Google has just announced that they've made Google Talk accessible on iPhones. In the past because the iPhone doesn't support flash (for no good reason), third party applications like eBuddy were essential if you wanted to use Google Talk on the iPhone. The one caveat is the fix only works on Apple's Safari browser, and only on iPhones and the iPod Touch.

So when we first wrote about the Blackberry Kickstart, i admit I was sceptical of Blackberry releasing a flip phone, reasoning Blackberry should stick to what they do well, as opposed to trying to be be every kind of phone for every person.

Doesn't really matter, it just got one.

The Openmoko Neo FreeRunner might just be available online and in a sparse amount of retailers right now, but if the $399 cell phone takes off... Linux based phones could become an interesting alternative to mobile operating systems like Symbian and Blackberry OS.

The advantage of a Linux OS is it's open source, meaning it's very applications friendly. Sure Google's Android will be too but that's not out this week.

When it comes to inside info, Apple has been pretty up front about all the cool things the iPhone can do. However, because it's also a GSM phone, there are some semi secret codes that still work on it.

To display your IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) Number, press: *#06#

Check if call waiting is enabled on your iPhone: *#43# followed by tap Call.

So apparently AT&T, out of the goodness of their hearts or something, has announced that you will be able to buy a 3G iPhone without a 2 year contract, provided you at least agree to a month to month plan.

Which seems like a reasonable compromise until you hear how much they want for an unsubsidized iPhone 3G - $599 for the 8GB version, or $699 for the 16GB version.

That's not just greedy, it's dumb.

So Palm and Verizon Wireless just had their big launch party for the Palm Centro, which had previously only been available on Sprint + AT&T, and all they could get to add star wattage to the event was Dancing with the Stars' Cheryl Burke?

She's not even one of the stars on the show, she's one of the dancers!

Making greed work for you

So apparently T-Mobile is raising the price of text messages from 15 cents each, to 20 cents each and believe it or not that's a good thing for consumers.

Why? Because there greed qualifies as a material breach of contract... meaning if you wanted to get out of your T-Mobile contract early, you can.

It looks like the iPhone is no longer the sexiest product AT&T has to offer.

The comic book company Top Cow has just announced a deal through viral entertainment provider Zannel to bring a Top Cow branded mobile channel to AT&T, featuring images, wallpapers and videos of the Top Cow roster of characters.

So apparently iPhone owners in Canada are all up in arms because exclusive carrier Rogers Communications is ripping their customers with over-the-top data plans, - 300 weekday minutes, 750mb data cap on 3G phones, with a three year commitment for 75 bucks a month... $93 with tax.

Okay, so I'll admit it's kind of a slow news day, but Jesse Ferrell of the Weather Matrix blog was so facinating by this picture of lightning that I became facinated by his facination.