I’m not sure whether to call an end of the mobile coupon services, but when Google (NSDQ: GOOG) enters your market, you know there’s a reason to worry. On that note, the search giant is bringing coupons to the mobile local search, just in time for the holiday season.

So, if a business adds a mobile coupon to its Google Local Business Center listing, you’ll be able to access it from your mobile phone. When you search for local stuff and land on some “Place Page,” you’ll see any coupon or discount that might be available at that place. Then, when you’re in the store, simply show it (right from the phone – no need for printing) to redeem the offer. It’s that easy and unfortunately a U.S. thing only at the moment, though I’m sure that will change during 2010…

[Via: Google Mobile Blog]

Onebox — a service that brings voice, fax, email and conference calling together into a suite of communications services — is mobilizing its offering with dedicated apps for the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) and iPhone platforms. These applications are designed to extend the functionality of Onebox’s web-based interface for mobile users, adding “Message Center” access, voicemail search/display/playback, voice-to-text transcription display, and Click-to-Call via SpeedDial list or phone-based contact lists.

However, only BlackBerry app is available at the moment, but the iPhone app will be released in the near future (till the end of the year).

In addition to mobile apps, OneBox also announced new optional features (Call Record and Web Conferencing) and a new 5,000 minute/20-extension phone service plan which costs $99.99/month. Moreover, existing $79.99/month and $49.99/month plans have been restructured and now include 3,000 and 2,000 minutes, respectively.

Motorola (NYSE: MOT) is acquiring iDEN business from RadioFrame Networks, which is known as a provider of lower cost, power efficient iDEN technology. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but we do know RadioFrame Networks’ stuff will be integrated into Motorola’s Home & Networks Mobility business.

According to the official press release, RadioFrame’s iDEN products will “further enhance Motorola’s portfolio for multi-channel base stations optimized to support non-contiguous spectrum allocations in the special mobile radio (SMR) business that are especially common outside North America.”

Moreover, Motorola says that with this acquisition, it can further enhance its push-to-talk technology roadmap plans for “strengthened operational capability, end-user functionality and cost-effective expansion.”

I’m not sure I agree with Moto’s strategy to invest in iDEN technology with LTE rollouts already being planned around the world. Any thoughts?

And the latest GPS device maker to release its own iPhone app is Magellan. They’ve announced Magellan RoadMate turn-by-turn navigation application, alongside a “new innovative vehicle mounting cradle for the iPhone and iPod touch devices” that will be available later in December.

RoadMate app features include preloaded maps (U.S. and Canada), text-to-speech, tons of POIs, 3D landmarks, big on-screen keyboard with QuickSpell, highway lane assistance, pedestrian mode, find your car feature, and so on. In addition, you can control your music without leaving the app, and also access your iPhone’s Contacts for destination picks. Navteq provided the maps.

As for the mentioned car kit (it’s called Premium Car Kit), it’s designed to keep your iPhone/iPod Touch well mounted, while also providing some extra juice to your beloved device. Furthermore, it adds a GPS receiver for improved navigation accuracy, along with an amplified speaker for louder directions and enhanced phone call clarity.

The Magellan RoadMate app is available for an introductory price of $79.99, whereas the car kit will cost $129.99, once released.

GSMA and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have announced the Green Power for Mobile (GPM) project, targeting operators in developing markets which may operate in some areas in the off-grid environment. So far, these operators relied on diesel aggregators for powering their cellular stations in remote areas that don’t have access to the power grid. In that sense, GSMA and IFC propose development and utilizing of clean energy resources and technologies, which would provide power to those stations.

The GSMA aims its efforts at 118,000 off-grid renewable energy base stations that will be installed by 2012. Under this program, not only CO2 emissions will be reduced, but the manufacturing capacity of renewable energy industry will also be increased.

However, according to ABI Research, there is more opportunity in the on-grid cellular station market, which could get energy from wind or solar technologies. More than 200,000 of these stations is expected to be installed by 2013. This is not to say there’s no business in the off-grid market — quite the contrary, carriers could cut their costs by replacing diesel aggregators with renewable energy technologies.

Hopefully, GSMA’s and IFC’s idea will spread around the globe and soon enough we’ll have more leaner and cleaner mobile operators offering their services even in remotest parts of the planet.

