Saturday, March 31, 2007

Sony Ericsson W580 Walkman® phone announced


Sony Ericsson’s new W580 WALKMAN® phone announced today is the music phone that’s pure street style. This slim slider phone speaks volumes in urban cool while delivering the full-on Walkman® phone music experience. It will store up to 470 full-length tracks, has a 2.0 megapixel camera tucked discretely within the slider itself, plus stacks of gaming, fun sports and entertainment features.

“The W580 Walkman® phone is designed to match your lifestyle, whether you are in the car, at a party or busy at the gym,” explains Steve Walker, Head of Product Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “As well as letting you have your latest music with you at all times, the W580 steps in as your portable photo album and pocket gaming device. It will even serve as your training partner thanks to built-in sports applications that track running speed and distance.”


This latest Walkman® phone pushes the boundaries of urban style. When the slider is closed the design, either in Style White or Urban Grey, is ice-cool, understated. Flick open the slider and the phone becomes a real attention grabber, revealing hot orange colour accents and stunning light effects along the sides.

At only 14mm thin, you wonder where the W580 finds room for all of that music, the camera and the fun applications. But it does, effortlessly, and there is no compromise on the full Walkman® phone experience. As well as storing up to 470 full-length music tracks *, it is incredibly easy to get music from your computer into the phone, since the Disc2Phone music management software and USB cable all come in the box. You can even use TrackID™ to identify music tracks you don’t recognise, regardless of whether they are playing out loud or via the phone’s RDS FM Radio. With all this going on, make sure you take time to notice the light effects on the W580. Navigate to the Walkman® player and they automatically change to a glowing orange colour.

With the W580 Walkman® phone you can even take your favourite tracks to the track. It will count your steps, your calories and monitor your running speed/distance/time. Add to that your best tunes for motivation and whether you’re on a run, in the gym or just out for a stroll, the W580 is the perfect fitness partner.

Urban cool really does meet mobile entertainment with the W580. The 2.0 megapixel camera and fast connectivity make picture blogging and instant messaging second nature. 3D Gaming is fast action too with hit titles preloaded. The slider action also allows for a large 2.0” colour screen, ideal not just for gaming but also web browsing and viewing your camera photos.

As if the W580 did not already scream of street style, you can also add music accessories to your Walkman® phone to make even more of an impression. Two sets of cool, optional speakers – the Portable Speakers MPS-70 and Snap-on Speakers MPS-75 – instantly transform the W580 into the heart and soul of any party. If you want to turn up the volume still further, then the Bluetooth™ Music Receiver MBR-100 lets you play your phone music directly through a home stereo, using your W580 as the remote control to skip through tracks and adjust the volume. So the W580 Walkman® phone looks and sounds stylish, whether you are at a party or just hitting the street.

The W580 Walkman® phone is a 2.5G, Quad Band EDGE device (850/900/1800/1900) and will be available in selected markets from Q3 2007.

* W580 Walkman® phone capable of storing up to 470 tracks
in eAAC+ codec.

Samsung Intros 1.8-inch Flash SSD

Samsung has announced that it has developed a 1.8-inch type 64 Gigabyte (GB) flash-solid state drive (SSD).
The company says that the 1.8-inch flash-SSD is based on an 8 gigabit (Gb) single-level-cell (SLC) Nand, which provides significantly higher peIt is learnt that the flash-SSD is a secure and reliable means of storing personal or work-related data.
It uses instantly-accessible, non-moving Nand flash memory instead of the noisier, power-hungry, jarring-sensitive rotating disc found in conventional hard drives, thus allowing uploading and downloading of data quickly and quietly using minimum power. Samsung also claims that the read and write performance of the new SLC flash-SSD have been increased by 20 percent and 60 percent respectively over the 32GB flash-SSD, which was introduced last year.
Therefore, its ability to outperform conventional rotating-media hard drives is even greater than had been anticipated. The company believes that it's continued nano-technology migration is a key-enabling factor in the continued market segmentation for storage media.
Besides the use of 64 GB flash-SSD for notebook PCs, 8 to 16GB flash-SSDs will become viable solutions for use in personal navigation systems and digital camcorders, as will hundred GB-level flash-SSDs for use in the server market. Samsung plans to start the mass production of the 1.8-inch type 64GB flash-SSD in the second quarter of this year. rformance over conventional SSDs.

Nokia Announces Two New Phones: The Nokia 5070 and the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic

Nokia announced two new phones for music playback. Here are the announcements on these phones:

The Nokia 5070:
Designed with the needs of young consumers in mind, the newly announced Nokia 5070 features a compelling blend of fun and function for today's socially networked mobile customer. With strong messaging, leisure and personalization features, the Nokia 5070 has everything that the mobile social set needs. The Nokia 5070 will be available in the second quarter of 2007 with an estimated retail price of EUR 100 excluding taxes and subsidies.

A full set of messaging features is sure to satisfy the need to connect via text, voice and images. With just a few keystrokes, friends' contact information can be accessed and messages quickly composed and delivered. When a quick voice messaqe is more convenient, the Nokia 5070 offers the option to send off quick voice messages via Nokia Xpress Audio Messaging. And of course, since a picture is worth a thousand words, the built-in camera can snap pictures of friends, weekend trips or any of life's amusing moments and then share via MMS.

When not busy staying in touch, owners can enjoy the fun that the Nokia 5070 is built to deliver.

With an integrated FM radio, tuning into the hottest radio channels in town is quick and easy, especially since a stereo headset comes included in the sales package. If a quick game is more appropriate, pre-installed java games such as the widely popular Sudoku can be found on the Nokia 5070. With a built in web browser, surfing the web and checking sports results or movie timetables is also possible with the multi-talented Nokia 5070.

