Your New Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Has Been Recalled What You Need to Know! [Update]

[Update: If you own A Samsung Galaxy Note 7 stop using it immediately!! Samsung, with cooperation from US Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a full and total recall of over one million Galaxy Note7 devices. ]

Yes you've heard that correctly, Samsung is recalling every Samsung Galaxy Note 7 that the company has shipped worldwide do to an issue with faulty batteries and charging that has resulted in at least 35 incidents of batteries exploding.

The problem is estimated to affect one device in every 42,000 units. Samsung says it shipped around 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 units so far, so if the estimate is correct, only a few dozen phones sold worldwide are at risk. So the risk is actually pretty minimal, but it is always best to err on the side of caution. 

At this time Samsung has officially halted all sales and shipments of the Galaxy Note 7 and the phones have been recalled worldwide. Samsung is working on preparing replacement units for the affected devices as well as working with each carrier on how to handle the recall and replacement process, which as of now will take about two weeks, according to the company.

Full Samsung statement:

Samsung is committed to producing the highest quality products and we take every incident report from our valued customers very seriously. In response to recently reported cases of the new Galaxy Note7, we conducted a thorough investigation and found a battery cell issue.

To date (as of September 1) there have been 35 cases that have been reported globally and we are currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market. However, because our customers’ safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have stopped sales of the Galaxy Note7.

For customers who already have Galaxy Note7 devices, we will voluntarily replace their current device with a new one over the coming weeks.

We acknowledge the inconvenience this may cause in the market but this is to ensure that Samsung continues to deliver the highest quality products to our customers. We are working closely with our partners to ensure the replacement experience is as convenient and efficient as possible.

 At this time if you want to keep and use your Galaxy Note 7 you should be fine. However, you may want to use a few of these common sense precautions in order to keep safe, which really are valid for any electronic device.

• Stop charging your phone it if becomes too hot.
• Stick to official Samsung chargers.
• Don’t charge your phone in bed or anywhere it might not dissipate heat.
• Be mindful of where you charge your phone, don't leave it in a hot car window, hot area ect.

How will the recall process work?

At this time we have no specifics on the exact details of the recall, and each carrier seems to be handling things a little different. So here is what we have gathered so far (we'll update as we get more info).

• Sprint has said it will offer customers loaner devices, while Verizon is waiving its restocking fee for customers who want to return the Note 7 and get another phone altogether.
•  AT&T has reportedly stated that they are in the process of determining the exchange process for their customers and how they can replace their current Note 7 as quickly as possible. The company promised more information later on today.
• T-Mobile is offering customers full refunds to use toward another device or a replacement Note 7, which it said it expected to have available within two weeks. Plus, it said, customers can keep the free Netflix subscription it had been bundling with Note 7 purchases.

[Update from Samsung]
The US Product Exchange Program will offer consumers the following choices:

1. Exchange current Galaxy Note7 device with a new Galaxy Note7 (as early as next week)
2. Exchange current Galaxy Note7 for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge and replacement of any Note7 specific accessories with a refund of the price difference between devices

As a gesture of appreciation, consumers will receive a $25 gift card or bill credit from select carrier retail outlets when choosing a Galaxy S7 family device or the Galaxy Note7 within the exchange program.

Galaxy Note7 owners can contact or visit the retail outlet where they purchased their device or call 1-800-SAMSUNG to initiate a product exchange and to resolve any other questions or concerns.

Sprint and Verizon Must Pay $158 Million In Fines You May Be Due A Refund

The Federal Communications Commission has fined Verizon $90 million and Sprint $68 million for what is know as cramming, or the charging of unauthorized third-party charges to their customer's bills. The good news, according to the FCC statement the majority of the fines will be going to customers as a refund meaning you may be owned a portion of the settlement.

The State Attorneys General and federal regulators allege that cramming occurred when Sprint and Verizon placed charges from third parties on consumers’ mobile telephone bills without the consumers’ knowledge or consent.

The monthly charge for these third-party premium text messaging services ranged from $0.99 to $14.00, but typically were $9.99 per month. Verizon retained 30 percent or more of each third-party charge that it billed, while Sprint received approximately 35 percent of collected revenues for each of its third-party charges.

Numerous consumers have complained to the FCC, other government agencies, and the carriers that they never requested or authorized the third-party services for which they were charged. Customers who called to complain were often denied refunds, and yet, when the FCC requested proof that customers had authorized charges, the carriers were unable to prove that these services were ever requested."

