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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Video: Up close with Sprint’s “Instinct”

Sprint Nextel unveiled the upcoming “Instinct” handset from Samsung today at the CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas. David Owens, Sprint’s director of product commercialization, gives us a tour of the new touch-screen wireless gadget.

(Believe it or not, this is a quiet spot. That’s what you get when you make announcements at a Las Vegas hotel.)

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Wireless: Mobile customers used 2 trillion minutes

No wonder everyone seems to be on the phone all the time.

Wireless customers used more than 2 trillion minutes in 2007, up nearly 18 percent from 2006, the CTIA wireless industry association said at its annual show.

An industry survey found there were more than 255 million wireless users as of last December, a one-year increase of 22 million.

Text messaging also is hugely popular, with more than 48 billion messages reported in December - that breaks down to about 1.5 billion messages per day. The survey also found subscribers are sending more pictures and other multimedia messages.

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Wireless: Microsoft shows off new Windows Mobile

Microsoft just unveiled its Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, including a new version of Internet Explorer for phones and other wireless gadgets. Microsoft says the new software brings “desktop-grade Web browsing to Windows Mobile phones.”

windowsmobile_grn.jpgWindows Mobile also includes time-saving features, easier phone navigation and improved security, Microsoft said.

The first phones using the new version are expected by the end of the year.

Robert Bach, president of Microsoft’s entertainment and devices division, is expected to show off the operating system today at the CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas.

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Wireless: Sprint unveils iPhone-like handset

Instincu.jpgSprint Nextel Corp. is unveiling today a touch-screen phone that closely resembles the popular Apple Inc. iPhone. The Samsung “Instinct” is expected in June at a price lower than the cheapest iPhone, which sells for $399.

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse is expected to reveal more details when he gives a keynote address at the CTIA Wireless industry show within the next 90 minutes.

(Photo: Sprint)

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Video: Welcome to CTIA Wireless

The CTIA Wireless 2008 industry show kicks off today. We’re expecting speeches from top executives and technology news from companies including Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless and Microsoft. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is a last-minute addition to today’s list of keynote speakers.

Be sure to come back and check for more postings and video today and this week.

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