Nokia 5230 Price : GPS navigation and Ovi Maps with aerial images

The latest addition in the Nokia touch phone portfolio, the Nokia 5230, is designed for those who lead an active life and use their mobile phone as their primary instrument for music, photos and videos, as well as sharing their lives online.

With the Nokia 5230, consumers can get new content, be it songs from the Nokia Music Store or apps, games, videos and other services from the Ovi Store, directly from their phones.

The solutions offering is complemented by A-GPS navigation and the latest version of Ovi Maps with aerial images, 3D landmarks for over 200 cities and terrain map views for pedestrian and drive navigation.

The Nokia 5230 features an easy to use music player with 33 hours of playback time. In select markets the Nokia 5230 will include Comes With Music service offering truly unbeatable value with all you can eat music. The recommended price of the Nokia 5230 with the Comes With Music service will be 259 EUR before subsidies and taxes.

For a mighty music experience, any headphones with a 3.5mm AV connector can be used. In addition, the Nokia 5230 features a Media Bar with quick access to your favorite media and applications, such as music, photos, YouTube or Ovi Share.

The Nokia 5230 is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Apple approved Google Voice alternative Toktumi's Mobile VOIP

This Line2 app was just approved after a 3 month delay, partially caused by the Google Voice shenanigans Apple pulled back in July when they pulled out all the Google Voice apps from the App Store. This is really similar.

Toktumi works similarly to Google Voice, letting you use one virtual number to forward to your real numbers. It doesn't support SMS, and it costs $15, but it supports business features like phone trees and other filtering options. The Line2 app is by Sean Kovacs, the guy who made "GV Mobile", the Google Voice app we still use on our iPhones now.

Since Toktumi is a paid service, Apple probably believes it won't directly impact At&T business and it doesn't support SMS either which makes it a less preferable choice. At the same time, they might be interested in pushing toktumi ahead of Google Voice App to get as many users under this app and make it difficult for google voice to gain these customers.

Whatever be the case, the Mobile VOIP Application and the entire VOIP market in USA would face huge turmoil in 2009-2010. Lets hope we see some really good innovations and value addition to VOIP service.

IFFCO : Question Box provides a service in India

Airtel has entered into a strategic tie-up with IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative) for providing agriculture and allied information to farmers through mobile phones. The facility was formally launched by the Chief Operating Officer (Andhra Pradesh) of Bharti Airtel Limited, Rajnish Kaul, at a function at Anakapalle town, about 40 km from here on Tuesday.

Question Box provides a service in India and Uganda. In India, phone boxes are installed in slums and villages that connect users to operators that will answer questions. In Uganda, users can call in from any mobile phone and ask their questions.

The operators have access to a repository of previously asked questions (and their answers), and they can also occasionally consult the Internet. A special search engine and database were also built specifically for the project.

Another initiative, Avaaj Otalo, provides an audio community forum for farmers in rural Gujarat, India. Working with an organization that produced a popular radio program, Otalo provides a call-in number where farmers can exchange questions and answers. Users are also able to listen to archives of the radio program.

These projects differ in that Question Box avoids having to process users' questions by adding a human listener in the loop; Avaaj Otalo avoids processing by organizing their collection of audio prompts with into a menu. Both programs, however, have yet to deal with the problem of cost because they subsidize the service for users.

Otalo operates with a toll-free number and Question Box provides the phones to call from in India. In Uganda, Grameen Community Knowledge Workers provides the mobile phones.

Hewlett Packard with Mobile computing

Hewlett Packard, the world’s largest technology company, now has a portfolio encompassing hardware, software and services for enterprises, SMBs and consumers. Mobile computing will be one of the company’s key focus area for the future.

It believes that mobiles will soon be the main device to access information. All services, for example mobile payments and SMS for reality shows, though will need a robust back-end comprising storage and servers.

The Cooltown Innovation Centre in Singapore is a window to what the largest technology company in the world is busy doing. A digital home — a house as good as a digital media and entertainment hub — equipped with a virtual personal assistant to book flight tickets, arrange contacts and also receive and transmit instructions.

Apple made large concessions to China Unicom : 5 million iPhones to China

China Unicom has been selected as the sole distributor of iPhones in China, according to a report in the International Business Times today. While the deal has yet to be finalized, the company has purchased 5 million WCDMA iPhones without Wi-Fi from Apple at a price of 10 billion yuan (US$1.46 billion).

As for the iPhone, it is expected to sell for $350 and $700 for the 8GB and the 16GB versions respectively in China. The phone will obviously face stiff competition from well endowed similar looking clones (remember the Meizu MB, anyone?) that makes the iPhone look like an expensive brick. Then there are the new Android oPhone based phones, including the Dell one that is expected to land there soon.

The International Business Times report notes that Apple made large concessions to China Unicom in order to enter the massive Chinese market. To give some scale to the size of this sale, Apple reported during the 3Q 2009 conference call with Wall Street analysts that they had sold a total of 5.2 million iPhones in the last quarter.

Samsung ST550 and ST500 Camera Series: 2 LCD screens

Samsung launch of a new series of digital cameras with two LCD screens – an extra one at the front. This way, photographers can snap the perfect picture with themselves in it. The hidden 1.5-inch LCD in the front will also help photographers by displaying a countdown timer when the camera is in autotimer mode.

What's special about them is that they help you take self-pictures - thanks to its dual LCD (one each at the front and back). The ST550 and ST500 are the two camera models that will feature this technology.Both cameras feature a 12.3 megapixel sensor and a 27mm wide angle Schneider Kreuznach lens with 4.6x optical zoom.

The 1.5-inch TFT LCD located on the front of the camera is common to both camera models. This display can be used for shooting self, with self-timer, for shutter info, function info as well as children modes. In fact, while taking self shots, there is no need to even press the shutter button - just a big smile will trigger the cameras to take the picture, says Samsung.

The camera also has decent HD video recording capabilities with 1280 x 720 resolution at 30 fps. The digital cameras will be marketed as model numbers ST550 and ST500 in the UK, while they’ll hit market shelves as the TL225 and TL220 respectively in US stores. The former model includes an HDMI socket, and comes in black, gold, orange, and purple. The latter model comes in silver, red, or blue.

BlackBerry Curve 8520 Price List : Codenamed BlackBerry Gemini

BlackBerry Curve 8520, one of RIM’s unannounced smartphones, has just appeared in several live photos. And, surprisingly, it doesn’t have a traditional trackball.There’s a new berry on the block, and this one’s supposed to be “designed for India.”

No, that thankfully doesn’t mean it has a torch which can double up as the headlamp of a truck. It’s cheaper, is available on prepaid connections for the first time and is a bit more rugged. It was officially supposed to be in stores from last Friday, which means you should, by now be able to pick it up from Airtel outlets in most metros.

Codenamed BlackBerry Gemini (yes, this is the Gemini, not the 8325), the new handset lacks 3G connectivity – like all the other GSM Curves currently available.But this may be compensated by the very nice overall design, the rubberized sides and dedicated multimedia keys.

If you already use a Blackberry Curve 8900 (Javelin) or a Bold 9000, then there’s not much point “downgrading” to the new Curve 8520 “Gemini”. If you’re looking to switch from a Curve 8300 series phone or are interested in buying your first Blackberry, then the 8520 is a very interesting proposition.

Virgin Mobile data card for Internet in India

In sync with its commitment to offer innovative products and services catering to the lifestyle of the Indian youth, Virgin Mobile today made its entry into the data devices segment with the launch of vLink.The sleek white colored device priced at Rs 2100/- only will be the first in the data devices segment to offer style and dual purpose of CDMA USB Modem and 1 GB data storage.

So now it doesn’t matter if you’re in Nainital or Chinchpokli you’ll be able to access the Internet anytime, anywhere!

And what’s more is that unlike any of the other USB devices in the market, this one allows you the convenience of prepaid. So recharge how much ever you need, whenever you need!

The new data card would be available at a price tag of Rs 2,100. It has two tariff plans — Rs 801 per month (for unlimited data usage) and Rs 349 per month.

