http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Telecoms Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2009 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Sun, 8 Nov 2009 08:22:40 GMT Sun, 8 Nov 2009 08:22:40 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://www.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com/ http://news.softpedia.com/news/Canadian-Mobile-Phone-Market-Dives-8-in-Q3-126395.shtml The global mobile phone maker has seen improvements in the third quarter of the ongoing year, yet it seems that the same does not apply to the Canadian handset market. According to a recent report from IDC, the sales of mobile phones in Canada went down by 8 percent in Q3 2009, marking the third quarterly decline it sees this year.

The results from IDC Canada's Mobile Phone Tracker also show that in the third quarter of the ongoing year, mobile phone makers delivered 4 percent fewer handsets to wireless service providers or to other retail channels, when compared to the same period of time in 2008. Moreover, it appears that the marker went down even if smartphones have seen a double-digit growth in the time frame.

According to Kevin Restivo, lead analyst for IDC's Mobile Phone Tracker in Canada, the weaker performance of the mobile phone market is the result of the tepid Canadian economy and of the much slower sales in the traditional phone segment. He adds that another factor was represented by wireless carriers' plans to clear out their inventories for the launch of new networks.

When compared to the second quarter of this year, the performance on the mobile phone market was a lower one. The sequential drop in Canada was of 1.7 percent, the report shows. For the entire 2009, IDC expects for Cana... (read more)]]> Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:08:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Canadian-Mobile-Phone-Market-Dives-8-in-Q3-126395.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Canadian-Mobile-Phone-Market-Dives-8-in-Q3-126395.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sony-Ericsson-Kurara-in-New-Images-126388.shtml Japanese-Swedish mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson has recently been rumored to plan releasing on the market a new device, the Sony Ericsson Kurara and now the phone has made it into the wild in a series of fresh leaked images. Nothing is yet official, and the name of the handset might be changed before it hits the shelves, yet it seems that Kurara is shaping up into another attractive device from the vendor.

According to the rumors around the Web, the device might come to the market with the Symbian S60 operating system on board, while also sporting a 3.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, as well as an 8.1-megapixel photo snapper that appears to be its main feature: it can record video clips at resolutions of up to 720p.

In case some of you might have missed the previous post on Sony Ericsson Kurara, we should mention that it was said to come with HD capabilities, and the newly leaked specifications on it seem to confirm just that. The maker might soon launch on the market a handset that would aim at enthusiasts the same way Samsung's Omnia HD did in its turn.

The upcoming mobile phone is expected to be included in Sony Ericsson's Entertainment Unlimited line-up, yet we might not see it announced officially for a while, it seems, as the unveiling is said to take place at the Mobile World Congress in Februar... (read more)]]> Sat, 7 Nov 2009 11:17:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sony-Ericsson-Kurara-in-New-Images-126388.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sony-Ericsson-Kurara-in-New-Images-126388.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Photoshop-com-Mobile-Comes-to-Android-126384.shtml Adobe Systems Incorporated announced on Friday the launch of Photoshop.com Mobile for Android, in a move aimed at extending the reach of its solution to more smartphone operating systems available on the market today. The new launch follows the recently unveiled Photoshop.com Mobile for iPhone, which has proven to be one of the “Top Free” applications for the Apple handset.

According to the company, the fresh software solution comes towards Android users with a set of editing tools, while also offering them the possibility to adjust colors for their photos, as well as to share them faster. Moreover, users will be able to browse their photos directly from the application, no matter whether the images are located on their handset or online. Those who would like to try the new app will find it available for free at the Android market, the maker added.

“Adobe is excited to extend its digital imaging capabilities to Android phone users so they can take control of their growing collections of mobile photos,” said Doug Mack, vice president and general manager of Consumer and Hosted Solutions at Adobe. “Photoshop.com Mobile is a great resource to edit, upload and share photos in a few short moments. It’s the perfect complement to the mobile phone cameras found on Android devices.”<... (read more)]]> Sat, 7 Nov 2009 10:50:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Photoshop-com-Mobile-Comes-to-Android-126384.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Photoshop-com-Mobile-Comes-to-Android-126384.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rumor-Mill-Microsoft-to-Takeover-RIM-126381.shtml Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion has been rumored quite a few times before to be on the verge of being taken over by Redmond-based software giant Microsoft, and now the same rumors made it back to the headlines. The basis is a very simple one: RIM has seen its shares falling recently, and that would lead towards a possible takeover, in case they continue to fall.

If you were wondering why RIM is doing bad, you should know that some of the latest reports on the mobile phone market have shown that the recent launch of Motorola DROID on Verizon's airwaves have affected the sales of the Canadian maker's handsets. The smartphone market in registering increased competitiveness and it seems that RIM is one of those affected by this state of facts.