Consumers the believe they are owed refunds can submit claims under the redress programs by visiting www.SprintRefundPSMS.com and/or www.CFPBSettlementVerizon.com. On those websites, consumers can submit claims, find information about refund eligibility and how to obtain a refund, and request a free account summary that details PSMS purchases on their accounts. Consumers who have questions about the redress programs can visit the program websites or call the settlement administrators at (877) 389-8787 (Sprint) and/or (888) 726-7063 (Verizon).

Stolen Phone Database Now Live

Earlier this year the FCC alongside all of the major US cell phone providers brokered a deal to create a stolen phone database that would allow the tracking, and blocking of phones reported to have been stolen. The first of these services, managed by AT&T and T-Mobile has gone live today.

The stolen phone program works like this: A phone is reported stolen and the IMEI, a unique identification number in the cellphone, is entered into the database and then blocked. This ID number remains with the cellphone no matter what SIM card is used or what a user does to the phone. If the thief, or other unsuspecting user, tries to use that phone with their new SIM card or tries to get new service on that phone they won't be able to.

"The goal is to not only protect the consumer by cancelling the service, but by ultimately protecting the consumer by drying up the after market for stolen phones," said Chris Guttman-McCabe, vice president of regulatory affairs at CTIA, a wireless industry trade association that has coordinated efforts to introduce the database.

Verizon and Sprint are working to offer their own databases which will eventually be combined with the AT&T and T-Mobile databases so that the vast majority of U.S. cellphone users will be covered. Smaller carriers like Nex-Tech and Cellcom are also getting on board the database. There are also plans to link it with an international database maintained by the GSM Association to stop stolen phones being shipped overseas and used on foreign networks.

The goal behind the database is to hopefully prevent the theft of mobile phones by making it less attractive to criminals. The thought is that if its harder (or near impossible) to activate the phones then there will be less motivation to take them.

While the phone database may eventually be a great deterrent to stop thieves it isn't a stop all. CTIA president and CEO Steve Largent pointed out that most users now store a large amount of personal data on their smartphones - from photos and videos to banking information and emails.   

"While the GSM and CDMA databases are important, consumers also play a key role in protecting their information and preventing smartphone theft," Largent continued. "By using passwords or PINs, as well as remote wiping capabilities, consumers can help to dry up the aftermarket for stolen devices. It's important consumers know that by taking simple precautions, such as downloading a few apps, they can protect their information from unauthorized users," he said.



AT&T customers may report a stolen phone and suspend their service online at www.att.com/stolenphone, at an AT&T store, or by contacting AT&T Customer Care at 1-800-331-0500. Within 24 hours, AT&T will block the use of a device reported as stolen.

Smartphone Buying Basics

The smartphone community has a lot to be abuzz about these days. Samsung has just released one of the hottest phones on the market with the Galaxy S3, HTC has the new HTC One X and Motorola the DROID RAZR MAXX. Rumors are abound about the new iPhone 5 and of course there are the new Windows Phones like the Nokia Lumia 900. It is truly a great time to be a smartphone fan.

With all these great choices how exactly do you decide? To be honest it's a tough decision. Every one of the newer phones on the market right now has its own strong points and each has its flaws. Selecting your phone might seem like a tough decision but here are a few ideas for getting the best phone and the best mobile phone deals. When it all comes down to it though it depends on a few key factors.

Your Carrier:
This is obviously by far the biggest factor, as not all carriers carry the same phones and not all carriers are created equal. Now you might think an iPhone is an iPhone is an iPhone, but that just isn't true. Network speeds, coverages, costs, services ect are all different for every carrier.

When deciding on which carrier to get there are a few things to take into consideration. Your local coverage and extended coverage, network speeds, reliability and costs. Local coverage for the big three might be decent, however if you travel a lot you'll need to check to make sure the areas you frequent have just as good of coverage. This too factors into network speeds. Take the area I live in, Sacramento, throughout the heart of town we have 4G coverage for the most part. When I go a few miles out of town though I don't get as good of coverage. If I lived in an area with poor 4G coverage and I paid a premium for a 4G phone that would be a bit if a waste.

The phones your carrier are going to offer are also going to be a factor. Sprint, Verizon and AT&T may eventually carry the new iPhone 5, unfortunately right now we just don't know. If you want one of the latest Windows phones right now Verizon with the HTC Trophy or AT&T with either the Nokia Nokia Lumia 900, Samsung Focus S or HTC Titan II are probably going to be the best bets. I don't really suggest going with one carrier over the other just based on phone offerings but it might be a consideration you'll want to take into account.