As unique as the Nokia 5070 is, owners are sure to want to make theirs just as individual as themselves. MP3 ringtones are at hand to ensure that each time it rings, the Nokia 5070 can reflect its owner's style, mood or music taste. Additionally, a variety of wallpapers and themes can also be downloaded to give the Nokia 5070 even more of a personalized touch. The Nokia 5070 has talk time up to 3.5 hours and the standby time is up to 12 days and is available in two fresh colors, red or blue.

-----

The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic:

Nokia revealed the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic, an accessible 3G smartphone augmented by a dedicated audio chip for enhanced music performance. The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic features an iconic twist design that easily switches between four modes at the flick of the wrist - music player, 2 Megapixel camera, video call and smartphone. Combining the benefits of a music-oriented, multipurpose device featuring 3G dataspeeds, the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic is expected to retail for an estimated EUR 350 before taxes and subsidies during the second quarter of 2007.


"The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic adds a new twist to the mobile music experience with compatibility for tracks purchased from many Internet music stores," says Heikki Norta, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "In addition the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic features a dedicated audio chip for improved music performance which consumers can further enhance by selecting from an ever increasing line of compatible audio enhancements."

Using an optional 2GB MicroSD card, the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic supports up to 1500 tracks that can be enjoyed using Bluetooth stereo headphones, with their own favorite 3.5mm plug-equipped headphones and the included headset adaptor or through built-in stereo loudspeakers.

Loading songs onto the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic is fast and easy as consumers can choose from a broad range of supported digital formats, including WMA, MP3, AAC, as well as eAAC+ and MP4. When purchasing music online, shoppers again have the luxury of choice as they can select from a range of Internet music stores, also those utilizing Windows Media Player Digital Rights management (WMDRM). The optimized music player in the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic supports album art, playlists, plus a 5-band equalizer and audio visualizations.

3G and video are part of the package More than a music-only device, the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic brings videos to life on a vibrant color screen supporting up to 16 million colors for exceptional video playback. With 3G high-speed data connectivity, the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic makes browsing, downloading and streaming multimedia content much more convenient and faster than before. A video call feature and the built-in 2 Megapixel camera make it easy to share moments with friends and family.

The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic is based on the world's leading S60 software running on Symbian OS. S60 enables consumers to personalize their device with a wide choice of compatible applications that can be downloaded to the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic, including games, navigation, entertainment, productivity and creativity.

Hutch and Microsoft to offer Live Search for mobile

Hutch and Microsoft to offer Indian mobile customers a search engine
Indian mobile service provider Hutch which is undergoing acquisition by UK based Vodafone has said that they are collaborating with software giant Microsoft to offer Live Search for mobile to its customers.
As a result, Indian mobile internet users for the first time have optimized access to mobile search engine that returns relevant results quickly.
Microsoft said that their Live search engine would offer mobile users ability to search for content like Tones, Images, Videos and Games. This search would offer optimized searching on PlanetHutch as well.
Harit Nagpal, Marketing Director, Hutch spoke on this new development: “We have always believed in giving our customers services that help simplify their life. We have collaborated with various global service providers like Microsoft on an open access principle to help us achieve this objective. Starting with this initiative, Hutch will provide the entire Windows Live suite of services to its customers over a period of time.”
Jaspreet Bindra, Country Manager Microsoft Online Services Group added: “This service is the first of its kind for mobile users in India, one that allows you to discover information or content at the press of a single button on your mobile phone. Discoverability will now become the ‘killer’ application on the mobile phone. With Live Search for mobile on your Hutch phone, the consumer is just one click away from his or her favorite content. This initiative with Hutch builds on our great existing relationship and commitment to helping consumers find the information they are looking when they’re on the go.”

Sony PSP Upgrade 3.30 W/ Free Access to T-Mobile HotSpot


The Sony Play Station Portable’s firmware update 3.30 allows users to play compatible games online, surf the web and enjoy podcasts from T-Mobile WiFi HotSpots, which inludes some Starbucks coffee shops, Hyatt Hotels, Border bookstores and 70 major aiports.
There’s also a promotional offer will give PSP users who have downloaded the latest firmware access to a T-Mobile HotSpot wherever it is available for six months beginning on your first log-in. After the six-month period, PSP owners with the 3.30 firmware upgrade will have with the T-Mobile service at a special rate.
The 3.30 firmware includes improvements on video resolution (now (720 x 480) and thumbnail file support for video and RSS feeds.
[download
PSP FirmWare 3.30]

Deepfish mobile web browser from Microsoft


Microsoft has recently announced the release of Deepfish, a web browser for mobile devices that’s still in its early stages. The new browser for smart devices promises to make the experience of browsing web pages closer to that of viewing the pages on a standard desktop browser.
For the most part, browsing the internet on a “smartphone” is cumbersome at best. There are a number of sites that have been developed with scaled down pages targeting mobile devices, but for the vast majority of web sites (including SlipperyBrick) you will need to view it in the full-size which can make it hard to view and navigate.
Toward the end of last year we had news of an
Opera web browser that has “Small Screen Rendering” that would “shrink” standard size pages down to be viewed in full on Samsung mobile phones. The Deepfish browser from Microsoft can be used owners of any smart phones or Pocket PC’s that are running Windows Mobile 5.0 or greater.
The Microsoft Live Labs site featuring Deepfish information has a
download page where you can register to be informed if you can test the new Deepfish browser yourself as a technology preview, although the page states that they are nearing capacity for their trial users. The site has many feedback comments from people already trying out the Deepfish browser, but Microsoft says that they are still a couple versions away from a real beta release.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Nokia to set up a new mobile device factory in Romania

Today announced that it will set up a manufacturing facility for mobile devices in the county of Cluj in Romania. Nokia anticipates investing an estimated EUR 60 million in the Cluj plant, which will be the company's 11th mobile device production facility globally.