According to National Bank analyst Richard Tse, there are great chances that RIM would attract some of the largest industry players around the world. “We can’t help but think that Microsoft could be one of many suitors,” Tse states, noting that RIM is not one of the marginalized mobile phone makers, but that it might attract those who want to enter the smartphone market.

“Sticking with Microsoft, sure Windows Mobile 7 is on its way but wouldn’t RIM be able to offer what they’ve strived to get beyond their OS and Offic... (read more)]]> Sat, 7 Nov 2009 10:35:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rumor-Mill-Microsoft-to-Takeover-RIM-126381.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rumor-Mill-Microsoft-to-Takeover-RIM-126381.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/LG-to-Deliver-Snapdragon-Based-Android-Handset-126378.shtml South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics has already made a move into the Android side of the smartphone market, with the launch of LG GW620, which is also known around the Web as the LG Eve. However, it seems that the company does not plan to stop only here, but that it will come to the market with yet another such device in 2010, this time a more powerful and probably more appealing one.

According to the latest news around the Internet, LG stated that it plans walking the same road that Acer and Sony Ericsson walked with their Android-based mobile phones: it will pack the handset with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The XPERIA X10 from Sony Ericsson will come to the market next year with the powerful 1GHz processor inside, while the Acer Liquid is already available for purchase, only that its processor has been clocked lower.

In case the reports pan out, we might soon see the handset vendor coming to the market with one of the speediest mobile phones powered by Google's Android operating system. However, there is also a downside here, namely the fact that LG is reported to plan launching the phone in its home land market only, and that the device is expected to land only in the second half of the next year.

Even so, there are great chances that it will be released on other markets too, ... (read more)]]> Sat, 7 Nov 2009 10:03:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/LG-to-Deliver-Snapdragon-Based-Android-Handset-126378.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/LG-to-Deliver-Snapdragon-Based-Android-Handset-126378.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Maps-for-Mobile-Now-with-NYC-Subway-Maps-126375.shtml One of the newest features Google has decided to include in its Google Maps for mobile is the New York City subway system. What this means is that the solution now sports “a layer that overlays NYC subway routes on a map,” something that should offer users a simple way to navigate through the subway system in the Big Apple.

According to the developers of Google Maps, the new feature can be accessed very easily, through clicking the layers menu while viewing a map of New York City. In the layers menu, users will find the Transit Lines layer, and by clicking on it, the New York City subway routes will appear on the map, offering a quick navigation solution.

But this is not the only feature that those using Google Maps for mobile can enjoy. According to Google, one can also receive step-by-step public transit directions through the “Get Directions” menu the solution comes around with, where a public transit icon is also present. A wide range of other updates have been brought to Google Transit in the United States and Europe, Google stated.

“The days may have just gotten a little bit shorter, but that's not going to stop the Google Transit team from working hard to add new agencies. Over the past few months, we've launched with several partners in many places all aro... (read more)]]> Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Maps-for-Mobile-Now-with-NYC-Subway-Maps-126375.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Maps-for-Mobile-Now-with-NYC-Subway-Maps-126375.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Verizon-Decides-to-Double-Its-ETF-s-126372.shtml Mobile phone carrier Verizon Wireless has recently announced a rather disturbing move, namely the doubling of early termination fees, a decision that the operator says has been taken due to the higher prices smartphones have today. The new ETF’s Verizon applies have been brought up to $350 from the previous $175.

What this actually means is that users who would like to end their contracts earlier will have to pay double than before. Even if Verizon states that its decision is based on actual facts, many users out there are already unhappy with this move, and Big Red is getting a lot of attention because of this, especially since other carriers are not making the same move for the time being.

Most of the early termination fees carriers apply at the moment are of about $200. This amount of money is aimed at enabling the wireless carrier to recoup a part of the cost of the mobile phone a user has purchased at a subsidized rate or for free. However, as the contract wears out, the price is most often pro-rated.

The new termination fees Verizon applies were announced just before the launch of Motorola DROID, its first handset that comes with Android on board. The price tag for the handheld has been set at $199.99 on a two-year contract, while the full price is of $559.99, meaning that Verizon is subsidizin... (read more)]]> Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:04:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Verizon-Decides-to-Double-Its-ETF-s-126372.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Verizon-Decides-to-Double-Its-ETF-s-126372.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nokia-Siemens-Networks-Delivers-New-Site-Solution-126362.shtml Leading telecommunications infrastructure provider Nokia Siemens Networks announced recently the launch of a new site solution that should offer carriers around the world the possibility to modernize their wireless networks in a cost-effective and fast manner, namely the High-Performance Site Solution. According to the company, the new solution delivers not only savings, but also increased capacity on base stations by almost 80 percent, while the coverage area is enhanced by around 40 percent.

