Gameloft has released Skater Nation, a new skateboarding game for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Rule your board in Skater Nation and experience skateboarding in a way no other iPhone or iPod touch game can offer!

A WORLD OF POSSIBILITES
Ride freely through an enormous 3D city and just have fun in the 9 different environments including beaches, residential areas and a skate park!

BE YOUR OWN SKATER
Pick from 8 different skaters, each with their own unique animations and style. Then make the board your own at the Skate Shop where you can purchase a selection of 10 different decks, trucks and wheels.

ALL THE RIGHT MOVES
Every location is jam packed with ramps, pipes and posts for you to perform your arsenal of tricks on. Show off your ollies, 360 flips, nose grabs and more! More than 30 tricks are available!

SHOW OFF YOUR GREATNESS
Ever perform the most amazing trick and wish somebody was there to see?
Save your replay and upload it to YouTube then dare your friends to do better.
Connect to Gameloft LIVE! and chat with your friends or show off your unlocked trophies.

LIVE BY THE BOARD
Enter the Career mode to discover challenges waiting for you throughout the city. Become part of a story that puts you in the middle of the skateboarding world.

You can purchase Skater Nation from the App Store for $6.99.

Order and activate up to five lines on Verizon Wireless on or before December 1, 2009, and Verizon Wireless will credit the $35 activation fee. Customers could save up to $135 by ordering Verizon Wireless service from FHTM!

• Customers will receive an automatic $35 credit from Verizon Wireless for each qualifying line of service activated on a new individual plan account.
• Customers will receive an automatic $30 credit from Verizon Wireless for each qualifying line of service activated on a new family plan account.
• When activating up to three additional lines on a new or existing family plan, customers will receive an automatic $25 credit from Verizon Wireless for each qualifying line of service.
• Verizon Wireless never charges activation fees when existing customers upgrade their services.

When your customers order up to five new or upgrade lines on AT&T between now and December 1, 2009, AT&T will credit the $36 activation fee. That’s a savings of up to $150!

• Customers will receive an automatic activation fee waiver credit from AT&T for up to $36 for each qualifying line of service activated on a new or upgraded 2-year individual or family plan account purchased through FHTM before December 1, 2009 at midnight.
• When activating or upgrading up to three additional lines on a new or existing family plan, customers will receive an automatic $26 credit from AT&T for each qualifying line of service acivated through FHTM before December 1, 2009 at midnight.

For phone information and to shop, please visit my website and click on the “Wireless Shop.”

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or call anytime.

Another day, another really bad ad from AT&T starring Luke Wilson. Here it is:

Ignoring the fact that iPhone users who have 3G capable phones are often stuck on EDGE which doesn’t support this feature as has been discussed here previously, this ad does nothing to counter what Verizon has said. That is, AT&T’s 3G coverage sucks. Until they address that, these ads will continue to be useless in terms of helping AT&T’s image.

“iFotoGuide” has released the first and only iPhone app & digital guide to on-location nature photography. It is available through the Apple App Store.

“iFotoGuide: Arches” is the first in a series of digital guides for the iPhone providing nature photographers with a comprehensive resource for planning every aspect of a photography trip.  Use “iFotoguide: Arches” to locate the nearest airport, find lodging and a rental car, and determine what weather to expect during your visit.  Users of “iFotoGuide: Arches” can learn about park entrance fees, permits, flora and fauna, safety considerations and best times to visit for fall colors or wildflower blooms. 

“iFotoGuide: Arches” goes beyond the ordinary photo guidebook by providing three innovative ways for iPhone users to find a dynamic location for photography.  An interactive park map allows users to zoom, pan and select photography locations by name.  Images in the photo gallery serve to inspire and are also interactive – one touch provides detailed instructions for getting to and photographing each location.  “iFotoGuide: Arches” even allows users to search for locations to photograph at sunrise, sunset or in mid-day light. 

Unlike guidebooks and newsletters which may be several years out of date, “iFotoGuide: Arches” is easily updated to ensure accurate and fresh content.  “iFotoGuide: Arches” sells for $4.99 in the Apple App Store.  Updates will include additional locations within Arches National Park and will be available at no cost to “iFotoGuide: Arches” users. 

