Nokia N96 to hit the UK in October

Nokia has announced that the N96 will launch in the UK on the 1st October. The phone will be sold via mobile operators 3, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

Notably, o2 are missing from the list of operators who be offering the N96 , probably because of the agreement o2 has to sell the apple iPhone.

The Nokia N96 is the "replacement" for Nokia flagship phone, the N95.

The Nokia N96 is a multimedia computer truly optimized for video and TV. With a large 2.8" screen, 16 gigabytes of internal memory and support for high-quality videos in a wide range of formats, the dual-slide Nokia N96 represents an exciting new chapter in mobile media.

The Nokia N96 supports common video formats including MPEG-4, Windows Media Video and Flash Video, making favorite videos easy to view. Transferring and accessing videos is even faster with the high-speed USB 2.0 connection and WLAN and HSDPA support.
In select markets, the integrated DVB-H receiver offers live broadcast TV with an automatically updating program guide. The massive memory can store up to 40 hours of video content.

The storage capacity of the Nokia N96 can even be further expanded with an optional microSD card, such as the new Nokia 8GB microSDHC Card MU-43 which increases the available memory of the Nokia N96 to a total of 24 GB. For added convenience, the Nokia N96 features a 'kickstand' on the back cover that allows for hands-free viewing.


O2 Launches Complete Broadband Experience with Joint Mobile and Home Broadband Offer

O2 has become the first established broadband player to offer customers high speed internet access inside the home and on the move with a combined home and mobile broadband package. Whether customers are looking for convenient web access on the move or a high quality experience in the home, the combination of O2’s home and mobile broadband offerings creates a complementary service which will provide high quality, fast, convenient and value-for-money internet access regardless of location.


Customers that purchase O2 Mobile Broadband for £20 per month (which includes 3GB of data and unlimited Wi-Fi) will receive O2’s high quality Home Broadband standard package service for free for a year, benefiting from fast speeds, no download limits, free wireless router and free 24x7 UK-based customer service.

The joint offer is available for customers signing up to O2 Mobile Broadband between 1 August and 31 October 2008 who live within the O2 Home Broadband network – approximately 60% of the UK population. Customers wanting to upgrade to a higher speed package or not covered by O2’s broadband network will receive a £7.50 per month discount on their chosen plan for 12 months.

Both existing O2 Mobile and Home Broadband customers can also take advantage of this offer.

LG Collaborates with Dolby to Enhance the Entertainment Experience on Multimedia Phones


LG Electronics and Dolby Laboratories, announced that LG would be the first handset maker to incorporate Dolby® Mobile into handsets bound for the global market.

The companies signed an agreement that grants LG a license to embed Dolby Mobile technology into its handsets. Dolby Mobile is an audio processing technology platform designed to deliver rich, vibrant audio and dramatically improve listening enjoyment. Built on Dolby's extensive portfolio of technologies, Dolby Mobile has been optimized for mobile applications.

Dolby Mobile is designed to allow customers to optimize and tailor audio for an enhanced entertainment experience. LG plans to apply Dolby Mobile technology to a wide range of multimedia features on its phones.

Some of the Dolby Mobile features that LG plans to incorporate into its phones include:
  • Mobile Surround, which delivers a realistic surround sound experience using headphones
    Sound Space Expander, which creates a wide, rich, and spacious soundstage experience especially suited to music playback

  • Natural Bass, which adds powerful boost and bass extension

  • High-Frequency Enhancer, which enhances music and other content by restoring high frequency effects

  • Graphic EQ, which helps tune the audio experience for different content types
    Sound Level Control, which helps level out audio for a more consistent playback volume

  • Mono-to-Stereo Converter, which improves the playback experience of user-generated content

LG plans to begin launching high-end multimedia phones that incorporate Dolby Mobile technology from the fourth quarter of this calendar year.

LG KP265 Launched in Russia

The company LG Electronics announced the beginning of sales in Russia a new model of mobile phone KP265, optimized for listening to music. This model made in a form-factor "slider", has the original design, combining several colors colour Packaging: black and red with silver fittings, which stereo dynamics are at the bottom of the hull that allows for loud and high-quality sound.

To listen to MP3 and stereo FM radio can be used as a classic wired headset or a wireless stereo headset Bluetooth. To store the music has a slot for memory cards MicroSD, ibid photos can be stored and made 1.3 MP camera. To download music to your phone uses a high-speed port USB 2.0, which allows you to upload 1 track for one and a half or two seconds.

The phone has already launched in Russia, and news of any further European releases will be brought to you here first.

Source


Hitachi and Casio each launch mobile phones with E Ink flexible displays

E Ink announced that Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications in Japan has selected E Ink Vizplex Imaging Film based displays for its newest family of mobile phones. CH-Mobile is planning on several product releases. These are the world’s first clamshell style mobile phones to use E Ink’s electronic paper technology on the outside.

“We wanted features such as outdoor sunlight readability, 180 degree viewing angle, extremely thin, rugged, flexible display that consumed very little power,” said Satoshi Shirasawa, Marketing Manager for CHMC. “E Ink’s electrophoretic display technology provided all that and more, something we could not get from other display technologies.”

Source

Samsung Announce U800 Pink

Samsung has announced the launch of the exclusive Samsung U800 Pink to support and drive awareness of breast cancer in the UK.