The decision to establish a new factory in Romania is a reflection of Nokia's strong volume growth globally, as well as the increasing demand for mobile devices in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Nokia selected Cluj as the location for the plant because of the county's availability of skilled labour, its good inbound and outbound logistics connections, its overall efficiency, and the long industrial tradition in the area.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed today in Romania's capital, Bucharest. At the signing, Raimo Puntala, Senior Vice President for Nokia's Operations and Logistics, said: 'As the global market leader for mobile devices, Nokia is committed to ensuring good product availability and smooth deliveries to important markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
'
Nokia's new facility in Cluj is located about 400 kilometers north-west of Bucharest. The construction work at Cluj will start in spring 2007 and production is expected to begin in the first half of 2008. Nokia foresees ramping up the factory gradually and will recruit approximately 500 employees there by the end of 2007. As part of the plans, Nokia is looking to establish an industrial village in the area, enabling a number of key suppliers and partners to locate their operations there.


Nokia continuously develops its global manufacturing network to increase competitiveness and provide excellent logistics services for its customers. In 2006, the company completed expansions at its Reynosa plant in Mexico and its Dongguan plant in China, and ramped up production at the Chennai plant in India. In Europe, Nokia already has production facilities in Bochum in Germany, Komárom in Hungary and Salo in Finland - Nokia.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Motorola warns of 1st-qtr loss, CFO to retire

Motorola Inc warned on Wednesday that it would post a first-quarter loss, citing weaker-than-expected sales for its mobile devices business.
The company said it expects a first-quarter net loss of 7 cents to 9 cents per share on revenue of $9.2 billion to $9.3 billion.
The company also said it would increase its share repurchase program to $7.5 billion worth of common stock. It also said its Chief Financial Officer David Devonshire would retire effective April 1.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Motorola cease Irish operation

Motorola has has decided to close its developement center in Cork, Ireland, with the loss of 330 workers.

The majority of the operation's 330 workers will have left the operation by the end of May. An increasingly competitive mobile phone market impacted on Motorola's fourth-quarter performance and profits fell 50pc. As a result the company said that it was laying off 3,500 of its 70,000 workers worldwide. Motorola will retain a small number of employees from Cork who will transition to be home workers.

Russians ready Tsar-studded Nokia 8800

Hardware Widow And what mobile telephone will Moscow's most fashionable oligarchs be clasping to their ears this spring? If Russian handset supplier Isse has its way, its re-styled Nokia 8800, the Monaco, that's what.


The two models strutting out on Isse's website reveal a pair of regal designs that hark back to a former era of the Tsar, St Petersburg, the Winter Palace and Tom Baker as Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Russia's greatest love machine.



"It's all a bit Nikolai Dante, if you ask me," the TOYboy* called, looking up from behind this week's 2000AD. I don't know - men and comics...

Not that the 8800 is particularly futuristic by today's standards: tri-band GSM/GPRS, 0.48-megapixel camera. That said, the screen's a neat 208 x 208, 262,144-colour affair, helping give the shiny 8800 a high pose factor. I don't see too many tech-fans 'Russian' off for one though...
Isse's incarnations of the 8800 include a gem-encrusted ice-like model and a more regal red version, both with a sumptuous textured keyboard cover. Very deluxe.

According to Isse, the Monaco handsets go on sale on 19 March.

Nokia Announces the Availbility of the Nokia Software Updater



Nokia announced that the Nokia Software Updater application is now available from selected Nokia local support web pages as well as http://www.nokia.com/softwareupdate.
After a successful trial run last year, Nokia is expanding the program to enable people to update their own mobile device software without having to visit a service point. So far, over three quarters of a million people have updated their Nokia device using Nokia Software Updater.



Nokia Software Updater is a free application that enables people to update the device software on compatible Nokia devices, including some of the world’s best selling 3G devices such as the Nokia N70, Nokia N73 and Nokia E61. Initially available only in English, the Nokia Software Updater is now available in almost 40 different langugages. The link to Nokia Software Updater is also available in the most recent versions of Nokia PC Suite software. Once the application is installed on a compatible computer, users can connect their compatible Nokia device via a USB cable and Nokia Software Updater automatically detects the device type, and whether any required software updates are needed and it then guides users through the updating process.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Sony Ericsson's Next Touchscreen-based Smartphone?


The details on these two phones are so slim, we're bound to think they're fanboy images. But here we have what could be Sony Ericsson's next smartphone, a touchscreen-based mobile codenamed "Sneff." It's either a touchscreen or a slider, although those "buttons" up front lead me to believe it's the former. Next up we have the W750....which sorta/kinda looks like a white W880. Again, there aren't any details on either of the phones, so we'll either have to wait till CeBit or take this rumor with a lick of salt. – Louis Ramirez

Palm Hire Ex-Apple Hotshot Designer

We still can’t work out if they’re going to be bought out or not, but the New York Times is reporting that Palm may be planning their answer to the iPhone after hiring former Apple computer engineer, Paul Mercer.

Mercer joined Apple in 1987 and was the lead designer of Version 7 of the Macintosh finder before founding a software tools firm called Pixo which was involved in designing the first version of the iPod user interface.

Described as, “the best of the best in this space,” by Paul Saffo, a Silicon Valley forecaster, Mercer recently worked for Samsung to design their Z5 MP3 player, which went on to be a monster hit in South Korea.

Apple launches iLaunch

Steve Jobs unveils new product-unveiling product:

“The iLaunch runs Keynote-formatted presentations in high definition through a built-in projector while displaying a 3-D rotating image of the product.

Voice-recognition software, Apple’s most advanced to date, can recite a speech highlighting the features of the device while injecting several clever digs at competitors.

digital-lifestyles.info

Should a product demonstration experience a glitch or malfunction, the iLaunch boasts a complex algorithm that can automatically produce humorous and distracting quips.”

SAMSUNG's First Ultra-Mobile PC Optimized For Windows VISTA

Samsung announces its newest Ultra- Mobile PC (UMPC) model, the Q1P for Windows Vista, which is Samsung's first UMPC to qualify for Windows Vista certification.

