AT&T

Time for a new smartphone? Head on over to Best Buy, where – for a limited time – you can save $50 on select Motorola smartphones across all major carries (Verizon Wireless, Sprint, AT&T) just by trading in your old mobile phone. In addition, you can get up to $200 in trade-in value (in the form of a Best Buy gift card). The offer is valid now through May 5, 2012 at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores (in store only).

This offer to save $50 is available on three Motorola smartphones:

• Motorola Atrix 2 (4G speeds) Mobile Phone - (AT&T)
• Motorola Photon 4G Mobile Phone - (Sprint)
• DROID RAZR by Motorola 4G LTE Mobile Phone with 16GB Memory - (Verizon Wireless)

AT&T has launched the LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Note on its network. The device runs $299.99 with a two-year contract. It sports a huge 5.3-inch screen that displays 1280 x 800 pixels. One of the key features of the Galaxy Note is the included stylus. The stylus is Wacom-based and allows users to interact with the device and scribble notes on the screen on any part of the OS.

The device runs Google Android 2.3 operating system, although it has been customized to work with the pen and also utilities the TouchWiz user interface.

Hardware-wise, the device has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor along with an 8 megapixel camera capable of capturing video at 1080p. For connectivity, it has LTE and HSPA+, and WiFi and Bluetooth are also included.

The Galaxy Note could start a big trend here. With tablets at their peak of popularity, a good smartphone/tablet hybrid might have a large consumer market, especially for those wanting a tiny tablet, or a larger smartphone.Read more

Shopping for a new mobile phone? Best Buy has announced that they are giving consumers a $50 gift card to anyone who registers and then purchases and activates a mobile phone at Best Buy by December 31, 2012. The offer is valid on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile phones activated with a new two-year agreement at Best Buy or online at BestBuy.com (excluding T-Mobile activations requiring a deposit).

The offer is simple:

• Step One: Consumers register their phone number at www.bestbuy.com/phonefreedom by Feb. 12, 2012
• Step Two: Consumers activate the registered phone number with the purchase of a new mobile phone with a two-year agreement at Best Buy or BestBuy.com any time before Dec. 31, 2012
• Step Three: Upon purchase and activation, customers will receive their $50 Best Buy gift card

There is no obligation once a phone number is registered. Best Buy Reward Zone program members may register their phone number online between Wednesday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 12 to qualify. All other customers may register their phone number online between Sunday, Feb. 5 and Sunday, Feb. 12 to qualify.Read more

AT&T and LG Mobile late last week announced the new LG Nitro HD, AT&T's first smartphone featuring a True HD AH-IPS (Advanced High-Performance In-Plane Switching) 4.5-inch display.

LG Nitro HD has a slim design, measuring 5.27" x 2.67" x 0.41" and comes packed with a fast Qualcomm Dual-Core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S3 processor, 20 GB of total memory (4 GB on-board plus 16 GB of included microSD memory), and an 8 megapixel HD camera that captures True HD images and video. The smartphone offers Wi-Fi Direct technology and DLNA features for multiple wireless HD content streaming options.

Its 4.5-inch AH-IPS display supports resolutions up to 1280 X 720 pixels and 500 nit display luminance allows for viewing in direct sunlight. In addition, RGB stripe pixels deliver accurate true-to-life color rendering. Read more

AT&T has released its Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and steals, offering some of this season's hottest devices with select Androids and Blackberry's for as little as a penny. The best part? No waiting in line at the store, AT&T is putting them all online, at att.com!

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, November 25, the following promotions will be available for online shoppers while supplies last. Free shipping and waived activation is included:

• Friday, November 25, 12:01 a.m. ET: Touchscreen devices, including tablets, starting at unbelievably low prices
• Saturday, November 26, 12:01 a.m. ET: All Windows 7 and select Android devices, for just $.01
• Sunday, November 27, 12:01 a.m. ET: BlackBerry 9860 for only $.01, HTC Red Inspire for $29.99
• Monday, November 28, 12:01 a.m. ET: A lineup of some of AT&T's most popular smartphones—Motorola Atrix, Samsung Infuse, BlackBerry 9810, HTC Inspire and LG Thrill—all for only one cent!

Available later this month at AT&T stores is the Pantech Pocket, an affordable option for those wanting to jump on the Android bandwagon. Priced at just $49.99, this 4G device is powered by Android 2.3 and features an unusually wide 4-inch SVGA touch-screen display which is said to provide about 20 percent more viewing area than your standard 4-inch display.

Pocket's key features:

• Oversized Touch-screen Display – 4-inch SVGA touch-screen features a 4:3 aspect ratio, perfect for watching videos, gaming, e-reading, navigation, web browsing and more. The large screen also provides a roomy virtual keyboard for quicker typing with fewer errors.
• Functional Design – Pocket's slim form-factor is complemented by an easy-to-grip, durable exterior that is scratch resistant.
• High Speeds – Powered by 4G speeds, Pocket offers a zippy experience with multimedia, Internet and social entertainment.
• Longer Battery Life – Made possible by its wide design, Pocket includes an extra-large, removable battery.
• Versatile Camera – 5.0 megapixel camera features a host of custom photo settings and HD video options.
• e-Reading Apps – Amazon's Kindle Reader and Google eBooks come pre-installed on Pocket.

AT&T this week unveiled not one, but five new smartphones - the Motorola ATRIX 2, Samsung Captivate Glide, Samsung DoubleTime, Pantech Pocket and the AT&T Avail, a new smartphone option for prepaid customers. The addition of these smartphones will up AT&T's 2011 Android lineup to 19, with more planned to follow.

Motorola ATRIX 2
The Motorola ATRIX 2 boasts a 4.3-inch qHD display, 1 GHz dual core processor and access to 4G speeds. Video can be captured in 1080p HD and displayed on your HD monitor with an HDMI cable using Mirror mode. Motorola's webtop application also allows you to browse the web with a full Firefox browser.

It also features device and microSD card encryption, enterprise-grade VPN, enhanced Exchange options and personal information management and remote wipe. It comes with the new free ZumoCast app for easy access to music, playlists, pictures and videos stored on a computer as well. Read more

So, you want a mobile phone that makes it easy to text but don't want all the other features (and add-on fees) of a smartphone? The new Pantect Link II may be your answer. Available now at AT&T, Link II has a contemporary look, is thin and most importantly of all, sports a large keyboard. The phone is available now for $9.99.

Features include:

• Super Slim Form – Measuring 10.7 mm, Link II slips neatly into a pocket or purse.
• A Faster, Smoother Phone – Running BREW Mobile 1.0.2, Link II's user interface is quicker, slicker and better able to manage all the apps you love with a wider choice of applications and more personal customization.
• Immediate Messaging – A full keyboard allows users to easily send a range of messages – texts, email, social media messages, picture mail, video messages and IMs.
• Social Media and Web – Update any social media page with pics and videos, while browsing the web without restrictions.
• Preloaded Apps – Link II includes AT&T Family Map, AT&T Social Net, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Code Scanner and YPmobile pre-installed.
• Durability – A rubberized backing provides a comfortable and sturdy grip for avid message senders.
• USB 2.0 HS Charger – With an upgraded option to recharge, users can conveniently plug this charger into a laptop or computer while away from home.