This is the first unutilized balance roll over facility for data usage in the Indian market. This plan comes at a competitive 25p/min peak hour rate and a 13p/min off peak hour rate**.”

India has a total internet user base of 49.40 million, skewed towards the ‘younger’ India. The proportion of net users ‘under 25’ years of age is the largest chunk accounting for 52% of the total internet user base in India.

Samsung Marine cell phone for Rs. 7030

Samsung today announced the introduction of Samsung Marine (B2100), its first “Outdoor Phone” in the Indian market. According to a press release, the phone is encased in anti-shock urethane material, and is built to withstand the bumps, bangs, scrapes and even withstand dust and water.


Sunil Dutt, Samsung India Country Head said in a statement “Samsung Marine is the perfect companion for consumers who enjoy active outdoor activities.”

According to a Samsung press release, this cell phone model targeted towards those who live their life outdoors meaning those who are adventurous and require a robust handset.

Featuring the IP57 certification, the phone provides dust protection and water protection (under up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes). Samsung Marine is adaptable for tough environments, including rain, fog, humidity, sand and extremely hot and cold temperatures, etc. – and is tested under specifications defined by the US Department of Defence with Military Standard 810F (MIL-STD-810F).

Samsung has announced its ‘Samsung Marine’ cell phone handset at a price tag of Rs. 7030 in the Indian market.

Nokia N97 With Personal Internet | Prize

The Nokia N97, the most advanced mobile computer to date, will begin selling in June in the Jordanian market. It will be the first Nseries device to feature a dedicated homescreen shortcut for the easy-to-use Ovi Store, which has now become globally available featuring thousands of applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services.

The Nokia N97 is the latest "mobile computer" in the Nseries of smartphones by Nokia.
Announced on 2 December 2008,[1] [2][3] the N97 is Nokia's second touchscreen phone (after the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic)that is based on the Nokia S60 platform.

The Nokia N97 will transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other. Designed for the needs of Internet-savvy consumers, the Nokia N97 combines a large 3.5" touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard, providing an 'always open' window to favorite social networking sites and Internet destinations.

Nokia N97 Features:

* 3.5″ touchscreen
* Can’t escape the World connections – GPS, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Transmitter and tuner
* 5MP camera
* 32GB onboard memory with MicroSD expandable to 48GB
* 3.5mm headphone jack (ie. ‘proper’ size)
* An app with a new buzz word attached – So-Lo - Social location.

The Nokia N97 is also perfectly suited for browsing the web, streaming Flash videos or playing games. Both the physical QWERTY and virtual touch input to ensure
efficiency in blogging, chatting, posting, sending texts or emailing.

Telcos peek into Aladdin's cave

The impending commercial activation of Seacom and updates from several other undersea cables have the telcos making moves to take advantage of what is coming.
Over the last few weeks, some of the more well-known telcos, including Vox Telecom and Internet Solutions, have released a spate of products positioned to use high-speed broadband expected to hit local shores over the next few years.

Huge Group executive chairman Anton Potgieter says the incoming capacity, while not cutting the price of services, will bring new services that were previously unavailable on the limited capacity in SA.

Huge has an overview of the market since the company provides managed solutions using the available telecoms operators and their infrastructure. According to Potgieter, for the telcos, the next big step will be in the video conferencing space. He points to Vox's new product released yesterday, Eyeris.

Eyeris is a high-definition (HD) video conferencing solution, which will use the back-end hosted infrastructure of Vox Orion and Vox DataPro. Industry watchers have questioned the capability to run high-definition video conferencing across local networks; however, the company will combine it with Fishbone, its line binding technology, to increase capacity for the solution.

Even with the expected bandwidth, SA still has a long way to go before it sees services that have become commonplace in cutting-edge markets. “We are still some time away from things like HD streaming video, which we have seen in several established countries.”

Internet Solutions (IS) has been quickly racking up the number of new available products, including a business product for roaming, which allows customers to connect to several WiFi hotspots across the globe.

Despite the mass of exciting products on the horizon, the general consensus is that it will take some time before telecoms prices will actually drop.

New Zealand telecommunications provider TelstraClear

New Zealand telecommunications provider TelstraClear has rolled out xDSL equipment to 21 exchanges across the country and technical trials are moving into live field testing as the company's local loop unbundling roll out progresses.

TestraClear says it has begun customer trials, but will not say where the exchanges are, or when the service will go live - other than that it will be before the end of the year.

The telco has been offering turbocharged VDSL2 service to its business customers since October last year; Telecom plans its own upgrade from ADSL2+ to the faster VDSL2 - the fastest possible copper-delivered broadband - later in the year. VDSL2 offers fibre optic-like speeds - provided you live practically on the doorstep of your local exchange or cabinet. Unlike fibre, bandwidth fades rapidly with distance.

Whisper to a screeching halt
Under the Telecommunications Act’s “local loop unbundling” (LLU) provisions, rivals are allowed to shift their own broadband hardware into Telecom exchanges, allowing them to bypass Telecom Wholesale and be in more control of the speed, and pricing, of their internet service.

Orcon and Vodafone both say they want clarity from the Commerce Commission on “sub-loop unbundling”, or the rental that Telecom Wholesale will charge them to access or install their own gear in its roadside "Whisper" fibre cabinets, currently being rolled out by the telco’s Chorus division.

The commission is due to make its final determination on cabinet pricing this month.

AT&T squeezes wannabe iPhone upgraders

AT&T will charge current US iPhone 3G customers a hefty fee for the privilege of upgrading to an iPhone 3G S before their two-year contracts are up, and American owners of the soon-to-be-second-rate 3G model are none to happy about it.

AT&T has announced new pricing for existing iPhone 3Gs, plus rates for the upcoming iPhone 3G S, scheduled for release on June 19th. Pricing for the new phones are in line with what the telecom giant charged for the 3G, and pricing for the 3G has dropped.

iPhone 3G S will cost $199 (16GB) and $299 (32GB) for new and qualifying customers.
iPhone 3G will cost $99 (8GB) for new and qualifying customers.
The 16GB iPhone 3G will be available for $149 while supplies last.

Add to that the required $30 per month data plan, the aforementioned $18 upgrade fee, another $18 for a “One-time AT&T Upgrade Fee,” plus the over-and-above charges for text messaging (200 messages per month, $5.00; 1500 messages per month, $15.00; unlimited messages, $20.00), and existing AT&T contract holders are facing the withdrawal of a serious chunk of change from their checking accounts.

This report describes the results of a research project designed to explore the current and planned use of IT Infrastructure Management Solutions in North American companies.

With increased government regulation and oversight in the form of mandates such as HIPAA, no company that deals with patient or medical records can afford to ignore the very real challenge of ensuring data security, integrity, and privacy.

Ad-Funded Blyk To Launch In India

The UK's ad-funded, youth targeted mobile service provider Blyk is bringing its model of free talk-time and texts in return for viewing advertising to India. Mint.com reports that senior level recruitment is already underway, according to an unnamed source who was approached for a job at the new operation.

Blyk spokesperson Ann Sarimo confirmed that Blyk plans on entering the Indian market, but declined to comment on timing. After signing up some 200,000 customers in the UK, the only country in which it is operational, it appears that Blyk, which was started by ex-Nokia (NYSE: NOK) president Pekka Ala-Pietilä, and funded by the likes of Goldman Sachs and Sofinnova Partners, has hit a wall.

It reiterated a few weeks ago that it was shifting strategy, calling its UK operations, a "proof of concept," and saying that it was looking to partner with carriers, rather than build their own service country by country as originally planned.

Can the Blyk model succeed in India? No word on which Indian carrier Blyk may have partnered with. But it seems that some think it could work. Sanjay Behl, head of branding and marketing operations at Indian carrier Reliance Communications Ltd, told mint.com, "The model looks like a win-win for all stakeholders?cellular operators, customers and then advertisers.

Sony Ericsson C901 Eco Mobile Phone May Cost More Than £300

Sony Ericsson launched two mobile phones with green eco-credentials; the C901 Greenheart and the Naite showed that the Japanese company was ready to make tackle the threat of environmental disaster with more than just words.

