Phone has several improvements, most important ones being:

1. Faster Internet download speed

2. Cut, copy, paste (how long did it take to put these basic features in!)

3. Keyboard in landscape mode

4. Video recording

5. Improved search

6. Compass

7. Voice Control

8. Camera upgrade (3 mega pixels)

New iPhone will be available from Apple stores.

You can get full review of new features on Apple’s website.

There are already 2 phones being sold which run on Android operating system: T-Mobile’s G1 and Vodafone’s Magic. Both devices made by HTC. Mr. Rubin did not mention which manufacturers will bring new devices to the market but it seems that they will appear in Europe first.

Indeed, the ramp-up of Android phones intensifies a battle among some of the world’s biggest software companies to create the operating system for the world’s phones (of which there are now 4 billion). Android goes up against a coming-soon new version of Microsoft’s mobile version of Windows (Windows Mobile 7), Apple’s proprietary iPhone system, the Blackberry platform, a new Palm OS for its Pre called WebOS, Symbian (mostly proferred by Nokia) and a host of Linux-based systems.

On the question of apps, Mr. Rubin reinforced Google’s position that Android is an “open” platform, though, critically, that concept has some nuance to it. It goes like this: there are three flavors of Android. Each is free. But the versions place different requirements on the handset manufacturers and wireless carriers. The differing versions - and the way they’re being adopted - gives an insight both into Google’s goals and to the way the market is receiving those goals.

1. The obligation-free option: device manufacturers can download a free version of Android, load onto their devices and provide access to as many or as few apps as they want. But the manufacturers cannot preload popular Google applications, like Gmail or Google calendar.

2. The small strings option: Same as Option 1, except that manufacturers sign a distribution agreement to include on the phone Google applications. Of the 18 to 20 phones coming out this year, Mr. Rubin said, 12 to 14 subscribe to this option.

3. The bigger strings option or the no-censorship version: These phones Google calls “The Google Experience.” They are physically distinguishable by the “Google” logo on the phone. They include a range of Google applications that the carrier and handset maker agree not to remove from the phone. The carrier and handset maker also agree not to censor access to the Android market. Meaning: if some developer comes up with an application that some people find distasteful, or that gets bad press, it must nevertheless remain available to consumers. Of the phones coming out this year, 5 to 6 belong to this category, Mr. Rubin said.

The third category provides risk and reward opportunities. The openness of the store could be a hit with consumers, but could also lead to poorly constructed applications or ones, like the baby shaking app for the iPhone, that could give Google a taint (however temporary and press driven).

When it comes to apps, Mr. Rubin said: “We want to abide by the law, but not rule with an open fist.”

Source: NY Times

Call charges will be the same as at home in UK, promotional period will run from 1st June till end of August. Reduced charges also apply to sms and mms.

If you are interested, you must apply for Vodafone passport by texting “Passport” to 97888 if you are a Pay Monthly customer or 2345 if you are on Pay as you Go.

Below is full list of countries covered:
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Channel Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroes, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Vatican City, New Zealand, and Australia.

Please take note that data charges are not included and will still incur higher charges!

There are other impressive features that are included in this phone like noise cancellation. You will be heard clearly no how noisy your surroundings will be.

E-Series device will include A-GPS, high-speed HSDPA and HSUPA connections, and a 3.2-megapixel camera.

Mobile VPN is built in to make it easy to access company intranets. This comes with Call Connect support, which enables businesses to integrate Nokia mobile devices with corporate phone systems, enabling users to be contactable through a single number, have a single voicemail box and offer least-cost call routing.

Getting up and running with email is simple. Support for Nokia Messaging, Mail for Exchange and IBM Lotus Notes Traveller make it simple to add personal or work email accounts to the device and the new to the E52 email user interface makes accessing your email a joy.

The Nokia E52 will ship with a 1GB microSD card and a free 60 day trial for Files on Ovi. It’ll be available in two colours, metal grey and golden aluminium which will help show off the 2.4-inch display (which also has automatic landscape support). The device also sports a compass alongside Nokia Maps and A-GPS. Plus, with speedy HSDPA (10.2Mb per second) and newer HSUPA upload access at up to 2Mb per second, the E52 is equipped for effortless content sharing on the move.

