Sony Ericcson today announced is the K810 and K550 model Cyber-shot phones. This model has all of the benefits of a Cyber-shot phone in a small form factor at just 14mm thin. This model has a 2-megapixel camera with auto focus, LED photo light, and an active lens cover. The K550 Cyber-shot phone also features Bluetooth and picture blogging.A variant of the K550 is the K550im, which is the first Cyber-shot phone to support i-mode. imode is a service that gives users direct access to a large range of multimedia content and email.Both the K550 and K550im Cyber-shot phones are quad-band EDGE devices that will be available in select markets in Q1 2007. Color choices available include Jet Black or Pearl Black.At 120 g and 93 x 47 x 23 mm, the W550 is a bit of a pudgy phone. When turned on, the relatively small 1.8", 262K colour screen strikes one as both bright, clear and also sharp due to its resolution of 176 x 220 pixels - in fact, the screen is the exact same as those found in handsets such as the W800i and the K750i although the design of the handset makes it appear smaller. [Read]

Sony Ericsson today announces two new Walkman® phones; the W880/W888 and W610 build on the success of hit-models such as the W810 and to broaden the appeal of the Walkman® phone. 20 million Walkman® phones have been sold to date. Sony Ericsson also announces a suite of music accessories designed to enhance the Walkman® phone listening experience. At just 9.4mm thin, the W880/W888 is the slimmest Sony Ericsson phone yet and combines the full Walkman® phone experience with a device that fits easily into your pocket. The 1GB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) provided in-box gives you room to store up to 900 full length tracks*, whilst the host of innovative music applications (such as Walkman® Player 2.0 & Disc2Phone) make it easy to get music onto your phone in the first place & search through play lists once its there. All of this, plus a 2.0 megapixel camera, is packed into a UMTS phone that’s as slim as a standard CD case. [Read]

Sony Ericsson today announced four new 'candy bar' phones that make it simple to stay in touch. Of the four, the K200 and K220 are both camera phones, whilst the K220 again and the J120 bring music into an affordable segment with integrated FM Radios, complete with headsets. All four, including the J110, display Sony Ericsson’s signature styling and premium feel, yet manage to keep simplicity and ease-of-use at the heart of their design.K200 The K200 is all about having a camera on your phone just when you need it. The VGA camera and photo album are immediately accessible with just one click on the dedicated button. Given that the K200 has a slideshow view and will store up to 40 images, it’s easy for users to view their pictures in full screen and share them with friends. Navigating the phone couldn’t be easier either, as the menu can be set to a series of simple, single icons.  [Read]

Europe's biggest telecoms want to keep more of cell phone advertising in their pockets that hand it over to Google or Yahoo.  Some of Europe's biggest telecoms groups will hold talks next week about creating a mobile phone search engine.Vodafone, France Telecom, Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom, Hutchison Whampoa, Telecom Italia and American network Cingular will come together for talks at the industry's annual trade show in Barcelona, Spain, Britain's Sunday Telegraph reported. The operators believe that creating their own search engine could help them to "retain a greater share of advertising revenues", it added. "There is a big play in mobile search that we need to be part of, and we are exploring those options at a very high level," an unnamed British executive at one of the companies involved told the paper.However, The implications for existing deals between the networks and the US search companies are not clear.  Google has signed up Vodafone, Hutchison's 3 and T-Mobile, while Yahoo! has signed up Vodafone and 3.  This will be interesting. [Read]

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Verizon Wireless customers can purchase the iconic Chocolate by LG in luscious Strawberry Pink. The new Strawberry Chocolate features the same sleek, ultra-thin minimalist style, glowing red, touch-sensitive keypad and silky-smooth slider design as the traditional black, Cherry, Mint and White Chocolates, but with a sweet Strawberry Pink finish.Part phone, part mp3 player, Strawberry Chocolate comes fully-equipped with all the features and capabilities Verizon Wireless customers have come to expect, including V CAST and V CAST Music, a 1.3 megapixel camera, speakerphone, Bluetooth® capabilities for stereo headsets, VZ NavigatorSM and Chaperone Family Locator capabilities, and a microSDTM memory expansion slot that supports the newest SanDisk 2GB cards. The busy professional can even purchase a Mobile Office Kit and use Strawberry Chocolate as a modem to connect a laptop to the Verizon Wireless high-speed EV-DO network for quick and easy access to e-mail and the Internet. [Read]

