Google available on Nokia devices

Google and Nokia announced a partnership to provide search function for Nokia phones at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 12th.
Therefore Google search will be available on Nokia N96, Nokia N76, Nokia 6210 Navigator and Nokia 6220 classic.

Nokia Search makes it possible for mobile users to search content on their device and use local search engines for a complete mobile experience.

Side Note: the Nokia N95 8GB was the first mobile device to fully support YouTube almost year ago. (always good to know that the Iphone is not the first and only one to support YouTube)

Spice Mobile gets Opera mini: First ever for Indian mobile manufacturer

Indian Mobile Company Spice is back in news as they are now first Indian handset manufacturer to offer PC-like full web browsing experience with Opera Mini. Opera is quite famous in India as it’s in rest of the world, when it comes to web browsing, be it mobile phone or personal computers. Embedding Opera mini into devices will enable Spice users to experience full featured web browsing on their

Unlocking Nokia mobiles made so easy; No-Key Nokia X-SIM

Mobile phone technology is fast expanding and we are confronting innovations every now and then. We all know that Nokia mobile phones are sold locked and are available with a specified operator’s service package. Simply, the phones are offered with a SIM card compatible to the only provided service network. iPhone is so very popular for creating TurboSIM and StealthSIM used to unlock GSM phones.

Linkedin goes Mobile

Finally! The popular professional social-networking website, Linkedin launched a mobile version of their website. You can access the basics functionalities and I feel that it's perfect for/to:
- View profile
- Search within contacts
- Read the last updates
- Contact a company or a person
- Invite someone to register
In addition, it seems the mobile version is compatible not only with iPhone and BlackBerry but also all other smartphones' mobile browser.

There are some bugs in this version of Linkedin Mobile and should be resolved shortly.

Andy, one more site you can browse on tonight ;-)

Sony Launches ICF-ClipMK2 iPhone Clock Radio

Sony launched the ICF-ClipMK2 — a stereo clock radio which supports the iPhone. And Sony is one of the first companies to launch such a device.The Sony ICF-ClipMK2 comes with a remote control with full access to the iPhone’s menu along with the clock’s radio tuning and volume control. The adjustable backstop mechanism fits the iPhone snugly, although smaller iPod versions could also be used with

Alltel Advertisement Introduces LG Glimmer

A HowardForums user has posted two pictures regarding the introduction of the LG Glimmer for Alltel Wireless. Specficiations include a large 2.8″ Touch screen, haptic feedback for touchscreen inputs, a numeric slider, microSD expandable memory slot, Bluetooth 1.2, a 2.0 megapixel camera with 5x zoom, a camcorder with flash, EVDO, built-in 128MB of memory, and a 3.5 hour talk time.For detailed

General Mobile’s DSTW1: two SIMs, WinMo style

General Mobile’s Windows Mobile 6 Professional-powered DSTW1 sports a large 2.8″ QVGA touchscreen, capable of 65k colors. The handset also features a dual-SIM slot, with one supporting quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and the other tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900MHz). This 144g (5oz) heavy hitter measures in at 117mm x 61mm x 18mm (4.6″ x 2.4″ x .7″) and also features Bluetooth 2.0.The DSTW1’s 2

SoftMaker launches public Beta of SoftMaker Office 2008 for Pocket PC

SoftMaker Software GmbH, makers of the multi-platform office suite SoftMaker Office, announced today the public beta release of SoftMaker Office 2008 for Windows Mobile Classic and Professional Pocket PCs . This office suite is designed for any Pocket PC and is 100% compatible with the popular Microsoft Office suite.SoftMaker Office 2008 for Pocket PCs ships with three applications that MS Office

LG announced Wine Phone in Japan via NTT DoCoMo

LG Electronics launched ‘Wine Phone(model: FOMA L705i)’ in Japan market, which enhanced voice calling and SMS sending and receiving functionality targeting for 30~40 year old consumers.Have a 2.2-inch wide LCD and double size buttons and speaker, the Wine phone can enlarge even invisible words via built-in camera and offer words format twice bigger than that of the existing phone. It supports

OtterBox to launch a stylish protective case for new BlackBerry Pearl smartphones

OtterBox to launch a stylish protective case for new BlackBerry Pearl 8120 and BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphones called OtterBox 1936 case.Allowing complete access to the trackball, sync/charge USB port, camera and self-portrait mirror, the OtterBox provides an ideal solution for on-the-go protection with style.Similar to existing BlackBerry smartphone cases in the OtterBox Defender Series line,

Vodafone UK and Telmap today introduces Vodafone Sat Nav

Vodafone UK and Telmap today introduces Vodafone Sat Nav - an operator branded mobile navigation solution available for the UK consumer market.Vodafone Sat Nav provides users with a complete mobile navigation experience, including both in-car and pedestrian navigation. Featuring 3D maps that enhance the navigation experience, up-to-date maps and directions it also gives the customer instant

Melodis Corporation Launches midomi mobile

MELODIS Corporation today announced the launch of midomi mobile, its music search application for mobile devices.midomi mobile allows users to search for music by singing, humming or even whistling into their mobile devices. The application accesses midomi’s online user-generated database of songs and uses MELODIS’ patented Multimodal Adaptive Recognition System (MARS) to identify what users are

FixMyMovie.com Enhances Poor-Quality Videos

MotionDSP today announced a series of major enhancements to its acclaimed consumer service, www.FixMyMovie.com. Users can now experience one-step sharing of videos from mobile phones via MMS or email, as well as free enhancement and iPhone conversion.Videos sent to FixMyMovie are automatically enhanced up to 4x their resolution, with poor lighting conditions automatically fixed, bringing dark

The Mobile Experience Challenge: HTC Trinity

(Define "the mobile experience" challenge)
Blogger GetSomeHairapy! emailed me her experience with HTC Trinity smartphone. It is such an important part of her life in every aspect (work, personal, business, etc.) Her original posting can be found on Gearydiary.com which includes all sorts of nice links, I've taken a partial copy of it and posted below. Enjoy!
I used to keep a laptop at my work station, but when my husband lost his laptop to a job change and needed mine, I found I could do without it by relying on my HTC Trinity Pocket PC. Let me tell you a little about me, about my business, and about how my machine holds it all together.

I own a small hair salon. Not only do I spend 35 hours a week seeing clients, I am also responsible for every other aspect of running the business. I do the marketing, keep the website and blog up to date, pay the bills, and anything else you can think of. I also travel teaching classes to hairdressers, and as the author of Get Some Hairapy – a hairdresser’s prescription for happiness, do some book promotion in my spare time. Oh yeah, and I have a family, as well. People need to be able to get a hold of me, and I need access to my data.

Without my calendar, I am dead in the water. I keep my Trinity with me at all times and I count on it to tell me where I need to be and what I need to do. My salon uses an on-line appointment book service that allows our clients to schedule their own appointments at any time. We love it because it cuts down on how much the phone rings and clients love it because they don’t have to wait for us to be open in order to get on the books. When an appointment is made, the system sends me an email. Direct Push gets it to me in a flash, and when I click on the attachment, all the data is entered into my Pocket Informant calendar. This keeps my calendar on track at all times. So if I run into a client in the grocery store and they ask if they can get in for some highlights on Friday, I can look at my schedule and give them an answer.

Using the contacts section of Pocket Informant, I keep the client’s personal data and I store their chemical formulations in the notes field. If I make changes during their visit, I can input the new formulation immediately. Good records make good customer service easier!

