Monthly Archive: January 2008

Motorola

Motorola Announces W230 and W270

January 11, 2008

Motorola has announced two new W-series phones, the W230 and W270. The phones both feature music playback, with a special music button enabling owners to jump straight to the audio player. You can listen to MP3s stored on microSD cards, or else they can tune into FM radio, which supports RDS track information and can be recorded for the sake of the phones’ alarm sounds.

Talk time is rated at 550 minutes (over nine hours), while standby power is rated at over 18 days. The only difference between the W230 and W270 is that the former is a candybar design with red and silver faceplates, while the 270 is an all-black clamshell. Both will ship in the first quarter of the year.

[Source]

Ericsson / Network / Services

Ericsson to Supply Mobile TV Solution to Cellcom Israel

January 9, 2008

Ericsson has signed a contract with leading Israeli mobile operator Cellcom Israel to provide an end-to-end mobile TV and video solution to enable Cellcom Israel’s subscribers to enjoy a true TV experience, including access to live TV channels and video-on-demand (VoD) content.

Under the agreement, Ericsson will be the sole supplier of a mobile TV platform supporting rich media clients, a content management system and support systems for operation and customer care units. Rollout has started in December 2007, with commercial launch due during 2008.

Ericsson’s cutting edge mobile TV solution will provide users with a customized TV experience offering access to fast channel switching, an easy-to-use navigation menu and more advanced features.

Ericsson’s Mobile TV and Video solution leverages the existing cellular network to allow operators to capitalize on existing network infrastructure investments. The flexible and scalable solution can also accommodate broadcast technologies such as Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service, as they become available.

Nahum Hai, Director of Advanced Services Department at Cellcom Israel, said, “This move reaffirms Cellcom Israel’s leading position in the Israeli market. By partnering with Ericsson, Cellcom Israel can offer easy access to a personalized, world-class mobile TV experience.”

Mats Bosrup, President and CEO of Ericsson Israel, said, “Mobile TV is going from strength to strength as operators expand and leverage their networks. Ericsson’s mobile TV solution will enable Cellcom Israel to offer sophisticated new services while tapping into new revenue opportunities.”

Source: Ericsson Press Release

Cellphones / Sony

Sony Ericsson Launches Its First Cellphone with GPS

January 8, 2008

Sony Ericsson launching its first mobile handset with built-in GPS functionalities at CES 2008. With built-in GPS capabilities and plenty of memory for music, games and photos, the new Sony Ericsson W760 is poised to take on the likes of the Nokia N95, which already offers GPS functions. The handset also offers tri-band, quad-band EDGE, and high-speed 3G HSDPA internet access.

That makes the Sony Ericsson W760 the first handset to offer broadband speed mobile internet all over the world. There’s also the SenseMe functionality, which selects music based on your mood, tilting functions for controlling games, and accelerator functions.

Sony Ericsson W760 will available on the market during the second quarter of 2008.

[Source]

Cellphones / Samsung

Samsung Mobile Launches Samsung Solid

January 5, 2008

Samsung Mobile and O2 today launched Samsung Solid, the ‘first ultra durable handset’. Housed in a thick rubber body, Samsung Solid is rugged enough to endure tough treatment, making it perfect for extreme sports fans or anyone else likely to give their phone a bit of a knocking. It features anti-shock protection, as well as water and dust resistance; it will survive water splashes and the occasional knock or drop.

It comes with a built-in FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, camera and a long life battery. There’s also a built-in flash light if you find yourself in environments in need of light.

Samsung Solid is available now. It costs £60 on O2 Pay As You Go deals.

Samsung Solid features:

* GRPS dual band (900/1800Mhz)
* VGA camera
* Resistance to water, dust (IP54), anti-shock
* Flash light
* Long life battery
* WAP 2.0
* SMS/MMS, Java
* Mobile tracker, SOS dialling

[Source]

Services

Verizon Wireless Launches Mobile Banking Services

January 5, 2008

Verizon Wireless and Firethorn announced that customers of major financial institutions
in the U.S., including Wachovia, SunTrust, FirstBank, and BancorpSouth, can access their accounts from their mobile. The mobile banking solution powered by Firethorn allows Verizon Wireless customers to manage their finances while on-the-go, enabling them to check bank account balances, transfer funds between accounts within the same bank, and review and pay bills that are already set up through the financial institution’s online account service. Sounds great.

The Firethorn application is secure and utilizes both PIN and device lock-out capabilities, which are in addition to the security that is already incorporated by the financial institution. As another layer of security, customers will need to register with their financial institution’s online banking service in order to use mobile banking.

Firethorn application is currently available on several phones from Verizon Wireless, including the Chocolate, enV, X8700, VX8600, VX9400 by LG, and the Samsung SCH-a950, with support for new devices to be added in the coming months. Users can download the Firethorn application for free from Verizon Wireless Get It Now virtual store.

[Source]




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