Verizon Wireless today announced new INpulse prepay plans designed to fit customers’ lifestyles – from the occasional to the most frequent caller – with rates as low as 2 cents per minute for voice calls and text messages. The new plans, INpulse Core, INpulse Plus and INpulse Power, charge customers a daily access fee only on the days of use and include Unlimited IN Calling to Verizon Wireless customers nationwide. Customers may select any of the new plans beginning November 1. All of the new INpulse plans provide customers with many of the same service options enjoyed by Verizon Wireless customers who sign annual contracts. Key to the new plans is the ability of customers to pair the service with V CAST-capable phones and purchase over-the-air directly from their handsets any of the 2.1 million songs in the V CAST Music library. They can also purchase Ringtones, Ringback tones, Mobile Web 2.0, games and other applications, such as VZ Navigator using funds in their INpulse accounts. | 
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| For the 2007/8 season, ESPN Mobile TV, Verizon Wireless and MediaFLO USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, will for the first time air live National Basketball Association (NBA) games, from tip-off to final buzzer, on V CAST Mobile TV. More than 70 ESPN-produced NBA games are expected to air on V CAST Mobile TV from Verizon Wireless, a service of MediaFLO USA. The regular season hoops excitement begins on October 31, with match-ups featuring the Dallas Mavericks at the Cleveland Cavaliers (8:00 p.m. Eastern) and the Seattle Supersonics at the Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m. Eastern). In addition to the upcoming NBA season, V CAST Mobile TV is offering consumers an unrivalled array of sports programming this fall, including more than 100 live college football games. Other not-to-be-missed 2007/8 NBA match-ups scheduled to air on V CAST Mobile TV from Verizon Wireless include: | 
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On the go and looking for a pizza joint after the big game? Need to find a coffee house after the movie? YELLOWPAGES.COM (www.yellowpages.com), a subsidiary of AT&T Inc., has made searching for local businesses on mobile devices even easier, with several new applications made specifically for those who like to take their local searches on the go. The site is introducing a new Web application for iPhone and iPod touch users, as well as a downloadable local search application now compatible with 20 popular and widely available AT&T mobile devices. These new applications are just two of the recent initiatives that YELLOWPAGES.COM has introduced to make it easier for people to conduct mobile searches — one of the fastest-growing categories of local searches. The Kelsey Group analyst firm's U.S. Mobile Forecast estimates that the number of mobile Internet users will jump from 37.9 million in 2007 to more than 97 million throughout the next four years. | 
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According to the Wall Street Journal, Google is in talks with Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp. to sell mobile phones with Google's new mobile-phone operating system. (See WSJ Video)
As we reported yesterday, Google is expected to announce within two weeks their advanced software and services that will enable handset manufacturers to bring Google-powered phones to market by mid-2008. Google wants to partner with wireless operators in order to deliver Google-powered mobile devices to consumers by mid 2008. As a result Google is in advanced discussion with Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel.
The Google mobile platform may allow carriers to offer cheaper cell phones to consumers and allow third-party application development for new features. It's interesting that Google is in talks with Verizon Wireless because the company had filed a lawsuit against the FCC because it wasn't happy with the FCC 700 MHz open-access rules which favored Google.
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Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., today hosted a glamorous launching event at the British Museum in London, displaying its latest mobile lineup for the rest of the year. The lineup includes the Samsung G800, a 5 megapixel camera phone with 3x optical zoom, the Samsung F700, a fully capable internet mobile, and many others. Product lineups on display today include:
Samsung G800: ‘Photographer’s Choice’
The Samsung G800 is the world’s first 5 megapixel camera phone with 3x optical zoom. Boasting 3x optical zoom and Xenon flash to enable close-ups and exceptional photo detail, the G800 also comes with other most up-to-date digital camera features such as face detection AF, and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR).
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According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Google is expected to announce within the next two weeks their advanced software and services that will enable handset manufacturers to bring Google-powered phones to market by mid-2008.
The future Google cell phones are expected to merge applications such as Google Maps, YouTube and Gmail. Google is also planning to have an "open-source" platform for its cell phone so independent software developers can build additional cell phone features. Software developers will have access to the operating system which controls applications and interacts with hardware. Google is also expanding into enterprise software which has traditionally been dominated by Microsoft. | 
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AT&T Inc. and Samsung today announced the availability of the Samsung SGH-a737. An ultrathin sliding phone with accelerated multimedia and entertainment features, the a737 builds on the remarkable appeal of the Samsung SGH-a717 and SGH-a727 phones and gives AT&T customers the same great 3G experience in a new form factor.
The a737 is a lightweight device available in four color combinations: black/orange, black/blue, black/red and black/lime. The a737 also offers the best AT&T features and services, including the groundbreaking Video Share, AT&T Mobile Music, stereo Bluetooth 2.0 technology, a 1.3-megapixel camera with video record, external memory microSD cards up to 4GB and advanced messaging options. The sliding design allows for a larger screen, which is great for browsing, reviewing photos and Video Share calling.
