Verizon Wireless on Tuesday finally confirmed launch details for the latest addition to its popular DROID family of Android smartphones, the Motorola DROID 4. The sleek QWERTY slider will become available later this week on February 10th for $199.99 on contract, as BGR reported earlier on Tuesday. The DROID 4 features a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and is being billed as the “thinnest and most powerful 4G QWERTY smartphone.” Other highlights include Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, an 8-megapixel camera, a 4-inch qHD display and the promise of an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The DROID 4 is essentially an updated version of the DROID RAZR, with its QWERTY keyboard seen as only notable difference between the two devices. This makes the DROID 4 the third iteration of the device in as many months, following the recent release of the DROID RAZR Maxx. Verizon Wireless’s press release follows below.

DROID 4 BY MOTOROLA READY TO WORK AND PLAY ON THE VERIZON WIRELESS 4G LTE NETWORK

Power, Speed and Reliability Get the Job Done

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – The award winning DROID 4 by Motorola will be available to handle even the most demanding lifestyles starting Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com.  Introduced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the DROID 4 is the thinnest and most powerful 4G QWERTY smartphone measuring at less than half an inch thin.   DROID 4 not only features a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, but also a five-row QWERTY keyboard with a PC-like layout and edge-lit keys for fast, precise typing, even in the dark.  Powered by America’s fastest, most reliable 4G network, DROID 4 customers will have access to 4G LTE coverage in 195 markets covering more than 200 million people.

Additional features

• Verizon Wireless 4G LTE – Customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE Mobile Broadband coverage areas
• Android^™ 2.3.5 Gingerbread, to be upgraded to Android^™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• 4.0-inch qHD display with scratch and scrape resistant glass
• Government-grade encryption (FIPS 140-2) for email, calendar and contacts; preloaded with Citrix^® Receiver^™ for Android (available in webtop) for desktop virtualization and access
• 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture
• Front-facing camera for video chat
• 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot supporting up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices

Business Ready

DROID 4 is designed to help customers get more done.  Business professionals can impress their audience by presenting to a conference room full of potential customers in a snap by plugging the DROID 4 into an HDTV and presenting directly from the phone.  Professionals can also combine the DROID 4 with the Lapdock 500 and its 14-inch display to create a full-featured mobile office.  They can download documents, make edits using Lapdock’s full keyboard and email the updated documents to colleagues or customers.  The Lapdock even features a built-in webcam so customers can attend virtual meetings and manage their business face-to-face.

The Smart Actions app on the DROID 4 helps automate everyday tasks and optimizes battery efficiency by letting customers create rules, such as automatically setting the phone to vibrate during work hours or dimming the display at a specific battery level.

Business professionals can leave their laptops behind and use the MotoCast^™ app to remotely stream documents, videos, music and pictures from their work or home computers to their handset.  The remote access of MotoCast eliminates the need to store documents on the handset as everything is stored on their office laptop.

Pricing and availability

·         DROID 4 by Motorola will be available on Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

·         The Lapdock 500 is available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online for $299.97.

·         Customers that purchase a DROID 4 will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Follow @VZWnews on Twitter for the latest news on Verizon Wireless.

Best Buy has reportedly been testing the waters for a possible “iTV” offering from Apple. According to The Verge, the retail giant has been circulating a customer survey that provides some very specific details about an Apple HDTV to gauge consumer interest. Here are the details:

• 42-inch 1080 LED display
• Runs iOS
• App Store functionality
• iCloud for access to all your music, TV shows, movies, photos, and videos
• iPhone and iPad as a remote control with AirPlay to push content from your devices to the TV
• Built-in FaceTime camera and microphone (we’d imagine Siri, as well)
• Netflix, YouTube, Flickr support
• $1,499 price

This list, while detailed, could be easily have been put together by anyone familiar with Apple’s current Apple TV product, though the 42-inch display size and price of $1,499 could be solid indications of what we can expect from Apple. The Cupertino-based company is rumored to be preparing to launch its first HDTV featuring iOS and Siri later this year.

