About Dusan Belic
Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do.
In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application.
Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.
By Dusan Belic on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 1:49 AM PST
In Android, Devices
The company we’ve never heard of before, Vobis Computer, is about to launch its first Android handset in Russia. It’s called HighScreen PP5420 and what makes it interesting is the secondary OLED display/navpad that reminds us on the Samsung Soul.
Here’s the recap of the specs:
- Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM) MSM7201ATM CPU running at 528MHz
- Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) along with dual-band HSPA (900/2100 MHz)
- 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen
- 3 megapixel camera with auto-focus
- 256MB ROM / 128MB RAM
- WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, FM Radio, accelerometer, TV Out
- microSD memory card slot
- Dimensions: 114×53.5×13 mm
- Weight: 120 grams with battery
As for the pricing, we’re hearing the PP5420 will cost about 360 EUR, which is not that much considering the specs…
[Via: Unwired View]
By Dusan Belic on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 1:47 AM PST
In Devices
Cellular South has recently issued two netbook-related press releases.
First they announced they’ll start offering the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook. No exact release date was given — all we got is “soon.” Those not familiar should know that the Mini 10 comes with 10.1-inch screen (16:9 aspect ratio), GPS receiver, WiFi connectivity support, embedded 3G modem (at least in the version Cellular South will sell), 160GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM, Windows XP Home edition, and an Intel Atom Z520 processor. The carrier will offer it for $199 on a two-year mobile broadband plan, which starts at $39.99 a month.
The second release talks about Cellular South’s “Netbook Design Challenge” contest, which runs through July 19, 2009. The idea here is to get some free PR by calling the carrier’s customers to design a wallpaper for the new netbook that incorporates the company’s corporate logo and colors in several different categories — including abstract art, sports, outdoors, old school and the future. Entries, which are limited to one per person per day, will be judged based on originality and creativity. Three weekly cash prizes of $250 will be awarded to contestants, and there’s also a $1,500 grand prize, along with a free netbook and one year’s worth of high-speed mobile broadband data service…
By Dusan Belic on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 1:45 AM PST
In Applications, China Mobile, Content
China Mobile’s app store looks almost live now. Although they said the official opening of the store is set for September of this year, a dedicated site is/was accessible for few days now. From there, we could see the main categories include games, themes, software, music, reading (ebooks?) and videos. The site looks nicely designed and I guess it’s now in the fine-tuning and mobile content submission phase. We’ve heard the world’s largest mobile operator in terms of number of subscribers will ask for 50% cut of all sales, but I doubt that will stop content developers in submitting their apps. The potential is too huge to be missed…
[Via: Engadget Mobile]
By Dusan Belic on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 1:15 AM PST
In Devices, Sony Ericsson
Again and again we see the Swedish-Japanese handset maker unveiling new color options to its existing models. Latest in the queue is their low-end W395 Walkman, which was announced in February alongside C903 and that car speakerphone. The device is now available in two additional colors - Fiesta Black and Happy Pink. Specs remain unchanged, and the newly colored W395 can be obtained in select markets, only. We don’t have the list of those markets, so you’ll have to check your country’s Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE)’s website for availability check. Good luck! 
[Via: SEMC blog]
By Dusan Belic on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 1:13 AM PST
In Nokia, Research, Services
Nokia (NYSE: NOK) has issued a press release praising itself as the number one choice for mobile navigation over other leading handset manufacturers. Frost & Sullivan conducted the study amongst European and Russian consumers.
The idea was:
The key objectives of the study were to analyse consumers’ awareness of, and level of satisfaction with different types of navigation systems (e.g. PND, mobile phones), the different features available (e.g. navigation, 3D imagery, voice guidance, touch screen), location-based services (e.g. car and pedestrian navigation, traffic information, social networking) and other telematics features. The study also aimed at evaluating consumers’ perceptions and willingness to pay for different types of navigation systems, their features and location-based services as well as determining consumers’ brand awareness and perception.
And the results are:
Altogether 3 119 interviews were conducted for this survey in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and Benelux, in addition to 600 interviews conducted in Russia. According to the study, 62% of the non-owners of a navigation system in Europe and 77% in Russia consider Nokia as the leading brand for delivering mobile navigation. Additionally, over 72% of the current users of a navigation system in Europe and 81% in Russia vote Nokia as the best brand for delivering mobile navigation.
