Verizon Wireless, owner of the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) today announced the immediate availability of the Palm® Treo™ 755p smartphone in exclusive deep blue-green. Beginning today, customers may purchase the Treo 755p online at www.verizonwireless.com
Compared to its Treo 700p predecessor, the Treo 755p has a sleeker design with an internal antenna and a soft-touch feel. Featuring a large, high-resolution, color touch-screen for quick stylus access to applications, the Treo 755p offers a full QWERTY keyboard for easy e-mail creation, Web browsing and text messaging. It also includes features such as a 1.3 megapixel camera and built-in support for Microsoft® Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® documents and PDF documents. Customers can view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files, and view PowerPoint and Adobe PDF files. Running the Palm OS®, the new Palm Treo 755p from Verizon Wireless gives mobile professionals the tools they need to help maximize productivity.
Built-in Support for Direct Push Technology for E-mail
The Treo 755p offers VersaMail® 3.5.45 with built-in Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® support for Microsoft Direct Push Technology that delivers e-mail and calendar updates from a home or office PC using Outlook®. Businesses connected to a Microsoft Exchange Server get fast, automatic wireless updates of e-mail, calendar and contact information with added IT security and remote manageability.
Treo 755p users also have the option of using Verizon Wireless’ Wireless Sync for quick and easy access to personal or corporate e-mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks from their home or office PC. Customers can sync up to 10 POP3 or IMAP e-mail accounts, including AOL®, Yahoo! ® Premium and more with their Treo 755p. Wireless Sync supports Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Notes® and IBM Lotus Domino®.
Fast Speeds with Verizon Wireless’ Broadband Network
Verizon Wireless customers using the Treo 755p have the benefit of Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO high-speed network to send and receive data. Verizon Wireless’ broadband network is the most reliable national wireless broadband network in the country and available from coast to coast.
For customers interested in using their Treo 755p smartphones as modems with a Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess Connect service plan to send and receive data from notebook PCs, the Treo 755p can easily take advantage of the 600 kbps to 1.4 mbps typical download speeds of the Verizon Wireless EV-DO network. The Treo 755p comes with built-in 60 MB of user-available memory and can be enhanced by using the miniSD™ slot to add separately purchased memory cards of up to 4 GB for storing data, photos, music, and video.
Integrated Google Maps for Mobile
With Google Maps™ installed right out of the box, Verizon Wireless customers using the Treo 755p can get directions; perform local searches; and view moveable/scalable maps, satellite imagery, and traffic updates while on-the-go. Customers can also map a contact’s address directly from the contact listing simply by selecting the “maps” button.
Pricing
The Palm Treo 755p from Verizon Wireless is available for $399.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and new two-year customer agreement. Customers who purchase a qualified voice plan along with a data plan may be eligible for an additional $100 credit making the Treo 755p $299.99 for those customers.
Verizon Wireless Nationwide E-mail plans for the Treo 755p begin at $79.99 for 450 anytime voice minutes and unlimited e-mail. For more information on any Verizon Wireless product or service, visit www.verizonwireless.com .
Verizon Wireless, the wireless company with the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung) today announced the online availability of the Verizon Wireless FlipShot™ by Samsung.
Featuring a 3.0 megapixel built-in camera with a rotating display for optimal viewing while in camera mode and available in black, the FlipShot enables photo enthusiasts to capture picture-perfect moments while carrying a device that allows for full mobile phone functionality and high-quality digital photos. The handset features Bluetooth® capability for headsets, stereo, car kits, object push (for vCard only), basic image and basic print as well as a business card scanner.
Additional features of the new Verizon Wireless FlipShot by Samsung include:
3.0 megapixel camera with Digital Zoom
Camcorder
Living Wallpaper
PictBridge printing capable
V CAST Music and Video capable
Speakerphone
Get it Now®
Messaging Services – SMS, EMS and MMS messaging, e-mail, Mobile IM and chat
VZ NavigatorSM
Mobile Web 2.0SM
Dimensions: 3.76” X 1.83” X .73” with standard battery
Personal organizer with Calendar, Calculator, Notepad, Alarm Clock and World Clock
Display: 240 X 320 pixel, 260K color TFT Internal
The FlipShot is available today online at www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 68,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Whether staying in a hotel, waiting for a flight or drinking a latte at the local coffee shop, Alltel customers can now connect to the Internet virtually anywhere. Alltel Wireless, America’s largest network providing coverage across the nation, today launched Alltel Wi-Fi, an easy-to-use solution powered by Boingo Wireless that instantly provides customers with laptop access to thousands of hotspots throughout North and South America. Alltel also provides wireless broadband access via Alltel Wireless Internet service, allowing customers to access the Internet from their laptop or smartphone at speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps on its nationwide data network.
