Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Harman Kardon Guide+Play GPS-500 Does Nav and HiFi

GPS500front.JPGHarman Kardon has announced their GPS-500. This is a small GPS device that also has media functionality. This GPS unit includes a hi-fi music player (with FM transmitter), video player, 2GB of internal storage with optional SD expandability and support for MP3, MP4, WMA, ASF, WAV and OGG. The 4-inch touchscreen and software doesn't look too shabby, either—nice and clean. It will be hitting the shelves later this month for $500. – Travis Hudson

(c) www.gizmodo.com

How the iPhone avoided being leaked

by Christopher Grant

We all knew Apple was going to announce the iPhone at yesterday's Macworld keynote, but we didn't really know, y'know? Despite years of anticipation, false starts, and promised rumors, we can't decide if we're more impressed by what Apple managed to pack into the iPhone's slender frame or their ability to keep the entire thing an absoloute secret. Fortune takes a look at the process, covering the highly secretive cooperation with cell-carrier Cingular, the unusually distributed effort within Apple itself, and the increasing strain placed on the personal lives of employees tasked with long hours and strict confidentiality. Perhaps most interesting was the creation of "bogus prototypes" that they used with not only Cingular executives but with Apple exployees themselves. Lucky for us, an insider deep inside the core of Apple sent us this cameraphone snap of an early prototype featuring a (now absent) external antenna.

(c) www.engadget.com

Sharp 770SH 3G phone

Sharp 770SH 3G phone

CES 2007 - Truth be told, very little separates the 550SH and the 770SH. Both cellphones share almost the same specifications, with the main difference being the size and form factor. While the 550SH comes in a candybar design, the 770SH opens up its clamshell with a very satisfying click. Instead of the 1.9" TFT LCD display that you find on the 550SH, you get a 2.2" Mobile Advanced Super-V LCD instead. I compared the screens between both phones, and the 770SH looked a wee bit better but it probably would not matter to the casual user. Loading captured images took approximately 2 to 3 seconds per shot, which can be frustrating for those who are used to speedier software. As with the 550SH, it is currently available in Europe and will be offered by Cingular and T-Mobile sometime in the near future. Overall, it really depends on how you prefer your handset to come in - candybar or clamshell?

(c) www.ubergizmo.com

Saturday, January 6, 2007

Pantech goes two up with IM-S150 and IM-U150

Pantech is now offering two new handsets in Japan namely the Pantech IM-S150 and the Pantech IM-U150. The former handset is widely acclaimed for being extremely well designed and have had the good fortune of winning the iF Design Award of 2007 as well. Features on the S-150 include megapixel cameras, MP3 players and wireless internet. The IM-S150 features a screen, incorporating dual TFT LCD of 260,000 colors. It is also equipped with a 1.3 mega-pixel camera with flash and 64 polyphonic ringtones. Users can send photos and phone numbers to other mobile phones through its infra-red data association (IrDA) function. The IM-S150 will be launched in Korea this week under Pantech's SKY brand, the leading Korean premium mobile phone brand. The IM-S150 is 7.8cm in height and 3.7cm in width and weighs only 80g. The latter, i.e. the U150 is simpler yet elegant. The touch wheel design has been tried out with the U150. The U150 also has a surprisingly different color for the backlight - purple which ligths up depending on the movement of the finer on the touchwheel. The Pantech U150 phone will also enjoy 1 GB of memory, 3D surround sound and an integrated MP3 player.

(c) www.phoneyworld.com

MySpace on Your Cingular Phone

MySpace on Your Cingular Phone Photo 1MySpace.com and Cingular Wireless announced an exclusive partnership to offer enhanced MySpace functionality to all Cingular customers via their mobile phones. The deal marks MySpace's largest-scale mobile partnership and gives Cingular's customers exclusive access to MySpace Mobile's tool set including the ability to edit MySpace profiles, view and add friends, post photos and blogs, send and receive MySpace messages, and more from the mobile phone.