This Valentine's Day, Verizon Wireless customers can set the mood with their favorite love songs in their choice of format – set a romantic song as a Ring Tone or Ringback Tone, download a favorite song through V CAST Music or watch that special music video on V CAST. With more than 1.5 million songs in the V CAST Music library and more than 20,000 Ring Tones and Ringback Tones to choose from, Verizon Wireless customers can find timeless tunes and some of today’s hottest hits for the most romantic day of the year. The following Ring Tones, Ringback Tones, V CAST Music full-track downloadable songs and V CAST music videos are available from Verizon Wireless: Ring Tones “Sexual Healing,” by Marvin Gaye, SonyBMG“Crazy In Love,” by Beyoncé, SonyBMG“Love Song,” by 311, SonyBMG [Read]

Verizon Wireless Chaperone service is now available on new handsets. The child-tracking service was only available on the LG Migo. Now Chaperone is available on the LG 3450L, LG VX8300, LG Chocolate and the Motorola KRZR K1m.Parents can use Chaperone which uses GPS to keep tracks on children. Once the child is equipped with Chaperone enabled cell phone and the service is activated on the account, parents can locate their child’s Migo phone from a PC via the Chaperone Web site (www.VerizonWireless.com/Chaperone). Optionally, parents can download the Chaperone application from the Get It Now® virtual store, at no charge, to conduct single location requests for the Migo phone directly from the parent’s Verizon Wireless phone. The Chaperone application for parents is available for use on a growing number of Get It Now-enabled phones.Chaperone costs either $9.99 or $19.99 monthly depending on the tier of service. That price is per handset (tracking multiple children means paying separate charges). [Read]

Motorola debuted its not-yet-available MOTORIZR Z3 phone at the 79th Annual Academy Awards. In recognition of their nominations, the top 25 nominees in the directing and four acting categories will receive a MOTORIZR – the first consumers in the U.S. to own Motorola’s brand-new form factor mobile phone. The phone’s sliding mechanism allows users to stay connected via a convenient and compact device that is sure to make a statement on the walk down the red carpet.In keeping with Motorola’s traditional Oscar phone efforts, each nominee’s phone is packaged in a custom made, keepsake box. This year, the MOTORIZR will be presented in a package reminiscent of a classic Hollywood dressing room door, complete with a personalized star with the category and name of each nominee.Merging an innovative slider design with an impressive feature set, the MOTORIZR delivers a dynamic mobile package for socially active, on-the-go consumers who demand style, fun and adventure. Uniquely crafted, the MOTORIZR features a thin, narrow slider form factor with familiar finishes, rich housing materials and a multi-modal design for using the phone in both the open and closed positions. [Read]

Verizon Wireless, today announced it is launching its next-generation high-speed wireless broadband network in cities throughout the country, giving customers the ability to upload files five to six times faster than before, giving them faster access to e-mail, everyday corporate data, the Internet and more. Based on CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) technology, the network enhancements will launch initially in Mass., including Boston and its suburbs, the Richmond and Hampton Roads, Va. areas, Chicago and its suburbs and including Gary, Ind., Salt Lake City and other cities in Utah, as well as in Florida throughout the state’s entire existing area of Verizon Wireless’ wireless broadband network. Verizon Wireless customers in those areas will have data uplink speeds significantly faster than the company’s award-winning national EV-DO network. [Read]