Created by photographers for photographers “iFotoGuide: Arches” is designed to provide users with all the tools necessary for a successful and productive photo trip.  The developers of “iFotoGuide: Arches” are expanding park coverage, with Canyonlands and Yosemite National Parks available on iTunes in the first quarter of 2010.

 “iFotoGuide” was founded in 2009 by photographers Dan Baumbach and Bret Edge to provide the only digital photo guides available on the Apple iPhone.

iFotoGuide: Arches National Park is now available in the Apple App Store.

I have been reading online about the new Blackberry Bold 9700.

I’ll admit. I don’t need the phone right now. It’s a want. It’s new. It’s shiny, I’m a gadget geek.

So I thought I would see what an upgrade (early) would entail.

One thing I have learned is that you talk to one AT&T store you hear one thing, another store will tell you the opposite.

I went online and viewed the phone specs and then went to AT&T’s website. That confused me. I would find pages that told me I’d get the current promotional pricing and then it would quote me the full price.

Wednesday since I only worked a half day and the office was pretty much dead, I decided to call a store and see what I could find out.

I called the AT&T store on Military Hwy in Norfolk near Military Circle mall. The guy that answered the phone seemed to not want to answer my questions since I wasn’t a new line of service. Told me that because I wasn’t in the store he could not pull up the account information for my early upgrade date. However he said that since I was looking to upgrade before my April early upgrade date I could probably get $75 off the $299 price.

Since I sensed he really didn’t want to help me I figured I’d drive to the store that I purchased the iPhone from Wednesday evening and see what I could find.

I was VERY dissappinted. The salesman was a wet behind the ears jerk. I used to be in the cellular business. The technology is more digital now but the basics did not change. Helping people is how you build your base, not concentrating on a new line of service!

He said you have to stay in your contract for two years first. So I asked him why AT&T said I could upgrade in April then. He said oh, you know that date. Nothing I can do.

I said come on. I’ve paid for the iPhone 3x’s so far since I got it. That I was very upset that no insurance could be purchased by the phone. Also expressed my displeasure that I hear AT&T has a third party company providing insurance but I can’t get it because the phone is older than 60 days.

Then he started to go into a lecture that they could not give me early pricing because of the FCC. Told him I guess I could cancel this line and go to T-Mobile then since they have the same phone.

He then told me to contact customer service. He said that they sometimes would approve a purchase of the phone for $299 and a two year contract. If they did to just have them note my account.

I went outside and contacted customer service. Explained what I have been trying to do and what the little boy salesman told me.

The service rep said that’s strange. I can. Or tour account all ibwant but it’s up to that store manager to approve. I had it with that store. The service rep told me she could pull up a core store nearby that could help I lost confidence in her when she asked me what the abbrevation was for Virginia.

I decided to drive to the AT&T store at Hilltop and see what I could find there. Their signage said they were open to 8. However, when I got there ten minutes to 8 they had already closed.

So far I have found that these sales reps are only interested in helping you if you are starting a new line of service. Very poor customer service and uninformed sales people that told me twenty different things.

I’m weighing my options. I’ve paid my bill on time every month. Never had a need to deal with anyone in awhile.

I’ve been in sales and sales managment. What I’ve experienced was crap. I’d get rid of some of these people if I was in management and saw how they handle customers.

This is getting rediculous.

Now while I do enjoy a little mid slinging between big companies but this is just obnoxious. VZW really had some ego to go after AT&T in such a direct fashion by aiming at what many would consider AT&T’s most desired phone and the customers themselves.  Stranger still, it seems quite evident that Apple has no desire to even offer the iPhone on the VZW network since the recent ads equally denounce VZW’s network capabilities.  Granted, AT&T is absolutely one of my biggest – if not only – compliant about the iPhone.   However, there are several things that drew me away from VZW – even as an ex-employee.