[Via: renewbl]

The PeopleFinders Network unveiled two iPhone apps – “Stud Or Dud” and “Are They Really Single,” along with accompanying websites. Both apps are touted to provide singles with easy-to-view reports that can help them make important decisions about potential love interests. These reports are based on background information including age, marriage and divorce records, criminal history, business ownership, property ownership, evictions and more.

To conduct a search with “Stud Or Dud,” users simply enter a name, age, date of birth, phone number, email address, city or state. The application then performs an extensive search through PeopleFinders’ database of public records and publicly available information, and formulates a comprehensive profile on the person of interest. Based on a number of criteria, it helps users determine whether the person might be a “stud” or “dud.”

As for the “Are They Really Single,” it helps users confirm that a potential love interest is, in fact, single. Again, you should enter a name, age, date of birth, city or state. The service then searches through information pertaining to marriage, divorce, spousal and other domestic relationships, and creates a list of people who have or had long-term relationships with the person.

Each app costs a buck, which is not much considering the usefulness of information generated. Plus “Are They Really Single” is also available in free, lite version, though I’m not sure about the differences…

Zain has expanded its international roaming service, which is known as “One Network,” to include Egypt after signing a partnership with Mobinil. The mentioned service offers roaming across the Zain network (and its partners) with call costs and services charged at the same rate as the home network. Best of all, Zain customers travelling to other countries can recharge their pre-paid accounts with locally purchased top up cards.

Commenting on the service expansion, Zain Group’s Dr Saad Al Barrak said: “‘One Network’ is unstoppable! We have reached an enormous milestone by reaching Egypt, a country that embraces both the Middle East and Africa. In every new country in which we plant the “One Network’ flag, we are redefining the concept of mobile coverage and roaming by delivering on our brand promise of ‘A wonderful world’”.

Finally in case you’re wondering, “One Network” was introduced back in September 2006, and ever since has attained many awards, most recently it was named “Telecommunication Innovation of the Year.”

[Via: CellularNews]

HTC has released an updated version of its HTC Sync software, which allows the Android-powered smartphones to connect with Outlook data (to put it simply). Version 2.0.8 is a minor update, packing only few things such as:

• Media enhancements – allows syncing of contacts pictures along with contact information.
• The process now also syncs HTC phone’s time with PC’s time and vice versa.

And that’s it. As far as I see, if you’re satisfied with the current version of the HTC Sync, there’s no need to rush, except if you really want to sync those photos and are really that time sensitive.

Check out the details at HTC Support pages.

[Via: the::unwired]

File this under “we hope so,” as it’s clear that the version of Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE)’s first Android smartphone that can sing along AT&T (NYSE: T)’s 3G bands will be available. The official X10 page has been updated to reflect that, clearly showing a U.S. centric model that works on UMTS HSPA 800/850/1900 MHz frequencies. Yap, those are the ones that work on AT&T (and Canada’s Rogers (NYSE: RCI) Wireless for that matter). Here’s what it says:

UMTS HSPA 800/850/1900 only available for phones sold in Americas (except Brazil) and Australia. UMTS HSPA 900/1700 not available for phones sold in Americas. UMTS HSPA 1900/2100 available worldwide.

Nothing is confirmed at this stage, but it’s not like AT&T doesn’t offer any Sony Ericsson’s phones, already — i.e. the channel is somewhat open. And getting such a high-end device in the U.S. market is also of interest to the now struggling Swedish-Japanese handset maker. The only problem I see is how this reflects on the exclusivity of the AT&T-Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) releations. AT&T certainly can’t afford to miss the Android bandwagon, but Apple has the negotiating power more than any other company at the moment. We’ll certainly watch this carefully and let you know as soon as we hear something new. Stay tuned…

[Via: phandroid]

The Chinese mobile market is ever interesting. Now that all carriers have rolled out 3G, it’s time to build a differentiating portfolios. China Unicom is known to carry the iPhone, China Mobile (NYSE: CHL) is betting big on their flavor of Android – OPhone, and China Telecom… well, they seem to work to get some Palm (NSDQ: PALM) and BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) devices ’till the end of this year or early 2010, according to a Reuters source.

RIM already sells some of its devices in the world’s fastest growing economy, whereas Palm is a virgin when it comes to China. For them [Palm], unveiling the Pre and Pixi would certainly be beneficial and would help the once proud Treo maker get some decent numbers its shareholders desperately want. Moreover, if Palm does get in, it should establish a developer portal to spur webOS app development. There’s a plan!

[Via: Engadget]