Because the a737 supports AT&T's Video Share service, users can share one-way live video while participating in a voice call. Both customers must be in an area served by the company's 3G network and have a Video Share-enabled phone — such as the a737. Users can also send messages to friends and families any way they choose with Text Messaging, Mobile Email, AOL, Yahoo! and Windows Live Instant Messaging.
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AT&T Inc. and Pantech announced yesterday that the eagerly anticipated Pantech duo is now available in the U.S. exclusively from AT&T. The device features the convenience of both a full QWERTY and a numeric keypad in one sleek 3G device.
The Pantech duo is a global smart device that takes "cool" to a higher level in redefining form and function. Boasting an innovative dual-sliding, double-keyboard design, the Pantech duo marks a new breed of mobile handset — created to address the lifestyle needs of both business customers and consumers. In addition, the UMTS/HSDPA-enabled Pantech duo is one of the first devices in the AT&T portfolio to be powered by the Windows Mobile 6 operating system. AT&T has the broadest portfolio of Windows Mobile devices of any U.S. carrier.
Using the Pantech duo, AT&T customers can enjoy an outstanding mobile broadband experience through AT&T's BroadbandConnect network, which is available in more than 200 major metropolitan areas across the U.S. and features average download speeds of 600 Kbps (kilobits per second) to 1.4 Mbps (megabits per second).
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Motorola, Inc. is dialing up the experience of hands-free driving with the introduction of the MOTOROKR T505 Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone and Digital FM Transmitter, its first road-ready, music-oriented ROKR accessory and the latest addition to its portfolio of in-car solutions. he ROKR T505 is expected to become available in Q1 2008. The MOTOROKR T505 enables consumers to connect a compatible Bluetooth enabled phone¹ to the car sound system and enjoy hands-free calling and their own personal music collection in outstanding stereo sound. Motorola will unveil its newest Bluetooth automotive accessory here at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, the premiere automotive specialty products trade event. | 
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 If you are thinking of purchasing multiple Apple iPhones to unlock and resell for a nice little profit Apple is about to make it more difficult for you. Initially there was no cash restriction to purchase an iPhone and purchases were limit to 5 per person. Because demand for the iPhone is off the charts, Apple is limiting the iPhone sales to 2 per customer with no cash purchases. Additionally, Apple believes people are purchasing iPhones to unlock and resell. Apple estimates 250,000 of the iPhones sold so far are intended to be unlocked and resold.
Since the iPhone debuted last June 29, Apple has sold more than 1.4 million units. Apple expects sales will be strong this Christmas season. Apple has included a software update that blocks the workarounds hackers had developed to unlock the iPhone. This has frustrated users and started two new lawsuits.
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Skype and 3 have launched a new affordable handset that lets you make free Skype to Skype calls and send free Skype instant messages from your mobile phone to other Skype users no matter where they are.
The 3 Skypephone is a fully-featured 3G Internet phone with Skype built-in. In addition to Skype calls the phone makes conventional calls and can be used to access 3’s broad range of other internet services.
3 customers using the 3 Skypephone will be able to make Skype calls and send instant messages on the move with the push of a button. This is the first time an operator has offered a mass market device which is tailor-made for free calling over the internet from a mobile. Now, all of Skype’s 246 million registered can be reached for free with the 3 Skypephone.
The handset was developed by Skype and 3 in partnership with Qualcomm, using Qualcomm’s BREW platform to enable Skype to work with core handset features such as address book and messaging.
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T-Mobile today announced the upcoming availability of the T-Mobile Shadow; the first handset under the Shadow brand, a name that will become synonymous with playful, easier and richer communications experiences offered only by T-Mobile. Available beginning October 31 and will be available in two fashionable tones; copper and sage.
T-Mobile teamed with HTC, the designer and manufacturer, to eloquently integrate the phone's form and function. The T-Mobile Shadow offers:- An enhanced myFaves functionality that allows even more flexibility and ways to communicate and connect. Through this experience customers can now call, send an e-mail, text or instant message, and share a picture, video or voice note, all with a push of the button right from the myFaves home screen.
- An enhanced user-interface integrated with the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 platform.
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SanDisk Corporation has announced the availability of its 8GB1 microSDHC and M2 flash memory cards to retail outlets worldwide. Compatible with the new breed of mobile phones with card slots, the 8GB SanDisk microSDHC and M2 cards are ideal for the growing number of consumers who make their mobile phone—with its built-in music player, digital camera and video player/recorder—the centerpiece of their digital lifestyle.