Devices

It’s clear that the original iPhone changed the market and landscape for mobile phones. It had it’s serious draw backs (We are all well aware of them) but the core functions and features of the phone changed how phones were to be built from that moment on.

Behavior

While I was employed at Verizon Wireless, I was amazed at how arrogant their approach to dethrone the iPhone when it first came out.  They were extremely dismissive.  They would feed us stories of the new LG Chocolate being just as advanced as the iPhone.  Yes, a first generation LG Chocolate!  WTF?!

The continual behavior of ignoring the elephant in the room was something that got under my skin too.  I suppose they are just facing the music with their recent ads, but to do so in such a way that lowers yourself to a level like this is just beyond me.  I can see how the ads would be comical to an extent, but it’s just not affective to me.  That’s not to say that I am an AT&T or Apple fanboy.  Both of them have equally wacky behavior.  Again, I refer to the latest ads from Apple themselves.  I would say that Apple isn’t interested in having the iPhone on any other US network, period.

On the other hand…

VZW is like the aunt Sally that freaks you out with her hairy face moles and tattered robes but gives you $50 every time you come over.  I cannot deny that VZW’s voice service is far more reliable than that of EVERY other US carrier.  Their data speeds are sick – I long for the day that an EVDO-Rev A iPhone rests in my palm.  Yet, again, Apple points out one of the biggest flaws of VZW (other than bad commercials): their network doesn’t multi-task.  HA!  Sure the iPhone doesn’t allow background tasks, but neither does the VZW network!  Suck that Droid!

So what’s next?

Competition is great, it only benefits the customers.  But can we have some manners guys?  Getting your hands dirty in public just doesn’t make sense.  It’s like Jerry Springer just took over advertising at Apple AND VZW AND AT&T!

And where will this end?  Law suits are flying around, blogs like this little one are cluttering up our nets, and gritty commercials cloud our 5 minute breaks from ‘The Office’ already.   What’s left guys?  Creating an OS and delivering specialized content based on our current handset?  Better hurry, Googles beating you to the punch.

June 2010 is looking like the end of it all for the one company-show for the iPhone carriers in the United States. AT&T will most likely try to extend this contract but so far, not looking too good. With Verizon earlier this month wanting Apple to sign over the iPhone, looks like they may be in the running after all.

With Verizon’s reports not looking as good as they should, I’m sure they’d be in dire wanting for the iPhone.

Now, the big question is, will the networks be able to update and support the iPhone bandwidth and technology to incorporate it into their networks? AT&T already had issues supporting the MMS and other higher-volume data packets needed to send your pictures, movies, events and such over the air. Also, another thing that ties up alot of bandwidth is iTunes downloads. AT&T didn’t at first have a strong enough networks to support all this but recently with some big upgrades, they are able to, or in a better position to. But, will the others? Verizon has a very far stretched network across the US and has 3G coverage in most places. With some upgrades to a very large network, is it going to be very costly, I would predict yes. A major upgrade scheme would cost millions, almost billions. It may not be necessary though, It might only take a little tweaking and some SIM cards thrown in to be able to have the iPhone. So, I want to know, what do you guys think?

If this was a rap battle, AT&T’s commercials would be Jay’s “Super Ugly” and Verizon’s commercials would be Nas’ “Ether”. That’s right, Ether! AT&T just wave the white flag. This fight is OVER! KO! Done. You’re playing lightweight with Luke Wilson and those lame ass commercials and Verizon is bringing the pain. I’m embarrassed to even know you as my cellular provider *hangs head in shame*

Follow me: twitter.com/throatchopu

pMessenger

HomeScreen Shot of iPhone

I’ve consulted with my little crew of iPhone owners to see what apps are somewhat close to BBM (BlackBerryMessenger) and I’ve heard multiple different apps like:

MOYOTALK

WHATAPP

PING!

and a few others I think; however, none prove to be as good as the pMessenger app. You can customize your background, the color of your sent and incoming messages, the works.

If there was an app that Apple should push at as the iPhone’s BBM- then my friend, it should be pMessenger. There is no personal questions ask, like phone number email and such. You can also log onto facebook through the application to see what friends have the app, so you can add them faster.

