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AT&T & USO Launch New Text Message Donation Program
AT&T Inc. has announced a new text messaging program that will support the USO and U.S. military families with free prepaid phone cards. The program launches at the AT&T Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Beginning Jan. 1, and running through March 31, 2008, customers can make a $2 donation in support of the USO by text messaging USO to short code 740 from their AT&T wireless devices. In addition to text messaging, anyone wishing to support the effort can donate online at www.uso.org/cottonbowl08.
Donations will support the USO Operation Phone Home® program, which provides free prepaid phone cards to military members serving active duty away from home so that they may stay in touch with loved ones. After callers send the message USO to short code 740, they will receive a response asking them to confirm their $2 donation by replying YES. After text messaging YES back to the 740 number, callers will receive a message letting them know that the donation is complete. | 
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Verizon Wireless Users to Exchange 300 Million New Year's Eve Messages
This New Year’s Eve, Verizon Wireless expects its customers to send and receive more than 300 million messages in the 16 hours between 12 p.m. today and 4 a.m. ET New Year’s Day.
Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless, said, “During holidays such as New Year’s Eve, text, picture and video messages allow our customers to personalize their communications with friends and family. Last New Year’s Eve, our customers sent and received more than 284 million text messages and nearly 4.75 million multimedia messages, so we fully expect to surpass the 300 million mark tonight.” During the third quarter of 2007, customers exchanged more than 721 million picture and video messages over Verizon Wireless’ nationwide network and sent or received nearly 36.5 billion text messages. In June 2007, Verizon Wireless customers helped the company set an industry record – more than 10 billion text messages were exchanged in a single month. | 
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Rap Music Leads the List for Top Ringtones in 2007
Analog Cell Phone Networks Shutting Down Feb. 08
If you have an analog cell phone then you will be out of luck with using it early next year. In 2002 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to allow cell phone carriers to begin shutting down their analog networks beginning February 18, 2008.
As many as one million cell phone users and about 400,000 wireless home security systems will be cut off. OnStar has about 500,000 users who will no longer have access to emergency services. Many people are also completely unaware this shutdown is coming.
OnStar has notified all affected users via its website and mail last year of the coming shutdown in 2008 but many people appear to be completely unaware. This is similar to all analog TV signals going away in 2009 that many people are unaware of. Analog signals require more signal strength to transmit, which causes less battery life and poor sound quality when signals are weak. | 
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NTT DoCoMo Launches New GPS Security Device
NTT DoCoMo, Inc., has launched a safety device that gets high-precision location information by using the GPS function. The device is designed to provide family members or authorities with positioning information or to enable location tracking when the user pulls the slide switch in a dangerous or emergency situation. The slide switch also triggers a crime prevention buzzer on the device.
The device is based on the U310 platform developed by Ericsson. The platform enables the modem and GPS functionality within the device, which is small enough to be carried inside a pocket or bag for easy activation in case of emergency.
Robert Puskaric, Head of Ericsson Mobile Platforms, says: "This shows that our platform technology is flexible and small enough to be implemented in devices other than the traditional mobile phone. We are also pleased to see that our platform has been included in a security device within the DoCoMo portfolio, as this proves its stability and quality."
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Recycle Old Cell Phones to Help Victims of Domestic Violence
If you are one of the many consumers who rang in the holidays with a new wireless phone, Verizon Wireless is reminding consumers to rather than throwing old phones into a drawer or into the trash, to donate it to the company’s HopeLine phone recycling program to support victims of domestic violence.
HopeLine collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition, from any wireless service provider, at the company’s Communications Stores across the country. Phones that can be refurbished are sold for reuse and those without value are disposed of in an environmentally sound way. Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to provide wireless phones and cash grants to local shelters and other non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.
Since HopeLine’s national phone recycling and re-use program was launched in 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than four million phones and awarded more than $4 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies and organizations throughout the country.
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Sprint Testing Cell Phone Cashless Payment in San Francisco
Sprint, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Jack in the Box, First Data, and Western Union Speedpay have partnered to allow San Francisco Bay Area Sprint cell phone users to participate in a beta test of "near-field communication" (NFC) cashless payment.
The trials will test NFC at local Jack In The Box as well as transportation payment and ticketing on the BART. The cell phone will work as a pre-paid debit card at Jack In The Box and will debit from a separate account on BART. When users fall below $10 on the BART account, the card will automatically charge itself back up to $48 from the user's bank account.
A limited number of Sprint and Boost Mobile customers will be able to participate in a trial of this service. The trial will be conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area from Jan - May 2008.
