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Whether DroidDoes or iDon't, one things for sure: Apple's raking in the cash. Today's fiscal Q4 2009 conference call confirmed that the gang in Cupertino know how to sell gadgets, even in a recession. Apple netted a cool $1.67 billion of profit on just under $10 billion in revenue this quarter, good for a rise in profits of over one half a billion dollars as compared to Q3 of last year. A jump of half-a-billion, during a recession. Not bad.

iPhone sales were up 7 percent over last year, while Mac sales jumped a whopping 17% based on Q3 '08. iPod sales were down 8 percent, but even Apple expected that, having said a few times earlier this year that the standalone iPod is on its deathbed, having given way to the connected media player (iPod Touch/iPhone). 

Apple, of course, benefitted greatly from the continued gradual global rollout of iPhone. Almost half of the company's sales this quarter were international.

As for what's next, Apple CEO Steve Jobs dropped this vague nugget on call attendees before signing off today:

We've got a very strong lineup for the holiday season and some really great new products in the pipeline for 2010.

But what else would you expect, right? Tablet? e-Reader? iPhone re-design? Stay tuned. 

Meantime, go read Apple's "Most Profitable Quarter Ever" press release for all the dirty details.

Imagine walking down the street, when suddenly, you see an old friend.  Don't get me wrong, it's nice to see people you know, but after 20 minutes of mind numbing conversation about how their life is going, it gets a bit old.  So you look at them, and say "hey, I'll give you $50 if you shut up and keep walking."  I'm sure most would accept the money and keep walking.

It appears to work on a significantly larger scale as well, since Sprint did just that with competitor iPCS.  If you remember back to their 2004 purchase of Nextel, iPCS was quite vocal about their opposition to the deal, due to an agreement that gave them rights to the Sprint brand name in the markets that they controlled.  Terse words were exchanged, and lawsuits were thrown around.  When Sprint announced their 51 percent stake in Clearwire, iPCS sued over rights to the Sprint name.

So, instead of long, drawn out court battles, Sprint simply purchased iPCS for $426 million and assumed $405 million in debt.  The deal specifies that both parties end all litigation, and allows the nation's third largest wireless carrier to keep their brand consistent nationwide.  It's a bit more than $20 or $50 that you would throw at your friend, but it goes to show that the concept works just as well on a corporate scale.

Source: IntoMobile

Billed as the carrier's first Windows Mobile handset, the Samsung Code is nothing to scoff at.  Offered at $299.99 sans contract, the Code (SCH-i220) offers 3G connectivity, a full QWERTY keyboard, 2.0-megapixel camera, full HTML browser, stereo Bluetooth, and Windows Mobile 6.1.  It's also a cheaper alternative to other MetroPCS devices such as the BlackBerry Curve.  

Check out the full press release below.  Any takers?

MetroPCS Introduces its First Windows Mobile® 6.1 Powered Handset

Samsung Code™ smartphone equipped with full HTML Web browser, QWERTY keyboard, direct push e-mail and 2.0 megapixel camera

DALLAS – (October 19, 2009) – MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS), the nation's leading provider of unlimited, flat-rate, no signed contract wireless communications service, and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)1, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States, today launched the Samsung Code™ (SCH-i220). With MetroPCS’ Samsung Code, consumers who are on-the-go will experience the best of productivity and organization, via the Windows Mobile® 6.1 operating system.

The Samsung Code is equipped with the entire Microsoft® suite of tools including contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, voice recorder and Windows Live™. The optional WizPro™ interface allows users to easily customize their home screen and create shortcuts to the most frequently used features on the phone, including missed messages, calendar appointments and more.

Samsung Code users can easily access work and personal e-mail through direct push e-mail and other messaging options. The phone easily synchronizes with any computer via Microsoft Outlook® Mobile through ActiveSync® technology, which can be installed by using the CD included in the box, USB cable or downloading over the air. Once the device is synched, users have instant access to e-mail, contacts and calendar. Corporate and personal accounts can be synced with Microsoft Exchange Server.

“We are excited to add another smartphone to our lineup of the latest handsets,” said Roger D. Linquist, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of MetroPCS. “In a time when consumers want more from a phone than simply to talk or text, our customers will be able to take full advantage of the Samsung Code’s advanced features and services that will give them an enriched wireless experience. This is just another example of how MetroPCS is providing customers with more, all while maintaining the economical unlimited, flat-rate service that they can expect from MetroPCS.”

“Samsung Mobile is excited to launch its first Windows Mobile® 6.1 powered smartphone to MetroPCS customers,” said Paul Golden, chief marketing officer of Samsung Telecommunications America. "The Samsung Code gives users the ability to balance work and personal communication with a variety of applications and features.”

In addition to providing the latest in smartphone features, the Samsung Code has a full HTML Web browser featuring 3G Technology, Stereo Bluetooth® capabilities, a 2.0 megapixel camera and external memory support up to 32GB. Sending e-mails and text messages is fast and easy with the Samsung Code’s QWERTY keyboard.

When MetroPCS customers purchase the $50 rate plan they will be able to experience features and capabilities, including unlimited talk, text and data, advanced Web browsing, e-mail and other multimedia functions, all with the convenience of a smartphone.

