One of the selling points for the iPhone has always been the ability to be talking on the phone and still surfing the web (or otherwise using data). The catch with that is Verizon does not currently allow for simultaneous voice and data. For some that will be a deal breaker and they would likely more »

Look what we have here, it seems as if Sony is planning to roll out an updated Vaio P. A recent FCC listing is showing off a Vaio with model number PCG-11111L and it is noted as coming with support for CDMA850 and CDMA1900. In short, a mobile broadband capable Sony Vaio. Other little tidbits more »

Palm is showing off the UMTS version of the Palm Pre for European networks at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This version one-ups the US model I got to play with at CES with simultaneous data connection and voice connection. The US model can only do one of those tasks at a time.

But, but, but, why?

The easy answer is thank Sprint. Their EVDO technology requires a temporary disconnect from the data connection when moving to activate the voice connection. UTMS technology like those in Europe and AT&T in the US does not require this “hiccup.” This is common to all EVDO and UMTS phones.

Cheat the system?

We all know about jailbreaking the iPhone to use it on other networks, but what about the Pre? Would it be possible to purchase a UMTS phone in a foreign land and bring it home to the US to get maximum multitasking out of the Pre? Technically, yes. It is unclear if an unlocked version of the phone will be sold outside the US. I have to assume one will not be sold in the US as their exclusive agreement with Sprint should forbid it.

At long last, Palm announces their “most business-friendly” phone yet. The 800w is destined for Sprint and packs Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1. It is packed with goodies, like EV-DO rev A, WiFi and GPS. Hoohah! Palm and Sprint suggest it surfs the web and downloads emails at broadband speeds. It features an innovative one button more »

Sprint’s new 3G phone, the Samsung Instinct, has sold the fastest out of all Sprint’s 3G phones. Sprint has come out to say that this new 3G touchscreen phone is breaking records already in it’s first week of availability. Sprint nor Samsung expected the Instinct to be selling this much because Samsung has to start producing more of the Instinct just to meet the consumer demand. There are already shortages in select US locations, and if Sprint wishes to continue with this surge, they need to make sure they have enough phones.

Alltel has been working with Wi-Fi leader, Boingo, to bring unlimited Wi-Fi access to more than 25,000 hotspot locations. This service is available to both Alltel customers as well as non-Alltel users. In addition, Alltel is also offering their Internet Anywhere Bundle – more on that later. Now, for $19.99 a month, or even $3.99 more »

Alltel has just announced that they are continuing to update their Rev. A network and have plans to offer it in 18-market within the next six months. The new markets will include, but not be limited to Little Rock, Charlotte, New Orleans, Phoenix, Tampa and cover both rural and urban markets. The Rev. A network more »

For those owners of the HTC Touch on Alltel who’s been just dying for the Rev. A EVDO update (and I mean, come on, who hasn’t?), your day has finally come. The already sleek Touch now has Rev. A EVDO capabilities for your browsing please. Rev. A introduces lower latency and higher upload speeds, along more »

Sprint is releasing a software update for the HTC Mogul that will let the phone connect to a faster data network. The software upgrade, which will double the data connection and enhance upload speeds of the mobile phone, will be using the Evolution-Data Optimized Revision A (EV-DO Rev.A) network.

Sprint is currently only using the EV-DO Rev.A network only for laptop cards, while most of their mobile phones used the slower network EV-DO Rev.0 network. With the new faster data network, the Mogul phone will be able to download at a speed of 600 kbps to 1,400 kbps. This is way faster that the current speed of the EV-DO utilized by most Sprint mobile phones. For uploading files, the Mogul phone connected on the EV-DO Rev.A network can run as fast as 350 kbps to 500 kbps, a very big improvement from the current 50 kbps to 70 kbps.

In another round of Verizon Loves/Hates consumers, we have the new AirCard/Smartphone data plans that are being announced on March 2nd in the spotlight. With Verizon having announced their unlimited calling plans and also details about their new “Open Network” to be set loose later this year, they looked like they were becoming more user-friendly. Well, that’s changed with this most recent event.