Sprint Nextel and Clearwire Resume WiMax Talks

According to numerous reports, major wireless phone carrier Sprint Nextel and Clearwire have resumed talks that have stalled last year.

Clearwire Corp. is a wireless Internet provider that is in negotiation with Sprint in an effort to combine their high-speed wireless WiMax networks. The company currently operates pre-WiMax networks in 46 U.S. markets, including Seattle, Syracuse, N.Y., and Duluth, Minn. Wimax networks have the capacity to grant faster wireless Web connection speeds for laptops and cell phones.

Last November, talks about combining the high-speed wireless WiMax networks of both companies have bogged down. As a result of this failure, the shares of the much smaller Clearwire went down to more than 40 percent.

Sprint Nextel may have also been affected by this event as there has been reports that the wireless network may be planning huge lay-off. Some estimated that the major wireless network will give up thousands of employees and make drastic changes within the company. However, other factors may have played a greater role in Sprint's decline.

Fortunately, reports have indicated that these ailing companies have crafted a new plan. Some say that it involves spinning off Sprint's WiMax unit and merging it with Clearwire networks. This venture seems to have caught the attention of Intel Corp. which may be a good source of funds to help seal the deal.

It also appears that the negotiations between the two companies have brought good results. Fro instance, Clearwire shares have skyrocketed and the stock of Sprint Nextel have increased in value. I hope that the talks between these companies will succeed. After all, we can all benefit from the faster online connection that Wimax networks can offer.

New Mobile Phones from Alltel

I have some exciting news for Alltel customers and other wireless network enthusiasts.

A few days ago, Alltel wireless has announced that they will add two new mobile phones and a new Blackberry to their lineup. The red BlackBerry Pearl 8130 will now be a member of Alltel's smartphone lineup. The LG Scoop and the Samsung Muse will also be available in the upcoming months.

Let's preview these exciting wireless devices. let's begin with the red BlackBerry Pearl 8130.

The BlackBerry 8130 is marketed as "Research In Motion" and is the first Pearl designed for CDMA networks. This smart phone is also more advanced when compared to the original Pearl.

It sports a 2 megapixel camera with video capture, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphone jack and an improved SureType keypad. Customers will also benefit from other exciting features such as push email, EVDO data, GPS, and the memory card slot. This smart phone cost $150 with a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year contract.

The Pearl 8130 offered by Alltel is essentially the same device that is being offered by Verizon Wireless and Sprint. The feature list remains unchanged but the main difference is in color. Alltel offers a Red BlackBerry 8130 so those who love to carry a flashy smart phone will love this device.

Let us now proceed to the Samsung Muse u706 that is to be offered by Alltel. This mobile phone is a mid-range flip phone that music lovers will love.

To provide great musical experience, the dedicated music player keys and XM Radio Mobile compatibility will do the work. This phone also works with Alltel's new Celltop music-streaming application so it's a great toy for music loving customers .

Customers will also enjoy the 2 Megapixel camera, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, and other exciting features that are included in this wonderful mobile phone. The GPS feature is also a big attraction to this phone. It is complemented by Alltel's Axcess Mobile Guide navigation application that provides turn-by-turn directions and maps to help customers find their destination.

Lastly, let us check out the LG Scoop. Alltel customers who like an affordable but classy and effective phone will appreciate the Scoop. This device is the re-branded version of the LG Rumor.

The device is designed for messaging and slides open sideways to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. Customers who like to send text messages will appreciate this feature. This wireless device will work with Alltel's Axcess Voice2TXT service. This service will allow customers to that converts voicemails they receive into to text messages.

However, this phone is more than just a messaging phone. It also offers a a 1.3 Megapixel camera and Bluetooth capabilities. Customers can purchase the Scoop in three colors. Alltel has not yet released a price for the Scoop and the LG Muse.

I hope that you will be pleased with this piece of wireless network information. I think Alltel will release more info about these devices including the prices of the Scoop and the Muse so tune in to their website if you are interested.

AT&T Mobile TV Launch

This is a bit of good news for AT&T subscribers.

