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Right after the Sprint-bound HTC Touch Pro2 made an appearance a few days ago, it was only a matter of time before its Verizon-bound cousin would be pictured as well. Thanks to the HoFo forums, we can all get a look at what the Verizon Wireless version looks like. And of course, such spotting only point to one thing; launch day is so near. Also, it seems like three out of the big four of the US cellular industry are getting the Touch Pro2, undisputable proof that America wants this phone!

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In what has to be one the more eccentric marketing techniques (ok well not really, there are a god number of “creative” minds out there) but you’ll be amused to know that Rogers is shipping the HTC Dream (G1) to some early adaptors (read: folks it likes) in nothing short of a safe. Literally. The popular BGR blog received the HTC Dream under pure lock and key (with a compass too). So will the whole pre-order crowd be getting such shipments and dared to “Join the Revolution: 02-06-09″.…only time will tell.

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In more news leaks from AT&T, two more handsets are apparently coming the carrier’s way. First in line is the Pantech Aladdin, a QWERTY slider with HSDPA connectivity, 2.2-inch QVGA display, 1.3 megapixel camera, aGPS, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, microSD expansion, threaded SMS, and support for Napster, eMusic and other forms of Windows DRM. This entry-level handset will be part of the Pantech Matrix / Matrix Pro lineup which is expected later this year. Next up is the LG Monaco, which features a 3.2-inch WVGA touchscreen display, 3.6Mbps HSDPA, 5 megapixel auto-focus camera, QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, microSDHC support and an excellent little number, the Pico projector accessory. The Monaco will be running Windows Mobile 7, which means we’ll probably see it sometime around 2010.

Pantech Aladdin

LG Monaco 

Looks like AT&T just got spied on; the guys over at Engadget Mobile have just uncovered a slide deck that shows just about every smartphone headed to AT&T this year. Some of the dates mentioned on the slides might seem off balance, but the lineup looks solid. Windows Mobile devices include the HTC Fortress (Touch Pro2), HTC Warhawk (Touch Diamond2) and the HP iPAQ K3, all of which will run Windows Mobile 6.5. As for your helping of BlackBerry, there is the Onyx, the Magnum, the Gemini and the non-flip Pearl 3G. Rumors are also abound that AT&T will get the Palm EOS in 2H this year. Finally for Android, the HTC Lancaster, a QWERTY handset that makes the G1 look like it was made from paper.

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Rogers subscribers are really rolling in the good times now, a few more details as to the goodies headed for the Canadian carrier are out in the wild, and wouldn’t ya know it, there’s some mention about the next generation iPhone…hmmm….

1.      LG Rumor 2 (Solo Mobile) — ETA: May 25th, outright: $160.00, 2-year contract: $75.00

2.      Sony Ericsson C905 — ETA: May 19th (delayed), outright: $449.99, 3-year contract: $249.99 ($299.99 without Rogers Vision)

3.      HTC Dream — ETA: June 2nd (limited quantity, availability will increase by June 12th), outright: $649.99, 3-year contract: $199.99

4.      HTC Magic — ETA: June 2nd, outright: $649.99, 3-year contract: $199.99

5.      Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 — ETA: June 30th (barring additional delays), outright: TBD ($649 – $749), 3-year: $299.99 (will launch at $249.99)

6.      iPhone — ETA: unknown (July/August), outright: not allowed, 3-year: TBD

You must have noticed that the Rogers launch of the iPhone is coinciding with the US launch date. Purchases will be limited to one iPhone per customer on opening day and there will be active demos on display in stores. In other good news, Rogers expects to have substantially more iPhones on hand this time around so as not to run into the same stock issues as with the iPhone 3G launch.

Fresh from the halls of d474rpr, we bring pictures of a new Sony Ericsson handset that is the spitting image of the Idou. Codenamed the ‘Kokura’, this handset could well be the CDMA variant of the Idou. How so? Well, it’s pure speculation, but based on a few facts, like all the handsets pictured by d474rpr were tested by the same person (in the same kitchen). So will there be a S60 5^th edition handset on Verizon or what?

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After what seems like the height of being indecisive, Motorola has put the Alexander back in its line up. This one QWERTY big boy has seen more action before launch than any other handset (we bet). And probably this is the only reason I find a soft spot for this phone, otherwise, i just don’t get the design…at ALL! The handset features a slider QWERTY keypad, a lean and mean camera, NVDIA 3D graphic support, etc, etc. a DigiTimes report put the Alexander in the scrap yard though, but now it seems that the handset may be back to make centre stage. The handset has a new nickname too, ‘Somerset’. This new  handset has the same looks the Alexander had, but as far as specs go, we’re stuck with QWERTY keyboard, a 3.5mm stereo jack, MMC support, a camera and of course Bluetooth (with A2DP). But they honestly wouldn’t make another handset like the Alexander when the original was still lurking in the dark somewhere. So if anyone was really really waiting for this one, your prayers have been answered.

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Well we can now safely say that every carrier has their own broadband card, based on the fact that Virgin Mobile’s got one. Where? According to yet again another inventory page leaked from our beloved Best Buy, the retailer will be carrying broadband cards from the carrier. If you want to economize on your monthly data usage but know you’ll tip that 5GB softcap any day now, a pre-paid card can really solve that problem. As for how much it should cost, the final word on pricing isn’t in yet, but it is going to be competitive with the monthly plan offered by Cricket; $40 for 5GB as well as a cheaper 1GB plan option. The card itself will cost $149.99.

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Well, well, here’s more from the iPhone mill. With the WWDC so near you can almost taste it, the latest iPhone happenings are thus; Vodafone Europe has just sent an email to retail staff that reveals the 16GB iPhone has been categorized as “End of Life” by well-known mobile phone supplier Brightpoint. Then, all the way in Austria, T-Mobile put on and took off from its website a placeholder for an “iPhone 32 GB”. So all around, we see the old iPhone make way for the new.

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As we dread the Pre shortages that will come to Best Buy like the plague, there’s still a little matter of Sprint. Exactly what will be the position of the Pre stock at Sprint, the carrier that needs this handset to blow every ball out of the park it if plans to survive, and the words of Sprint CEO Hesse on ‘excess demand’ didn’t settle well with us. Sensing the tension, Sprint has come out with an explanation;

“At Sprint, we’re excited by the response to the Palm Pre, but what’s been posted is pure speculation. Because of the Pre’s popularity, it’s likely that initially we won’t be able to keep up with the demand for the device. If that happens, we will work diligently to ensure that everyone who wants a Pre can get one as soon as possible.”

Right, so the matter is not that there will be a few Pres shipped out, it’s just that given the immense popularity (no sarcasm at all folks, you know you want this phone) of the Pre, there is a solid chance that supply will fall short of demand. But no worries, Sprint will rise to the occasion and make sure you get your Pre as soon as possible.

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