With each unit sold, Samsung will donate 10GBP to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research, campaigning and education.

The Samsung U800 will be available in the UK exclusively via Phones4U from late this month running up to the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.


Tag Heur Meridiist

Tag Heuer, traditionally known for providing watches for Formula 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen to look unhappy next to, has had its first phone unveiled through the FCC.



The Meridiist is a high-end device designed to appeal to the fashion conscious rather than the mobile phone lovers of the world.


Hardly feature packed, this device carries a price tag of up to £3000, only barely justified by the sapphire coating that helps it remain scratch-proof from all the jewels you're likely to wear if you can afford this.

Strangely , the device only has a 2Mp camera which considering the price seems rather strange.

Source

Glu to Bring SUPERMAN/BATMAN Game to Mobile Phones Worldwide this Winter


Glu Mobile Inc. has unveiled SUPERMAN/BATMAN, a new game coming to mobile phones around the world this winter. SUPERMAN/BATMAN, developed and published by Glu through its licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, is based on the BATMAN and SUPERMAN mythologies and is about the joining of the super heroes on a quest to fight evil. Glu’s launch will mark the first mobile game to feature the world’s two most beloved super heroes.

“SUPERMAN/BATMAN features key elements that make a great game — superhuman powers, adventure, and exciting characters taken right from DC Comics’ mythology,” said Jill Braff, senior vice president of global publishing, Glu. “This new title brings two of the world’s most recognized and beloved super heroes together for the first time on mobile, and we’re excited to offer this title to fans around the world.”

In addition to the mobile game, Glu will publish additional mobile content including wallpapers, ringtones, animated screensavers, voice tones and ringbacks.

“Together with Glu, we look forward to giving gamers the opportunity to experience action as SUPERMAN and BATMAN by making the game available to a broad audience of mobile consumers around the world,” said Maria Seidman, vice president, business development, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.

The SUPERMAN/BATMAN mobile game will be released in December and will be available worldwide through Glu’s global network of wireless carriers and distributors.

Orange launch the 'The Music Show'.

Orange today extends its music offering with the launch of its new weekly online music round up, 'The Music Show'. The new service has become a permanent fixture on the music section of the Orange website and on Orange customers handsets through Orange World following the success of recent trials from Glastonbury festival where one episode was filmed and uploaded daily.

The weekly six-minute clip will include exclusive music news, interviews with big name bands, track-by-track album reviews by the artists themselves and monthly live sessions. The show will also include the 'Orange Press Pass', where a fan gets the opportunity to meet their music heroes backstage at a gig.


Artists featured on the show to date include indie band Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, Queen of British R&B Estelle, plus the smooth sounds of Sam Sparro and James Blunt.
For your comprehensive overview of all things music, log on to orange.co.uk/music every week.

Sky Neon Light Phone

Sky's HSDPA phone Neon Sign has arrived in the Korean market.

The Neon Sign phone's unique selling point are the 49 LEDs on the front panel. Owners can choose their favourite icons or symbols among 46 provided icons, according to the different moods or preferences , with the icons also featuring animations.


The phone supports T-DMB, WCDMA global roaming and video telephony. The Neon Sign phone features a 2Mp camera, mp3 player, electronic dictionary, text viewer and multitasking functionality.

The phone measures 91.8*48*16.9mm at 108g and comes in four colours including white, sky blue, pink and black.

Note : This isnt Sky the UK broadcaster

LG Launch The Wine

LG has announced the launch of its KF300 Wine phone in Japan and Europe.
The LG KF300 is part of the electronics maker's fashion phone series.

The Wine phone is a tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGGE clamshell, featuring two displays (main 2.2-inch QVGA, and external 1.3-inch 128×160 pixels), 2 megapixel camera with auto-focus, Bluetooth connectivity support, 10 MB of internal memory, media player, FM radio, and microSD memory expansion slot. The measurements of the phone are 98.8×49.5×16.2 mm.

The phone has launched simulatenously in Japan and Europe, but no pricing details are yet available.

Source

Sony Ericsson C702 Review by 3G.co.uk

Sony Ericsson C702 Review by 3G.co.uk


Last month we got to grips with Sony Ericsson's five-megapixel C902 Cyber-shot phone and we were pretty impressed. This month it's the turn of its younger sibling, the Sony Ericsson C702, but will it emerge from the C902's shadow?

Sony Ericsson C702 - Ruggedised handset

The Sony Ericsson C702 is a tad on the bulky side. It's thick and as a result looks quite cumbersome. However, pick the handset up and you'll be surprised by how light it feels in the hand. Its casing is a mesh of metal and rubber giving it a somewhat ruggedised feel. Indeed, the C702 is both splash and dust resistant. The C702 doesn't fill us with the same confidence as the JCB Toughphone, for example, but it's good to know that the phone can take the odd knock or soaking.
The C702's numeric keys are thin but wide enough for accurate button pushing. The hard keys found above, however, feel a bit hollow and tend to creek a little when pressed. Meanwhile, the navigation pad feels a little rough around the edges. Bizarrely, we also found that if the cancel button and end key were pressed together - a hazard quite common due to their close proximity - it fired up the camera. As there is no mention of this ‘shortcut' in the manual we can only assume this is an oversight that actually proves more of an irritation than a benefit.

