Latest phones and cell review

Believe it or not, those other search engines are still out there. In fact, they even manage to show up in the least likely of places. But, it must be hard for these other engines when they keep getting forced into the shadow of another, far more colorful mechanism. About a year ago, T-Mobile signed their mobile browsing souls away to Yahoo!, but it looks like that agreement has ended, and the fourth largest carrier in the States has had a change of heart.

Instead, T-Mobile USA has gone ahead and signed up with the Mountain View-based company, also known as Google. In addition, they’re also partnering up with Medio Systems, to better index results of premium content like wallpapers and ringtones. The switch has apparently taken hold already, as Google is available now in their Web2Go, along with their mobile web homepage.

But all is not lost for the purple Y in the land of magenta. Yahoo! is still making their services useful for the carrier by providing access to Yahoo! services like News, Finance, Messenger, Mail, and Flickr. So apparently the split was mutual, at the least. We’re not really surprised by this, considering the push that T-Mobile has been making on the Android side of things. Sprint’s pushing Android as well (not as hard, but they’re trying), and they’ve got a deal going with Google as well. The main contender to that would be Verizon Wireless, which is still rocking Microsoft’s Bing as their primary search provider, but that’s not a surprise either. And AT&T? Well, they’ve still got the Yahoo! love.

[via unwiredview]

Considering it’s only Thursday, we figured we’d inject some good news for your reading pleasure. Unless you really like the N900 and can’t wait to see MeeGo open up its repository for the device. If that’s the case, you’re probably already full of good news. But, if you’re a fan of T-Mobile USA, and love to hear about customer satisfaction results, this one’s for you. It’s a good thing you stuck around.

What we have here is the Wireless Retail Customer Satisfaction award, which makes this T-Mobile’s second victory in a row. Obviously, this award is sought after by all the major wireless carriers in the States, and it seems that T-Mobile, while victorious, had a pretty close race on their hands. Especially when it comes to Verizon Wireless. T-Mobile pulled ahead with an overall score of 723; and Verizon Wireless finished in second with 722. Even if this is T-Mobile’s second consecutive victory, these results should show them that this is a never ending race, and customer satisfaction is a goal never completely obtained.

Just like any other awards program, T-Mobile (and the rest of the carriers) were graded on several different parameters before the winner was chosen. The categories in this round were: retailer’s facility, sales staff, cost, merchandise display, and overall retail sales performance. This study did not include: phone selection, or how satisfied a customer was with their wireless network. So, as the title suggests, this merit is meant only for the retail side. That’s nothing to scoff at. While there are more and more people out there getting their phones online, the brick-and-mortar stores still play a vital role. Congratulations to T-Mobile USA, and here’s hoping that all the carriers continue to strive for that first place position: it only works out for us.

More on-the-go FiOS TV subscribers can now remotely manage their Verizon digital video recorders (DVRs) as Verizon expands its free remote-control capability to a larger range of wireless handsets — plus offers Web-based remote DVR management service to all FiOS TV DVR customers. The service allows customers to remotely review, change or add recording requests, delete recorded programs, browse and search TV and video-on-demand listings, set parental controls, and more.

The company is also providing a new wireless application to FiOS TV Home Media DVR customers that will allow them to use any cell phone to remotely access their DVRs. To access this application, these customers must subscribe to a data plan from Verizon Wireless or any other wireless service provider.

The wireless application for Home Media DVR subscribers is available at (http://m.verizon.com/tv). Customers already using the wireless application with Verizon Wireless LG EnV2, LG Chocolate 2, or LG Voyager handsets can still access the remote DVR programming feature as they did before.

The rebranded HTC Touch, Verizon XV6900 will be available from 16th April. According to a poster in engadgetmobile comment, the XV6900 will be available at $419.99 (no contract), 1 year contract at $369.99 and 2 year contract at $299.99 before a $50 MIR with 1 or 2 year contract. Depending on the calling plan you might also get other discount which will bring down the price to $149.99 with the unlimited plan.

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Verizon Wireless and LG today announced the enV2 by LG will be available in April. The successor to the popular enV by LG, the new enV2 gets a makeover with a new slim redesign and sophisticated black or maroon finish.

The enV2 supports a number of features and services that customers have come to expect in wireless phones from LG and Verizon Wireless, including V CAST Music and Video, VZ NavigatorSM, Bluetooth capabilities, dual speakers and a 2.0 megapixel camera. The phone’s spacious QWERTY keypad with large sized external keys makes messaging easy, while its 2.4-inch internal screen offers crisp, crystal-clear videos and images.

Equipped with access to VZ Navigator, which uses location-based services (LBS) to provide audible turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to find more than 14 million points of interest, from ATMs and gas stations to restaurants and tourist destinations. The enV2 by LG also offers the following features and capabilities:

• Wireless Sync E-mail (BREW e-mail Client) capability
• Instant Messaging using AIM, WL Messenger, and Yahoo!
• 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder:
• Video Resolutions: 320 x 240, 176 x 144 (default) pixels
• Video Player for WMV, MP4, 3GP, 3G2 formats
• Music Player for .mp3, .wma, and unprotected .aac and .aac + files
• microSD memory port with up to 8 GB support
• Supported Bluetooth Profiles - compatible with devices that support headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, advanced audio distribution (stereo), phone book access, basic printing, basic imaging, object push for vCard and vCalendar and file transfer
• Auto view and Text to Speech, so text messages can be heard aloud
• Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA (Digital Dual-Band)
• Dimensions: 4.00″ (h) x 2.13″ (w) x 0.65″ (d)
• Weight: 4.23 ounces
• Standard Battery: 950 mAh Li-Polymer
• Up to 320 minutes of usage time or up to 520 hours of standby time
• TTY/TDD support
• Hearing aid compatible (M3/T3-Rating)

The enV2 by LG will be available for $129.99 after a $50 rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.