Yesterday, a live chat stream brought together some of the people who worked at Sony Ericsson on the whole ecological and environmental-friendliness of Sony Ericsson as a company and manufacturer of mobile phones, one of the most resource-hungry, polluting and popular "consumables" in the world.

Amongst the various details that were released, we learnt that the recommended retail prices in Germany for the Naite would be 159 Euros and the C901 GH would hit 359 Euros.

Adjusting for the exchange rate and the fact that VAT in Germany is 19 percent, it can be safely assumed that the SIM free versions of the Naite would be sold for £136 while the C901 GH would retail for £307 approximately.

They will also feature a range of environmentally-friendly applications, such as a carbon footprint calculator, and a pedometer, dubbed WalkMate.

The C901 Greenheart is being tipped for release during the second quarter of this year, with the Naite expected to go on sale shortly afterwards.

Sony Ericsson's release schedule for this year also includes the Satio, a 12 megapixel cameraphone, and the successor to the Xperia X1, the Xperia X2.

N97 ushers Personal Internet

For all Mobile lovers , the Nokia N97, the highly anticipated and the most advanced converged touch device from Nseries hits the Indian shores in the second half of June.

The Nokia N97 pioneers the concept of a personalised home screen that lets people choose their favourite content, providing an ‘always open’ window to applications and/or Internet content such as social networking sites, RSS feeds and other widgets in addition to Ovi feeds.

Nokia’s flagship Nseries device introduces leading technology – including multiple sensors, memory, processing power and connection speeds for people to share their ‘social location. With integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, Nokia N97 mobile computer intuitively understands where it is.

The Nokia N97 is the first device to ship with Ovi Store, a one-stop shop for a full catalog of applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services, and much more. Ovi Store makes shopping for content and applications easy and fun for feature phone and smart phone owners alike.

Enterprise Apps May Flourish With iPhone 3.0 Software

Another new feature of the 3.0 software that could have an impact on developers is the ability to charge for content within the app.While the rumor mill is reaching a fever pitch with reports that Apple will show off a new iPhone during the keynote session at the Worldwide Developers Conference, the company said it definitely will be talking in-depth about the iPhone 3.0 software upgrade.

This firmware upgrade is a significant milestone for the iPhone because it is expected to plug many of the weaknesses in the platform, and it rewards developers with new opportunities to create innovative applications that can be monetized.

The App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch is already wildly popular with consumers and developers, but the 3.0 software may make the platform even more attractive because it offers content creators more than 1,000 new hooks into the hardware.

Krishnapillai said the push-notification system could be extremely useful for business apps where real-time information is crucial. For example, this system could be used to enhance the capabilities of Sybase's mobile e-mail program for the iPhone, or it could greatly assist a customer-relationship management program.

Developers with the 3.0 software said it provides other capabilities that they cannot yet speak about due to non-disclosure agreements, and Apple will likely show these off during the keynote. This could include things like video recording or a digital compass, but Apple will end all the speculation Monday at 10 a.m. when senior VP of worldwide product marketing Philip Schiller steps on stage during the keynote.

Nokia 6600i Released In India with estimated price of Rs. 13,000.

The Nokia 6600i was certainly one of Nokia's most popular smartphones. Since its launch in 2004, it has sold millions of units and now people generally use it as a backup phone.

The phone has decent imaging abilities and sports an attractive design that should appeal to most. On the features front, apart from the 5 megapixel camera, it has 8x zoom (digital of course), dual LED flash and auto focus.

Being a Series 40 device, the phone supports installation of Java applications. There is an XHTML browser too that takes care of your basic browsing needs. You can always install Opera Mini if you wish to have a 'better' browsing experience.

The design is quite eye catching as it has brushed steel covers and chrome center key which epitomizes an understated and simple appearance.

The all new Nokia 6600i is likely to turn out to be a simple handset with nothing much on offer. The handset will be made available in the third quarter of 2009 at an estimated price of Rs. 13,000.

The phone will be available this very month in two colors Black and Silver. The price has not been reveled as yet.

New cell phone to well growing rural India

Economists have slashed Indian economic growth forecasts for this year and the stock market is in the doldrums. But cellphone companies are signing millions of new subscribers a month, making India the fastest growing mobile-phone market in the world. There is no sign of a slowdown yet.

Intex Technologies and it is firm to modernize the rural India in a new way. Intex Technologies is going to present a unique cell phone handset to the rural India.

Intex Technologies highly equipped 13-year-old IT Hardware, Mobile Phones and Electronics company with its headquarter in New Delhi. The company has a pan-India presence though its own network of 2 mother-warehouses, 28 branches, 2 regional offices, 61 service centres, 111 service franchisees and 11 resident service engineers.

In addition, brand ‘Intex’ covers 6 business segments- Computer Peripherals, PC, GSM Mobile Phones, Consumer Electronics, Retail and Enterprise Business.

It has built for itself a high credibility amongst its vast network of channel partners and several million satisfied end users by offering value-for-money quality products supported by effective service and a consistent policy of transparent, fair and ethical dealings

Intex Technologies has already introduced the novel mobile handset- INTEX Hero for the rural consumers at a price of Rs. 2999/ and it is hoped that more and more Indians will start using it shortly.

What is the uniqueness then? There is the presence of 45 days stand-by battery life in the phone and this enables people to talk freely, even if there is any scarcity of power.

In addition, the presence of FM radio, camera, expandable memory, MP3 audio player and 1000 contacts phonebook memory make the cell phone more decorous.

Rural customers "have been hungry for mobile phones for a long time, so demand will remain unaffected," by the global jitters, said S.P. Shukla, chief executive officer of the mobile business at Reliance Communications India Ltd., India's second-largest cellular company by number of subscribers, after Bharti Airtel.

Reliance launched a new $2 billion nationwide network in January that reaches more than 24,000 towns and 600,000 villages.

International wireless giants are clamoring for a piece of the action. Last year, Vodafone Holdings PLC took over India's fourth-largest cellular company by number of subscribers. In December, Japan's NTT Docomo Inc. announced it will pay almost $3 billion for a 26% stake in Tata Teleservices Ltd.

Bolt Browser Hit the top-operaMini on trouble

Bolt is written in Java ME like Opera Mini and according to Bitstream can run on "nearly all" Java based handsets that support MIDP 2 and CLDC 1.0. The only handsets Bitstream specifically says Bolt will not run on are ones using the Palm OS. Blackberries and "selected" Windows Mobile handsets are specifically mentioned as supported.

Since Bolt browser made its debut at the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona in February, it has been on a promotion spree. The efforts, it seems, have paid off well for BitStream, the developers of Bolt.

The fact that Bolt has more active users in India than in any other country outside North America, comes as a surprise to the folks at BitStream. One in six of Bolt's active users reside in India-- just four months after the initial launch of the browser.

Bolt has a good set of well chosen one click shortcut keys for page up/down, column left/right, bookmarking the current page, entering a new URL, switching to the bookmarks or history pages and opening the built in RSS reader.

BitStream added that Indian users have visited more than 5 million web pages and consumed more than 1 terabyte (1,000 gigabytes) of bandwidth using the mobile browser since it debuted.

Bolt Browser claims to be much faster than its competitors and is web-kit based. Like Opera Mini, it too has a compression mechanism that enables users to save on data transmission costs. Learn more about the browser here.

Featurewise Bolt is fairly basic. Like Opera Mini. tabbed browsing and copying text from web pages aren't suported (UCWEB can do both). Pages can't be saved although images in pages can be "downloaded".

Dowloading of both images and files launches the phone's built in browser. Unlike Opera Mini, Bolt on the N95 and 7100i does not close when it launches the phone browser, a big plus because it means you don't lose your place on the page.

WiMAX Forum joining with Tata Communications

The WiMAX Form today announced the joining of Tata Communications to its Board of Directors with Prateek Pashine, COO Retail Broadband Unit, Tata Communications to serve as representative to the WiMAX Forum Board.

