BlackBerry today launched TiVo for BlackBerry smartphones app allowing users to browse, search and schedule recordings of their favorite TV programs to their TiVo DVR directly from their BlackBerry smartphone.
The free app can be downloaded from the BlackBerry App World storefront or from blackberry.com/tivo via your desktop browser. Users will then have to create an account on the TiVo.com website and registered their DVR. This is used to login to the application.
The TiVo app has a similar look and feel to the TiVo DVR interface on TVs, so there is little to learn to use another interface. This makes finding and scheduling recordings easy, and the search feature is useful when searching for programs by title, keyword or actor.
Verizon Wireless has discontinued the Home Hub Phone with Touch Screen after only 8 months on the market. The "Hub" is an Internet-connected home phone featuring an iPhone-like touch screen.
Verizon Wireless stopped selling the phone this week, however, will continue to support ones already purchased. The Hub had cost $150 after a $50 rebate and required a two-year $35 monthly contract which included unlimited calling in the United States and Canada and unlimited texts to Verizon Wireless phones.
The Hub was sold only to Verizon Wireless cell phones customers and provided services closely tied to those phones. (i.e., track the location of family members' phones)
AT&T Inc. today announced the acquisition of privately-held Plusmo, Inc., a provider of cross-platform mobile application solutions, bringing to AT&T an open standards technology that will simplify mobile application development, accelerate innovation and deliver a better application experience for consumers. Plusmo will become a part of AT&T Interactive, and the Plusmo mobile application development platform is expected to be used by multiple AT&T subsidiaries, including AT&T Mobility. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Plusmo platform dramatically reduces development time and costs by enabling developers to create widgets and applications using common web development standards that enable easy deployment across multiple mobile operating systems and devices. Plusmo has formed successful relationships with leading carriers, handset manufacturers and well known publishers. It has also developed a number of popular sports widgets that average more than 100 million monthly mobile page views.
Google introduced today a redesigned local search for mobile that integrates with Google Maps on your computer and includes browseable categories that lets you search without typing. See the video to the right of a demo of the redesigned local search.
Before you leave your home, you can research places to visit on Google Maps in a certain area (country/city). You then sign into your Google account and "Star" the places you want to visit. When you get to your location (country/city), you can log into your Google account with your mobile phone and will see the places you starred on your desktop Maps under "Starred Places". You can click through the place names to visit mobile-optimized versions of Place pages for Google Maps that include opening hours, photos, reviews, etc.
mSpot, Inc. launched today mSpot Mobile Movies a service that offers instant streaming of full-length feature movies available on-demand to millions of mobile phone users. mSpot Mobile Movies is available on all four major U.S. carriers (Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T) via mSpot's mobile web. The service is available on 30 handset devices, which includes the iPhone, Blackberry, Palm, Windows Mobile and many high-end feature phones, reaching over 40 million subscribers.
To access mSpot Mobile Movies, go to m.mSpot.com on your mobile phone. Individual movies cost $4.99 each, or subscribe to a monthly Movie Club membership which cost $9.99, $12.99 or $15.99 per month. A credit card is required to purchase a movie or membership. The phone’s web browser is used to access the movie instantly, no need to wait for download or syncing to a PC.
Google announced today that when you do a search on your desktop computer, you can now easily repeat the same search on your mobile phone.
Google has launched in the U.S. "Personalized Suggest" for Android, iPhone and Palm WebOS. This makes it easy to repeat past searches on the go.
For example, before you depart for the airport, you quickly check your flight status by searching for "american airlines 19" using google.com on your computer. Later you can open google.com on your mobile phone, click in the search box, and choose "american airlines 19" from the list of search suggestions.
To use search history make sure you are signed in the same account on your phone and desktop and that "Web History" is enabled in your Google Account. Mobile users can turn on/off history by selecting "Save searches" or "Do not save searches" under Settings on google.com.
T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the Motorola CLIQ, the first Android-powered device from Motorola Inc. (announced earlier this month) and the first device to feature the innovative MOTOBLUR solution, will be available for pre-sale for existing T-Mobile customers starting Oct. 19 at http://www.t-mobile.com/CLIQ.
