For those that had purchased the Sprint Touch Pro2 it was quite the surprise to find out that the GSM, although SIM unlocked, would not work with US service providers. In this video we demonstrate how to unlock the radios and then reflash the device with the correct US radios to be able to make calls under AT&T, T-Mobile, or any other GSM provider that utilize the GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS900, UMTS2100 bands (US 3G will not work).

The program that will unlock the SIM, CID, and radios is brought to us by HTC-Unlockers. Although the whole process takes a few steps and costs a little money it is well worth it. When the device is all unloked and the new radio is installed the data settings may need to be changed or added to use cellular data service. The program is donation-ware and costs at a minimum of about $15 USD. The correct US radios were spotted on XDA-Developers.

Once the proud Windows Mobile licensee who created the Axim line of PDAs, Dell has its sights set on Android with the Dell Mini 3ix. The device's information is spotted going through the FCC for US regulatory approval, complete with WiFi and US 3G bands that are compatible with AT&T's wireless network. Also included are a 3.5-inch 360 X 640 display, 3-megapixel camera, GPS, and Exchange support.

(via: UnwiredView)

Windows Mobile has long been an "open" and extensible platform built upon the Windows CE core, but openness doesn't translate to open-source, and that might mean adoption problems for the software maker in the future. We've seen some Windows Mobile licensees--both large and small--either defect from the platform or transform to incorporate other open-source OSes like Symbian (which has gone open-source) and Google Android into their product lineup. As manufacturers attempt to keep costs low and introduce powerful features at lower price points--a move ignited by the iPhone's cheaper, on-contract pricing--the licensing costs of Windows Mobile may not be viewed favorably by OEMs and may price the smart operating system out of the reach of consumers, a market that Microsoft is keen in courting.

Read the rest of the story »

If you're looking for the cheapest way to grab an HD2, we may have found it. We should preface this by saying that the version due to be released next week is the European version. While it'll work on T-Mobile and AT&T in the US, you'll only be able to get EDGE data speeds. If you want 3G, you'll have to wait until early 2010 when the HD2 is released in the US, probably on T-Mobile.

After poking around on eBay, eXpansys, Google Shopping, PriceGrabber and others, we've found the lowest price for the HD2. It can be found on Clove, where the device is selling for about £439. With shipping to the US (and no VAT), that comes out to about £457, or $760. Yes, this is still extremely expensive for a mobile device, but as the device sees a release on various carriers and as the months go by, prices will indeed go down.

The Zune-like Titanium interface for Windows Mobile 6.5 is insanely fluid and gives users access to a bevy of features. Just like with any interface, however, the visual appeal can become a little too familiar, leaving the user looking for other options. What better way to spice things up than with a custom theme? Not just any theme, but one that actually transforms the interface into something else.

If you’re running Titanium and want some Sense action of the Hero variety, you can download/install a theme that will alter Titanium into just that. It doesn’t necessarily have the customizing abilities of the real Sense UI, but it certainly does hold its ground on the visual side of things. Continue reading to learn more about “Titanium-Hero Sense UI.”

Read the rest of the story »

What a lot of people forget--and it's nice to see HTC CEO Peter Chou make a good point of this--is that the iPhone sports a relatively low screen resolution...480 pixels down and 320 across. The latest Windows Mobile device, like the HD2, has 800 pixels down and 480 across. This means that more data can fit on the screen at a time, translating to less scrolling in email (as we get to see in this video), a higher resolution view of photos, and a better web experience.

(via: msmobiles)

If you're on a plan or wanting to be on a plan with a Touch Pro2, HTC Imagio, or Motorola Droid on Verizon Wireless, you may want to think again about switching to a different carrier. The nation's largest carrier will be raising its early termination fee (ETF) beginning November 15 for "Advance Devices," making it more costly to terminate your contract.

The move can be seen as being pre-emptive to prevent users from scamming the carrier as smartphones get a large subsidy. Some users may find it profitable to open a second line, get a new device subsidized, then cancel the contract and pay the older, cheaper ETF charges and sell the device for a profit. Under the new scheme, it may not be profitable or less profitable to do that.

(via: BGR)

If you just can’t get enough of the HTC HD2 and want to know more about it, other than what’s usually seen in quick overview videos, the user manual and quick start guide are now available from HTC. Combined, there are over 350 pages of detailed information (with colored images), so get a hot cup of coffee and start reading.

For those in the States, this probably won’t hold you over until early next year; but at least you’ll be thoroughly prepared!

(via: XDA-developers)

Samsung and AT&T have been hard at work to bring the Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard upgrade to the Samsung Jack, which operates on Microsoft's non-touchscreen operating system. The Samsung Jack for AT&T is said to now include the following new features:

Windows Marketplace for Mobile: Discover apps that unlock the power of your Windows Phone, shop securely with confidence, and download instantly to your phone.

-Internet Explorer Mobile: Internet Explorer Mobile 6 delivers the same high quality browsing and media viewing experience that you’ve come to expect on your desktop computer. If you can see it in Internet Explorer on your PC, you’ll be able to see it just as well on your Windows Pphone, whether the content you want is on YouTube, a game using Flash animation, or on a social site like Facebook or MySpace.

-AT&T WiFi: Automatic access to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide is available on the Samsung Jack and is included in select smartphone data plans. This allows for fast and easy downloads of your favorite music, streaming videos, games, and more.

-Vlingo for Windows Phone: Instantly send a text or email message, call a friend, search the Web, open native applications and more, all by speaking into your Samsung Jack Windows Phone.

I am traveling through the end of this week. We'll give you a video tour of the Jack with Windows Mobile 6.5 next week. For now, if you do own a Jack and want to hop in on the updated OS, you can check out Samsung's upgrade portal.