AT&T SMS Text Message, MMS Picture-Video Message Costs Rise

AT&T SMS Text Message, MMS Picture-Video Message Costs Rise on March 30, 2008. Come March 30, these new rates will help AT&T gouge the casual SMS and MMS message-user for their hard-earned bucks. If you are currently on a messaging plan your pricing will not be affected. For those not on a plan it seems like it may be a good time to consider moving over.

Customers without messaging bundles will be seeing their SMS text message-costs rise to $0.20 (20 cents) per message, with each MMS picture/video message costing $0.30 (30 cents) each.

AT&T Launched Pink Sony Ericsson W580i for Valentine's Day

AT&T Launched Pink Sony Ericsson W580i for Valentine's Day. AT&T has gone live with a chick-friendly Sony Ericsson W580i. We hear the ladies love that Pink-color, and AT&T is banking moving a handful of these Pink Sony Ericsson W580i music-centric handsets come Valentine’s Day.

Actually, at $80, the Pink Sony Ericsson W580i is a better deal than a decent bouquet of roses - that is, as long as you’re willing to sign-on for a two-year stint with AT&T.

Skyfire - Browser Application for Windows Mobile

Skyfire - Browser Application for Windows Mobile. Skyfire browser is set to finally bring PC-like browsing to your Windows Mobile device with crazy speeds and support for all manner of embedded content. The new mobile browser is comparable to PC browsing speeds and offer the “real web” on your Windows Mobile smartphones. Skyfire is compatible with Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0 - in both touchscreen and non-touchscreen flavors.

The browser application offers just about all the features you need to access “Web 2.0″ sites, like dynamic Flash, advanced Ajax, and Java. It’s good enough that your main limitation in browsing is going to be the size and resolution of your smartphone’s screen, and Skyfire is even able to compensate for that. Zooming, thumbnailing and smart resizing of the page to fit your screen look to be included. Flash-advertisements, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook - any and all web-pages load in speedy fashion thanks to Skyfire’s behind-the-scenes server-magic. With integrated Flash support, animated/interactive advertisements come to life, embedded videos play in the browser, and Flash-based web-pages are finally viewable.

Check out the video below to get an idea for how Skyfire will work on your WinMo handset. Then go sign up for the private beta here > www.skyfire.com

Mobile Phone Subscriptions via CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Increased more than 80%

Mobile Phone Subscriptions via CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Increased more than 80% year-on-year according to the latest market study by Informa. The figure surpassed 56 million at the end of 3Q07, up from 30.8 million a year earlier, to represent 15.3% of the world’s overall CDMA base. The increase was driven by the leading EV-DO operators — Verizon Wireless in United States and KDDI in Japan — which accounted for 60% or 33.8 million of the world total between them at the end of Q3 2007. Boosted by a wider range of EV-DO enabled devices — 39 in total — Verizon’s total EV-DO subscriptions increased nearly three-fold in the year to September 2007. At the same time in the Land of the rising Sun, KDDI has the highest percentage of CDMA users that are also active users of data via EV-DO (56.4%). Innovative data services, as well as Japanese subscribers’ propensity to regularly upgrade to the latest handset models are the reasons for the operator’s success.

Regarding HSPA data subscriptions, Informa Telecoms & Media (News - Alert) predicts that it will reach nearly 50 million in 2008, before jumping to 107 million at the end of 2009 and nearly doubling again to 208 million in 2010. Growth will be driven by more operators deploying the technology, as well as an improved portfolio of HSPA-enabled devices.

CloudTrade P2P File Sharing for Mobile Phone

CloudTrade P2P File Sharing for Mobile Phone. CloudTrade announced the beta launch of its new secure software platform to enable web-enabled mobile phone users to share their content using the peer-to-peer technology. Once again we hear the popular “access your content anytime, anywhere” phrase, making us think why they’ve decided to tie the other popular “first time” phrase along with it in their release.

Everything is apparently legal thanks to CloudTrade’s negotiating efforts with major record labels, music publishers and other content providers. Upon registration, users get 1-gigabyte “Cloud” to store all of their digital content like music, photos, videos and more — which they can later share with their buddies. The service is and will be kept free thanks to the “both relevant and engaging” advertising that is also not intrusive. It’s really hard to imagine that, but I do encourage you to give CloudTrade a try nevertheless. It’s free after all. Full release is available from www.cloudtrade.com

Treasuremytext Application for iPhone

Treasuremytext Application for iPhone. Treasuremytext is a prototype application that lets our users archive their SMS messages straight to Treasuremytext from iPhone. The application, still in beta but it will be a full new version when the iPhone SDK comes out, It requires Jailbroken iPhone with “Installer App” and a Treasuremytext account. The application is still in beta so getting it to work isn’t actually the easiest thing to do. You’ll need an invite and some tweaking on your iPhone.

