The Telecommunication Box

Tips on the New iPhone 3GS

2009-11-11T10:36:00.000-08:00

The iPhone 3GS is arguably the most popular phone for 2009. It's the phone that every would love to own.

However, there are a few things that you need to know if you want to get the best out of your iPhone. You need to know about the tips on the new iPhone 3GS because they will teach you useful shortcuts and cool tricks. There may also be some useful information on how to make your batteries last longer.

I see no point in delaying this any longer so let's proceed with the list of tips and tricks.

tips on the new iPhone 3GS

Taking a screen shot: Simply hold the iPhone's "home" button, then hit the "power/sleep" button. The screen will flash for a brief moment and the current screen contents will be saved to the Camera Roll.

Turn Off Vibrate in Games: You don't really need vibrate to enjoy most of the games so turn it off to extend battery life.

Text Messaging For Free: Try FreeMMS. This is available for only $1 app from the App Store. It's really worth it because it allows users to send unlimited text messages--even picture messages--with out any charge.

Closing an Frozen App: Buggy apps are common even on the new iPhone. To forcibly quit a frozen app, simply press the Home button for at least six seconds.

Minimize use of 3D programs: three dimensional technology is cool but it drains a lot of power so use programs that use it sparingly to get more out of your battery.

Use Auto Lock: This useful feature allows one to save power because it automatically piuts the handset in sleep mode after a a certain amount of time. Go to Settings -> General -> Auto-Lock to enable this feature.

These are just a few of the tips on the new iPhone 3GS. Do a bit of research on the web to find some more.

This ends this post. Keep on tuning in to get more news on the Telecommunication Box Blog.

Unlocked Cell Phones for AT&T

2009-10-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

Unlocked cell phones provide a lot of freedom for consumers. Those who want to transfer to a different network can bring along an unlocked cell phone and get a new SIM card for the new service provider.

These phones also do not come with a mobile phone contract so a user will not be bound to a carrier for two long years.

Let's look at some unlocked cell phones for AT&T. We need to limit the phones to a single carrier to make this post short and interesting. Or else we may end up with an article that's hundreds of paragraphs long. There are too many unlocked phones in the market so we need to set a limit.

unlocked cell phones for AT&T

Nokia N97: This is Nokia's premiere phone for 2009. However, Nokia does not have a strong relationship with US carriers so this marvelous phone has to be sold unlocked. The Nokia N97 is being sold for as low as $678.

LG KP500: This affordable touchscreen phone is very popular with millions of units sold through out the globe. The Cookie is being offered for only $148.

LG CU400: A simple and very cheap mobile phone. It is available for as low as $63.

BlackBerry Curve 8900: A compact smartphone with a good camera. This new Curve is being sold for around $ 485.

Samsung BlackJack I616: A solid smartphone for business and regular consumers. Available for as low as $ 160.

Nokia 5530 XpressMusic: This this the maker's second touchscreen phone. Suitable for a music phone that can play different formats. Sold at around $270.

Samsung i8910 Omnia: A high-end touchscreen phone with loads of advanced features and a powerful camera. Priced at around $700.

Nokia 6790 Surge: A smartphone with a futuristic design and a text keyboard. Sold at around $340.

These are just some of the unlocked cell phones for AT&T. There are plenty of sellers online so I'm sure you'll find the phone you want with a bit of research.

That's it for this week's post. Tune in frequently to get useful information and mobile phone news.

Sprint HTC Touch Pro2 Specifications

2009-10-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Sprint has arguably the best mobile phone line-up among the major US carriers. With the exception of the iPhone OS, the Now Network covers all the major platforms. They have the Tour for BlackBerry users, the Palm Pre for webOS, and the HTC Touch Pro2 for Windows Mobile.

A lot of consumers are interested in the Touch Pro2. This was recognized by service providers and thus the WinMo phone is now available across major carriers. However, these devices are not identical since they operate on different networks. Thus, certain consumers are interested in
Sprint HTC Touch Pro2 specifications because it's devoted to their preferred network.

Let's list the Sprint HTC Touch Pro2 specifications on this blog. I'm sure that it will be useful for Now Network subscribers.

Model: HTC Touch Pro2 (T7373)

Processor: Qualcomm MSM7200A™, 528 MHz
Operating System: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
Memory: ROM: 512 MB, RAM: 288 MB
Dimensions: (LxWxT) 116 X 59.2 X 16.65 mm
Weight: 178.5 grams (6.3 ounces) with battery
Display: 3.6-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with 480 X 800 WVGA resolution
Network: HSPA/WCDMA: Europe/Asia: 900/2100 MHz, Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds, Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: Europe/Asia: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz,
Device Control: TouchFLO 3D, Zoom bar
Keyboard: Slide-out 5-row QWERTY keyboard
GPS: Internal GPS antenna
Connectivity: Bluetooth® 2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless stereo headsets
Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g
HTC ExtUSB: (11-pin mini-USB 2.0, audio jack, and TV Out* in one)
Main camera: 3.2 megapixel color camera with auto focus
Second camera: VGA CMOS color camera
Audio supported formats: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, MIDI, M4A
Video supported formats: WMV, ASF, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, M4V, AVI
Battery: Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, 1500 mAh
Expansion Slot: microSD memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
AC Adapter: Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz
DC output: 5V and 1A
Special Features: G-Sensor, Straight Talk, Noise-canceling dual microphones and speakers

Those are the Sprint HTC Touch Pro2 specifications. You should visit the Sprint or HTC website to get complete information on this exciting device.

That's it for this post. Hang out at this blog to get more of hottest and latest information on the most exciting mobile phone topics.

Garmin G60 AT&T

2009-10-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

The Garmin nüvifone G60 turned a lot of head when it was launched. Unfortunately, delays over the release of the device have virtually sucked out all of the spotlight from this GPS-centric phone. Fortunately, AT&T has finally managed to ink a deal to sell the device finally giving it a chance to reach consumers after being shelved for two years.

The Garmin G60 AT&T will be on available beginning October 4 which is two days after this post has been published. The device is exclusive only to AT&T and it's partners so it's distribution is still limited. But it's a start.

But why would consumers purchase Garmin G60 AT&T since newer and more technologically advanced handsets are out in the market. Well, this handset is targeted towards GPS mobile phone users.

This upcoming AT&T handset comes with Garmin's expertise and experience in the field of GPS. One can expect this handset to provide easy-to-use location experiences. It's also a device that fully integrates voice, data and mobile web with its GPS navigator capabilities.

Users will find the Garmin G60 AT&T to be a very useful device for travel. This mobile phone provides maps and millions of points of interest (POI) for North America. It's also a great gadget for in-car navigation. It will come with a dashboard and windshield mount making it ideal for portable navigational use.

Let's talk about other features. One can expect this device to keep up with most of the modern phones on the market. The nüvifone is equipped with a three megapixel camera with auto-focus and geotagging which supplies an exact latitude and longitude reference for the image.

Users can also surf the web with the handset's good HTML web browser. Consumers can also use the carrier's 20,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to access the web. Text messaging is also fast and easy with the touch-screen virtual keyboard. The G60 is also blazing fast with the aid of the 3G network.

If you're an AT&T subscriber and you want a solid GPS phone then the G60 is one of the best choices you can make. In 48 hours or less, one can get the chance to try out the very promising Garmin G60.

Waterproof Case BlackBerry Storm

2009-09-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

After spending time at forums dedicated to smartphone and handset users, I discovered that a lot of consumers have problems with wet devices. Needless to say, water can cause a lot of damage to an electronic device so keeping it away from these gadgets is a priority.

An the problem is that at can be difficult to keep water and other liquids away from our mobile phones. For instance, we have pools, sinks, toilets, pitchers, beer cans and aquariums in our homes that can be danger zones for expensive mobile phones.

I currently own a BlackBerry Storm and it is quite expensive. I wouldn't want to risk water damage to this high-end device so I decided to take precautions. The best solution I found is the waterproof case BlackBerry Storm.

You might say that it's unwise to spend money on a case when one can simply be more careful while using the device. Well, that may be true but there are also accidents waiting to happen. It only takes a few drops of rain to cause major damage to a phone so I opted to take the safest route by purchasing a waterproof case BlackBerry Storm.

I thin that buying a waterproof case BlackBerry Storm is a good investment. Losing a expensive device to water damage will cost you more in the long run. The price for this protective equipment range from $17 to $50 well within the range of any smartphone user.

This cases often have a clear membrane on the front panel to allow users to use the touchscreen and buttons of a phone. The material is made from a tough water-resistant type of plastic that can withstand corrosion and provide a bit of protection from shock.

You can find cases for other phones other than the BlackBerry Bold. I always say that being safe is a lot better than being sorry so get that case whenever you get the chance.

That's if for this post on the waterproof case BlackBerry Storm. Tune in to this blog to get more solid mobile phone news and information.

Tour of the Pantech Matrix Pro

2009-09-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

The Pantech Matrix Pro is one of the latest smartphones that was added to the AT&T line up. This device is no ordinary phone. It is loaded with all the features and capabilities that any user can want. However, we won't really be able to fathom all the nuances of this device unless we go on an in depth tour of the Pantech Matrix Pro.

Let's begin this tour of the Pantech Matrix Pro by looking at its design. This device is encased in a dual slider body with a 12 key dial pad for phone number entry and vanity number entry. It also offers a full QWERTY key pad for quick and confident text entry while emailing or sending SMS messages. This AT&T smartphone also offers a 2.4 inch QVGA screen with 240 x 320 pixels.

Now let's proceed with the features that makes this device work. The handset is powered by a Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system that provides a intuitive sliding panel interface for easy access to favorite tasks. This device also sports 256 MB ROM and 128 MB RAM of memory.

Let's move on to the tools and data features of this device. One can find a number of useful tools from this device. For instance it offers, Microsoft Office Mobile (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Xpress Mail for POP3 access, Microsoft Direct Push, AT&T Navigator, PC Tethering, Threaded SMS, Mobile Banking and Multitasking.

This tour of the Pantech Matrix Pro now takes us to the Camera and Video features. This Windows Mobile handset offers an integrated 2.0MP CMOS camera with self-timer function, Mpeg4 video recording/playing, Video Share and other features.

Now a look at the Organizer features of the Matrix Pro:

Alarm Clock
Calendar
Notepad
Calculator
Tasks
World Time
Voice Note

This AT&T phone also provides personalization and entertainment features. A user will get an integrated MP3 music player, MusicID, XM Radio and Windows Media Player 10 Mobile for music and video on the go. This device provides support for mP3, WAV, AAC, WMA, and Real audio file formats and MPEG4, WMV video file formats.

I could go on and on with this tour of the Pantech Matrix Pro. There's so much to this phone that I'll leave it top you to discover this handset. Just a few mouse click will lead you to this device.

That's it for this post. Tune in to this telecommunication box to get more useful info on phones and other topics.

Samsung Instinct Phone Covers

2009-08-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

The Samsung Instinct is one of the top phones for 2008. It's a feature packed phone that comes in a stylish design. This handset offers a touchscreen, a camera and all the features one would expect from a top notch mobile phones.

However, mobile phones like the Instinct are delicate devices and will sustain damage if they are handled without care. It can survive rough handling but continuous use and damage will take its toll and a user will end up with a broken phone. Fortunately, accessories like Samsung Instinct phone covers can help to protect your mobile phone.

The Samsung Instinct is a sophisticated phone so it also comes with an expensive price. Investing in Samsung Instinct phone covers is worth it. Spending a few more bucks to protect an expensive device is a logical decision.

But where can a user purchase this accessory. Well, in this day and age, one can find anything online. One can find a number of websites that sell Samsung Instinct phone covers and other mobile phone accessories by using a web browser.

These cell phone accessories costs from as little as $2 to a high of twenty bucks. They are made from a variety of materials from leather, rubber, and silicone rubber. Users can also choose a variety of styles, designs and colors for these accessories. These items can add a personal touch to one's touchscreen phone.

That's it for this post on the Samsung Instinct phone covers. Check out these accessories online if you want to add a little protection and style to your phone. Tune in to the Phone Cabinet blog to see more news and information related to mobile phones.

HTC Touch Pro 2 Sprint Release

2009-08-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

The HTC Touch Pro 2 is without a doubt one of the most anticipated mobile phones for 2009. THis Windows Mobile smartphone will enter the US market today with T-Mobile but it expected to be offered by multiple carriers including Sprint.

However, information on the HTC Touch Pro 2 Sprint release has been sparse. As a result, Sprint subscribers are beginning to doubt the rumors of the device coming to their service provider. Fortunately, recent information on the possibility of this smartphone coming to Sprint has surfaced.

The HTC Touch Pro 2 Sprint release information came from a portal for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile application. The portal reveals that the HTC Rhodium is a "compatible phone" that supports full audio and video content for the app. The HTC Rhodium is the early name of the the highly touted Touch Pro 2.

This information indicates that the HTC Touch Pro 2 Sprint release may be imminent. However, this is not official so I would advise Sprint subscribers not to get their hopes to high.

But why is their a great demand for this HTC smartphone. Well, reviews indicate that the HTC Touch Pro 2 has been hailed by some experts as the best Windows Mobile device in the world. That's a great honor considering there are a lot of Windows Mobile devices in the market.

This handset has a great design and combined with a wide range of features, it's definitely a winner.

We hope that Sprint will make this phone official. The carrier's line-up will definitely improve if it include this wonderful piece of equipment.

That's it for this post on the HTC Touch Pro 2 Sprint release. Tune in to this blog to get the latest news and updates on the hottest and coolest mobile phones.

Palm Pre and Verizon Wireless

2009-07-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

The mobile phone blogosphere was recently filled with stories about the Palm Pre and Verizon Wireless. The stories about the possibility that the webOS device would be available from Verizon Wireless started last month.

The folks at the Wall Street Journal published an intriguing story about the Palm Pre and Verizon Wireless in June. The article revealed that a person familiar with the situation has disclosed that Verizon Wireless will begin selling the webOS device in January 2010.

This news was received with elation by loyal Verizon Wireless subscribers who want to get the Palm Pre. Sprint holds the exclusive rights to the Palm Pre so Big Red's loyal following are unable to get it unless they sign with Sprint.

Thefirst webOS device is an exciting handset and is considered one of the top phones for this year, so it's understandable for Verizon consumers to crave the device. They are hoping that a Palm Pre and Verizon Wireless will come true next year.

This month the Palm Pre and Verizon Wireless rumors were again ignited during the company's investor conference call. Big Red execs mentioned that the company will carry the "Pre early next year."

So what does this mean? Well, it means that Verizon is working hard to add the Palm Pre to their lineup this year. The carrier reported heavy losses last quarter so the arrival of the high;y regarded webOS smartphone might be able to stem the tide.

Unfortunately, Sprint's exclusive deal still stands in the way. Sprint claimed that it's contract lasts' more than six months. However, Palm will benefit if the Pre will be available from more carriers so making a deal with Verizon is not a far possibility.

I expect more updates and information on this topic will surface as we get closer to 2010.

That's it for this post on the Palm Pre and Verizon Wireless. Tune in to this blog for more wireless news and updates.

Samsung Behold Reviews

2009-07-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

I've recently read about rumors that the replacement or the Samsung Behold is already being cooked up. So I figured that it would be fitting to dedicate a post to this solid mobile phone before its replacement arrived.

