Dialed In Podcast

Join us for our last Dialed In podcast of 2009. In addition to the latest reviews and cell phone news, we'll give you a preview of Macworld and CES. See you in 2009!

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Though many people dread the approach of the holidays, I relish them. And it's not because I have a thing for eggnog (except when it's served with brandy). Rather, the arrival of December means the end of the very busy fall phone season. Between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, most manufacturers release a torrent of new phones in preparation for the holiday-shopping season. Though it's certainly interesting to see all the new models companies like Samsung, Nokia, and LG have to offer, following all those phones can be a little exhausting. Now, with CNET's holiday break just a week away, I have the time to reflect on what this year brought us in the world of cell phones. And be sure to tell me what you saw this year, as well.

The iPhone 3G made big news.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

iPhone 3G and T-Mobile G1
Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't lead off with the two biggest phones of the year: the iPhone 3G and the T-Mobile G1. Though the 3G version didn't quite reach the stratospheric hype of its predecessor, buyers still stood in line at Apple and AT&T stores on its July 11 release date. And despite some well-publicized problems with dropped calls and shaky 3G connections, buyers still flocked to buy the iPhone; Apple sold 5 million handsets in the third quarter alone. Apple continues to add new features through software updates, and I'm excited to see what 2009 will bring. I just hope one of the new features is something basic like multimedia messaging. And speaking of Apple, MacWold 2009 is only a couple of weeks away. We may just see an iPhone Nano. ... Read more

This week we discuss the latest news that the T-Mobile G1 may not be the only Android phone for very long. We also talk about the latest BlackBerry Storm update, new Nokia handsets, calendar syncing for the Instinct, a new Bluetooth profile, AT&T femtocells, and the best phones of 2009. And of course we go over the latest reviews and listener questions.
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News
Sony Ericsson, HTC to release Android phone
Non-G1 Android phone to hit Australia in January
Verizon Wireless officially rolls out BlackBerry Storm firmware update
Nokia 2605 debuts on Verizon
Calendar syncing comes to the Instinct
Nokia E63, 5130 Xpress Music clear FCC
Bluetooth 3.0 to debut next year?
AT&T to start testing out femtocells
Best phones of 2009

Reviews
Nokia 5800 first take
HTC Touch Pro (Verizon Wireless)
Samsung Delve (U.S. Cellular)
Jabra BT530
Jabra SP700

Upcoming reviews
Motorola i576
LG Invision

Pick your C905 carefully.

(Credit: Sony Ericsson)

Q: I currently have an iPhone 3G but I'm considering purchasing the Sony Ericsson C905. This would be my first time using an unlocked phone and I'm a bit skeptical that it will work. What steps do I need to take in order to make the switch go as smoothly as possible? And will I be able to use AT&T's 3G network?
- Nacor

A: Buying an unlocked phone needn't be complicated as long as you consider a couple of points. Most importantly, the phone will need to support the GSM bands used in the United States. Since the C905 is a quad-band GSM phone, you'll be able to make calls here without any problem. Just pop in your AT&T SIM card and you can start dialing. Yet, the 3G compatibility is another story. Sony Ericsson makes two versions of the C905, each with support for different 3G bands. The C905i will support only European 3G bands, while the C905a will work with AT&T's 3G network. So when buying your phone, you'll need to make sure you have the correct model.

Once you get the phone, you'll also need to program it with the correct multimedia settings to send picture messages and browse the Internet. The settings are unique to every phone and carrier but you should be able to download them from the support section on Sony Ericsson's Web site.

Q: I'm new here in the United States, and I would like to know if I can use a prepaid SIM from Verizon Wireless. Is that possible?
- Chaya

A: Verizon Wireless is a CDMA carrier, which means that its phones don't use SIM cards. Verizon does offer prepaid phones, but you'll need to purchase a phone from the carrier if you want to use the service. And in any case, Verizon does its best to downplay its prepaid service.

Everyone's back from Thanksgiving holiday, and we hope you've left some room for a nice helping of cell phone news. This week we're serving up the latest on the just-announced Nokia N97, BlackBerry Storm updates, and outrageous G1 roaming charges. All this, plus Kent tells us about blogging from 35,000 feet in the air and of course, the latest reviews and listener questions.

Rumor of the week
T-Mobile Shadow

News
Nokia's mystery device? The Nokia N97
Verizon drops price on Samsung Omnia
Verizon gets its own HTC Touch Pro
HTC focuses on phone design; acquires One & Company Design Inc.
LG Vu in wine color
Alltel takes a hint
The best thing about the iPhone 2.2 software update
Blogging from 25,000 feet

Reviews
RIM BlackBerry Storm
Motorola i776
Samsung SGH-A777
Nokia 6650
Samsung Renown
Samsung Omnia (Verizon Wireless)
Samsung Gravity
LG Incite
AT&T Quickfire

Upcoming reviews
Motorola i576
HTC Touch Pro (Verizon Wireless)

In case you haven't noticed, touch-screen phones are red hot this season. In this episode of Dialed In, we run through the latest touch-screen phones, including the LG Delve and Samsung Eternity. We also dish on other new handsets including the BlackBerry Storm and the AT&T Quickfire.

