News

AOL Offers Syncing Tool for Windows Mobile

Today, 11:50 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

AOL has made new software available for Windows Mobile devices that will sync AOL contacts, task and calendar information with the phone wirelessly. The over-the-air syncing does not include AOL email, however. The software can be set up to sync automatically so that contacts and calendar appointments are always up to date.

Apple Adds More Features to the iPhone

Today, 8:40 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

Today Apple released firmware version 2.2 for the iPhone. The updated software brings several new features to Google Maps, including Street Views; Public Transit and walking directions; the ability to see the address of dropped pins; and the ability to share user location information via email. It brings some updates to the email application, including fixes to mail retrieval and better formatting for HTML emails. The update also stabilizes Safari, decreases call failures, improves the voice quality of visual voicemail messages and makes podcasts available for download from within the iTunes application. The update is free.

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Clearwire Shareholders Approve Sprint Merger

Yesterday, 2:38 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

The shareholders of Clearwire have approved the merger of its WiMax business with Sprint's Xohm Wimax business. The merger has already been approved by the FCC. Sprint and Clearwire expect to close the deal by year's end.

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HTC TouchPRO For Sale at Alltel

Yesterday, 12:15 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

Alltel's online store has begun selling the HTC TouchPRO for $280 with contract after discounts.

Alltel Adds Mobile Coupon Service

Yesterday, 11:05 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

Alltel is introducing a new service called Alltel Perks. Perks acts like a widget and delivers content, advertisements, coupons and other offers directly to a user's home screen. For example, a user might receive a coupon for $2 off a sandwich at a local restaurant, or 10% off a purchase at a local retail shop. Users would just show the offer on their handset to the retailer to receive the discount or use the click-to-call capability to contact the vendor directly. Alltel Perks is a free download from the Alltel Shop.

Nokia Adds Lotus Notes Support to S60 Phones

Yesterday, 9:57 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

Today Nokia and IBM announced that the S60 platform will now support IBM's Lotus Notes email program. This means that S60 3rd Edition phones can connect to corporate email accounts via Lotus Domino Server software, called Lotus Notes Traveler. Traveler enables real-time syncing with email, calendar, address book, journal and to-do list data. The new software will be available in December.

Google Adds Contacts Sync to BlackBerries

Yesterday, 9:30 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

Google has recently added some features to its Google Sync for BlackBerry product. One new feature is the ability for BlackBerry users to automatically sync their Google contacts over-the-air with their BlackBerry. It offers two-way synchronization between your BlackBerry's built-in address book and your Google Apps/Gmail contacts automatically. In order to enable this feature, users will need to download the most recent version of Google Sync. The software is free.

T-Mobile Launches Web2Go, Overhauls Data Plans

Yesterday, 8:05 AM   by Eric M. Zeman   updated Yesterday, 8:17 AM

T-Mobile is re-launching its T-Zones Web portal as web2go. The new portal is completely redesigned and meant to provide a better mobile Web experience to feature phones. Web2go will let users create their own customized home page with links to the sites they visit most. The revised portal also offers T-Mobile customers access to the web2go marketplace, where they can download ringtones, wallpapers and other content. Web2go also has a dedicated section for downloads, so users can more easily manage their content. T-Mobile is integrating Yahoo's oneSearch into web2go to power search. The new portal is available on most T-Mobile phones starting today. Lastly, T-Mobile is now offering several new data packages to simplify customer billing. The bundles include options for Web, e-mail and messaging across all compatible phones and devices. Plan details can be viewed on the T-Mobile Web site.

Top 5 Cell Phone Makers Launch Green Charger Initiative

Wednesday, 8:18 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

The world's top five handset manufacturers have launched a new campaign meant to reduce the amount of electricity consumed and wasted by mobile phones. The companies involved include Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and LG Electronics. The companies have implemented a rating system for cell phone chargers -- from zero to five stars -- that gives consumers a better idea of how efficient their chargers are. This will help them easily choose a more efficient charger. Cell phone chargers continue to draw electricity when left plugged in, even if the phone is not connected. Up to two-thirds of all the electricity consumed by cell phones is wasted by chargers that remain plugged into the wall.

Qualcomm Licenses Wi-Fi Location Technology

Tuesday, 8:06 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

Qualcomm has licensed Skyhook Wireless's Wi-Fi Positioning System. WPS uses Wi-Fi information, in addition to cellular and GPS data, to better locate mobile devices. By licensing the technology, Qualcomm will be able to include it in future handsets. Currently, stand-alone GPS and assisted GPS are built into many handsets, including those with Qualcomm's own gpsOne technology. Neither performs exceptionally well indoors or in city environments. Being able to use Wi-Fi to help determine location will improve accuracy in areas where GPS and aGPS can't.

GSMA Backs NFC and ENUM Technology

Tuesday, 3:05 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

The GSM Association has recommended that most mainstream handsets incorporate near-field communications (NFC) capabilities by the middle of 2009. NFC technology is used for things such as completing retail transactions by paying with a mobile phone. The GSMA is also championing ENUM technology. ENUM translates a phone number into an IP-based address, making it simple and transparent for users to initiate a wide range of IP-based communications via their existing phone numbers and handset address books. The Carrier ENUM service is being branded as PathFinder, and will serve as a means for making the telephone number a universal way to enable IP-based applications on handsets.

Quickie:
Microsoft to Offer Internet Explorer 6 in China First

Tuesday, 10:32 AM   by Eric M. Zeman

Microsoft has said that China Mobile will be the first network operator in the world to offer its new Internet Explorer 6 mobile browser on Windows Mobile devices. Microsoft did not say when the browser will be available in other markets.

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