SE W44S

The Japanese operator KDDI has announced a new mobile phone by Sony Ericsson – the W44S. This is a clamshell with additional free screen area, Nokia N93 and Nokia N92 smartphones have similar form-factor, however the construction is implemented in other way.
The phone is tuned for multimedia functionality, including video. The W44S is equipped with a huge 3” 16:9 widescreen LCD. It involves RealityMAX brand technology, which ensures high image resolution.

SKYPE FOR MOBILE

Skype launched its first mobile voice-over-IP service in collaboration with an operator, 3 Group, whose customers will soon be the first to use it.

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UMTS - leading global 3G technology: reports 3G Americas

More than half a billion new customers were connected with all technologies of mobile wireless service in the year preceding September 2006. This increased the global wireless market to more than 2.5 billion total users of various technologies. The GSM family of wireless technologies dominated the marketplace, growing its customer base by 497 million new customers and increasing its global market share to 83%, according to the research of Informa Telecoms & Media. Over the same twelve months, CDMA technology also added customers - nearly 50 million - while other technologies showed a decline, including TDMA and analog.

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Visa launches pilot mobile payment program

According to Mobile tech News, Visa is now testing the delivery of mobile payment coupons and rewards via text message, graphic and bar code images direct to US consumers' mobile devices.
The pilot, which is scheduled to launch in November with approximately 500 Visa employees in California, is expected to expand to public trials over the next year. Pilot participants will receive payment coupons and rewards that can be redeemed at on-site cafes located at Visa's corporate campus.

Now its TINYTUBE

Now you can download all the youtube videos to your mobile phone from tinytube. It automatically converts it to 3gp format to your mobile. So what are you waiting for??? Enjoy the great features...

Indian Army has launched its own exclusive cellular communication system

According to India Daily, India's army has launched its own exclusive cellular communication system in Kashmir, and officers said Tuesday the new set up should help soldiers battling Islamic insurgents in the Himalayan territory.
"The new system, which should be fully online in a couple of months, should allow soldiers to more easily speak with each other when searching for and fighting militants... Only the military would have access to the system, and outsiders would not be able to call phones working off the network.
More than a dozen insurgent groups have been fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, and many are using mobile and satellite phones and other modern communications gadgets to plan attacks _ a development that has caught the military off-guard."

Music Video created solely on a Nokia Nseries multimedia computer

Nokia recently premiered musician Rob Dickinsons new video, "Oceans;" which is the first music video created solely on a Nokia Nseries multimedia computer.
The "Oceans" music video was shot by Hodgkinson on the Nokia N93, a 3.2 megapixel cameraphone with DVD quality video and Carl Zeiss optics.
Click here to view the new 'Oceans' music video as well as the creative 'Making of Oceans' video by Mike Hodgkinson. [press release]

Always check Videomaniac for exciting videos...

FULL FEATURE FILM ON YOUR MOBILE

This could happen some day. Following a long and tiring day at work, you unwind by popping some popcorn, curling up in a cosy chair and watching a movie -- on your mobile phone. The last bit might sound far fetched, but it really isn't.
Mobile content providers are hoping to bring mobile phone owners a comfortable wireless Web experience coupled with a new world of portable multimedia entertainment. It's not just a volley of creative frames shot with digital cameras or handicams that are gaining traction among the young cinema makers, the mobile phone cameras are getting their bit of publicity too.
Among the first ones, Hungama Mobile has begun by teaming up with leading Indian filmmaker Dev Benegal's maverick film production programme 24x7 Making Movies that will produce almost 100 films every year.
"It started off as a crazy idea," recalls Benegal, "What if, for one week, we could forget red tape, bureaucracy, development executives, financiers, the underworld mafia, film commissions and people who stifle creativity? What if a person could walk in and make a film? What if one could make films for free? No questions asked, no scripts scrutinised... no nothing."

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World's fastest text messager

Sixteen-year-old Ang Chuang Yang, a student from Singapore, broke the Guinness World Record for the shortest time needed to type a 160-character SMS message on Sunday after whizzing through the task in 41.52 seconds in a competition, reports Reuters.
Just for comparison'ssake, in 2004, James Trusler typed the message in 67 seconds beating his previous record by one second. Trusler was the confirmed world text champion by the Guinness Book of Records since September 2002.
The phrase to qualify is: "The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human."

Free mobile phones funded by ads - Google CEO

Web search leader Google Inc's chief executive, Eric Schmidt, sees a future where mobile phones are free to consumers who accept watching targeted forms of advertising. CNN reports.
"Schmidt said Saturday that as mobile phones become more like handheld computers and consumers spend as much as eight to 10 hours a day talking, texting and using the Web on these devices, advertising becomes a viable form of subsidy.
"Your mobile phone should be free," Schmidt told Reuters. "It just makes sense that subsidies should increase" as advertising rises on mobile phones".
The Google executive said his own company had no plans to directly give away phones itself, nor is he aware of any effort by partners such as phone makers Nokia or Motorola or mobile operators like Vodafone to make such a radical move, he said.
Schmidt acknowledged that mobile phones may never become totally free to the consumer. Newspapers are still not completely free a hundred years after they started relying on advertising, but they certainly are inexpensive, he noted.
The company, which will derive virtually all of its expected $10 billion in revenue this year from selling text ads to computer users who use Google to search the Web, has said previously it expected mobile phone advertising to match computer-based ad revenue over time."

File sharing software for mobile phones

POGO, a South African company, has launched a free Internet-based file sharing software for mobile phones, enabling users to share ringtones, music, games, videos and themes.
In the three weeks following it's launch, Pogo has signed up 1,000 users. Some 6,800 items, mostly music or games, have already been downloaded, with music downloads as the most popular content.
Additional content will become available as more users join the POGO peer-to-peer community. There is also a free instant messenger available for download that will allow users to send SMSs and chat in the mobile chat rooms."

K-FED dumped by text

A video of Britney Spears' soon-to-be ex-husband apparently getting a text message informing him that the pop princess had filed for divorce became the most viewed item on the YouTube on Thursday, with more than 1 million hits.
"The Web video shows kevin Federline taping a reality television show and talking about Spears being his biggest fan -- until he gets a text message. Then he puts his head in his hands, rips off his microphone and disappears, returning 30 minutes later visibly upset."

No mobile phones, say Maoists

Left wing militants, active in Orissa's southern most Malkangiri district, have directed the people residing in a large area not to use cellphones anymore, reports India's Financial Express

"Posters and banners have appeared in several places under Kalimela, Motu and MV-79 police station limits of the district asking people not to use cellphones anymore, official reports said on Thursday.

Leaflets had also been distributed in several villages containing the threat: those ignoring this directive will not be forgiven.
A total ban has also been imposed on cockfights - a big attraction in weekly village markets - and gambling."

SAMSUNG - SPH-P9000

Samsung Electronics has announced a device called SPH-P9000 Deluxe MITs. Its futuristic design might be a sample of future 4G devices. the SPH-P9000 is a convergent device that can make voice calls and transfer data via Mobile WiMAX networks. There is the support of CDMA EV-DO cell networks.

Taking into account the dimensions, we have something between the PDA and the notebook-transformer. As for the opportunities and technical specs the SPH-P9000 is like the UMPC, but with compact size. It is powered by Windows XP. Its LCD features 5” diagonal and a WVGA resolution. The device comes with 256 MB RAM onboard, Transmeta processor, 30 GB HDD, 1.3-megapixel camera and folding QWERTY-keyboard. There is the support of Bluetooth interface and miniUSB port. Measuring 143x92x29.7 mm it weighs 560 g

A low-end Motorola KRZR???

A low-end clone of Motorola KRZR, which differs little from the original more expensive model. Initially the phone was rumored to be called the W210, the info wasn’t confirmed.
Its design is similar to the W220 GSM phone, but it is designed for CDMA networks.

SMS TO MOON

Public art, and peace activist tometaxy.net is launching a small 3 kgs moon into real space, equipped with small displays, antennas and cameras for still images and video.
"People will be able to send pictures or SMS to this artificial Moon. A small camera will take a picture from space of your message on the picosatellite screen and return this image back to your mobile phone."

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Bird-friendly communications towers

The FCC drew praise from a wildlife conservation group for considering a plan to make communications towers less deadly for migrating birds - which currently kill up to 50-million birds a year in the United States.

An American Bird Conservancy report analyzing documented towers kills, lists 230 species – over one third of all avian species found in the United States – that are known to be killed at towers, including many species of conservation concern such as the Blackpoll Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

ABC is a central participant in the Communication Tower Working Group (CTWG), which is chaired by USFWS and consists of representatives from government agencies, telecommunication, broadcasting and tower industries, scientists and conservation agencies. The CTWG is attempting, to foster research, to ascertain mitigation measures that can be applied to towers to avoid such large-scale avian mortality. ABC also continues to prod federal agencies, such as FAA and FCC, to require bird-safe lighting and tower construction for new and existing towers - see the letter to the FAA. So far the FCC has resisted efforts to assume responsibility for the killing of birds at communication towers that it licenses.

Helio unveils phones with locatior services

Helio, a venture of EarthLink Inc. and SK Telecom, teamed up with Google Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. to deliver a new phone with features such as a friend locator service and driving directions.

"Wireless provider Helio said its customers would be able to find out their current location and look up traffic conditions or directions to specific addresses by using Google maps and satellite positioning technology in Samsung's Drift phone.
The phone, which sells for $255, also gives users the option to look up the location of nearby friends, or to have their own location show up on their friends' cell phones."

Source: Reuters

NOKIA IN US ARMY

Nokia has entered into a Research and Development agreement with the US Army to evaluate Nokia technology in the areas of PCS, WCDMA 3G, GSM, WiMAX and advanced wireless networking protocols for potential military and defense applications.

"This program will evaluate the capabilities of various Nokia products and systems to determine if they can potentially meet ARMY requirements for high-speed data communications."

NOKIA 6639 - Makes u think about it...

I just got these pics from my friend, but i'm not sure whether its original or fake. Even there is no information about this on the Nokia's official site. I think this must be a photoshop fun. Otherwise who knows, it could be real one or Nokia may have plans to produce this...

BLACK PEARL

Haier Mobile has officially introduced for the American market its new tiny mobile phone Haier Black Pearl. It has rounded edges and glossy coating. This isn’t a very slim, but unusually narrow phone – 90x35x17.8 mm.
It is equipped with an integrated MP3-player, an FM-radio and a voice recorder. It carries 128 MB of memory onboard, besides there is a microSD slot (up to 1 GB). The Black Pearl supports Bluetooth and USB interfaces, SMS, EMS, 64-tones polyphony. Its LCD isn’t big, a 1.8” diagonal, 96x96 pixels, made under OLED technology.
The device weighs just 60 g. It is equipped with an 830 mAh battery ensuring over 200 hours standby, 3 hours of talks or 11 hours of continuous use.
Haier Black Pearl is one of the smallest phones. It works in GSM standard, and soon it might be available in Russia.

VERTU - Race Track Legends

Vertu, a Nokia’s subsidiary making exclusive phones, added two models to the RaceTrack Legends – Indianapolis and Le Mans. The series is devoted to the classical world race tracks. It will consist of six models, at first there were phones named after the Monza and the Silverstone race tracks.
The phones are based on Vertu Ascent series and have same specs. Each RaceTrack Legends phone is released in limited edition (units), race track maps are engraved on the shell. Two more phones are expected in spring 2007.

A Module Home Assistant Concept - THE BUTLER

The Butler is an interesting concept of an ultra mobile device meant to control home appliances. This device is expected to combine heating and lighting system, entertainment devices, kitchen gadgets and so on. It helps not only in the house, but serves fulfills info manager functions.
Using the top mount you can hang the device on the wall in the kitchen or even the bathroom. It’s possible to plug extension modules, for example, a tiny printer to instantly print a recipe, a note or something else. After connecting a mic, a speaker, a camera and so onyou can make cell or VoIP calls.

NOKIA ANNOUNCES GPS NAVIGATOR FOR CARS

Nokia has officially announced a car navigation device Nokia 330 Auto Navigation. Strange as it may seem for Nokia this device is meant mainly for navigation. Nokia 330 Auto Navigation comes with a 2 GB card with the preinstalled maps of Europe. There is the support of step-by-step voice instructions.
The navigator is equipped with a 3.5” touchscreen LCD and a GPS-receiver. It’s possible to see 2D and 3D maps. The device involves ROUTE 66 Navigate 7 software and NAVTEQ maps.
In addition to navigation functions the device can play music and video and view digital photos. Nokia 330 Auto Navigation is expected to become available in 4Q 2006. The recommended price is €360 (excl. taxes).

GRAMEEN PHONE reaches 10 Million subs

Grameen Phone Ltd., the largest mobile operator in Bangladesh, has reached 10 million mobile subscribers - ten years after it's launch in November 1996, according to their press release.

"People's lifestyles are changing with the introduction of mobile phones in Bangladesh," said Erik Aas, CEO of GrameenPhone. "Mobile phones are not only a tool for the privileged anymore, but they are now empowering people from all groups in all areas of our country."
The company has more than 5000 employees, and estimates another 100,000 people to be directly dependant on its business by working for vendors, suppliers and retailers. Additionally, the internationally acclaimed Village Phone Program is providing good business opportunities for more than 260,000 Village Phone operators, mostly poor rural women, all across the country."

YAHOO TO TEST IMAGE ADVERTISING ON MOBILE PHONES

Yahoo Inc. is to begin delivering graphical ads to mobile phones as part of a test of how it can extend corporate brand marketing on the Web into the wireless market, the company said on Monday. Reuters reports.

"The challenge is that because cellphone screens have limited real estate, ads have to more relevant," said Julie Ask, an analyst with

Jupiter Research.

Banners ads are nothing new on cellphones. Start-ups like

Third Screen Media of Boston already work with ad agencies, buyers and mobile carriers to deliver ads to wireless users."

SOURCE: Textually

Motorola phone with DVB-H

Motorola is an active follower of DVB-H mobile TV standard. Nevertheless it hasn’t released a mobile phone supporting the standard. Every now and then we come across the info on company’s activity in the sphere. One of the latest was the report by Motorola’s spokesman that the first mobile phones supporting DVB-H would come out next year.

T-Mobile is testing a proto of such a phone. The product is equipped with a big 352x288 pixels touchscreen LCD, a 1.3-megapixel camera, a 5D-pad, a headphones jack and a miniUSB connector.

There is an interesting point in the assessment – actively promoting DVB-H standard Motorola has recently announced the MOTOVIEW phone in Korea, which supports the competing standard DMB

3G Launch Delayed in India

3G Launch - Will it happen atleast by Year 2008???

ET reports that the Ministry of Defence has informed the Department of Telecom that the armed services would require additional time, up to 390 days, to vacate the 45 MHz spectrum which it currently occupies.
The delay means that 3G services will now be launched only in early ’08 instead of the second half of ’07.
Government sources said the primary reason for the defence ministry seeking more time was due to BSNL’s and MTNL’s failure to complete the Rs 980 crore alternative optic fibre backbone for the armed forces as per schedule.
Also Read:TRAI fixes hybrid 3G spectrum fee structure

Defence ministry to free spectrum for 3G by year end

Nokia partners with Stanford University

Nokia has established a research facility in Palo Alto and the company is also entering into a three-year collaborative effort with Stanford University.
"Stanford is located just two miles from the research facility and they would be participating in joint research by offering new project-oriented courses on mobile computing and services.
They would also be using their own campus as an experimental testing ground for the new technologies developed by the two groups."

personalizes your cell phone with your own photo or design

Set yourself apart from the crowd with a skin that reflects your tastes and passions. Choose from a wide selection of designs from professional sports leagues, entertainment, colleges, fashion and more. You can even create your own skins with the Photo Uploader. Skinit offers thousands of skins to dress your cell phone or iPod, and if you can't find a skin that fits you, they also offer the ultimate in personalization enabling you to upload your own photo and their design team will fit it to your device.

Sony Ericsson Concept Phone - ipod style dial pad

Here is a mocked up Sony Ericsson concept phone designed by Torbjorn Eriksson. It's not by Sony Ericsson themselves so most likely it will stay on design draft only. Combining with the odd rotary keypad design, the concept phone has a ipod style dial pad for navigation purpose. There aren't many phones with rotary keypad till now, getting use to it will need a long painful time

Reliance Communications Signs MMS Interoperability Agreements With Global Players

Unlike SMS, if MMS has to be sent between carriers there is a need for interoperability agreements between various carriers across GSM and CDMA networks. Reliance Communications has today announced the launch of MMS Interoperability agreements with carriers like China Mobile, China Unicom, Digi-Malaysia, Telstra – Australia and MTNL, among others. Reliance said in a statement that it is currently in discussion and also, testing interoperability with other operators in India. So Reliance Mobile customers can send MMSes and videos to subscribers on other major telecom networks. You may wonder how many Reliance subscribers actually send MMS in any case. Mahesh Prasad, President – Application Services Group, Reliance Communications, said: “There is an increasing trend in the usage of MMS and camera phones among mobile customers and over 2,50,000 MMS downloads were saved or sent from Reliance Mobile World during the recent festivals.” That’s a big number. The Economic Times has an article here on what other telcos are doing on the MMS interoperability agreement front. Apparently every operator is moving at drastic pace in signing agreements since that’s the only way to grow this value-added piece, of course, apart from the content piece.

au DESIGN project from KDDI

With an even greater focus on sound and design aspects, the new lineup is broader than ever before, catering to a wide variety of user preferences and lifestyles. All 12 models are capable of processing the latest services such as "au My Page", a personal portal sevice, and "EZ Channel Plus", a high-definition video and music programming service, while individual models boast their own distinct features, such as EZ TV ('One-Seg') reception or a slim-line 15mm model design.

au DESIGN Project

Gmail launched its new application for mobile phones

As informed earlier in my blog, Gmail has launched their mobile application for all web enabled phones. To use Gmail for mobile, point your phone's web browser to http://gmail.com/app Enjoy the great features.

what made me crazy about gmail is the features and the message views, compose option and other options. Hope everyone will enjoy it.

Google aims at fast email for mobile phones

Google is introducing a custom version of its Gmail - Reuters.
"Because it is an application and not running through a browser ... it looks and feels like Gmail on the desktop," said Tony Hsieh, product manager for the Gmail on mobile service.

These include the ability to search through one's e-mail history, to organize e-mails according to conversation, and automatic synchronization so any e-mail read on the phone show up as already read when you sign on a computer the next time."

Multiple operating systems for mobile by DoCoMo & Intel

According to iTWire, NTT DoCoMo has developed, with Intel, specifications for mobile phone that is able to switch between different operating systems and their associated applications.

"One use of the technology will be to enable companies to install an original browser and scheduler, and set an internal security policy for the terminal while allowing individuals to install their own games and other software in the alternative, open domaing, without risk of compromising corporate data or applications."

AIRCEL launches BGM services

AIRCEL yesterday launched the Background Music Service (BGM)to its subscribers in Chennai and TN circles. AIRCEL in association with IMImobile (An End to End VAS enabler) launched the BGM services, which offers customers to play their favorite songs in background while they speak. This service comes at a monthly subscription of INR 50 and INR 5 per song change (Also INR 5 will be charged for browsing the IVR to selecting the songs). AIRCEL one of the Leading mobile operator in south, No. 1 in Tamilnadu with 3 million subscribers,is the first one in India to launch this service. Earlier this year, AIRCEL had launched Talking SMS in associatiom with IMImobile was a big success(First of it kind). IMImobile has recently got a funding of 10 million USD from PEQUOT, also recently setup a 3G lab in Mauritius is ready with 3G applications.

While other operators are ready and waiting for 3G services, AIRCEL yet to launch their GPRS services.