verizon

HTC Touch Pro and Samsung Saga rumored for Verizon

With the HTC Touch Pro/HTC Fuze now at Sprint and AT&T, only two major carriers remain to get the Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone: Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile. For Verizon, that day might be November 24.

According to Engadget Mobile, the smartphone will be available for purchase via phone sales on November 24, while in-store availability will begin December 1. Verizon's Touch Pro is said to be priced at $349.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates and discounts, and though it's hard to tell from the blurry image, the feature set looks comparable … Read more

EIC Squared: Retail woes, Obama's CTO, and Microsoft's search future

On this week's EIC Squared podcast, ZDNet's Larry Dignan and I talk about the tanking economy, the challenges facing an Obama administration CTO, and Microsoft's search quests with Verizon Wireless and Yahoo.

The holiday shopping season is looking grim as Circuit City files for bankruptcy and Best Buy lowers its forecast for its fiscal year. When will it ever end?

President-elect Obama has called for a national CTO. Given the complexity of technology infrastructure, the abundance of projects, the squeeze on budgets, and policy controversies, this will be an extremely challenging position.

We also discuss Microsoft's … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 851: Boxcar Jack is looking for you at HoboBook.com!

Social networking finally reaches its most underserved niche: the hobos. Look for Tom to officially join the Hobo Nation any day now. In other news of the day, Caroline McCarthy joins us for a rollicking discussion of The Washington Post's war on spam, and Molly most likely gets herself fired from CBS and kicked off TWiT in one fell swoop. So, learn to love Caroline. She might be sticking around.

Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 851

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 makes date with U.S.: Black Friday for $799.99 http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/12/sony-ericsson-xperia-x1-makes-date-with-us-black-friday-for-79/… Read more

Microsoft said closer to Verizon search deal

Microsoft is getting closer to a deal to become the default search provider for Verizon Wireless, according to a report Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal that cited people close to negotiations.

Microsoft would share ad revenue with Verizon under terms being considered, with guaranteed payments to the wireless carrier of $550 million to $650 million over five years, or twice what is Google was offering, according to people familiar with the deal. Microsoft is also reportedly negotiating to put its Windows Mobile operating system on more Verizon devices. The combined deals are valued at $1 billion.

Reports that Microsoft … Read more

Verizon to offer mobile app for Disney vacationers

Verizon Wireless and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are teaming up to create a new mobile application to help families plan their trips and get the most out of their Disney vacations.

With more than 90 percent of its guests walking through the gates with mobile phones, Disney Parks and Resorts executives see cell phones as a perfect way to connect with their customers.

On Wednesday, Disney will announce it has entered into an exclusive multi-year agreement with Verizon Wireless. The two companies will develop an application, which will be hosted by Verizon. Also as part of the deal, Verizon … Read more

Microsoft looking to pull end-around on Google?

Google, which reportedly has been talking with Verizon about making its search engine the default on most Verizon phones, better close the deal soon--and get it in writing. That's because The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft is attempting to pry the deal away.

"Microsoft has gotten the mobile carrier's attention by offering a sweeter deal to put its search service and related advertising on Verizon phones. Microsoft is also offering more generous revenue sharing and a guarantee of substantially higher payments to Verizon, say people familiar with the matter."

"Google has been in … Read more

Report: Microsoft wants Google's Verizon deal

Microsoft is working to hijack Verizon Wireless' search deal from rival Google, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The software giant is counting on Google's recent regulatory distraction in offering more generous revenue sharing and higher payments, the newspaper reported late Thursday.

Google has reportedly been courting the No. 2 wireless carrier for months to make its search engine the default on Verizon phones, but Verizon is considering both offers, according to the Journal's sources.

Microsoft showed its desire to move into Google's search territory earlier this year when it made a multibillion-dollar bid … Read more

FCC approves Verizon/Alltel merger after delay

The Federal Communications Commission approved the $28 billion acquisition between Verizon Wireless and Alltel on Tuesday after a four hour delay in which commissioners negotiated terms of the deal.

The meeting was supposed to start at 11 a.m. EST. But didn't actually get under way until nearly 4 p.m. EST.

The delay was attributed to discussions among commissioners and Verizon to hammer out a deal that satisfied concerns over roaming conditions put on the deal.

During the meeting, the two Democratic commissioners on the FCC, Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, expressed concern that combining Verizon and Alltel … Read more

Waiting for the BlackBerry Storm: Ask the Editors

Ever since the RIM BlackBerry Storm was introduced in early October, I've received a ton of questions about the smartphone. A majority of the queries have been about availability and pricing, but there have been some more specific questions about features, competitor comparisons, and whether it will come to other carriers.

Given all the interest in the BlackBerry Storm, I decided to round up some of the most frequently asked questions about the first touch-screen BlackBerry and share them with you in this Ask the Editors post. I've tried to answer them to the best of my ability, but please realize there are just some things I can't completely answer, whether it's because the companies aren't talking (trust me, I'm trying) or because I haven't had any real hands-on time with the device. Still, I wanted to get as much information as I could out there.

Also, if you have any questions that weren't answered here, post them in the comment section below and I'll try to get them all.

Q: When will the BlackBerry Storm be available and for how much?

A: Ahh, the million dollar question. I talked to Research In Motion on Monday to try to get more information, and not surprisingly, I got a canned response: "The BlackBerry Storm will be available from Verizon Wireless this fall. Pricing in the U.S. will be determined by Verizon Wireless and they haven't announced the price."

To be fair, these details will largely be determined by Verizon, so I can't really fault RIM. I did also reach out to Verizon Monday and have yet to hear back (I'll update as soon I do), but I suspect I'll get a similarly vague response. … Read more