Latest News in mobile world

The LG's new Chocolate Touch VX8575 is now listed at Verizon's website, coupled with its press images. The current release date is showing at November 5th, while the pricing is still unknown at this point, but is expected to be around $100 or less.

Specs of the Chocolate Touch, according to PhoneArena:

• 1GB of internal music memory;
• microSDHC cards up to 16GB;
• MP3 Player and FM Radio Receiver;
• Dolby Mobile;
• Multitasking;
• 3.

The latest version (3.2) of Google Maps for Mobile for BlackBerry offer a major new feature -- the ability to view distinct layers. Layers display info such as Wikipedia entries, transit details, friends' Latitude coordinates and other data. The software comes as a free update from Google, and is available for both Windows Mobile and Symbian platforms.

[Continue reading Google Maps for BlackBerry with Layer Support]

Just to point this out: stay tuned for tomorrow's Motorola Droid announcement by Verizon Wireless. The device is labeled the "most desirable" and "must-have" phone of the year.

Rogers is ready to release the new Nokia Surge 6790 for its customers in Canada. It should be available in the coming days at the following prices:

• $49.99 on a 3-year contract;
• $99.99 on a 2-year;
• $199.99 on a 1-year;
• $279.99 outright

Specs:

• 2.4" screen;
• Full QWERTY keyboard;

  [Continue reading Nokia Surge 6790 from Rogers]

Just to let you know, Expansys is now selling the unlocked GSM Palm Pre to U.S. customers. Cool, right? No. The phone has European branding (O2, to be exact), European QWERTZ keyboard, and most importantly European 3G bands, which renders it useless on the American soil. You'll still get the same 3.1" multi-touch display, 3Mpix camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack and 8GB of onboard storage, which is nice, but at a price of $714.

This is the unannounced Nokia 2220, a low-end S40-based handset, which should be released sometime before the year's end in selected markets. It features dual-band GSM radio, VGA camera, a 3.5mm jack, and an FM tuner. Simple as that. Any takers?

RIM has recently unveiled the successor to one of the most recognizable BlackBerryes out there, the Bold 2, a.k.a. the Onyx, a.k.a. 9700. The handset has already been announced T-Mobile USA and AT&T, with the latter to release it in the "coming weeks" for $199 after $100 mail-in rebate. According to RIM, more carriers will announce the device in November.

The second Android-powered handset from Philips has been officially announced, and will soon be available to China Mobile subscribers. The V808, as seen here, has a flush front surface with rounded corners, and will include the following features:

• 3.2” HVGA touch screen;
• GPS;
• 3.2Mpix camera;
• microSD support;
• 1000 mAh battery;
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity

There's no info on pricing and availability just yet.

The Nokia Messaging service will soon be available to Orange France customers. The carrier will offer the service with its Origami Plus and Origami Jet monthly plans, as well as with the Orange email option. These devices will be offered in the time of launch: Nokia 5230, Nokia E71, Nokia N97 and the Nokia N97 mini.

According to WMExperts, U.S. Cellular is preparing the launch of the HTC Touch Pro2. The carrier will be the first CDMA operator to offer the phone with Windows Mobile 6.5 pre-installed. In addition, the handset will also feature the HTC's Sense UI. Sounds like great news for U.S. Cellular customers!

Pricing and launch date weren't announced yet.