| Pinger offers free voice calls and texting to Android users Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:18 PM PDT 
So-called free text and voice alternatives have long dominated the Play Store, each with their own unique set of limitations and caveats. Pinger, however, is a new application, and while it’s mostly more of the same, it also manages to squeeze in a few additional features that direct competitors have been missing. Similarly to Google Voice, Pinger will provide you with a personal phone number which can be given to friends and family. The same number can be used regardless if the person on the other end is using Pinger or not, meaning mobile to mobile, mobile to landline and vice-versa are all supported. You’ll also get a personal voicemail inbox, so contacts can leave voice messages in the event that you are unreachable. Incoming calls are free, though you’ll need to pony up some extra cash to buy minutes for outgoing calls (new users receive 20 minutes free). Currently the full service is limited solely to the United States and Canada, though free text messages can be sent in an additional 35 countries. As with these types of applications, there are several limitations. For starters, Pinger SMS works only between two Pinger users, meaning you won’t be able to exchange photos or videos friends who aren’t using the service. Also, because Pinger is a VoIP application, you’ll need an established data connection to utilize any of the service’s functionality. And, with data fees becoming increasingly more expensive, the idea doesn’t seem too tempting. Catch the official PR after the break.
Pinger Launches New Free Texting and Calling Service For Android Devices Maker of Textfree, the #1 Free Texting App, Adds Free Voice Communication for Android San Jose, California — October 16, 2012 — Pinger, the company disrupting the global communications space by making texting and calling free, today announced its new Android application, called "Pinger." Pinger users can text and call for free to any phone in the U.S. and Canada, including smartphones, landlines and basic mobile phones. Pinger is free and available in the Google Play Store. Pinger users receive a free, local phone number they can then use to text or place calls to any phone number, giving them a second, fully-functional phone line. Pinger supports inbound and outbound calls, as well as free texting to 35 countries. All incoming calls are free, and users can earn free outbound minutes by watching videos and downloading apps. Users can also purchase minutes at an inexpensive rate from the Google Play Store. "What makes Pinger truly unique is its ability to make texting and calling free to any phone number, not just other smartphones," said Greg Woock, co-founder and CEO of Pinger. "We started out by making texting free, and now, by making calling free for Android users in the U.S. and Canada, we're another step closer to achieving our goal of making global communications free." The company has an established community of over eight million active users on the Android and iOS platforms. The company's existing Android phone app, Textfree, is one of the top free apps in the Google Play store. It is consistently ranked in the top 130 free applications out of the more than 400,000 apps that are currently available in the store. Textfree allows users to communicate for free via SMS and picture messaging. The new Pinger app combines free calling and an ingenious new interface with the free texting capabilities of Textfree. Both Textfree and Pinger are ad-supported. Pinger simplifies the communications process, incorporating useful and intuitive features including: · Text and call anyone on any phone or carrier—including smartphones, landlines and basic mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada · Adds a free second line to their existing Android phone · The unique photo-based interface means that there's no need to swap between screens or apps to check missed calls, listen to a voicemail or send a message. The Pinger phone app organizes communication with each contact—text, voice and picture messages—into a single screen · Group addressing—communicate with groups faster and easier · Anyone using Pinger Android is on the global Pinger network. Communicate with friends and family anywhere in the world on Android, iOS or even the web. Users communicating with others on the Pinger network get longer texts, hi-res picture messages, higher-quality calls and instant open notifications In the U.S. alone, Pinger's eight million active users send more than two billion text messages and use 75 million voice minutes a month. Pinger is the seventh largest U.S. carrier by SMS volume. According to comScore, the company's apps are installed in 21% of U.S. iOS devices, putting Pinger among the Top 5 most installed U.S. apps of all time on iOS. Textfree users on Android can seamlessly transition to the new voice features by simply downloading the "Pinger" app from the Google Play Store, allowing them to maintain their current Textfree phone number with these added services. Pinger can be downloaded here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pinger.ppa About Pinger Pinger, together with millions of users, is building the planet's first free, global communications network. Our mission is to ensure everyone can freely text and talk with the people they care about most. Pinger simplifies network complexity with an intuitive, picture-based interface that brings together different types of communication in one place, from any device. At Pinger, we strive to make the costly completely free—and the complex surprisingly simple. Connect with us atwww.pinger.com.
