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Noah checks out Nokia's N97 Mini - the little brother to the trainwreck that is the N97. Can a smaller form factor and redesigned QWERTY board make the mini a winner?

If you're displeased with Verizon's new $350 early termination fee (ETF) on "advanced devices," don't worry - the FCC is too.  Last week, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn sent out a letter to Verizon's reply, and in short, she's not pleased. 

Among other arguments, she makes the point that ETF's have migrated from being tied to the true full retail cost of the device to being something that foots "the bill for advertising costs, commissions for sales personnel, and store costs."  She implies that the costs to advertise and operate retail locations can be (and are) recouped in high monthly fees for voice and data.  A higher penalty isn't needed in her book, particularly a high penalty near the end of the agreement.

What's more, she claims that phantom fees are being charged, despite Verizon's reports that state otherwise.  Citing "press reports and consumer complaints," she has vowed to investigate the matter further with her colleagues next year.  Sounds like some bad news for Verizon.  Anyone agree?

Via: Engadget

We knew it was coming soon, and after perusing through Sprint's support website for the Palm Pre, it appears that today (December 28th) is the official release date.  According to the website, webOS 1.3.5 will offer the following:

• Improvement in battery life optimization when in marginal coverage areas.
• QCELP capability fix to allow play and audio of video sent via MMS.
• Launch Google Maps or Sprint Nav when tapping an address from contacts.
• Minimized package of MR size through binary difference. Customers can now download over 2G connections if necessary.

Not as major as 1.3.1 or other versions of the past, but it's nice to see Palm continue to address concerns.  Keep your fingers on the upgrade button, download it, and let us know what you think!

Via: BGR

The Office of Communications, aka Ofcom, are engaging with operators again - and hoping it turns out better this time. The regulatory body is once more working to allow owners to keep their old numbers when they change networks, where previous efforts were foiled by companies insisting that “giving people a number,” otherwise known as “a phone company’s entire job,” becomes incredibly expensive when other networks are involved.

Ofcom’s idea is that users should be online with their old number within two hours; instead of the current wait of two days, with some extra work, if you successfully extract a secret code your ex-network has no real reason to give you, maybe. The idea of an external body forcing changes without actually selling their own phones is a new one for this exploding industry, where companies are well used to doing what they like. Whether Ofcom has grown teeth or not remains to be seen.

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