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Fee-Based Content Over Mobile Networks

http://www.cellular-news.com (Cellular News) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:45:22 +0100

Over the next several years, three major trends will fuel increasing demand for mobile content in the US: A growing number of mobile Internet users, a dramatic increase in the amount of money they spend on data plans and continued growth in smartphone sales.

Continue reading Fee-Based Content Over Mobile Networks

iPhone/Privacy.A Worm, Data Hack for Jailbroken iPhones and iPod Touches

(BrianB) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:25:05 +0100

The second iPhone worm of the week carries with it a lot more risk than the first one. According to Intego Security, this new iPhone worm that is known as iPhone/Privacy.A uses the same hole that ikeeex found a few days ago to change the hacked iPhones’ background image into Rick Astley’s photo. The new iPhone worm, however, is a more serious one because it allows the hacker to install software without going through iTunes.

The new worm bypasses iTunes in jailbroken iPhones and iPod Touches and copy private data. These data include e-mail, contacts, SMSs, photos, music files, videos, calendar entries and saved data from apps. Intego explains:

Hackers using this tool will install it on a computer – Mac, PC, Unix or Linux – then let it work. It scans the network accessible to it, and when it finds a jailbroken iPhone, breaks into it, then steals data and records it.

This hacker tool could easily be installed, for example, on a computer on display in a retail store, which could then scan all iPhones that pass within the reach of its network. Or, a hacker could sit in an Internet café and let his computer scan all iPhones that come within the range of the wifi network in search of data. Hackers could even install this tool on their own iPhones, and use it to scan for jailbroken phones as they go about their daily business.

Intego recommends its own VirusBarrier X5 for the iPhone/Privacy.A malware. Also, you can simply change the SSH password. iPhone jailbreak is common to six to eight per cent of iPhone users.

[intego via mobilecrunch]

Continue reading iPhone/Privacy.A Worm, Data Hack for Jailbroken iPhones and iPod Touches

Sky Takes Mobile TV to iPhone and iPod touch

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:40:00 +0100

UK’s largest mobile TV service is now available for iPhone and iPod touch.

Sky announced the availability of the Sky Mobile TV App on the App Store. The company has created a dedicated app for the service specifically for iPhone and iPod touch. The app allows users to stream live TV via WiFi and the channels available include all Sky Sports channels, Sky Sports News, Sky News, ESPN and At The Races.

Continue reading Sky Takes Mobile TV to iPhone and iPod touch

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 10/11/2009

RIM Unveils New BlackBerry Developer Tools

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:56:57 +0100

The focus of smartphone development is moving, at least to some extent, from the hardware to software and applications. The 2009 BlackBerry Developer Conference, which is being held Nov. 9-12 in San Francisco, is centered on ensuring that the applications for the BlackBerry are as useful and flexible as those for Apple's iPhone, Palm's Pre, the Droid from Motorola, and other smartphone platforms that are competing for market share.

"It's a commitment to keep investing in the platform, a commitment to provide a richer environment and better capabilities for BlackBerry developers," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for the NPD Group. "RIM has done very well in terms of market share, but needs to evolve its broadband capabilities and user interface to keep competitive with more recent operating systems."

New Offerings for Developers

Research in Motion has already made several developer-related announcements. The BlackBerry Advertising Service will enable developers to integrate advertising into apps. The ad units, which will be available from specialty advertising networks, will be compliant with Mobile Marketing Association guidelines.

Subscribers will be able to add calendar or contact entries and link to BlackBerry App World applications from an ad. Sophisticated reporting information -- such as ad impressions, clicks, conversions and earnings -- also will be available.

RIM also announced the BlackBerry Payment Service, which will create revenue streams for developers by enabling the sale of premium content, game upgrades, and other value-added functions. The availability of push services will be expanded to all registered developers from its current status as an exclusive service for members of the BlackBerry Alliance Program.

Better GPS Functionality

RIM said new GPS functionality includes cell-site geolocation -- a more accurate means of locating a device -- as well as reverse geocoding and Travel Time, an application that can provide estimates of the time necessary...

Continue reading RIM Unveils New BlackBerry Developer Tools

Running Web 2.0 Campaign: Interview with Ben Self, Founding Partner of Blue State Digital

editor@biz-news.com (Luis Sandoval) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:37:00 +0100

Blue State Digital claims itself to be “the leader in online fundraising, advocacy, social networking, constituency development for nonprofit organizations, political candidates and causes, and corporations.” Though just starting in 2004 they've been able to acquire an impressive clientele list to include President Obama, Walmart, Alliance for Climate Protection and Communication Workers of America.

When asked what separates their products and services from the rest, found partner Ben Self had this to say, “the thing that I think makes it really interesting and important is that it has been rigorously tested through our analytics department.”

Continue reading Running Web 2.0 Campaign: Interview with Ben Self, Founding Partner of Blue State Digital

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 06/11/2009

Motorola Becomes a First-Mover Again

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:29:00 +0100

“Android provides differentiation today, but may not tomorrow,” says recent Canalys report on Motorola’s market strategy.

During its Q3 earnings call on 29 October, Motorola’s Co-CEO Sanjay Jha announced the company’s quarterly profit of $12 million, up from a $397 million loss a year ago.

Canalys claims the quick rollout of DROID following the CLIQ demonstrates that the company is moving in the right direction, having suffered from portfolio stagnation following the earlier tremendous success of the RAZR.

Continue reading Motorola Becomes a First-Mover Again

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 04/11/2009

Consumer Electronics Holiday Shopping in the United States 2009

press@researchandmarkets.com ( ) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:23:31 +0100

The focus of this Mintel report is on purchase intent for consumer electronics hardware, electronics software (games, video and music) and communication services (pay-TV, home internet, home landlines and cell phone service) Across all three categories, data sets are presented by age, household...

Continue reading Consumer Electronics Holiday Shopping in the United States 2009

Blacksn0w iPhone unlock, Blackra1n RC3 iPhone jailbreak now Available

(Allan David Reyes) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:04:10 +0100

Geohot followers rejoice as your ever reliable hacker has just unleashed his latest iPhone offerings: the blacksn0w iPhone unlock and blackra1n RC3 iPhone jailbreak.

The great thing about blacksn0w is that it works on the new 05.11.07 baseband bundled with iPhone 3.1.2 firmware which the iPhone Dev Team has still yet to crack. For those who already have a jailbroken iPhone, just add blackra1n.com as a repo in Cydia to get some blacksn0w goodness. Once unlocked and you want to enable tethering, you can head on over here using your iPhone to select your carrier so that an appropriate MobileConfig file will be sent to your iPhone. Blackra1n RC3, for its part, is an improved version of his blackra1n iPhone 3.1.2 jailbreak which still works on both Windows and Mac systems.

As usual, proceed with caution in attempting this, but if you’ve been aching to jailbreak and unlock your new iPhone 3G S for the longest time, then be our guest and try this all new blackra1n RC 3 iPhone jailbreak and blacksn0w iPhone unlock out.

[blackrain, iphonejtag via engadget]

Continue reading Blacksn0w iPhone unlock, Blackra1n RC3 iPhone jailbreak now Available

Sony Ericsson's Android Phone Focuses on Multimedia

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:56:20 +0100

Sony Ericsson has unveiled its first Android phone, which could represent a new level in multimedia for Google's open-source platform. The catch: The phone won't be out until the first quarter of next year. The company said the phone, called the Xperia X10, introduces a new user experience platform "where communication truly becomes entertainment," and it is part of its "make.believe philosophy" to push new boundaries.

