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UsCellular posts

Samsung Trill and Caliber now official for US Cellular

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 22nd 2009 @ 5:31AM

Remember these two bad boys? Sure enough, the rumored Trill and Caliber from Samsung have made their way to US Cellular, just two of the bazillion Sammies that the regional carrier already offers. The Trill (pictured left) is an audio-centric slider with B&O's ICEpower tech, a dedicated music key, 1.3 megapixel cam, stereo Bluetooth, and 1GB of built-in storage with microSD expansion; it clocks in at $89.95 on contract after rebate. The Caliber (right) is arguably the more interesting of the two, offering a legit TouchWiz setup with a full HTML browser, 3 megapixel cam, and a WQVGA display. This one ends up being a little less -- $49.95 on contract with rebate -- which pushes the Delve it replaces all the way down to $19.95. Good time to be in the market for a full touch experience on US Cellular, eh?

Read - Samsung Trill
Read - Samsung Caliber

BlackBerry Tour coming to US Cellular

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 12th 2009 @ 8:42AM

A spec page unearthed on the carrier's website (complete with an image of a branded handset) tells us that US Cellular is going to end up carrying the BlackBerry Tour at some point, following Sprint's and Verizon's leads down the path of BES-compatible global roaming QWERTY joy. That's cool, but we don't have an inkling of a date or a price -- and with trackball-gate still fresh in Tour users' minds, it'll be hitting shelves with a bit of an image to overcome; then again, the alternatives are the ancient 8330 and 8830, so let's be honest -- it'll probably do alright for itself.

[Via PhoneArena and Boy Genius Report]

Samsung Trill and Caliber coming to US Cellular

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 28th 2009 @ 2:29AM

US Cellular's just big enough of a carrier to command a few exclusive handsets of its own -- especially from a company like Samsung that somehow manages to announce about fifteen new models a day, 365 days a year (not really, but it'd be easy to think that they did if you didn't pay attention). Take these two puppies, for example; first up is the music-oriented r520 Trill slider (pictured left), which counts Bang & Olufsen's ICEpower signal processing and 1GB of onboard memory expandable to a total of 33GB as its headline features. To the right we've got the r850 Caliber, a full-touch piece with a 3.2-inch WQVGA display, TouchWiz, a 3 megapixel camera with video capture, and full HTML browsing -- not shabby, assuming the price is right. We don't have pricing or availability on either of these bad boys just yet, but we'll keep you in the loop.

[Thanks, Doug]

Samsung Axle launches on US Cellular

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 18th 2009 @ 4:45PM

We can say with confidence after perusing the Axle's specifications that the most exciting thing about this phone is the unusual name. The new flip from Samsung is launching today on US Cellular for $50 after rebate on contract ($40 for existing customers), offering a VGA camera, Bluetooth, speakerphone, and not bloody much else. As far as we can tell from the specs and pricing in the remainder of US Cellular's lineup, that's about $50 too much -- but then again, we'll admit, the name alone might be worth the cost of admission.

Samsung Code coming to US Cellular, "Jack" inexplicably missing from name

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 11th 2009 @ 6:36PM

We've just sorta become accustomed to seeing the term "Jack" show up somewhere in the name of any North American Samsung running Windows Mobile that looks like this, so "Code" is a refreshing change of pace. The midrange portrait QWERTY smartphone just popped with no fanfare over on US Cellular's site, revealing a 2 megapixel camera, WinMo 6.1 Standard, EV-DO Rev. 0, and a QVGA display. Coincidentally, this sucker got FCC approval as the SCH-i220 just a few days ago, so these guys are probably lining up to get it to market shortly.

[Via MobileBurn]

Samsung Gloss comes to US Cellular

by Chris Ziegler posted May 26th 2009 @ 1:59PM

Look familiar? Yep, this is US Cellular's version of the Cleo, a fun little clamshell that does battle with LG's Lotus by offering a full QWERTY keyboard in a stubby clamshell layout. Don't expect much feature-wise -- it's got a 176 x 144 display, for instance -- but you've still got a music player with stereo Bluetooth support and microSD expansion, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and of course, that text-tastic QWERTY pad. Look for it the carrier's stores in your choice of black and pink; we don't have pricing information, but we suspect it won't break the bank on contract.

US Cellular's battery swap program puts a new charge in your handset, for free

by Darren Murph posted May 18th 2009 @ 8:32AM

Ever dreamt of keeping a phone so long that the original battery went kaput? And, during that same dream, did your loving, compassionate carrier decide to bless you with a second battery for free? No need to keep dozing, as regional operator US Cellular has decided to show up the big boys by introducing its Battery Swap program. Launching tomorrow, the initiative enables customers to come into any US Cellular store and "change out a dead or dying battery for a fully-charged one, for free." Needless to say, the firm is pretty stoked about being the only wireless carrier in America to offer such a service, though you should know that only phones which have been purchased within the last 18 months are eligible. Sounds fair enough to us -- so, when's everyone else jumping on this bandwagon? Bueller...?

[Thanks, Kristofer]

HTC Touch Pro comes to US Cellular

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 21st 2009 @ 9:33PM

It's pretty hard to get excited about a device introduction when its successor has already been announced -- but alas, the original Touch Pro is still a pretty awesome phone, and we're sure it'll do pretty well for US Cellular. The regional has caught up with Sprint and Verizon in launching HTC's VGA display-equipped landscape QWERTY slider, bringing a 3.2 megapixel cam, 288MB of RAM and 512MB of ROM (meeting Sprint's specs and exceeding Verizon's), WiFi, and all the TouchFLO 3D you can handle for $249.95 on contract after mail-in rebate. Just avoid casting envious gazes toward the Pro2 over in the GSM realm, and you'll be all set.

