Just another WordPress weblog

Yesterday, we talked about the current 3G iPhone shortage. It seems that most Apple and AT&T stores are down to their last few models, or else are completely sold out. Good for Apple, bad for anyone who wanted to wait it out and get one after the lines had cleared. On their earnings call, they addressed the issue, saying that “demand has been staggering,” and also noting that the U.S. is the only country in which it miscalculated demand. The company plans to release the device in 20 more countries on August 22. Does that mean that they’ll have a replenishment for the U.S. supply at that point? Only they know, I suppose.

Read the rest of Mobile Notes: Social networking, Subway cellular, iPhone shortage, Verizon…

So, as the headline reads, It’s a cell phone, not a YELL phone. Why is this significant? Because apparently this is Cell Phone Courtesy Month. Not only that, but this is the seventh such occasion. Who knew? U.S Cellular hands out some tips, including the always-helpful “no need to shout.” Seriously. Your cell phone has an amplifier in the microphone. If you hold the phone correctly, the other party will be able to hear you. And, most importantly, the people around you will not.

Read the rest of Mobile Notes: MMS leaks, Radiation, Bluetooth mirror, iPhone supply…

We’ll lead with the Bluetooth story today, since we were just talking about it the other day. It seems lots of people are getting ticketed for using their handsets while driving, a law passed in more than a few states right now. Aliph, makers of the Jawbone, have figured out a way to capitalize on this. Those busted now have the opportunity to get a $20 discount on the Jawbone headset. What’s great is that when you enter your ticker number on the Jawbone website, well, there’s no way they can cross-reference that. So just enter a six- or 10-digit alphanumeric code, and you’re in. The only problem is that that only brings the price down from $130 to $110. Still, $20 is $20.

Read the rest of Mobile Notes: Chaperone, Bluetooth, Google, Mobile ads…

Next time you’re buying a new handset from an independent retailer, you might want to make sure that it’s truly new. Out in California an independent retailer, CommClub, is facing charges because they were selling used Nokia phones as new. The strangest part, though, is that both Nokia and AT&T are named as defendants as well. I wouldn’t think it likely that either had a hand in this scheme. When you consider the difference in price between a used and new phone, plus punitive damages, CommClub figures to be in a heap of trouble.

Read the rest of Mobil Notes: AT&T, Nokia, Bluetooth umbrella, In-flight calling…

Yesterday, we heard that mobile phone sales will slow this year. Well, you can’t grow forever, right? And with the global economy not having its best days, this is pretty expected. Now, though, ABI Research is saying that sales will pick up in the second half, and bring 2008 sales back to a respectable level. So which is it? For what it’s worth, the ABI report claims that growth likely won’t hit the “near 20% increase the worldwide market has seen in recent years.” So now this all sounds like semantics.

Read the rest of Mobile Notes: Phone market, Roaming, SMS, iPhone…

When I bought a new phone back in January, my girlfriend made me get a Bluetooth. After all, the laws in my state ban handsets while driving. She, working at a cell phone store, insisted that she pair my Bluetooth, because she doesn’t “want to sit on the phone with you and walk you through it.” My pride kicked in at that point, and I snatched the Bluetooth from her claws. I’m no tech dolt; I can do it myself. She bet me dinner on it. Within 30 seconds of opening the instruction book, I had the Bluetooth paired, and that’s no exaggeration. Sweetest meal I’ve ever tasted. Apparently, though, some people can’t pair their Bluetooth. Best Buy is charging $10 for this service. Just another way consumers get screwed at Best Buy.

Read the rest of Mobile Notes: Recycling, Bluetooth, iPhone, T-Mobile…

We know it’s terrible to drink and drive. We also have been learning that it’s not exactly safe to be using your mobile phone, especially without a hands-free device, while driving. So it stands to reason that you clearly shouldn’t be doing both. One woman from the UK did. After drinking too much and while talking on her phone, the woman struck another vehicle. Its driver later died of the injuries. We send our condolences to Melanie Simon Lee’s family. We also urge everyone who reads this to A) never drink and drive, because that’s just stupid, and B) invest in a Bluetooth. You still might be distracted while driving, but it cuts down a ton from pressing a handset up to your ear.

Read the rest of Mobile Notes: Verizon Open, White Spaces, Hotspot @Home…

As I said on our sister site, there’s not a ton coming our way in terms of cell phone news today. No one wants to make an announcement that will be drowned by the iPhone craze. So we’re going with a very abbreviated version of mobile notes. There’s only one note on the iPhone, though you can find plenty of information here and here. Now, onto today’s link list.

Read the rest of Mobile Notes: iPhone, texting champ, Sony Ericsson…

Oh, that Samsung Instinct. Sprint touted it as an iPhone alternative for its customers. And it ran all sorts of new-fangled promotions to get the word out. To an extent, it worked, as it became Sprint’s fastest selling cell phone ever. Pretty neat. Now, it hits another milestone, becoming Best Buy’s best-selling handset in the past two years. So it seems that people are deeming this a decent alternative. Don’t tell that to Apple fanboys, though. They’ll just thumb their nose at you.

Read the rest of Mobile Notes: LG Dare, iPhone activation, Samsung Instinct…

It appears the Senate today will pass a bill regarding the ability of government to eavesdrop on your phone conversations and emails. It supposedly provides protections for American communications picked up while spying on the real bad guys, though little detail is given in this crappy AP article. Basically, telecoms get immunity for whatever they did to aid the government, and the government gets to keep using telecoms to wiretap without a warrant. Same old, same old.

Read the rest of Mobile Notes: Government tapping, iPhone unboxing, Alltel, Verizon…