Mediascape, Timescape

New applications in the X10 include Timescape, where all communication with one person can be managed from one place. Communications in Facebook, Twitter, e-mails and text are brought together, and an "infinite button" guides a user through the connections with that individual.

Another new app called Mediascape lets content be accessed from the phone, YouTube and other sources. Mediascape and Timescape can automatically recognize connections between contacts, content and media. As an example, face recognition can identify up to five faces in a photo and connect the image to those people's contacts and communications.

The phone features a four-inch touchscreen with 480x850 resolution, an 8.1-megapixel camera with up to 16x digital zoom and geo-tagging, Bluetooth stereo, GPS, Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, and, being Android, a host of Google applications, such as Gmail, Calendar, Maps with Street View, Talk and Voice Search.

The X10 supports GSM GRPS/EDGE and UMTS HSPA, can utilize applications from either the Android Market or Sony Ericsson's Play Now Arena, and is built around a 1-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

'Rather Gorgeous' Music Interface

Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said the X10 seems "terrific" in its described capabilities, but the key problem is that "it won't be out until first quarter" and Sony Ericsson will miss the holiday season.

The company has "had trouble keeping up with the industry," he said, particularly Apple, but also other handset makers. Greengart noted that it's unusual...

Continue reading Sony Ericsson's Android Phone Focuses on Multimedia

Mobile Security Solutions: Interview with Alain Rollier, President of AXSionics

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:42:00 +0100

A paradigm shift in information communication technology is set to address security threats and concerns in Africa and the world at large, a senior official has said.

In an interview, AXSionics founding president, Alain Rollier, said his company was bringing a new innovative security system aimed at addressing insecurity in technological business with respect to mobile phones, computing and financial sector (banking).

Continue reading Mobile Security Solutions: Interview with Alain Rollier, President of AXSionics

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 03/11/2009

New Multimedia Device Joins Parade of E-Readers

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:36:43 +0100

The e-reader market is getting yet another entry, with a report that Creative Labs is unveiling a tablet. The device, called a Mediabook, was shown at the Singapore-based company's general meeting last week.

Although Creative hasn't made an official announcement, news reports indicate that the Mediabook has a touchscreen, Internet connectivity, slots for SD memory cards, text-to-speech capability, and is based on the company's Zii technology.

Kindle 'Just Another Electronic Device'

There was no word on the Mediabook's launch date, but the e-reader category is already beginning to have more than a few entries. There's the best known, Amazon's Kindle, as well as Sony's recently updated e-readers and the newly released nook from Barnes & Noble, among others.

There are also reports that tiremaker Bridgestone is developing a flexible e-book reader, although so far it's only a prototype. And there have been many reports that Apple is preparing to enter the market early next year with its own tablet e-reader.

Creative Labs' fan site Epizenter.net originated the Mediabook report, and quotes Willie Png, vice president of strategic business, as downplaying the Kindle as "just another electronic device which displays books in text." By contrast, Png told the site, the Mediabook will allow the merger of "videos, pictures, text and services into one device that supports a media-rich experience."

Epizenter also reports that Creative is in discussion with a variety of publishers about providing content.

LCD or Electrophoretic?

There was also no word on what kind of screen the Mediabook would use. Sarah Rotman Epps, an analyst with industry research firm Forrester, pointed out that, while LCD screens are good for video and graphics, electrophoretic screens have higher contrast and make reading text easier.

She noted that E Ink, a company based in Cambridge, Mass., "now has about 100 percent market share" in electrophoretic screens, but that will change...

Continue reading New Multimedia Device Joins Parade of E-Readers

Sprint Launches Sanyo 3810 and Samsung Moment

(Humberto Saabedra) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:57:59 +0100

Sprint has launched the Sanyo 3810 and the long-awaited Samsung Moment.

The Sanyo 3810 features an external display with a mirror finish when not in use, internal 2.4 inch QVGA display, large keypad, menu size control larger for easy navigation through menus and sub-menus, 1.3 megapixel camera with digital zoom and Bluetooth.

The Moment features Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube while featuring a Sprint first 3.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, sliding QWERTY keyboard and a virtual keyboard. Device navigation is handled by an optical joystick. Rounding out the featureset is an 800 Mhz processor, Wi-Fi radio, integrated GPS support, 3.2 megapixel camera with video recorder, stereo Bluetooth, microSDHC expansion slot and speakerphone.

Pricing on the Moment is set at $179.99 after a $50 instant savings and a $100 mail-in-rebate with a new 2 year agreement with the Sanyo 3810 being free after the same contract terms and $50 mail-in rebate.

Continue reading Sprint Launches Sanyo 3810 and Samsung Moment

Review: Motorola Droid (Verizon Wireless)

(Christopher Price) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:51:01 +0100

Motorola, and Google, have done something that no other phone has done before. They have built a phone better than any iPhone. Now it gets interesting.

First, we’ll get the obligatory iPhone boilerplate out of the way. Yes, contrary some fist shaking, iPhone (3GS) was the phone to beat, until today. Be it in the performance arena, the App Store arena, be it the basket of features or the pure style… adding it all up, iPhone stayed ahead.

So, how does Droid force Apple back to the drawing board? The sum of its (new) parts.

Motorola and Google have unloaded a ton of new technology into Verizon’s first Android phone. Google has brought Android 2.0, along with the world’s first free turn-by-turn live GPS solution. Motorola matched that with hardware that reminds us why Motorola has stayed relevant in the industry.

I have to admit, we were skeptical about Droid’s design. It looked like Motorola’s Sidekick… a match made in hell, with design language to match. Holding Droid however is a completely different story. It looks amazingly well-built. The in-hand build quality even manages to surpass that. This phone is a winner in the design category. In short, it’s thin. The keyboard and display sections are evenly distributed, the lower half of the phone is only slightly thicker than the display portion.

So, we’ll cut to the chase. We like small reviews now, we think you will too. Here’s why we it’s the best smartphone out there, the new phone to beat. Android 2.0, combined with the 550 MHz processor that Droid carries, sets a new standard. Literally, from start to finish, it beats the iPhone. Verizon Wireless’s EV-DO Rev A network also makes the ping rates and throughput of AT&T’s HSPA network frown. Make that seriously frown. Verizon and Droid beat AT&T and iPhone in nearly every web page we loaded, and both sported excellent reception (our offices happen to be under a jointly-shared cell site for both companies).

It’s important to note that the 550 MHz CPU that the Motorola Droid carries is using a different core from comparative Samsung or XScale-derrived processors. The megahertz myth is a live and well in the mobile sector, as the performance yield per clock cycle means that Droid rivals 1 GHz Snapdragon phones. It is also why phone makers always hesitate in touting the processor of a phone…

But it’s the small things that this fusion create that make the difference. There is no lag in this phone. None. No “screen blur for 4 seconds while rotating”. No “wait for the on-screen keyboard to appear”. No “wait for apps to toggle”. And, no “wait for the interface to draw from one screen to the next.” If you’ve used Android, this is music to your ears. If you haven’t used Android, we strongly suggest starting with the Droid, you won’t look back.

Oh, and be sure to try out the accelerometer. It’s faster than iPhone… something we weren’t sure Android’s Dalvik platform could ever pull off.

