Following up, Verizon has launched the successor to the Pantech Jest messaging phone in the Jest 2 Global Edition. The phone features a 2.4-inch LCD display, sliding QWERTY keyboard, 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder, Opera Mini, microSDHC slot and Bluetooth. In a different twist, the phone also features a quad-band GSM radio for international roaming. Pricing for the phone is set at $129.99 after new 2 year agreement before an additional $50 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $79.99.

AT&T has announced that it will launch the second BREW MP powered device in its lineup in the Pantech Pursuit II on July 17th for $99.99 before an additional $50 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $49.99. The phone features a a 2.8-inch QVGA resolution touch display, and a vertical QWERTY slider design reminiscent of other Pantech designs. It also includes a 2 megapixel camera with video capture, 3G, AT&T Navigator and support for 32GB microSD cards.

Following plans to integrate its Opera Mobile browser into BREW MP last year, Opera has announced that it will integrate its proxy-based Opera Mini browser into BREW MP. The move is designed to make it easier for carriers that have deployed BREW MP devices and storefronts to offer full web browsing at a reduced cost.

AT&T has announced its first BREW MP enabled handset one year after first announcing its intentions to release BREW MP enabled devices and one month after further confirming BREW MP devices during CES.  The HTC Freestyle features a 3.2-inch touch display, HTML browser, 3.2 megapixel camera with video capture, 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD slot, and the Sense UI ported from HTC’s smartphone lineup, which was first shown on the Brew MP powered Smart sold mainly in Europe and Asia last year.

The phone will be launched on Sunday, February 13th for $149.99 before an additional $50 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $99.99.

During the AT&T Developer Summit, AT&T has confirmed its first BREW MP based phone for release later this year in the HTC Freestyle featuring a3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, “Sense experience” and five more Quick Messaging class devices on the carrier later this year all on BREW MP.

This follows AT&T’s initial committment to BREW MP made last CES for its Quick Messaging class of devices for a consistent software platform.

Boutique manufacturer modu has announced the forthcoming launch of the BREW MP based touch oriented phone in the T. 

The T features modu’s proprietary expansion port and is being launched with its own companion line of accessories to enable different functionality such as a 5.0 megapixel camera shell, exercise armband sleeve, combo speaker dock / base station, or a vertical QWERTY keyboard.  The phone also features a 2.2 inch QVGA resolution touch display, microSDHC expansion slot and triband HSPA support.

In related news, modu has also teased the forthcoming Android-based Modu W personal media player with Wi-Fi radio.  No further details on the W are available at this time.

Motorola has announced a new mid-range touch device in the EX300.  The EX300 features a 2.8 inch QVGA touch display, 3.1-megapixel camera with video capture, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, GPS support, microSD card slot with support for 16GB cards, tri-band European GSM, and dualband European/Asian UMTS support.

While the device has been confirmed for Russia, Taiwan and Hong Kong there is no word on a US release.  AT&T has previously confirmed devices running BREW MP would be released this year, but has remained quiet since the January announcement.

Opera has announced that it will integrate its highly popular Mobile 10 and Mini 5 web browsers into Qualcomm’s revamped BREW Mobile Platform, which will make it easier for carriers utilizing the platform to deploy and offer the browsers as either a branded offering from the carrier or as an optional download amongst the thousands of applications available via BREW-powered storefronts according to both Qualcomm and Opera.

Verizon has historically been the main driver of BREW services in the US, being the first to offer the platform with Qualcomm’s assistance in 2003, while AT&T has recently committed to offering the platform in future devices slated for launch earlier this year. Neither Opera nor Qualcomm have confirmed any devices launching with the BREW version of Opera Mobile 10 or Mini 5 at this time.

In a press release this morning, Oracle and Qualcomm have announced the integration of the Java Wireless Client into Qualcomm’s BREW Mobile Platform, allowing for the development and deployment of Java ME based applications and services across Qualcomm’s new operating system.

With this development, Qualcomm is taking further steps to open the formerly closed BREW enviroment and is easing the barrier to entry for Java developers and software houses to develop on the new platform.

HTC has officially announced the forthcoming release of its first device powered by Qualcomm’s BREW MP operating system in the Smart.

The device will also feature HTC’s Sense user interface as an overlay with technical specifications to be confirmed.

The device was previously leaked last year and was initially speculated to be made available in Europe on Italian carrier TIM.