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Skyfire Debuts Alpha Version of Its Browser for BlackBerries
Skyfire is conducting very limited, closed alpha testing of a BlackBerry-compatible version of its browser. The alpha includes some of the features that are found on the Windows Mobile and S60 versions of Skyfire, including tabbed navigation, Facebook and Twitter integration, and Flash -- which lets users view embedded video content on sites such as YouTube and Hulu. Skyfire has not announced if or when it will offer a beta of Skyfire for BlackBerry to a wider set of users.
TracFone Debuts $45 Unlimited Plan Via StraightTalk
TracFone recently added a new calling plan to its list of pre-paid services. StraightTalk offers unlimited calling and messaging plus 30MB of data for $45 per month. Users can also select 1000 anytime minutes with 1000 messages for $30 per month. StraightTalk offers just three phones -- the Motorola RAZR V3a and W385, and the LG 200CM. At $45 per month, StraightTalk is now the cheapest calling plan to offer unlimited calling and messaging. TracFone is an MVNO that operates using Verizon's network.
Google Brings Mobile Optimized Search to Nearly All Phones
Google recently announced that most smartphones and feature phones in 60 different countries (and 38 different languages) will now see Google search results delivered in a format that is optimized for that particular device. Google says that, when available, News, Images, Blog, Video and Product Search information will be folded into the results. Google is also providing tools such as local results and links to phone numbers that should let users place calls from within the browser by selecting the phone number link. Google search is available via the web browser in most phones.
UTStarcom, PCD Come to Terms Over Supply Suit
UTStarcom and Personal Communications Devices recently announced a settlement agreement to "satisfy potential liabilities relating to certain inventory delivered to PCD" that came about during a merger agreement the two companies signed in July 2008. UTStarcom has agreed to waive certain benefits and the right to make any future investments in PCD. UTStarcom will also have to pay PCD $11.1 million to cover the inventory liabilities, and allow PCD to regain some of the equity it sold to UTStarcom.
MediaFLO Expands Across Large Portions of Florida
Today Verizon Wireless announced that its V CAST mobile service will be available starting July 3 in a number of Florida cities, including Orlando, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Gainesville.
Nokia's Ovi Maps 3.0 Reaches Official Release
Today Nokia announced that the 3.0 version of Ovi Maps is now out of beta. The new mobile mapping product offers a number of new features and enhancements. Ovi Maps 3.0 has 2D/3D satellite terrain maps and 3D landmarks for 200 cities, enabling flyovers and flybys. It has an improved weather service, and offers point-to-point directions for both walking and driving. It also includes more points of interest. Nokia is also offering a beta version of Ovi Maps on the web, where users can organize and store POIs, favorite locations, plans and store routes and sync to their phones. Both are free. Ovi Maps 3.0 requires a PC for installation and supports S60 3rd Edition and S60 5th Edition.
Zer01 Is Now Fully Open for Business
Today Zer01 officially began offering its wireless services in the U.S. For $70 per month, Zer01 users will get unlimited voice and data service across the U.S. Zer01 customers will need to provide their own smartphones. The company uses Veritable Mobile Convergence (VMC) technology, which bypasses carrier circuit-switched channels by funneling voice communications through a VoIP system and onto a virtual private network that accesses the Internet. This is what allows Zer01 users to make voice calls or access the Internet through AT&T's network. For an additional $10 per month, customers can add international calling to 40 destinations.
Sprint: BlackBerry Tour On Sale July 12 for $200
Today Sprint announced that it will begin selling the BlackBerry 9630 Tour via telesales, online and its business channels on July 12 for $200. That's the same date the phone goes on sale at Verizon Wireless and at the same price point.
Apple Offers iPhone Developers a New SDK
Apple recently made a new software development kit available to those writing applications for the iPhone. iPhone SDK 3.1 has lots of new tools for developers to take advantage of. Some of the changes include better control over the iPhone's video editing software which preserves the original recording. Third party applications have also been given access to the video editing software, and the modem software has been updated. iPhone SDK 3.1 also has the MMS feature turned on by default with the AT&T carrier profile update 4.2 included as part of the SDK. Apple has not indicated when iPhone OS 3.1 will be available to end users.
