Sprint Surpasses Recycling Goal, Sharp Adds Solar Cell Phone

As one major cell phone carrier labors to recycle obsolete units, a manufacturer is bringing into play a phone that charges itself by the sun.

Earlier this year, Sprint set a goal to recycle 250,000 cell phones during April, coinciding with the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Cell Phone Recycling Week. The company collected 279,524 phones for recycling in April, according to a press release.

Sprint says it leads the wireless industry in recycling efforts, with more than 16 million units diverted from landfills for reuse or recycling since 2001.

Cell phone manufacturer Sharp, meanwhile, has introduced a solar cell phone.

The Solar Phone SH002 requires a 10-minute exposure to direct sunlight to deliver one minute of talktime or two hours of standby, according to CNET.

If left outdoors long enough, the cell phone should be able to charge up to 80 percent of capacity, according to the article. The cell phone also is waterproof.

Like most nifty electronics, the cell phone is only available in Japan for now.

Sprint offers a separate solar charging unit for cell phones.

How to Buy a Cell Phone

With hundreds of handsets to choose from, it can be tough to find the right one. Here's what you need to know to dial up the perfect phone.

These days, smartphones get all the buzz, but the vast majority of handsets sold in the U.S. are actually feature phones: camera phones, music phones, rugged phones, messaging phones, or just plain voice phones.

Unlike smartphones, feature phones are a matter of "what you see is what you get." They don't receive magical software upgrades or run thousands of additional apps, as does the iPhone, for example. That doesn't mean they only make calls, though you can find phones that only make calls, if a basic phone is what you want. But most feature phones include some combination of a camera, a basic Web browser, e-mailing and text messaging apps, and music and video players.

Feature phones are typically less expensive than smartphones. They're available in a much wider range of shapes and sizes, and on a broader range of plans, including prepaid options. Monthly service fees for feature phones are generally cheaper too, which can make a multipurpose feature phone a good bet.

Ready to find your phone? Here's what you should consider before you start shopping:

First, Choose Your Carrier

Because all the national carriers sell a wide variety of phones, choosing your service provider should be your first move. Here's a quick rundown of what each of the primary U.S. carriers offers:

AT&T boasts nationwide coverage and a terrific selection of phones, particularly for texting. But some folks, especially in the Northeast, complain that AT&T's coverage isn't all it's cracked up to be when it comes to reliability and quality.

Cricket and MetroPCS are new "unlimited" carriers that offer much lower rates than their competitors and don't require contracts. But they aren't available everywhere, and they have a somewhat limited selection of phones.

Sprint is relatively inexpensive, and offers some neat media services and a solid high-speed network. It also has the most open approach to third-party apps, running the best e-mail software and letting its subscribers add a wide range of Java applications to their feature phones.

T-Mobile offers cutting-edge phones at relatively low monthly rates and enjoys a reputation for good customer service. But its nationwide coverage isn't as complete as AT&T's or Verizon's.

Verizon Wireless is famed for its excellent network quality and good customer service. Its prices, however, can be higher than the competition's, and the carrier is typically slow to offer new handset features, like 5-megapixel cameras. But when it comes to voice quality, many Verizon phones excel.

Virgin Mobile is a nationwide prepaid carrier that uses Sprint's network but can undercut Sprint's rates. Virgin has relatively few phones on its roster, and those it does offer are mostly low-end.

You may also see unlocked phones on the market that work with GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile but aren't sold by the carriers. These handsets are often imports. Because they're generally more expensive than carrier-approved-and-subsidized phones, few are sold in the U.S.

Next, What Are Your Feature Priorities?

Because feature phones do almost everything, you should decide what capabilities you need or want most. Start narrowing down your choices by first ranking the five major categories of features in order of importance: voice, messaging, camera, media playback, and Web/GPS/games/miscellaneous. Once that's done, you'll be able to concentrate on a filtered-down selection of feature phones.

If you're big on text messaging, you want to focus on messaging functionality. If you've got a small child, a camera is probably important. If you want to ditch your iPod, keep an eye out for good media features.

Since it's a given that you want your calls to sound good, you may feel you should focus mainly on voice rather than other features. You don't need to worry too much about that. The vast majority of phones sold today have solid voice capabilities. Paying attention to the other features you like, and then double-checking to make sure the phone you choose delivers on voice quality, makes it easier to sift through a long list of handsets.

Sprint offers two new unlimited service plans

Sprint Nextel today ups the ante in the wireless wars.

Reeling from a poor financial performance in 2007 and projecting another bad year, Sprint is trying to lure cord cutters, cell phone junkies, business professionals and other high-dollar wireless customers.

In the process, Dan Hesse, Sprint Nextel’s chief executive, is hoping to take the uncertainty out of monthly wireless bills.

The company today begins offering two new unlimited service plans offering more value for the money than those unveiled by their competitors.

A $99.99 “Unlimited Everything” plan includes voice calls, text messaging and a laundry list of Internet-based data services. An $89.99 “Talk/Message/Connect” plan offers unlimited voice calls and text messaging, but charges extra for access to the Internet or other data services.

The rates undercut competitors AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile by as much as 40 percent. None of those companies offers unlimited access to the rapidly growing wireless data market, which includes services as diverse as phone-based TV and turn-by-turn navigation.

Hesse called the Sprint plans “bold” and “unprecedented.”

“To us, this is the beginning of a new era in wireless,” Hesse said.

According to surveys by organizations ranging from Consumer Reports to the University of Michigan to AARP, problems with mobile phone bills are one of the leading consumer complaints nationally.

After selecting plans that provide a set number of minutes for a set price, customers complain that add-on charges for navigation, Web browsing and text messaging bulk up their bills.

“Wireless today is about much more than just voice,” Hesse said. “It is about data services — texting, e-mail, video, pictures, music, navigation, surfing the Web and more. Customers want these applications, but without complexity and without having to worry about their bill.”

Wall Street, however, was less than impressed.

“I’m not seeing anything here that’s going to change the trajectory much,” said Timothy Horan, an analyst with Oppenheimer & Co.

Horan noted that T-Mobile has a plan that offers 1,000 minutes of talk, 1,000 text messages and e-mail for $55.

John Garcia, Sprint’s acting chief marketing officer, said services offered by Sprint and T-Mobile aren’t comparable.

“They are still in a fairly slow network and their data offering is primarily just text and e-mail,” Garcia said during a call with investment analysts. “And anything else you try to do is, like I said, slow.”