“The compact Nokia Siemens Networks High-Performance Site Solution brings much-needed extra capacity in the booming mobile broadband market without the need for additional antennas or physical space,” said Tommi Uitto, head of Wireless Access product management, Nokia Siemens Networks. “The small all-in-one solution can be easily installed in any location at lower implementation costs and enables operators to cost-effectively expand in markets where traditional sites are not feasible.”

As Nokia Siemens Networks indicates, the new High-Performance Site Solution is capable of delivering a six-sector site, and not a three-sector one as traditional deployments offer. This way, the base station can handle 80 percent more voice and data traffic, something that was previously available only throug... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 22:21:01 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nokia-Siemens-Networks-Delivers-New-Site-Solution-126362.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nokia-Siemens-Networks-Delivers-New-Site-Solution-126362.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Pays-1-3-Billion-for-Patent-Licenses-to-Qualcomm-126345.shtml South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics, the second largest handset vendor in the world, announced today that it reached an agreement with Qualcomm, according to which it woluld pay US$ 1.3 billion for the use of its patents. According to the phone manufacturer, the agreement includes the use of Qualcomm's CDMA, WCDMA and OFDMA patents for the following 15 years.

Samsung will pay not only an up-front license fee, but also additional royalties, yet it hasn't said anything on the royalty rate. It's a common fact that Qualcomm’s royalty rate differs from one company to another, in accordance with the geographical market. However, Samsung is also reported to have paid some of the lowest rates due to massive volume.

According to Telecoms Korea, Samsung and LG Electronics represent a big profit source for Qualcomm. Moreover, the news site also notes that Samsung’s up-front fee represents around 80 percent of Qualcomm’s net income for the fiscal year 2009 ($1.59 billion). However, it seems that Samsung has made a favorable deal with Qualcomm, even more favorable when compared to the previous one.

It is widely known that around 11 to 13 percent of the material costs for a mid-range handset are represented by baseband chips, and that these costs rise to up ... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 21:41:01 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Pays-1-3-Billion-for-Patent-Licenses-to-Qualcomm-126345.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Pays-1-3-Billion-for-Patent-Licenses-to-Qualcomm-126345.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bell-Mobility-Launches-Video-Calling-126299.shtml One of the new services that Canadian mobile phone users are now able to enjoy on Bell Mobility's new HSPA network is Video Calling, the wireless carrier announced recently. According to the company, the new service is intended to offer users the possibility to make and take phone-to-phone video calls with other customers of the carrier, and they can also receive video calls through a new app built on Facebook Platform.

“Bell Mobility is the first mobile provider in North America to offer a video calling service that lets clients see and talk to each other by phone and also integrates seamlessly with a client's Facebook profile,” said Adel Bazerghi, Bell Mobility's senior vice president of Products. “Facebook friends can use their web cams to place video calls to Bell Mobility clients in Canada with Video Calling capable phones via a dedicated page on their Facebook profile.”

The new Video Calling service on Bell Mobility's network is currently available on the LG Xenon and Samsung OMNIA II smartphones, both of which are available for purchase with the carrier since November 4. The wireless operator also announced that users who would like to benefit from Video Calling could add the feature to any Bell Mobility plan, while paying only $5 a month for it, and that there already were a series of... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 20:41:02 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bell-Mobility-Launches-Video-Calling-126299.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bell-Mobility-Launches-Video-Calling-126299.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Verizon-Wireless-Talks-LTE-Collaboration-126252.shtml Verizon Wireless, the largest mobile phone operator in the United States, has recently unveiled a few more details on its approach towards Long Time Evolution, the standard that it will use for the deployment of its 4G network. According to the company, it will roll out the first LTE network in the US, and it is also committed to network leadership, something that also involves “fostering global collaboration and enabling the broader ecosystem needed to exploit the capabilities of a great network.”

Tony Melone, Verizon Wireless senior vice president and chief technology officer, is the one who stated the above, and he also talked about Verizon's belief that 4G did not imply only faster speeds, higher bandwidth and lower latency. “We believe the combination of our aggressive deployment and our single-frequency footprint will attract premium partners and make Verizon Wireless the first place that device and applications developers come to sell their products, and ultimately, the first place that customers come to for their 4G services,” Melone said.

The carrier is one of the first in the world to deploy an LTE network, and it plans on enriching the ecosystem of innovation through a series of collaboration initiatives, such as:

- Open Development – third-party developers can... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 20:01:01 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Verizon-Wireless-Talks-LTE-Collaboration-126252.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Verizon-Wireless-Talks-LTE-Collaboration-126252.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Telus-to-Bring-Motorola-DROID-to-Canada-126293.shtml Canadian mobile phone users might soon have the chance to enjoy a wide range of Android mobile phones available for purchase in the country. Rogers has already delivered three of them, the HTC Dream and Magic and the LG Eve, while Telus is already known to have snagged an exclusivity deal on the HTC Hero. However, the latest rumors around the web suggest that this carrier might have also launched the Motorola DROID, which is set to arrive to the market today, on Verizon's airwaves.

