Nokia and Vodafone announced their collaboration in S60 software development

Nokia and Vodafone announced a milestone in their collaboration on the development of S60 software on Symbian OS, with the release of the first Vodafone specific software package to all S60 licensees.

The S60 platform and the Vodafone specific software offer an integrated reference implementation that enables Vodafone to roll out innovative new services to customers across a range of different handsets without having to develop a range of different software designs. Samsung and Nokia are expected to be the first handset vendors to ship devices incorporating this software in 2007.

- S60 software plays a key role in delivering our vision on connected multimedia experiences. Nokia N95 multimedia computer is a quantum leap in this development. Nokia N95 based on S60 software allows consumers to enrich their mobile experiences with a multitude of add-on services and applications. The collaboration between S60 and Vodafone ensures that Vodafone services will work seamlessly on this iconic product without any penalty on time to market, said Juha Putkiranta, Senior Vice President, Multimedia Computer, Nokia.

Source www.nokia.com

Nokia N73: Shoot 'real' with your mobile phone.

Camera phones are very popular among mobile users across the world. Figure shows that a good percentage out of the total handsets sold goes to camera enabled mobile phone. The popularity of imaging options in a mobile phone is so much that, you cannot expect a handset(mid-range to high-end) with a camera enabled in it. Nokia N73, is one such handset which is known for its high end imaging capabilities.

The Nokia N73 features a high resolution 3.2-megapixel digital camera with Carl Zeiss optics. The imaging power gets further amplified with a mechanical shutter and advanced auto-focus facility helps you click clear images (by reducing the movement distortion), even when the light is not so good.

Review, send and print images shot with your Nokia N73 using a compatible partner. Upload the images to Flickr. If you are a music lover then listen to favourite tracks on an in-built digital music player. The handset has features for easy selection and playing of songs. The sound quality gets improved due to stereo effects and makes listening as same as in any music player.
Nokia N73 boasts of versatile connectivity options like Bluetooth, Pop-port, and infrared to connect your device to your personal computer and transfer all the your desired content.

A memory card slot expands the memory space so that you can store a good number of images, songs and videos. Offering you the facility to get connected without boundaries, Nokia N73 makes it easy for you to roam across the continents. The handset also gives access to Internet on your mobile and e-mail facility, so that you don't miss any important e-mails from the office. With a Nokia N73, you have many things to do.

Sony Ericsson K800i: Perfect for that photo-finish...

The present mobile phones are multidimensional devices, which not only let you connect with the whole world, but also serve your various purposes. Earlier, mobile phones were meant for making and receiving calls, but with the passage of time, they have evolved into amazing devices, which are capable to bring some wonderful changes in our lives.

Now-a-days, every mobile phone user looks for something extra in a mobile handset, besides those conventional features. Developments have gone so far that now we have highly sophisticated gadgets intently designed to perform specific tasks such as music-centric handsets, camera handsets and multimedia handsets. Of late, Sony Ericsson released their next highly anticipated Cyber-Shot phone series, which is all set to bring a sort of revolution in the world of camera phones.

The Sony Ericsson K800i is the very first member of the reputed K-series, which has been very well received by the mobile users across the whole globe. By releasing the Cyber-shot phones, Sony Ericsson once again proved their acumen in the ever-evolving field of mobile communications. The Sony Ericsson K800i represents an unparalleled blend of cutting edge technology, features and sophisticated camera.

All you got to do is to slide open the cover on the rear side of the handset and thus appears a 3.2 megapixel camera, which is ready to capture the world for you. To add that much needed clarity and vividness in pictures, its camera is further assisted by other features such as 16x digital zoom, a short-range xenon flash, PhotoDJ, BestPic, autofocus and an image stabiliser – all the right things to achieve that photo-finish.

The Sony Ericsson K800i scores really well on the connectivity front, as it supports the popular tri-band technology, which keeps you connected across the five continents. Moreover, the Sony Ericsson K800i also supports other popular technologies such as GPRS for data services, Infrared and Bluetooth to share pictures and USB for huge storage of data. Though, the Sony Ericsson K800i can be the best companion of the shutterbugs, but it duly takes good care of other important things to emerge as a compatible device.

Sony Ericsson K750i Red: sparks your imagination.