Recently I was at a photo shoot and wanted to take some candid, back-stage shots when I realized I had forgotten to charge the battery in my digital camera. Trinity to the rescue! I took still pictures and videos that were good enough to put on the blog and share with others. (A Treo owner in the room tried to do the same, but her results were less pleasing. I took out my mini SD card and she uploaded all my photos to her laptop, emailing them out while we were still on the shoot.)

While getting in the car for my drive to work, a text comes in from a client. She’s running late and wonders if she is 15 minutes late should she still come or should she reschedule. I check my calendar and determine that she can still come. I send the text and am off to work.

When a client is “in the chair”, we try to give them as much attention as possible. The people in my life know that when I am at work, the best way to get to me is through my Trinity. Text and email are easy to read while a color is processing and also cuts down on the phone ringing in the salon. And if I don’t have time to answer a call at home, at work, or on my cell, Callwave sends me an email with an audio attachment that I can listen to much more easily than I can call to check messages.
Continue reading here...

AT&T Tilt now $49

AT&T Tilt, one of the most competent phones out there is now $49 after rebate on Amazon.com. Here is a phone that will stack up against the N95 at 1/10th the cost. With US 3G support, GPS-integrated, WM6, Wi-Fi and more, I am shocked at this amazing value. Of course, two year contract is required, but this phone will easily eBay for $300 giving you the fund to buy something fancier if you should decide. (Unlock it first for its full potential!)

Previous References.

HTC 7501 - $855 Later, no 3G (corrected, yes 3G)

For those interested in the ultimate smartphone bad-boy HTC Advantage 7501, you can now pick on up at Amazon.com for a mere $855. This phone is pretty crazy, fully loaded with WM6 Professional, GPS, 5" LCD resolution, 8GB flash storage w/ miniSD expansion, Wi-Fi, laptop-styled design w/ full QWERTY keyboard... however, for $855... the 3G support is Euro-spec WCDMA 2100. Currently, AT&T is only supporting 850/1900.

PS - For the life of me, I can't find the spec for its LCD's resolution... I'd like to hope that it is VGA at the very least.

Update: As pointed out by "Get Some Hairapy!" in the comment section, this phone does have US 3G support. Amazon.com description is incorrect. HTC website indicates global 3G support (WCDMA 2100 and 850/1900MHz) and the screen is indeed VGA. Thanks!

The Mobile Experience Challenge!

The Mobile Experience Challenge: HTC Trinity
The Mobile Experience Challenge: iPhone

I came up with an idea, a test for the ultimate mobile experience. The contributors and I are obviously very passionate about our choice of smartphones and our mobile experiences. I wanted to see if I can rely on my smartphone for 1 week without the use of a laptop to carry out day-to-day tasks. For those familiar, you'll know that detaching myself from my laptop is nearly impossible. This test will confirm if today's mobile technology is advanced enough enhance our lifestyle without the use of a computer. We may be a little early, but I think we are getting close, lets find out together.

Here are the parameters for the mobile experience challenge:

1. Not allowed to use a laptop or other gadgets at home for 1 week while performing basic tasks
2. I'll use my phone to take on every task that comes up: look up restaurants/menus, directions, GPS, listen to music, take pictures, blogging, shopping, paying bills, movie time, watch youtube, etc... I won't go out of my way to test a certain function, only if it is part of chores during the one week span. If a bill came during this week and I normally pay via online, then I will attempt to do the same using my smartphone
3. The phone function can play up if need be, for example, if I can't login to a bank account via mobile web, I am allowed to call in to check my balance (old school technology baby!)
4. As soon as I am forced to use a laptop for whatever event, I will fail the test for that device
5. Exception1: I will use my laptop for Skype video conference during the week
6. Exception2: I will continue to use my laptop at work... hey, it pays my bills
7. Exception3: The test is mostly confining to the day-to-day "necessity" tasks, ie. bill pay, directions. For advanced tasks (web design, adobe photoshop, compiling codes), should be excluded; so carry on with those routine tasks with a laptop if need be.

The test has been planned for the following weeks:
week 2/27 to 3/4 - Apple iPhone
week 3/12 to 3/19 - Nokia N95
Other test potential: AT&T Tilt, BlackBerry...

This test stemmed from a shift in mobile usage from my household. Every morning when I wake up, I used to turn on my PC to check email and weather. Now days, I just use iPhone's weather widget... the load time is faster than anything I have experienced. Sometimes when I am sharing a story about a Youtube video, I'd rather use N95's Youtube app or iPhone's youtube widget instead of waiting for my laptop to boot. When my daughter was born, I snapped a bunch of photos using AT&T 8525 and emailed them real-time to friends and family immediately.

As you can see, day-to-day tasks are being replaced by our smartphones and I want to know if we can rely on it completely. Most of my friends I ask to participate already believe we are very close and Japan is obviously moved on to this behavior.

I welcome anyone who's interested to doing this test from their home to submit their results. I will post your story on this blog. Enjoy!

iPhone Firmware 1.1.4 Released, Includes Bugfixes

Apple has released iPhone firmware version 1.1.4. Though anticipated by many, the release of the new firmware has not coincided with the release of the iPhone SDK. Instead, the apparent reason for the release of the new firmware is to resolve bugs caused by or left lingering after the release of iPhone firmware 1.1.3.As always the new firmware is available for upgrade through iTunes, or via

K660 & W890 Soon Out In Shops

The K660 and W890 models are soon going to be hitting the shops around the world. They’ll be priced somewhere between £200 - £250, which isn’t bad at all.You can check out the K660 at Sony Ericsson’s 3D demo website, and spin it around to look at whatever detail you might want to look at. The W890 websites have also been created now, which means you can check out a 3D demo of the phone, try it

Cell Phone Sim Card Spy

Save, edit and delete your phone book and short messages (SMS) stored on your SIM card using the Recovery PRO software and SIM Recovery Pro Reader with your computer and ANY standard SIM card from a standard cell phone which supports removable SIM cards.Have you ever wished you can spy on your wife, husband, teens, or colleague phone to see what they are up to? Are they being suspicious when on

Asus ZX1 Lamborghini PDA Phone on the anvil

Racing fans and fashionistas alike would be keenly awaiting the launch of the Asus ZX1 Lamborghini PDA Phone. The Asus phone is expected to feature the traditional Lamborghini colors along with Windows Mobile 6.1, touchscreen operations, wireless, GPS, Bluetooth, UTMS and HSDPA apart from a 520 MHz processor speech. The Asus ZX1 will be showcased at the coming CeBIT and should make for an

WIBRAIN B1L UMPC for Korea

WIBRAIN Korea has announced the launch of its entry-level UMPC — the B1L. The WIBRAIN B1L runs on Ubuntu Linux although it supports the Microsoft Office suite. It has a 1GHz CPU and a 1024 x 600 pixel resolution 4.8-inch LCD display. There are four different models available with different HDD, CPU, and memory specs. Moreover, for those who aren’t accustomed or inclined to using Ubuntu, Windows

NTT DoCoMo rolls out high res Panasonic P905i Viera phone

Made by Panasonic for DoCoMo, the P905i is a 3G/GSM/GPS phone featuring a 1seg TV tuner, Viera image processing (same technology as on Panasonic’s PDP TV including the PEAKS engine) on a beautiful 3.5 inches screen rocking a nice 854×480px resolution and 1gb of built-in memory to record the television for example.No word on a price just yet, but you can probably guess if it’s in your budget or

Nokia Morph: The Nanotech Concept Phone

Nokia Research Center in association with the University of Cambridge has showcased the Nokia Morph, a nanotech concept phone. True to its name, the Nokia Morph is a phone which the developers envisage to be able to morph, depending upon the user's needs. The Nokia Morph was presented in the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. The Nokia Morph aims to

Lowepro Fastpack 250 Review

(Image Gallery Uploaded Here)

In preparation for an upcoming trip, I am looking for a carry-on solution for my mobile gadgets: laptop and digital SLR. The requirements are:

1. Fits a laptop up to 15.4"
2. Fits a Nikon D80 SLR w/ 18-200mm Lens attached
3. Extra room to spare for other items... flexible
4. Must be in the form factor of a backpack... not messenger bag

All of the above has been satisfied by the Lowepro Fastpack 250.

