The device, known as the Thunder, is to be sold exclusively through Verizon Wireless in the U.S. and Vodafone PLC abroad, the Journal reported on its Web site, citing people familiar with the matter.

RIM declined to comment on the report, stating that it does not comment on rumors and speculation. Earlier this week, rumored details of a touch-screen BlackBerry surfaced on the Internet.

In February, RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie said the company may bring out a touch-screen device if customers want it.

This week, Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM announced its BlackBerry Bold, a sleek smartphone with a keyboard aimed at its core base of business users.

Introducing a touch-screen BlackBerry would put RIM in more direct competition with Apple’s popular iPhone. In the past, Balsillie has dismissed concerns that the iPhone could pose a serious competitive threat.

A touch-screen BlackBerry would also build on RIM’s continuing push into the broader retail market as it seeks to diversify its client base beyond the executives, lawyers and other professionals who have been its mainstay.

The SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier features a slim, compact design for inconspicuous installation and is powered by the vehicle’s cigarette lighter. The amplifier is bundled with an interior antenna available in two package options. The first is Wilson Electronics’ Cell Phone Cradle Plus, a cell phone docking cradle that doubles as an antenna, offering hands-free operation. The second is an Ultra-Slim Antenna that can be installed on the side of the driver’s seat or under the seat fabric. A magnet-base external antenna that attaches to the roof of the vehicle completes two of the four product bundles. The remaining two bundles do not include an external antenna, giving users the option to customize their installation to suit specific needs by using a marine, RV or trucking antenna.

The plug-and-play SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier, like other Wilson products, extends signal range and increases data rates for cellular users by amplifying signals to and from the cell tower. The Mini-Mobile Amplifier provides up to six times more power and substantially higher receiver sensitivity than a typical mobile phone. This solution improves the performance of mobile phones and data cards used in vehicles. Offering a wireless connection between cellular devices and the amplifier, the SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier supports multiple phones and data cards simultaneously, can be installed in minutes and is easily moved from vehicle to vehicle.

“Wilson Electronics provides the most effective equipment in the industry for enhancing cellular voice and data signal quality. Our new SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier significantly reduces instances of dropped calls and extends service range for cell phone users,” said Mark Evans, marketing manager at Wilson Electronics. “Whether you’re on a road trip, commuting to work, or in a boat or off-road vehicle in the middle of nowhere, the SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier ensures you have the highest quality cellular reception possible.”

Unlike some competing products, Wilson’s SignalBoost Mini-Mobile bundles contain two internal amplifier circuits that boost cellular signals to and from the cell tower simultaneously. Weak signals broadcast from a distant cell tower are captured by the roof-mounted antenna, amplified by the highly-sensitive receiving amplifier and rebroadcast with greater strength to cellular devices in the interior of the vehicle through the Cradle Plus or Ultra-Slim Antennas. Conversely, outgoing signals from cell devices in the vehicle are picked up by the interior antenna, amplified by the powerful outgoing amplifier and rebroadcast back to the cell tower.

The SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier bundles (801230, 801231, 801232 and 801233) are fully compatible with all hands-free devices such as BluetoothTM headsets or ear buds and are available from $329 to $374 MSRP at authorized Wilson dealers, including Radio Shack franchise stores. Visit the dealer locator page at www.wilsonelectronics.com for a list of stores by ZIP code or to buy the product immediately from an online retail partner.

[via - Business Wire]

The FS-5 is designed to be used with many popular HDV and DV cameras. However, it features a 50% weight reduction and a 60% reduction in size compared to the FS-4. It also features a new low-power and fan-less design providing a 3 hour record time, using one removable Li-Ion battery pack.

Other major changes include a newly designed user interface and a 320 x 240 color LCD, but like the previous models you can not play back video.

Focus also replaced the computer firewire port with a USB 2.0 port allowing the use of a network dongle (WiFi or Wired) to allow laptop users to gain access to the device via wireless connection.

The 100GB FS-5 has a MSRP of $2,195 and is expected to ship summer 2008.