The handset that raised the bar of mobile imaging by notches is now available in red. The handset in context is non other than the Sony Ericsson K750i Red. The thin and slim candy-bar grabs your attention from a distance with its new sleek outfit. Downloadable themes and wall papers can further customize the Sony Ericsson K750i Red, much like the two other colour solutions – oxidized black and blasted silver.

Being a part of camera centric 'K' series, the Sony Ericsson K750i's forte is its imaging. The device includes the best features available at the time of its launch to give its users a superior mobile imaging experience. The large 262k vibrant colour deliverable TFT screen acts as the perfect viewfinder for the integrated digital camera of the Sony Ericsson K750i.

The camera module is 2.0 megapixel with 4x digital zoom and light. Presence of autofocus – a feature that automatically focuses the center of the frame, goes a long way in producing great pictures. Capturing fleeting moments of life is only a slide away. With the Sony Ericsson K750i, just slide the lens-cover which activates camera and go 'click'-happy with the dedicated camera button. You can 'Quickshare' them with your friends or save them forever. High quality video recording is possible without any cap on the duration.

The Sony Ericsson K750i supports triband GSM mobile network and automatically switches band, so the device is active across five continents. Internet on the move is possible with the device's GPRS technology and a built in browser. Sharing and synchronization of information with external devices is a breeze with the Bluetooth wireless technology and more 'traditional' USB. A decent memory pool of 34 Mb can be upgraded with the help of external memory cards. The standard Li-Po 900 mAh battery that gives up to 9 hours of talk-time and 400 hours in standby deserves a special mention.

The Sony Ericsson K750i red is a great camera phone with many fun and useful features that are easy to use.

Sony Ericsson W950i: Play it right...always

The other popular members of the Walkman series are still standing tall on the demand charts, but it was not enough, as the popular duo (Sony Ericsson) once again came forth to release another music powerhouse – the Sony Ericsson W950i. Undoubtedly, the Sony Ericsson W950i epitomises the hugely popular Walkman series phones with something extra to offer. Aptly empowered by UIQ 3.0 and Symbian 9.1, the Sony Ericsson W950i is all set to usher a new era of music phones while bringing the hard times for the conventional MP3 music players.

Well, the Sony Ericsson W950i is based on the same platform as the other popular Sony Ericsson M600, but it has been further powered by various music features. The Sony Ericsson W950i is much more comfortable and convenient, as it comes with a three-way scroll wheel for navigation with a touch screen – using it is just fun. As far as memory is concerned, it would certainly leave you awestruck, as the Sony Ericsson W950i is loaded with 4GB of flash memory, which is good enough to treasure more than 4,000 tracks – undoubtedly, more than enough. Besides, its Walkman player can play music in various popular formats with MP3, WAV, AAC, M4A, AAC+, and eAAC+ -- you would certainly love to have this multifunctional gadget. The Sony Ericsson W950i is backed up by the new improved battery, which supplies you power to play uninterrupted music for ten hours.

The overall appearance of the Sony Ericsson W950i is based on the iconic design of the Walkman family with a blend of orange colour and mystic purple to make it a perfect enticer. It's touch sensitive TFT QVGA display is capable to produce larger than life pictures, while supporting with colours up to 262k. Moreover, its jog-dial wheel makes entering data more easier and convenient. Besides music, the Sony Ericsson W950i scores well in other features with substantial office tools and various other features like document viewer. The Sony Ericsson W950i is also a cool performer, when it comes to consummate Internet connectivity. Do various things, while indulging your senses in the ecstatic world of music with your Sony Ericsson W950i.

Motorola V3i: slimmer and sharper than the razor.

Motorola is known for experimenting with radical design in mobile phones. The Motorola RAZR V3, marketed as MOTORAZR – derived from its razor-like thin dimensions, has not only brought back Motorola in contention for the top mobile manufacturer, but also have started a whole new revolution of super slim phones. The Motorola V3i is the next in line of the RAZR family that sports more features and even more style.

The high quality TFT screen that delivers more than 262k colours looks stunning within the brushed metal casing and sculpted metal keypad. The external CSTN display produces a decent 65k colours. Riding high on the chic design of the Motorola V3i, many colour solutions are available – each having their own personality. The Motorola V3i DG (Dolace and Gabbana) sports a gold coloured casing with anodized aluminum finish completed with golden keypad and a pair of gold DG headset. Similarly, the Motorola V31m is a maroon coloured handset that stands out in the crowd.

