PhoneTalk

Sprint's second Android smartphone, the Samsung Moment, has arrived. See what's different about this Google phone and if its right for you by watching the video below.

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The HTC Droid Eris is available today for Verizon Wireless. The second smartphone running Google's Android OS also sports HTC's Sense experience, which will allow users more customization of the device and the ability to access text messages, e-mails, phone calls and even Flickr streams and Facebook updates from a single contact card. The Google smartphone will also sport a 5-megapixel camera, WiFi, a 3.5mm headset jack, GPS with a digital compass, a pre-installed 8GB microSD card for storing pictures, tunes and more. To get a closer look at the HTC Droid Eris check out Verizon Wireless' demonstration video below.

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Google unveiled Google Maps Navigation, a free turn-by-turn GPS app for Android 2 smartphones - currently that's Verizon's Motorola Droid. It has many of the features found in navigation apps for cell phones plus quite a few additions such as street view -so you can see the street you're turning on (I know landmarks always help me when following directions), satellite view, and the ability to add stops (such as ATMs or gas stations) along the way finding the closes spot along your route. To see it in action watch the Google video below:

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The much-anticipated Motorola DROID for Verizon Wireless launched today with an availability date of November 9th, which is less than 2 weeks away. The smartphone, which runs Google's Android v2.0 operating system will sport both a slide-out and touchscreen QWERTY keyboard, 5-megapixel camera, WiFi, 3G connectivity, and 16GB of on-board storage (expandable up to 32GB). Additionally, this smartphone is all about personalization with the ability to customize three home screens where you can add folders, apps and widgets for easy one-touch access. It also comes with Amazon's MP3 store. If you want the DROID, you'll need to subscribe to a nationwide voice plan and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan. Nationwide voice plans begin at $39.99 for monthly access for 450 minutes and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan is $29.99 for monthly access.

To get a better idea of what the DROID has to offer, check out the demonstration video below from Cesar Da Costa, marketing consultant for Verizon Wireless.

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A little over a year ago, the first Android cell phone was announced. Although, there haven't been a lot of new google cell phones released over the past year that's about to change as evidenced by the announcements this week. First, T-Mobile announced the Samsung Behold II, an Android based smartphone that will be available later this year. Verizon Wireless announced a partnership with Google to develop Android based cell phones.

Today, Sprint and Samsung announced the Moment. The Samsung Moment will be available with Sprint's Any Mobile, Any Time plans. The smartphone sports all the features expected including WiFi, GPS, 3.2-megapixel camera, 3.5mm headset jack for listening to music or videos, Bluetooth 2.0, and of course access to Sprint's plethora of content such as Sprint TV and NFL Mobile live. The cell phone will be available at the beginning of next month. Let's not forget, that next week, Sprint's first Android phone, the HTC Hero will be available if you don't want to wait.

What does all this mean? In short, it means consumers will have a lot more choices in hardware if they want an Android cell phone and more carriers will be offering models than just T-Mobile. More choices is always good news for consumers, but it will be interesting to see which smartphone OS emerges as the most popular in the US this time next year.

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T-Mobile announced the latest iteration of the Samsung Behold, named the Samsung Behold II (a.k.a. SGH-t939). There are couple of big differences between the original Behold and the just announced Behold II; namely, the Behold II runs the Android OS (so, it's a smartphone), this model works on 3G networks, and it has WiFi. It also sports Samsung's AMOLED display, which means it has a brighter, sharper screen that also helps conserve battery life. Since this is a Google cell phone, it naturally supports Google Talk, YouTube, and Google maps. However, we should note that although the Behold II has built-in WiFi, it's not UMA-enabled so you won't be able to use it with T-Mobile's HotSpot @ Home service.

The first Behold to hit the market last year featured Samsung's TouchWiz interface for easy customization and a 5-megapixel camera. Both can still be found on the new version of the cell phone.

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The big Motorola news today is a new Google Android phone, the CLIQ, which will be available for T-Mobile's network. The big wow in this announcement is that it seems that Motorola has given the Android phone its own spin and it's called MOTOBLUR. Essentially the MOTOBLUR enhances the Android experience by automatically syncing conversations, contacts and contents. That description doesn't really do it justice. If you want to know all about the MOTOBLUR experience, check out the simulator.

The CLIQ is chocked full of features, as well. First it has a slide-out keyboard and 3.1-inch HVCA touch-screen (that's going to be pretty bright). It also sports a 5-megapixel camera with auto focus and the ability to record video. There's a 3.5mm headset jack for listening to music. For checking e-mail (it supports a ton of options Exchange Server, POP3 and IMAP e-mail, as well as Yahoo! and Windows Live Hotmail) and surfing the web (yes, there's a full web browser), the CLIQ has WiFi and supports 3G. The Motorola CLIQ will be available before the end of the year in two colors: Titanium and Winter White.

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Sprint announced that it will be offering the HTC Hero smartphone based on Google's Android OS starting in early October. The smartphone will be loaded with quite a few features including, WiFi, 3G connectivity, integrated GPS, Sprint TV, a 5-megapixel camera with the ability to record videos. The Hero will come with a 2GB microSD card and will accept up to a 32GB microSD card. Additionally, it will have access to popular social networking sites such as FaceBook, Flickr, and Twitter. Although, this smartphone lacks a tactile QWERTY keypad, there's a full QWERTY touch keypad on screen. To make the most out of the touch screen experience, the Hero will have a fingerprint resistant coating.

Currently, Android phones are only available from T-Mobile so it looks like Sprint will be the second carrier to offer a Google cell phone. Here's what the HTC Hero looks like, only it will have a Sprint logo in the upper right hand corner.

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According to this Information Week article, AT&T will start requiring data plans for all smartphones. If you are already an AT&T subscriber with a smartphone and don't already have a data plan, you will not have to get a data plan until you upgrade to a new smartphone. Everyone else who plans on getting a smartphone with AT&T will need to purchase a data plan as well. Here's a rundown on the data plans AT&T offers:

• Baseline plan: For $35 a month, this plan will provide you with unlimited data. Text messages are not included in this plan.
  
• Bundle Unlimited Data plan: This plan includes unlimited data and unlimited text messages. This plan will add an additional $50 a month to your plan.
  
• Tethering and Text plan: For an additional $60 a month, this plan includes unlimited data on your smartphone, plus the ability to use it as a wireless modem with your computer. Connect the cell phone to your computer via a synching cable or Bluetooth and you can use the phone's data connection to surf the web on your computer and even check e-mail. This plan does not include text messages so you'll need to add that o,n as well. Not sure what tethering means? Watch the video below to see how it works.
  

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Whether you're a developer for BREW, Android, Windows Mobile or BlackBerry here's your chance to win $50,000 and a featured spot on the launch of V Cast apps for Verizon Wireless. The company is asking for application submissions in the following categories: Connect, Entertain, Guide, Save Time, and Enhance Living. Simply submit your entry here by September 20th. Applications will be voted on by members of the Verizon Developer Community (VDC). Semi-finalists will be announced October 6th with the Grand Prize winner (that's the $50,000 award and featured spot on V Cast apps, plus 200 percent of the application's actual revenue for a year - additional restrictions apply) and People's Choice along with category winners announced on October 30th.

Here's the fine print: Developers must register for the VDC to be eligible to enter the contest. Registration, as well as the latest information on the VDC and the Apply Your Ideas contest, is available here.

What are you waiting for? The contest starts today.

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