MySpace Mobile on Cingular provides features and functionality of the MySpace global community, translated for an easy-to-use and feature-rich experience on a mobile device. The rich feature set for MySpace Mobile on Cingular includes:
- Uploading Photos - Available on select Cingular handsets, MySpace Mobile allows Cingular customers to select photos stored on their mobile device and upload them to their MySpace profile. The same terms of service for MySpace also apply to the mobile sphere, including but not limited to inappropriate content and copyrighted material.
- Responding to Mail - Cingular customers don't have to wait until they are in front of a computer to read and reply to their MySpace messages. From their Cingular phones, they have the ability to send messages to their MySpace friends, read and reply to messages sent to them, as well as view and manage friend requests.
- Searching for Friends - MySpace Mobile allows Cingular customers to perform basic friend searches giving users the opportunity to "click-to-add "friends into their network. Cingular customers must simply locate a MySpace profile they wish to add as a friend, and then select to add this user as a friend. Customers will also have the ability to look through invites that are pending approval.
- Posting Comments or Blog Entries - MySpace Mobile allows Cingular customers to post new blog entries and make comments to other users' blogs or MySpace profile pages. To post a blog or comment, Cingular customers need simply view the appropriate section and click "Post" to create the entry. Users can save their work at any time, and any information entered will update both the mobile client and the online MySpace profile page.
- View Friends - Cingular customers have the ability to view the friend list of any MySpace profile. The Friend list contains a text listing of the friends, which when selected would show the profile picture along with a link to that user's MySpace page and the ability to add the friend to your contact list for quick bookmarking.
- View Groups - MySpace Mobile gives users the ability to view the group list of any MySpace profile. The Group list contains a text listing of the members, which when selected would show the profile picture along with a link to that user's MySpace profile and the ability to add the member to your contact list for quick bookmarking.
To experience MySpace Mobile on Cingular, customers can text: MYSPACE to 386 (FUN) to get the MySpace Mobile application on their wireless phones. The cost is $2.99 per month plus standard data usage charges.
In addition to the full range of new MySpace Mobile features, Cingular customers can still receive real time MySpace Mobile Alerts on their handsets which notify them, via a text message, when they receive postings to their MySpace page, such as updates or comments posted to their blog, friend invites, mail messages, comments to pictures, new bulletins and/or online status. MySpace Mobile Alerts have been available to Cingular customers since March 2006 and, to date, more than 75 million alerts have been received on Cingular handsets.

(c) www.mobiledia.com

Samsung Launches the Thinnest HSDPA Slider

Samsung Launches the Thinnest HSDPA Slider Photo 1

Samsung today launched the SGH-Z720, the thinnest HSDPA slide-up mobile offering a 13.8 mm profile.

The Z720 enables mobile users to access more files and provides greater fidelity for streaming video content, powered by High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) for data transmission speeds at 1.8 Mbps - up to six times faster than 3G UMTS technology.
Integrating a 3.0-megapixel camera with auto focus for taking photos, the Z720 has wide dimension to allow for a 2.1-inch QVGA display. Utilizing 3G power, the Z720 also includes a second camera for video telephony. With a document viewer, voice memo and PIM features, users can also keep on top of their workload.
For convenience, the Z720 supports microSD external memory and is equipped with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Also supporting Samsung's newest uGo and uTrack interfaces, the Z720 automatically responds to the user's environment and displays a city landmark of where they are located, adjusts the picture to represent day or night, and adjusts the time to reflect the location automatically. The uTrack interface sends an SMS message to a predetermined number to alert the consumer of changes in the mobile's SIM card, as well as the location to increases the chances of recovering a lost or stolen phone.
In addition, the Z720 is the first mobile handset from Samsung installed with Google mobile search and Gmail, which enables consumers to search for information, and manage their emails on the move. It includes a Google icon in the application menu, offering one-click access to Google search.
The Samsung Z720 has been launched in major European countries this month and will soon be available throughout Europe.
Samsung Z720 Specification
- Standard: GSM / GPRS (900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) + EDGE + UMTS + HSDPA
- Camera: 3.0-Megapixel Camera + VGA Dual Camera (AF / 3x Zoom)
- Display: 2.1-inch 240 x 340 px 262K-Color TFT LCD
- Features: Video Recording & Messaging (MPEG4 / H.263)
- MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / e-AAC+ / WMA
- Digital Power Amp
- Bluetooth / USB
- Document Viewer / Google Search / Google Mail (Gmail)
- Speakerphone / Offline Mode / uTrack / uGo
- MicroSD external memory
- Size: 104.5 x 51.3 x 13.8 mm
- Weight: 80 g
- Samsung Launches the Thinnest HSDPA Slider Photo 1