The Motorola V3i is equipped with a 1.23 megapixel digital camera – an upgrade from the VGA module in the Motorola V3. The integrated camera is enabled with digital zoom and video capture. Freezing interesting moments of life and sharing with friends and family is now as easy as A B C. The Motorola V3i also features SCREEN# technology – a click-less way for instant access to latest news, sports and entertainment.

The Motorola V3i supports all four GSM network and switches automatically between them so the handset is functional in all corners of the globe. Internet connectivity on the go is made possible wih the GPRS technology and a WAP browser. 10 Mb of internal memory may seem paltry especially in context to the high quality integrated media player, but the Motorola V3i supports external memory card up to 512Mb.

The Motorola V3i is a very sleek and sophisticated mobile phone with a decent feature list.

Samsung E900: a stylish all rounder

The Samsung E900 resembles a 'Supergroup' of music scene. Just like a supergroup which is consist of individual musicians who are already famous in their respective fields, the Samsung E900 too includes all the best features from its previous successful models like D500, D600 and D800. The Samsung E900 drew a lot of comparison with LG K800 which was released about a month prior to it. Though design wise, the LG chocolate is more interesting, the Samsung E900 packs more features and support memory cards.

The touch sensitive keypad remains largely hidden till the slider is opened. 262144 colour deliverable TFT screen produces images with amazing clarity and remains easily readable even in bright sunlight. The Samsung E900 is widely rumored to be codenamed 'Ghost' because of the reflection it produces on its glossy surface.

The Samsung E900 includes Voice Clarity Feature – that automatically adjusts volume according to background noise. PicselViewer is another useful feature to view document in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and HTML formats. If you find the handset's display small for large files, you can watch them on a larger screen like your TV.

The camera module of the Samsung E900 is based on CMOS technology, 2.0 megapixel and backed by digital zoom and integrated LED flash. The result is bright and high resolution pictures in all light conditions. Video recording in CIF format is enabled. With TV Output, you can enjoy the special moments you captured with all at once.

This triband phone has more options to keep you connected other than GSM mobile connectivity across five continents. High speed EDGE/GPRS powered Internet connectivity is supported by WAP 2.0/xHTML browser and an email client that supports POP3, SMTP and IMAP4 protocols. Download all you want to the Samsung E900's generous 80Mb memory pool which can be expanded further through memory card.

The Samsung E900 is more like a geek that has got a stunning visual makeover!

Sony Ericsson W810i: Enjoy pulsating music on your mobile phone.

Sony Ericsson w810i is a popular member of the prolific Walkman-series mobile phones. The handset is a delight to music lovers who want to carry their favourite collections with them. The handset offers superb music facilities in addition to various other features to make your mobile communique effective and pleasing. The mobile phone offers you the best of both worlds as you can enjoy reverberating music and seamless connectivity, all within a single device.

Dedicated music buttons help you get access to various music features with ease. The control buttons helps you select your songs and move from one track to other without hassles. When you have an incoming call, the music pauses automatically and again starts once your call is over. The Sony Ericsson W810i mobile phone supports popular file formats like MP3 and AAC which makes it easy for you to transfer your favourite songs.

The handset offers good multimedia features to keep you entertained wherever, whenever you are. Internet access and high speed data downloads are some of the other features enabled in this Walkman phone. Send and receive email access on your mobile phone when you are travelling or are without a computer. Instant messaging and other messaging options is also available in the Sony Ericsson w810i. The handset is equipped with a high resolution 2-megapixel digital camera with auto focus and photo light. The digital camera can be used to capture images as well as shoot some live action. And similar to music features, the imaging features too are easy to access and operate.

The Sony Ericsson W810i mobile phone has enough memory space to store all your desired music files, images and video clips. You have an in-built 512 MB of removable memory Stick Pro DUO, which can be expanded up to 2 GB.

Siemens able for transmit error-free at a data transmission rate of 10 gb/s via a passive optical access

This is four times faster than the rate previously possible. At the same time, a 100 kilometer distance between hub and subscribers, the so-called last mile, could be bridged for the first time. Today only subscribers within a 20 km radius can be connected. These research results bring within reach the next generation of subscriber line technology that is making optical networks more powerful and cost-efficient.

