Accuris Networks are re-announcing the launch of their FMC (Fixed-Mobile Convergence) solution between GSM and WiFi, called AccuROAM.

The solution is apparently based on proven roaming principles, preserving the user cellular experience including voice, data, SMS and all supplementary services while using a WiFi hotspot when roaming. This apparently differentiates the Accuris Networks solution from other WiFi Hotspot roaming solutions available today

According to Aidan Dillon, CEO at Accuris Networks “Roaming revenue contributes significantly to a mobile operators bottom line however with competitive offers from VoIP providers, mobile operators roaming revenue is seriously threatened.  At Accuris Networks our aim is to assist mobile operators in maintaining their position in the roaming value chain while at the same time increasing the level of profitability generated from roaming traffic.”

Dillon went on to say “What makes AccuROAM different from other mobile VoIP products available on the market today is: It’s a mobile phone based solution so subscribers use the same phone number and have the same customer experience while connected to either GSM or WiFi.   Subscribers use their mobile phone to make mobile VoIP calls and not their PC. AccuROAM supports both incoming and outgoing calls to WiFi connected phones, unlike some VoIP solutions that require the subscriber to rely on incoming calls to be handled by GSM and only support outgoing VoIP calls.”

The benefit to the subscriber is cheaper roaming calls. While the benefit to the home operator is greater profit margin on the roaming call as there is no revenue being leaked to a foreign GSM network, which normally receives largest proportion of roaming revenue.  The end result is that Net Profit on roaming revenue can apparently be increased by 30%.

Well, we all like cheaper calls, don’t we – and certainly if they are international ones! Please order me up one portion of seamless roaming WiFi for the next time I am travelling …. !

What is it with UGC-TV? You mention one company, and suddenly a whole load come along!

Ammeon is announcing what is apparently the “birth of a unique new communication medium”, called Social Mobile Broadcasting. Ammeon’s Commune platform basically combines interactive mobile TV with communities and social networking, to delivering an e2e solution designed to complement unicast, broadcast and multicast mobile technologies.

Commune delivers TV content organized in themed communities. While subscribers watch scheduled content, they can chat with other community members and interact with competitions and polls. Subscribers can “virally” invite their friends to join the community and can even upload their own video contributions direct from their phone!

Ammeon believe that creating digital multimedia content on the handset is now simple, and should be complemented by a system to allow them to both distribute that content via their own “TV stations”, which have a community of users attached to them. Ammeon believes that “… This represents a true convergence of broadcast and mobile, not just at a technology level, but at a social level”

Comment: It’s certainly going to be interesting, as more and more of these platforms are deployed, to watch the landgrab that is occurring. No doubt social networks are going to be one of the next big things in Mobile (maybe on just hype alone), the only question that remains is how big…?

Eagle-eyed Engadget folks spotted the OZ2 hitting the FCC for the approval process. If you remember, prior to releasing it as the Helio Ocean, the Pantech-made dual-slider was known simply as OZ. Naturally, we think the OZ2 stands for Ocean 2 and hopefully, soon enough, we’ll see our assumptions confirmed, or not. CTIA is ahead of us and we’ll be looking for both Pantech and Helio for some answers. In the meantime, Helio users could keep their fingers crossed, it can’t hurt for sure.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

An Esato forum member got Nokia (NYSE: NOK) representative to tell him a little secret – Nokia N96 will get a Xenon flash. Here’s his/her full post:

Ok, this isn’t official news, but it’s as official as I can get

Our Nokia rep, who thinks we’re great told me something intriguing today.

He’s said the N96 hasn’t been given the complete green light yet (I’m guessing Nokia wanted to get something that resembles the real thing out in time for MWC).

And the delays are due to them adding (at the last minute) a Xenon flash, ala N82! Finally, an all in one phone with almost nothing (bar BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM)) missing!

From what I can tell of the marketing stuff he left for the N82, Xenon flashes seem to be Nokia’s next big push from now on, which is fine by me.

When you think about it, it makes sense that Nokia wants to make the N96 the real flagship all-in-one device. Why would the N82 make better photos than the company’s flagship device? Market segmentation? Ok, that makes sense, but still if we can’t get a better battery, put a Xenon flash inside Nokia. Will “please” help?

UPDATE: It seems we have a first shot of the N96 with Xenon flash. Check it out after the break.

Read the full article »

Nothing official here folks, but there are strong signs pointing out the Finish giant will announce the new addition to its Internet tablet family of devices, N810 with WiMAX, at the upcoming CTIA Wireless 2008 in Las Vegas. We did expected this to come, and at some point we event thought the WiMAX-enabled tablet will be called “N830.”

Aside from the WiMAX radio, we’ve no information that the device will have any different specs. More RAM and a better/faster CPU are certainly welcome, but I doubt we’ll see that happening. Instead, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) just decided to use a new color for the WiMAX tablet. And the color it is — what seems like black brushed aluminum adds an extra touch to the device, making it look more serious and I guess, more enterprise friendly. We’ll keep our eyes wide open and get back to you as soon as we get any new info, k?

[Via: InternetTabletTalk]

Guess we expected this. I don’t quite understand why it takes so much time for Palm (NSDQ: PALM) to release the device with specs that match many of the HTC models.

Anyway, the Palm Treo 800w is spotted in the leaked Sprint (NYSE: S) Roadmap and it should hit the CDMA/WiMAX carrier in July. The new device will replace the 700w model and will be the single most powerful Treo released to date — the addition of autonomous GPS is certainly new for Palm devices. There’s also EV-DO Rev A support, WiFi, Windows Mobile 6 and a camera, though there will also be a camera-less version of the phone available. We’re not sure whether the image on the right is real, but something tells us even if it changes, it won’t change much. Stay tuned…

[Via: PhoneArena]

Those that are looking to enter the “wonderful world of Bluetooth technology,” here’s your chance. Buy.com is offering the Soyo FreeStyler 500 Bluetooth Headset in black for $10.99. Add Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Checkout discount — if your using Google’s payment service for the first time — and voila, Soyo’s little accessory could be yours for $0.99!

As for the specs, this isn’t the high-end headset, but it should do the work just fine. The 13 grams heavy device is Bluetooth 1.2 compliant, has dimensions of 58.70×21.55×15.18 mm, and its battery should provide you with 200 hours of standby and between 4 and 6 hours of talk time. Here’s the link, without further ado.

[Via: Gizmodo]

Pardon my ignorance, but I thought the “Obsidian Black” version of the Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Centro is already available in AT&T (NYSE: T) stores. After all, it was announced alongside the funkier “Glacier White” Centro.

Anyway, in case you waited for the more-serious-looking Centro and you’re already on AT&T (or at least considering switching), now’s your chance. It’s probably the safer color, especially for the business folks among us. Not that the specs are any changed, though… Look for the black Centro in you local AT&T store, they should have it buy now.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

You might remember I mentioned a short while back, that I was going to be writing a post on SpinVox – now, this isn’t the first post IntoMobile has dedicated to them (see here and here for example), but, it is the first usage review from a UK perspective!

I signed up for the service about 2 weeks ago now, and since then have been watching with glee as my voicemails turn up as texts. Oddly, for the first few days I didn’t get a single voicemail (very unusual for me), so I thought the service was broken, but sure enough it was working, and on day 4, in came the first texts!

There are a lot of good things about the service, and a couple of things that are not quite so great – first the good:

• I love not having to dial up my voicemail – yes it’s useful to get messages when you miss calls, no it’s not useful to have to waste time getting them played back to youThe speech-to-text system works pretty well – not perfect, but pretty darn good!
• Your voicemails are still stored as traditional messages to be accessed by a call, so if you want to dial up too, you can
• The service cost is quite reasonable
• It’s genuinely useful – you wonder why this isn’t a standard feature offered by all operators

So there are a couple of less great points, and in fairness I feel I should list them:

• Sometimes there can be a bit of delay getting your converted message – when I just missed grabbing my handset in time for a call, I was expecting the converted text shortly afterwards – but occasionally more than a few minutes elapsed before I got the message
• The initial setup is a bit fiddly – that’s not a criticism of SpinVox per se (since part of it is changing your voicemail quick dial key, typically the “1″ key, to a new number), but still I would suggest it’s more manual than say getting new WAP/MMS settings sent to your phone

Overall though, I’m happy, impressed, and liking the service – and heartily recommend to UK readers, and those other readers who have a supported country – speaking of which, you can check that out here.

Ben

Jump Games recently announced an exclusive global deal to design, develop and distribute mobile games with arguably the most popular football club in the world, Manchester United Football Club, as well as the announcement of six Manchester United mobile games to be developed during 2008.
The first of the six Manchester United mobile games, called MANCHESTER UNITED Word It! will apparently be available on all top operators globally, priced between three and five Euros (around three squid in English money….

Jump have also acquired the content rights for Fido Dido (the wavy animated chap who is synonymous with 7UP), and released a game based on his adventures (screens below):

You can check out more at Jump Games’ website here.