With a name like Hotshot, one would think that Verizon’s newest handset would have an impressive feature set and a lot of swagger, but it’s actually quite the opposite, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Pantech Hotshot is more of a basic phone and boasts a slim design (it measures just 0.35-inch thick) and …

Today, Virgin Mobile announced the upcoming availability of its latest Android smartphones, the LG Optimus Slider and HTC Wildfire S. Equipped with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, the carriers says the Optimus Slider is ideal for those who love to e-mail, message, and social network on the go. In fact, the Android 2.3 Gingerbread handset will come preloaded with Virgin Mobile’s …

The HTC Explorer made its official entrance into the world today as the company’s most affordable smartphone to date. Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly how affordable, since the company did not disclose the price. The phone is due out in the fourth quarter for Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and carriers will obviously have a role in pricing …

The CTIA 2011 fall show is a couple of weeks away, but Samsung has already created a buzz with an invite it sent out last night for an October 11 event in San Diego. The invitation notes that we’ll get to see “what’s new from Android,” which certainly isn’t anything out of the ordinary. Samsung is no stranger to pumping …

MetroPCS introduced its latest Android smartphone today, the LG Esteem, a 4G LTE device designed to entertain. Available this week in stores and online for $249, the Gingerbread-based Esteem offers access to the carrier’s MetroStudio music and video service, as well as Rhapsody Unlimited Music. For a limited time, MetroPCS will offer a 90-day complimentary subscription to Rhapsody to customers …

HTC Radar 4G T-Mobile The Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update is rolling out today, but if you’re looking to get your hands on a new smartphone, T-Mobile will be launching its first “4G” Windows Phone device, the HTC Radar 4G, just in time for the holiday season. Previously announced for Europe and Asia, the Radar 4G is compatible with T-Mobile’s …

Sprint revealed today that it will launch its next-generation Direct Connect push-to-talk service, along with the compatible Kyocera DuraMax, starting October 2. With the help of Qualcomm, the new Direct Connect platform works on Sprint’s 3G CDMA network and allows for faster data speeds compared with the current Nextel iDEN network, which is being phased out in 2013. Another advantage …

Now playing: Watch this: Windows Phone 7.5 Mango 3:21 Earlier today, Microsoft set Windows Phone 7.5 Mango free, and the updates are starting to roll out to handsets around the world, including here in the U.S. The company has done a good job of making the software available to most of the current devices, but a couple of the models …

Verizon Wireless introduced its latest world phone today, the Pantech Jest 2. Available on September 29 for $79.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate, the Jest 2 offers quad-band GSM support so you can make and receive calls, as well as access data, in more than 200 countries. As a feature phone, you don’t get all …

Great news for AT&T’s Android fans. The carrier just announced via Twitter that the Samsung Galaxy S II will be available starting October 2 for $199.99 with a two-year contract. The Galaxy S II boasts Samsung’s Exynos 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of internal memory, a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture, and a 10 percent larger battery than …