Through Alltel’s relationship with Boingo, the world’s largest network of Wi-Fi hotspots, Alltel customers will be able to enjoy a fast connection all over the country. To provide customers with maximum coverage, Alltel is offering a Wi-Fi and EVDO Wireless Internet “bundle,” delivering unlimited Wi-Fi access from any supported hotspot starting as low as $9.99 per month, in addition to the customers’ Wireless Internet Plan. Pre-paid Wi-Fi cards are available at Alltel Wireless retail stores for $19.99 per week or $9.99 per day. Additionally, users can purchase Wi-Fi access at https://wifi.alltel.com.
“Wi-Fi is an excellent complement to Alltel’s existing portfolio of wireless internet solutions and is a good fit with Alltel’s strategy to provide customers with more ways to connect wirelessly to the Internet, email, or corporate intranet,” said David Maddox, director of product marketing for Alltel Wireless. “Alltel customers will get the best available wireless broadband connection throughout the country with EVDO and Wi-Fi from Alltel.”
Verizon Wireless today announced an exclusive and multi-tiered relationship with classic rock legends AC/DC, as the company’s V CAST Music service becomes the first digital music service to deliver AC/DC’s entire back catalog digitally. Respecting the band’s reputation for delivering a full-album experience, Verizon Wireless is making AC/DC’s music available in full-album downloads. AC/DC’s catalog consists of 18 classic albums, and for many music enthusiasts, the AC/DC catalog has been one of the most highly-anticipated digital releases to date. The multi-tiered relationship includes AC/DC’s entire back catalog – of which Verizon Wireless is the exclusive mobile music provider through March 2008 – plus exclusive performance footage on V CAST Video and a special V CAST Mobile TV program.
Formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young (still the most formidable electric guitar team in rock), AC/DC released its first album, “High Voltage,” in 1975. The group has gone on to sell more than 63 million albums in the U.S., making AC/DC one of the five best-selling bands in American music history. The “Back In Black” album has achieved RIAA “Double Diamond” status, for sales in excess of 21 million copies in the U.S., and is the U.S.’s fifth largest-selling album ever. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
“Verizon Wireless and V CAST offer a fantastic new high-tech platform for the long-awaited digital release of AC/DC’s music and video catalogs,” said Steve Barnett, chairman, Columbia Records. “Through Verizon’s cellular phone and mobile television technology, new and established generations of AC/DC fans will find fresh and innovative ways to enjoy the sights and sounds of the world’s most electrifying rock and roll band.”
“AC/DC’s back catalog is hot and fans nationwide have been filling chatrooms and bulletin boards for years speculating about the digital release of their albums. We are proud that Verizon Wireless customers will be the first to load up on their fill of classic AC/DC,” said John Harrobin, senior vice president of digital media for Verizon. “By respecting and preserving the full AC/DC album experience through full-album digital downloads and mobile video, we will ensure that the group’s classic rock is understood, embraced and here to stay.”
AC/DC “Shakes Up” Mobile Music with Full-Album Downloads on V CAST Music
This new relationship will encourage new digital behaviors as Verizon Wireless customers will have the ability to purchase music as full-album downloads of AC/DC’s entire back catalog. By visiting the V CAST Music online store at www.verizonwireless.com/music fans will be able to download any of AC/DC’s full albums to their PCs and then sync them to their phones with V CAST Music Manager. “You Shook Me All Night Long” will be the only single available as an individual full-song download over-the-air, and will be used to promote full-album downloads of AC/DC’s catalog in ongoing marketing campaigns. Fans can also get the sounds of their favorite classic rock band with AC/DC Ringtones and Ringback tones from Verizon Wireless.
AC/DC on V CAST Mobile TV Coming Soon
In an effort to educate new generations of music fans on the breadth of their enormous body of work, AC/DC will soon deliver AC/DC TV on the new V CAST Mobile TV. AC/DC will present footage from the infamous Live at Donnington extravaganza and other performances so fans can access and watch, directly on their Verizon Wireless mobile phones.
It has nearly been a month with my iPhone and I must admit, at times I get home sick. I miss the old neighborhood where everyone came out to play ball and you could hear every word they said. The clarity was great and no matter where you went on the block, you never lost or skipped sight of your pals. But now in my new neighborhood, it just ain’t the same. Some of the kids are rude and just leave in middle of a conversation. Others fade in and out, never repeating what you missed. No, life in the AT&T neighborhood has been tough. Real tough.