Sony Ericsson T303 Announced

Sony Ericsson today revealed T303, a new mid-end compact slider phone targeted to the mass market with its good looks and price.

The phone is packed with decent set of features as FM Radio, TrackID, 1.3 megapixel camera and Bluetooth. A serious downside however is that the T303 doesn't have a memory card slot, while its internal memory is only 8MB.

No United Kingdom release date has yet to be confirmed.

Specifications

Size - 83.0 x 47.0 x 15.0 mm
Weight - 93.0 g
Available colours - Shimmering Silver Shadow Black
Screen - 65,536-colour TFT 128x160 pixel
Memory - Phone memory 8MB* Actual free memory may vary due to phone pre-configuration
Networks - GSM 900 , GSM 1800 , GSM 1900

Camera - 1.3-megapixel , Digital Zoom - up to 4x
Music - Media Player ,Music tones - MP3, AAC , TrackID™
Entertainment - Java
Radio - FM radio RDS
Connectivity - Bluetooth™ technology

BenQ Releases New E55 3G Phone

Available from end July in Taiwan , BenQ E55 is the successor of the BenQ E53 model. The clamshell phone support 3G data connection, comes with a 2 megapixel camera and able to play AAC, MP3, 3GP and MP4 media files. A secondary video call camera is built at the middle of the clamshell hinge.With a simple and clean design, the BenQ E55 has a 1-inch 64k colors CSTN external screen with 96 x 64 resolution, good enough to display information like music song name, caller ID and phone battery status. The internal screen is a 2-inch TFT screen, supports 262k colors. Users with big thumb would be happy with Its big keypad design. The E55 will be priced at around 230 USD in Taiwan this month.

Source

HTC Touch Diamond Review by 3G.co.uk

HTC Touch Diamond Review by 3G.co.uk

The prosumer smartphone market is a notoriously difficult market to crack, with subsequent successful devices proving few and far between. Perhaps the best example of a handset that has achieved the universal feel of appealing to both the business user and the camera-doting music-playing consumer is the Apple iPhone. With the new iPhone 3G recently hitting stores, Apple has once again thrown down the gauntlet to its counterparts, HTC being one. The Taiwanese manufacturer pre-empted this launch with its own super-savvy touch-screen handset (let us not forget that HTC was one of the pioneers of the touch-screen revolution), the HTC Touch Diamond.

Having been invited to the initial launch of the Diamond in May, the accompanying press video had us here at 3G.co.uk drooling at the slick user interface. Unfortunately when it came to the actual demo of the handset the screen froze before we could get to grips with it. ‘Worry not' our demonstrator told us; all such problems would be ironed out by the official release date. So when our review sample arrived in a rather dashing box, our appetite was once again wetted.

HTC Touch Diamond - Designer feel

The HTC Touch Diamond looks fabulous. It's relatively small and lightweight for a smartphone, at just 11mm thick and weighing in at only 110g. But don't let these stats deceive you, as the Diamond packs an awful lot into its svelte body. The 2.8-inch screen dominates the front of the handset, with a panel featuring four hard keys and a command key found just underneath. The panel feels a little loose which is a shame because apart from that the Diamond is a work of art. The back of the handset features a plastic glossy prism-like design that gives it a real designer look, although both this and the screen are a real magnet for grubby paw prints.

When we powered up the phone we were left twiddling our thumbs for a good 20 seconds. Not quite long enough to go and make a brew, but enough to cause mild irritation. However, once the homescreen springs to life all is forgiven, due to the stunning vibrancy of the screen. The icons are both vivid and expertly animated, and the clock on the homescreen can be changed from digital to a retro-style clock that flips over as the minutes pass.

Full Review Here


Vodafone announce its Family Service


Now your kids can always stay in touch with Vodafone Family. It’s the perfect way to bring the people closest to you even closer.

Simply choose up to 3 other people to make up your family group and calls between all of you are unlimited. You pay just £5 a month and all four of you can make as many calls as you like to one another, at any time. It doesn’t matter if you’re a pay as you talk or a pay monthly customer, as long as all four of you are with Vodafone.

At a glance:

One person pays just £5 a month for unlimited calls (up to 60 minutes a call) between four people

You can make these calls at any time of the day or night

Vodafone Family is available to both pay as you talk and pay monthly customers

If you need a larger group, one person can pay £7 a month for unlimited calls between 6 people

You can change the size or makeup of your family group online or over the phone – free of charge

How do i get it ?

If you’re already with Vodafone you can sign up to Vodafone Family online. Simply login or register with My Vodafone and follow the steps to set up your family group. Alternatively, call 34444 from your mobile.

Samsung M150 Announced

Samsung has just introduced the new candybar M150 phone with a metal-resembling design. Available in Light Gray, Charcoal Gray, Pure White, Lavender Pink and Ice Blue colors, it is not difficult to find one color that you love.

Targetting at people who need a simple mobile phone design mainly used for calling, the Samsung M150 only equip with a VGA camera. The low cost phone also support MP3 media files, there is no problem in playing the MP3. It is not sure if it has a memory card slot, the 20 MB internal memory is definitely not useful for you to store your MP3 collection. If it does not have a memory card, the built in FM radio can instead provide you the necessary entertainment on the road.
Samsung plans to start selling the M150 in Germany in mid-August, it will eventually available in Europe, Africa, Asia and Middle East.