(c) www.mobiledia.com

Cingular ups SMS fee to 15 cents

Cingular logoCingular has announced a 50% price increase for the price for an SMS message. Starting January 21st SMS messages will cost 15 cents (this applies to both sending and receiving). Sprint made this same move back in October.

Despite the hefty price increase, Cingular customers will not be able to renig on their contracts. Sprint allowed users without a bulk rate SMS plan to cancel their contracts without an early termination free (usually around $200) after the price hike. Sprint did not reveal how many customers took advantage of that offer however.

Cingular will try to use this move as a way to get more customers to sign up for a bulk SMS plan. The base plan is $5 monthly for 200 messages and the top plan is $20 for 3,000. T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless still offer messages at 10 cents apiece.

(c) www.mobiletracker.net

Motorola 4th quarter lower than expected

Motorola has issued a restated estimate for 4th quarter sales and earnings because of lower than expected sales of mobile devices. The usually red hot holiday season ended up being not as KRZY as Motorola was hoping for:

"We are very disappointed with our fourth-quarter financial performance," said Ed Zander, chairman and CEO, "but we remain committed to the strategic direction and long-term financial targets we discussed at our annual analysts meeting in July 2006. We will discuss plans to improve operating profitability on January 19 when we announce fourth-quarter earnings."

Motorola estimates Q4 sales of mobile devices at 66 million and attributes the shortfall to, "an unfavorable geographical and product-tier mix of sales."

(c) www.mobiletracker.net

Motorola Q Announced for Sprint

Motorola QSprint today announced the planned availability of the Motorola Q in mid-February. Slim and stylish, the Q operates on the Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Platform with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack and gives customers easy access to mobile email, Web, calendar, music, video and phone functionality in one pocket-sized device. Exclusive features available only from Sprint include:

- Sprint Mobile Broadband Service on the Sprint Power Vision Network
- Customized Sprint Powerdeck - The Sprint Powerdeck Located in the Internet Explorer - Favorites Menu will provide users with Featured Content, optimized content links and an online searchable User Guide for convenient access to tips, troubleshooting techniques and how-to instructions
- NFL Mobile - available exclusively from Sprint, this application brings the world of NFL to your handset. Access team content, check real-time scores and stats, and shop for NFL downloads. NFL Mobile is included with any Sprint Power Vision data pack starting as low as $15 a month
- On Demand - retrieve customized, up-to-date web content such as sports, weather, news, money and movie information with the push of a button
In addition to the exclusive Sprint offerings, customers can benefit from the following advanced features:
- Enhanced email capabilities with Good Mobile Messaging - provides secure, real-time access to email and corporate data with a familiar, Outlook-like interface. Available directly from the Sprint Powerdeck allowing for convenient and easy installation
- QWERTY keyboard for easy, accurate messaging
- Flexible push e-mail capabilities including support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and Good Mobile Messaging, as well as consumer email solutions such as POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP protocols
- Wireless synchronization with Microsoft Outlook e-mail, calendar, tasks and contacts
- Windows Media Player 10 Mobile for playback and streaming of music, video and audio
- Large, high-resolution display
- Integrated version 1.2 Bluetooth wireless technology
- 1.3-megapixel camera with flash and 6x digital zoom, video capture with sound and playback
- Externally accessible mini SD card slot for additional storage
- Five-way navigation button and thumb wheel for single-handed operation
Sprint is enabling the Motorola Q with flexible connectivity options including phone-as-modem functionality to allow customers to use the device with a laptop for high-speed data access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network.