With the introduction of Samsung's Q1 and the more powerful Q1P UMPC last year, a new category and form factor for PCs emerged: a truly ultra-mobile device that provides the power of a PC, but can be accessed anytime, anywhere, even where desktop computers are not an option and notebook PCs are impractical. Intended as a companion PC, the Q1 UMPC provides users with an innovative way to combine PC functionality along with multimedia versatility and advanced connectivity, all in an ultra-mobile platform.

In preparation for the launch of the Microsoft's new Windows Vista operating system, which Microsoft unveiled in early 2007, Samsung created a task force to ensure that Samsung products, including the Q1 UMPC, would meet Microsoft's high-quality standards. The result of Samsung's efforts is the Q1P for Windows Vista, a powerful UMPC that delivers the features and benefits of the Windows Vista operating system.

"Since the introduction of the Q1 UMPC, Samsung has been unwavering in its commitment to growing and developing this new product category," said Bret Berg, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Mobile Computing Products, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "With the Q1P for Windows Vista UMPC, Samsung has once again proven its dedication to the UMPC market by delivering a powerful product that allows even the most mobile individuals to enjoy the many benefits of the Windows Vista operating system while on the go.

"The Ultra-Mobile PC is a growing class of PCs that provides a more natural and intuitive experience for on-the-go use," said Mika Krammer, Director of Windows Client Mobility at Microsoft Corp. "It is exciting to see the industry momentum behind the UMPC platform and Origami Experience, and we are thrilled to work closely with Samsung to deliver innovative solutions to our customers such as the Q1P for Windows Vista. This new addition to the UMPC category combines the power of Windows Vista with a lightweight, carry-everywhere hardware design that enables users to easily maintain their digital lifestyle.

"Featuring an Intel Pentium processor (running at 1.0 GHz), an impressive 60GB hard drive and 1GB of memory - which is twice that of the original Q1 model - Samsung designed the Q1P for Windows Vista UMPC for the professional user who wants a no-compromise, high-performance solution for completing projects and meeting deadlines while on the go. With the Q1P model's increased battery life of approximately two and a half hours, coupled with faster speeds, flexibility and mobile functionality, this product provides a compelling solution in a highly portable package.

As with the entire Q1 line, the Q1P for Windows Vista UMPC is equipped with a brilliant seven-inch wide LCD touch screen. The unit also features an easy-to-use "inking" feature, which allows data to be directly inputted through the touch screen, with results similar to a handwritten note. Handwriting can be also transferred to regular text.

It is simple for anyone on the go to stay connected, entertained and informed with the full power of a PC packed into a tiny 1.7-pound product. The Q1 models also offer wireless communication capabilities that include WiFi and Bluetooth for easy Internet access. All Q1 models also integrate the AVS Now feature, allowing users to enjoy a host of multimedia applications, including video, movies, music and still photos, without booting up Windows.

The Q1P for Windows Vista is available now for an MSRP of $1,299 and can be purchased through a variety of retail and e-tail outlets including Best Buy, CDW, CompUSA, NewEgg.com, Circuit City.com, Buy.com and Costco.com. The Q1P for Windows Vista is also available through distribution via Ingram Micro.

Various value-add options for all the Q1 models are also available at affordable prices, including an external USB keyboard with a track point and 2-button built-in mouse, organizer/portfolio carrying case, extended battery life options and multiple external optical disc drive options.

Is the Motorola MOTO Q q9 coming to AT&T

theunwired.netThere's not too much to say except that Engadget Mobile received a grainy (looking) Photoshop rendering which shows a Motorola MOTO Q q9 with an AT&T logo on the back.For sure, we have seen live photos of a Motorola MOTO Q q9 with a Vodafone logo before as well (but haven't heard any official announcements yet) so it might be just a Motorola rendering for a AT&T presentation, how such a customized device can look like.Some might think now, that it doesn't makes sense for AT&T to launch another keyboard-styled Windows Mobile Smartphone (the previously mentioned SMT5700) together with the Motorola MOTO Q q9, on the other hand, the SMT5700 seems to support 2.75G (EDGE) only, while the q9 supports UMTS as well as HSDPA so both devices definitely targets two different markets with (I'm sure) different price points.

In addition, Engadget Mobile got the word from its anonymous tipster, that the AT&T version won't be called the Q when it comes to the US' largest GSM network, though whether it retains the "q9" branding remains to be seen.
Time will tell but and therefore, no release date is given yet.

Nokia and Sony Pictures release first memory card movie in South Africa

Nokia, Sony Pictures and SterKinekor Home Entertainment have announced the release of the first movie on a mobile phone compatible memory card in South Africa.

The 512MB miniSD movie card featuring the movie "The Da Vinci Code" will be given exclusively for a limited period of time to Nokia Nseries customers when they purchase or upgrade to a Nokia N80.

In addition to the full-length feature, the 512MB movie card will have additional space for photographs, music, videos and games.

Sony Pictures and Nokia selected Mobiclip, Actimagine's patented video codec, to deliver the movie. Mobiclip offers DVD-like quality video (24fps full screen) and allows consumers to play, stop, fast forward or rewind through the movie on the handset.

"This partnership between Nokia and Sony Pictures marks a first in South Africa and we hope to continue offering customers the opportunity to view such highly-rated movies on the Nokia range of multimedia computers," commented Henri Mattila, multimedia business manager at Nokia.

"As the leading provider of movies on memory cards, Sony Pictures are thrilled to partner with Nokia to bring blockbuster titles to consumers in this innovative format," added Mike Arrieta, executive vice president of digital distribution and mobile entertainment at Sony Pictures Television.

The movie memory cards are available to all Nokia customers with proof of purchase/upgrade of a Nokia N80 multimedia computer at selected stores.