If you are at NAB come to Booth SL2605 to see the FS-5 in person.

Samsung Instinctâ„¢
The Ultimate in Touch Screen Speed and Simplicity

Samsung Instinct, exclusively from Sprint, offers consumers an industry-leading user experience by combining full touch screen functionality with access to the fast speed of Sprint’s EV-DO Rev A Mobile Broadband Network. Samsung Instinct provides easy access to Sprint exclusive multimedia content, business or personal email, GPS navigation, live and on-demand TV content, full song downloads, streaming radio and an impressive HTML Web experience. Samsung Instinct offers localized haptic feedback and a new level of customization by allowing the user to access their favorite applications with a single touch. This stylish handset provides an expansive touch screen display and three navigation keys that keep all of the device’s features and applications within immediate access. Samsung Instinct offers Visual Voicemail, stereo Bluetooth® with audible caller ID, expandable memory up to 8 GB and a 2.0MP camera with camcorder.

ENTERTAINMENT/PERSONALIZATION
• Sprint TV® with an extensive selection of live and on-demand programming including Sprint Exclusive Entertainment (SEE), the industry’s only made-for-mobile sports and entertainment video
programming network
• Sprint Music StoreSM allowing users to wirelessly download full-length songs directly to their phone for just 99 cents each
• More than a dozen streaming-radio applications, including Sprint Radio with more than 150 channels
• Sprint Media Manager PC to phone transfer application
• Background music mode allowing the user to play music while text messaging, playing games or surfing the Internet
• Customizable Favorites menu

PRODUCTIVITY
• Sprint Navigation with GPS-enabled audio and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, one-click traffic rerouting and more than 10 million local listings
• Live Search for Sprint, powered by Microsoft, provides easy access to directory information, integrated GPS-enabled directions, interactive maps and one-touch click to call access
• Voice to Action button providing many functions using voice activation including call, text, picture messaging, traffic, movie, sports, news and search.
• HTML Web browsing
• Visual Voicemail allowing users to listen to messages in their order of preference and manage them with a tap of the screen
• 2.0 megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom and video camcorder
• Advanced Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless Technology with audio caller ID
• Access to corporate and consumer (POP3) email including AOL, Gmail and Yahoo!
• Threaded text messaging provides a view of the full conversation
• Mobile Sync to restore contact information if the device is lost, stolen or damaged
• Phone as Modem connects the phone with a computer for Internet and email access

SPECIFICATIONS
• Dimensions: 2.17 x 4.57 x 0.49 inches; 4.4 ounces
• Display: 3.1″ TFT (240 x 432 pixels and 262K vibrant colors)
• Standard Lithium (LiIon) battery: up to 5.75 hours continuous talk time*

Customers of MetroPCS pay by the month, no by the minute, and do not require a yearly contract, or deposit. Wireless plans range from $30 to $50 per month with no limit on talk time. Many of the plans include unlimited features such as voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, text and photo messaging, push email, internet, IM and 411 service.

MetroPCS plans to open 60 locations in the greater Las Vegas area, creating approximately 150 jobs by the end of 2008.

Earthlink and Google have teamed up to blanket San Fransisco with WiFi, but just last week Earthlink announced a massive restructuring cutting 900 jobs, or nearly half of the employees to reduce costs. Eathlink canceled their contracts to build the WiFi networks in Houston and San Fransisco, blaming it on the fact that the city changed the contract to eight years from the 16 years originally agreed upon.

Sonic.net, a Santa Rosa, CA-based independent ISP that uses gear from Meraki Networks (a wireless hardware company based in Mountain View, CA), is trying to promote a ad-supported MuniFi model. Sonic.net emailed its customers today notifying them that they can get a Meraki wireless mesh router at a subsidized cost, which would let the customers share up to 500 kbps of their DSL line bandwidth.

Users of the new network will see a Google ad bar at the top of the browser, Sonic.net plans to share the revenue generated by the ads with the customers that chose to place the router on their connection, and will be credited on their bill.

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