I was with Verizon for nearly four years and outside of the hardware selection, I loved my service provider. The Treo and Q are solid smartphones on its network and the RAZR is just a slam dunk for great sound and reception. Plain and simple, I never had issue with Verizon Wireless. Ever. Now let me tell you, my day job takes me all over the place. I’ve been all over Northern California from the Oregon border to the Central Coast. I’ve traveled in L.A., Pasadena, San Diego, through the Southern California desert, and throughout Arizona. I’ve even been through AT&T’s home base of San Antonio, Texas, and even there, Verizon never gave me a brick. I’ve only been one place where I had no signal and that was deep in the eastern hills of Northern California. My wife’s RAZR did get a signal, though.
Now let me talk about my four weeks with AT&T. It is the norm to find myself saying on calls on a major California highway (CA-99), “Could you repeat that again?” due to skips or degrading audio from a poor signal. This is in Stockton area. A large city where you know towers are plenty. Well, maybe for Verizon but apparently not AT&T. I find myself wandering outside of friends houses many times as if I’m searching for exotic coins on their lawn with a metal detector as I randomly bounce in an erratic direction searching for the strongest signal point. You can find me in the most unusual isles of the store due to it being the place for the highest bar reading. In short, I find myself concerned about signal strength on every call I make on my iPhone. I never had this pressure with Verizon.
I love, love, LOVE, my iPhone. It is the best phone I’ve ever had. No issues with what’s on it and even with the short-comings, it’s still one of the best phones I’ve ever had. It just does not disappoint like my XV6700, Treo 700w, Motorola Q, and Samsung 740 did. I tell people all the time, “The iPhone would be perfect if it were on Verizon.” Man, VZW, you guys blew it!
Sure, AT&T isn’t always bad. There are a few areas I have no issue at all. In fact, in my new home in a town of 900 just south of Sacramento, I get better signal with AT&T than I did with Verizon. But at the end of the day, I do find myself wishing I was still on Verizon’s network. I really do miss it.
I haven’t been too many different places with the iPhone yet, but in the coming weeks I will be going to Santa Rosa, Napa, Fairfield, Chico, Half Moon Bay, and some other far out areas and I guess that’s when I’ll get some real testing done on the signal. Then I’ll be able to see if Cingular really did raise the bar before becoming the new AT&T or if it just made me long for Verizon even more.
Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the most reliable wireless voice and data network, and SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, today announced the exclusive release of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile on select Verizon Wireless Get It Now®-capable phones. Developed in conjunction with Bizarre Creations, the game is faithful to the console original while taking advantage of the on-the-go nature of mobile phones, making Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile a highly-addictive small screen masterpiece.
The controls utilize four- or eight-way buttons, as well as the keypad for easy maneuverability, so players can fight off an onslaught of enemies with precision. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile includes eight brand new gameplay modes, including Untouchable, Survivor, Monster, Trenches, Speed, Multiplier, Feline, and Bomber. Players can see how they stack up against other fans via a leaderboard.
“The controls are intuitive and the visual style is true to the Geometry Wars world,” said Martyn Chudley, managing director of Bizarre Creations. “The game has managed to capture the essence of the original game, whilst being tailor made for the strengths of the mobile platforms and their audience.”
Verizon Wireless Get It Now customers can purchase and download Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile from the Get Fun & Games shopping aisle in the Get It Now virtual store for $3.49 monthly access or $6.49 for unlimited use purchase. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile is available on more than 25 popular Get It Now-capable phones from Verizon Wireless, including the enV by LG, MOTOKRZR K1m and Samsung SCH-a950. Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime charges apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled phone and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. For more information about Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile visit www.geometrywars.com
Leveraging 70 years of professional theater expertise, Altec Lansing, a division of Plantronics, Inc., today introduced a new portfolio of high-end audio systems for the home theater. The new Powered Theater Series provide elegant designs and wireless surround sound for flat panel TVs.
“While digital audio plays a central role in homes today, the majority of systems are difficult to set up, involve a web of wires and lack designs that consumers want to showcase in living spaces,” said Robert Heiblim, senior vice president of Marketing for Altec Lansing. “Altec Lansing’s new home theater products provide the convenience and simplicity of wireless, without compromising great sound or designs that truly complement home decor.”
Home Theater Surround Sound, Without the Wires
Altec Lansing’s new Powered Theater (PT) Series deliver theater-quality surround sound with sleek, elegant bar-style speakers that eliminate bulky and conspicuous components. The PT speakers provide immersive cinematic audio experiences and designs that match the streamlined form factor of today’s flat panel TVs.
- PT8051:The two-speaker PT8051 system provides the ultimate surround sound experience through left, center and right channels within one front speaker as well as left / right channels included in a rear wireless speaker. The system’s matched 8″ x 1½” NXT® Digital balanced audio transducers have flat radiating surfaces that cover more sound and more room area than conventional cone speakers. Movie sound is incredibly realistic through automatic engagement of Dolby® and DTS® listening modes.
