With Windows Mobile 6.5 launching today, manufacturers are unveiling their first handsets designed specially for the system. In the U.S. that includes three HTC models plus a new Samsung device.

Walmart is undercutting Amazon by offering the Palm Pre for just $79.99. But even that’s more expensive than in Europe where a network is offering the handset free of charge with a service plan.

It’s been another week of mixed news for Palm over its Pre handset. The device will likely get a boost in sales thanks to a major price cut by Amazon, but it appears Verizon has ditched plans to carry the handset on its network.

Sprint is offering customers on certain plans unlimited calls to any cellphone in the country. It comes in the same week  AT&T joins T-Mobile and Verizon is offering packages including unlimited calls to five selected cellphone numbers.

The price of the Palm Pre is reportedly dropping by 25 percent in an apparent attempt to boost sales. The reports come as leaked copies of a software update show Palm may be considering remote deletion of apps.

The Federal Trade Commission has backed a proposed takeover by Sprint Nextel of Virgin Mobile USA. That removes the biggest potential obstacle to the deal.

Samsung has introduced a cellphone which lets you care for the environment without breaking the bank. The device, which will run on the Sprint network, is by no means environmentally harmless but is considerably less damaging than most handsets.

Sprint has joined Verizon in announcing that all future handsets added to their network will have Wi-Fi enabled. While the firms are talking up the benefits to customers, it’s also a way to minimize strain on 3G networks.

Sprint and AT&T both insist they will be the first to launch a femtocell service for 3G customers in the US. The service is a way of extending coverage around a home to improve inconsistent reception.

Sprint has won an exclusive contract to provide mobile technology for next year’s US Census. But while in many ways it will be the most high-tech census, there is one change back to more old-fashioned methods.