Cell phone zeitgeist

We still need a better battery: Samsung and LG released solar-charging cell phones

Usage charges as a solution to heavy use by iPhone owners: on Slashdot

Soon everyone will own one: Wal-Mart offering prepaid cell phone on Verizon Wireless nationally

Straight Talk, which offers a monthly plan for as low as $30 and an unlimited-access plan—including text messages and mobile Web access—for $45 a month, was until recently offered as a limited trial service by Tracfone, a unit of America Movil S.A.B. de C.V.

"It's raining smart phones.": Walt checks out two new models. The Motorola CLIQ is an Android phone with a physical keypad offered by T-Mobile. It uses a service called "Blur" for consolidating communications and social networking, which is considered a must for all new smart phones. Walt thinks the keypad is cramped and hard to use.

The BlackBerry Storm2 from Verizon is the second iteration of the Storm, a smart phone that received not so stellar reviews. Some of the flaws have been fixed, but Walt thinks the UI is "tired."

US Cell Phone Plans Among World's Most Expensive on Slashdot

"An OECD report published today has shown moderate cell phone users in the United States are paying some of the highest rates in the world . Average US plans cost $52.99 per month compared to an average of $10.95 in Finland."