This is an app, I strongly suggest one to get. Please leave a comment if you’d like my PIN ID!

=)

PS- look out for the holiday (black friday) sells on higher priced apps.

An unauthorized, unothodox, but concise history of mobile telecommunications.

Starting with the initial AM based systems of the twenties, to the technical breakthroughs of FM, SPC and the microprocessor all the way to the cellular concept, personal communications, Long Term Evolution and beyond.

Stay tuned for this piecemeal treatment of one of the most exciting and useful technologies that ever hit the planet.

What’s the one thing that you can’t make it through the day without? That you check to make sure you have with you before you head out the door? I bet for most of you, your cell phone fits this criteria.

Opera just released their State of the Mobile Web, October 2009, detailing statistics on their Opera Mini mobile browser use. I was a big fan of Opera back in the day, before Chrome. There’s a lot of insight in their report, but I want to focus on their claims to reducing monthly phone bills because their mobile browser  compresses data by 90%.

Let’s check this out–

“1. Based on per MB data costs and the amount of data transferred in each country, Opera Mini users in the top 10 countries save up to 782 million USD per month, or nearly 9.4 billion USD per year.
2. In October 2009, Opera Mini had over 39.6 million users, an 11.3% increase from September 2009 and more than 155% compared to October 2008. “

Simple math tells us that each user saves on average about $20/month. That’s extraordinary when you consider a monthly plan for the iPhone and it’s competing Safari browser comes out to about $80/month. Opera Mini saves users a full 25%.

This is of course, under the assumption that your data plan isn’t unlimited and you pay for bandwidth usage. Which makes the iPhone comparison moot since the plan is unlimited data. But still, it’s something to think about, especially in the rest of the world where the iPhone doesn’t dominate.

19/365.

With just one week and over 250,000 sales under its belt, one would think that Verizon Wireless executives would be breaking out the bubbly to celebrate the successful release of its much-anticipated competitor to AT&T’s iPhone, the Android 2.0. But, alas, a lawsuit filed by AT&T in an Atlanta Federal Court earlier this month has forced Verizon’s management team to forgo the Dom in favor of defense attorneys.

Droid creators carefully designed the device, anticipating several potential legal problems with other competing smartphones. For instance, one of the biggest criticisms of the new phone by techies thus far is its failure to include a pinch-to-zoom feature, which would enable a Droid user to shrink and expand the screen to her liking. The feature, however, was intentionally excluded from the Droid’s wide array of functions, as Apple has recently filed a patent application for its pinch-to-zoom technology on the iPhone.

The lawsuit that pits the two mobile service provider powerhouses AT&T and Verizon against each other involves a clever ad campaign launched by Verizon earlier this month: “There’s a Map for That.” AT&T claims that the maps published by Verizon in the commercials may confuse people, duping them into thinking that the white spaces on the maps represent areas where AT&T lacks coverage. Furthermore, AT&T alleges that the ads are causing the company an incalculable market share loss. In its complaint, AT&T requested a temporary restraining order that would force the ads to be pulled until the litigation is resolved.

The new Android 2.0

Verizon claims that the suit is meritless. In response to AT&T’s seemingly weak claim, Verizon filed a scathing, forty-four page response with the court, stating climactically that “AT&T did not file the lawsuit because Verizon’s ‘There’s a Map for That’ advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon’s ads are true and the truth hurts.”

It seems like AT&T has gotten its feathers ruffled not because the ad is deceptively wrong, but instead because the ad is deceptively right. AT&T’s real beef is that it failed to update its own 3G service in anticipation of the smartphone revolution, and it must now suffer the consequences of a poor business decision. From this tech-neophyte and iPhone devotee’s point of view, perhaps AT&T should stop whining that the smartphone underdog finally caught up in the tech race and start working on expanding its own 3G network.

– Lauren Sibyl Bair

Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, O2 and others face one and the same threat as mobile phones become more powerful, cheaper per unit produced, and wireless networks (EDGE, 2G, 3G, 4G) improving towards universal world-wide coverage. And the earthquake for existing businesses comes again from Google.

Apple (iPhone) said no to Google Voice, because they had a fiduciary responsibility towards its carrier who subsidises the iPhone 3G and 3GS at a huge price. Which they make up with pricey subscriptions. I use already Skype on Android when I call abroad or for longer calls in general. The threat (um, tsunami) for carriers is, that the Googlephone (GPhone) will handle its calls though 3G/2G as network and associated Google Voice only. The coming revolution that everything will go though the ‘Pipe’ in and out, should cause them having bad dreams.

For existing mobile phone carriers and their traditional business, counting calls by minutes, Google is a disruptor. And Google is moving fast. They (Google’s Eric Schmidt) said for years (publicly in interviews and speaking events) that the phone is the first device for people in developing countries, experiencing the internet (& Google). When a CEO is speaking so candidly about a thing, shouldn’t you pay attention? No, because according to the business textbooks, you should pay attention to big existing companies who are already competing in the same market as you. Verizon vs. AT&T vs. T-Mobile. Small companies can move quick and fast, but have it hard to gain traction. Guess what, Google is big and everywhere, but still moves considerably fast, is agile, and gets traction fast because it is everywhere. Now Google will use its operational size, employees smarts and brand name to come in as disruptor to the mobile phone business. What they need is just ONE carrier who give them access to their network only. Deal done for the coming revolution. I see especially China and India and other developing countries, who are building their cellular network, the most interesting target for Google, they could buy a stake into one of the many small phone carriers (compared to Verizon or AT&T) and support with quick and cheap cash the undergoing construction of networks, thus that their grand plan for the GooglePhone/GPhone can be realized. Carriers here in Europe or America won’t cannibalize their own business for sure. Google, again, is solving a customer problem with high impact. Something they are always aiming for when using their resources to develop products.

Second thought on this, my projection. In two to three years, when counting by minutes is dead, when counting by megabytes is norm (like now with the ‘internet’), Comcast and other broadband providers are competing for the same customers as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, O2 et cetera. When they realize they can’t compete against the trend. Broadband providers have the land-line infrastructure, what they just need are the radio towers to distribute the signal through the air. My word, they will compete for the same customer. When the US economy up-ticks (should) again, we will see some big provider doing M&A, they will throw in the word synergy to make it tasty for shareholders, and employees will lose their jobs as usual. Speaking on the phone, having a conversation on the phone – will move onto the ‘Pipe’, and there is nothing you can do about it. It’s Economics again, technology, cost and leverage.

For us the consumer, it becomes cheaper to communicate. Existing businesses and associated businesses will change eventually. Mobile phone manufacturers will be doing business like any other PC/Laptop manufacturer. Developing a compelling product consumers want to buy. Consumers then are free to choose which network they want to use. Over will be the days that we can have only an Apple phone when we are willing to join AT&T’s world as well. Over are the days of subsidies. Yes, we may have to pay $150-$300 for a brand new phone, but it will be your main communicator for the future on the road, a very powerful one. It is called convergence (see computing and technology).

————————

Further Readings:

• The New World of Wireless: How to Compete in the 4G Revolution
• Mobileopportunity Blog: The mobile data apocalypse, and what it means to you
• Video – Web 2.0 Expo 2007, Eric Schmidt talking about the mobil space

So, as my friends know, I’m pretty much unhealthily obsessed with having whatever BlackBerry is new on the market.

Over this past week, the 9700 finally became available, and I took advantage of my premier status on AT&T to get one.

Judging from the press on the device, this is supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread and peanut butter. What I’m finding so far?

The trackpad really IS the greatest thing since sliced bread, but outside of that, for my purposes-99% email and listening to music in the nail salon, its no faster than my Tour. I guess the super fast processor is for some other features I’ll never use, but it’s nice to know they’re there.

I love the keyboard. While it’s smaller than the original Bold and the Tour, it has a very similar form factor, and I was typing error free within the first five minutes of using it.

It’s SMALL. Unlike it’s fat auntie, the original Bold, or it’s chunky cousin, the Tour. However, it still feels sturdy, and has a good grip in the hand. See the size comparison for the Tour and Bold 2 below:

If you had the old Bold-you will definitely love the camera. It’s the same one that came on the 8900 and the Tour, and it is marvelous. No more blurry shots of Mo Rivera in the Airport, or seeing Michael Kay as a spec in the broadcast booth. No friends, this camera takes REAL photos.

It also runs on OS 5.0.0.296, which is pretty similar to my Tour’s .230-except almost everything works.

The battery life is ridiculous. Wow. After it took me two days to run the battery down to zero, I am just going to put it on the charger tonight for the second time. It is so much better than the Bold, the Tour, or the 8900.

I got rid of most of my themes and have been using mostly 5.0 themes and themes built specifically for the 9700. So far so good. What do I like most about this device? Well, because I’m crazy, the white letters and numbers on the keys make me happier than the red from my Tour and T-Mobile 8900 keys. I can use pink wallpapers and not feel nauseous.

I’m hoping I don’t drop it before all the good cases come out. This is probably the most aesthetically pleasing Berry released to date.

I’ve ordered a Coveroo and will be using the holster that came in the box. Here’s hoping the good cases I’ve come to love will soon be made to fit the Bold.

If you’re in the market for a new BlackBerry and you use AT&T or T-Mobile, do yourself a favor, and get your hands on the Bold. You won’t regret it.

As I mentioned yesterday, there are two new iPhone ads that center around talking on the phone while running apps, checking e-mail, or surfing the net. That sounds great right?

Except that it may not be true.

The problem lies in the fact that you need 3G coverage to do all of that. Many iPhone customers on the AT&T network who have 3G capable iPhones are often running on the slower EDGE network rather than their 3G network and EDGE isn’t capable of simultaneous voice and data access. If by some miracle they get 3G on their iPhone, the chances of it working are suspect at best. So the ads may not be true and I’m just waiting for someone to file the lawsuit against Apple over these ads. After all, lawsuits in the mobile phone industry seems to be the in thing at the moment.

Ok, you know the beginning. Verizon goes after AT&T, saying that AT&T’s 3G network is bad, and makes commercials about it. AT&T gets mad and tries to sue Big V, but fails. AT&T then attempts to fight back and makes their own ads…and to tell the truth, AT&T’s ads suck. Soon after, Apple makes iPhone ads that say “Can your phone and network do that?” or something like that at the end of them.

This time around, Sprint is saying that they have the most reliable 3G network, and Verizon got a taste of their own medicine. Verizon is trying to sue Sprint, and I’ll have more on that, next time.

Verizon “Map For That” ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZPjJI0K7Bk
Verizon “Misfit Toys” ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JgrBtn8XdU
AT&T “Side by Side” ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3PbBmElObI
Apple “Did you see my email?” ad: http://vimeo.com/7777019
Apple “What time’s the movie?” ad: http://vimeo.com/7777115
Sprint “Now Network: What’s Happening” ad: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=6wfo2ykakW4

Just copy and paste the links into your address bar.

Wow, talk about digging deep in the memory bank. The same phone that we spotted way back in July (known then as the iPAQ K3 Obsidian) has finally emerged in official fashion on AT&T. Dubbed the iPAQ Glisten, this all-business smartphone boasts a vanilla coat of Windows Mobile 6.5, a 2.5-inch AMOLED display, 3.1 megapixel camera, 256MB of SDRAM, a microSD expansion slot, A-GPS, 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, a QWERTY keyboard, 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. ‘Course, you’ll still be dealing with a resistive screen and a dated OS, but if you’re turned on in some weird way, it’ll be “available in the coming weeks” for $179.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and 2-year agreement.

I stream data. I stream it a whole bunch.
One of the very best apps I’ve encountered is called Internet radiobox. I actually listen for hours anday while driving or doing chores to streaming audio.

So when this happens it is frustrating:

The issue is that you must have a consistant connection to stream. This happens all the time though. From that screenshot you can see that the iPhone has a full connection to the 3g network and still no way to get an ip address and stay online.

