LG goes insane, wants to buy back their phones for 10 grand each

All you LG Chocolate owners, quick, pick those phones and look at the serial number. If it matches one of the 5 listed by LG, you might be in for $10,000. But here is the catch, there are 21 million Chocolates out worldwide. That means, you have a lottery-like chance of winning. But, today might be your lucky day. So, what are you waiting for? Go dig up your old Chocolate and cross your fingers that you have the winning serial number. All the best!

LG goes insane, wants to buy back their phones for 10 grand each

via MobileCrunch by Greg Kumparak on 9/29/09

Okay – either LG accidentally plopped military secrets onto a handful of devices, or they’re looking to start a Golden-Ticket-esque hunt for their handsets. The Korean manufacturer has just offered up $10,000 to anybody who can bring them a handset with any of the following serial numbers:

• 802KPAE821224
• 803KPBF578597
• 803KPXV578330
• 803KPVH578503
• 803KPJP923836

It’s a fairly genius plan; whether or not anyone actually sets out to find these phones, it has people talking. LG has sold 21 million Chocolate phones – most of which have lived their lives and have been retired to a sock drawer or a trash bin – and they’re looking for 5 of them. Throw in the fact that these are global serial numbers, and it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except that there are 21 million other needles in there that you don’t want. If even one of the right handsets turns up, we’d be outright mindboggled – and LG will have gotten themselves one hell of an ad campaign for just $10,000.

Oh, and hey, Shady McCheaterson – put down the dremel. LG will be checking each unit thoroughly to ensure that no foul play has gone down, beginning with a photo check and ending with some time under the microscope at LG’s R&D center.

[LG via Giz]

Crunch Network: CrunchBase the free database of technology companies, people, and investors

RIM’s App World Key to Its Long-term Success – GigaOm

RIM stock is struggling amidst poor performance and lower forecast. According to Colin Gibbs at GigaOm, RIM needs its app store to succeed in the longer term in order to be viable. I have to disagree with him. RIM has not shown the foresight in planning and executing on its app store strategy. It still thinks in terms of hardware first, rest later as it continues to dominate the enterprise market. However, RIM has not shown a distinct strategy for the consumer market yet. It has been successful at getting some of its hardware in consumer hands, but it needs a game-changing consumer device before it can rely on app store as a longer term strategy for success. It also needs a refreshed device for the enterprise market that will kickstart its flat sales in that arena. Until that happens, RIM is on life-support.

Why RIM’s App World is Key to Its Long-term Success

via GigaOM by Colin Gibbs on 9/28/09

Research In Motion shares took a beating on Friday and several analysts cut their ratings on the stock after the company posted disappointing sales for its fiscal second quarter and ratcheted down expectations for the current one. But while increasing competition and ever-dwindling price points may make for a rough few months in the smartphone market, RIM’s long-term prospects will hinge on the success of its new app store.

Smartphone manufacturing is becoming a cutthroat business as the space heats up. Verizon Wireless — which has provided a huge boost to BlackBerry sales with its buy-one, get-one offer — is slated to launch several competing devices in the coming months, and the iPhone appears to be making substantial headway into the enterprise. In the meantime, margins are thinning as carriers look to target data-hungry customers with high-tech handsets that sell for less than $100. Those factors don’t bode well for RIM, whose products aside from the Storm are “largely unchanged from a year ago,” Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Modoff wrote in a research note released today:

“We see several dozen new smartphones coming on stream in the next six months. This includes solid offerings from Motorola, Palm, HTC, Samsung and LG. Our checks with carriers indicate that they are looking to drive smartphone prices to subsidized levels below $100. RIM may be able to manage its bill of materials down in this environment, but we think price declines will have an impact on gross margins. And this transition will likely be a painful process.”

The BlackBerry has deftly morphed from a business-focused handset to a more consumer-friendly device, and sales have been impressive even as Apple’s iPhone has taken consumers (and the entire smartphone industry) by storm. The Curve actually outsold the iPhone in the first quarter of the year, and RIM claims that more than 80 percent of its new customers last quarter were non-business users who chose the BlackBerry over devices such as the iPhone, Palm Pre and Android devices. But with a slew of attractive new smartphones coming to market and pricing continue to fall, I think that kind of momentum will be impossible to maintain, and I expect RIM to lose ground over the next few months.

Which is why RIM’s app storefront will be key to the firm’s long-term success. Just as Apple’s App Store and iTunes drive sales of the company’s hardware, App World — which has received generally positive reviews — must be attractive enough to lure users away from all the other smartphones on the market. And while Apple has built its empire largely on the strength of free or cheap gimmicky apps, I think RIM has a real opportunity to market App World as a high-end retail for on-the-go users — allowing the company to polish its image as it creates a lucrative new revenue stream with premium mobile applications.

