14 DAY TRIAL // This week has brought to light a nice series of news on various software updates for mobile phones or applications available around the world, along with the launch of few new mobile phones, powered by Android, Symbian or Windows Mobile. But the hottest news of all is that the Symbian Foundation has released the full open source code for the Symbian platform. This is one milestone that might change the future of the mobile phone industry, as Symbian is the leading OS on the market, and Android, another open platform, might soon join it at the top of the list.
Speaking of updated versions of software solutions for handsets, we should mention that OTA software update that users of a Nexus One by HTC received from Google, and which made multi-touch available for their devices. Moreover, the company also included the feature in the new Google Maps 3.4 available via the Android Market, which enables users of a Motorola DROID taste a functionality unavailable for them up until now. And if that is not enough for them, Verizon recommends a series of new applications for the handset, which might be just the thing to enhance their experience for the time being. And users of an HTC Hero on Orange UK can now download a new ROM upgrade available for them.
Sunnyvale-based handset vendor Palm is also set to launch a new flavor of its webOS platform for Pre and Pixi, namely webOS 1.4, and it already shed some light on what to expect from the update. Nokia will also introduce a new version of Symbian with future devices, the Symbian^3, and it already released new firmware updates for some of its already available phones, such as firmware v21 for the Nokia N97, software version 11.0.045 for the N97 mini, or firmware v31.012 for the Nokia E52. The company launched a new phone, the Nokia 6303i classic, and is also reported to prep the launch of an affordable smartphone, the Nokia C5.
Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5.3 became official this week, as it powers a new handset from Sony Ericsson, the just launched Aspen, should become available for Xperia X2 in May, and we already had the chance to take a look at its release notes. The Open NFC commercial-grade NFC protocol stack 3.4 was released with support for Windows Mobile 7, which should be heavily discussed at MIX10 during the 12 sessions Microsoft has set up for it, or at other events, and that Zune integration it is expected to feature has been explained a little.
Still, in the updated software area, we should mention a series of applications that tasted new flavors this week, including Nokia Ovi Suite 2.1 Beta and Image Exchange, VZ Navigator 5.0, the SBSH Calendar for BlackBerry, China Mobile's OPhone 2.0 with Windows Mobile API support, WordPress for Android 1.0, or Slacker Radio for Palm's webOS phones. In the near future, we should also see a new version of the BOLT browser with support for widgets, as well as that Flash Player 10.1 from Adobe, which won't be available for iPhone users, it seems. But the next version of Apple's device, confirmed via iPhone 3.2 SDK, might sport it, who knows.
Mobile phone maker Motorola has unveiled officially a new Android-based mobile phone for Verizon customers, the Motorola DEVOUR, which comes with appealing specifications, and is confirmed to plan launching its high-end Motorola MILESTONE device on TELUS in Canada as soon as February 18 is here. The company has launched the Motorola BACKFLIP in China as ME600, is said to plan launching the long rumored Zeppelin via T-Mobile as CLIQ XT, and stated loud and clear that it did not approve custom ROMs on its handsets. However, it seems that its Android phones won't be alone on Verizon's airwaves, as two LG Android devices might also arrive there, not to mention the already launched DROID ERIS, which has its source code available for download over at HTC.
Samsung is said to plan the launch of the first phone with Bluetooth 3.0 inside, the GT-S8500, has released a dual-SIM touchscreen phone in India, the B5722, delivered its first Android 2.1 handset to the market in Korea, the M100S, and should bring its first bada phone to market in March or April. Other pieces of info that might be of interest include the fact that carriers are gearing up for Apple's iPad, with AT&T included (the carrier might also get the Nexus One on its airwaves, and the same applies to Sprint), or that dual boot Windows Mobile-Android is easy to achieve. Nokia launched an Ovi Maps Racing Game, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 should arrive at Vodafone UK in April and at T-Mobile UK earlier, or that there are some special offers available for this year's Valentine's Day, including those from Nokia UK, or from AT&T or Sprint in the US.