Check out its specifications below:
GSM Dualband 9000/1800 MHz
GPRS
Dimension: 106.5 x 45 x 13 mm
Display: 1.77-inch 65k TFT, (128 x 160 pixel)
VGA Camera
Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
20MB internal memory
FM radio
USB 2.0


Sony Ericsson announces three new Walkman™ phones and the next generation music accessories

Building on three year’s experience and technology 30 years in the making, Sony Ericsson continues to lead the way in the mobile phone music arena with cutting edge music technology and unique accessories.
W902(Above)

Today, Sony Ericsson unveils its latest innovative additions to the Walkman™ phone family: the W902, W595 and W302, and seven new music accessories. Sony Ericsson is unveiling phones and accessories with superior sound quality and pioneering features that take Walkman™ phones beyond music and expectations with fantastic extras such as great imaging and video capabilities.
W302
“Since the launch of our first Walkman™ phone in 2005, Sony Ericsson has continued to pioneer a superior mobile music experience - and the 77 million Walkman™ phones sold to date are testament to this commitment,” says Ben Padley, Head of the Music Category at Sony Ericsson. “With this latest range of phones and accessories, we are offering high quality sound and a rich feature set that cements our position as a leader in the music phone category. We are pushing the boundaries of what people think is possible and are offering best-in-class sound quality and our most exciting Walkman™ phones to date.”

The list of pioneering and innovative features found on Walkman™ phones continues to be unmatched in the industry. Features like the music recognition application TrackID™, SensMe™, for matching your mood to the music and Shake control to change tracks with the flick of your hand make Walkman™ phones stand out from the rest.

Sony Ericsson can now also announce best-in-class sound quality and a clear audio experience from its W902 Walkman™. The W902 features the same superior sound quality as the W980, about to launch shortly, which was rated ”best audio experience” this month, in a trial conducted in Germany by TESTfactory*.
W595 (Above)
With the W902, users can listen to music the way it should be heard: true to original. It’s also a mobile phone for those that want it all, with a five megapixel camera and great video capturing and sharing capabilities, an 8GB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2) for storing more than 8,000 songs**, the W902 is a top-of-the-range device that will make you the envy of your friends.
The W595 Walkman™ is perfect for those who want to share sounds with their friends. Store and play more than 1,900 songs** through the built in stereo speakers. Plug in the in-box sharing jack to listen silently to your tunes with a friend or Bluetooth™ your sounds to Sony Ericsson’s range of wireless speakers.

The new W302 Walkman™ is packed with impressive features in an affordable no-compromise slim handset. Targeting all audiences, the phone comes complete with an impressive two megapixel camera, FM radio, TrackID™ and 512MB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2).

The next generation of accessories includes three new sets of speakers, the MBS-200, MBS-400 and MPS-100, to help music lovers go beyond the individual and play music directly from their mobile phone. Enhancing its music accessories collection Sony Ericsson has also introduced three new stereo headphones, HBH-IS800, HPM-88 and HPM-66 for the optimal listening experience.

Sony Ericsson bringing AM/FM radio to a series of new phones

Sony Ericsson announced to Billboard Wednesday that the company would be incorporating AM/FM radio features into selected new devices and phones before the end of the year.


Designed for global markets, the R300 Radio and R306 Radio phones will be launched in South America first with hopes that the specific AM capability will spur emerging markets and consumer interests in sporting events and listening to music.According to Billboard, the new phones resemble transistor radios but are not equipped "to allow users to download tracks from the radio but do have a feature that identifies the song and artist played."


Sony Ericsson's marketing VP for South America, Stephan Croix, told the trade paper the devices are part of "a very simple and straightforward concept that will make music more relevant in the mass market," as opposed to more sophisticated technology like Apple Inc. 's iPhone that merges music capabilities with phone and Internet functions.

Sony Ericsson recently issued a second profit warning for 2008, hoping to recover in the second quarter after falling behind rival South Korea-based LG Electronics in the first quarter. The warning points to declining European sales, which could indicate why the new radio/phone devices are being pushed in South American markets, in addition to the obvious reasons outlined above. The company is also hoping for a massive resurgence in quarter three with the launch of the new Xperia X1 handset in September. The release of the iPhone and how it performs after this week will only add to complications and competition Sony Ericsson may have before the radio/phones are released regionally and later globally.


Free texts for Vyke users with the launch of FreeTxt

Vyke Communications (http://www.vyke.com/) today announces the launch of FreeTxt, a texting application for Symbian Series60 third edition mobile phones that enables Vyke customers to send and receive free text messages to fellow Vyke users and considerably cheaper SMS than other VoIP suppliers, to non Vyke users. Customers can download the FreeTxt application from Vyke’s website which conveniently integrates with the phone’s existing messaging system, and start texting directly from their handset as they normally would.

The application is simple to download. Customers will receive an SMS with a link to the FreeTxt download page and all they have to do is click the link to install the application onto the phone’s messaging menu. Once the application is downloaded customers simply enter their mobile phone number and select an ‘internet access point’. As soon as Vyke has verified the customer’s mobile number is correct and that they have a Vyke account they are then able to start sending text messages.

How does it work?

