iPhone!

Apple finally made public the iPhone. The past 6 months have shaped up to be the highest profile mobile phone launch ever, and Apple has conjured up an amazing amount of buzz for a device that only a handful of people have actually held. While the early adopters are busy waiting in lines across the country to be the first iPhone users, others are busy betting on what bugs will be found.

AT&T came out in support of its EDGE network today amid heavy criticism from the first round of iPhone reviews. The combination of a "2.5G" data technology and a HTML/CSS compatible browser can mean some heavy wait times (expect about a minute to render a complex page like nytimes.com). Most phones, even many inexpensive models, from competitors Verizon Wireless and Sprint ship with 3G data support.

Apple has not announced how many units it has on hand, but analysts believe it's around 3 million. It is said that Apple has "built factories to build these things," so the supply may not be an issue despite the lines outside stores. Apple employees are set to get free iPhones starting in July.

After getting a chance to sit down with the iPhone, our first take is that it's a big step forward in the industry and should help force all the major players in the space to focus on software and user experience. There are a number of serious limitations with the iPhone However, it's a solid first try and we are excited to see its revisions in the near future.

LG VX9400 TV Phone on Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless has launched its second MediaFLO mobile TV handset, the LG VX9400. Mobile TV has been a major talking point at the CTIA conference and LG has been showing off the VX9400 proudly. Sporting a unique form factor (the screen swivels into landscape orientation) and MediaFLO, the device is designed to work with V Casst TV.

Features of the LG VX9400 include:

• QVGA screen with 262k colors
• EV-DO 3G data
• Bluetooth with A2DP stereo support
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• microSD card slot

Because of the TV technology, Verizon Wireless will keep an exclusive on this handset. It's available now for $199.99 with a 2-year contract. Note: V Cast TV is only available in select markets, but the list is expanding.

One of the more interesting new devices at CTIA is the Samsung UbiCell base station. A small white box that looks like a WiFi access point, the UbiCel

One of the more interesting new devices at CTIA is the Samsung UbiCell base station. A small white box that looks like a WiFi access point, the UbiCell is actually mini cell tower designed for CDMA 1x networks. The device connects to a mobile network through a broadband connection and is designed to provide enhanced cell coverage for the home. Unlike UMA technology, nothing special is needed for mobile handsets to take advantage of the base station. Samsung will be distributing the UbiCell through Sprint, though other versions (such as GSM) may appear on other carriers.
Sprint should begin selling the UbiCell in the Summer. Pricing is unknown but will be geared towards consumers.

Sony Ericsson Z750 HSDPA handset

The Sony Ericsson Z750 is a new HSDPA handset targeted at North America. What that really means, though not technically announced, is it's destined for AT&T (Cingular). While the 3G connectivity is surely big news (it's Sony Ericsson's first HSDPA phone for North America), the Z750 is also one of only a few consumer focused handsets to support Exchange ActiveSync push email. In addition, the Z750 is Sony Ericsson's first handset based on the Java Platform 8. That should make it easier for developers to create innovative applications.

Features of the Sony Ericsson Z750 include:

• Quad-band GSM/EDGE plus tri-band HSDPA (850/1900/2100)


• 2 megapixel camera


• Memory Stick Micro M2 card slot


• Bluetooth 2.0 EDR + with A2DP stereo support


• QVGA screen with 262k colors


• POP3/IMAP4/Exchange email support


• Full HTML browser with RSS

The Z750 began shipping in the third quarter. It's available in two color schemes, rose pink and phantom grey.

Samsung UpStage announced by Sprint

The Samsung UpStage is Sprint Nextel's latest effort in the expanding music phone niche. We first saw this handset at CES when it was called the Samsung Ultra Music F300, but since that was a GSM device there have been a few changes. The UpStage keeps the unique 2-face styling in an iPod nano-esque shape. Executives for Sprint joked that the name UpStage comes from Sprint's desire to steal Apple's iPhone thunder. Though the spec sheet shows the UpStage is not made to compete with a high-end product like the iPhone.

Features of the Samsung UpStage include:

• EV-DO 3G data


• Stereo Bluetooth 2.0 with spoken caller ID


• 1.3 megapixel camera


• 45MB built-in memory plus microSD card slot, 64MB card included


• Petite size, 4.07" × 1.73" × 0.37"


• Sprint Music Store for OTA downloads, new lower prices $0.99 downloads


• Sprint Music Manager application to load music onto device

Sprint expects to begin selling the Upstage in the first week of April. It will be priced at $149.99 with a new 2-year contract. Sprint looks to be betting big on the Upstage and will be aggressively marketing it.