It is possible that this device will be as popular as Nokia’s 6310i, which had excellent battery life and was very popular with business users.

E52 will be ideal for people who are always on the phone and use email on the move.

The Nokia E52 is expected to be available on sale in the second half of this year.

T-Mobile confirmed that it will be issuing the Cupcake update over the air. As many owners eager to get the update will already know, among other things, Cupcake will bring a full touchscreen keyboard and video capture with the phone’s camera.

The update is “live” now, and will be a phased roll-out, so the May timescale quoted is when all G1 owners should get the refresh by, but presumably could be from now on.

Update is about 44MB in size. It includes important additions such as virtual keyboard, which would be absolutely necessary for new Android driven handsets which do not have hardware keyboard. Vodafone has started selling second Android phone Magic, which is full touch screen phone.

René Obermann, DT’s chief executive, said the UK business had to do better, and he is to appoint new management. “We feel the UK market is competitive, and consolidation would do good for that market,” he said.

Mr Obermann emphasised he was not commenting about possible deal-making, but his statement was seized upon by analysts as evidence DT might sell its UK business.

DT’s leading shareholders - the German government and Blackstone, the private equity group - are beginning to lose patience with the underperforming UK business. DT is expected to take a €1.8bn writedown on the UK asset next week.

The most logical buyer would be one of its British rivals, because consolidation ought to enhance the profitability of the remaining companies.

The UK is the only important European market to have five network operators - Telefónica’s O2, Vodafone, France Telecom’s Orange, T-Mobile and 3 - and they periodically engage in price wars.

Possible buyer for T-Mobile UK business could be France Telekom, which already owns Orange UK mobile operator. An Orange-T-Mobile tie-up would command a 40 per cent share of revenue paid by British mobile users. That figure includes Virgin Mobile’s customers, because the company uses T-Mobile UK’s network to offer phone services.

T-Mobile has operated Starbucks hotspots for the last 6 years on a subscription or pay as you go basis.

T-Mobile Wi-Fi will remain as a “complementary” service in high demand areas such as airports.

BT’s Starbucks hotspots will form part of its Openzone network. BT’s home broadband packages include bundled Openzone minutes.

An existing public Wi-Fi deal with O2 means iPhone users will also get access at Starbucks, at faster speeds than offered by 3G. From summer this year, O2 dongle subscribers will also get bundled Openzone access.

While mobile operator rivals have seen rapid growth in mobile data use from by smartphone and dongle owners, BT has sought to expand its Wi-Fi coverage.

Source: The Register

From April 2009, T-Mobile’s popular Flext tariff will be refreshed to give more value to customers. New benefits will include: International calling and texting, 08 numbers and unlimited web’n'walk access.

Flext customers can now take advantage of the following features as part of their monthly allowance, without incurring extra charges:

* The inclusion of over 50 of the most popular international calling destinations, so customers can use their allowance to call or text friends and family abroad
* Calls to our most popular 08 numbers, including telephone banking, key utility and customer service lines and premium rate numbers
* Special offer of unlimited web’n'walk access to enable customers to enjoy the whole internet on their phone
* The inclusion of access to voice mail messages as part of the new Flext package
* A free weekly text alert to be able to keep track of spending and detailing their remaining credit during the month

You should be signing up for 18 months contract with T-Mobile, credit includes 92% of the most popular international calling destinations, to over 50 countries:
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Channel Islands, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, USA

Also 89% of most popular 08 numbers are included (Flext inclusive 08 number calls are to numbers starting with 0800, 0808, 0845, 0844, 0843, 0842 and 0870. Calls to numbers starting with 0500 are included too.)

This is a good news if you have relatives or friends abroad, you can call or text them and it will be included in your monthly allowance. T-Mobile website doesn’t mention at what rate international calls will be charged (deducted from allowance). Probably details will be announced later, closer to launch.

Source: T-Mobile

iPhone proved to be very popular among UK punters, O2 sold over million iPhones.

Below is the table with new iPhone tariffs:

Apple prepares OS update for iPhone and iPod Touch in June, version 3.0. Update will bring long-awaited features like MMS support, copy-paste support and many others.

Source: O2 Press Release