Palm, Inc. today introduced Treo Pro, a new business smartphone. With its streamlined design and Palm shortcuts layered on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Treo Pro is a unique combination of sleek simplicity and robust productivity including email, Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities that meets the needs of businesses and end users alike. Treo Pro, which will be available from Vodafone and O2 in Europe and from Telstra in Australia, also will be available in an unlocked version in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific.
The Treo Pro smartphone lets IT managers support an increasingly mobile work force with the ease of use and robust feature set business professionals demand. Besides the benefits of lower costs and increased productivity, Treo Pro can deliver the increased security, easier device management and access to information on the corporate network that Windows Mobile 6.1 provides.
Users can quickly respond to business and personal email, access the web, stay on top of appointments and contacts, and use Wi-Fi or GPS on the go.
The Wall Street Journal today launched a new free WSJ.com Mobile Reader for BlackBerry smart phones which will lets users view headlines, summaries and full articles with previously viewed articles still available for some time even if the user loses wireless connectivity.
Users track specific companies, get headlines and stock quotes (delayed up to 30 minutes) and customize content based on category lists, keywords and other criteria.
All the content will be pulled from The Wall Street Journal Digital Network at WSJ.com along with MarketWatch.com, Barrons.com and AllThingsD.com. However, users will have the option to pull content from other sources as well.
The service will show ads starting next month. Earlier this year, The Associated Press launched a similar ad-supported service for the Apple iPhone and other mobile devices.
According to the New York Times, T-Mobile will be the first carrier to offer a cell phone powered by Google’s Android software. The handset will be manufactured by HTC and is expected to go on sale in the U.S. before Christmas 08, perhaps as early as October 08.
The Android powered smartphone is expected to rival the popular Apple iPhone and other handsets by Palm, RIM, Microsoft and Nokia and is expected to have a touch screen that slides out to expose a full five row QWERTY keyboard. Checkout YouTube for the video of the handset.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., announced today that it is introducing software designed to optimize the high performance features of its proprietary embedded flash memories: OneNAND, Flex-OneNAND and moviNAND, in smart phones, using the major mobile operating systems – Windows Mobile(CE), Symbian, Linux, and RTOS (real-time operating system).
Samsung's new software optimizes data transactions within its memory chips as they interact with the operating system. The new file system/flash driver combination, when working with any of the memory chips and the operating system, will boost performance through faster booting, downloading and searching. This results in improving multimedia intensive operations common in smart phones, 3rd generation phones, digital still cameras, digital camcorders, memory cards, and digital TVs.
Samsung's new embedded-flash software is comprised of several file systems and supportive flash drivers. The file systems – UniFS, PocketFS and RFS, execute typical file operations like creating, removing, reading, and writing files.
Synergy Research Group's Q2 2008 Mobile Handset Market Share report has reported that even in the face of a challenging economic environment, the US Smartphone market posted strong double-digit growth.
The Apple iPhone continues to break records, shipping over a million units in 3 consecutive quarters. Even with Q2 shipments dropping in anticipation of the new 3G iPhone, Apple retained the second place spot (behind BlackBerry) for the first half of the year with Motorola a close third.
Motorola, who is currently the number one US Mobile Handset vendor with 25 percent share, is showing signs of difficulty in the lucrative and fast growing US Smartphone business. In Q2 2008, Motorola was the only vendor in our study posting double-digit drops for both sequential and annual growth.
In the first half of 2008, the US Smartphone market represented 12.2 percent of total Mobile handsets shipped. As a point of comparison, Smartphones represented fewer than 10 percent in the first half of 2007.
Many people think their cell phones come have caller ID. The fact is that's not true. Your cell phone merely identifies only the callers who are already programmed in your cell phone’s contact list. This doesn’t help you avoid unwanted calls.
Privus Mobile has a solution to this problem. If a caller is not in your cell phone's contact list Privus Mobile caller ID will show you the names and numbers of whose calling, regardless of whether you know them, where they live or which of their devices they’re using. That's pretty cool!
Most of the new smartphones fully support Privus Mobile service. Most cell phones only provide the names and numbers once you hang-up a call or miss a call, allowing you to forward their info to your contact list automatically or with the push of a button.