Nokia and Cambridge Uni team up to research nanotechnology

The two research supremos have joined forces to use their combined brain power in the area of nanotechnology.


itpro.co.uk
Experts from
Nokia and the University of Cambridge have teamed up to work on long-term joint research projects, initially focusing on nanotechnology.
The mobile device giant's
Nokia Research Centre (NRC) plans to set up a research facility, initially staffed by 10 people, on the university's west Cambridge campus and work closely with several academic departments.
The Nokia/Cambridge partnership is the third such alliance the mobile giant has formed in the past 18 months and aims to put the companies' collective brain power to good use to solve real world challenges using technology.
"Cambridge and Nokia share a common belief in the ability of nanotechnology to deliver products and applications of tangible value to people," said Professor Mark Welland, director of the Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration (IRC) in Nanotechnology at Cambridge.
"The fact that we also share a common commitment to the responsible introduction of nanotechnology into the public arena adds a further unique dimension to this collaboration."
Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, who leads Nokia's global nanotechnology research efforts and will play the same role in the Cambridge union, added: "Nanotechnology long ago left science fiction movies for the laboratory and, more recently, we saw the first commercial applications.
"The techniques we are developing really bring us a toolkit for working with the processes of nature at a very basic level - the level of molecules - in a safe and controlled way."

Nokia wins GSM/EDGE network and managed services contract with new Slovenian operator Tusmobil

Slovenian greenfield operator, Tusmobil, has selected Nokia as its GSM/EDGE core and radio network supplier. Nokia will also operate the Tusmobil network allowing the operator to focus its management activities on building the Tusmobil image, mobile services creation, and customer acquisition. With Nokia's support Tusmobil will be able to quickly enter the Slovenian mobile market and offer a wide range of services right from the network launch, which is expected to take place in May 2007. "Tusmobil is in an exciting but challenging position in the competitive Slovenian mobile market. We needed a vendor that has a credible track record in network infrastructure solutions and services," says Marko Fujs, CEO, Tusmobil.

(PressZoom) - Espoo, Finland - Slovenian greenfield operator, Tusmobil, has selected Nokia as its GSM/EDGE core and radio network supplier. Nokia will also operate the Tusmobil network allowing the operator to focus its management activities on building the Tusmobil image, mobile services creation, and customer acquisition. With Nokia's support Tusmobil will be able to quickly enter the Slovenian mobile market and offer a wide range of services right from the network launch, which is expected to take place in May 2007. "Tusmobil is in an exciting but challenging position in the competitive Slovenian mobile market. We needed a vendor that has a credible track record in network infrastructure solutions and services," says Marko Fujs, CEO, Tusmobil. "Having Nokia operate the network will allow us to focus on customers by offering them the best mobile services in Slovenia.

"In providing managed services, Nokia takes responsibility for the operation and maintenance as well as customization of Tusmobil's network allowing the operator to concentrate on business start-up activities. Nokia will also integrate value added services platform into Tusmobil's network, and provide care and training services from its extensive service solutions portfolio. The network will be supported by the Nokia NetAct( TM ) network and service management system.

Nokia will also supply Tusmobil with cost-effective and flexible GSM/EDGE radio and core network infrastructure including Nokia Flexi EDGE Base Station, Nokia Ultrasite EDGE Base Station, Nokia MSC Server mobile softswitch, Nokia Flexi Intelligent Service Node ( ISN ), Nokia Serving GPRS Support Node ( SGSN ), and transport network.

"The cooperation with Tusmobil marks a new customer for Nokia, and highlights Nokia's leadership in supplying and managing superior network infrastructure," says Filip Rommelaere, General Manager for the Balkans, Networks, Nokia. "With Nokia's efficient network equipment and services, Tusmobil will be better positioned to win business in the Slovenian market while ensuring low operating expenditure.

" Core network and services deliveries have begun, and radio network deliveries will start in March 2007.

With its proven track record in managing networks on behalf of operators around the world, Nokia is able to support operators to enhance their service offerings and reduce costs. Nokia is a major player in the managed services business with more than 60 managed services contracts globally.

The new, innovative Nokia Flexi EDGE Base Station enables operators to introduce Nokia's best-in-class radio performance to their networks while minimizing site-related costs.

The Nokia Flexi EDGE Base Station is the latest variant in the family of Nokia Flexi Base Station products. The Nokia Flexi Base Station platform, unique in the industry, brings the benefits of modularity to GSM/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA and WiMAX operators.

Nokia is creating seamless user experiences in converging networks thanks to mobile softswitching and IMS for fixed and mobile. With close to 130 customers for its mobile softswitching and over 50 live networks, Nokia is clearly the most experienced mobile softswitching supplier worldwide. Nokia is also the front-runner in IMS for fixed and mobile networks, with over 130 references.

Program DVR with Cell Phone from anywhere, anytime

AT&T and Verizon offer customers to remotely record television shows with mobile phones.
Wireless carriers AT&T (fomerly Cingular) and Verizon announced their subscribers can now use their mobile phones to remtely record TV shows.

AT&T will use Homezone, a video-on-demand service with EchoStar. Verizon will allow its customers to record TV shows with their cell phones with Tivo digital video recorders.

Sprint is also planning a similar service later this year with Comcast and Time Warner.

Although a nice feature to have to be able to record TV shows anywhere using your cell phone, researchers said only 10 percent or less said they wanted the feature.

Verizon will charge $1.99 a month for the service and will work with 12 models. AT&T said it would be free to its users who subscribe to Homezone service, which is $9.99 a month with a subscription to EchoStar's satellite TV & AT&T's broadband service. Wow that's alot of subscriptions.

Currently, customers can remotely record TV shows with TiVo through the Internet with a PC at no extra charge.

Yahoo Partners with Microsoft for Mobile Service

marketingvox.com In a deal designed to expand the reach of its "Go for Mobile 2.0" service, Yahoo has signed a deal with Microsoft that will make its offering compatible with significantly more devices, according to MediaWeek.