This device has already been on the market for about a year. There are plenty of Samsung Behold reviews on the web that can tell tons of info on this handset. Let's go over what the experts say on this phone.

The folks at Cnet.com describes the Samsung Behold as a phone with "an attractive design with a responsive touch screen." They also praise the device for its varied features and photo quality. They describe the phone as fast under T-Mobile's 3G network.

Other Samsung Behold reviews like the one at InfoSync also credits the device for having great call quality and calling features. However, this review also mentions that the phone's web browsing and video player are both mediocre.

The folks at Slash Gear also examined the Behold and describes it as "one of the most enjoyable touchscreen phones on the market." they say that it's a great phone for users who feel that they are not ready for a smartphone. However, they also point that the web browser's controls are hard to use and web pages are rendered poorly.

That's it for this post dedicated to Samsung Behold reviews. it's clear that the device is solid but a bit weak on web browsing. Tune in to this blog for more info on phones and related topics.

Alltell LG Tritan Reviews

2009-07-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Alltel is regional carrier and is not on par with major carriers like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon or T-Mobile. However, that doesn't mean that it can't provide quality and useful mobile phones.

Alltel has some fine offerings and although it may not be as extensive as the nation's largest carriers, consumers will find phones to answer their needs. The LG Tritan is an excellent example of Alltel's excellent lineup. Let's take a good look at some LG Tritan reviews and be more acquainted with this handset.

The LG Tritan can be described as a messaging phone. This implies that it's design is suited for text messaging and email. It offers a very useful slide-out QWERTY keyboard which can be hidden when not in use.

Young users and teens will also like this Alltel phone because of its classy display. The LG Tritan offers a large (3 inch) display with 240 x 400 pixels and 262,144 colors. This vivid screen will surely catch the attention of the audience.

This new messaging phone also sports a 3.0 megapixel camera that can capture those special moments. However, the LG Tritan reviews also point out that it lacks flash, a feature that helps picture quality at night and in low light conditions.

This mobile phone for text messaging provides a good set of features. It provides Bluetooth, EV-DO (though no Wi-Fi), GPS, and a full music player. User can also use it's full-HTML web browser to surf the Internet.

Unfortunately, a look at some LG Tritan reviews will reveal that this phone is weak in a few areas. For instance, the button configuration on the device can make navigation awkward. The phone is also a bit bulky and lefty which might drive away young users who are looking for a stylish phone.

That's it for this quick look at the LG Tritan reviews and opinions on this new Alltel phone. Consumers can get this device for a cheap price of $79.99 after rebates with a 2-year contract. Tune in to this blog for more phones and updates.

Sirius Application for iPhone

2009-06-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

It took the launch of three iPhone models, but the Sirius application has finally arrived. Thousands of iPhone users were clamoring for this app but conflicts between Apple and Sirius have delayed the delivery. Well, the app is finally available but I think that many users will be disappointed with it.

First let's tackle the good news or the strong points of the Sirius application for iPhone.

First for non subscribers, the Sirius application for iPhone will provide a 7 day trial period. The user may then choose to continue using the app and pay the fee ($2.99/month).

This anticipated app also provides benefits for iPhone and iPod touch users with an Internet subscription to SIRIUS or XM. A paid Premium SIRIUS Internet Radio or Premium XM Radio Online subscription benefits from free streaming to iPhone and iPod Touch.

This new app also provides access to exclusive sports and entertainment programming. The Sirius application for iPhone also provides 100% commercial-free music featuring exclusive shows 24/7 music channels.

That let's move on to the bad news. Here's a statement from Sirius:

Some select programming, including MLB Play-by-Play, NFL Play-by-Play, SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, and Howard Stern, will not be available on the iPhone and iPod touch. Listeners will continue to be able to access that programming through the platforms they are currently offered on.

No Howard Stern on the Sirius application for iPhone and iPod touch!!! That's terribly disappointing. The majority of those who are waiting for this app want it because they crave to hear Howard Stern on their iPhones.

It's unfortunate that the Sirius application for iPhone is effectively crippled. Nobody will pay pay $2.99 with out Stern. Let's hope that the best programming on Sirius will be available on the app.

Verizon Wireless LG EnV3 Review

2009-06-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

The LG enV2 is one of the most popular phones for Verizon Wireless. It not a high-profile phone. It does not garner a lot of attention because it's not a high-end mobile phone. It's a mid-range device that specializes in messaging and email. Nevertheless, the consumers seem to like it and Verizon Wireless has decided to release the next generation enV.

The LG enV3 is now available at Verizon Wireless for for $179.99 with a 2-year-contract. Let's take a more personal look at this popular messaging phone. Here is my LG enV3 review.

The new LG enV3 is largely similar to its predecessor. It still sports the same unique design with a few minor changes. This new Verizon Wireless phone is slimmer and lighter that previous models. nevertheless, it's still sports the recognizable look of the enV series.

There were also some minor changes with the device's full QWERTY keyboard. This keypad is a key selling point for the device. A QWERTY keyboard maybe the most important feature for the messaging and email handsets. The buttons on this model are more widely separated and the space bar is located at the center of the keypad.

This new Verizon Wireless phone also provide new features and enhancements. The dual screens have increased in size and the camera has also become more powerful. This latest enV also has increased its microSD memory expansion capacity to 16GB.

The features for the LG EnV3 include EVDO data, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, music player and stereo speakers. A nice set of features for a mid-range device.

Now let's go deeper into this LG enV3 review. Do I think that this handset provides a significant improve over the previous models. Well, yes. The look is more modern and sleek. The features and capabilities have become more powerful and expansive. The LG enV3 is a worthy successor in this popular line of messaging phone.

Of course, the enV3 isn't perfect. For instance, it still has a a 2.5mm headphone jack instead of the standard 3.5mm jack. I don't really get why these manufacturer's don't understand that we want to use our own headphones.

That's it for this LG enV3 review. Check out this blog for more news and updates.

LG Vu Applications

2009-05-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

The replacement for AT&T's LG Vu has recently been announced. However, many Vu users will be hesitant to part with their phones. The LG Vu is a decent touchscreen from AT&T. It provides a lot of enjoyments because it can run various applications and do a myriad of tasks.

Let's look at some LG Vu applications. These apps allow one to do a lot of things tasks and activities including those related finance, entertainment, sports or religion. Some of these LG Vu applications and some of them are offered for a small fee.

Without further ado here are some of the best LG Vu applications:

eBuddy: This is one of the most popular and free instant messaging LG Vu applications. It allows users to to chat on MSN, Yahoo!, AIM, ICQ, Google Talk and Facebook; all in one single buddylist.

Open Table: This application allows users to avoid the hassle of calling around for a restaurant reservation or the panic of securing a last-minute table.

GWeather : is a open source J2ME application to obtain weather forecast information for different locations. This free LG Vu app uses the Google Weather API.

TrackMate: This application works for individuals or a groups. It offers live location on maps allows one to track friends live on phone and web or create and share landmarks.

TibiaME: This app is the first massive multiplayer online role-playing game for mobile phones. It allows users to come together with hundreds of players and experience adventures in a colourful virtual world.

MoBible : This app is offered by the leading provider of Christian content for wireless mobile devices. This app brings the Holy Bible to your mobile phone. You can read the Bible or find a little inspiration via the Random Verse functionality.

VeloComputer: This app transforms a phone into an advanced cycling computer. Simply strap the phone on your thigh with a sports holder to get cadence from accelerometer and speed from GPS.

UbiGuitar Mobile :This app is designed for guitarists who are interested in learning scales along all fretboard in different fingering configurations and positions.

Some of the LG Vu applications offer a demo version. You can purchase them after trying out the demos. This phone is not a smartphone but the LG Vu applications on the market can match most of the tops apps for high-powered phones.

LG users can easily find the apps they need online. There are plenty of siytes that offer free downlods or demos of different LG Vu applications.

That's it for this post. Tune in to this blog to get the latest info on mobile phones and services.

Nokia N95 Email

2009-05-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

The Nokia N95 is a versatile device. It has plenty of power and a wide selection of features that enable the user to do a myriad of phone tasks. The Nokia N95 is also an ideal device for mobile email be it web based or provided by a provider. Let's learn more about Nokia N95 email.

A user may need to do some tinkering and configure the necessary settings int the device to enable mobile email. The online setup service by Nokia should be able to provide all the relevant information needed to remedy this problem.

To receive Nokia N95 email, one needs to set up the mailbox properly. This can be achieved by tapping the Nokia Menu Key and choosing Messaging. The next step is to scroll down to Mailbox then click and define your mail box. Follow the instructions the follow to set-up the mobile email.

One can also make adjustments and personalize the Nokia N95 email. To do this one needs to navigate to the Options and then to the E-mail settings. Changes can be made via the email settings including the user, retrieval, automatic retrieval and connection options.

By manipulating the email settings, one can set how much of each email to retrieve or enable phone to pick up messages at regular intervals. One can also make changes to the basic email settings such as incoming and outgoing email servers.

Sending or retrieving Nokia N95 email is not a complicated task. To create an email, the user first needs to compose the message or email. Then send it as an email by entering the email address as the destination. Sending an email is also possible and easier if the recipient is already in one's contact database.

To retrieve a Nokia N95 email, simply navigate to the mailbox and choose Options then Retrieve e-mail then choose All to collect every message. it is also possible to configure the device to receive new email automatically. However, this may increase data traffic and could be more expensive than manually retrieving email.

Deleting emails can be done from the phone only or the server. Deleting Nokia N95 email from the phone allows a user to pick messages up again from the main computer later on. On the other hand, deleting the emails from the server will erase them permanently.

This concludes this post on email on the Nokia N95 smartphone. Tune in to this blog to get useful information on mobile phone tasks and other topics.

New Launched Samsung Mobile Phones

2009-04-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of Samsung devices, then you're probably interested on the new cell phones that this company has produced. New launched Samsung mobile phones should be an interesting topic for a cell phone fan.

Samsung is recognized as one of the top mobile phone manufacturers in the world. Samsung is the second largest handset maker behind Nokia. To keep its place, this South-Korea based company ensures that new launched Samsung mobile phones will attract the fancy of consumers.

There are different types of new launched Samsung mobile phones. This is because the company targets a wide range of markets. New launched Samsung mobile phones vary from simple handsets to powerful Smartphones. Manufacturing handsets that cater to every market allows Samsung to have a thriving cell phone business.

Let's take a look at the new launched Samsung mobile phones for this year. Here's a list of the new launched Samsung mobile phones for 2009 with their respective carriers.

Samsung SCH-r470 TwoStep - U.S. Cellular
Samsung T929 Memoir - T-Mobile
Samsung S8300 UltraTOUCH
Samsung Blue Earth
Samsung Omnia i8910
Samsung Beat DJ M7600
Samsung SCH-r211 - Cricket
Samsung S5600
Samsung S5230
Samsung B2100
Samsung a877 Impression - AT&T
Samsung SCH-r810 Finesse - MetroPCS
Samsung a657 - AT&T
Samsung T301g - Tracfone
Samsung T201g - Tracfone
Samsung T101g - Tracfone
Samsung Instinct S30 - Sprint
Samsung Propel Pro - AT&T
Samsung Trance - Verizon Wireless
Samsung U350 Smooth - Verizon Wireless
Samsung Tint R420 - MetroPCS
Samsung i7500

These are the new launched Samsung mobile phones for the early part of 2009. The year has not yet reached the end of the first half so expect more new launched Samsung mobile phones to come.

That's if for this post on new launched Samsung mobile phones. Tune in to this blog to get the latest news and if on various mobile phone topics.

Best Verizon Phone for Music

2009-04-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

I think that the addition of music players to mobile phones is one of the best ideas in the industry. Not only does it combine two gadgets in one device, it also brings a lot of phone to mobile phones.

Let's keep it real. How much would fun would a cell phone be without a music player? Music phones are very popular because of their main feature. Music brings a lot of color to what would otherwise be a boring device.

Now, the question most people want to know is, "what is the best music phone?" Well, I think that finding the best product has a lot to do with personal preference. In the end, it's the user who decides the what is the best product. However, I think limiting the search to say the best music phone in one carrier would be helpful especially to that carrier's subscribers. Let's look at the candidates for the best Verizon phone for music.

Verizon has a service called the V Cast Music Store which caters to a selection of music-enabled handsets. It offers songs at $1.99 per track for the best Verizon phone for music and other handsets capable of playing music. But what is the best Verizon phone for music?

Well, there are a few candidates that can claim the best Verizon phone for music throne. Let's take a quick look at the devices that can be the best Verizon phone for music.

LG Chocolate VX8550: this best Verizon phone for music candidate sports a nice slider design to go along with its music player. The LG chocolate also offers a brilliant 262K color display and a built-in 1.3-megapixel camera with zoom and video recording. This possible best Verizon phone for music is equipped with stereo Bluetooth that enables user to listen to songs via wireless headset.

Motorola Q Music 9m: although this device is primarily a smartphone, it can still be the best Verizon phone for music because it supports over-the-air music downloads. This best Verizon phone for music candidate combines the power of a smartphone with music playing-capabilities. The Motorola Q Music 9m provides a 1.3-megapixel camera, QWERTY keyboard, stereo Bluetooth, and GPS.

LG Chocolate 3: this is open of the latest music phones for Verizon. This new candidate for the best Verizon phone for music award sports an elegant filp design with an MP3 player on the outside, complete with control wheel. Other music features include an FM transmitter, dual speakers, and Bluetooth for wireless stereo sound. This nominee for the candidate for the best Verizon phone also offers enough internal memory to store up to 250 songs.

Those are my selection for the possible the best Verizon phone for music. There are other music capable handset in big Red's lineup but I think that these ones are on the top of the best Verizon phone for music food chain.

How to Use HTC Touch Diamond as a Modem

2009-04-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

The HTC Diamond Smartphone is popular to many Smartphone users because it can be used as a modem. You can use this handset to access the internet even though Wi-Fi hotspots or Ethernet ports are unavailable.

If you can learn how to use HTC Touch Diamond as a modem then you won't be reliant on computers to access the web. You don't have to woory about browsing speeds when you learn how to use HTC Touch Diamond as a modem. This device is 3G capable so it can deliver speeds of up to 2Mbps per second when used as a modem.

The HTC Diamond is also data capable and able to connect to a computer via a data cable or Bluetooth so it's can be used as a modem. However, learning how how to use HTC Touch Diamond as a modem is not simple. You need to follow certain steps before you can succesfully connect it to a PC as a modem.

