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Samsung Galaxy S III for T-Mobile hits FCC, brings future-proofed HSPA+ for good measure

Jon Fingas — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:14:00 EST

There's been hints of it coming as early as February, but we now have a smoking gun at the FCC: the Galaxy S III is coming to T-Mobile. A Samsung SGH-T999 has popped up at the agency sporting newly added 1,700MHz AWS support that's the telltale sign of a T-Mobile device, along with the T999 name itself (the T989 is the network's Galaxy S II). It also totes 850MHz and 1,900MHz WCDMA bands being used for HSPA+ data rather than just voice, a clue that the phone is ready for refarmed GSM spectrum. Just in case there was any remaining doubt, we've further spotted a related T999V entry at the Bluetooth SIG with a rather familiar-looking image as well as a Samsung-hosted T999 user agent profile on the web that matches what we know about the Android 4.0 hardware. We have yet to get a look at whether or not the T-Mobile version is any different on the outside, but with the FCC's help, there's not much left to know before the expected summer US launch.

Samsung Galaxy S III for T-Mobile hits FCC, brings future-proofed HSPA+ for good measure originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth SIG embraces GNSS Profile 1.0 for GPS data sharing

Darren Murph — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:41:00 EST

Hot on the heels of a new Broadcom system that taps into the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in order to reduce first-lock times, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has quietly adopted GNSS Profile 1.0 for GPS data sharing. According to Phone Scoop, the profile can be used by all devices boasting Bluetooth 2.0 and up, and it'll allow GPS-enabled products to share positioning data with another nearby product over BT. Specifically, "the GNSS profile specification defines the Serial Port Profile (SPP) based transport mechanism and associated service discovery record parameters needed to establish a service level connection between two devices," which should make GPS data sharing as easy as contact sharing of yesteryear. Practical applications? With a plethora of location-based social networking apps already on the market, we're certainly playing the wait-and-see game on this one.

Bluetooth SIG embraces GNSS Profile 1.0 for GPS data sharing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New iPad has power-sipping Bluetooth 4.0

Sharif Sakr — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:21:00 EST

There are already 2,048 x 1,536 reasons to covet the latest iPad, but here's one more: it's the first tablet to incorporate the latest Bluetooth 4.0 "Smart" standard. Like the iPhone 4S, Apple's new slate is ready to pair with other Smart devices that drain far less power than previous modules. Want to complement your purchase with a wireless keyboard whose batteries will last for years? Or to plaster your body with tiny low-power sensors so you can, erm, monitor yourself on your iPad? Oh yes, Bluetooth 4.0 can make that happen.

Continue reading New iPad has power-sipping Bluetooth 4.0

New iPad has power-sipping Bluetooth 4.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth SIG forms new working group focused on fitness gadgets

Donald Melanson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:44:00 EST

We've been seeing Bluetooth make more and more inroads into fitness gadgets as of late, and it looks like the Bluetooth Special Interest Group is intent on seeing that trend continue. It announced the formation of a new Sports and Fitness Working Group today, which will be tasked with increasing the interoperability between wearable gadgets and other sensors and so-called "hub" devices like smartphones, TVs and gym equipment. That's a fairly natural fit for Bluetooth now, but it's taken until Bluetooth 4.0 for the standard to really emerge as a viable alternative to lower-power options like ANT+ (now commonly used in heart rate monitors and the like).

Continue reading Bluetooth SIG forms new working group focused on fitness gadgets

Bluetooth SIG forms new working group focused on fitness gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson LT28at with 4.55-inch HD display, 13MP camera and LTE gets Bluetooth certification

Brad Molen — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:55:00 EST

Reading entries to the Bluetooth SIG for device certification can be a frustrating activity. They're generally void of any telling detail aside from the device's model number, and they rarely give any insight into what we can expect from the upcoming product. The Sony Ericsson LT28at, a handset we haven't seen or heard from before, decided to be a little different and use the opportunity to get a little pre-CES scoop. The LT28a -- not to be confused with the LT26i (Nozomi), a rumored handset with a 4.3-inch HD screen and 12MP camera -- claims to offer LTE, a 720p HD Reality display, 13MP rear camera with an LED flash and a front-facing cam capable of taking 720p HD video, and is said to take the Xperia lineup into "superphone territory." Sounds nice, but we have a feeling the land will be populated by hostile forces of all kinds at CES, so we hope they're prepared.

