AT&T mobile broadband road warriors have two new 3G devices that they can add to their arsenal of connectivity hardware. Up first is the AT&T USBConnect Velocity from Option which is the first LaptopConnect device to offer on-board GPS. Customers can utilize the on-board GPS and Option’s GPS Control Panel software to obtain location based information from Yahoo Maps and Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Enterprise users can also use TeleNav Track Lite and Xora GPS Locator to locate and track employees in the field. If you prefer speed over location, then check out the USBConnect Turbo from LG which features 7.2Mbps HSPA connectivity in a compact, lightweight design. For those that need a portable storage solution, both devices also offer a built-in microSD slot for storing and accessing files on the go. Starting March 7th, the Turbo will be available for free after rebate while the Velocity will set you back $29.99 after rebate. Available online and in AT&T stores, both devices require a new two year DataConnect contract of at least $35 per month to receive this promotional pricing. Hit the jump for a press photo of the AT&T USBConnect Turbo from LG.

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Rumors that LG is prepping one of the first Windows Phone 7 Series handsets have been bouncing around for well over a month now, so it is not surprising that Microsoft unveiled a pre-production prototype of a Windows Phone 7 Series handset from the Korean manufacturer recently. The hardware itself was rather bland, sporting a side slide QWERTY keyboard and a standard front face with an average-sized touchscreen and the three hard buttons required by the reference design. Let’s hope LG has additional Windows 7 Phone Series handsets under development that have a bit more “wow” factor as it would be a crying shame to have the latest OS on such unoriginal hardware.

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No Bada competitor from LG as the Korean handset manufacturer has stated publicly that it will not develop its own proprietary smartphone OS. Though it did not rule out the possibility entirely, Scott Ahn, Vice President of LG’s Mobile Business unit, confirmed that LG’s strategy for the next two to three years does not include the development of a proprietary mobile OS. Rather than go on its own, LG will remain committed to producing smartphones powered by Windows Phone 7 Series and Android; focusing on the device itself, specialized content, and extra services to distinguish its handsets from the competition. With a prediction that does not bode well for Bada, MeeGo and the like, Ahn forecasts that only three mobile platforms will be left standing in the end — Windows Phone, Android and the iPhone OS. Do you agree or disagree with this somewhat somber projection?

[Via Fierce Wireless]

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Twenty four of the world’s largest  mobile operators along with LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and the GSMA have come together to create the Wholesale Applications Community, an open, international applications platform. The motley group will create an application store that could potentially reach 3 billion customers worldwide by using an open standard which would allow developers to publish applications across multiple device platforms and operators. The group is working closely with WC3 standard bodies to create one standard application development solution based upon JIL (Join Innovations Lab) spearheaded by Verizon Wireless, Vodafone, China Mobile and Softbank and OMTP’s BONDI framework. If this group can bring all these disparate platforms and distribution methods together under one umbrella, they could introduce applications to a enormous amount of mass market and smartphones and could potentially create an app store that could rival Apple’s app store in sheer volume alone. Though the issues of supporting such a wide range of networks, form factors, OS versions and more might be its limiting factor.

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Hot on the heels of the Mini and GT350, LG announced the GS500 Cookie Plus. Carrying on in the tradition of the plain old Cookie which sold some 10mm units world-wide, in reality the Cookie Plus aims to please with a “cartoon-like UI” complete with 18 blinding themes, a 3 megapixel camera enhanced by the devices ability to edit pictures before firing them off as an MMS (this should thrill paranoid, sexting weary parents), FM tuner, all the social media support a tween could ever hope for and dozens of widgets. Pricing was absent from the press release, but the GS500 Cookie Plus will start to hit shelves in Italy and France next month with 45 more countries to follow. Oh, how could we forget — LG “plans to offer a full batch of new Cookie handsets in 2010″. Cute.