Here Electing Tata to the board demonstrates the WiMAX Forum’s commitment to the Indian market and signifies the company’s importance to the WiMAX ecosystem worldwide, said Ron Resnick, president and chairman of the WiMAX Forum.

After Tata Communications has demonstrated its confidence that WiMAX is the leading 4G technology, and they have articulated their plans to bring broadband services to consumers in India through WiMAX.

The strong representation by global operators to the WiMAX Forum board shows how evolved the WiMAX ecosystem has become, added Pashine. Various researches have predicted that India will play an important role in the development of the Global WiMAX ecosystem.

we will bring that perspective to the forefront within the Forum. Markets like India have unique product and business model needs which we expect would lead the way for other markets and operators around the world.

Tata Communications joins companies including Airspan Networks, Alcatel-Lucent, Alvarion, Aperto Networks, British Telecom, Clearwire Corporation, Comcast Cable, Fujitsu, Huawei Technologies, Information and Communications Research Laboratories at Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Intel Corporation, KDDI, KT, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sprint, and ZTE on the Board of WiMAX Forum.

New Facebook spam Going to Attack

Facebook under severe problems now, Have you been hit like millions of Facebook users by a new phishing scam that can result in crashing your computers or mobile phones and steal your passwords? If not, beware, do not open the files ending with ".At" or ".Be".

The phishing scam is being run through the spam messages which steals the sensitive information of the Facebook users.

In the attack, the messages are circulated with a subject line of "Hello" and a prompt to check out "areps.At" or other URLs ending in ".At".


The mails with the subject line "Look at This" and links like -- goldbase.be, greenbuddy.be, silvertag.be, picoband.be -- leads to some malicious Web sites, which if visited, could secretly download malware onto computers through a "drive-by download" application.

The URL connectivity, before being blocked directs the visitor to a fake Facebook page and the mail ID and password are stolen as soon as it is logged-in again.

According to the All Facebook blog.Facebook, the password in such cases should be changed immediately and the same message should be sent across to one's Facebook acquaintance.

"Whoever is behind the scam has been steadily amassing a large number of e-mail addresses and passwords over the past few weeks," the blog says.

Though, Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt said: "The impact of this attack or the previous ones are not widespread and only impacted a tiny fraction of a per cent of users.

Samsung SGH-t349 Fully Covered with Option

The new Samsung SGH-t349 sports a candybar form factor, and includes a nice range of multimedia features, as well as support for the operator's MyFaves service. Among the specs of the device we can count a 1.3-megapixel photo snapper, as well as one-touch access to favorite messaging features, a music player, and a microSD memory card slot for additional storage space of up to 4GB.

This Samsung handset features Bluetooth and Internet connectivity. It supports EDGE and GPRS class 10(850/1800/1900 MHz) along with web2go. This T-Mobile’s myFaves enabled device also accommodates an e-mail client.

Samsung SGH-T349 measures 4.49 x 1.97 x 0.53 inches and weighs only 3.2 ounces. The phone includes a 2.2-inch 262K TFT color screen that has a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels.

The handset flaunts a standard lithium ion battery that provides up to 7 hours of talk-time or 300 hours of standby time.

The new Samsung SGH-t349 stylish messaging handset can already be acquired from T-Mobile for only $14.99 upon the signing of a two-year contract agreement.

Given the low price tag it features, as well as the messaging functionality it has been packed with, the new mobile phone should seem like a good option for enthusiasts.

Sony Ericsson C905 is a high-end mobile phone

Sony Ericsson next series mobiles now available all over the world, these mobiles are user friendly specially recent series mobile Sony Ericsson C905.The Sony Ericsson C905 looks gorgeous and is laden with features that are new and advanced. The mobile works at every place of the world for it is GSM enabled.

The alluring 104 x 49 x 18-19.5 mm dimensions of the mobile, makes it incumbent on users to carry it anywhere very easily. The user can access the internet facility on the way while travelling. The handset can be used to download song, music and ringtones of one's choice.

QVGA (240x320) 2.4" 18-bit colour LCD screen
Scratch-resistant surface
8.1 megapixel CMOS (3264x2448, 7.99 effective megapixels)
Autofocus lens
Xenon flash, 3-LED videolight, focus assist lamp, self portrait mirror
Image stabilizer
Face detection auto focus up to 3 faces
Smile Shutter (New added, users can update it using the update service option)
Auto Rotate
BestPic
16x digital zoom

Video recording: QVGA (320x240) @30fps
Dedicated camera still/record/review key
Dual Function D-Pad
Mechanical lens cover
PhotoAlbum
Blog link
GPS with A-GPS, with picture geotagging support**
WLAN 802.11b/g, DLNA technology
NetFront 4.5 web browser with Autorotate
Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
Apple iSync supported via a free plugin from Sony Ericsson
Bluetooth

The user remains benefited with the TFT screen being used to play games and videos at a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. Thus the phone can be used for entertainment purposes. The user can also play music on the MP3 player and listen to radio programs on the FM radio. The memory of the Sony Ericsson C905 can be extended up to 2 GB. This space is utilised to store large files. It connects well with alternative connectivity options such as Bluetooth.

Bharti Airtel launch Airtel Net PC in India

Bharti Airtel India's leading Mobile network and India's leading telecom company, is planning to launch Airtel Net PC, a low cost online computer powered by Microsoft and Nivio. It is priced at Rs 7,999 for Airtel broadband customers.

plug-and-play online computer, Airtel Net PC, includes a 15-inch LCD monitor, keyboard, mouse and Nivio companion. Bharti Airtel sources said that initially the PC would be available at Airtel stores and NEXT Electronic stores in Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida from Saturday, May 23.

Airtel is offering net PC in three entry packs - Home at Rs. 699 per month, Professional at Rs. 899 per month and Business at Rs. 1,199 per month.

The Home Pack gives 256kbps Airtel broadband connection with 3GB data transfer cap, online desktop service with 10GB storage and Microsoft Office standard. Professional pack offers Airtel broadband at same speed, data transfer cap, 10GB online storage and MS office standard with Admin rights.

While the Business pack offers again the same 256 kbps broadband connection with 3GB data transfer cap, 10GB online storage and MS Office Premium with Admin rights.

Airtel's Net PC might have an added advantage of 15-inch LCD, keyboard and mice over Nova netPC.

Nokia 3G Mobiles 2730 classic, 2720 fold and 7020

Nokia with 3g travel is now start in india, Nokia made public three youthful cell phones namely Nokia 2730 classic, Nokia 2720 fold and Nokia 7020. They are designed to give a new outlook to information and entertainment. These phones will make life easier and faster by better accessibility to the Internet.

First up is the Nokia 2730 Classic, a candybar that’s bound to become as popular as the 6700.And with its 3G capability and a drop-dead price of 80 Euros ($108), this definitely would be a sought-after device when released in the third quarter of 2009.

The power of the internet is undeniable. We’ve seen mobile technologies catalyze the growth of the informal sector across the world, empowering local entrepreneurs and having an immediate and lasting impact on people’s lives.

Services like Nokia Life Tools and Ovi Mail, combined with the mobile phones we’re launching today, bring powerful solutions that can be the gateway to knowledge, entertainment and people, without the need for a PC.

The other handset is Nokia 7020. this handset is an affordable low-ender that packs the same punch in a flip phone form factor.Nokia 2730 classic and Nokia 2720 fold are expected to hit the markets in the third quarter of 2009, priced at €80 and €55 respectively. The Nokia 7020 will be in stores in the fourth quarter of 2009 at a retail price of €90 excluding additional charges.

Nokia with "light messaging" Now available

The emotions are delivered from your nokia mobiles phones, because nokia now creating the new technology called light messaging for his new model mobile phone.
This new feature lets you express a mood while having an ongoing call or while sending a text message by using colored lights.

The color is used to light up an LED array on top of the recipient's correspondingly operational light-messaging phone.Just think of these subtle SMS emoticons in the form of colored lighting and you'll have an idea of what the Finns are up to. It works like this.

Before you hit Send, you get an option to select a color, and depending on your mood or the urgency of the SMS, you can select red for high priority (or fuming mad) or blue for sad.