Sony Ericsson LT28at with 4.55-inch HD display, 13MP camera and LTE gets Bluetooth certification originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth SIG, NFC Forum come together, right now, over pairing

Daniel Cooper — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:24:00 EST

Personally, we wish the NFC Forum and Bluetooth SIG behaved like the elder robots of Chapek 9, controlling the world from an underground bunker. Instead, the two industry bodies ensure interoperability and standards of their respective technologies. Now they've gotten 'round the table and hammered out the dryly titled "Bluetooth secure simple pairing using NFC," a guide for developers to ensure hassle-free hook-ups 'twixt smartphone and device. The paper includes breakdowns on ensuring the kit will team up pedometers, headsets, car dashboards and push content from your phone to your TV -- something we've been told we watch too much of, given our Futurama fantasies.

Continue reading Bluetooth SIG, NFC Forum come together, right now, over pairing

Bluetooth SIG, NFC Forum come together, right now, over pairing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZTE Smart Tab V55 tablet shows its face at the Bluetooth SIG

Sharif Sakr — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:11:00 EST

After flaunting its rear side at the FCC, ZTE's unannounced Smart Tab V55 has now given us a full frontal courtesy of the Bluetooth SIG. Aside from the flash of Honeycomb, the official listing tells us nothing beyond what we already know: there's a CDMA modem inside, along with WiFi and Bluetooth. Oh well, at least it's good to see that the slate is still alive and jumping through all the right hoops for a possible release early next year. Is there any hope that it'll pack Tegra 3, like that curious T98?

ZTE Smart Tab V55 tablet shows its face at the Bluetooth SIG originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's Iconia Tab A200 Honeycomb tablet emerges at Bluetooth SIG

Darren Murph — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:12:00 EST

Who's amped about another Honeycomb tablet? Go on, we'll wait for the hands to rise. All jesting aside, Acer's presumably forthcoming Iconia Tab A200 has just surfaced over at the Bluetooth SIG, where a filing has proved that a) Acer's new Honeycomb tablet will look pretty much like every other Honeycomb tablet we've seen, and b) it'll have Bluetooth and WiFi. Sadly, the rest of the details are still under wraps, but you can bet we'll be bringing 'em to you as soon as we hear more.

Acer's Iconia Tab A200 Honeycomb tablet emerges at Bluetooth SIG originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth SIG unveils Smart Marks, explains v4.0 compatibility with unnecessary complexity

Joe Pollicino — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:59:00 EST

Bluetooth has been through bevy of official versions to date, and now its eponymous Special Interest Group is announcing Smart Marks to differentiate device types in v4.0. Products will now fall under three brands including Bluetooth Smart Ready, Bluetooth Smart and the original itself. According to Bluetooth SIG, the new visuals are intended to help gauge device compatibility and also denote what form of radios they have. Essentially, Smart Ready refers to any electronics that feature Bluetooth v4.0 with a dual radio, like the iPhone 4S, while the Smart tag covers "devices like heart-rate monitors or pedometers that run on button-cell batteries and were built to collect a specific piece of information." In terms of compatibility, Smart Ready devices can interface with themselves and both of the others, while standard Bluetooth lacks compatibility with Smart, which can only hookup with Smart Ready-enabled gadgets. If you ask us, it's all a bit confusing at the moment, but at least there's a chart for memorizing it all. Hit the source link below for all the details.

Continue reading Bluetooth SIG unveils Smart Marks, explains v4.0 compatibility with unnecessary complexity

Bluetooth SIG unveils Smart Marks, explains v4.0 compatibility with unnecessary complexity originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZTE N860 heading to Sprint, granted FCC and BlueTooth SIG approval

Terrence O'Brien — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:01:00 EST

It's not often that a phone swings through the FCC with its carrier branding already in place, but here is the ZTE N860 with a nice big Sprint logo emblazoned across its regulatory label. Interestingly, it doesn't appear that the N860 (which we hope picks up a catchier name on its way to market) packs a WiMAX radio. Instead this Android smartphone only has test entries for its EVDO connection, but we wouldn't rule out a 4G hiding in some of the unreleased documents. In addition to its trip through the FCC, the handset also hit up the BlueTooth SIG and we can tell it sports A2DP capabilities - but, beyond that (even what particular version of Google's mobile OS it's running) this thing is still a mystery.

ZTE N860 heading to Sprint, granted FCC and BlueTooth SIG approval originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Motorola joining the Facebook phone bandwagon with its EX225?