Go for Mobile 2.0 is a Yahoo initiative to bring most of its web services to mobile users. The partnership will allow that service to run on 75 more Windows Mobile-powered devices, bringing the grand total to 175. The deal is huge for Yahoo, which now can allow its users to access their email, photos and other accounts wherever they are.

It also gives Yahoo a foothold in the smartphone market, which is becoming more attractive to content creators as well as advertisers because those phones can handle rich media more easily.

Under a separate deal, Yahoo Go 2.0 will be pre-installed on devices manufactured by HTC.

AT&T’s Cingular to offer WWE Wrestling-based Content to Mobile Phones

Cingular Wireless, top U.S. mobile service provider, owned by AT&T Inc,is cutting an exclusive content deal with World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) to sell everything from ringtones with famous wrestlers’ voices to graphics and videos, including weekly matches and the annual spring tournament, in a move to attract new customers to its wireless services.
techshout.com

John Burbank, vice president of AT&T wireless marketing said, “WWE fans love action — anytime and anyplace. Now, fans can carry the action with them wherever they go, just in time for Wrestlemania.”
Some World Wrestling videos will be available as part of Cingular’s $19.99 a month media service plan and the company will also sell a premium video package for $4.99 a month featuring highlights from WrestleMania and other shows.
Cingular, which is being rebranded as AT&T, will also sell related ringtones for $2.49 each and graphics for $1.99. San Antonio-based AT&T is one of the largest telecommunications holding companies in the world.
Shane McMahon, WWE’s executive vice president, says they will create must-have content for their fans by offering a basic package of short form videos each month along with other content that will enable customers to personalize their mobile experience with the WWE brand.
The company has kicked-off the service yesterday, on phones with high- speed Web links with video clips and there are new features in store to be added in the following months, said Cingular spokesman Mark Siegel.
He believes quite a few of Cingular’s 61 million users are wrestling fans “that this will do very well.”
However WWE’s 15 million weekly viewers are the ones who will ultimately decide if the phone screen can deliver a clear enough image of favorite super and their shapely female counterparts.
So get ready to watch your favorite hulky-bulky professional wrestlers fighting not only in the ring but also fighting for space on the little mobile phone screens.

Review: LG Prada phone


OK people, indulge me just a little more. I know I made you sit through a video of the Prada phone when I went to 3GSM. And I know Kat followed that up with a video about it from Milan. But I've actually been able to have a play with it over the last 24 hours, all alone, with no marketing people breathing down my neck.
I've found it an interesting experience.
My initial reaction on getting it out of the box was the predictable 'ooh, it's so pretty, it's so shiny, it's so Versace. I mean Galliano. I mean Prada. Oh god, I wasn't born for all these gadget collaborations'. And they certainly have packaged it nicely, in a beautiful black box, which just cries out for an unveiling in the way few other phones do (although LG do seem to have the monopoly on those currently).

Hands-on with the iPhone: No, not that one


After years of waiting, Crave has finally got its hands on the iPhone. Unfortunately, it's not the Apple iPhone, it's the Linksys iPhone. Not content with calling its phone something different, neither Apple nor Linksys were willing to budge, eventually settling the issue by simply sharing the name.
The name is all they share, however, because these are two very different products. The Linksys iPhone CIT300 is a dual-mode handset that lets you make standard telephone calls and Skype calls. It uses a USB base station connected to your computer via a USB cable and your home's telephone line.
You also need a broadband connection and Skype installed on your computer to make the Skype calls. Setting it up is pretty straightforward -- you get a charging stand for the handset and a CD with all the installation files and instructions.
You'll need to have your computer turned on in order to take advantage of the Skype calls, but you don't need it on for making normal calls. It's a shame that you can't make Skype calls without needing the computer turned on, as you can with certain other dual-mode phones, but the CIT300 is very inexpensive.
It will only set you back about £50, and while it doesn't share the Apple iPhone's feature set, it will let you make cheaper calls wirelessly around your house. Our only warning is to parents: if you plan on buying your kids an iPhone next year, make sure you get the right one.

Nokia’s dinky Bluetooth might get lost in your ear

by Chris Davies

Things are getting smaller. I’m not talking nanotechnology, just the general shrinkage of electronics until everything ends up looking like a magic electric matchbox. Nokia have obviously been manning their shrinking rays and turned what was a generally uninspiring range of Bluetooth headsets into a 0.3oz dinky chunk of wire-free greatness.



The lovelies over at MobileBurn have found a spare ear to pop the BH-800 into, and found that it’s a rather pleasing little headset. Okay, the wire loop won’t win any awards for prettiness, but you can’t argue with statements like “it gave one of the most secure fits we have come across.”


Over six hours talk-time and a claimed 150hr standby is bloody impressive for the size of the thing, while voice quality was middling overall with good quality incoming sound but poor performance in windy conditions. Earning the biggest complaint is the price-tag, though; at $110 you’d have to really want this particular Nokia to pick it over similarly spec’d competitors.


Nokia BH-800 Review [MobileBurn]

Samsung raise the UMPC bar: Q2 details leaked

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: give me Engadget’s inbox and I’ll give you, um, well, I’d give you a fresh English pound. They’ve hit Send/Receive and found some leaked photos of Samsung’s replacement for the dishy Q1 UMPC, uninspiringly named the Q2. At first it looks like it has a bigger screen, but actually it’s still 7-inches (although the resolution is a much bigger 1024×600 WSVGA) which means they’ve slimmed down the casing. It was never too chunky to begin with, so that can only be a good thing.


Other innards include a yet-to-be-announced (or decided) Intel mobile processor, 1gb RAM, 60gb hard-drive and Vista Home Premium. The Q2 also takes a leaf out of ASUS’ R2H’s book, with a front-mounted VGA camera for video conferencing, partnered up with a rear-mounted 1.3-megapixel camera for surreptitiously taking photos of ladies.


