Another leaked Motorola handset? You bet! This time we’ve got the brother-in-law to the Motorola Alexander — no QWERTY keyboard — with a pretty decent spec sheet. This one is codenamed Atila, and if you haven’t caught on to Motorola’s code names for Windows Mobile devices, they are all named after great conquerors; Alexander, Atila, Ghenghis, etc. The Atila is actually the first Motorola device that will have tri-band UMTS/HSDPA. Finally, right? We’re not sure on a release date, but here’s an introduction of the specs, followed by the actual spec sheet:

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850MHz/1900MHz/2100MHz)
• 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 1.8Mbps HSUPA
• 1130mAh battery
• 2.8″ QVGA 240 x 320 screen
• Wi-Fi b/g
• Qualcomm 7201A chipset
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

Full spec sheet after the jump!

Thanks, “Daddy Genius”!

Remember last year just before the initial iPhone launch? EDGE dropped off for a while and then came back with a vengeance. Prior to the iPhone waterfall that clogged up all of AT&T’s shiny new pipes, we were seeing data speeds of up to 200 - 250 kbps on AT&T’s EDGE network in the New York area. Then the iPhone dropped. Here we are again, getting close to the inevitable iPhone 2 release and oddly enough, AT&T’s 3G services started getting spotty yesterday afternoon in the New York area. Outages sometimes lasted several hours at a time. This morning however, 3G seems to be live again in and to the west of New York City. What’s more, it looks like HSDPA speeds have received a nice little boost since coming back up. For the past few months we’ve been seeing average download speeds between 500 - 800 kbps with a spike here and there. This morning’s tests however, are yielding between 1400 - 1500 kbps. Nice. We’re now hearing that AT&T 3G is still down to the north of the city so one can only assume we’re in the midst of some rolling upgrades. Enjoy it while it lasts people; the iPhone 2 will be out soon enough and AT&T’s networks will be hammered just like last year.

Back on Wednesday we told you about AT&T’s plans to drastically improve its HSPA coverage by the end of June. Needless to say, the move is related to the impending release of the 3G iPhone that we all hate hearing about. If you recall, EDGE speeds more than doubled just prior to the release of the first iPhone so the timing of these HSPA upgrades only make sense. But wait, why is AT&T so keen on stressing the addition of HSUPA with speeds up to 800 Kbps? Clearly it has something to do with the upcoming 3G iPhone, but what could eat up so much bandwidth in that direction? Ahhh, how about video calling? Rumors surfaced a while back that the new iPhone will sport a front-facing camera and 1 + 1 = 2 last we checked. This people, will be the true test of Apple fanboyism - if it’s true of course. Video calling has been around forever and it has hardly been the rage that many thought it would be years ago. If Apple can manage to get people not only excited about video calling, but also actually using video calling, then Stevie really can do anything…

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Here’s some good news, folks. AT&T has just announced that they will have full HSPA coverage across their entire 3G network by the end of June. Currently, 275 AT&T markets sport full HSDPA/HSUPA coverage. That number is expected to rise to 350 by the end of next month. If all this sounds a bit familiar, you’re probably on to something. The company embarked on a massive EDGE network upgrade last year, just prior to the release of the EDGE capable iPhone. It’s no secret that Apple’s new handset will sport a 3G radio, and the proposed USP improvements are no-doubt related to the impending launch. As excited as we are, we’d still love to see full 3G penetration across their entire network, but we’re guessing that might take a bit longer.

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Well, we’re not sure what we think of the device just yet. We’ll have our hands-on shots and first impressions up in a bit, but for now, here are the offical specs of the HTC Touch Diamond handset:

• Size: 102 x 51 x 11.33mm
• Weight: 110 g
• Connectivity: WCDMA / HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA
• Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
• Display: 2.8-inch VGA touch screen
• Camera: 3.2MP, with video calling
• Internal memory: 4 GB Internal Storage, 256 MB flash, 192 MB RAM,
• Bluetooth: 2.0 with EDR
• Wireless: WiFi 802.11b/g
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Interface: HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)
• Battery: 900 mAh
• Talk time: GSM: up to 4 hours
• Standby time: GSM: up to 300 hours/100 hours with push email
• Chipset: Qualcomm MSM® 7201A™ 528MHz

What do you guys think? It most likely won’t be out in the U.S. for a couple months at best. Will you buy it? Couple more pics after the break.

