Wireless News

The Evoke for Motorola was discussed recently. Alltel has launched its version of the high-end slider.

The slider features a large 2.8 inch QVGA resolution touchscreen display, 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder, microSDHC expansion slot, media player, GPS support via Alltel Navigator, speakerphone, Bluetooth with stereo audio support and support for social networks via a built-in application.

The OS of the Evoke uses icon based buttons for easy navigation. This made even easier with a single button at the base of the screen to return to ‘home’. Costs for the phone is now available for $249.99 after new 2 year agreement before an additional $100 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $99.99.

Charting the future of cell phone technology, Kyocera recently unveiled a kinetic energy-powered phone.

The phone is is capable of folding up like a wallet. Designed by industrial designer Susan McKinney, the EOS phone consists of a soft, semi-rigid polymer skin surrounding a flexible low-energy OLED display. Shape memory allows the phone’s keys to pop up when in use and blend in with the surface during downtime.

Although the EOS is still in the early design stage, the Kyocera EOS can be used in its folded-up shape for simple phone calls, unfolds to reveal a wide screen, and we were excited to hear that the it derives its energy from human interaction. The more you use the phone, the more kinetic energy is turned into an electric charge through an array of tiny piezoelectric generators. In other words, you’ll never have to worry about leaving the house with a semi-charged cell phone again.

AT&T has launched two new phones that will pad out their increasingly growing lineup. Latest releases include the messaging oriented devices of the Samsung Propel Pro and LG Xenon.

The Samsung Propel Pro (pictured above) is the Windows Mobile version of the Propel messaging device and features an improved body shell, 6.1 Standard Edition, QVGA display quadband GSM/EDGE and triband HSDPA access, sliding QWERTY keyboard, microSDHC expansion slot, 3.0 megapixel camera with video recorder, Bluetooth with stereo audio support speakerphone, and Wi-Fi. The Samsung Propel Pro is now available for $349.99 with No Commitment or $199.99 after new 2 year agreement before an additional $50 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $149.99.

The LG Xenon (pictured below) features a 2.8 inch WQVGA touchscreen display, quadband GSM/EDGE and dual-band HSDPA access, sliding QWERTY keyboard, microSDHC expansion slot, 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder and Video Share support, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, speakerphone, and access to AT&T services (Mail, IM, XM, Music, CV, mobiTV, Navigator). The LG Xenon is now available for $299.99 with No Commitment, or $149.99 after new 2 year agreement before and additional $50 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $99.99.

Previously, the phone was known as ‘Sidekick’, but this is so 2008. With revamped hardware the branding is being carried on to present the Sidekick LX by T-Mobile.

The new edition of the Sidekick LX for 2009 brings everything that could be on the Sidekick Users wishlist. The list includes; GPS, 3G data and 3.2-inch full wide VGA display. Keep in touch with the integration of Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. Photos can be snapped via the 3.2 megapixel AF camera with LED flash. Memory is manages by a microSD expansion for which, T-Mobile throws a 1GB card to play with. Video recording and playback with including YouTube access is also available. Pump out the tunes through stereo Bluetooth, quadband EDGE and HSDPA 2100 for high-speed coverage.

The biggest ticket seems to be the Exchange ActiveSync support. This coming via the on-device software catalog shortly after launch. Availability is available for pre-sale to current T-Mobile customers starting today. New customers will have to wait until May 13. the costs for the model are $199.99 after rebate on contract in your choice of “carbon” or “orchid” finishes (this price regardless of whether you are an existing or new customer).