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In addition to news that AT&T is planning to launch the Nokia Lumia 900 at an earth-shattering sub-$100 price point, we have street dates for another highly anticipated smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note, along with two unannounced Android devices AT&T is currently prepping. AT&T’s phablet is set to hit store shelves on February 18th for $299.99. The Samsung Rugby Smart, which appears to be a entry-level Android smartphone with HSPA+, and the AT&T Fusion will both launch on February 18th as well for  $99.99 and $124.99, respectively. The nation’s No.2 carrier has a big first quarter planned, and while Nokia’s Lumia 900 is shaping up to be the star of the show, Android fans will still have plenty of new options over the next few months.

We just received a portion of AT&T’s 2012 roadmap from a trusted source, and it looks like AT&T isn’t playing around this year. There are some heavy hitters lined up for the first quarter of 2012, and one of the biggest smartphone launches of the quarter is currently scheduled to take place in mid-March. According to our source, the Nokia Lumia 900 is set to launch on March 18th, which has been rumored before. The phone hasn’t yet received technical acceptance however, so that date could change. The bigger news is the phone’s price: AT&T and Nokia are planning to launch this flagship smartphone at just $99.99 on a two-year contract. That price point would make this sleek smartphone an absolute game-changer for Windows Phone, and it makes sense when you think about how much money Nokia and Microsoft are planning to spend promoting the launch. We took a hands-on look at the Lumia 900 during CES earlier this month and Nokia could easily have a hit on its hands when this handset launches later this quarter.

Tablets were the talk of the Consumer Electronics Show this year, but not the same way they were last year. In 2011 we saw more than 100 slates unveiled, the lion’s share of which were powered bu Android, and companies pushed hard to compete with Apple’s iPad. This year, barely any Android tablets were shown off at the show, but a number of companies had nameless prototypes on hand that were intended to show us what Windows 8 will be capable of once it hits the market. Unfortunately, according to a new report, the fantastic “Wintel” tablets we saw on display at this year’s show may end up with price tags that could deter most consumers and hurt Windows 8 tablets’ chances right out of the gate. Read on for more.

Citing anonymous sources from within notebook PC vendors, DigiTimes on Monday reported that Windows and Intel are unwilling to adjust costs to suppliers for their respective software and Clover Trail hardware. The result, according to the report, may be tablets priced in the $599 to $899 range. While this pricing would fall somewhat in line with Apple’s iPad, consumers have shown no interest in most rival tablets priced so high.

On one hand, pricing in the $599 to $899 range for a convertible touchscreen notebook running a full blown copy of Windows 8 would be an absolute steal. Up to $900 for a light-duty Windows 8 tablet, however, may not have the impact Microsoft is hoping for. DigiTimes notes that vendors may end up cutting costs by moving away from Intel and opting instead for ARM-based chipsets from other vendors including Qualcomm, NVIDIA and Texas Instruments.

Media tablets powered by Google’s Android operating system have for the most part been unable to capture consumers’ interest. With just a few exceptions, sales of individual Android tablet models have been extremely low by all accounts. Amazon’s new Kindle Fire is one such exception thanks to an attractive price point and tight integration with Amazon services. Google has seemingly taken note of Amazon’s success, and a new report suggests the company is working on a budget-priced slate of its own that will launch in the next few months. Read on for more.

Google chairman Eric Schmidt noted last month that the company was working on an own-brand tablet, but there was a great deal of confusion surrounding his comments. ”[In the] next six months we plan to market a tablet of the highest quality,” Schmidt reportedly told an Italian newspaper. A spokesman for Google in Taiwan said the company had no knowledge of plans to launch an own-brand tablet, and Google’s headquarters has remained silent on the matter.

While Schmidt did mention that quality was a big deal, the more significant news may have been uncovered in a new report Thursday morning. Citing anonymous sources from within Google’s supply chain, DigiTimes suggests that the slate will compete directly with the Kindle Fire at an enticing $199 price point.

