Weekly Round-Up

Last week wasn’t boring at all! We learned some quite interesting things that are about to happen soon. It turned out that Verizon is in a hurry to launch its 4G LTE network in early 2010, while the Palm Pre is to become available with the carrier at the same time. Also, there were rumors pointing that Big Red will offer the Android-powered Motorola Shules in the last quarter of 2009. Add to this the buzz around the unannounced but much-rumored Samsung Rogue U960.

Sprint also threw a bomb, announcing it will acquire the pre-paid carrier Virgin Mobile USA for $483 million and the deal is expected to close in the 4th quarter of this year or in early 2010.

Outside the world of carriers, there were only a few interesting things that happened, such as the leak with the possible specs of the BlackBerry 9700. In addition, LG posted (finally) three images, showing the Next Chocolate (BL40) in all its glory. Here is what made headlines this week, sorted by dates, but don’t forget to check the bottom of the page since there you’ll find what’s coming next week.


July 25:

• Sprint CEO Hesse says Android now ready for Prime-Time and his company
• Verizon adds 1.1 million net new subscribers, brings total to 87.7 million served
• Verizon speeding up process to have LTE in place by early 2010

July 26:

• Google serves Donuts to Android developers

July 27:

• Verizon to get Motorola branded Android device in the 4th quarter?
• Five new HTC phones coming?
• Images of the Samsung Scarlet for T-Mobile reveal an elegant slider
• T-Mobile and RIM introduce the Curve 8520, launching it on August 5
• Verizon to offer Palm Pre early in 2010 and that's official

July 28:

• Samsung announces 1GHz processor for cell phones, codenamed Hummingbird
• Virgin Mobile USA to be acquired by Sprint for $483 million
• Touchscreen Samsung Solstice A887 on AT&T's shelf August 2nd for $99.99?
• Verizon to launch VCast app store in 4th quarter

LG's New Chocolate BL40

July 29:

• T-Mobile Touch Pro2 official, launches August 12
• Samsung Rogue and Verizon Razzle to refresh Big Red's catalog
• Despite the Pre, Sprint loses 991,000 post-paid subscribers in the second quarter
• Specs for BlackBerry 9700 are leaked?
• Leaked spec sheet reveals Wi-Fi and more on Verizon's BlackBerry Curve 8530
• LG's "New Chocolate" poses for its first official snapshots

July 30:

• Nokia N97's "Mini" brother gets pictured?
• Microsoft to re-brand Windows Mobile as Windows Phone?
• Samsung and AT&T officially announce the Solstice, to be available August 2
• Motorola Shules (or Sholes) to be first Android phone for Verizon

July 31:

• Verizon and Sprint to get their new high-end HTC smartphones soon
• The Samsung Galaxy Lite gets a Wi-Fi certificate
• Spy pics of the new Samsung Rogue U960 for Verizon

Coming next week...

As for the next week, AT&T announced it will launch the Samsung Solstice on August 2 and there are rumors pointing the carrier will also roll out the HTC Lancaster on 3rd and Nokia Snapper on 7th. T-Mobile is the other carrier that is officially expected to come up with a new offer – the BlackBerry Curve 8520 on August 5.