Likewise, the keyboard is a sigh of relief. We’ve been waiting for a good Android phone to replace the T-Mobile G1 for having a keyboard and touch screen. The Samsung Moment on Sprint has been long-awaited for this reason. Thankfully, the keyboard on Droid is excellent. It’s flat, but a easy to use. The layout is well-articulated, with dual alt keys on both ends of the keyboard, and excellent backlighting. It’s the best keyboard on any Android phone released to-date.

This isn’t to say that Android was dysfunctional before Droid, far from it. Droid and Android 2.0 simply put it on a new playing field. A playing field where you can multitask like a Palm Pre, but with the native code that Android 2.0 allows. Oh, and that brings us to the other side: Android 2.0’s future in the App Store arena.

First, we’ll talk about what Android 2.0 and Droid deliver today. The long-rumored and sometimes-shown new Android Market is in-place and fully working. It’s faster than iPhone by a mile. Apps install instantly. We could not find an app that took more than 10 seconds to install. Try that with an iPhone. Try that with Windows Mobile, or even the Palm Pre. We’ve suffered through the freezes, stalls, and lag on their app stores. Not so on Droid. In short, it just works.

Car mode is a nice touch. We’ll be reviewing Android’s Maps with Navigation beta in a separate article (since it is in beta, and we don’t cast judgement on betas). But, for those of you not glued on every move that Droid has made, Car Mode is a special GUI written by Google for devices that function well in cars. We expect that to mean all future phones, but for now, it’s only on Droid. At first, you might get the notion that it isn’t necessary. But, then you touch the voice search button, and fall in love. It has the best voice recognition we’ve ever seen on a phone. There are some faults, for example, Voice Search doesn’t connect with Bluetooth voice commands. So, you can’t tap the screen and say “call 800-466-4411″, but you can say “directions to Best Buy” and Maps will load ready to start a new turn-by-turn GPS session.

Basically car mode takes the taps out of driving. Voice commands route to their natural functions. If you’re saying something related to a web search, it loads Google and runs the search. If you’re asking for something related to GPS, it takes care of tapping through all the menus for you… since, you’re, well, driving.

Not a 360-point landing

There are some faults though. The “with Google” branding stifles innovation. No HTC Sense UI here. While Sense UI blew away CLIQ in our offices, the lack of both is a bit painful. It means juggling IM apps, weather widgets, and other stuff that should just be there. This isn’t as much of a concern to the tech-savvy, as it is to those that are new to smartphones. With Sense UI, they get an instant level of data integration that would be cumbersome for the average person to get acquainted to all at once.

There is a real fear to “with Google” that is still present. And, that is that many will only use it as a glorified web browser and email client. They will miss out on the key features that can be tapped into with this powerful, multitasking phone.

Oh, and please, give us pinch and zoom. If HTC can implement it by dropping the With Google, why can’t Google embrace gestures? They seem to have no problem with flicking, but pinching still escapes them. Because Android 2.0 is so responsive, it’s not as much of a concern… but it’s still a concern near the top of the list.

The road ahead… now with Navigation and Street View…

For Droid to thrive, developers will have to up the ante as well. Android is still, unfortunately, cumbersome to take full advantage of. The abstraction of native code gives iPhone a waning edge. Google continues to cut off their nose, in order to spite their own never-native face in this regard. Android is an Operating System, and Google needs to accept that its head is, still, stuck in the clouds. To take advantage of the arsenal of OpenGL power that exists in Droid, Android must give a better C implementation, and fast.

Thankfully, Motorola has done the hard work, of building a device that shows how imperative the notion of simple native code is. With Palm stuttering on the subject, Symbian in shambles, Maemo not out of the gate, and Windows Mobile admitting their weakened state… Android has the sole power to make their native code suite robust, and challenge iPhone at what they do best (and still be open, too).

For Motorola, there are some other complaints. For example, the camera is not at the top of the universe. HTC’s Hero camera is superior, with touch-on-autofocus and a more robust camera app. Again, “with Google” branding probably forced Motorola to use the Android 2.0 camera app. We were looking for more here, and we’ll post photos in a follow-up. Still, kudos for the dedicated pressure-sensitive camera button.

The screen size also leaves us a bit perplexed. It’s an odd one. It isn’t as wide as a standard 3.5 inch, but is longer, giving it about double the resolution of iPhone, while only weighing in at 3.7 inches total. It seems nice and long for vertical reading, but in landscape mode has us asking for more. Lots of pixels, but slightly sub-par longitude on the display front. At least it’s bright and responsive.

Finally, Verizon seems to have spent a lot of effort making the battery door easy to open. While battery life will take some time to fully condition, owners can rest assured: Moto Droid is no Palm Pre. Unfortunately, the battery has to be removed to change the microSD card slot. We prefer thin devices, and we certainly prefer microSD over narrow-minded phones that lack any form of capacity upgrade. However, having to powercycle a phone this modern just to copy a few files over to the microSD card seems short-sighted.

Verizon has some work, too. The only app they offer right now is a $2.99/month visual voicemail application. While VZ Navigator has been made obsolete by Google Maps with Navigation, their other services; V CAST Video and V CAST Song ID, as well as an on-device account management app, all could bolster the Droid movement for the company.

Another note to Verizon. Developing your own Android UI would be a fatal error. We still have to ding each and every non-smartphone on Verizon for their battery draining, useless, damaging smartphone UI. Worse, Verizon knows it drives customers into buying smartphones, and we really hate that kind of crippleware. Leave your in-house developers to in-house apps, and not into cushy for-life jobs controlling Android UI on Verizon (yeah, we know that’s how Verizon BREW UI got the green light).

One Final Thing™ that we would like to see on the device, is a 2GB microSD version. Many people already have large microSDHC cards, and don’t need to pay for the bundled 16GB card that comes with the phone. At least as an online-only option, offering a $179 version with a small memory card would be better for everyone.

Conclusions, Final Thoughts

The CLIQ and Droid clearly come from different camps. The Motorola CLIQ was meant to be a Sidekick killer. Not bad timing for that, either. Droid was built for a different purpose, to give Motorola new life with the most informed customers in the world. It’s the new superphone.

But, as usual, we love competition. Droid will make the competition finally ask questions that they’ve tried to dismiss. Like, why can’t I have a phone with a great keyboard, and a giant touchscreen? Or, why can’t I have a phone that is at the top of the power heap, and has removable storage? And, why am I paying to use that GPS chip in my phone, when the maps are already free? These are questions that have been out there for a long, long time. Droid combines power that will keep the tech-savvy, with a phone that answers all the checkboxes.

Motorola has just reinvented themselves, and we can finally say that with a smile, not the perpetual chagrin that we’re unfortunately become all too accustomed to about the company.

Pros: Lag-less UI, Android 2.0 power, Great keyboard, Extremely fast processor, Free GPS navigation
Cons: No multitouch UI, Stifled “With Google” options, Moto’s typical weak camera performance
Final Score: 5/5

FTC “Change You Shouldn’t Believe In” Boilerplate

We get devices from a lot of sources. As a general rule, we only review products that companies or other industry insiders send us. This makes sure everyone is on an even playing field, and we do not solicit paid reviews of products or services. We believe that the purpose of reviewing devices is not to tell consumers to try out phones, but to tell companies where consumers want to see improvements.

That all said, we do love your comments and questions, so please share them below!

Continue reading Review: Motorola Droid (Verizon Wireless)

Google Enters Navigation Market

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:26:00 +0100

It is now official and will completely change the mobile and PND navigation market. Google announced Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 devices.

It comes with 3D views, turn-by-turn voice guidance and automatic rerouting, but unlike most navigation systems, the Navigation was built from the ground up to take advantage of the phone's internet connection, as Google claims.

