At the annual CTIA wireless show in Las Vegas today, AT&T announced plans to launch the Samsung Propel Pro — a QWERTY slider smartphone running Windows Mobile 6.1 — this Wednesday. Evolving from the popular Samsung Propel handset, the Propel Pro is a silver and chrome compact smartphone with a sliding QWERTY keyboard design. It features Windows Mobile 6.1 to allow users to run applications on the same platform they use to text and send photos. It also integrates Wi-Fi and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The Samsung Propel Pro will be available in...

AT&T, the nation’s largest telecommunications company, plans to launch the Nokia E71x, its thinnest smartphone, in the coming months. The Finnish company said the E71x features a black steel finish and award-winning design. Similar to traditional BlackBerry devices in looks, the E71x is a sleeker 10mm thick. It has a QWERTY keyboard for corporate email access via regular wireless networks and Wi-Fi hotspots at cafes and airports. The smartphone has a built-in Global Positioning System for turn-by-turn voice directions and maps with fast traffic...

Internet calling company Skype plans to launch its service for iPhone users on Tuesday and for BlackBerry in May as part of its effort to expand beyond desktop computers. Skype, the Internet telephone unit of eBay, has been pushing to make its service work on the most popular advanced phones with an aim to expending its more than 400 million users who were mostly lured by the promise of cheap and sometimes free calls made using its computer application. “The No. 1 request we get from customers is to make Skype available on iPhone. There’s a pent-up...

The Japanese-Swedish joint venture said the handset’s pulsating notifications and light effects can be personalized to each friend. In addition, photos taken with its 3.2-megapixel camera can be uploaded to social networking sites using the HTML web browser. The handset also includes an MP3 player, FM radio and Bluetooth audio streaming. Changing wallpaper themes adjust from day into evening. “The T707a is the next step in the style evolution from Sony Ericsson,” said Linda Schori, Global Marketing Business Manager for Sony Ericsson. “Maria...

T-Mobile today launched its WebConnect USB Laptop Stick, a USB “dongle” that lets laptops get wireless Internet access. The plug-in device will connect to T-Mobile’s 3G network and Wi-Fi, and cost $50 with a two-year contract, or $100 if the buyer is signing up for one year. From then, service costs $60 per month for up to 5GB of traffic. T-Mobile plans to double its high-speed wireless network coverage to reach a potential 200 million wireless users by the end of 2009. The company is playing catch-up to Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint...

Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, today introduced the Nokia 7205 Intrigue, a stylish clamshell with a hidden-until-lit external display. The Basking Ridge, N.J.-based company said the Intrigue has an external display that illuminates when an incoming call or text is received. Users can see incoming text messages, play songs from VCAST Music with Rhapsody, or turn off the alarm clock to snooze a little longer without opening the phone. The Intrigue opens to reveal a large, bright internal display with a nature-inspired design...