Zachary Lutz — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:54:00 EST

A funny thing just happened over at the Bluetooth SIG's website: the group may have just outed Motorola's first Facebook phone. As Unwired View rightfully points out, the EX225 is likely a feature phone that's based on BREW, as Android's navigation buttons are nowhere to be found. The handset offers two variants, one that supports dual-SIMs and another that accommodates only one. Further, a nearly identical version, the EX226, is displayed in a separate listing that lacks the notorious "F" button. Both models share a common 2.4-inch TFT-LCD display, a 3 megapixel camera and five row QWERTY keyboard -- along with a sizable protrusion at the bottom rear of the device. That's all we have for the moment, but it seems that the Status shouldn't be too concerned about this Moto.

Is Motorola joining the Facebook phone bandwagon with its EX225? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth SIG takes aim at sensor market, adds Apple and Nordic to board of directors

Donald Melanson — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:11:00 EST

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (aka Bluetooth SIG) has some fairly grand plans for the future of its wireless technology, and it's now recruited some big players to help get it there. The group announced yesterday that it's added both Apple and Nordic Semiconductor to its board of directors -- companies that it says will help it "drive Bluetooth technology's expansion into platform and sensor markets." In particular, the group is setting its sights on wireless health sensors, which it hopes to finally gain a real foothold in thanks the lower power requirements of the Bluetooth 4.0 standard, and thanks to the experience of Nordic, which has a long history of working with such devices. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Bluetooth SIG takes aim at sensor market, adds Apple and Nordic to board of directors

Bluetooth SIG takes aim at sensor market, adds Apple and Nordic to board of directors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia C5-04 with T-Mobile branding gets Bluetooth certified: is the Nuron 2 still on?

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:02:00 EST

Does that shot up there look just a little bit like T-Mobile's allegedly shelved Nuron 2? Why yes, it does -- so it would seem that the phone has a model code of C5-04, according to the Bluetooth SIG's certification database. That would make a lot of sense since the rumored Nuron replacement was looking like a rebranded C5-03 already, and Nokia would need to bust out a new model code since T-Mobile's version would require support for AWS 3G. Question is, does this mean that the phone is back on T-Mobile's roadmap? It wouldn't be out of the question for a canned device to continue its zombie-esque stroll through the world's certification bodies -- but this could also mean the carrier still wants to get this done; Nokia doesn't have Windows Phone gear ready quite yet, after all.

Nokia C5-04 with T-Mobile branding gets Bluetooth certified: is the Nuron 2 still on? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's mysterious Olympus MB860 gets certified for Bluetooth, UPnP and dual-band WiFi

Sean Hollister — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:27:00 EST

What is the Motorola MB860? It's hard to say for sure, but it could be one of the infamous Tegra 2 tablets that Motorola's been allegedly working on. Ameblo recently discovered that the MB860 had been certified for Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, and then noticed that the UPnP Forum had attached a curious codename -- Olympus -- to the device. This is where things get fairly fuzzy, but Android and Me recently reported that the Olympus was one of two Motorola tablets in testing -- though it may not be the Stingray, as that supposed 10-inch device has an alphanumeric designation of its own: MZ600. For those of you inspired to go sluthing on your own, we've got a couple final notes. First, the Bluetooth SIG has already changed its MB860 filing to read BT0001, according to Google's cache. Second, though the WiFi interoperability certificate above reads "smartphone," that's not necessarily true -- according to the Wi-Fi Alliance, Samsung's Galaxy Tab is a "phone" as well.

Motorola's mysterious Olympus MB860 gets certified for Bluetooth, UPnP and dual-band WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG C900 due to bring Windows Phone 7 to market near September 28th, according to Bluetooth SIG

Paul Miller — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:59:00 EST

The Bluetooth SIG has a long history of promoting its members' "special interests" by leaking valuable tidbits about their handsets before they're announced. The recently unearthed LG C900 is the latest of these, being pegged for a launch date "around" September 28th by the SIG's detail page on the phone. The QWERTY slider, which is referred to in C900N, C900k, and C900B versions, will be available in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Phone Arena conjectures that the launch date lines up with AT&T's marketing materials timing and the slated Q4 launch of Windows Phone 7, so the C900 probably has a decent chance of being the first Windows Phone 7 phones to market if LG's own GW910 or some more secretive set doesn't beat it to the punch. Still, September is a bit earlier than any of the launch windows Microsoft has managed to let slip, and as far as we know Microsoft won't even be accepting apps in the Marketplace before October.