Some type of move by Sprint on unlimited calling plans was expected. The company’s three leading rivals announced unlimited service plans last week.

The announcement was the lone positive note Thursday in a cacophony of bad news released as the Overland Park wireless company announced its quarterly and annual financial reports.

Sprint wrote off $29.7 billion in the fourth quarter and said the company will lose 1.2 million postpaid customers during the first three months of this year.

Hesse said Sprint’s plan differentiates the company from its competitors while offering customers simplicity.

In some ways, Hesse is going back to the future.

While with AT&T’s wireless division in 1998, Hesse introduced one-price calling for cell phones, eliminating different charges for local and long distance calls. At the time, consumers were charged extra for cell phone use outside their home region or for long distance calls.

Before the plan was introduced, Hesse said, only about 16 percent of wireless consumers regularly used their phone in areas that would bring extra roaming charges.

“We penalized any customer who actually wanted to use the mobility function,” he said. “You didn’t take your cell phone when you traveled and you didn’t make long distance calls on your cell phone. The market was small because the wireless industry made sure it was small.”

The plan to standardize rates is a whole new revolution, Hesse said.

“At our rates, we feel we have struck a very healthy balance between fiscal responsibility and a broader reach, which will grow the wireless data market,” Hesse said.

William Power, an analyst with Robert W. Baird & Co., said the plan puts Sprint in a competitive position for the most lucrative customers. But, in a report to investors, he included a caveat.

“That is a relatively small piece of the overall market,” Power said.

Power noted that Wall Street had been concerned Sprint would start a wireless price war.

“On the whole, the pricing actions do not appear to be as aggressive as some had feared,” Power said. “The lack of a stronger lower-priced offering could be positive for the industry.”

Hesse conceded that only a small percentage of current customers are coughing up $100 a month for mobile phone service.

“It’s correct that today a small percentage of users spend $100 a month on wireless,” Hesse said. “But that could change. It could be that it’s because we make it difficult for users, or really very expensive, for users to use broadband capabilities on the phone.”

Roger Entner, vice president of the communications sector for IAG Research, applauded Sprint’s plan.

“It’s enough to give them differentiation, but not enough to make everybody freak out and start a price war,” Entner said.

Entner said Sprint’s plan also offers another benefit overlooked by other wireless companies in their unlimited plans — families.

Sprint’s plans give families a $5 incremental discount for each line on a family plan. A second line costs $94.99; a third, $89.99.

“It’s on the right path,” Entner said of the plan.

---

Sprint goes unlimited

---

$99.99
Unlimited voice and data, including texting, Web browsing, push-to-talk, navigation, TV, radio and other services.

$89.99
Unlimited voice calls, push-to-talk and texting, but no free access to other data services.

$89.99
Unlimited data, including texting, Web browsing, navigation, TV, radio, push-to-talk and other services, and 900 minutes of talk time.

$69.99
Unlimited texting and push-to-talk, and 900 minutes of talk time.

$49.99
Unlimited texting and push-to-talk, and 450 minutes of talk time.

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Wireless Price War a Boon to Enterprise Mobility

Top-tier providers roll out fixed-price plans, as workers gain service leverage.

The fixed-rate war raging between wireless service providers could benefit enterprises that aim to save money and gain even deeper data and Internet services for mobile workforces.

AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile ignited a pricing battle two weeks ago when all three announced fixed-price unlimited calling plans for $99.99. T-Mobile even added unlimited texting.

Sprint Nextel remained eerily quiet until yesterday when it rolled out unlimited voice, data, text, e-mail, Web access, GPS service, as well as Sprint TV, Sprint Music, and Direct Connect and Group Connect options in one plan for the same price.

In a statement, Dan Hesse, Sprint president and CEO, said the plan reflects the sea change in cellular services and users' data needs.

"Wireless today is about much more than just voice. It is about data services. Customers want these applications," he stated. Sprint says the move to unlimited plans that include data signifies an industry turning point.

"Nationally accepted measures of voice quality now show very little, if any, difference among the top wireless providers," the provider acknowledged in its statement.

And that simple statement is exactly why enterprises are in a great position when it comes to shoring up data services at more economical prices, say industry experts.

The price battle proves "data is the new voice" and that "today's cell phone is tomorrow's smartphone," Carmi Levy, senior vice president of strategic consulting at AR Communications, told InternetNews.com. Both trends, he said, bode well for corporate mobility needs.

Enterprises should call their providers and begin negotiating better price point and data service plans.

"It's time to crack open that existing deal and realize some cost savings. IT leaders should be asking their providers 'what are you going to do for me?' And they should be prepared to jump to another carrier as it could prove very cost-effective," said Levy, who expects prices to keep dropping.

"IT needs to be proactive and get the biggest bang for their technology buck. Mobility is a critical business tool," he said.

But whether data services become a fixed price option anytime soon is up to the carriers. Verizon Wireless recently announced a new "unlimited" data plan that has a maximum cutoff at 5GB. Users who go beyond that will pay 49 cents for every megabyte of data over the limit and could get their throughput reduced.

Levy compares this type of strategy to the initial ISP approach when the Web came into play. At that time most ISPs offered minutes-based pricing plans. The industry, Levy said, finally realized that charging per minute wasn't the best business strategy.

"That was a ridiculous approach -- using a meter to charge people -- and it's the same now with data minutes," he said. "Providers need to offer an 'all you can drink' data plan for the enterprise."

And given Sprint Nextel's "brilliant" marketing move, the analyst expects such changes could come quick.

"Competitors can't afford to stand on the sidelines at this point," Levy said. "They all have to balance marketing efforts with better data plans and expanded coverage as mobile workers expect to have service wherever they are."

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U.S. Stocks Decline on Economic Concern; AIG, Sprint Retreat

U.S. stocks tumbled, capping the market's fourth-straight monthly drop, after a report showed business activity fell to the lowest level since 2001 and UBS AG said losses in credit markets may top $600 billion.

American International Group Inc., the world's largest insurer, declined the most in two weeks after posting the widest quarterly deficit in its 89-year history. Sprint Nextel Corp. slumped to an almost six-year low on concern more customers will defect from the third-biggest U.S. wireless carrier. All 10 industries in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index retreated, led by banks and phone companies.

The S&P 500 fell 37.05 points, or 2.7 percent, to 1,330.63, its biggest drop since Feb. 5. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 315.79, or 2.5 percent, to 12,266.39. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 60.09, or 2.6 percent, to 2,271.48. Eleven stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange.