The first phone to have Google Maps Navigation is Motorola’s Droid. It hits the U.S. market next week (Nov. 6th) for $199 on contract.

Continue reading Google Enters Navigation Market

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 29/10/2009

Disney iPhone App Makes Photos the Key To Content

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:06:01 +0100

The Walt Disney Co. is releasing an iPhone application that rewards users for poking through the Disney.com Web site and could one day offer exclusive bonuses for activities such as shopping at Disney Stores.

The free app, which debuts in the iTunes app store Wednesday, offers bonus animations to users who follow clues to take cell-phone pictures of characters from movies such as "Up," "G-Force," "Ratatouille," and "Wall-E" on the Web site.

Taking the correct picture unlocks an exclusive video and downloadable content such as frame images that can be overlaid on photos, or wallpaper images for cell phone screens. Disney is calling the feature "Click2Life," because it makes characters captured in photos appear to suddenly become animated in one's hand.

In the future, the family entertainment company said it could allow bonus content to be delivered to phones based on their location, pinpointed with GPS coordinates, such as inside a Disney Store. Future photo keys could also include movie posters to drive interest in the company's upcoming releases.

Jason Davis, vice president of Disney.com, said the main purpose of the app was to deepen fan relationships with Disney characters, rather than just drive traffic to stores, theaters and online.

"We treat it just as a unique content experience," Davis said.

The app also corrals all of Disney's 17 apps together in one place, allowing users to shop for other programs and manage ones they have already purchased, some of which sell for $4.99.

The app is unrelated to a so-called "Keychest" technology that Disney is developing to give consumers access to movies across multiple devices with one purchase.

Continue reading Disney iPhone App Makes Photos the Key To Content

Verizon iPhone on the Horizon Again

(BrianB) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:03:14 +0100

Perhaps Motorola Droid won’t be enough for Verizon. Wall Street analyst Brian Marshall is putting his money on a Verizon iPhone next year when Apple and AT&T may end their exclusivity deal.

“AT&T’s ’sweetheart’ carrier subsidy (~$450) for the iPhone would not be attainable at Verizon,” said Marshall in the note. “[But] diverse carrier support is a key element in driving global penetration of the iPhone. We believe the chances are high the iPhone will find its way onto the Verizon network in the second half of 2010.”

When Apple does stop selling the iPhone for AT&T’s GSM network, Marshall predicts Apple will lose significant chunk of the subsidy money, from the $450 per home that AT&T is giving them to only $300 when the iPhone lands on Verizon. The $300 per phone will put the Verizon iPhone on the same plane as other smartphones in network deals. In the long run, Marshall believes Apple will gain by about $7 billion, selling about 14 million iPhone by 2011. It will be AT&T’s big loss to the tune of half a million subscribers every quarter.

“Everyone is dissatisfied with AT&T on the iPhone, not only on voice, but data as well, especially in congested cities like New York and San Francisco,” said Marshall, echoing complaints that go back more than two years to the launch of the original iPhone in the summer of 2007. “If Verizon starts selling the iPhone, AT&T is going to have an issue on their hands.”

[via computerworld]

Continue reading Verizon iPhone on the Horizon Again

Cricket Announces LG Helix Clamshell

(Humberto Saabedra) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:12:10 +0100

Cricket has announced the forthcoming launch of the LG Helix entry-level clamshell, the first LG handset with CDMA AWS band support.

The Helix features AWS CDMA support, a 2.0 inch internal color display and an external display, 1.3 megapixel camera, Voice Clarity, which improves speech intelligibility and automatically adjusts hearing level when receiving or sending calls in noisy environments, Bluetooth, speakerphone and speaker-independent voice control.

It will be available starting tomorrow at Cricket retail stores, dealers and online for $139.99.

Continue reading Cricket Announces LG Helix Clamshell

Interview with Robert Lang of TechTour Web & Mobility Summit

editor@biz-news.com (Luis Sandoval) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:33:00 +0100

TechTour is nonprofit organization that puts on many events and they either have a country focus or they are industry focus, but both welcome investors, startups, and innovators to come together. Each of them repeat themselves every 3 or 4 years providing a cycle between each event and summit.

"More specifically, the Web & Mobility Summit, which takes place on November 18-19, 2009. It is during these events that we pull together a committee from the industry, venture capitalists, and business angels," said Robert Lang, President of the TechTour Web & Mobility Summit, in an interview with Biz-News.com.

Continue reading Interview with Robert Lang of TechTour Web & Mobility Summit

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 28/10/2009

Disney iPhone app makes photos the key to content

http://www.cellular-news.com (Cellular News) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:45:20 +0100

Walt Disney is releasing an iPhone application that rewards users for poking through the Disney.com Web site and could one day offer exclusive bonuses for activities such as shopping at Disney Stores.

Continue reading Disney iPhone app makes photos the key to content

Samsung Electronics Selects Tele Atlas for Digital Maps and Location Content

http://www.cellular-news.com (Cellular News) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:45:27 +0100

Digital mapping and navigation service provider, Tele Atlas has inked a deal with Samsung to embed its Tele Atlas maps into Samung GPS-enabled mobile phones.

Continue reading Samsung Electronics Selects Tele Atlas for Digital Maps and Location Content

Rumored Apple Tablet Could Transform Publishing

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:01:27 +0100

Apple plans to release a tablet-sized version of the iPhone and is trying to lock up content deals with major publishers, according to media reports. Last week, New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller as much as spilled the beans about the new device in a speech he gave to the paper's digital staff. Identifying seven major questions facing the Times brand, Keller let slip that the paper has been in negotiations with Apple.

"We need to figure out the right journalistic product to deliver to mobile platforms and devices," Keller said. "I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that."

In Australia, Robert Whitehead, director of marketing for Fairfax Media, confirmed media talks with Apple, telling the Sydney Morning Herald that the company was uninterested in Amazon's model for the Kindle. "We're continuously examining all options for extending the reach of our mastheads and we'll be very interested to see what Apple comes up with," he said.

Paperless Society?

"It seems they're trying to preload it with content deals, rather than just create an elegant general-purpose device," Greg Sterling, principal analyst with Sterling Market Research, said in a telephone interview. "What Apple has done with the iPhone is to integrate software and hardware together in an elegant device. Apple's idea with the tablet may be to build on that by integrating content."

For 30-odd years the technology world has talked about a "paperless society" in which news and books are delivered digitally. Could a compelling Apple device be the tipping point that makes all-digital delivery a reality?

"If you got some really impressive experience, it would certainly accelerate the transition from print to digital. Devices like...

Continue reading Rumored Apple Tablet Could Transform Publishing

Google Voice Lets Users Keep Their Phone Numbers

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:01:10 +0100

Google Voice, a service that lets users consolidate and simplify the ways in which they make and receive phone calls, has taken a step to alleviate what many observers saw as a key problem. Until now, users have had to use a Google-supplied telephone number. That was considered an inconvenience since the number would have to be circulated to friends and business associates.

In a blog posting Monday, Google said it's now possible to use an existing phone number as the system's entry point, although that approach comes with fewer features. The move seems to be part of a carefully constructed game plan.

"I think it's important," said Josh Holbrook, a director in Yankee Group's Anywhere Enterprise research group. "It is one more example of Google simplifying people's lives. They are eliminating and unwinding years of complications and craziness that only a monopoly can create. Google is systematically unwinding this, and that is good news for consumers."