Multiple wireless options are the icing on the cake (or is that the fingerprint reader?): Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi in b and g flavours, HSDPA and the elusive WiBro. Text entry complaints will hopefully be alleviated somewhat; while Samsung didn’t add to the sub-1-inch thickness with a slide-out keyboard, there’s a split-thumbboard a la the PepperPad.

If the PowerPoint slides are to be believed we can expect 4+hrs normal battery life or 6.5+ with the extended battery; not bad when in standard form it weighs just 1.54 pounds. I’m hoping they can bring this in at a reasonable price - the expense (together with the lack of keyboard) was one of the primary concerns aimed by mainstream reviewers at the UMPC concept.

Samsung Q2 UMPC revealed! [Engadget]

Motorola loses motorazr.com battle

Published in: eLaw & Management

Motorola has lost a battle to gain control of the domain name motorazr.com because it failed to prove when it started using the term Moto Razr. The domain name will be kept by its US owner R3 Media. Out-Law.com reports that in a domain name dispute resolution process overseen by the Arbitration and Mediation Centre of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Motorola attempted to win control of motorazr.com, a site carrying news and adverts relating to mobile phones. Motorola said that R3 Media acted in bad faith when it registered the domain name in 2004 and that the site is being used to generate advertising revenue by association with it.Full Out-Law.com report

Motorola announced the Z8 at the 3GSM Show; the next in the Motorola family, combining stylish design with quality features


The soon to be released Z8 combines the style of the KRZR K1 with its rival the Samsung D900. A kick slide handset that slides open, similar to the RIZR Z3, but then bends slightly to shape itself to the users face. Measuring 109 x 50 x 15 mm, and weighing in at 112 g, it is set to be the first Motorola to be sold on features rather than looks.


The Z8 is a HSDPA handset with Symbian OS and 3.5G, allowing you to access internet content quickly. With a 90MB internal memory and a MicroSD slot for up to 4GB expansion the Z8 can hold hours of music and video content. Motorola have given the Z8 a 2 megapixel camera, VGA video calling camera, 2.2 inch screen, hi-fi audio quality and integrated music player to rival the Sony Ericsson Walkman phones.

The Motorola Z8 is due for release in May 2007.

Time For A New Cell Phone

Posted by Brian Hoover

blog.pennlive.com/blog.pennlive.com/

I recently got a new cell phone. What phone would a "techie" such as myself decide upon and how would I ultimately make my decision? Read on to find out...

I use Verizon Wireless as my cell provider. Because of this, and due to the fact that I've been a customer for a number of years now, I qualify for their "New Every Two Program". Basically, with this program, every two years you receive $100 credit towards a new phone and you can use this credit sixty days before your contract expires.
On the Verizon Wireless website, they have a "New Every Two Meter" which shows you how much longer you need to wait before you can take advantage of this credit. Since I had been having issues with my cell phone, I was counting down the days until I was eligible to use my $100 credit. Well, my New Every Two Meter was up on February 21st. That night and the following morning, I checked out the options on Verizon Wireless's website and I picked out two phones that I was interested in. These two phones were the
LG VX8600 (a clamshell version of the "Chocolate" phone) and the Pantech PN-820 (a clamshell Smartphone which runs Windows Mobile).
Noticably absent from my list is a Motorola RAZR. I just think that everyone has a RAZR these days and it's just not as cool as they were when they first came out. I'm also sure that since my boss and another teammate have RAZRs now, that helped reduce the attractiveness of those phones.
So on the 22nd (the first day I was eligible for my $100 credit), I stopped by the Verizon Wireless kiosk in the mall to check out the phones. While there, the one sales guy who was assisting me showed me a new phone that they had just gotten in - the
Samsung SCH-u740. This phone is pretty unique. It opens two different ways. One way is like a normal cell phone, but it also opens up like a Sidekick. Thanks to this sales guy, the number of phones I was considering increased to three.
That evening, I went online and did some research on each of the phones. All of them received good ratings and reviews, so I really didn't make much progress in my attempt to select one of them. I did, however, eliminate one of the phones - the Pantech PN-820. While the phone seemed pretty cool and I liked the idea of having a phone which runs Windows Mobile, there were two things I didn't like about it. One, the phone has an antenna! The antenna is a remnant of the older analog type of phones. Digital-only phones do not require these antiquated eye-sores. Second, in order to use some of the features such as being able to browse the Internet and synching the device, you must have a data plan in addition to your voice plan and this will cost an additional $29.99 or more per month (if not more).
With my choices narrowed down to two phones once again, I decided to take my daughter with me to help pick out my new phone.
That Friday afternoon, my daughter came to visit and we went to the mall. When we arrived at the Verizon Wireless kiosk, I showed my daughter the LG phone first and then the Samsung phone. As soon as she saw the way that the Samsung phone opened, she blurted out "DUDE!!! GET THAT ONE!!"
I have to admit, I'm not really into texting on my cell phone. I get text messages for work to notify me when people have an issue with their computers, but I rarely send any messages. The Samsung phone is designed to make texting convenient by having a "QWERTY" keyboard so you don't need to tap out your text messages the usual way where you press the "2" key once for "a", twice for "b", etc. The keys on the phone's"QWERTY" keyboard are obviously rather small.
Still... I thought the phone was really unique, so I took my daughter's suggestion and I went with the Samsung phone.
I've had the phone for a week and a half now and I am happy to report that I really like it.
The Samsung SCH-u740 opened as a regular phone.
One feature that has taken the most getting used to is the keys. I mentioned there are a lot of them due to the full "QWERTY" keyboard. When you open the phone as a regular phone, the standard "1" through "0" keys are gray so they stand out.
The Samsung SCH-u740 in "rotated mode".
When you rotate the phone and open it up like a Sidekick, typing messages is actually quite easy using the keyboard. (You just need to watch and make sure that the NUM LOCK isn't on.) Also, some features such as browsing the Internet and playing MP3s are only available in rotated mode.
Speaking of playing MP3s, the phone has two built-in speakers beside the display so you can listen to your favorite songs without the need for headphones. Also, although you need to be in rotated mode to begin playing MP3s, you can then close the phone and use touch controls beneath the external display to control playback.
The phone is very similar in size to the RAZR V3. For example, the RAZR V3 is 3.86"H x 2.08"W x 0.57"D and weighs 3.49 ounces while the SCH-u740 is 3.84"H x 2.04"W x 0.58"D and weighs 3.6 ounces. Their features are similar too, although the Samsung has some additional features such as the music player. Of course, the Samsung phone is a bit more expensive than the RAZR, but that is mainly due to the phone being newer.
The battery life of the Samsung is pretty good. The last time I charged it was on Friday afternoon and I had approximately 1/2 of a charge left this evening when I checked it. I drained the battery the day after I got the phone, however. I was playing with it basically non-stop that day as I was figuring out the features and changing the settings. I also downloaded some ringtones and I loaded up my Micro-SD card with some MP3s so I could test out the playback function.
One feature that I haven't had the opportunity to check out yet is Wireless E-Mail Synchronization. I went into the option for this on the phone today and I saw that Verizon Wireless charges $19.99 a month for this feature. I'm seriously considering this. I would like to be able to get my work and personal e-mails on my phone, so when I'm travelling I don't need to worry about missing an important message. (I don't qualify for a Blackberry at work.) I just think that's a little expensive since they offer data plans for only $10.00 more than that per month if I remember correctly.
So, this is a pretty cool phone. I've had Motorola phones for the past few years and this one is much nicer than Motorola's current offerings (in my opinion).
Now don't you all go running out and buying the same phone for yourself or your kids. I like having a cool, unique phone. I don't want to have the same phone as everybody else! :)

