China’s underground cell phone maker released a special Michael Jackson phone. Well, we are not encouraging you to buy China’s “Shanzai” (black market) phones, you got to love the design of this Michael Jackson phone that is so cool. I bet the world’s largest cell phone makers, such as Nokia and Samsung have never ever released a phone that is as cool as this Michael Jackson phone. Maybe, it is the time for Nokia to hire the designers behind this phone.

ZTE, one of the largest telecommunication equipment makers in China, together with Telecomunicações Móveis Nacionais (TMN) launched the Bluebelt II and SilverBelt phones in Portugal. The Bluebelt II is a candy-bar shaped smartphone powered by Windows Mobile 6.5, the latest Windows Mobile OS that was recently announced by Microsoft. This 3G phone features a touch screen, a full QWERTY keyboard, and a 5.-megapixel digital camera. It supports UMTS, GSM, EDGE, and GPRS network.

ZTE Bluebelt II

The SilverBelt is a full touchscreen phone with a 3.2-inch multi-touch touch screen. It has 5-megapixel digital camera, MP3 player, and 3G connectivity up to 7.2Mbps downstream speed.

ZTE SilverBelt

Both phones will be available for TMN customers, but pricing is still unknown yet.

Nokia Booklet will be available at BestBuy stores nationwide in November, right before ThanksGiving holidays. As the first netbook of Nokia, the Nokia Booklet is a rare product from the Finland-based cell phone maker. The Nokia Booklet features a 10.1 inch HD LCD screen, A-GPS with Ovi Maps, Ovi Suite for data synchronization, SD card reader, 3G, and Wi-Fi connectivity. It weighs less than 2.76 pounds, measures slightly more than two centimeters thin. The selling price is going to be $299.99 with an AT&T Data Connect plan two-year activation. While made-in-Asia netbooks, such as Acer and Asus, are sold for less than the price of Booklet, it is hard to say whether the Nokia Booklet is going to be big success.

Watch video of Nokia Booklet

“Nokia understands mobility like no other company and recognizes that the most ‘powerful’ device is the one that doesn’t have you running for the power plug or network point,” said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, president and CEO of Nokia. “By combining the Booklet’s sleek design, impressive features and competitive price together with the new Windows 7 operating system from Microsoft, AT&T’s nationwide 3G coverage and Best Buy’s unmatched national retail footprint, we believe we have a winning combination for U.S. consumers.”

“Our alliance with Nokia is advancing on multiple fronts and the Nokia Booklet 3G is an important step,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “We are excited with Nokia’s decision to launch its first PC with Windows 7. By combining the value and simplicity of the operating system with the all-day mobility of the Nokia Booklet 3G, we are bringing new and valuable experiences to consumers and businesses.”

“The Nokia Booklet 3G is a really sharp, exciting device and we look forward to powering it with the nation’s fastest 3G network,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Consumers and small business customers can’t get enough mobile broadband. Nokia’s mobile device leadership, together with AT&T’s mobile broadband network leadership, Best Buy’s retail reach and Windows 7, is a very strong line-up to drive this fast-growing market.”

“Our customers are looking for ways to stay connected no matter where they are and we’re finding that netbooks and laptops are important companion devices next to the smartphone. The addition of the Nokia Booklet 3G to our stores will only serve to amplify consumer interest in this emerging mobile technology,” said Brian J. Dunn, CEO of Best Buy. “As the exclusive retailer through the holidays, Best Buy is uniquely positioned to offer this great product to consumers and ensure they have the knowledge, supporting products and services to use it the minute they leave our stores.”

NTT DoCoMo, the giant mobile phone operator in Japan, today announced a green prototype phone called Touch Wood phone, which is made with surplus wood of trees culled during thinning operations to maintain healthy forests. Usually, natural wood casing isn’t suitable for a mobile as they don’t last long. However, because of the special three-dimensional compression molding developed by Olympus Corporation, the Touch Wood wood casing is resistant to water, insects, and mildew.