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| Special Edition HTC One S coming to Taiwan, makes U.S. customers jealous Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:34 PM PDT 
One of the best phones on the market is about to get a little bit better. A Special Edition HTC One S has been profiled on HTC’s Taiwanese website, packing an upgraded 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 processor over its S3, along with four times the storage, 64GB vs 16GB. It will only be available in Taiwan, but it’s sure to be a hot commodity for the unlocked phone market. Source: HTC Taiwan
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| PlayMG announces new MG pocketable WiFi Android gaming system for “young people” Posted: 16 Oct 2012 12:50 PM PDT 
Any parent with kids can attest to the problems created when one of them notices you playing Angry Birds or something similar on your Android powered smartphone. Inevitably, said kid will relentlessly pester their parent until they can borrow the smartphone to enjoy some Android gaming action. PlayMG Corp. hopes to address that problem and help parents “reclaim” their smartphones with the introduction of the MG, a pocketable WiFi-capable Android gaming system targeted at youth ages 5-18. If you are familiar with the relationship between iPod Touch to iPhone, you should understand the concept. The MG is basically an Android smartphone without the phone. According to PlayMG’s press release, the intent is to fill the void for kids who are too young to have their own Android smartphone or whose parents find phone and data plans to be cost prohibitive. PlayMG has taken some steps on the software side to orient the device’s use for youth gaming, incorporating features like strong parental control apps and a “Digital Wallet” allowance type system for the purchase of games and apps. This new device is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and at PlayMG.com. A special pre-sale price of $149 is available until November 4th when the price goes up to the regular retail price of $169. PlayMG will include an 8GB SD card to go with the 4GB of internal memory and up to $40 worth of preloaded games and a prepaid SpendSmart Mastercard for future purchases. Hit the break for the full press release. Mom and Dad Will Soon Get Their Smartphones Back: PlayMG Corp Announces Pre-Sale on Amazon.com and PlayMG.com of MG(TM) — First Pocketable Wi-Fi Android App-Gaming System for Young People SAN DIEGO, CA–(Marketwire – Oct 16, 2012) – PlayMG™ Corp., a startup comprised of technology, game and social industry veterans (and parents) who have come together to reimagine play for young people with the introduction of MG™ — the first dedicated, pocketable Wi-Fi app-gaming system for the Android market — announced today that it is now taking pre-orders at Amazon.com and PlayMG.com. Through November 4, the sleek new MG — loaded with up to $40 in added value — will be available for a special pre-sale price of $149 before it ships this holiday season for a suggested retail price of $169. The MG was specifically designed to fill a huge void currently experienced by young people who either are not old enough to have their own smartphones, or whose parents have found data plans costs prohibitive. With no monthly charges or expensive cartridge games to buy, and an all-new Family Collaboration System poised to make traditional parental controls seem a thing of the past, the MG enables young people to enter the world of portable “freemium” app play, while parents can safely and affordably give it to them. MG delivers a sophisticated, sleek look, and many new features to the portable gaming category — ensuring young people will finally, and gladly, stop asking to borrow Mom and Dad’s smartphone or tablet. “We spent a lot of time designing the MG concept and prototypes to determine what would be cool enough for young people to actually want to give back their parents’ smartphones,” said T. Scott Edwards, PlayMG Founding Partner. “They want something specifically designed for their generation that fits in their pocket, doesn’t look at all childish, has expandable memory and gives them the most financial independence and play possible. We are excited to be able to deliver this ‘wish list’ of features, and are now working to get the word out to parents and the estimated 52 million 5-18 year-olds in the US who don’t currently own smartphones.*” MG FAMILY COLLABORATION SYSTEM: (Not just another name for ‘Parental Controls’)
The MG Family Collaboration System includes “Digital Wallet” and “Remote Trust” notification functions, which are new to the portable gaming space. Parents no longer need to be bothered every time their teen wants to make a 99-cent purchase or worry about surprise charges. The MG “Digital Wallet” lets parents create and manage “game allowances” through the reloadable SpendSmart™ prepaid MasterCard® for teens. The MG is the first portable gaming system to include this unique feature, allowing teens the freedom to discover, download and play the games they want from the app marketplace while staying within set spending limits defined by their parents. Parents wanting more than just traditional parental controls, which have been devised to shut down access to entire activities or categories, can opt into MG’s “Remote Trust” notification to receive email updates on MG activity, or for instantaneous notifications, can simply check on the MG device itself. Remote Trust was designed to allow young people to get the most out of their MG and the ever-expanding world of app play, but within agreed upon parameters. LIMITLESS EXPANDABLE MEMORY
