Motorola fans can settle on the fact that these handsets are as sure as the sun’s setting in the afternoon, and that they’re all scheduled for release some time in 2009 under Verizon’s network. The red-hot QWERTY Rush 2, pictured below, is said to be the first one of these that will come out, during Q1 of 2009.The other two handsets on display are the Motorola Calgary (the silver one with a QWERTY keyboard), and the Motorola Inferno (the one that looks like a MOTO MING).

Samsung announced the Samsung SCH-W690, a new clamshell that should be soon available in South Korea, via SK Telecom.The W690 comes in two color versions (black and white) and looks quite elegant. Its alphanumeric keypad seems to be very user-friendly, thanks to those large keys.

Samsung W690 features:

*GSM and HSDPA connectivity
*GPS
*1.5 inch OLED external display with 128 x 128 pixels and 65K colors
*MP3 player
*Bluetooth
*2MP camera
*800 mAh battery
*123 grams
*101 x 51.6 x 16.95 millimeters

O2 Germany today announced the new O2 Xda Guide, its latest Xda smartphone running Windows Mobile 6.1 which will replace the Xda orbit 2. The Xda Guide is powered by a Qualcomm MSM 7225 CPU at 528 MHz and features GSM/GPRS/EDGE as well as UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA in addition to Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi b/g and GPS. The Xda Guide comes with a 2.8″ QVGA touchscreen and sports a 3.2 megapixel camera, 256 MB RAM and 512 MB ROM which can be expanded by microSD cards.

O2 Xda Guide include:

*Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
*GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA connectivity
*A 2.8 inch TFT touchscreen display with320 x 340 colors
*Wi-Fi
*Internal GPS
*TomTom Navigator 7 with maps for Austria, Germany and Switzerland
*Bluetooth 2.0
*A 3.2 MP camera
*A 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM 7225 processor
*256MB RAM, 512MB ROM
*And a 1GB card, included in the package

The Android-powered “OPhone” is quite the sight to behold, and while the Lenovo logo may not look quite right to American eyes, we’re sure you could learn to love it in time.The touchscreen handset is now known to sport a five-megapixel camera with autofocus, flash and video-recording capabilities. While it’s not yet clear if or how much onboard memory is present, the handset will have a microSD memory card slot for expansion. The previously guessed at input method will consist of an English/Chinese virtual keyboard. Bluetooth 2.0 will be integrated as well.

Palm has finally decided to cave and introduce its very own applications market place, which is simply being christened Software Store.Versions of Palm’s Software Store are available for both Windows Mobile phones, as well as Palm OS by ACCESS-running smartphones. Palm boasts that the mobile software store offers over 5,000 apps & games available for download, but you’ll have to see them all for yourself to know for sure which ones to appreciate.

AT&T this afternoon launched its version of the BlackBerry Curve 8320. The handset replaces the GPS of the 8310 with Wi-Fi to provide faster Internet access than the phone’s EDGE cellular link can offer. The new Curve was launched today and it’s available online, in sapphire blue, for as low as $149.99, after a $100 mail-in rebate and the signing of a 2-yr contract.

AT&T also says that BlackBerry Curve 8320 comes with an enhanced interface, an improved HTML browser and support for HTML e-mail.

After buying a Curve 8320, AT&T users with personal or corporate BlackBerry service plans will be able to access, for free, any of AT&T’s Wi-Fi hotspots across the US. Access to Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide is also available, but local taxes may apply.

Gresso, the Russian company distinguished for its luxury high-tech articles, has introduced its limited edition Avantgarde Skeleton Collection.This Windows Mobile 6.0 smartphone sports a titanium alloy casing “with high-tech ceramic coverage,” and a stainless steel battery case with leather cover and magnet release. The Gresso logo is plastered onto the back side of this phone, and covered with 10 micron gold.

The Gresso Avantgarde Skeleton costs a retarded price of $5000. Only 15 of them will be made to just stare at its backside, if only it was JLO’s could the price be justified. 

Colorful and powerful,Nokia has launched the N79 with the same support for US 3G.The N79 features quadband GSM/EDGE support and dual-band W-CDMA access with HSPA high speed data, interchangeable XpressOn rear covers that trigger different user interface themes on the device, accelerometer for changing screen orientation and motion control, a 5.0 megapixel CCD camera with Carl Zeiss branded optics along with dual LED flash and light for video recording.

The phone also features a microSDHC expansion slot with support for 16GB cards, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR with stereo audio support,  Symbian Series 60 with Feature Pack 2, 3.5mm headphone jack, TV output, speakerphone, FM transmitter, N-Gage games support, Wi-Fi radio, and A-GPS support through Nokia Maps.

The phone is now available from Nokia for $455.00 or from Amazon for $401.99,  with the caveat that Amazon is temporarily out of stock with shipping beginning after December 24th.

via nokia

The Samsung T929 called Leica or Memoir, is the T-Mobile version of the Samsung M8800 or Pixon. Both phones will come with an 8MP camera with flash and auto focus (confirmed). About frequency, is confirmed!. The Samsung T929 will come with quad band GSM/EDGE and 2100 and 1700 UMTS/HSDPA. Bluetooth is 2.0 with stereo headset capable. MP3 player, and A-GPS.  No mention about Wi-Fi. Seams the Samsung T929 will be the same as the Behold only with a better camera.

The Samsung T929 will be available some time Feb 2009. Stay tuned for more information.