Treasuremytext for iPhone Features:
* Archive SMS messages to your Treasuremytext account
* Delete Individual SMS
* Archives SMS messages and deletes from iPhone in one action

After you’ve installed the app, you’ll be able to delete individual text messages (a feature missing from the built in SMS application), archive SMS to your Treasuremytext account, and even send SMS free of charge (either via EDGE or Wifi). In addition, once you’ve archived your SMS, you’ll be able to access it via Treasuremytext’s website, where they (text messages) are saved with the original date sent and contact information.

For all the instructions you can go to > code.google.com/p/treasuremytext-iphone/

I-play Published Bubble Town for Facebook

Bubble Town for Facebook. I-play published great games for mobile phones and works with a broad range of content partners and sales channels to bring mobile gaming to a growing global audience. By bringing their Bubble Town mobile game to Facebook users, they’ve decided to shoot for the mass audience or the so called casual gamers. The idea is the same: fire bubble-like ‘borbs’ at each other to make combos of three or more, which disappear.

The game itself is good, and it seamlessly ties into your friend list, so you can see how your score compares to theirs.

More apps details > Bubble Town for Facebook

AT&T Mobile TV

AT&T Mobile TV. With its own “MediaFLO” based broadcast network, AT&T is expected to bring 8 popular cable channels with 24 hour accessibility and 2 exclusive channels and possibility to invoke complimentary datacasting. As always it’s all about the quality of the content and just how well its delivered.

The list of the 8 popular cable channels: * Fox Mobile * CBS Mobile * MTV * NBC 2Go * NBC News 2Go * Nickelodeon (in case you missed that episode of Dora the Explorer). * ESPN Mobile TV * Comedy Central

The phones that will likely get to showcase this mobile wonder before all others will be either the LG Vu or CU920 as it’s otherwise known (similar to LG’s Viewty). LG Vu (CU-920) handset, which is similar to LG’s Prada and Viewty handsets, priced between $200 and $250.

CeBIT Hannover 2008 after GSMA Mobile World Congress 2008

CeBIT Hannover 2008 after GSMA Mobile World Congress 2008. CeBIT Hannover, the world’s largest and most influential ICT tradeshow, is a business-to-business event that presents a complete range of technology products and solutions. CeBIT 2008 will feature the main display categories of Business Processes, Communications, Digital Equipment & Systems, Banking & Finance, Future Parc, and Public Sector Parc as well as such special displays as Forum SMEs and Planet Reseller.

The main difference between the MWC and CeBIT is that whereas MWC is more of an Telecoms industry show (and is located in the very lovely Barcelona), CeBIT is a more general consumer electronics show. You should try and get to both at some point - because they offer very different things. Hall 26 is the one with the Mobile goodies, although some companies such as Vodafone will probably have their own porta-cities (real BIG temporary structures) outside the halls:

For you that don’t get enough of a fix at MWC 2008 (GSMA Mobile World Congress 2008, formerly known as 3GSM), CeBIT 2008 only a few weeks in Hannover, Germany. Anyhow, this year CeBIT is being held from the 4th to the 9th, in Hannover - and there are 27 halls of electronics goodness.

Hudson Releases Bomberman Land Battles for US Mobile Phone

Hudson Releases Bomberman Land Battles for US Mobile Phone. Hudson has announced the release of Bomberman Land Battles for BREW and Java phones in the US. An award-winning series on gaming consoles, Bomberman Land: Battles follows the million-unit-selling mobile game Super Bomberman. Bomberman was always one of those games that didn’t rely on high-end graphics, but instead skill and control i.e. it was playable and addictive! In addition to Bomberman Land Battles, gamers can look forward to Bomberman Land for Nintendo Wii and Sony PSP, and Bomberman Land Touch 2 for the Nintendo DS shipping on January 29, 2008.

Your route is important though as Bomberman will upgrade as you progress and each path contains different power-ups, of which there are 15 in total. Also standing in your way are five bosses each of which, once defeated, is unlocked as a opponent in the VS. Mode, in which players fight against other Bombermen in classic Bomberman battles. The variations this time include 32 huge maps with branching paths so once a level is clear, there are three different paths to the next.

For more information on Hudson Entertainment or Bomberman Land Battles please visit www.hudsonentertainment.com.

Illuminated Touch Pad - Apple Patent

Illuminated Touch Pad - Apple Patent. An Apple patent application under the name “Illuminated touch pad” was published by the US Patent & Trademark Office. The Apple patent indicates a new generation of iPods equipped with scrollwheels providing feedback using illumination of the wheel itself. The illustration accompanying the patent shows a scrollwheel of the familiar design which glows brighter the greater the scrolling input from the user’s finger. Apple makes a great number of patent applications which never see the ‘light’ of day and this may be one of them as the proposal seems to offer very little return on the investment required in re-tooling and design. But we just might see this idea appearing on multi-touch pads on iPods and MacBooks in the future.

Among the variations included is a system that provides feedback with variable intensity (or color) based on direction and speed of the object in the sensing field. It’s a possible indicator of some future advancements in the interface of the iPod classic.

