By Dusan Belic on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 8:03 AM PST
In AT&T, Announcements, Devices, Sony Ericsson

Behold, the first HSDPA-enabled Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) phone for the U.S. market is here. It’s the Z750a which we previously saw leaked with AT&T logo and on the FCC pages. You already know everything about it — it’s a stylish phone with a “reflective mirror clamshell casing” and hidden organic light-emitting diode (OLED) reflective display screen on the front of the phone that illuminates when receiving a call, displaying caller ID. There’s also a 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth (A2DP), support for AT&T (NYSE: T)’s Mobile Email, full HTML browser and a Memory Stick Micro (M2) slot on board…
The Z750a will be available in three “tantalizing” colors — Mysterious Purple, Phantom Grey and Rose Pink — starting from early April for $49.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate and a new two-year service contract… Unfortunately, the price doesn’t include Serbian tennis star Jelena Jankovic who helped promote the device at the Sony Ericsson Open player party… Keep reading after the break for the official release.
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By Dusan Belic on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 6:41 AM PST
In Announcements, Content, Gaming

AOL is launching a free mobile web-based (WAP) games through its mobile portal at wap.aol.com/games. New York-based Cellufun is is powering up the new site and is delivering all of its WAP-based titles — including the award-winning Call of the Pharaoh, Space Wars, Chess, Ice Fishing and more — to AOL’s mobile portal visitors.
The idea of course is to provide the website visitors with a free content/games, while making money out of advertising. In that sense, AOL is making use of its Third Screen Media acquisition as all mobile banner ads on the games will be powered by their technology.
Both parties seem satisfied with the deal, with AOL’s Senior VP Steve Murphy saying: “Games are a great complement to the robust entertainment offerings available through the AOL mobile portal.” On the other hand, Cellufun’s CEO Arthur Goikhman said the alliance will allow the already strong Cellufun community to “grow even stronger, and offer more exposure to the Cellufun name.”
By Dusan Belic on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 6:10 AM PST
In Announcements, Devices, RIM (Research in Motion), Verizon
Just in time for the CTIA, Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is announcing the EV-DO enabled BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Curve 8330. The new device will come in a “liquid silver-colored finish with chrome highlights” that makes the device arguably the best-looking BlackBerry device to date.
As for the features, expect the standard addictive BlackBerry feature set, including support for major email servers. In addition, Verizon is using the device’s built-in GPS receiver to bundle its VZ Navigator software/service.
The lack of WiFi may be a dealbreaker for some people, especially for those that don’t want to pay not-that-affordable data fees. On the other hand, if you’re in the other group that doesn’t mind this, you’ll be glad to know the new Curve will be available in May for $269.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase… Full release is available from here.
By Dusan Belic on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 4:45 AM PST
In Announcements, Rogers, Services
Rogers Wireless in Canada has recently launched a new service called “Wireless Box Office,” allowing its subscribers to use their mobile phones as wireless tickets for select Live Nation concerts in the country. Right from the start, users of the new service have first access to the upcoming Simple Plan tour tickets.
Naturally, it is required that you have a specific handset to use Wireless Box Office, though a relatively simple phone with WAP 2.0 browser and MMS capability will do the work just fine. Once all the requirements are met, simple send “TIX” to 4TIX or 4849 and you’re almost ready to go.
From Rogers (NYSE: RCI)’ mobile portal select “Music & Tones”, then “Wireless Box Office” and find a concert you want to go to. Next comes the payment page and afterwards you got the ticket on your phone. Finally, at the concert entrance show your digital ticket to get “Rogers VIP treatment” to avoid the queues… More information is available from here.
[Via: MobileSyrup]
By Dusan Belic on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 3:30 AM PST
In Announcements, Services
The voice-to-text service Jott keeps improving its service. Making a new entry to the Amazon wish list or Google Calendar by voice is simply not enough for Jott. They went one step further, allowing select BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) smartphone owners to reply to emails using nothing but their voice.
Still in beta, the free Jott application for BlackBerry is available for download from www.jott.com/bb. Once installed, “Reply with Jott” will appear in the full email reply menu. Select the option, speak up your reply and let Jott do its magic. It’s that simple!
Not all BlackBerry models are supported, though. Only users with latest models like Curve, Pearl and 8800 series of devices can use the new feature, but we guess these are the majority of potential Jott users anyway… Here’s the link to the full release for those who prefer the official corporate note.
By Dusan Belic on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 3:18 AM PST
In Announcements, Services, Verizon
Verizon (NYSE: VZ) isn’t kidding when it comes to social networking. Few days ago, they’ve announced their customers will have a quick access to MySpace Mobile and now they are launching social-mapping service Loopt.
Previously, we saw Sprint partnering with Loopt and under these circumstances — when two of the leading mobile operators in the U.S. are adding Loopt to their offerings — the service is getting the real traction it deserves.
From the release:
With Loopt, Verizon Wireless customers can leverage their phones’ location-based services capabilities to share location information, status messages and geo-tagged photos with their community of friends. Loopt users can view where friends in their private network are located via a map displayed on their mobile phones and connect and share their locations with anyone in their address books or AIM buddy lists. Detailed Loopt maps that show Verizon Wireless users where friends are, what they are doing, and how to meet up with them, transform their Verizon Wireless phones into active social tools to connect, share and explore the real world.
Starting from the beginning of April, Verizon customers will be able to get Loopt for $3.99 per month. More than 20 Get It Now phones are supported, including LG Chocolate and MOTORIZR Z6tv. Unlimited data plan is the best way to go, but it’s not required… Full release is available from here.
By Dusan Belic on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 3:04 AM PST
In AT&T, Announcements, Applications
AT&T keeps expanding its music offering. Lately they’ve announced two new music applications – mSpot’s Make-UR-Tones and Remix. The first mentioned app allows customers to customize ringtones from their favorite part of a song (1-30 seconds), right on their handsets. The mSpot Make-UR-Tones is available for a monthly subscription of $6.99 for three ringtones, with additional customized ringtones available for purchase on an a la carte basis for $2.99. The application works on Samsung SYNC, A737, A747 and the Motorola (NYSE: MOT) V3xx and will expand to additional phones in the near future.
On the other hand, Remix gives customers access to their PC-based music collections directly from their phones. The result is more freedom to listen to the songs they want, when they want. Needless to say, unlimited data plan is preferred when using Remix, but also a willingness to pay $9.99 per month. Monthly subscription allows 75 song downloads, and AT&T (NYSE: T) is also preparing a Remix booster pack for $2.99, which provides an additional 10 songs. Remix is compatible with the Samsung SYNC, A737 and the LG SHINE phones.
Also in the news, AT&T said they’ll be bringing Napster Mobile to more phones. The company plans is to expand the mobile music platform by making the service available to more than 12 million customers, beginning this summer.
Finally, in case you want to know more, full release is available from here.
By Dusan Belic on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 2:42 AM PST
In Services
We’ve already covered Obopay in the past. Basically they are providing both business and individual users with an ability to purchase, pay and transfer money through any mobile phone using Obopay’s mobile application, text message, mobile Web, widget or Obopay.com. Now they are expanding to India where mobile phone market is booming like nowhere else.
Together with India’s YES BANK, Obopay is bringing all the joy of mobile money transfer to the country. Using the dedicated mobile app, text message or mobile Web – YES BANK customers can do the basic transactions directly from their handsets wherever on-the-go, as well as withdraw cash received using their YES BANK debit card. Forms for signing up for the service are available at YES BANK branches and ATMs in Mumbai and National Capital Region, and yes we do encourage (almost) everything mobile, Obopay’s service included… Full release is here.
By Dusan Belic on Monday, March 31st, 2008 at 2:29 AM PST
In Announcements, Mobile Web, Verizon
Verizon has recently announced that it is launching mobile web sites for various MTV Network properties on its Mobile Web 2.0 service. Under the agreement, customers are now able to access mobile optimized versions of MTV, VH1, COMEDY CENTRAL, Nickelodeon and CMT websites via their Mobile Web 2.0 enabled handsets. Things like celebrity photos, MTV News, show information, blogs and more are now available at your fingertips, wherever you are.
Naturally, in order to access the new content, you’ll need to have an appropriate plan with Verizon (NYSE: VZ). Unlimited Mobile Web 2.0 usage is included with a $15 monthly V CAST VPak subscription, which also includes access to other V CAST services. Alternatively, Mobile Web 2.0 can be accessed with a Nationwide Plan but that will incur usage charges of $1.99 per megabyte. On average, 50 Mobile Web 2.0 pages equal about 0.6MB, so you can read quite a few pages for two bucks… Full release follows after the jump.
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By Will Park on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 10:50 PM PST
In Apple, Developer, Rumors, iPhone
Full-featured Flash support on the iPhone is just too enticing to ignore. With Steve Jobs’ declaration that the desktop version of Flash was too slow for iPhone use and Flash Lite not up to snuff for “real” Flash viewing, Adobe was getting ready to make their own iPhone SDK-based solution for bringing Flash to the iPhone.
Alas, Adobe renegged on their plans in the face of Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s stringent third-party application guidelines that essentially prevented any third-party application from working in tandem with an iPhone system application like Safari – something that would have to happen if Flash is to become a reality on the iPhone. If Apple would just allow plug-in support on the iPhone, Adobe could make a Safari plug-in that would bring the full-featured Flash experience to the iphone.
So, imagine my surprise when Boy Genius declared that the new iPhone OS 2.0 firmware sports a YouTube plug-in. It isn’t clear if the YouTube plug-in simply leverages the YouTube application already loaded on the iPhone, or if the plug-in is a hint at some sort of Flash support. But, what is exciting is that the plug-in hints at Apple allowing plug-in support on the iPhone – which further hints at the possibility of future Flash support.
We’ll keep holding our breath for Flash…
[Via: BGR]