``There is certainly no shortage of negative news out there,'' Michael Magiera, senior analyst at Manning & Napier Advisors, which manages $17 billion in Fairport, New York, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

The S&P 500 extended its February decline to 3.5 percent after the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said its business barometer contracted as production and employment weakened, boosting concern the worst earnings slump in six years will continue. The four-month losing streaks for the S&P 500 and Dow are the longest since 2002.

Global Slump

Shares in Europe and Asia retreated on concern that the U.S. economy is tipping into recession. Europe's Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index retreated 1.4 percent, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 1.2 percent. The MSCI EM Latin America Index dropped 4.5 percent, the most in almost six weeks.

Profits at S&P 500 companies fell 23 percent on average in the fourth quarter of 2007, and analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expect a 3 percent drop in the first quarter followed by profit growth of 13.7 percent for the year. Two months ago, the forecasts were for increases of 4.7 percent in the first quarter and 15.1 percent for the year.

AIG tumbled $3.29, or 6.6 percent, to $46.86 after posting a fourth-quarter net loss of $5.29 billion, or $2.08 a share, following an $11.1 billion writedown on investments linked in part to subprime mortgages. AIG said it expects more writedowns this year.

``Fridays are tough days'' because investors don't want to be long stocks in case more bad news is reported over the weekend, said David Goerz, chief investment officer of Highmark Capital Management, which oversees $22 billion in San Francisco. ``The news with AIG just put everybody in a foul mood.''

Citigroup Inc., the largest U.S. bank, slid $1.30 to $23.71. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the biggest securities firm, fell $7.07 to $169.63.

`Cancer in the Market'

Credit-market losses will climb to at least $600 billion from about $160 billion written down so far as investments funded with borrowed money are unwound, UBS credit strategist Geraud Charpin wrote in a note to clients.

``Leveraged risk positions are a cancer in this market and the sooner it is treated the better,'' Charpin wrote. AIG's writedown ``is also the clearest indication that banks are not the only ones to suffer potential losses.''

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Bear Stearns Cos. fell after Deutsche Bank AG analyst Michael Mayo forecast further writedowns of subprime assets and lowered first-quarter profit estimates for the firms. At least five other analysts have cut their first-quarter analysts for banks and brokers in the last two weeks. Lehman fell $3.69 to $50.99. Bear Stearns lost $4.36 to $79.86.

September 2002

Financial shares in the S&P 500 fell 4 percent today and tumbled 11 percent in February, the steepest monthly loss since September 2002.

Ambac Financial Group Inc. fell 66 cents to $11.14 after CNBC reported that a deal to boost capital at the second-largest bond insurer hit a snag Feb. 27. The group of banks engaged in the bailout will come back with another proposal to keep Ambac together, the financial news network reported. CNBC cited people familiar with the situation.

MBIA Inc., Ambac's larger rival, decreased $1.09 to $12.97. The company is writing ``very little'' new bond insurance business as borrowers balk at buying a guarantee from a money- losing company without stable AAA credit ratings. MBIA said losses on mortgage-backed securities will probably increase this year and expand beyond subprime mortgages.

Subscriber Losses

Sprint slid 98 cents to $7.11. The company said it will likely lose 1.2 million subscribers in the first quarter. That was triple the number Stanford Group Co. analyst Michael Nelson in New York had forecast and represents 2.2 percent of Sprint's wireless customers.

Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. fell as crude oil retreated from a record and natural gas declined from a two-year high in New York. Exxon lost $2.37 to $87.01. Chevron tumbled $2.36 to $86.66.

Novell Inc. posted the biggest gain in the S&P 500, adding 91 cents, or 14 percent, to $7.45. The second-biggest seller of Linux operating-system software in the U.S. reported a fiscal first-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates after cutting costs by eliminating jobs and changing sales tactics. The company raised its full-year sales forecast.

Gap Inc. rose 72 cents to $20.17. The largest U.S. clothing retailer said fourth-quarter profit advanced for the first time in three years and forecast further gains this year after it sold more full-priced sweaters and jeans during the holiday season.

3Com Buyout

3Com Corp. jumped 38 cents, or 13 percent, to $3.29. Bain Capital LLC and Huawei Technologies Co. plan to reapply within several weeks for U.S. approval to acquire the networking systems and services provider for $2.2 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Today was the most active trading day on the NYSE since Feb. 1, with 1.76 billion shares changing hands. Over the past three months, average daily volume has been 1.59 billion shares.

The National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said its business barometer dropped to 44.5 in February from 51.5 a month earlier. Figures less than 50 signal a contraction.

Consumer spending in the U.S. rose more than forecast in January, reflecting a jump in prices that is eroding buying power. The 0.4 percent rise in spending followed a revised 0.3 percent gain in December, the Commerce Department said. The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation climbed 0.3 percent, the most in four months.

Treasury Yields Fall

Yields on Treasury securities slid, sending the two-year note under 1.7 percent for the first time since April 2004, as investors increased bets on interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Interest-rate futures indicate traders for the first time assign a higher probability to a three-quarter-point cut than to a half-point cut at the Fed's next meeting on March 18. The odds of a three-quarter point cut implied by futures prices rose to 70 percent from 36 percent yesterday and 2 percent a week ago. The remaining bets are on a half-point cut.

The central bank has lowered its target for the overnight lending rate between banks five times since September, most recently to 3 percent on Jan. 30.

``The market has been of the belief that the Fed's aggressive easing action would relieve the pressures,'' said Henry Herrmann, president of Waddell & Reed Financial Inc., which manages $65 billion in Overland Park, Kansas. ``The complications are not diminishing, they're growing.''

Economic Slowdown

Stocks slid yesterday after slower-than-forecast economic growth, rising jobless claims and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke's warning of possible failures among smaller banks deepened concern that the economy has tipped into a recession.

U.S. equities, as measured by the S&P 500, fared the worst among the world's 10 largest markets in February on concern that a recession is inevitable. Japan posted the second-biggest decline, with a drop of 1.6 percent in the Topix index.

Six of the 10 biggest markets have fallen more this year than the S&P 500, which is down 9.4 percent in 2008. Canada's Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index has lost 1.8 percent and Brazil's Bovespa fell 0.6 percent.

The S&P 500 trades at less than 14 times expected earnings, the lowest valuation since October 1990, reflecting investors' lack of confidence in profit estimates.