Every MG comes with 4GB built in memory and an additional 8GB SD card. The MGs standard SD port allows unlimited expandable memory to download and save as many apps, music, photos and videos as desired. This is an important advantage as many smartphones and tablets carry a higher suggested retail price than the MG, but offer only a fixed memory with no ability to ever expand it. “You are not held hostage to the MG’s memory,” said Edwards. “With the MG’s built in memory and included SD card, every MG will come with 12GB of memory capability and the option to add even more inexpensively.” UP TO $40 WORTH OF ADDED VALUE AND EXCLUSIVE PRELOADS RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX
In addition to a $10 offer from SpendSmart™ prepaid MasterCard®, MG comes preloaded with EA Mobile™ hit titles ‘Need for Speed Hot Pursuit™’ and ‘NBA JAM™’ — a $10 value**. EA Mobile™ is a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA). PlayMG has also partnered with award-winning developer and publisher Com2uS to include preloads of the popular games Slice It, Swing Shot, Homerun Battle2, Tiny Farm, Tower Defense, 9 Innings Baseball, Super Action Hero and Derby Days. The 8GB SD card included with every MG is a $20 added value. Another preload and exclusive MG feature is the proprietary MG Origins Avatar System. As young people play on their MG, they gain points, customize and unlock the origin story of their own personal gaming companions, which makes setting up and using the MG a game in and of itself. The MG also comes with a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, the ability to shoot and play video and is one of the first systems operating on ICS 4.0 to include its new Face Unlock security feature. PlayMG™ Corp. is a startup formed in 2012 comprised of technology, game and social industry veterans (and parents) who have come together to affordably reimagine play for young people, while enabling mom and dad to get back their smartphones and tablets. PlayMG is the visionary creator of MG™ — the first dedicated, pocketable Wi-Fi app-gaming system for the Android market. To learn more or order the MG visit www.PlayMG.com. “Like” MG on facebook.com/mgmoregame . *Estimated 52M US kids 5-18 years-old who do not currently own smartphones (Sources: Pew Internet & American Life Project Report on Teens, Smartphones & Textingand Kaiser Family Foundation Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds). **Limited time only. The SpendSmart Prepaid MasterCard is issued by University National Bank, member FDIC. MasterCard and the MasterCard brand mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated. About MasterCard
MasterCard is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities–such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances — easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Learn more at mastercard.com or follow us on Twitter @mastercardnews.
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| Now available in the Play Store: Real Soccer 2013 Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:20 AM PDT 
Calling all soccer fans: Gameloft just released Real Soccer 2013 in the Google Play Store. This game is sure to compete with FIFA 12 and any other soccer game released for Android. Gameloft calls this the “most immersive soccer simulation” with improved graphics, moves and for the first time in a Real Soccer game, personal names and portraits of over 3,000 pro soccer players. Check out the Play Store link below to get the free download and run a soccer club the way you want. 
Play Store Download Link
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| Glympse gets major update and adds Glympse Groups, Calendar Integration, and ‘Where Are You?’ Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:03 AM PDT 
I’m a huge fan of Glympse. It’s simply the best real-time location sharing app available. I use it all the time when traveling to visit family or when I’m running around in a million directions and need to let my wife know where I am. This amazing app just got a whole lot better with a brand new update that brings some really nice enhancements. Glympse Groups is perfect for meetings, sporting events, or get togethers. It lets you create a pre-defined group that allows several people to share their real-time locations with each other for a set amount of time. Group names can be any name you want as long as it begins with “!”. So if you’re meeting some friends at the ball game, you can create a group called !FenwaySox. All users have to do is send a Glympse to that group name, and everyone will be able to see each other’s location in real-time. Users can turn off their location sharing whenever they wish.
With Calendar Integration, Glympse can automatically schedule location updates to everyone associated with a specified calendar event. This works with Outlook, Google, and iPhone calendars. Now when there is a meeting scheduled, there’s no need to send an email or text letting everyone know you’re running late. Everyone will be able to see your exact location with a tap of their finger. Last but not least is “Where Are You” or Request a Glympse, which allows your friends to send you a text or email requesting your location. All you have to do is accept it, and your location will be shared in real-time for a given period. You can also send requests to people who don’t have Glympse installed on their phone because they will be given an opportunity to download it. The update is available now and all of these features work whether you’re using Android or iOS. Just hit one of the download links below to grab the update or to install it.       