The patent lists the folowing ways in which light would be used in the proposed scrollwheel:
* Changing intensity with the speed of scrolling
* Different areas of the wheel lighting up depending on where the user touches it

Bell launched Red BlackBerry Pearl 8130 for Canada

Bell launched Red BlackBerry Pearl 8130 for Canada. Good news for all our Canadian readers who’re looking to buy a handset for Valentine’s day. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching nearly every mobile operator across the world is preparing for the biggest day of love with Bell Canada not falling behind either. So what is the preferred way to grab Valentine’s Day attention? Simply bring out a mobile phone in red. In addition to red, the popular GPS-equipped BlackBerry is also available in black.

The price starts from $99.95 with a 3-year term and goes way up to $449.95 sans any contract. All features are exactly the same to their Black coloured 8130. The Red Pearl 8130 is available now at Bell stores and online. More information is available on www.bell.ca

Sony Mylo 2 Now Available for $299.99

Sony Mylo 2 is Now available for $299.99. Sony Mylo 2 is perceived as a direct competitor to Nokia Internet Tablet series, Sony will most probably market the new Mylo to the different audience. Unfortunately you still can’t add your own apps to the device, making it far less compelling then, say, the similar but far better equipped Nokia N810 - which goes for $180 more. You can grab it in either white or black or get the Nokia N800/N810 instead.

Sony Mylo 2 features WiFi connectivity, 3.5? WVGA screen (800×480), full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 1.3 megapixel camera, media player, Skype support, and 1 GB of internal storage memory that is further expandable with Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo cards.

More Details > Sony Mylo 2 Features

Black Champagne W380i Sony Ericsson

Black Champagne W380i Sony Ericsson. Sony Ericsson has added a new “Black Champagne” color for their existing W380i, which adds to the current colors of “Electric Purple” and “Magnetic Grey.” The newly colored Walkman clamshell retains the original features of the W380i which include the gesture control, and external display that appears and disappears based on use.

This new Black Champagne W380i Sony Ericsson is for everyone that loves Sony Ericsson W380i but don't like the current colours “Electric Purple” and “Magnetic Grey”. The “Black Champagne” W380i is not currently in stores yet, but we would expect that to change shortly.

More > Black Champagne Sony Ericsson W380i Features

F-Secure Mobile Antivirus for UIQ Sony Ericsson

F-Secure Mobile Antivirus for UIQ Sony Ericsson. Sony Ericsson and F-Secure announced a partnership agreement to “deliver mobile security for UIQ.” Under the deal, the Swedish-Japanese handset maker will preload latest version (that’s 3.3 at the moment of this writing) of F-Secure Mobile Security on select smartphones. F-Secure Mobile Security 3.3 for UIQ combines an integrated antivirus and firewall. With similar solutions already available for S60 and Windows Mobile it completes the F-Secure offering of award-winning solutions for the most popular platforms in the rapidly growing smartphone market. The growing PC-like usage of smartphones will drive the services of the mobile internet and it is important for the industry now to put in place safeguards that will prevent a similar development of the threat situation as has been seen with PC’s.

F-Secure Mobile Security(TM) 3.3 for UIQ will be available in selected Sony Ericsson UIQ devices in a trial version. F-Secure’s solution combines an integrated antivirus and firewall, allowing the suits to sleep better. F-Secure Mobile Security(TM) 3.3 for UIQ will also be available for subscription through the F-Secure Mobile eStore at www.f-secure.com/estore.

For further information about F-Secure solutions, please go to: www.f-secure.com

Palm Treo 500 Unlocked Available in Europe

Palm Treo 500 Unlocked Available in Europe. Palm has released Unlocked Palm Treo 500. Unlocked Palm Treo 500 is running Windows Mobile 6 Standard, weighing just 120g, has a 320 x 240 display, full QWERTY keyboard, tri-band GSM/GPRS connectivity along with 3G support, 256MB flash memory with 150MB available to the user, Bluetooth 2.0, a 2-megapixel camera and microSD storage.

You can pick one up for the £269 ($526). But It’s still a Tri-Band phone, meaning that while you’ll get 3G goodness in Europe, you won’t get it in the US (and in many place you won’t get service at all). More bummage: The 500v’s neat carousel interface is most definitely a Vodafone-only option, the standard 500 doesn’t offer it.

More information is available on Palm’s website from where you can also buy the device:
euro.palm.com/europe/en/index.html

Fujitsu F705i - World's Slimmest and Waterproof 3G Mobile Phone

Fujitsu F705i - World's Slimmest and Waterproof 3G Mobile Phone. Fujitsu unveiled the F705i mobile phone. Fujitsu F705i, a device that prides itself to be the world’s slimmest waterproof mobile phone on the planet. At just 13.7mm, they’re most certainly right about that one. And best of all, it’s not a candybar shaped phone, it’s a clamshell! Available through NTT DoCoMo — that’s in case you’re living/working in Japan. Although its can hold up to the water element, the F705i will not hold up to drowning over 1m depth of water and longer than 30 minutes.

The phone itself features Super Clear Voice and Super Clear Mike that would automatically adjust the volume of calls depending on noise level surrounding the phone user. Fujitsu F705i weighs only 111g with dimensions of 106 x 49 x 13.7mm.

As for battery life, it allows 170 minutes of talk time and 100 minutes of videophone. Fujitsu F705i features Super Clear Voice and Super Clear Mike technology, which means it automatically adjusts volume settings in response to ambient noise levels. It will feature a basic 1.3MP camera, waterproof, and will have Quick Zoom functionality, allowing users to increase and decrease on-screen text size at the touch of a button.

LG Scoop, Red BlackBerry Pearl 8130, and Samsung Muse from Alltel

Red BlackBerry Pearl 8130, LG Scoop, and Samsung Muse from Alltel. Alltel unveiled 3 new phones that it plans to launch in Q1 2008. Currently none of them can be bought, and only the Pearl Red is available for pre-order. LG Scoop, The text-friendly LG Scoop with its full slide-out QWERTY keyboard. LG Scoop was first shown at CES 2008, and is the carrier’s variant of the Sprint’s Rumor. It is basic device for text messaging, with side-sliding QWERTY keyboard. Once it hits the market, it will be available in 3 color variants: Orange and Light Blue (cyan) or gray color.

BlackBerry Pearl 8130 in Red, The GPS-equipped BlackBerry Pearl 8130 in red, which is already available for preordering. BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone, now available in red, gives customers an exceptional mobile experience with powerful communications and multimedia capabilities. This sleek, eye-catching smartphone offers e-mail, fast HTML Web browsing, a 2 MP camera with flash and video capture, GPS capabilities, Bluetooth wireless technology and microSD expandable memory. With the stylish red BlackBerry Pearl 8130, customers can multi-task like a pro, and look good while doing it.

Samsung Muse, The mid-range Samsung Muse is a decent clamshell for people who want to use their mobile phone as a music player. It is clamshell phone in “midnight blue” color with 2 megapixel camera on board allowing you to take occasionally photos while on-the-go. Samsung Muse features a 2 MP camera with video capabilities, GPS capabilities and is preloaded with Axcess Mobile Guide and Stereo Bluetooth technology. Multimedia fans can also enjoy streaming music from their PC using Music Powered by Celltop along with premium preloaded applications like Axcess TV and Search.

iPhone Open Application Development Book

iPhone Open Application Development Book. Jonathan Zdziarski and his editor, Andy Oram, just published a book that delves into the inner workings of the iPhone’s software-platform. In iPhone Open Application Development, Zdziarski explains how to use Apple’s iPhone toolkit and the open-source toolkit, with which he developed the first fully-functional third-party iPhone application, to create third-party iPhone applications for use with jailbroken iPhones. The book will teach iPhone developer-wannabes how to actually code applications in Objective-C and the iPhone API.

The book is scheduled to hit the printing presses in mid-May of this year, and will cost around $40 (although there are cheaper, PDF/e-book options available).

More Overview > iPhone Open Application Development Book by Jonathan Zdziarski

Palm Treo 800w Possible Features

Palm Treo 800w Possible Features. According to some new leaked details, Palm Treo 800w, one of the latest smartphones will hit the market soon. It seems the new Palm will have about the same size as Palm Centro, released last year as the smallest Palm OS based handset ever made. There are no details about the processor that powers the handset, nor about how much talk-time and stand-by time its battery can provide. Nevertheless, Touchscreen, GPS, WiFi, and EVDO Rev. A in a thin package are great features, Palm should have already released a device like this last year. Release window is rumored around April 2008. The Price is still unknown.

Palm Treo 800w Possible Features:
+ Windows Mobile 6.1
+ as thin as a Palm Centro
+ EVDO Rev. A
+ 320 x 320 pixels resolution
+ 2 megapixel camera that takes “decent” pictures
+ Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
+ microSD card slot to complement the 256MB of memory (there’s 128MB for “something else”)
+ a miniUSB plug in place of the HotSync port and headphone jack for syncing and charging
+ WiFi 802.11g (with dedicated on/off button)
+ compatibility with Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008
+ aGPS (assisted GPS)
+ a full QWERTY keypad for easy text entry

Dasur On-Screen Virtual Keyboard Software for PDA and Smartphone

Dasur On-Screen Virtual Keyboard Software for PDA and Smartphone. Dasur has released two on-screen virtual keyboard applications for Windows Mobile - SlideIt and ThumbKey. The applications supports all versions of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile. It can be used on any smart-phone, PDA, handheld terminal with touch screen.

The idea is to enhance on-screen typing experience with two different approaches, each suited for different kind of users.

SlideIt is an intuitive method to input text on touch screen enabled devices that combines three methods - sliding, prediction and graffiti. Instead of tapping each letter, with SlideIt users simply point to first letter of a word and slide the stylus to the subsequent letters. Spacing is achieved by just lifting the stylus. According to Dasur — as we still have to test this — “speeds of more than 50 words per minute are easily achievable.”

