Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace for Mobile is reportedly instituting a very customer friendly application sharing policy. According to circulating reports, customers who purchase apps from the online storefront will be able to install those apps on up to five Windows Mobile devices at no additional cost. Most normal people, BGR readers aside, will not own five Windows Mobile 6.5 devices so customers will presumably be able to share purchased apps by authorizing the mobile phones of close family and friends. Daniel Bouie, senior product planner for Microsoft, says that the company “sees this as a permanent feature, and we’ve gotten great positive feedback from the vast majority of developers we’ve talked with about this.” Happy developers, happy customers — is it too good to be true?

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News from Boost Mobile this morning brings its subscribers a new international texting and walkie talkie option that will definitely turn heads. Dubbed International Connect, the $10 plan enhancement affords customers unlimited SMS and PTT from the US to Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Chile. Though the new International Connect option is hardly worldwide as the header on Boost’s press release would lead you to believe, it’s still a hell of a package for $10. No? Hit the jump for the full release or we’ll send Mickey Avalon to do a live show in your front yard.

Boost Mobile Adds Worldwide Texting Option to Monthly Unlimited Plan

International Connect Includes Unlimited Worldwide Texting and Walkie-Talkie From the U.S. to Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Chile for an Additional $10 a Month

IRVINE, CA–(March 31, 2009) – Furthering its commitment to offer simple and affordable service pricing options to prepaid customers, Boost Mobile today launched International Connect, a $10 per month add-on for Monthly Unlimited customers which includes unlimited international text messaging and Walkie-Talkie in and between the U.S., Canada, Baja California (Mexico) and to select areas of South America from the U.S., Canada and Baja California (Mexico) for one flat charge.

“The International Connect $10 enhancement to the $50 Monthly Unlimited plan is a great value for the growing number of Latinos who want quality wireless service without a contract,” said Mirna Aceituno, manager of Hispanic marketing for Boost Mobile. “Boost Mobile is making it easier to stay connected to family and friends in Latin America for a price that won’t put a strain on your wallet.”

SERVICE

Boost Mobile now offers an array of service plans allowing customers to pay by the month, day or minute. Flexible service options such as the Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimited plan for $50 per month includes anytime calling, text messaging, wireless Web and Boost Walkie-Talkie with a nationwide home calling area with coverage in more than 15,800 cities for a flat rate of $50 per month.

In addition to the Monthly Unlimited plan, Boost service billing options include an anytime rate of 10 cents per minute and the $1/Day Chat Plan that features unlimited text messaging, unlimited nights and weekend calling and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling to approximately 40 million customers on the Boost Mobile, Sprint, and Nextel network. Chat Plan nights are Monday through Friday from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and weekends are from 9 p.m. on Fridays to 7 a.m. on Mondays. As with all Boost Mobile service plans, there are no credit checks, hidden charges or contracts.*

Boost Pay As You Go service is ideal for a wide range of consumers, including those who prefer to pay in advance and are uncomfortable with monthly service obligations; budget-minded customers who use prepaid service to control spending. Boost Mobile phones and service can be purchased at participating wireless dealers and major retail locations or at www.boostmobile.com.

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The Motorola Renew isn’t exactly an unheard of device, but T-Mobile has gone and scooped ‘em up. Don’t expect to be taking 8-megapixel flicks here, as this is as low-end as you basically get. How low end? Well, how does $9.99 on a two-year sound? Yeah, it’s that inexpensive. There are some perks to owning a Motorola Renew, however. First of all, you’re looking at around nine whole hours of battery life — awesome. Second, the entire case of the phone is made from recycled water bottles and thus is 100% fully recyclable. Additionally, the box it comes in is also made from recycled material and the phone ships with a postage-paid envelope to a recycling center when the phone’s time on the earth is done. Not to get all gushy over the green aspect of the device, but as a final aside, Motorola has completely offset the carbon dioxide required to make, distribute, and operate the phone through investments in reforestation and renewable energy sources. Pretty damn cool, if we do say so ourselves.

Alright, you’ve got your tye-dye shirts on, incense burning, and Iron Man by Black Sabbath on repeat, but you’re still wondering how the phone is. If anyone remembers the Motorola L6 (the low cost SLVR or L8) you’ll know what we’re talking about it. The thing to remember is the cost of the handset and what you need in a phone. Would many BGR readers put up with possibly the worst display we’ve ever seen on a mobile device? Most likely not. Would most BGR readers get excited by nine hours of talk time? Probably so. The actual OS the Renew runs is Synergy (love it or hate it), but as old Moto junkies, we were rockin’ around that thing in no time. The Motorola system sounds even made us shed a single tear. In closing, we’d say that while this is certainly not the type of phone Motorola needs right now, it’s certainly not a bad option for the loved one in your life that just pisses you off because they don’t care what kind of phone they use. It’s available today from T-Mobile.

This is unconfirmed as a whole at the moment, but we got a couple tips that AT&T sales employees were about to go on strike as “corporate is unwilling to budge on benefits and compensation.” We asked one of our ninjas about this and they said that it is definitely “possible” and there was a contingency in place. We’ll keep digging, but if you suddenly realize your Bold exploded in your hands and you need a new one, you’ll know why your local AT&T store is surrounded by picketers and protesters.

UPDATE: Yeah, this is for realz. Here’s an excerpt from the Communications Workers of America’s website: “Picket signs are being sent out to every CWA Local with Mobility members as the February 7th expiration date approaches. With little progress at the bargaining table, every Local must be ready to walk, if necessary, to get some RESPECT from AT&T Mobility.”

Well, it’s no Curve 8900 and it’s certainly no Bold but BlackBerry fans with a need for buttons will be happy to learn that the Pearl 8230 Flip should be landing soon on Verizon shelves near you. This SureType clam shell is probably among RIM’s less desirable newer handsets but options are never a bad thing as they say. Pricing and availability are still a bit of a mystery but we know silver will be among the color options, obviously. Test units have gone out however, so the launch can’t be too far off. Unsolicited advice for our pals at Big Red: If you’re planning to launch this puppy with a giveaway contest of some kind, hire a new team to run it.

Thanks, George!

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