Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"Verizon Wireless, provider of the nation's largest and most reliable 3G network, today announced the launch of VZ Navigator® 5.0, the newest version of its award-winning map, navigation and local search service, which helps users find their way around town. Powered by TeleCommunication Systems, Verizon Wireless' VZ Navigator is a GPS-enabled service that transforms a wireless smartphone or handset into an all-in-one powerful navigation and communication device, enabling customers to find useful information and discover new places and destinations."

$9.99 a month (or $2.99 a day) will give you access to, well, something Google is giving away for free. But those who don't have an android phone to switch into for navigation may appreciate big V's offering. It runs on Win Mo (hence this post) and also on blackberry. The attractive part may be the traffic updates that are provided by the network in response to what actual users are experiencing. So heavy commuters who are perpetually late (But have enough time to power up a GPS for a route they know by heart) may be interested.

"These days, most of us use Bluetooth enabled car kits, and it is not necessary to have a second SIM card for safe vehicle use anymore. However ... many people have multiple phones. Smartphones are now quite prevalent, but sometimes you don't want to carry your most complicated phone everywhere you go. For instance, I like to carry a smaller phone on me during the weekends while on the road with my kids. The hassle now is to get my SIM card out of one phone and place it in the other. And we all know how frustrating it can be to do so. It would be so much easier to have a duplicate SIM card already placed in my second phone..."

Johan van Mierlo (and others, including myself) have had ENOUGH with the 1 SIM per number draconian rule of US carriers. It would be relatively easy for carriers to allow more than one SIM per number, which would be great for those of us with multiple devices that hate swapping SIMs in and out all the time. Mobility Minded is running a poll right now on the issue, and if you're wanting a second SIM to soothe swapping, I'd encourage you to vote!

"We finally got a good, hard look at the Verizon-customized version of Samsung's Omnia II, and we've got good news and bad news: the good news is that the phone's a darker, more reasonable shade in person than it was in that press shot we'd seen before, but the bad news is that we've confirmed it's running 6.1. Anyone daring to release a 6.1 phone at this point is at serious risk of getting laughed out of the room unless they offer an upgrade path mere minutes afterwards"

The 6.1 default is a bit annoying at this point, so hopefully when this gets released a 6.5 upgrade will already be available online. That's wishful thinking of course, but it still might not be enough to sway users either way! Who is in the mood for some Verizon Omnia II action in the near future?

"Verizon's HTC Imagio is a touchscreen Windows Mobile 6.5 handset, or "Windows Phone," with a healthy, if expected, spec set, iiiiinnncluding!: a 3.6-inch WVGA screen, Wi-Fi, GPS, a 5-megapixel camera, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD storage expansion (but sadly, no included card). It's also the first smartphone with V CAST Mobile TV, which is a Flo TV-based live streaming TV service that looks and feels a bit like digital cable, phone-ified. Accordingly, it has an adorable kickstand."

This $200-with-contract device - or $100 after a rebate - is a study in how flexible Windows Mobile is. So flexible, in fact, that HTC took out almost everything that Microsoft put into Windows Mobile 6.5. Start Menu? Replaced by HTC software. Home screen? Replaced by HTC software. Internet Explorer 6? Replaced by HTC software. I've never seen a device launch with a new operating system, then work so hard to cover up that operating system. Microsoft has a significant problem on their hands here when their biggest partner wants to make the device look and act nothing like Microsoft's vision for the software. I can't really blame HTC though - without their investment into TouchFlo3D (now dubbed HTC Sense I believe), Windows Mobile phones would have been even worse off.

It's Windows Mobile 6.5 launch day, and that means that the sites that were lucky enough to get devices are launching their content. Here we have Michael Oryl taking a look at the HTC Imagio on Verizon, and the HTC Pure on AT&T.

"Although not a soul alive is shocked by the news, today Verizon Wireless announced it will be releasing the HTC Imagio - its first Windows Mobile 6.5 device - online starting October 6th. The Imagio, known to most by its codename Whitestone, will feature the following key specs: 3.6″ WVGA touchscreen display (resistive, of course), 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, Wi-Fi, EV-DO Rev. A, quad-band EDGE and 2100MHz UMTS/HSDPA for international roaming"

Tomorrow is the big day for those of you cursed with Verizon's fee-loving wireless service. If you want, you can own a HTC Imagio! The 5 MP camera makes for a nice digital camera quick-replacement, and at least with Big V's service you should have coverage in pretty much any rural area you probably don't want to be at in the first place!