It seems that the high-end Android 2.0-powered mobile phone has great chances to reach Canada as soon as Q1 2010, or, at least, this is what a recent post on themobileninjas suggests. It seems that Telus might have exclusive distribution rights on this handset too, and that it will release the North American HSPA version of Motorola DROID, which hasn't been announced officially yet.

In case the rumors pan out, Canadians will certainly have a great handset to enjoy on the carrier's airwaves, as DROID comes around with a 3.7-inch touchscreen display that boasts a 480 x 854 pixel resolution, a sliding QWERTY keyboard, a 5-megapixel photo snapper with dual LED and auto focus, Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g capabilities, a GPS, Micro USB, a 550 MHz processor, and a micro SD memory card slot with support for up to 32GB of additio... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 19:21:02 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Telus-to-Bring-Motorola-DROID-to-Canada-126293.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Telus-to-Bring-Motorola-DROID-to-Canada-126293.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Clearwire-Changes-Executives-Brings-4G-to-Philadelphia-126280.shtml Clearwire announced the appointment of two new senior executives on Thursday, so as to help the company in its attempt to expand to more markets. The company named David D. Maquera as Clearwire’s senior vice president and chief strategy officer, and Thomas Enraght-Moony as senior vice president and general manager of CLEAR Online.

According to the company, David D. Maquera will be in charge with the technology development for Clearwire, as well as with strategic planning and implementation. As for Thomas Enraght-Moony, he will serve as head of marketing, being in charge with all advertising and marketing activities of Clearwire, along with the online sales and customer management.

“David and Thomas bring a record of leadership and depth of experience that further enhance one of the most experienced leadership teams in the mobile industry,” said Bill Morrow, CEO of Clearwire. “They bring fresh perspectives and insights that will be beneficial to our customers, partners and shareholders. I’m confident that their business acumen and vision will help Clearwire capitalize on the incredible opportunities ahead of us.”

In addition, the company's operating subsidiary, Clearwire Communications, LLC announced that its CLEAR mobile Internet service was now ... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:41:02 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Clearwire-Changes-Executives-Brings-4G-to-Philadelphia-126280.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Clearwire-Changes-Executives-Brings-4G-to-Philadelphia-126280.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Verizon-Wireless-Intros-Samsung-Convoy-126250.shtml Mobile phone carrier Verizon Wireless announced on Thursday the upcoming launch of a new Push to Talk device, the Samsung Convoy, which comes with military specifications, as it has been developed so as to withstand some of the worst environmental conditions. The new handset also comes with a high-quality stereo speaker, as well as with extended battery life and impressive messaging features, proving to be one of the best options for those who work in harsh environments.

Some of the main features of the new handset include its rugged, durable and robust design, which, according to Verizon, meets military specifications 810F standards (it is resistant to shock, dust, vibration, salt fog, humidity, solar radiation, altitude, and low and high temperature storage). They also include Push to Talk capabilities that can be used on Verizon Wireless’ Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network for quick communication.

In addition, the new phone comes with a 1300 mAh battery that can deliver extended usage, with a 2.0-megapixel photo snapper, Bluetooth 2.1 with support for headsets, object push (vCard and vCalendar only) and more, support for VZ Navigator (with audible turn-by-turn directions and the possibility to share directions with others). It also contains a personal organizer th... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:01:03 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Verizon-Wireless-Intros-Samsung-Convoy-126250.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Verizon-Wireless-Intros-Samsung-Convoy-126250.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Track-Your-Loans-On-the-Go-126367.shtml Loan Analyzer is one of those budget managers that help users keep track of their financial status even when they're not at home. Developed by iambic, Loan Analyzer is fully compatible with all Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 6 Professional Edition and above.

The application will help users store multiple accounts information, but can also give financial hints as to make some extra monthly or annual payments for early payoffs. The interface of the software is simple, intuitive and easy to use.

As soon as you install Loan Analyzer on your Pocket PC, you will be able to start filling in the numbers of your loans or financial obligations. Every account you create can contain information regarding credit cards, student loans, home mortgages, interest rates, loan terms, account numbers and more.

The best way to manage a long term loan or credit line can be Loan Analyzer, as it keeps track of your credit and you can plan ahead how much you can spend. Another positive feature of the application is the fact that it will help you determine a sustainable monthly payment to pay back your loan with the least interest possible. You can even generate amortization tables for your loan so you know exactly when and how much you're paying and the remaining balance you owe.

