AT&T has begun to offer a new SIM-only service via their online store. For $5 ($10, minus a $5 online discount), new customers are able purchase a SIM card on the AT&T network, without receiving a new handset. It appears you are then free to use the SIM card with unlocked handsets and AT&T locked cellphones. Unfortunately, the two year contract still stands, with the exception of the pre-paid options. It is a nice touch, for that we salute you, AT&T. However, it is possible to get a shitty new phone for free with a two year contract, and then prostitute your SIM card around as you please. So, you know, it is a positive symbolic move at best, but we're still wanting more freeness. [AT&T via BGR]
From AT&T's SIM-Only Option Loosens the Shackles [Cellular Networks]
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Tao Ma is at it again, cranking out another great phone concept. The new design, the LED Cellphone, incorporates hundreds of LEDs, all of which are used to create the cellphone's striking UI. Check out the gallery below to see a cellphone your plastic white MacBook would fall head over heels for. Depending on the function that is required, certain LEDs will illuminate, whilst others are switched off. This only gives rise to basic patterns, so you would not be sending any MMS messages using this phone, but the styling certainly earns it plus points. The device would be powered by two AAA batteries, which could be recharged by the chic USB dock. The LED Cellphone reminds us of O2's Cocoon, and as that has already made it to the production line, we know this concept would not pose too many obstacles to a manufacturer. We can hear our slut Macbook making adulterous noises right now'"it would trade its iPhone partner for a pretty bimbo without a second thought. Macbook, you should be ashamed. [Gizmo Watch]
Just when you thought the iPhone's Giz-induced alternative monicker, the jesusPhone, was about to fade into obscurity, a Texas church has seen reason to bring it back. The Colleyville establishment has plastered a massive sign on one of its walls that is mightily reminiscent of the iPhone, with some rather interesting apps icons (anyone want to play Soldier with me?) There's a bigger pic after the jump. 
However, at the risk of sounding like a pedantic little trollop, surely that should read iDentity, rather than identity? [Dark7]
We previously brought you bad news concerning the specifications of the lust-worthy BlackBerry 9000 (a.k.a 9100.) Well, according to BGR, RIM has just changed the details of the device, which is now set to include UMTS and HSDPA. As if that was not good news enough, there is another interesting piece of new information. The OS is set for a complete upgrade to version 5.0. It is not clear when this will occur, but the chaps at BGR seem to think the 9000 will ship with the standard version 4.3.2, with the upgrade to follow by the end of the year. As to what new features will be implemented, that is anybody's guess, but it is promising news nonetheless. The hotly anticipated BlacBerry 9000 is likely to be launched at this year's Wireless Enterprise Symposium, and we just cannot wait. [BGR]
The Financial Times reports that UK sales of the Apple iPhone weren't quite up to par, selling 190,000 phones against a target of 200,000 in the first two months. Some analysts even projected sales in the range of 350,000-400,000. Many cite the high price of the phone, saying the average phone is free and the average plan is under 30. In the UK the iPhone goes for 269 and the plan is 899 over 18 months. In U.S. Dollars thats $529 for the phone and $98/month for the plan. Ouch. [Financial Times via The Inquirer]
DirecTV's rolling out its cellphone-enabled mobile DVR scheduling for its HR20-700 units. This means that you can hop on your cellphone and queue up American Idol (just about the only new show on right now) to watch when you get home. Other DirecTV models will follow in February. Hit the jump for a list of compatible phones. [dbstalk] * Apple - iPhone * RIM Blackberry 8100 (Pearl), 7290, 8700c, 8820, 8300 (Curve) * LG VX 8300 * Motorola KRAZR K1 M, i850, RAZR V3, SLVR L7, v360, v365, RAZR V3x, ROKR L6W * Nokia 2610, 6103, 6133, 6315i, 5300, 6102/6102i, 2660, 6086, 6126, 6300, N95 * Palm Treo 680, Treo 700p * Samsung U740, a707, a870, a920, Blackjack * Sanyo Katana SCP-6600, MM 7500 * Sony Ericsson W300i, W810i, z525a, K550i, Z500 * ...and any phone with Internet Explorer or Opera.