Nokia's N97 Gets New Firmware, E75 Gets IM Client
Today Nokia released a major firmware upgrade for the N97 device. Some of the fixes included in N97 software 1.1 (11.x.021) are improved widget performance, fixed user interface transitions, fixed photo gallery smoothness and numerous other bug fixes. The firmware can be found through Nokia's software updater. Nokia also released a beta version of a new Java-based Messaging/IM client for the E75. This new client brings all your IM conversations together in one application, background updates when new IMs arrive, and offers the ability to save conversations. This new service is still in beta and only works through on the E75.
Nokia Offers Java Runtime 2.0 for S60
Nokia recently made a new version of Java Runtime available for S60 phones. It includes some usability and performance improvements and a host of other under-the-hood changes. Nokia says it will be easier to install applications, and applications will boot easier. Nokia also said that from now on Java updates will come separately from core system software updates. Java upgrades can be accessed via the built-in Nokia S60 Software Update feature. Right now, Java Runtime 2.0 is available only for S60 5th Edition (the 5800 XpressMusic and N97). Nokia didn't say when it would become available to S60 3rd Edition phones.
Skype 3.0 for Windows Mobile Adds SMS and File Sharing
Skype 3.0 for Windows Mobile devices has left beta and offers several new features. With Skype 3.0, Windows Mobile users will be able to send files back and forth via Skype-to-Skype, including Word documents and Excel spreadssheets. Skype 3.0 also lets users send SMS messages from the application itself (when connected via Wi-Fi). This could let users avoid text fees if roaming abroad. The new version also sees some minor user interface tweaks. The application is a free download.
Verizon Wireless to Offer BlackBerry Tour July 12
Today Verizon Wireless announced that it will begin selling the recently revealed BlackBerry Tour starting on July 12 for $200 after rebates with new agreement. Those interested can pre-order the Tour online starting today.
Ericsson Launches Its Own Mobile Apps Store
Network equipment maker Ericsson is following Qualcomm's lead by announcing a new, hosted applications store that wireless network operators can use to offer content to their customers. Earlier this year, Qualcomm introduced Plaza Retail, a way to distribute content to all phones via the network operator rather than the branded experiences offered by the likes of Apple, Google, Palm, RIM and Microsoft. Ericsson's store, similar to Qualcomm's, will be compatible with a wide variety of handsets and can be configured and controlled however the wireless network operators choose. Ericsson did not say if it has signed up any carrier customers for the new service, nor when it would be up and running.
Sprint Clutches Onto Motorola i465
Today Sprint announced that it will begin selling the Motorola i465 Clutch, a semi-rugged walkie-talkie phone with full QWERTY keyboard. It will be available later this summer for $40 after rebates with new agreement.
PolyPlus Packs 10X the Energy of Li-Ion into Waterproof Battery
A California company called PolyPlus is working on new battery technology that is waterproof and can store 10 times the energy of today's lithium-ion batteries. Lithium metal-air batteries have been researched for years. In such a battery, air is used as the cathode that interacts with the lithium. The engineering problem to be solved, however, is that water is always present in the air, and water rapidly degrades lithium. PolyPlus has solved this problem with a membrane that protects the lithium, called a protected lithium electrode. It prevents water from coming into contact with the lithium, but still permits the lithium ions to pass through it. Lithium metal-air batteries could be used in a number of different devices that are powered by lithium-ion batteries today, including cell phones.
Mozilla Releases Second Alpha of Fennec for Windows Mobile
Mozilla has made a new alpha version of its mobile Fennec browser available to any phone using the Windows Mobile platform. The new version is still an early test build, and most of the changes made are meant to help Mozilla better collect information from end users on the browser's performance. Some improvements that end users should experience compared to the previous version include better support for touch screens, as well as better stability, performance, and integration with the Windows Mobile OS. Mozilla said the new alpha also has a new theme. The browser is a free download.