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Those that crave the latest and greatest handsets from LG will have to wait until Mobile World Congress is officially under way, but for now, two new handsets have been announced by the Korean company that should prove to be popular with the masses. First up is the GD880 Mini. As the name implies, the GD880 is very petite (LG is calling it the “smallest and slimmest 3.2-inch full touchscreen phone on the market today”), but it turns out the device hasn’t exactly been shortchanged when it comes to specs; LG has managed to shove a 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, A-GPS and 7.2Mbps HSDPA into the sleek device. Second we have the GT350. Essentially the successor of the KS360 aka Neon, the GT350 is improved by a four-line full-QWERTY sliding keypad as well as a a full 3″ WQVA touchscreen. Both phones are capable of push email and browsing the web, but the Mini has two applications the GT350 doesn’t in Social Network Connect (”which makes keeping in touch with online friends even easier than on a desktop PC”) and Social Network Feed which has built-in access to things the youth are down with like Facebook and Twitter and is integrated with Social Address Book.

Pricing for each device has yet to be made public, but we do know the GD880 Mini will be available in Europe next month (to be followed by other markets) while the GT350 will be available come April.

Read [GD880 Mini] Read [GT350]

After we whispered that AT&T might be requiring messaging plans when you purchase select feature phones, we were hit up by a flood of connects. Long story short, it’s true, and here’s the break down:

• Phones that require a messaging plan at time of purchase include: Pantech Reveal, Pantech Impact, Motorola Karma, Samsung Flight, Samsung Impression, Samsung Magnet, Samsung Solstice, Samsung Mythic, Samsung Propel, LG Xenon, LG Neon, and the LG Vu.
• It looks like the minimum monthly cost when buying a “Quick Messaging” phone is around $20. That’s a $5 200 SMS/MMS plan and a $15/month unlimited data plan. It doesn’t look like you can walk out of the door without paying less than $20/mo in features in addition to your voice plan.
• There are slightly different requirements if you have a family plan, so check those out in detail with your AT&T liaison.
• If you have an existing “Quick Messaging” device, you don’t have to do a thing. But, if you want to ever upgrade to a new device, you’d then be hit with the messaging feature requirement.

Not exactly the best news for those looking to keep their wireless bill pretty low (and straight forward). Catherine Zeta Jones, where you at?

Thanks, to all our connects that broke this down for us!

Everyone and their mothers were up in arms when Verizon announced its new early termination fee policies last year. For a select group of smartphones and “advanced devices,” canceling one’s contract would incur a hefty $350 fee. Customers fumed, the FCC got involved and Verizon said they were just doing everyone a favor because it allowed them to provide favorable subsidies on handsets. Verizon decided to chop the advanced devices list down a bit by removing 10 handsets, but to be honest, they aren’t the most exciting ones. Included are the Motorola Krave, Samsung Rogue and five LG devices — BlackBerrys and Android devices are still very much in the $350 ETF category. Is this progress on Verizon’s part, or did they just demote those phones to not-so-advanced status?

[Via PhoneScoop]

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Some thought Sprint was teaming up with LG to launch a killer WiMAX smartphone at CES but the big press event came and went with nary a mention of an LG-branded WiMAX handset on the horizon. A leaked inventory list from Sprint reveals that we all might have been barking up the wrong tree. First on the inventory list is not an LG phone but the HTC A9292, an Android-powered WiMAX handset with a candy bar form factor. HTC already has one WiMAX phone in its portfolio, perhaps the A9292 will become the second. Our unknown friend, the LG LS680 makes its second appearance on a Sprint inventory list. The LS680 will be an Android handset which the tipster claims is similar to the GW620 Eve. Also making a second appearance is the Palm C40, an unknown device that was originally spotted in Sprint’s inventory last August. The tipster leaked additional information about some new handsets that do not appear on the inventory list above, too, so hit PhoneArena for the details.