If you are looking for an Android phone, then you are going to have your work cut out for you. All three of the big three offer great choices and almost all of the minor carriers now carry decent Android phones. To get the latest greatest though, you are likely going to need to decide between the big three.

Upfront Cost and Monthly Fees:
These are two factors plenty of people often overlook. Often time we want to get the latest greats phones out there and forget that those phones come with a pretty hefty premium. I might want that iPhone 5 when it comes out, but when it does I can likely get the iPhone 4S at a pretty sweet savings.

You also need to keep in mind the more feature packed a phone is the more data it uses and likely the more your monthly costs are going to be. Verizon and AT&T plans tend to cost the most, but those two carriers have the best voice and data coverage in the nation. Sprint and T-Mobile offer considerable savings, especially on unlimited voice, data, and texting plans, but don't have quite the same level of network coverage.

Now days you can even skip out on the contract game all together. Smaller carriers are starting to offer more and more smartphones options for prepaid phones. We're beginning to see prepaid smartphones appear everywhere, especially on smaller regional carriers like MetroPCS, U.S. Cellular, and Cricket Wireless. If you live in an appropriate coverage area and don't need a cutting edge device, the potential savings can be huge.

Your Needs:
You have to ask yourself what are your needs really going to be. When I got my first smartphone I thought I'd use almost every feature out there. But now I rarely use most of them. For instance I'm not a big picture taker, so I don't need a phone with a top rated camera. I don't watch a lot of videos, so having a high resolution larger screen isn't a must for me. So when you browse mobile phone deals look at your options take in to consideration exactly what you think you'll be using your phone for and buy one that best fits with those needs.

Compatibility and Use:
When selecting my phones I ask myself what apps, what compatibility ect am I going to need. The iPhone has by far the most apps out there with the Apple App Store, Android is a close second and Windows is still a work in progress but has tons of apps and features that make it useful.

I use my phone for work and it needs to be able to sync seamlessly with Google and Google apps, but if I was an Apple user I'd likely want an iPhone so syncing across my devices would be easier. If I was a heavy Microsoft user and used Windows Live a lot then the syncing features of a Windows phone might be best for me.

Size and Features:
There has been a movement of late to make phones, specifically screen sizes, larger. It has even been rumored that the new iPhone 5 will come with a larger 4.3" screen. Personally I don't care for a larger screen. I like a smaller phone that is more portable and bit a easier to carry around.

For me some of the features are a bit more important. I've been shopping around for some of the new waterproof phones and the more rugged models. I'm the outdoors type so having a phone that is a bit tougher is a more important feature to me than having one with a larger screen that might be easily broken.

So Which Smartphone Should I Get:
Well, that depends on the factors discussed above, and a lot of personal preference. Personally I really like the user interface that HTC has for their Android phones but some people don’t. Some people are going to be hard core Apple fans and are going to say go Apple.

No matter which phone you go with keep in mind that most carriers allow you up to 30 days to return it. So if you buy something you aren't happy with don't be afraid to return it and try something new.

Sprint Now Offering Lenovo Ultrabook Bundle

Ultrabooks are definitely beginning to make their mark in the PC market and companies are looking to cash in on their popularity. So it shouldn't comes as a surprise that wireless broadband providers are looking to get in on the action. Sprint has became the first U.S. wireless provider to offer up an Ultrabook bundle that provides costumers with a little incentive to buy.

Sprint will be offering customers wanting to sign-up for a two-year Sprint Mobile Broadband service agreement a free MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot or Sierra Wireless Overdrive Pro hotspot at no additional charge with the purchase of a Lenovo IdeaPad U310 Ultrabook. The IdeaPad U310 will be available for $799.99 (plus tax), and will also include three months of free Mobile Broadband service with a two-year Sprint Mobile Broadband service agreement.

Currently there are four options available, two for each device and they are priced according to your service plan. Option 1 is Sprint's 3GB Connection Plan which includes 3GB of data for $34.99 /mo. Option 2 is Sprint's 6GB Connection Plan and includes 6GB of data for $49.99 /mo.