According to anonymous sources, AT&T Mobility has began making preparations to launch mobile TV broadcast services from MediaFLO USA Inc. After all the delays that have frustrated customers, it seems that the long awaited launch of this service if finally at hand. Aren't you excited?

AT&T customers will finally get what Verizon has given their customers almost a year ago. The wireless network initially announced that it would launch the mobile TV service by the end of 2007. However, they were unable to push through with that plan. If you can feel the excitement then let me give you another juicy bit of info.

The launch is estimated to be held in the early part of February. The internal documents and sources that have been "leaked" indicate that it will happen next month. The information also express that the plan is to use two exclusive channels for the launch of AT&T's Mobile TV.

MediaFlow's service offers offers eight live, linear TV channels around the clock but sources say that may not be the case for AT&T's service. Experts predict that MediaFLO will work with carriers. This will help the networks to provide different offers and provide opportunities for exclusive content. In short, they will try to keep everyone happy.

After all, having both mobile phone networks offering similar services would not be a good idea. Each wireless network should have something different to offer that will appeal to their customers. A good example would be to offer exclusive channels. Each carrier with mobile TV would be able to mix content that might not necessarily come from a single source.

However, AT&T Mobility and MediaFLO have refused to make any comments on the leaked information about the mobile TV launch. Nevertheless, customers who are eager to try out mobile TV feel that AT&T will finally deliver and will satisfy the cravings of their customers.

I basically feel the same way. Verizon customers have been enjoying this service so AT&t has to be more aggressive about the release this anticipated service. Another delay might cause AT&T to lose some of their loyal subscribers and certainly bring about more complaints.

SureWest Assets will be Sold to Verizon

Verizon Wireless has made an another announcement this week.

The major wireless network has announced that it has agreed to purchased wireless assets from SureWest Communications for sixty nine million big bucks. SureWest Communications is a telecommunication company based in northern California. This deal is subject to federal regulatory approvals upon completion.

Verizon is considered by many as the most reliable wireless voice and data network in the US today. It is serving more than 60 million wireless customers. Based on revenues, it is the largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider. This powerful mobile phone carrier employs nearly seventy thousand workers and is steadily growing bigger as this post is being made.

With this deal, the will acquire SureWest's spectrum licenses, and network and operations assets in Sacramento. SureWest Wireless' license and spectrum covers nearly four million people. Estimates indicate that Verizon will take on about 50,000 more customers on this major deal will be finalized.

Sure Wests' licenses coverage overlaps with areas currently served by Verizon Wireless so the deal makes sense. This will expand the company’s capacity in that area and bring enhance service for mobile phone service customers.

As soon as the deal is complete, the top wireless network will begin serving SureWest Wireless’ thousands of customers. Experts estimates that the transaction will be completed in the second quarter of 2008.

Visit Verizon Wireless News Center for more news and updates.

Music-Streaming Device for Car Stereos from Verizon

Do you like to listen to music while you drive around the city? If you do then you better check out this bit of wireless network news.

A few days ago, the availability of the Venturi Mini was announced by Verizon Wireless one of the major players in the wireless phone service industry. But what is the Venturi Mini?

Well, the Venturi Mini is a cool device that allows you to stream music from your Bluetooth-enabled music phone to your car's FM radio. Now isn't that cool! This wonderful gadget can also turn any vehicle's stereo into a hands-free speakerphone system. This device will really impress your friends.

How does this device work? Well, it's fairly simple. All you have to do is connect the Venturi Mini plugs into a 12v outlet in your vehicle. The device will then connect to your phone via Bluetooth. After that the Mini can broadcast your music to your car's built-in FM radio using its built-in FM transmitter.

Another cool thing about the Venturi Mini is that it has a built-in noise filtering microphone. This means that the music being played is automatically paused if a call comes in. Then the call will heard through the car's speakers in place of the music. That is certainly a useful feature as it eliminates the need to take your hands away from the steering wheel just to receive a call.

Are you interested in this device? If you are, then visit Verizon Wireless and check it out along with the other gadgets for sale. I'm sure you won't be disappointed by what you find.

