Upcoming Verizon Smartphones and Tablets (Android)

According to this blog post on the Boy Genius Report, these are a few of the upcoming Verizon smartphones that we can expect to see in the near future:

• Motorola Droid Pro (Android)
• Droid 2 World Edition (Android)
• Motorola Tablet (Android)

Are you a world traveler? Maybe you attend some international symposia. In any case, if you need a Verizon phone that also switches to GSM mode when you leave the country, you will have some new options. I'm sure we'll also see several new smartphones from Samsung, LG, HTC, and others. I'm eager to see what the Motorola Tablet will look like.  Still no definitive word on the Verizon iPhone.

It's nice to have a world phone

How much do you travel internationally? I may have a trip coming up where I'll need to cross the Atlantic. It's nice to have a World Phone. Even though Verizon currently operates on the CDMA network, it has several World Phones that are capable of switching to GSM when you're overseas.

Given that many major medical meetings occur in different countries, it may be a good idea for you to invest in a World Phone if you plan to travel to many of these meetings. 

webOS coming to AT&T (Palm Pre Plus)

webOS isn't dead since HP acquired Palm. It looks like webOS is coming to the AT&T network. As predicted, by the end of 2010, I think that we may see every major smartphone OS on every major wireless network here in the United States. The only uncertainty revolves around the iPhone: will it appear on Verizon and T-Mobile?

According to several rumors, the Palm Pre Plus is coming to AT&T on May 14. Given that Europe has already seen a GSM Palm Pre, this isn't a surprise. I'm still waiting for the next Palm to be branded as an HP smartphone. Maybe HP will maintain the Palm brand.

Would you leave AT&T and switch to Verizon for better iPhone features?

The current iPhone 3GS on AT&T does not allow tethering. The current iPhone has been plagued with connectivity issues on the AT&T network and has been blamed as the source for dropped calls and sluggish network performance on the AT&T network.

If Verizon got the iPhone, would you switch from AT&T to Verizon? What if the Verizon iPhone allows you to tether? What if the Verizon iPhone has a faster connection? What if...

I realize that these are many "what if's," but they could come true. When will the iPhone arrive on the Verizon Wireless network? Will it be in 2010? Will it be a 4G smartphone? Will it have features that you won't find on the AT&T version? Will it be limited to CDMA or will it be a World Phone with GSM capabilities?

Impressions of the Motorola Droid (Android)

I'm not going to write a review about the Motorola Droid. You can read plenty of great reviews on sites like Engadget, CNET, PC Magazine, and others. I'm just going to share a few of my impressions of the Motorola Droid.

First, the pros:

• It's a very fast device and I really like the large capacitive touch screen. Great overall performance. Compared to other Android phones like the HTC Droid Eris, the Droid has exceptional performance.
• The Android OS is very easy to use for both beginners and seasoned smartphone users.
• The device is very thin and still has respectable battery life. In fact, this device is only barely thicker than the iPhone.
• The voice recognition built into Google search and Google Maps works really well. Loved using the spoken turn-by-turn GPS navigation. No need to purchase 3rd party GPS navigation software.
• You can tether. Can't do that (easily) with the iPhone.

Now, the cons:

• The slide-out QWERTY keyboard buttons are small and shallow. Not great for heavy typing if you have large fingers.  My HTC TouchPro2 has a much better keyboard.
• The camera was only mediocre, although the camera button is easy for anyone to use. I liked the built-in flash.
• Sorry international travelers, but the Droid is not a World Phone.  CDMA only. No GSM.

So, if I had to buy a new smartphone on the Verizon Wireless network, which one would I get? I'd get the Droid.  What if the iPhone became available on Verizon? I'd still get the Droid. What about the HTC Google Nexus One? Hmm, now I need to think about that one.

I want to thank the folks at Epocrates for lending me a Droid so that I could test the beta version of Epocrates.

