Wait, didn’t Orange and Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) just announce their partnership to bring the Apple iPhone to France? In fact, they did – just last week. But, according to Reuters, the two companies are still struggling to come to agreeable terms in the revenue sharing model that Apple is demanding from all potential iPhone carriers. With T-Mobile Germany rumored to be giving 30% of revenues, and O2 UK reported to be giving up a massive 40% of their iPhone revenue to Apple, we imagine Orange is under some heavy pressure to agree to considerable kick-backs.

For Orange and French iPhone fans’ sake, these negotiations had better wrap up pretty damn quickly. The holiday shopping season is almost upon us and it would be a shame for the French to have to resort to buying unlocked iPhones on eBay (pre-v1.1.1-update iPhones, that is).

[Via: Reuters]

With HTC’s upcoming press event next week, we’re anxiously waiting to see which Windows Mobile smartphones HTC will be bringing out of the closet. We’d love to hear more about the mysterious HTC Kii and maybe even see the HTC Omni get officially launched, come Monday – although we can’t be sure.

One thing we can tell you with considerable certainty is that the HTC Nike will be launched as the HTC Touch Slide – the semi-QWERTY keyboard-toting cousin to the HTC Touch.

We’re sure you’re already quite familiar with the HTC Nike, but here’s a quick re-hash for the uninitiated. The HTC Touch Slide (Nike) basically adds 3G and a vertical-sliding keyboard to the HTC Touch’s feature-set. And, with a 400Mhz Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM) processor, 3G (HSDPA), WiFi, 2 megapixel camera, microSD card slot, and that BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Pearl-esque keyboard, the HTC Touch Slide (Nike) will be getting some well-deserved time in the spotlight.

More pics of the HTC Touch Slide (Nike) on the link.

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Just as we expected, Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) has opened the flood gates on the newest iPhone update (barely getting it in before the week’s end). We’re now in the world of the iPhone version 1.1.1 and it’s looking better than ever. Tipping the scales at a massive 153MB download (via iTunes), the new iPhone v1.1.1 firmware brings the highly anticipated WiFi iTunes Music Store application, enhanced security (which means all current unlocking solution are effectively dead), and increased volume (yes!).

We’re still going to advise all you iPhone unlockers out there to wait on installing this update, as you run the considerable risk of bricking your iPhone. It looks like Apple wasn’t fibbing when they said that applying this update to an unlocked iPhone would cause irreparable damage. Many unlocked iPhone users out there are reporting that, even though the update process itself went smoothly, the iPhone threw an error message upon rebooting. It’s up to you, but if it were us, we’d wait on the iPhone Dev Team to release their unlock-reversing software sometime next week.

And all you third-party app fans with Installer.app installed, take heed – the iPhone v1.1.1 update will wipe out all natively installed applications. Having Installer.app and any third-party apps installed on your iPhone doesn’t seem to affect the update process – you won’t have to remove them prior to updating, but any non-Apple components will be wiped from existence. If you like all those cool little applications on your iPhone, don’t update until the boys at Nullriver have figured out how to make everything play nicely with v1.1.1 (if it’s even possible).

There are also mixed reports of the new update disabling Ambrosia Software’s iToner ringtone-making software. So take that for what it’s worth.

Here’s a quick rundown of new features in the iPhone v1.1.1 update:

• iTunes Wi-Fi music store
• Louder speakerphone and receiver volume
• Home button double-click shortcut to phone favorites or music controls
• Space bar double-tap shortcut to intelligently insert period and space
• Mail attachments are viewable in portrait and landscape
• Stocks and cities in Stocks and Weather can be re-ordered
• Apple Bluetooth Headset battery status in the Status Bar
• Support for TV Out
• Preference to turn off EDGE/GPRS when roaming internationally
• New passcode lock time intervals
• Adjustable alert volume

Again, if you’ve unlocked your iPhone for use on non-AT&T (NYSE: T) networks, DO NOT UPDATE. It will brick your iPhone. Wait until the iPhone Dev Team figures things out.

But, if you want to try out the WiFi iTunes Music Store, louder speakerphone and receiver volume, TV-out, and the nifty double-tap shortcut feature, go ahead and update your iPhone. Just to be safe, uninstall those third-party apps – better safe than sorry, we always say.

Myxer is a neat new service designed to help web publishers mobilize their content. Launched at DEMO, Myxer works like a widget which, thanks to the drag’n'drop magic, allows site visitors to easily send content from the website to their mobile phones. Users can send both images and videos to their mobile devices, while sending selected text via SMS is something Myxer will be launching in the near future. In addition, the new service is also a solid platform for the web site publishers, which could use it to sell such content as instructional videos.

Another neat thing Myxer is doing is their “free ringtone a day” service which works through Twitter. Content creators and distributors can also use this channel/service and beam their creations to both mobile and desktop Twitter users. Kinda neat, don’t you think?

[Via: Mashable]

Not that we haven’t expected this, it’s just kinda sad to see the “happiest MVNO” shutting down. As of September 27, content and applications will no longer be available for purchase. However, Disney Mobile will continue to provide Voice, messaging and the Family Center services, as well as billing and care support but only until December 31, when it’s about time to find a new cellphone plan.

Speaking of the new phone plan, the MVNO suggests that in order to keep your existing phone number, you should do that by November 30 to ensure there is enough time for the phone number transfer. Maybe it’s about time to get your kids an iPhone.

P.S. Wondering will this affect Virgin Mobile’s stock price…

[Via: Gizmodo]

Canadians looking for the fashion phone can now turn to Telus (NYSE: TU) and grab one of the coolest looking phones available on the market today – LG Shine 8700. We’ve already ranted about LG’s stylish clamshell before, I’ll just repeat it comes with two screens (internal is QVGA), 2 MP camera, stereo Bluetooth support (A2DP), media player and the standard microSD memory expansion slot. In addition, Telus’ power users will also appreciate the fact that it’s compatible with the carrier’s SPARK plan.

Sounds cool? Prepare to pay anything from $129.99 CAD with a three-year term, to $349.99 CAD sans any contract.

[Via: MobileInCanada] Thanks Jean-Philippe

We’ve already wrote about Cellufun’s WAP-based Space Wars game. Instead of using Java ME or some other software platform, they’ve decided to go WAP, hence allowing more users to enjoy playing at once right from the start.

It seems their “WAP experiment” has succeeded, and now we have them announcing yet another WAP title – Chess. We all know what’s Chess all about, but it’s interesting to note how Cellufun is experimenting with advertising supported content by providing this game for free. In addition, the game’s multiplayer technology allows player matching, meaning players always get an opponent of their own strength. This way, playing chess online will remain a challenge. Neat.

[Via: Mobile Games Blog]

Although we deferred writing about concept handsets lately, here’s one that caught my eye. It seems that the designer of the Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) K660i Cyber-shot concept had an idea to make an affordable 3G-enabled camera phone. Somehow, I do agree that, if priced correctly, such device could easily find its market. On the other hand, it could be very hard to differentiate it from the better K770i model. Basically, the concept designer think that it’s only the camera that would make all the difference, hence he envisioned that unlike the K770i which comes with 3.2 MP camera, the K660i’s camera should boast “only” 2 megapixels. Still it remains kinda neat idea, especially if Sony Ericsson makes such device with U.S.-compatible radio bands and release it in the States. Sounds like a solid plan, what do you say?

[Via: Esato]

I used be impressed with Chinese phones that come with WQVGA screens. Ok, I’m still fairly impressed, although now I think all major handset makers should go WVGA, not WQVGA.

Anyway, today we’re presenting you with quite ugly Chinese handset which among other things sports the mentioned 3″ WQVGA (240×432) 16 million color touchscreen, 1.3 MP camera, FM radio, stereo speakers and the standard microSD expansion slot.

As I said the device is quite ugly, and the reason for that is the weird flip located at the bottom part of the device. Basically, without flipping it you can’t use numeric keypad, hence this phone is not just ugly, but is also quite NOT easy-to-use. Then again, for that price (my guess is around $150) you can’t expect much more…

Check out more photos after the jump.

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Cry if you’re not in Japan, cause they are about to get one of the best mobile phones, like ever! The Fujitsu (OTCPK: FJTSY)-manufactured F905i is the mobile TV (1Seg) enabled device and among other things comes with the 3.2 MP camera with autofocus, memory expansion slot and full HTML web browser. So what’s so special about it? Well, it has a huge 3.2″ swinging screen which can display resolution of up to 480×862 pixels in 16 million colors. That’s WIDE VGA baby — actually it’s even more! Eat this iPhone, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and everyone else. Way to go Fujitsu. Now, please enter other markets and show the old dogs some new tricks. I’m sure many of us will appreciate it.

[Via: uberphones]