The all new Lenovo IdeaPad U310 Ultrabook will feature an Intel 3rd Gen Core i5 processor (most likely the Core i5-3317U Processor 1.70GHz 1600MHz 3MB), 4GBs of RAM a 13.3" HD Screen with 1366x768 resolution and Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.

iPhone Users May Have To Pay Extra For FaceTime Calls

According to reports by MacRumors, a new error message in the latest beta release of iOS 6 could confirm that AT&T among others might start charging iPhone users for FaceTime phone calls. The message, which generally only pops-up when users have to pay for extra features on AT&T leads developers to believe that the service provide is working on a new pay-per use service charge associated with the new calling feature.

When users try using the new FaceTime calling app a pop-up message appears telling iPhone users on AT&T that they must first contact the wireless provider before they can use the feature. This type of message only shows up when you have to pay for something.

FaceTime video calling itself isn't a new feature. However with the release of iOS 6 a new FaceTime-over-cellular feature arrives. This allows you to make the same FaceTime video calls you do now via Wi-Fi over your cellular providers standard network. However the service is said to be a bit of a bandwidth hog and we know anything that uses more data is a chance for cell companies to squeeze a few more dollars out of their customers.

AT&T has not confirmed that it will charge for FaceTime calls on its network. In a statement released to the press, AT&T said: “We’re working closely with Apple on the new developer build of iOS 6 and we’ll share more information with our customers as it becomes available.” Interpret that as you will.

At this time developers have noted that neither Verizon nor Sprint, the other two wireless carriers that offer the iPhone, have yet instituted the same message into iOS 6. That’s not to say that they won’t, just that it isn't there as of now.

AT&T Launching Stolen Phone Service

Starting next week AT& will finally launch the company's stolen phone database. A new service that will let customers whose phones and tablets are stolen have their devices blocked from use on the AT&T network by the thieves.

Under pressure by the Federal Communications Commission and police departments around the country, AT&T and all three of the other three major U.S. carriers, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile, agreed to create a national database of stolen cellphones and tablets. The database is intended to allow customers to report their device as stolen, to one company and allow blocking of those devices on any of the other networks. Verizon and Sprint already offer a blocking service, but GSM-based carriers whose phones use SIM card slots do not. The FCC wants its database to work across all LTE smartphones on all carriers no later than Nov. 30, 2013.

When a customer reports a stolen or lost cellphone, they can list their phone in the corresponding database. That information will (or should be) shared with the other major carriers preventing anyone presenting the phone for activation from putting service on the phone.

How this is going to work in relation to SIM carded phones is as of yet unclear. We are assuming they are going to setup a program to block the cell phone's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment) or ESN (Electronic Serial Number) from being accepted.

This new will let customers keep their accounts active instead of canceling them and having to shutdown their accounts for a brief period. If customers get their phones back, they'll be able to call AT&T again to reactivate service.

Sprint Drops Unlimited Data Plans For Everything But Smartphones

In a rather confusing move, at least to me, Sprint has announced the company will no longer offer unlimited data plans for all devices except smartphones.

The news came via a notice posted Thursday on the customer support section of Sprints website. According to the notice Sprint has said it will begin imposing monthly data caps on plans for all tablets, laptops, netbooks, USB and PC Card modems as well as all Sprint mobile hotspot devices. Data will also be capped for Mobile Smartphone Hotspot plans that let subscribers connect other devices to the network through a smartphone.

The caps will begin with each subscriber's next bill following this notification.

So it seems, for now at least, that Sprint will continue to offer unlimited data use on phones, including the new Apple iPhone, which Sprint introduced just last week. You really have to wonder just how long unlimited data for Sprint’s smartphones will last at this point. I mean it seems to me that smartphone users would out number hotspot users. And I know from personal AT&T experience adding the iPhone to mix really sucks up the bandwidth.

So this move leaves me a bit perplexed. Why would you want to cap something that likely uses the least amount of data on your network while letting those that are likely to use the most run wild?

Sprint Offers New $70 Unlimited Everything Plan

Sprint today announced a new calling plan featuring unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling to any network, text messages, 3G data, and MMS all this is wrapped into Sprint's Everything Data $69.99/mo.

For current Sprint subscribers you'll recognize this as the former “Simply Unlimited” plan, the major difference being the unlimited mobile-to-mobile voice. The old plan offered a mere 450 minutes. Customers who already have an “Everything Data” plan will be automatically upgraded.

