LaptopMemo | Tech & Then Some » Verizon

AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint Offer Free Calls And Texting To Those In Japan

Stefan Etienne — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:17:52 +0000

To cut the story short for maximum grasp on the topic at hand and easy reading, AT&T subscribers will get free calling and texting to Japan for the whole month of March, while Sprint and Verizon customers will get the same sort of courtesy until April 10th, both wireless and residential for all aforementioned networks. So, uh, T-Mobile, wanna be a humanitarian this time around? Via: VentureBeat

Verizon CTO: We’ll Pass On The Windows Phone 7 Goodies, Thanks.

Stefan Etienne — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:41:57 +0000

This, we weren’t expecting, now were we? Verizon CTO Tony (or Anthony) Melone stated that the three major mobile operating systems worth noting of are iOS, Android, and BlackBerry. In blunt wording, he doesn’t give a Nokia about Windows Phone 7. His mentioning of this was in a recent interview with CNET:

“I do want a strong third OS out there,” Melone said. “It gives the carriers more flexibility and balances the interests of all the parties. But I still have doubts whether Microsoft will get the traction they are hoping for with Windows Phone 7… I don’t think Verizon needs the Nokia and Microsoft relationship,” he said. “Right now the three OS players we see for our network are Android, Apple, and RIM. “

Why so sad, Melone? Windows Phone 7 is adding CDMA support in an upcoming update to debut on Sprint, but in the meantime, a Verizon WP7 device doesn’t seem so possible. Perhaps that will change with time? Via: CNET

A Reason Why It Would Suck To Get An iPhone On Verizon.

Stefan Etienne — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:53:47 +0000

You have an iPhone (or you’re getting one). You love it. You hate AT&T, but you still love your iPhone (which is actually pretty hard to do). Since 2007, you’ve been buying, setting up, and using the iPhone 2G, 3G, 3GS, and the 4. While the iPhone 4 may be superior (and it is, with only a few Android phones as good as it is), it always is a problem of AT&T. No longer, because it’s on Verizon Wireless, without a hint of crapware seen on Android or branding to be found. It turns out, buying now would be a bad idea.

Doesn’t make much sense of what I just typed right there?

It does.

And you’d be a fool to do otherwise. Now with Verizon on board, and AT&T losing exclusivity in the United States, that means the iPhone 5 will be on both networks. Considering the date is February 10th, and a new iPhone is ALWAYS launched every June/July, then you’d be just as royally screwed as your weekly AT&T customer service call. It’s your choice: be the early adopter and pay for it, or wait it out just a bit longer. You’d enjoy it a lot more, that’s for sure.

BestBuy Is Selling The DROID Pro For $50. You Know What That Means.

Stefan Etienne — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:21:13 +0000

That means that if you need a BlackBerry with Android 2.2 on it, then your Droid has arrived. Or if you’re just willing to shed less cash on this 1GHz OMAP 3620 processor, 3.1-inch multitouch screen, 8GB internal storage, 802.11n Wi-Fi/GPS/Bluetooth 2.1, and a 5MP camera smartphone, then now you’re doing business, with the usual two-year Verizon contract, of course. Via: BestBuy Mobile, BG

Liveblog: Samsung Continuum 11/8 Mobile Event

Stefan Etienne — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 23:09:57 +0000

I’ll be live blogging here about the well-leaked and well-known Samsung Continuum and its mobile event. I’ve settled in, had some hors d’oeuvres, got the camera and laptop ready, and it’s time to roll. Hit up the “more” link after the break for the live blog.

Refresh every few minutes for the latest updates!

6:09 PM: Not much going on. Press everywhere, Samsung Continuum posters on the walls — you get the rest.

6:13 PM: Still waiting for new activities. Sitting back and listening to some — wait — Samsung has good music taste.

6:17 PM: Looks like the Continuum also uses Bing. That’s interesting to say the least about it. Samsung in the meantime is still blasting music from the speakers.

6:19 PM: Music dying down. Looks like it’s starting time.

6:23 PM: Having more hors d’oeuvres, and now we’re settling into some jazz.

6: 27 PM: Closer look at the massive projector.

6:32 PM: Music shutting down. It’s time to start!

6:33 PM: Director of Samsung PR on stage.

6:33 PM: Samsung has sold 3 million Galaxy S phones this year. Not bad, not bad.

6:34 PM: Talking about Media Hub, several words about the Galaxy S line. Promo stuff.

6:35 PM: The Samsung Continuum’s ticker display was inspired by Times Square and the stock tickers. Interesting.

6:37 PM: The Samsung Continuum has a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED main display, and a 1.8-inch ticker display.

6:39 PM: A ticker display displays RSS feeds, weather, time, clock, and stocks, as well as missed notifications and a ticker history of anything that was missed.

6:41 PM: The ticker display allows you to grip the lower sides of the phone to activate it without waking the whole phone. Nice.

6:42 PM: Samsung Continuum has Media Hub coming soon, 1Ghz processor, Verizon Hotspot, Android 2.2 update inbound, and a 5 megapixel camera with 720p HD video capture.

6:43 PM: The announcement is over. The hands-on booths are coming next.