LG C900 due to bring Windows Phone 7 to market near September 28th, according to Bluetooth SIG originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's Cetus SGH-i917 sashays into FCC database, winks seductively at AT&T

Darren Murph — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:20:00 EST

AT&T came right out and confessed that it would be "the premiere carrier" for Windows Phone 7, and while it's obviously far too early to say if that'll be the case, this ain't a bad way to start proving one's point. Samsung's Cetus (SGH-i917) was just recently confirmed to be one of the first commercial Windows Phone 7 devices last week, and now the always-disclosing FCC database has shed even more light on the phone's intentions. Based on the mention of 850 / 1,900MHz frequency support -- and that whole "SGH-i917 (ATT)" marking on the label -- it's pretty safe to assume that this 4-inch, AMOLED-packin' superphone will soon be fighting with the iPhone 4 for shelf space. There's obviously no indication of when Ma Bell plans on releasing this one to the wilds, but it's typically not too far out after hitting this milestone. Giddy yet?

Gallery: Samsung's Cetus SGH-i917 passes through FCC database

Samsung's Cetus SGH-i917 sashays into FCC database, winks seductively at AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's 4-inch Windows Phone 7 handset gets named: Cetus (SGH-i917)

Darren Murph — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:54:00 EST

You'd probably assume that Samsung would have a difficult time overshadowing the Galaxy S right now, but all it really takes is a salacious Bluetooth SIG entry that leaves only the most important parts to the imagination. We've known for some time now that Sammy would be one of Microsoft's closest Windows Phone 7 launch partners, and we've even taken the time to toy with a prototype earlier in the year. But a new Bluetooth certification is now all-but-confirming a name: Cetus. The SGH-i917 is apt to be North America's first WP7 device from Samsung, a 4-inch smartphone with an 800 x 480 AMOLED display, 5 megapixel camera, a VGA front-facing camera, an FM radio tuner, inbuilt GPS, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, USB 2.0 and of course, Bluetooth. As for pricing, availability and form factor? "Not yet."

Samsung's 4-inch Windows Phone 7 handset gets named: Cetus (SGH-i917) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth 4.0 specification gets official, devices expected by Q4 2010

Darren Murph — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:00:00 EST

Outside of Samsung's Wave, we're having a hard time thinking of a meaningful device that has shipped with Bluetooth 3.0 onboard. Kind of crazy when you think about it, being that the protocol offered some pretty promising stuff when it went official in April of 2009. Fast forward to today, and it looks as if the Bluetooth SIG is storming forward regardless, as the Bluetooth 4.0 core specification has now been adopted with "low energy technology" as the standout feature. This step means that companies can begin to work towards integration of BT 4.0 in actual end-user products, and if the SIG has its way, the tech will begin to show up in minuscule devices that haven't been able to take advantage of Bluetooth thus far. In fact, they want this stuff in applications "not even possible or imagined today." Looks like someone better get those imagination gears turning, 'cause Q4 2010 certainly isn't an eternity from now.

Continue reading Bluetooth 4.0 specification gets official, devices expected by Q4 2010

Bluetooth 4.0 specification gets official, devices expected by Q4 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola XT502 another Android phone for North America?

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:15:00 EST

There's no shortage of Motorola buzz going around lately -- thing is, nearly all of that buzz is focused on the Verizon side of the camp. What about the other six-odd national carriers in the States and Canada, five of which are using GSM? Well, for you guys, we submit this so-called XT502 -- a phone that may be codenamed "Greco" thanks to the naming of the image file found over in the Bluetooth SIG's certification directory. We can't gather much from the microscopic image the SIG is using, but they've kindly listed radio details, which indicates we can expect a triband HSPA setup working on the 850, 1900, and 2100MHz bands -- perfect for AT&T, Bell, Telus, and Rogers with a little dash of Europe thrown in for good measure. It'll also have WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, and AGPS; in other words, all the basics you expect on a modern Android device. No word on a release plan, but at least it'll be coming out with some totally legal Bluetooth, right?

Motorola XT502 another Android phone for North America? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 May 2010 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth 4.0 with low energy (almost) finally ready to roll

Sean Hollister — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:46:00 EST

Molasses, snails and glaciers: none are slower than an organization developing a new wireless standard. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is no exception -- it's been nearly three years since it announced it would roll Wibree into Bluetooth and four months since it made Bluetooth 4.0 official, but still no dice. This week, the SIG says the low-power specification is ready for action, its minutiae finalized. However, fine print in the org's press release disagrees. The main reason for Bluetooth 4.0 was to include lower power devices, but that all-important integration is still pending a "before June 2010" completion date. That means we still won't see Bluetooth-toting cats till the end of the year, and we have no idea what SIG has accomplished in the meanwhile. Press release after the break.

Continue reading Bluetooth 4.0 with low energy (almost) finally ready to roll

Bluetooth 4.0 with low energy (almost) finally ready to roll originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S coming to AT&T?

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:21:00 EST

We'd already heard from Samsung itself at CTIA that we'd see the high-end Galaxy S complete with blindingly brilliant Super AMOLED display on American soil in 2010 -- and considering that Sammy doesn't play the unlocked, unbranded game in these parts, that means with certainty that it'll be coming to a carrier. Here's where it gets interesting: the Bluetooth SIG has recently certified a "full touch" device (read: no keyboard) from Samsung identified as the SGH-i897 with a 4-inch display and TouchWiz 3.0 -- in other words, a dead ringer for the unbranded Galaxy S that's identified as the i9000. Historically, Samsung models that start with SGH and end with a number 7 land at AT&T (it's a tradition that goes back years) so it stands to reason that this i897 is destined for the orange and blue. Is AT&T actually planning on getting serious about solid Android hardware this year?

Samsung Galaxy S coming to AT&T? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth 4.0 devices to make the scene later this year

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:57:00 EST

We were glad to see Bluetooth low energy actually added to the Bluetooth 4.0 spec, but of course the question remained: when are we going to get our hands on it? By Q4 this year, apparently -- at least according to the Bluetooth SIG. But don't expect any dramatic changes in battery life for most of your gadgets: while the low energy spec introduces connectivity to a host of lower-power devices that have in the past relied on proprietary technology (such as watches, pedometers, and cats), your traditional Bluetooth devices, such as phones and laptops, will consume roughly the same amount of power. Indeed, the low energy spec is merely throwing smaller devices (with smaller amounts of data to transfer) in to the mix: if you want Trans-Siberian Orchestra to sound as glorious as ever on your wireless headphones, you'll need to push as much data (and hence draw as much power) with version 4 as you would with version 3. If you've ever heard "A Mad Russian's Christmas," you'd know what we're talking about.

Bluetooth 4.0 devices to make the scene later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's E110 Android / P300 WinMo phones unearthed by Bluetooth SIG

Ross Miller — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:11:00 EST

Ah, Bluetooth Special Interest Group, our second-favorite source for mobile leaks (next to the FCC, of course). Here's two new entries care of Acer, both touchscreen devices with quadband GSM. The Android-powered E110 (pictured, right), however, also touts the AT&T-friendly 850 / 1900 frequencies and A-GPS. As for the P300, it's got an unknown version of Windows Mobile, 802.11b/g, and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR. That's quite a bit of detail for two tiny entries -- now let's get Mobile World Congress started already, give Acer a nice platform to spill the beans.

Acer's E110 Android / P300 WinMo phones unearthed by Bluetooth SIG originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZTE's F350 has a Verizon logo on it, you do the math

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:19:00 EST

The Bluetooth SIG's device database isn't typically the most helpful when it comes to tracking down specs and gorgeous, high-res photos -- but often, it's first way we hear of a new device, so we'll take what we can get. Take this F350 from ZTE for example; from the single picture the SIG's given us, we can't even make out whether it's a landscape or slider, a pivot, or a full touchscreen (doubtful) phone, but we can make out a shiny little Verizon swoosh three-quarters of the way down. It'll apparently have a camera, voice command capability, Bluetooth (of course), and a 1X radio, but we're not clear on whether that means it won't have EV-DO. Now that we know Verizon's working with ZTE, this makes quite a bit of sense, doesn't it?

ZTE's F350 has a Verizon logo on it, you do the math originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung GT-S8500 is first with Bluetooth 3.0

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:45:00 EST

And here we have it: what's likely to be the world's first Bluetooth 3.0 phone courtesy of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). According to the filing's description, the "compact and slim" Samsung GT-S8500 is a touchscreen slate phone with a "high resolution" 3.1-inch OLED sporting a TouchWIZ UI and quad-band GSM/EDGE radios. The advantages of the 3.0 Bluetooth spec approved in April are faster throughput (up to 24Mbps) and more frugal power usage -- both welcome advances in modern media-playing handsets. Although it's not stated we can assume an official launch in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress.