[Via MobileBurn]

LG Banter comes to US Cellular

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 15th 2009 @ 5:48PM

Quick: what has two keypads, changeable covers, and an LG logo plastered on it? The Banter, of course, which is shaping up to be a favorite for regional carriers everywhere. The low-cast text-centric device features both numeric and sliding QWERTY keypads (as anyone who scooped it up on Alltel already knows), a 1.3 megapixel camera, and microSD support up to 16GB; what it won't have is EV-DO -- but with a screen that small, users probably aren't going to care too much. Grab it now for $49.95 on two-year contract after rebate.

LG Wine now available on US Cellular for $29.95 on contract

by Darren Murph posted Jan 21st 2009 @ 12:51AM

You'll never catch us recommending that one engage in the precarious act of drunk dialing, but those scouting a phone to appropriately showcase their adoration for fine adult beverages can finally do so on US Cellular. Starting today, the LG Wine (UX280) is available in two hues from the carrier, and both are running just $29.95 after applicable rebates and a 2-year contract. What's the off contract price, you ask? $179.95 with no strings attached.

[Via phoneArena]

Samsung's SCH-r470 TwoStep now official on US Cellular

by Darren Murph posted Jan 11th 2009 @ 9:12AM

We had an inkling that Samsung's SCH-r470 was headed for US Cellular, and without getting all melodramatic, we'll just inform you that it is. The surprisingly stylish flip phone, more enjoyably called the TwoStep, features a 1.3 megapixel camera, a multimedia player, stereo speakers, a microSD card, Bluetooth, Burnt Orange / Red / Purple hues and a battery good for up to three hours of talk time. Anxious to get your mind around prices and specs? Tough luck.

Samsung's R470 looks destined for US Cellular

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 2nd 2009 @ 9:16PM

If we have to pick between a flip CDMA dumbphone and, say, a Touch Pro, we're going to take the Touch Pro ten times out of ten -- but as flip CDMA dumbphones go, this thing really isn't half bad looking at all. The Samsung R470 just passed FCC muster this week, and as Phone Scoop astutely notes, the manual's mention of "easyedge" indicates that the dazzlingly orange clamshell will likely see duty on US Cellular. We're looking at fairly comprehensive external controls -- likely with a music slant -- along with Bluetooth and microSD expansion, but strangely, we can't find any mention of EV-DO in the test docs. Seems kinda strange for a phone in this category, doesn't it?

[Via Phone Scoop]

LG Rhythm officially beats on US Cellular

by Darren Murph posted Nov 25th 2008 @ 12:49PM

You knew it was coming, and now the day your heart has been waiting for has finally arrived. Effective immediately, LG's Rhythm is available to US Cellular customers, offering up a 1-inch circular touchscreen and "one of the most advanced music systems available in mobile phones today (oh, really?)." To be fair, the player does include DSP and an audio equalizer tuned by Mark Levinson, and the FM transmitter / 3.5-millimeter headphone jack exudes seriousness about audio. You'll also find a microSD card slot, 2-inch main LCD, a 1.3-megapixel camera / camcorder and Bluetooth 2.0; subscribers can snatch this slider up in black or pink (a USCC exclusive, mind you) for $79.95 after rebates and contractual obligations.

US Cellular getting LG Rhythm: think Chocolate with a cyclops eye (updated)

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 8th 2008 @ 2:00PM

We've learned that mega-regional US Cellular has its sights set on an LG slider apparently dubbed the UX585 "Rhythm" for a mid-November launch, featuring a 1.3-megapixel camera, FM transmitter a la Nokia N78 and LG Muziq, and an honest-to-goodness mechanical wheel -- a key feature for a phone touting a music slant. The theme doesn't stop there, though: the Rhythm is also said to benefit from tweaking by Mark Levinson's loving ears, a QVGA display, and something being called a "Touch Music Hot Key," a trick-looking circular touchscreen in the middle of the wheel. Yeah, these guys might be a little behind the Chocolate curve here, but at least they're coming out swinging. Look for it to run $129.95 featuring a $50 rebate for customers signing up for a data plan for at least three months.

[Thanks, USCCGuy]

Updated: Turns out Alltel snuck this out onto the market just this week in black and white as the AX585, and seeing how they're spelling it "Rhythm," we're updating the spelling for US Cellular's version, too (let's be honest -- "Rythm" would be an incredibly annoying trademarkable spelling for that word). Alltel's charging $119.99 on contract after rebates for the pleasure. Thanks, Jer!

US Cellular getting the Samsung F480-like "Delve"?

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 29th 2008 @ 9:51AM

Seems like everyone wants a piece of Samsung's touch action these days, and US Cellular might be chalked up to get in on it next with this puppy, the so-called "Delve" (best they could come up with? really?). The candybar -- which seems to cop a good deal from its older F480 brother -- is said to feature a 3-inch display, navigation, full HTML browser, stereo Bluetooth, a "second generation TouchWiz interface," and a 2-megapixel cam. It's no Omnia, but we'll take what we can get -- and the rumor is that we'll be able to get what we can come November.