The encoded color will then be displayed either via LEDs or on the keypad of the receiver's phone.

Sending light messages to other users allows an improved communication that expresses moods like 'I am happy', or 'angry' by selecting light indicating signals to be included with the message.

For example, a blue color may indicate happiness, and a red color may indicate anger. It should be noted that the selected color(s) may indicate various emotions.

LG enV Touch Phone release Later Next Month

To over come the palm computer now arise another era in the mobile world, even iphone too not matched this one what is that??????watch it here...Somehow Someone has apparently tipped off Engadget Mobile that the LG enV Touch might launch on June 5.

Slated as the much-awaited Voyager replacement, the enV Touch has a 3-inch touch screen on the front, a 3-inch internal screen, a full QWERTY keyboard on the inside, plus a few multimedia features like a 3.2-megapixel camera, a full HTML browser, EV-DO, and more.

The LG VX11000 enV Touch is also believed to feature a microSD card slot, as described on its leaked Verizon Equipment Guide document. The large external touchscreen display appears to sport a row of softkeys along the bottom, for quick access to various phone applications and features.

The phone also features a dedicated camera button, to activate its 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera. Since it is not listed on the latest Verizon rebate form, it is believed that the LG enV Touch will launch sometime after June 4.

The enV Touch will supposedly sell for $219.99 with a two-year contract and a $70 rebate. If this does turn out to be true, I guess we'll have a very busy first week in June.

The LG VX9200 enV3 is now believed to be launching on May 29, priced at $129.99 after a 2-year commitment and mail-in rebate. This model is believed to offer a microSD card slot and 3 megapixel camera. The QWERTY keyboard is reportedly paired with a full-HTML capable web browser, as well.

Nokia 6600i Slide Is Releashed For World

New version of mobiles are now announced in nokia, Nokia has now introduced an updated version of its 6600 mobile phone, now called the 6600i slide, which upgrades the camera to 5 megapixels with autofocus and adds a dual LED flash.

The 6600i has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios, as well as support for 850/2100 3G bands. Additionally, it comes with an accelerometer for tap controls, support for 16GB microSD cards, Bluetooth 2.0, and FM radio.

The new Nokia 6600i Slide runs Series 40 and will be available in the third quarter of 2009 in select markets. It comes in two colors, Silver and Black.

The combination of 3G connectivity and excellent imaging capabilities, 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash, and bright 2.2” display with 16 million colors, make capturing and sharing of memorable moments via various Internet services truly enjoyable.

With an additional micro SD card the memory is expandable up to 16GB. In-box come a 1GB micro SD card and the Nokia stereo headset WH-203 with FM radio.

The Nokia 6600i slide has an estimated retail price of EUR 200 excluding taxes and subsidies and it is expected to start shipping in select markets in the third quarter of 2009.

SplashData have launched version 2.0 of File Magic for iPhone

Simplify Media has launched Simplify Music 2.0 applications (iTunes link) for iPhone and Apple iPod Touch, offering new features including search for albums, artists, and song titles.

It additionally has the ability to tag favourite songs, create a playlists inside the app while on the go, and a new scrub bar to jump around inside audio books and podcasts.

SplashData have launched version 2.0 of File Magic for iPhone. File Magic is a file transfer utility that enables you to drag and drop any type of file on your desktop to your iPhone or iPod touch so you can take them with you - like a briefcase.

It comes with free desktop companion software that makes it very easy to sync documents, videos, music or pictures from your Windows or Mac desktop to your iPhone or iPod touch.

With the new version, you can now "beam" files wirelessly between iPhone devices. You can also email files as attachments from File Magic on the device, and the company has tightened up security with a password option to protect File Magic access.

NEW in version 2.0

Device-to-device file transfer (File Magic running on both devices; on same Wi-Fi network)
Email files as attachments from File Magic on the device
Option to set a password to protect File Magic access

FCC Approves Latest Samsung I7500 Android Phone

The news for those who were waiting on the Samsung I7500 (who’s that, loving?): the FCC has approved the device, so you can expect to see it in retail in the coming months. The spicy ingredient in that phone is the 3.2″ AMOLED screen that should be brilliant, whether it’s anything close to the OMNIA HD.

The phone is rumored to go on T-Mobile’s network but there is no official comment from the carrier. Samsung I7500 specificationsSamsung’s Android-powered i7500 has taken one small step in its long march towards an official US launch.

The i7500, known to have support for T-Mobile’s 1700MHz 3G band, has made its way though the FCC with tri-band UMTS/HSPA intact. T-Mobile customers may have a long wait for this hot new handset however.
As rumors place its arrival in November — just in time for the holiday season. It may seem a bit crazy considering we’ve already eyed a few more upcoming Android handsets from Sammy but hey, T-Mobile customers, you’ve got plenty to be excited about in the coming months.

Nokia E52 with 3g,wifi on the Roof

New Nokia Eseries phone,released by the Finnish producer. Taking a recently spotted image as authentic (and presenting a handset created by Nokia), we could say that a successor for E51 is close to be unveiled.

The handsets from Nokia's Eseries are widely known as being among the best business-orientated mobile phones on the market.

Starting with the E60, E61 and E70 models, released back in 2005, the Eseries devices became very popular among business users and Nokia will surely keep on releasing new products from this family.

Now, about the image with the (supposed) new phone: the picture appeared over at Just Another Mobile Phone Blog, together with the question if the device presented in it is Nokia E52.

There are no clear details to make us think this is indeed E52, but by the way the device looks, it is quite possible to be a real Nokia handset.

Nokia E52's Size 116 x 49 x 9.9 mm, 54 cc
The E52 Weight 98 grams
Nokia E52 has TFT, 16M colors Display
E52's Screen Size 240 x 320 pixels, 2.4 inches

E52 Features a microSD (TransFlash) Memory Card slot, up to 16GB, 1GB included

Nokia E52

Nokia E52 has 3.2 MP Camera, 2048x1536 pixels,
enhanced fixed focus
LED flash
Video VGA @ 15fps
Secondary VGA video call camera

Nokia E52 Data Capabilities:

3G HSDPA, 10.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2 Mbps
EDGE Class 32, 296 / 178.8 kbits
GPRS Class 32
HSCSD
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
USB v2.0 microUSB

Nokia N-series with N-Theatre

N-Series handset in the near future, you might be happy to have stalled the purchase till now especially if you happen to be a movie freak exactly.Nokia India unveiled ‘N-Theatre’ offer on its N-series phones.

The new offer suggests that the buyers of Nokia N79, N85, N95, N95 8GB or N96 would now be able to pick five movies of a specific genre like action, comedy, thriller, drama and assorted free of cost.

That is because Nokia has announced the launch of its brand new Ntheatre offer which brings a selection of movies in DVD quality right on to your Nseries phone screen.

For example, movies in the action section include Spiderman, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Charlie’s Angels, Company and Border. The comedy section offers movies like You Don’t Mess With Zohan, Gods Must Be Crazy, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Golmal and Golmal Returns.

Nokia N79, N85, N95 8GB and N96, you will be entitled to select five movies of a specific genre from a choice of 5 genres viz., action, comedy, thriller, drama and assorted. The movies will be bulked on a free 4 GB multimedia card from the Nseries movie library.

The movies include an assortment of Hollywood and Bollywood hits including blockbusters such as Spiderman in Action, Jerry Maguire in Drama, Raaz in Thriller, and Gods Must be Crazy in Comedy. The offer will be valid till the end of June 2009 only.

T-Mobile May Force Smartphones Users Into Choosing Data Plans

We all know that there are not too many smartphone users who do not use some sort of data plan or the other. But, the few T-Mobile smartphone customers who are still not making full use of their smartphone are going to find it uncomfortable.

According to some sources, T-Mobile may stipulate that all new smatphones have accompanying data plans, starting as early as June.

The new smartphone data plan requirement apparently will not apply to the BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Pearl Flip, Samsung Behold or Samsung Memoir. It is not clear if customers will be forced into choosing an unlimited data plan or if they will be given a choice of lower-rate data plans with lower data allowances.

