Today, Blackberry and AT&T announced the new BB Torch.  You can check out the specs here.  The biggest part of this announcement has to do with the release of Blackberry OS 6.  The new OS really focuses on enhancing the social aspect of smartphones.  It talks about improved internet experience, integrated messaging, and a social experience to merge twitter, facebook, and myspace into one view.  Now this is a pretty different shift in focus from Blackberry’s all business approach.  When I think of ‘Crackberries’, it is all about e-mail, e-mail, e-mail.  Our sales and customer support departments have their eyes glued to them at all times.  This is obvious a push by BB to compete with the iPhone and Android.

Personally, I feel like BB is a bit behind, and I don’t know if this change will really cause a big uptick in sales for them.  Of all the users I know on the business side, I would say about 75% of them could care less about social networks and barely use facebook and twitter.  Plus, I doubt any iPhone or Android users are going to want to switch unless there is some revolutionary aspect to this OS.

So, what do you think?  Is Blackberry on the right track to catch the iPhone and Android?  Will this backfire, and find that they have ignored their key users?

Want lightning fast speeds from just about anywhere? Now Sprint is making that easier than ever with the new Sierra Wireless 250U, their latest USB modem to achieve full 4G speeds. I have experienced 4G with my t Overdrive, it is is faster than fast. Those of you who need a modem, but do not need a full wireless hotspot will certainly want to check out this latest offering from Sprint. At the least, keep reading for the full press release.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., and VANCOUVER, British Columbia – June 22, 2010 – Sprint (NYSE: S) and Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR; TSX: SW) today announced the availability of Sprint 3G/4G USB 250U mobile broadband modem from Sierra Wireless, bringing customers lightning fast speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G1 in any of the 33 Sprint 4G markets and dependable 3G speeds virtually everywhere else. Whether customers are streaming Hulu live, surfing the Internet or downloading huge files, they
will appreciate its compact size, round design, and 180-degree rotating hinge, which can accommodate both horizontal and vertical USB ports and provide an ideal fit for virtually any laptop.

Sprint 3G/4G USB 250U is available now through Business Direct and Business Solutions Partners followed by full channel availability by mid-July. Customers can purchase Sprint 3G/4G USB 250U from Sprint for free (excluding taxes) after a $50 mail-in-rebate, a $49.99 instant savings and with a two-year service agreement on a new line activation or eligible upgrade. Sprint’s 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Connection plan is priced at $59.99 per month for unlimited use on the Sprint 4G Network and 5 GB of data on the Sprint 3G Network (price plans exclude surcharges and taxes).2

“Sprint continues to lead the 4G revolution and is proud to expand its growing portfolio of devices with the addition of 3G/4G USB 250U from Sierra Wireless,” said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development for Sprint. “Consumers, businesses and industries such as construction, government, healthcare and transportation will be able to extend their Internet experience beyond the home and office and benefit from the constant connectivity and real-time access at lightning fast speeds.”

Sprint 3G/4G USB 250U supports Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, Windows XP and Mac OS®. Customers will appreciate its integrated GPS capability, which provides location, navigation and mapping solutions when connected to the Sprint 3G network. It is Sprint’s first USB modem with dual external antenna ports, and it is equipped with separate LED displays that make it easy for a user to know whether they are connected to Sprint’s 3G or 4G network. This unique, dual-mode device delivers faster speeds that can help businesses move ahead with their business goals – such as improved customer satisfaction, increased productivity and increased revenue.

“Following on the success of Overdrive™ 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, we are extremely pleased to offer Sprint customers a unique new 3G/4G device, combining the speed of 4G with the reliable coverage of Sprint’s 3G network,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president-Operator and Distributor Sales for Sierra Wireless. “The Sprint 3G/4G USB 250U mobile broadband modem from Sierra Wireless is made for road warriors, providing flexibility, high quality and top-notch performance.”

Sprint is the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology. Sprint 4G is currently available in 33 markets, covers 50 million people and is expected to cover up to 120 million people by the end of 2010. Sprint 4G is available today in Georgia – Atlanta, Milledgeville; Hawaii – Honolulu, Maui; Idaho – Boise; Illinois – Chicago; Maryland – Baltimore; Missouri – Kansas City; Nevada – Las Vegas; North Carolina – Charlotte, Greensboro (along with High Point and Winston-Salem), Raleigh (along with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham); Oregon – Portland, Salem; Pennsylvania – Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading, York; Texas – Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, Wichita Falls; and Washington – Bellingham, Seattle. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

In 2010, Sprint expects to launch 4G service in multiple markets, including Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

AT&T, recently in the news for changing data plan rates in order to hopefully curtail massive data consumption of iPhone and iPad users, also made waves due to a security flaw that caused over 100,000 iPad 3G customers to have their email address’ leaked.  While it’s not like an email address is highly sensitive, or really all that hard to obtain, many people were quite mad about this, perhaps mostly based on principle.

In an effort to save face among customers, AT&T recently sent an apology in the form of a letter to customers, attempting to explain the issue.  You can read the full text of the letter below.

What are your thoughts?

[via intoMobile]

In what looks like to be the early onset of a trend in cell phone service, UK cellular service provider O2 is slashing their data consumption from unlimited to capped.  Plans, as illustrated in the table above, range from 500 MB of data through 1 GB.

While AT&T is the sole carrier for the iPhone in the US, O2 shares a similar status with the phone in England.  They will be launching the iPhone 4 on June 24th.

Where do you see this going?  Could only carriers providing service to the iPhone be that concerned about massive consumer data consumption or is this a trend that is going to creep over into CDMA and non iPhone carrying GSM areas?

[via pda-247.com]

Question of the Day:  Would you buy a phone, just to use it as a handheld?

This afternoon my wife and daughter visited a nearby craft store and while waiting on them, I visited the neighboring Radio Shack.  While only about 40 miles from my home, the store carries cell providers Sprint and T-Mobile… both are non-existent in my area.  Suffice to say, it was the first time I had seen an HTC HD2 in person.  Impressed and salivating, I left the store.  I couldn’t switch to T-Mobile.  I can’t move to an area with coverage just for a phone (or could I?).  What I could do, however, is buy a phone without entering contract just to use it as perhaps the most impressive Windows Mobile device to date.  Crazy, perhaps?!  Did I?  No.  But I wanted to.