My two cents - is there any other handset maker directly (i.e. not licensing software from other companies) involved in mobile navigation? Not that I’m aware of, and in that sense these results shouldn’t surprise anyone…
By Dusan Belic on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 1:11 AM PST
In Devices, Pantech
Pantech has unveiled a new device which you probably won’t see anywhere on the streets of the Western hemisphere except maybe in the hands of few Korean tourists. It’s yet another Pantech’s Korea-only model marked IM-U460K, also known as the Pantech Love Actually.
The all-touchscreen phone is offered through KTF and comes with 3-inch WQVGA display, HSDPA connectivity, mobile TV receiver (T-DMB), media player, 3 megapixel camera along with front-facing camera, changeable back plates, and of course a microSD memory card slot. Size wise, the Love Actually measures 104.9×54.6×12 mm…
Finally if you care to see some video, a short demo of Love Actually follows after the jump. Enjoy!
Read the full article »
By Dusan Belic on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 12:29 AM PST
In General
This is yet another example how mobile technology is helping improve people’s lives. FrontlineSMS:Medic aims to improve health care in poor, rural villages in the developing world.
First the problem. There is a global shortage of some 4.4 million healthcare professionals, as estimated by the World Health Organization, and many rural health centers in poor regions depend largely on community health workers who travel among clinics and villages. And because these health workers can’t cover all the people who need their attention, some patients remain untreated for far too long.
Enter FrontlineSMS:Medic. Powered by free, open-source software FrontlineSMS, the initiative places a laptop running FrontlineSMS in a central clinic and then distributes cell phones to community health workers. Workers are trained in sending SMS to hospital staff to request treatment instructions, which they receive back as a text message. At the same time, modified camera phones are used to analyze blood and sputum samples and perform critical diagnostics for conditions including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Recently, a 6-month pilot test ended at a hospital in Malawi, and 150 patients received emergency care. Meanwhile, it has been calculated that community health workers saved 1,000 hours of travel time, allowing them to visit more patients and save some cash on fuel costs.
Finally, on the heels of the success of the Malawi pilot, FrontlineSMS:Medic launched numerous other projects throughout Africa and beyond through partnerships with global health organizations. Impressive, don’t you think?
[Via: springwise]
By Dusan Belic on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 12:27 AM PST
In Gaming, iPhone
Popular iPhone/iPod Touch game, Flight Control, has been recently updated with the support for multiplayer gaming. As a result, two users can now play together in the virtual air control tower, making sure every plane lands safely.
This is done through peer-to-peer connectivity, and Firemint (developer of the game) hopes that the new functionality — which BTW is comes with a free update available to existing users — will help further drive the sales forward.
Speaking of Flight Control sales, Firemint has recently reported 1 million sales of the game, which is quite impressive number…
[Via: PocketGamer.co.uk]
By Dusan Belic on Sunday, July 5th, 2009 at 4:17 AM PST
In Devices, Samsung, T-Mobile
T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) has introduced a new entry-level phone in the Netherlands. It’s the Samsung S3030 Eco, the green version of its phone for kids - S3030 Tobi.
The “Eco” part comes from the fact that the device is completely made out of bio-plastic and is free of BFR (brominated flame retardants) and PVC. Moreover, the S3030 Eco’s charger is an eco-friendly one, and its packaging is made from 100% recyclable materials.
Specs wise, the phone comes with a low-end camera (probably 1.3 megapixel), FM radio, music player, Bluetooth, and a microSD memory card slot. T-Mobile is asking 89.95 EUR for it, and that’s the price for pre-paid accounts, sans any strings attached.
[Via: Unwired View]
By Dusan Belic on Sunday, July 5th, 2009 at 4:15 AM PST
In Devices, Rumors, Samsung, Verizon
Verizon (NYSE: VZ) will introduce an updated version of the Samsung Glyde phone at some point in the future. The “caught in the wild” photos bellow prove the point. We don’t have much details at the moment, but we can see the full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a touchscreen and Samsung’s sexy lookin’ TouchWiz user interface. From what we can tell, this baby sounds like a winner for folks that consider themselves avid texters and/or heavy mobile Internet users. Moreover, once you get used to TouchWiz’s “way of doing things,” you end up falling in love to the interface.
[Via: PhoneArena]
