July 4 - 11:05am EDT   HTC has been a veteran of smartphones but has only just recently ventured into handheld computers, and the Shift represents its first full-fledged attempt at an ultra-mobile PC. The system promises to take all of HTC's experience with handsets and translate it into a full-fledged Windows computer that happens to have the conveniences of a cellphone; but its real challenges may be both to compete with a new wave of notebooks as well as extra-capable cellphones like iPhone 3G. Click through for a full review of HTC's inaugural device. [full story]

July 3 - 3:30pm EDT   Telus today made a surprise announcement that it will be the first North American provider to carry the Touch Diamond, HTC's new flagship touchscreen phone. The news jumps Telus ahead of expected announcements from Sprint and Verizon and makes the Canadian firm the first known to get the CDMA version of the Diamond, which should have advanced 3G access through EVDO Revision A while keeping nearly all other features. [full story]

July 2 - 4:30pm EDT   The first images showing what appears to be a Sprint-badged and therefore first CDMA version of the iPhone-fighting Touch Diamond from HTC have leaked on the Internet today. While the rumors of a Sprint Diamond date back to April, the phone is expected to be delayed. Little other details are confirmed, except for an unsubstantiated claim that the Diamond will launch ahead of the Touch Pro. [full story]

July 2 - 9:25am EDT   Japanese cellphone users are most eager to have the iPhone 3G over any other smartphone in or coming to the market, according to a new study by iShare. The research group says that 57.9 percent of all those responding to a survey said they most wanted the Apple device, which placed well ahead of others despite the study method allowing multiple answers. Second place belonged to the Japan-made Willcom D4 UMPC and phone crossover at 35.8 percent, while the more conventional Willcom 03 was third at 33.1 percent. [full story]

June 30 - 1:40pm EDT   Information has leaked on the remainder of Verizon's cellphone releases for 2008, a report claims. Preeminent in the list are some phones unexpected for Verizon's roster, such as CDMA versions of the Touch Diamond and the Touch Pro, which will likely rebranded under the carrier's own naming scheme. Also mentioned is a Samsung phone, the SCH-U310, which does not have any previously published information. The fact is unusual in that many of Samsung's phones are released in Asia and Europe months before they arrive in North America, and are publicized internationally. No dates have been mentioned for the U310 or the Touches. [full story]

June 27 - 5:15pm EDT   Rogers Wireless is justified in its limited data plans as many other iPhone-carrying nations are doing the same or are more restrictive, a company spokeswoman tells Electronista. The Canadian company argues that a "majority" of international iPhone carriers have capped data and believes its plan to be better than these, citing as example Orange France plans that include a 500MB 'reasonable use' limit versus the 2GB maximum on Rogers' best iPhone plan. The company also tries to justify the caps by claiming that unlimited use would require customers pay for more than they need. [full story]

June 25 - 11:40am EDT   T-Mobile's Shadow II phone is real and will represent a first for Windows Mobile, claims an insider source. The device is now thought to be made by HTC and will be the first cellphone with the Microsoft to support cell-to-Wi-Fi call bridging when it sees use on T-Mobile's HotSpot@Home service, letting subscribers make unlimited calls from Wi-Fi that carry over to the cell network without interruptions. [full story]

June 16 - 3:35pm EDT   HTC is gearing up to produce mobile Internet devices (MIDs) based on Intel's Atom processor as well as Qualcomm's Snapdragon mobile chipset, say reports from those in the industry. The reports would have the creator of the HTC Shift and other crossover computers produce the systems with the faster, more power-efficient chips as early as the second half of this year in a bid to improve HTC's standing in ultra-mobile PCs, which have been hurt by mini notebooks like the ASUS Eee PC. [full story]

June 10 - 10:05am EDT   Nokia shares are no longer recommended after the launch of the iPhone 3G, analysts at American Technology Research said late yesterday. Experts at the financial group dropped their valuation for Nokia from Buy to Neutral in the belief that a raft of "third-generation smart-phone introductions" due for the second half of 2008 and early 2009 are liable to hurt Nokia without clear signs that it can match the same pace. The smartphone industry is increasingly competitive and puts added pressure on the Finnish company, which leads the world smartphone market. [full story]

June 10 - 8:35am EDT   Rivals to the iPhone 3G are turning to experience over sheer feature set to promote their devices, according to statements made by the respective companies. Palm in particular defends the slower load times of its 3G-capable Treo, which was outperformed by the 62 percent faster iPhone in load times, by arguing itself a veteran. Palm has had 3G-class devices "for years," according to an official from the company. [full story]

June 6 - 3:35pm EDT   HTC's Touch Diamond is suffering from a significant delay that could critically affect the timing of its launch, say reports. UK reseller Devicewire and others are being told by HTC that the touchscreen phone will miss its originally scheduled June 9th release date and will be pushed back to June 23rd due to a last-minute firmware upgrade necessary for all of the devices. [full story]

June 4 - 5:05am EDT   HTC Corp on Wednesday unveiled the HTC Touch Pro, a business version of the highly anticipated Touch Diamond. The new touch-driven phone -- with a sliding-keyboard design -- utilizes similar styling and functionality, while adding a variety of business-focused enhancements, including a full QWERTY keyboard. The company's 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D, provides an intuitive way to navigate through common tasks like messaging, calendar appointments or making calls with just one touch as well as navigating through photos/contacts and surfing the web. In addition, the Touch Pro includes a new innovative touch-sensitive control for device interaction, a 2.8-inch ... [full story]

June 2 - 1:40pm EDT   Qualcomm has collaborated on a miniature notebook with Linux and plans similar efforts for Windows Mobile 7, the company has revealed today. Designed largely by Inventec, the Linux system will cost $300 but should have a Qualcomm 3G chipset to give it wide-area wireless access without buying extra hardware. the latter's senior VP Luis Pineda acknowledges that the PC hasn't been made official but promises a launch sometime before the end of 2008. [full story]

May 28 - 9:45pm EDT  T-Mobile on Wednesday unveiled three new HTC phones at an international press conference: the MDA Compact IV, MDA Vario IV, and the Ameo 16GB. The MDA Compact IV – what appears to be a variant of the HTC Touch Diamond – offers users a 3D interface shown on a high-resolution 640 by 480 screen, and is the second device to use Windows Mobile 6.1. The device is HSDPA-enabled, supporting 7.2 Mbit/s downstream, and 1.4Mbit up, and boasts a 3.2 Megapixel camera with 4GB of internal flash storage. [full story]

May 28 - 3:25pm EDT   Google's Android operating system has been demonstrated with new changes and on what appears to be a prototype of the HTC Dream, according to news from Android Community and others attending the company's I/O Conference. The latest version of the mobile operating system shows subtle but iPhone-like interface touches that haven't previously been seen in earlier builds, including multiple home screens and a tray of permanently visible icons for commonly used apps. A built-in mail client (primarily intended for Gmail) also shares cosmetic similarities to Apple's own application. [full story]