Mobile phone options in Australia

When's the last time you were visiting Australia? A new mobile phone site has just launched in Australia, allowing users to compare more than 1,000 different handsets and plans. The site, MobileBuddy.com.au, compares the best live deals on Australian mobile handsets, phone plans, prepaid and cap-plan options. So, if you're looking for a comparison website, you may want to take a look. I always use comparison sites and I also rely on customer reviews to guide my purchasing decisions. The other night, I purchased an iPod accessory that had received stronger reviews compared to a similar accessory.

My Australian colleagues tell me that the Australian mobile industry can be quite overwhelming. Just like many other places in the world, Australians have to choose among a wide range of plans and handsets. Which phone is best? What does MobileBuddy.com.au say? How do you compare the networks in your country against those in different countries? In Europe, we see GSM providers that carry devices that you'll never find in North America. What about in Australia?  We know they have Vodafone, Dodo, 3Mobile, and JUST Mobile. You won't find Verizon or Sprint.

Will you find the Apple iPhone or any HTC Android smartphones? Will you also get the same type of BlackBerry devices that you'll find anywhere else?  MobileBuddy.com.au also features a large library of articles exploring new phone technology, emerging features, and things to look out for before signing long-term phone contracts. People are always looking for the best deals and the latest handset features.

HP iPAQ Glisten

One of my first PDAs was an HP (Compaq at the time) iPaq. It was a revolutionary device, but it wasn't a smartphone. It ran Windows Mobile (Pocket PC at the time) and it was considered a "state of the art" piece of technology.

Today, we live with so many smartphone options. My wife and I both used to have a Palm Treo and I still see that many health care professionals are using the Treo. Well, if you like the Treo form factor (touch screen plus QWERTY keyboard in a "candybar" model), then you may also like the HP iPaq Glisten on AT&T. This 3G smartphone runs Windows Mobile and it resembles a BlackBerry. However, the touch screen feature makes it easy to navigate on this device.

If you're a former BlackBerry user and if you're switching to Windows Mobile, this may be the device for you.

Get $100 to trade in your old smartphone for an HTC Tilt2

HTC and AT&T are offerring a trade-in program for customers interested in purchasing the AT&T Tilt2 (also known as the GSM version of the HTC Touch Pro2).

To qualify for the promotion you must trade-in a working smartphone made by BlackBerry®, an Apple® iPhone, a Palm device by Palm, a Nokia smartphone or any device running on the Windows Mobile® or Android operating system. Program start date begins November 18, 2009. Purchase a new HTC TILT2 and trade-in your qualifying smartphone by January 31, 2010. Package and send in all of the below items postmarked by February 28, 2010.

More details can be found here:  http://www.htctradein.com/att/

iPhone 4G rumors

There are growing rumors regarding the next generation iPhone. I will not be surprised if it's called the Apple iPhone 4G. By then, we may be using a different system and the distinction between CDMA vs. GSM may not be relevant. Let's wait to see how networks transition from 3G to 4G and UMTS.

So, here are some of the rumors floating around:

• 64 GB or storage space (not surprising, considering the iPod touch already comes with 64 GB)
• 5 MP camera. Wow! Let's hope we see an LED flash.
• Smaller screen? Really? Instead of a 3.5" screen, we may see a 2.8" screen. I think that makes sense. 
• Available on Verizon Wireless. Well, we had been hearing about that for a while, but let's hope it's available on multiple networks. Why limit yourself to a single carrier? That simply doesn't make sense and I think Android will move ahead because of the way it's currently positioned.

I guess Apple must not have any plans to release a thicker version of an "iPhone Pro" and include a hardware slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Personally, I think that would attract many business users who rely on buttons for typing. Apple should offer both an iPhone 4G and an iPhone "Pro" 4G. Then again, maybe by the time the 4G comes out, we'll be so accustomed to on-screen typing that we won't want to go back to a hardware keyboard.

GSM version of the Motorola Droid is the Milestone

If you're in Europe, then you'll see the Motorola Milestone running Google's Android operating system. It's like the Motorola Droid, but it's a GSM model instead of a CDMA smartphone.

Remember when we used to have TDMA? Things were quite confusing when we had so many different types of phones on the market.

