Best Buy appears to be running a fire sale on the Palm Pre Touchstone Charges: Buy One, Get One Free!

You have to order online, from the link below, and use in-store pickup (they are backordered for online sales).

We cannot confirm if this is a price mistake or not. As such, you may want to head over to the store as soon as you get pickup confirmation.

Palm Pre Touchstone Charger 2-Pack – Best Buy

Update: Best Buy’s site is being hammered. Copy 9317214 into your web browser, then click the link above. Finally, paste 9317214 into the item number field in the top-right corner. This is the most reliable way of getting the page to load.

Venerable prepaid MVNO TracFone has launched a new flat-rate service called Straight Talk for users that want to have a choice between unlimited voice/messaging service, or want a fixed amount of airtime and texts per month without a contract.

Click for full-size.

For now the service is available nationwide via select Wal-Mart locations and the handset lineup currently comprises the Motorola RAZR V3a, Motorola W385, and LG200CM.

The $45 Unlimited Plan includes unlimited voice service, unlimited SMS, and 30 MB of mobile web access while the $30 plan steps down to 1000 minutes of airtime and 1000 messages with the same 30 MB of mobile web access. One other advantage touted by TracFone is the inclusion of direct 411 access at no additional cost, which other carriers routinely charging additional fees for its use.

It should be noted that unlike the GSM-based service TracFone is known for, this service operates on the Verizon Wireless network.

All the news from around the network that you probably should know…

Joost is going down the drain, and AnimeNews.biz is reporting what is going to happen with the technology…

Over on CentralGadget.com, we’re urging you to nab those Windows 7 early-upgrade discounts… as they’re running out.

Our deal site, CheapenGadget.com, has found Apple continuing their fire sale of MacBook Air refurbs. The newest entry in way-too-low-pricing for the ultracompact notebook is the GeForce 9400M-powered variety… for $1199.

And, on PhoneNews.com, LG finally gets on the iPhone-style updating train.

LG has issued new firmware updates for the Verizon enV Touch and enV3 phones. However, they are using a new process that bypasses taking your phone into the store…

After the wake of Verizon’s dangerous and legally-questionable firmware over-the-air implementation, LG has launched their own LG Software Update application. This application mimics the existing Motorola Software Update and Sony Ericsson Update Service. Similar to how iTunes updates iPhone and iPod, the application will download the latest software version to a Windows PC, and then transfer the firmware update over-the-wire to your phone.

Much of this has been made possible, according to LG, by switching to a more modular firmware process, and by issuing customers USB cables instead of charging cables (LG phones, like many smartphones, now ship with a microUSB data cable and AC Adapter).

The updates eventually will also be made available at Verizon Wireless stores, for users with Macintosh systems, or who do not wish to update the phones at home.

Phone Encyclopedia: Firmware Tracker Updated…
Buy an enV Touch from Verizon Wireless
Buy an enV3 from Verizon Wireless

Sprint has officially announced via Twitter that it will launch the BlackBerry Tour on the same day as Verizon.

As can be seen in the screenshot, the $199.99 pricepoint also applies to those customers that are upgrade eligible.

Encyclopedia: BlackBerry Tour 9630

The first images of the forthcoming BlackBerry Tour with Alltel branding have surfaced.

Images courtesy of CrackBerry.com. Click for full-size.

This version of the Tour is expected to be sold in the recently divested Alltel markets and is expected to be identical to the Sprint and Verizon version.

Encyclopedia: BlackBerry 9630 Tour

Comcast has begun to resell Clear WiMax service to new and existing subscribers in the Portland metro area and surrounding suburbs under the brand names Comcast 4G and Comcast High-Speed 2go.

As a result of its initial investment in Clearwire last year, Comcast along with several other cable providers obtained the right to resell Clear WiMax service along with Sprint data services.

The current packages available consist of Comcast High-Speed 2go Metro which will cost $49.99 a month when bundled with Comcast home Internet service and will only work within the Clear coverage area, along with a Nationwide package that includes a dual-mode EVDO/WiMax modem for $69.99 a month.

Comcast has stated it will offer download speeds of up to 4 megabits per second in both packages with service expansion expected in the Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia markets by the end of the year.

Verizon has opened up a dedicated pre-order and product page for the forthcoming BlackBerry Tour 9630.

Click for full-size

The BlackBerry Tour features a tri-mode CDMA EVDO Rev. A/quadband GSM/EDGE/single-band HSPA radio, HVGA landscape display, GPS transceiver with A-GPS support, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, Qualcomm chipset with 256 MB of RAM and 192 MB of ROM running at 528 MHz, speakerphone, microSDHC expansion slot and 3.2 megapixel camera with video recorder, auto focus and flash.

As previously reported the phone will be available on July 12th for $199.99 after new 2 year agreement and rebates.

Encyclopedia: RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630

Following up on the announcement of the latest Sprint Palm Pre update, new information has surfaced on the extent of the fixes. The main issue being fixed was an exploit that was being used to install homebrew applications with unsigned code on non-root enabled phones by sending an email with the installer link.

The problem arose when no security dialog or warning notification would display when the link was clicked, with the executable automatically installing itself and appearing in the application list with no confirmation whatsoever, which could have been easily abused by someone sending a malicious application via email and potentially causing serious damage to the user’s device and data.

By fixing this loophole thanks to the help of the homebrew community, Palm is demonstrating that it is keeping an open line of communication, while keeping the rest of the alternative methods for development open for the time being.

Sprint has officially announced the forthcoming release of the Motorola Clutch i465 for its Nextel network.

The Clutch is identical to the model sold on subsidiary Boost Mobile and features a portait display, QWERTY keyboard, speakerphone, VGA camera, MMS support, email client, Bluetooth, and threaded SMS support along with the distinction of M810 Mil-Spec certification for dust, vibration and harsh enviroment longevity.

The phone will be available later this summer for $109.99 after new 2 year agreement before an additional $50 mail-in and $20 insteant rebate, bringing the total to $39.99.