That won’t be easy in the fiercely competitive space, of course, especially when carriers like Verizon Wireless are trying to elbow it off the app distribution playground (GigaOM Pro, sub required). But if RIM can continue to attract developers and build out an attractive storefront — and if it can churn out sexy, user-friendly handsets — it will fare well in the superphone era.

---

Subscribe to GigaOM Pro and gain access to our Webinar, “Biggest Opportunities in the Smart Grid,” on Oct. 7, 2009.

Motorola & T-Mobile USA Unveils the Motorola CLIQ With MOTOBLUR, Motorola’s new Android based UI

Sanjay Jha, the CEO of Motorola and Cole Brodman, CTO of T-Mobile today introduced the new Motorola CLIQ, a touchscreen smartphone. This phone is Motorola’s first Android phone which also introduces the new MOTOBLUR technology. MOTOBLUR is Motorola’s answer to the UI interfaces that various vendors have developed on top of the various operating systems. The salient point of this interface is that it integrates very tightly with social networking sites and makes it easier for the user to constantly update their lifestream.  The phone comes with 5Mpxl camera that takes video at 24 fps and supports WiFi and 3G, GPS with turn-by-turn directions. So, this begs the question: Is Motorola back from the brink? Looks like it is but there is still a long road ahead. Like Palm, it seems to have pulled a new trick that might prolong its life but they need to execute and deliver on the “tens of phones” that Sanjay said will be released over the next 15-18 months. — On Thu, 9/10/09, Motorola Investor Relations <newsdesk@broadcast.shareholder.com> wrote: From: Motorola Investor Relations <newsdesk@broadcast.shareholder.com> Subject: T-Mobile USA Unveils the Motorola CLIQ With MOTOBLUR To: leodnardo@yahoo.com Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 12:34 PM T-Mobile USA Unveils the Motorola CLIQ With MOTOBLUR First Android™-Powered Device from Motorola Puts Social Networking Center Stage SAN FRANCISCO, Sep 10, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the upcoming availability of the Motorola CLIQ™ with MOTOBLUR™, the first Android-powered device from Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) and the first device to feature the innovative MOTOBLUR solution. The CLIQ will be available exclusively in the U.S. from T-Mobile later this fall. Developed by Motorola, MOTOBLUR is an innovative solution that manages and integrates communications – from work e-mail to social networking activity – on your CLIQ. Updates to contacts, posts, messages, photos and more are streamed together and synced from sources including Facebook(R), Twitter™, MySpace(R), Gmail™, and work and personal e-mail. MOTOBLUR automatically delivers these updates to the home screen in easy-to-view streams so there is no need to open and close different mobile applications to keep up with the latest content. A 3G-capable smartphone featuring a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a full touch-screen display, the CLIQ is designed to keep the conversation moving, enabling fast messaging on the fly and easy navigation through MOTOBLUR’s streams and widgets. Cole Brodman, chief technology and innovation officer with T-Mobile USA, jointly unveiled CLIQ with MOTOBLUR today with Sanjay Jha, co-CEO of Motorola and CEO of Motorola Mobile Devices, at GigaOM’s Mobilize 09 conference. “T-Mobile’s highly social and always-connected customers have a natural affinity for mobile social networking, and we’re excited to feature the Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR prominently in what’s shaping up to be our most innovative holiday product lineup ever,” Brodman said. “The CLIQ lives up to Motorola’s tradition of great design and quality, and to our history of working together to create products that enhance the lives and the relationships of our customers.” Jha said, “We’re pleased to announce our first Android-powered device in partnership with T-Mobile USA. Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR differentiates the Android experience for consumers by being the only smartphone that automatically syncs conversations, contacts and content, and delivers a solution that’s instinctive, social and smart.” The CLIQ expands T-Mobile’s compelling lineup of Android devices and underscores T-Mobile’s commitment to the open, highly customizable platform that gives developers and manufacturers the opportunity to create truly unique experiences. This continued first-mover advantage with Android lets T-Mobile customers have access to incredible innovation in the Android Market™. The CLIQ delivers a reliable mobile Web experience by harnessing the power and speed of T-Mobile’s 3G network and Wi-Fi. Additional CLIQ features include a 3.1-inch HVGA touch-screen display, a 5 megapixel auto focus camera with video capture and playback at 24 frames per second, a 3.5mm headset jack, a music player with pre-loaded Amazon MP3 store application, Shazam, iMeem Mobile, and a pre-installed 2GB microSD memory card with support for up to 32 GB of removable memory. CLIQ also features multitasking capabilities and one-touch access to the Google™ mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search™ by voice, Google Maps™ with Street View, YouTube™ and Picasa™. Easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts is supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. E-mail and contacts are also supported by Yahoo!, Windows Live Hotmail,and other POP3 and IMAP e-mail services. It also combines instant messaging support for Google Talk™, as well as AOL(R), Yahoo! Messenger(R) and Windows Live Messenger. T-Mobile’s 3G network is currently available in 200 cities nationwide and covers more than 150 million people. By the end of 2009, T-Mobile USA expects its 3G network to be available to approximately 200 million people across the U.S. Availability Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR will be available exclusively to T-Mobile customers later this fall in two colors — Titanium and Winter White. Pricing will be announced at a later date. Customers can visit http://www.t-mobile.com/cliq for more information. * MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The MOTOBLUR logo is a trademark of Motorola. * Android, Gmail, Android Market, Google, Google Search, Google Maps, YouTube Picasa, and Google Talk are trademarks of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated. Note to Editors in the United States For photos of the Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR and other T-Mobile services and products, please log onto http://www.thenewsmarket.com/t-mobile to preview and request photos. Registration is free of charge to the media. About T-Mobile USA, Inc. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the second quarter of 2009, almost 150 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.5 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world’s most widely used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. About Motorola Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications and is focused on advancing the way the world connects. From broadband communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility and public safety solutions to high-definition video and mobile devices, Motorola is leading the next wave of innovations that enable people, enterprises and governments to be more connected and more mobile. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) had sales of US $30.1 billion in 2008. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project” and “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place too much reliance on them. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom’s control, including, without limitation, those factors set forth in “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” contained in Deutsche Telekom’s annual report. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, Deutsche Telekom’s actual results may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Deutsche Telekom does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. SOURCE: T-Mobile USA, Inc. T-Mobile USA Media Relations Alexandra Trask, 425-378-4002 mediarelations@t-mobile.com Motorola, Inc. Mobile Devices Juli Burda, 847-877-7277 Juli.Burda@motorola.com You are subscribed to Motorola, Inc. Investor Relations’ e-mail alerts as leodnardo@yahoo.com. To update your e-mail and alert preferences, please click here. To unsubscribe, please click here. Motorola, Inc. 1303 E. Algonquin Road , Schaumburg, IL 60196 Service provided by Shareholder.com

