DALLAS —(Business Wire)— Aug. 8, 2008 Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), today announced the availability of the Samsung Messager(TM) (SCH-r450) to MetroPCS customers at authorized dealer locations and company-owned retail locations. The Samsung Messager sports a sleek horizontal slider-design and QWERTY keyboard, making it easy for users to travel light and stay in touch while on the go.

"The stylish horizontal slider of the Samsung Messager is easy to use," said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer of Samsung Telecommunications America. "The Samsung Messager's attractive layout and QWERTY keyboard is a great fit for people who love text messaging."

Available in black, the Messager is packed with a powerful feature set, including a built-in 1.3 megapixel camera, SMS, MMS, email and IM messaging capabilities(1), advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth(R) wireless technology and speakerphone for easy, hands-free operation. The Messager's MP3 player boasts a rich user interface, while the external micro SD slot provides the user with up to 2GB of memory support.

For more information on where to purchase the Samsung Messager, please visit metropcs.com or samsungwireless.com.

Key features of the Samsung Messager include:

— Horizontal Slider with QWERTY Keyboard

— Stereo Bluetooth(R) Wireless Technology

— MP3 Player (microSD)

— 1.3 Megapixel Camera

— Messaging Services

— Advanced Voice Recognition

— Speakerphone

— Dimensions: 4.4" x 2.0" x 0.7"

— Display: 2.1" 262K TFT, 176X220 pixels

[Samsung]

Consumerist lays out exactly how to do it (it's for AT&T, but it should still work): Cite the hike as your reason for canceling; don't pay your bill at the new rate; don't give in to a cheaper plan; be steady like a rock. (Update: Make sure you get the notification of the price change first.) BTW, anyone else think doing this pre-iPhone 3G launch (whose 3Gness won't work on T-Mo) is like the worst timing ever? [BGR, Consumerist]

The other interesting thing we found was the illustration detailing what future modules the iPhone will have. Not only is there a GPS module (which may or may not be the current cellphone triangulation scheme that was added a few months back), but there's sample Search, Video Conferencing and Widget Creator modules. Widget Creator could just be the shortcut to Safari that Apple introduced in the last update, but Video Conferencing? Does that mean a front-mounted camera in the next iPhone? Who knows. Apple's thrown features into its patents that haven't materialized before.

Thanks Tino B!

First of all, the type size of the messages is way too small on your screen—the text is barely even two points high. You can zoom in, but after every message you send, you must zoom in again. Also, messages don't come in live; they're fetched at the same time you send yours, making for some rather halting conversations and missed connections. Overall, it works, but it's awkward.

If you don't send and receive a lot of messages, you're probably better off using the iPhone's SMS service. After all, that delightful iChat-like interface is hard to resist. Another choice if you're using AIM: you can send messages to an iPhone (or any cellphone's text messaging system for that matter), if you type +1 and then the 10 digit phone number as your buddy's name. Any replies to your messages from your cellphone-toting buddy will count as a message, though.

You can also try Meebo, the supposedly do-everything-anywhere messaging service, but all we're getting at that site when we access it from our iPhone is a spinning cursor. Colleague Jason Chen had some luck with it and was actually able to communicate, but characterized it as "super slow," and certainly not pantsworthy. Meanwhile, technicians at Meebo tell us they're working on optimizing the service.

Let's hope this AIM/iPhone situation works itself out soon. Sure, AT&T wants to generate cash from messaging, but we look forward to the day when we can just use AIM for free on the iPhone, unfettered and easy to use just like the rest of the apps on the iPhone.

Wait a week or so for your custom t-shirt with your chosen slogan and keyword printed on it to be delivered to you, and then wear it out in public. Anyone who sees your T-shirt can react to your slogan by texting the keyword you placed on the shirt and calling 41411. They'll get a response containing that message you entered at the company's website. It might be fun if you have an extra $20 to spend on a custom T-shirt that says exactly what you want it to. Try texting our shirt above for a secret message. – Charlie White

Product Page [Reactee]

This seems like a good idea, but the dog may not much care what your messages are when he triggers playback by merely prancing into the room. It's available in Europe so far for €19.90 ($26.69), but we're hoping someone in the United States takes this idea and perfects it, giving you longer than 10 seconds to record your message, adding a sensitivity control to reduce false alarms and making its battery rechargeable. – Charlie White

Product Page [getDigital, via Coolest Gadgets]

These vests can be adapted to be used on the battlefield, yes, but we'd like to see them make a version for the Xbox 360. Did I feel a left arrow on my back? That means I need to flank left. Down? Duck. All of them go off at once? Oh, right, I'm being chainsawed. – Jason Chen

Vibrating vest could send alerts to soldiers [New Scientist via Boing Boing via Primidi]

Reader Alfonso has his own experience.

I've called cingular and questioned them about the matter and they said that no, that one cannot cancel and escape the early termination fee. They said that the only way one can is if you are within the first 30 days of service with them... other than that you must pay the fee. Also that they said that they are notifying customers on there december bill hence following what the customer code states :

Carriers will not modify the material terms of their subscribers' contracts in a manner that is materially adverse to subscribers WITHOUT PROVIDING A REASONABLE ADVANCE NOTICE OF A PROPOSED MODIFICATION allowing subscribers a time period of not less than 14 days to cancel their contracts with no early termination fee (ETF)

So they are escaping this by letting us know Well ahead of time. I've called 4 different times.. spoken to 4 different associates and I keep getting the same answer. I've also gone in person to 2 cingular stores and same deal.

Also one thing that was misread in Cingular's terms is:

"IF WE INCREASE THE PRICE OF ANY OF THE SERVICES TO WHICH YOU SUBSCRIBE... YOU MAY TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT PAYING AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE... PROVIDED YOUR NOTICE OF TERMINATION IS DELIVERED TO US WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST BILL REFLECTING THE CHANGE."

Meaning that if you have a text plan and they change the price of it, you can cancel that text plan without paying a fee... Also they told me that the reason as to why one cannot escape the termination fee is because with cingular texting is not part of the contract... you can have it completely removed from your account meaning no sending and no receiving text.

Looks like this isn't going to work out. Sorry for getting everyone's hopes up. Make sure to check out Consumerist's Cingular coverage as well. – Jason Chen

Cingular is adding yet another good-looking phone to its stable with the LG F9200. This is a thumb-pad cellphone with slide-out keyboard and Cingular's Mobile Email (supporting Yahoo, Hotmail, and AOL e-mail), it will allow you to register for up to 10 different email accounts. Other features include support for GPRS Class 10, speakerphone and oddly enough, just a 0.3 MP camera. Obviously more for the avid IM'er rather than any budding photographer. Will run you about $150 with contract.

Cingular to offer the new LG F9200 [Mobilewhack]