A little over a year after launching its innovative Push To Talk (PTT) service, Cingular Wireless, now part of the new AT&T, today gives customers the option of experiencing the service on a pay-per-use basis.Customers using one of several wireless phones can now use the company's PTT service, as needed, for $.15 per minute. In addition to having access to the largest PTT network coverage area, a customer can receive several enhanced PTT features unavailable on similar services offered by some other carriers including:Availability- unique icons allow PTT users to see if other PTT customers are available before making a PTT call.Convert to Cellular - enables a PTT call to be converted to a regular wireless voice call.  Calls with up to 30 participants can be converted effectively creating a mobile conference call.Voice Messaging - allows customers to send a voice message to one person or a whole group. [Read]

Motorola, Inc. recently unveiled the new MOTORAZRmaxx V6 Ferrari Challenge Mobile Phone Limited Edition.  The MOTORAZRmaxx V6 Ferrari Challenge Mobile Phone Limited Edition is a unique handset with HSDPA capability and offers a series of exclusive features: Ferrari emblem on the exterior glass, oar of the Ferrari F1 eight-cylindre engine accompanies the switching of the handset on or off, Images of the Ferrari F430 engine on the mini external displayImage of the Ferrari emblem on a grey Ferrari in the internal display.Thirty photographic images showing Ferrari F430 and Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli USA.The MOTORAZRmaxx V6 Ferrari Challenge Mobile Phone Limited Edition comes with a soft, hand-made carry case in Ferrari-red leather and delivers the capability to listen to music, browse the Internet and download content at extremely high speed, in a futuristic mix of metal and tempered glass.  [Read]

According to a presentation Ron Garriques, Motorola will be launching 3G versions of a number of popular models this spring.  Additionally, the company will introduce the high end SCPL platform.  Mr. Garriques recently gave a presentation (see it) to investors last week via a presentation.  The presentation showcased a 3G KRZR, the K3, as well as a redesigned 3G RIZR called the Z8. as well as a redesigned 3G RIZR called the Z8.Additionally, the presentation stated that a GSM/EDGE Q is still in the works, and a second generation model, the Q2, will be announced in both HSDPA and EV-DO versions at 3GSM next month. Mr. Garriques also mentioned the upcoming SCPL (Scalpel) line of handsets. He stated that these devices will be broadband capable, but didn't mention a launch date. Motorola has been talking about SCPL for over a year and it was originally believed to be the successor to the RAZR.  However, KRZR became the successor to the RAZR [Read]

The LiMo Foundation have been formed by Motorola, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Panasonic Mobile Communications, Samsung Electronics, and Vodafone have been established to develop a Linux-based open mobile communication device software platform. The LiMo Foundation will focus primarily on the joint development of a competitive Linux-based mobile platform, built around a common source code tree that can adapt to the evolving international market requirements. Members will work on the following:Establishment of safeguards to minimize fragmentationCollaboration on a mobile Linux developer ecosystemCo-operation with existing industry organizationsSecuring new members from across the industry: device manufacturers, operators, chip set manufacturers, independent software vendors, integrators and third party developers [Read]

Want to read a book on your cell phone?  Well according to a recent report by the Assocated Press, a novel consisting entirely of cell phone text messages has been published in Finland.  The story, "The Last Messages", written by Finnish author Hannu Luntiala, tells the story of a fictitious information-technology executive in Finland who resigns from his job and travels throughout Europe and India.  He keeps in touch with his friends and relatives only through text messages.His messages, and the replies (approximately 1,000) are listed in chronological order in the 332 page novel. The texts have grammatical errors and abbreviations commonly used in regular SMS traffic. Finnish publishing house Tammi is considering translating the book into other languages.  So maybe we will get a chance to read it! [Read]

Ok, it seems like everyone is trying to make a buck from the proliferation of mobile phones. Think of something unique and bring it to market!  Another company offering a unique cell phone service is Voce.Voce is offering the world’s first all-inclusive premium wireless service.  The major selling point is access to a personal assistant 24/7.  Dial 611 on your Voce phone and you'll get a live person that can help you with a variety of tasks.  From asking a question about your phone to helping you make dinner reservations, requesting a wake up all, updating you with sports scores, and researching any topic, a Voce personal assistant will help you.  You can receive the information by voice, e-mail or text messaging.Additionally as a Voce subscriber you'll get a brand new phone every year with any additional charges. Available cell phones include the Nokia 8801, Motorola PEBL, Nokia 7380, the Dolce and Gabanna version of the Motorola Razr, and the Palm Treo 650 & 680 (coming soon). [Read]

Can you believe there are more cell phone subscribers at China Mobile than people in the entire United States of America?  This is according to numbers posted by China Mobile on its website.  China Mobile finished last year with 301.2 million cell phone subscribers, just above the U.S. population of 300.9 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.That is absolutely phenomenal!  Growth at China Mobile has exploded since it first hit the 100 million subscriber mile stone back in July 2002.  It only took the company a little over 1.5 year to add an additional million subscribers to 201 million subscribers.   How does the company keep pace with such an aggressive growth rate?  There are still millions of potential subscribers to sign up.  China currently has a population of 1.4 billion.  The company is currently aggressively marketing their services to continue the unreal growth rate!   India is not too far behind!   India is signing up over 6 million cell phone subscribers per month over the past few months, compared to 5 million per month in China. [Read]

Want to record your cell phone conversation so you can go back and prove someone told you something?  Or maybe you just have a really bad memory. Or maybe you are a politician who one day would like to write his/her memoir, so you want to record your conversations when you are out of the office.  Well buddy you are in luck!A new service has been launched by Record Cell Phones.com.  The service enables cell phone users to keep digital audio recording of their cell phone conversations without the need for extra equipment.  The service is available at RecordCellPhones.com.The ability to record cell phone conversations have always meant plugging in a bulky extra piece of equipment to your phone.  [Read]

Now you can get Fox News on your cell phone.  Fox News has started a new service that will let cell phone users access an audio feed of the cable channel.  The live feed will be available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week by dialing "#FOXN" on your cell phone. The service starts with Cingular at a costs of $2.99 per month plus applicable per-minute airtime charges.Fox News has partnered with Single Touch Interactive, an Encinitas, Calif., which has existing deals with BET (Black Entertainment Television) and Univision. However, Fox News will be the first news channel to have a Single Touch audio stream.It's far from the first mobile deal for Fox News. There is a special mobile Internet site that allows cell and BlackBerry users to access a quick-loading site. The channel has been available for more than a year as a live video stream on Sprint, with almost a million subscribers. [Read]

New York City will be developing a system for accepting cell phone pictures from citizens in its 911 and 311 call centers.  PowerPhone, a 911 training and technology company, unveiled the first system for delivering cell phone pictures from 911 callers right to call handlers last August at the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials Annual Conference.  Called Incident Linked Multimedia (ILM), it is  part of PowerPhone's Total Response Computer Aided Call Handling software.In a recent study conducted in Europe, over 50% of cell phone users said they would use their camera phone to record evidence of a crime and 47% said they would take pictures of a crime in progress.  While some public safety agencies have started accepting cell phone pictures to a generic e-mail address, PowerPhone's ILM system is the first that integrates these photos directly into a 911 call record.PowerPhone's ILM system works as follows: 1 - A cell phone user calls from their cell phone to report an emergency or suspicious activity (i.e., a suspicious man lurking outside an unoccupied house). [Read]

Alltel Wireless today announced the launch of Celltop, an exclusive, patent-pending technology, built on Qualcomm's BREW uiOne platform that offers customers an easier way to access, manage and organize a wide range of information already available on their Alltel Wireless phones. Celltop gives customers more control over their wireless experience through a unique and fully-customizable technology similar to the desktop on a personal computer.Now available on select Alltel Wireless handsets, and on all new phones by late-2007, Celltop is free-of-charge and features 10 "cells" that come pre-installed and via download. Each cell is a category-specific half screen comprised of graphics and text that provides shortcuts for wireless users to navigate through information and applications including: call log, weather, news, baseball, basketball, football, rodeo, stocks, text messaging inbox and ringtones.As part of Celltop's extensive array of customization options, users can also modify the appearance, presentation and organization of information within each cell.  [Read]