The laptop compartment has a convenient side-loading entry. Many other bags uses the zipper behind the shoulder straps making it difficult to open or close the laptop compartment. The bag is very well padded all around.

The camera sits on the lower portion of the front compartment which allows for the bag to stand up (not top heavy like other backpacks requiring the SLR to be loaded towards the top). The camera compartment also has A LOT of room to spare. I have a D80 w/ 18-200 lens attached and it still has room to spare in front of the lens (2-3 inches clearance) and top of camera area (possibly meant for a small speed light attached). One of the problems with other backpacks I've seen is that the camera compartment doesn't allow the space for a large lens attached to the camera body.

Like other Lowepro designs, sitting next to the camera are 4 customizable compartments for accessories like additional lens or speedlight. The best part about this bag is unlike others, it doesn't force you to use all of its available compartment for camera-related accessories. The top front compartment is roomy for anything you want. There are two more smaller compartments on the front side of the bag for accessories... very convenient for traveling indeed. For a finishing touch, there is also a water bottle net on the side and a "cell-phone" sized pocket on the left shoulder strap.

Overall, I am very happy with this backpack; I will upload some pictures shortly!

Tip from Toby: Whenever you have a laptop/camera bag combination. Insert the laptop so the LCD/LID faces away from the camera body. Upon impact, it prevents your laptop LCD being shattered or cracked.

Update: (05/05/2008) - I've taken this backpack along with me to my trip to Asia recently. Having spend 3 weeks on the road with this bag, I must say it worked out well for me. The bag provided adequate protection and storage space for my laptop, DSLR and handycam. Overall, the size of this bag is a bit bulky but is necessary to hold enough of items to help me with my air travels. It fits in the airplane overhead compartment just fine, but may be too bulky to stuff under the seats. When riding in cars, the bag is at the awkward size where its kind of big to hold on your laps but if you set it on the floor, you'll have to make your feet twist a certain way which makes long rides uncomfortable. Again, the storage is more than adequate, the side pocket was handy to stuff stubs or bottled water on the go and the top storage compartment was big enough for me to roll-out my adidas track jacket into a ball and stuff it in. I am very pleased with this purchase.

2008 Mobile Experience Wishlist

I came up with a wishlist, it would be interesting to look back a year from now to see where we stand.

1. Google Talk Mobile (w/ full VOIP on iPhone, Symbian S60 3rd, WM5/6)
2. Skype Mobile (w/ full VOIP on iPhone, Symbian S60 3rd, WM5/6)
3. Skyfire Browser for all Mobile OS (in Beta currently)
4. Google Talk on OS X (w/ full VOIP stand alone or via iChat)
5. iPhone to support Flash (this one is hopeful!)
6. Picasa Mobile for all devices (WM6, Symbian S60 3rd Edition)
7. Real-Time Stock Ticker/App integrated with Brokerage Account (come on TDAmeritrade or Schwab…)
8. US Carriers to enable Video Conferencing using front/2nd camera (w/o extra cost in addition to data plan)
9. Unlimited Data Plan in the $5 - $10 Range for all carriers banking on the economies of scale
10. More ultraportable laptops(3-4lbs.) costing less than $1K

Taking Advantage of HD DVD

For years, I have been impartial to the whole HD DVD vs Blu Ray DVD format war. I take pity on format wars largely because one party always ends up losing years of research and gains nothing from it. Sadly, HD DVD has lost the war. At the same time, consumers can finally have the closure they needed to upgrade their home theater system.

At The Mobile Experience, I want to offer a different perspective on the HD DVD news. Unlike other people running away from this format as if its some type of disease. I think this could be an opportunity for me to finally catch up on HD movies now that the economics make cents (sense).

Think about this for a second. If you are already not a "first mover", what have you got to lose by investing in HD DVD now (other than the fact that no more new titles to be released). But if your goal is to update your library of classics like Carlito's Way, Mission Impossible, and The Matrix. HD DVD titles are now being discounted (50%+ off) at Amazon.com. On top of that, rumors of Toshiba HD DVD players are going for $99 at some retailers. Best Buy annouces dropping XBox HDDVD Player to $50. With any luck, future Blu-Ray players will all support HD-DVDs just to be more competitive over other players.

Ten(10) HD DVDs + a HD Player will now cost you around $300 whereas it used to be in the neighborhood of $700. Some noteworthy HD DVD titles founded are:

Lost In Translation - $15
Inside Man - $15
Children of Men - $20
Transformers - $19
Old School - $12
Top Gun - $12
Black Rain - $12
Knocked Up - $20
Shaun of the Dead - $15

Samsung SGH-i640v with Vodafone: Quality matches the style

Feeling tired of using outdated mobile phones with good for nothing networks. Aren’t you? If you are looking for something stylish and technologically sound as far as your handset is concerned, we’re here with some great news. The wait is over now for the convergence of Samsung SGH-i640v with Vodafone has finally arrived to quench your thirst. A month later after its launching, it’s now available

Liscio - the mini mobile phone

A new miniature 91mm x 35mm x 18mm mobile phone, Liscio, has been introduced by a little known company Onyx. Technologically, the tiny mobile phone is not comparable with any of the leading brands but nonetheless its stylish metallic look gives it a unique appearance. The only outstanding feature of the Liscio is a scroll wheel built into the handset for menu access.The phone has a tiny 1.1-inch

Nokia SU33 - Connecting people ..with TV

Tired of those parties that could have been hosted any other day but follow Murphy’s law and fall on the day of the most awaited match of this century?Well, no more. In spirit of true empathy Nokia has a remedy for Murphy’s victims. A small module named SU33 will work as a GPS receiver enabling you to access free and pay channels offered by the DVB-H. Presently it is only compatible with N73 but

Sony annouces A820 Walkman Series to be launched in Japan

We can see the use of portable media players is on the rise with companies trying to load as many features and enhancement as they can to these small and useful devices. The choices of such devices are plenty in the market and while big players like Apple, Creative and Sony fight an electronic war, the user gets the best. A classic example is the announcement from Sony to launch its new walkman

First Verykool Phone Ships to South Africa

I was telling you about the new verykool cell phones line from InfoSonics which were presented at the Mobile World Congress this year.Well, now the company is releasing the first cell phone model, the i700 slim slider, in South America.The phone measures 49 x 95 x 16.5 mm at 84 grams and looks very similar with Samsung D800 or D880 Dual SIM.Verykool i700 is a quad-band cell phone with wireless

Zeki Kids Phone with NFC Technology

Zeki is a great toy phone for kids adopting the Near Field Communication technology, but unfortunately it can be found only in Korean stores and on the producer’s website that is in Japanese.Zeki phone allows parents communicate with their children at a maximum distance of 80 meters and can be use for transferring data with another Zeki.Children can use it as an MP3 player, video recorder, voice

NEC N906i and N095iu Available in Japan

Check these brand new clamshells from NEC!NEC N905i and NEC N095µ are the new high-end clamshells from the N line, coming in impressive vivid housing colors like the ones you see in the pictures.The telecommunication network that provides them is NTT DoCoMo from Japan, and NEC N095iµ sports a built-I 2MP camera, keys illumination lights for a stunning magic effect enabled when the user receives a

Starbucks Customer and Mobile "Desktop"

Quite opposite of "the mobile experience" but this video is funny as hell. Prankster from Improv Everywhere took old desktops with full CRT monitors to Starbucks... (running Windows 95...)