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Chicago Being Sued for Arresting Drivers Talking on Cell Phones
The City of Chicago is being sued via a class action lawsuit filed this week for arresting drivers talking on their cell phones. The lawsuit claims that Chicago police are arresting and ticketing drivers by the thousands for violating the city's cell phone ban imposed about 2 years ago. Drivers caught talking on their cell phones are typically charged $75 and up to $200 if they are involved in an accident.
Attorney Blake Horwitz filed the lawsuit against the city of Chicago, Mayor Richard Daley, and several police officers. Horwitz claims that the law prohibiting Chicago residents from using cell phones while driving hasn't been properly enacted. His firm specializes in police misconduct and has sued the city of Chicago more than 100 times.
The law, 625 ILCS 5/11207, requires the city of Chicago to post signs warning drivers not to talk on their cell phones while driving. However, here are no signs posted in the city of Chicago, which makes the fines and the arrests illegal, Horwitz claims.
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Recycled Cell Phone Shipments to Exceed 100 Million Units in 2012
According to a recent study from ABI Research, shipments of recycled handsets (old handsets recycled for reuse) are expected to exceed 100 million units in 2012. Shorter handset replacement periods, growing demand for low-cost handsets in emerging markets, regulatory requirements, and growing consumer awareness are key factors driving the market for recycled handsets.
Handset vendors including Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and LG are concentrating more on designing and manufacturing mobile phones to ensure that they are easily recyclable and contain a minimum of hazardous elements. This is being complimented by the efforts of mobile operators, retailers, recycling companies, charities and various take-back schemes, resulting in more users starting to return their old, no longer used handsets for recycling. | 
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Air France & OnAir Launch International In-flight Mobile Phone Service
Air France has become the first airline in the world to offer an in-flight mobile phone service on international flights. Using the Mobile OnAir system, passengers travelling on board one of the Airbus A318 aircraft operating European routes can now send and receive sms messages, mms messages, and emails via all phones with Internet access.
During the second half of the trial, passengers will be able to make and receive phone calls, with the service being regulated to maintain passengers’ comfort and well-being.
Customers on board this Airbus A318, with seating for 123 passengers, can find out more about this service in an information leaflet in seat pockets. Information will also be included in the cabin crew announcement. Air France welcomes feedback on this service from its passengers, who can fill in a twenty-question survey.
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America Movil & Yahoo! Partner to Offer Mobile Services in Latin America
America Movil, a wireless services provider in Latin America, and Yahoo! Inc. today announced a new strategic global partnership providing a framework for making Yahoo!'s industry leading mobile services available to millions of consumers in 16 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The agreement sets the stage for Yahoo! oneSearch to be the preferred mobile search service on America Movil's diverse wireless carriers' portals and prominent placement of links on the carrier portal to Yahoo!'s Mobile Web properties.
Under the global framework agreement, oneSearch, Yahoo!'s industry leading mobile search product, will be the default mobile search service on America Movil's wireless carriers' portals, making it easier for consumers to find relevant answers to search queries on their mobile devices. In the coming months, Yahoo! will customize and deploy localized versions of oneSearch for each region, integrating America Movil's wireless carriers' content and tailoring the experience to best meet the needs of each country's consumer audience.
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Hop-on Launches PDA Phone for AT&T & Verzion Network
Hop-on, Inc. has introduced its newest phone for AT&T and Verizon Networks. The GSM/CDMA Dual Mode PDA 2001 model, complete with GPS capability, utilizes the latest technology in the most cost-effective manner. This new PDA phone will have the ability to become the world’s first handheld slot machine, bingo, video poker or black jack device.
The new PDA 2001 model features a sleek and modern design encasing Dual Mode GSM and CDMA properties. The Model 2001 has a full-color touch screen, expanded battery life, gaming capabilities and a 3.0 megapixel camera for photos and video recording. This cutting edge technology will appeal to consumers looking for a high-quality GPS, Wi-Fi enabled standard phone utilizing Windows Mobile 6. The phone lets users stay connected to e-mail, calendar, and contacts. Users can be productive reading and composing Microsoft Word Mobile files, make Microsoft Excel Mobile charts, and view Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. | 
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Stanford Researchers Increase Battery Life by 10X
Stanford researchers have found a way to use silicon nanowires to produces 10 times the amount of electricity of existing lithium-ion, known as Li-ion, batteries that power laptops, iPods, video cameras, cell phones, and countless other devices. A laptop that now runs on battery for two hours could operate for 20 hours.
According to Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, "It's not a small improvement...It's a revolutionary development." The breakthrough technology was published online December 16 in Nature Nanotechnology in a paper titled "High-performance lithium battery anodes using silicon nanowires". The paper is written by Cui, his graduate chemistry student Candace Chan and five others.