[Thanks, Mike]

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Looking for two new ways to get that HSUPA data fix in your life? AT&T has just announced that they will be offering two new HSUPA-capable 3G data cards. The GT Ultra and GT Ultra Express are both made by Option, and are essentially PC Card and Express Card versions of the same coin. Both cards are plug-and-play with Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Mac OS X. Each card is available immediately for $49.99, provided you’re willing to sign away two years on a $60/month DataConnect plan. Quick, get your HSUPA on. Now!

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Ever wish you could grab a new Sony Ericsson handset with a full QWERT keyboard, 3.2 megapixel camera, aGPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HSDPA/HSUPA, all running atop a beautifully skinned version of Windows Mobile 6? Turns out today might be your lucky day. SE has just unleashed the XPERIA X1 at the Mobile World Congress, and from the looks of things, this is going to be one hell of a competitor. The handset sports a slide out / slide up keypad that looks like a cross between a Sidekick and an HTC Tilt, with navigation accomplished by way of a 4-way dpad and an optical joystick. The handset also sports a custom "panel interface" that appears to provide TouchFLO-like icon-based navigation. No word on price, but we should see it launch in "select markets" by the second half of 2008. Nice!

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AT&T has officially announced this morning that 2008 will be a very big year for its wireless broadband networks. America’s largest cellular provider has plans to expand its 3G coverage into more than 80 new cities in 2008. The target is to cover more than 350 leading US markets by the end of the year and involves rolling out over 1,500 new cell towers nationwide. An average of over four new cell sites per day is a pretty lofty goal but apparently AT&T is up to the challenge. Beyond expansion, AT&T will also focus on some eagerly anticipated improvements. That’s right, HSUPA, bitches! Current uplink speeds on AT&T’s 3G network average between 500 and 800kbps at best, and HSUPA will do a great deal to improve those speeds. The transition to HSUPA, once completed, will make AT&T the only US provider to fully adopt HSPA standards. President and CEO Ralph de la Vega states, "With these aggressive initiatives, we’re expanding the scope and the speed of our 3G capabilities, connecting people with their world and enabling more customers to do more with their wireless devices, wherever they may be." What’s more, AT&T will be looking towards the future while modernizing and expanding their current networks. De la Vega goes on to say, "We’re also planning for the future by establishing a clear path to a 4G network that will meet the needs of our customers for years to come." No time line was given as far as 4G is concerned, but the current plans of 3G expansion and enhancement will do a great deal to satisfy current customers and attract new ones. There’s nothing worse than having a 3G handset with no 3G coverage to back it up!

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Nope, we’re not talking about a tree here! It looks as if the HP Silver won’t be the only HP handset sporting some HSUPA action. You now have a pretty decent line, with the Standard version, and now the Professional one making the rounds. The HP Oak sports a nifty slide-out QWERTY keyboard with a traditional number pad on the front, in addition to integrated GPS and Wi-Fi. We’re not really judging here, but it looks like you might have some difficulty with that 1010mAh battery. Release date? Thought you’d never ask! September, guys. It’s a long way to go, and ₤260 couldn’t come soon enough. Whittle the HP Oak, so to speak, after the jump!

• title: hp oak

HP has fell off for a little bit, but it looks like they might be coming out swingin’. Set to debut also in July, is the HP Silver. It’s a Windows Mobile 6 Standard device, that supports HSUPA! They’re using a 320×240 screen but with a "RIM SureType" keyboard. Virtual BlackBerry OS, anyone? GPS and Wi-Fi aren’t left out, and while it doesn’t specifically state there is Bluetooth, we’d wager on it being included. ₤250 for the HP Silver. Going once, going twice! Fullness after the break!

• title: hp silver

Everyone loves leaks and according to some info on the Esato forum, a beta tester has leaked a live photo and some specs on what looks to be Sony Ericsson’s entry into the "iPhone catchup game". Sony Ericsson has been manufacturing touchscreen devices for quite some time but even still, the hardware and UI in the image above look pretty familiar. Like its predecessors, the P5i will be home to the Symbian UIQ OS but according to rumors it may be one of the first Sony Ericssons to see the upcoming UIQ4 OS. Other rumored specs from the forum include a slider form-factor, 2.8" display (640 x 480), integrated WiFi and GPS, 5 megapixel camera, HSDPA and HSUPA connectivity, 360 MHz processor and 160MB of internal memory. The P5i should be released into the wild sometime in Q1 / Q2 2008 and if it lines up with the rumored specs it could be quite a contender.