The FreeTxt application intercepts outgoing text messages and sends them to Vyke’s server via the phone’s internet connection. If the recipient of a text is also a FreeText user and is online, the message will be delivered peer to peer for free. If the recipient is not a FreeTxt user or is offline, the text message will be delivered at Vyke’s discounted SMS rates (as long as the user has credit on their Vyke account). If the customer chooses to not enable the FreeTxt service on their phone to send an SMS, then the text will be sent via their normal mobile operator service.

Nokia 5800 Tube makes an appearance on The Dark Knight movie

Casually taking a scroll across the web in search of mobile news, I find this, and learn that the still unannounced and highly awaited Nokia 5800 Tube touchscreen phone was used as one of the handsets in the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight.

According to reports, it was seen in the hands of Morgan Freeman, and many people who have watched the movie say that the particular touchscreen phone was definitely the Tube. It is said that the Tube in the movie very nice user-interface, and is years away from the first prototype Nokia touchscreen we reported about earlier this year.

Source

Nokia E71 Review by 3G.co.uk

Nokia E71 Review by 3G.co.uk

Although Nokia has long been the king of the hill for global mobile phone sales, it’s yet to knock BlackBerry off its perch in the business smartphone space.
Already an almost generic brand for mobile email, RIM BlackBerry really consolidated its dominant position in the business handset arena a couple of years ago, when its new Pearl (and later the Curve) series reinvented the QWERTY phone genre. These were business phones with a stylish, more compact design and, as a result, corporate types were suddenly more relaxed about taking their email-savvy handset to the pub at weekends.

Meanwhile, although Nokia was enjoying a modicum of success with its own E61 business phone − which sported a full QWERTY keypad, push email, and loads of business functions – critics argued that, while capable, it lacked the polished, sleek and compact design of the BlackBerry.

Nokia E71 - Crossover appeal

Since the launch of the E61, Nokia’s Eseries production line has been rattling along efficiently. The E61 was upgraded to include a two-megapixel camera and became the E61i, but it has taken a good two years for the Finnish manufacturer to launch a brand new take on the QWERTY business phone. But boy was it worth the wait.

Full Review Here

Three Announce Skypephone S2, the new and improved Skypephone

Three have announced a new version of its popular Skypephone, the Skypephone S2.



The new Skypephone S2 features a larger and technologically improved screen , now having a 2.2 inch QVGA screen. Additionally , the camera has been given a well-needed upgrade from the feeble 2Mp of the original to a 3.2 Megapixel camera.

Major changes to the Skypephone's applications are also in place.
The major improvement to the phone is the email capability it will now feature. The email service is rumoured to cost around £2.50 and works with POP2 or IMAP email services.

Other application improvements include the capability to handle RSS feeds, as well as a built in Facebook application.

The Skypephone S2 does of course feature 3G network capabilities and is rumoured to cost around £70 on Three's Pay as you Go Tariff.

Guitar Hero(R) III: Backstage Pass Is Ready to Rock Your Phone

Hands-On Mobile, Inc., the world’s leading developer of connected games and applications, in partnership with Activision Publishing, Inc. , announced the availability of Guitar Hero® III: Backstage Pass for mobile phones. The game is available today on select carriers nationwide.

Backstage Pass adds a whole new dimension to the Guitar Hero universe and offers more than 25 hours of gameplay. Players assume the identities of Axel Steel or Judy Nails and promote their band and music on TV and radio, build buzz and street cred, create demo tapes, sign record contracts, handle press interviews, rehearse songs and play shows. By achieving certain career goals, players can unlock several guitars to strengthen their performance. Players can also earn in-game money, which can be used to buy new guitars to play at a variety of venues in an effort to gain the attention of record labels and soar to the top of the charts.

Through the Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass Web companion at http://www.guitarheromobile.com/backstage, players can register for full access to the Backstage Pass community. The unique online component allows players to message each other, check standings, download new guitars and music, and even join or create official Backstage Pass contests – providing fresh content for their mobile experience. In the online contests, players have the opportunity to wager their in-game money and stats with each other against a variety of different scenarios.

Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass can be downloaded in the U.S. by text messaging STAGE to 46966. Prices vary by carrier.

Vodafone Announce Find & Go


Vodafone UK and Telmap, the world leader in advanced mobile mapping and navigation solutions, have teamed up with Multimap, the UK's specialist online mapping service, to introduce Find & Go.

The launch of Find & Go conveniently converges PC location based services with the mobile phone.

Vodafone customers can for the first time search for a destination on their PCs on the Multimap website and send the search result to their mobile phone free of charge. Using this information customers can then obtain driving directions from Multimap's Driving Direction Service or receive directions for turn-by-turn pedestrian or driving navigation using the Find & Go service. Multimap's Driving Directions Service is available exclusively on Vodafone live! for the next three months.

Through mobile network positioning Vodafone's Find & Go makes it much faster for customers with GPS embedded handsets to identify their current location and search for places or landmarks immediately, without the need to wait for their phone to pick up the satellite signal.
This means searching for locations is now possible even when a customer is indoors or out of the GPS signal range.

In addition, Find & Go suggests route alternatives based on traffic conditions and estimated times of arrival, so that customers get a complete mobile navigation experience. The service is designed for both in-car and pedestrian navigation and features the very latest 3D maps and directions with the added benefit of spoken instructions announcing street names. It also references millions of points-of-interest such as hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and attractions.

