According to Droid-Life, yes. They seem to have come across a public test webpage URL on Verizon’s site that show the pricing for the soon-to-be launched Motorola DROID Pro at $299 with 2 year service agreement. Now, it’s possible the price is just a placeholder, but $299 for a primarily business-aimed handset wouldn’t be out of bounds in our opinion. Especially with global roaming capability. Thoughts?

[Via Engadget]

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One of our solid Apple sources has just let us know some pretty interesting (and exciting) information surrounding Apple’s upcoming iPhone devices. For starters, we have been told that iPhone model 3,2 — what everyone is assuming to be the Verizon (or at least CDMA-compatible) phone — just hit the “AP” testing stage. This is the very last stage before retail release; final hardware, almost final software. Here is the odd thing, though… the iPhone 3,2 unit, we have been exclusively told, contains a SIM card slot. This is interesting for a multitude of reasons, and presents several different scenarios:

• The iPhone 3,2 could be the mythical CDMA + GSM/HSPA device that would support Verizon, AT&T, and the other current worldwide iPhone 4 carriers frequencies. The mid-cycle refresh would bring an updated antenna design for the current iPhone 4 and bring CDMA-compatibility; essentially, Verizon Wireless subscribers would have the same device as AT&T subscribers.
• The iPhone 3,2 could be a CDMA-capable iPhone that houses a SIM card for global roaming capabilities; though that certainly seems more complicated than just having one single glove that would fit both hands.
• One last possibility that the iPhone model 3,2 would simply be a slightly different design that doesn’t suffer from the same antenna attenuation as the current model; though that would be a little disappointing.

As far as the next generation iPhone 5, our source has also indicated to us that device has hit the “EVT” stage in the development cycle. The “EVT” stage is the engineering verification test phase, before the “DVT” phase.

One of our solid Sprint guys just shot us over this slide on the upcoming BlackBerry Oxford, the device we first showed the world, and the big news? A release date and price! Here is the breakdown: the BlackBerry Oxford (maybe “Style” wasn’t stylish enough?) is indeed a Sprint exclusive, and is set to launch on October 31st in the color Seattle grey. There will be a purple model being released in the near future, or as Sprint likes to put it, it’s “coming soon”. The BlackBerry 6-powered flip device will run you only $99.99 with a two year agreement after $100 mail-in-rebate. Not a bad price for a 5 megapixel-toting, full QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi and GPS capable EV-DO Rev. A device, right? So let’s hear it — yay or nay on the Oxford, guys?

Is it possible that the Apple iPhone might actually, finally be coming to the nation’s largest carrier? In a research note from Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Jeffrey Fidacara, he claims that his channel checks with Apple’s suppliers indicate that Cupertino’s finest is readying a production run of over 3 million CDMA-flavor iPhone devices in December. If you’re up on your rumors, this would coincide with reports that Apple has ordered CDMA chips from Qualcomm for December production. Lastly, it also links up with rumors that Apple is planning on launching the phone on Verizon Wireless in January, as early as CES’ keynote with Big Red CEO Ivan Seidenberg. Tired of the Verizon iPhone news? It’s only going to get worse once the darned thing is released, unfortunately… Poll below!

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The BlackBerry Curve 9330 isn’t even available yet — although it should be shortly — but it already has a leaked operating system. We’re telling you this because that leaked operating system happens to be BlackBerry 6. If you have plans to buy a 9330 in the near future, and love being on the bleeding edge of mobile operatings systems, it might behoove you to download BlackBerry OS 6.0.0.212 from the interwebs before it goes the way of the Dodo. BBleaks has more information for those interested. Hit up the read link to be sent in that direction.

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On the fence about the Motorola DROID 2? Wondering if people are happy with the device? Well, we have been told that the Motorola DROID 2, according to one of our connects, has the lowest smartphone return rate on Verizon Wireless. Not only are people apparently thrilled with the device, but that pesky fluctuation issue with the antenna doesn’t seem to be a problem either, as we have also been informed that the DROID 2 has one of the lowest dropped call rates on the carrier. Who knew.

Guess what we have here, folks? Confirmation that the very sexy and very unannounced Samsung tablet device for Verizon Wireless is actually Samsung’s Galaxy Tab tablet. It is currently sitting pretty in Verizon’s internal systems, and a source of ours has sent in proof. Well, now that the mystery surrounding Samsung’s tablet is out, it won’t be long until we get to the bottom of Motorola’s slab device. According to our information, it should up the stakes on Samsung’s unit by running Android 3.0 and offering more screen real estate — 10″ worth.

Verizon is offering a very interesting new cellular plan “for eligible consumers in select Texas and Louisiana markets” coined “Unlimited Any Mobile plans.” The press release reads:

Eligible consumers may sign up for a single line Nationwide Unlimited Talk plan that allows the customer to call and send text, picture and video messages to anyone in the United States regardless of service provider for $59.99-$79.99 monthly access. Nationwide Family SharePlans will also have the new Unlimited Any Mobile plan options for $99.99-$129.99 monthly access.

