AT&T

If you are an iPhone 3G owner wanting to upgrade to the 3G S, AT&T just announced that they will lower the price to $199 for some iPhone owners wanting to upgrade. The catch is this – the lower price will apply for customers who would have qualified for the "new buyer" price between now and September. If that's not you, expect to pay $399 for the upgrade.

Customers qualify for the "new buyer" price after a certain period, determined by how much the monthly plan is (and if payments are current). If you pay at least $100 a month, you would usually qualify 12 to 18 months after purchase, AT&T said. But, since the 3G went on sale about 11 months ago, current 3G owners wouldn't qualify for the "new buyer" price. So, Apple is actually (surprise!) letting you get the upgrade a little bit early (that is, if you qualify).

In other iPhone news, Apple announced that they will be opening their Apple retail stores at 7am on Friday (an hour earlier than they originally planned). AT&T stores will open at 7am for those that have preordered the 3G S, 9am for those who haven't. Phones will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The LG Neon is the newest quick messaging phone for socially savvy users who crave an ultramodern design. Featuring a slide-out, full-QWERTY keyboard, and the ability to display threaded messaging, the Neon allows users to flawlessly hold multiple conversations at one time.

Equipped with a touch screen, 2.0 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0 and a built-in music player, the brightly colored LG Neon is fashionable and keeps you easily connected to your social network. You can also expand the storage capacity with an optional 4GB microSD memory card.

This new quick messaging phone should keep you connected at all times with your social network. The LG Neon is now available at AT&T retail stores and online at www.wireless.att.com for $29.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate. (Pay $79.99 and after mail-in rebate receive $50 AT&T Promotion Card. Two-year agreement required.)

AT&T is offering the Samsung Eternity touch screen phone for $79.99, which features AT&T Mobile TV, AT&T Navigator and AT&T FamilyMap. The Samsung Eternity's touch screen is 3.2-inches and boasts a full-touch QWERTY keypad providing customers access to messaging, AT&T Mobile Music with Napster Mobile and a 3.0 megapixel camera. The Eternity also has a web browser that works great on AT&T's 3G network.

More info on AT&T's most popular services:

• AT&T Mobile TV offers full-length, broadcast-quality live and time-shifted television programming from 12 leading news and entertainment brands (starting at $15 a month).
• AT&T Navigator provides a GPS turn-by-turn, voice-guided and on-screen directions complete with traffic alerts, one-touch rerouting, the ability to find gas by price, weather reports and more (free for 30 days and then $9.99 per month).
• AT&T FamilyMap lets customers see the location of family members on a map from a PC or AT&T wireless phone. You can also find surrounding landmarks, schools, parks and more ($9.99 per month to locate two phones on an account or $14.99 per month to locate up to five phones on an account. Families can try it for free for the first 30 days).

The Samsung Eternity is available through AT&T retail locations or online at www.wireless.att.com for $79.99 with a two-year service agreement. (Pay $129.99 and after mail-in rebate receive $50 AT&T Promotion Card. Two-year agreement and minimum $20 data or messaging plan required.)

AT&T just announced a buy one, get one free offer (after mail-in rebate, of course) for the new LG Xenon touch screen phone. The LG Xenon is available only through AT&T, and includes features such as a 3 megapixel camera, side-sliding full keyboard, instant messaging, mobile e-mail and AT&T Navigator.

With the purchase of a new LG Xenon, AT&T is also giving customers a 30 day free trial of AT&T Navigator. AT&T Navigator gives you audible and visual turn-by-turn driving directions with full-color maps. After the trial period, AT&T Navigator is available with a monthly subscription charge of $9.99 for unlimited routes or a $2.99 Day Pass option is available.

The final cost for two LG Xenon phones is $99.99 with two-year service agreement. (Pay $149.99 for each phone, and after mail-in rebate, receive $50 AT&T Promotion Card for the first phone and a $149.99 card for the second.) Visit www.wireless.att.com for more info.

AT&T has a new prepaid calling option available for GoPhone customers. Available today, the new GoPhone Unlimited Calling plan gives you unlimited calling for just $3 a day. I bet you're wondering what's so special about a plan that runs about $90 a month for unlimited calling, right? Well…with this new plan, you get unlimited nationwide calling and pay the three dollars a day ONLY on the days you use the service.

This sounds like the perfect plan for parents who have a younger child and want to be able to keep in touch with them when they're away, but not give them a phone for everyday use. I specifically mention "younger" children because this unlimited calling plan does not include text messaging…if you want that, add an additional $0.20 per text sent and received. That could get mighty costly if you have a teenager in the house.

The new plan has no roaming or long distance fees on the company's national wireless network, making it an affordable option for customers who prefer a "Pay As You Go" package.

For those who primarily call other AT&T mobile subscribers, they also have an Unlimited Mobile-to-Mobile plan, which provides unlimited calling to and from all AT&T wireless customers, and $0.10 for all other calls, for $1 a day.Read more

When I say thin – I mean it is the thinnest QWERTY smartphone on the market today. AT&T has this one exclusively for the U.S. market, and the 3G connectivity allows for more function than you could imagine for services like Kyte. The built-in music player and 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera make this device fun and functional. The WiFi allows for Web surfing and UMA calls.

You can find this phone at AT&T with a retail price of $99 (2-year contract and mail-in rebate price). To find out more information please visit the manufacturer's site, www.nokia.com or AT&T, www.att.com/nokiaE71x. You can also read the press release here.