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Apple Updates Beta Version of iPhone/iPad 3.2 SDK
Today Apple provided a revised version of the software development kit for iPhone OS 3.2. This second beta updates tools that developers can use to create applications for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
Google Maps Updated for Android, S60 and WinMo
Google has made Maps for Mobile version 4 available to the Android, S60 and Windows Mobile platforms. Once installed, Maps 4.0 will enable Google's Buzz social networking service within the layers feature of Google Maps.
Google Announces Buzz Mobile Social Networking App
Today Google announced a new social networking service called Buzz that is integrated into Gmail. It offers easy ways to share links. photos and videos with Gmail contacts. In additional to this Gmail integration, Google also announced related products for mobile services that tie-in relevant location information. The service is available from Google.com for many handsets. There is a Buzz application available for the iPhone and Android platforms, and there is a new version of Google Maps for Mobile for the Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile platforms. These all marry a mobile user's location and map it to an exact place or location so that friends and/or followers can see where that user is. Posts from any given location will be geo-tagged for reference. Buzz combines many of the elements of Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare with existing Google services such as Maps, Picasa and YouTube. Users will be able to see what other "Buzz" is happening near them when they check their map and reach out to those who are nearby. The service is free to use starting later today.
Fraunhofer Adds More Audio Codecs to Android Platform
Today Fraunhofer announced several new initiatives aimed at improving the audio and multimedia experience of Android devices. Fraunhofer made MPEG-4 HE-AAC v2 support available to the Android platform beginning today. This codec is used by digital television and radio broadcasting, as well as to stream internet radio over 3G or Wi-Fi. Fraunhofer also announced MPEG Surround for Android. Fraunhofer says that MPEG Surround will offer CD-quality, multi-channel "experience" streaming audio over wireless networks without an increase in bitrate. The codecs have been optimized for low energy consumption and are compatible with a number of processing platforms, such as ARM, MIPS, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, and Freescale.
Broadcom Says All Wireless Chips Now Support Android
Today Broadcom made a slew of announcements regarding its portfolio of wireless chips. Its combo and single wireless chip solutions now all support the Android platform. Broadcom notes that it will bring Bluetooth 3.0+HS and Wi-Fi Direct to Android handsets, as well as its latest GPS receivers. Broadcom says that its chips won't just support Android phones, but Android-based personal navigation devices and Android-based tablets, as well. Broadcom also announced a new GPS, Bluetooth, FM radio combo chip for smartphones. This new chip has better media support and consumes less power.
Texas Instruments Announces WiLink 7 Combo Chip
Today Texas Instruments introduced the WiLink 7, a new Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM radio combination on a single chip. The Wi-Fi support includes the new Wi-Fi Direct standard, the Bluetooth includes the Bluetooth 3.0+HS standard, and the FM radio is able to transmit as well as receive. According to Texas Instruments, the 65nm processes used to manufacture the chip leads to a 30 percent reduction in cost and a 50 percent reduction in size. This means equipment makers should be able to integrate the chip into their designs more easily. The chip is already sampling and Texas Instruments says it should reach consumers by the end of 2010.
Motorola Says Android 2.1 Headed to Droid This Week
Today Motorola announced via its official Facebook page that users of the Motorola Droid should expect their devices to update to Android version 2.1 at some point this week. The company said, "We're happy to relay the 2.1 upgrade to Droid will start to roll out this week, and we will have more information to share on other device upgrades later this week as well." Motorola didn't state which features would be included with the update, nor exactly when Verizon will begin to deliver the update to end users. Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha has publicly said that it will update the Motorola CLIQ to Android 2.1.
Google Lowers Nexus One ETF to $150
Google recently indicated via its support forums that it has lowered the early termination fee for its Nexus One smartphone from $350 to $150. Google had originally instituted its own "equipment recovery fee" of $350 for those who cancel their T-Mobile contracts within the first 120 days. Even the new, lower fee of $150 is still in addition to the standard early termination fee of $200 being charged by T-Mobile for those who cancel their contracts early. Google, T-Mobile and the other major wireless network operators were recently queried by the FCC about their ETF policies.