Siemens Networks just recently announced a world record in connection with optical networks: During an experimental setup, 107 Gbit/s were transmitted in a carrier’s optical core network. Data rates up to 40 Gbit/s are currently possible in this network area for commercial operation. Now the research team from Siemens has reached a new highest record – this time in the optical access network.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is currently the most well-known technology for access networks, providing data rates of up to 50 Mbit/s. DSL uses the telephone network’s existing copper twisted pairs. However, future services such as video on-demand, video conferences, triple play, Voice over IP, digital TV and HDTV (High Definition TV) require access networks with higher data rates. A fiber optic subscriber line provides the necessary bandwidth.

Today’s GPON (Gigabit PON) access networks use data rates of 2.5 Gbit/s from network to subscriber (downstream) and 1.2 Gbit/s from subscriber to network (upstream). A central device allows subscribers within a radius up to 20 kilometers to be connected. In order to reach subscribers living further away, an additional system is needed – even when the first hub is not yet at full capacity. Moreover, the number of subscriber lines per hub is limited to 64. (Source)

Vodafone in spotlight from Kenya corruption inquiry

Vodafone, the world's leading mobile phone operator, is under investigation in Kenya over its relationship with a Guernsey-registered company that acted as an advisor in east African telecoms.

Kenya's investment watchdog is trying to ascertain who is behind Mobitelea Ventures Ltd, a shell company that in 2003 was allowed by Vodafone to acquire a 5% stake in Safaricom, the country's biggest mobile operator. The shares are now worth at least $100m (£51m).
...

Vodafone has refused a formal request from the PIC to reveal who owns Mobitelea. Mr Muturi said he would be asking the Serious Fraud Office for assistance.

Mobitelea's shareholding in Safaricom was revealed in a local newspaper in November 2006. Until then it had been assumed - even by the Kenyan government - that Safaricom remained a 60:40 joint venture between government-owned Telkom and Vodafone.
...

"When Vodafone makes investments in new territories it is not uncommon that it works alongside a partner who typically gives advice on local business practices and protocol and the various challenges associated with investing in a new market. Vodafone would prefer to be in a position to make a comprehensive disclosure but, having taken legal advice, could be in breach of a duty of confidentiality were it to discuss Mobitelea further." (News by Xan Rice in Nairobi, Friday February 16, 2007
The Guardian )

Six Firms to Jointly Develop Platform for 3G Mobile Phone Handsets

Six large telecoms companies, DoCoMo, Renesas Technology, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, Sharp and Sony Ericsson have announced that they plan to jointly develop a next-generation mobile phone platform for dual-mode handsets supporting HSDPA/W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE. Development of the platform is targeted to complete during Q2, FY2008 (July-September).

The new platform will be based on the SH-Mobile G3, a single-chip system LSI which implements a baseband processor supporting HSDPA cat. 8/W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE communications and an application processor with high-end multimedia functions, together with a reference design integrating audio, power supply, and RF front-end modules. The platform will also include common software for basic functions, including a sophisticated operating system such as Symbian, device drivers, middleware, and communication software.

DoCoMo and Renesas have already jointly developed the SH-Mobile G1, a first-generation single-chip LSI for dual-mode handsets supporting W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS. The SH-Mobile G1 is now in mass production and handsets built around it first appeared on the market in the autumn of 2006.

The second-generation successor, the SH-Mobile G2, and a mobile phone platform integrating core software are currently under development by DoCoMo, Renesas, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, and Sharp. (Handsets employing the G2 are scheduled to appear in the fall of 2007.)

By implementing the platform as a base system, mobile phone manufacturers Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, Sharp, and Sony Ericsson can eliminate the need to develop common handset functions. This will significantly reduce development time and costs, allowing the manufacturers to invest more time and resources in developing distinctive handset features and expanding their product portfolio.

Renesas plans to provide the platform to the worldwide W-CDMA market, in addition to customers in Japan, aiming to further reduce costs.

Ikuya Kawasaki, deputy general manager of system solutions business unit 2 at Renesas Technology, remarks as follows: "I am extremely pleased that six companies will be jointly developing a mobile phone platform with the SH-Mobile G3 as its core. We look forward to rolling out this platform in the W-CDMA market worldwide."

Haruhiko Hisa, president of Symbian Japan, which developed one of the standard operating systems, comments: "Symbian welcomes a mobile phone platform with the SH-Mobile G3 as its core and its potential to enable development of highly functional and low-cost 3G mobile phones, while shortening development times." News Source

3GSM: Mobile phone operators go Mesh with Belair?

