The latest list features a few new phones. We already know about the LG Vu and the Samsung Access; AT&T has announced that their Mobile TV service will begin on May 4, so we should expect these two long-anticipated phones to make their arrival either on the same day or just prior.

The newest phones to pop up on PhoneArena include:

Samsung A617 - Quad band World phone
Pantech C710 - Tri-Band, 1.3 MP camera
Pantech C510 - Quad band but no 3G, 1.3 MP Camera and MicroSD
Pantech C600 - Quad band, 3G, VGA camera, MicroSD
Motorola W760R - Quad band, 3G, 2.0 MP camera, rugged, replacing V365
LG Voyager (Rumored!)

These phones are all flips, and all but one - the C510 - will be 3G.

This is a bit of clever trickery, but it has now been proven possible to use your iPod Touch as a VoIP iPhone (VoiPhone? Hey, the name could stick). I haven't tried it myself, but if you are feeling intrigued and adventurous, it may be worth a shot. This link will take you to more detailed information. Let me know how it goes!

The question has been asked many times: what is this PUK code my phone is asking for? Where did it come from? How do I find the code? The PUK code stands for Personal Unblocking Key. If you see it pop up, don't freak out! It is designed to protect your phone from unwanted users, and there is a way to find out what the code is.

For example, when you set up PIN codes to block people from certain applications from your phone, if someone tries to get in and puts in the wrong code 3-5 times, it prompts that person for the PUK. The only way to get the PUK is to either call your cell phone provider or visit the local corporate-owned store and verify the account information. Putting in the wrong PUK code 3-5 times will permanently block your SIM card from further use. At that point, the only option is to go into the local store and replace your SIM card completely in order for your phone to work. Your old SIM card will never be functional so any numbers you had stored on the card can never be accessed again.

When you put in the right PUK code, the phone will prompt you to change your PIN code to something new so that you can remember it more easily.

Thus, the PUK code protects your phone from phone thieves or a nosy younger brother.

Continuing on with the big CTIA announcements, I particularly enjoyed this announcement about the HTC Touch Dual coming to North America. It was announced that this device will be sold at Best Buy, bestbuy.com and htc.com. It will be an unlocked GSM device, meaning any AT&T or T-Mobile customers will be able to put in their SIM cards.



The Dual is a touchscreen device with Windows Mobile 6.1 and TouchFLO, which is a technology which allows finger-touch scrolling, photo zooming, and panning. Also features a slide-out 20-key keyboard, quadband GSM and dual band AT&T HSDPA frequencies. Check out the video here.

The revelation about these phones being sold at Best Buy leaves unanswered questions. Will this begin a new trend here in the States? Most phones sold are locked and sold through specific carriers. There is a limited selection of unlocked phones sold in the US, sold either through auction sites such as eBay or other novelty stores. Nokia, for example, is selling the N95 among other phones unlocked at its stores and on its website. Other unlocked phones are imported. But these types of phones are certainly in the minority.

Thus, I am curious to see if Best Buy begins selling a number of different types of phones unlocked and open to be used on different wireless carriers. These days we find the carriers under more and more pressure to loosen their tight grip on contracts and open their networks. To me this seems to be a way for Best Buy and HTC to further the movement along in that direction.

For this post I'm linking you over to bbgeeks.com, which proudly shows off some videos at the Blackberry booth during CTIA 2008. The booth showed off MobiTV and the game Guitar Hero III now made for the Blackberry devices.

MobiTV

Guitar Hero III

Guitar Hero is $14.99 and you begin with 15 songs; you can also get a $4.49 monthly subscription and receive 3 new songs each month. Downloads are available at bplay.com.

The two flagship TV phones on AT&T coming out in May are the LG Vu and the Samsung Access. Check out these video links to watch a live demo of these phones!

Samsung Access

LG Vu

Last year: the iPhone. This year: the Surface.

At CTIA, AT&T has announced they will unveil the new coffee-table touchscreen computers at stores in NYC, Atlanta, San Antonio, and San Francisco. These tables will give customers an interactive approach to shopping for cell phones.

The Surface is a 30" display that's crafted onto a table and has features such as multi-touch, the ability to enlarge pictures and make them smaller. AT&T plans on using the features of the Surface so that the customer can put two different phones onto the display and get side-by-side comparisons of those phones. Even by putting one phone on the table you will be able to view all of the available features and accessories for that phone.

You will also be able to look at coverage maps (again, being able to zoom in and out using multi-touch), rate plan options and service agreements. In the future AT&T plans on using this technology so you can purchase ringtones, graphics, games and videos, then drag and drop directly into the phone while it's on the table.

Check out the videos here!