The new $69.99 plan includes:

• 450 anytime minutes to be used for land-line calls or other calls not cover by the any mobile calling
  
• Any Mobile, Anytime: Unlimited domestic calls from the Sprint network to and from ANY U.S. mobile phone regardless of carrier. Any network, any time.
• Unlimited data: Web surfing, email, BlackBerry Internet Services (BIS), GPS Navigation, Music Premier, TV Premier, NFL Mobile Live, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile^SM
• Unlimited Direct Connect: Direct Connect and Group Connect (for capable phones)
• Unlimited messaging: Text, pictures and video
• Talk: Night calling and weekends starting at 7 p.m., nationwide long distance and no roaming charges

For $89.99 you can double your anytime minutes and still include all of the above features.

From Sprint's Press Release

Sprint today launched another wireless industry innovation. Sprint is stepping past the idea of calling circles to provide Any Mobile, Anytime – a new feature of Sprint Everything Data plans. With the new Any Mobile, Anytime, Sprint customers get unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling from the Sprint Network to ANY wireless phone on any U.S. wireless carrier network at any time.

“Simply Everything and Ready Now were Sprint innovations to make wireless simpler and more worry-free for our customers,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint’s CEO. “We don’t think our customers want to have to keep track of or only talk to friends, colleagues or family members who make the same choices they do. Any Mobile, Anytime provides unprecedented simplicity and value, so much that many more customers can now consider cutting the cord altogether.”

Any Mobile, Anytime makes it easy for individuals and families to cut the cord and save money

Starting at just $69.99*, Everything Data plans offer the best value in wireless, with the new Any Mobile, Anytime voice feature on top of all the unlimited messaging and data features customers want for one low price. Everything Data plans include unlimited text, picture and video messaging, and unlimited data services, such as e-mail, Web browsing, social networking, GPS navigation, Sprint TV, streaming music, exclusive NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile applications.

Wireless-centric families will find Everything Data Family plans with Any Mobile, Anytime especially beneficial. For example, at $42.50* per person, a family of four can get unlimited wireless for each family member. That means unlimited messaging and data, and now unlimited calling, to any of the more than 250 million wireless customers in the United States at any time, for each member of the family.

Recognizing that we are increasingly becoming a wireless world, Sprint is extending this offer to deliver what customers want: wireless freedom, for both voice and data. By offering unlimited calling to the people customers call most often – other wireless users – cutting the cord becomes a viable choice for more people. And it will open the door to wireless data and messaging for some people who have been concerned about the cost of these capabilities.

“The new Any Mobile, Anytime feature should be attractive to the middle market of customers, especially families with multiple lines,” said Roger Entner, senior vice president, Research and Insights, Nielsen Telecom Practice. “These are people who are likely to be cutting the cord and regularly calling other cord cutters. This is much bigger than a calling circle. Sprint is removing barriers so that customers don’t have to worry about which wireless network the people they’re calling might use – and they don’t have to worry about any data constraints either.”

Sprint delivers unlimited value to new and existing customers

Customers switching from other carriers can break the artificial barriers of their previous carrier’s restrictive calling circles and experience the freedom of unlimited mobile-to-any-mobile calling just by signing up for one of the Everything Data or Everything Data Family plans.

Existing Sprint customers who currently subscribe to an Everything Data or Everything Data Family plan will automatically receive – at no extra charge – the added value of Any Mobile, Anytime starting on the first day of the their next bill cycle, with no effort required on their part. And because of the Sprint Right Plan Promise, existing customers who are on a different plan can take advantage of Any Mobile, Anytime by switching to an Everything Data plan without being required to renew or extend their existing service agreement.

Customers who sign up for these plans are included in Sprint Premier, our industry-leading loyalty program. The Premier program provides to customers great benefits, such as early upgrades, anniversary rewards, rate plan checkups and “first to know” information about the latest at Sprint.

In addition to cost savings and rewards, the Sprint Everything Data and Everything Data Family plans include the additional value of:

• The Sprint Now Network, which provides what you want right when you want it on America’s most dependable 3G network.**
• An award-winning lineup of cool and innovative phones, including the Palm Pre, Blackberry Tour and, coming soon, the HTC Hero.
• Ready Now, a unique “in store” experience that helps customers set up their device and educate them on all the device can do,

And now:

• Any Mobile, Anytime, which gives unlimited calling from the Sprint Network to ANY wireless phone on any U.S. wireless carrier network at any time.

For more information about Any Mobile, Anytime, visit www.sprint.com/anymobileanytime.

Palm Pre Releasing June 6th Priced At $199 AMIR

Sprint has officially set the release date for the much anticipated Palm Pre today announcing that that Pre will be available on June 6. Sprint announced that it will be available nationwide in Sprint stores, as well as at Best Buy, Radio Shack, and select Wal-Mart stores. The webOS-based phone will retail for $199 after $100 mail-rebate and 2-year contract.