Financial companies and telephone stocks posted the biggest drops among 10 S&P 500 industries in February, declining 11 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively.

The Russell 2000 Index, a benchmark for companies with a median market value 22 times smaller than the S&P 500, dropped 2.8 percent today to 686.18. The Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index, the broadest measure of U.S. shares, fell 2.6 percent to 13,455.96. Based on its decline, the value of stocks decreased by $450.9 billion.

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Sprint and Samsung Release M520 Slider Phone

Sprint and Samsung (News - Alert) Mobile have unveiled a new phone: the M520 by Samsung. It is described as the first slider Power Vision phone, and is packed with communication and entertainment features including Web access, live TV, location services, song downloads, texting and GPS.

The M520 comes in a slim, slider form factor. It’s designed for multi-tasking so, for example, users can play music in background mode while sending text messages, playing games or browsing the Web.

The Samsung M520 will be supported by the Sprint Mobile Broadband network. The phone will offer access to exclusive services and multimedia content from Sprint. These include:

Sprint Navigation - a Telenav-powered GPS service that offers audio and visual driving directions, one-click traffic rerouting and over 10 million local listings.

Live Search for Sprint - A Microsoft (News - Alert) service that offers voice-enabled access to directory information while on the move, GPS-enabled directions, interactive maps and one-touch click to call access.

Sprint Music Store – A virtual store where users can browse and download songs wirelessly to their phone. Users can select from over 1.8 million songs for just 99 cents each

Sprint TV – offers over 50 channels of live and on-demand video and audio

Sprint Exclusive Entertainment (SEE) - the industry’s only made-for-mobile sports and entertainment video programming network.

For all downloads, standard data charges apply.

In addition to the above, the device also offers a wide array of other features, such as Web access, SMS voice and text messaging, Phone as Modem, picture caller ID, Wireless Backup, a MicroSD slot that supports 4GB of memory (64MB card enclosed), stereoBluetooth with audio caller ID that helps users to identify callers with a spoken voice while listening to music, and a 1.3 megapixel camera that offers 2x digital zoom and camcorder functionality.

The device is now available in all Sprint retail channels and through its Web site. It is priced at $49.99, with a $50 mail-in rebate and a 2-year contract. The phone measures 4.01” x 2.04” x 0.5” when closed, and weighs less than 2.8 ounces.

Source

Sprint (S) To Give Away Cell Phone Calls For Free

Now that its rivals (AT&T NYSE: T) and Verizon Wireless have gone to $99.99 a month unlimited calling plans, Sprint (NYSE: S) needs to get it in gear. It has had trouble adding new wireless subscribers for the last two years while the two larger companies have put on more customers every quarter over the same period.

Sprint's merger with NexTel killed its subscriber service reputation which has done damage to the company's revenue and operating income. A recent study by the University of Michigan showed it in last place for customer satisfaction among US wireless providers The company sacked its CEO and has added an activist investor, Ralph Whitworth, to its board, an action it probably would have liked to avoid.

According to Reuters "Sprint has yet to respond (to its competition), but analysts say it could be considering an unlimited calling plan for as low as $60 a month in a bid to stem customer defections."

With its stock down from over $25 less than two years ago to just over $8 now, it may have to give its service away to get new customers.

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Verizon Sales Miss Estimates as Home-Phone Users Fall

Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. phone company, reported fourth-quarter sales that missed estimates as home-phone users defected to cable rivals and wireless service.

Net income climbed 3.9 percent to $1.07 billion, or 37 cents a share, from $1.03 billion, or 35 cents, a year ago, the New York-based company said today in a statement. Revenue rose 5.5 percent to $23.8 billion, less than the $24 billion average estimate of analysts in a Bloomberg survey.

Chief Executive Officer Ivan Seidenberg's plan to spend $23 billion over seven years to offer TV service and higher Internet speeds hasn't yet stemmed customer losses to cable companies. Investors are worried that an economic slowdown could cause more phone-line losses for Verizon and larger rival AT&T Inc., said Jeff Brimhall of National City Private Client Group.

``They both face a little bit of a challenge because they obviously have significant exposure to the consumer,'' the Cleveland-based analyst said in an interview. His firm manages $34 billion, including Verizon and AT&T shares. ``Line loss to wireless and to cable is a concern going forward, but the macroeconomic situation just adds uncertainty.''

Profit, excluding items such as severance pay for fired workers, was 62 cents a share, meeting the average estimate of 21 analysts in the Bloomberg survey. The wireless unit's operating margin, the percentage of sales remaining after deducting the costs of providing service, expanded to 26.2 percent from 25 percent a year ago.

Line Losses

Verizon rose 35 cents to $38.11 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The stock is little changed in the past 12 months.

Verizon lost 875,000 phone lines in the quarter, including 476,000 primary home-phone lines, as customers switched to cable voice plans or began using wireless service exclusively. Some of those mobile users are Verizon Wireless customers. Total phone lines dropped 8.1 percent from a year ago to 41.4 million, accelerating from an 8 percent drop the previous quarter.

AT&T also reported fourth-quarter revenue that fell short of analysts' estimates. While San Antonio-based AT&T blamed the results on shutting off service to nonpaying customers, Verizon pointed to competition from cable companies such as Comcast Corp.

U.S. retail sales fell last month, unemployment climbed, and factory production has slowed. The Federal Reserve cut the benchmark lending rate Jan. 22 in its first emergency reduction since 2001. President George W. Bush is working with lawmakers to pass an economic stimulus package to avert a recession.

Growth Concerns

After a 17 percent gain in 2007, Verizon shares have fallen 13 percent this year amid investor concerns about economic growth. AT&T said a slowing economy cost it about 100,000 of the 656,000 primary home-phone customers it lost last quarter. Verizon hasn't detected a similar trend, company president Denny Strigl said.

``Whether they face a challenge or not, investors are concerned by the fact that they are going to,'' Brimhall said.

Verizon continued to trim jobs. The company recorded a charge of 16 cents a share in the fourth quarter for severance pay to fire 9,000 phone-line workers from last quarter through the end of this year. Verizon has about 235,000 employees.

``It's not related to any kind of economic trend,'' Chief Financial Officer Doreen Toben said in an interview. ``When lines go down, when you have less lines, you have less need for force.''

Selling Businesses

The company is awaiting regulatory approval for a $2.72 billion deal to hand over about 1.6 million phone lines in the northeastern U.S. to FairPoint Communications Inc. Verizon spun off a directories unit and sold assets in the Dominican Republic, incurring expenses of 22 cents a share in the quarter.

