Motorola: No Android 2.1 upgrade for CLIQ XT/Quench

I hate to end this week on a sour note, but here’s some not-so-good news for you Motorola CLIQ XT owners out there. After evaluating the viability of the CLIQ XT (known as the Motorola Quench locally) as a candidate for an Android 2.1 upgrade, Motorola has now announced that it will remain on Android 1.5.

Here’s the full explanation as posted over their Support Forums:

After comprehensive testing of the Android 2.1 upgrade for the CLIQ XT, we have concluded that this device will remain on Android 1.5. We realize many of you were anxiously awaiting this upgrade, but we aim to deliver software upgrades only when it will provide a better customer experience.

So there you have it. If you’re a Motorola CLIQ XT/Quench owner and want to enjoy the benefits of Android 2.1 or better yet Android 2.3, the only way you can do so is by ditching your Moto handset and buying a new one. And based on this latest development, preferably one not from Moto. Of course, you could just root your CLIQ XT/ Quench, which is a cheaper alternative, but for the non-techie, that’s a lot easier said than done.

For the complete updated list Motorola Android handsets qualified for an upgrade, you can check it out here.

Motorola ATRIX 4G Available for Preorder on Feb. 13

AT&T announced plans to offer two 4G smartphones in the first quarter. An industry first, the Motorola ATRIX 4G  is the leading edge of more than 20 advanced, 4G devices AT&T plans to deliver in 2011. AT&T has completed the deployment of HSPA+ to virtually 100 percent of its mobile broadband network, which enables 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul.

The Motorola ATRIX 4G Android 2.2 smartphone will be offered exclusively by AT&T and is the world’s most powerful smartphone.  Featuring a 2x1 GHz dual-core processor for a total of 2 GHz of processing power, a unique webtop application, the world's first qHD display, and Adobe flash player, the, ATRIX 4G delivers a remarkable combination of application processing power with 4G speed capability and a high-resolution qHD display, a first for the industry.

It will be complemented by breakthrough accessories that include a revolutionary, super-thin Motorola Laptop Dock --  for which ATRIX 4G is the "engine" -- and the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock that uses ATRIX 4G's HDMI video output capabilities and processing power to enable a revolutionary browsing, application and media experience.

AT&T will offer two special packages for customers who choose to purchase ATRIX 4G in addition to these unique accessories. The first combines ATRIX 4G and the Motorola Laptop Dock for a promotional price of $499.99 after a two-year service contract and $100 mail-in-rebate after subscription to Data Pro smartphone data plan and tethering add on. Customers who choose to purchase the Motorola Laptop Dock separately pay $499.99. AT&T is also offering an Entertainment Access Kit for ATRIX customers which includes the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock, a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and a remote control for $189.99.

Motorola ATRIX 4G will also include AT&T Mobile Hotspot service built into the smartphone, allowing users to connect additional Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

AT&T U-verse TV customers will be able to manage their DVR recordings - and U-verse customers with a qualifying TV plan can download and watch hit TV shows – right from their ATRIX 4G handset using the U-verse Mobile application. In addition, any ATRIX 4G user, whether or not they have U-verse TV at home, can still enjoy a variety of video options - including live TV - with the new U-verse Live TV application, preloaded and available for $9.99 a month.

For more information, visit www.att.com/ATRIX4G.

Android Market gets a web store with OTA installations, in-app purchases coming soon

Google's Android Market now has a web client. Finally! And guess what else, it's already live. Hit the source link below to get exploring. It's very simple, really, you can browse the entire Market catalog on your desktop or however else you're accessing the web, you can purchase anything that takes your fancy, and then -- via the magic of over-the-air transfers -- it downloads and installs onto your Android handset. A neat phone management section will let you nickname your registered devices to make them more recognizable as well.

Google has also just announced that Android will soon support in-app purchases. Widespread developer interest has been cited as the major reason for doing it, so you've got those lovable coders to thank for the oncoming wave of micropayments you'll have to deal with in your Android apps. The in-app purchasing SDK is releasing to devs today and will be "live to users prior to the end of this quarter."

Update: Invalid request. Yep, that's the message we keep getting when we try and download an app. Google promises that it should be working soon...

T-Mobile USA Launches Global for Business Plan

T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that it will introduce the T-Mobile Global for Business plan, a unique approach to international voice and data roaming that reinforces the company’s commitment to support multinational corporations (MNCs), as well as government agencies and U.S. enterprises conducting business internationally. Unlike traditional international “bucket” mobility plans that can cause inefficiencies and unnecessary spending, the new T-Mobile Global for Business plan is a pay-per-use plan with a low monthly access fee and discounts as high as 80 percent on international voice and data roaming in more than 200 countries across the globe.