The site goes on to report that Google’s Nexus tablet will feature a 7-inch display, and it will launch in March or April. Such a tablet would also undoubtedly be powered by Google’s new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, and it would be built in cooperation with Motorola Mobility in all likelihood. Google is currently trying to acquire Motorola for $12.5 billion.

It has already been widely discussed that an own-brand tablet from Google would likely cannibalize its Android partners’ tablet sales, though there isn’t much to cannibalize at this point. With prices of other Android tablets hovering around the iPad’s $500 entry point, however, a $199 tablet from Google would likely render partner offerings obsolete. Who would purchase a $500 Samsung tablet when $199 will get you a slate “of the highest quality” that will also be the first such device to receive new software updates as they become available?

Google has yet to confirm that it is working on a Nexus tablet and with the first wave of Android 4.0 devices from partners expected to be unveiled next week, it is unlikely that the company will discuss its tablet until some time after the Consumer Electronics Show. There have already been persistent rumors that multiple PC vendors plan to abandon their Android tablet efforts. Being forced to compete with a $199 own-brand tablet from Google as well as the iPad and Kindle Fire may be all the motivation these companies need to throw in the towel and wait for Windows 8.

Thanks to one of our sources, we have information on what will be one of AT&T’s many announcements ahead of CES this year — a year that’s sure to be packed with 4G LTE devices. The Pantech Element is currently slated to hit AT&T on January 8th for $299.99 with a two-year agreement, or $449.99 off contract. It features an 8-inch display, a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, Android 3.2 Honeycomb, 16GB of internal storage, advanced “Piezo Motor” haptic feedback, a 5-megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD video capture support and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for 720p video calling, and the entire package is “waterproof for real life” according to AT&T’s documentation. The actual waterproof rating is IP57, which basically means the tablet is splash resistant as long as all ports are closed. AT&T is being particularly clear during internal training in conveying that the tablet is not actually waterproof and it cannot be submerged. Let’s recap: Pantech, Android 3.2 Honeycomb, waterproof but not waterproof, 4G LTE, 8-inch display… $299.99. Any takers?

Verizon Wireless on Wednesday finally announced the upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The world’s first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich phone with 4G LTE support will become available beginning tomorrow for $299.99 with a new two-year service agreement. BGR reviewed the international version of the Galaxy Nexus last month and called it the best Android device in the world, offering a more cohesive user experience than previous Android builds as well as solid hardware and an amazing screen. The smartphone features a 4.65-inch 720p HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 32GB of storage, 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording support and an 1,850 mAh battery. Verizon’s version of the handset ads CDMA and 4G LTE connectivity along with a slightly thicker case, though subscribers will certainly be happy to handle a thicker version of the phone in exchange for blazing fast 4G LTE data speeds. Verizon’s full press release follows below, and check out all of the official photos in the gallery.

GALAXY^™ NEXUS^™ BY SAMSUNG NOW AVAILABLE ON THE VERIZON WIRELESS 4G LTE NETWORK

First Smartphone to Combine Android^™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the Power of America’s Fastest, Most Reliable 4G Network

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless, Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) and Google^™ announced Galaxy^™ Nexus^™ is available starting today in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

Customers can browse the Web, stream music and more at blazing speeds using the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. Galaxy Nexus customers can enjoy access to the 4G LTE network in 190 markets covering over 200 million people across the United States, and fly through the Web with fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps within the 4G LTE Mobile Broadband coverage area.

Galaxy Nexus runs Android^™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, which brings an entirely new look and feel to Android. Galaxy Nexus offers customers a redesigned user experience with improved multi-tasking, notifications, Near Field Communications (NFC) sharing with Android Beam^™ and a full Web-browsing experience. The lock screen, home screen, phone app and everything in between have been rethought and redesigned to make Android simple, beautiful and useful. Galaxy Nexus also features an ultra-thin 9.47mm design with a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED^™ Contour Display to watch movies, view pictures and play games that come to life in 720p (1280×720) resolution.

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) features:

• Redesigned user interface – software navigation buttons, a first for Android smartphones, and a dedicated recent apps button to make multi-tasking easy
• Face Unlock – use state-of-the-art facial recognition to unlock Galaxy Nexus
• Android Beam^™ – quickly share Web pages, apps, contacts and YouTube^™ videos with friends by simply tapping two compatible phones together
• Redesigned Camera – introduces panorama mode, 1080p video capture, zero-shutter lag for instant photo capturing, and effects such as silly faces and background replacement
• People Application – browse friends, family and coworkers, see their photos in high-resolution and check their latest status updates from Google+ and other social networks
• Cloud Services – keep email, contacts, photos, music, browser bookmarks and other data synced to the cloud, available across multiple devices so customers never lose important data
• Google Music – upload up to 20,000 songs to the cloud, discover and buy new music from Android Market^™, and stream it instantly on Galaxy Nexus and from the Web for free
• Google+ – Create a Google+ account right from the phone and check status updates, manage circles, quickly share updates and photos, video chat with up to ten friends with Mobile Hangouts, and chat with groups of friends with Google+ Messenger
• Support for Google Mobile^™ Services – Gmail^™, Google Maps^™ with 3D maps and free turn-by-turn navigation, Google Earth^™, Movie Studio, YouTube, syncing with Google Calendar^™, a redesigned Google+ app and access to more than 300,000 apps, millions of eBooks, thousands of movies to rent, and millions of songs available to download from Android Market

Additional features:

• Dual-core 1.2 GHz application processor and HTML5 Web browser – optimized dual-core processing with Android 4.0 combined with lightning fast 4G LTE connectivity for fast downloading of graphics, applications processing and Web browsing
• Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G LTE or 3G connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with zero-shutter lag for instant photo capturing, autofocus and LED flash with full 1080p recording
• Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat
• Textured soft-touch back cover – enhances the ergonomic feel and makes the phone slip-resistant
• Bluetooth^® 3.0 technology – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, human interface device (HID) and object push for vCard and vCalendar
• 1 GB RAM and 32 GB on-board memory (actual formatted capacity will be less)
• Pricing and data packages:
• Galaxy Nexus is available now in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
• Customers that purchase a Galaxy Nexus by Samsung will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/galaxynexus for more information on the Galaxy Nexus. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

 

Nokia on Wednesday announced its debut Windows Phone for the U.S. market: the Lumia 710. First unveiled in October, the Lumia 710 features impressive specs in a solid package that will be very affordable when it launches next month as a T-Mobile exclusive in the United States. The inclusion of HSPA 14.4 also means T-Mobile will bill the Lumia 710 as one of the first 4G Windows Phones, and we’re told that the smartphone will be prominently featured in T-Mobile stores as Nokia prepares to re-enter the U.S. market. Read on for more.

While the Lumia 710 is Nokia’s first Windows Phone announced for the U.S., Nokia assured us that this handset is one piece of the Finnish vendor’s strategy. Company representatives wouldn’t elaborate for the time being, but we certainly expect to see more from Nokia next month at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Nokia did say that it is making a significant investment in marketing and advertising in the U.S., and early campaigns will include TV, print and digital advertising as well as cooperative efforts with carriers.

T-Mobile’s Lumia 710 is nothing to scoff at, and the carrier is setting its sights on first-time smartphone buyers with this Nokia smartphone. Like the Lumia 800 we reviewed last month, the Lumia 710 user experience is extremely fluid and simplistic, making it a terrific option for users upgrading from a feature phone. Specs include a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 3.7-inch ClearBlack display, a 5-megapixel camera capable of recording 720p HD video at 30 frames per second, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of storage and a 1,300 mAh battery.

We took a hands-on look at the Lumia 710 in October and thought it was a great value, offering impressive specs and a wonderfully smooth UI in an affordable package. At $50 with a T-Mobile value plan, this phone will likely attract more than just first-time smartphone buyers.

T-Mobile will launch the Nokia Lumia 710 on January 11th in both white and black for $49.99 on a two-year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate. Nokia and T-Mobile’s full press release follows below.

T-Mobile Brings Nokia Lumia 710 to the U.S.  

Nokia and T-Mobile deliver a leading entry-level Windows Phone experience to the nearly 150 million Americans still to make the transition to smartphones. 

BELLEVUE, Wash., and SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Dec. 14, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Nokia today announced the upcoming availability of the Nokia Lumia 710, the first Windows Phone from Nokia in the United States. Targeted at the nearly 150 million Americans who haven’t purchased their first smartphones, the 4G-capable Nokia Lumia 710 delivers high-performance hardware, Nokia’s best social and Internet experience, and access to popular smartphone applications and services from Windows Phone Marketplace.

Running on America’s Largest 4G Network^™, the Nokia Lumia 710 benefits from the unique people-first approach of Windows Phone, bringing together all interactions with family and friends in People Hub. The Nokia Lumia 710 also provides one-click access to popular services, such as Netflix, T-Mobile TV with mobile HD¹ and a leading mobile Web experience with Internet Explorer® Mobile, Bing™ Search with voice activation and Local Scout for locally relevant search results. The smartphone also brings access to signature Nokia experiences, such as Nokia Drive for voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation and ESPN for exclusive sports content.

“We’re excited to team with Nokia in bringing its first Windows Phone to the U.S. with the elegantly designed Nokia Lumia 710,” said Cole Brodman, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. “Windows Phone offers a compelling mobile OS choice for people who want a smartphone built around them, their family and friends.  We expect it to play a more prominent role in our lineup and marketing efforts in 2012.”

Today, people are increasingly upgrading to smartphones, and many are doing so for the first time. According to the NPD Group, U.S. smartphone sales reached 59 percent in the third quarter 2011, an increase of 13 percent since third quarter 2010. With an increasing demand for smartphones, the Nokia Lumia 710 offers a compelling experience aimed at addressing the needs of the nearly 150 million people in the U.S. who have yet to upgrade to their first smartphones.

“Our research shows nearly everybody in the U.S. wants a smartphone, but many believe they can’t afford it,” Brodman said. “That’s where T-Mobile shines. Our Unlimited Value and Monthly4G plans make it more affordable than ever to step up to mobile data on our 4G network.”

”The Nokia Lumia 710 is the perfect first-time smartphone: a well-designed product that delivers the most compelling Windows Phone experience in its price range and with access to great content and thousands of applications,” said Chris Weber, president, Nokia Americas. “This is the perfect first Nokia Lumia experience and the start of our re-entry into the U.S. smartphone market.”

Available in a black or white finish, the Nokia Lumia 710 features a 3.7-inch ClearBlack WVGA scratch-resistant display for outstanding outdoor viewing and a Qualcomm 1.4 GHz Snapdragon™ processor providing speedy access to entertainment and information on-the-go. It also features a 5-megapixel camera with Nokia’s leading camera technology, enabling people to take pictures in almost any light condition and share on social networks in seconds. With the most integrated work-life solution of any mobile platform via the Windows Phone Office Hub and an interactive mobile gaming experience via Xbox LIVE®, the Nokia Lumia 710 is the complete all-round first-time smartphone experience.

Availability

The Nokia Lumia 710 is expected to be available at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers and retailers nationwide, and online at http://www.t-mobile.com starting Jan. 11. The Nokia Lumia 710 is expected to cost $49.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate card, with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan. For more information, visit http://www.t-mobile.com/lumia.

Android fans could have a big day coming up next week as three sought-after devices are rumored to be launching on December 8th. According to a recent report accompanied by what was claimed to be a screenshot of an internal memo, Verizon Wireless plans to launch both the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the Motorola DROID 4 next Thursday. Now, according to online retailer Newegg, ASUS plans to launch its Eee Pad Transformer Prime convertible tablet on the same day. Currently available for pre-order, the Transformer Prime is set to be the first tablet to tout a quad-core Tegra 3 processor when it launches next month. Other spec highlights include a removable QWERTY keypad, Android 3.2 Honeycomb, a 10.1-inch display, 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera, a microHDMI-out port and SD card support. The tablet retails for $499.99 (32GB) or $599.99 (64GB) and it is available in gray or champagne.

[Via Engadget]

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While Verizon Wireless has yet to announce any release details surrounding the latest Nexus smartphone, a series of leaks seemingly paint a complete picture of the carrier’s launch plans. A purported internal document revealed on Wednesday points to a December 8th release for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and now a leaked Verizon Wireless advertisement lists the handset’s on-contract price as $199.99. The Galaxy Nexus had previously been rumored to launch with a price tag closer to $300, so it is unclear if the pricing in the Verizon ad is standard or part of a holiday promotion. Verizon is expected to announce release details for the Galaxy Nexus some time next week.

[Via Engadget]

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End user pricing on media tablets is set to drop substantially in 2012 as competition further increases among vendors. A new report from analyst James Wang of DigiTimes on Thursday suggests that the average price of 10-inch tablets will drop to between $299 and $399 next year, and 7-inch models will average between $199 and $249. Wang further speculations that Amazon may lower the end user cost of its Kindle Fire tablet to $149 in order to maintain its pricing advantage. Regarding eReaders, the analyst sees shipment volume growing 31.4% in 2012 to 28.9 million units, and he believes the U.S. will continue to account for the bulk of eReader sales. EReader pricing is expected to drop as well next year, and Wang says Amazon’s Kindle could be sold for as little as $49 as eBook readers from other vendors like Barnes & Noble reach the $99 price point.

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AT&T’s first two 4G LTE-enabled smartphones are now available for purchase, and subscribers looking to be among the first to own these powerful new Android devices are in for a pleasant surprise. Announced just last week, the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and HTC Vivid feature Google’s Android Gingerbread OS and specs that place them on par with most modern high-end handsets. They were also announced with high-end price points; the Vivid was unveiled at $199.99 and the Skyrocket was given a $249.99 price tag. Both phones are now on sale as promised — they became available a day early on Saturday, in fact — but each smartphone is priced $100 lower than expected on AT&T’s website. Read on for more.

The Vivid is being offered for just $99.99 on contract in black or white, and the Skyrocket costs $149.99 on AT&T’s website, $50 less than the standard version of the Galaxy S II that lacks LTE. It is unclear how long the $100 online discounts will last for these sleek new smartphones, but buyers who were on the fence may have just gotten the push they needed.

BGR went hands-on with both the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and the HTC Vivid last week, and we found the devices to be excellent jumping-off points for AT&T’s 4G LTE smartphone portfolio.

UPDATE: The plot thickens — apparently, pricing varies by region. Many report seeing the phones listed at their announced prices, while others are still seeing the $100 online discount. The screenshots below were taken at 12:30 p.m. EST using our zip code in New York.

AT&T on Tuesday announced that it will launch three new BlackBerry 7 smartphones next week. The carrier’s BlackBerry Bold 9900 will finally arrive on November 6th for $199.99, $100 less than T-Mobile’s version of the sleek smartphone. AT&T will also launch the full-touchscreen BlackBerry Torch 9860 for $99.99 on the same day, and the entry-level BlackBerry Curve 9360 will become available for $29.99 beginning November 20th. ”Our BlackBerry enthusiasts will welcome these three new BlackBerry smartphones to AT&T’s premium smartphone lineup – the new BlackBerry Bold 9900, all-touch Torch 9860 and Curve 9360,” AT&T SVP Jeff Bradley said in a statement. “From new and improved versions of BlackBerry classics to AT&T’s first-all touch BlackBerry smartphone as well as 4G models, our leading suite of BlackBerry smartphones has something for everyone – government, business and everyday consumers – at the best prices available in the market.” AT&T’s full press release follows below.

