Dialed In Podcast

Labor Day signals more than the end of summer, it also marks the start of a busy autumn season for new cell phone announcements. This week, we bring you the latest buzz on new handsets from Motorola and Samsung. We also take a peek at Google Android apps and the SDK for the Sony Ericsson Experia X1. And don't forget that next week is the fall CTIA show!

Listen now: Download today's podcast

1. News
Fall CTIA next week

Samsung has the Knack for Verizon

Samsung launches A237, M220, and M320

Sprint unleashes Motorola Renegade V950 and i365

Nokia launches music phone bundle in the U.K.

Android Market launched; preview into new apps

Sony Ericsson releases SDK for Xperia X1

Motorola Q Global lands at AT&T

2. New reviews
Peek

Prizefight: LG Dare vs. Samsung Instinct

3. Upcoming reviews
Motorola U9
Samsung SGH-A237
Samsung Knack SCH-U310
UTStarcom Blitz
BlueAnt V1 Bluetooth headset
Motorola Q Global
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (U.S. Cellular)

News
HTC Dream details

Two firsts for T-Mobile's Sony Ericsson 3G phone

Virgin Mobile finalizes Helio buyout

Verizon brings you the UTStarcom Blitz

Fake iPhones

LG Voyager in Titanium

LG LX600 to debut for Sprint?

Reviews
Palm Treo Pro

Sony Ericsson TM506

Upcoming reviews
Peek
BlueAnt V1 voice-controlled Bluetooth headset

The Aliph Jawbone 2. Is its radiation harmful?

(Credit: Aliph)

Q: I'm curious as to whether Bluetooth headsets also emit radiation, which could prove harmful to one's health. What can you tell me about this?
- Craig

A: Bluetooth headsets do emit radiation, but they do it at a much lower power than a cell phone. In fact, it's so low that it's almost negligible. Keep in mind that while cell phones need to connect to a tower that could be a couple of miles away, a headset has an effective range of just 30 feet. However, if the prospect of Bluetooth radiation really worries you, I would suggest using a wired headset instead.

Q: Why do Sprint and Verizon Wireless appear to get sloppy seconds when it comes to the best and brightest new smartphones? It seems as if AT&T and T-Mobile get the most interesting phones, even though their networks aren't as extensive as Verizon and Sprint. I know Sprint has the Samsung Instinct, but that phone has no Wi-Fi. Will Sprint be getting something like the Samsung Omnia for the holidays?
- Eric

The Samsung Omnia could come to AT&T.

(Credit: Samsung)

A: Though the selection of Sprint and Verizon Wireless smartphones isn't quite as extensive as with the GSM carriers (AT&T and T-Mobile), I'd say they have some very decent options. Verizon has the XV6900, the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330, and the Samsung SCH-i760, while Sprint offers the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 and the Motorola Q9c, to name a few. And though it's not a smartphone by our standards, the LG Dare is a solid option as well. I'd agree, however, that the CDMA phones are lacking in Wi-Fi support. AT&T in particular does better in that department. And incidentally, if anyone is getting the Omnia, Bonnie Cha thinks it will be AT&T.

Because CDMA has a smaller global footprint, some cell phone manufacturers are less inclined to make CDMA phones. Just look at Nokia and Sony Ericsson, for example. Nokia has dabbled in CDMA phones, but it has never had a clear-cut strategy for doing so. And Sony Ericsson, on the other hand, shuns CDMA completely. The technology does get attention from Japanese and Korean manufacturers like Samsung, LG, and Kyocera, but that's mainly because they have CDMA in their own back yards. Moto spends a good deal of time in both sectors, but there again, Moto operates in a country that uses CDMA.

As for the lack of Wi-Fi on Sprint and Verizon phones, I'd blame that on the peculiarities of the carriers. In my experience, the CDMA carriers tend to be much more controlling and protective than T-Mobile or AT&T. Verizon was the last carrier to remove Bluetooth restrictions in its phone and it was only last year that Sprint and Verizon said they would start allowing unlocked phones on their networks. I'd theorize that they're slow to adopt Wi-Fi because they want to keep their customers using their calling minutes.

Q: I bought a new unlocked phone and would like to start a new account at AT&T. Can I get out of paying an activation fee and signing a contract? - Elisa

A: As a new customer you will have to pay an activation fee, even if you're using an unlocked phone. Yet, you might be able to avoid signing a contract that includes an early termination fee. The only reason carriers charge an ETF in the first place is to recover the cost of selling you a new phone at a discount. But, if you're not getting such a discount or rebate then there's no reason you should be stuck with an ETF. If AT&T tries to press you with one, I'd argue that point.