Fun stuff.
DO YOU HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE? BE SURE TO COMMENT!

In recent weeks, Verizon has been running a series of commercials which emphasize that its 3G network is significantly larger than AT&T’s. AT&T has issued a statement that defends its wireless data options, and points out that there’s more involved than just 3G.

With the holiday shopping season looming, Verizon is trying to draw in customers with TV ads that point out one of its greatest strengths, its mobile broadband network. Commercials like “There’s a Map for That” and “Misfit Toys” show maps comparing its 3G coverage area to its largest rival’s, with Verizon’s being visibly much larger.

AT&T has responded by pointing out that its 3G service covers 233 million people or 75% of the U.S. population. It does so by concentrating on heavily populated areas.

This carrier also points that out it has an extensive 2.5G network using the EDGE standard. This is available to 301 million people, or more than 96% of the population. EDGE is slower than 3G, but it allows users to check their e-mail and access the Web.

AT&T also claims its 3G network is faster than Verizon’s, and has another advantage, too: it lets users talk and surf the web or send e-mail simultaneously.

This company has gone beyond issuing statements; it has filed a lawsuit over Verizon’s ads, claiming that they are misleading potential customers because they might think that it’s a coverage map for its voice service, too.

Other Advantages
AT&T’s statement talks about more than just networks. It also asserts that this carrier has other advantages, many of which can be summed up as “We have the iPhone, and you don’t”.

Apple’s very successful device has given AT&T twice as many smartphone customers as Verizon. It also lets this carrier tout the large number of third-party applications available for its phones.

AT&T is the exclusive provider of the iPhone, but Verizon has introduced a model it thinks can rival it, the Motorola Droid. This Android-based device offers several features the iPhone doesn’t, like a hardware keyboard, a much higher-resolution display and, of course, access to the largest 3G network in the U.S.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is here, and I can say that I haven’t been this excited for a BlackBerry since, well, the Bold 9000.

The new 9700 slims down the overall package size while maintaining the same great feature set, including Wi-Fi and 3G. Most importantly it sports a track pad rather than a trackball. This latest offering also boasts the 5.0 operating system. RIM hit its mark with the 9700, and it promises to impress.

T-Mobile users will be delighted with the Bold2 as their first 3G BlackBerry, and AT&T users will welcome it as a worthy successor to a proven device. Both these carriers are going to introduce this model later this month for $200 with two-year contract, and it’s already available in Europe.

I’ve only had this device for a short time, so I’m just giving my first impressions now; a more complete review will be available in short order.
BUILD & DESIGN

The Bold 9700 is smaller than its predecessor in every way — thinner, shorter, and not as wide, although they weigh about the same and use the same huge battery. The 9700 even feels a little smaller than the BlackBerry Tour. Despite its smaller size, it doesn’t make too many concessions in terms of usability.

What’s best is that it just feels solid. There isn’t play in the keyboard, and the battery compartment feels snug.

Screen
The HVGA display is still sharp, though not as big as its predecessor’s. Its rich resolution somewhat compensates for its smaller screen size while browsing — a topic I’ll cover more in depth in the upcoming full review.

The display is stellar, but it seems less bright than the 9000. The 9000’s screen is comfortably viewed in almost all lighting conditions at 10%, with the 9700 I’ve had to kick it up to 100% brightness.

Keyboard and Buttons
I loved the rubberized keys on the original Bold, and although they’re slightly smaller on the 9700, they are still easy to use and accurate.  I did notice that the keyboard seems to concave inward slightly near the center of the keypad.

A major improvement in this device is the more appropriately sized function keys: talk, menu, return, end.

One of the defining features of the Bold2 is its track pad. This one feels more comfortable and more responsive than that of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 that I recently reviewed.

The Bold 9700 adopts the now standard rocker key atop of the phone — lock on one side, mute/standby on the other.