“International roaming rates are often seen as a major pain point for multinational corporations and other enterprises operating internationally,” said Frank Sickinger, vice president, B2B, MNC and federal government at T-Mobile USA. “Our new T-Mobile Global for Business plan is a bold new approach to tackling those issues head on.”

 

The T-Mobile Global for Business plan complements the company’s efforts to provide the quality of service, cost savings and connectivity that MNCs, government agencies and U.S. enterprises require. Today, the company is working to operationalize the advanced solutions of the FreeMove Alliance, such as FreeMove International Connect and FreeMove Central Report, as announced in November 2010. T-Mobile also offers its Wi-Fi Calling for Business solution on Android, Symbian and BlackBerry platforms to help business customers reduce domestic and international mobility costs, enhance coverage and improve productivity.

Part of the Deutsche Telekom AG family of companies, T-Mobile USA is well positioned to offer the coverage and network its business customers need. T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network gives business customers access to 4G speeds, a superior lineup of devices, and a robust ecosystem. Further, global adoption of the HSPA+ 4G standard is growing with 105 live networks using HSPA+ today across 54 countries, and 62 more planned to launch. Domestically, T-Mobile operates America's largest 4G network, which is available in more than 100 major metropolitan areas, reaching approximately 200 million people.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere.

Motorola's Atrix 4G coming to AT&T on March 6th for $200, bundled with Laptop Dock for $500

Don't ever say Ma Bell lacks cahones. On the same day that existing Verizon customers began pre-ordering the CDMA'd iPhone 4, AT&T has come clean with what's next on America's largest GSM network. While announced at CES 2011, pricing and release information had eluded the luscious Atrix 4G... until now, that is. AT&T will begin pre-sales for the Froyo-powered Motorola Atrix 4G Android superphone on February 13th, with the standard $199.99 + two-year contract ($50 more than we were led to believe, mind you) getting one into your grubby mitts. We're told to expect general availability on March 6th "or earlier," putting it just about in line with the date we'd heard rumored. Moreover, those looking to buy will should have a difficult time laying off of the Laptop Dock bundle, which nets you an Atrix 4G as well as a $499.99 dock for the grand total of $499.99 on contract. You heard right -- those who opt to buy the dock at a later time will be asked to shell out five Benjamins, whereas that same tally on day one will also include the phone. It should be noted, however, that the bundle only applies if you also sign your name to a Data Pro plan and tethering add-on, so be sure you're down for that monthly hit before committing in haste. Oh, and just in case you simply can't stop spending, the carrier is also offering an Entertainment Access Kit for Atrix 4G customers which includes the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock, a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and a remote control for $189.99.

Show full PR text

AT&T Announces the World's Most Powerful Smartphone, the Motorola ATRIX 4G, Will Be Available for Preorder on Feb. 13

Unique line of Accessories, Including the Motorola Laptop Dock, Available with Bundled Pricing

DALLAS, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Facts

* AT&T* begins pre-sales for Motorola ATRIX™ 4G on Feb. 13
* Motorola ATRIX 4G, powered by the Android 2.2 platform, available exclusively for AT&T customers for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement.
* Motorola ATRIX 4G is expected to be available from AT&T and select retail channels for customers by March 6 or earlier.
* AT&T will offer bundled pricing for the Motorola ATRIX 4G and the Motorola Laptop Dock.

4G Portfolio

AT&T is the leader in smartphones, and expects to widen that lead in 2011. In January, AT&T committed to an industry-leading Android portfolio in the U.S. in 2011 and said it plans to offer two 4G smartphones in the first quarter. An industry first, the Motorola ATRIX 4G is the leading edge of more than 20 advanced, 4G devices AT&T plans to deliver in 2011. AT&T has completed the deployment of HSPA+ to virtually 100 percent of its mobile broadband network, which enables 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul.

Motorola ATRIX™ 4G

The Motorola ATRIX™ 4G Android 2.2 smartphone will be offered exclusively by AT&T and is the world's most powerful smartphone. Featuring a 2x1 GHz dual-core processor for a total of 2 GHz of processing power, a unique webtop application, the world's first qHD display, and Adobe flash player, the, ATRIX 4G delivers a remarkable combination of application processing power with 4G speed capability and a high-resolution qHD display, a first for the industry.