Each Touch Wood phone features its own distinctive grain patterns and natural coloring. No artificial colors or paints are used, so the cypress retains its original natural appearance and aroma. The wood also has an attractive shine that is created during the compression process.

The Touch Wood is made from the surplus wood of trees culled during forest-thinning operations. This new commercial use for thinned wood, which traditionally has only limited applications, helps to preserve other wood resources while strengthening the health of overgrown forests. So far, Touch Wood production has used wood culled from the Shimanto forest in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture. The forest is managed by the more trees project.

The prototype phone’s graphical user interface (GUI) is based on the photographic art of Mikiya Takimoto, a more trees advocate.

A mockup of the TOUCH WOOD handset will be exhibited at ITU Telecom World 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland from October 5 to 9 and CEATEC JAPAN 2009 at Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture, Japan from October 6 to 10.

XpPhone, as the name suggested is a mobile phone powered by Windows XP, is now accepting pre-orders on their website. XpPhone is manufactured by a relatively unknown company based in China. We still don’t know whether this XpPhone is for real or not, as Microsoft spokesmen never mention that, and we doubt that Microsoft would allow this relatively unknown company to use the name “XP”.

If you look at its features and specifications, you probably would think this is just a scam website trying to get somebody hooked. According to the website, the XpPhone supports GSM, CDMA, and TD networks, allowing users to connect to any wireless network in the world! For example, if you have this XpPhone in the United States, you could use it to connect to Verizon Wireless (CDMA) or AT&T Wireless (GSM) network, something that no other phone could do before. The phone is said to be run on an AMD Super Mobile CPU with 512 MB or 1GB memory. It has a 4.8-inch TFT touch screen (800 x 480 resolution). Besides that, the XpPhone also supports WiFi 802.11b/g, WiMax, Bluetooth, and GPS.

If this XpPhone is for real, Steve Jobs of Apple should really start worrying about the sales of iPhone.

XpPhone website

FCC propose to make the mobile Internet is United States “Open”, which will ban the dominant carriers in United States from blocking certain types of Internet traffic flowing over their networks. The proposal from FCC comes at the time when Google Voice and Skype are fighting fiercely with carriers in issues that carriers block certain type of services such as video sharing, and voice calling over mobile Internet.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski said operators should be subject to “open Internet” rules — transparent network management practices to prevent discrimination on how Internet content or applications are handled.

If the proposal passed, that means AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and other carriers would allow file-sharing or peer-to-peer services, such as making free video calls over IP and etc.

Alltel today announced LG AX310, an entry level CDMA clamshell phone, available for Alltel customers beginning today. The LG AX310 has a 1.3-megapixel digital camera, speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, and Bluetooth capabilities. It is available in black or red color, and will be sold for $30 only with 1-year agreement required. Below is the press release from Alltel.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Alltel Wireless today announced the availability of the LG AX310 handset in Alltel retail stores and online at alltel.com. For customers looking for a practical device that delivers versatile communication features, the LG AX310’s clamshell design brings superior accessibility and functionality to their fingertips.

For Alltel customers who are on the go, the LG AX310 features voice-activated calling, a one-touch speakerphone and Bluetooth capabilities. The phone also features speaker-independent voice commands and allows users to record and save voice memos.

Available in two colors – black and red – the LG AX310 also includes a 1.3 megapixel camera with zoom, perfect for taking snapshots of family and friends. It supports picture and text messaging, with a large easy-to-read keypad and internal LCD screen.

The LG AX310 is available for $29.99 after a $30 mail-in rebate with activation of a 1-year service contract on a qualifying rate plan. Alltel continues to be the only major wireless carrier to offer 2-year postpaid handset pricing to those signing 1-year contracts, creating enhanced flexibility and greater choice for customers.

The LG AX310 and 1-year contract option is available only to customers in the 91 cellular market areas (CMAs) that Verizon Wireless is required to divest, which will continue to operate as Alltel Wireless until the sale agreements with AT&T and Atlantic Tele-Network are approved by the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission.