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Welcome to the 411, my Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

Thanks to Bonnie Cha for her help with the first couple of questions!

I am thinking of getting the BB Tour or the HTC Touch Pro 2 from Sprint. I was wanting to know, if you were going to purchase one of these phones, which one would you choose and why? I know the Pro 2 has Wi-Fi and may offer an OS upgrade later. Do yo think this would make a better phone than the Tour? -- Bruce, via e-mail.

It depends on your preference. For a simple messaging e-mail device, the Tour is probably the better handheld, since the interface is a little easier to understand. The Tour is also better if you want a world phone that you can use in any country on the globe. If you don't plan on using the phone outside the U.S. and you want a smartphone with a little more multimedia power, the HTC Touch Pro 2 is definitely the better of the two. The Touch Pro 2 offers Wi-Fi while the Tour doesn't, and the wider touch-screen interface on the Touch Pro 2 is also more conducive to video playback.

My cousin would like to get the Blackberry 8900 (I'll have to unlock it, of course) to use overseas, so I was just wondering what was the big difference between AT&T's 8900 and T-Mobile's 8900, because there is a $240 difference between the price on Best Buy Web site. Is there really a big difference between them just because AT&T calls theirs the Javelin and T-mobile's the curve? The specs look the same to me? -- Damion, via e-mail.

In terms of specs, both the AT&T and the T-Mobile version of the BlackBerry 8900 are about the same. The only differences are the carrier offerings. For example, AT&T has AT&T Music and AT&T Navigator on the 8900, while T-Mobile's version has UMA support so you can make calls via Wi-Fi if you have a T-Mobile HotSpot @ Home plan. But if you're going to unlock it and use it overseas, then it doesn't matter which one you go with, since you probably won't be able to use those services anyway. P.S. "Javelin" is just an internal code name, I believe.

Any comments on the Jabra Halo? I plan on using it mostly with my iPhone, (for hands-free driving), as well as for music enjoyment when not driving. Would you recommend this stereo Bluetooth device or suggest another? -- Frank, via e-mail.

I have to be honest, Frank: I wasn't a huge fan of the Halo. In fact, I didn't like it much at all. It just didn't sit well on the ears and the call quality was subpar. The best things I can say about it is that it's very attractive; it folds down to a more compact shape; and it does play music as promised. Even if I did like it, though, I wouldn't recommend using it while driving; I think only a mono headset is allowed in that scenario. If you want a headset that can be used in both stereo and mono, take a look at the Samsung WEP870, the Plantronics Voyager 855, or the Jabra BT8010 for starters. Do note, though, that the new iPhone OS does not have full AVRCP (Audio Video Remote Control Profile) support. This means that even though you can stream music from it, you can't control the music playback from the headset--you still have to play/pause and advance tracks on the phone itself.

We almost got a version of this Aussie wagon, rebadged as a Pontiac G8. Unfortunately, Pontiac has now gone belly-up. Fail.

(Credit: Holden/General Motors)

It's that time of year again when automakers are announcing new models left and right. However, as the U.S. auto market begins to fill up with more CUVs, SAVs, and other-UV amalgamations, such as the Honda Crosstour, the BMW 5-Series Grand Touring, and the Toyota Venza, I can't help but notice that fewer and fewer automakers are offering tried-and-true station wagons anymore.

Ten awesome wagons you can't have

As a lover of nimble vehicles with a lot of trunk for my junk, I can't help but be a little sad to see this turn of events. Sure, we've got a few ho-hum Avants and Estates from the European manufacturers, but take a look across the pond in either direction and you'll see that, in the rest of the world, the wagon is alive, well, and very exciting!

With that in mind, I've compiled my Top 10 awesome wagons that are not available in the U.S. for your perusal and consideration. Pop over to the gallery, take a look, then head back here and share your favorite wagons of all time.

No iPhone 3GS for Verizon, but the Omnia 2 is due to hit stores shortly.

(Credit: Samsung)

Since we posted a First Take of Samsung's Omnia 2 back in June, a lot of readers have been asking when Verizon would actually begin selling it. Well, according to the good folks over at the Boy Genius Report (who have a "trusted mole" at Best Buy Mobile), the much-anticipated iPhone pretender will be launching August 23, along with several other phones from different carriers.

Here's the complete list that leaked:

• Omnia 2 (Verizon)
• Global AirCard G2 (Verizon)
• Samsung Rogue (Verizon)
• LG Chocolate Touch (Verizon)
• Samsung u450 Intensity (Verizon)
• Samsung Gravity 2 (T-Mobile)
• Samsung Solstice (AT&T)
• LG Xenon (AT&T)
• BlackBerry Tour (new shipment--Sprint)

More:

Omnia 2 complete specs
Omnia 2 clears FCC

(Source: Gizmodo via Boy Genius Report)

In mid-July, Verizon began automatically pushing Slacker Radio to BlackBerry Storm phones. Starting Tuesday, Verizon's partnership with Slacker Radio begins extending to BlackBerry Tour devices in its U.S. network as well.

As part of the agreement, Slacker Radio will hook into Verizon's V Cast store (which itself taps the Rhapsody catalog), giving BlackBerry Storm and Tour users the capability to purchase one of 4.5 million songs.

Slacker Radio's streaming music player competes heavily with similar Internet radio services, particularly Pandora.

iPhone applications featuring particular musicians have been around for a while now--Nine Inch Nails was recently in the news when Apple rejected an update to its application, and tech companies like Melodeo and The Orchard have experimented with creating iPhone apps for their clients.

In the teaser video for the new U2 BlackBerry app, this map of a concert venue appears immediately after the text "Experience the tour from all angles." My guess: you'll be able to shoot and share concert videos.

(Credit: Research In Motion)

Soon, BlackBerry fans will be able to get in on the fun. Research In Motion, which is sponsoring the U2 360 tour, has posted a page on its Web site declaring the imminent arrival of the U2 "mobile album."

Although the video teaser is fairly cryptic, it looks like the app will let users listen to the latest U2 album "No Line on the Horizon," watch videos, and read news updates. A more interesting twist: it also looks like users will be able to share video clips from U2 concerts--a map will let you pick among BlackBerry-toting audience members with different stage angles.

U2 fans with BlackBerries can sign up here to be informed when the app's released. No word yet on timing or pricing. One possibility: the app might launch in conjunction with the Blackberry Tour 9630 on July 12.

Whether you're a U2 fan or not, it's great to see RIM getting serious about mobile music, and I think it'll help cement RIM's position alongside Apple at the top of the consumer smartphone heap.

Follow Matt on Twitter.

Sprint RIM BlackBerry Tour

(Credit: Sprint)

Well, well, looky here. Just one day after Verizon Wireless announced a July 12 availability date for the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630, Sprint has responded and said it, too, will start selling its version of the BlackBerry Tour on July 12 for $199.99 with a two-year contract and a $100 mail-in rebate. How's that for a little friendly competition?

Sprint's model will also offer world-roaming capabilities with voice coverage in 185 countries and e-mail and Web browsing in nearly 150 countries. The carrier also touted easy access to social-networking sites, such as Flickr, MySpace, and Facebook.

Other features of the phone include a 480x360 pixel-resolution display, integrated GPS, Bluetooth, 256MB built-in memory, and a microSD expansion slot. We're still waiting to hear back from Sprint about whether it will offer a version sans camera, like Verizon will.

(Credit: Verizon Wireless)

Just a couple of weeks after the introduction of the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630, Verizon Wireless announced Tuesday that the smartphone is now available for preorder online and will be in stores on July 12 for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after a $70 mail-in rebate.

For that price, the BlackBerry Tour offers world roaming capabilities, providing you with voice coverage in 220 countries overseas and e-mail and Internet coverage in 175 countries. Domestically, the smartphone works on Verizon's EV-DO Rev. A network and supports a number of the carrier's services, such as VZ Navigator and V Cast Music.

Other highlights include a full HTML Web browser, built-in GPS, Bluetooth tethering, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. Verizon also revealed that it will release a camera-less model.

Sprint's version of the BlackBerry Tour carries the same $199.99 price tag, but the provider has not released a specific release date.

RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630

(Credit: RIM)

On Monday, Research in Motion unveiled its newest device, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630, a 3G-enabled world phone that will be available from Sprint and Verizon Wireless later this summer. In addition, the smartphone will be sold in Canada through Bell Mobility and Telus.

The news isn't a complete surprise. Also known as the BlackBerry Niagara, the BlackBerry Tour 9630 has long been rumored for the CDMA carriers and finally brings an update to Sprint and Verizon's BlackBerry 8830 World Edition models.

As a dual-mode world phone, the BlackBerry Tour runs on the carrier's respective EV-DO Rev. A 3G networks domestically and offers 3G UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz) and quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS/EDGE) support, so you can get voice and data coverage while traveling outside of North America. The smartphone also offers Bluetooth 2.0 (including stereo Bluetooth and tethering) as well as assisted and autonomous GPS, but unfortunately, there is no Wi-Fi.

As far as design, the BlackBerry Tour is a blend of the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 and the RIM BlackBerry Bold. The device measures 4.4 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick and weighs 4.5 ounces. There's a 35-key QWERTY keyboard for easy typing and a 2.44-inch, 480x360-pixel resolution display.

Of course, the standard BlackBerry features are there, including support for personal and corporate e-mail, text and multimedia messaging, a speakerphone, and voice-activated dialing. The BlackBerry Tour also supports the recently launched BlackBerry App World and comes preloaded with Documents to Go for viewing and editing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.

Other highlights of the phone include a 3.2-megapixel camera with video recording, a music and video player, a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, an HTML Web browser, 256MB RAM with up to 16GB expandable memory, and a user-replaceable 1400mAh lithium ion battery with a rated talk time of 5 hours and up to 14 days of standby time.

While specific availability dates were not released by the carriers, Sprint did reveal that it will offer the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates and said the smartphone will come preloaded with the Sprint Music Store, Sprint TV, Sprint NFL Mobile Live, and Nascar Sprint Cup Mobile. Details of Verizon's pricing or offerings are not yet available, but we'll update you as soon as we have information.