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Sprint and LG unveiled two new feature phones for the fashionista in all of us. First up is the LG Lotus Elite, a boxy clamshell that keeps the styling and entry level status of the original Lotus with a set of specs that differs very little from its predecessor:

• 2.4 inch, 320 x 240, 262K color external display
• CDMA/1xRTT connectivity
• QWERTY keyboard
• Bluetooth with support for A2DP
• GPS
• 2 megapixel Camera/Camcorder
• Music Player with External Controls
• MicroSD expansion (supporting up to 32GB)
• Distinctive tattoo design on its black or red casing
• Support for the full suite of Sprint applications including Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, Sprint Music and Sprint Radio
  

The red Lotus Elite will available in all Sprint retail channels starting January 10th and will retail for $99.99 with a new two year service agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate. The black Lotus Elite will be available starting Feb. 14, just in time for the “I forgot to get you something, so I grabbed this at the last minute” type of gift for your sweetheart. LG and Sprint also announced the LG Rumor Touch, a side slider whose specs and pictures are a bit more noteworthy. Additional details are after the jump.

Third in the series, the LG Rumor Touch keeps the sliding QWERTY keyboard of the Rumor 2 but sheds the front keypad, replacing it with a 3 inch WQVGA touchscreen. The Rumor Touch also bumps the camera up from 1.3 megapixels to 2 megapixels and now offers 3G EV-DO connectivity. Rounding out the handset is a 3.5mm stereo headset jack, microSD card slot that supports up to 32GB, Stereo Bluetooth, GPS, and support for the full suite of Sprint applications including Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, Sprint Music and Sprint Mobile Email. The LG Rumor Touch will be available in Q1 2010 with pricing and exact launch date to be announced soon.

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LG certainly has a huge presence at CES this year with displays and phones almost everywhere you turn. So sit back while we bring all the handsets right to you and make you feel like you were here. Sort of. While we’ve seen of these phones before, there are a few that are still awaiting official details from LG. So here are some pics and details to hold you over for now, after the break.

Here we have the LG Chocolate Touch or VX8575. It comes in a purple or black finish and features a large touch screen. It has Dolby Mobile, a FM tuner, 1GB of memory for your tunes (with up to 16GB support), 3.2 megapixel camera with video, dual-band CDMA 800/1900 MHz and EVDO Rev. 0. Sadly, it doesn’t have Rev. A but the big item LG is pushing here is music.

Next up is the LG expo or GW820 – yep, the one with the projector on it. The projector is kinda cool and it’s pretty vivid, but unfortunately there weren’t any good surfaces (dark ones) where you could really see it shine. This is a Windows Mobile handset for AT&T. It has a touch screen and a slide out QWERTY keyboard, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, WVGA resolution Pico projector, 5MP camera, Wi-Fi, 16GB SD card support, finger print reader and if the pics don’t tell you enough, it’s for AT&T.

Here we have the long, lanky BL40 with its 4 inch wide screen tempered glass. It features a dual screen UI, cinematic screen, one touch copy and paste and gesture shortcuts. But there’s nothing about this phone that you didn’t already know.

The GT540 is definitely a feminine looking phone both in terms of color selection, texture and size. It packs Android as its operating system of choice and has a custom theme and widgets. It also supports DivX and WMV playback, which is a nice touch. Other nifty features include a 3MP camera that has face detection and tagging, various camera filters and LG 3Way Sync.

We’re not gonna lie, coming with Windows Mobile 6.5 and the form factor of this phone makes it look very Samsung-esque. The GW550 has various VPN gateway client support (Cisco), Juniper Network, Checkpoint), push email support, 2.4 inch QVGA display, A-GPS, Wi-Fi and a 3.2MP camera.

Another Windows Mobile 6.5 handset for LG, the GM750, on its CES showcase. This one has a 3 inch WQVGA touch screen, push email support, S-Class UI, 5MP camera, A-GPS and Wi-Fi.

If you were a fan of the original LG Shine, you might like the Shine II or GD710, although we it might be a little late for a sequel. Just like its predecessor, the Shine II is for AT&T. It features AT&T Music support, AT&T Navigator, a little 2MP camera with flash, and 3.6Mbps 3G capabilities on AT&T’s network.