LG release ‘Orange Color Phone’ LG-KH1800 in Korea

LG Electronics released its 13.3mm-thick 3G phone ‘LG-KH1800’ dubbed as ‘Orange color phone’ in Korea market, which enhanced orange colored keypad.By adopting an additional multitasking button, you can use SMS service, telephone directory, and alarm setting, even while calling. Other features included its 3G WCDMA automatic roaming service, MP3 playback, text viewer, camera and electronic

Smartphone/PDA Dopod P660, Windows Mobile Pro 6

Dopod International Corp prepared a new Smartphone/PDA, which come through China Mobile, under the name of Dopod P660.Dopod P660 features:* Dimensiones: 108 x 58.3 x 15.7 mm Dimensions: 108 x 58.3 x 15.7 mm* Peso: 122 gramos Weight: 122 grams* GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz* SO: Windows Mobile 6 Profesional OS: Windows Mobile 6 Professional* Pantalla

Sony Ericsson Z555i pictures

Sony Ericsson Z555i is a flip phone with a style-conscious diamond design in two color schemes: Black or Dusted Ros.The external display is “hidden,” meaning that it only shows when activated.• Ever-changing themes to suit the season and mood• 1.3 megapixel will mute in case of calls• Gesture Control function allowing users to manage calls with a wave of hand• Hidden display• Slim profile with

Sony Ericsson W350i pictures

Sony Ericsson W350i measure 10.4mm wide, it sports a design we haven’t seen for a while. The keypad is covered by a flap that folds down when you’re on a call. The flap not only protects the keypad when it’s not in use but it also allows you to get the feel of a flip phone.When closed you can access convenient Walkman controls to play your music and shuffle tracks. You also get a choice of four

Sony Ericsson Z770i Special for Internet

Sony Ericsson on 11 February announced the launch of the Z770i, an elegant clamshell optimized for the web using HSDPA data speeds.The Z770i is designed to surf the web or receive the latest news, and the ‘email set-up wizard’ makes it simple to access the inbox.Surf the web or retrieve email directly on the phone or connect the Z770i to a laptop (via USB Cable) and use it as a modemThe phone is

Vodafone to Roll Out Advanced Customer Service Directly on the Handset

Vodafone will launch customer services directly on the handset to give Vodafone customers customer care and billing information in real-time. The service will not only provide customers with a self care facility but also gives Vodafone an added opportunity to provide interactive promotions and tutorials, such as step by step guides on how to use the mobile internet to download music or how to

EDGE Concept Phone

Designed by Chris Owens, the EDGE mobile phone is made for fashion lover."To answer an incoming call, slide the glass keyboard out. An embedded LED illuminates the etched numerics via refraction creating a glowing effect. The only visible lines is the microphone wiring which designer Chris Owens has cleverly disguised as a keyboard border."

Interesting Mobile Game that Gives You Real Rewards

FIT in Japan has created a game called "Ippon Zuri", a fishing game that deliver real fish to your doorstep if you catch a fishIt is still depends on your luck though, when a fish takes the bait in the fishing game, you will be sent to a slot machine where you only catch the fish if all 3 slots line up with same picture. The company worked together with local fish dealer who will be sending the

WiMAX routers for XHOM services shipping started

According to digitimes, Taiwan based manufacturer Zyxel Communications has started to ship the WiMAX router to Sprint in small volume.The ZyXEL MAX-206m2 device is a 4G modem/router targeted for commercial release in the second quarter of 2008. It delivers high speed Internet access wirelessly with built-in residential gateway functions in an elegant form factor.

Vodafone Group Trials 3G Femtocell Technology

Vodafone Group is carrying out technical trials of 3G femtocells to assess how effectively the technology is able to deliver wireless high-speed data and voice services inside homes and business locations.Vodafone is currently carrying out technical trials in Spain with both Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei to explore the potential of femtocells, which are wireless access points supporting 3G devices

Boost Mobile Launches New Brand Identity

Boost Mobile announced the launch of a new brand identity. Designed to visually and conceptually unite product lines and message consistency, Boost Mobile worked closely with renowned creative and brand-engineering agency ATTIK, to evolve the brand and create more sophisticated and synergetic visual elements that will more broadly appeal to the company's target audiences.boost-mobile-logoMoving

Wide Angle Camera Lens for iPhone

USB Fever has start offering a camera lens attachment for iPhone. The camera lens will add a wide angle capability for iPhone. The attachment works like a cap fixed on top of your iphone. Price at $11.99, it will be available by the end of this month.

Vodafone to trial HSPA Plus

Vodafone will work alongside Ericsson, Huawei and Qualcomm to trial Release 7 HSPA+ (also known as HSPA Evolution) which has the potential to handle data even more efficiently than today’s HSPA technology.The initiative will help to establish whether HSPA+ is capable of delivering data throughput rates of up to 28.8 Mbps compared to the 14.4 Mbps maximum offered by today’s HSPA networks. If

Vodafone Launches Vodafone 227 and 228

Vodafone launches two new own branded mobile phones to grow its range of own branded. The Vodafone 227 and Vodafone 228 has launched this month, February, and will be available across both Europe.Both the Vodafone 227 and Vodafone 228 offer more choice of style and price to customers. The Vodafone 227 is a clamshell phone and the Vodafone 228 is a slider mobile. In addition to core text and voice

Vodafone and Roshan Launch First Mobile Money Transfer Service in Afghanistan

Vodafone and Roshan announced the launch of Afghanistan's first mobile money transfer system. The service, branded M-Paisa, is a mobile technology platform that provides financial services for those without access to banking and aims to facilitate economic activity in the region.The M-Paisa system builds on Vodafone’s M-PESA mobile money transfer service in Kenya which has seen 1.6 million people

Bellperre Launches New Range of "Tailor made" Mobile Phones

Coming to the Market: Sophisticated handsets that match designer clothes and accessories - Handsets made of no plastic, but premium leather, steel, gold, hardwood and other fine material.