Play Store Download Link Full press release: GLYMPSE EXPANDS LOCATION SHARING TO BE MORE RELEVANT, SOCIAL IN EVERY DAY LIFE
Introduces Glympse GroupsTM, One-Touch Calendar Integration, and Ability to Ask Friends "Where Are You?" New Glympse Now on iPhone®, iPad®, and Android SEATTLE – October 16, 2012 – Glympse, Inc., the mobile technology company that pioneered temporary real-time location sharing, today introduced a new mobile app with more services to make it even easier to share location with family, friends and colleagues whenever you want, and for however long you choose. Available for free on iPhone, iPad and all Android platforms, the new app now includes Glympse Groups TM, which marries dynamic, real-time location with real-life activities that anyone can join. The new Glympse also includes one-step calendar integration that automatically sends a Glympse to participants in advance of a scheduled event, as well as a "Request a Glympse" feature so you can easily ask your friends, "Where Are You?" in one click, eliminating back-and-forth texting. "We've reached a pivotal point in the evolution of location sharing – moving beyond check-ins and static one-time, closed-network sharing events to location as a mainstream way of communicating where someone is at any given time. People are actively seeking ways to share where they are more regularly and with broader groups of people – but with control," said Bryan Trussel, CEO and co-founder of Glympse. "With Glympse, our goal is to provide an instinctive way for anyone to share their location – as privately or widely as they would like – by integrating the action easily into everyday activities." Using Glympse isn't just easy, it's instinctive. The new features and intuitive design have been developed with user input, further integrating Glympse into daily life, while ensuring users have complete control over how much, or how little, they want to share: Glympse Groups Glympse Groups allows users to share and interact via common activities, such as sporting or industry events, meetings or social gatherings. Glympse reveals group members' real-time locations on a map for a set amount of time, encouraging local interaction and social discovery. Joining a group is simple and instantaneous – users just need to enter bang (!) and the group name – and there is no need for a login or password as groups are open to all. For example, if you and several friends or colleagues plan to attend a conference or baseball game, they just send a Glympse to: !SFNightOut. Then the location of every group member is displayed on a map. Once a group member's time limit expires, their location will no longer be shared unless they extend or resend the Glympse to the group. Individuals can stop actively sharing their location any time they choose. Calendar Integration By integrating calendars, like Outlook, Google and iPhone, Glympse allows users to automatically schedule location updates to everyone associated with a specific calendar event, virtually replacing the need for "Running Late" or "On my way" emails, texts or phone calls. Upcoming calendar events have been seamlessly included into the app's "Shortcuts" setting and automatically add the meeting name and location to the Glympse. Now users are just a couple taps away from letting all the attendees know their location in real-time. Request a Glympse When Glympse first debuted, it made it fast and easy for users to "Share Your Where" with others, for a specified period of time without creating yet another network. Now, the new Glympse turns the tables and makes it just as easy to ask your friends, family, and colleagues, "Where are you?" With the new "Request a Glympse" feature, users simply send a request via text or email and recipients can instantly accept and start broadcasting their location for the given time period. If the recipient does not yet have Glympse installed, they can easily do so by clicking the link to download the app, and then accept the request to start sharing their location. Glympse is available today in the App Store and Google Play. To download the free Glympse app, visit www.glympse.com/get_glympse About Glympse GlympseTM allows GPS-enabled mobile phone users to share their location for a pre-set period of time with anyone they choose. Available on iPhoneTM, Android, Blackberry and Windows PhoneTM, Glympse visually answers the question of “Where are you?” with a dynamic map that updates the user's whereabouts in real-time and it easily integrates location sharing into every day activities and events. Glympse was developed with consumer safety and privacy in mind, and the service provides users with complete control over WHO can view their location, WHEN and for HOW LONG. GlympseTM is a trademark of Glympse, Inc.