Now onto the Big Boy. This is LG’s latest and we didn’t get much info on it. There will be a keynote later and we were told that video will be available on YouTube this afternoon — we’ll update that in here. But the GW990 packs an Intel Atom Processor, a 4.8″ panoramic screen, PC class Internet experience, HD video with 3D gaming, and multi-window multi-tasking. If LG has a winner on its hands at CES, this thing is it.

So, what do you think of LG’s offerings this year? Let us know while we go grab something else to serve up!

VUDU has taken a great leap forward, moving from its small lineup of streaming media set-top boxes and its presence on a few home entertainment devices to being the embedded media service of choice for LG, Mitsubishi, Samsung, SANYO, Sharp, Toshiba and VIZIO. The popular streaming movie service will be installed on select models of broadband TVs and Blu-ray players across all partners, an arrangement that may put millions of VUDU-enabled home entertainment devices into living rooms across America. Customers who purchase a VUDU-spiced HDTV or Blu-ray player will be able to access VUDU’s 3,000 strong on-demand HD movie catalog and its exclusive 1080p HDX formatted feature films. VUDU also announced its new VUDU Apps application platform, a cloud-based application service that allows customers to browse photos, stream video, access social network sites and more from the comfort of their favorite chair. They’ve got over 100 applications in the catalog and they will be available on broadband HDTVs from Mitsubishi, SANYO, Sharp and Toshiba and on broadband Blu-ray players from Toshiba. We need this. Now.

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CES attendees are in for a bit of a treat from LG which will be demonstrating the growing prowess of LTE. With its USB LTE modem in hand, LG will demonstrate 100Mbps downloads speeds that promise to deliver an entire movie to your mobile phone in under a minute. The Korean manufacturer will also be demonstrating a CDMA to LTE handover, a feat that was first documented last August and unveiled to the public for the first time at CES. Last but not least, LG will be teaming up with Verizon Wireless to display several practical applications of LTE technology including multi-user video conferencing over LTE and remote home security monitoring that can be controlled via a 4G-enabled handset.

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Not everyone wants a super duper smartphone, some people prefer the simplicity of a feature phone and it looks like LG may be sending such a phone to AT&T. A series of leaked spy shots show a customized LG Arena KM900 sporting AT&T branding.  The GT950 will feature a 3 inch, 800×480 touchscreen display, 5 megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi, 8GB of internal memory and LG’s whizbang S-Class UI. No word on pricing or launch date but from the finished look of the product it could be quite soon. Hit the jump for a few more spy shots.

[via PhoneArena]

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Growth in subscribership and service expansion are good but its the mobile connectivity hardware that will bring people in and that is where the company will see improvement in 2010. Clear currently offers a range of modems, routers and personal hotspots and will soon be adding the upcoming dual 3G/4G mobile hotspot from Sierra Wireless. Integrated WiMAX, present on many laptops in 2009, will continue to be an option on several laptop models made by Dell, Lenovo, Samsung, Toshiba and Fujitsu. Now that Clear has an established portfolio of WiMAX data cards and modems, it is time for Clear to focus on the catgegory of pocketable, stand alone mobile devices, an area in which Clear needs some major improvement in 2010. Currently, Clear offers a single mobile device, the Windows Mobile 6.1 powered Samsung Mondi, a rather unexciting device. This blaise portoflio of one is expected to expand in 2010, according to Clearwire CEO Bill Morrow, who said that WiMAX-enabled smartphones are expected to start arriving by mid 2010. With Sprint, Microsoft, and LG planning some big shindig on January 6th to kick off CES 2010, we will hopefully see at least one new WiMAX enabled smartphone arise out of that event. Efforts are also underway to bring Android to WiMAX  – an initiative being spearheaded by Beceem, the leading supplier of chips for WiMAX devices, in conjunction with VoIP developer D2 and WiMAX hardware manufacturer ECS EliteGroup. Last but not least, we can’t forget about HTC which already has the Max 4G, a dual GSM/WiMAX smartphone on Russia’s Yota network. If any or all of these companies can bring new mobile devices to Clear’s WiMAX service, then Clear will have a nice jump on its competition, offering sleek new handsets while future LTE providers are still building out their networks. The first step in this direction for Sprint/Clear may start as early as next week, let’s hope they can deliver something that will wow us and make us excited about the now of WiMAX instead of the future of LTE.