The nice thing is that if you're on a GSM network like T-Mobile, you can get some nice Android smartphones made by HTC. It's a shame that AT&T isn't offering any Android smartphones right now. Apple can't dominate forever with the iPhone, can it?

Nokia N900 Internet Tablet

The Nokia N900 is an "Internet Tablet" and a GSM smartphone. However, you'll have a really difficult time finding medical apps for this device since it does not run your "typical" smartphone operating system. You just won't find much medical software that will run on Linux Maemo. However, if you're content researching and accessing all your health content via a mobile web browser, then the N900 may end up working out for you.

I wouldn't recommend the N900 to medical students or residents because you'll be much more productive if you can load medical apps directly on your device to boost your productivity. If you're looking purely for a recreational device, then the N900 is a great little gadget "toy" for your bag or purse.

GSM Palm Pre launches in Europe

The GSM version of the Palm Pre has launched in Europe. This means that we may start seeing some of these GSM versions migrate to North America and appear on GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile.

According to the folks at Brighthand, the official launch schedule is Germany on Oct 13, Spain on Oct. 14, and the U.K. and Ireland on Oct. 16. The Palm Pre is a very popular phone among medical professionals who are loyal to Palm. Let's see how webOS competes against Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile.

HTC Touch Pro2 vs. HTC Imagio

If you're on the Verizon Wireless network and you're debating between the HTC Touch Pro2 vs. the HTC Imagio, let me offer you my 2 cents.

I'll start with the features that are common to both smartphones:

• They both will eventually run Windows Mobile 6.5 (the Imagio comes with 6.5 now while the Touch Pro2 comes with 6.1 but you'll get an upgrade to 6.5). 
• They both have a nice large 3.6" screen at 480x800 pixels.
  
• They are both fast and have a nice amount of RAM.
• The both come with a 1500 mAh battery.
• You can tether using either device (Mobile Broadband Connect)
  
• They both have a micro SD card slot.
• They are both world phones with CDMA and GSM capabilities.
• They both have internal GPS so they can be used as a GPS navigator.
  
• They are both made by HTC, so you're getting a high-quality phone.
  

Now, let's talk about the pros/cons (+/-)

HTC Touch Pro2

• + You'll get a nice slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
• - You'll end up with a thicker device
• - no V Cast TV
  

HTC Imagio

• + Thinner and narrower (not by much)
  
• - No hardware QWERTY keyboard 
• + V Cast TV (great for those slow nights when you're on call)
• + better camera (5 MP vs. 3.2 MP on the Touch Pro2)
  

So, the verdict? In my opinion, it's worth having a slightly thicker device if you do a fair bit of texting, e-mail, or any other form of text entry. So, the HTC Touch Pro2 wins. Maybe I'm biased because I've always had a smartphone that's had a hardware keyboard. After trying the BlackBerry Storm for a week, I realized that I am much more productive when I have a physical QWERTY keyboard (or thumb board to be more precise).

However, if you want something that closely resembles an Apple iPhone, go with the thin and sleek HTC Imagio. I don't think you'll be disappointed because the on-screen keyboard is very easy to use and it comes with large on-screen buttons.

Palm Pre coming to Verizon (improved version)

It's only a matter of time before we see the Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless. I wonder how many other Palm smartphones will be on the market by then. Palm Pixi? Palm Eos? A GSM smartphone running webOS in North America? Palm's webOS is a really nice operating system, but we need to see more medical apps for it. When will Epocrates release software for webOS?

If you live in the northeast, you're probably not going to switch from Verizon to Sprint because of coverage problems. Verizon has some of the best coverage in the east coast. However, if you live in the west coast, you're probably going to be very happy with the Sprint coverage out there.

According to some recent rumors, the Verizon version of the Palm Pre may have more memory, a better screen, and maybe even a microSD card slot. 

GSM Palm Pre arriving in Europe

Although the GSM version of the Palm Pre may not be hitting the USA anytime soon, a version will be hitting the European Union (EU) next month. Wait, October is only a week away! I'm sure some of these will start appearing in the USA (via eBay and other channels), so get ready!

Ordered the HTC Touch Pro2 (Verizon Wireless)

I've decided that it's time to bite the bullet and get the HTC Touch Pro2 (also known as Rhodium). The CDMA version on Verizon Wireless and Sprint is a bit different from the GSM version and you don't want to go around loading a custom ROM on the wrong type of device. Otherwise, get ready to have a nice brick (paperweight) that sits on your desk.

You can expect a series of posts related to the Touch Pro2 as I share my personal experience with this phone.

To me, the most compelling features on it are:

• Larger screen (3.6" vs. the traditional 2.8" screen found on most older Windows Mobile smartphones)
• The larger amount of RAM (not storage space, but RAM used to run software and the operating system)
• The tilting screen/keyboard. This is a great feature when you set the device on your desk.

The processor speed is the same as the original HTC Touch Pro. The upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 isn't a big deal since you can run Windows Mobile 6.5 on the Touch Pro as well. The battery isn't too bad at 1500 mAh, but that's not much of an improvement over 1340 mAh. The fact that it's a world phone isn't that important since I probably wouldn't use my phone overseas anyways (who can afford those roaming fees?).

The single most compelling feature was the large screen. I'm the type of person who likes to keep my old gadgets as long as they're still usable. In the case of the Touch Pro2, when it comes time to retire this device, it will make a really nice standalone GPS device. My old XV6800 is now a GPS for one of our cars. The phone radio isn't on and it doesn't receive any service, but it makes a decent TomTom navigator.

iPhone: global trends and the U.S.

The Apple iPhone is currently only available through AT&T as a GSM phone in the U.S. Verizon Wireless is currently the largest wireless provider in this country, but it operates on a CDMA network. Although Verizon has a few select "world phones" that are capable of both CDMA and GSM, the majority of their devices operate on CDMA.

On CNET, there's a fascinating story titled, "Is AT&T losing its grip on the iPhone?" The same story is also republished on CNN.

I find the global trends the most interesting part of this story. Will China sell 3 million iPhones next year in China if they offer the iPhone on multiple networks? What about in other countries? If Apple is moving away from exclusivity arrangements with wireless providers, then it's only a matter of time before the iPhone becomes available on other carriers here in the U.S. The big question is: what kind of time frame are we looking at? We've heard many rumors about the iPhone coming to Verizon Wireless. If the iPhone becomes readily available, will it dominate the medical smartphone market? I think it will.

BlackBerry Tour Worldphone now available

The BlackBerry Tour Worldphone is now available from Verizon Wireless and Sprint. Although both of those networks rely on CDMA technology here in the U.S., the BlackBerry Tour is capable of switching to GSM for worldwide use. I'm not sure what other countries still use CDMA technology (maybe a few in Asia), but the rest of the world is on GSM. Will UMTS become the next global standard as we evolve into 4G networks?

GSM Palm Pre soon to be available

A GSM version of the Palm Pre has been announced by Palm. If you're not on a CDMA network like Verizon or Sprint, then you'll be glad to know that the Palm Pre may be coming your way fairly soon. In Europe, the Palm Pre will launch with O2 and Movistar (no one knows when exactly, but hopefully it will be "soon.") When will we see a GSM version in the United States?

BlackBerry Tour "world phone"

The BlackBerry Tour is a "world phone" that will be coming to Sprint and Verizon Wireless. Both of these networks currently use CDMA technology. Most of Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world use GSM. As a results, to offer a "world phone," Sprint and Verizon must use a phone that works on both the CDMA network (for the U.S.) and the GSM network for the rest of the world. The BlackBerry Tour will provide EV-DO Rev A speeds on the CDMA network. When you're roaming, you'll have access to 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE as well as 2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA networks.

So, if you're locked into Sprint or Verizon and you're a world traveler because you attend international medical meetings (like the World Federation Of Neuro-Oncology or the International Association for the Study of Pain), then pick up a world phone. You'll be glad you did if you get lost in a foreign city. I just hope we see more medical software for the BlackBerry operating system.