Samsung GT-S8500 is first with Bluetooth 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Twist 7505 spotted paying homage to Verizon, and then disappeared

Richard Lai — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:09:00 EST

Recognize? This white cousin of the Nokia Twist 7705 briefly showed up on Bluetooth SIG's website as the Twist 7505, but now the picture's been eaten by a sad black square, and the description text taken over by some copy-and-paste disaster -- probably the panicked work of some shaking webmaster after a phone call from Verizon or Finland. Apart from the obvious replacement of touch-activated buttons with physical ones below the screen, the camera's apparently 1.3 megapixel instead of 7705's 3 megapixel. There's a chance that the hole at the bottom right of the screen has been patched up by a concave button as well, but we can't tell from this low-res pic; at any rate, though, it's certainly not the phone in Verizon's lineup that we would've expected to be re-released as a slightly lower-end model.

Nokia Twist 7505 spotted paying homage to Verizon, and then disappeared originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth 4.0 finally rolls low energy tech into a shipping standard

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:23:00 EST

Bluetooth low energy and its predecessors (think Wibree) have been in the pipe for ages now, but we might actually see this tech take off en masse for the first time now that the Bluetooth SIG has officially added it into a release: 4.0. While Bluetooth 3.0 was all about high energy with the introduction of WiFi transfer, 4.0 takes things down a notch by certifying single-mode low energy devices in addition to dual-mode devices that incorporate both the low energy side of the spec plus either 2.1+EDR or 3.0. In a nutshell, the technology should bring a number of new categories and form factors of wireless devices into the fold since 1Mbps Bluetooth low energy can operate on coin cells -- the kinds you find in wristwatches, calculators, and remote controls -- and the SIG's pulling no punches by saying that "with today's announcement the race is on for product designers to be the first to market." Nokia pioneered Wibree, so you can bet they'll be among the frontrunners -- bring it, guys.

Bluetooth 4.0 finally rolls low energy tech into a shipping standard originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh, by the way: September 7, 2009

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:24:00 EST

Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of mobile for Monday, September 7, 2009:

Samsung's got a version of the Jet for its domestic Korean market, the clumsily-named "Haptic AMOLED." Unlike its international cousin, the Haptic AMOLED packs a T-DMB tuner (as just about all Korean phones do) and it's available in spicy pink and white shades for the usual carriers SKT, KTF, and LGT.
Did you know that AT&T used to have a stake in the Indian wireless market? Yeah, us neither, but they did prior to the Cingular merger -- and rumor has it they're looking to get back in by buying a chunk of state-owned operator BSNL, ostensibly because the market -- which is still in a heavy growth phase -- is seen as a powder keg waiting to explode.
This one's been going around for a few days, and with the carrier's full-court press on Android, it makes total sense: the Bluetooth SIG is reporting that the Samsung T939 Behold2 for T-Mobile will feature "Google Mobile services," which would fit in with an earlier user agent profile leak. [Via Cell Phone Signal]
There's a new Samsung i8910 HD firmware that's starting to hit some regions, and it's a good one -- it features an all-new 3D task switcher and a built-in weather forecast widget for TouchWiz. [Via PhoneArena]
Surprise, surprise: Toshiba is relaunching the mighty TG01 with Windows Mobile 6.5 next month, a move that was fully expected all along. If anything, there'd be riots had this not happened.
Sony Ericsson's Panel SDK for the X2 is now available, featuring new "Panelizer" tools to convert existing apps into panels in a few easy steps -- and starting in the next few days, devs will be able to submit their work for inclusion in the PlayNow arena.
Vodafone has launched a range of eight new self-branded devices that'll be available in time for the holidays this year, and as usual, they're positioned squarely at the lower end of the market. Some of them like the E71 ripoff 1240 (pictured) are straight-up KIRFs, while others like the "Crystal" member of the 533 Catwalk Collection are trying to ooze fashion and style without killing the wad of cash stuffed in your pocket. Whether they've succeeded in doing that... well, that's another question altogether. [Via Unwired View]

Filed under: Handsets, Software, Others, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, ATT, T-Mobile, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Toshiba, Android

Oh, by the way: September 7, 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mystery Nokia flip for AT&T turns out to be 6350

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:52:00 EST

Remember that nameless midrange flip from Nokia that the FCC outed complete with AT&T branding not long ago? Well, we've now got a name to put with the face: 6350. The good folks at the Bluetooth SIG have come through once again, revealing a picture -- admittedly a small one -- of the phone that we can safely identify as the same thing we'd seen getting FCC approval a little while back. We don't have a launch date yet, but the SIG confirms that it's an HSDPA-equipped piece with a 2 megapixel camera -- in other words, nothing that's going to knock your socks off, unless your socks are mysteriously knocked off by 2 megapixel cameras, in which case you need to check your socks.