MetroPCS offers a diverse selection of service plans, which allow customers to talk 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week, for a wireless experience that best fits their lifestyles. With MetroPCS, customers pay by the month, not by the minute, and services do not require a signed contract, deposit or credit check. For more information on MetroPCS, please go to www.metropcs.com.          

The Samsung Code is available at all MetroPCS company-owned retail locations and authorized dealers. Visit MetroPCS’ Web site at www.metropcs.com for specific locations or to purchase the Samsung Code and sign up for service plans. To find out more information about the Samsung Code, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

The latest Androidy goodness from Tmo, the Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR is available for pre-sale today for existing subscribers. Now through November 1, current customers can order up on the T-mobile site or via phone. The QWERTY slider is being shipped as orders are received, so the sooner you jump on it, the sooner you get. (If you're ordering early, make sure to get your free car charger with your shipment.)

Not ready to take the plunge? Or perhaps you’re comparison shopping (ahem — Verizon — ahem). That's cool. You still don't have too long to wait, since open sales start November 2 in stores and online. The price is $199 with a two-year contract.

To see the goods before checkout, make sure to hit up Noah’s unboxing vid here.

Despite the watch phone craze that's sweeping through the technical circles, I've always had a hard time rationalizing the purchase of one.  I rely on my device for e-mailing, text messaging, and other keyboard-intensive tasks, and the watch phone idea is far too small for my needs.  I see it as being a niche market, and that's about it.

That being said, Research In Motion has taken the concept, and developed it into a very interesting idea.  According to Crackberry, the company is working with inPulse to create a BlackBerry-centric watch phone.  No, the device isn't going to replace your trusty messaging tool, rather, it's going to supplement it.  Marketing the device as the perfect tool for when you're in a meeting, on a jog, or in any other situation where you can't pull out your device, the unit is expected to be branded as the inPulse smartwatch.

• The device is being designed exclusively for RIM and the BlackBerry product
• It will feature an OLED display
• The watch unit will show notifications and previews of calls, text messages, and e-mails.

There you have it!  A brilliant idea in my book, provided that the price is set to a reasonable level.  Now, I'll have an excuse to "check the time" more often.

Source: Crackberry

Leaving a voice mail for a Google Voice user? Be careful what you say… it might wind up all over the Interwebs.

According to Boy Genius Report, GV’s service seems to have a few cracks in the gates, with some users’ voice mails ending up in online search results. According to the tipster, inputting “site:https://www.google.com/voice/fm/*” into Google yields 31 linked results to random voice mail messages from different accounts. Each one displays the transcript of the call, plus audio, so the names, numbers and messages are as clear as if it were your own vm box.

Google says this isn’t a security flaw. Basically, the company doesn’t restrict users’ ability to share voice mails with others, so those who post their own messages online will naturally see their messages crawled and indexed by the search engine. But it also acknowledged that, even though some are making them public on their own sites, they may not want to see Google pull them into broader results. A change has been made now so site owners can allow or block that.

But be warned: If you have a penchant for drunk dialing or other embarrassing phone message behavior, you may want to think twice before talking after the beep.





[via Boy Genius Report]

Though the official announcement hasn't been made yet, it's a given that Verizon is launching the Storm 2.  We've seen countless reviews across the internet, complete with Verizon branding, and various rumors point to a late October or November launch.  Despite the lack of an official upgrade program for original Storm owners, RIM and Verizon aren't leaving you in the dark.

According to information obtained by Phone Arena, Verizon and RIM plan to offer the OS 5.0 software build that the Storm 2 has for the original Storm.  Though the hardware is different, OS 5.0 improvements like threaded text messaging, flick scrolling, and tabbed browsing will all be available for the original device.  So, while the Storm 2 will offer improved SurePress technology, new buttons, and Wi-Fi, the software will be functionally identical across the board.  Most running OS 5.0 on their original Storm devices (it's widely available online, Google it) have said that the improvement is drastic.  With that in mind, is the upgrade really worth it?

Source: PhoneArena
(Image courtesy of BlackBerry Cool)

For those unfamilar with the name, the latest Motorola phone has previously been known as the Sholes, a name we’re glad has been given the boot.  The Motorola Droid is the company’s second device to run Google’s Android operating system, but where the DEXT could be viewed as a good-time social networking fun phone, this is a serious, high performance smartphone.

If anyone needs convincing that US network Verizon and Motorola are gunning for anything except the iPhone with the Droid, then take a look at this 30-second TV advert, where their intentions are made pretty clear.   Following the DroidDoes link takes you to a Verizon portal where a mysterious counter steadily ticks down to an event on the 30th October, plus you can register your interest.

We’re very lucky in that a hands-on report has hit the Internet too, giving us a peak at the specification and a brief reaction to the new phone. The Droid will be running version 2.0 of Android, the first major revision for theOS, and it will be powered by a quick ARM Cortex A8 processor, exactly as you’ll find inside the Palm Pre and the Sony Ericsson Satio.

It has a large capacitive touchscreen and a QWERTY keyboard behind a G1-style side-slider, plus a 5 megapixel camera with xenon flash and a 3.5mm jack plug too.

At this stage, there is no indication when or even if the Droid will make it to the UK and Europe, however with the DEXT hitting Orange recently, we’re willing to believe they could be getting ready for the Droid too.  Whatever happens, the Droid certainly ticks all the boxes on our ‘next big thing’ checklist!

Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.