Thousands of Sprint Employees may be Laid Off

Early this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Sprint Nextel may lay off several thousands of its 60,000 workforce. Sprint Nextel's representatives have refused to make a comment on this report.

Wall Street Journal's report cited informants that revealed that the the job cuts will number in the thousands although the scale of the lay off was not made clear. Last year, the company made an announcement about plans to reduce its full-time head count by about 5,000 people. This move left Sprint with just under 60,000 workers after the layoffs were completed.

Sprint Nextel is one of the top wireless service providers in the US. The wireless network offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users.

Some experts believe that the plans may be a drastic to revive the company as it has lost ground to rivals in the industry. Sprint has also has struggled with network and customer service problems which have compounded the company's concerns.

Other plans have also been drafted to slow the company's decline. The new chief executive of Sprint Nextel is also considering consolidating Sprint's headquarters in Kansas.

However, some experts say that the wireless network should be careful where it cuts even though job cuts may help profit margins. Sprint should also improve its operations to minimize the loss of customer to rival mobile phone carriers.

Read more about this news story at Yahoo! news.

Sanyo S1 Mobile Phone at Sprint

Sprint Nextel has released it's first mobile phone for this year. The S1 from Sanyo.

Here is the picture preview and basic specifications of this nice cell phone.

Dimensions: 4.4” x 1.8” x 0.4”
Weight: 2.5 ounces
Display: 1.0” x 1.3” 65K color TFT LCD (128x160)
Standard rechargeable Lithium (LiIon) battery: up to 3.5 hours continuous talk time


The S1 by SANYO has a sleek look and feel that many mobile phone enthusiasts crave. This wireless device offers the essential features that consumers rely on to stay connected when it matters most.

Since it operates on Sprint's Vision® network, customers can avail of easy access to advanced services including web access and email with the help of this device. This phone also offers Wireless Backup. In the event that the phone is lost, stolen or damaged, this feaure will help you to easily manage your phone's contacts list.

Here are the features and tools of the S1 from Sanyo


Downloadable screen savers, ring tones, applications and games
Customizable favorites menu
Sprint Vision® enabled
Integrated Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
High-quality speakerphone
Text and SMS Voice Messaging
Voice-activated dialing
T9 Text Input
Phone as Modem capable
Wireless Backup
Parental Controls restrict calls and limit access to Vision services
Calendar, scheduler, to-do list, world clock, calculator, stopwatch and alarm clock
Internal phone book


You can also check out this review video from PhoneScoop.com t oget more info on this phone.



I hope the info and video review I posted can help you decide if you want to get this mobile device from Sprint.

Judge Rules in Favor of Alltel!

Last week, I made a post about Alltell being sued by Verizon Wireless for false advertising.

An Alltel ad that claimed only Alltel gives wireless customers the ability to change their calling plans without having to extend the term of their contracts is the root of the problem. Since Verizon have began to allow their customers to change their wireless plans without requiring an extension of their contracts about two months ago, they filed a complaint against Alltel.

However, things did not go Verizon's way as a U.S. District Judge in Richmond, Va has refused to grant a temporary restraining order that would have forced Alltel Wireless to drop the controversial ad.

Alltel’s Laura Cook announce that, “We are very pleased with Friday’s ruling and that the court recognized Verizon did not have grounds for the injunction it requested.”

This is certainly interesting. I wonder how Verizon will respond to this setback. They have declined to comment on this ruling but I expect Verizon to make an appropriate response to this conflict.

SMT5800 Fusion Libra Now Available at Verizon Wireless

Another exciting announcement from the mobile phone industry was made today. The SMT5800 will be made available on the web and through Verizon Wireless business sales and Verizon Wireless Communications Stores this month. Oh, joy!

This device is priced at $299.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement. You may be eligible for an additional $100 credit if you purchase a qualified voice plan along with a data plan.

For those unfamiliar with this smart phone, let me give you some details. The SMT5800 from Verizon Wireless is a compact phone and messaging device. This amazing wireless device also features a standard mobile phone keypad and navigation, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Windows Mobile 6 Standard for online access , calendar and contacts, tasks, e-mail, and more. You also will be able to view and edit Microsoft Word® and Excel® and view PowerPoint® and PDF documents while on-the-go if you have this device.

Check out the other great features of the SMT5800:

• 2.0 megapixel camera with video capture
• Bluetooth® 2.0 including stereo with support for certain profiles
• microSD™ memory card slot (for up to 8 GB of removable memory)
• 2.4” QVGA, 240 x 320 65k-color screen
• CDMA2000 1x/EV-DO digital dual-band
• Dimensions: 4.1” l x 2.0” w x 0.7” d
• Weight: 4.2 oz.
  

Are you a customer of Verizon Wireless? If you are then you will have the benefit of using the SMT5800 as a modem for notebooks when you subscribe to Verizon Wireless’ BroadbandAccess Connect to send and receive data.

If you want another perspective on this device, let me give you a review. EngadgetMobile describes this device as, "The UTStarcom XV5800 (for Verizon Wireless) lies somewhere between the Vox and the S730; although it shares 3G functionality with the S730, it’s from the same vintage as the Vox (its GSM cousin)"

You can also watch this video review of this great phone,

Alltell Sued by Verizon for False Advertising

It seems that another dispute between two major wireless phone carriers or networks has began.

Apparently, Verizon Wireless has filed a civil suit in the federal court in Richmond, Va. against Alltel Corp. on the grounds of making false advertising claims. The origin of this problem is an Alltel ad that claimed only Alltel gives wireless customers the ability to change their calling plans without having to extend the term of their contracts.

Verizon reacted unfavorably to this Altell Ad because they have began to allow their customers to change their wireless plans without requiring an extension of their contracts about two months ago. After this important decision they contacted Alltel about the carrier’s ad to request that it be changed.

Now, Altell claims that it granted Verizon Wireless' request to cahnge the ad. Andrew Moreau, a spokesman for Alltel said, “We did make edits to that ad to accommodate Verizon’s position. The version of the ad that Verizon filed with its complaint was a prior version of the ad so it didn’t reflect the edits that we made.”

However, Verizon Wireless claims Alltel continued to air the unedited advertisement throughout last year and into 2008. The carrier wrote in court documents that,

"Verizon Wireless notified Alltel of these falsehoods and reasonably believed that any such false advertising would cease on or before Thanksgiving. However, Alltel has continued to run advertising falsely and misleadingly contending that only Alltel offers wireless customers the ability to change their service without changing their contract term.”

As of this time Verizon Wireless declined to make any comment beyonds the lawsuit. Read more about this wireless network news at rcrnews.com

Water Proof Cellphones Through New Chemical

Have you ever thought about the possibility of Mobile Phones that can withstand water?

Think about it for a while.

Water proof cellphones can increase the reach of mobile phone communication. You can now bring your phone to the shower or it might even be possible to use your phone while swimming in the beach or pool. But you might ask, how would this be possible?

Well, electronics companies are planning to tap into military technology to make mobile telephones and other equipment resistant to water. They are planning to use a special coating derived from the research used to find ways to protect soldiers from chemical attacks.

The coating will be invisible to the naked eye. It is chemically bonded to the surface of the device and is designed to repel water and prevent it from seeping into the device where it could damage circuitry. This technology has been developed by Ministry of Defence scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in Porton Down, Wilts.

The coating will protect the phones from from moisture, rain and accidental immersion. Experts say that test results show that phones can be used in wet environments without damage when treated with the special coating.

If electronics companies can develop the coating successfully and use it to effectively protect mobile phones from water, then it will be a significant development for the wireless phone industry. One of the top reasons for insurance claims on mobile phones is damage from water. In fact, more than 1.2 million devices have been dropped in lavatories, drinks or put through washing machines last year.

Being able to survive the destructive powers of water or moisture can be a unique selling point. It eliminates a common weakness in mobile devices and will make customers more confident about the safety of their device. Several wireless networks have made negotiations with the company that is developing this technology. You can read more about this news by following this link.