The device-formerly-know-as-Whitestone, now dubbed the HTC Imagio? Yeah, it's definitely coming to Verizon, and the video above is a walk-through of the device.

"Two juicy nuggets emerged this morning from the Boy Genius Report's ninjas regarding the HTC Whitestone, the sort-of-but-not-really successor to the HTC Touch Diamond (insofar as it's a black slab sans keyboard): 1. Henceforth it shall be called the Verizon Imagio. (Sounds more like a "Harry Potter" spell, but whatever.) 2. It'll be released as part of the Oct. 6 Super Duper Windows Mobile 6.5 launch day."

The Whitestone looks like a nice device for those of you stuck on a carrier that hates carrying nice phones. Any Verizon-ites trading in something old and dusty for an Imagio?

"Verizon Wireless and HTC Corporation introduce the HTC Touch Pro2TM, a global-capable smartphone designed for the busiest professionals and world travelers. The HTC Touch Pro2 features an extra-large 3.6-inch touch screen that tilts to an optimal viewing angle, an ergonomic slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and an advanced speakerphone with asymmetric speakers and advanced noise suppression to deliver customers a robust productivity experience. Created with the intuitive TouchFLO 3D user interface, data on the HTC Touch Pro2 can be easily accessed with just the touch of a finger."

Verizon has the Touch Pro 2 at $199 after $100 mail in rebate, so if you're on Big V and want to take advantage of an older yet ubiquitous network, you can order it in stores today.

"New software for the Samsung Omnia that will give customers an additional option for navigation is now available. The open GPS feature allows customers to purchase or use free applications by adding them to the device. Customers can still use VZ Navigator with turn by turn directions that talk to you while driving and takes you to millions of locations throughout the U. S. and just recently parts of Europe."

Every so often Verizon tries to not appear so evil. Omnia owners on Big V, take advantage of this glimpse of civility!

"Shortly after Samsung announced its four new Omnia phones, a word quickly spread that Verizon had plans to carry the Omnia II. However, information about the release date was missing so it wasn't certain when to expect the successor. Now, thanks to a tipster of ours who claims to have contacted Verizon Wireless"

A bit of rumor here that the next version of the Omnia (CDMA variety) will be released by Verizon in July. Now let's just see if this comes true with July only days away!

"Verizon Wireless has approved a firmware update for the HTC Touch Pro, which makes three major improvements. The update, firmware version 1.08, adds the long-awaited unlocked GPS support. PhoneNews.com previously reported that Verizon agreed to unlock GPS on the Samsung Saga, Samsung Omnia, and HTC Touch Pro. This is the first of three official updates that will make good on that promise, made last year. PhoneNews.com has confirmed that the update enables standard GPS functionality in Google Maps, as well as Windows Live Search for Mobile. In addition, the update adds Visual Voicemail support to the Touch Pro. The Samsung Omnia was the first device to add Visual Voicemail. But, like all other Verizon devices, Visual Voicemail will cost $3/month."

Some good news for those on the big V who like the Touch Pro. GPS is now unlocked, Live search, and Visual Voicemail. Not bad for those under Verizon's thumb of authority.

"Put simply, our hats go off to Novatel and Verizon on this one. The MiFi is drop-dead awesome in basically every meaningful way, and we'd be shocked if every top-tier carrier in the world wasn't actively looking into adding it -- or a device very similar to it -- into their lineup. Unless you have a very specific, compelling reason that you require an ExpressCard or a USB stick style modem, the MiFi's simplicity, flexibility, tethering capability, and no-compromise performance make it the way to go for your mobile data needs."

Engadget has reviewed the new MiFi 2200 wireless router for use on the Verizon network. This little credit card sized device may be the perfect companion for some of you when you need WiFi access and there isn't a Starbucks to be found.