(c) www.mobiledia.com

Cingular Plans Live Video Sharing

Cingular plans to make video service commercially available in 2007, allowing users to send a live video stream to a recipient during a standard voice call.

Beginning with a normal phone call, customers can hit one button to add a live video stream, allowing the called party to see what the caller is seeing while they're talking. The service also allows customers to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call.
For example, a couple in San Antonio would place a regular voice call to their parents in Miami, and once the call is connected, hit the camera button on the phone to start the video session. The parents receive an invitation asking if they want to view the live video stream, and once accepted, they begin seeing the video shot by the kids in San Antonio. The speakerphone turns on and the proud new grandparents in Miami can see a live video of their granddaughter taking her first steps or saying her first words.
Cingular is showcasing its 3G UMTS / HSDPA (Universal Mobile Telephone System / High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) network and recently deployed IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem) platform to provide the video service. Other companies participating in the demo are Alcatel / Lucent (Las Vegas 3G network and IMS platform) and LG Electronics (LG CU500v phone).

(c) www.mobiledia.com

Thursday, January 4, 2007

Chocolate Phone Successor Due at CES

LG Electronics will show the the successor to its popular Chocolate cell phone at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The Shine handset is a slider-type phone and has been available in South Korea since October. It features a 2-megapixel camera and in South Korea it costs about $656. LG had previously said the phone would ship internationally during the first quarter, so the launch at CES is in keeping with those predictions.

LG hopes it will repeat the success of the Chocolate phone, which was projected to attract sales of 6 million phones in 2006. It was launched in Europe in May and in North America in August.

This report comes courtesy of Martyn Williams of the IDG News Service.

(c) blogs.pcworld.com

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

NPD Report: Smartphone Growth Spurt

NPD Report: Smartphone Growth Spurt

According to The NPD Group, a leading consumer and retail information company, the U.S. smartphone market has entered a significant growth spurt. October 2006 sales soared 230 percent from January of this year, rising from 216,000 units to nearly 715,000. On a quarterly basis in 2006, smartphone sales have risen more than four percentage points to more than 6 percent of new phones sold through October in the fourth quarter of 2006.

“The long-awaited growth in smartphone sales comes at a crucial time for carriers who have been anticipating wider adoption of smartphones,” said Neil Strother, research director for wireless devices at The NPD Group. “For the past couple of years, carriers and their handset suppliers have been hoping more buyers would migrate to these devices, since smartphone owners tend to spend much more on wireless data than those who don’t own them.”

Here’s the breakdown of the top sellers from August through October:

  1. Motorola Q
  2. Palm Treo 650
  3. Verizon Wireless XV6700
  4. Palm Treo 700p
  5. BlackBerry 8700

The current top five best-selling smartphones reflect a shifting market that’s no longer limited to Treos and BlackBerries. Motorola’s Q has come on strong, and actually led sales between August and October 2006. The key reasons behind the overall growth in smartphone sales included the following:

  • Prices have declined by 10 percent on average since January 2006.
  • More smartphone choices are available – Motorola Q, Palm Treo 700p, BlackBerry Pearl and Nokia’s E62 have all entered the market this year alone.
  • Smartphones meet the growing demand for personal e-mail usage, which has doubled since March 2006.
  • More robust devices are now capable of better handling of music and video applications.
  • Devices now boast significantly greater data storage capacity than standard phones, and many provide slots for removable memory cards.
  • Smartphones can now take advantage of faster networks for quicker data transfers and Web browsing.

“All of this is welcome news to carriers, and not just because devices are moving in record volume,” Strother said. “The simple fact is that smartphone owners spend more on data and are therefore more attractive customers.”

Smartphone users spent an average of $6.31 per month for wireless data in the third quarter. By comparison, owners of all types of mobile phones spent just $0.89. “It’s no wonder carriers covet smartphone owners so much,” Strother said.

(c) www.slashphone.com

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