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| Sprint to release Samsung Galaxy Note II on October 25th for $299 on contract Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:32 AM PDT 
Getting a jump on other carriers, Sprint officially announced availability and pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Note II this morning. The new device will be available beginning October 25th, the day after Samsung’s event presenting the Galaxy Note II in New York. The phone will be available for $299.99 in either Marble White or Titanium Gray with a two-year contract or eligible upgrade,. No word on what pricing will be like with less than a two-year contract or upgrade. Hit the break for the full press release. Samsung Galaxy Note II with Sprint 4G LTE Available Oct. 25 for $299.99
Innovative Device Combines the Creativity of a Tablet and Productivity of a Smartphone with Truly Unlimited Data from Sprint Multimedia Gallery OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), October 16, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE:S), the only national carrier with Truly UnlimitedSM 4G LTE data, text and calling to any mobile, today announced an availability date for Samsung Galaxy Note® II. Beginning Oct. 25, it can be purchased for $299.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement (excludes taxes and surcharges) for either color option – Marble White or Titanium Gray. Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile), the No.1 mobile phone provider in the United States, Galaxy Note II will boast several firsts for Sprint – first to launch with Android™ 4.1.1, Jelly Bean; first smartphone display larger than 5 inches; and first device to launch with a quad-core processor. With the latest HD Super AMOLED™ screen technology powering the device's 5.5-inch 720p display, images are bigger, clearer and brighter than ever. Performance and power are built-in on Galaxy Note II with Samsung's Exynos™ 1.6GHz quad-core processor, a long-lasting battery, blazing fast 4G /LTE network speeds, and international voice and data capable compatibility with GSM/UMTS/CDMA networks. Galaxy Note II comes with a built-in S Pen™ that is longer, thicker and ergonomically designed for the perfect grip. Its advanced features also provide enhanced capabilities to capture ideas and inspirations instantly and to combine handwriting with any digital content directly on the screen. Galaxy Note II features an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera with HD video recording. The camera's powerful features include Buddy Photo Share, Burst Shot and Best Photo, which were introduced on Galaxy S III in June. With the diverse mix of mobile devices being used in the workplace, companies must be assured about the security of corporate data and applications available on the devices. Earlier this year, Sprint introduced a designation for select smartphones, including Galaxy Note II, that deliver enhanced security, device management and Exchange Active Sync capabilities to business customers, Sprint Professional Grade. Following the same business-friendly path, Galaxy Note II is a SAFE™ (Samsung for Enterprise) device, providing the ability to securely sync corporate email, calendars, contacts and sensitive information. SAFE provides a comprehensive approach to making Android devices more secure and manageable for business users. With a thorough quality assurance process in place to test and confirm the Note II enterprise capabilities, SAFE systematically meets the rapidly evolving needs of IT and the growing number of businesses allowing employees to "bring your own device" (BYOD) to work. Enjoy Data without Limits Samsung Galaxy Note II customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint's Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones – a savings of $20 per month versus Verizon's comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web (excludes taxes and surcharges). With Sprint's Everything Data and other plans that include Truly Unlimited data, Sprint is continuing its history of data leadership by making it easy for its customers to use data in all the ways that are useful to them, such as news, email, music, TV and GPS navigation, without worrying about data overages on their monthly bill. Sprint 4G LTE is available in 24 citiesi and is expected to be in more than 100 additional cities in coming months. Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and expects to have largely completed the nationwide build-out by the end of 2013. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE. Sprint will host the 12th annual Open Solutions Conference Oct. 24-25 at the San Jose, Calif., Convention Center, offering developers, ecosystem partners and executive attendees an up-close view into the latest app developing tools and capabilities, keynote presentations from Sprint CEO Dan Hesse and other industry leaders, breakout sessions, coding sessions, event sponsor exhibits, and business-critical networking opportunities. Registration is open at http://developer.sprint.com/OSC2012. About Sprint Nextel Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 56 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint. Android, Google Wallet, Google Play and Android Beam are trademarks of Google, Inc. Samsung, GALAXY, GALAXY Note, S Pen, SAFE and Super AMOLED are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. 4G used in connection with the Samsung GALAXY Victory 4G LTE refers to the fact that the device is capable of operating on Sprint's 4G LTE network. TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG TELECOMMUNICATIONS AMERICA, LLC, AND THEIR AFFILIATES (COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO HEREIN AS THE "SAMSUNG ENTITIES") EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, INTEROPERABILITY OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY PROTECTION, SAFE™ APPROVED DEVICES AND SAFE™ APPROVED APPLICATIONS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SAMSUNG ENTITIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY PROTECTION, SAFE™ APPROVED DEVICES OR SAFE™ APPROVED APPLICATIONS. In addition, information technology security protection will be affected by features or functionality associated with, among other things the email platform, master data management, and virtual private network solutions selected by the software provider, solution provider or user. Choice of an email, master data management, and virtual private network solution is at the sole discretion of the software provider, solution provider or user and any associated effect on information technology security protection is solely the responsibility of the software provider, solution provider or user. For complete statement of limited warranty, please refer to www.samsung.com/us/safe, available on the Web and where Samsung smartphone and GALAXY Tab™ devices are sold. i Atlanta, Ga.; Athens, Ga.; Baltimore; Barnstable-Hyannis/Mid-Cape, Mass.; Calhoun, Ga.; Carrollton, Ga.; Gainesville, Ga.; Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; Granbury-Hood County, Texas; Houston; Huntsville, Texas; Lawrence, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.; Manhattan/Junction City, Kan.; Newnan, Ga.; Rome, Ga.; San Antonio, Texas; Sedalia, Mo.; St. Joseph, Mo.; Topeka, Kan.; Waco, Texas; Waukegan-Lake County, Ill.; and Wichita, Kan.
