Images are about all that's offered up here. No specs, no dates, no explanation. Just pics and some well-groomed fingernails:

We'll keep an eye out for more. [BGR]

But Mike notes that AT&T is already ok with setting up Windows and Blackberry phones with data only plans (but not iPhones) and that a data/voip-only phone is what Google proposed to the FCC when bidding on wireless spectrum back in the day.

The initial post that there would be a Google phone—an in-house, top-to-bottom Google developed handset running android—was met with skepticism by the press. Most people quoted previous statements from Google's Andy Rubin stating that they would not "compete with their own customers" by releasing a handset of their own. That mimes microsoft's strategy with PCs and Phones, versus their in house designed Xbox and Zune hardware. But there is a difference here, despite the quote from Rubin: Google does not charge for Android, so are these people customers or beneficiaries of the only real modern mobile operating system that they can license. And Free. I mean, Win Mo is currently terrible and costs money and symbian is a joke. Blackberry isn't up for grabs. And does Google care if they lose a few points of market share? I don't think so. This isn't even close to their core business, except that whenever someone gets on the internet, Google stands to make money. In this case, Google wins not by licensing more OSes to be used on phones, but in the very act of getting more phones in the world, no matter what the OS or platform. Now that's scary power. [Techcrunch]

The new name is not as tech-heavy of geektastic as Droid, but we can see the point. From here on out, things are going to be different (hopes Verizon/Motorola).

The image comes from the O2 web site, where the Droid is masquerading about as the Milestone for a presumably contract-free price of about $595. Launch day is November 9, a mere three days after we Yanks get the coveted handset here in the States. No word on whether or not O2 scored an exclusive here or what, as there's no mention of the phone popping up on other carriers' web sites. [Slashgear]

The reasons weren't elaborated on, but I'm guessing Nokia is still straightening out deals with U.S carriers. It's also interesting that the news comes right after Apple officially sent out invites for its September 9 event that willl likely include new iPods and an update to iTunes.

Sorry Fin fans, you'll just have to wait. [Forbes]

These things are kind of all starting to look the same, but it's running the Snapdragon platform, meaning it could be 1GHz, and is rumored to have an 8MP imaging sensor. Let's hope they've got the image processing sorted out, though.

[Mobil via Engadget]

According to PC World, FCC Chairman Michael Copps hinted that if they do discover unfavorable effects as a result of exclusive handset deals, they won't be opposed to regulation. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar also rambled on, saying something about how if Microsoft and IBM had exclusive deals Google would have never existed. Um, what?

But there's a twist! AT&T's Paul Roth fired back at this line of thinking, mentioning that exclusive deals prevent the mobile handset world from completely devolving into a lowest common denominator mentality when it comes to new tech. Both sides have valid points, I suppose. So let the battle begin. [PC World]

The specs present a slight increase over the pricey Xperia X1. Here they are from the mobile-review forums:

* 8.1mpx auto focus, VGA @ 30fps (MP4 HQ)
* 3.5 inch WVGA OLED (increased from 3.0 from X1)
* GPS, aGPS
* 3.5 mm headphone jack
* Accelerometer
* Faster processor
* 512 RAM
* Custom Windows Mobile 6.5
* XPERIA Panels are modified with plenty of innovative features (PS3 functionality)
* Upgrading to Windows Mobile 7 is supported by Xperia panels

Forums being what they are, this far from official. But, like I said, if they pan out then this is a bit of a boost from what users experienced with the X1. Hopefully this time around they won't experience the associated price tag too. [mobile-review via BGR]

- dual WVGA touchscreen displays
- full-QWERTY keypad
- stereo speakers
- Bluetooth
- microSDHC support
- 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus, flash and Schneider-Kreuznach lens

Don't get excited about release dates, because there aren't any in the stack of user manual images whence these vanilla specs came. [Phonearena BGR]

The Equipment Installment Plan applies to both current and new customers and comes without any additional finance fees, interest charges or start-up fees. So, if money is tight but you have been dying to get your hands on a G1, this might be the way to do it. [T-Mobile]

The Instinct-like AT&T Eternity A867 and T-Mobile’s Behold T919 (lower left) will both feature Samsung's fancy new TouchWiz interface and could each feature a 5MP camera. Who does Samsung think we are, Korea or something?

The Behold will also reportedly feature QWERTY, GPS, video recording...but no Wi-Fi.

Those three phones in the bottom corner are destined for Verizon Wireless and known as the Saga (I770), the OMNIA (I910) and the Renown (U810). Both the Saga and OMNIA run Windows Mobile—despite its Instinct look and interface, the OMNIA isn't an exact competitor—while both the Saga and Renown are world phones, supporting CDMA and GSM. [Phone Arena via Into Mobile and BGR]

The Hitachi Wooo W63H and Casio Exilim W63CA both came with 3.1-inch organic electro-luminescent screens and the ability to sync up with au BOX and Lismo Video (which lets you download full movies onto your handset). The Casio Exilim also boasts an 8.1MP camera, making it a pretty good point-and-shoot replacement.

Sharp Aquos' model beats out the Hitachi and Casio on screen size (3.5-inches), even if it's not OEL. While the battery life is probably shorter, those .4-inches could make a big difference if you're a big TV-on-the-cellphone watcher.

Sony Ericcson's re fashion phone kind of reminds me of the Nokia I owned in High School, only its interchangeable fashion plates are much nicer. Right now, you can buy soon-to-be-dated 007 and Fifa World Cup themed plates.