Well, let us take this in a positive light - sure, it might be more expensive, but then again, so is the smartphone itself. Right? Tell us what you think.

Blackberry Bold 9000 by RIM

BlackBerry has been innovating with product after product. With the new family of BlackBerry Bold, Storm, and 8900, they have a great lineup for the rest of the year. Today we’re taking a look at the sleek new BlackBerry Bold 9000 on AT&T.

Blackberry Bold 9000 by RIM. Canada's Rogers Wireless has had their Blackberry Bold out for a little while now and has gotten excellent reviews. The Bold is a smartphone with a lot of features for business people as well as media enthusiasts as well.

After several months of delays from AT&T, the Blackberry Bold is now available in the United States.In total, the Blackberry Bold measures about 4.5 x 2.5 x 0.5-inches and weighs a little under 5 ounces, which is perfect for your hand and your pocket.

The sides of the device are lined with a metallic stripe, which makes it look very professional, along with a leathery textured back, which makes it very easy to handle. The 2.75-inch non-touch screen display is stunningly vibrant at 65,000 colors and 480x320-pixel resolution.

We can say that it is the best looking screen we have ever seen, including better than the Apple iPhone 3G. As we mentioned, it is not a touch screen, but there's no need for on with the very functional navigational features. The Bold has a QWERTY keyboard that is similar to the Blackberry Curve, but even better.

All in all, the new RIM BlackBerry Bold 9000 is a fantastic smartphone that both business exec's and the average user will love. The 3G connectivity and Wi-Fi as well means that you'll be connected to the Internet wherever you go.

The Bold's magnificent display is the best quality LCD we have seen on any cell phone to date. If you are a current AT&T customer looking to upgrade or are looking to get out of your current carrier, the BlackBerry Bold is the phone to get if you want excellent performance and a QWERTY keyboard.

HTC Touch HD or HTC T828X

HTC T828X or its codename the HTC Blackstone, is a Windows Mobile 6.1-powered luxury Pocket PC designed and manufactured by HTC. Part of the HTC Touch Family, it most notably features a larger.

The device features a generous 3.8 inch wide screen TFT (65k color) touchscreen display. At 480 by 800 pixels, the Touch HD's touch-sensitive display screen can be confidently described as being truly high resolution.

HTC's exclusive TouchFLO 3D allows for finger-touch navigation, although stylus handwriting recognition is supported as well. An accelerometer sensor is included for auto-rotation of the VGA screen.

Higher-resolution display than those found in most smart-phones currently available, a 5-megapixel camera, a second front facing camera to enable Videophone functionality, an accelerometer, GPS, FM radio reception, high resolution video recording capability and SD Micro card compatibility (up to 64 GB). It also features quad band GSM and dual band UMTS connectivity, as well as the proprietary TouchFLO 3D useinterface developed by HTC.

The Touch HD features a 1350 mAh Li-ion battery, providing up to 390 minutes of talk time on WCDMA and up to 310 minutes on GSM. On standby, the phone can be expected to last up to 450 hours on WCDMA and up to 390 hours on GSM.

This phone is a perfect choice for those who love the integration of office productivity support and high-end multimedia capabilities on their phones.

Samsung i900 Omnia GSM 850 / 900 / 1800

Samsung i900 Omnia GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 2100 HSDPA 850 / 1900 112 x 56.9 x 12.5 mm Camera 5 MP, 2592х1944 pixels, autofocus, image stabiliser, video, flash; secondary videocall camera Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional.

The Samsung SGH-i900, also known as Omnia or WiTu (in Russia only), is a new mobile phone being released by Samsung Mobile. Announced in June 2008, the Omnia was launched in Singapore in mid-June, available in stores on the 20th, and in the rest of Asia in July. For some parts of Europe,

it was launched in August. The American version launched in December through Verizon Wireless while the Canadian version launched in April 2009 through Telus Mobility. The phone was expected to retail in the U.K. market for around £500 on its release.

There is rumor that Samsung is preparing its i900 touchscreen mobile phone. The Samsung i900 is said to support 3G and HSDPA networks. It features a 5 Megapixel camera, 8GB internal memory, a LCD touchscreen, Bluetooth, integrated FM tuner and a microSD card slot. The i900 will be powered by Windows Mobile 6 Professional OS.

The Samsung Omnia has been released under the version name SGH-i910 in North America, with Verizon Wireless as the network operator. The SGH-i910 has a speaker on the back and has CDMA instead of the GSM radio. The SGH-i910 still runs Windows Mobile 6.1 along with some added software such as Visual Voicemail.

All other features stay the same as the SGH-i900.The North American version of
the phone uses the same 624MHz chip used by other versions. This has been
confirmed by numerous North American users through the "settings" menu on the
Omnia.

Nokia E71 is a smartphone from the Eseries range

The Nokia E71 is a smartphone from the Eseries range, a Series 60 3rd Edition, second generation Feature Pack 1, device with a QWERTY keyboard targeting business users worldwide.

The Nokia E71 succeeded the Nokia E61/61i models, building on the base design and form factor but enhancing on the feature set. The silver white variant of the E71 also makes an appearance in the "Superwoman" music video by Alicia Keys.
Specifications


Key Facts

Speaker phone --Yes
Software platformS60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1
Memory card type--Hot swappable microSD card (up to 8GB)
Standby time
--Up to 17 days
Internet and media
Video viewing --Yes
Messaging and
communication
Email --Yes
Chat --Yes
Camera
Autofocus-- Yes
Image resolution -- 2048 x 1536
Connectivity
WCDMA (network
dependent) -- Yes

The Nokia E71 is full of positive points, and it is difficult to find anything negative about it. From a business perspective, the Nokia E71 is one of the best phones out there with its Smartphone capabilities and long battery life. The phone earns top marks in most other areas too and comes in as highly recommended.

Mobile operators new revenue streams

Mobile advertising offers operators a new way to drive business results and increase user satisfaction, according to a Comverse presentation at the upcoming Mobile Advertising 2009 in Amsterdam, a premier event for the mobile marketing and advertising industry.

Mobile operators familiar with the age-old problems of winning new customers and retaining existing ones, along with increasing average revenue per user and developing new revenue streams.

Recent economic conditions mean these issues will only become more acute, as operators look to cut costs and the pressure to grow the business becomes increasingly intense.

A key aspect for operators addressing these challenges is the modern application of customer relationship management (CRM) principles.

Two of the main drivers behind CRM are, of course, to keep customers from going elsewhere and to move them up the value chain. These are both a challenge in the evolving economic climate.

In terms of subscribers moving to other operators, ie. churning, the point of upgrade has traditionally represented a natural opportunity to switch between operators but as cash conscious-consumers often hang onto their phones for longer, the upgrade cycle may be extended.

This means that each upgrade matters so much more to an operator--it is more essential than ever to retain or win a customer around the switch than at any other time. If operators lose a subscriber today, they could be gone for two or more years.

Mobile Anti Virus In anti-virus company Kaspersky

Viruses from the desktop and laptop world have either migrated to, or are assisted in their dispersal by mobile devices. Antivirus vendors are beginning to offer solutions for mobile handsets. These devices present significant challenges for antivirus software, such as microprocessor constraints, memory constraints and new signature updates to these mobile handsets.

anti-virus company Kaspersky unveiled its new AV software for corporate mobiles phones – protecting all that valuable valuable data that you're bound to lose anyway in the back of a taxi at 3 in the morning.

The mouthful that is the Mobile Security Enterprise Edition protects the likes of Windows Mobile and Symbian phones from spam and malware and builds an SMS firewall. It’s a mystery why the likes of BlackBerry are missing from the suite, when they would be the perfect candidate and market for these types of business security modules.

Also thrown in for good measure is a bolt-in for those drunken exploits in the back of a taxi, when you do lose your mobile phone. An IT department can remotely access a handset with Kaspersky’s anti-theft module and block the phone from being used, or even wipe all contents with a simple text message.

Bundled into the mobile phone's protection suite is also a feature for SIM monitoring, where details of the SIM card being pulled from the handset are reported – where the same actions for having a handset lost can be performed too.