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| Alltel Wireless Announces The Alcatel One Touch Ultra 960C Smartphone, Comes Stuffed Full Of Gingerbread Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:37 AM PDT 
Those of you in the market looking for a modest phone on a modest wireless carrier may want to pay attention right now. Alltel Wireless has launched the Alcatel One Touch Ultra 960C that is now available both in retail stores and online. The device looks to allow Alltel customers to do the absolute basics without too much hassle thanks to a 1.4GHz processor, 5MP camera plus 720P video, built-in DLNA and Gingerbread 2.3 (sigh). While the device’s specs are not exactly the most desired, the price may be. The device will be priced at $19.99 on-contract or if contract’s don’t tickle your fancy, the device is available for a desirable $199.99. Yup— the price of the Alcatel One Touch Ultra 960C suddenly made it look pretty appealing for many folks out there– especially since . You’ll find additional details of the device once you check out the full presser after the break.
New ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C offered to Alltel Wireless customers Slim, intuitive smartphone option offers users enhanced functionality at an affordable price LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – ALCATEL ONE TOUCH and Alltel Wireless recently announced the availability of the ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C in retail stores and online. The ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C features an ultra-thin, lightweight 4.3-inch capacitive multi-touch display for enhanced content viewing and a powerful 1.4GHz processor that performs quickly to run apps, download content and stream videos.
"Alltel Wireless is proud to add this value-packed, user-friendly device to our smartphone lineup," said Scott Moody, vice president of marketing communications for Alltel Wireless. "We are constantly trying to provide our customers with the most affordable smartphone options with the most beneficial usability features, and we believe that the ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C embodies this commitment." The ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C also features a 5.0-megapixel, with auto-focus and 720p HD video camera that allow users to capture all of life's important moments in high quality. The built-in camera even features touch focus and image stabilization. The phone also has a front-facing camera, ideal for self-portraits, and can even perform video calls. Running on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system, the ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C also comes equipped with built-in DLNA support, so users can stream multimedia content on multiple screens. "We are very excited to bring a smartphone for work and entertainment like the Ultra to Alltel. We wanted to develop a device that would be easy to use, beneficial in everyday life and come at a very affordable price," said Rayford Higginbotham, executive director for North America at ALCATEL ONE TOUCH. "The ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C is convenient, intuitive, and offers competitive features to some of the more expensive phones on the market today, but at a much smarter price." Additionally, the ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C integrates seamlessly with social networks and comes pre-installed with Facebook and Twitter. Users can share photos, HD video and music on social networks with ease. The device also comes pre-installed with a document viewer and editor, so that those using their device for work can easily see and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents and also Adobe PDF files on the go. Additional features of the Ultra 960C include:
Bluetooth Version 3.0
Google Play Store – browse and download thousands of free and paid apps, games, books and movies
3-way calling
Highly durable Dragontrail™ glass touchscreen with sun legibility
Preloaded battery saver and data traffic manager apps
SWYPE Virtual Keyboard
Text, picture, voice and video messaging
The ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C is available for $19.99 with a new two-year agreement. The phone is also available on Alltel's No Contract plans for $199.99. The ONE TOUCH Ultra 960C is eligible for Alltel's Best Value plans with or without a contract, which cost just $45 monthly for unlimited talk and text. A required data is an additional $30 per month. About Alltel Wireless
Allied Wireless Communications Corporation (AWCC), doing business as Alltel Wireless, is a wireless telecommunications provider serving customers in six states. Headquartered in Little Rock, AR., AWCC is a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATNI). For more information, please visit http://alltelwireless.com. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AlltelWireless or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/alltel. About ALCATEL ONE TOUCH
ALCATEL ONE TOUCH® designs, develops, and markets globally a growing range of mobile and internet products designed to be as individual as the people who use them. One of the fastest growing of the world's top ten mobile phone manufacturers, ALCATEL ONE TOUCH makes access to today's mobile lifestyle simple by offering colorful, easy-to-use devices equipped with the technology people need most at prices they can afford. ALCATEL ONE TOUCH is a brand of TCL Communication, a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (2618.HK) and part of TCL Corporation one of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world. For more information, please visit http://alcatelonetouch.com. To keep up to date with ALCATEL ONE TOUCH North America, like us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/alcatelonetouchusa or follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/alcatel1touch.
