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Just what *is* that? Is it a phone? Is it a Mobile Internet Device? Is it some sort of crazy communications module left behind by the alien invasion? Nobody's quite sure. But what the Boy Genius reportedly does know is that this is some device that Acer is going to show off in a couple of weeks at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

At this point, your guess is as good as ours as to whether this thing will run Windows Mobile, Android, or something else entirely. We keep squinting at that crazy keyboard to try to find some WinMo telltale, but all we keep seeing is a sailboat. Is that really some weird swiveling screen? Or is it detachable? Feel free to speculate on your own in the comments.

Code named "Rose 130", which we suspect is the HTC S740, has passed FCC scrutiny and we might see it offered in U.S. markets soon. According to the report, the "Rose 130" features at least dual-band GSM(1900 and 850) and dual band 3G (850 and 1900) support as well as Wifi and Bluetooth.  We expected the "Rose 130" to eventually become the S743.

HTC announced the S743 at last month's Consumer Electronics Show and it is expected to first be introduced unbranded and available through select retail outlets such as Dell.com and CDW.com.

Thanks, Marco, for the tip!

[Read: Cellphonesignal.com]

Andy Lees, fresh off chatting up The New York Times, now has sat down with CNET's Ina Fried, giving us a couple more things to ponder as we await Mobile World Congress and the expected announcement of Windows Mobile 6.5, and the future cloud services.

There's not too much newness here — Windows Mobile 6.5's supposed to keep us going until WM7 finally is released, the new Internet Explorer Mobile, those "Sky" cloud services. But Microsoft's VP of all-things-mobile does offer a little bit of what some of the Danger team (the group behind the Sidekick that was purchased by Microsoft last year) has been up to.

Microsoft has two separate teams at work on the services piece. One is Microsoft's Windows Live group, while the other is a rather secretive group headed by former Mac unit head Roz Ho--a group that also includes the team Microsoft acquired when it bought Danger. Lees declined to say specifically what Ho is up to, however.

And that's still in line with what we'd been thinking all along. We weren't expecting a Windows Mobile Sidekick. Rather, it's the services Microsoft was after.

Fried also gets Lees to geek out a little over some upcoming devices. And if this pans out, it could radically change the Windows Mobile front.

He noted that the power of the kinds of phones that come out next year will be incredible, well beyond even today's devices. Phones next year will have dual-core processors, super-fast data connections, and graphics power rivaling that of the original Xbox.

But our first thought after reading that is, what's it gonna cost us? But no matter what, we're getting more and more psyched for Mobile World Congress and beyond.

Ina Fried's Beyond Binary

Garmin, the GPS behemoth, and Asus, the Taiwanese hardware manufacturer that has dabbled in Windows Mobile, have teamed up to finally get nüvifones, the uber-location-based iPhone-looking phones, onto the market. And Gizmodo is speculating that Windows Mobile could well be the operating system of choice. The love child would be called the nüvifone G60.

Giz is reporting that the first nüvifone out of the block won't be Android-based (sorry, guys).

Rather, it will be a phone running another "major platform." I am guessing that means Windows Mobile, but there's no telling which version, 6.1, 6.5 or 7.

We may learn a little more this morning when Asus and Garmin address the North American markets, and they've promised that we'll get a good look at the nüvifone at Mobile World Congress in a couple of weeks in Barcelona, Spain. And if this Windows Mobile angle checks out, we'll be there on top of it.

For now, check out the full press release after the break.

The Boy Genius has scored a Sprint deathlist, with a couple of Windows Mobile phones slated to be EOL'd – that's end of life – in the coming months.

The Motorola Q9c is on the chopping block, with its execution date set for mid-June. No replacement is noted.

Also on the list is the HTC Touch Diamond, which would go the way of the dinosaurs in July. There's no replacement noted for it, either, though we'd be willing to bet we'll eventually see something off that leaked HTC lineup.

And finally there's the Palm Treo 800w, which will bite the big one in April and be replaced by the Treo Pro. The question remains exactly when.

You know this was inevitable. Google, king of stage, screen, search, mail and maps, has launched Google Latitude, which is part of Google Maps. Here's what you'll get:

• Share locations: Location sharing starts only when both you and a friend agree. Invite friends via email or easily add them from your Gmail contacts.
• Control privacy: You can share, set, or hide your location - or turn off Google Latitude - from the privacy menu. You can also hide your location or share only a city-level location with certain friends. (Update: Still worried about your privacy? Google's got a video covering that.)
• Share status: Create a status message and upload your photo within Latitude. It also syncs directly with Google Talk. Check your friends' status messages to see what your friends are up to.
• Contact your friends: Quickly contact your friends with an SMS, IM, or phone call. You can also get directions to lead you to your friends.

Yes, it's yet another location-based friend finder. But this one has something like none of the others – Google and its quintuple-zillion users, and the weight of the world's largest Internet search company. Unlike other other services of this kind, Google doesn't have to go out and find the users. They're already there. And that means that Google Latitude may well become the one location-based friend finder app to rule them all.

