@CTIA: Jumping the gun on new devices

LAS VEGAS – A number of operators got an early jump on the phone-launching hype at this year’s CTIA 2010 event unveiling plans to begin selling some highly-anticipated devices.
AT&T Mobility said it would begin offering Palm Inc.’s Pre Plus and Pixi Plus smartphones, adding Palm’s WebOS operating system to the carrier’s deep selection of OS available to consumers. The devices will share most of the upgrades already announced by Verizon Wireless when it launched the “Plus” models earlier this year, including expanded device memory.
The AT&T Mobility versions, of course, will support the carrier’s HSPA 3G network as well as embedded Wi-Fi. One feature that was not mentioned was the mobile hotspot ability highlighted by the devices launch at Verizon Wireless that allows up to five devices to use Wi-Fi to access its embedded cellular connectivity.
Pricing of the device will be in line with what other carriers are charging, $150 for the Pre Plus after rebates and $50 for the Pixi Plus after rebates, with an availability date of “coming soon.”
The announcement is a bit of bright news for Palm, which last week posted disappointing quarterly results that stung its stock price and had some analysts questioning the company’s viability.
While the launch will broaden the devices reach to the nation’s No. 2 operator, it will not be without some challenges. AT&T Mobility has repeatedly touted the number of smartphones on its network and even in its press release for the Palm devices said they will join the broadest offering of mobile OS’ in the market. These include a number of recently launched smartphones powered by Google Inc.’s Android OS as well as exclusive U.S. distribution of Apple Inc.’s iPhone.
iDEN gets Android
Motorola Inc.’s Android-based i1 smartphone is set to launch at Sprint Nextel Corp. and regional operator SouthernLINC Wireless for their respective iDEN networks.
The device includes a 3.1-inch touch-screen and includes support for the carriers’ iDEN-based push-to-talk service. In addition, the device includes an integrated Wi-Fi radio and a 5-megapixel camera. The phone also meets military specifications for protection against dust, shock, vibration and blowing rain, and it’s assumed will be able to handle a few real-world incidents caused by .
Pricing for the device was not set by either operator, but Sprint Nextel provided a launch date of this summer, while SouthernLINC went with during the second quarter.
The device is seen as further evidence that perhaps iDEN networks are not quite yet ready to ride off into the sunset. Sprint Nextel has since Sprint Corp.’s acquisition of Nextel Communications Inc. wavered on its support of the iDEN network, having recently said it plans to support the network and basing its wildly successful Boost Mobile unlimited calling plans on the network. SouthernLINC has been more stable in its support of the network, which it uses to serve approximately 300,000 customers in the Southeast.