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| Google Partners With LG UPlus To Bring Google TV To Korea Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:49 AM PDT 
As Google TV expands outside of the States and confirms its intentions to take over the world, it’s only fitting that it begins to invade itself into the homes of prospective markets in booming countries. With that said, Google has achieved a major collaboration with LG UPlus to bring IPTV set-top boxes to Korean households with Google TV preloaded. What this means is that Korea becomes the tenth country in the world utilizing the service, so users of the service will be able to dabble in all of the traditional Google TV goodies including apps like Search, YouTube, Google Play and Chrome. The exciting this is this is the first IPTV provider to offer a Google TV experience, so this should open the door for many more offerings in the near-future. source: Google TV Blog
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| ASUS Announces The PadFone 2, Keeps The Phone/Tablet Party Rolling Along Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:31 AM PDT 
After countless leaks and much speculation, the next great phablet phone/tablet hybrid is here. ASUS has formally announced the PadFone 2 and it will come jam-packed with lots of sweet features. Packed inside, the PadFone will have a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor matched with 2GB of RAM, a stunning 4.7-inch Super IPS display for the smartphone (10.1-inches for the tablet add-on), a beefy 2,140mAh battery and of course, Ice Cream Sandwich. Oh and least we forget the device will have up to 64GB of on-board storage. Naturally, the successor has to look even more appealing visually than the original, and the PadFone 2 does just that. For starters, the smartphone itself will weigh just 135 grams and come in at 9mm thickness. In addition, despite the larger display and hefty internals, the combination of the tablet and station comes in at just 649 grams in total weight. In fact– what’s even more stunning is the fact the the PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station can actually combine together and still weigh less than most tablets available in the market today. For those of you abroad, the PadFone 2 will be launched before the end of 2012 in Europe and Asia. While the PadFone 2 won’t be available in the States (for now), fear not— because availability in other countries will be announced at a later date. Hit the break for the full presser.
Live Life Intuitively with ASUS PadFone™ 2
The latest Smartphone technology features incredible battery life and a thinner, lighter
PadFone™ 2 Station to deliver the ultimate mobile flexibility. Milan, Italy (October 16, 2012) — ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, today announces the PadFone™ 2. Building upon the successful PadFone combination of an Android smartphone and dockable tablet for incredible mobile flexibility, PadFone 2 features the latest quad-core smartphone technology and a completely redesigned tablet.
ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled the PadFone 2 at a world-wide press conference in Milan, Italy. "Our relentless drive to innovate through Design Thinking has empowered us to create PadFone 2. It's beautiful, it's fast, it's seamless and, best of all, it's intuitive," said Mr. Shih.
PadFone 2 is a fully featured 4.7" Android™ smartphone with industry-leading specifications that docks with the unique PadFone 2 Station to become a lightweight, but fully featured, 10.1" tablet. Apps are seamlessly optimized on-the-fly to support both tablet and phone modes, with an instant transition between smartphone and tablet screen sizes. Portability with Power to Spare
ASUS' world-renowned Design Thinking philosophy has significantly reduced PadFone 2 Station's thickness and weight. At just 649g, the combined weight of both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station is now lighter than most tablets on the market, and the dock mechanism has been redesigned to require just one easy dock or undock action. PadFone 2 has also been subtly refined to increase its screen size to 4.7", while reducing its maximum thickness to 9mm and weight to just 135g.
Battery life is astounding, too. The higher-capacity PadFone 2 2140mAh battery provides up to 16 hours 3G talk-time and 13 hours Wi-Fi web browsing, while PadFone 2 Station's 5000mAh battery provides up to 36 hours of 3G talk-time. PadFone 2 Station's internal battery also has enough capacity to fully recharge the docked PadFone 2 up to three times. Smartphone, Smarter Performance
A 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM ensures incredible PadFone 2 performance in both smartphone and tablet modes. The new 4.7" 1280 x 720 HD Super IPS+ display uses scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass and delivers sharp, detailed images with accurate colors, ultra-wide viewing angles and 550 nits brightness for stunning outdoor visibility.
A new 13-megapixel high-performance camera captures incredibly detailed images with no shutter lag. Burst mode can capture up to 100 shots at a blisteringly quick six shots per second, while simultaneously recording 1080p HD video at 30fps, or 720p HD video at 60fps. Low-light performance is also enhanced by the wide f/2.4 aperture and a dedicated image signal processor. Both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station feature superlative sound quality too, thanks to ASUS SonicMaster technology and audio tuning by Waves, recipient of a Technical GRAMMY Award® for audio design. Easy to Share, Easy to Save
With capacities up to 64GB and 50GB of ASUS WebStorage provided free for two years, PadFone 2 offers endless possibilities for storing data. Data syncing between devices is also a thing of the past, since PadFone 2 storage is used by PadFone 2 Station when the two are connected. Shared mobile data connectivity between smartphone and tablet also means just one data plan is needed for both devices, while support for up to 42Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ and 100Mbit/s LTE delivers super-fast web browsing and downloads. User-friendly enhancements
PadFone 2 also features a new version of the SuperNote app that instantly converts handwritten notes made in multiple languages into editable text. Its Instant Translation tool also translates any word, phrase or sentence in an email, web page or app at a touch, without the need for a third-party translation tool. Availability
PadFone 2 will be launched before the end of 2012 in Europe (Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden) and Asia (Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, U.A.E). Availability in other countries will be announced at a later date.
