Verizon Wireless is taking the wraps off its new V CAST Performances service, which will give V CAST subscribers access to broadband-quality video clips from more than 50 live music performances.

The first footage available to subscribers with V CAST-enabled handsets will come from concert footage of Gavin DeGraw and rock band Live, as well as an exclusive performance by emerging artist Cheyenne Kimball in New York City this evening.

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Microsoft ActiveSync 4.2 is out of beta and now available as a supported download for your Windows Mobile Smartphone or Pocket PC.

ActiveSync acts as the gateway between your Windows-based PC and Windows Mobile-based device, enabling the transfer of Outlook information, Office documents, pictures, music, videos and applications to and from your device. In addition to synchronizing with a desktop PC, ActiveSync can synchronize directly with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 so that you can keep your corporate e-mail, calendar data, tasks and contact information updated wirelessly when away from the office.

Changes in ActiveSync 4.2 help resolve connectivity related issues with Microsoft Outlook, proxies, partnerships, and connectivity. The free download can be found here.

Sprint introduced today the new ultra-thin Katana from Sanyo. The Katana is the latest thin yet affordable wireless now available from a commercial provider. Available in four colors; Mystic Black, Blue Sapphire, Cherry Blossom Pink and Polar White, the Katana will offer features found commonly on high-end handsets.

The Katana wireless phone is symbolic of SANYO’s highly regarded craftsmanship, which has earned us high marks from consumers and from our peers in the industry. “The SANYO Katanaâ„¢ is fashioned from a long-standing tradition of precision, style and beauty – much like the katana sword of the past.

The Katana is now available online or at Sprint retail location in all colors except Polar White; which will be available exclusively at Radio Shack locations. Subscribers can expect to pay $79.99 after rebates and a new two-year service agreement.

The owner of a chain of mobile phone retail stores in Brooklyn, New York had pleaded guilty to charges of theft over a $2 million scheme to defraud subscribers. Mayer Vaknin, the owner of Cellular Island, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and identity theft. Cellular Island has eight retail stores in the city, under that brand name as well as the Cellular Tropics brand.

Vaknins attorney would not comment on the details other then the admission of guilt.

According to the investigation by the police, Vaknin used the personal information of customers to order extra handsets and accounts, which were then resold in his stores. In a second fraud, he would report that customers had ordered service upgrades for their T-Mobile accounts, earning him additional commissions.

Vaknin faces up to 20 years in jail when sentenced, and has already agreed to forfeit a Miami property worth about US$500,000.

UPDATE – Click here for a copy of the 22 page suit filed on July 6th.

The Associated Press reports that Cingular Wireless is being accused of deceiving former AT&T Wireless subscribers. At the time of the acquisition of AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless promised to maintain and support legacy wireless networks and services. Instead Cingular is accused of ceasing maintenance of AT&T Wireless networks and facilities.

“Everyone who signed an AT&T contract had their service degraded,” attorney Mike Withey said at a news conference Thursday. One plaintiff, Amy Frerker, a 28-year-old Seattle architect, said that shortly after the merger she began noticing that she no longer had cell reception in areas she once did. Over the next year and a half, she said, Cingular told her she would have to sign a new contract; live with her current cell service, which was being phased out; or pay a $175 termination fee to get out of her contract.

Cingular spokesman Clay Owen said Thursday the company had not had a chance to review the lawsuit. He acknowledged the company eventually plans to phase out the older cell phone technology used by the AT&T Wireless network, called TDMA, but insisted that it is still maintaining that system for now.

Samsung and Verizon Wireless today released the first 3.2 mega-pixel camera phone available in the United States. The SCH-a990 enables photo enthusiasts to take high-resolution photos of a similar print quality as a standalone digital camera. In addition, the SCH-a990 boasts a number of media features, including video recording capabilities, V CAST to view video and V CAST Music to download music directly to the phone and Bluetooth wireless technology, to allow a customer to print pictures wirelessly from the SCH-a990 to a Bluetooth-enabled printer basic print profile.

Features include:

• Camcorder with up to one-hour recording time
• Mobile Web 2.0
• Bluetooth
• Voice dialing with advanced speech recognition
• MicroSD memory card slot

The SCH-a990 is available for $349.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year service agreement.