[table][row][col][/col][col][/col][col... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:09:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Track-Your-Loans-On-the-Go-126367.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Track-Your-Loans-On-the-Go-126367.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) http://news.softpedia.com/news/AT-T-Announces-Centennial-Communications-Acquisition-126365.shtml Wireless carrier AT&T has announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Centennial Communications Corp., and that the deal will improve its network coverage in the Midwest and Southeast United States, in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to the company, it plans on integrating Centennial’s networks and products with the existing AT&T offering.

At the same time, the carrier also announced that the new deal offers it the possibility to deliver broader wireless coverage, and that a number of around 893,000 former Centennial wireless subscribers would receive services from AT&T. Its network coverage has been enhanced in rural areas of Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio and Texas, and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“The addition of Centennial will enhance AT&T’s assets in wireless - a strategic priority and one of our biggest growth drivers - and service for customers of both companies,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “We’re excited to give Centennial wireless subscribers access to the nation’s fastest 3G network plus our premier lineup of smartphones and unmatched portfolio of applications and services.”

AT&T also revealed that it plans ... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:59:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/AT-T-Announces-Centennial-Communications-Acquisition-126365.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/AT-T-Announces-Centennial-Communications-Acquisition-126365.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/DROID-Makes-People-Line-up-in-Front-of-Verizon-s-Store-in-Big-Apple-126351.shtml Motorola DROID, the second mobile phone the handset maker delivers to the market with Google's Android operating system on board, and also the first Android device launched by Verizon Wireless, seems to have managed to get people line up in front of Verizon's store in Manhattan at midnight. The handset went on sale today, and the carrier's Manhattan store was opened from midnight to 2am to offer enthusiasts the possibility to get their DROID faster than others.

According to a recent article on Cnet, around 100 people lined up in front of the store on West 34th Street in New York City to get a piece of the DROID. A number of 13 sales representatives and four or five device specialists were in the store, showcasing the capabilities of the handheld and helping customers. Users were also helped to move their contacts to the new phone.

Verizon Wireless spokesman David Samberg has reportedly stated that the wireless carrier is confident it will manage to meet demand for the new device in Big Apple. It seems that the store in question alone had a number of around 500 Motorola DROID units available, as well as some HTC DROID ERIS handsets. According to Samberg, those willing to get the handset in New York today should be able to do so.

Big Red has high hopes for the newly launched A... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:06:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/DROID-Makes-People-Line-up-in-Front-of-Verizon-s-Store-in-Big-Apple-126351.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/DROID-Makes-People-Line-up-in-Front-of-Verizon-s-Store-in-Big-Apple-126351.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Behold-II-Shows-UI-on-Video-126339.shtml Wireless carrier T-Mobile is expected to soon add to its offering a new mobile phone that runs under Google's Android operating system, the Samsung Behold II, which is now reportedly slated for an official unveiling on November 12, 2009. Samsung and T-Mobile are set to announce the handset officially on that day, although the actual launch of the phone will only take place on November 18.

However, the fresh handheld will come as a great addition to T-Mobile's Android lineup, which already includes popular names like G1 (HTC Dream), myTouch 3G (THC Magic) or Motorola CLIQ. The price tag for the Behold II has reportedly been set at $249.99 upon the signing of a two-year contract agreement with the carrier, which might seem a little high.

Even so, the Samsung Behold II has a lot of capabilities and features to deliver to its users that should prove it deserves its price tag. A 3.2-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display is one of these features, accompanied by a 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, aGPS, and 16GB of internal memory space.

But the most appealing feature of this handset seems to be the TouchWiz user interface that Samsung packed inside it, which offers cube-based navigation. The Behold II is the first Android phone from the maker to come to the market with this UI, although its W... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:51:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Behold-II-Shows-UI-on-Video-126339.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Behold-II-Shows-UI-on-Video-126339.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/DROID-and-DROID-ERIS-Now-Available-for-Purchase-126312.shtml Mobile phone carrier Verizon Wireless has finally opened the purchase process for the highly anticipated Motorola DROID handset, its first device powered by Google's Android operating system, and for the HTC DROID ERIS, the second Android phone it offers to its users. Rumored for quite a few months now, the two devices can be purchased from Verizon's online store, as well as from the company's retail locations around the United States.

The Motorola DROID is also the first to sport the fresh Android 2.0 Eclair platform from Google. The handset is expected to prove the nicest and most powerful Android-based phone launched on the market during the ongoing year and it will certainly be able to make a lot of Verizon customers happy.