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Ready for some uber-fast HSUPA uploading action without that bulky PC Card to weigh you down? AT&T has just introduced the USB Connect 881 USB Aircard. It appears to be physically identical to the old U875 card, save for the fact that it can now upload your files at real world speeds of around 800 Kbps. The best part? It’s only $49.95 with a two year data contract. The device also ships with the client software pre-installed on the modem itself. No driver downloads or install discs necessary. All told, this is one of the best wireless data card options on the market today, and is available immediately from your local AT&T store. Just don’t say we didn’t yell you it was coming…

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The day has finally come, friends. All the rumors, speculation, unboxings, and other hints on a release date have all been put to silence…Officially announced now and available in stores tomorrow (Friday, the 5th, though we’ve heard reports of some stores getting stock already) — the AT&T Tilt is sure to mess up the game! We got to experience the HTC TyTN II, known as the HTC Kaiser back then, and we had a glowing review based on our hands-on sessions. The great part, in our opinion, after using the AT&T Tilt, is that besides removing the front-facing camera, they have not locked the device down — GPS is not disabled, and to be honest, we kind of dig the AT&T customizations. These are little things like MP3-playing controls on the home screen, organized icons in folders, BlackBerry Connect, TeleNav, all chrome buttons, Push-to-talk, and others. All in all, you put a super Windows Mobile device with HSDPA, a 400MHz processor, 3 megapixel auto-focus camera, tilting screen, and full QWERTY keyboard on AT&T, and you’ve got something really solid in our opinion. Also, the AT&T Tilt has HSUPA; remember that when the rumored network upgrade happens in the next few months…Click on for the full press release and head on over to our hands-on gallery below!

Click on over to our AT&T Tilt hands-on gallery!

AT&T GOES FULL TILT WITH THE MOST FEATURE-PACKED 3G SMART DEVICE AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES
 

AT&T’s First Windows Mobile 6 Device, The AT&T Tilt Features Groundbreaking Angled Screen, Global 3G Capabilities, Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi
 

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 4, 2007 — AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced that the AT&T Tilt™, the most feature-packed smart device available in the United States, will debut exclusively through AT&T beginning Friday, Oct. 5. The AT&T Tilt is the first AT&T-enabled Windows Mobile 6 smart device and features an innovative slide-out QWERTY keypad design, a 3-megapixel camera, 3G data speeds from AT&T’s UMTS/HSDPA-based BroadbandConnect network and complete global connectivity.

Designed by HTC (TSEC:2498), the AT&T Tilt features a 2.8-inch color screen that slides back to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, then tilts up to position the screen perfectly for reading and creating e-mail, browsing online, using applications or just playing videos and games. The AT&T Tilt supports Bluetooth^® 2.0, which allows for up to six Bluetooth devices to be wirelessly connected simultaneously to the device and also supports Bluetooth Stereo.

“The AT&T Tilt is the most comprehensive wireless device on the market today,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Business Voice/Data and wireless products, AT&T. “In addition to its innovative design, there is no device on the market that packs the number of features that are available on the Tilt.”

The AT&T Tilt features the latest version of TeleNav GPS Navigator^TM which provides GPS-enabled turn-by-turn voice and on-screen driving or walking directions, colorful 3-D moving maps and traffic delay alerts with one-click rerouting. New features debuting on the AT&T Tilt include address sharing, which allows users to share their current locations or the location of their favorite businesses with other mobile users. The new version of TeleNav GPS Navigator also includes reviews and ratings for nearby restaurants and allows customers to rate them directly from their AT&T mobile phone. Business users also can use TeleNav Track™, a mobile workforce management solution that includes GPS-enabled tracking, time sheets, wireless forms, navigation, job dispatching and bar code scanning.