Apple, LG, Samsung, Others Agree to microUSB Charge Port
A number of companies have signed a new document that will make microUSB ports the standard port for charging cell phones. Some of the companies agreeing to the standard include Apple, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Texas Instruments. The agreement only applies to devices sold in the European Union, and doesn't go into effect until 2010. In April, the CTIA endorsed the microUSB standard for phones in the U.S. It expects manufacturers to comply by 2012 in the U.S.
FCC Chairman Confirmed by the Senate
The senate has approved Julius Genachowski, nominated by President Barack Obama, as the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Along with Genachowski, the senate also confirmed Republican Commissioner Robert McDowell for a second term. The senate has yet to confirm Mignon Clyburn, from South Carolina, to fill one of the Democrat seats of the FCC. Genachowski will take over for acting Chairman Michael Copps, who has filled the seat since Kevin Martin's departure from the FCC in January.
Google Provides Android Coders the Native Development Kit
Google recently made the native development kit for Android version 1.5 available to those writing applications for the Android platform. The NDK will give some developers another avenue to approach how they create applications for Android, and will include things such as compatibility with C and C++. This set of tools isn't for all applications, but might help some developers make better use of signal processing and data processing. Anything developed using NDK 1.5 will be compatible with Android 1.5 and future versions of Android, too.
AT&T Says Femtocells Will Launch This Year
According to statements made by AT&T's executive director for radio access network delivery, Gordon Mansfield, the company is preparing to femotcells that will be available to consumers within a few weeks. Mansfield said, "we will expand [the current trials] into a marketing trial of the AT&T-branded 3G Microcell, which will be open to customers through our AT&T stores…in a handful of cities. We're on track for a full national launch by the end of 2009." Femtocells are small base stations that look similar to Wi-Fi routers and provide enhanced cellular network coverage in places such as homes or offices.
Sprint Escapes Class-Action Lawsuit
Judge Robert Bryan of the U.S. district court of Tacoma, Wash., ruled this week that Sprint will not face a nationwide class-action lawsuit. The suit, brought about by a California based consumer-advocacy group, alleged that Sprint overcharged some customers for certain wireless taxes and then refused to issue refunds once the mistake was pointed out. It also noted that Sprint charged additional fees to for text messages that were sent to laptop dongles. The judge said the plaintiffs were not able to make a strong case to elevate the lawsuit to class-action status.
T715 Slider Introduced by Sony Ericsson
Today Sony Ericsson announced the T715, a 3G slider that has quad-band GSM/EDGE and tri-band 850/1900/2100 UMTS/HSPA radios on board. The stand-out feature of this phone is its 3.2 megapixel camera with photo light and video capture. It also has stereo Bluetooth and an FM radio with RDS. It runs the Access NetFront web browser, supports Java, and Microsoft's ActiveSync for email. The T715 will be available in select markets starting in the third quarter. Sony Ericsson did not indicate pricing.
Verizon Wireless Captures HTC Ozone
Today Verizon Wireless announced the Ozone from HTC. Similar to the Dash 3G and Snap, it is a bar-style device with full QWERTY keyboard for messaging and runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard. It has EVDO REV. A 3G in the U.S., and quad-band GSM/EDGE for overseas roaming. It also has Wi-Fi GPS, 2.0 megapixel camera with auto-focus and video capture, microSD memory slot with support of up to 16GB, and stereo Bluetooth. The Ozone can be ordered starting June 29 and will be in stores July 13. It will cost $50 after rebated with new agreement.
Best Buy Looking to Be Your Next Cell Phone Store
Best Buy is planning a major expansion in the retail mobile phone market and aims to capture 15% of all mobile phone sales in the U.S. This year, the company plans to open 40 stores. In order to meet that goal, it will need to increase sales by 500%, as it currently holds just 3% of all U.S. mobile phone sales. The company says it has seen a good response to this mobile phone sections of its larger stores. Best Buy has not set a deadline for meeting this goal.
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