[Via ComputerWorld]

LG Korea unveiled two new mobile DTV devices that are headed for the U.S. in 2010. The first is an upgraded version of the LG Lotus equipped with a long antenna and an integrated digital TV tuner. For those that have forgotten this rather forgettable phone, the original LG Lotus is a boxy QWERTY clamshell that launched on Sprint in late 2008. And, if a boxy cell phone with an ungainly antenna doesn’t suit your fancy, then perhaps a shiny, black portable DVD player with a built-in 800 channel DTV tuner may. No word on pricing or availability but both devices are expected to get the official nod from LG’s US division at CES 2010 next week in Las Vegas.

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Shortly after the rumors surrounding the Sprint and LG event at CES just days away, we were greeted with this little screen shot in our inbox this morning. It looks like Sprint will be getting a LG Android handset pretty soon (though we’re not ruling out the possibility of a WiMax WinMo phone being announced there, too). We’re not sure what the LS680 is just yet, but given the OS we know that it will have a large touchscreen and possibly a QWERTY keyboard as LG likes to do with its LX series. Details are scant for now but we’ll be sure to give you guys all the goods as soon as it comes our way.

Thanks, Javy!

AT&T’s LG eXpo has made a quick jump from launch announcement to price reduction. Originally debuting for $199 after a $100 mail in rebate and a two year contract, the eXpo is now available for the rock bottom price of $99 from Amazon with free activation. Throw in a $50 Amazon gift card and the LG eXpo will cost you a mere $49 with a two year contract. Better get while the getting is good, though, as both the $50 gift card and the free activation are limited time offers which end December 28th.

[Via wmpoweruser]

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There are a series of recent events and announcements that could lead one to believe that Sprint, LG and Microsoft are working together to announce something big. Sprint has been planning a big show for CES on January 6 and calling it the “must-attend” event of the entire exhibit, and announcements will be made by Dan Hesse and Steve Ballmer. There is little need to second guess what is in store for the announcement if Ballmer and Hesse are taking the stage together.

For the following evening, Sprint and LG have been separately sending out invites to the same event, so it’s very likely the two are working together on a new device. This shindig is also going to be hosted by Brooke Shields. Throw in the announcement from the night before, Sprint’s aggressive plans to launch WiMax-enabled devices, and we have the makings of a Windows Mobile WiMax device on Sprint’s network. None of this is written in stone, but what else could it possibly be?

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Verizon Wireless may be turning it up a notch again and adding not one, but three new smartphones to its lineup in early 2010. The eclectic group is rumored to include the Windows Mobile-powered LG VS750, the Android-based Motorola Devour A555 and the Palm Pre Plus. The LG VS750 is LG’s first smartphone offering for Verizon Wireless. Running Windows Mobile 6.5 and with both CDMA and GSM on board for global roaming, it is sure to please all those business-oriented, world travelers in our midst. The Motorola A555 Devour is also known as our old friend the Motorola Calgary, which we broke the news on almost one year ago today. The Devour will be the DROID’s little brother and is expected to arrive in early 2010 with Android 2.1, MOTOBLUR and a 3 megapixel camera. Last but not least, the Palm Pre Plus will be Verizon’s first webOS device and is most likely the reason for Verizon’s new online training course touting the benefits of Palm and webOS. The significance of the addition of “Plus” to its name is unknown — was it chosen by the marketing department as a way to distinguish the Verizon Pre from the Sprint Pre? Or will this handset indeed be a never-seen-before, much improved Palm Pre?

