Nokia has announced a new CDMA clamshell in the 2608 which is meant for markets outside of the US. The phone features modem access, voice recorder, flashlight, FM radio, LED indicator for an incoming call or message, and an option to send a business card or calendar appointment via SMS.

While Nokia CDMA phones have a history of being outsourced to Chinese manufacturers, the announcement infers that this phone will in fact feature Series 40 support which is inferred by the Series 40 tag in the article byline, although no further information is provided by the announcement.

As expected, Sony Ericsson has launched their long awaited first entry into Windows Mobile devices with the Sony Ericsson X1a.

The device is sourced from HTC with input from Sony Ericsson and features a large 3.1 inch WVGA touchscreen display, GPS transceiver with Google Maps preloaded, sliding QWERTY keyboard with a unique arc slide mechanism to ease typing, optical mouse/5-way directional pad, microSDHC expansion slot, FM radio with RDS support, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, Wi-Fi radio, 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, video recorder, and flash, along with voice control.

As PhoneNews.com reported previously, the X1a does not support the W-CDMA 1700 frequency used by T-Mobile USA and instead features US 3G HSPA support on the 850/1900 bands as well as HSPA 2100 for international roaming.  The device also features Internet Explorer Mobile and Opera Mobile 9.5.

The device is now available directly from SonyStyle for $799.99 unlocked.

Encyclopedia: Sony Ericsson Xperia X1a

Not long after the launch of the long-awaited Samsung Omnia, Verizon has further discounted the TouchWiz enabled smart device by $50 in order to spur further holiday sales.

The device can now be had for $199.99 on a new 2 year agreement and $70 mail-in rebate, which represents a deeper subsidy by Verizon over the initial contract price of $249 and places it inline with the BlackBerry Storm.

Buy a Samsung Omnia from Verizon Wireless

Encyclopedia: Samsung Omnia

Clearwire today announced the transaction of the merger between Sprint, Google, Intel, and Cable Operators. PhoneNews.com was on the conference call, and we have the key details announced on it.

The Mobile WiMAX operator did not provide specifics on when, exactly, their existing pre-WiMAX network would be upgraded to the same WIMAX revision that Sprint’s XOHM is using, or when XOHM’s network would be integrated. Sprint’s XOHM management team will combine with Clearwire’s. Clearwire did say that they plan to upgrade the existing Clearwire network some time in 2009.

But, Clearwire did drop some hints of a plan. In the first half of 2009, Clearwire will integrate Sprint’s infrastructure and core network operations, which would fall in-line with expectations for a fall hard launch of a consistent WiMAX network in over 50 markets.

As to branding, XOHM will be phased out, and Sprint will use Clearwire directly to sell WiMAX services. The new brand will be called, simply, Clear. Clearwire will continue to be used as a brand in markets which have already launched Clearwire services. Clear profits will be shared between Sprint and Clearwire, but further co-branding (such as hybrid EV-DO/WiMAX options) was not discussed.

Clearwire also touched on LTE. The company attempted to rationalize that WiMAX vs LTE was not a platform war, similar to CDMA vs GSM/UMTS. Because both 4G technologies are fully IP-based, Clearwire argues that the two platforms will be much more interchangeable, without requiring devices to be significantly modified. The company even went as far as to indicate that their network would be in an advantageous positioned to transition to LTE, if WiMAX ultimately failed to gain traction.

While PhoneNews.com is taking an weekend off for the holidays, be sure to check out CheapenGadget.com for complete coverage of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday deals.

We’ve gone through thousands (yes, thousands) of deals, and cut the list down to just the very best deals online, as well as all the Black Friday ads to prepare your shopping list. Everything you’ve come to expect from coverage of the wireless industry at PhoneNews.com, you’ll find right now in deals over at CheapenGadget.com.

And yes, there are plenty of cell phone deals over there already, from half off a Nokia N96, to $5 Bluetooth headsets, and even an LG Rumor without contract for only $60!

This morning in separate press releases, both Verizon Wireless and Samsung Mobile have announced the pending launch of the Samsung Omnia i910 Windows Mobile smart device.

The device features Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, a 3.2 inch WQVGA resolution touchscreen display, TouchWiz widget-based user interface, Opera Mobile web browser, virtual QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, GPS support via VZNavigator, media player with TV out, 5.0 megapixel camera with autofocus and video recorder, Wi-Fi radio, microSDHC expansion slot, FM radio, optical mouse as found on the Saga, accelerometer, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

The device will retail for $249.99 after new 2 year agreement and $70 mail-in rebate with availability set for tomorrow online and through Telesales, with retail sales beginning on December 1st.

Update: Verizon has launched the Omnia for $439.99 Month to Month, $389.99 on a 1 year agreement, or $319.99 on a 2 year agreement before an additional $70 mail in rebate, bringing the totals to $319.99 and $249.99 respectively.

Encyclopedia: Samsung Omnia
Buy a Samsung Omnia from Verizon Wireless

T-Mobile has launched the G1 in a new striking White color to complement the current Bronze and Black variants with the same listed limited availability online.

Unlike the rumors that have been circulating around, the White version does not add any significant changes to either hardware or software and is identical to the launch models with quadband GSM/EDGE, single band UMTS/HSDPA access, Wi-Fi radio, a built-in GPS tranceiver with compass, 3.17 inch touch screen display running at HVGA resolution (480 x 320), microSDHC expansion slot with support for 8GB cards, and a concealed QWERTY keyboard.

The device is now available online for $399.99 retail or $179.99 after new 2 year agreement and $220 instant online discount.

Encyclopedia: T-Mobile G1
Buy a G1 in White from T-Mobile

Opera Software has announced that it has released the final build of its Opera Mini browser at version 4.2 after the success of the prior Beta version released just two weeks ago.

The browser features faster access thanks to newly deployed server farms, customizable skins, improved Opera Link functionality for bookmarks and notes, as well as support for YouTube video streaming (for most phones) on top of making an official version available for the T-Mobile G1.

Following up on the leaked images and information yesterday, Motorola has officially announced the Hint QA30 messaging and multimedia device.

The specifications remain unchanged with a sliding QWERTY keyboard, EVDO data, 2.5 inch landscape QVGA display, HTML browser, threaded SMS messaging, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, 3.5mm headphone jack, speakerphone, 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder, microSDHC slot, and CDMA 1700 AWS band support meaning flat rate carriers such as MetroPCS and Cricket may offer this phone in AWS markets sometime in the future. 

The FCC has revealed the first images of the Pantech C820, which is being referred to as the Duo II.

The device features a QVGA display, Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, quadband GSM/EDGE, dualband HSDPA, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, A-GPS support via AT&T Navigator, dual sliding keyboards for dial pad and QWERTY, microSDHC expansion slot 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder, and speakerphone.  

The user manual mentions other AT&T services such as Video Share and CV support, lending credence to the assumption that AT&T will offer the device as the replacement for the venerable Duo. 

Neither AT&T nor Pantech have officially announced the phone at this time.