It will be complemented by breakthrough accessories that include a revolutionary, super-thin Motorola Laptop Dock -- for which ATRIX 4G is the "engine" -- and the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock that uses ATRIX 4G's HDMI video output capabilities and processing power to enable a revolutionary browsing, application and media experience.

AT&T will offer two special packages for customers who choose to purchase ATRIX 4G in addition to these unique accessories. The first combines ATRIX 4G and the Motorola Laptop Dock for a promotional price of $499.99 after a two-year service contract and $100 mail-in-rebate after subscription to Data Pro smartphone data plan and tethering add on. Customers who choose to purchase the Motorola Laptop Dock separately pay $499.99. AT&T is also offering an Entertainment Access Kit for ATRIX customers which includes the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock, a Bluetooth® keyboard and mouse, and a remote control for $189.99.

Motorola ATRIX 4G will also include AT&T Mobile Hotspot service built into the smartphone, allowing users to connect additional Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

AT&T U-verse® TV customers will be able to manage their DVR recordings - and U-verse customers with a qualifying TV plan can download and watch hit TV shows – right from their ATRIX 4G handset using the U-verse Mobile application. In addition, any ATRIX 4G user, whether or not they have U-verse TV at home, can still enjoy a variety of video options - including live TV - with the new U-verse Live TV application, preloaded and available for $9.99 a month.

For more information, visit www.att.com/atrix4G. For photos and more information about presales for ATRIX 4G, visit www.att.com/mobilephones-news.

BlackBerry App World 2.1 rolls out, Features in-app purchasing

Hot off the heels of the Android Market web store, RIM has announced an update for their own app store, the BlackBerry App World.

BlackBerry App World 2.1 is now live, and intros in-app purchases, a feature that’s still forthcoming for Android apps. It also comes with a modified layout for Featured Items when viewed on a BlackBerry smartphone. Featured Items are now filtered by carrier and country making it easier to view the most relevant items per user. Subtle changes, but good ones nonetheless.

For more info, you can check it out here.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Users Angry at Lack of Android Froyo

I’m not too sure why some smartphone manufacturers experience problems with pushing out Android 2.2 Froyo to their customers, but it appears that some Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and X8 owners are somewhat annoyed with the smartphone maker.

According to an article over on The Inquirer, Sony Ericsson has begun pushing out an update to Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 smartphone that delivers multi-touch support and language options; however, apparently this multi-touch won’t be available for Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini and Xperia X8 owners.

Apparently SE users have been voicing their displeasure at the slowness at which Sony Ericsson has delivered update in the past as apparently some SE device owners are still running Android 2.1 while rival smartphones have moved to Android 2.2 Froyo, and with new devices coming out sporting Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

This makes Sony Ericsson users very unhappy, and the latest update is quite a way from being an Android update and according to the Sony Ericsson Blog who announced the update, several users are voicing their opinions of the update, and some comments have been removed.

One irate individual posted…“What a useless update. We need Froyo, don’t you hear our voice?? If you ignore your customer needs, you’ll lose your market.”

While another commented…“This is crap. Haven’t recieved the first update so I guess the second is out of the qestion. Keep your new xperia I’m headed to Samsung Galaxy asap.”

So if you are a Sony Ericsson Xperia user and wish to vent your anger without Sony Ericsson deleting your comments then feel free to voice your opinions good or bad to our comments area below.

T-Mobile Dell Streak 7 Released

For those of you who have been patiently awaiting the arrival of the new Android 2.2 Froyo 4G enabled tablet from Dell, namely the Dell Streak 7, your wait has now come to an end, as the Dell Streak 7 is now available.

According to an article over on Tmonews, the T-Mobile guys have released the Dell Streak 7 for purchase from T-Mobile.com and can be gained for handing over a reasonably low $199.99 based on a new two-year agreement of course and after a mail in rebate.

What can you expect from the Dell Streak 7 tablet? Well specs are a 7 inch multi-touch display, 1.33 megapixel front facing camera, Android 2.2 Froyo operating system which is upgradeable, so presumably will pack Android 3.0 Honeycomb eventually, Flash 10.1, WiFi, Bluetooth and 16GB of internal storage.

However if you can’t afford that $199.99 you could always opt for T-Mobile’s Equipment Instalment Plan, which will spread the cost of the device over 4 months and cost you $62.50 per month.

We have a Dell Streak 7 hands-on tour video below for your viewing pleasure courtesy of Jon4lakers that lasts almost five minutes…enjoy.