Hasta La Gadget!

We told you so. The Wall Street Journal has updated its recent article detailing disclosures from Verizon Wireless chief Ivan Seidenberg, and the latest news is as bad as it is predictable: VZW plans to consign unlimited data plans to the annals of history over the next four to six months, to be replaced by tiered, consumption-based pricing. Seidenberg says Verizon’s prices will surely differ from what AT&T recently introduced, noting that his company values data differently to the competition — though he wouldn’t say whether that means costs will be higher or lower. Either way, Droidsters, enjoy your last few months in the unlimited sun.

[Thanks, Tyler]

Verizon CEO confirms plans for tiered data pricing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 05:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon’s holding its developer conference (VDC, for those in the know) this week where it courts software and hardware developers alike to make stuff that works on its airwaves, and one of the bigger pieces of news to come out of it so far has been from Bug Labs. Now, Bug’s not exactly a company we’d expect to be working with Big Red, as CEO Peter Semmelhack notes in his blog post on the matter: “it may come as a surprise to you that a company that is so often vilified for being closed is teaming up with Bug Labs, a company that is defined by its openness.” What changed? Basically, Bug modules are going to serve as pre-certified building blocks for developers, saving little guys with limited budgets the time and expense of going through Verizon’s certification process — you just integrate Bug’s hardware and you automatically inherit its approval. No word yet on when the new modules will be ready or how much they’ll cost, though (we’re still waiting on the new BUGBase to launch). Follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Bug Labs to offer pre-certified modules for Verizon’s network

Bug Labs to offer pre-certified modules for Verizon’s network originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It might be a little early to cue the “vortex of suck” jokes, but this spy shot definitely says it all: the phone — claimed to be called Vortex — is decidedly on the lower end of Verizon’s Android spectrum. The Droid Guy, source of the photo, says that the specs include a 600MHz core, 3.2-inch display, FM radio, and Froyo; that basically matches up with the recently-announced Optimus One’s spec sheet, and considering the similarity in industrial design, it’s reasonable to follow the site’s conclusion that this little more than a CDMA port of the device. To be fair, the Android handsets in Verizon’s present-day lineup are definitely weighted toward the pricey side, so phones like this and the Motorola WX445 should help balance things out a smidge when (and if) they ultimately end up launching.

LG Vortex for Verizon in the wild? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola’s teasing that it’s “still on track for a summer launch of Android 2.2 for Droid X,” and considering that tomorrow is the last day of summer (sadly), that lines up nicely with new information on Droid Life today that Moto’s beast for Verizon will get blessed with the update starting tomorrow at noon Eastern Time. Verizon’s actually already posted the update document, and it’s a doozy: besides 2.2, you get improves visual voicemail with Bluetooth support, a refreshed mobile hotspot app, and a fix to prevent data connections from dropping as you move between WiFi and 3G coverage. Looks like you’ll be able to grab this of your own accord rather than having to wait for Verizon to bless you with the OTA, so gear up and enjoy one last evening with your Eclair-based Droid X. Go ahead, take it out somewhere nice, it’s treated you well.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: Verizon has independently confirmed that the update is indeed available tomorrow. Good way to start your Wednesday, we’d say.

Motorola Droid X getting Android 2.2 update starting tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You might remember some discussion of the Lexikon about this time last month, a rumored Android piece from HTC sporting an 800MHz MSM7630 core, a 5 megapixel camera, 3.8-inch WVGA display, 4GB of onboard storage, Froyo with Sense, and a QWERTY keyboard. Sounds a little bit like the G2 / Desire Z, doesn’t it? Indeed, those other models use Qualcomm’s MSM7230 processor, the GSM version of the 7630 that’d be required for action on Verizon. Well, fast forward to a new ROM update leak, showing a rendered device with Verizon branding up top and a face that looks suspiciously similar to that dual-mode GSM / CDMA slider we’ve been tracking for a couple months (pay particular attention to the creases below the touch buttons). Separately, one of our time-tested tipsters has let us know that the Lexikon is the same phone as the so-called Merge; we hope you haven’t grown attached to the flaming red keyboard, because more recent hardware revisions don’t have it. Hey, maybe you’ll be able to accessorize like you can with the Droid Incredible, eh?

[Thanks, HTC Kid and patlex]

HTC Lexikon shows up in leaked ROM update: is it the Merge for Verizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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