Nokia plays to win in mobile games


phonecontent.com
Nokia has tweaked its mobile gaming strategy, transforming its less-than-successful N-Gage device into a software platform and enlisting the support of several games publishers to deliver popular content. Gameloft SA, which develops and publishes video games for mobile phones, will provide seven games for the N-Gage platform, including Brain Challenge, Dogz and Midnight Pool, the company said Wednesday in conjunction with the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.


The mobile phone games publisher joins Glu Mobile Inc. and Indiagames Ltd., which earlier this week also announced plans to bring a number of their games to the N-Gage platform.
The deals add weight to Nokia's ongoing attempts to add value to its handsets by offering customers a wide variety of mobile games, in addition to digital cameras, MP3 players and a string of other integrated features.


At the same time, by entering into partnerships with games publishers and developing games of its own, Nokia hopes to carve out a chunk of the mobile-gaming market, which according to Juniper Research Ltd., is expected to increase from US$3 billion today to nearly $17.6 billion by 2011.

The move to establish N-Gage as software and not hardware is a key component of the company's new mobile-gaming strategy and one which some analysts believe will help develop the nascent mobile-gaming market.

"The N-Gage platform not only cuts one of the key costs of mobile games development -- handset porting -- but also provides the kind of user experience we have long been advocating," said Jonathan Arber, an analyst with Ovum Ltd. in a report. The platform will allow consumers to easily try games before they buy them, increasing the likelihood they'll come back for more, he said.

But Arber added that for all of Nokia's "laudable intentions," N-Gage software is restricted to Nokia handsets and, in particular, only those running the Symbian S60 3rd Edition operating system. He warned that the company risks the danger of "getting stuck in a niche."

Arber referred to N-Gage as "another non-interoperable technology platform" sitting alongside Java and Qualcomm Inc.'s Brew and questioned whether it wouldn't be a wiser move for the industry to agree to a set of mobile gaming standards to reduce fragmentation and thus development costs.

Nokia, www.nokia.co.uk
John Blau

HTC and Yahoo! Announce Strategic Mobile Partnership


playfuls.com
High Tech Computer ("HTC"), the world's leading provider of Microsoft Windows Mobile-based smart devices, and Yahoo!, a leading global Internet company, today announced a new strategic global partnership to preload and distribute Yahoo!'s industry leading mobile services on millions of HTC devices.


Yahoo! services, including Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0 and Yahoo! Mail will come pre-loaded on many of HTC's smart devices. The recently launched Yahoo! oneSearch, an entirely new search experience designed to give consumers instant answers on their mobile devices, will also be included.

"HTC is always seeking new ways to keep people connected to their community of friends and personalized content while mobile," said Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC. "With high resolution displays and breakthrough designs, HTC's products are the ideal platform for Yahoo! Go 2.0. We are pleased to offer users the ultimate Yahoo! Go 2.0 experience on our innovative devices.

"Since we launched Yahoo! Go 2.0 less than two months ago, there has been strong demand from the Windows Mobile community to get this innovative service on their mobile devices," said Marco Boerries, senior vice president of connected life, Yahoo!. "By partnering with HTC to put Yahoo! Go 2.0 on its mobile devices, we are bringing the true mobile Internet to an even broader audience around the world.

"The recently launched Yahoo! Go 2.0 service redefines the mobile Internet experience for consumers through a unique product design, ability to personalize with content from across the Internet and a reinvention of search for the mobile phone through Yahoo! oneSearch.

The innovative carousel design of the service makes it simple for consumers to navigate the selection of Yahoo! Go widgets, personal channels for e-mail, local information and maps, news, sports, finance, entertainment, weather, photo sharing and search. As a result, users of an array of HTC's smart devices will be able to easily use Yahoo!'s innovative services to stay informed, entertained and in touch with their Internet community.

Through this new partnership, the companies will focus on extending their leadership in the mobile industry. HTC mobile devices with Yahoo! services will be available to consumers through both mobile operators and direct distribution channels.