Neonode Introduces Neonode N2 with New Color

Neonode today announced the release of a new color portfolio for Neonode N2. Up to four new designed colors will be available. Details about the colors will be presented in March."The release of the color portfolio is a natural extension of a great product that has already sold more than 30,000 units in the last quarter of 2007. We strongly believe that the new colors as well as upcoming

$40 Billion Expected from Handset Accessories Sales in 2008

Sales of mobile phone accessories are expected to generate over $40 billion in revenue in 2008. Handset vendors and mobile operators know that to increase sales of their feature-rich handsets, they also need to provide accessories that will allow users to fully enjoy and benefit from the applications and features supported by the handsets. This means providing accessories such as headsets, memory

LG Launches SH150A with AMOLED Display Screen

LG Electronics announced the launch of its mobile phone 'LG-SH150A', which is using AMOLED as the display screen. The phone will be available in Korea from tomorrow.Besides having a RAZR style keypad, the slider phone supports 7.2Mbps HSDPA network, multitasking, memory card slot and have built in dictionary.The AMOLED display is a self-luminous device that works by having electrical current flow

McAfee Research Reveals Majority of Consumers Concerned Over Mobile Safety

McAfee announced findings from new research that reveals that almost three out of four mobile consumers (72%) are concerned about the security of today's and tomorrow's mobile services, such as mobile multimedia downloads, mobile payments and mobile ticketing.The McAfee Mobile Security Report 2008 discusses in detail users' experiences of traditional and emerging mobile services and their

NXP Software Demonstrates 'One-Click' Video Editing for Mobile Phones

NXP Software has demonstrated 'one-click' video editing software for mass market mobile phones at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2008. It enables a fun user experience, transforming personal content into professional-looking clips quickly, easily and with no loss of quality. It also opens additional opportunities for product / service differentiation through offering users pre-loaded or downloadable

metaHUD - bringing Web 2.0 to Second Life

A big part of what makes Second Life so appealing for me is the ability to meet and interact with interesting people from all over the world. I've been in Second Life for over a year now and in this time I've made some great friends with whom I love to discover new places in SL, have great serendipity moments or attend various events with. And we use a lot of different tools to keep in touch - mainly Twitter and Facebook. But I often wished for an easier way to let my SL friends know about a great event going on or a great place I'm just visiting... and that is why I was really excited to discover a new Second Life tool last week called metaHUD.

metaHUD is a HUD (Head-Up Display) that you can wear in Second Life. The developers of metaHUD like to describe it as a social networking platform for Second Life that enables Second Life residents to share their Second Life with friends. It can also be used only as a search engine for SL places and products and as a shopping tool, but its real power is in allowing residents to follow and use what their friends are doing. Let's see how this is done through different parts of the HUD.


metaTravel - Travel guide

When you're wearing the metaHUD, it keeps track of your teleport history and other activities, and stores all that into your personal Timeline. Whenever you teleport to a new place, you can rate it by simply choosing a green thumbs up or red thumbs down button. If you wish, you can also tag the place to make it easier for other metaLIFE users to find it through keyword search, and you can even leave a comment about the place. If you really like the place, you can also add it to your Favorites (works similarly as the "Picks" tab in standard SL profiles).


metaFriends and metaTIME - Social life


Next, the metaHUD offers the ability to search for people. If your friends use metaHUD, you can view their Timeline, Favorites, Home location, choose to follow that person (if you follow a person, you have their updates in the Friends Timeline), and even add tags and comments to their metaHUD profile. The Timeline feature is very similar to the Facebook Mini-Feed that tells you what a friend of yours has been doing on FB - in the metaHUD the Timeline tells you what a friend has been doing in SL. Also, the ability to add comments is similar to the FB wall feature. So basically, we can now have some of the useful features of web social networking sites within Second Life!

Now, if you're a Twitterholic like me you might wonder whether there's also a way to post your status to friends. Well, you don't have a separate place in the metaHUD to answer the question What are you doing?, but what you can do is add comments to places you're visiting - and that appears in your metaHUD Timeline, so friends can easily read a comment that says "There is a great concert going on in this place!". Of course, not always the best solutions, but when I talked about this with Robbie Kiama (one of the developers), he told me that they are planning to make a RSS feed from your Timeline and add better connectivity with Twitter and similar services, which is something I'm really looking forward to!


metaStore - Shopping channel

And let's not forget that the metaHUD also lets you use the metaLIFE Meta Mart shopping system, which enables you to browse items in the Meta Mart system that are for sale (apart form an alphabetical list you also have lists of Latest, Favorite, Popular, Purchased and Free items), search for items using keywords, rate and comment virtual items (thus making it easier for other user to find good content), and you can also buy items directly from the HUD itself. Kind of what you can do on SL Exchange or Onrez, but without having to switch back and forth between the SL viewer and your browser. The shopping feature is of course very handy, and it even allows you to teleport to the actual store if you want to (something I personally miss on the web shopping sites!) and even send items as a gift to friends.

If you're a content creator, you can find more info on how to sell your items through the Meta Mart system on this page. There is also a paid Referring Partner system that can earn you some L$, but I personally haven't tried it yet.


meta-LIFE.net - Web interface

And finally, the metaHUD also generates a personal password for you, which can be used to sing in to the meta-LIFE.net site. Here you can manage your metaHUD profile and items (if you're selling your objects through the metaHUD Store), and manage your metaHUD privacy settings, so you get to decide whether your teleport info, shop history, and other actions are visible to all metaHUD users, your friends only or nobody but you.


I've been using the metaHUD for a few days and here's what I personally think are its strong points:
  • easy to use, the interface is consistent, and the HUD is quite fast once it loads,
  • great list of features (my favorite is the Friends Timeline),
  • customized privacy settings,
  • doesn't obstruct your view too much when minimized.
But of course, the product was just released and there is always room for some more improvement. Here's what's on my wish list for the next versions:
  • a version that can be used on the left or even top/bottom part of the screen (currently the HUD is made for the right side of the screen, which in my case is already taken by other HUDs, so it'd be great to have more choice),
  • the option to receive an IM when chosen actions from Friends happen,
  • more web connectivity (especially with Twitter),
  • added support for events (the ability to announce events and sign up for events).
But all in all I think the metaHUD is a great product that finally brings some Web 2.0 in-world. I'll certainly be keeping an eye on the metaLIFE team for future projects, as they really have some great ideas. Yesterday they also released metaPRESENTER, a presentation screen for SL that is controlled through a HUD. Pretty neat! You can of course get your free metaPRESNTER through the metaHUD, which you can pick up at the in-world Meta Mart location. And please, do feel free to leave a comment under this post with you opinion about the metaHUD, I'd love to hear what you think about it!

Techbargains.com and the mobile experience.

I probably would not have the means to get into anything gadgety or mobile if it weren't for Techbargains.com. I was introduced to this site from some friends back in school. I remember sitting infront a computer lab PC at UCI during an interactive statics class, and some friends told me about Techbargains and finding coupons. This all dates back to 1999 when eCommerce was at its infancy, ethernet was the greatest thing at school thus I walked away with some pretty amazing deals (ie. Buy.com $5 of $10 codes, Staples $99 off $100 codes, etc...).

To this day, I use this site to find laptop deals, mobile sales, etc. The very Nokia N95 I am using today was purchased only because Techbargain.com found an offer for $499 on Buy.com and educated me on the fact that its a N95-3 (I didn't realize US-3G edition was available at the time). Needless to say, I have this site bookmarked and check it out atleast twice per day. Ever since I've gotten into smartphones, I've even visited them frequently via mobile browsers thru their mobile RSS/sites. If you don't believe me, check out the PDA Friendly Bookmark I published and see techbargains.com on their for yourself!

Keep up the good work Techbargains.com and I will be back for all my mobile experience needs!

Nokia SMS Widget for Windows Vista

Nokia released a widget for Windows Vista users from its beta lab. This tool allows you to view and send SMS text on your desktop by connecting your phone to the computer. Pretty nice tool for the text extremists who's got the biggest text package and uses it all the time. Enjoy!

