As reported here on Cell Phones Etc. and across the Web, here’s your daily brief on what happened in the world of mobile phones this Friday, June 17th, 2011.
Virgin Launches $30 BlackBerry Messenger Plan
Virgin has released a new $30 BlackBerry Messenger plan that they are hyping as “$5 less than Telus and $10 less than Koodo“. True in price. The plan includes 100 Anytime minutes, Unlimited BBM, Unlimited Evenings and Weekends starting at 7pm, Unlimited text and picture messaging. All voice mail, caller display are extra and this plan is only good until June 30th on the Curve 8530, 9300 (3G) and Pearl 9100.
MobileSyrup
HTC EVO Shift 4G Is Getting Gingerbread Starting On June 20
Being one of the very first Android smartphones to launch domestically this year, the HTC EVO Shift 4G complemented Sprint’s lineup by offering a compact version of the EVO 4G with a sliding landscape keyboard. Getting its time in the sun, handset owners are in more a surprise come Monday, June 20 – that’s because it’s getting Gingerbread on that day.
PhoneArena
Samsung Captivate Gets Gingerbread Through Leaked Software Update
It’s been about four months since the Samsung Captivate got a software update, and that was merely to step up from Eclair to Froyo. And while AT&T still hasn’t pushed out an upgrade to Gingerbread, leaked versions of the official software are said to be floating around the big, wide Internet. So far, we’re not seeing much feedback, good or bad, but it should go without saying that you install this at your own risk.
Engadget
Sony Ericsson Xperia Duo Surfaces, Possibly SE’s First Dual-Core Phone
The predecessor to the thin-as-ever Xperia Arc and potentially Sony Ericsson’s first dual-core smartphone has taken its first few glamour shots. It’s being called the Sony Ericsson Xperia Duo, which is quite possibly a reference to the dual-core processing power packed under the hood.
MobileCrunch
Nokia Windows Phones To Hit Europe This Year
Nokia is very aware of its plummeting smartphone market share, but the only thing it can do at this point — after abandoning Symbian and MeeGo and switching to Windows Phone 7 as its main smartphone platform — is try to speed up its roadmap. Nokia plans to launch the first Windows Phone 7 devices in six European countries.
Mashable