The worldwide mobile phone market continued solid double-digit growth in the second quarter (2Q08) as competition in high-end devices heated up. According to IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped a total of 306.0 million units, an increase of 5.6% from the 289.7 million units shipped during the previous quarter and up 15.3% from the 265.4 million units shipped during 2Q07. Total shipments for the quarter were in line with IDC's expectations, even as vendors cited economic challenges and changing demands within key regions.
These design changes are escalating competition between devices in a new way. Converged mobile devices, also know to the industry as smartphones, have typically been the category of handsets incorporating higher-end features such as GPS and touchscreen. However, these features are quickly moving onto handsets further down the food chain – feature phones.
All these handsets are smartphones with some really cool and unique features.
The Apple iPhone comes with a faster 3G wireless network, Microsoft exchange server e-mail, and support for a ton of third-party software from the iPhone Apps store. The LG Decoy is the first ever cell phone to come with a built-in stowaway Bluetooth headset. The BlackBerry Curve 8320 offers a very spacious and easy-to-use keyboard.
The Nokia N95 features 3G support, more memory, longer battery life, and faster performance. The Instinct which is very similar to the iPhone offers its own brand of visual voice mail, offers 3G network compatibility, integrated GPS, and work e-mail support, to name a few.
Verizon Wireless customers with the BlackBerry Curve 8330, BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphones can now stay connected to their financial information while away from home with Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Banking application. Also available on a number of popular Get It Now-capable phones, Mobile Banking offers customers the following capabilities and features on their handsets:
Account Balance and Transaction History – Get account balances and account transaction history.
Transfers – Transfer funds between eligible accounts at the same financial institution.
Bill Payment – View and pay bills when enrolled in their financial institution’s Bill Pay service.
Mobile History – View the last five transactions successfully completed on their mobile devices.
Verizon Wireless customers must be account holders of a financial institution that offers Mobile Banking to enroll in the application.
Palm, Inc. today announced that Palm Centro smartphone is now available unlocked for U.S. customers. Palm Centro is sold by Sprint, AT&T and Verizon Wireless in the U.S. Palm also announced that Google Maps for mobile with My Location on Centro is available for Centro starting tomorrow, giving customers faster access to local maps and driving directions.
The unlocked Palm Centro retains the smartphone's compact, modern design and is dressed in a new white color with grey accents. Centro offers customers more choices to stay in touch with friends, family and co-workers by using voice, text messaging, email or the web. Also available in 25 countries worldwide, Centro is Palm's smallest and lightest smartphone to date.
Google Maps for mobile with My Location makes it easier and faster for Centro customers to get mapping and direction information by approximating the user's current location on the map. This saves time and keystrokes for people trying to find where they are, what's around them, and how to get there.
Verizon Wireless today announced that the Palm Centro smartphone will be available beginning June 13. Dressed in a crisp cobalt blue, the Centro provides customers with the perfect tool to manage the busiest of lifestyles with voice, text messaging, e-mail and the Web.
Centro runs on Verizon Wireless’ high-speed data network, which gives customers the ability to quickly send and receive e-mail messages and attachments and browse rich Web content.
Verizon Wireless customers can also use the Centro as a modem for their laptops when they subscribe to Verizon Wireless’ BroadbandAccess Connect service plan. The handset sports a vibrant color touch-screen, full QWERTY keyboard and a lightweight design.
Centro’s built-in Google Maps application delivers quick, reliable directions and lets users perform local searches and view moveable/scalable maps, satellite imagery and traffic updates. Customers can also map a contact’s address directly from the contact application simply by selecting the “maps” button.
Samsung today announced the touch screen Omnia (SGH-i900) smartphone. The Omnia is a business handset with Windows Mobile 6.1 offering Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel and Word). The Omnia features:
Ultra-slim 12.5mm design
3.2-inch WQVGA (240 x 400 px) touch screen from Synaptics
QWERTY keyboard
Trackpad
5.0-megapixel CMOS camera with auto-focus with facial and smile detection and auto-panorama shot
Image stabilizer
8 or 16GB memory - Expandable microSD memory card
FM tuner and GPS reception withGeo-tagging
The Samsung Omnia will be launched in Southeast Asia starting late June with European sales starting in July.
Blue Whale Systems today launched a new, free service for mobile phones starts bringing easy email access to the 2.7 billion people with ordinary mobile phones.
The application offers a free mobile push email and push Facebook service. The service will initially be available for Nokia Series 60 and SonyEricsson feature phones.
BlueWhaleMail doesn't just allow you to securely send and receive email messages from services such as Yahoo! and Google Mail, it also notifies you of your friends' status updates and news items on Facebook, and allows you to send them a message or write on their wall in response. Messages and notifications are displayed as soon as they are received without requiring users to manually connect to their inbox.
Blue Whale Systems Ltd was founded by Michael Maguire who previously worked in the BlackBerry Applications team at Research In Motion creator of the famous BlackBerry smartphones.
Microsoft Corp. and Research In Motion recently announced an agreement to provide Microsoft Windows Live services on BlackBerry smartphones. As a result of this collaboration, BlackBerry smartphone customers will enjoy easy mobile access to Windows Live Messenger and an enhanced level of integration between Windows Live Hotmail and the BlackBerry platform.
The integration of Windows Live services into the BlackBerry platform will allow customers who use Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger on their BlackBerry smartphone to benefit from the BlackBerry platform architecture with the ability to communicate in real-time using push technology, and offering an exceptional mobile communications experience.
Customers will also be able to seamlessly access their Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger account from their BlackBerry smartphone by simply entering their Windows Live e-mail address and password once.
Research In Motion today introduced the BlackBerry Bold smartphone. The BlackBerry Bold is designed to give business professionals and power users unprecedented functionality and performance in an intuitive BlackBerry smartphone.
It is the first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi, as well as a rich set of multimedia capabilities. From its lustrous black exterior, satin chrome finished frame and stylish leather-like backplate, to its stunning display, sophisticated user interface and newly designed full-QWERTY keyboard, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone is a symbol of accomplishment and aspiration.
The BlackBerry Bold smartphone's support for tri-band HSDPA and enterprise-grade Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g) networks and its next-generation 624 MHz mobile processor make short work of downloading email attachments, streaming video or rendering web pages.
Verizon Wireless announced today that the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) is now available through Verizon Wireless’ online store and through business sales channels. This handset (announced last March) is a sophisticated, silver smartphone will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City, on May 12.
The BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone is available for $169.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the handset is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase.
Customers who purchase a Verizon Wireless Nationwide voice plan can also subscribe to the E-Mail and Web for BlackBerry plan for an additional $29.99 per month while those opting for a data-only plan can pay $34.99 per month for unlimited e-mail and access to the Internet via BlackBerry Internet Service.
Wireless Dynamics Inc., a Canadian provider of NFC and RFID SD products, announces general availability of the SDiD 1212 Low Frequency (LF) RFID Reader SD Card.
It is the first RFID SD Card with embedded 512MB SD Memory in the industry. In addition to the Low Frequency RFID read and write functions, SDiD 1212 can store user applications and data.
This true plug-and-play RFID SD card can be configured to instantly load drivers and launch applications that greatly increase the portability and ease of installation. By inserting the SDiD 1212 into the SD slot of a Smartphone or PDA, the integrated device can be used for most low frequency RFID applications such as asset tracking, field services, work-flow control, logistics, pet and livestock animal identification.
RFID tag data transactions can be processed in real time through mobile connections such as WiFi, CDMA, GSM / GPRS or UMTS associated with the portable device.
E-TEN Information Systems has announced the Glofiish M810 and M750, the first in a new series of Pocket PC Phones that put the focus on portable entertainment, dynamic social networking, and go-anywhere communications ideal for the web 2.0 generation.
E-TEN’s newest Pocket PC Phones harness the latest mobile hardware technologies together with innovations in software to create a pair of sleekly portable, multi-connected devices, designed to help the new breed of bloggers, podcasters, video makers, and chatters, stay online and updated wherever they are.
Whether among the bustling crowds in today’s metropolitan cities or being as one with nature in the country, the Glofiish M810’s Wi-Fi and HSDPA or the M750’s Wi-Fi and EDGE connectivity mean that web-warriors have almost constant, high-speed access to the internet.