With Apple now looking at September 2011 for debuting the latest in the iPhone series, anticipation is seriously growing for just what might be coming next to thrill and delight the ever demanding smartphone market.

Other than the usual assurances that the cleverly titled Iphone 5 will be thinner, lighter and much more exciting than it’s previous incarnations, the handset itself will carry an 8 megapixel rear facing camera that should outdo the already excellent standard currently seen on the 5 megapixel version, boosting image resolution clearly into the ‘awesome’ category.

Having an upgraded processor is pretty much a given for any type of new hardware release, and the dual-core A5 that is currently used in the iPad 2 is also promised for the new iPhone, making it even more powerful than the iPhone 4.

Rumors are, however, still rife as to whether the 5 will have a curved glass display like the newer generation of iPods carry, and possibly even a rear flash separated from the camera lens on the other side of the case to cut back on that infamous photo red-eye found on iPhone 4 images.

With Apple releasing a new version of their operating system, iOS 5 at around the same time, it is anticipated that with features such as iMessage (which is set to rival the Blackberry Messenger) and the Notification Center (designed for keeping up to date with notifications from just about every imaginable social media and email system possible) as well as a host of others that have been asked for over the years, fingers and thumbs should keep tapping and sliding over the smoothly tactile and glossy screen for a long time to come, and this new iPhone should attract even most hardened users who have so far stuck by other systems.

Verizon Wireless expects to offer 4G in select cities by the end of the year. AT&T is expected to offer 4G early in 2011. Meanwhile, both carriers intend to develop and improve their current 3G networks. T-Mobile’s current network doesn’t have the spectrum necessary for 4G. The company is exploring options that will allow it to provide 4G access to its subscribers.

Broke your iPod or iPhone? Save money and get it repaired!

Like most analysts and consumers, Chapin thought that Verizon could begin offering the iPhone this summer, but now has evidence that the situation has changed. However, he did not go into detail.

Google did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The Wal-Mart page says that the Nexus may soon become available for use on other networks besides T-Mobile.  It says that the phone works on UMTS/HSDPA Universal Mobile Telecommunications System/High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (UMTS/HSDPA).  This means the phone could operate on the Verizon and Sprint networks.

While Google is selling the $530 phone unlocked, the phone will only operate on 3G on T-Mobile’s network. Unlocked phones will make and receive phone calls and deliver slower data speeds on AT&T’s network.  Current Nexus One phones won’t work on the Verizon or Sprint networks.

The official Craigslist app will soon be exclusively available to BlackBerry users. The $5 app created by Movela and Pyxis Mobile will allow users to browse and search through Craigslist postings across different categories, reply to them and save searches. The app supports all categories and countries available on the Craigslist website. So if you want to read ‘missed connections’ on the go, the BlackBerry will be the only place for it.

“We took about two days to create an initial version of the app and then took it to Craigslist for their approval,” says Todd Christy, president and CTO at Pyxis Mobile, which helped develop the app. “They liked it because we had a working app and not just a concept.”

It’s a big coup for Pyxis, which has been creating mobile applications for businesses for about nine years.

“A number of mobile app makers have applied to Craigslist for licenses and to date there is one authorized licensee,” says Jim Buckmaster, CEO of Craigslist.

BlackBerry launched it app store in April. Currently it has a little more than 2000 apps compared to the 12,000 in the Android Market and 100,000 in the iPhone app store. Craigslist apps exist on the iPhone but without official licensing, they are rather limited in their feature set.

Pyxis says the reason it chose BlackBerry is because it’s mobile technology platform is targeted at business users and a large number of BlackBerry users are business customers.

“Its our core platform and we have done a lot of testing of apps on the BlackBerry,” says Christy. “There was also no competition on the BlackBerry front for a Craigslist type app. ”

In the “distant future,” Christy says, the official Craigslist app could make its way to iPhone and Windows Mobile phones.

Check out a video of the official Craigslist app for the BlackBerry.

Bloomberg reports that Motorola likely sold about 100,000 DROID handsets on the first weekend it was available. The sales figures are pointed at as a sign that Motorola is recovering, though it still trials Apple in the market.