Taken directly from Nokia Beta Labs Blog:

Here’s a small - but really nice - treat for Windows Vista users (about 15% of Beta Labs visitors). Nokia Text Messenger is a Windows Vista gadget, with which you can view your latest SMS messages, and send new ones, conveniently from your Windows Vista sidebar.

It should work on all Nokia devices compatible with PC Suite. Just make sure you have 6.85 or later installed.

Gameloft Launches Mobile Games for Touch Screen Handsets

Gameloft announced the launch of games designed especially for touch screen mobile handsets.Using the company's expertise from developing stylus-based games for the Nintendo DS, Gameloft sought out ways to best utilize the touch screens, which transform gameplay into a more intuitive experience and remove the limitation of small keyboards."The hype for 2008 will focus on the emergence of these

Camera-less Nokia E51 Available in Q1 2008

Early this month, Nokia has announced new variant of Nokia E51 with the removal of its 2 megapixel cameraThe Nokia E51 is running Nokia's Symbian S60 3rd Edition, comes with a microSD card slot, integrated WiFi, Bluetooth and support GSM Quad-band network. While the original Nokia E51 is priced at 350 euro, this camera-less version will be sold at 250 euro.[Source]

Vodafone UK and Orange UK to begin sharing mobile mast sites in 2008

Orange and Vodafone today outlined the next steps in their vision to deliver better quality mobile coverage to more people, in more places across the UK.The two companies announced their intention to work together last year and are aiming to deliver customer, environmental and business benefits by establishing joint network efficiencies. The first stage of implementation will see Orange UK and

Nokia Presents New Windows Vista gadget Text Messenger

If you are keeping your Nokia phones connected to your PC/notebook all the time, this Text Messenger is a nice add-on to your Windows Vista gadget. The Text Messenger is compatible with PC Suite 6.85 or later.Check out the description below:Here’s a small - but really nice - treat for Windows Vista users (about 15% of Beta Labs visitors). Nokia Text Messenger is a Windows Vista gadget, with which

Mobile adult video chat revenues to hit $1.5bn by 2012, says new Juniper Research report

Global revenues from adult video chat services are expected to rise sharply over the next five years, reaching $1.5bn by 2012, according to a new report from Juniper Research.The report states that, while adoption levels of such services are comparatively low even by the standard of mobile adult services, the average monthly spend of this niche market is typically 10-20x higher than for other

AT&T and Palm Introduce Centro for $99.99

AT&T and Palm today announced the availability of the Palm Centro from AT&T.Centro offers customers more choices to stay in touch with friends, family and co-workers by using voice, text messaging, instant messaging, e-mail or the Web.(2) Featuring a color touch-screen and full QWERTY keyboard, Centro is the first Palm OS product to launch with AT&T services, such as XM Radio Mobile, Push to Talk

Motorola Highlights New Products at IWCE 2008

Motorola showcases second nature technologies, purpose- built around the needs of public safety and commercial usersLAS VEGAS (IWCE, Booth #1400) – 21 February 2008 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today introduced several new products from its MOTOA4™, wireless broadband and professional two-way radio portfolios designed to improve communications for public safety, commercial and business

Motorola Unveils Full Portfolio of DOCSIS® 3.0 CPE

Portfolio showcases innovation and experience in Motorola’s broadband voice and data services that are making a difference for customersHorsham, PA – 21 February 2008 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today took the wraps off its full line of DOCSIS 3.0-based customer premises equipment (CPE) designed to deliver high-capacity cable voice and data services. Coming on the heels of several pre-DOCSIS 3.0

Nokia communicates tender offer to Trolltech ASA shareholders

Nokia yesterday began communicating to Trolltech shareholders its voluntary cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of Trolltech ASA at NOK 16 per share. Trolltech`s board of directors has unanimously recommended that its shareholders accept the offer. The intention to launch the voluntary tender offer was announced on 28 January 2008.Type rest of the post here

Google Search on S60 Devices

Yet, another attempt to dominate the mobile world. Google rolled out a search box for S60 devices on their native homepage for quicker access. Checkout AllAboutSymbian.com for the full coverage.

Yahoo Go 3.0 Beta Review on Nokia N95

Couple days ago, I wrote about Yahoo Go 3.0 Beta being available. I took the time to install it on my Nokia N95 and here is my review:

Installation: Simple. The hardest part is to type in the hard to remember URL into your mobile broswer (get.go.yahoo.com). I would recommend an easier URL like yaho.com/go. My 3G data downloaded the 99K file in less than 10 seconds and installation took place in less than 45 seconds when I chose to install on the phone memory.

Application: Not bad. This application is designed to encompass a suite of "web-widgets". (including: Y! News, Mail, Finance, Sports, Flickr, Weather, Entertainment, Local, etc.). It also has the option to download three additional widgets for MTV News, eBay and MySpace. I played around with most of the programs and they are up to the basic tasks. Althouh having the widgets inside an application felt less robust than its true potential. Not sure if this is a bad software design or too demanding for the N95's already pushed CPU (ARM 11 333MHz). I can see myself relying on the eBay widget to check on my auction listings as it would offer a better mobile eBay experience for me compared to the browser option.

Overall verdict is that I give props to Yahoo for rolling all of its core services into one nifty application/widget pack. The main page carousal has a great widgety feel to it. I still believe that the future of mobile will be relying heavily on powerful and robust apps or widgets. If Yahoo can improve the speed and efficiency of the program (much like iPhone's default widgets), we may have a serious contender here.

Yahoo does offer another URL for iPhone or WM5/6 and S60 devices that is web-based. The URL is beta.m.yahoo.com. This is an update to its original Mobile homepage, the look and feel is much like Google's mobile homepage.

Undroid: An Android Plugin for Netbeans

When do internet browsing, on java.sun.com, i found a link state that there is an android plugin for Netbeans. Its name is Undroid. Well, for you that using Netbeans as your Developer IDE, it is a great news. you can try this android plugin. If you interested just visit http://undroid.nolimit.cz/.

Mobile Experience by Netvibes.com

If you are not familiar with Netvibes, it’s a great tool to re-mix your favorite web contents (I think iGoogle stole this concept, therefore I will never use it). I am pleased to find that Netvibes is now offering a mobile-interface for smartphones and mobile devices at m.netvibes.com. The interface looks to be very promising for the small screens.

In addition, they have also released an update for the iPhone edition with improvement over its bookmark section.

This is pretty exciting and I can’t wait to see the soon-to-be released update on Netvibes known as “Ginger” where you have the ability to create your own “universe” and widgets.

Sony Ericsson's First Windows Mobile Phone

Has hell frozen over? First we hear rumors about Nokia in talks with Microsoft regarding Windows Mobile. Now I am seeing pictures of the gorgeous Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 which is going to run on Windows Mobile OS. As reported by a couple of sources, this ultra-premium sexy looking phone will debut in second half of 2008. This phone is so feature-rich and supports every band-width known to man. The most amazing feature is the 3" VGA (800x600) resolution. Things will be more interesting with this phone in the market.

BTW, this is also the first time I've even mentioned Sony Ericsson product on my blog. The official site for N. America is here.

Free Windows Mobile Business Resource Kit

Gathered from TechBargains.com, one of my all time fav deal site, TradePub is giving away a free resource kit to help you justify and develope your company solution on Windows Mobile platform. Free is good!