Go get Latitude here, or head to google.com/latitude on your mobile browser. Latitude also works on your desktop and can be accessed with your iGoogle page.

Note that Google Latitude will work with Windows Mobile 5.0 and up, but not all carriers support the location-based service, as we also found out with a recent upgrade to Microsoft's Live Search.

Latitude also works with Android phones (though U.S. users have to wait for an update), most BlackBerries and most Symbian S60 devices. Support for the iPhone and iPod Touch is coming soon.

Getcher gallery of Latitude up and running on Windows Mobile after the break.

SPB Software plans to offer a sneak peak of their new Mobile Shell 3.0 at this months Mobile World Congress. The update version of the popular utility is fitted with a flexible 3D animation engine, Facebook integration, kinetic scrolling, widgets and multiple usability innovations. SPB Mobile Shell 3.0 is due to be released to manufacturers in late February 2009 and released to consumers late March of 2009. According to SPB upgrades policy, all end users who purchase software within 90 days of a new version release are eligible for free upgrades. So, if you've recently purchase SPB Mobile Shell and are within that magical 90 day window the upgrade to 3.0 will be free.

[Read: SPB Press Release]

Toshiba has announced its latest smartphone [via] that looks like it will take on the HTC Touch phones as well as the iPhone (you noticed that, too?). The TG01 is a 9.9mm thick, 4.1" WVGA 800x480 Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional device. It has 3G HSPA, WiFi, GPS and features Toshiba's own 3D user interface that looks as if it were pulled from an Austin Powers movie. Groovie, Baby!

Toshiba will be using a Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon QSD2850 chipset that is sure to give the TG01 a bit of zip. Rounding out the design features is an accelerometer that will respond to gestures and shaking to answer/end calls, return to the home screen as well as rotating the display. There also will be a virtual trackpad.

One interesting aspect of the Snapdragon CPU is that it has dynamic speed control, which will allow it to dial back during low usage periods. It's unclear as to the battery capacity or internal memory, but the TG01 does have an microSD expansion slot.

Toshiba expects the TG01 to be available in Europe sometime this summer and hopefully shortly thereafter in U.S. markets. The TG01 is scheduled to make an appearance at the Mobile World Congress later this month in Barcelona, Spain, and we should be able to get some hands-on time with this new phone.

Hands on with the TG01 [via engadget]

Update: Slashgear's got a hands-on with this beast. Video after the break.

OK. We admit it. We've done our share of dog-cussing Sprint. Some of that abuse has been deserved. Some of it maybe has just been piling on. But you've gotta admit, Sprint's been trying real hard of late. The Centro was a bit hit. The "Simply Everything" plans, well, simpilified things, and they're not a terrible deal. The HTC Touch Diamond, Touch Pro, Treo 800w and (soon) the Treo Pro have made a mighty fine CDMA lineup. (And we won't forget about the Samsung Ace and Motorola Q9c.)

Now Sprint unleashes "Sprint Premier." As they say, "unique perks you won't find anywhere else." Here's what you need to be automatically enrolled:

• For three consecutive months, consumer customers must be on an individual wireless plan of at least $69.99 per month or spend at least $99.99 per month on a plan that shares minutes.

Or

• Must have been a Sprint wireless customer for at least 10 years.

That's so easy, a caveman could do it. Here's what you get once you're in the club:

• Early Upgrades: After only one year customers can receive our new customer price on a new handset. That's almost a year sooner than other customers. For accounts sharing minutes, the early upgrade applies to the primary line. A new two-year agreement is required.
• “Just Because” Perks: Spontaneous special offers for trips, tickets to shows and sporting events -- just to say thanks.
• Anniversary Rewards: Customers celebrate their annual Sprint anniversary with a special gift such as free ring tones or free minutes.
• First to Know/First to Buy: Longstanding customers get an exclusive first peek at new products and services such as the upcoming Palm Pre™, and then are among the first with opportunities to purchase when they become available.
• Accessory Discounts: A once-a-year discount on accessories at participating Sprint stores.
• Courtesy Plan Check: For customers who haven’t changed their plan in six months, Sprint will notify them for a “Plan Check” to make sure they are getting the most value out of their device.

Find out more at sprint.com/premiercustomer. Oh, and we couldn't help but notice the handy "If you don't qualify, you can start by changing (read: upgrading) your plan today (to something more expensive) button at the bottom. Sorry. Couldn't help ourselves.

Want the latest Windows Mobile phone on T-Mobile but don't quite have the jing to get it done? Engadget is reporting that ol' T-Mo will let you pay off harware and accessory purchases over four months with its Equipment Installment Plan. The service reportedly is available to new and current customers, though you'll actually have to go into a store or talk to someone one the phone. Shy guys need not apply.

TMoNews dives a little deeper:

Payments are interest free and your total spending capability is determined by certain credit guidelines. There are no additional fees, start up or interest fees associated with this service.

Let us know in the comments if you were able to take advantage of this, and what kind of deal you got.