After spending a bit of time on the web to discover how to use HTC Touch Diamond as a modem, I was able to get some useful info. Here are some advice on how to use HTC Touch Diamond as a modem from the Vodafone forum:

Setting up the modem

1. On the PC, click Start, click Control Panel.

2. If Pick A Category is displayed, click Switch to Classic View from the left menu.

3. Double click Phone and Modem Options.

4. Click the Modems tab.

5. Select relevant Data Modem (ie HTC/Diamond/etc), click Properties.

6. Click the Advanced tab.

7. In the Extra initialization commands box, enter at+cgdcont=1,”IP”,”internet”

8. Click OK twice.

Setting up the connection

1. On the PC, click Start, click Control Panel.

2. Double click Network Connections.

3. Click on Create a new connection from the left menu.

4. The New Connection Wizard will appear, click Next.

5. Select Connect to the Internet, click Next.

6. Select Set up my connection manually, click Next.

7. Select Connect using a dial-up modem, click Next.

8. Select the Modem – ie HTC Data Modem and ensure all other modems are de-selected, click Next.

9. In the ISP Name field enter Vodafone UK (GPRS) click Next.

10. In the Phone number field, enter *99# and click Next. 11. In the User name field enter web

12. In the Password field enter web

13. In the Confirm password field enter web, click Next.

14. Click Finish.

15. When the Connect box appears, click Cancel.

Making the connection

1. On the PC, click Start, click Control Panel.

2. Double click Network Connections.

3. Double click Vodafone UK (GPRS)

4. Click Dial.

However, this steps on how to use HTC Touch Diamond as a modem may vary depednding on your carrier. Nevertheless these steps gives some useful hints on how to use HTC Touch Diamond as a modem.

Tune in to this blog to see more tips and information on various mobile phone topics. I hope that this post will get you closer on reaping the benefits of being able to know how to use HTC Touch Diamond as a modem.

Live Mobile TV Devices

2009-04-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

I recently read an article about the expansion of Qualcomm's MediaFLO mobile TV service. AT&T and Verizon Wireless are the US carriers that offer this service. Now, the article got me thinking about viewing TV on my cellphone. This of course, led me to thinking about mobile phones that are compatible with Qualcomm's MediaFLO mobile TV service. Ans so, I decided to make a post on live mobile TV devices offered on the US.

But before we proceed with a list of live mobile TV devices. I think it would be helpful to provide a small preview of Qualcomm's MediaFLO mobile TV service as it is offered by AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Both carriers basically offer packages that allow users to view full-length episodes of soaps, sitcoms, sports, or news programs on live mobile TV devices. They also offer a wide selection of channels which can be viewed in broadcast quality picture and sound on live mobile TV devices.

Here's some of the channels offered bu US live mobile TV devices: CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Mobile, MSNBC, MTV, NBC2Go, Nickelodeon.

These live mobile TV devices charge at list $15 for the service. AT&T and Verizon Wireless live mobile TV are now available in the majority of US regions.

Now let's move on to the list of live mobile TV devices. Theses handsets vary from mid-range handsets to high end live mobile TV devices.

List of live mobile TV devices available in the US:

LG Invision - AT&T
LG Incite - AT&T
LG Vu - AT&T
LG Voyager - Verizon
Motorola Krave ZN4 - Verizon
Samsung Eternity - AT&T
Samsung Access - AT&T

That's it for this post on live mobile TV devices. If your interested in this service, then a good look at the live mobile TV devices might help to convince you.

The Best Sprint Phone for Texting and Instant Messaging

2009-03-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

After browsing the web while doing research on mobile phones, I noticed that a lot of people were interested in the best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging. the growing interest in isolating the best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging indicates that text messaging and email has really become popular as a form of communication.

I think that providing a list of candidates for the best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging might help narrow it down to one device. I feel that the personal preference is always the final judge in choosing the best so providing a list of candidates for the best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging would be the best way to go.

But what are the attributes of the best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging? Well, I have a few basic criteria. First it must have a convenient text entry key pad like a QWERTY keyboard. You see a QWERTY allows users to type or compose a message faster because there's no need to press a key more than once. For instance, typing "BIRD" on a normal a numeric keypad would take 9 presses compared to only four with a QWERTY texpad.

The the best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging should also offer support for various email and IM clients. I also think that the best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging should offer an affordable price. Those are my criteria s let's proceed with a list of the possible best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging:

LG Lotus: sleek flip design with a full QWERTY keyboard
LG Rumor: side slider that features a a QWERTY text keyboard
LG Rumor 2: side slider that features a a QWERTY text keyboard
Palm Centro: compact and lightweight Smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard
BlackBerry 8830: thin CDMA/GSM Smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard
BlackBerry Pearl 8130: slim CDMA Smartphone with a SureType keypad
HTC Mogul: WM6 Professional Smartphone with slide-out QWERTY keyboard
Samsung Ace: sleek hybrid Smartphone with QWERTY keyboard
Motorola Q9c :slim CDMA Smartphone with a special ergonomic QWERTY keyboard

These handset's are my pick for the best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging. Now it's up to you to pick the best Sprint phone for texting and instant messaging that fits your life style. You can choose an affordable phone or a more expensive but more feature-packed Smartphone.

Captiol Hill Neglected to Read Blackberry Storm Reviews

2009-03-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

There were a lot of buzz surrounding the BlackBerry Storm when it was first unveiled. After all, the concept seems destined to be a winner. RIM the maker of the very popular BlackBerry devices wanted to combine a touchscreen with the patented features and look of their Smartphones. However, when the Blackberry Storm reviews doubts began to appear.

This appears to be the case with many of the folks at Capitol Hil l. Many of them ditched their old Smartphones to try out RIM's touchscreen BlackBerry. If they have read Blackberry Storm reviews then they might have reconsidered. Unfortunately, it appears that our lawmakers are too busy to read Blackberry Storm reviews or any other cellphone review.

The folks at Capitol Hill who jumped into the Storm bandwagon now want to crucify the touchscreen BlackBerry. They have realized that they mostly used their BlackBerries for heavy email and a touchscreen is not ideal for text entry. They could have known that if they read the Blackberry Storm reviews that point out the difficulty of text entry with the device's touchscreen.

Here's a quote from Rodell Mollineau, a communications staff director, describing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's reaction to his BlackBerry Storm:

Three days later. I literally walk in and he's cursing with four-letter words, and he was slamming it down, saying, ‘I can't get e-mail to work all right.' It just is not for people here who mainly use their BlackBerrys for that.

Well, if they have read Blackberry Storm reviews then they would have realized that the device is not suited for email. However, these people are very busy especially wiht the current economic mess sop I don't expect them to have the time to read Blackberry Storm reviews.

But what do the Blackberry Storm reviews say about doing email and other tasks on RIM's touchscreen Smartphone? Well, part of the problem is the clickable touchscreen which requires more work than other touch sensitive handsets. A user needs to click fully to produce a typed letter because a light touch will merely highlight the keys.

Some Blackberry Storm reviews also say that doing simple navigation tasks is difficult due to cramped commands. This means that users often wind up activating something else in the list even if their finger appears to be squarely on the proper item.

These are just a two of the problems highlighted by Blackberry Storm reviews. You'll know more about the troubles of RIM's touchscreen Smartphone by looking at a few Blackberry Storm reviews.

The Nokia 5800 North America has Arrived!

2009-02-26T09:31:00.000-08:00

If you're a Symbian OS fan like me, then you'll be pleased to know that the Nokia 5800 North America will soon be available in US stores. The Nokia 5800 North America was first announced as heading for the US about a month ago and it seems that this will now become a reality. let's take a closer look at the Nokia 5800 North America.

The Nokia 5800 Xpressmusic is Nokia's first touchscreen device. It was launched to enable the handset maker to test the smartphone market. It has became clear that mobile phone trends are indicating that touchscreen handsets are becoming more popular. The Nokia 5800 North America and its variants are just the pioneer touchscreen handsets from Nokia.

Some experts do not expect a lot from the Nokia 5800 North America. That's understandable because it's a first for Nokia. the Nokia 5800 North America and its variants are a sort of experiment and will have some flaws. However, the Nokia 5800 North America will still be a solid Smartphone and will have its share of fans especially from Symbian users.

Now let's focus on the features and capabilities of the Nokia 5800 North America. This device sports a 3.2-inch nHD (640x360 pixels) resolution touchscreen. The Nokia 5800 North America will also run on the tested S60 5th Edition OS. The Nokia 5800 North America will also offer a a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera.

Other features offered by the Nokia 5800 North America include quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) radios and dual-band UMTS (850/1900MHz) support for North American 3G. The Nokia 5800 North America also offers a built-in GPS receiver, MPEG4/WMV/3gp video player, Stereo FM radio with RDS, 3.5 mm audio output jack and other cool goodies.

The Nokia 5800 North America will offered at its full price of $399. It will be available soon probably at the Nokia flagship shops in Chicago and New York City.

That ends this post on the Nokia 5800 North America. tune in to this blog to get info and the latest news on cool mobile phones and telecommunication devices.

Virgin Mobile's Stylish Ocean 2 Mobile Phone

2009-02-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

Virgin mobile rolls out its top phone for 2009. The Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset was first revealed several days ago at a press release on the company's sponsorship of Britney Spears' upcoming tour. The regional wireless service provider ultimately decided to unveil the Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset. Let's learn more about this Virgin Mobile device.

The Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset sports a stylish and unique design that gives it a classy look. The upcoming Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset has a dual slider body that will attract a lot of users. This second Ocean is a bit slimmer than the original Ocean mobile phone. It also sports a large 2.6 inches QVGA display that automatically rotates between landscape and portrait mode.

The Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset is being marketed by Virgin Mobile as a 3G Social Networking Powerhouse. In this age of online social networking, the Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset is a useful tool. The Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset offers quick access to sites like Facebook and MySpace.

The Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset also provides a lot of features so as to compete on equal footing with the feature heavy handsets of this era. For example, the Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset is equipped with a 2 megapixel camera with video capture.

Other notable features for the Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset include its cleverly hidden slide-out QWERTY keyboard. This hardware feature comes in handy when texting or composing emails. The Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset also offers Microsoft Exchange and POP3 email accounts which blends well with its QWERTY keyboard.

Users will also find a myriad of wireless options with this upcoming phone. The Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset is blazing fast because it runs EV-DO for 3G. The Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset also has stereo Bluetooth for hands free music and dialing.

The upcoming Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset is also equipped with GPS. Users can use the Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset which is also equipped with Google Maps to find locations and get directions to hard to find destinations.

Full HTML browser with visual tabbing, Buddy Beacon, HelioUp, microSD card slot up to 2GB, 3.5mm headset jack, MP3 player with side-loaded capability and the YouTube video support round out the list of features for the Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset.

That concludes this post on the Virgin Mobile Ocean 2 social networking handset. Tune in to this blog to see more new and exciting mobile phones.

The Stylish Nokia 7510 for T-Mobile

2009-01-14T06:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a cool new phone for T-Mobile customers. Early this year Nokia and T-Mobile officially introduced the stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone. Let's take a closer look at the newly launched and stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile.

The stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile is all about fashion and making the user look good. Any user seen carrying the stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile will definitely look cool and hip. This device comes with colorful, exchangeable Xpress-on covers that users can personalize to their liking.

This cool mobile phone sports a fashionable design. The stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile features a clamshell form factor with dual color displays. Users will love the external "hidden until lit" display on the stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone. This minor display will only be visible when the device is in use. The stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile is equipped with different lights that project an awesome show when the phone is in use.

Users can use a special push-to-open side button that will quickly flip the stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile open. Clamshell phones require a bit of energy to open and the stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile provides easy access to its keypad and internal display.

However, the stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile is not limited to lights and an attractive design. After all what good is an attractive handset that performs terribly and lacks a lot of features. The stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile provides a good set of features that will keep users happy and satisfied.

The stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile offers 2 megapixel camera that allows users to capture cherished moments. This camera offers a LED flash and 4x digital zoom that delivers clear and crisp images. The stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile also offers a great imaging feature called the Nokia Image Perfection System (NIPS) which helps the user to come up with vivid photos.

A clear and brilliant 2.2-inch QVGA display is hidden within the body of the stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile. This cool flip phone also provides musical entertainment with its FM Radio and an enhanced MP3 player. Users can also surf the web with the web browser and use the A-GPS to find places or their intended destinations.

That concludes this blogpost on the hip, cool and stylish Nokia 7510 clamshell phone for T-Mobile. Tune in to this blog to get more information on new and cool cell phones.

The New Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot Camera Phone

2009-01-08T06:23:00.000-08:00

Here's Sony Ericsson's new Cybershot camera phone for 2009. Take a good look at the new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone. The Cyber-shot series manufacturer obviously wants to have a good start for this year with a release of the impressive Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera Phone. Let's look into the basic information of the new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone.

Sony is heralding this device as the first Cyber-shot to offer Smile Shutter technology. With Smile Shutter, users of the new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone can easily capture a person's smile. The Smile Shutter technology on the Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone detects a person's smile and immediately takes the photo. It's a great imaging feature for amateur photographers like me.

This upcoming camera phone sports a relatively simple but attractive look. The new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone features a bar style design common to other Cyber-shot handsets. The recently announced new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone is also equipped with quad-band GSM/EDGE radios for global roaming. The cool new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone also has tri-band HSDPA radios for high speed data and voice.

The central feature of the new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone is of course, its Cyber-shot camera. This new camera phone carries a 3.2 megapixel Cyber-shot™ camera with cool imaging features such as flash, video capture, Smile Shutter, Face Detection, Auto-rotation, Snapfish and Photo Fix. The Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone also has a slide in lens cover to protect the camera.

Other notable features offered by the new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone includes stereo Bluetooth, NetFront web browser, FM radio with RDS, picture-editing software, Google Maps and Microsoft's ActiveSync. The new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone is expected to be released on the first quarter of 2001. Its expected t that the Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone will be affordable since it's not a high-end camera phone.

That concludes this quick look at the new Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot camera phone. Tune in to this blog to get more info on new cellphones and other related mobile phone news.

The Impressive BlackBerry Pearl 8130

2008-10-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be interesting to look at one of the best smartphones in the market today. I have been posting about new phone lately so i thought it would be a nice change to look at an established device. Let's get close and personal with the BlackBerry Pearl 8130.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is a CDMA update to the original Pearl. It has upgraded features and some new ones as well. The Pearl 8130 has a slim traditional BlackBerry form factor. It's slim and light enough to fit in a user's pocket.

This high powered device also offers a large display that can handle all the advanced features. The Pearl 8130 has a 2.25-inch high resolution display with a light-sensing technology. This neat feature automatically adjust the backlighting of the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 in relation to the environment.

The Pearl 8130's navigation array and SureType keyboard are located below its large main display. It also has a pearl-like trackball navigator that defined RIM's BlackBerry Pearl series. however, many users have reported that the takes some getting used to and the trackball on many devices are prone to malfunctioning.

The highlight features of this Smartphone are the built-in GPS, EV-DO support, and its improved camera. The handsets built-in GPS transforms the device into a reliable handheld navigation device. The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 also comes preloaded with BlackBerry maps application that you can use to get text-based driving directions. it can also be used to locate local businesses. You may also install other location based programs if you want to get more navigational features.

The Pearl 8130 also offers great online experience with EVDO support. Users will get speeds of around 300Kbps to 600Kbps with a maximum of 2.4Mbps. This BlackBerry Pearl version also offers an improved browser that compliments the EVDO speed.

If you want a decent camera with video recording capabilities in a smartphone then the 8130 is a good choice. It's 2 megapixel camera with video capture will give you a tool for capturing those special moments. However, some observers say that video playback on this device is not exceptional.

Here are the rest of the key features of this impressive smartphone:

stereo Bluetooth,
push email
speakerphone
memory card slot
Headphone Jack (3.5mm)
Music Player
Streaming Video

Tune in to this blog to get mobile phone info, news and updates.