Verizon added 226,000 TV subscribers to its fiber-optic network, fewer than the 234,000 projected by UBS AG analyst John Hodulik in New York. The company also recruited 245,000 fiber Internet customers, missing Hodulik's 284,000 estimate.

The fiber-optic network, called FiOS, is now available in parts of 17 states, the company said today. Verizon plans to make it available to 18 million homes by the end of 2010, about twice last year's total. Customers are less likely to cut phone lines when they order TV and fiber-based Internet services, Toben said.

``It sounds like, as video continues to roll out, the retention should improve,'' said Jonathan Atkin, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets in San Francisco. He said he expects the shares to perform in line with the broader market.

Verizon's capital expenses in 2008 should fall below the $17.5 billion it spent last year, Toben said.

Wireless Customers

Verizon Wireless, jointly owned by Verizon and Vodafone Group Plc, added 2 million customers, including 1.6 million on long-term contracts. Subscribers who sign contracts are more profitable because they're more likely to stay with the company over time than those who pre-pay for service.

Verizon Wireless took subscribers from smaller rival Sprint Nextel Corp., which lost 683,000 contract customers last quarter. AT&T, owner of the biggest U.S. mobile-phone service, added 2.7 million users in the quarter, including 1.2 million on contracts.

Wireless customer turnover, or churn, narrowed to 1.2 percent from 1.3 percent in the previous quarter. The company has kept users by spending to maintain the quality of its network, said Todd Rosenbluth, an equity analyst at Standard & Poor's in New York.

``It was a strong quarter, driven by wireless,'' Rosenbluth said. He had estimated Verizon Wireless would add 1.5 million subscribers. ``They continue to be the most efficient operator out there.''

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AT&T Reverse Cell Phone Directory - Does it Exist?

AT&T was part of the U.S. cell phone collective that was developing the now defunct Wireless 411, the national wireless directory. The official Wireless 411 is now an after thought because of public outrage and government pressure. So no official AT&T directory or reverse directory exists. However, if you are in need of finding the owner to an AT&T number, you can get help from a reverse phone resource (more on that below).

There is no other cellular network that can claim the success of AT&T; not only has it become the largest provider of service within the United States but it offers one of the most diverse set of benefits found within any company. From residential uses to plans tailored for businesses, AT&T is known for its wide variety, multiple products and reliable service.

But, of course, not even the giant of the cellular industry can manage what so many of its clients want: a listing of numbers for easy explanations over unknown calls. AT&T might have the strongest listing of extras but it falls short of perfection with this one area. We believe that can be forgiven, though, since there are other options to be found. You are not being withheld any information; you merely have to seek it elsewhere.
Getting back to reverse phone searches, a reverse phone book works with limited incentives. It allows you to type in an unknown number and see where it is located and, in many cases, to whom it belongs. While the typical phone book relies on names and other essential pieces, this idea works within the concept that, sometimes, you simply do not have enough to tell. You do not have the answers so you can´t ask the proper question.

Reverse phone search companies will help you find the owner to any phone number. Many are paid searches or paid subscriptions. Here is one that will walk you through your free reverse phone search options before you decide to pay a fee. This page essentially provides you with a reverse phone book.

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Pink BlackBerry Pearl Coming to Verizon Wireless

Perfect for the fashion-forward professional on-the-go, the BlackBerry(R) Pearl(TM) 8130 in pink makes it easy to perform essential tasks away from the office, such as managing e-mail, and connecting instantly to the Internet. It also lets customers take pictures, listen to music, watch videos, and much more. The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 in pink also includes built-in navigation to support the location-based application, VZ Navigator(SM), that offers customers audible turn-by-turn directions to wherever they want to go. (PRNewsFoto/Verizon Wireless)

Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation's most reliable wireless
voice and data network, and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX:
RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, announced today the
availability of the BlackBerry(R) Pearl(TM) 8130 smartphone in pink. Coming
to Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at
http://www.verizonwireless.com tomorrow, the pink BlackBerry Pearl is packed with
the same powerful communications features and wireless broadband
connectivity as the original, but it comes encased in a new pink finish
that's chic and sophisticated.

8130 in pink makes it easy to perform essential tasks away from the
office, such as managing e-mail, and connecting instantly to the Internet,
and it also lets customers take pictures, listen to music, watch videos,
and much more. With built-in navigation to support the location-based
application, VZ Navigator(SM), customers can get audible turn-by-turn
directions to wherever they want to go. The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 also
offers the following features and capabilities:



   --  Wireless broadband (EV-DO) connectivity for high-speed data transfers,
       perfect for fast Web browsing
   --  Premium phone features including Voice Activated Dialing,
       speakerphone, and noise and echo cancellation technology for clearer
       calls
   --  2 megapixel camera with flash and 5x zoom, able to record video
   --  Advanced media player and enhanced desktop media manager software
       allowing customers to easily manage music, pictures and video between
       their PC and the BlackBerry Pearl 8130
   --  Externally accessible microSD(TM)/SDHC memory card slot
   --  Bluetooth(R) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets,
       car kits, and other Bluetooth accessories
   The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone in pink is available Friday for
$199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.
An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the device is available
for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time
of purchase. In addition, Verizon Wireless offers Nationwide E-mail and Web
for BlackBerry customers, which includes unlimited data, for an additional
$29.99 per month on top of a voice plan. The plan provides access to up to
10 supported POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts via BlackBerry(R) Internet
Service.

   For more information on products and services from Verizon Wireless,
visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. Business customers may contact a Verizon
Wireless Business Sales Representative directly at 1-800-VZW-4-BIZ.

   About Verizon Wireless

   Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and
data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless
company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon
Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 68,000 employees
nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:
VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at
http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video
footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on
to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at
http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

   About Research In Motion (RIM)

   Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of
innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications
market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and
services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides
platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information
including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based
applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party
developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with
wireless connectivity to data. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products,
services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations
around the world and include the BlackBerry(R) wireless platform, the RIM
Wireless Handheld(TM) product line, software development tools,
radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984
and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America,
Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq:
RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information,
visit http://www.rim.com or http://www.blackberry.com.

   Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to
the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as "intend" and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward- looking statements are based on assumptions made by and
information available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are
cautioned that such forward- looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, possible product defects and
product liability, risks related to international sales and potential
foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of
litigation, acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts,
significant fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in
Canadian and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM's
products, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the
successful development of new products, dependence on third-party networks
to provide services, dependence on intellectual property rights, and other
risks and factors detailed from time to time in RIM's periodic reports
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other
regulatory authorities. RIM has no intention or obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

   The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols
are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.
RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service
marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no
liability and makes no representation, warranty or guarantee in relation to
third party products or services.

Source

Verizon Wireless to Purchase SureWest Communications' Wireless Assets In Northern California

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and SureWest Communications announced today they have signed a definitive agreement for Verizon Wireless to purchase SureWest Communications' wireless assets in northern California, operating as SureWest Wireless, for $69.0 million.

The purchase includes SureWest Wireless' spectrum licenses, and network and operations assets in the greater Sacramento area. The licenses, which cover a population of 3.8 million people and overlap with areas currently served by Verizon Wireless, will expand the company's capacity in that area. Verizon Wireless plans to begin serving SureWest Wireless' more than 50,000 customers when the deal is finalized.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2008 and is subject to federal regulatory approvals.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 68,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone . Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at
www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Source

Amazon Kindle: Save Trees, Support E-Book Readers

As much as I love to read, turning pages one by one, breaking a new paperback book into a well-weathered memory to trophy in my book case, I realize it is costing some forest, somewhere, a tree.

Although e-books have existed since the 90’s a portable platform designed just for e-books that is truly functional has not been available until recently. I read up on two products out there, Sony Reader, which I liked, and the Amazon Kindle, of which I liked a little better.

he Kindle retails at $399 and in my fair and balanced opinion, it comes the closest to getting all things right for this relatively new medium. It lets you download a mini library of books, magazines, and blogs wirelessly. It can do this from just about anywhere you might find cell phone service, kindle specifically uses the Sprint wireless network to link up. The key feature to the wireless kindle is an integrated high-speed EVDO antenna (similar to the ones found in the 3G phones). This antenna allows users to download a 544-page book in 45 seconds. This rockin’ bonus to this wireless access is that it’s free. However, there is a but, do remember that subscribing to magazines, blogs, and newspapers can cost you.

The unit weighs 10.3 ounces and is smaller than many hardback books. The E-ink display screen does not need constant poser to feed it allowing the battery to last much longer. A full QWERTY keypad can be used to do text searches or insert remarks.

The kindle makes reading as close to the real “paper” experience as possible. The unit contains a 6-inch screen that produces a high-contrast E ink display that will not flicker nor does it use a backlight. This E-ink technology allows you to read for hours without eye strain. The text can be instantly resized for easy reading or those who have adjusted vision requirements.

There are large Next Page/Previous Page buttons on the side of the screen that are convenient but they are so big that you can accidentally bump the buttons and throw yourself off by a page or two. Also, the scroll-wheel-based menu system does take some getting used to.

The Kindle store via Amazon is the supply portal for the e-books, complete with some 90,000-plus available titles. The supply proves to be both plentiful and cheap, with best sellers going for $9.99, and many e-books out there are free or mere pennies compared to the paper copy. It holds over 200 titles at once and it has a very long battery life. According to Amazon, leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day or turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. The unit fully recharges in 2 hours.

After spending $399 it can be a major disappointment not to find a title you are searching for. Although it is costly to get into and it still costs more than it should for simple e-books in my opinion, this alternative allows you to store many novels and periodicals and helps save the planet one e-book at a time.

Source

Sprint to launch Samsung Ace World Phone

Sprint is expecting to launch the Ace, a BlackJack-Like Samsung Smartphone. This is a Windows Mobile 6 Standard smartphone will be a WorldPhone, offering seamless transitioning from the US to other countries.

The Samsung Ace rocks a 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD card slot, Bluetooth 2.0, and EVDO on the CDMA-side of things. Unfortunately, jet-setters will be relying on the Rev. 0 flavor of EVDO, while GSM-surfers will have to deal with a lowly GRPS data connection to get their wireless data-fix.

Look for Sprint to drop the Samsung Ace on February 17th, at a $449.99 price-point (most likely sans contract)

Source

Cell phone calls to 911. It's not what you think.

If you think help is on the way when you call 911 from your cell phone, think again. Many phones don't tell dispatchers where you're calling from and that makes it hard for help to get to you.

This can be a big problem for police, firefighters, paramedics. A call comes in for an emergency but they have no idea where to go. Nearly everyone has a cell phone. But is you used it to call 911 would police or firefighters be able to find you?

The answer is, maybe not. Because mobile phones are, well, mobile and the call could be coming from anywhere.

Sean Collins of the Kern Co. Fire Department, "It is very difficult, at this time, to know exactly where a caller is from. When the call comes in on a land line, emergency dispatchers can automatically track it back to a specific address. But when the call comes in on a cell phone, often times they have to rely on a caller that may be panicked and scared."

And if they're too shaken to give details, dispatchers are left guessing.

It happened this week in Taft. Someone called 911 from their cell phone to report a fire, but the phone couldn't give specific details about the location.

As a result, three people were forced to jump from the second story of a burning building.

Sean Collins, "If we do not know that address explicitly, we then have to wait for another caller or try to keep calling back the cell phone user, *if* we get there telephone number."

But they don't, they have to rely on information from the cellular provider and some are better than others.

Elizabeth Trujillo of J's Communication, "It just depends on whether the provider has something enabled on the phone that way."

For example, Sprint and Verizon use global positioning satellites to locate callers which can pinpoint a location.

Other companies like AT&T and T-Mobile use their cell towers which only give a general location. But neither way gives a specific address.

And in an emergency where time is critical, a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

We can only respond to what we know. Obviously we cannot determine or make things up or assume.

If you want to know if a 911 call can be traced back to your phone, take a look at the settings.

Look for something that says, "GPS" or "Location".

If you still can't figure it out call your wireless service provider.

Source

Wireless TV & Studios Inc. Introduces nightVision: Live Video Browsing -- the Next Great Leap in Search Engines

This new technology takes search engines to the next level. Citysearch and Google offer the consumer archived information. nightVision offers live search -- allowing users to search the moment.
New York, New York (PRWEB) January 5, 2008 -- New Year's Eve, just after midnight, the ball has dropped. The lines at New York's hottest nightclubs run around the block, as bouncers fend off hordes of revelers. A black Cadillac Escalade SUV pulls up to the curb, a striking reporter and a camera crew exit the vehicle, greet the doorman and walk seamlessly through the velvet rope and into the club. Once inside, they are waved into the VIP section, where they rub elbows with New York's nightlife elite. Is it for TV? No. The internet? Wrong again.