For more details checkout Sprint's Palm Pre page

Rumor: Palm Pre Might Launch As Early As March 15th

The Palm Pre is definitely one of the most anticipated new smarthphones of 2009. Since its debut at CES everyone have been drooling over the new phone and eagerly awaiting its release. Well according to the Boy Genius Report (BGR) you might not have to wait too much longer.

The site has reportedly got their hands on Sprint's latest End of Life (EOL) list. This list features the EOL dates representing the target death of the EOL handset (in the warehouse, existing store inventory will still be sold) and the target in stock-date at Sprint’s warehouses for its replacement.

The sheet shows a target in-stock date of 3/15 for the Palm Pre which will be replacing the Palm 755P which has a projected EOL in late May.

BGR says, "This could indeed put the Pre launch on or around 3/15, but we wouldn’t bet on it. Sprint wants to move their stock of Treo 755Ps before they get to the Pre, and if we were a betting bunch, we’d peg the Pre release closer to May/Early June than Mid-March. "

BGR is usually pretty accurate with their predictions, May/June might sound a little far off considering the anticipation factor for the Pre. But a late May release would make sense, hitting shelves just in time for the Memorial Day holiday.

Here is the full list as reported by BGR:

Device Name - Projected Warehouse EOL - Replacement (if available)

• Sierra Compass 597 USB - Early February - Sierra 598 USB
• Motorola ic602 - Early February
• LG 160 - Mid-February - Samsung M220
• LG Rumor (blue) - Mid February - LG 265 Rumor II (target in-stock 2/15)
• Motorola i325IS - Mid February - Motorola i365IS
• LG Rumor (green) - Mid March - LG 265 Rumor II (target in-stock 2/15)
• Franklin Wireless U680 USB - Early April
• Palm 800W - April - Palm Treo Pro (target in-stock 2/15)
• LG Rumor (black) - Mid April - LG 265 Rumor II (target in-stock 2/15)
• Motorola i615 - Mid April
• Samsung M520 Lumina - Mid April - LG LX370 (slider)
• RIM BlackBerry Pearl (red) - May
• LG LX400 - Late May
• Palm 755P (blue) - Late May - Palm Pre (target in-stock 3/15)
• Sanyo 6750 Eclipse (pink) - June
• Palm Centro (berry) - June
• Motorola Q9C - Mid June
• Sierra 597E - July - Sierra 2-in-1 Aircard
• Palm Centro (green) - July
• Palm Centro refresh (black) - July
• Motorola VE20 - July
• HTC Touch Diamond - July
• RIM BlackBerry 7100i - August - RIM BlackBerry 8350i

There is still no word yet on pricing for the Pre however rumors we reported on last month suggest the Pre might be sold exclusively at Best Buy and could potentially be priced as low as $399 for an unsubsidized phone, and between $149 and $199 for a subsidized phone.

Rumor: Palm Pre Exclusively At Best Buy

The new Palm Pre was one of the biggest hits at this years CES and while there has been no official world on the phones release date rumor has it the phone is going to be sold exclusively by Best Buy mobile and Sprint.

According to WebOS Arena, a site specializing is Palm Pre news and information, "credible source" are saying, "Best Buy Mobile will be getting an exclusive deal with Sprint for the Palm Pre release. For 60 days the number one consumer electronics retailer will be the only place where you can get your hands on the Palm Pre, besides Sprint of course."

Unfortunately there are no other details, like pricing or availability dates, however the Pre is rumored to cost less than the 3G Applie iPhone. Eldar Murtazin of Mobile-review.com recently reported the Pre might be priced as low as $399 for an unsubsidized phone, and between $149 and $199 for a subsidized phone.

Unlimited Calling Plans Start Price War

Verizon Wireless and AT&T unveiled $99.99-a-month plans for unlimited calls, a great deal right? Well not much after the announcement T-Mobile went a step further by including text messaging in that price.

Now it looks like Sprint/Nextel will be offering an even better deal, an unlimited calling plan for as low as $60 a month. At least according to a recent Reuters article. The article "Sprint expected to undercut rivals' call plans" predicts that Sprint Nextel Corp is expected to offer flat-rate calling plans at up to a 40 percent discount to its rivals.

This could be great news for many cell phone users. Personally I'd like to see lower fees across the board. AT&T, my service provider, has been raising fees gradually over the last several years. The new price war might reverse that, or could lead me to switch providers.