Broadcom Intros New Smartphone Chip
Today Broadcom announced a new baseband chip for the Android and Windows Mobile platforms. The new chip supports HSPA with 7.2Mbps on the downlink and 5.8Mbps on the uplink. It has a new core to support 3D graphics, it can support cameras up to eight megapixels, and it has the ability to encode and decode H.264 video at 30 frames per second. Broadcom said the new chip will come with a transceiver that uses is 65nm processes, which makes it more energy efficient. It will also support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and FM radios.
Novatel Makes Its First LTE Call
Today Novatel announced that it has completed its first data transmission via Long Term Evolution technology. Novatel didn't state what speeds it attained, nor whether or not the equipment used was standards compliant. Novatel did say that it will launch commercial equipment later this year.
Google Maps v3.4 for Droid Enables Multitouch
Google recently announced version 3.4 of Google Maps for Mobile. It became available for the Motorola Droid today in the Android Market. One of the new features includes multitouch within Google Maps.
from Google / PhoneScoop's YouTube »
Bluetooth SIG Approves First ZTE Phone for Verizon
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group recently approved a ZTE phone with Verizon branding on it. This would be the first ZTE phone picked up by Verizon if it goes on sale. The SIG's documents confirm the ZTE phone has CDMA 1x and Bluetooth radios, as well as a camera and voice controls. The ZTE F350 has not been announced. ZTE is a cell phone and equipment manufacturer based in China.
AT&T Pushes Family Locator Details To iPhone
Today AT&T announced an updated version of its FamilyMap iPhone application that comes with a number of new features. The biggest change is that it allows users to locate family members and see their whereabouts directly on their mobile phone. Previously this feature was limited to a computer. Users can now also customize more locations and points of interest, as well as their own devices with labels. Other new features that the application provides include the ability to check family members' schedules, set up landmarks, pan through the map to locate people, locate family members on-demand, and send messages to family members from within the FamilyMap application. The service costs $10 per month for two lines, or $15 per month for up to five lines.
Deutsche Telekom Considering T-Mobile USA Spin-Off
According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, Deutsche Telekom is weighing options for its T-Mobile USA property. One possibility would be to hold an initial public offering for the unit to build capital that could be used to offset the costs of building out T-Mobile USA's 3G network. The other consideration is an outright sale of the unit to another company or group of investors. Deutsche Telekom's shareholders have been consistently unhappy with T-Mobile USA's financial performance. T-Mobile USA is the fourth largest network operator in the U.S., trailing AT&T, Sprint and Verizon wireless, with about 14% of the market. Deutsche Telekom is talking to banks about what to do, and will make a decision some time in the next couple of months. Finding a buyer in the U.S. market will be difficult, as an acquisition by AT&T would likely run into regulatory hurdles, and Sprint and Verizon use different technology to run their networks.
FCC Exploring Cell Booster Ban
The Federal Communications Commission is currently seeking comments on the idea of banning cell signal boosters. Boosters are used to extend or enhance network coverage in a given area, such as a car or home. The CTIA claims that cell boosters interfere with the networks of providers such as Sprint and T-Mobile. It has asked the FCC to outlaw use and/or installation of boosters by anyone other than those with commercial mobile radio service licenses. Wilson Electronics, a maker of cell boosters, claims that better standardization and regulation can prevent the boosters from interfering with cellular networks and can even benefit them. It proposed several ideas that could help resolve the issue, including better self-diagnostic performance of boosters that shut down when interference is detected, better ability to determine how close cell towers are, and be able to amplify signals both from the tower and to the tower. The FCC will stop accepting comments February 5, which will be followed by a period for responses to the comments.
Slacker Announces webOS App for Palm Devices
Today Slacker Radio announced a new version of its mobile music streaming application that is compatible with Palm's webOS platform. The free application lets users create their own custom radio stations and stream the music to their phone. Slacker Radio Mobile works with the Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi and Pixi Plus on both Sprint and Verizon's networks. It can be downloaded from the Apps Catalog or directly from Slacker's web site.
