Verizon Wireless Touch Pro 2 and Ozone owners still clinging on to Windows Mobile 6.1 will be happy to know that HTC and Verizon Wireless, as promised,  have rolled out the official Windows Mobile 6.5 update for these two handsets. Folks that have been reticent to jump on the flashing bandwagon can download and install the updates using the instructions provided at PCD’s website. Wondering about PCD? Formerly UTStarcom, PCD provides wireless communications devices (handsets, modems, etc) from leading manufacturers in Japan, Korea and China to wireless carriers throughout North and South America. Touch Pro 2 and Ozone owners can hit the links below to get some Windows Mobile 6.5 goodness.

Thanks to all who sent this in!

[Via HTC]

Read [Touch Pro 2] Read [Ozone]

One of our Verizon connects was kind enough to hit us up with some info regarding Big Red’s upcoming Black Friday sale which will be going on all weekend. Sadly we weren’t told anything about super hot smartphones like the DROID, Storm2 and Touch Pro2, but we’d like to think that at least one of those phones will have a few bucks knocked off of its sticker price. Having said that, these deals are definitely worth checking out, so here we go:

• Gateway LT Netbook: $29.99 after $100 MIR
• Blackberry Pearl Flip: $9.99 after $100 MIR [BOGO]
• HTC Ozone: $9.99 after $100 MIR [BOGO]
• LG Glance: $0
• LG Versa: $29.99 after $50 MIR [BOGO]
• Mifi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot: $49.99 after $50 MIR. (Black Friday only)
• Motorola Entice $19.99 after $50 MIR [BOGO]
• Motorola VU204: $0
• Nokia 7705 Twist: $29.99 after $50 MIR
• Samsung Smooth: $0 after $50 MIR

In addition to what’s listed above, anyone purchasing an LG enV3 or enV Touch on Black Friday will receive a free LG HBM-210 Bluetooth headset.

Anyone seeing anything they wouldn’t mind picking up, or are you going to be trying your luck elsewhere?

Two new low cost handsets are now available for your budget-minded buying pleasure. This weekend AT&T debuted its teen and tween texting machine, the Motorola Karma QA1. The quad-band EDGE/dual-band HSDPA handset features a sliding QWERTY keyboard, 2.5-inch QVGA display, 2 megapixel camera, aGPS, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, 3.5mm headphone jack, microSDHC expansion and, most important for socializing t(w)eens, Facebook, MySpace, IM, MMS and threaded SMS support. The Karma is available now for $79.99 with a $50 mail in rebate and a 2-year contract.

On the CDMA side of things, we find the HTC Ozone. The Ozone is a Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard handset with dual-band 1xRTT/EV-DO Rev. A, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE for international roaming, 2.4-inch QVGA display, QWERTY keyboard with 5-way navigation key, 2 megapixel camera w/ auto-focus and video capture, 256MB ROM/128MB RAM, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and microSD expansion (up to 16GB). The Ozone is available now for $49.99 after $70 mail-in rebate and 2-year contract via Web, telesales and B2B channels with in-store availability expected on July 13th.

Read (Motorola Karma QA1)
Read (HTC Ozone)

No surprises with this one as our leaked spy shots, release date, pricing details and specifications were all spot on. Today, Verizon Wireless made all that we already knew about the HTC Ozone official. Those looking for a basic Windows Mobile phone with a QWERTY keyboard will only have to shell out a meager $49.99 after $70 mail-in rebate and 2-year contract for the HTC Ozone. The Ozone will be available online, through telesales and B2B channels starting June 29th with a full in store retail launch to follow on July 13th. Yeah, it’s not the Tour but $49 for a sweet new Windows Mobile smartphone isn’t too shabby at all.

Read

We’ve already given the world its first peek and Verizon’s upcoming HTC Ozone, nailed down its scheduled availability of June 29th/July 13th and pegged its pricing at $49.99 after MIR, but we’re not done yet because two of our VZW ninjas just hit us up with the complete spec list for the device — and plenty more. Just as we suspected, the Ozone features EV-DO Rev. A connectivity in addition to quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE. We’re also pleased to report that the GPS chip is not shackled to VZ Navigator and that Verizon will allow users to use the device as a tethered modem (for a fee of course). Hit the jump for the rest of the specs along with a sizable Ozone deck.

Thanks, anonymous and indelus!

Features

• Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard
• Dual-band 1xRTT/EV-DO Rev. A, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Pre-installed SIM Card w/ Global Support Kit
• Microsoft Office Mobile
• Adobe Reader LE PFT viewer
• Internet Explorer Mobile
• Windows Media Player Mobile
• 256MB ROM/128MB RAM
• WiFi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP
• 2.4″ QVGA display w/ 24k color
• Full-QWERTY with 5-way navigation key
• 2 megapixel camera w/ auto-focus and video capture
• microSD slot (up to 16GB)
• Voice command, notes/recorder capable
• Speakerphone
• Security locking features
• MMS
• AOL, WLM, Yahoo! IM
• Wireless Sync capable
• ActiveSync capable (v4.5) and Windows Mobile Device Center
• Mobile Broadband Connect capable
• VZ Navigator capable
• Visual Voicemail capable
• Device Insurance available
• Hearing aid compatible = M3/T3

Specifications

• 4.5″ x 2.5″ x 0.5″
• 3.7 oz.
• 1500 mAh battery
• 290 minutes talk-time
• 324 hours standby
• Head: 1.03 W/Kg SAR

Remember the HTC Ozone? Of course you do and so does one of our Verizon ninjas because we’ve received word that the Ozone (also known as the XV6175, Snap, Cedar and Willow if you’re so inclined) will apparently be available online starting June 29th with brick and mortar availability to follow on July 13th. Pricing is still something we’ve yet to zero in on but if you’re the sort of person who stands by Big Red and are absolutely dying to get your hands on an all-too-rare WinMo-powered candybar with a full-QWERTY, then something tells us price is no object. Right?

Thanks, goldciv!

UPDATE: Looks as if pricing will be $119.99 on a 2-year although it looks like there will also be a $70 MIR.

There’s no question — the HTC Snap was in dire need of yet another moniker. Snap, Cedar and Willow were hardly enough so our pals at Verizon have gone and added another name to the pile… Say hello to the HTC Ozone. With Sprint’s version of the Snap jumping off this Sunday, we had a sneaking suspicion that Verizon’s Snap wouldn’t be far behind. Lo and behold, one of our Verizon ninjas just swooped down and dropped this screenshot on us. So far no pricing or release timing are available but training is set to kick off next week so the release shouldn’t be too far off. Notables from the provided info are Wi-Fi, Microsoft My Phone compatibility, Visual Voicemail, VZ Nav, Internet Explorer 6 mobile and of course the fact that it’s a world phone. Hit the jump for a bigger shot.

Thanks, KrazyVZW!