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If you’re Canadian and love the thrill of the hunt Boxing Day provides, hate waiting in long lineups on a frosty winter’s eve, are looking for a new smartphone, and aren’t too sure what to make of this WIND Mobile business, then Rogers kinda/sorta has a deal for you. From now until January 18th, the following smartphones are avaiable from $0 to $0.99: BlackBerry Bold 9000 (white), BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220, HTC Magic, LG Eve and Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. Of course, with such a price there is always a catch and in this particular instance it’s a decision not to be made lightly — a 3-year contract

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AT&T’s first Snapdragon powered handset, the Windows Mobile-powered LG eXpo, is now available now for your buying pleasure. The eXpo has all the latest bells and whistles including a 3.2 inch 800×480 touchscreen display, 1 GHz processor, quad-band GSM, tri-Band UMTS/HSDPA, 5 megapixel autofocus camera with 5X zoom, slide out QWERTY keyboard, GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and Wi-Fi. All sorts of accessories are available for this phone but noticeably absent from the list is the removable pico projector, one of the big selling points for the device. No word on when the projector will be available but you can score the eXpo alone for $199 after a $100 mail in rebate and a two year commitment.

[Via wmpoweruser]

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No more speculation — we’ve got the low down on that Verizon Wireless DROID/Eris buy one get one free sale that was rumored to start on Friday. From December 4th to the 7th, if you buy one DROID or DROID Eris, you can get one DROID Eris for free after rebate. Sorry folks, no free Motorola DROIDs on BOGO this time. If you are in the market for a feature phone, a BOGO promotion for the LG enV Touch and the enV3 also starts on Friday and extends though December 25th. So don’t bother making that trip to your local Verizon Wireless store tonight, put that plastic back in your wallet and sleep on it one more night. Pleasant dreams!

In the future, the cost of your next smartphone might decrease by a few pennies thanks to a new lawsuit brought on by Nokia against some of the world’s largest LCD manufactures. Filed simultaneously in both the United States and the England on November 25th, Nokia is alleging that AU Optronics, Hitachi, LG, Philips, Samsung, Seiko Epson, Sharp, Toshiba and others willingly conspired to “artificially inflated the price of liquid crystal displays ultimately incorporated into LCD products purchased by Nokia, causing Nokia to pay higher prices.” Earlier this year, AT&T started a similar lawsuit after LG, Chunghwa Picture Tubes and Sharp pled guilty to price fixing which eventually caused Hitatchi to come clean. Of course with Nokia’s financial situation being what it is, any savings brought on by a successful lawsuit could just as easily — and most likely — be contributed towards the companies profit margins. So far Nokia has yet to go on the record regarding the remedies it is seeking, but we imagine the information will become clear soon enough.Read

Fresh from South Korea and heading stateside is the new LG GW820 eXpo. This side slider will feature a 3.2 inch, 800×480 touchscreen display, 1 GHz processor, quad-band GSM, tri-Band UMTS/HSDPA, 5 megapixel autofocus camera with flash, slide out QWERTY keyboard, GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi and a 1500 mAh battery. Designed for the business-minded individual, the eXpo is powered by Windows Mobile 6.5 and includes both a fingerprint sensor and an optional integrated pico projector capable of displaying a 40 inch image. AT&T is expected to start selling the LG eXpo through business channels starting on December 7th. Any takers?