The specs list of the Motorola DROID shouldn't be a mystery to anyone, but a quick look at some of the most important ones deserves to be taken. Thus, we should mention a 3.7-inch touchscreen display (480 x 854 WVGA resolution, support for 16 million colors), a 5-megapixel photo snapper with great features, a sliding QWERTY keyboard, support for Visual Voice Mail, Google Maps with Navigation beta, social networking, microSD memory card slot with a 16GB card included, GPS, Wi-Fi, HTML Web Browser, 3.5mm headset jack and a battery that delivers up to 385 minutes of usage time.
read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:31:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/DROID-and-DROID-ERIS-Now-Available-for-Purchase-126312.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/DROID-and-DROID-ERIS-Now-Available-for-Purchase-126312.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/BlackBerry-Curve-8530-Comes-to-Verizon-Sprint-126304.shtml The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone, one of the latest mobile phones delivered to the market by Canadian handset maker Research In Motion, is set to make an appearance on the airwaves of two wireless carriers from the United States, namely Verizon Wireless and Sprint. Both operators announced that they plan on bringing the new smartphone to the market, with Big Red placing the release date on November 20.

The fresh device seems to be a great addition to the existing BlackBerry Curve series of handsets. It comes to the market with a full QWERTY keyboard and a touch-sensitive trackpad, aimed at offering a great typing experience to users, and has appealing features like built-in GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity, not to mention access to music, mobile apps and services.

The specifications list of the new mobile phone include a 528 MHz processor, 256 MB of flash memory, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, 3G-enabled, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), a 2.0-megapixel photo snapper with video recording, BlackBerry Media Sync, a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, support for BlackBerry App World, e-mail, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and social networking support, and a MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot with support for up to 32GB of additional storage space.

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 will also deliver access to a wide range of service, but they... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:56:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/BlackBerry-Curve-8530-Comes-to-Verizon-Sprint-126304.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/BlackBerry-Curve-8530-Comes-to-Verizon-Sprint-126304.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Best-Buy-Mobile-to-Sell-Google-Mobile-App-126286.shtml The mobile retail unit of Best Buy Co., Inc., Best Buy Mobile, has revealed the signing of an agreement with Google for the delivery of Google Mobile App to more customers. According to the company, this way, it becomes the first retailer in the US that partners with Google for the distribution of Google Mobile App on smartphones that are sold in-store.

“We know that consumers want smartphones and, increasingly, they want to use applications,” said Scott Moore, VP of Marketing for Best Buy Mobile. “The challenge is that people still need help understanding what is available to them and how they can bring it to life on their device. This partnership between Best Buy and Google serves that role and will go a long way in bringing applications to more consumers regardless of what device, carrier or platform they use.”

The retailer also announced the Walk Out Working program, a free in-store smartphone setup via which Best Buy Mobile associates will have the Google Mobile App installed on all compatible smartphones. Moreover, a new website is slated for launch as soon as November 9 is here, namely http://www.google.com/bestbuymobile. More details on the site can be found on Google's Mobile Blog.

What the Google Mobile App offers to users includes fast access to Google search from ... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Best-Buy-Mobile-to-Sell-Google-Mobile-App-126286.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Best-Buy-Mobile-to-Sell-Google-Mobile-App-126286.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Sells-10-Million-Star-Phones-126276.shtml South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung recently announced that it managed to sell more that 10 million units of its touchscreen-enabled Samsung Star. The handset (model number S5230) was launched on the market back in May 2009, and the manufacturer says that it is its first device to reach this milestone in such a short period.

At the same time, the company also noted that the Samsung Star is the sixth of its mobile phones that succeeds in surpassing the 10 million units barrier. Moreover, the handset is said to have outpaced the record of E250, a classic slider, which reached the 10 million mark in ten months after its original launch in November 2006.

Other highlights from Samsung's announcement include the fact that Star managed to be sold in more than 5 million units in four months after launch. According to the handset vendor, 700,000 units were sold in May, 900,000 units in June, and 1.6 million and 1.7 million units in July and August, respectively. September and October saw the sales surpassing 2 million units per month, and the handheld began to appeal to even more users all around the world.

“We've entered an era where full touch-screen mobiles are mainstream devices, and we are very pleased with the broad popularity of the Samsung Star,” said Young-hee Lee, Vice President of Mark... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:04:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Sells-10-Million-Star-Phones-126276.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Sells-10-Million-Star-Phones-126276.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nokia-Announces-Global-Music-Partnership-126270.shtml Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia recently announced the signing of a new global music partnership with the Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) and Universal Music Group International (UMGI). The unveiling of the new initiative, called Nokia Play 2010, coincides with the availability of the company's Nokia X6 Comes With Music handset, which delivers the company's “all-you-can-eat-music” offering to users.

According to Nokia, the new partnership is aimed at providing users with exclusive music content, and will include the launch of Rihanna's new album, Rated R, “via an exclusive live, streamed concert and simultaneous listening parties in multiple locations around the globe on November 16 2009.” The concert will include the performing of new tracks on the album, and will be streamed live from London, the company also noted. More details can be found here.