ThumbKey’s technology bring the touchscreen method familiar to BlackBerry users to a more accurate and easier level of operation with the capability of using but one hand. Dasur’s ThumbKey uses a unique algorithm that allows users to just press in the general vicinity of the required key for the intended word to appear on the screen. The algorithm processes the typed letters and its disambiguation features suggests the intended word and “conveniently displays additional possibilities next to the keyboard.”

More information is available from http://www.mobiletextinput.com/

Mobile Backstage Mobile World Congress 2008 Confirmed Speakers

Mobile Backstage Mobile World Congress 2008 Confirmed Speakers. GSMA 2008 Mobile World Congress will run from February 11 through 14, 2008 in Barcelona, Spain. The Mobile Backstage conference in particular will take place on February 13. Internationally known actress, Isabella Rossellini will showcase and discuss her role in the making of a brand new series of mobile short films titled GREEN PORNO, conceived, written by and featuring Rossellini and produced in association with Sundance Channel. Black-Eyed-Peas frontman, will.i.am will provide the perspective of a world leading music artist on the potential to reach a global fan base via mobile phones.

Here are the confirmed speakers for Mobile Backstage:
# will.i.am, singer/songwriter and founder of Black Eyed Peas
# Isabella Rossellini, Writer, Actor, Director
# Mika Salmi, President. Global Digital Media, MTV Networks
# Jeff Hermann, VP of Mobile Media, Nielson Mobile
# Jody Shapiro, Producer
# Erik Rosenlund, Filmmaker
# Craig Palmer, President & CEO, Gracenote
# Rob Lewis, CEO, Omnifone
# Tero Ojanpera, EVP Entertainment and Communities, Nokia
# Christopher Barry, SVP Digital Media and Business Strategy, Sundance Channel
# Jerome Paillard, Director, Marche du Film, Festival Du Cannes
# Simon Protheroe, New Media and IT Direct, Eidos
# Ken Wardrop, Filmmaker
# Javier Perez Dolset, Founder, CEO Zed

Mobile World Congress 2008 Confirmed Speakers

Mobile World Congress 2008 Confirmed Speakers. GSMA 2008 Mobile World Congress will run from February 11 through 14, 2008 in Barcelona, Spain. The conference programme will be supported by an exhibition showcasing approximately 1,200 companies and hundreds of new products and services. GSMA Mobile World Congress is the largest, most significant and most successful global mobile event in the world. An estimated 52,000 visitors gathered last year in Barcelona to do business, to discuss the hottest trends in the mobile communications industry, and to participate in its future.

Mobile World Congress 2008 list of confirmed speakers:
* Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, President and CEO, Nokia
* Arun Sarin, CEO, Vodafone
* Carl-Henric Svanberg, CEO, Ericsson
* Wang Jianzhou, Chairman and CEO, China Mobile
* Michael Joseph, CEO, Safaricom
* Masayoshi Son, CEO, Softbank
* Iqbal Quadir, founder of GrameenPhone
* Cesar Alierta, Chairman and CEO, Telefonica
* John Chambers, Chairman and CEO, Cisco
* Masao Nakamura, President and CEO, NTT DoCoMo
* Paul Jacobs, CEO, Qualcomm
* Ralph de la Vega, CEO, AT&T Mobile
* Peter Mercier, Head of Mobile, Digital Media Division, BBC
* Stanley Fertig, Senior VP, HBO International
* Phuthuma Nhleko, Group President and CEO, MTN
* Shin-Bae Kim, CEO, SKT

iPhone Hottie Weather Application from Maxim Magazine

iPhone Hottie Weather Application from Maxim Magazine. Maxim Magazine, which is usually known for other non-tech related “things,” has released its first iPhone web application. Every time you refresh your weather, you’ll get a new “hometown hottie” from Maxim’s extensive archives.

The idea is simple - provide users with the information they really need (weather forecast), along with “information” they want. And the result is stunning - the application features photos of hot girls alongside weather forecast information.

To use on your iPhone or iPod Touch open the link in Safari:
http://apps.maxim.com/iphone-hottieweather/

Facebook + Nokia

Facebook + Nokia. Facebook is negotiating with Nokia over a mobile tool that could see the social networking site built into hundreds of thousands of phone handsets. Nokia is reported to be negotiating with Facebook about buying a small stake in the company and an unnamed executive confirmed that “a partnership is in the works”. Both developments would give Facebook a healthy foothold in the mobile market.

Facebook already offers its own mobile application that can be used to upload photos, notes and to exchange messages on the site, and a look-up function for phone numbers. The Nokia-Facebook deal would give the social network instant big-time mobile distribution: Nokia is the world’s largest maker of mobile phones.

Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones

Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones. Hooked on Facebook® Now you can take it with you on your BlackBerry® smartphone. With Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones, you have wireless access to:
* Your Facebook status and the Facebook status of your friends — change yours from the road!
* All of your Facebook contacts
* Home screen notifications — so you know right away when you have a new Facebook event like a wall post, message or poke
* Photo-sharing — simply snap a picture with your BlackBerry smartphone’s camera*, then post it to Facebook with one click. Even tag friends in photos
* The full text of new messages or wall posts, new photo tags and friend requests. Plus send your own messages, wall posts, pokes and friend requests
* The Facebook environment you’re already familiar with, optimized for your BlackBerry smartphone

Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones Features:
• Update your Facebook status and view the status of your friends
• Send and receive messages, wall posts, and pokes, plus accept new friend requests
• Enjoy the familiar Facebook environment optimized for your BlackBerry smartphone
• Snap a photo with your BlackBerry smartphone’s camera, then post, tag and comment on it

Download “Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones” for free and step up your social networking to a whole new level.

You can Download Facebook® for BlackBerry here

Samsung SGH-L310 and SGH-L320 Fashion Phone Features

Samsung SGH-L310 and SGH-L320 Fashion Phone Features. Design focused for stylish look. To solidify its female phone market leadership and satisfy mobile phone users’ unmet needs, Samsung introduces different design concepts for the newest models, SGH-L310 and SGH-L320. While Samsung L310 attracts the users with its glamorous look, Samsung L320 presents elegant design with polished finish.

Targeting fashion-conscious users, these handsets will hit Eastern Europe sometime next month or March.

Samsung L310 and L320 provide advanced multimedia features including 2.0 Megapixel camera, MP3 player, external memory slot and Bluetooth connectivity. The Samsung L310 will be available in Russia and Hungary from February and will be expanded into other European countries. The price will be around 240 Euro without subsidy. The Samsung L320 will be available in Russia and CIS market from February at around 220 Euro without subsidy.

Samsung SGH-L310 and SGH-L320 Features:
* 1.9″ display
* Bluetooth connectivity
* 2 megapixel camera
* MP3/AAC playback

Palm Closing Retail Shops

Palm are closing their shops. TreoCentral forum member is claiming Palm will be closing all but its airport-based retail locations by the end of this month. This goes beyond rumor, as other forum members have confirmed this, having previously checked in with their local shops.

Palm announced on Wednesday that it has decided to close its retail shops as it faces the effects of a class-action lawsuit filed by Treo owners. The company’s 34 stores including eight Palm-branded locations and 26 shops that were inside Airport Wireless outposts will have to go by the end of the current quarter. In addition, as part of the settlement of a class-action suit filed back in 2005, Palm agreed to give cash rebates for the Treo 600 and 650 owners who have had their units replaced or repaired at least twice.

Nokia Owns 40% Global Mobile Phone Market in Q4 2007

Nokia Owns 40% Global Mobile Phone Market in Q4 2007. Nokia just published the Q4 and full year 2007 results. Q4 2007 estimated device market share reached 40%, with significantly increased margins and quarterly operating cash flow of EUR 2.7 billion. Nokia Board of Directors will propose a dividend of EUR 0.53 per share for 2007 (EUR 0.43 per share for 2006).

Here are the numbers you should know about:
* 40% market share officially reached * 437.1 million devices were shipped in 2007 compared to 374.5 million in 2006, an increase of 25.8% * 133.5 million devices shipped in Q4, up 27% compared to this time last year * North American sales fell 23.3% to only 19.4 million units sold in all of 2007 * 38 million Nseries devices and approximately 7 million Eseries devices during the whole of 2007 * Average selling price per device increased by 1 euro compared to Q32007, it is now 83 euros * Sales increased 34% compared to this time last year, bringing in 15.7 billion euros * Profit increased 64% compared to this time last year, total being 2.5 billion euros * 18.8 million converged devices (S60) shipped in Q4 compared to 11.1 this time last year * Over 11 million Nseries devices and over 2 million Eseries devices were sold in Q4 * Market share in North America dropped to 5.1% while every other region except China experienced double digit growth

The complete press release with tables is available at:
http://www.nokia.com/results/results2007Q4e.pdf

Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607 + Windows Mobile 6 Available

Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607 + Windows Mobile 6 is now Available. The update is available free of charge, similar to other Windows Mobile 6 upgrades. In addition, the update includes Office Mobile for Windows Mobile 6 Standard for free. As with other AT&T upgrades, TeleNav and MobiTV are now preloaded onto the device with the update. Because the original BlackJack lacks A-GPS functionality, an external GPS receiver will be required to use it.

Samsung BlackJack or Samsung SGH-i607 is a smartphone available through AT&T in the United States and Telstra in Australia. Out of the box, it runs Windows Mobile 5.0, but as of January 23, 2008, can be officially upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.0. The following improvements are available with Windows Mobile 6: Improved messaging and collaboration, including ability to read HTML email, calendar ribbon, keyboard shortcuts, integrated Windows Live experience and more.

The update can be downloaded free of charge from Samsung website now. Check the Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607 software update page here > http://www.samsung.com/us/i607/windowsupgrade

3UK First Launch Google Maps Version 2

3UK First Launch Google Maps Version 2. 3G Operator 3UK have announced they are the first MNO in Europe to launch Google Maps version 2. The new application is now available on the majority of 3’s wide range of handsets.

