The Curve 8530 features BlackBerry OS 5.0, a landscape HVGA resolution display, dedicated media player keys, 3.5mm headphone jack, optical directional pad, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, redesigned QWERTY keyboard and Wi-Fi radio. It also includes preloaded applications including BlackBerry Media Sync, Sprint Music Store and Sprint TV access as well as a 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder. The BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be available in three color options – Black, Royal Purple and Red at a later date with pricing and availability yet to be disclosed.

The web is full of numerous reports of T-Mobile service problems on T-Mobile’s network.  Our sources are reporting the outages include data and voice.

T-Mobile confirmed the problem via their official Twitter account and official T-Mobile forums. T-Mobile’s also issued a short and brief statement confirming the outage:

“All – We’re aware of the current service disruption. Our rapid response teams have been mobilized to restore service as quickly as possible”.

Update 1 – T-Mobile has provided users with the following update:

“We’re making good progress restoring voice and messaging service to affected customers.  At this time, approximately 5 percent of T-Mobile customers are experiencing service disruptions.  Issues began at approximately 5:30 p.m. Eastern time.  Our rapid response team is working continuously to fully resolve this disruption. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused our customers.”

Update 2 – T-Mobile has issued another update:

“T-Mobile confirms it has fully restored voice and text/picture messaging services for customers affected by intermittent service disruptions on Tuesday.  About five percent of our customers across various geographies were affected for much of Tuesday evening, and by late Tuesday PST their service was restored.  Our sole focus has been restoring full services for all customers; we are now investigating the root cause of the incident.  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused our customers.”

Update 3 – T-Mobile has issued another statement explaining the cause of the outage:

“After investigating the cause, we have determined that a back-end system software error had generated abnormal congestion on the network. T-Mobile has since implemented additional measures to help prevent this from happening in the future.”

T-Mobile has not detailed any plans for reimbursing its customer base for the outage.

With the addition of layers  you are now able to view different types of information about the area around you.

” For example, you can turn on the Wikipedia layer to read entries about nearby places, then use the transit lines layer to help map out a route. Or you can use the My Maps feature of Google Maps to create a collection of places you’re planning to visit on your trip and then use Google Maps for mobile to access it from the road. You can also turn on the Google Latitude layer to see your friends’ locations.”

Another great way to utilize layers is to set a layer to display train routes or bus tops.  By having these layers you can toggle them on and off based on your needs at the current time.  To download the updated Google Maps App, head over to m.google.com/maps with your BlackBerry browser.  Google Maps with Layers is also available for Windows Mobile and S60.

A fringe minority has banned PhoneNews.com from inclusion in Wikipedia. We don’t like that, but we also aren’t going to throw mud by creating fake or self-written articles.

So, here’s what we’re going to do. We’ve created a temporary page on PhoneNews.com’s Phone Encyclopedia. Starting with a blank slate. We want you to make our Wikipedia article.

Once the community feels it’s up to snuff, we’ll ask each of you, to ask Wikipedia to publish it. If they have a problem with something in the article, in the spirit of wikis, we want all of you to work it out by improving our page each time. We figure that after a few open discussions with Wikipedia, using our forum as a starting point, that something will pass muster.

We’re not trying to make waves by doing this, but rather, avoid them. We believe that if an article is written in the open, by the public at large, that it can stand the test of time. And, by only acting as providing a forum for Wikipedia and PhoneNews.com to resolve their differences, we believe that the Phone Encyclopedia and Wikipedia can each meet their own goals better.

This will be the first Sprint smart device to come preloaded with Windows Mobile 6.5 out of the box.  It will also be capable of international coverage and will have Wi-Fi built in.  It will be available on Sunday, Oct. 11 for $149.99 (excluding taxes) with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement, and after a $50 instant savings and $100 mail-in rebate.