“Nokia is extremely excited to collaborate with Island Def Jam and Rihanna to truly redefine the connection between artists and fans and to deliver unique experience and content across the globe. History will be made on November 16th when Rihanna performs for a global audience via Nokia's live streamed concert to officially mark the launch of her much anticipated new album,” stated Liz Schimel, Head of Global Music, Nokia.
read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:44:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nokia-Announces-Global-Music-Partnership-126270.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nokia-Announces-Global-Music-Partnership-126270.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Orange-and-T-Mobile-Form-UK-Joint-Venture-126263.shtml Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom have agreed on plans to merge their operations in the UK, namely T-Mobile UK and Orange UK. As many of you might already know, the companies announced about two months ago that they were negotiating a possible merger of the two wireless operators, and it seems that now the agreement has been finally put in place.

The two announced on Thursday the signing of a formal agreement for combining their network operations in the UK. Deutsche Telekom chief financial officer said the following to Reuters, “Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom have committed themselves to a long-term partnership with this joint venture contract.”

The agreement is reportedly aimed at the creation of a 50:50 joint-venture. According to the deal, Deutsche Telekom will contribute T-Mobile UK on a cash-free, debt-free basis to the newly formed entity (T-Mobile UK's 50 percent holding in a 3G network joint venture with Hutchison, as well as gross tax losses of around £1.5 billion are included). At the same time, France Telecom will contribute the whole of Orange UK to the venture (£1.25 billion of intra-group net debt included).

As the companies indicate, the agreement is still subject to regulatory approval. However, it should be mentioned that the new joint venture will be... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:19:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Orange-and-T-Mobile-Form-UK-Joint-Venture-126263.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Orange-and-T-Mobile-Form-UK-Joint-Venture-126263.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Mobile-to-Be-Distributed-by-Bsquare-126257.shtml BSQUARE Corporation has announced today it has become the first company in the world that will distribute Microsoft's Windows Mobile software and mobility applications all around the world. As the recent agreement the two signed reveals, the software giant will provide to the market Windows Mobile licensing, as well as technical support, training and engineering services. Bsquare will work closely with OEMs for the development of Windows Mobile devices and for their distribution on both consumer and business markets.

According to Bsquare, it will start offering support for a number of around 30 select Windows Mobile partners, delivering licensing, technical support and go-to-market activities, as soon as the direct agreements these partners have with Microsoft will come to an end. As the company indicates, it is committed to helping these Windows Mobile OEMs to make their existing Windows Mobile products successful on the market.

“Being named Microsoft’s first Windows Mobile distribution partner is a significant milestone for Bsquare. Windows Mobile is the only mobile operating system that enables solution providers to offer seamless integration of applications and connectivity for device users to enterprise business centers making it the obvious choice not only for handsets but also for rugg... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:52:00 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Mobile-to-Be-Distributed-by-Bsquare-126257.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Mobile-to-Be-Distributed-by-Bsquare-126257.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/LG-Chocolate-Touch-Already-Available-from-Verizon-126234.shtml Mobile-phone carrier Verizon Wireless announced today the launch of a new mobile phone from LG Electronics, namely the LG Chocolate Touch. The new handset, rumored for quite some time now to be heading towards Verizon, is now available for purchase in the US, offering users the possibility to enjoy patented Dolby Mobile technology for a richer listening experience.

The features list of the new handset includes a 3.2-megapixel photo snapper that comes with video-recording capabilities, an image editor and others more, Bluetooth-capabilities (with support for a wide range of profiles, including headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, stereo, phonebook access, basic printing, object push for vCard and vCalendar, file transfer and more), FM radio with 12 presets, Song ID, and the Dolby Mobile equalizer.

Verizon's users will also enjoy a dedicated side key for an easy access to favorite songs with the new LG Chocolate Touch, as well as a sleek and compact form factor with rounded shapes and metallic finish, not to mention a touchscreen display, or the access to various social networking websites, including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and others.

The Dolby Mobile equalizer is meant o leverage the listening experience of any user, and offers features like:
- Sound Space for Headphones... (read more)]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2009 20:41:01 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/LG-Chocolate-Touch-Already-Available-from-Verizon-126234.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/LG-Chocolate-Touch-Already-Available-from-Verizon-126234.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Telecom-Companies-Team-on-Voice-and-SMS-Services-Over-LTE-126212.shtml A series of leading companies from the telecommunications industry have recently announced that they managed to define a preferred manner in which voice and SMS services on Long Time Evolution (LTE) should be easily introduced on upcoming networks all around the world. Industry leaders developed a technical profile for LTE voice and SMS services, which is known as the One Voice initiative.

