Verizon Wireless is bolstering its phone lineup with high-end devices from PalmOne Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Meanwhile, T-Mobile USA Inc. appears to be fleshing out its EDGE offerings with the release of its second EDGE-capable phone, the Motorola Inc. V330.
First up, Verizon announced it is selling PalmOne’s Treo 650 for $300 with a two-year service agreement. Verizon is offering the device with voice plans starting at $40 per month and an unlimited wireless data plan for $45 per month. Verizon previously announced it would sell the device, but did not say when. Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and Sprint PCS also sell the Treo 650, which features the Palm operating system, Bluetooth and a tiny keyboard.
Separately, Verizon said the high-end Samsung i730 smart phone “will soon be certified on the Verizon Wireless network.” The posting on the carrier’s Web site said the phone features a slide-out keyboard, the Windows Mobile operating system, Bluetooth and a speakerphone. Interestingly, Verizon said the phone’s Bluetooth function “does not support all profiles for object exchange.” The carrier made a similar statement when it announced it would sell the Treo 650. Object exchange allows users to transfer files from the phone to a computer through Bluetooth, a feature that Verizon has said violates its copyright agreements with its content providers.
Finally, documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission indicate Verizon plans to sell the clamshell-style Samsung SCH-A950, which features an MP3 player, Bluetooth and an integrated digital camera. Verizon typically does not comment on devices until it officially announces them. Documents included in the filing refer to Verizon services like Get It Now and Pix Message.
In other Samsung FCC filings, the handset vendor appears to be getting ready to sell the SPH-A820 with Sprint. Documents included in the filing indicate the phone will feature Sprint’s “Ready Link” push-to-talk service and PCS Vision wireless data service.
T-Mobile is expanding its EDGE offerings with the Motorola Inc. V330. The phone joins Nokia Corp.’s 3220 in T-Mobile’s EDGE lineup.
T-Mobile is selling the clamshell-style V330 for $150 on its Web site. The phone features Bluetooth, a digital camera and AOL instant messaging software.
A T-Mobile spokesman said the carrier is in the process of rolling out EDGE technology across its nationwide network. The carrier plans to finish the deployment by the end of this year. T-Mobile had previously planned to offer nationwide EDGE services by the beginning of this year, but delayed the rollout due to a lack of “compelling devices.”
T-Mobile spokesman Peter Dobrow said the Motorola V330 and the Nokia 3220 operate on EDGE where it is available and switch to GSM/GPRS networks when necessary. Dobrow declined to say how many T-Mobile subscribers currently have access to EDGE or how much the upgrade will cost.
Cingular Wireless offers EDGE services across its network and sells several EDGE handsets.
Unlike the rest of the nation’s wireless carriers, T-Mobile USA has remained relatively quiet about its network upgrades.