Inside the AT&T Tilt, users will have a wireless powerhouse at their disposal. With 3G broadband speed connectivity across the globe and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA capabilities that allow the Tilt to operate in Japan and Korea, customers have access to the more than 135 countries in which AT&T offers UMTS, EDGE or GPRS international data roaming. Customers also can use AT&T’s industry-leading international wireless roaming coverage to make or receive a phone call in more than 190 countries  

At home, the AT&T Tilt provides access to AT&T’s BroadbandConnect network in more than 170 major metropolitan areas across the U.S., and coverage outside of 3G service areas is available via AT&T’s nationwide* EDGE network, the largest national high speed wireless data network in the U.S. AT&T’s EDGE network is available in more than 13,000 cities and towns, and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. Users can also connect for an additional charge to Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the U.S. — including any of the more than 10,000 AT&T-owned or branded hot spot locations in the U.S. and tens of thousands more abroad — through the built-in Wi-Fi functionality, supporting the 802.11b and g frequencies. They also can use the AT&T Tilt to link to corporate wireless local area networks or home Wi-Fi networks.

Users will also find the highest-resolution camera available on any AT&T mobile phone today, with 3-megapixel resolution and auto-focus. The device also accommodates 4GB MicroSD flash memory cards and is capable of supporting up to 32GB MicroSD cards to expand storage for pictures, video, music and more.

“The AT&T Tilt represents the ultimate in high speed connectivity, functional design and Windows Mobile power,” said Peter Chou, chief executive officer, HTC. “The AT&T Tilt provides today’s mobile professionals and consumers with the ability to work and be entertained while they’re mobile.”
           

Windows Mobile 6 Experience

Windows Mobile 6 provides AT&T Tilt users with the familiar look and feel of their desktop computers at home or in the office. Windows Mobile 6 delivers the ability to view
e-mail in their original rich HTML format with live links to Web and Microsoft Office SharePoint sites, which means text and images are displayed as they would be on a Windows PC with pictures, fonts and colors.

"Around the world, a Windows Mobile phone has become a companion for people that want to do more while on the go,” said Scott Horn, general manager, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft. "The AT&T Tilt brings a wide variety of options for staying connected to colleagues, friends and family with a familiar and easy-to-use experience and a stylish form factor suited for both the office and a night out on the town.”

All Windows Mobile 6 devices include Microsoft’s Direct Push Technology for up-to-date e-mail delivery and automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars, tasks and contacts through Microsoft Exchange Server. Windows Mobile 6 also offers a set of important device security and management features that include the capability to remotely wipe all data from a device should it be lost or stolen, helping ensure that confidential information remains that way. AT&T has the broadest portfolio of Windows Mobile devices of any U.S. carrier.

E-Mail Options

In addition to Microsoft Direct Push, the AT&T Tilt will be the first Windows Mobile device in North America to include BlackBerry^® Connect™ v4.0 software, which provides BlackBerry e-mail service, security and device management for IT administrators and the benefit for users of wireless synchronization of e-mail, calendar, contacts, task list and memo pad information. BlackBerry Connect v4.0 supports push e-mail for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and personal e-mail through the BlackBerry Internet Service.

Customers can also use the AT&T Tilt to access their personal e-mail through AT&T’s popular Xpress Mail service. By completing just five easy steps, AT&T customers can set up their Xpress Mail account and begin getting personal e-mail from most major POP3/IMAP personal e-mail services pushed to their AT&T Tilt at preset intervals. They also can perform two-way wireless synchronization of their calendars, access contact lists and view attachments.

Unique Force 

            The Johnson City Police Department, located in Johnson City, Tenn., has been using AT&T smart devices for two years and plans to be one of the first organizations to implement the AT&T Tilt later this year. With AT&T smart devices, Johnson City’s 148 officers can verify identification, search criminal databases, issue citations and submit reports from the palms of their hands. Since implementing the smart devices, arrests for criminal activities and revoked drivers licenses in Johnson City have increased, and the time saved handling and processing incidents is equivalent to having five additional officers on staff, according to the police department.

            “The AT&T Tilt provides a new level of wireless field support,” said Sgt. John Hames, Johnson City Police Department. “The embedded GPS will help us track officers’ whereabouts, identify the fastest route to incidents and download mapping data for on-site traffic reports. AT&T Tilt’s angled screen and high-resolution camera are attractive for people taking and reviewing images in the field and Windows Mobile 6 Professional will allow the department to more efficiently perform office applications on the mobile handset.” 