Bloomberg reports that Verizon had 200,000 DROID handsets on hand and that stores sold about half their stock of devices the first weekend. Motorola is expected to sell about a million Android handsets in Q4 2009 counting the DROID and other devices. One analyst says that anyone expecting the DROID to outdo the iPhone on opening weekend had their goals set too high.

Verizon customers can now get the Storm 2 for $179.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. In case you somehow missed the hoards of posts with the specifications for the device, I’ll run the main items down for you here.

The handset has a touchscreen measuring 3.25-inches with a 480 x 360 resolution using capacitive technology. The handset supports 3G and operates on the EVDO Rev A network. It runs the Blackberry OS 5.0 and has a 3.2MP camera with autofocus and image stabilization. The battery is a removable 1400mAhr unit good for 5.5 hours of talk and 11.2 hours of standby.

There’s also VZ Navigator, a 3.5mm headphone socket and dedicated media keys, all the usual messaging accounts (including SMS, MMS and IM) and a microSD card slot.  Onboard storage is 256MB and the processor is a 528MHz chip; the traditional BlackBerry trackball has been replaced by a touch-sensitive trackpad.

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 will go on sale from November 20th in black and smoky violet, priced from $99.99 following a $100 mail-in rebate.  That presumes a new, two-year agreement, with data plans kicking off at $29.99 on top of a regular voice plan.

Press Release:

VERIZON WIRELESS INTRODUCES THE BLACKBERRY CURVE 8530

New Smartphone Features 3G Connectivity, Built-In Wi-Fi and GPS, Touch-Sensitive Trackpad and Dedicated Media Keys

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and WATERLOO, ON – Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530 smartphone, an exciting new addition to the BlackBerry Curve series of smartphones. The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 gives customers access to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi® capabilities, as well as easy access to music, games and other mobile apps for entertainment on-the-go.

Available Colors: black and smoky violet

Key features:

• Easy-to-use, highly tactile, full-QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive trackpad for reliable, responsive typing and navigation

• 256 MB flash memory and 528 MHz next generation processor for enhanced performance

• Supports voice-activated dialing and Bluetooth® (2.1), with support for hands-free headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth peripherals

• 3G-enabled (EV-DO)

• Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)

• GPS with support for location-based applications, including geotagging pictures; Supports Verizon Wireless’ VZ NavigatorSM service.

• 2.0 megapixel digital camera with zoom and video recording*

• Advanced media player for music, pictures and videos, with dedicated media keys and a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, plus BlackBerry® Media Sync, which makes it easy to quickly sync music from your computer to the smartphone**

• Access to BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, social networking and sharing, news and weather, productivity and much more

• Access to e-mail, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and popular social networking sites (including Facebook® and MySpace)

• Rich multimedia capabilities, including dedicated media keys smoothly integrated along the top of the handset, giving customers an easy, convenient way to control their music and videos

• Support for BlackBerry® services with access to up to 10 supported email accounts, including most popular ISP email accounts such as Yahoo! ®, Windows Live™ Hotmail®, AOL® and Gmail™; and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server support, which provides advanced security and IT administration features for corporate deployments

• Expandable memory via hot swappable microSD™/SDHC memory card slot, supporting up to 16 GB cards today and expected to support next generation 32 GB cards when available

Pricing and Availability

• The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone is expected to be available from Verizon Wireless beginning Nov. 20 for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan. Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Data plans for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.

• For information on all Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

* Video recording requires microSD card, sold separately

** Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies

There’s also a microSD slot – Verizon are popping in an 8GB card as standard – and both GPS and a digital compass.  The browser gets Flash Lite for in-page video streaming and there’s all the usual Gmail, Google Maps and other standard Android applications.  No Google Maps Navigation, however, as the DROID Eris – unlike the Motorola DROID – doesn’t come with Android 2.0.

As we’ve already heard, it’s the pricing that makes the HTC DROID Eris something of a bargain.  Verizon have priced at it at $99.99 (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and presuming a new, two-year agreement.

For a weekly allowance of 250MB, you’re looking at $30, while 500MB to use in the course of a month is $50.  The USB760 itself has a memory card slot for up to 8GB of storage, and is Windows and Mac compatible.  We’d still recommend looking at Virgin Mobile’s pre-pay mobile data plan, however, as its rates undercut those of Verizon.