[Via Unwired View]

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS

Mystery Nokia flip for AT&T turns out to be 6350 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia 6750 Mural for AT&T still exists, because the Bluetooth SIG says so

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:04:00 EST

We haven't heard a peep about the so-called Nokia Mural flip since May -- basically an eternity (as opposed to an Eternity) by mobile standards. Was it canceled? Did AT&T get distracted playing Call of Duty 4 and forget to release it? It's possible -- crazier things have happened -- but we're taking some comfort this week in the knowledge that the Bluetooth SIG hasn't forgotten about the darn thing anyway. What's more, they're showing it with the AT&T logo up front, the first time we've actually seen it there; the FCC docs where we first learned of the phone had it blurred out (though there was plenty of other evidence to gather that AT&T was the destination from day one). Given that the Mural doesn't seem to be running S60, we're having a hard time getting too worked up about the fact that it hasn't launched -- but we're sure they'd manage to sell a few if it was actually on a shelf somewhere.

[Via Unwired View]

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS

Nokia 6750 Mural for AT&T still exists, because the Bluetooth SIG says so originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Giorgio Armani 2 specs leaked by Bluetooth SIG

Ross Miller — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:21:00 EST

As best as we can tell, that June 11th Armani event with Samsung and Microsoft came and went with nothing more than a new ad campaign featuring David Beckham in his knickers, and Sammy's June 15th solo fête was devoted to the Omnia lineup and said nothing of any impending Windows Mobile fashionphone. So whatever happened to the rumored luxury device? The Bluetooth SIG group has leaked specs of the Samsung B7620, which the company's Twitter feed labels as the Giorgio Armani 2. According to the product page, under the hood we're looking at a 800MHz processor, Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, A-GPS, Stereo FM Radio, WiFi, business card scanner, and the usual assortment audio / video codecs. Of course, the big deal here is gonna be what's it gonna look like on the exterior, and unfortunately this technological diva hasn't seen fit to leave her dressing room just yet.

[Via Mobilewhack]

Read - Bluetooth SIG's twitter account
Read - B7620's product details page

Filed under: Handsets, Samsung

Samsung Giorgio Armani 2 specs leaked by Bluetooth SIG originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Giorgio Armani 2 specs leaked by Bluetooth SIG

Ross Miller — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:21:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Samsung Giorgio Armani 2 specs leaked by Bluetooth SIG originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola MING A1890 "Greatwall" approved, Bluetooth SIG-style

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:59:00 EST

It looks like most of the juicy details have been pulled, but thanks to the Bluetooth SIG, mobile-review seems to have gotten the inside line on Motorola's latest spec bump for its MING series, the A1890 (codenamed "Greatwall," though we're guessing this won't stick through to production -- many of Moto's handsets are listed by their codenames in the SIG's database). The model -- which, like its predecessors, will likely be confined to Asian retail -- apparently had both GSM and CDMA / EV-DO listed in its brief specs, suggesting it might be a good fit for China Telecom's 3G network with a little roaming capability thrown in for good measure. The screen's apparently still QVGA, but it's got a 3 megapixel camera with business card recognition (a feature that carries over from existing models), GPS (another carry-over), and a built-in PDF reader -- and actually, now that we're reading over it, our enthusiasm has been thoroughly tempered. How about 5 megapixels, WVGA, Android, and global availability, Moto?

[Via mobile-review]

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Linux, GSM, EV-DO, CDMA

Motorola MING A1890 "Greatwall" approved, Bluetooth SIG-style originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola VE440 "Cadbury" shows up with the Bluetooth SIG folks

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:38:00 EST

Want a sneak peek at Motorola's first Android phone? Well, you're looking in decidedly the wrong place -- but if you want to know what's coming down the pike in the company's low-end stable (and who doesn't?), look no further than our dear friends at the Bluetooth SIG. Ever since the SIG's database started offering Mr. Blurrycam-style shots of upcoming products, we've really started to warm up to their ways -- and the VE440 is the latest to roll up to the counter. There's not much to see here, but we know from the SIG filing that it's a CDMA phone destined for North American markets, so we wouldn't be surprised to see this on, say, Cricket or MetroPCS in the near future.