PADFONE 2 SPECIFICATIONS
Networks
WCDMA 900/2100MHz
EDGE/GPRS/GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
LTE 800/1800/2600MHz
HSPA+ (DL: 21Mbit/s, 42Mbit/s (optional) / UL: 5.76Mbit/s)
LTE (DL: 100Mbit/s / UL: 50Mbit/s)
Operating system
Android 4.04 ICS (upgradeable to Jelly Bean shortly)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (8064 + 9215m) quad-core Cortex A15 class (1.5GHz) with Adreno 320 graphics
Storage / memory
16GB / 32GB / 64GB eMMC Flash / 2GB LPDDR2 RAM
Color
Black / White
Connectivity
802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0 & NFC (mobile payment function is optional and by specific regions only)
3.5mm audio jack, Micro SIM
ASUS 13-pin dock connector (supports Micro-USB 2.0 & Mobile High-Definition Link for HDMI connection)
GPS
A-GPS & GLONASS
Display
4.7" (1280 x 720) / 312ppi
Super IPS+ (550 nits)
Scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass with HCLR Film (anti-fingerprint coating)
Main camera
13MP BSI Sensor Sony Camera, f/2.4 Aperture,
five-element lens, auto focus with LED flash
Front camera
1.2MP
Other
G-sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, gyro sensor, e-compass
Battery
2140mAh Li-Polymer (non-removable)
Talk time
Up to 16 hours with 3G (LTE under qualification testing)
Standby time
Up to 352 hours with 3G (LTE under qualification testing)
Browser
HTTP / Google browser / YouTube browser / Facebook / Google+
Messaging
SMS / MMS / email / IM
Video
Video Playback: MPEG4/H.264/H.263/WMV @ HD 1080p
Video Recording: MPEG4/H.263 @ HD 1080p / 60fps @ 720p
H.264 Video Decode @ 720p / Video Encode @1080p
H.264 / Ogg / Theora / MPEG4 / WMV / 3GP
Picture
JPEG / PNG / GIF / BMP
Audio
MP3 / WMA / 3GP / AAC / AAC+
Dimension
137.9 x 69 x 9mm
Weight
135g PADFONE 2 STATION SPECIFICATIONS
Color
Black / White
Display
10.1" (1280 x 800, WXGA), 149ppi
IPS with capacitive multi-touch
Scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass with HCLR Film (anti-fingerprint coating)
Camera
1MP front camera
13MP via PadFone 2 rear camera
Battery
19Wh (5000mAh)
Connectivity
3.5mm audio jack via PadFone 2
ASUS 13-pin dock connector (Micro-USB 2.0 Host)
External phone antenna
Wi-Fi & BT, GSM, WCDMA, & LTE receiver diversity
Audio
High-quality speaker with ASUS SonicMaster technology All specifications are subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Content and product availability varies by country and coverage areas, and is subject to change. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. About ASUS
ASUS, the world's top 3 consumer notebook vendor and the maker of the world's best-selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading enterprise in the new digital era. ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today's digital home, office and person, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktops, Eee Box and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, tablet devices, servers, multimedia and wireless solutions, networking devices, and mobile phones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 3,886 awards in 2011, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than 11,000 and a world-class R&D team of 3,100 engineers, the company's revenue for 2011 was around US$11.9 billion.
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| T-Mobile strengthens its 4G network in Kansas City, more markets to follow Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:57 PM PDT 
T-Mobile has officially announced a slew of improvements to its 4G network in Kansas City, Missouri; and has promised to bring more enhancements to markets around the country in the near future. As for T-Mobile customers in KC, you should now start seeing much improved data and voice connection in select locations like Arrowhead Stadium, Westport, as well as Jackson, Wyandotte and Johnson counties. This is undoubtedly great news for T-Mobile, who has struggled with spotty coverage in rural parts of the country (including Missouri). Be sure to sound off in the comments if you’ve noticed any significant changes in coverage in the Kansas City area. Source: T-Mobile
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