SanDisk’s ongoing ‘slot education’ program is aimed at raising awareness both of the presence of a card slot in the majority of today’s new mobile handsets and of the benefits available to those who use it. With a high capacity memory card in this slot, consumers can ‘Wake Up Their Phone’ and turn their handset into the ultimate lifestyle accessory, including the ability to store more than 2,000 digital songs, or more than 5,000 high-resolution pictures, or up to 5 hours of high-quality MPEG 4 video.2 | 
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According to the Associated Press, Sprint Nextel Corp. wireless subscribers may no longer have to purchase a new cell phone if they transfer to a new carrier. As part of a proposed class-action settlement Sprint has agreed to provide departing Sprint PCS customers with the code to unlock their cell phones' software. This will allow the cell phones to operate on other networks using CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access Technology) as long as the handset met the networks' technical standards.
Sprint's Nextel phones which use iDEN technology cant be switched to AT&T or T-Mobile because they use GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) technology. Sprint made the offer as part of the proposed settlement of a California class-action lawsuit, filed last year, accusing the company of anticompetitive practices.
The plaintiffs claimed the software "lock" forced customers wanting to switch carriers to have to buy a new phone, throwing up a barrier to competition.
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Beginning in Fall 2007, several colleges across the United States launched Sprint Campus Connect, an on-campus mobile solution from Sprint featuring applications from Rave Wireless. This enhanced campus-wide mobile phone program helps promote additional student safety on campus, enhanced communications among staff, faculty and students, and a better learning experience for all.
Recent incidents on college campuses, including the Virginia Tech shooting, have shown the urgency for safeguarding students at educational institutions across the country. Discussions have also brought into light the need for effective, quick and reliable channels of communication amongst staff, students and safety personnel during an emergency or disaster. Mobile devices can help alleviate these issues.
Sprint Campus Connect featuring Rave Wireless offers customized applications and mobile handsets catered to the individual needs of the universities.
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Dashwire, Inc. recently unveiled a new free service that automatically mirrors the content on your cell phone to the Internet, making it significantly easier to manage, enhance, and share mobile experiences with no cables required. Your cell phone contacts, text messages, calls, photos, videos, Internet favorites, speed dials, ringtone, and wallpaper are seamlessly uploaded from your cell phone and safely stored online in your Dashwire account. With Dashwire you can:- Send and receive text messages from your computer without picking up your phone
- Automatically upload photos and videos captured on the go to easily organize and share with your friends
- Add an address book contact on your computer and have it instantly appear on your phone
- Easily set Internet favorites, ringtones, wallpapers, and speed dials – in seconds from your computer
- Discover the coolest stuff available for your phone
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Tired of your poor cell phone reception in your home? Or are you looking to get rid of your landline but there are dead spots in your home? Well there are three new technologies to consider that will solve your problem. One lets you make calls over your home Wi-Fi network through your cell phone, the other uses "femtocell" which is a small in-home cell tower, while the third boost your cell phone signal.
Two services use broadband connection to route in-home cell phone calls over the Internet using VoIP, however they allow you to send and receive calls directly from your cell phone, with your regular cell phone number. You start a call indoors over broadband and continue it outside over cellular, and vice versa. Both systems are transparent to use and both function well.
The Sprint AIRAVE by Samsung is the first commercially available femtocell, a compact base station that works with any Sprint phone and a broadband Internet connection to provide enhanced in-home wireless coverage plus unlimited calling.
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Opera, the only company that puts the Web on any device, today released Opera Link. Wherever you are, whatever Opera browser you use, or whichever device you use Opera on, you can instantly access your bookmarks, Speed Dial, and personal bar. Say goodbye to the tedious hassle of entering text in your mobile phone to visit your top sites and say hello to a new level of convenience from device to device. Try Opera Link for yourself at www.opera.com.
The first service to leverage the breadth of Opera's industry-leading product portfolio, Opera Link forms a key cornerstone of two beta products released today. Opera Link is supported in the high-performance Opera 9.5 beta and the newest beta of Opera Mini 4, the world's most popular mobile Web browser. There is also a Web interface for users of any browser at my.opera.com. The Opera Web browser for PC/Mac/Linux and Opera Mini are available completely free for anyone to use and enjoy.
Opera Link
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Research In Motion today launched Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones, an exciting new BlackBerry software application that enables fast, streamlined and optimized mobile access to the popular Facebook social utility using a BlackBerry smartphone. The application leverages the push-based BlackBerry system architecture and Facebook Platform to create an unparalleled mobile experience for Facebook users.
Mike Lazaridis, founder of Research In Motion, will join Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Facebook, to formally unveil and demonstrate the Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones application today at the CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment show in San Francisco. T-Mobile USA has been selected to be the first carrier to provide the new software application to its customers.
With the Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones application, Facebook users can wirelessly send and view messages, photos, pokes and Wall posts. The rich, native application goes beyond browser-based access, automatically pushing notifications to the user’s BlackBerry smartphone as friends and colleagues send notes, Wall posts or pokes.
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