Kent German, CNET's cell phones guru, answers your questions about cell phones, services, and accessories and reports on the state of the industry. Send him a question.

Let's be honest. Palm has taken some hits over the past couple of years, what with its stale operating system, and don't even get us started on the Palm Foleo. However, the company made a little comeback with the Palm Centro and things could get better with the just-announced Palm Treo Pro. This week we discuss the pluses and minuses of the new smartphone; plus, more on Google Android and iPhone 3G woes.

News
Palm Treo Pro officially announced

Windows Mobile 6.1 update released for Motorola Q9h

Motorola unleashes W388, W396, and ZN200

AT&T and LG launch the Invision

HTC Dream gets FCC approval

Apple acknowledges iPhone 3G reception issues

Apple releases iPhone firmware update, 3G fix?

A freaky Friday for our iPhone 3G

Reviews
Joby Zivio Boom

Sanyo Katana Eclipse

ZTE C79

Virgin Mobile TNT

Motorola Razr VE20

Listen now: Download today's podcast

iPhone arrives in more countries Aug. 22

BlackBerry Javelin plays little brother to BlackBerry Bold

T-Mobile Sidekick Slide discontinued

Verizon offering Visual Voice Mail for real

Hands-on with the Samsung Innov8

MetroPCS adds Samsung Messenger

What makes the Nokia N95 a smartphone?

Verizon G'zOne Boulder

Apple iPhone 3G accessories

Nokia 5610 Xpress Music

Sony Ericsson W350a

1. News:
AT&T Navigator goes global
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9996514-1.html

Windows Mobile 6.1 update available for Sprint HTC Touch, Mogul
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9994570-1.html

Samsung SCH-i760 refitted with Windows Mobile 6.1
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9995556-1.html

Rumor: New T-Mobile Sidekick set for July 30 debut
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9993618-1.html

Motorola V750 for Verizon Wireless
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9996229-1.html

New Sony Ericsson phones
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9996594-1.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9996613-1.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9997520-1.html

2. Reviews:
T-Mobile Sidekick LX update
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/t-mobile-sidekick-lx/4505-6454_7-32627592.html

Samsung SGH-A227
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/samsung-sgh-a227-at/4505-6454_7-33155746.html

Virgin Mobile Arc
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/virgin-mobile-arc/4505-6454_7-33128177.html

Firefly flyPhone
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/firefly-flyphone-blue/4505-6454_7-32735405.html

3. Upcoming reviews:
Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator 4
Roundup: Upcoming smartphones
Firefly glowPhone
iPhoneck Backup Battery

News
FCC gives HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro thumbs up
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9989658-1.html

BlackBerry Bold gets FCC approval
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9987862-1.html

AT&T grabs Samsung SGH-227
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9990606-1.html

AT&T Palm Centro drops to $69.99
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9988874-1.html

iPhone galore
http://www.cnet.com/apple-iphone.html

Reviews
Apple iPhone 3G
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/apple-iphone-3g-16gb/1995-6452_7-33054209.html

LG Chocolate 3
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/lg-chocolate-3-verizon/4505-6454_7-33070216.html

Palm Treo 800w
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/palm-treo-800w-sprint/4505-6452_7-33142476.html

Nokia 2760
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/nokia-2760-blue-t/4505-6454_7-33155744.html

Upcoming reviews
Nokia 6205 - Dark Knight edition
Samsung Arc

1. News
iPhone news galore
http://www.cnet.com/apple-iphone.html

LG to release Chocolate 3 on July 14th
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9984649-1.html

Nokia 2760 now at T-Mobile
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9985805-1.html

Electric blue, cheaper Palm Centro for AT&T
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9985564-1.html

2. Reviews
Jabra SP5050 speakerphone
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-and-smart/jabra-sp5050/4505-6448_7-33020365.html

HP iPaq 910c Business Messenger
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/hp-ipaq-910c-business/4505-6452_7-33064927.html

HTC Touch Cruise
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/htc-touch-cruise/4505-6452_7-33089246.html

Prizefight: HTC Touch Diamond vs. iPhone
http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6454_7-469-101.html

Samsung SGH-T339
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/samsung-sgh-t339-t/4505-6454_7-33109760.html

Motorola EQ5 portable wireless speaker
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-and-smart/motorola-eq5-portable-wireless/4505-6448_7-33133338.html