Google Maps version 2 requires a 3G connection, and will use your mobile phone connection to establish your location through GPS, and work out directions or find local services and business for you at the touch of a button.

Google Maps Version 2 will also:
+ Integrate all your search results on one, easy to navigate page
+ Give detailed directions for both walkers and drivers
+ Allow easy access to details of local business found in your search
+ Display your internet KB usage in the corner of your screen
+ Provide a satellite view of all locations

iPhone 1.1.3 WebClip Feature Hack for Speed Dial On HomeScreen

iPhone 1.1.3 WebClip Feature Hack for Speed Dial On HomeScreen. iPhone developer, Nate True put a little hack together that lets you have a (somewhat) speedy speed dial icon. There’s no jailbreaking required for this one - it can all be done using Apple-approved Web Clip creation.

Along the same lines as that WebClips-based homescreen picture album hack, Nate True has come up with a solution that will put speed-dial thumbnail icons on your homescreen. iPhone 1.1.3 Hack will take a bit of webpage-coding know-how (or just some instruction-following know-how), and a web server that you can use. The instructions involved putting a script on a webpage that, when clicked, will prompt the iPhone to dial the embedded phone number. You then turn that webpage into a WebClip (with the appropriate picture) and you’ll have image-based speed-dial right on your iPhone’s homescreen.

> Nate True’s Hack Instructions on creating a Speed Dial Shortcut using WebClip Feature here.

Motorola KRZR with Platinum and Swarovski Crystals by Kamson Diamonte

Motorola KRZR with Platinum and Swarovski Crystals by Kamson Diamonte. Goldstriker website (January 21, 2008) gave you the considerably cheaper but also sexy Platinum and Swarovski Motorola KRZR. The phone priced at $1200 is incrusted with 336 Swarovski crystals, housed in platinum.

According to a comment by Anthony Amosu from a website, from www.shinyshiny.tv/2008/01/swarovski_encru.html :
The product is not actually from Goldstriker, but was designed by Kamson Diamonte who sent it to Goldstriker as a suggestion.

HTC S730 US Version

HTC S730 US Version. The FCC has dropped the ball on this US-bound handset that they’re internally calling the “WING200.” The FCC internal codename combined with the diagram of the FCC label leads us to believe that this handset is the US-version of the HTC S730 Wing. The only HTC S730 Wing on the market supports European 3G frequencies, so we’re glad to see that the successor to the hybrid keypad/keyboard-toting HTC S710 Vox will be bringing US-friendly 3G (HSDPA on the 850/1900Mhz bands) support to the table.

The US-spec HTC S730 Wing will likely have the same spec-sheet as its Euro-counterpart, with the exception of a US-compatible 3G radio. That means Windows Mobile 6.0 is the OS of choice, and the quirky keypad/keyboard that we loved on the HTC Vox will be making its second round in the US.

Details regarding the availability and price are not known at this time.

PocketGuitar - Virtual Guitar for iPhone or iPod Touch

PocketGuitar - Virtual Guitar for iPhone or iPod Touch. PocketGuitar is a virtual guitar for iPhone and iPod touch. You can even have guitar sessions with the songs in your iPod! It has been tested on iPod touch 1.1.1. Here’s one for all you Fans of Rockband and Guitar Hero. Now you can finally bust out ‘Eruption’ on the bus and annoy everyone around you!

According to the Google Code page (http://code.google.com/p/pocketguitar/), PocketGuitar is now included in ModMyiFone.com Community Sources. Make sure you have the latest “Community Sources” package, and you can find it under “Toys” category.

Thus far, the application does work with the iPhone’s 1.1.1 firmware, but has yet to be attempted on 1.1.2. It should come as no surprise that 1.1.3 wont work yet, but the author seems optimistic that the SDK is coming soon and that it won’t be much of an issue.

Pocket scale looks like iPhone

Pocket scale looks like iPhone. Why a company would develop a digital pocket scale with a cover shaped like an iPhone knockoff? Maybe they needed some sort of gimmick to catch the eye of their drug dealer clientele.

After all, today’s drug dealers have a wide range of choices when it comes to their pocket scales. Companies need to do something to gain a competitive advantage. Oh, and they justify the cover as an “expansion tray,” which is surely perfect for various “powders” and “herbs.”

iPhone-shaped scale is being offered for $52.49 and features, well, an iPhone-shaped “expansion cover.”

Brickhouse Security’s Secret Service Invisible 2-way Micro Headset

Brickhouse Security’s Secret Service Invisible 2-way Micro Headset. The elaborately named Secret Service Invisible 2-Way Micro Headset comes with an easily hidden wireless transmitter that plugs into any mobile with a 2.5-millimeter audio output. Once rigged up, the wearer can have someone listen in on conversation in a room while also receiving input from said listener.

Brickhouse Security is offering this secret-agent worthy headset for secret-agent budgets that can take the $649.95 hit with ease. The Secret Service Invisible 2-way Micro Headset is the smallest headset that you’ll never be able to use/own.

The question remains, how comfortable is this headset? We’d love to see other Bluetooth headsets on this size scale - as long as it’s comfortable. Give it a year, we’ll be likely be seeing products touting their “invisibility” left and right.

Pink Palm Centro Officially Available

Pink Palm Centro Officially Available. The pink Centro is part of a larger multi-cellphone promotion “Tools for Love” being run by Sprint in advance of Valentine’s Day. There are no major changes in technical specifications, but expect this color to generate more Centro sales. The Palm Centro has been a surprising hit for both Palm and Sprint Wireless.

Pink Centro is also featured in the upcoming 27 Dresses movie and Palm is also positioning the fuchsia hued smartphone as a Valentine’s Day gift. There is also a “worst bridesmaid dress” photo contest with with the award being a Palm Cento and a trip to Los Angeles.

Pink Palm Centro is now live on Palm.com’s website. This may be the device you’ve been waiting for some time. Guys, now you know what women want. It’s beautiful and it’s smart — it’s Palm Centro in pink. Valentine’s Day is coming, and both Palm and Sprint know that.

You can now place orders on the Pink model with the same $99 pricing (After Rebates and with New 2-Year Service Agreement). The Pink Centro is also said to be available in local Sprint retail stores.

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Jailbreak Claimed

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Jailbreak Claimed. Jonathan “NerveGas” Zdziarski, developer of a NES emulator for the iPhone and a co-implementer of previous jailbreak methods, has claimed the existence of a separate, software-based 1.1.3 jailbreak that takes “about a half hour for savvy users.” Zdziarski and fellow developers are still withholding instructions for executing the jailbreak, but the image at left (from Zdziarski’s site) allegedly depicts an iPhone jailbroken using the new method.

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 has been jailbroken (full read/write access to the filesystem), meaning that unofficial third-party applications can be installed under this release. Unfortunately, the current method is so complex that its developers have decided to hold off a public release.

Jailbroken iPhones allow full read/write access to their filesystems, enabling (among other things) the installation of unofficial native applications.

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Problems and Fixes

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Problems and Fixes. There are more problems reported with iPhone Firmware 1.1.3. Some iPhone 1.1.3 problems: Email, Sound Missing, Bluetooth and more. These are tips for your iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 problems. Step by step to fix.

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Problems:
1. Problems: iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 fails to apply: Update to iTunes 7.6.
2. Problems: Sound missing.
3. Problems: Bluetooth device compatibility.
4. Problems: Mail problems.
5. Problems: iPhone Wi-Fi/EDGE problems

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Fixes:
Troubleshooting and "Step by Step" Tips to Fix all the problems here > iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Problems and Fixes

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Features

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Features. A guided tour of the new features is available from Apple’s website. The firmware re-locks the iPhone. Release of this firmware update has caused a trojan scare. Adds new features such as enhanced Google Maps. The update should not wipe any data off the iPhone.

iPhone Firmware 1.1.3 Features:
+ iTunes movie rentals and movie chapter navigation
+ Homescreen customization. Customize your home screen, moving around icons as they wiggle.
+ Multiple-contact SMS text message support. You can send txt messages to more than one person now.
+ Google Maps “Locate Me”. Maps with pseudo GPS that uses cellphone towers for your location.
+ Web-clips. Essentially bookmarked Web sites accessible on your home screen. Quick and dirty.
+ Smaller updates: Gmail now uses IMAP and you can view lyrics to songs.

Warning !
- It adds the following features to the phone that you slide to unlock. Remember, if you’re one of those jailbreaking types, don’t upgrade just yet.
- iPhone v1.1.3 firmware update will completely kill any and all third-party applications! If you’ve gotten attached to your Installer.app applications, you might want to wait until some sort of jailbreak-preparation has been released - like the Oktoprep installation that allowed jailbroken v1.1.1 iPhones to be updated to v1.1.2.
- You can just wait for Apple to release the iPhone SDK in February and officially sanctioned third-party apps hit the market.

DOWNLOAD > iPhone firmware 1.1.3 is available for download through iTunes.

Nokia 5700 XpressMusic Clone Number 3

Nokia 5700 XpressMusic Clone Number 3. Nokia 5700 XpressMusic was cloned again. This time, The Clone number 3 seems to be an improved version of the original. Its features recommends it a possible major hit on China’s mobile market: 3 inch QVGA touch-screen display, 2 megapixel camera, TV receiver, FM radio, microSD slot, and Bluetooth connectivity. Anyway, the device can be an option for those with lower budget that cannot buy themselves the original or simply prefer this version over the one branded Nokia.

Nokia 5700 3rd-Clone Specifications: + FM radio + built in TV (with extendible camera) + 3 inch QVGA 16 million color touschscreen + microSD support + powerful speakers with bass + 2 mega pixel camera + A2DP + measures 114×55x16 mm + weighs 125 grams

No price or availability of the device was disclosed at this time. Most likely only those that are going on a trip in China will be able to see one of these ripoffs in person.