Nokia N82 Smartphone

I didn't know how this one slipped under my nose. Nokia N82, the little brother to the N95 is available for sale at Buy.com for $480 unlocked. This bad boy is feature-packed. Like its N95 older bro, it has 3G (WCDMA 2100... not US friendly), integrated GPS, QVGA screen, WiFi 802.11b/g, Symbian S60 3rd edition, 5MP Carl-Zeiss, and 100MB of free memory with MicroSD expansion slot. This phone is basically functionally identical to the N95 w/o the dual slider function.

At $480, you've got to ask yourself one question. Should I spend $20 more to pickup the N95-3 from Amazon.com where I get US 3G support, and a slider keyboard?

Checkout a full review at Nseries Blog.
Checkout a website dedicated to N82.

Verizon Wireless Introduces The Hip SCH-u550 From Samsung

Verizon Wireless and Samsung today announced the availability of the SCH-u550 from Samsung. This fashionable clamshell sports a trend-setting brown finish and lets customers download and listen to music, check out short video clips and take pictures and videos while on-the-go.In addition to a sleek, stylish design, the SCH-u550 features a 1.3 megapixel camera with Night Shot to enhance the camera

New Sony Ericsson Clamshell Phone?

While tons of new Sony Ericsson phones were announced last week, leaked picture introduce another clamshell phoneNo other information is available at the mean time but you still digg some of the info from the picture above

SlashRumor: Nokia E71?

According to CNet, Nokia will soon present its Nokia E71, a QWERTY smartphone with a slim phone bodyWith a 11mm thickness, the rumor Nokia E71 will come with a 3.2 megapixel camera, microSD card slot and built-in GPS. WiFi, HSDPA and bluetooth are all included without a miss.The Nokia E71 might be announced during CeBiT event, expect it to be available for AT&T network too.

PopCap Games to develop multiplayer mobile games for SNAP Mobile

Nokia and PopCap Games will bring connected mobile Java games to the SNAP Mobile platform. The award winning Chuzzle is the first game to be re-developed by PopCap under a multi-game agreement."Downloads of our mobile games continue to grow rapidly and we have learned that consumers are increasingly looking for on-the-go games that allow them to interact with one another," said Andrew Stein,

VOLLEE BRINGS 'SECOND LIFE' TO MOBILE

Vollee to Offer Pre-Registration for Open BetaGame Developers Conference - San Francisco - The Second Life® experience is coming to mobile. The 3D virtual world platform, created by Linden Lab® will soon be available on 3G handsets via Vollee's streaming mobile games service. Beta trials for Vollee's new mobile offering for the Second Life Grid platform (an inter-connected platform which extends

Tip 3: Press the keys *3370# to activate hidden battery power on your mobile phone.

This "tip" is totally bogus. You cannot activate hidden or reserve battery power by keying in *3370# or any other code sequence. The code '*3370#' can be used on some Nokia models to activate Enhanced Full Rate Codec (EFR). Ironically, since this code activates the best sound quality on the phone, the change will actually reduce the length of time that the battery will last before recharging is required – in practical terms the complete opposite of what the tip suggests.

Entering the code has no effect at all on brands of phone other than Nokia.

Tip 4: Press the keys * # 0 6 # to check your mobile phone serial number

This does work on many kinds of mobile phones. Entering * # 0 6 # displays the phone's unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). The IMEI is also usually printed underneath the battery.

If a phone is reported lost or stolen, the IMEI can be used to disable the phone, thereby making it impossible for thieves to use it.

A Wikipedia entry about IMEI notes:
When mobile equipment is stolen or lost, the operator or owner will typically contact the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) which blacklists the device in all operator switches so that it will in effect become unusable, making theft of mobile equipment a useless business.
However, CEIR blacklisting is not always effective because it is sometimes possible to reprogram stolen phones with a new IMEI and, although in theory every IMEI is supposed to be unique to a particular device, this is not always the case in practice.

Certainly, it could be wise to record your IMEI just in case you need it at some point in the future. But it should be noted that you do not actually need to have your IMEI at hand to have a lost or stolen phone deactivated. Virtually every provider will have the facility to quickly deactivate or disable your mobile phone account, even if you cannot provide the phone’s IMEI. If your phone is lost or stolen, contact your provider and explain the situation. They should be able to immediately initiate methods that will ensure that thieves cannot use your phone account to make calls.

Tip 2: You can unlock your remote keyless entry enabled car from a long distance via a mobile phone call

This tip has generated vast amounts of, sometimes heated, debate. A lot of people swear that the trick works while a great many others claim that it does not and is technically impossible. I suspect that at least some of the people who claim that the

technique works have conducted their experiments without realizing that they are actually still within unlocking range of their vehicles. The range of the entry systems may be significantly greater than experimenters realize. Thus, people may actually believe that they have unlocked their vehicle via their mobile phone when they have in fact done so in the normal way via their remote device.

That said, a great many posters claim to have used the technique from many kilometres distance. In truth, logic and common sense compellingly suggest that the trick is not technically possible. Keyless entry systems work on radio waves, not sound, so it is very difficult to believe that the unlock signal could be transmitted via a mobile phone call, especially since mobile phones and keyless entry systems work at entirely different frequencies.

However, the volume of conflicting reports on the issue means that, at this point, it would be premature to state categorically that the trick will never work under any circumstances. Some have postulated that the technique might be possible with certain keyless entry systems and/or phone services or combinations thereof and this may indeed be the case. This scenario would explain why the technique might work for the few but not the many. Coupled with false conclusions made from invalid experiments, these exceptions might explain why so many people so vehemently claim that the trick actually works in spite of the evidence against it.

What I can say conclusively is that I have personally testing the technique with several keyless entry/mobile phone combinations without any success whatsoever. And, even if the technique does sometimes work, it seems clear that in the great majority of cases, it does not, so this tip is actually rather pointless.

Tip 1: 112 is the international emergency number for mobile phones


It is true that, in many parts of the world, dialling '112' from a mobile phone will connect the caller to local emergency services. The number '112' is the international emergency telephone number for GSM mobilephone networks

When dialling '112' on GSM mobile phones, access is provided regardless of the presence or validity of the SIM card within the phone, or whether the keypad is locked. The '112' number cannot be dialled from the fixed network.

•'112' can be dialled anywhere in the world with GSM coverage and callers will be automatically translated to that country's particular emergency number.

•A caller is able to connect to the emergency services answering point if GSM mobile coverage is available from any carrier's network at the location of the call.
However, because '112' is primarily integrated with the GSM network, it may not work if the phone is connected to another type of network such as CDMA. The Australian Government webpage also notes:
In Australia, it is a mandatory obligation for '112' to be built into GSM mobile phones. While this is not the case with CDMA mobile phones - as the international standards for CDMA do not require '112' - some mobile carriers have enabled '112' access in their CDMA mobile phones. However, this service does not have the extra capabilities, such as roaming and PIN override, that '112' has on GSM networks. For further details regarding '112' access on a CDMA phone, consumers should talk to their mobile service providers.
Therefore, while it is certainly useful to know about '112', mobile phone users should be aware that this emergency number may not work in every part of the world or for every mobile network.

Moreover, some circulating messages about '112' claim that the number will work even if there is no mobile phone signal or will automatically divert to a satellite phone system. However, this information is false. While ‘112’ will attempt to connect to any available network, it certainly will not work if no signal at all is available.

Finally, it should also be noted that, in the European Union, '112' is the emergency number for all Member States and will work from both mobile and fixed phones.
FIRST Emergency

The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.

SECOND Have you locked your keys in the car?

Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their mobile phone from your cell phone.

Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a mobile phone!'