Welcome to live TV on your cell phone ... free to all, regardless of cell phone carrier.

"Years of research and development are finally coming to fruition," said Eduardo Lipschutz-Villa, president of Wireless TV & Studios, Inc., as he and an assistant monitored the live broadcast unfolding in front of him, via cell phones from all the major carriers: Verizon, ATT, Sprint and T-Mobile.

"With this new technology, we're taking search engines to the next level. Citysearch and Google offer the consumer archived information. nightVision offers live search -- we allow people to search the moment. Can you imagine being out and about, and being able to see if a bar is hopping, what the crowd is like, how they're dressed, if your ex is there," Lipschutz-Villa smiled. "Now we have achieved content specific to the device and tailored to the lifestyle and needs of the user."

"What's so great about this service is that we offer not only live reporting, but comprehensive video archives of the best New York has to offer -- restaurants, bars, live music and events -- and they're all constantly updated," commented Lisa Lyons, Executive Producer of nightVision. "So if you're out in the city and you want to, say, find out what bands are playing downtown, in less than a New York minute you're checking them out in a video on your cell phone, or getting a preview of the ambiance and food being served in the restaurant of your choice. Ultimately, the service will include easy ticket purchase and restaurant reservations."

The team behind nightVision, Wireless TV & Studios Inc., is no stranger to wireless content and technology. In the late 1990s, WTV developed and implemented 2-way interactive wireless communication systems, and in 2007, created wireless video content and user interface for Digital Dispatch Systems, to obtain the final Notice to Proceed for the NYC Taxi Technology Enhancement Project for the TLC (New York Taxi and Limousine Commission).

nightVision's infrastructure consists of several reporter and camera crew teams enabled to deliver real time data, which is treated and broadcast for access from any cell phone browser in the world, regardless of carrier. Wireless TV & Studios Inc. uses 3G technology, an innovative networking and encoding. This ASP platform, powered by Nexage, has proven to be more dynamic and faster to use than internet sites modified for cell phone usage.

This free service is commercial-driven, and expects to generate revenue through advertisements. "After all, New York City's nightlife is a $10 billion a year industry, with plenty of opportunities for product branding," commented Lipschutz-Villa.

Having successfully delivered the technology, and with a solid marketing strategy in place, Wireless TV & Studios Inc. is projecting a March 1, 2008 launch of nightVision in New York City, soon to be followed by other major cities across North America and Europe.

The third revolution in television has arrived.

Source

Easily transfer contacts to your new cell phone

Talk about a nightmare. Just after you get all excited over the purchase of a new phone, you realize that your contact info is trapped in your dying old phone. HELP! MY CONTACTS ARE TRAPPED IN MY PHONE!
Talk about a nightmare. Just after you get all excited over the purchase of a new phone, you realize that your contact info is trapped in your dying old phone. The only way to rescue them, manually inputting hundreds of contacts using the alphanumeric keypad, no less, can be enough to test even the most patient. You think about how much effort this will require and say to yourself, "Did I really need a new phone?"

Well, of course you did, and you can stop imagining this doomsday scenario.

Note: If both your old and new phones use a SIM card on which you've stored your contact information, you can stop reading right now and sleep soundly; you can just transfer your SIM card to the new phone.

In fact, there are a few different happy endings to this nightmare.
1. Make your carrier work for you
We know, it's a novel concept. But if you purchase a new phone through and your phone doesn't use a SIM card, you can go to one of your carrier's retail outlets and have a customer service agent transfer your contacts from your old phone to your new one. It may cost you, however, depending on your carrier.

2. Use syncing software
If for some reason your provider is unable to transfer your address book to the new phone, don't give in to that syncing feeling. You can purchase cables and data synchronization software that will do the trick. Your carrier or the phone's manufacturer may provide such tools for your handset. Otherwise, several third-party options are available.

FutureDial offers cables ($30 to $35) for a wide range of cell phones, and its SnapSync software ($30) automatically synchronizes contact information between your phone and Outlook or Outlook Express. But in this case, you'll probably need separate cables for both your old and new phones. DataPilot's Universal Kit ($80) and Mobile Action's Handset Manager (around $30), however, include cell phone sync software and connectors to support most popular cell phone brands, including Nokia. Check with the company to be sure your phones are supported. For step-by-step directions on using syncing software, see our Weekend Project.

If you use an Apple Macintosh and a GPRS Bluetooth-enabled phone, Apple's iSync will synchronize your contacts, appointments, and events. iSync is available as a free download from Apple.

3. Use online tools
Verizon Wireless recently introduced a new online service that eliminates the pain of moving your contact information. The Backup Assistant lets you store your address book online, so your contact information is readily available in case you purchase a new phone. This also is a good option in case your cell phone is lost or stolen. Backup Assistant is available at Verizon's Get It Now online store. For $5 a month, Nextel offers an online service that lets you store up to 2,000 contacts with multiple addresses and phone numbers. You can import contact information to the site from Outlook, Excel, or your Nextel phone. Once all the information you need is online, you can transfer contacts to your new phone with ease.

An alternative comes from a start-up company called Vazu. It offers a free tool called Vazu Contacts, which lets you upload contact information from Outlook, Outlook Express, Apple Mail, or Novell Evolution directly to your Nokia or Sony Ericsson mobile phone. You receive contact information as a business card, which you can immediately add to your address book. Currently, Vazu Contacts works only on GSM networks, so AT&T Wireless, Cingular, and T-Mobile customers with supported phones can enjoy the service. The company says it is exploring other networks and phone models.

4. Wireless connectivity
If both your old and new phones have Bluetooth or an infrared port, you may be able to transfer contacts wirelessly. Not all carriers support Bluetooth, however, so be sure to check if yours does. Alternatively, you can transfer files on a memory card.

SOURCE

Verizon Wireless donates phones to domestic violence victims

KINGSTON - Verizon Wireless donated 20 wireless phones to Family Domestic Violence Services today to celebrate the grand opening of the company's new store at 1200 Ulster Ave.

As part of the company's HopeLine program dedicated to combat and raise awareness about domestic violence, the phones will be distributed to victims of domestic violence in the area so they can call for help in an emergency or life-threatening situation. The phones can also help domestic violence survivors find employment, child care arrangements and housing.