Customers who order the CLIQ during the pre-sale period, Oct. 19–Nov. 1, will have an opportunity to be one of the first in the U.S. to experience T-Mobile’s latest Android-powered phone, which automatically syncs and streams social messaging updates, text messages, and work and personal e-mail directly to the home screen. Devices ordered during pre-sale will be shipped to customers as orders are received and will include a complimentary car charger. The CLIQ will be available exclusively to eligible T-Mobile customers for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement.
Beginning today, customers can visit http://www.t-mobile.com/CLIQ to register for CLIQ updates, learn more about the phone and check out a demo of MOTOBLUR. Those that register to receive CLIQ updates are entered into a grand prize sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip with five friends to one of four select destinations.
Customers wanting faster wireless data speeds are now enjoying the benefits of AT&T’s latest 3G expansions throughout greater Louisville and surrounding communities. AT&T has added third-generation (3G) wireless technology to 33 cell sites recently. The added capacity in more areas makes it possible for customers to take advantage of high-speed data services and cutting-edge devices like smartphones and netbooks.
The network expansion is part of AT&T’s ongoing efforts to drive innovation and investment to deliver the benefits of smartphones and mobile broadband for customers. More smartphone customers have chosen AT&T over any other U.S. competitor, and AT&T is committed to driving continual enhancement of network capabilities to meet these customers’ ever-growing mobile broadband needs.
AT&T today announced a substantial upgrade of its 3G mobile broadband network in Colorado Springs with the deployment of additional wireless spectrum in the 850 MHz band. As a result of this upgrade, local customers should experience better 3G wireless connectivity, performance and enhanced in-building wireless coverage. The enhancement also increases network capacity, and is intended to support ever-growing demand for 3G mobile broadband service.
The high-quality 850 MHz spectrum generally results in better in-building coverage. While specific benefits of the additional spectrum will vary by location, AT&T 3G customers should see improved quality and coverage throughout Colorado Springs. AT&T technicians nationwide responsible for monitoring network performance for service quality and coverage have seen significant increases in total 3G data traffic in areas where the 850MHz spectrum has been deployed.
MetroPCS Communications, Inc. announced today the expansion of MetroPCS Unlimited Nationwide service to include new areas of the Midwest, Northwest and parts of the Eastern United States. With this expansion, MetroPCS has nearly doubled the number of cities and towns included in MetroPCS Unlimited Nationwide to more than 11,000 cities and towns in the continental United States. This expanded coverage is available at no extra charge in MetroPCS’ current $40 and higher rate plans.
MetroPCS’ plans range from $30 to $50 per month and allow subscribers to talk all they want seven days a week. Unlike most carriers, MetroPCS does not require a signed contract, which means that consumers can activate service without going through a credit check or paying a deposit. MetroPCS also offers a number of unlimited service options, including unlimited family plans and unlimited international calling. Unlimited international calling allows MetroPCS customers to call more than 100 countries and over 1,000 destinations and is available on the $45 and higher rate plans for an additional $5 per month.
Mobile communications provider TerreStar Networks Inc. announced today an agreement between TerreStar and AT&T to bring to market the first fully integrated satellite cellular smartphone.
The TerreStar solution will combine AT&T's wireless connectivity with the ability to use an all-IP satellite network as back up throughout the United States. Using one phone number and one device, users will be able to access voice and data services in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and offshore coastal waters over either the AT&T cellular network or the TerreStar satellite network.
The TerreStarTM GENUSTM Smartphone is a revolutionary device, combining 3G terrestrial wireless capability with satellite voice and data in a standard smartphone size and form factor. The device uses the Windows Mobile operating system to provide rich smartphone functionality and includes premium features such as a touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and a QWERTY keyboard. The solution is intended to work as a user's everyday cellular smartphone device, with satellite access capability as a secondary option when needed.
Research In Motion announced that a new version of the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software has been developed specifically for Mac users. The new desktop software is scheduled to be available for free download from www.blackberry.com/mac on Friday, October 2 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
The new BlackBerry Desktop Manager software allows Mac users to smoothly and seamlessly sync data from Mac applications like iCal, Address Book, Microsoft Entourage and others, as well as add and remove applications, schedule automatic backups, encrypt backup files and install software updates for their BlackBerry smartphone.
BlackBerry Desktop Manager Software also integrates BlackBerry Media Sync, enabling Mac users to sync their iTunes music collections with their BlackBerry smartphone.
Borders Group today announced that it has signed an agreement with Verizon to provide free Wi-Fi service in virtually all of its more than 500 Borders stores nationwide. Borders and Verizon are well underway in the process of equipping stores to offer free Wi-Fi, with service expected to be available by mid-October.
Verizon's platform will allow Borders to create a splash page that customers first experience when they log on to the free Wi-Fi service, giving Borders the opportunity to feature compelling content such as news of hot titles, special discounts and the opportunity to join Borders Rewards, the retailer's free customer loyalty program that has 34 million members. Among other benefits, Borders Rewards members earn $5 in "Borders Bucks" for every $150 of annual qualifying purchases made both in store and at Borders.com.
This agreement builds on an existing relationship between Borders and Verizon that encompasses a number of advanced communications and IT services, including wide area networking and voice-over-IP services, Internet connectivity and e-commerce operations support.
MobiQpons Inc. today announced that its Mobile Coupons application "Coupons for Shopping - MobiQpons" is now available for consumers to download from its website. The environment-friendly paper-less coupons application can also be downloaded directly from Blackberry App World. The company is planning on supporting all other versions of Blackberry smart phones by end of October 2009.
The application shows coupons / offers from stores within 10 miles of user's current location as reported by GPS on their phone and displays the nearest stores first. User can easily scroll through the list of stores and coupons. The application allows users to personalize the offers for themselves - Users can mark stores as favorite, mark any store to never get any offers from that store etc.
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. today announced the launch of the "Samsung AMOLED 12M" (Model Name: SCH-W880), the world’s first 12-megapixel camera phone with a 3-times optical zoom lens. The phone will be available in the Korean market from early October.
Following the launch in June of the Pixon 12, the first 12-megapixel camera phone to launch globally, Samsung has again applied its advanced imaging technology to achieve another landmark in the development of advanced camera phones.
The Samsung AMOLED 12M combines the latest camera technology with the world’s most advanced WVGA (800 x 480) AMOLED full touch screen, providing an exceptional picture-taking experience.
The AMOLED 12M’s 3x optical zoom, featured for the first time on a 12-megapixel camera phone, allows users to bring in the action from far away, producing close-up shots without distortion. The device also features a 2x digital zoom, giving users the full capabilities of a 6x zoom.
Nokia Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Silicon Image, Inc., Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation announced the formation of a Mobile High-Definition Interface Working Group that intends to create an industry standard for an audio/video interface to connect mobile phones or portable consumer electronics (CE) devices directly to high-definition televisions (HDTVs) and displays.
This new mobile connectivity standard, based on Silicon Image’s Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) technology, will be defined, promoted and marketed by the Working Group as an industry standard open to anyone desiring to be an adopter and enable the development of mobile products that adhere to this new standard across a broad connectivity ecosystem.
Today, SEVEN, the global leader in push-enabled mobile email and messaging solutions for mass market devices, announces that the SEVEN Mobile Instant Messaging application is available for mobile operators and device manufacturers to further enhance their device and service offerings. The SEVEN Mobile Instant Messaging application is powered by System SEVEN, the industry's leading mobile push platform for mass market devices, which is proven to reliably scale to millions of users – industry experts forecast the number of IM accounts to grow to more than 3.7 billion by 2012 making it one of the largest mobile service opportunities after email.
SEVEN Mobile IM supports multiple IM accounts – including Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, ICQ, Microsoft Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk (Gtalk) – and delivers on SEVEN's mission to provide users with easy access to all the services of their choice, on the device of their choice. From feature phones to advanced smart devices, the SEVEN push technology, applied to Instant Messaging, opens the service to mass market adoption by providing a superior user experience that includes:
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