[Via PC Mag]

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Back in September we got our hands on some official AT&T documents which indicated that the LG Monaco, now being called the IQ, would be hitting AT&T’s lineup sometime in late November. However, as November draws to a close, we have yet to see any signs of said handset on Ma’ Bell here in the States. Enter, Canada. It appears as though our friends from Telus are preparing to roll out the LG IQ just in time for the holiday season. As previously reported, the specs on this full-QWERTY slider are pretty darn good: GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100MHz), 3.2″ WVGA touchscreen, 480 x 800 screen resolution, Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, WiFi (b/g), GPS, fingerprint scanner, and 5 megapixel camera. This nice little package will be wrapped in LG’s S-Class user interface, run Windows Mobile 6.5, and, allegedly, be powered by the oh-so-tasty Snapdragon processor. Any of our Canadian peeps going to give the IQ a test? Did you see what we just did there? We have the video all queued up for you after the bounce.

[Via Engadget]

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Every year countless gifts are given during the holidays. Some of them are great, and some of them… well, you can’t win ‘em all. We’ve never done a Gift Guide before but with countless new products popping up almost weekly, we’re surprised those of you who aren’t glued to BGR are able to pick out a gift at all. Sorting everything by price point didn’t make much sense as the average price of what’s listed is around $199 after rebate, so we sorted it by lust-factor. We’re working on a couple other Gift Guides but in the meantime, here’s our cell phone one.

It’s fine, you don’t have to gift wrap it

LG enV TOUCH

If your loved one drops your smartphone like a hot potato because it’s “too complicated”, the LG enV TOUCH may be the perfect gift. Featuring an external 3 inch touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, drop dead easy menu controls and an HTML browser that runs over an EV-DO Rev. A connection (read: fast), the enV Touch has made our most worthy list for moderately geeky folk this holiday season.

Available exclusively at Verizon Wireless for $99.99 with two year agreement after mail in rebate.

BlackBerry Curve 8520

The latest BlackBerry in the Curve-series from Research In Motion is the BlackBerry Curve 8520, and it packs a punch for a pretty small price. Is it top of the line? No, but it can most definitely get the job done if you’re considering it as a gift for a young professional, recent college-bound individual, or even a mother or father. Everything is neatly packed into this QWERTY keyboard BlackBerry. Things like a 2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, extra memory for installing applications and games, and a super long lasting battery round the feature-set

Available from T-Mobile and AT&T in the U.S. starting at $129.99 with two year agreement after mail in rebate.

Sprint HTC Hero

The second best Android handset in the U.S. definitely deserves some love, too, and whomever ultimately ends up receiving the Hero will probably be a happy camper. Featuring a great display, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, and an intuitive user interface (read: it’s simple to use), there’s not a whole lot bad to say about Sprint’s Hero. The price is even attractive.

Available exclusively from Sprint for $179.99 with two year agreement after mail in rebate.

HTC Touch Pro2

HTC’s update to their original Touch Pro is practically available on all major carriers in the U.S., and for good reason. If you’re the business type that demands a Windows Mobile handset and are big on conference calling while on the move, there isn’t anything better. It’s one of the most enjoyable phones we’ve ever used to talk on, and its call quality / conference calling / speakerphone is more or less unmatched. It’s a little pricey, though.

Available from T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon Wireless for $299-$349.99 with two year agreement after mail in rebate.

Nokia E71x

It’s not brand new, but it’s still one of the finest devices that handset-leader Nokia manufactures. What do you get in such a small package? 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi, GPS, a 3 megapixel autofocus camera, a decent QWERTY keyboard and an all black finish. The operating system that powers the E71x is getting a little dated, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a host of applications and games available for it. Plus, you can’t really beat the price.

Available exclusively from AT&T for $49.99 with two year agreement after mail in rebates.

Aww, I love it!

Motorola DROID

There are no ifs, ands, or buts. Motorola’s DROID handset is simply the greatest Android phone to date, and from what we’re hearing, it’s a hot seller. If you’re looking for a gift for your anarchist, anti-establishment son, or maybe a husband that gets caught trying to jailbreak his iPod touch, then maybe they might enjoy an Android phone by Motorola. If you’re looking for a gift for a daughter, sister, or wife, the DROID might not be the best choice, however.

Available exclusively on Verizon Wireless for $199 with two year agreement after mail in rebate.