Mozilla has come up the desktop browser

A mobile browser, also called a microbrowser, minibrowser or wireless internet browser (WIB), is a web browser designed for use on a mobile device such as a mobile phone or PDA. Mobile browsers are optimized so as to display Web content most effectively for small screens on portable devices. Mobile browser software must be small and efficient to accommodate the low memory capacity and low-bandwidth of wireless handheld devices.

Mozilla has come up the desktop browser market with its innovative approach to add-ons and superior performance, earning itself 21.53 percent of the desktop browser market in the process.

While Mozilla has long lagged in mobile browsing, that seems set to change, if this video demonstrating gestures and other features of Mozilla's rapidly developing mobile Fennec browser is any indication:


Fennec Gestures and Chromeless browsing from Felipe on Vimeo.
Mozilla seems set to embrace and extend its own desktop experience with Fennec, giving even Apple a run for its money in mobile (and seemingly shuttering Microsoft's Windows Mobile efforts completely.

Other Mobile Browsers Are.....

Android browser

BlackBerry Browser

Blazer

Danger browser

Embider

Internet Explorer Mobile

Iris Browser

Opera Mobile

Wapaka Browser

Web Browser for S60

Openwave Mobile Browser)

AAC is able to include 48 full-bandwidth

Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is a standardized, lossy compression and encoding scheme for digital audio. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves better sound quality than MP3 at many bit rates.

AAC has been standardized by ISO and IEC, as part of the MPEG-2 & MPEG-4 specifications. The MPEG-2 standard contains several audio coding methods, including the MP3 coding scheme.

AAC is able to include 48 full-bandwidth (up to 96 kHz) audio channels in one stream plus 16 low frequency effects (LFE, limited to 120 Hz) channels, up to 16 "coupling" or dialog channels, and up to 16 data streams.

Developed by the same organization that created the MP3 format, AAC files, or Advanced Audio Coding files, are an improvement over the quality and compression of MP3 files, but not enough of an improvement to overcome MP3’s popularity.

The AAC format was introduced in 1997 and works similar to MP3 because it only contains audio information that the human ear can hear. But AAC audio has more sample frequencies, more channels, more efficient coding and several other improvements over MP3.

The most popular company to use AAC files is Apple, which uses it for iPod audio devices and the Apple iTunes Music Store. Apple has created a DRM protected version of the AAC format, called FairPlay, which is sold at the iTunes Music Store.

The AAC format is extremely common only because of the success of the iPod and iTunes Music Store because there are few other companies or websites that use it.

3G growth rate in very high in Asia

3G is the third generation of telecommunication hardware standards and general technology for mobile networking, superseding 2.5G. It is based on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) family of standards under the IMT-2000.

3G networks enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency.

According to some industry observers, Third-Generation (3G) in Southeast Asia, namely Malaysia and Singapore--currently the only two markets where such services are commercially available--has seen starkly different uptakes.

Figures from Singapore's industry regulator Infcomm Development Authority, indicate that, as of end-April, 8 percent of the country's 4.4 million mobile subscribers are 3G users--or over 360,000 users.

Alayne Wong, Asia-Pacific communications research manager at IDC, calls these numbers very encouraging.

"At the end of last year, only 4.1 percent of mobile lines were 3G. In just a few months, this number has doubled," she said, noting that IDC expects this number to grow to 50 percent by 2010. "In addition, 3G services are relatively new in Singapore, having been launched for only over a year."

Nathan Burley, research analyst at Ovum Asia-Pacific, agreed that Singapore's 3G adoption was also growing relatively well. At the start of the year to March 2006, 81 percent of net additions were 3G, he said. This number reflects well when compared to the 98 percent in net additions figure across Western Europe--the world's strongest growing region.

But, it is tough not to compare Singapore's 3G uptake to its northern neighbor Malaysia, especially since both countries launched 3G services at about the same time.

In comparison though, Malaysia's rate of growth has been significantly slower.

According to Wong, as at the first quarter of 2006, only 0.6 percent of all mobile lines in the country are 3G.

This is double the 0.3 percent figure at the end of last year, but overall growth numbers remain very low. Wong attributes the poorer 3G take-up to the lack of national network coverage for 3G, which is unlike Singapore where there is island-wide network coverage.

Malaysia focused its 3G deployment on pockets of high-density areas, she noted, starting with Klang Valley--its government and commercial capital--and then to major cities including Penang, Malacca and Johor Bahru, including the North-South Highway.

3G networks offer a greater degree of security than 2G predecessors. By allowing the UE to authenticate the network it is attaching to, the user can be sure the network is the intended one and not an impersonator. 3G networks use the KASUMI block crypto instead of the older A5/1 stream cipher. However, a number of serious weaknesses in the KASUMI cipher have been identified.

In addition to the 3G network infrastructure security, end to end security is offered when application frameworks such as IMS are accessed, although this is not strictly a 3G property.

A smartphone likely replace computers very soon

A smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality. There is no industry standard definition of a smartphone.For some, a smartphone is a phone that runs complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers.

The capabilities of mobile devices have grown astronomically over the past couple of years. Even the most basic cell phones have features and functions that were only available for high-end devices or not available at all a short time ago. Smartphone capabilities have expanded even faster.

A smartphone isn’t likely to replace your computer, but with the addition of some well-selected applications, it can provide remarkable sources of information, connectivity, and entertainment.

There are thousands of applications available for mobile devices. Finding the best ones from among the available options can be a challenge, but with a bit of information you’ll be able to zero in on just what you’re looking.

Symbian is the most common operating system worldwide but is much less prominent in North America. It powers smartphones manufactured by numerous well-known companies including Nokia, LG, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Motorola, and Fujitsu.

The App Store has been a huge success for Apple and by April 2009 hosted more than 30,000 applications. The app store delivered its billionth application to users on April 23, 2009.

Following the popularity of Apple's App Store, many other mobile platforms are following Apple with their own application stores. Palm, Microsoft and Nokia have all announced they will launch Apple-like app stores. RIM recently launched its app store, BlackBerry App World.

unique features about the iPhone OS

The iPhone OS or OS X iPhone is the operating system developed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and iPod Touch.Like Mac OS X, from which it was derived, it uses the Darwin foundation.[3] iPhone OS has four abstraction layers: the Core OS layer, the Core Services layer, the Media layer, and the Cocoa Touch layer. The operating system takes less than half a gigabyte (GB) of the device's total memory storage.

The newest Apple cell phone to run a version of the iPhone OS inspired from Mac OSX is the iPhone 3G. This cell phone can support fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping and unlike older versions, enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, which is used for programs like Outlook. Of course, it also plays music, takes pictures and displays video.

One of the most unique features about the iPhone OS, compared to Blackberry’s OS, Microsoft Mobile, Symbian and Android is that nearly all interactions with the phone are conducted through the touch screen.

The OS translates swipes, taps, pinches and reverse pinches into commands, without the use of a traditional keyboard or other buttons. A second exclusive feature is the voicemail function that allows voicemails to be listened to in any order, rather than just in the order they were received.

Though thousands of third-party applications are available for the iPhone, the included applications include iTunes, Stocks, Weather, Notes, Maps with GPS, a calendar, calculator, an iPod-type music player, a YouTube app and of course, phone features such as a contact organizer and voicemail.

For web browsing, it uses a mobile version of Safari, which is compatible with 3G, EDGE and WiFi technology. The iPhone OS email feature supports most IMAP or POP mail types, including MobileMe, Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo!, Google’s Gmail and AOL.

HTC Dream(TM) and HTC Magic(TM) smartphones

The HTC Dream (also marketed as T-Mobile G1 in Europe and the US) is an Internet -enabled smartphone with an operating system designed by Google and hardware designed by HTC.

It was the first phone to the market that uses the Android mobile device platform.

The phone is part of an open standards

Rogers Wireless today announced the exclusive Canadian launch in June 2009 of the HTC Dream(TM) and HTC Magic(TM) smartphones, the first cellphones in Canada powered by the Android platform, allowing for fast and easy access to a wide range of Google(TM) mobile services, including Google Search(TM), Google Maps(TM), Gmail(TM) and more.