Multimedia Features

Beyond enterprise functionality, the AT&T Tilt is made for fun and games as well. The device is preloaded with free and premium games and applications including Ms. PAC-MAN, Brain Challenge, Bubble Breaker, Midnight Pool, Solitaire (MS), Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, MobiTV, and MyCast.

The Tilt provides access to AT&T Mobile Music — an integrated, on-the-go music experience that delivers "your music, your way" by providing simple access to the most robust collection of music content available today, including XM Radio Mobile, which comes pre-loaded on the device and is available for $8.99 a month. The AT&T Tilt will also feature AT&T’s CV streaming video service. Customers can watch a large selection of video clips of their favorite television shows, sports, news and weather, entertainment and premium content, including hit HBO programs and exclusive mobile content from World Wrestling Entertainment.
 

Pricing and Availability

The AT&T Tilt will be available for a promotional price as low as $299.99** beginning Oct. 5 at AT&T retail stores nationwide, online at http://www.wireless.att.com, at select national retailers and through AT&T’s business-to-business sales organizations. Unlimited monthly data plans for corporate e-mail are $44.99 with a voice contract***. Personal data plans for personal e-mail, begin at $29.99 a month for 20 MB of data***. AT&T also offers an international data plan for the AT&T Tilt — 20 MB in nearly 30 countries — for an additional $24.99 a month. TeleNav GPS Navigator is available for additional monthly charges of $5.99 for 10 trips and $9.99 for unlimited trips. TeleNav Track service plans range from $12.99 to $21.99 for each device.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com

If you’ve been pondering the switch from your current carrier to the Big Blue, but weren’t sure on the prices for some of the latest devices, there’s a good chance we got you covered! The below pricing should be completely solid, but let us know your own personal experiences, too.

• HTC 8925 Tilt: $349.99 with 2-year agreement and $50 MIR, $549.99 to purchase outright.
• Pantech C810 Duo: $249.99 with 2-year agreement and $50 MIR, $449.99 to purchase outright.
• Motorola Q9 Global: $299.99 with 2-year agreement and $50 MIR, $499.99 to purchase outright.
• UTStarcom 5700: $69.99 with 2-year agreement and $50 MIR, $269.99 to purchase outright.
• Sierra AC881U (HSUPA data card): $49.99 with 2-year agreement and $100 MIR, $299.99 to purchase outright.
• Option GT Ultra (HSUPA data card): FREE with 2-year agreement and $100 MIR, $249.99 to purchase outright.
• Option Ultra Express (HSUPA data card):  $49.99 with 2-year agreement and $100 MIR, $299.99 to purchase outright.

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As people rely more and more on their cell phone to keep other people involved in their lives, upload speeds are becoming increasingly important. Video uploading, cell phone picture uploading…you name it, it’s becoming popular. Because of that, AT&T is looking to boost their upload speeds from the slow speed of 120kbps to the 500-800kbps range. While AT&T folks will rejoice at this news, it will likely only come to data cards first, like the ones we broke the story on, with handsets to follow sometime in 2008 at best. And, one must take into account that Verizon and Sprint have been on this bandwagon for quite some time now, and it’s only now that the Big Blue Globe is catching up. We applaud the attempt at upgrading HSDPA to HSUPA, AT&T, but you’ve got some more catching up to do.

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It seems that with the buried hype information surrounding the soon-to-be-released HSUPA data cards, our very own Boy Genius and myself did not realize the implications of AT&T’s launch of these HSUPA-enabled cards. It was reported earlier in the year that AT&T would launch HSUPA, the second-part of the HSPA initiative complimenting the highly touted HSDPA technology, later in the year. It was previously thought that the launch would be mid-year, however we’re a couple months late on that target time frame. Well, this gives us a date, at least, for an apparent soft launch for their HSUPA technology offering. Mark it down, just in case you didn’t catch it the first time, AT&T will launch HSUPA to the public in early October.

Markets: Whereabouts Unknown, although my educated guess would likely relate these opening day markets closely with their HSDPA brethren.

"So, what’s the fuss?", you might ask. Well, this basically means that there will be a shift from UMTS for upstream data flow for data card users. This, in conjunction with a yet-to-be-announced upgrade for HSDPA data rates, will allow AT&T to finally compete against Verizon and Sprint for high speed wireless bandwidth offerings.