The new, jointly developed profile describes “an optimal set of existing 3GPP-specified functionalities that all industry stakeholders, including network vendors, service providers, and handset manufacturers, can use to offer compatible LTE voice solutions.” According to the involved companies, the technical profile is also meant to ensure that international roaming and interoperability for LTE voice and SMS services will be available.

“Open collaborative discussions have concluded that the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) based solution, as defined by 3GPP, is the most applicable approach to meeting the consumers’ expectations for service quality, reliability and availability when moving from existing circuit switched telephony services to IP-based LTE services. This approach will also open the path to service convergence, as IMS is able to simultaneously serve broadband wireline and LTE... (read more)]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2009 20:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Telecom-Companies-Team-on-Voice-and-SMS-Services-Over-LTE-126212.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Telecom-Companies-Team-on-Voice-and-SMS-Services-Over-LTE-126212.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/T-Mobile-Posts-Lower-Net-Income-for-Q3-2009-126193.shtml Mobile phone carrier T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced today its financial results for the third quarter of 2009, and posted OIBDA (Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization) of $1.56 billion, down sequentially but up on a yearly basis, as well as total revenues of $5.38 billion for the time frame, up from the second quarter of this year ($5.34 billion), but down year on year ($5.51 billion in Q3 2008). T-Mobile announced net income of $417 million for the three-month period, down both sequentially ($425 million) and on a yearly basis ($442 million),

According to the wireless carrier, the third quarter of the ongoing year also marked a loss of 77,000 subscribers. T-Mobile ended the quarter with 33.4 million customers, down from 33.5 million in Q2 2009, but up from 32.1 million in the third quarter of the last year. The company's OIBDA went down from the $1.60 billion in the previous quarter, but increased when compared to the $1.53 billion it registered in the same time frame a year ago. However, the carrier managed to increase its coverage in the country by almost 50 percent in the quarter.

“In the quarter we took deliberate steps to align our operational cost structure to market realities while reasserting our position as the value leader in wireless,” said Robert Dotson, president and C... (read more)]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2009 19:21:02 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/T-Mobile-Posts-Lower-Net-Income-for-Q3-2009-126193.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/T-Mobile-Posts-Lower-Net-Income-for-Q3-2009-126193.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Smartphones-Register-Growth-Despite-Economic-Downturn-126168.shtml The global market for smartphones is registering steady growth although the world has been affected by the financial turmoil, a recent report for IDC notes. IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows that a total number of 43.3 million smartphones have been shipped during this year’s third quarter, marking a 4.2 percent growth from the 41.5 million units shipped during the same time frame a year ago, and up 3.2 percent when compared to the 41.9 million shipments from the second quarter of 2009.

“Demand for converged mobile devices (smartphones) has remained strong all year,” said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Devices Technology and Trends team. “These devices provide more utility and entertainment than traditional mobile phones. Moreover, users have plenty of devices from which to choose, whether it be a multimedia powerhouse, a messaging machine, or a social networking tool. As users expect greater functionality from their devices beyond telephony, we believe the converged mobile device market to grow faster than the overall mobile phone market.”

The top five mobile phone vendors in the quarter are Nokia, Research In Motion, Apple, HTC and Samsung, IDC states. Nokia maintained its leading position courtesy of its Nokia N97 smartphone... (read more)]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:41:01 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Smartphones-Register-Growth-Despite-Economic-Downturn-126168.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Smartphones-Register-Growth-Despite-Economic-Downturn-126168.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Mobile-6-5-Update-Available-for-Samsung-Jack-126160.shtml Samsung Jack, the Windows Mobile-based handset available for purchase in the US on the airwaves of AT&T, has just received an update to the latest flavor of Microsoft's mobile platform, namely Windows Mobile 6.5. As many of you might already know, the Samsung Jack has been released on the market earlier this year with Windows Mobile 6.1 on board, and now those who have purchased it can enjoy the latest flavor of the OS on their handsets.

The new software version is available for download from Samsung's website, where it is tagged as recommended. Users will have the opportunity to enjoy a series of new features on their handsets as soon as the update is performed, including access to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, a new Internet Explorer Mobile, Vlingo for Windows Phone, or AT&T Wi-Fi connectivity.

According to the South Korean mobile phone maker, the update process to Windows Mobile 6.5 will only take between 5-10 minutes on Samsung Jack (SGH-i637), considering that the system has been already prepared for the update. After updating their handsets, users will enjoy the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard Edition, the company adds.

Here's how the new features are described by Samsung:

- Windows Marketplace for Mobile: Discover apps that unlock the power of your Windows ... (read more)]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Mobile-6-5-Update-Available-for-Samsung-Jack-126160.shtml Telecoms http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Mobile-6-5-Update-Available-for-Samsung-Jack-126160.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire)