In an interview with Reuters, Verizon Communications’ chief financial officer, Fran Shammo, reaffirmed several details about his company’s next iPhone offering. “Verizon’s [next iPhone] version will also work in as many countries as AT&T’s iPhone, which has global coverage,” writes Reuters, paraphrasing Mr. Shammo. The executive also noted that the inclusion of LTE in the next CDMA iDevice is not something Verizon has control over. “I think it’s a bigger issue for Apple than it is for us,” said Shammo speaking about the need for an LTE iPhone. “Depending on where Apple plays, that’s where we’ll sell.” The latest rumors have Apple releasing a refreshed version of its smartphone product later this fall. Most pundits agree that the update wil not include a Verizon-compatible LTE radio.

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A Verizon Wireless spokesperson has shed some light on the fate of the HTC Merge — an Android 2.2 handset first discovered last September. The device, which was officially announced by HTC in February, has fallen in and out of obscurity for months. Now, according to the latest report, users may finally get a chance to purchase the handset. Speaking with blog Phone Scoop, a Verizon representative explained, “The HTC Merge was approved for use on the Verizon Wireless network and is being sold by third party distributors, but not in Verizon Wireless stores.” The full-QWERTY smartphone also contains a SIM card slot — for use overseas — making it one of Verizon’s “world phones.” The company did not indicate if the handset would eventually make its way to Verizon’s retail outlets.

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Here’s one straight out of left field. In a brief press release, HTC announced that its Merge handset — a device we thought was dead and buried – will be making its way to North America, via “multiple carriers,” sometime this spring. The Merge is most certainly going to land on Verizon Wireless and will compliment VZW’s global, Android handset lineup — which already consists of the DROID 2 Global and DROID Pro — quite nicely. The Merge isn’t the most powerful handset on the block, but it certainly isn’t a slouch — 3.8-inch touchscreen display, full QWERTY slide-out keyboard, 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with 720p video recording, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and Android 2.2. Many have been waiting for this handset to drop since we first spotted it back in September (gallery). Is this the Android set you’ve been waiting for, or is it a little too late? The full press release is after the break.

The HTC Merge™ Smartphone Brings Android™ and HTC Sense™ to HTC’s First CDMA Android World Phone

BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — HTC Corp., a global designer of smartphones, today announced that the new HTC Merge smartphone will be made available through multiple North American carriers beginning in spring 2011. The HTC Merge smartphone combines a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard with the power of Android 2.2, the HTC Sense experience, a large 3.8-inch touch-screen display and a 5 megapixel camera to create a complete mobile experience for those looking for a truly complete smartphone. The HTC Merge is also HTC’s first Android-based CDMA world phone.

“HTC prides itself on creating unique solutions that meet the needs of different customers, and with features like a full keyboard and global 3G roaming, the HTC Merge smartphone is the perfect example of this commitment,” said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Americas. “Combining the functionality of Android with the HTC Sense experience, the HTC Merge is the perfect device for those customers who are looking for a reliable mobile experience with the features and functionality of a smartphone, whether it’s at home or travelling around the world.”

Customers will appreciate seamless integration with Exchange ActiveSync, enjoy quick and easy access to Flickr® for sharing and viewing pictures, and find new ways to customize their experience with the Android Market™ with more than 100,000 applications. With a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, customers will be able to keep in touch with friends and family no matter where they are, as well as stay in the loop with Flickr, Facebook® and Twitter™ updates through HTC FriendStream™.

In addition, the HTC Merge smartphone has a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash that captures outstanding images, while 3G connectivity makes sharing those special moments with friends and family quick and easy. The HTC Merge smartphone also comes with integrated GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity and even the ability to capture high-definition 720p video.

Availability
HTC Merge is slated to be available from multiple North American operators beginning in spring 2011.

Earlier this morning, blog Droid-Life posted images of the Motorola DROID 2 World Edition. The pictures were, to be blunt, not all that interesting; the device looks nearly identical to the DROID 2 currently shipping. What is most interesting, however, is the fact that benchmarks from the DROID 2 WE indicate that the unit’s processor is clocked at 1.2 GHz. For those of you keeping score at home: that’s a full 200 megahertz higher than the model currently shipping. Pretty sultry stuff from the DROID 2. What do you think?

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We’ve just gotten wind of a vicious little rumor that we wanted to share. We’re hearing that Verizon Wireless will be slowly discontinuing the Motorola DROID 2 that it launched last month and will soon only be carrying the yet-to-be-launched DROID 2 World Edition. While the move makes complete sense — from a manufacturing and inventory perspective — it may rub those who ran out and purchased the original DROID 2, sans world capabilities, the wrong way (especially if they price it at $199). This is just a rumor for now, but we want to know what owners of the original DROID Duece think? If this comes to fruition, are you going to be upset?

It isn’t any surprise that Nokia will be releasing the Nokia N8 in the near future — Nokia World is being held September 14-15 in London after all — but this is the first time we’ve seen a hard date. Nokia’s senior communications manager, Tapani Kashinen, told Finnish newspaper Kauppalehti that the Nokia N8 could begin shipping as early as September 30th. The N8 is being billed as the company’s latest and greatest hardware technology wrapped in the Symbian operating system. We’re sure we will have more details to report after Nokia World, but seeing a projected release date in under thirty days is definitely good news.

[Via Engadget]

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A BGR reader (and fellow blogger) by the name of Brian stumbled upon our post about a U.K. woman who bested the Guinness World Record for text messaging speed. The 27-year old, named Melissa Thompson, used a Samsung Galaxy S — with the SWYPE keyboard — and managed to squeeze out: “The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human”, in under 26 seconds. Brian — age 19 — videotaped himself texting the same sentence, on an iPhone, in just under 22 seconds. Now, this obviously wasn’t an “official” or “controlled” setting, but the feat is still pretty damn impressive. Hit the jump to see Brian slay that quirky sentence. Anyone think they can beat 21.8 seconds?

A U.K. woman armed with a Samsung Galaxy S running the SWYPE keyboard has broken the Guinness World Record for text messaging. The 27-year old managed to swipe out the phrase: “the razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human,” in just under 26 seconds. The time bests the official record, held by a 24-year old American, by over nine seconds. As the Press Association reports, “Ms Thompson, who works for an insurance company, was shopping with her boyfriend, Chris Davies, 23, when they visited a Samsung roadshow and she was invited to have a go at breaking the record.” The woman’s feat has yet to be made official by the Guinness Book of World Records.

[Via IntoMobile]

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Because the advent of Second Life just isn’t frightening enough, Sony made it known quite some time ago that it would be jumping into the virtual world game with its PlayStation Home product. PS Home has been in the wild in closed beta phase for a while now but it clearly can’t do enough damage among the socially awkward masses that way. As such, PlayStation owners can look forward to an open beta phase beginning some time this month. What’s more, it is now looking like potential users won’t have to leave the house or even interact with anyone in order to obtain PS Home as rumor has it delivery may end up being via a firmware update or a simple PlayStation Store download. Fan-tastic. Those of you who do get sucked in, please at least try to open a window every now and again…

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