Verizon Wireless on Monday unveiled the Samsung Stratosphere, the company’s first smartphone to feature a full QWERTY keyboard and 4G LTE connectivity. This new Samsung smartphone is highlighted by LTE compatibility and a 4-inch Super AMOLED that provides the deep blacks and vibrant colors that help separate Samsung smartphones from the pack. Other specs include a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, mobile hotspot capability and the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. Samsung’s Stratosphere will launch this Thursday, October 13th, for $149.99 after rebate with a new 2-year contract. Verizon’s full press release follows below.

FIRST 4G LTE SMARTPHONE WITH QWERTY KEYBOARD FOR VERIZON WIRELESS: THE SAMSUNG STRATOSPHERE^™

Features a 4-inch Super AMOLED^™ Display, 1 GHz Processor and B2B Enterprise Solutions

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the Samsung Stratosphere^™, a Galaxy S^® smartphone, will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Oct. 13.

The Samsung Stratosphere is the first 4G LTE smartphone from Verizon Wireless equipped with a five-row QWERTY keyboard and designed with Samsung’s four-inch Super AMOLED^™ display.  Additionally, the Stratosphere supports enhanced B2B-enabled connectivity services from Cisco^™, the most comprehensive mobile implementation of Microsoft^® Exchange ActiveSync^® (EAS) and support for secure remote device management from Sybase ^® Afaria^®.

Ideal for the business professional, the Samsung Stratosphere offers robust data management support.  The Stratosphere will support Samsung’s Enterprise Platform enhancements such as VPN, encryption and Mobile Device Management (MDM).  EAS includes features such as direct push, email, calendar, contact sync and Global Address List (GAL), as well as EAS policies including storage card encryption, device encryption, and simple and complex password support, all essential for streamlining business on the smartphone.

Key features:

• 4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of  5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas
• Five-row QWERTY keyboard
• Samsung Super AMOLED^™ Screen Technology makes watching movies, viewing videos and playing games come to life, even in bright light and outdoor environments
• Android^™ 2.3 Gingerbread – support for Google^™ Mobile Services including Gmail^™, YouTube^™, Google Talk^™, Google Search^™, Google Maps^™ and access to more than 250,000 apps available to download from Android Market^™
• Samsung 1 GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor
• Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat and 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and flash (720p HD playback and 480p DVD-quality recording)
• Mobile Hotspot Capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices or a 3G connection with up to five devices
• AllShare^Ô – enables wireless connectivity through Digital Living Network Alliance^® (DLNA), so customers can send multimedia content to other DLNA Certified^®-enabled devices such as TVs and laptops
• Samsung Media Hub – Samsung’s own content service, offering a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase
• Bluetooth^® 3.0 technology – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, and object push for vCard and vCalendar
• Multiple video file formats supported, including DivX and XviD
• Wi-Fi Connectivity (802.11 a/b/g/n)

Business features:

Samsung’s enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on the go.

• Microsoft^® Exchange ActiveSync^® (EAS) – communicate directly with your Microsoft Exchange Server enabling push email, calendar and contacts
• Support for Cisco AnyConnect 2.1 SSL VPN – supports access to private corporate networks using industry-standard VPN protocols with enhanced security of 4G LTE networks helps users tap into VPN networks with no waiting
• Encryption Services – users and IT administrators can initiate a remote wipe command to erase private information
• Support for Sybase Afaria^® – MDM capabilities allow an integrated experience for the end user in the event it is required by their IT department or corporate policy

Pricing and data packages:

• The Samsung Stratosphere will be available on Oct. 13 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.  Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
• Customers that purchase a Samsung Stratosphere smartphone will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.