building premium, award winning desktops to create two new devices that are fast, feature rich, and amazingly affordable,” said Randy Copeland, President and CEO of Velocity Micro. “Making expensive, jaw dropping products is easy - speed and value are what we focused on with these new devices. We’ve succeeded in both regards with the T408 and T410. They’re really fast and very affordable.”

The 4:3 aspect ratio 8″ Velocity Micro Cruz T408 is thin and lightweight, the perfect size for on the go users unwilling to sacrifice on power or functionality. At just $239.99, it’s the first 8-inch tablet to offer a premier customer experience at a mainstream value. Featuring a lustrous design with smooth, clean lines and thin bezels for a sleek appearance, the 16:9 ratio 10″ Velocity Micro Cruz T410 has all the look and feel of a premium Android tablet but at $299.99, comes at almost half the price.

Key features and specs of both the Cruz T408 and T410 include:

Ultra responsive capacitive touch screens
1GHz Cortex A8 processors
Front facing cameras
802.11n Wi-Fi
A premium software suite including full versions of Angry Birds Rio and QuickOffice™
Content via Amazon® Kindle™ for Android
Downloadable Apps from the Amazon Appstore preinstalled – access to thousands of pretested applications
A fully licensed version of Adobe® Flash® Player 10.3
Android™ version 2.3 (Gingerbread)
1-year parts and labor warranty with premium 100% US-based, non-tiered support

Toshiba’s AT200 Tablet Announced: 10.1-inch Display, Only 7.7mm Thick

Posted by on September 1, 2011 No comments

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As expected, Toshiba has taken the wraps off of their latest Android tablet offering, the Honeycomb 3.2, 10.1-inch AT200. Measuing in at a mere 7.7mm thick, the Toshiba AT200 comes in as one of the thinnest Honeycomb slates yet, making even the anorexic Galaxy Tab 10.1 look like a whale. Tucked within the tablet is a 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 CPU, 5MP and 2MP cameras, and up to 64GB of on-board storage. The new Toshiba offering is decked out with microUSB, microHDMI, and microSD support.

We admit the AT200 tag isn’t quite as exciting as the Toshiba Excite branding rumored for the new tablet, but there is still time for the marketing department to slap the name on it before it ships. Even if Excite misses the mark, we still suspect a new name for the slate by the time it comes to market.

Toshiba unveils its world-class, ultra-thin, ultra-light tablet

Toshiba AT200 tablet built to exceed expectations at only 7.7mm thin and 558g with full 10.1″ screen

Neuss, Germany, 1st

September 2011 - Toshiba Europe GmbH unveiled an exciting new product today - the ultra-thin 25.7cm (10.1”) AT200 tablet. Despite measuring only 7.7mm from front to back, the Toshiba AT200 delivers a broad range of essential ports and interfaces. It offers an amazing wide-view display for comfortable content consumption plus full web browsing capabilities to meet the preferred usage for tablets. Every bit as powerful as it is stylish and robust, this tablet is built to exceed expectations. The Toshiba AT200 will be available in the fourth quarter of 2011 in Europe.

Ultra-thin, ultra-powerful

“The new ultra-thin 25.7cm (10.1″) tablet Toshiba AT200, featuring Android™ 3.2, Honeycomb, is the latest in a long line of Toshiba products that are masterfully engineered”, said Marco Perino, General Manager DS Digital Products Division. “With a thickness of only 7.7mm and a weight of just 558g, the elegant Toshiba AT200 is highly mobile yet extremely smart and powerful.”

All essentials on-board

To connect with other devices the ultra-slim tablet comes with all essential interfaces and ports onboard: amongst them micro-USB, micro-SD, Wi-Fi™ and Bluetooth®. The micro-HDMI ®-port allows streaming HD content to the large screen of a TV. Front and back HD cameras are ideal for video conferencing and augmented reality applications.

High-quality media consumption – no matter where you are

The Toshiba AT200 allows users to enjoy videos at home and while out and about. It features a brilliant 25.7cm (10.1″) high-definition screen that displays pictures with crisp colours and in full detail.

Despite being ultra-thin, it allows up to eight hours of video consumption.

Sound quality at its best

To complement the first-class video capabilities the new Toshiba tablet with stereo speakers allows for a high quality sound playback. The Adaptive Sound Device Enhancer’s sophisticated algorithm maximises sound quality to achieve a quality that normally only can be found with large speakers. Plus, a technology called Sound Masking Equalizer identifies and enhances sound that is being masked or distorted by surrounding noise. The result is a well- balanced, powerful playback of music and video sounds even under high ambient noise levels.

Endless usage possibilities

Toshiba’s new tablet also offers a rich web browsing experience including support of Adobe® Flash® Player, access to more than 250,000 apps on Android Market™ and Toshiba Places for endless possibilities.