- PT7031:The PT7031 is a one-piece, easy-to-set-up speaker system that utilizes virtual speaker technology from Dolby Labs to deliver five-channel surround sound experience. The three matched 8” x 1½” NXT® Digital balanced audio transducers have an advanced surface that is virtually free of distortion.
The Altec Lansing PT8051 system (pictured) and PT7031 have MSRPs of $999.95 and $599.95, respectively. Both products are available in August at major retailers and www.alteclansing.com.
For more information about Altec Lansing’s Fall 2007 product portfolio, please visit: www.plantronics.com/launch.
You can’t blame Verizon for trying to repel against the iPhone frenzy of June 29th, but in truth, short of giving phones away tomorrow, no carrier will be able to steal Apple’s spotlight away from it. Try, try, as it may, Verizon is flaunting how it is open all day tomorrow and giving a deal on the VCAST LG VX9400 phone. The deal? $50 off and a free “Music Essentials Kit” which includes, “a stereo headset, a cable for music transfer from a PC to the LG VX9400 and a 2GB memory card that can store up to 1,000 songs.”
So if you’re not lucky enough to get an iPhone tomorrow by 6:05 when all 20 at your local AT&T store sell out, you can drive over to the Verizon Wireless store and grab a true 3G phone instead. 
Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, announced the first Global CDMA/GSM BlackBerry® is available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores today. Verizon Wireless’ new Global BlackBerry service, an “always-on, always connected” wireless e-mail solution is also available, providing quick, easy access to e-mail, contacts, calendar, organizer and the Web while on-the-go. With the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone and Global BlackBerry service from Verizon Wireless, customers get wireless e-mail and the convenience of one local number for domestic and international use in Australia, Europe, parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and North America.
Verizon Wireless’ new Global BlackBerry service allows customers to place and receive voice calls from more than 160 countries and send and receive e-mails in the United States, Canada, Mexico and more than 90 countries worldwide. With Global BlackBerry service, Verizon Wireless customers receive the Global Support Pack, which includes a SIM card, a user reference guide and details on accessing the Global Help Desk for 24-hour customer support, seven days a week. Customers also receive a calling card for free support calls while traveling outside of the U.S. from any landline phone to technical support if the BlackBerry 8830 is lost, broken or stolen.
The new BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone packs the latest features into a stylish global device and offers the following capabilities and features:
- EV-DO/GPRS network connection for high-speed data transfer in more than 90 countries
- GSM/GPRS (900/1800 MHz) for continued voice and e-mail while traveling internationally
- Auto-selection of CDMA/GSM Mode
- Thin form factor of just 14mm for both style and easy handling
- New Trackball navigation system
- Media player
- Expandable memory option with microSD™ card (sold separately)
- Speakerphone
- Bluetooth® capabilities for certain profiles inclusive of hands-free, dial-up networking and serial port
- Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD)
- Instant Messaging capabilities for quick and easy communication
The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone is available today in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores for $299.99 after a $100 rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the device is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase.
Customers signing up for Global BlackBerry service will get unlimited e-mail in the United States, Canada and more than 90 countries worldwide for $64.99 monthly access with a qualifying voice plan, or for $69.99 monthly access without a voice plan. Customers can also add a “Pay As You Go” data feature to any qualifying voice plan for an additional $20 per Megabyte. Customers wanting to use the BlackBerry 8830 for e-mail solely in the U.S. may opt for an unlimited e-mail plan beginning at $49.99 monthly access.
For more information on the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone and Global BlackBerry service from Verizon Wireless, visit www.verizonwireless.com/blackberry or www.verizonwireless.com/vzglobal.
All this talk about Wireless USB in the last six months and yet, still, no Wireless USB to be found. Sure, CES had its share of demos and talk, but the word was we’d be seeing some of this cool technology soon after the Vegas show. Well, like most things Vegas, it’s all glitter and lights with little substance behind it.
Once again, another demo to be shown to the world how this USB technology intends to cut the cords. This time it’ll be at the Windows main even, WinHEC. Microsoft’s hardware conference will be held in beautifully brown-filled air Los Angeles where even angels gag from the smog. But once inside the Convention Center, it ain’t half bad.
Alereon will highlight three different Wireless USB devices for the crowds to see. It’ll show off a Samsung digital camera swapping images with an Wireless USB equipped laptop. Also on tap will be some syncing duties for one Windows Mobile 5 cell phone and a laptop. Lastly, Alereon will presents its Wireless USB hub reference design so all us kiddies can hook-up wired USB devices to instantly make them all wirelessly accessible.
Don’t get too excited, though, ’cause you know, this may only be a vaporware presentation of product that may never hit the shelves of Best Buy. I really hope it’s not so, ’cause I really want a WUSB mouse!