Available on 14 handsets in total, (6 GPS embedded and additional 8 using the Bluetooth GPS key ring) Find & Go's maps, local search, and driving directions are free of charge; with an option to subscribe to the "turn-by-turn" navigation service for GBP5 per month. Three months subscription is included on the Nokia N78, 6120 and N95 8GB and one month with other Find&Go compatible handsets.

Customers can purchase the service from any Vodafone retail store, through telesales or directly from Vodafone live!.

Samsung D980/D988 - DuoS with touchscreen

Samsung’s first try to make dual SIM card full touchscreen phone -P720 - has not been very successful.

Actually it had to be canceled, because Samsung just couldn’t make dual SIM card UI work on the Armani phone like device.

Well, now that Samsung improved the touch capabilities with TouchWiz interface, it’s time for another try.

And the best handset for this DuoS/touchscreen second chance is, of course, Armani successor - Samsung F480.

Samsung has added dual SIM functionality, to make F480 into a very pretty looking dual SIM Samsung D988 handset for China.

Which should become Samsung D980 DuoS in other parts of the world soon.

The Phone is available to buy now in the UK (Click Here)

LG KC550 Review by 3G.co.uk

LG KC550 Review by 3G.co.uk
Why should you have to pay a premium just because you want to take decent photographs on your phone? Well, the manufacturers would point out that a five-megapixel sensor costs more than a two-megapixel one, and there are further costs involved in adding auto-focus instead of fixed-focus, not to mention advanced bells and whistles like image stabilisation.

However, LG's latest has all the photographic features mentioned above, but is priced to fit the less flush wallet. What's more, the styling, though not catwalk-slim, is attractive and eye-catching, from the brushed-metal lens cover that slides open smoothly to the chrome trim and rubber-painted casing. There's even the classy two-tone keypad similar to the Chocolate phone. When you touch it you can tell that the build quality, though absolutely acceptable, isn't up to that of the Secret, but then the Secret is more expensive.

LG KC550 - No 3G

Savings have been made in the omission of features like Wi-Fi or GPS found on smartphones and high-end handsets. These are not surprising, but a more serious problem is the fact that this phone is not 3G. So when you've shot your pictures, uploading them to flickr or other websites will take longer. And, of course, data transfers for web browsing will be slower and video calls are out of the question.


Extend Your iPhone 3G Battery Life

Sanwa Japan has introduced the 400-BT001 a rechargeable battery which gives the iPhone-3G an additional 3.5 hours of talktime, 7 hours of video playback and 36 hours of audio playback.


The 1,200mAh Lithium Ion battery comes with a retractable USB cable and a LED which indicates remaining battery life. The unit measures 46×72×13mm and weighs 50 grams. It is scheduled to go on sale in Japan by end of July for 4980 Yen ($ 50).


Opera Mobile 9.5 beta is out!


As expected, Opera Software has released the Opera Mobile 9.5 beta for Windows Mobile.
The long-awaited web browser now looks more like Opera Mini or the iPhone's Safari, allowing users to view the entire web page and instantly recognize the site. In addition, there's a new, improved user interface, pan and zoom option, improved standards support, option to save pages and/or images, Opera Dragonfly developer tools, and more.

In a nutshell - it's a must have app even while in beta.
Here's the download page, and from here you can see tons of screenshots.

Sony Ericsson Alicia ?

After waltzing on to scene about a month back, the mysterious clamshell that was codenamed Alicia is now revealed to be the part of the Walkman series (pretty obvious from the “W” symbol on its front) and will now answer to the name of Sony Ericsson W707.

The specs still remain a mystery though and the only thing we know as of now is that it will have a 3.2-megapixel camera but no autofocus. The keypad looks laser etched like the RAZR and SEMC Blog claims that it has both an internal and external screens. Judging by the steady trickle of leaks, we should be getting you more on this flipper pretty soon!


New Luxurious and Practical Protection for iPhone 3G

California-based luxuryhandheld device accessory designer, Sena Cases, announces the launch of two new special designs for the iPhone 3G. The cases are precisely handcraftedby leather artisans in Europe, and each is developed from the finestquality, full-grain, soft Italian Napa leather. Sena Cases offers a totalof seven cases for the iPhone 3G including the new Sena MagnetFlipper Caseand the Sena Dockable Case which allows the iPhone to be used and "docked"without removing the device from the case. The designs are highlightedbelow:


The Sena Dockable Case: The Dockable is a premium leather flip-top casespecially designed to work with the docking station while offering fullfunctionality of the iPhone. The Dockable is custom designed to protectevery curve of the iPhone and is surrounded by a soft velvet lining. Thecase has a snap closure to hold the iPhone secure and protected. Sena isthe pioneer and expert designer of dockable cases that are perfectlyconstructed for maximum functionality. Retail Price: $52.00

The Sena MagnetFlipper Case for the iPhone 3G: The MagnetFlipper is aground-breaking design and most practical flip-style case that enables theuser to quickly answer the iPhone and access all of its functions.Utilizing gravity, the cover is engineered with a hinged bottom andmagnetic fastening system at the top, thus allowing the cover to be flippedout of the way with a flick of the thumb.
Retail Price: $52.00

Both styles are offered with the Sena Removable Ratchet Belt ClipSystem which allows the case to be used with or without the removable beltclip.

