Rumor site Boy Genius Report has posted images of a new Motorola Q9 code-named Napoleon.

The device has several remixed functions, including a new keyboard and directional pad. In addition, the device features a fingerprint scanner, targeting it squarely at the corporate user marketplace. The device is otherwise identical to the Motorola Q9c, with Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard.

More importantly, the device is a CDMA world phone, featuring EV-DO Rev A, as well as quad-band GSM/EDGE. If launched by a CDMA carrier in the United States, it would mark the first phone that supports both American CDMA and GSM frequencies, ever sold by a US carrier.

While it is highly unlikely that a CDMA carrier would engage in roaming agreements with domestic GSM networks, it does open the door for an unlocked version of the device to support inserting an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card, and using a GSM network as a fallback for when CDMA service is not available.

Canadian carrier Telus was the first today to announce a CDMA version of HTC’s popular Touch Diamond.

The phone remains unchanged from previous reports. Pricing is expected to be between $449 and $549 when it launches in the United States at full retail.

More importantly, Telus set a launch date of later this summer. Telus generally launches HTC CDMA devices shortly before carriers in the United States, setting the stage for an early fall launch stateside.

In related news, Verizon roadmaps have confirmed that HTC will launch both the Touch Diamond as well as Touch Pro later this year.

Sprint has responded to PhoneNews.com’s coverage of the SERO plan issues, both regarding the new Samsung Instinct, as well as today’s reports of SERO blocking PDA and Smartphone devices.

As to the PDA/Smartphone debacle, Sprint says that communications and web sites that indicated PDAs would be banned from the plans were in error. Sprint has no plans at the time to block PDAs or Smartphones, and has corrected any internal communications which indicated such.

More importantly, Sprint also clarified that they will not implement such a change in the future. Per Sprint media relations: “SERO customers continue to be able to purchase PDAs and Smart Phones and a variety of SERO rate plans continue to be compatible with these devices.”

As to the Samsung Instinct, Sprint did not address the matter of customers being kicked off of Instinct, however they have made some improvements. SERO customers can now switch to a Simply Everything (or Sprint Everything) plan, and then switch back to a SERO plan should they chose to return the device. Previously some customers were being informed that they could not switch back to their SERO plan if they were not happy with the Instinct.

We want to thank our readers for tuning in while we updated you continuously on these developments, as the events changed.

Virgin Mobile has launched another clamshell in their rapidly growing Bluetooth enabled lineup.

The Arc which is manufactured by UTStarcom features a VGA camera, speakerphone located on the front flip, VGA camera, and voice dialing along with full support for telecoil access for hard of hearing individuals.

The phone is now available from Virgin Mobile online for $49.99.

The first press images of the successor to the venerable Motorola V9 on AT&T have surfaced.

Images courtesy of Engadget Mobile

The update to the V9 adds a new color and AT&T Navigation service, but is otherwise identical to the former with an outer touch sensitive QVGA display with haptic feedback, 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder, microSDHC expansion slot, dual-band HSDPA access, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, and speakerphone.

Unconfirmed reports also state that this version will also support AT&T Video Share one way video calling, but no further information is available at this time.

Palm has launched a new firmware update for the Verizon version of the Palm Treo 755p.  There is no official changelog available but Palm states that this update “is a tune-up that improves the phone application, stability and device usability.”

As always backup your device before updating.

Encyclopedia: Treo 755p

Firmware Tracker: Updated

Along with banning Instinct, and retroactively kicking customers off of Instinct phones… Sprint has hindered SERO plan holders in an entirely new way.

The Sprint Employee Referral Offer (SERO) is a significantly less expensive plan pricing that has been attractive to savvy customers. While labeled as an “employee referral” promotion, Sprint has routinely opened the program up to the general public through special promotions. At $30/month for 500 minutes and unlimited data, the plan tier is cheaper than Verizon and AT&T’s data-only plans.

However, as of now, you cannot activate a PDA or Smartphone on a SERO plan (except for the $99 SERO Unlimited plan). It is not clear if existing PDAs owned by SERO customers can continue to be re-activated, but new PDA sales are clearly prohibited to SERO customers.

This comes as Sprint begins to address the Instinct debacle that we previously reported on. Today, Sprint issued an internal memo to employees, stating that customers can switch back to a SERO plan should they chose to return Instinct, or switch to another phone at a later date. However, Sprint also made clear that they will continue to force customers with Instinct and a SERO plan off of their current plan (or, to return the Instinct).

Sprint clearly is taking actions to force savvy and informed customers to abandon the SERO plan pricing. It also is clear that this is a material change of service, and that SERO customers may cancel their contracts without paying an early termination fee.

Update: Sprint may have reversed their decision yesterday. We have just attempted to purchase a PDA from SERO and were offered all three SERO plans.

When we did the same thing yesterday, we were forced to select the SERO Unlimited plan. In addition, Sprint employees on the forums confirmed the change, which prompted us to test the SERO store yesterday initially, where we gained the independent confirmation.

We would not have reported on this had we not had both seen the ban ourselves on the SERO store, as well as confirmed it with Sprint employees. It is not clear if Sprint used this as a trial balloon or not, however, we will follow-up when the situation stabilizes.

Update 2: Sprint has responded to our coverage, which we have outlined in this article.

A member of  Windows Mobile enthusiast board PPCGeeks has posted the first images of the forthcoming HTC Touch Diamond for Sprint.

According to the person that posted these images, the Sprint version is little changed from the current Diamond save for the EVDO Rev. A radio.

The camera is the same 3.2 megapixel unit with autofocus found on the GSM Diamond and features a Sprint customized version of TouchFLO 3D as seen in the images. The device has not passed through FCC approval as of yet, which is quite normal as internal test group devices are placed into circulation long before FCC tests in order for carrier development to refine the device before wide release.

No further details are available at this time.

In a press release today, UTStarcom has announced the sale of its Personal Communications manufacturing and mobile phone development division to an investment group controlled by AIG while retaining the current executive leadership for a total of $240 million in cash which is subject to market adjustments.  The newly formed company will also have an additional $50 million profit earn out provision in place if the company generates profits within three years with the primary transaction expected to be complete on July 3rd.

The new company will be known as Personal Communications Devices, LLC and the current executive team will also become part-owners along with AIG Vantage Capital and other unnamed investors.

The new company will continue to focus on handset development in the US through the Handset division while working with other ODMs in order to distribute and provide outside sales support for manufacturers and carriers.

Doing some quick math in the aftermath of today’s iPhone 3G announcements, we’ve uncovered a cute loophole in AT&T’s pricing.

At $599 for the 8 GB model and $699 for the 16 GB model (with no contract), it is actually cheaper to sign up for AT&T service (on a 2-year contract), wait a month, and then pay the Early Termination Fee (ETF).

$199 / $299 for the iPhone 3G + $36 Activation Fee + $175 Early Termination Fee + $70 One Month AT&T Service = $480 / $580 respectively.

AT&T has said that if you cancel within the first month, you are required to return the iPhone 3G to an AT&T retail store. However, by canceling at the very end of the first month, one can pay the ETF, and still be ahead of the cost of an iPhone 3G without any contract.

In practicality, this is likely an option that will be most used by hackers looking to start tackling iPhone 3G from day one. This means that hackers will be able to get iPhone 3G up-front from day one, at the same price that will be offered without contract at a later date.

It also means that there will be many people looking to buy an iPhone 3G on launch day… just to sell it on eBay.