"In-house development delays are putting a stealth Microsoft-Verizon smartphone project in danger of collapse, Channelweb.com has learned. Microsoft and Verizon Wireless have reportedly been working on a Microsoft-branded touch-screen smartphone that Verizon could launch on its network as early as next year. The smartphone, code-named Pink, would consist of Microsoft software running on a third-party device, according to sources familiar with the project. However, Microsoft has encountered major setbacks that have affected its schedule for bringing Pink to market, sources said."

I lost count of the number of rumours and points of speculation in this article, but it would seem there's something to this given the sheer number of rumours strung together. The question is, though, is whether this is a Windows Mobile device. What if it's a Danger Sidekick running a bunch of Windows Live software? It's hard to say given how much rampant speculation there is in this article. What's not speculation though is that Windows Mobile 6.5 devices are still not here yet, and Windows Mobile 7 is even further out. Has anyone else noticed that Windows Mobile isn't even mentioned in many of the articles talking about the major players in the mobile space? Microsoft sold north of 15 million licenses world-wide last year, yet somehow they're not considered a serious player in the market.

This is an instant classic - looks like Verizon reps need to go back to school. It's staggering how little math the average person knows; many of us do very little math day to day, so even the most basic understanding of mathematics atrophies over the years. I know I fall into that category, and my math skills weren't that good to begin with. ;-) Have a great weekend everyone!

Both the Samsung SGH-i780 (European version) and Verizon Wireless' XV6900 (HTC Touch) have finally been blessed with Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrades. Visit our Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade thread for links to these upgrades, as well as many more.

The two devices currently vying for my "daily driver" position - the Samsung Omnia and the HTC Touch Pro will soon be options on Verizon Wireless. VZW announced the Omnia and Touch Pro this past week, and it looks like Verizon-ites will have a chance to snag a great device when they make their appearence in stores. Now if I could just pick between the two!

"This has been rumored to be coming but VZW E dropped the bomb on us all by leaking a Verizon Wireless document detailing some drastic changes to Verizon’s data plans. Starting November 14th, 2008, all new PDA / Smartphones will require a $29.99/month or greater data plan. Gone are the pay as you go data plans, 1X data block plans and the 10 MB $24.99/month plans."

The good news is though, if you are on any of those plans now, you can keep them until you switch out your phone, at which point you'll be required to move to the one of the more expensive plans. That is one of the advantages of the GSM phone with a SIM chip. You can swap out phones without the carrier being able to do this to you. If you are on Verizon, are you on one of the more inexpensive plans?

Updater v1.24 is now available for the Palm/Verizon Treo 700wx. Wait, we know what you're thinking. Just an insignificant dot upgrade, right? Nope, not this time. v1.24 packs Windows Mobile 6 Professional. Yes, Windows Mobile 6 Professional for your two-year old device. Our hats off to Palm and Verizon for making this happen. And to all the other manufacturers and carriers reading this, take note. Users love OS upgrades, no matter how old the device. Seriously.

"...we posted an article saying that the Sprint variant of the Touch Diamond may launch this month, but now we have slightly different information...First, HTC Touch Diamond will be called HTC Victor for Sprint and HTC Diamond for Verizon. Sprint's variant runs on Qualcomm 7501A chipset with 528MHz processor, 256MB ROM, 256MB RAM and 4GB internal memory. Verizon's runs on Qualcomm 7500 chipset with 400MHz processor, has half the RAM (128MB) and has microSD cards slot instead of 4GB NAND flash...The CDMA equivalent of the HTC Touch Pro will be called HTC Herman for Sprint and HTC Raphael for Verizon. They are QWERTY variants of respectively the Victor and the Diamond and have similar specifications, but twice the ROM memory (512MB for both). Herman trades Victor's 4GB for memory card slot and Raphael's frame is also made out of aluminum instead of steel...A few of our readers report that the Victor will be available with Sprint on September 02, 2008, and the Herman will come one month later. There is no exact information when Verizon Wireless will release the Diamond and the Raphael, but it is expected that Sprint will have 30 days exclusivity."

Details started leaking out about these exciting pair of devices for Verizon and Sprint last week. I'm rather surprised at how different the models are for the two carriers, especially with regards to memory, but both look like great devices (small battery notwithstanding; let's hope it gives good battery life on EVDO). As usual, Verizon users will have to wait a little bit longer than the Sprint folks, but at least there's some hope!