Not All Google Voice Features

The posting said, however, that folks using their own phone number will only have access to a scaled-down version of the service. These customers will get online voice-mail search; automated voice-mail transcriptions; custom voice-mail greetings for different callers; e-mail and SMS notifications; and low-priced international calling.

Those using Google numbers get those features and several others, including a single number that reaches all phones; SMS via e-mail; call screening; listen-in features; call recording; conference calling; and call blocking.

Jeff Orr, senior analyst for mobile content at ABI Research, likes the idea. "The idea of using mobile voice mail is interesting," he said. "I think it has merit because some people find mobile operator-supplied voice mail to be cryptic and lacking in functions. The ability to be able to route calls to Google Voice would be of value."

Part of the Game Plan

Sara Jew-Lim,...

Continue reading Google Voice Lets Users Keep Their Phone Numbers

Cisco Boosts Cloud Security with ScanSafe Acquisition

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:52:02 +0100

Cisco Systems announced Tuesday yet another acquisition. The networking giant is scooping up privately held software-as-a-service (SaaS) web security firm ScanSafe.

Cisco will pay about $183 million in cash and retention-based incentives for the firm, which is based in London and San Francisco and serves both global enterprises and small businesses. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of Cisco's fiscal year 2010.

"With the acquisition of ScanSafe, Cisco is executing on our vision to build a borderless network security architecture that combines network and cloud-based services for advanced security enforcement," said Tom Gillis, vice president and general manager of Cisco's Security Technology Business Unit. "Cisco will provide customers the flexibility to choose the deployment model that best suits their organization and deliver anytime, anywhere protection against web-based threats."

Hybrid-Hosted Web Security

Web security is a large and expanding market that Cisco expects to grow to $2.3 billion by 2012. By acquiring ScanSafe, Cisco said it's building on its successful acquisition of on-premise content security provider IronPort.

The acquisition brings together the Cisco IronPort high-performance web security appliance and ScanSafe's SaaS security service. Cisco said the combination will expand its security portfolio to offer superior on-premise, hosted and hybrid-hosted web security solutions.

"ScanSafe pioneered the market for SaaS web security and continues as a leader in this rapidly growing market," said ScanSafe CEO Eldar Tuvey. "At a time when enterprises are increasingly focused on a flexible and mobile workplace, the need for hybrid-hosted web security solutions is greater than ever. By joining the Cisco team we will be able to offer even better and more flexible protection to our customers."

Cisco's Cloud Strategy

ScanSafe's service will be integrated with Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client to provide a secure mobility solution. Cisco said ScanSafe's global network of carrier-grade data centers and multi-tenant...

Continue reading Cisco Boosts Cloud Security with ScanSafe Acquisition

Application Stores as a Great Opportunity for Mobile Navigation

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:06:00 +0100

Application stores are presenting a new, significant channel for the promotion and distribution of mobile applications in EMEA.

In recent report Canalys analyzes how important will this channel become for navigation applications, and what opportunities does it present.

Continue reading Application Stores as a Great Opportunity for Mobile Navigation

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 27/10/2009

Mobile Internet in Africa: Interview with Jose Henriques, Vodacom

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze, Johannesburg ) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:53:00 +0100

Mobile internet is no longer luxury in Africa as it has become a valuable tool of global development, this according to Jose Henriques, Vodacom executive head of internet services.

Henriques was speaking to Biz-News.com in Johannesburg last week during the Mobile Web Africa conference whose focus was looking at ways of harnessing the potential of internet and applications on mobile devices.

Continue reading Mobile Internet in Africa: Interview with Jose Henriques, Vodacom

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 26/10/2009

Web & Mobility Summit – Debate the Hot Issues and Network with VCs, Business Angels and ...

editor@biz-news.com ( ) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:40:00 +0100

ADVERTORIAL
The second Web and Mobility Summit, (Montreux, 18-19 November) will attack the hot issues being debated on the web and mobility scene today with a series of panels and keynotes, while the 25 top European web and mobility start-ups will be there to present to VCs and business angels. A hand-picked delegation of industry leaders, service providers and academics will also attend.

The 25 selected Start-ups, to be announced at the Summit itself, will come from some of the strongholds of the European scene, such as mobile social networks, mobile publishing, adserving and gaming, as well as Ecommerce, E-business, payment and billing.

Continue reading Web & Mobility Summit – Debate the Hot Issues and Network with VCs, Business Angels and Europe’s Top 25 Start-ups

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 26/10/2009

iPhone Amnesty Program launched in China

(Allan David Reyes) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:47:01 +0100

Both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S will officially be available in China by the end of this month courtesy of China Unicom. However, it seems that they’re not quite content in just nabbing new iPhone owners in the country, but are also keen on cashing in on those who already own an iPhone in China despite being purchased from the grey market and jailbroken. Shanghai Unicom, a subsidiary of China Unicom, has in fact already kicked off their amnesty program that permits grey market iPhone owners to sign up with them which will, in effect, allow them to avail of all the services provided for “legal” iPhone owners such as firmware updates and access to the official App Store without having to purchase a new and more expensive iPhone . This is a pretty bold move and the first we’ve heard of from an exclusive carrier of the iPhone, and while this may directly affect their initial iPhone sales, this will definitely help drive up plan subscriptions.

How about you guys? What do you think of this iPhone amnesty program? If the official carrier in your country offers up a similar iPhone amnesty program, will you sign up for it?

[china business times via unwiredview]

Continue reading iPhone Amnesty Program launched in China

FCC Votes To Create Net Neutrality Rules

http://www.cellular-news.com (Cellular News) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:45:28 +0100

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously today to begin the process of crafting formal rules for "net neutrality," the principle that all content on the Internet should be equally accessible to all users, and that companies cannot discriminate or block one set of content in favor of another.

Continue reading FCC Votes To Create Net Neutrality Rules

Top 20 AT&T Mobility Authorized Dealers to Sell iPhone on November 1st

(Humberto Saabedra) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:18:36 +0100

Information has surfaced that confirms the top 20 third-party authorized dealer networks selling AT&T Mobility products and services will begin to carry the iPhone beginning on November 1st.

This represents a further change of sales policy regarding iPhone, as it was formerly restricted to AT&T retail stores, online sales and Apple, then opened up to select authorized retailers such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart last year.

No word on which AT&T authorized dealer networks will carry the iPhone is available at this time.

Continue reading Top 20 AT&T Mobility Authorized Dealers to Sell iPhone on November 1st

Nokia sues Apple, iPhone for Patent Infringement

(Allan David Reyes) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:17:01 +0100

With regards to suing other people for patent infringement, Apple is usually on the throwing end rather than the receiving end, but today, the tables have turned and Apple is the one being sued this time around by no less than the top dog in the mobile phone biz, Nokia. Citing that Apple Infringed on at least 10 patents for “for GSM, UMTS and wireless LAN (WLAN) standards,” Nokia didn’t go into specifics, but did, however, divulged that the patents covered wireless data, security and encryption, and speech coding. They also went on the record to say that it’s been going on since the very first iPhone so we can’t help but wonder why it took Nokia that long to file a complaint. Nonetheless, it’s here and karma has finally caught up with Apple. As far as I can remember, it’s been Apple who has been suing people left and right for patent infringement especially when it comes to the iPhone, but if true, it’s only just fitting that Apple take some of the heat as well.