Sena Cases offers the following cases for the iPhone 3G: The Dockable,MagnetFlipper, Elega Pouch, WalletSkin, WalletBook, UltraSlim Pouch andLeatherSkin Case. All cases are offered in a variety of classic leathercolors available at http://www.senacases.com/Brands/iPhone-3G-Cases.

Glu Mobile releases The Dark Knight

New Caped Crusader game hits mobile in advance of this month's box office debut of The Dark Knight movie.
Glu Mobile has released The Dark Knight mobile game in advance of the eponymous Warner Bros movie's box office debut on July 25th.

The company will also be offering a suite of related mobile content, including 31 wallpapers, 14 voicetones, four music tones and eight animated screensavers.

The Dark Knight is the second title that Glu has developed and published through its partnership with Warner Bros, following Speed Racer earlier this year.

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London's black cabs get wireless payment kit

Royal Bank of Scotland is to fit proximity-payment readers into 25 London taxies, allowing punters equipped with wave-and-pay cards to settle any fare under a tenner with a touch of the card.

Most London cabs accept credit cards these days, although some still resort to card-impression machines, but the percentage that has to be paid to the card-issuing company makes that ineffective for small amounts - taxies in Glasgow threatened to refuse chip and PIN transactions for less than £12, and charge passengers £1.50 for the privilege.

Proximity payment systems, such as wave-and-pay - or PayPass as the Royal Bank brands it - take a smaller percentage. They therefore make more sense for lower-value transactions, but if the system is going to get any acceptance from taxi drivers the issue of how to tip will need to be solved.

When one had to sign a credit card slip there was usually a blank line, headed "gratuity" into which one could write an amount for the tip. With chip and PIN that option disappeared, and it's taken a few years for terminals to start asking if you'd like to add a tip before entering your PIN. But with proximity payments there is no PIN, nor screen to interact with, so adding a tip becomes more difficult.



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Bluetooth Umbrella concept with touchscreen hands-free & radio

Rain blasted urbanites should love this idea.



Bluetooth Umbrella is simply an umbrella with a bluetooth enabled handle for handsfree operation with your mobile phone. It also doubles as radio so you can totally go “singing in the rain.” Leave it to designers to make people look kookier than they are.

I mean what would you think if you see me walking down the street in the pouring rain talking into my umbrella handle? Yeah. . . DO WANT!

Samsung to Release 8mp i8510


The Samsung i8510 can do everything you want: make calls, send SMS messages, record videos, photograph, play music, record videos. For the internet the smartphone offers several possibilities. For example, it's possible to use a wireless network to reach the internet and your e-mail without costs. When there are no wireless networks around you can use UMTS and HSDPA networks to get a super fast connection.

The Samsung i8510 has a handy and ergonomic mouse pointer as navigation key. You simply move your finger over the keys and a small mouse will move over the display. An integrated 3D chip makes sure that 3D games look good on the device and so the true gamer will not be bored with th device. By the way, the 16 million colours display with a size of 2.8 inch is also fine for gaming.

Samsung i8510 The memory of the Samsung i8510 is also very good. If you want to take an enormous music library with you this is totally no problem because the 16 GB internal memory makes sure that you have enough room. Because the device operates on the Symbian system it's veyr userfriendly and the software can be expanded with the programs you like.

A confirmation that the Samsung i8510 will also come to Europe is something they haven't given yet. When it's clear whether the Samsung i8510 will also come to Europe Mobile Phone Helpdesk will keep you informed.

GoldStriker iPhone 3G Diamond Edition

GoldStriker have wasted no time in releasing a luxury version of the iPhone 3G.
The model features 18ct White Gold and 400WS diamonds.

The phone costs a staggering £5,995.00 for the 8gb version.

Wireless CCTV Ltd Launches its New Mobile Surveillance PDA Software

Wireless CCTV launches its new mobile surveillance PDA software which allows users to monitor Wireless CCTV equipment, located anywhere in the world, while on the move. Wireless CCTV's latest development in mobile monitoring is the introduction of its newest WCCTV PDA Software. This software application, running under Windows Mobile, allows users to remotely monitor live or archived video footage using 3G mobile phone technology or Wi-Fi. Users can also Pan, Tilt and Zoom cameras in real-time.
Wireless CCTV users can enjoy the benefits of monitoring overt or covert equipment, located virtually anywhere in the world, while being on the move themselves.

This new mobile monitoring solution is especially useful for agents in the field and cross-border policing. Project managers, in multiple sectors including Construction & Utilities, can also benefit from this new monitoring solution by being able to keep an eye on projects as they develop on a daily basis.

Since the launch of Wireless CCTV's 3G product offering, many local authorities and police forces throughout the United Kingdom have been successfully using WCCTV 3G equipment in multiple overt and covert operations.

Gigabyte GSmart MW700 Review by 3G.co.uk

GIGABYTE is better known for its laptops and for ultra mobile PCs with big screens and small keyboards. The GSmart MW700 is its first venture into the smartphone market.

GIGABYTE has recently launched a couple of Windows Mobile smartphones, and we've got our hands on one of the first - the GSmart MW700.