BelAir Networks says it is "the first and only company to offer a complete wireless mesh network solution for the cellular backhaul market, offering cellular operators an option to cost-effectively deploy micro and picocells in dense city environments where high bandwidth and capacity are mandatory."

The company has been inviting industry observers to meetings at the Congress, including financiers who will be funding new 3G services.

"Deploying these services is a challenge, due to the high cost of leased T1/E1 backhaul," said officials. "BelAir’s wireless mesh solution can be used to replace these expensive leased lines."

The baby-kissing team is lead by Bernard Herscovich, President and CEO. His agenda includes the following points, said his support team:

-Can wireless mesh cellular backhaul support multiple technologies including 2G, 3G and 4G?
-Should carriers deploy in licensed or unlicensed frequencies?
-How can deploying wireless backhaul decrease an operator’s overall expenses?
-Is anyone currently running live traffic using wireless mesh cellular backhaul?
-What does this mean for FMC?

BelAir claims to have more than 200 large-scale wireless mesh deployments around the world, including city-wide broadband wireless deployments in Toronto, Minneapolis and the City of London. (Source)

European Operators Agree to Child Safety Code

Leading European mobile operators have signed an agreement with the European Commission aiming to draw up a voluntary code over the next year to implement ways to protect children from accessing inappropriate content through mobile phones.

The companies, including Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Orange Group, agreed to support controls on access to adult material, awareness-raising campaigns for parents and children and to fight illegal content.

In an agreement signed with the European, 15 firms promised to try to implement the self-regulatory code, including a commitment to classify commercial content according to national decency standards, by February 2008.

Around 70 percent of Europeans aged 12-13 own a mobile phone and 23 percent of 8-9-year-olds, according to European Union data from 2005. Some 92 percent of Germans aged 12-19 had one that year.

Mobile phones can be used to access the Internet as well as download games, music and videos.
EU Telecommunications Commissioner Viviane Reding said the accord "is an important step forward for child safety" and that the EU's executive body "will monitor very closely the implementation of today's agreement."

But she acknowleged that parents play the primary role when it comes to protecting their children. "It is not only the question of the mobile operators, it is also the question of parents, of teachers, of industry, of public authorities, so the society as a whole," she said.

GSM Europe, which represents some 147 operators, also conceded that it could not control much of the content that is available to mobile telephone users. "Clearly that is a question of parents, it is education. We can't force children to act the way we want them to do but we can try to protect them," said its chairwoman Kaisu Karvala. (Source)

Ericsson Offers Home GSM, Wi-Fi Base Station

Ericsson introduced an access point designed to let users improve the quality of cell phone calls made in their homes.

Ericsson is hoping to sell the device to operators that could then offer customers special mobile calling rates in their homes. The access point supports GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), Wi-Fi and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line).

End users would connect the access point to a broadband line and then make and receive calls with their standard GSM and WCDMA handsets in their homes. The access point would deliver better signal strength and call quality within users' homes than the standard wide area cellular network. Calls will automatically transfer between the home base station and the wider area network as users move in and out of the home.

New Competition
Some operators already offer home zone calling plans but they usually must offer the discounted rate within the wider range of a standard base station. Vodafone, for example, offers its At Home plan in several markets including Germany, Italy, the U.K., Greece, Hungary and Portugal. A user's home zone for the service is an area within an approximately two kilometer radius.

Ericsson's access point could help operators like Vodafone that primarily have wireless networks to better compete against fixed-line operators for voice services in the home. Mobile operators have tried to encourage users to replace their home phone lines with their mobile phones but network coverage within the home is an issue for some customers.

Ericsson said the access point will be available through selected operators starting in the middle of this year. (Source)

Nokia Releases Free Mapping and Search Software

Nokia said on Thursday it will start offering its smart2go mapping and navigation platform free to mobile customers using select Nokia S60 and Windows Mobile 5.0 devices.

Smart2go (www.smart2go.com) allows users to map routes in more than 150 countries and is supported for full turn-by-turn satellite navigation in over 30 countries, according to the Finnish mobile phone maker.

The application will also let people view their current locations, search for points-of-interests (POI), and create routes to get them there free of charge. Mobile users can store the map data on a memory card in the handset and, if needed, download it over the air or via a connection to a PC.

According to Nokia, the smart2go application will be available for free starting on February 10 and the company says it will roll out support for most other major mobile OS platforms, including Nokia S60, Series 40, PocketPC, Linux, and other Windows Mobile devices later in the year.

Nokia also said it plans to pre-install the smart2go mapping and navigation application on all future N-Series devices under the name "Nokia Maps."

Users of phones already equipped with Global Positioning Service receivers or an external GPS module can subscribe to a turn-by-turn navigation service as well. According to Nokia, subscriptions will be available in a variety of packages, and customers can choose to pay for a week's worth of navigation services if they choose. Prices will vary based on the user's location.

In addition to its free mapping software, Nokia also introduced a new application (www.nokia.com/mobilesearch) that lets users search for information in calendar entries, SMS messages, and multimedia files on their handsets. While the application will only work with certain Nokia phones (the N95, N93, N71, N62, N60, and others), it can also be downloaded a free starting today. (Source)

Vodafone & Orange deal to boost 3G coverage

Vodafone and Orange plan to boost high-speed mobile internet access across the UK by merging their 3G networks, according to reports.

The two operators could announce a deal over the next few days that would provide their current and future 3G subscribers with broader access to the technology, and help them meet guidelines set by industry regulator Ofcom.

Orange’s 3G network is believed to be accessible to nearly 90 percent of the UK population, while Vodafone covers 80 percent. The partnership would boost both operators’ reach, and follows Ofcom’s demands that the UK’s top five mobile operators expand their 3G networks to cover at least 80 percent of the population by the end of 2007.

As well as extending the reach of 3G, the deal could allow Vodafone and Orange to cut costs, helping the roll-out of new services, such as mobile television. By TechWorld News

Orange and Vodafone in network link

Tens of millions of people could soon start getting mobile phone calls that do not break up half way through.

The enticing prospect is held out by a link-up announced yesterday between Vodafone and rivals Orange to merge their third generation (3G) mobile-phone networks.
Initially this, the first network-sharing deal of its kind by UK operators, will boost coverage for just over two million 3G customers.

However, the two companies are investigating if a similar merger would be technically possible for the older, 2G networks – used by almost 30 million others.

"If a technical solution can be found for 2G," said Nick Read, the chief executive of Vodafone, "that would allow us to infill gaps in our coverage in rural areas."

Mr Read said that the immediate benefit to customers of the network-sharing deal would be to boost the roll-out of internet-driven services to 3G customers.

Both Vodafone and Orange have already built extensive 3G networks but can still only boast coverage of about 80 per cent and 90 per cent respectively for services such as downloading music and videos to their phones.

"By sharing each others' networks, Orange and Vodafone can extend their service coverage into some areas where their coverage is currently poor," said John Delaney, of the technology research firm Ovum. "Although there are overlaps, linking their systems will boost coverage." (Source Telegraph)

Vodafone UK launches YouTube mobile

YouTube Mobile added to eBay & MySpace plans

In the third content deal in as many days, Vodafone has announced a service that will allow its mobile customers to view and upload videos to YouTube.

The announcement follows others this week from Vodafone with MySpace and eBay. The deals point to a growing interest from online content providers to offer their services to mobile customers as well as continued efforts by operators to drive usage of their wireless data networks.

The mobile YouTube service will launch initially in the UK where customers will be able to view select videos, forward links of videos and upload and search for videos. Vodafone plans to launch the service in other European markets as well.

YouTube has a similar offering in the US where customers of Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless can all upload videos from their phones.

On Thursday, Vodafone said it will be the first to launch a new mobile service from eBay in Europe outside the UK. Vodafone Italy customers will be the first to be able to download a free application in order to search for and buy items on eBay. The application will come loaded on phones in the future and Vodafone expects to launch the service across its European markets later this year.

eBay has experimented with different mobile offerings. In Germany, it launched a customised version of the Opera Mini browser that lets users buy, sell and track bids. eBay also allows any UK mobile user to bid for and buy items on their phones.

Also this week, Vodafone announced that its customers, starting in the UK, will be able to download an application to their phones that will allow them to edit their MySpace profiles, upload photos and blog entries and send and receive MySpace messages. It's the first mobile offering for MySpace in Europe, Vodafone said.

All three services will be available within Vodafone Live, the operator's mobile portal. (Source PCAdvisor)

Motorola Renews Relationship with Freescale

Motorola says that it has reaffirmed its strategic relationship with Freescale Semiconductor, by selecting the Austin-based company as a preferred supplier of 2G and 3G chipset platforms through 2009. Freescale plans to deliver baseband, power management, RF transceivers and power amplifier technologies for incorporation across multiple Motorola handset designs.

Additionally, Motorola expects Freescale to deliver several advanced chipset solutions for next-generation EDGE, 3G and multimedia handsets.

"We are very pleased to continue our strong relationship with Motorola as a preferred supplier for 2G and 3G platforms," said Sandeep Chennakeshu, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale's Wireless and Mobile System's Group. "Our high-speed, low-power CMOS technology, RFCMOS transceivers and power management ICs are designed to provide Motorola the performance and functionality needed for next-generation mobile multimedia devices."

Motorola incorporates Freescale chipset solutions into several of the world's most popular handset designs, including MOTORAZR, MOTOPEBL, MOTOSLVR and MOTOKRZR K1. (Source Cellular News)

Vodafone Live! to offer Google™ Maps for mobile alongside Google search

Vodafone and Google intend to develop a location-based version of Google Maps for mobile to add to the growing portfolio of internet-based services that are enhancing the mobile experience for Vodafone customers.

Google Maps for mobile, a downloadable java application, is expected to offer customers in selected markets easy-to-use maps and local listings, as well as local search and navigation capabilities. Customers will be able to enjoy unlimited use of Google Maps for mobile, subject to Vodafone data tariffs.

Google and Vodafone are working together to ensure the service provides customers on selected handsets with an automatic user-location capability.

Today’s announcement is another example of how Vodafone is working to bring a suite of the most popular brands and services from the internet to the mobile phone. By integrating Google Maps for mobile into its services, Vodafone intends to offer customers a powerful tool to help them find local services wherever they are.

"Vodafone sees Google Maps as a new milestone in the relationship that both companies are developing. It is a prime example of how Vodafone, through its location service and distribution scale, can complement Google's products and unlock mass-market access to exciting services," said Frank Rovekamp, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Vodafone.

"Our goal as a company is to help people find information they're looking for, so giving Vodafone customers the chance to find out where they are going while on the move is a very important step. Google Maps for mobile gives people an easy way of finding directions via a mobile phone. I am delighted that Vodafone intends to offer it to their customers. It is one example of how our two companies are working together on technology that helps people manage information online and on the go," said Nikesh Arora, Vice President, EMEA Operations, Google.

The announcement comes as Vodafone introduces functionality in various markets to enable its customers to search for and find information they are looking for while on the move, with the integration of Google search technology into its mobile service.

The search service launched in Hungary in December 2006 and is aimed to be rolled out in other key European markets throughout the rest of the year.

Forming part of Vodafone’s multimedia portal Vodafone live!, search technology from Google will enable customers to access both on-portal and off-portal sites in the wider mobile internet.

The integration of Google technology also means an enhanced internet experience, making off-portal pages more accessible and relevant for handset screen sizes. Customers will therefore only be presented with services, such as games, that are compatible with their handsets. News from Vodafone

Mobile infection sees dramatic increase

The number of security attacks reported by mobile phone operators in 2006 jumped fivefold over the year before, according to McAfee.

According to data gleaned from more than 200 mobile operators worldwide, an overwhelming majority of 83 percent said their subscribers have been hit by some kind of mobile device infection.

"This research clearly demonstrates that mobile security is moving quickly up the industry agenda, with the number of malware incidents rising," Victor Kouznetsov, McAfee's senior vice president of mobile security.

Large-scale attacks during 2006 were most likely in Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim. In those regions, the number of operators reporting incidents that affected more than 1,000 devices doubled during the year. Read full News

Motorola Mobiles : Motorola Announces MOTO Q GSM

MOTO Q gsm
Retaining all the productivity features and style of the original CDMA-based MOTO Q while adding new enhancements, MOTO Q gsm is set to make an impact in markets across the globe. MOTO Q gsm features quad-band GPRS and EDGE capabilities to deliver worldwide connectivity, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 software for flexibility and power, and a full suite of multimedia and messaging options to keep you entertained.

Based on the much-imitated Q design, the thin, lightweight MOTO Q gsm showcases a soft-touch metal casing, electro-luminescent keys, gorgeous full color screen and ergonomically optimized QWERTY keyboard and side thumb wheel to deliver no-compromises email and messaging.

The MOTO Q family also makes good business sense for enterprises big and small by leveraging Microsoft’s trusted Windows Mobile Platform, Motorola’s Good Mobile Messaging technology and a variety of third party email solutions.

Both MOTO Q q9 and MOTO Q gsm are also fully customisable, with over 300 applications optimised for Motorola and a full suite of accessories.

“Motorola redefined the QWERTY, and we’re taking it to the next level with MOTO Q q9 and MOTO Q gsm,” said Ron Garriques, president of Motorola Mobile Devices. “Building upon the incredible success of the original Q we have created a stunning and experience optimized portfolio, so that now there is a MOTO Q for everyone.” Source

New rules for broadband switching in UK

Broadband users in the UK will no longer be charged for switching broadband suppliers following new rules that came into force today.

In principle, a MAC (Migration Authorisation Code), or alphanumeric identifier, will now be given to customers by the ISP they’re leaving without any hold ups, and that code can then be passed on to their new service provider. Broadband suppliers that charge their clients for switching will face penalties from Ofcom.

In December last year Ofcom revealed that 83 percent of UK internet users found it easy to switch service providers. However, the regulator still felt too many people were experiencing disruption to their service and so pushed ahead with the new plans to force ISPs to help customers switch.

Steve Weller, head of communication services at comparison and switching service, uSwitch.com, said: “The 234,000 consumers switching broadband every month have a right to do so simply and free of charge.”

uSwitch said while it’s pleased Ofcom is attempting to resolve the MAC code issues, it feels some problems have yet to be addressed. (Full News Source)

T-Mobile is to extend its push email services to consumers

T-Mobile is to extend its push email services to consumers, in addition to launching a number of new ‘community’ services.

The consumer push email service, which follows T-Mobile’s current business-focused alternative, was one of several announcements T-Mobile chief executive Hamid Akhavan made during a news conference at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona yesterday.

"We plan a new service that will push email to consumers; this could become a very huge market," Akhavan said.

As T-Mobile rolls out new social-networking services such as myFaves in the US, the operator also plans new ‘community’ pricing plans. With myFaves, for instance, customers can establish a community of up to five people who receive a discounted rate for voice calls, text message and more. (Full News Source)

Establishing a Mobile Security Strategy

According to McAfee, the research clearly indicates that mobile operators are concerned with the impact of mobile security on their business. Almost 80 per cent cited impact on public relations or their brand as of high concern, closely followed by the loss of credibility in the reliability of new services – a crucial issue as operators seek to increase average revenue per user (ARPU) and lifetime value in maturing markets.

Despite the fact that most mobile operators are experiencing mobile security incidents and are concerned with its future impact, the research also highlights a large gap between the kind of protection operators consider important and that which they actually deploy. Less than one-third of the operators who consider application and device-level protection important actually deploy protection at these levels. Furthermore, although fewer operators consider network level protection important, more than half deploy protection at this level.

In line with the growing importance of mobile security to service providers, 85 per cent of those questioned plan to increase their mobile security budgets to tackle issues including network intrusion, mobile viruses, denial-of-service attacks, spam and mobile phishing (SMiShing).

“This research clearly demonstrates that mobile security is moving quickly up the industry agenda with the number of malware incidents rising and more time and money being dedicated to resolving mobile security issues,” said Victor Kouznetsov, senior vice president of McAfee Mobile Security. “As mobile data use and functionality proliferates and mobile operators around the world are transforming their businesses from airtime revenue models to transaction-based and content-centric businesses, security is becoming an essential enabler for the success of new revenue-generating services.” (Source)

Elisa Content Services hosted by Ericsson

Mikko Mattinen, Head of Elisa Content Services, says: "Our goal is to produce easy-to-use content services for our customers. Our service development process focuses on different customer segments and their special needs. Ericsson's hosted services offer value-added, cost-efficient and fast solutions. In addition they take responsibility for the development, digital rights management, integration, hosting, content aggregation, and content management, leaving us to focus on our customers. We are confident that this gives us a competitive advantage."

Janne Laitala, Country Manager, Ericsson Finland, says: "We feel confident these easy-to-use services help Elisa to provide a first-class consumer experience and to attract subscribers. Hosting makes it easier for operators such as Elisa to launch content services for their consumers, bringing the services to market quickly while controlling cost."