The 10 fold expanded storage capacity could make Li-ion batteries attractive to electric car manufacturers and be used in homes or offices to store electricity generated by rooftop solar panels.
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The Variety of Mobile Phone Ringtones Today
Mobile phone is one of the most popular devices today. The sound indicating an incoming call also known as a ringtone is an interesting part of our mobile phones. In the beginning only few mobile phone companies offered cell phones with changeable ringtones. Today you can change the ringtones on all mobile phones. It is now simple to find and transfer all kind of mobile ringtones.
There are different types or ringtones for mobile phones. The ringtones are separated into three main groups. The first and the oldest group of mobile ringtones is monophonic. Monophonic ringtones play just one music tone at a time. Old mobile phones use monophonic ringtones and today are not so popular. Additionally, some older mobile phones included melody composer that enabled you to create your own monophonic ringtone. You can still find monophonic ringtones by searching the Internet. | 
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Helio Launch Software to Manage Music & Media From PCs
Helio today announced the launch of its Helio Player PC software, which lets members manage their personal collection of music, videos and pictures on their computer then transfer to and from their Helio devices. Available at no extra charge to Helio members, this extension of Helio Music gives members the ability to also purchase songs on their PC then transfer them to a Helio device via USB, or purchase songs over-the-air via a nationwide high-speed 3G network for delivery to both their device and their PC for one price.
Developed and hosted in partnership with RealNetworks Inc., Helio Player is the first PC application by a U.S. mobile carrier that allows users to import then manage music, videos and pictures in one place. A full-featured media manager, Helio Player's sleek user interface features three tabs for organizing Music, Video and Pictures. The application offers features including: | 
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Paul Allen to Bid on Upcoming U.S. Wireless Airwave Auction
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has applied to bid in an upcoming U.S. auction of the wireless airwaves. Paul Allen applied via a venture called Vulcan Spectrum. He is listed with the group who filed to bid in the Federal Communications Commission auction of 700MHz spectrum, which is scheduled to begin on January 24, 2008.
Paul Allen heads an investment company called Vulcan Capital and is the majority shareholder in U.S. cable operator Charter Communications. Paul Allen and Vulcan Spectrum were on a list of various potential bidders who filed applications ahead of a December 3 FCC deadline.
The auction applicants include major companies such as Google, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone and Qualcomm.
Last July Google made headlines by announcing it intended to participate in the upcoming auction of wireless spectrum. Google vowed to spend $4.6 billion to acquire the wireless spectrum. | 
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Cellfire & MetroPCS to Offer Mobile Coupons & Discounts
Cellfire, Inc. has signed an agreement with MetroPCS Communications, Inc., to provide mobile coupon and discount offers. Cellfire is now available to any MetroPCS customer with a compatible phone and MetroWeb service.
Cellfire makes it easy for MetroPCS users to find and use valuable deals delivered directly to their wireless handsets. To access Cellfire, MetroPCS customers select the "MetroWeb" menu icon on their phone, select the "Shopping" link and then select "Cellfire Coupons." Cellfire's discount offers are automatically uploaded to MetroPCS phones, enabling customers to access instant savings from participating national and local merchants.
Cellfire is the only nationwide mobile coupon and discount offer service. Cellfire automatically delivers savings directly to consumers via their mobile phones, and provides frequently updated discounts specific to their geographic area. | 
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Zipit Wireless Messenger 2 Now Has Text Messaging
Zipit Wireless Inc. who recently launched the Zipit Wireless Messenger 2 (Z2) at DigitalLife in New York City last September has announced that it will make available a text-messaging plan for its Zipit Wireless Messenger 2. The Z2 is a portable, fat wallet size Wi-Fi instant messaging (IM) device that provides access to IM without typing up or being tied to, the family computer. The device allows free instant messaging with AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Messenger.
Zipit users who sign up for a text-messaging plan will now be able to contact cell-phone users, as well as communicate by instant message. The plan cost $4.99 for up to 3,000 messages per month when it formally launches in February. Between December 20 and the launch, text messaging is free on the device. The Zipit 2 costs $149.99. | 
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AT&T Announces Two Apps for Blind/Low Vision Wireless Customers
AT&T Inc. announced today two new applications that will increase usability for wireless customers who are blind or have low vision. AT&T is partnering with Code Factory to offer Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier, both for Windows Mobile and Symbian Series 60 operating system devices.
Mobile Speak is a powerful, full-fledged screen reader with an easy-to-learn command structure, intuitive speech feedback in several languages and Braille support, which can be used with or without speech. Unlike other screen readers for mobile phones, Mobile Speak automatically detects information that the blind user should know, just as a user with sight would easily find highlighted items or key areas of the screen at a glance. Supported applications and functions include: | 
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