Gigabyte GSmart MW700 - Features

There is quite a lot of smart stuff in this, er, smartphone. It is a real pity that 3G is not included though, because apart from that there are plenty of other great features on the MW700.

The device includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and there is a GPS antenna too. GPS antennae are now so widespread that you could be forgiven for raising an eyebrow if a smartphone doesn't have one built in. Our review sample came with a copy of the TomTom navigation software pre-installed, and while you don't get that as standard, we can say it works very well indeed.

What you do get is a tracker utility that can use the GPS antenna to monitor how far you've travelled and how fast, so you could use the MW700 to monitor progress if you are training, for example.

Gigabyte GSmart MW700 - Barcodes mean business

There is a range of software built into the MW700 over and above what you get with Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional. Perhaps the most bizarre is QuickMark. You can use this to scan barcodes for information like website addresses. We couldn't get this to work with any barcodes we had to hand, but can see that it could be useful.

You also get an FM radio, voice recorder, and software for editing photos that can be taken using the two-megapixel camera, where the lens can be found on the back of the casing. This offers some rather fun features like embossing, as well as letting you draw on images, add frames and stamps.

iPhone 3G Now On Sale


Apple's highly anticipated iPhone 3G went on sale from 8.02am on Friday 11 July in O2, Apple and Carphone Warehouse retail stores. To ensure fairness, O2 will sell the device on a strictly first come, first served basis to both new and upgrading customers in all retail outlets.

This morning customers who had pre-registered their interest in iPhone 3G were given the opportunity to purchase via O2’s online shop (http://shop.o2.co.uk/) a limited stock of devices which had been set aside. The response was so great that the online store completely sold out of iPhone 3Gs within just a few hours. Though O2 had invested several million pounds to increase the order capacity of the site (with order processing capacity increased by over 250 times its normal rate), at times the site still couldn’t process the sheer weight of demand.
Details of when new supplies of iPhone 3Gs will be available via the O2 online shop will be updated regularly via the website.

Business customers can from today also start placing orders for iPhone 3G through O2 business channels. Delivery timings will be communicated when an order is placed.
iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is significantly faster than the first generation iPhone. The device has built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, iPhone 2.0 software (which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync) and runs the hundreds of third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK. These can be accessed via iTunes.

The 8GB iPhone 3G will be available for free to customers opting for the £45 or £75 tariffs and £99 on the £30 and £35 per month tariffs. The 16GB model will cost £159 on the £30 and £35 tariffs, £59 on the £45 tariff and it will be free on the £75 tariff. All customers will continue to receive unlimited UK data browsing over O2’s mobile network and unlimited access to over 9,000 Wi-Fi hotspots through both The Cloud and BT Openzone***.

Existing iPhone customers can upgrade early to the iPhone 3G through O2 channels by re-signing a new 18 month contract, taking advantage of the same great offer as new customers. They will then be able to give their existing 2G iPhone to a friend, family member or colleague who can transfer onto an iPhone tariff if they are an existing O2 Pay Monthly or business customer, stick in their existing O2 SIM and buy the appropriate Bolt Ons for unlimited data, or buy an iPhone Pay & Go SIM card from 11 July offering unlimited data and unlimited Wi-Fi access to The Cloud and BT Openzone hotspots for £10 per month. Full information is available on o2.co.uk/iPhone.

The iPhone 3G will launch on O2 Pay and Go (Prepay) in time for the Christmas shopping period, with pricing details to be confirmed closer to launch.

Samsung GT-M5310 Coming Soon

Samsung is prepping another interesting GT handset to the market.

And this time it’s not about durability, but about cool innovative music features.

The new Samsung GT-M5310 is a ultra-thin music phone with the innovative music player that can be controlled via various movements. Shaking in various directions, turning the phone upside down, etc’; brings up various functions.

Samsung M5310 specs include:

2.5G GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity
2″ QVGA 262K color display
2 megapixel camera
FM Radio with RDS
20MB of user memory
microSD memory card slot
Built-in movement sensor
USB 2.0, Bluetooth, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Dimensions: 109×46x9.9 mm


Unsubsidized Samsung M3510 price is expected to be somewhere around 200-250 Eur

Dual-Sliding Nokia 8208 for CDMA Revealed Early

Today we got tipped off to a couple of new Nokia cell phones that appear to be destined for China and, potentially, elsewhere. The first up is the 8208c, a dual-slider feature phone that has a look similar to that of the Nokia N96. Unlike the N96, though, this 3G handset works on CDMA based EV-DO Rev A networks, like those run by Verizon and Sprint in the USA. It is possible that the regular 8208, also shown on the website, could end up on one or both of those domestic networks.
The 8208 comes equipped for multimedia as well as navigation. The spec sheet claims that the 8208 should be able to provide users with up to 20 hours of music playback on a full charge, and the secondary slider function will provide users with access to dedicated music playback keys - just like on the N95. A 3.5mm audio jack will let users enjoy the music with their regular headphones, too. A 3 megapixel camera is also on-board, and a built-in GPS module will be on the device as well.

Other features of the 8208 include a 2.2" QVGA resolution display and a microSD memory card slot that can support cards as large as 8GB in capacity. There is an FM radio built-in, and the 8208 also sports a micro-USB connector. The phone is rated for up to 11 days of standby time or up to 4 hours of talk ti