GetJar Offers Whitelabel App Store to Carriers
Today GetJar announced its App Catalogue Express (ACE), a new service that wireless network operators and others can use to launch their own, branded apps stores. GetJar does things such as manage all the back-end infrastructure of an apps store, including hosting apps, delivery of the apps to mobile devices and billing. GetJar is behind apps stores such as Sony Ericsson's Play Now Arena. GetJar believes this new service will help network operators launch branded apps stores for their customers more quickly.
Symbian Foundation Releases Symbian Source Code
Today the Symbian Foundation announced that it is making the source code for Symbian^3 available to anyone who wants to download it. The Symbian Foundation hopes that by making it freely available to developers and other handset makers, it will spurt interest in and support for the mobile platform. The base code, software development kits, and product development kits will be available under the Eclipse license.
AT&T Says SlingPlayer Mobile Over 3G A Go
Today AT&T said that it will allow a new, optimized version of the SlingPlayer Mobile application to operate over its 3G data network. Previously, the SlingPlayer Mobile application was restricted to work only over Wi-Fi. AT&T tested the application during the last months of 2009, and notified SlingPlayer that the new version of SlingPlayer Mobile has permission to use its 3G network to stream television from SlingBox's to end-users' handsets. AT&T has also notified Apple, which sells the application to iPhones, that the optimized application is free to run on AT&T's 3G network. None of the companies involved have said exactly when the new version will become available, what its cost will be, nor how much owners of the Wi-Fi-only app will have to pay to upgrade.
Samsung Publishes Details On T139 'Mayon'
Today the Samsung T139 Mayon made an appearance on the company's web site. This entry-level clamshell, headed to T-Mobile, features dual displays, VGA camera with video capture, Bluetooth, aGPS and an HTML browser. It supports Java applications and has a speakerphone. T-Mobile has not announced when this device will become available.
Cellular South Finalizes Corr Wireless Buy
Today Cellular South announced that it has fully acquired Corr Wireless. According to Cellular South, Corr will continue to operate under the Corr brand, though Cellular South will gradually introduce its own products and services through Corr's retail outlets. The acquisition adds about 1.3 million POPs to Cellular South's coverage area, mostly in portions of Alabama and Georgia. Cellular South says the acquisition will help it continue to grow, and also help with it's planned Long Term Evolution network.
Page Plus Cellular Lowers Roaming Fees
Today Page Plus Cellular announced that it has dropped roaming charges from 59 cents per minute to 29 cents per minute. Customers will only be charged this fee when roaming off of Page Plus' network.
Bolt Browser Pledges Widget Support in Version 1.7
Today Bitstream announced that version 1.7 of its Bolt mobile browser will add the ability to run widgets. According to Bitstream, the widgets will be installed directly into the Bolt browser, and users will be able to access their widgets from within the browser via a new widget menu. Bolt already supports Ajax, Javascript and other web-based languages, and Bitstream says that its widgets are written in standard W3C code. The new version of Bolt will become available February 15, and there will be a small set of beta widgets available at launch.
Motorola Devour Brings MOTOBLUR to Verizon
Today Verizon Wireless announced a new Android phone, the Motorola Devour, which has MOTOBLUR, Motorola's social networking software on board. Similar to the Droid, the Devour is a sideways slider with full QWERTY keyboard and a 3.1-inch, 320 x 480 pixel touch screen. The Devour runs Android 1.6, has a 3 megapixel fixed-focus camera, and video capture. The Devour has an optical track pad on the front for on-screen navigation. Other features include an accelerometer, aGPS, Bluetooth (with A2DP), 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and microSD support for cards up to 32GB (8GB pre-installed). Verizon said the Devour will be available beginning in March. Pricing was not disclosed.
Google Updates Maps for Mobile to v3.4
Today Google announced a new version of Google Maps for Mobile the Android platform. The software, which will be available to users from the Android Market, includes several new features. Users can now sync starred places and saved searches between their desktop and mobile Maps apps. Users will also be able to search through their desktop-based map browsing from their phones (as long as they are signed into their Google accounts). Last, the software includes a new "night mode" that makes Maps easier to see when using it in the dark in a car.
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