There was a bunch on the Cells, but it wasn't as hyped as they are making it to be. They even say the CES can be quiet for Cell technology, but then they go about it like it was the biggest thing.

However, They low-keyed Cingular, but I was more impressed with what they did have. Laptop cards that run wireless though Cell signals. OK, OK, it's not that impressive since the technology is already out there, but the cost was low (for the hardware) and they were showing speeds similar to low end DSL (128k up & 256k down). And you can still receive calls on your cell phone. However, service cost & availability were high and not quite in all the major cities, just yet. They say the cost will go down and availability will expand.

My thought is this will also create price wars of hardline broadband companies in driving the cost of broadband the same way Cells and broadband cause Long Distance phone rates to drop.

http://msn-cnet.com.com/4520-11405_1-6415617-1.html?part=msn-cnet&subj=re_1-6415617-1&...g=msn&GT1=7538

Cell phones go high speed
By Kent German
January 10, 2006

Since CES covers the entire technology gadget world, cell phones have to compete with MP3 players, televisions, and computers just to get noticed. And because most cell phone manufacturers and carriers save their biggest announcements for the annual Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) trade show held every spring, CES can be somewhat quiet as far as mobiles are concerned. That's not to say there's no news to report, but the bigger announcements concerned upgrades or refinements to existing models or services rather than entirely new handsets. Of course, Samsung introduced a few new phones, but even the new Palm Treo 700w is built on an existing product. Yet, of what we did see, high-speed data, most notably in the Samsung ZX20, and music, most notably in the Motorola Rokr E2, were major themes.

3G on the rise
After years of lagging behind Europe and Asia, the United States now has serviceable 3G networks and a solid choice of compatible handsets--but only for CDMA carriers. It all started at CES 2005, when Verizon Wireless announced its 3G EV-DO network and accompanying V Cast multimedia service. As expected, Sprint was second to market when it activated its EV-DO network last November, but we figured in Las Vegas, we'd see some additional 3G news from Cingular; last month, the carrier announced a 16-city HSDPA network for laptop users but not for cell phones. Despite our predictions, however, Cingular was decidedly quiet at CES. Instead, the 3G came from Samsung and LG, both of which announced new phones for high-speed GSM networks.

Samsung's ZX20, which clinched the Best of CES award for the cell phone category, will run on 3.5G HSDPA networks and provide data speeds of 1.8Mbps. That's a far cry from the poky 56Kbps download speeds available on most current cell phones. For slightly slower (but still 3G) UMTS networks, Samsung announced the ZX10, and LG announced its CU320. Of course, you're probably wondering just when we'll actually see these devices in stores. According to our best information, Cingular will make the LG CU320 and the Samsung ZX20 available (on a UMTS basis) in the next few weeks. The HSDPA phone will go live in the second quarter, and it will extend to most major markets by the end of the year.

Back on the CDMA front, Samsung announced the EV-DO Samsung a930, and UTStarcom gave us a peek at the CDM8945.

Music on your phone
Although it was scooped last November when Sprint unveiled its Music Store, Verizon fought back at CES with a flashy event at the Hard Rock Hotel, where the carrier announced V Cast Music. As with Sprint, you can download songs directly to your cell phone, but unlike with Sprint, songs will go to your handset and your PC if you decide to download the songs over the air to your phone. The dual downloads mean songs can be transferred back and forth, yet another key differentiator from Sprint. Downloads to your computer are 99 cents each (hello iTunes), while songs downloaded over the air to your phone are $1.99 each. While cheaper than Sprint, wireless downloads still will impact your wallet significantly, but there is a way out. Verizon readily admitted that you can first download songs to your PC at 99 cents each, then load them on to your phone with a USB cable, thus saving $1 in the process.

Verizon's Music Store, which is based on Windows, will launch January 16 on the LG VX8100. Customers will need to bring in their VX8100 to a Verizon store for an upgrade. Yet, there's been word of a rather disturbing development in the past few days. According to Phonescoop.com, the upgrade disables the playback of any preexisting MP3s saved to the memory card. We don't like the sound of that at all. Beyond the VX8100, additional phones that should support the Music Store include the Samsung a930 and the UTStarcom CDM8945.

Not to be outdone, Motorola announced the Rokr E2, an update to its mediocre Rokr E1 iTunes phone. The new and much improved Rokr E2 corrects some of its predecessor's flaws by allowing for music listening through Bluetooth headsets, increasing the song memory above the paltry 100 tracks, adding an FM radio, and boosting the camera resolution to 1.3 megapixels. The design is still a bit boring, but this time, there's a version in black. Also, Sony Ericsson announced a new Walkman phone, the W810i.

Razrs and keyboards
We thought there would be more radical cell phone design at CES, but it looks as if we'll have to wait for CTIA. Still, there was some news on the style front. Motorola CEO Ed Zander said Moto would expand its popular Razr line to include slim phones that incorporate swivel and slider form factors. Apparently, the next design platform will be called Scalpel. The company also gave updates on its Razr V3i and its Razr V3x, as well as its Slvr L7.

Messaging addicts will be pleased to learn that QWERTY keyboards are getting far from their smart-phone roots. LG announced the F9200, an update to the GSM LG F9100 but with e-mail support, and Kyocera announced the lower-tier Strobe, which should be a Virgin Mobile handset.

Bluetooth goes small
Bluetooth headsets shrunk to a new low at this year's CES, with headsets getting tinier than ever before. The smallest, the Motorola H5 Miniblue, measures only 1.2 by 1.6 inches, and it picks up your voice through your ear canal rather than through a traditional microphone. Nokia also unveiled another small headset, the stylish BH-800, which weighs only 0.3 ounce. It's not as small as the Miniblue, but it does come with a neck strap that makes it look like a fashionable pendant. Jabra, a well-known Bluetooth headset maker, also showed a couple of attractive headsets: the JX-10, which is a small silver headset that measures less than 1.5 inches in length, and the BT-160, which has 33 different covers included in the package.

Battle of Windows Mobile smart phones
Windows Mobile 5 smart phones dominated CES this year. For starters, Palm, Microsoft, and Verizon announced the immediate availability of the much-anticipated Palm Treo 700w. We got a chance to play with the Windows-based Treo, and it has some great features, such as photo speed dial and EV-DO support, but we also couldn't help noticing that it felt heavier and that the screen looked washed out. It's also going to face plenty of stiff competition from the Motorola Q when it finally debuts in Q1 of this year, as well as the UTStarcom XV6700, a near clone of the Sprint PPC-6700 running on Verizon's network. Samsung also announced an update to its i730 with the Samsung SCH-i830, adding world phone capabilities to this already feature-filled smart phone. All in all, we like the trends we're seeing in smart phones--they're getting more powerful, with numerous wireless connectivity options and productivity tools, as well as slimmed-down and viable form factors.