Toshiba's new G450 USB HSDPA is designed to primarily function as a USB HSDPA modem for data on-the-go, but in a surprise combo double-attack move it also doubles as a handy cellphone. With its unconventional keypad and 96 x 36 pixel OLED display you're unlikely to want to use it as your main phone, but you never know, it may come in handy. It does give you tri-band EDGE/GSM, 2100 MHz HSDPA and 300 hours standby time, with 3 hours talk time and three colors for around $290 in Europe. [Unwiredview]
Pizza Hut, ever expanding both waistlines and accessibility to their greasy goodness, has launched a new mobile ordering service allowing users to text message 4 pizza. Apparently online pizza orders have really taken off, accounting for 20 percent of total sales (that stat is either from Pizza Hut or Papa John's, we couldn't discern from the copy) and texting could account for another huge percentage as well. I realized I was getting old when not so long ago I ordered a pizza via the web for the first time and waited nervously for it to come. It reminded me of tales from Amazon's launch, when customers didn't trust entering their credit cards into their computers...so they instead told the numbers to strangers at Amazon call centers who would write the digits on loose leaf. [reuters/I4U]
Here's some good news for those of you who want an iPhone but have sold your soul to the corporate overlords: AT&T is said to be announcing iPhone compatibility to corporate and business accounts on January 21st. The "business iPhone" is the same as the regular iPhone, but it has a slightly different pricing setup for its plan and is eligible for a $25 per month corporate discount. Holy shit, that's amazing!!!
You already know the main features of iPhone 1.1.3 from our hands-on and from the keynote, but there are a few interesting tweaks that got lost in all the other Apple coverage. ' The SMS storage has been upped from 1,000 to 75,000, which means you probably won't need to ever clear a conversation unless you really enjoy texting. ' The keyboard now allows two-finger typing, so holding shift + a key lets you type caps. ' Gmail on the phone automatically defaults to IMAP, which means deleting messages on your phone affects stuff server-side. ' Various bugs hit on Bluetooth and email checks, but workarounds have been found. [iPhone Atlas] [TUAW]
We're not sure if this HTC Pharos 3470 Windows Mobile Smartphone will actually be called the Pharos when it launches'"especially since it gets people confused with Pharos, who also make GPS Windows Mobile smartphones'"but this spy shot looks interesting. The phone has a 200MHz OMAP processor, 128MB RAM, 2.8-inch QVGA display, Bluetooth 2.0, and GPS. What it supposedly doesn't have, oddly enough, is 3G or Wi-Fi; two things that HTC phones usually throw in standard. It does have the HTC Touch's TouchFLO interface, which means to us that there's no keyboard underneath. [Pcdebolso via Uber Gizmo]
The previously NYC and Santa Monica-only Helio Mysto has finally expanded to a nationwide release, meaning you can grab one online or at your local meatspace Helio store. Here's one bit of info we haven't mentioned before: the Mysto's web browser is "location aware," meaning you can have location data for certain web-based applications. Neat stuff. [Helio]
Word on the street is that Samsung is developing the i900 '" a Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional device complete with a touchscreen. However, unlike the F490, the i900 is expected to feature a full-fledged touchscreen that could include iPhone-esque gesture controls. The rumor also claims that the i900 will include high-speed data via UTMS and HSDPA 7.2 mbps as well as quad-band GSM, Bluetooth 2.0, a 5 megapixel camera, FM radio, 8GB of internal memory, and microSD expansion. Again, these kinds of rumors are a dime a dozen, so take it with a grain of salt. [kataweb via Slashphone]
I know I'm a geek because I'm almost as giddy for this as I am for MacWorld: The rules and bidders (214 of 'em) for 700Mhz spectrum auction, which starts on Jan. 24, have been finalized. No surprises here'"the heavies like AT&T, Verizon and Google have their shit in order and the C block fireworks look good to go. [Ars]