First BlackBerry Clamshell Device Launched

2008-09-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

Here's some interesting info for BlackBerry fans. RIM or Research In Motion has just officially released it's first clamshell of flip device. This device will be offered exclusively by T-Mobile in the US and will hit the stores this fall. Let's check out the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220.

Before the release of this device, rumors and information leaks have been circulating the mobile scene for months. It was originally called the BlackBerry KickStart but it seems tjhat RIM has decided to go with Flip 8220.

RIM is known for its traditional candybar smartphones. But the company has decided to release a clamshell phone perhaps to reach out to flip phone fans. The clamshell design is a favorite for fashion conscious users who want to have an elegant and slim handset. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 is a powerful smartphone housed in a clamshell design that will appeal to many customers.

The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 is a a quad-band GSM/EDGE phone. Like most clamshells it has with dual color displays. Users will be able to view previews of incoming emails and text messages on the external display. The QVGA main display shows messages, videos and web pages in great quality.

The Pearl Flip 8220 also sports a SureType text keypad a trademark of RIM's devices. This special keyboard makes the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 822 a power house among clamshell devices. Users will find it easy and fast to compose messages with help of the Flip's SureType text keypad.

Since the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 is a powerful smartphone, it's probably the most feature packed clamshell in the market. This device offers features that provide entertainment, business tools, and messaging. This smartphone offers phone, email, messaging, organizer, browser and multimedia applications in its compact clamshell body.

Here's alist of the top features found in the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220:

2 megapixel camera with flash
240 x 320 internal LCD
SureType^® QWERTY(i) keyboard
Bluetooth 2.0
WiFi
memory card slot supporting cards up to 16 GB
Speaker Independent Voice Recognition
support for mp3 ring tones
smart dialing
conference calling
speed dialing
call forwarding
voicemail attachment playback
enhanced background noise cancellation

Tune in to this blog for more news and updates on new mobile phones.

The New HTC S740 Smartphone

2008-08-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a new device for smartphone fans. The new HTC S740 has been officially announced by its manufacturer. The new HTC S740 is designed to deliver enjoyable and intuitive writing experience to users by offering usability and simple key-control. This device is expected to start sihpping on September.

This Windows Mobile Standard device is nearly similar with the popular HTC Touch Diamond in terms of style and features. This new HTC smartphone comes in a standard candy bar form and sports a numeric keypad. It also features a full QWERTY keyboard that slides out from its side. The main difference is that the HTC S740 is a non touchscreen device because its designed to offer usability and simple key-control.

Let's look at the highlights of this new HTC smartphone.

First, let's begin with the HTC S740's elegant display. This smartphone sports a 2.4-inch TFT-LCD screen. Now, it's important for a device designed for usability to have a large screen. Let's face it a tiny screen will only impede a user's work. The screen also has backlight LEDs and QVGA resolution to offer a clear and vibrant display.

The HTC S740 also offers a powerful 3.2 megapixel camera for users who want to get quality stills and video. This camera also has fixed focus to ensure that users will get clear images.

This Windows Mobile Standard handsets is also a great device for web surfing. It offers HSDPA and Wi-Fi for online connectivity. Users will enjoy great online experience with the broadband speed offered by this smartphone. The HTC S740 also has a built-in RSS hub that alert s users of the latest in news, entertainment and content.

Here are the basic info and a list of the key features and info of the HTC S740:

Dimensions: 116.3 mm (L) X 43.4 mm (W) X 16.3 mm (T)
Weight: 140g with battery
Processor: Qualcomm® MSM7225™, 528MHz
Memory ROM: 256MB, RAM: 256MB SDRAM
3.2 megapixel color camera with fixed focus
Standalone GPS / AGPS
Bluetooth® 2.0
Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
Built-in microphone and speaker
memory card slot
FM radio
quick messaging tools

Tune in top this blog for info on newly released devices and other mobile phone news and updates.

The New Bio Mobile Phone from Samsung

2008-08-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

Here's something for those who want an environment friendly device. Check out Samsung's new Ecophone, a mobile phone that's partially made from bioplastics.

But before we continue, let's discuss bioplastics. After a bit of research, I found out that unlike common plastics, bioplastics are not derived from petroleum. They are manufactured from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil or corn starch.

Now let's take a closer at Samsung's new biophone, the E200 Eco . The eco-friendly handset offers a candy form and bioplastics forms its entire exterior case. Now Samsung has launched two other handsets made from bioplastics, but the E200 Eco is the first one to carry a case made entirely of eco friendly plastic made from corn. I wonder if you can eat it?

Anyway, the E200 Eco is not just about its bioplastics case because it also boasts a 1.3 megapixel camera and media playback capabilities and an MP3 player. It's eco-friendly attributes are also not limited to the case. For example, it's charger does not carry a flame retardant material that is harmful to the environment. Customers will also received the Samsung E200 Eco in packaging that's made from recycled materials.

Here is a list of other environment-friendly handsets:

Samsung W510

Samsung F268

Nokia 3110 Evolve

It looks like this trend of eco-friendly cell phones will continue, With the continuing oil crises, phones such as these will find their own niche in the mobile phone market. Tune in to this blog for more mobile phone news and updates.

In-Flight Cell Phone Use May Soon be Illegal in the US and other News

2008-08-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the Latest news in the mobile phone industry. Let's begin with the use of mobile phones during flights.

The FAA and FCC have currently placed a ban on cellular calls made during flights. But a bill has been proposed that would make the ban permanent and in-flight calling illegal. The bill that would ban using cellular phones for voice calls during flights in the U.S is called Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace (HANG UP) Act.

According to itworld.com, the banning of in-flight cell phone use took a step forward when the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the proposal. The bill will now go before the U.S. House of Representatives for debates. It will become a law if it has approved by the House, the Senate, and be signed into law by the US President.

However, all is not lost for those who want some entertainment from their handsets during those long, lonely and boring flights because the use of cell phones for sending text messages and accessing the Internet are allowed by the proposed bill.

Let's now move on to some important announcement from Motorola. The company has struggled for the last few years and the naming of a new Co-CEO of Motorola and CEO of Motorola’s Mobile Devices business
may help Motorola recover. The company has awarded Dr. Sanjay Jha the position of Co-Chief Executive Officer of Motorola and Chief Executive Officer of Motorola’s Mobile Devices business.

Here's a statement from Dr. Sanjay Jha concerning his new responsibilities,

“Motorola is the pioneer in mobile devices and I am honored to become Co-CEO of this Company and CEO of the Mobile Devices business. I welcome the opportunity to lead this Company into the future, while working to create a successful independent Mobile Devices company that will continue to innovate and grow for years to come. I look forward to working closely with Greg, the Board, the senior leadership team, and Motorola’s talented, hard-working and dedicated associates around the globe to build value for our stockholders.”

Dr. Sanjay Jha will be in charge of the the day-to-day operations of the mobile phone business and is charged with reviving the division. He served as chief operating officer of QUALCOMM Incorporated before joining Motorola.

Let's move on to some news about Verizon Wireless mobile phone network. Verizon is set to expand its wireless coverage by acquiring Rural Cellular, a regional network operator covering parts of New England, the Mid West, the South and the Pacific Northwest. The deal is said to be worth $2.67 billion. The FCC has given Verizon Wireless permission to acquire Rural Cellular Corporation. This looks like another solid acquisition for Verizon.

Tune in to this blog for more mobile phone news and updates.

New Music Phones for Sony Ericsson

2008-07-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

If you love music phones, then you will like this mobile phone scoop. Sony Ericsson continues to release a slew of handsets this year and has announced a couple of new music centric phones. These handsets will hit select markets in the 4th quarter. Let's take a look at each one.

Let's begin with the Sony Ericsson W902. Now this handset is obviously the star of this new crop of Sony Ericsson music phones. This is a high-end, bar-style music phone that hopes to compete with the top music phones in the business. It offers many of Sony Ericsson's signature music applications and services, such as SenseMe and Shake Control.

Here's a statement from a Sony Ericsson official describing the Sony Ericsson W902:

“We all want more from our mobile phones than ever before. If you love music but don’t want to compromise on imaging and video, we have used our expertise as music phone specialists to give users a truly multimedia experience with this latest phone. The W902 is one of our most high-performing phones yet and perfect for those who want it all.”

The new Sony Ericsson W902 music phone is also suited for camera phone fans because it packs a powerful 5 megapixel camera in its candy bar body. This nice camera has autofocus and image/video stabilization to ensure that users take high quality images.

This new music phones also boasts some high end features. The Sony Ericsson W902 comes preloaded with Google Maps, the Access NetFront HTML browser, and Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync software for mobile email. This handsets appeals not only to music fans but also to hip business users.

Here are the other key features of this new SE mobile phone:

• 5 megapixel camera – snap your stills and videos
• Scratch-resistant 2.2” QVGA screen and lens - made with mineral glass
• 8GB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2) for more than 8,000 songs
• Retro music navigation keys – skip forward, back, play and pause with the push of a button
• Crystal clear video playback

Let's move on to the Sony Ericsson W595. This handset is on a slightly lower level than the W902 but it's also a cool handset. It offers an elegant slider form factor and also offers a decent set of features. The Sony Ericsson W595 music phones offers a 3.2 megapixels and a 2.2-inch display.

Here are the main features of this new Sony Ericsson music phone:

• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Walkman™ player
• 2GB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2)
• Share jack and stereo speakers
• Bluetooth™
• TrackID™ and SensMe™

There you have it. Tune in to this blog for more new handsets and other cell phone news and info.

Verizon's New Palm Treo 800W

2008-07-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

I read from a mobile phone site blog yesterday that the new Palm Treo 800W is now being offered by Sprint. I have been waiting for this phone since I've tried the Palm Centro.

Let's go over the details of this new Sprint smartphone. First let's look at Sprint's offer to customers. The Palm Treo 800W is being offered at $250 after rebates and new 2 year agreement. I think it's only currently online but will be available on retails stores in the near future. The full price for the Palm Treo 800W is $599.00.

If you want to get the mail in rebate worth $100, then you have to sign up for a data plan of $25 or more or a Simply Everything^SM plan. Sprint is also offering free shipping and free activation for customers who purchase a phone with a new line of service online.

The highlight features of Sprint's new Palm Treo 800W includes the Mobile versions of Microsoft Office, Outlook and Internet Explorer. These features allow users to edit Word and Excel documents on the 800W. This Sprint smartphone is also touted for being able to offer Wireless Email, both Corporate and Personal emails.

I also surfed around for early reviews of the Palm Treo 800W and the critics were quite impressed with this new Sprint Smartphone. One of the reviews I've read describe the device as "a pretty good one" when it comes to Windows Mobile phones. Another review also credited the handset as "undoubtedly the best Palm Treo on the market". Those quotes should stimulate keep you interested on the Treo 800W.

Here are the specs and features of this device:

Size: 4.41 x 2.28 x 0.73 inches
Weight: 5 ounces
Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
EV-DO Rev. A CDMA network support
128MB RAM and 256MB flash ROM
TI OMAP 2430 333 MHz processor
110MB internal dynamic memory
1.74 inch square 320×320 high resolution display
Integrated 802.11 b/g WiFi radio
Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 radio with A2DP
Infrared port (Hmm, another device like the Nokia E71 with IR)
Integrated A-GPS receiver
1150 mAh Lithium ion battery with reported 4 hours of talk time
microSD card slot with microSDHC support
2 megapixel camera
micro USB port for syncing/charging/wired headset

Tune in to this blog for more mobile phone news and info.

Verizon Wireless Officially Announces the LG Dare

2008-06-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

Here's some great news for Verizon subscribers. The mobile phone carrier and LG has just officially released the LG Dare touchscreen mobile phone.

This mobile phone is the front runner of Verizon's summer’ line up. This new Verizon handset dares to be different from the usual devices with its bold looks and advanced capabilities. The LG Dare offers a spacious three-inch touch-screen with handwriting recognition. We all know that touchscreen handsets are at the top of the mobile phone food chain. The top mobile phones like the iPhone, LG Voyager, and Instinct are all touchscreen devices.

The touch-screen on the LG Dare was designed to provide optimal HTML Web browsing experience. The Dare's touch-screen enabler users to easily select their options on the phone because it supports handwriting recognition and tactile feedback. Since it runs on one of the most reliable wireless network, users can expect smooth and easy navigation experience on the LG Dare.

The LG Dare also offers a 3.2 megapixel camera with face detection and flash, and unique photo editing capabilities. The camera also offers panorama mode, and Schneider-Kreuznach certified lens to help users capture moments in high quality images. The photo editing tool on the Verizon Dare allows users to personalize their digital photos with features that include borders and landscapes. This awesome tool can even give users the ability to draw on their pictures using their fingertips directly on the device's screen.

Here are the other features found on Verizon's LG Dare:

V CAST Music
Music Player
microSD™ card memory port
USB Mass Storage
Bluetooth® Version 2.1 + EDR
One-touch speakerphone
Speaker-independent voice commands
Voice Recording
Music ringer support
HTML Web browsing with touch navigation and favorites
Text, picture, video messaging-capable
Mobile Email
Mobile IM capabilities
VZ Navigator
Phone Book with 1,000 contacts:
FOTA-capable – upgrade firmware over-the-air
Favorites
Speed Dial

According to Verizon, customers can get the LG Dare beginning on July 3, for $200 after rebate with a new agreement. Interestingly, it's in the same price range as the 3G iPhone so perhaps Verizon is trying to lure customers away from AT&T's hit device. Tune in to this blog for more mobile phone news and information.

New Mobile Phones from Sony Erricsson

2008-06-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

Here's some excellent news for Sony Ericsson fans. It seems that the mobile phone maker has been very busy these week and has unveiled a number of new mobile phones. From entry level mobile phones to exciting camera phones, Sony Erricsson has launched handsets or every user.

Let me give you some brief info on these newly launched Sony Ericsson mobile phones.

Sony Ericsson Entry Level Mobile Phones:

These new entry level phones come in two dual-band configurations, each with a GSM 850/1900 variant for the U.S. market. These handsets both offer the torch function which brightens the display to serve as a flashlight.

Sony Ericsson J132: This handset is available in blue and black. It is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter. It's a simple mobile phone that offers an FM radio that supports RDS. This mobile phone also offers a radio clock alarm that allows users to to set alarms to their favorite radio station. The keypad of the Sony Ericsson J132 is designed to resist the harmful effects of dust.

Sony Ericsson K330: This entry level cell phone will be available in the third quarter and will come in green, gold and black. This handset sports a camera, VGA shooter, FM radio, Bluetooth, WAP browser and has a 1.7-inch screen. The Sony Ericsson K330 has enough on-board memory to hold 250 images or up to 12 minutes of video.

Sony Ericsson Camera Mobile Phones:

Sony Ericsson has recently introduced two new camera phones, the C905 and S302, that will be available in select markets beginning in the fourth quarter. Both of these camera phones offer similar multimedia playback options, including stereo Bluetooth and FM radios. These handsets are quad-band GSM/EDGE, with the C905a adding tri-band 850/1900/2100 UMTS/HSDPA for 3G services.

