(Credit:
Plastic Logic)
Last week, Plastic Logic hooked up with Barnes & Noble. Now it's got something going with AT&T to provide the 3G wireless connection for its upcoming e-reader, due out in early 2010.
Early Wednesday, the company announced the agreement, though details were scant. There was no mention of pricing, and it remains unclear whether you'll have to pay extra for AT&T's 3G service or whether it will be included with the device, like it is with Amazon's Kindle. (Amazon has a partnership with Sprint to supply the Kindle's wireless connection.) However, the announcement does note that AT&T offers worldwide coverage and that "AT&T devices work in more than 200 countries and regions."
Plastic Logic's upcoming e-reader has been in the works for a while. It uses E-ink technology, is about the size of an 8.5-by-11-inch pad of paper, is less than 0.25 inches thick, and weighs less than many print magazines (at least the ones that still attract advertising). It also has a touch-screen user interface and built-in Wi-Fi, which leads us to believe the 3G connection may require an extra fee.
Plastic Logic's only comment on pricing is that it will be announced "when the product begins shipping in early 2010."
It seems a little odd that the company is making these types of introductions so far in advance of the product's release, but the e-reader space is heating up and other competitors are lurking. By the time the Plastic Logic Reader arrives, Sony will most likely have released the next version of its Reader--(I wouldn't be shocked to see an announcement from Sony in the next few weeks)--and it, too, might offer a wireless option.
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Getting a jump-start on CTIA 2009, AT&T Wireless announced on Sunday night the upcoming availability of two messaging-centric smartphones: the Nokia E71x and Samsung Propel Pro.
The two devices are expected to be in stores and online in the coming weeks, joining the carrier's four other new releases, the Samsung Impression, the Samsung Magnet, the LG Neon, and the LG Xenon.
The Nokia E71x has long been rumored for AT&T and is largely like the unlocked Nokia E71, which we reviewed in July.
The AT&T version comes in a sleek black and is currently the thinnest QWERTY smartphone on the market. The GPS-enabled device is compatible with AT&T Navigator for turn-by-turn directions, and it features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, HSDPA support, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The E71x comes with a very attractive price tag of $99.99, with a two-year contract and after discounts and rebates.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Propel Pro beefs up the offerings of the Samsung Propel with the addition of Windows Mobile 6.1. The slider phone comes in a cool silver-and-chrome color and also features a full QWERTY keyboard. It also has integrated Wi-Fi connectivity and a 3-megapixel camera.
The Propel Pro will be available on April 1 for $149.99 with the standard contracts and rebates.
The ubiquity of the cell phone has finally prompted AT&T to pull out of the pay-phone business, the company announced on Monday. By the end of 2008, AT&T says, it will have exited the business completely.
The nation's No. 1 wireless-network operator, AT&T says it expects independent operators to pick up service contracts on its pay phones, which, over the past 10 years, have shrunk in number to about 1 million nationwide from 2.6 million.
For some local operators, AT&T's exit could be good news because, in a few cities, at least, pay phones still generate revenue--though not necessarily from calls. As noted in a New York Times article published in August, New York's still-abundant pay-phone kiosks generate considerable cash from advertising, and the city gets a hefty share of it.
Since 2001, pay-phone revenues from ads have exceeded revenues from calls, of which the city gets a 10 percent cut. The city gets a bigger cut--26 percent--of the ad money. Last year, the article noted, the city took in $13.7 million of the $62 million in annual revenue from ads posted on the kiosks.
HTC Kaiser
(Credit: Engadget Mobile)Huzzah, all hail the HTC Kaiser! The latest Windows Mobile 6 smart phone from HTC has been given the thumbs-up by the FCC, clearing the way for a U.S. release. According to the FCC filings, it appears there are, in fact, three models: the HTC KAIS100 with a 3-megapixel camera; the KAIS110 with no camera; and the KAIS120 with a 3-megapixel camera on back and VGA lens on front. All three run on the GSM/HSDPA network and have integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The smart phone also features a slider design, full QWERTY keyboard, and pivoting screen. There's no official word on availability or carrier, but with the HSDPA support, chances are the Kaiser will land at AT&T.
[Source: Phone Scoop]
RIM BlackBerry 8820
(Credit: Research in Motion)After getting the green light from the FCC just a couple of weeks ago, Research in Motion today officially took the wraps off the RIM BlackBerry 8820, the company's first smart phone with integrated Wi-Fi. Available through AT&T Wireless later this summer, the 8820 supports 802.11a/b/g standards and is compliant with Wi-Fi security protocols, including WEP and WPA. In addition, the BlackBerry 8820 is the company's thinnest full QWERTY device to date (beat it, BlackBerry Curve), and has built-in GPS for out-of-the-box support for location-based services such as TeleNav GPS Navigator. Other highlights of this quad-band phone include EDGE support (no 3G, though--boo hiss!) Bluetooth 2.0, and an expansion slot that accepts both microSD and microSDHC memory cards. Those are just some quick hits. We're still trying to nail down some more details, such as pricing and exact release date, but wanted to share the good news with you in the meantime. Check back soon for updates.
On Sale Now: $99.99 - $229.99
View the latest prices for RIM BlackBerry 8820 (AT&T)
Not to be outdone by the competition, Cingular/AT&T Wireless is now offering a package of unlimited texts, video, picture and IM messages for about $20 per month.
AT&T Wireless is also offering a package that includes the unlimited messaging along with unlimited Media Net and Cingular Video. That bundle will run about $40 per month.
These new packages come on the heels of AT&T already cutting global data rates. Unfortunately, it looks like these new bundles are available only for new customers.
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