The Samsung Intrepid will feature:

• 2.5-inch touchscreen interface with 320×240 resolution
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• 3.2 megapixel camera and camcorder
• Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional with Microsoft ActiveSync and Microsoft Office Mobile (edit Word and Excel files, view PowerPoint)
• Windows Mobile email (work & personal)
• Stereo Bluetooth
• microSD slot (up to 32 GB)
• Instant messaging and threaded text messaging
• Wi-Fi
• Pre-installed SIM

Many users including famous celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton are reporting that they are receiving bill credits from $35 to 3 months free data from calling T-Mobile customer service to complain about the lack of data service. If you need support you can also visit the T-Mobile support forum or just stay tuned to PhoneNews.com.

Update 1: – T-Mobile is reporting that data access will begin to come back online tonight but that it will take until at least Monday for all services to be fully restored per the update on the T-Mobile Support Forums.

“T-Mobile and Danger/Microsoft are urgently working to restore impacted services to Sidekick, and deliver them to you as quickly as possible.  Following is a status update for our valued customers:

• We expect data services to begin gradually returning in the next couple of hours (Saturday evening)

• Web browsing capabilities should be first accessible first; additional functions such as IM, social networking applications and email will then follow.

While we anticipate a significant portion of data services to be restored by Monday, some richer data services may lag.  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate your patience as we work hard with Danger/Microsoft to resolve this issue.  We will continue to keep you updated as we have news to share.  Thank you.”

Update 2: As on Sunday evening, Sidekick data usage has not been fully resolved.  T-Mobile’s latest update as of Sunday at 12:42pm is as follow:

“T-Mobile and Danger/Microsoft continue to urgently work to restore impacted services to Sidekick, and deliver them to our customers as quickly as possible. Following is a status update for our valued customers:

• Web browsing was restored Saturday afternoon, and the teams have been working through the night since the disruption started to enable additional functions such as IM, social networking applications and email as quickly as possible.

While we anticipate a significant portion of data services to be restored by Monday, some richer data services may lag.  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate your patience as we work hard with Danger/Microsoft to resolve this issue.  We will continue to keep you updated as we have news to share.  Thank you.”

Update 3:

T-Mobile is now starting to restore Sidekick services.

“We are now starting to restore Sidekick services, when available you may need to log back in.  We will text you your user name and password over the next couple of hours, in case you need it.  If you have forgotten your password you can also have it sent to you by visiting www.mytmobile.com and selecting “Forgot your password?”
Update 4:

T-Mobile is advising customers not to do a hard reset.  A hard resetcan cause address book and calendar applications to be lost.

“IM services and access to social networking applications are now being restored along with Web browsing. The Address Book, Calendar, and other features are available as well, however, we advise customers to not ‘hard reset’ their device by removing the battery as it may cause information they enter into the Address Book and Calendar applications to be lost. We expect e-mail service and back-up of user data to be restored today. Some richer data services, such as new purchases from the Catalog, may take longer to enable.”

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Google Calendar and Contacts are also fully supported by the new push functionality as well.

The device is expected to be available in select markets within the week with pricing for the unit yet to be determined. The basestation also allows for UMTS data access and unlimited voice.  Pricing for the service will run $19.99 for unlimited use, $9.99 when bundled with an existing AT&T landline or internet service account. For AT&T customers with wireless, local phone, and internet service, there will be no monthly charge for MicroCell service.

Update: AT&T has released a statement to the press confirming that the MicroCell service is currently only available in Charlotte, North Carolina as a limited trial with no further announcements at this time, while adding that the aforementioned $19.99 monthly rate is being considered with no additional confirmation.

Update 2: Pricing details have surfaced for the 3G MicroCell unit, at $150 for the basestation and the aforementioned pricing details being confirmed by customers in North Carolina, with an additional $100 rebate when the $19.99 unlimited calling option is selected, making the unit $50 after rebate.  The iPhone has also been confirmed to work with the MicroCell courtesy of a prior update.

The AcerF1 will feature

• Quad-band GSM / Tri-band HSPA
• 3.8-inch WVGA display
• 5 megapixel camera with flash
• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• FM Tuner with 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• GPS