Current customers are eligible to move to the new plan without penalty and without having to renew their contract. The five plans available look like this:

Single Line Plans:

• 450 minutes for $59.99
• 900 minutes for $79.99

Family SharePlans:

• 700 minutes for $99.99
• 1400 minutes for $119.99
• 2000 minutes for $129.99

You qualify for one of the new plan if you have a phone number with the 210, 214, 254, 318, 325, 361, 430, 432, 439, 469, 512, 682, 806, 817, 830, 903, 915, 940, 956 or 972 area code. A Verizon spokesperson would only say that the offerings “are promotional plans specific to some customers.” Here’s to hoping that the unlimited mobile calling plans are wildly successful and propagate throughout the country. Would anyone else like to see these plans expanded beyond Texas and the Bayou?

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Sprint’s second 3G/4G dual-mode handset, the Samsung Epic 4G, now has its very own teaser page. For those of you closely following the genesis of the Epic handset, there isn’t much this new site will tell you. The new micro site, like all hype-sites, will afford you the privilege of volunteering your name and email address… to be notified when the device goes live of course. We’re interested to know, which Android QWERTY-slider phone interests you more? The Epic 4G or the DROID 2? Hit the bounce to vote in our poll!

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The FCC has green-lighted the Samsung SCH-R900, what appears to be the U.S.’s first CDMA/LTE handset. The R900 was announced back in March at CTIA by pre-paid carrier MetroPCS, and the cost-conscious carrier stated it would have the device out before the end of the year. The Samsung device will contain a 1700/1900 MHz LTE radio (MetroPCS is licensed to operate LTE on this spectrum) Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. There has been no indication of what operating system the device will run, although Android is a pretty solid bet.

Currently, LTE trials are underway in Boston and Seattle by larger CDMA carrier Verizon Wireless; Big Red is promising to have their 4G network up and running in 25 to 30 markets by the end of 2010.

Who’s excited for this portly looking LTE phone?

[Via PhoneScoop]

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Engadget is reporting that HTC EVO 4G owners may be getting Android Deuce Deuce as soon as this weekend. The blog received a whole heap of Sprint corporate slides that detail a launch plan; the plan includes an official announcement scheduled for tomorrow and code rollout beginning on August 1st. The slides also detail tons of improvements made to the phone’s software, some of which include: improved 720p video recording, Flash 10.1 support, 4-point orientation rotation, alpha-numeric pins for device unlock, and the ability to use the LED-flash as a flashlight. Who’s excited?

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The ZTE Peel 3200, a Sprint-branded sleeve with mobile hotspot functionality and EV-DO connectivity, was spotted at the FCC. The curious device sports a sleeve-style form factor that appears to be ideally suited for the iPod Touch. Details are sparse on the device but it is clearly a mobile hotspot with integrated GPS and support for up to 5 Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Any Sprint users out there who would consider using this with VoIP as an alternative to an AT&T iPhone?

Thanks IGOD!

[Via Phone scoop]

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Here’s some great news out of the Sprint camp. In Q2 of 2010, Sprint added (yes, added) 111,000 postpaid subscribers to its CDMA network and had the lowest churn rate in company history, 1.85% for the quarter. This is the first time in three years that Sprint had positive net wireless subscriber growth. The company did post a net loss of $760 million or $0.25 per share. Dan Hesse, Sprint Nextel’s CEO, had this to say: “Our intense focus for the past ten quarters on improving the customer experience, strengthening our brands, and generating cash are paying off. With strong cash flow, stable OIBDA and widespread third-party recognition for the improvements we’re making in the customer experience, which in turn strengthens our brands, we feel we can confidently improve our subscriber forecasts for the second half of 2010 and deliver positive total net wireless subscriber additions for the remainder of the year.” Sprint also reminded you that their 4G service will be rolling out to eight new markets during Q3, including: Boston, Kansas City, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Nice work Sprint.

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Verizon Wireless customers in the 79 markets that AT&T acquired are being alerted that they will soon be AT&T customers. A welcoming letter detailing the initial phase of the transition is being sent out to this lucky group of Verizon Wireless subscribers and one of our readers was kind enough to share the letter with us.  The letter confirms that  AT&T  is activating its service on a market-by-market basis and is working on integrating the two disparate networks. Once integration is complete, AT&T will transition customers over to its service, plans, and handsets shortly thereafter. In a bit of irony, these Big Red customers will be the first to have an iPhone 4. Any Verizon Wireless customers a bit jealous?

Right before Q2 earning go live, Deutsche Bank has knighted Sprint with the coveted “buy” rating. DB noted that they “expect Sprint’s 2Q results to highlight continued improvements in its post paid ops,” which prompted Deutsche Bank to reduced their estimate for post-paid net losses from 500,000 to 400,000 for the quarter. The firms analysts credit strong sales of the HTC EVO 4G — the first 3G/4G hybrid smartphone — for Sprint’s lower churn rate (2.05%) and 42% year-over-year growth in post-paid customer additions (gross). Sprint is scheduled to announce earnings for Q2 2010 on Wednesday July 28th.

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