Sony S302: This new bar-style phones offers a 2 megapixel camera. The Sony Ericsson S203 camera phone's screen measures 2 inches and this handset supports Memory Stick Micro expansion cards.

Sony Ericsson C905: This Cyber-Shot mobile phone packs an 8.1 megapixel camera with autofocus, Xenon flash, face detection, image stabilizer, red-eye reduction, video stabilizer and video light. The Sony Ericsson also also offers Wi-Fi, the NetFront Access HTML browser, and supports video calling and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync.

Sony Ericsson's Gaming Mobile Phone

The mobile maker targets the youth market and provides an enriched gaming experience with the Sony Ericsson F305. It has dedicated gaming buttons, stereo speakers, and has two different covers to personalize the phone. The device is equipped with Motion Gaming which is sensitive to movement. This technology allows users to flick or swing the phone to interact with games. Sony Ericsson developers are working on a wide range of 2D and 3D games for the device that will be available later this year.

The Sony Ericsson F305 is more than just a gaming handset because it also sports a 2 megapixel camera, supports Memory Stick Micro for storage, and media playback. This gaming mobile phone also carries quad-band GSM/EDGE radios, as well as stereo Bluetooth and an FM radio. Gaming fans can get this phone in the fourth quarter.

I expect that new cell phone reviews on these exciting mobile phones will be out in the next few weeks. You should read them if your interested in these handsets. Tune in to this blog for more mobile phone news and updates.

More 3G iPhone News and Rumors

2008-06-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

With the release of the 3G iPhone approaching, a number of iPhone news and rumors have taken over the mobile phone industry. I think only the Verizon-Alltel merger comes close in popularity. I thought it would be helpful for iPhone fans if I can provide a summary of the latest news and rumors on both the original and the next generation iPhone.

Let's begin with the recent news on Apple's hit device. We'll tackle the juicy part later on.

Recently, the first iPhone has been released in different markets through out the world. Japan is one of the latest countries that is set to receive the hot handset. Reports say that Softbank is to bring the device to the Japanese market later this year. However, no release date, no price, and no information on whether the deal is exclusive has been released.

Recent news also reports that iPhone users can now port the popular VLC media player to their iPhone. This makes it possible for users to drag, drop and play MPEG/MPG, AVI and MP3 media formats. Experts expects that a public release is on its way even though project is currently in beta.

Then theres iCall an application is currently in beta form that enables the iPhones to switch from GSM to WiFi on-the-fly. The advantage of this application is that it allows users to save cell minutes and bypass the hassle of manually changing over. However, this application may still be far from a public release.

Now let's check out the hot 3G iPhone rumors.

One of the hottest rumors about the new device from Apple is the possible width. Will it be thinner or wider? Some rumnors suggest that the 3G iPhone will be thicker because of possible additions like GPS and a larger battery. However, there are also it will be up to 22 percent thinner than the original version. I guess we all have to wait and see to find out if which rumor is true.

Here's another rumor. this time it originates from Asia. Apparently, a Taiwanese manufacturer named Host Optical has claimed that to be manufacturing two smaller touchscreen display. They also claim that least one will be used in the new iPhone. The screens are smaller than the current gen iPhone at 2.8 and 3.2-inches. The Taiwanese manufacturer also heralds that these panels offer do not lose sensitivity over time, is more durable, waterproof, and resistant to high humidities and temperatures.

Here's another juicy rumor. Reuters Italia is reporting that the 3G iPhone will be announced by the Italian carrier TIM on Monday, Tuesday at the latest. The rumors also say that it will be available to the public sometime in June.

There you go. Those are the latest iPhone news and rumors. The rumors indicate that this is the month for the much awaited launch. I guess we all just have to wait for a glimpse of the next generation iPhone. Tune in to this blog for more telecommunication news and info.

PanTech Breeze Now Available on AT&T

2008-05-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

Here's some great news for senior AT&T subscribers. Through a press release, AT&T has announced that the Pantech breeze is now available for seniors and younger. This handset is being offered at $70 up front with a two-year contract.

AT&T's Pantech Breeze was designed with the elderly in mind. You can see it just by looking at the device. This handset has a trio of big speed-dial buttons designed to be easily used by senior citizens. It also has the common attributes associated with mobile phone for seniors including a large font, simple menus, and a loud speakerphone.

However, the Pantech Breeze isn't your normal handset for seniors because it offers modern features that basic phones lack. Foe example, AT&T's mobile phone for the elderly offers a camera to allow grandparents to snap pictures of their grandkids. These modern features mean that this handset can also attract younger consumers.

Here are the details of AT&T's Pantech Breeze

Technical Specs

Weight: 3.4 ounces
Dimensions: 4.0 x 2.0 x .7 inches
Talk Time: Up to 3 hours
Standby Time: Up to 10 days
Quad-Band World Phone - 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Edge Class 10 for rapid data transfer
Warranty: One year warranty on phone and accessories
All talk, data & standby times depend on network configuration

Included Features and Capabilities

Large buttons and display text
EZ One-Touch quick call keys
VGA camera with video
Simple to use intuitive slim design
Dedicated camera and speakerphone keys
Bluetooth® Wireless capable
Backlit keypad for easy viewing
Customizable user interface
Downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones
Instant messaging - AOL®, Yahoo!® and MSN®
Mobile email - AOL®, Yahoo!®, and Windows Live
MEdia Net capable for surfing the internet
Hearing aid compatible
Games

Tune in to this blog for posts on different telecommunication topics.

Sprint Expects Slow Recovery from Losses

2008-05-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of recent rumors concerning Sprint Nextel. For example, there were rumors that Deutsche Telekom may make a bid for Sprint Nextel. There was also some buzz that the mobile phone service provider will give up Nextel. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse also said that "nothing is off the table" even though a separation of the Sprint and Nextel networks would be complex.

It would be easy to believe to all these rumors because it's evident that Sprint is still struggling. The company recently announced that it may seek changes to its credit agreements. The announcement raised concerns about the length of time it will take for the carrier to recover.

The company claims to have enough funds to devote for operations and repayments of maturing debts through the end of 2009. However, discussions with creditors to obtain waivers or amendments on credit facilities may be necessary.

The mobile phone carrier lost 1 million customers in the first quarter and Hesse expects many quarters will pass before his company can successfully reduce customer cancellations and return to profit.

Let's break down the numbers. Sprint reported a first quarter net loss of $505 million, or 18 cents a share. A year earlier, the mobile phone carrier suffered a loss of $211 million, or 7 cents a share. The company's revenue decreased by 7.9 percent or around $9.3 billion.

Fortunately, all is not lost for Sprint. The company is expecting that customer cancellations, and net post-paid subscriber losses will decrease because the carrier has worked hard to provide better customer service. The season's trend could also be a factor in the expected improvement. The company is planning to update shareholders in August. They will provide an assessment of the carriers' business model, its sale and marketing plans and its financial outlook.

According to some analysts, Sprint's rivals, AT&T Inc and Verizon Wireless benefited heavily from Sprint's problems. These companies reported significant customer growth in the first quarter suggesting that they took market share from Sprint.

Sprint Nextel recently announced a WiMax venture with Clearwire Corp and expects that the deal will help in the recovery. However, iPCS Inc., Sprint's biggest affiliate announced that was suing Sprint over the Clearwire deal. The affiliate claims that the WiMax venture would breach the exclusivity agreement between both parties.

I think it remains to be seen whether Sprint will be able to get out of this slump. If things continue to look bleak at the next quarters, then the rumors of a merge with Deutsche Telekom may become a reality.

The Game Changing HTC Touch Diamond

2008-05-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here's some exciting mobile phone news.

HTC Corp., one of the world's top companies in mobile phone innovation and design, has unveiled its new flagship handset, the HTC Touch Diamond.

Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corp stated,

"Today we mark a new era in mobile phone evolution, an era where beauty and size integrate with uncompromising innovation at broadband speeds. The HTC Touch Diamond will make browsing the Web and using Web-enabled applications just as practical and easy to use as making calls."

HTC's flagship device is defined by its compact size, game-changing Internet and its new captivating 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. All of these elements combine to form a mobile phone that promises to set a new benchmark for phone sophistication.

The HTC Touch Diamond offers new horizons in touch screen innovation with the introduction of its new 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. Consumers can get animated access to people, messaging, email, photos, music, weather and more with the aid of TouchFLO 3D. A new innovative touch-sensitive control for interacting with the device is also offered on HTC's flagship handset.

The Touch Diamond introduces a new mobile Internet experience that utilizes broadband-like speeds with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA wireless connectivity. A new customized mobile Web browser that enables easy viewing and effortless navigation of Websites in the way they were designed shows the companies commitment to improving customer's Web browsing experience.

To further improve customer's browsing experience, the Touch Diamond allows users to zoom and pan Websites with one-hand. They can also automatically view optimized content that has been specially created to fit the display. Users can easily shift the web page view from a portrait to landscape view by simply turning the device sideways.

The HTC Touch Diamond also offers something for YouTube fans. The mobile phone includes a customized new, HTC-developed, YouTube application. This application is designed for watching a variety of user generated video content. It also works well with using Google Maps for mobile for mapping and traffic data.

Check out the Key Specifications of the HTC Touch Diamond

Size: 102 x 51 x 11.33mm
Weight: 110 g
Connectivity: WCDMA / HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA
Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
Display: 2.8-inch VGA touch screen
Camera: 3.2MP, with video calling
Internal memory: 4 GB Internal Storage, 256 MB flash, 192 MB RAM,
Bluetooth: 2.0 with EDR
Wireless: WiFi 802.11b/g
GPS: GPS/AGPS
Interface: HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)
Battery: 900 mAh
Talk time: GSM: up to 4 hours
Standby time: GSM: up to 300 hours/100 hours with push email
Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM 7201A™ 528MHz

Sony Ericsson Launches Two New HSDPA Mobile Phones

2008-04-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

Here's some great news for mobile phone consumers interested in HSDPA devices. Mobile Phone maker, Sony Ericsson has just introduced today introduced the Z780 and the G502. These new HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) handsets are designed to take the company's range web-enabled phones in a different direction.

It appears that the compact Sony Ericcson G502 is marketed as a device that will deliver the brings the power of the web to a mainstream audience. On the other hand Sony Ericsson Z780 is an attempt to expands the company’s range of devices for markets outside of Europe.

Let's us have a closer look at these devices:

Sony Ericcson G502

This new HSDPA handset belongs to the an established line of classic Sony Ericsson phones that offers a wide array of time-saving features into a pocket-sized and affordable device.

The Sony Ericcson G502 is a good choice for customers who are juggling a busy life because ir offers faster browsing and downloading capabilities. Combine this speed with a user friendly feature-set and you come up with a device that can help consumers gain firm control of their daily schedule.

This device offers a 2 megapixel with up to 4x digital Zoom and Photo fix. Users can use the camera of the Sony Ericcson G502 for picture blogging, Video recording and other tasks. It also offers great Entertainment and Music features like FM radio RDS, 3D games, Video streaming, Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP), Media Player and other impressive features.

Sony Ericsson Z780

This device is similar to the recently released Sony Ericsson Z770. The mobile phone manufacturing company is relying on this device broaden the range of their web-enabled phones into emerging markets.

The phone's HSDPA gives customers the high capacity connectivity needed to experience Web experience. It also gives customers the ability to get web feeds and news on their phone's desktop.

The Sony Ericsson Z780 also 0ffers a 2 megapixel with up to 4x digital Zoom and Photo fix.Customers can also get great Entertainment and Music features like FM radio RDS, 3D games, Video streaming, Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP), Media Player PlayNow™, TrackID™
and other impressive features.

Both of these new Sony Ericsson HSDPA handsets are equipped with the latest version of Google™ Maps for Mobile. Customers will be able to get access to high quality maps through this great application. Satellite views of the local area and view listings of the restaurants and hotels, complete with any reviews or ratings available can be obtained bu confused customers.

The Sony Ericsson Z780 also has a built-in GPS functionality so customers can get helpful information. Combined with Google™ Maps for Mobile, the Z780's GPS can provide turn-by-turn directions that can help customers to find their way towards their intended destination.

A lot of information leaks have preceded these mobile phones. We can see if they can perform as expected now that they have been released. Expect more cool mobile phones from Sony Ericsson in the near future.

LG Exceeds Mobile Phone Shipment Estimates

2008-04-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

Mobile phone analysts made forecasts that cell phone maker LG would ship 23 to 24 million units. Well, they are in for a surprise because LG Electronics Co. Ltd. shipped 24.4 million handsets in the first quarter of this year. This is great news for the company's investors considering that cell phones are just are one of four main businesses run by the Korean company.

With this high number of shipped handsets, LG's profits have also increased. The sales of the company's respected mobile phones reached three point two millions dollars. These sales represented an increase of more then 35% when compared to mobile phones sales in last year's first quarter.

The surge in LG's sales can probably be explained by the popularity of it's high tier W-CDMA handsets in the US mobile phone market. The LG Voyager, LG Viewty and LG are among the models that generated a lot of sales and income. Let's have a brief look at these phones.

The LG Voyager is offered by Verizon Wireless in the US. This mobile phone is describe as LG's answer to the iPhone. It offers a 2.0 Megapixel Camera, Bluetooth, QWERTY Keyboard, Removable Memory. It is also compatible with V CAST Mobile TV and VZ Navigator.

Verizon also offers the LG Viewty also known as the LG KU990 is a mobile phone that allows users to take and view a crystal clear photo. It offers a high-definition image using a 5 mega pixel camera lens, a large 3-inch display and other high-end features.

The Venus is the only LG Touch handset that feaures dual LCD screens. The dual screens eliminate keys that were previously used for navigating the menus of traditional cell phones. It also offers built-in Bluetooth, a 2-megapixel camera, VZ Navigator capability, and a microSD expansion slot

The company's unit shipments in China, India and other emerging markets also increased. However, shipments in Europe remain sub par. Nevertheless, the increase in sales
has boosted LG’s stock up to 33% since the beginning of the year. Some estimates suggest that LG’s momentum may enable the company to qualify for the to fourth place in global rankings.

And things are looking for the Korean mobile phone maker. The company is projecting a 4% overall industry growth to 290 million units. To keep its place among the top in the world, LG will launch the third edition of its Black Label series. Focusing on touchscreen technology, Internet browsing and multimedia functionality is also part of the company's plans.

I hope that this increase in sales will push LG and other mobile phone makers to make better handsets. Competition is always a good motivation for these compoani9es to produce improved and high tech mobile devices.

Motorola and Icahn Settlement

2008-04-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

Do you follow the news and happenings in the mobile phone industry? If you do , then you are probably aware that Motorola has been having problems. One of the problems that have trouble the company is a heated dispute with activist investor, Carl Icahn.

Icahn has engaged Motorola in a proxy dispute and is trying to force the company to hand over documents related to its money-losing mobile devices business. The activist aims to discover if Motorola's board failed in its duties.

Recently, Motorola has announced that they have managed to reach an agreement with Icahn and the dispute between both parties are over. To settle the dispute the company has agreed to seat an ally of that investor Carl Icahn on its board. Motorola has also nominated another Icahn ally for election at the company’s annual shareholder meeting.