Samsung Rogue now official on Verizon

Samsung Rogue now official on Verizon

via Engadget Mobile by Chris Ziegler on 9/8/09

Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

Time to finally give that Glyde a proper burial at sea (or recycling center, or baby cousin who needs a phone, or whatever). The oft-rumored Rogue is finally available, notably featuring a 3.1-inch AMOLED display (Verizon calls it “ultra brilliant”), a 3 megapixel cam with flash and on-board editing, microSD support up to 16GB, full HTML browsing, Microsoft Office document viewing, TouchWiz, and naturally, that full slide-out keyboard that makes it a Glyde killer. Grab it now for $99.99 on contract.

Samsung Rogue now official on Verizon originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: October launch for Storm 2 on Verizon

Rumor has it that Verizon will launch the Blackberry Storm 2 on October 14. You can see the comparison between Storm and Storm 2 below. Briefly, Storm 2 comes with Wi-Fi, more free RAM and Flash, decreased shutter lag time on the camera, and better touch screen entry.

Also, Verizon is getting ready for some Android love with Motorola Schoeles launching in October too and soon followed by HTC Desire. Though dates for Desire are not yet announced or leaked.

Finally, Microsoft announced that it will launch Windows Mobile 6.5 on October 6 on devices from variety of hardware makers and on various networks including Verizon.

Leaked Verizon docs point to October launch for Storm 2, Motorola Sholes, LG VX8575

via Engadget Mobile by Donald Melanson on 9/1/09

Filed under: Handsets, LG, Motorola, RIM, Verizon Wireless, Android, BlackBerry OS

This is all still firmly in the realm of rumors and speculation for the time being, but some purportedly legit internal Verizon documents obtained by BlackberryOS.com are offering a bit more fodder suggesting that the BlackBerry Storm 2 could be launching in October — or October 14th, specifically. The same documents also point to an October launch for Motorola’s Android-based Sholes smartphone, as well as a “mid-October” launch for LG’s vx8575 “Chocolate Touch” (which we assume is the same or a variant of the BL40 Chocolate Touch). All in all a pretty big month for Verizon — assuming everything actually pans out as rumored, of course.

Leaked Verizon docs point to October launch for Storm 2, Motorola Sholes, LG VX8575 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments