Cell Phone News

News Archive for March, 2008

RIM’s patent shows touchscreen, slide-out keyboard equipped BlackBerry

By Dusan Belic on Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 4:34 AM PST
In RIM (Research in Motion), Technologies

RIM working on a touchscreen, slide-out keyboard equipped BlackBerry?

The image above illustrates RIM’s idea to use both a large touchscreen and the full slide-out QWERTY keyboard in their future device(s). As you’ve just seen, the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) maker is dreaming of the HTC TyTN like smartphone that would appeal to both multimedia demanding users and the enterprises.

As with all the patents, the bare fact that there is some technology patented means nothing. As a matter of fact, the patent filling we’re discussing today dates back from the mid-2006. On the other hand, we know RIM’s onto something. Introduction of the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone made every single handset maker turn to interface design and rumor’s on the street is that in the not that distant future we’ll see a touchscreen equipped BlackBerry. Addition of the full QWERTY keyboard seems like a next logical step…

See how we slowly getting all the pieces of the puzzle. ;)

[Via: Electronista]

AT&T to launch LG Vu on March 20?

By Dusan Belic on Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 4:12 AM PST
In AT&T, Devices, LG, Mobile TV, Rumors

LG Vu

Earlier in January we’ve heard a rumor AT&T is moving towards launching its mobile TV service. The LG Vu was then mentioned as the first device that will work with the new service. Now we have more information, nothing confirmed, but just enough to give us a hope AT&T (NYSE: T)’s onto something.

According to Engadget’s anonymous tipster, LG Vu is set for a March 18 release into distribution channels with March 20 availability in stores. The bare fact that it’s an anonymous tipster isn’t too convincing, but since we have more clues from our own sources, it’s kinda fair to believe we’ll finally see AT&T bringing out the mobile TV bless to its subscribers. After all, their long-time competitor Verizon (NYSE: VZ) already has the similar offering and it’s about time to see AT&T jumping in as well. We’ll watch this space closely and keep you folks well informed…

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

NTT DoCoMo brings the gold LG Shine with 1-Seg support to Japan

By Dusan Belic on Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 3:40 AM PST
In Devices, DoCoMo, LG

gold LG Shine

Regular LG Shine is just not good enough for Japan. How about the gold one? NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM)’s hoping that the more luxurious version of the LG’s bestselling phone will be a hit among Japanese consumers. The Chocolate was a success, so why wouldn’t the other device from LG’s Black series?

Anyway, the Japanese LG Shine is pretty much the same as the version for the rest of the world (HSDPA, 2 megapixel camera, microSD slot), except that it also comes with 1-Seg mobile TV receiver so that the local youth can entertain themselves while travelling in their super-fast trains.

[Via: uberphones]

BlackBerry still dominant among business users

By Dusan Belic on Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 2:49 AM PST
In RIM (Research in Motion), Research

ChangeWaveAs part of a February 11-15 corporate IT pending survey (in the U.S.?), ChangeWave asked respondents involved with IT spending decisions in their organizations who the manufacturer was of the smartphones their company currently provides.

Guess which company won? Yap, it’s the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) maker Research In Motion, which was favored by nearly three-in-four respondents (73%). Palm (NSDQ: PALM) took the second place with 18% of respondents citing the Treo maker as the smartphone manufacturer of choice.

Read the full article »

Handy Blacklist 3.0 protects you against unwanted phone calls; Stalkers, telemarketers cry

By Dusan Belic on Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 2:42 AM PST
In Announcements, Applications, Symbian

Handy Blacklist 3.0Epocware just announced yet another useful piece of software as part of their Handy series of applications. The so called Handy Blacklist 3.0 protects Symbian S60 3rd edition mobile phone users privacy by blocking unsolicited callers, saving time on unnecessary responses and offering peace of mind.

The easy-to-use application allows you to add numbers to black list either permanently or for a set period of time. Or you could turn things upside down and just add certain numbers into a white list and reject all other phone calls. The unwanted calls will be recorded and available to view in the application’s call log. In addition, you can chose a “reject action” to return a prewritten text message back to the caller…

Interested to make telemarketers and stalkers cry? Handy Blacklist 3.0 will be available from the first week of March for 24,95 EUR via download from Epocware’s website.

Kaspersky Mobile Security 7.0 for Windows Mobile, Symbian S60 released

By Dusan Belic on Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 2:37 AM PST
In Applications, Security, Symbian, Windows Mobile

Recently Kaspersky Lab released a new product for the “integrated protection of smartphones running Symbian and Windows Mobile.”

Kaspersky Mobile SecurityAll the usual things are there, including protecting against network attacks, malware and SMS spam. In addition, in case user loses its smartphone, Kaspersky Mobile Security 7.0 allows him/her to completely lock the device or remotely delete the data on it. Moreover, if a smartphone is stolen, the SIM-Watch function prevents the thief from accessing data on the phone without the original SIM card; as soon as the original SIM card is replaced, a message notifies its owner of the new telephone number…

All in all, mobile security companies keep bundling additional functionality of top of the standard features like fighting against malware and spam.

On the other hand, I urge Symbian S60 device owners just to carefully read everything before complying. That should do the trick just as well… Full release follows after the jump.

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