[nokia press release via unwiredview]

Continue reading Nokia sues Apple, iPhone for Patent Infringement

Disney Wants To Make Videos Accessible from Anywhere

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:09:13 +0100

If The Walt Disney Company isn't just wishing on a star, its new Keychest technology could become the way to watch video. According to The Wall Street Journal, Disney is getting ready to show how owning a movie or a TV show could mean not a physical copy, but access to the video, which would live on a server somewhere.

Code-named Keychest, the technology could let consumers pay one price and then watch a movie from any compatible device, whether an iPhone, a computer's Web browser, or an on-demand cable system.

Competing Initiative

The Journal said Keychest will be unveiled next month, and Disney is now trying to get major studios, networks and consumer technology companies to join the effort.

A key advantage of the service would be that users wouldn't have to worry about storing movies or TV shows, or losing purchased copies. Additionally, it solves the problem of wanting to watch a movie on your TV that you had downloaded to, say, your computer. Compatible devices and services would also recognize your Keychest purchase.

While DVDs may make some management issues easier for a consumer, they also mean playback is limited to DVD players. And their appeal is diminishing. Some studios are reporting that DVD sales have dropped as much as 25 percent.

But Disney isn't the only studio with dropping revenue that is coming up with this kind of solution. A competing initiative, called the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE), is developing a similar approach.

Founding members of DECE include Lionsgate, Fox Entertainment, NBC Universal, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros., Comcast, Intel, Microsoft and others. Disney says that, while the two efforts may be similar, Keychest is a more focused approach because it utilizes common file formats already in use, compared to DECE's attempt to create new standards and formats. In fact, Disney says, DECE...

Continue reading Disney Wants To Make Videos Accessible from Anywhere

McCain Moves To Block the FCC's Net-Neutrality Rule

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:08:57 +0100

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved a proposal for an open Internet. Proponents such as Google, eBay and more than a dozen others have voiced support, while opponents, including Comcast, Verizon Communications, and AT&T, say the government needs to take a close look its involvement.

The rule change means consumers will have more say in which Internet products succeed and entrepreneurs, technologists and investors will have an opportunity to develop products and services to spur innovation and new business, executives from 24 companies said in a letter to the FCC.

The change gives telephone and cable companies such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon less control over the Internet content that customers can view. The opponents believe the new rules will only apply to them and not to Internet companies like Google and Amazon.com.

Moving To Block the FCC

Just hours after the FCC moved to create the new rules, U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced legislation to block the rules. His Internet Freedom Act would bar the FCC from implementing rules stopping broadband providers from selectively blocking or slowing Internet content and applications.

"Today I'm pleased to introduce The Internet Freedom Act of 2009 that will keep the Internet free from government control and regulation," McCain said. "It will allow for continued innovation that will in turn create more high-paying jobs for the millions of Americans who are out of work or seeking new employment."

Comcast, which has been an opponent of the FCC rule change, said it wants the FCC to take a closer look at the issue.

"We share and embrace the objective of an open Internet, as we always have," said David Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast. "While we may ultimately not agree on the level and extent of government involvement needed to accomplish this important objective, we...

Continue reading McCain Moves To Block the FCC's Net-Neutrality Rule

Amazon Unveils Kindle Software for Windows 7

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:08:39 +0100

Kindle isn't just for Kindle readers anymore. Amazon has already released a Kindle app for the iPhone, and at the Windows 7 launch event Thursday, the online retailer announced that Kindle software for Windows 7 (as well as Vista and XP) will be released in the next month -- and a version for Mac will soon follow.

"Customers have told us that they want access to a wider variety of content and an increasingly diverse set of form factors," said Mike Nash, corporate vice president of Windows Platform Strategy. "With the announcement of Kindle for PC, Amazon is making its massive selection of Kindle books available on the world's most widely used platform."

Amazon promoted the development as both a companion for current Kindle readers and a gateway for new customers. With the ability to sell e-books without having to sell a $259 reading device, Amazon can massively increase market penetration of the Kindle format.

Tactile Book-Reading Experience

"Kindle for PC is the perfect companion application for folks who own a Kindle or Kindle DX," said Ian Freed, vice president for Amazon Kindle. "Kindle for PC is also a great way for people around the world to read the most popular books of today even if they don't yet have a Kindle."

This announcement is not just about spreading the Kindle love to major platforms, but also about taking advantage of new features in Windows 7, notably Windows Touch technology. As with the iPhone, users reading books on Windows 7 will be able to zoom in and out by spreading or pinching their fingers, and turn pages with a simple finger swipe.

The new software supports a range of features available to Kindle and Kindle DX users, including the ability to view notes and highlights marked on Amazon's hardware devices.

Slew of E-Book Readers

The announcement...

Continue reading Amazon Unveils Kindle Software for Windows 7

Microsoft, the Mobile Market, and Will WM7 be Too Late?

Nurhisham Hussein ( ) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:00:00 +0100

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,281...,2354561,00.asp

"Microsoft must embrace the mobile space if it wants to get its act together. The company has a bunch of semi-independent units that don't seem to talk to each other very much: Windows, Windows Mobile, Xbox, Zune, and whatever has grown out of their acquisition of the Danger/Sidekick team. As Apple has shown, you create compelling experiences by acting as one company, not as five. Unfortunately, it looks like Microsoft still isn't talking to Microsoft."

Sascha Segan at PCMag delivers a stinging critique of what's wrong with Microsoft's mobile strategy. It's not that we haven't heard all of this before, but the lost data disaster at Sidekick, rumours of trouble at Project Pink, and the relative modesty of the updates brought in by WM6.5, kinds of brings it home. A year's a long time in the mobile space, and with WM7 slated to be released only in late 2010 (RTM is supposedly in about six months time), MS is going to lose even more ground in the mobile sweepstakes. Android has really come on strong in the past six months with a bevy of sexy devices hitting the shelves and the backing of some major names, and no bets that Steve Jobs has something more up his sleeve for the coming year. Will WM7 be enough to turn the tide? Sound off in the comments.

Continue reading Microsoft, the Mobile Market, and Will WM7 be Too Late?

Nokia Sues Apple for Infringement of Nokia GSM, UMTS and WLAN Patents

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:37:00 +0100

Nokia announced that it has today filed a complaint against Apple with the Federal District Court in Delaware, alleging that Apple's iPhone infringes Nokia patents for GSM, UMTS and wireless LAN (WLAN) standards.

Nokia says the ten patents in suit relate to technologies “fundamental” to making devices which are compatible with one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards.

Continue reading Nokia Sues Apple for Infringement of Nokia GSM, UMTS and WLAN Patents

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 22/10/2009

Young Entrepreneur Brings Openmoko to Africa

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze, Johannesburg) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:53:00 +0100

INTERVIEW. A young entrepreneur in South Africa has teamed up with Openmoko to distribute the Neo Freerunner to Africa.

Nyasha Mutsekwa spoke to Biz-News.com at the sidelines of Mobile Web Africa conference in Johannesburg of his mission.

The Neo Freerunner is an open-source phone, which allows developers and enthuasists alike access to the source code and hardware schematics to customize the device to their hearts content.

Continue reading Young Entrepreneur Brings Openmoko to Africa

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 22/10/2009

Barnes & Noble's Nook Offers Color Screen for Browsing

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:36:44 +0100

The rumored Barnes & Noble e-book reader is now reality. The bookseller on Tuesday announced its entry into an increasingly crowded market dominated by Amazon's Kindle.

Dubbed nook, the Barnes & Noble e-book reader runs on the Android mobile operating system. It's the first in the industry to offer a color touchscreen for navigation with access to a digital store that offers more than one million e-books, newspapers and magazines.