Phone donations are accepted at all Verizon Wireless stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

Vonage Sued Again, This Time by AT&T

The Internet phone company Vonage disclosed over the weekend that it had been sued, yet again, by a telecom giant for infringing patents, the Wall Street Journal reported. This time, AT&T says that Vonage is violating a patent which allows users to access an Internet phone system through a standard phone.

The suit was actually filed last Wednesday, but Vonage did not disclose it until issuing a regulatory filing late Friday.

Verizon’s suit against Vonage, which Vonage lost but is now appealing, led to a judge ruling that Vonage can no longer use certain technologies. Earlier this month, Vonage settled another suit, by Sprint, by agreeing to license over 100 Sprint patents for $80 million.

SOURCE

Cool New Cell Phones Released

Verizon customers sent and received 10 billion text messages during the month of July. That's one reason why Verizon is coming out with the text-friendly Voyager."It actually vibrates so you know what you touched is what you actually selected," a Verizon employee saidThe Voyager has a touch-sensitive screen on the outside. When you flip it open, a second screen appears on the inside where you can watch videos and surf the Internet.

Another hot phone for text messengers is called the Tilt from AT&T."The Tilt runs on Microsoft Office," Maurice Contreras of AT&T said. "You can integrate it with your corporate service. It will integrate with your Gmail, your Yahoo email, your personal e-mail addresses."

AT&T also offers the iPhone. More than 1 million have been sold since its summer debut."It's $399 but it's the ultimate phone," Contreras said. "It's the ultimate Internet device, just the ultimate mobile phone."AT&T's Video Share feature allows users to have videoconferences with other AT&T customers."I can be anywhere in the country and you would be able to see me and hear me as long as you had this feature on your AT&T phone," reported NBC 6's Joel Connable.

Sprint's newest Blackberry is perfect for people who need to take their office with them. It has e-mail, maps and a GPS system."I type in my mom's home address and it tells me exactly point-to-point directions," Emicel Ana of Sprint said.One of the smallest phones on the market is Verizon's Juke.It flips open like a switchblade knife and is made for people who like to download music. It also has a built-in 2 gigabyte memory for music.You can also track your kids with Verizon's family locater. A GPS is built in the phone so you always know where they are.

SOURCE

Find your friends on a cell phone: Pelago introduces Whrrl

Whrrl is a new service that allows mobile phone users to chronicle every social activity in their lives -- writing reviews of movies or restaurants or uploading photos from concerts and sporting events. It then plots that information on a map and combines it with similar content from friends, creating a personal mobile city guide. It also provides the real-time locations of people as they wander from place to place in a city, tracking chosen friends as dots on a map.

Whrrl -- not to be confused with a competing service called Whirrl -- is the first offering from Pelago, a Seattle startup that scored $7.4 million from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos and Trilogy Equity Partners last year.

Led by Jeff Holden and Darren Erik Vengroff, both of whom previously held high-ranking positions at Amazon.com, Pelago is one of a number of companies trying to tap the emerging arena of location-based services. The idea is that mobile phone users will want to locate friends -- who may be at a nearby restaurant -- or at the very least get a review that a friend wrote of the restaurant from a few weeks ago. The service is also accessible on a PC.

For businesses, the concept holds much promise -- potentially allowing them to target coupons or advertisements to people as they shop in a book store or buy a cup of coffee.

Of course, plotting the location of people on a mobile map in real time opens up dozens of potential privacy issues. That's especially the case since Pelago is targeting teenagers and those in their 20s. Eventually, the company wants to combine the power of GPS phones with a patent-pending technology it dubs "Passive Visitation" to automatically record the locations of users as they move around a city.

Holden, a former senior vice president at Amazon.com, said Whrrl was built so that location information doesn't get into the wrong hands. For example, users can set different privacy levels in order to allow or disallow specific people from seeing the location. They also can "cloak" themselves -- essentially switching off the location feature, Holden said.

Despite the potential privacy bottlenecks, Holden believes that people will find value in disclosing their locations to selected friends or family members.

And, he said, the ability to search for restaurant reviews or other information based on one's location is a compelling idea that hasn't been addressed by other players in the market.

"The real power of this thing is that you can combine social data with factual data that we have gathered," said Holden. "And so you can say: 'I want to see only the places that my foodie friends think are great restaurants and are within a half mile of here, have outdoor seating, and are open now.' That is a trivial query in our product." Such a query would take just four clicks, Vengroff added.

The search functionality allows users to quickly "mine tribal knowledge" from friends, which Holden says is a much more powerful recommendation than reading some anonymous review.

Of course, the concept will only work if people start using it. To attract users, Pelago has entered into a marketing agreement with American Eagle Outfitters in which customers of the retailer will be exposed to the Whrrl service through in-store and Web site promotions.

It also is working to create services so people can add reviews from their mobile devices to social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

Other potential competitors include online city guides such as Yelp and Citysearch, both of which have mobile products, and Loopt, a two-year-old Silicon Valley startup that also allows users to find friends on a map on a mobile phone. Backed with $5 million from Sequoia Capital and New Enterprise Associates, Loopt's service is available on about two dozen Sprint phones for $2.99 per month.

Google also is moving into the arena with the purchase of Jaiku, a company that allows mobile phone users to create a running Web log of events, recommendations and other information. Jaiku describes its mobile product as "a live phonebook that displays the activity streams, availability, and location of your Jaiku contacts right in your phone contact list." Twitter, which also allows people to share small tidbits of information with friends, also is a potential threat.

Holden said he likes the concept of Jaiku and Twitter because they offer an "always-on connection to your network." But he said Whrrl is different because the content has more long-lasting value than the quick posts on Twitter and Jaiku.

"People post something and it is not that interesting like five minutes later, whereas in our world when you post something it is almost always in the context of some thing in the physical world," said Holden, adding that restaurant reviews or concert photos can be recycled for others to use.

Though it is launching today, Whrrl is not available to all mobile phone users. Only subscribers to AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile -- on about eight to 10 phone models -- can download Whrrl. A portion of the service is free, though Pelago plans to charge less than $3 per month for the location-based service. Pelago, which plans to go out for more funding early next year, employs 34 people.

For more on location-based services on mobile devices, check out The New York Times today which reports on offerings from Loopt and Buddy Beacon. It also notes some of the privacy concerns, quoting an analyst who says there "is a Big Brother component" to the services.

SOURCE