Nokia MeeGo tablet spotted

A number of Websites on Monday reported the sighting of a Nokia tablet running MeeGo - the operating system being developed by the handset maker in partnership with Intel.

A very dark photo of the device initially appeared on Mobile-Review's forum, seemingly swiped from MeeGo's bug-reporting Website.

Reghardware handily pointed out that tweaking the brightness levels revealed Nokia's logo - so we went ahead and did it - the results are circled in the image below.


There are no details on whether it is a bona fide tablet being prepped for launch, or a prototype device that has been created exclusively for the benefit of MeeGo's in-house developers, but it would be a surprise if Nokia elected not to produce a tablet.

Either way, the Finnish handset giant is holding a "Strategy and Financial Briefing" on 11 February - industry observers will no doubt be watching closely for product announcements.

Meanwhile, check out Total Telecom on Thursday for Nokia's Q4 results where we'll see whether the company has made up any lost ground in the smartphone space.

Write on! Deadline extended...

If you are still desperately scribbling your entry for the World Vendor Awards, you can relax - a little. The deadline for entries has been extended to Friday 28 January, giving an extra week give a final polish to your entry!

This year there are 14 categories, including the NEW CEO of the Year. The latter will be voted by the industry, and we are currently seeking nominations.

If you missed last years awards night, here a reminder:

Contract killing: Website circulates T-Mobile cancellation letter

A letter template intended for use by irate T-Mobile UK customers who want to cancel their contracts is doing the rounds on the Internet.

Published on the Website cantankerous, the letter cites the Ofcom conditions that the operator allegedly breached when it notified users of its plan to slash their fair usage cap to 500 MB from 1 GB from the beginning of February.


The letter claims T-Mobile failed to provide sufficient notice to its contract customers before announcing the changes.

If you're a T-Mobile UK customer who has already sent their letter, email newsdesk@totaltele.com and let us know how you get on.

Verizon launches iPhone

U.S. telco Verizon Wireless finally got its own version of the iconic (and lucrative) iPhone on Tuesday, as predicted by industry watchers.

Verizon Wireless COO Lowell McAdam made the announcement at a press event in New York. The device will launch early next month; it will be available to everyone from 10 February but existing customers will be able to preorder from 3 February.

The price? $199 for the 16-GB version, $299 for the 32-GB version.

Verizon shop jumps gun on iPhone announcement

Any remaining doubts over Verizon's plans to unveil a CDMA/LTE iPhone on Tuesday were further quashed after entries for both Apple and Apple iOS appeared on the operator's online shop.


As you can see from our screenshot, the entries in the drop-down menu are currently grayed out, no doubt not for long.

Plenty of gadget blogs have picked up on this development, and they are also among the news outlets to have received invitations to Verizon's press event later today.

We're sticking to our prediction that the operator will sell a version of the coveted Apple smartphone that will run on its LTE network for data with a CDMA module for voice.

Keep an eye on Total Telecom for news of Verizon's very own iPhone.

Verizon iPhone announcement looms?

There has been frenzied speculation over the launch of a CDMA iPhone in the U.S. for years. The story has waxed and waned, but finally we seem to be close to an actual announcement. U.S. news sources are reporting having received non-transferable invitations to a New York press conference to be held by Verizon Wireless tomorrow (11am local time).

Admittedly, when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail (or, if you have a gap in your portfolio, everything looks like an iPhone launch), but nonetheless there appears to be some substance behind the latest rumours. Verizon's cloack-and-dagger approach to this press conference is unusual. More unusual is the fact that telecoms journalists have missed out on invitations, while Apple correspondents have been invited. This piece from Gizmodo provides more details. The guys at Gizmodo themselves have not heard from Verizon, fuelling speculation that this is in fact an Apple event, to which they would not be welcome after last year's iPhone 4 leak!

So, as it stands, we're expecting to see Verizon Wireless unveil an iPhone that will run on its LTE network for data with a CDMA module for voice. Keep your eyes on Total Telecom from late tomorrow afternoon - we'll bring you the story as it breaks.

Apologies if it turns out not to be an iPhone announcement. That though would be a PR disaster for Verizon: anything other than an iPhone launch would be a huge anticlimax!