Dude, fetch me a paper bag, I can’t breathe

BlackBerry 9700

There isn’t much to it: if your loved one is a BlackBerry-addicted individual and demands the best, there really isn’t anything better. From the pocketable design to the always functional keyboard, global roaming and multimedia features, the BlackBerry 9700 has our vote for the best BlackBerry of all time. (Beyonce music video available for download separately).

Available from AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S. for $199 with two year agreement after mail in rebate.

iPhone 3GS

Look, they’ve begged you each and every year, you might as well just give in this time. The iPhone 3GS is Apple’s latest smartphone straight out of Cupertino and it’s a beauty. With an unmatched user interface and practically limitless applications and games (just watch out for those iTunes email receipts), this is one iPod that will be sure to keep the kids, nephews, parents, and even grandparents quiet. And happy, too. Just make sure they’re wearing headphones because we’re heard enough Andrea Bocelli out off Grandma’s iPhone.

Available exclusively on AT&T in the U.S. in both 16GB and 32GB sizes for $199 or $299 respectively with two year agreement.

Andrew Munchbach and Kelly Kodgkins also contributed to this article.

Happy holidays, y’all!

One of our Verizon connects was kind enough to hit us up with some info regarding Big Red’s upcoming Black Friday sale which will be going on all weekend. Sadly we weren’t told anything about super hot smartphones like the DROID, Storm2 and Touch Pro2, but we’d like to think that at least one of those phones will have a few bucks knocked off of its sticker price. Having said that, these deals are definitely worth checking out, so here we go:

• Gateway LT Netbook: $29.99 after $100 MIR
• Blackberry Pearl Flip: $9.99 after $100 MIR [BOGO]
• HTC Ozone: $9.99 after $100 MIR [BOGO]
• LG Glance: $0
• LG Versa: $29.99 after $50 MIR [BOGO]
• Mifi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot: $49.99 after $50 MIR. (Black Friday only)
• Motorola Entice $19.99 after $50 MIR [BOGO]
• Motorola VU204: $0
• Nokia 7705 Twist: $29.99 after $50 MIR
• Samsung Smooth: $0 after $50 MIR

In addition to what’s listed above, anyone purchasing an LG enV3 or enV Touch on Black Friday will receive a free LG HBM-210 Bluetooth headset.

Anyone seeing anything they wouldn’t mind picking up, or are you going to be trying your luck elsewhere?

Looks like AT&T is adding a few new handsets to its lineup for the holiday buying season as today, Ma’ Bell announced it will be carrying the BlackBerry 8520 and the new LG Shine II, all now added to its “best in the world smartphone lineup.” The Shine II is a 3G slider phone with a 2.2″ screen, stereo Bluetooth, Java 2.0, and a November 22nd release date. The Shine Part Deux will also set you back $119 with a 2-year commitment. Switching gears, the more familiar BlackBerry 8520 will boast the now-standard specs of: WiFi, a 320×240 display, 512 MHz processor, 256 MB of memory, and a 2 megapixel camera capable of video recording. The exact release date of the updated Curve was not specified but rather listed as within “the next few weeks.” Any takers?

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While many tech geeks who fancy Verizon will be spending the majority of this week debating whether or not to pull the trigger on either the DROID or DROID Eris, today Verizon quietly started selling the LG Chocolate Touch, a non-smartphone with mass market appeal. Equipped with a 3″ touchscreen display and 3.2 megapixel camera, the Chocolate Touch also features support for VZ Navigator, V CAST Music/Video, Visual Voicemail and EV-DO Rev. 0 connectivity. Also of note is a convenience key that leads directly to social media sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter as well as the inclusion of Dolby Mobile technology, something which is claimed to deliver “audio quality that rivals MP3 players.” Of course with only 1GB of internal memory and no microSD card in the box users will be forced to drop some extra cash if they wish to listen to more than 250 songs, but at $79.99 on contract after a $50 rebate, what do you expect?Read