According to a company executive, “meetings with the search giant have reassured him that carriers will be able to equip handsets with their own applications, not just Google’s tools.”

“That’s attractive to us. We were concerned that maybe the focus was just on Google apps,” he said. Of course, other than vague pleasantries about the possibilities of the operating system, de la Vega wasn’t concrete about actual Android phones in the pipeline, saying, “If it’s good for customers we’ll offer it like any other OS.”

[via Engadget]

AT&T has partnered with Microsoft to bring Surface to select retail stores starting April 17th, allowing guests to learn “about a device (Samsung BlackJack II, pictured) by simply placing it atop the Surface.” Click more for a video.

They’ll also have the ability to explore interactive coverage maps. Later, users will be able to drag ringtones, graphics and video and drop it into “the phones.”

[via Engadget]

Yes, a sharp eyed consumer managed to snap a picture of this Sony Ericsson K850 poster at “an actual retail location, not deep in an AT&T workshop somewhere .”

Several sources at AT&T stores have told us that they’ve been commanded by corporate to toss their K850 promotional materials in the trash. Doesn’t sound like a good sign, and if the device is indeed canceled, we think it’s a tragedy both for AT&T and for Sony Ericsson’s North American presence

[via Engadget]

Stuffed full of Windows Mobile 6 goodness, you’ll also find spanking new Co-Pilot software on board for getting from A to B when your sixth sense fails you.

All standard smartphone tech is on board, as well as a particularly meaty 3 megapixel snapper. Take that Blackberry

[via T3]