THIRD Hidden Battery Power

Imagine your mobile battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your mobile will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your mobile next time.

FOURTH How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?

To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 #

A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends

Mobile Phone Tips

FOUR THINGS YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW YOUR MOBILE PHONE COULD DO


Very, very useful info
There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

iPhone TIPS: Seeqpod.com awarded as coolest iPhone TIP of 2007

We at iphone tips and tricks (IT&T) have awarded the Seeqpod.com site as the most coolest iPhone TIP for 2007. Of course we don't handout a real award because we cannot award one yet to give away. On this site, iPhone owners can play hidden MP3's all over the world from a iPhone. How? Just start Safari and open SeeqPod.com. Seeqpod's site will detect that you are using an iPhone and will show an customized iPhone interface. Type a searchstring at the "google" like interface, hit the search button and there it is. While there is nothing iPhone-specific about SeeqPod, it is notable as the first web-based application for the iPhone that allows users to download and play MP3 files without first downloading the files to their computer and transferring the songs via iTunes.
Thank you seeqpod!

more useful links for you

Android SDK m5-rc14 Released

New Android SDK released. There are some improvement, and changes. And some of my samples, i publish here and at learncodes.googlepages.com maybe have function that has been changed. But i think you the reader will be easily adopted.

Some of them, like there isn't onMotionEvent (MotionEvent ev) method but has been changed to OnTouchEvent(MotionEvent ev), there should be android:name on AndroidManifest.xml not id, but id, still can be use with warning.

So, hope you, the reader, will adopt it easily.

Another Second Life presentation announcement

I'm having a really interesting week in Second Life: last night I was a guest speaker of a Second Life event for the first time, and today I have the pleasure of announcing another in-world appearance. Grace McDunnough, Sophrosyne's Saturday Salon guest host for this week, invited Jan (my business partner) and me to talk about our company, online communities and about what we've both learned about Second Life and virtual worlds in general. If that sounds interesting, please join us for a discussion this Saturday, February 23rd, from 1 PM to 3 PM SLT at Extropia Core. You can read the event announcement here.

If you want to know more about my presentation at ISTE last night, you can read a summary on Kevin's blog, check out the slides on SlideShare, and there are event some nice pics from the event on Flickr. If you'd like a transcript of the event (generously provided by Veritas Variscan), IM me in-world and I'll send you a notecard. And a big thank you to everyone that attended my presentation!

Glu Mobile unveils initial line-up of titles coming to Nokia N-Gage

Nokia and Glu Mobile today announced its initial line-up of games to be launched on the N-Gage platform in 2008. The titles launching are based on two major forthcoming films from Warner Bros. Pictures, SPEED RACER and The Dark Knight, as well as Super Slam Ping Pong, a new original Glu title in the spirit of Glu's runaway hit, Super K.O. Boxing!About Glu titles coming to N-Gage:SPEED RACERIn

Sprint and Samsung Introduces M520

Sprint and Samsung Mobile announced the immediate availability of the M520 by Samsung. This slider phone makes it easy for customers to access the Web, find local restaurants, watch live television, download their favorite songs, send text messages or use GPS to find their way home.The Samsung M520 is packed with helpful essentials including Web access, SMS voice and text messaging, Phone as

iPhone Firmware 1.1.4 Coming Soon?

We're still relatively early in the life of iPhone firmware 1.1.3, and already there are grumblings about 1.1.4. Apple is anticipated to release the Official iPhone SDK in the very near future, and several are beginning to wonder if a new firmware release - 1.1.4 - will accompany the SDK when it becomes available.Most of the 1.1.4 conversation revolves around third party iPhone software developer

New GUI Single Step iPhone Jailbreak/Unlock for 1.1.3

Earlier this week, ZiPhone was released and was the first tool available that provided not only a direct jailbreak for iPhones running 1.1.3, but did so in one step. Though pretty darn convenient, ZiPhone was still a command line application, which can scare off some of the less technically inclined iPhone owners out there.For those who dare not utilize their command shells and others who prefer

More Details on ZiPhone "True" 1.1.3 Jailbreak/Unlock

More details have emerged regarding the 1.1.3 direct jailbreak/unlock, called ZiPhone, created by Zibri. ZiPhone, which is being referred to as a "true" 1.1.3 jailbreak, specifically the method that the iPhone Dev Team was trying to keep protected until the release of the Official iPhone SDK by Apple, was released yesterday.As promised, the source code is now available for download on the iPhone

Samsung Ace SPH-i325 Smartphone for Sprint network

Sprint and Samsung today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Ace, a sleek, stylish and commanding smartphone powered by the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and Windows Mobile 6.Operating in the U.S. on the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, the Samsung Ace operates globally on CDMA and GSM/GPRS networks where Sprint has international roaming agreements with its quad-band

Philips Xenium 9@9j with Integrated BackuPower

Announced in March 2007 last year, BackuPower provides users with a remarkably simple solution for instantly recharging their phones: by inserting any type of standard sized AAA battery -- alkaline or NiMH rechargeable -- in the phone's easily accessible cavity. The new Philips Xenium 9@9j has extended power provided by Techtium's BackuPower, it will be available in April this year.[Source]

Knight Rider Gadget: Apple Keyboard?

I've decided to start a new series of post knowing as "Knight Rider Gadgets". I will attempt to showcase all the modern day gadgets used on KITT or throughout the show. Starting with last night's post on Knight Rider Gadget: Nokia N95 Touchscreen.

In this entry, I noticed within KITT's glove compartment, rolls out an APPLE wireless keyboard. Does this mean KITT is powered by Leopard OS X? :)

Mobile World Congress

Last week was the World Congress of Mobile in Barcelona, one of the best cities in Europe. All the major players of m-commerce (carriers, mobile manufacturers, starts-up, etc..) were present to share their point of view on the developments of mobile devices, customers expectations and the future of the mobile.

If there was one take-away to sum-up the numerous meeting at the Mobile Congress; it would be the concept of Ubiquitous services with the potential to use the massive success and become a ubiquitous force in society.

In addition, four major issues were discussed:
- Ubiquitous network (new band to send more data)
- Challenge of traditional operator roles (Should they provide the content as in Japan or only be a platform?)
- Mobile's social and economic value (Which Business Models?)
- Mobile digital content resolution (Iphone can't support flash)

We'll go in depth within these aspects in the next days.

What would you like to ask the mobile OS companies at CTIA?

I've been invited to moderate a panel on mobile operating systems at the CTIA conference this April. No doubt this will be the highlight of the entire conference ;-) , so make your travel reservations early.

Participants tentatively will include Symbian, Microsoft, Access, RIM, and several others.

Here's the session description:

Operating Systems, User Interfaces and Browsers: Where is the Technology Going?

Mobile phones are plagued with interoperability issues, making it difficult for applications to run properly on all handsets, hurting both consumers—who find their handset incapable of running the desired application—and applications developers—who have to develop multiple versions of the same application. What are the pros and cons of open versus closed handheld operating systems? This panel will address the likely outcome of the openness rage should it move to the handset, including the long-term effects of this possible technology shift.

Should be a fun conversation.

The panel will consist of brief presentations followed by Q&A, so I wanted to give you an opportunity to participate. If you'll be at CTIA, please come by the panel on April 2 at 2:30. If you won't be there, let me know what questions you'd like to see asked. Just post a comment below, and I'll see what I can do. I'll also post a report after the session.

(By the way, if you'll be at CTIA and want to chat, drop me a note at the address here.)