The Toshiba W65T is a sportsy slider that includes, along with the au BOX connectivity and LISMO movie viewing, a Wireless Music option and GPS.

The last three phones in the line up are, more simplistic fashion phones. I guess not everybody's enamored with a handset that has more features than you can shake a stick at. Though the Kyocera W65K, SE W64S and Panasonic W62P (left to right) eschew LISMO and au BOX, they still come with the Karada Manager.

Even if none of KDDI's lineup makes it outside the Land of the Rising Sun, some of these features will probably trickle to the States a couple years down the line. [au by KDDI via Gizmodo Japan]

LG will be working on all the decent phone features, while Prada will be putting together crap themes, annoying ringtones and other stuff to ensure the handset is just a little rubbish. The LG Prada successor is expected to launch in Q4, 2008. We're excited. [Eprice via Unwired View]

Currently, the OpenMoko fellows have received back their first production verification test devices and they are busy making the necessary tweaks to the hardware / software. As for a release date, we've been promised more details concerning distribution will be forthcoming in the "next few days." I'm kinda itching to try one of these out, but it looks like we'll all be waiting a little bit longer. We'll keep you posted on any developments. [OpenMoko]

If you'd feel like a bit of an idiot talking into your watch while making calls, Bluetooth functionality will allow you to hook up a headset to ease the embarrassment, (a little.) The cellphone itself is GSM quadband capable, has a built in media player and supports a media card so you can load up your tunes and snaps on removable media. Alternatively, you could purchase, oh, you know, a cellphone and watch as two independent items. Hey, we're just putting the idea out there. [Slashphone]

Along with what we have already heard, the cellphone will now carry an alleged QWERTY keypad with multifunction keys, a metal construction, sliding lens cover for the 5MP camera, Bluetooth 2.0, 3G capability, UIQ 3.3 touchscreen WQVGA display, Google Maps and Wayfinder 7.0 support, as well as the excellent Mobile Opera 9.5 web browser. If all that holds to be true, this looks to be shaping up very nicely indeed.

On a side note, the source, USEB, tends to be so accurate with their Sony Ericcson-related information/leaks, word has it they know about SE products before the R&D department does. Weird. [USEB]

Yeah, we know—"video or it didn't happen," right? Well, we're working on it. Jeez, give us a break guys, Mr T smashed up our offices and the cleanup is immense. Nevertheless, the mammoth mobile totes a working internet connection of sorts and an onboard camera, but it completely lacks a battery, as Mr Tan couldn't build one large enough—what a slacker. The humango-handset relies on a mains outlet for power, and a local journalist verified its functional state by sending SMS messages and making a call.

The project took him 6-months to complete, and his wife was said to be livid with the racket he was making whilst putting it all together. Mind you, if our partners were busy constructing the BFG's cellphone, and they carelessly omitted the vibration function, we wouldn't be best pleased either. [Ananova via textually]

Personalized Features

* Additional ringers*
* Backlit keypad
* Color display - Internal: 2.2", 240 x 320 pixels, 262K- color QVGA / External: 16 x 104 single color OLED
* Polyphonic (MIDI) ringers, MP3 ringers, and AAC ringers
* Screensavers
* Wallpaper

Productivity Features

* Alarm Clock
* Calculator
* Camera - 1.3 MP, Digital zoom, with dedicated side key
* Contact directory
* Headset jack
* GPS locator*
* Memo pad
* Predictive text-input software for rapid text entry
* Scheduler
* Side volume controls
* Speed dialing
* Stopwatch
* Tip calculator
* Micro USB connector
* Voice recognition (speaker-independent)
* World clock

Communication Features

* 2-way text messaging*
* Bluetooth® 2.0 - Supports Bluetooth wireless technology profiles (Generic Access, Headset, Hands-free Car Kit, Serial Data Port, Dial-up Networking, OBEX, Object Push, Basic Printing, Phone Book Address, Service Discovery App, A2DP) and allows you to talk hands-free using any compatible accessory with Bluetooth wireless technology, version 2.0
* BREW 3.1.5 platform* - allows for downloads of games, ringers, contacts and much more*
* Color picture caller-ID
* Data capable*
* Email, web based email
* Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) capable*
* Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC)
* Multi-media Messaging Service (MMS) capable*
* Instant messaging capable*
* Multiple language options
* Secondary external caller ID - 16 x 104 single color OLED
* Speakerphone with dedicated key
* TTY/TDD capable*
* Vibrate alert
* Voice-activated dialing
* Voice memo
* Web access* - WAP 2.0 browser to view your favorite Web sites specifically formatted for your phone
Tech Specs

* Talk Time:
Up to 220 minutes
* Standby Time:
Up to 220 hours

Times will vary based on user settings, feature use and network configuration.

* Size (closed):
3.52 in x 2.05 in x 0.66 in (89.5 x 52 x 16.7 mm)
* Weight:
3.17 ounces (90 grams)
* Mode:
CDMA2000® 1xRTT, tri-band (800, 1900 MHz, AWS), S-GPS*
* Screen Resolution:
Internal: 2.2", 240 x 320 pixels, 262K- color QVGA / External: 16 x 104 single color OLED
* Camera:
1.3 megapixel
* Battery Type:
790 mAh lithium ion (Lilon) battery
* Vocoders:
13 Kbps (PureVoice) and EVRC
* Operational Temperature:
-22° to 140°F (-30° to 60°C) [Note: Battery performance limited in temperatures below 32°F (0°C).]