Appearance
The styling has been reworked as well in the newest offering. Just a year ago the Bold impressed with its chrome accents and black finish. The 9700 pares down the glitz and is understated. The chrome convenience keys have been replaced with a rubberized black finish, the chrome is more subdued, and there is less of it. All welcome additions in my opinion.

The Bold 9700 offers the same touch of faux-leather on the back, but it covers only a small portion of the back cover; here I think the 9000 has the leg up.

PERFORMANCE

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 has solid performance with no notable glitches or falters during my initial testing. Menu transitions are smooth, navigation with the track pad is nearly seamless. Messaging and call quality has been consistently good so far.

OS and Software
The Bold2 comes with a standard set of software applications with no notable departures over other models. This includes BlackBerry Maps (likely T-Mobile only), DataViz Documents To Go office suite, instant messaging clients T-Mobile My Account, and some games (BrickBreaker, World Mole, Texas Hold’Em, Sudoku, and Klondike). Notably absent from the default software is BlackBerry App World, BlackBerry’s answer to Apple’s App Store.

The this model also offers Visual Voicemail as standard. Though it will not transcribe voicemail, it will tell you who called and the length of message.

The BlackBerry OS 5.0 software (v 5.0.0.330) performs reliably and offers many upgrades over previous versions.

Wireless
The Bold 9700 is the first BlackBerry from T-Mobile with 3G mobile broadband. Thanks to 3G, wireless coverage does seem improved in my test area, where previously T-Mobile coverage has fallen short.

Like other devices from this carrier, the Bold 9700 offers calling over Wi-Fi networks. This continues to work well, though I have noticed dropped calls when switching from UMA to wireless, and there is notable call quality degradation on stressed Wi-Fi networks.

Camera
The Bold2’s camera is vastly improved, though it’s only ‘on par’ with its contemporaries such as the Storm and Tour. The 3.2 megapixel camera sports flash and video recording (the Bold 9000 only had a 2.0 megapixel camera), and the camera offers auto-focus as well.

Annoyingly however, the camera can only be auto focused by using the right side convenience key. I’ve had bad luck in the past with convenience keys that have stopped responding over time, and if that’s the case the auto-focus feature will be for naught.
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSION

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 will be the RIM’s standard bearer for some time to come. After a disappointing offering with the BlackBerry Storm2, it’s reassuring to see such a solid performer.

It’s smaller, better looking, has a great track pad, and feels more solid than its predecessor. Initially there doesn’t seem to be much that it is missing. Indeed it seems that of all the ‘Berries in the store, this is the one I’d have.

Although T-Mobile USA has promised to release the BlackBerry Bold 9700 in the near future, it hasn’t revealed what it plans to charge for this upcoming smartphone. That hasn’t stopped this information from leaking out, however.

According to an unconfirmed report, this carrier is going to ask $200 for this smartphone with a two-year contract. Those who don’t want to sign up for a T-Mobile contract will have lower monthly service payments, but will have to pay more for this device: $450. An installment plan will also be an option: $22.50 per month for 20 months.

UPDATE: These prices have been confirmed.

This carrier also hasn’t given a specific date for the release of its version of this BlackBerry. Leaked information says that this will be Nov. 16.

An Overview of the BlackBerry Bold 9700
The Bold2 will have the same general design as its predecessor, including a QWERTY keyboard, but with a new look. It will be smaller than the original, and also have a slightly smaller screen, but at the same HVGA resolution. In place of a trackball will be an optical trackpad.

It is going to run BlackBerry OS 5.0 on a 624 MHz processor, and will have RIM’s standard suite of productivity and entertainment software.

This phone will include a microSD card slot, and be bundled with a 2 GB memory card for storing music, video, and other files.It will also include a 3.2 MPx camera, a GPS receiver and a 3.5 mm headset jack.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 will be a quad-band GSM phone, with tri-band UMTS/HSDPA. Naturally, the T-Mobile version will support this carrier’s unique 3G frequency.  It will also have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Coming to AT&T, Too
AT&T has also announced plans to release its own version the Bold2 later this month.

This carrier will also ask $200 for it, with a two-year voice and data plan and a $100 mail-in-rebate.