At no extra cost, nook users can tap into AT&T's 3G wireless mobile broadband network or use Wi-Fi for book browsing. Barnes & Noble is also letting friends share e-books with Lend Me technology available on a selection of e-books.

"We asked our customers what they wanted in an e-book reader, and specifically designed nook to be the most full-featured, fun, stylish and easy-to-use e-book reader on the market," said William Lynch, president of Barnesandnoble.com. "With our nationwide footprint, Barnes & Noble customers can see, touch and hold nook."

A High-Tech Nook

About the size and weight of a paperback book, nook is the centerpiece of Barnes & Noble's strategy to deliver any book, any time, anywhere. A minimalist design aims to put the focus on content rather than the technology. The device uses the E Ink Vizplex display, which is designed to be easy on the eyes with text resolution as good as a printed book.

Barnes & Noble is launching what's called Reading Now, a virtual bookmark technology that lets you go back to the last book you've read and the page where you left off -- even on another device. For example, if consumers leave the nook at home, Barnes & Noble's free e-reader software installed on an iPhone, select BlackBerry and Motorola smartphones, and laptops, lets you find your place.

The nook can hold up to 1,500 e-books and other printed content....

Continue reading Barnes & Noble's Nook Offers Color Screen for Browsing

Smartphone Faces Security Threat

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:17:00 +0100

INTERVIEW. The pervasive nature of the mobile world has made it difficult to successfully curb security threats on smartphones and other mobile devices offering internet access, says Alain Rollier, founder of AXSionics.

In an interview with Biz-News.com this week, Rollier gave a detailed account of how security threat on mobile devices was shifting from the traditional devices that offer Internet Access.

Continue reading Smartphone Faces Security Threat

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 21/10/2009

Barnes & Noble Steals Kindle's Spotlight with Nook

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:53:31 +0100

Book retailer Barnes & Noble is taking the spotlight away from online competitor Amazon.com. Photos and details of Barnes & Noble's electronic book reader, dubbed Nook, surfaced Tuesday, just one day after Amazon made the new international version of its Kindle e-reader available.

The new e-book reader, priced at $259, features touchscreen controls and a white and gray display, according to an ad from Barnes & Noble to be featured in The New York Times Book Review on Oct. 25. The Nook will give users access to more than one million electronic books, magazines and newspapers, according to the ad released to publishers on Monday.

The market for connected and Wi-Fi e-readers is a growing opportunity for big players such as Amazon, Sony and Barnes & Noble and the smaller players, including Astak, Interead and iRex Technologies. Along with price, how vast the catalog is will be factored into consumers' decisions on which device to buy, according to ABI Research analyst Jeff Orr.

"Certainly, this means more choice and more access to content (for consumers)," Orr said.

Competition Heats Up

Barnes & Noble' Nook will compete directly with Amazon's Kindle, which currently leads the market, and Sony's Reader, along with some of the newer e-readers. Consumers in the U.S. will be able to choose from the Kindle, which is now also priced at $259, down from $299, the Nook, and the Reader, priced at $279.

The crowded market has had enough impact on the Kindle that Amazon has had two price cuts, bringing the cost of the Kindle down $100.

Analysts said there is still a lot of mystery around the Kindle and how well it is doing because Amazon doesn't publish any numbers on its sales.

"Amazon, as a channel, will remain such, but there will be other sources from which...

Continue reading Barnes & Noble Steals Kindle's Spotlight with Nook

Sidekick Data Restoration Has Started, Microsoft Says

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:04:54 +0100

Like a character you thought was dead and gone, at least some lost Sidekick data is coming back. That's the news from Microsoft, which said Tuesday that it has begun restoring personal information that it had earlier said was accidentally lost during a service outage.

In a statement, the Microsoft/Danger team said it was "now ready to make the first phase of content restoration," beginning with personal contacts.

'A Few Clicks and a Confirmation'

Sidekick users can log into the My T-Mobile web site and use a recovery tool to restore contacts. The tool allows users to view contacts on the device as of the first of this month, and, with "a few clicks and a confirmation," the contacts can be restored.

For users who have already re-created the contacts, the tool allows keeping both sets, merging them, or just keeping the set now on the device. A user can also edit any duplicates after data has been restored.

The statement said the team continues "to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to restore your data," and that it was "making solid progress on the next phase" of restoration, which includes photographs, notes, to-do lists, marketplace data, and high scores.

Earlier this month, Microsoft and T-Mobile announced that Danger, a Microsoft subsidiary, experienced a "data service disruption" that erased all Sidekick users' contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists, and photos. The Sidekick smartphone features social connectivity, so the personal data is essential to many users.

T-Mobile had said it would send a $100 "customer appreciation card" to customers who experienced significant loss. The card, which can be used toward products and services from T-Mobile, was in addition to a free month of data service that had already been offered. The card was available if there was a permanent loss of data, so, as data...

Continue reading Sidekick Data Restoration Has Started, Microsoft Says

Collecting Testimonies of Violence Using Mobile Internet

tomek@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze, Johannesburg) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:32:00 +0100

INTERVIEW. Kenya has taken a leading role in Africa by embarking on effective use of Mobile Internet to expose acts of political violence, murder and torture, Ory Okollo the founder of Ushahidi.com told Biz-news.com

In an interview on the sidelines of Mobile Web Africa conference in Sandton recently, executive director of Kenya’s Ushahidi, Ory Okolloh, said her organization was primarily established to expose crisis situations to empower Africa.

Continue reading Collecting Testimonies of Violence Using Mobile Internet

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 20/10/2009

First Android E-Reader Has Dual Screens, Hyperlinks

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:50:18 +0100

On Monday, Spring Design announced the first e-reader based on Google's Android operating system. Dubbed Alex, the device features full browser capabilities and a patented dual-screen interaction technology called Duet Navigator.

Alex aims to bring content to life with multimedia links that let users interact with other online materials as they read, opening the door to a potential industry for secondary publications, audio and video that augment the original text. Users can also create their own images and notes and capture them or just grab relevant content with Link Notes, the device's multimedia authoring tool.

"This is the start of a whole new experience of reading content on e-books, potentially igniting a whole new industry in multimedia e-book publishing for secondary authors to create supplementary content that is hyperlinked to the text," said Dr. Priscilla Lu, CEO of Spring Design. "This gives readers the ability to fully leverage the resources on the web, and the tools available in search engines to augment the reading experience."

Exploring an Android E-Reader

Alex features a six-inch E Ink EPD display and a 3.5-inch color LCD display, earphones and speakers. The device also comes equipped with a removable SD card to free up space and give users room to archive content. Spring Design customized the Android OS to support integration between the color and monochrome displays while preserving battery life.

Spring Design patented its dual-screen device with what the company calls "touch and extend" capabilities in 2007. With the browser, users can capture and cache Web content and toggle to view it on the screen without taxing battery life. Users can also bookmark content, see a history, and customize built-in security settings.

The device taps into full Internet browsing over Wi-Fi or mobile networks such as 3G, EVDO/CDMA and GSM. Spring Design is currently enlisting major content...

Continue reading First Android E-Reader Has Dual Screens, Hyperlinks

QUE E-Reader Will Be Aimed at Business Readers

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:49:38 +0100

On Monday, Plastic Logic announced plans to unveil an e-book reader aimed at business professionals at the Consumer Electronics Show next January. The QUE won't make it to store shelves in time for the holiday shopping season, but Plastic Logic is betting it will make some noise in the first quarter.

Plastic Logic is positioning the QUE as a "proreader" designed for business professionals. In doing so, the company is hoping to expand the e-reader category from a leisure-reading device to a business-oriented device.

Plastic Logic said QUE is designed to streamline the modern businessperson's varied lifestyle and to literally lighten the workload. The device will connect users with business and professional newspapers, books and periodicals, as well as support the document formats that business users need, such as PDF, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. The device also offers tools for interacting with and managing the content.

E-Reader in the Queue

"The QUE brand stands for a premium reading experience," said Richard Archuleta, CEO of Plastic Logic. "The QUE proreader enhances business performance and gives you a competitive edge. More than an e-reader, QUE means business."

QUE comes with a shatterproof plastic display and the battery can last days. It's the size of an 8.5x11-inch pad of paper, less than one-third inch thick, and weighs less than many magazines. The proreader has a touchscreen and access to a file cabinet's worth of documents.

QUE users will be able to connect to content and download wirelessly via Wi-Fi and AT&T's 3G network. Plastic Logic promises its store will offer the most significant collection of business reading available on any e-reader. The QUE store is powered by Barnes & Noble.

A Crowded E-Reader Market

"The e-reader space hasn't heated up like this for more than a decade. There will definitely be a few winners, but most likely there are going...

Continue reading QUE E-Reader Will Be Aimed at Business Readers

What Do Consumers Do With Their Phones?

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:40:00 +0100

A recent Canalys consumer study looked at what features consumers are using on their phones. The main conclusions pointed out by Canalys are that customers on SIM-only contracts consume more data than their pre-paid counterparts, the use of data services is limited outside of smart phone owners, social networking on mobile phones remains a relatively small, but growing service and that many consumers will look for navigation services on their next mobile phone.

Continue reading What Do Consumers Do With Their Phones?

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 19/10/2009

Technology Giants Support FCC Net-Neutrality Rules

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:10:12 +0100

Executives from Google, Twitter, Amazon.com and several other giant technology businesses have joined to support an open Internet. Twenty-four executives signed a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski.

The letter was a response to a slew of letters received by the FCC opposing the proposed rules, which would stop Internet service providers from charging more money for certain types of Internet traffic and discriminating against certain Internet users. Letters from 72 House Democrats have warned the FCC about the negative consequences that government involvement might have on network investments.

For the past four years, the FCC has followed Net-neutrality principles. Last month, however, Genachowski announced a plan to make those principles rules.

The FCC is expected to release additional information on the Net-neutrality debate during its meeting Thursday where it will take a vote on issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which is the first step it must make in the process.

For an Open Internet

At the core of the controversy are proposed rules that would guarantee Internet users access to any Web site and any online service they choose. Cable and phone companies, for example, would not be allowed to block users from using less-expensive Internet calling services or block competing video Web sites.

"For most of the Internet's history, FCC rules have ensured that consumers have been able to choose the content and services they want over their Internet connections," said the technology giants' letter, made available by The Wall Street Journal. "Entrepreneurs, technologies and venture capitalists have previously been able to develop new online products and services with the guarantee of neutral, non-discriminatory access by users, which has fueled an unprecedented era of economic growth and creativity."

The letter adds that America's leadership in technology has been due, in large part, to an open Internet. The...

Continue reading Technology Giants Support FCC Net-Neutrality Rules

Thumbs Up For SA's "Call Me Back" Technology

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze, Johannesburg) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:13:00 +0100

South African mobile cellular phone companies have been praised for implementing a free “Call Me Back” short messages (SMS) information technology.

The two-day Mobile Web Africa conference was mainly focusing on harnessing the potential of the internet and applications on mobile devices aimed at improving people’s standards of life through affordable and readily accessible technology.

Continue reading Thumbs Up For SA's "Call Me Back" Technology

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 15/10/2009

Snapshots Japan Audio Equipment 2009

press@researchandmarkets.com ( ) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:57:59 +0100

Snapdata's Snapshots Japan Audio Equipment 2009 provides 2007 year-end market size data, with 2008 estimates, 5 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the Japanese audio equipment market and covers portable audio players, stereo sets and speaker systems. Market volume is based on shipments. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis.The Snapshots Japan Audio Equipment 2009 forms part of Snapdata's Consumer Electronics industry coverage.

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Data Recover For Sidekick Users In Progress

Ed Hansberry ( ) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:00 +0100

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/...15sidekick.mspx

It seems Microsoft will be able to recover most, if not all, of the user data originally thought to be lost forever.

"We plan to begin restoring users’ personal data as soon as possible, starting with personal contacts, after we have validated the data and our restoration plan. We will then continue to work around the clock to restore data to all affected users, including calendar, notes, tasks, photographs and high scores, as quickly as possible. "

There is a brief explanation of what went wrong, though it is very light on details. I'm glad though that the data is being recovered. Originally, T-Mobile was saying there was little or no chance of recovery. This is good news for those that have the device, and hopefully a lesson learned for the entire industry providing cloud services.

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Wi-Fi Direct Aims To Easily Connect Hardware Devices

http://www.mobile-tech-today.com (Mobile Technology today) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:51:38 +0100

The Wi-Fi Alliance is working on a new specification that will let computing devices interconnect with mobile phones, cameras, printers, keyboards and mice, and other PCs over Wi-Fi connections. Called Wi-Fi Direct, the new specification promises to make it far easier for devices to share, display and print information.

Previously code-named "Wi-Fi peer-to-peer," the fledgling technology will enable devices to make a one-to-one connection, or enable a group of several devices to connect simultaneously. Slated to be added to Wi-Fi chips beginning in the second half of 2010, the technology also will be able to create connections with the hundreds of millions of Wi-Fi legacy devices already in use, according to Wi-Fi Alliance Executive Director Edgar Figueroa.

"Wi-Fi users worldwide will benefit from a single-technology solution to transfer content and share applications quickly and easily among devices -- even when a Wi-Fi access point isn't available," Figueroa said. "The impact is that Wi-Fi will become even more pervasive and useful for consumers and across the enterprise."

Tomorrow's Technology Today

But device makers don't need to wait until next year to offer Wi-Fi peer-to-peer capabilities. Atheros Communications, which first demonstrated its peer-to-peer Wi-Fi technology at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2008, is already shipping a similar technology for integration into mobile products.

Called Atheros Direct Connect, the company's technology is designed to work with any legacy Wi-Fi device. Moreover, Direct Connect is expected to be forward-compatible with Wi-Fi Direct, which will feature enhancements for power management and device discovery.

Atheros began shipping Direct Connect technology "in the second half of 2009 with Atheros' XSPAN and Align 11n chips for Microsoft Windows 7-enabled netbook, notebook and desktop PCs," a company spokesperson said. "Regarding the mobile market, the products that are shipping with this capability today include the NEC N-06A smartphone and the Huawei iMo."

Given the wireless...

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Internet On The Go: Interview with Deb Hall, Managing Director at Web2Mobile

editor@biz-news.com (Luis Sandoval) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:11:00 +0100

INTERVIEW. Web2Mobile is a company that specializes in making your content mobile ready for ease of use for your customers on the go.

In the last 12 months we seen a lot change in the mobile market with a huge transition of users putting their mobile devices ahead of their laptops and desktop computers.

Deb Hall notes that even on a personal level, using mobile devices create a difference in behavior in how we use and read content and how we interact with our devices. In the last ten months she notes that this transition has become more apparent as the iPhone, specifically, has immersed itself into the general populace.

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Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 14/10/2009