[Via mobile-review]

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, CDMA

Motorola VE440 "Cadbury" shows up with the Bluetooth SIG folks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola W766 "Harmony" for Verizon gets Bluetooth SIG certification

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:34:00 EST

In terms of leaking juicy product info, we're accustomed to the Bluetooth SIG being one of the least helpful certification bodies around town, so imagine our surprise to see those guys outing the upcoming Motorola W766 (codenamed "Harmony," apparently) with some photography. This clamshell certainly isn't anything special, but we've heard from other sources that it'll likely replace the W755 -- which basically looked old the moment it was launched -- at some point in the next few months. Oh, and yes, no worries -- A2DP's in the cards.

[Via mobile-review]

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

Motorola W766 "Harmony" for Verizon gets Bluetooth SIG certification originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth 3.0 + HS gets official, adds speed with 802.11

Darren Murph — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST

The rumors were true, and today's the day that the Bluetooth SIG gets official with the latest, greatest version of Bluetooth. Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, as it'll be called, promises to be markedly faster than prior iterations thanks to the reliance on 802.11, which is the same protocol used by WiFi modules, routers, etc. The new standard obviously catapults Bluetooth into a new dimension; rather than being good for nothing more than sending images from one phone to another or syncing a fitness module to a DAP, v3.0 is nimble enough to handle camcorder-to-HDTV, PC-to-PMP and UMPC-to-printer transfers. In fact, the inclusion of the 802.11 Protocol Adaptation Layer (PAL) provides increased throughput of data transfers "at the approximate rate of 24Mbps." We had sit-downs with Mike Foley (executive director of the Bluetooth SIG) and Atheros CTO Bill McFarland in order to find out a few more details about plans for the protocol -- if you're eager to hear what they had to say, not to mention see a demonstration of BT 3.0 at work, follow us past the break.

Continue reading Bluetooth 3.0 + HS gets official, adds speed with 802.11

Filed under: Wireless

Bluetooth 3.0 + HS gets official, adds speed with 802.11 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth 3.0 to use WiFi for high-speed file transfers

Nilay Patel — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:48:00 EST

Sounds like the Bluetooth 3.0 announcement on April 21 is going to finally usher in the era of high-speed short-range data transfers -- as previously hinted, the new spec will actually negotiate a quick'n'dirty ad-hoc WiFi connection between devices if it needs to move bits in a hurry, and then turn off the spigot to save power when it's done. The idea is to leverage the speed of WiFi while keeping power usage low, and we'd say it's a pretty trick solution, since most Bluetooth-capable devices also have WiFi radios (cough, Storm). Since the ad-hoc WiFi connection is managed over Bluetooth, no actual wireless network is necessary, and the switch will appear seamless to the user -- except for the sudden increase in data transfer speeds. Yeah, it's definitely slick stuff -- we're looking forward to seeing the first devices in action next Tuesday.

[Via MocoNews]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Bluetooth 3.0 to use WiFi for high-speed file transfers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth 3.0 to use WiFi for high-speed file transfers

Nilay Patel — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:02:00 EST

Filed under: Peripherals

Bluetooth 3.0 to use WiFi for high-speed file transfers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Fiesta is "an Android phone," so says Bluetooth SIG

Chris Ziegler — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:17:00 EST

We know from countless encounters with our dear, dear friends at the Bluetooth Special Interest Group that their certifications aren't as... shall we say, "detailed" as their counterparts at the FCC; frequently, we don't even bother with them because there's simply nothing there to talk about. Android phones are still pretty difficult to come by, though, so whenever we see the platform mentioned in a certification of any kind, we're bound to sit up and take notice -- particularly when said certification comes via HTC. Tipster Jeff came across a filing for an HTC "Fiesta" in the SIG this time around, descriptively noted as "an Android phone" that'll be available in Asia, Europe, and North America. Other than that, we can count on it having Bluetooth (would be funny if it didn't, wouldn't it?), but that's about it; the G1 / Dream was the Kila, the Magic was the Sapphire, so what's this gonna be?

[Thanks, Jeff]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

HTC Fiesta is "an Android phone," so says Bluetooth SIG originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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