The iPhone is finally coming to Verizon Wireless.

The largest U.S. wireless carrier will make the long-awaited announcement at an event Tuesday in New York City, people familiar with the matter said. The phone will make its way to Verizon Wireless stores around the end of January, a person familiar with the matter said.

The move will for the first time let U.S. consumers choose the network that carries their iPhone and perhaps give them additional pricing options that could affect their monthly bills.

It will also upend the balance of power in the industry, ending Verizon rival AT&T Inc.’s exclusive hold on the device and leaving smaller players like Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA facing two well-capitalized competitors offering the world’s most popular smartphone.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704739504576068170230339348.html

Apple, Cupertino, Calif., announced AT&T Stores and Verizon Wireless Stores will both begin selling all three iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models  beginning Oct. 28. The companies have more than 2,000 stores each.

AT&T will offer customers 3G Apple iPad Data Plans, with Apple’s on-device activation and management.

All iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available at AT&T Stores for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB, and $829 for 64GB. Domestic data plans for iPad are priced at $14.99 per month for 250MB and $25 per month for 2GB with no term contract. Both plans include unlimited access to AT&T’s 23,000 domestic Wi-Fi Hot Spots.
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Microsoft on Monday formally unveiled its Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system, which it hopes will give it a greater presence in the rapidly expanding market for smartphones.

Phones running the new software will be available on AT&T’s network starting on Nov. 8, said Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, at a news conference in New York. Later in the year, the phones will be available from T-Mobile, and in 2011, from Verizon and Sprint. AT&T will initially offer three phones, at $200 each.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/technology/12soft.html?_r=1&ref=business

Best Buy Mobile, Minneapolis, Minn., is giving consumers another reason to be thankful for Fridays in October: Free Phone Fridays. Beginning Friday, Oct. 1 and running every Friday in October, Best Buy Mobile will feature four free mobile phones (one from each carrier) in all Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores, as well as online at BestBuy.com/Mobile. Each week, this new promotion will feature at least one high-end, in-demand smart phone. The free promotion phones require a new two-year activation.

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Arlington, VA, May 27, 2010 – More than 50 top technology companies will participate in the 2010 CEA Line Shows, the CE industry’s mid-year innovation showcase, scheduled for June 22-23, 2010 in New York City.

“The 2010 CEA Line Shows provides companies with a fantastic launching point for their products, with an audience of top industry executives and media,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president of events and conferences, CEA. “We’ve got an impressive group of participating companies debuting new products that make the CEA Line Shows the only place to see it all.”

Companies to be featured on the exhibit floor or conference stage include Hewlett Packard, Google, Klipsch, Maxell, Mitsubishi, Monster Cable, Panamax-Furman, Samsung, Savant, Scosche, Sirius XM, Skype, Sony Electronics, Tiffen, Toshiba, Verizon.

Additionally, the 2010 CEA Line Shows will feature more than 20 sessions and 55 expert speakers as part of the Digital Downtown conference program, which will cover a range of industry topics from 3D to green technology to social media.

For conference updates and announcements, follow the 2010 CEA Line Shows on Twitter via @CEAfeed, using hashtag #lineshows.

For registration and additional event information, visit www.cealineshows.com

About the CEA Line Shows and Digital Downtown Conference
These events are being organized in association with CEA, the producer of the International CES®, along with Martin Porter Associates and Consumer Technology Publishing Group/NAPCO, publisher of Dealerscope, Custom Retailer and E-Gear Magazines.

About CEA
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $165 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.