As part of the settlement, Icahn will also play a significant role on the selection of a CEO for Motorola's devices business. The activist investor will also play a big part The restructuring of the business into two publicly traded companies.

Carl Icahn also had to agree to Motorola's requests to complete the deal. He has to drop any current litigation against the company. He will also stop soliciting proxies and to support Motorola’s nominees with the vote of his 145 million shares.

Both parties are reportedly pleased with this development. Motorola can benefit from avoiding a costly and distracting proxy contest allowing the company to pursue its plans to restructure. Icahn was also pleased that the agreement will allow shareholder representatives to have “strong input” into the company’s future.

Things already seem to be looking up for Motorola as one of the largest consumer electronics maker in India is interested in buying the handset business. The Indian company has reportedly has retained the services of an investment bank to advise it on its bid and has began network operations. Motorola’s handset business is estimated at $3.8 billion.

The iPhone Killer?

2008-04-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

The CTIA Wireless 2008 has become quite a venue for the launching and debuts of classy mobile phones. Of course, that is been the role of the mobile phone trade show. Carriers and manufacturers use the event to showcase their products. One of the highlights of the event, is the revelation of a phone that might be able to topple the iPhone.

According to CrunchGear.com,
Samsung and Sprint have worked together to hatch an iPhone Killer. At the CTIA, they have announced the imminent arrival of the the Samsung Instinct.

Killing Apple's iPhone, is a daunting task but the Samsung Instinct has the potential to turn heads around and make an impact on the mobile phone industry. Let me give a few details on the device.

This high-end mobile phone sports great features including EVDO Rev. A, Sprint Music, GPS with TeleNav support and Sprint TV. To compete with the powerful iPhone, the Instinct is designed to have a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard. It will also come with a 3.5mm headphone jack and 2 GB microSD card.

The device revealed at the tradeshow is a prototype so some imperfections and defects surfaced. however, these bugs may be fixed when the production models finally enter the market. Some of the analyst who have hands on experience with the device at the CTIA Wireless 2008 in Sin City were impressed. However, they did not think that it can kill the iPhone.

The Instinct has to overcome a lot of obstacles in order to be on par with Apple's hit handset. For instance, the iPhone has multitouch technology. This technology allows users to interact with a device without conventional input devices. Apple has sought a patent for this technology so Samsung has to look somewhere else to find a competitive technology.

Sprint it seems is putting a lot of faith in the Samsung Instinct. The carrier has announce that it is willing to spend a million bucks to advertise the product. The company is struggling so they maybe hoping that the high-end handset can help them recover. A single handset will not be able to resurrect the company but its a good start for Sprint because it will attract a lot of customers. The mobile phone provider has suffered from customer defections and launching the Samsung Instinct will convince many customers to stay.

3G iPhone May be on the Way

2008-03-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

Do you love the iPhone? If you are an iPhone fan, then you will like this rumor from The BoyGenius Report.

According to a BGR source, there are exciting rumors from Asia on a possible iPhone update. The rumor goes that Apple have made arrangements for a new round of iPhone production. Why is this important? Well, these newly ordered handsets may be equipped with 3G network compatibility.

One of the biggest criticisms of the iPhone is the lack of high-speed 3G/HSDPA support. The public has been clamoring for the high-end device to have this update. Well, Apple may be granting this request soon because the order was reportedly for a hefty 10 million units. If this number is accurate, then it may be true that it is connected to Apple’s next-generation handset.

Another factor that makes this rumor plausible, is the information that the 3G iPhone is indeed due out this year. If Apple ordered such a large quantity then, it may not be for the current model but the updated version.

There are also rumors that OLED displays will be featured on Apple’s upcoming revamp. However, the sources say that this rumor is not very solid. Nevertheless, the upcoming handsets could be thinner than the current model if it's true that OLED technology will be used. The decreased power consumption of OLED displays would also increase the battery life of the updated device. Since 3G components can be quite a drain on battery life, using OLED technology makes good sense.

I really think that these rumors are promising. The iPhone is already on of the hottest handsets on that business. A 3G model would increase its popularity even more. At this time, perhaps it would not be wise to purchase the old model. If the 3G model comes out, spending money on the old model would seem like a bad idea.

Sprint CEO Appears on Commercial

2008-03-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

Sprint Nextel is currently facing a lot of problems. The mobile phone carrier is losing customers, profits and is facing several class action suits. In order to recover from this setbacks, the company has turned to its experienced CEO. CEO Dan Hesse is willing to make sacrifices to help his suffering company flourished even if it means exposing himself to television.

There is no doubt that Sprint Nextel has taken a beating in 2007 and things have not started well for the company. The network is losing customers because the quality of service and customer satisfaction did not satisfy them. Sprint is not among the leaders on surveys concerning customer satisfaction and quality of service.

Several class action suits have also been filed against the struggling mobile phone service provider. The latest suit alleges that the company failed to adequately inform consumers about data fees that go with picture mail service subscriptions. If this allegation is true, then the company has violated federal anti-racketeering laws. There is no doubt that this complaint will add to the company's woes.

This plan to use the CEO to represent the company in commercials can be seen as a move towards helping the company to recover. But the commercials are not only centered on Dan Hesse. The commercials also heralds the release of Sprint Nextel's unlimited mobile phone plan.

Named the "Simply Everything" plans, these offers are currently among the best in the market. These plans are also a big factor in helping the company recover because their plans will keep customers from migrating to other networks. These plans were released after most other carriers have released their unlimited plans and so they have to offer unique and generous bonuses.

I think this move will help Sprint Nextel's cause. A good leader or figure can be a factor in making a company look strong. Dan Hesse's appearance in these commercials shows that the CEO is truly committed to bringing his company to the top of the industry.

Q4 Results Causes Virgin Mobile Stocks to Plunge

2008-03-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

It seems that Virgin Mobile will not be considered among the top mobile phone service providers. The company's stocks plummeted after it reported a $14.7 million loss in the fourth quarter. This article says that the stocks dropped more than 53% from its closing price! Fortunately, things are not too grim for Virgin Mobile. The company reported that it earned net income of $4.2 million for the full year meaning that customers and investors shouldn't be too alarmed.

One of the factors that kept the company in good ground is the relatively healthy number of subscribers. The carrier ended up with more than 5 million customers last year after it assimilated more half a million new customers. However, this is still significantly lower with compared with the number of new customers in 2006 which number more than seven hundred thousand.

Analyst predict that 2008 may be a bad year for Virgin mobile and the company may suffer a loss of up to six million bucks when the years ends. This prediction is based on the company's stock steadily decline during the past month.

Company CEO Dan Schulman is trying to assure investors that the company will be able to survive this crisis. He explained that Virgin mobile is in the process sitting out the aggressive handset pricing wars many MVNOs waged to build long-term growth. The CEO gave this statement,

“We maintained a disciplined customer acquisition strategy; while competitors were aggressively lowering prices in the fourth quarter to impact gross adds, we chose not to pursue what historically have proven to be low-value, low-tenure customers.”

It seems that Virgin mobile seems to be on the decline. Although it is taking hundreds of thousands of new customers every year, the company is still struggling. If this continues we may see the company merging wirth a bigger mobile phone provider in the next following years.

Motorola Considers Spinning Off of Mobile Division

2008-02-04T11:58:00.000-08:00

Motorola said it's considering spinning off its flailing mobile phone unit. The company said in its press release that is now looking into a “structural and strategic realignment” to help it recapture market share and enhance shareholder value.

Motorola has been in the dark for several quarters as it has lost market share to bigger rivals like Nokia and Samsung.

I think this is a smart thing for Motorola to do. After the success of Razr, the company is finding it come up with another phone that will repeat the glory that was Razr.

Sprint Nextel to Lay Off 4000 Workers, Close 125 Stores after Losses

2008-01-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

Sprint Nextel, America’s third largest wireless provider, will lay off about 4,000 employees and eliminate about 125 retail outlets after it suffered a net loss of more than 100,000 customers in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The layoffs and other cost-cutting measures are expected to save the company US$700 million to $800 million a year.

Verizon Delivers Telecom Services in India

2008-01-18T06:22:00.000-08:00

Verizon Business, a U.S.-based telecommunications giant, has secured regulatory licenses to provide long distance and international telecommunications services in India.

Verizon sees a significant potential in India’s fixed-line communications marketand believes that business services such as videoconferencing will be major drivers of growth.

AT&T U-verse Voice Launches in Detroit

2008-01-16T12:39:00.000-08:00

AT&T Inc., has begun offering a VoIP telephone service in Detroit, Michigan, with rates as low as $20 per month. AT&T U-verse Voice is a digital voice service delivered over the AT&T U-verse Internet Protocol network.

AT&T’s digital phone service comes with a number of convenient perks, including an option for U-verse TV subscribers to view their call histories on their TV sets. Also included in the service are call forwarding, call screening, call display, and “do not disturb” and international call blocking options.

Alltel Expands ‘My Circle’ Wireless Service

2008-01-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

American wireless provider, Alltel, has extended its My Circle calling feature, where you can select 10 numbers from any carrier to call for free.

Alltel is now making My Circle an option for a greater percentage of its customers, adding My Circle 5 (add five friends to call whenever you like) to all plans costing $49.99/month

My Circle 20 (will allow you to add 20 friend) will be offered to customers paying at least $99.99. My Circle 10 will continue to be available with all plans priced $59.99 or higher.

Details about the My Circle service are available at AlltelCircle.com.

Vonage and Nortel Settle Patent Lawsuit

2008-01-10T07:31:00.000-08:00

Vonage Holdings Corp. has settled a patent dispute with Canadian network equipment maker, Nortel Networks.

Vonage and Nortel Networks said they have agreed to end the litigation between them after the two companies reached a mutually beneficial agreement to cross license certain patents.

This settlement could mark the last of the string of patent suits against Vonage.

Verizon Files Lawsuit against Alltel

2008-01-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

America’s second biggest mobile phone carrier, Verizon Wireless, is suing smaller rival, Alltel Corp., for allegedly making false statements about Verizon’s calling plans in its television advertisements.

According to the suit filed in federal court in Richmond, Verizon wrongly claims Alltel suggested that Verizon customers are required to extend their contracts when they change calling plans.The ads feature Verizon sales representatives trying to stop customers from switching to Alltel when they learn of Alltel’s supposedly more flexible contract policies.

Sony Announces Skype For PSP

2008-01-08T07:13:00.000-08:00

Japanese consumer electronics giant, Sony, has revealed that it is bringing Skype VoIP service to its PlayStation Portable gaming console.

However, Skype will only work on the PSP-2000 (ie: PSP Slim, PSP Lite, PSP Petite).

Skype, which is famous for offering free telephone calls over the internet, has grown to become a major international phenomenon in recent years, with 245 million people now registered to use the service on their PCs.

What's NEW in Wireless?

2008-01-07T13:03:00.000-08:00

N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc. (NEW), the nation’s leading provider of extended service plans and buyer protection programs for consumer products, today announced that its Wireless division has established an agreement with Alaska Communications Systems (ACS) based in Anchorage, Alaska, to provide handset insurance to ACS’s wireless consumers.

NEW offers wireless carriers a distinctly competitive advantage in this traditionally underserved industry. The company, which has led its industry in innovation and delivery of world-class customer care solutions for more than 25 years, generated more than $2.5 billion in revenue for their clients in 2007.

Samsung releases its first "strongphone"

2008-01-04T07:26:00.000-08:00

Meet Samsung Solid, Samsung's first strongphone, if you can call it that, with a military IP54 rating, which means its dust, water, and shock resistant.

Features aren't its strongest forte but it more than makes up for that with a rubber body and a unique SOS feature. Pressing the volume button three times quickly will immediately send a message to a predefined number from its phonebook and the next incoming call will automatically be answered. The built-in flashlight sure sounds handy.

VoIP Review: Skype

2007-12-26T12:44:00.000-08:00

Product summary

The pros: Skype 2 is free and easy to install and set up. New features such as videoconferencing; toolbars for IE, Firefox, and Outlook; contact groups; mood messengers; and avatars, sounds, and ring tones are added.

The cons: When using SkypeOut and SkypeIn, Skype 2's voice quality is not that good.

Though Skype 2 has a poor voice quality when calling landline phones, it's still one of the best free VoIP services around, and its new Skype Video feature makes it even better.

VoIP review comparison

2007-12-21T07:16:00.000-08:00

I found this VoIP review comparison chart of the 4 most recommended VoIP provider.

VoIP Review: Vonage

2007-12-18T08:22:00.000-08:00

They have good features, pretty good sound quality even if you have slow internet connection, low prices, etc. but there is a very big problem with its customer service.

Customer service is very bad. These people in India don't even have any clue how to provide service to its customers at all. All they do is read same script and blame every thing else.

Also, Vonage seems to be adding additional charges to the monthly bill some line items include Regulatory Recovery Fees , Federal universal service surchage. These items are not charged by other VOIP providers such as AT&T Call Vantage service.

XE Mobile to Cease Operations

2007-12-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

XE Mobile posted a message on its web site today stating that the company will cease operations and shut down entirely on December 31st. On that day, phone service will stop, and all user accounts will be canceled.

Without funding and no customer support XE Mobile had no option put to cease its operations.

10 Best Skype Alternatives

2007-12-13T07:24:00.000-08:00

Karlsruhe, Germany-based ComBOTS will connect your PC or landline phone with others around the world for free, or at least for no extra charge on top of whatever you already pay for broadband service. ComBOTS’s Web site is unclear about whether you can originate calls using your mobile, but you can certainly call other mobile numbers from your PC or landline. That said, communication options from your mobile include photo and other file transfers, chat, text messaging, and emoticons. Pro: Rich-media chat messages including audio and video. Con: Apparently can’t originate mobile calls.

Gizmo Project is an open-source VoIP softphone that enables free or minimally expensive calls worldwide. Its spinoff, SIPphone.com, is a startup offering more complex, business-oriented tools that use Gizmo’s protocols, including PSTN (public switched telephone network) gateways, voice mail and SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)/PSTN network peering. Gizmo features Call In and Call Out (similar to SkypeIn and SkypeOut). typically for 1.9 cents per minute, instant messaging, and the ability to record conversations or map where caller and receiver are located. Pro: Available for Windows, Linux and Mac platforms. Con: Umm...

Google Talk comes in two flavors: a widget to use from a Google site (with Flash 8.0) and a 1.5MB download. It integrates directly with a user’s Google Personalized Homepage, and the Google Talk application automatically loads your contacts from a Gmail account, speeding setup time. Unfortunately, the Google Talk Client currently works only with Windows and BlackBerry devices, although Google promises Linux and Mac OS X versions in the future. Pro: Interfaces available in a dozen languages, including British English. Con: Google Talk does not connect with landline phones or mobiles.

iChat has many of the same features as Skype, excellent voice quality and ready integration with iSight video cameras. It is also less of a bandwidth hog than Skype. The current version, iChat AV for Mac OS X 10.4, is the next best thing to being at a conference table with your co-workers, enabling razor-sharp videoconferencing with three others or audioconferencing with nine. In October, a new version of iChat will accompany the release of OS X 10.5 and add more bells and whistles; see this demo to find out what it can do. Pro: Extremely crisp audio and video built into every Mac. Con: You need a Mac.