"Who else but Rogers would be the first carrier to offer Canadians the first chance to join the mobile revolution with a choice of not one, but two, handsets powered by the Android platform?", said John Boynton, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Wireless.

"The HTC Magic offers a responsive touch screen and the HTC Dream delivers both a touch screen and a slide out QWERTY keyboard. Both devices offer outstanding wireless internet search capabilities and a full suite of applications that run two times faster on Canada's fastest mobile network."

Verizon Wireless will introduce the highly-anticipated MiFi 2200

Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, owns and operates the largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, based on a total of 86.6 million U.S. subscribers,ahead of AT&T Mobility's 78.2 million subscribers.

On January 9, 2009, Verizon Wireless acquired Alltel Wireless in a deal valued at $28.1 billion. The acquisition expanded Verizon's wireless network to cover approximately 290 million people and established Verizon as the weight: bold;largest United States wireless carrier, based on number of subscribers. Alltel will remain a wholly owned subsidiary until mid 2009.

Verizon Wireless will introduce the highly-anticipated MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot on May 17. Developed by Novatel Wireless, the MiFi 2200 lets customers create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the reliability and high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Broadband network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as notebooks, netbooks, cameras, gaming devices or portable media/MP3 players.

The MiFi 2200 is small enough to fit in a pocket, measuring 3.5" x 2.3" x 0.4" and weighing 2.05 ounces. It combines a variety of features into its streamlined form factor, including integrated internal CDMA and Wi-Fi antennas, advanced security and authentication technologies.

The MiFi 2200 gives more than 86 million customers access to the nation's largest and most reliable 3G network," said Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. "With projected growth rates of over 30 percent for Wi-Fi mobile phones, MiFi will be of great benefit to both business customers and consumers.

It gives customers the flexibility to transform their Wi-Fi-enabled consumer electronics into Mobile Broadband devices and to choose how and when they need to be connected at a price point that will match most budgets.

The MiFi 2200 offers unprecedented possibilities for students, mobile workers and families to all stay connected while on the go," said Peter Leparulo, chairman and chief executive officer, Novatel Wireless. "We are very pleased to work closely with Verizon Wireless to deliver the most advanced connectivity solutions possible to our combined customers."

Indian 3G Mobile Forecast to 2012

"Indian 3G Mobile Forecast to 2012" to its report gallery. The Indian mobile market has recorded stupendous growth over the past few years on the back of easy availability of low cost devices, better network coverage and affordable services. The uptrend in growth is expected to continue in near future owing to the lower teledensity, which currently hovers at around 30-35%.

Moreover, there is a wide gap between rural and urban areas in terms of mobile penetration. For instance - the mobile penetration in urban areas stood at around 70% in 2008 while in rural areas, it was pegged at less than 15%, indicating to the immense potential of Indian mobile market for future growth.

Nationwide deployment of 3G telecom services will help the country to bridge this huge gap, says our new research report, "Indian 3G Mobile Forecast to 2012".

The report anticipates that the number of 3G mobile subscribers will surge at a CAGR of more than 250% by 2012 provided various factors/issues, critical to this growth, are adequately addressed and resolved. Besides, the report includes thorough analysis of 3G market potential in the Indian telecom market.

The projected growth in the Indian 3G market will largely depend upon the decision of Indian government to auction 3G frequencies. At present, state-owned BSNL and MTNL have been allowed to rollout 3G services in India while rest of the operators will be issued 3G spectrum via auction.

With the finishing of auction process, there will be massive investment in the domestic 3G deployments and the country will be able to reap the value of mobility by developing its telecom infrastructure for the propagation of this next generation technology.

BlackBerry Awarded for pioneering the wireless data industry

The BlackBerry is a wireless handheld device introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager. In 2002, the more commonly known smartphone BlackBerry was released, which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services as well as a multi-touch interface. It is an example of a convergent device.

Research In Motion (RIM) was honoured with the GSMA Chairman’s Award last night at the GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards ceremony. This award, established in 1995, is the Association’s most prestigious award and recognises outstanding contribution to the growth and development of mobile communications around the world.

In his presentation to RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie, GSMA Chairman Alexander Izosimov stated that, “RIM’s commitment to innovation has revolutionized the wireless industry and laid the foundations which shaped the thriving smartphone market of today.

BlackBerry products and services have changed the way we communicate and interact, making businesses more productive and consumers better connected.”

On receiving the award, Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO of RIM, said, “This award is a testament to the talent and commitment of more than 12,000 RIM employees who are all focused on serving our customers and partners. We are more excited than ever by the opportunities ahead in our industry and we are honoured to be recognized with the Chairman’s Award.”

Apple previewed its iPhone OS 3.0 software

The iPhone 3G supports faster 3G data speeds and Assisted GPS.On March 17, 2009, Apple announced the iPhone firmware version 3.0, due to be released in mid 2009.Apple previewed its iPhone OS 3.0 software and announced the immediate availability of a beta software release to registered developers.

The iPhone OS 3.0 beta release includes an updated Software Development Kit (SDK) with over 1,000 new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) including In-App Purchases; Peer-to-Peer connections; an app interface for accessories; access to the iPod® music library; a new Maps API and Push Notifications.
Apple also announced over 100 new features that will be available to iPhone and iPod touch users this summer including cut, copy and paste; MMS;* landscape view for Mail, Text and Notes; stereo Bluetooth; syncing Notes to the Mac® and PC; shake to shuffle; parental controls for TV shows, movies and apps from the App Store; and automatic login at Wi-Fi hot spots.

The iPhone OS 3.0 beta release will also include a new Voice Memo app and expanded search capability for all key iPhone apps, as well as Spotlight™ search across the iPhone or iPod touch.

Motorolla New MOTO VE465 is a flip phone

The latest is the most pleasing sight of Motorola’s new MOTO VE465 on its website. Nothing much has been said about this mobile phone elsewhere, except on the FCC. So we guess we are among the first, if not actually the first, to bring you the details on this cell phone.

As you will see from the pictures below, the MOTO VE465 is a flip phone, which possesses the looks and style that Motorola is famed for creating, along with being reasonable on the pocket as well. This cell phone looks really elegant, with a slim body and the usual external glass display that all MOTO models possess.


The CDMA MOTO VE465 comes with two lighting modes, “call” and “media”. The phone keys turn white while in “media” mode and blue in “call” mode. You can also play around with some nice features that include SMS, MMS, Email, IM, Stereo Bluetooth, USB sync, removable storage up to 4GB, music player and the ability to play music without having to open the flip lid. The keypad is designed with raised keys, so as to make dialing that much simpler.

Motorola truly delivers yet another rocking performance with the MOTO VE465, which is due for release in Q1 2009. You can choose from Titanium or Sterling Blue colors. The details of pricing are yet to be known.


Well looki here. Motorola apparently has a few tricks up its sleeve that might just surprise us in the coming year. Well they would have any way, if our trusty ninja didn’t come through with the goods! Moto fans, feast your eyes on four sexy handsets coming your way in what is shaping up to be Motorola’s final shot at survival. For the time being details are slim; in fact pretty much all we have are images, the knowledge that they’re all hitting Verizon Wireless, code names and a 2009 time frame (though we do know the RUSH 2 will be out during Q1, likely early in the quarter). We’re seeing some big changes here in terms of common styling cues from Moto - just look at the FLASH, pictured above. Sharp angles and raised, blended buttons - it actually looks pretty hot! There’s plenty more where that came from of course, so hit the jump for shots of the other three handsets.


The Boy Genius Report was founded by The Boy Genius in October of 2006. After writing for Engadget and Engadget Mobile, The Boy Genius, or "BG" as his friends like to call him, quickly gained a following and became a crowd favorite within the circles of the online gadget communities. With the rise in popularity of The Boy Genius’ columns and breaking news and scoops, a formal website front quickly transformed from a novelty to a necessity, and thus, Boy Genius Report.com was created