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Rumor of the week
LG Prada 2

News
Samsung Saga, Renown debut for Verizon Wireless
AT&T launches Samsung Eternity
Alltel launches the LG Swift and the Samsung Hue II
HTC Touch Diamond for Alltel
LG Incite is LG's first U.S. smartphone
BlackBerry Storm gets official pricing and release date
RIM Curve 8900 passes FCC
HTC Touch Pro rumored for Verizon

Reviews
Samsung Eternity
Samsung Delve
Technocel T10 Bluetooth headset
Mophie iPhone 3G Juice Pack
Technocel T6000 Bluetooth speakerphone
Nokia 2600

Upcoming reviews
Nokia 6650
Samsung SGH-A777
Samsung Renown
Samsung Gravity
AT&T Quickfire
LG Incite
Samsung Saga

Rumor of the Week
Samsung Eternity

News
Samsung unleashes another Boeing phone
Samsung Behold
More Samsungs from T-Mobile
T-Mobile halts Nokia 5610 sales
LG CP150--basic flip from AT&T
AT&T Quickfire now on sale
ClarityLife phone goes on sale
iPhone crowned most popular phone in the U.S.
Google starts fixing Android reboot bug
MetroPCS starts nationwide service
Nokia E63 announced
Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 pricing and release date Aliph introduces accessories for the Jawbone

Reviews
Nokia 1680
Samsung Behold
Sony Ericsson Xperia X1
HTC Fuze
Motorola H780 Bluetooth headset
LG VX5500

Upcoming reviews
Nokia 2600
Samsung Delve
Technocel T10 Bluetooth headset
Mophie iPhone 3G Juice Pack

News
RIM BlackBerry Bold officially on sale
Waiting for the BlackBerry Storm
Bang & Olufsen hangs up cell phone biz
Alltel delves into touch screen
LG VX5500 now on sale
Sony Ericsson C902
AT&T starts selling the Pantech Slate

Reviews
HTC Touch Pro
RIM BlackBerry Bold
Motorola Rapture VU30
Motorola Zine ZN5
Sony Ericsson C902
Pantech Slate
Motorola Pure H15 Bluetooth headset

T-Mobile G1

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

I'm a month-to-month T-Mobile customer with a Nokia 6133 that is on its lest leg. I want to get a phone with a full Internet browser and I'm deciding between the iPhone and the T-Mobile G1. I'd also like access for my Yahoo mail, but I don't need my work e-mail. Which do you recommend? Also, I don't own an iPod or use iTunes (I usually use Amazon to purchase music), so I'm concerned about moving to an all-iTunes environment.
- EJ

That's a a very good question, EJ, and the answer depends on your individual needs and desires. Though the iPhone is the better overall device (at least right now) a person in your situation should seriously consider the G1. Here is why.

I always tell people who are considering purchasing an iPhone 3G that there are three reasons to buy one. Forget the slick design and the flashy and user-friendly interface; I recommend buying the iPhone for its Web browser, its media player, and (to a somewhat lesser extent) its support for third-party applications. These three areas are where the iPhone performs very well, so I advise basing your decision on a comparison of those points. Sure, the design and interface are important, but I'd treat them and the e-mail integration as secondary motivators. And of course, I wouldn't base my decision on call quality alone, as the iPhone 3G still suffers in that area.

When boiled down to those three points, the G1 offers a compelling alternative to the iPhone. It also has a Web browser and media player and it supports third-party apps. While those apps are limited for now, more will come in the future. And as Bonnie Cha and Nicole Lee reported in their G1 review, the media player and browser offered satisfying performance. Sure, they may not be as good as on the iPhone, but they may be good enough for you. And here's another advantage for you: the G1's integration with the Amazon MP3 store means you wouldn't have to switch over to iTunes. And on a similar note, the G1 would enable you to stay with T-Mobile if you're happy with its service.

As we inch closer toward the holiday season, a wave of new cell phones is upon us, from messaging phones to touch-screen smartphones. This week, we plow through a pile of latest reviews and highlight recent from both the T-Mobile G1 and Sprint.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

News

Wal-Mart to sell T-Mobile G1 at lower price
Sprint releases availability dates for HTC Touch Pro
Sanyo Katana Eclipse X to get One Click
Virtual keypads set to grace Android phones
Sprint CEO says Android not good enough yet
Sprint to start prorating early termination fees

Reviews

Samsung Epi
Sony Ericsson W980
Motorola VU204
Motorola Active W450
Samsung SGH-A637
LG Lotus
Samsung Propel

Upcoming reviews

RIM BlackBerry Bold
HTC Touch Pro (Sprint)
Motorola Rapture VU30
Sony Ericsson C902