Jajah offers the chance to make entirely free PC-to-PC VoIP calls and a limited number of free calls to and from landline phones. You visit Jajah’s Web site, then enter your phone number and the number you want to call. Your phone rings and you answer, after which your recipient's phone rings and Jajah completes the call.

Jajah operates on an honor system that allows you about 1,000 minutes per month of free calls because other Jajah users pay to use the company’s premium services (such as business accounts, calls to non-Jajah users and some foreign calls). Go over that limit, and Jajah will ask that you purchase some premium services; if you don’t, you may be cut off (and remember, they have your phone number). Pro: Mac-friendly, with a plug-in that connects Jajah calling with the OS X Address Book, plus an Outlook plug-in that is in beta. Con: Ceiling on free calls limits usefulness for high-volume callers.

If your company has some IT experts lying around, consider WengoPhone, an open-source application being developed through OpenWengo.com. WengoPhone Classic provides voice and video over IP, while the WengoPhone NG project currently underway completely rewrites Classic to be more modular, extensible and VoIP-provider agnostic. Pro: Open-source. Con: Probably unusable by the nonprogrammer.

ooVoo lets you videoconference with up to six people at onc, and send out video messages rather than emails if your fingers are numb from typing. Although it’s currently available only for Windows users, ooVoo’s conferencing setup looks strikingly like iChat’s, and the company is now developing Mac-friendly software. ooVoo sells several compatible third-party cameras, headsets and speakerphones and runs its own servers, making a Skype-like outage less likely. Pro: Makes video-spamming friends easy. Con: Friends can spam you back.

SightSpeed emphasizes free PC-to-PC voice calling and videoconferencing, and its $4.95-per-month Pro service adds video-mail recording and multiparty videoconferencing. Available for Windows and Mac. Pro: MySightSpeed feature allows voice and videoconferencing via browser with non-SightSpeed members (although both parties require Internet Explorer 6 or higher; see demo here). Con: ooVoo does most of the same things for free.

Ontario, Canada-based Softroute Corp.’s Vbuzzer allows PC-to-PC voice VoIP-based calling, faxing and videoconferencing for free, with nominal rates for completion to landlines and mobiles worldwide (typically 1.5 cents per minute to the U.S., Canada and China and, 1.7 cents per minute to other countries). Pro: Works with relatively old computers (minimum 500 MHz chip speed). Con: Currently available only for Windows 2000 and XP.

VoipBuster provides free calls — for a price. In what may be a mistranslation from the original German, VoipBuster advertises that if you buy credits, (called “Freedays”) you can then make up to 300 minutes per week of “free” calls to landlines in three dozen countries, plus mobiles in the U.S., New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Hong Kong. Go over that 300-minute limit, and you pay VoipBuster’s normal rates, which are still quite cheap at 1.2 eurocents per minute including VAT. Pro: Very cheap rates for toll calls. Con: Confusing idea of “free.”

Seven MetroPCS Wireless Markets to Get 3G

2007-12-12T06:51:00.000-08:00

Today MetroPCS announced that seven wireless telecommunications markets will receive EV-DO-based 3G. MetroPCS won the 3G spectrum in 2006's AWS auction. Three existing markets, Detroit, Dallas and Los Angeles, will see their service upgraded to EV-DO from 1xRTT. MetroPCS is also launching four brand new markets with 3G. They are Boston, Las Vegas, New York and Philadelphia. The EV-DO 3G network will allow MetroPCS to offer more advanced data services, including unified communications and video mail. MetroPCS did not provide a timeframe for the 3G roll-out.

Virgin Mobile Enables Self-Service Phone Activation

2007-12-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

Virgin Mobile USA announced that all new customers, as well as existing customers who upgrade to new handsets, will now be able to activate their phones over the air. Phones are programmed automatically and don't require users to enter information or get help from customer service. The service should help Virgin Mobile USA speed up customer activation times and reduce customer support costs.

more at Mobile Tech News

AT&T is Reopening its Open Network

2007-12-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

In response to Verizon Wireless' announcement last week that it would open up its network, AT&t made it known that it is opening up its wireless network to outside devices.

The problem how with this announcement is that it's always how AT&T worked. AT&T users have always been able to use almost any GSM phone on the company's network and swap SIMs. The announcement is more of a PR offensive. That may be because of the push by the FCC to require carriers on the 700MHz spectrum to provide open access to their networks. Or it might be to get in on the love being shown Verizon and Google for their embrace of "openness."

Whatever the motivation, though, all these changes on behalf of the major cell carriers are good news for consumers.

List of commercial voice over IP network providers

2007-12-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

This is a list of commercial voice over IP network providers, arranged alphabetically with no restriction to region.

* Adams Cable
* AIM Phoneline
* AIM Call Out
* AT&T CallVantage
* Bellshare (Germany and USA)
* Broadvoice
* BT Group (UK trading as BT Broadband Talk)
* Cable & Wireless (Global product)
* Cbeyond
* Clearwire (only for Clearwire Wireless customers)
* Charter Communications
* Comcast Digital Voice
* Covad (ClearEdge Office, Pro and Integrated access)
* Cox Communications (Northern Virginia)(Parts of Rhode Island)
* Deltathree (Global)
* Engin (Australia)
* Gizmo Project (SIPphone)
* GRNVoIP wholesale voip termination provider
* iTalkBB
* Jajah (connects two regular telephones)
* Lingo
* Mediacom
* Modern Telegraph
* Net2Phone
* ntl:Telewest Business (part of Virgin Media)
* Packet8 (8x8)
* Parlino
* Primus Canada
* Qwest
* Sipgate (Germany, Austria, UK)
* Shaw Communications
* Skype
* Speakeasy
* Suddenlink Communications
* Teamspeak
* Tesco (UK)
* Truphone
* Time Warner
* Verizon VoiceWing
* VoicePulse
* Voipfone (mainly UK)
* VoipStunt
* Vonage
* Voxbone
* Vyke
* Wengo
* Windows Live Call
* Yahoo! Voice

AT&T Named World's Best Wireless Service Provider by Business Traveler Magazine

2007-12-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

AT&T, the nation's leading wireless carrier, was selected as the Best Wireless Provider in the World in the 2007 Reader's Choice Best in Business Travel Awards, conducted by Business Traveler magazine. Now in its 19th year, the annual survey gives readers the chance to voice their opinion on those companies that have made their business travels more enjoyable.

T&T boasts a larger selection of global devices than any other carrier. AT&T provides cost-effective packages, including the AT&T World Traveler plan, which offers discounted rates in more than 80 countries for $5.99 a month. It also offers a Wireless Travel Guide for customers so that they can plan ahead and see if they'll have coverage based on their device and itinerary.

Genius BT-03I receives 2008 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award

2007-12-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

Genius (www.geniusnet.com) is pleased to announce the that the 2008 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award was awarded to the company’s BT-03I touch Bluetooth® headset. This distinguished award was given to the BT-03I because of the headset’s unique touch design and easy-to-use features that set this headset apart from others currently on the market. It was nominated in the “Headphones” category.

The Genius BT-03I is designed to compliment Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and PDAs. This award-winning headset supports A2DP hands free, headset profile that supports listening to music or talking on a call, while enjoying high quality sound. Other notable features include if you are listening to music and there is an incoming call, the BT-03I receives it and mutes the music automatically, so you can take the call with no interruptions.

Read full story here.

Nokia Introduces Internet Radio Service for Phones

2007-12-03T06:19:00.000-08:00

Nokia announced new software for N series devices that will allow users to stream Internet radio stations to their phones.Nokia claims it as a new way to discover music, as the station directory available with the service lets users browse music by station name, genre, country or language. In addition, you also get hourly updates of the top ten most popular internet radio stations - which you can the n add to your Favorites list for easy accessibility.

The service will also optimize the music stream depending on what sort of connection the user has. It is available today for the N82, N91, N95 and N95 8GB and will be embedded on other S60 3rd Edition phones in the coming months.

Google, Yahoo!, MTV and the W3C Talk to bnetTV.com

2007-11-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

bnetTV.com, Inc. (www.bnettv.com), a subsidiary of Winmax Trading Group, Inc. (Winmax) (Other OTC:WNMX.PK - News), had the opportunity to be the Lead Internet Media sponsor for The Yankee Group's inaugural Mobile Internet World in Boston. The bnetTV.com on-the-ground reporting team conducted interviews with Google Senior Software Engineer, Sean Owen, who spoke to the team about optimizing mobile search. Yahoo!'s Director of Business Development, Michael Shim, announced to the bnetTV team two new products: Yahoo! oneSEARCH and Yahoo! GO. MTV's VP of Digital Distribution, Greg Clayman, spoke about how MTV is developing and delivering Mobile content. Steve Bratt, CEO of the W3 (World Wide Web) Consortium, discussed the convergence of standards between the Web and Mobile Web. Emily Green, President and CEO of the Yankee Group, the event host, addressed the overall focus of the conference.

View full details here.

Launch of the First Levi's Mobile Phone in Hong Kong

2007-11-27T06:33:00.000-08:00

The first Levi's mobile telephone has just been launched, recently, in Hong Kong. ModeLabs Group, the creator of the stylish phone has just announced it. In a city that is often the forerunner in fashion and technology trends in China, the product definitely is a big hit.

ModeLabs Group's main challenges today are the design and international marketing of products that really stand out with first-level brands.

So far, the Levi’s mobile phone has received an excellent reception in Hong Kong, and ModeLabs is working closely with Levis to benefit from their brand image, the strength of their communication, and their commercial networks.

Government Threatens To Shut Down Sprint's iDEN Network

2007-11-26T06:30:00.000-08:00

The FCC is threatening to shut down major parts of Sprint's iDEN network as portions of the 800 MHz spectrum it operates in interferes with public safety channels. The conflict between the iDEN network and public safety agencies was addressed years ago as Sprint was given new spectrum to move its iDEN network onto. Though the carrier has already spent $1 billion to move the network, the FCC says that progress is not moving according to schedule. The carrier estimates the relevant parts of the network serve nearly 20 million subscribers. Sprint has asked the Court of Appeals to help protect it against threats of a shutdown.

Continue reading story here.

AOL Mobile Launches With Promise of Superior Surfing

2007-11-22T06:59:00.001-08:00

AOL Uk has today announced AOL mobile a new mobile internet portal offering the lastest in mobile technology, it offers advanced functionality and a "real" internet user experience.

The offering promises a web experience closer to that of a desktop PC than any other current mobile portal. Pulling content straight from the channels on its internet portal and offering Web Surf, Email and Search, the AOL Mobile portal keeps users connected and informed whilst on the move.

The AOL mobile portal also ensures that all web content is configured to match your phone, regardless of what handset you have. The service is able to remember user favourites and recent requests - from Premiership Club news to horoscopes to local weather information. Log in just once to your emails and you have continuous access with no need to re-sign in for 30 days. These benefits emphasise AOL's commitment to extending its leadership in easy-to-use web products into the mobile market.

Alltel Wireless Plans to Add the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 to Line up in Time for the Holidays

2007-11-21T06:10:00.000-08:00

Alltel Wireless, America’s largest network, is going to make customers’ wireless experience easier and more productive with the announcement that they plan to have the BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM - News) (TSX: RIM - News) available in time for the holidays.

This sleek smartphone is designed to give customers an exceptional mobile experience with powerful communications and multimedia capabilities. Whether it’s answering email, sending text messages, scheduling meetings, playing music, or surfing the Internet, the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 provides customers the ability to do all the things they need and want to do.

“The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 will be a great addition to our smartphone line up, allowing our customers to stay connected, productive and entertained while on the go,” said Brian Ullem, director of device strategy for Alltel Wireless. “This new BlackBerry Pearl 8130 blends multimedia functionality with the BlackBerry® email platform to create a smartphone that exceeds expectations.”

New Edge Networks Builds MPLS Network for Integrated Power Services

2007-11-20T06:03:00.000-08:00

New Edge Networks, the business communications unit of EarthLink Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK - News), said it has completed installation of a managed private network for Integrated Power Services, a national industrial electric motor repair and consulting firm.

New Edge Networks installed, tested and activated within 60 days the 12-site fully managed, private network based on Multi-Protocol Label Switching, or MPLS, technology. Integrated Powers Services, based in Greenville, S.C., tripled its network speed at most locations and improved overall network efficiency for the equivalent cost of its previous network.

Integrated Power Services attributed its speedy and successful network deployment to the allotment of sufficient time for coordinating nationwide installations and a dedicated project manager that New Edge assigns to all multi-site network customers.

“I’ve dealt with many project managers in the past which were forced to operate with limited authority,” said Paul Way, information technology manager for Integrated Power Services. “Our project manager knew what he was doing, knew how to get the right people involved, and had enough authority to make sure the right things happened at the right time.

“New Edge was not the least expensive provider; however, they offered the best overall package that included a fully managed network,” Way said. Previously, Integrated Power Services assigned responsibility for managing its network to two IT staff members now free to focus on other responsibilities.

Integrated Powers Services uses its MPLS network to provide its service centers in 10 states throughout the country real-time access to ordering information, time management and financial systems. This functionality allows Integrated Power Services to quickly respond to customers such as utilities, refineries, and mining companies among other industrial firms.

ACI Telecom Inc., a telecommunications consulting company based in Greenville, S.C., advised Integrated Power Services on provider selection and network design.

New Edge will monitor and manage the MPLS network on behalf of Integrated Power Services under terms of a three-year contract. This agreement includes automatic trouble reporting and ticketing. Integrated Power Services also has access to an online dashboard for monitoring network performance around the clock.

“Highly sophisticated networks that enable businesses to converge numerous applications require special processes and systems for ensuring successful network installation and ongoing maintenance,” said Greg Griffiths, vice president of marketing for New Edge. “We understand that networks are the lifeblood of businesses so everything we do is critical for the success of our customers and our own company.”

Once a network is operational, New Edge also provides ongoing dedicated account management and support for ensuring network stability and reliability.

At any point in time, New Edge is installing as many as 100 different networks of varying sizes for businesses in various industries.

BenQ M7 Phone

2007-11-19T06:58:00.000-08:00

BenQ has just released the M7 mobile phone that has some features which regular handsets don't usually include. It is a tough phone, capable of resisting any forces but at the same time it is stylish and has an appealing design. BenQ M7 is covered in a protective case that protects it from water, sand or any other natural element.

That's pretty tough and the phone has a smooth, slightly curved shape and a pretty compact size to grab your looks. This phone is 3G enabled for superfast speed and also has GPS support to guide you. It also comes equipped with a 2 megapixel camera, a secondary VGA camera, for placing video calls through the 3G technology and media player for all the entertainment you want.

AT&T Completes Dobson Acquisition

2007-11-16T05:34:00.000-08:00

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- AT&T Inc. said late Thursday it completed its acquisition of Dobson Communications Corp., a provider of wireless communications services under the Cellular One brand.

"AT&T's customers will enjoy deeper coverage in rural and suburban areas," Randall Stephenson, AT&T's chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. "Dobson's customers will have access to AT&T's full portfolio of innovative products and services."

The acquisition extends AT&T's coverage area in rural and suburban areas in 17 states.

Dobson shareholders will receive $13 per share in cash from AT&T as part of the deal.

AT&T will begin to rebrand Dobson immediately, with virtually all of AT&T products and services being made available to Dobson customers by Dec. 9.

AT&T expects the deal to reduce earnings between 3 cents and 4 cents per share during the first year, and then add to earnings beginning in the second year.

IPEVO announces Mac compatible Skype USB phones

2007-11-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

The company has announced that its line of USB devices are now compatible with Mac OS X v10.4 or later.

IPEVO’s offerings include the FREE.1 USB phone, a $29.99 plug-in handset with a slim, compact design, the $44.99 FREE.2 USB; which adds a backlit LCD display so you can view Skype caller ID and contact lists, and built-in recording capabilities; and the $79.99 TRIO, a three-in-one device that acts as a personal speakerphone, group conference phone or handset.

IPEVO also offers other devices, such as the Xing USB conference phone and the SOLO, which operates without a computer.

Motorola Survey: Nearly Half of Americans Would Rather Watch College or Professional Football on a High Definition TV Than in Person

2007-11-14T06:07:00.000-08:00

HORSHAM, Pa., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Americans are gearing up for Thanksgiving -- turkey, getting together with family and friends ... and football. But a recent Motorola survey found that more people would rather watch the big game on a high-definition TV than in person.

Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT - News), maker of equipment and services that enable customers to receive high-definition programming, recently commissioned a survey among more than 1,000 adults nationwide and found that 45 percent would rather watch college or professional football on a high-definition TV than watch the game in person.

Only one in three respondents (or 32 percent) indicated they would rather watch a college or professional football game in person.

"The survey results really speak to the popularity of high-definition programming," said Doug Means, Motorola corporate vice president and general manager, Home and Networks Mobility. "The color, the clarity and the crispness of a sporting event delivered in high definition is almost like being there -- but from the comfort of your own home."

Continue reading Motorola Survey: Nearly Half of Americans Would Rather Watch College or Professional Football on a High Definition TV Than in Person

AT&T U-Verse in Austin

2007-11-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new world of communications and entertainment is now available to residents in the Austin area. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced the launch of AT&T U-verseSM in parts of local communities, including Austin, Pflugerville, and Round Rock. AT&T is now taking orders for the service and will begin installing services for new customers on Nov. 19.

AT&T U-verse uses AT&T’s new fiber-rich network to offer cutting-edge television and high speed Internet services. AT&T is the only national provider to offer a 100 percent Internet Protocol (IP)-based television service, making U-verse TV “cooler than cable” and one of the most robust and feature-rich services available today.

AT&T U-verse offers customers a combination of next-generation digital television — including access to more than 30 High Definition (HD) channels — and high speed Internet access. The award-winning AT&T U-verse TV includes cutting-edge features that are unmatched in the market, and the new U-verse enabled AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet builds on AT&T’s position as the nation’s leading provider of broadband DSL.

Continue reading AT&T U-Verse in Austin

Sony Ericsson reveal compact K-series phone, geared to the Web

2007-11-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

Sony Ericsson today announced the launch of the K660, an HSDPA (‘mobile broadband’) enabled phone with clever features like illuminated shortcut keys that only become active when surfing the Net, and desktop tickers that provide regular updates from your favourite websites; all designed to make Web browsing on the move as simple and convenient as at your computer.

The K660 makes browsing the mobile Web straightforward. The phone’s navigation key serves as a “magnetic mouse pointer” when in Web mode, letting you find your way around the page just as you would on a PC.

The K660 is engineered to ensure that you’re not kept waiting for the news or content that matters to you. Music, video or email – HSDPA technology lets you download it all at speeds that are up to four times faster than regular 3G.

The K660 squeezes a 2.0 megapixel camera into its compact frame, making it easy to capture the moment. And since the Web is at your fingertips, it’s just a few clicks to upload your picture to your blogsite and share it instantly with friends and family.

source: mobilewhack.com

Sprint ends Clearwire pact, reviewing WiMax plans

2007-11-09T06:22:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S - News) said on Friday that it was reviewing its WiMax business plans as it ended a partnership with Clearwire (NasdaqGS:CLWR - News) on the emerging high-speed wireless technology.

Sprint, which has been criticized by investors for its commitment to spend $5 billion by the end of 2010 on building a WiMax network, said it could not resolve "complexities" associated with the Clearwire partnership and failed to agree on the terms of the transaction.

Sprint joins Google effort promising new cellphone technology

2007-11-08T06:12:00.000-08:00

Sprint Nextel Corp. is joining forces with Google Inc. and a consortium of dozens of other companies to develop a new technology for mobile phones.

The Open Handset Alliance is developing a system named Android that is intended to make it easier to offer new services to the nation's cell phone consumers.

'Sprint realizes that to grow the mobile marketplace and fully exploit the amazing potential of mobile communications, we have to empower rather than restrict wireless users,' John Garcia, Sprint's senior vice president of product development, said in a release. 'And the best way to do this is to create an environment that encourages the development of innovative products and services that customers can't live without. Android will be just such an environment, and Sprint is yet again at the forefront in mobile innovation.'

Other companies involved in the initiative include Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of T-Mobile, HTC Corp., Qualcomm and Motorola, Inc.

The alliance will make available a software developer kit that will allow technology specialists to create new mobile phone services. New phones and services using the Android system are expected to be available during the second half of next year.

At midday, Sprint shares were trading at $17.04, down 11 cents. Google was at $724.60, up $13.35.

BlackBerry 8130 Pearl by Verizon Wireless - the First CDMA-Enabled BlackBerry

2007-11-07T10:57:00.000-08:00

Who says wonders ended with the era of Gods, elves and angels? Verizon is one such company where there is no limit on wonders. Verizon Wireless announced the Launch of the Wold’s First CDMA-Enabled BlackBerry Pearl 8130 Smartphone. The latest model is engineered to offer Multimedia, Voice, Data, Navigation and EV-DO Speed in a distinct way. The cell phone is ideal for the customers who like to lead a balanced personal and official life.

With BlackBerry Pearl’s Verizon Wireless broadband connectivity users can stay connected with family, friends and colleagues. The company announced immediate availability of this feature-rich Berry phone for $249.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. The Pearl will be available online and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores.

Verizon’s wonder doesn’t end here. Along with the launch of the BlackBerry Pearl, the company has also announced new Nationwide E- mail and Web for BlackBerry customers giving them unlimited data for an extra cost of $29.99 per month on top of a voice plan. Those who want only data plan will have to pay $34.99 per month. Get an access up to 10 POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts via BlackBerry(R) Internet Service in both plans.

Palm: assimilate with Android or die

2007-11-06T06:28:00.000-08:00

Make no mistake, Google dropped a bombshell all over the mobile industry today with today's Android announcement. Since the dawn of the handset we've seen little more than one proprietary device, system, and application environment after the next; when we're lucky, maybe some of those systems deigned 3rd parties worthy of developing something more than Java code for 'em. Even despite the endless promise of Linux and years of tilting towards open source cellphones has resulted in effectively nothing for mainstream wireless customers -- but all that changes today with the announcement of the first free, open, standard (and standards-based) mobile OS.

It's no surprise that Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, and RIM were absent participating in Android and the OHA; each of those power-players has built its mobile business around its own separate mobile platform: OS X, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and BlackBerry, respectively. But the cellphone company we expected to be first in line for Android and the Open Handset Alliance, the one manufacturer that is truly desperate for a powerful, pre-developed, open Linux mobile OS, is nowhere to be found. We are, of course, talking about Palm.

Let's break this down: in 2005 Google acquires startup Android (founded by Andy Rubin of Danger / Sidekick fame), and decides to spearhead a consortium of wireless companies -- handset manufacturers, carriers, chipset makers, developers, etc. -- to rally around a completely free, open, customizable mobile OS based on Linux. Why? Well, besides being possibly the biggest corporate user of Linux and open source software that we know of, the mobile space obviously holds incredible value for Google.

Read the full report here

Fulcrum Launches World's First Low-Latency IP Router Chips

2007-11-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

Fulcrum Microsystems today announced six new members of its industry-leading FocalPoint family of 10-Gigabit Ethernet switch chips – adding high-performance routing with its FM4000-series devices. With the industry’s highest port density and lowest latency, as well as a full suite of Datacenter Ethernet functions, FocalPoint is the first switch that can enable datacenter networks to scale into the thousands of nodes.

The FM4000 chips are designed for datacenter switching platforms for high-performance computing, server and storage host interconnect, and datacenter aggregation applications. They are complete layer 2/3/4 IP switch/routers with full line-rate performance on all ports with a total throughput of 360 million packets per second. Fulcrum’s unique design technology means that the FocalPoint FM4000 chips boast the lowest latency in the industry – 300 nanoseconds as a full layer 3/4 router. This provides a highly responsive network fabric that exceeds the performance of specialty fabrics such as InfiniBand and Fibre Channel, and is well suited for the millions of messages per second performance needed for high-performance clustered-computing applications.

The 24-port density of the chip – also an industry best – enables it to be the interconnect foundation for extremely large clustered systems. When used in fat tree (or Clos) network architectures, the density and low latency mean the network can scale to 3,456 non-blocking nodes in three tiers of switching – well beyond that when additional tiers or managed under-provisioning are introduced.

“Centralized computing, networked applications and broadband mobility are driving an explosion in the build-out of highly-efficient, highly-scalable data centers, and Ethernet is the most bandwidth-efficient interconnect solution available,” said Mike Zeile, Fulcrum Microsystems vice president of marketing. “The FocalPoint FM4000 series enables switch makers to build scalable 10-Gigabit switch fabrics; we see this becoming a multi-billion dollar market opportunity in just a few years.”

FocalPoint is also the first to deliver on the promise of convergence and server and storage virtualization, with a complete set of advanced congestion management and traffic pruning capabilities, such as class-based pause, and fully-configurable access control lists (ACLs) – all of which can operate at full line rate with no performance degradation.

The first company that is announcing a product based on the FM4000 switch silicon is Arastra, a networking company founded and backed by well-known Silicon Valley veterans including Sun co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim. “The next generation of servers will have 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces standard on the motherboard, creating a need for cost-effective low-latency 10G Ethernet switches in the datacenter,” said Mansour Karam, director of marketing for Arastra. “Our new Arastra 7100 datacenter switch family uses the Fulcrum FM4000 chip to deliver a high-performance scalable 10G network solution that enables 10 Gigabit Ethernet to each server, improving server efficiency and utilization.”

The FocalPoint FM4000 product family consists of the FM4224, which offers 24 ports of 10-Gigabit Ethernet; the FM4212, which offers 12 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports; the FM4208, which offers eight 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports; the FM4112, which offers eight 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports, and 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports; the FM4104, which offers two 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports and eight Gigabit Ethernet ports; and the FM4103, which features two 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports and four Gigabit Ethernet ports. All of the 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports are XAUI SerDes interfaces, and can operate at 10Gbps or 10/100/1000/2500 SGMII modes. Similarly, all Gigabit Ethernet ports can operate in 10/100/1000/2500 SGMII modes.

FocalPoint FM4000 Technical Details

Other technical details of the FocalPoint FM4000 product family include:

Performance

Up to 360Mpps performance as a switch or IPv4 or IPv6 router
300ns latency with IP routing and L3/L4 ACLs enabled

Layer 3

IPv4 and IPv6 line-rate routing (up to 16k IPv4 and 4k IPv6 addresses)
Fully-provisioned multicast routing (IGMP, PIM-SM, PIM-DM, DVMRP, bidir-PIM)
Full VLAN replication with multicast routing

Layer 2

16k MAC addresses
Multiple and Rapid Spanning Tree (802.1D, s, w)
Independent and shared VLAN learning

Switch Virtualization and Scaling

Stacking, fat trees, meshes, and rings
Single point of management
Multi-chip mirroring and link aggregation

Convergence Capabilities

L2/L3/L4 traffic classification, metering, and policing
Per-priority pause
Shared memory partitions ensures traffic separation
Flexible, multi-level scheduling

Security

Port-based security (802.1X)
MAC address security
DOS prevention

Pricing and Availability

All FM4000 chips are pin-compatible with Fulcrum’s FocalPoint FM2000 200ns layer-two switches. The chips are currently sampling, with production shipments in Q1 2008. The flagship FM4224 device is priced at less than $25 per 10G port, in quantities of 1,000 pieces.

Google in talks with Verizon Wireless

2007-10-31T09:50:00.001-07:00

Google Inc is in active talks with number-two U.S. mobile carrier Verizon Wireless about putting Google applications on phones it offers, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

"There are good useful talks going on and they could result in a deal," one of the sources said.

So far talks between the Web search leader and Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc, revolve around technology and potential business models such as advertising-sponsored services, one of the people said.

Verizon Communications Chief Operating Officer Denny Strigl said during an investor call on Monday that the operator talks to a lot of companies including Google, but did not elaborate.

Original story from Reuters.com

AT&T supports new Samsung phone

2007-10-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

AT&T Inc. has joined with Dallas-based Samsung Telecommunications America to launch a new ultrathin sliding phone with accelerated multimedia and entertainment features.

The Samsung SGH-a737 will have many of the same features as its predecessors -- the Samsung SGH-a717 and a727 phones -- while also giving customers 3G connectivity to AT&T's broadband network. Some of the features of the phone include Video Share capabilities, AT&T Mobile Music, stereo Bluetooth 2.0 technology, a 1.3-megapixel camera with video record, external memory cards with up to four gigabytes of memory and advanced messaging options.

Continue reading AT&T supports new Samsung phone

Verizon Wireless Expands Wireless Broadband Network Across Six Southwest Indiana Counties

2007-10-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

Verizon Wireless announced today that it has expanded the national rollout of its high-speed wireless network across an expanded area of Southwest Indiana, which includes:

* Interstate 64 through Spencer and Perry counties

* Tell City

* The eastern part of Dubois County, including the Patoka Lake area

* U.S. Highway 50 through Martin County, including Shoals

* The northern part of Knox and Dubois counties

* Greene County, including Bloomfield and Linton

* Union and Webster counties in Kentucky, including Morganfield

``These Indiana counties include a vital market with dynamic, tech-savvy business people, consumers, students and faculty who want to stay connected,'' said Greg Haller, president-Indiana/Kentucky/Michigan Region, Verizon Wireless. ``The expansion of our broadband network here provides our customers with access to the very latest wireless technology in more places.''

The multi-million dollar expansion includes the installation of high-tech wireless hardware and software in wireless transmission sites throughout the region. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $40 billion since it was formed -- more than $5 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. More than $816 million of this investment was spent in Indiana.

Continue reading Verizon Wireless Expands Wireless Broadband Network Across Six Southwest Indiana Counties

What is Telecommunication?

2007-10-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

Telecommunications, also called telecommunication, is the exchange of information over significant distances by electronic means. A complete, single telecommunications circuit consists of two stations, each equipped with a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver at any station may be combined into a single device called a transceiver. The medium of signal transmission can be electrical wire or cable (also known as "copper"), optical fiber or electromagnetic fields. The free-space transmission and reception of data by means of electromagntetic fields is called wireless. The simplest form of telecommunications takes place between two stations. However, it is common for multiple transmitting and receiving stations to exchange data among themselves. Such an arrangement is called a telecommunications network. The Internet is the largest example.