Nokia N76 Now SIM Free - N76 Nokia Unlocked UK

The Nokia N76 flip phone has now been made available as a SIM free handset, consumers can now buy the N76 from Nokia, unlocked to all UK networks and insert their SIM card to retain their existing mobile number and account deatils.

The SIM free Nokia N76 is a good idea for those who do not want to be tied into another lengthy contract period or pay the extra line rental charges of a new agreement.

A 3G phone, the Nokia N76 which runs on a Symbian S60 Operating System, combines the latest technology with an outstanding design.
The feature list is long and very attractive. To start there’s the 2.0 mega pixel camera with video recording capabilities and a built-in flash and zoom plus a secondary camera for face-to-face video calling.
And with the 2.4 inch display screen in 16 million colours, photos can be edited before being transfered to your PC at the touch of a button.
Put the screen in landscape mode and experience the absolute pleasure of surfing the net whilst on the go. With fast downloads you can even check if there are any new services or software for your N76 Nokia or simply search for any local services, restaurants or bars or why not just take some time out to go shopping for yourself and loved ones.
Then you’ve got the Personal Management Information Package which includes its own calendar, to do list and printing option and not forgetting the featured Push to Talk technology.
Boasting 3G services, the Nokia N76 additionally offers Bluetooth and EDGE technology, plus email client.
The N76’s MP3 Player includes built-in Stereo FM Radio and dedicated music keys, along with the standard 3.5 mm headset jack and the ability to store up to 1500 of your favourite tracks, which is easily achieved with the expandable memory taking you upto 2Gb.
So for business or pleasure, the new Nokia N76 flip phone has it all!

Source : http://blog.phoneslimited.co.uk/

Next Windows Mobile version arriving next week

Microsoft is getting ready to take the wraps off the latest version of Windows Mobile, according to a report out Tuesday.

Pocket Lint is claiming that Microsoft will release Windows Mobile 6.1 next Tuesday, which happens to be the day that Microsoft's Robbie Bach, head of the Windows Mobile team, is planning to give a keynote address at the CTIA Wireless conference in Las Vegas. Purely a coincidence, I'm sure, although it will be April Fool's Day.
Windows Mobile 6.1 will be the first major update to ship since version 6.0 made its debut last year. Screenshots that leaked out earlier this year hinted that 6.1 would use a sleeker interface, cutting down on some of the clutter in the 6.0 version.

The sixth version came with some incremental improvements to Windows Mobile 5.0, according to CNET's review of WM 6. But next year, Microsoft is expected to take a nod from Apple's OS X and release a touch-screen-oriented user interface as part of Windows Mobile 7.

I'll be at CTIA next week for Bach's keynote address along with several colleagues, as we check out the latest from Microsoft's smartphone group. At the moment, Windows Mobile phones are quite popular with the CNET News.com crowd, but there's not a single company in this industry that isn't re-examining its future road map after watching the debut of the iPhone.

source : http://www.cnet.com.au/

Sony Ericsson W880i Black Mobile Phone Review

Sony Ericsson W880i black mobile phone is a smart and slim Walkman music phone. This model comes in a black or polished purple coloured covering which looks impressive and also fashionable. This model is packed with lot advanced and the modest technologies such as Digital camera, Bluetooth, MMS and more.

This Sony Ericsson W880i is a candy bar type handset that comes with a large 1.8 inches TFT colour display screen and with ease to use menu navigation. This W880i comes in a light weight of just 71 grams and with the dimensions of 103 x 46.5 x 9.4 mm. This model features an integrated 1.3 MP digital camera along with digital zoom that allows you to capture all your unforgettable moments in your phone. In addition to this, you will find an editing option to edit and manipulate the images based on your choice. The foremost feature in this Sony Ericsson W880i is the PlayNow™ function that helps you to download ring tones in just three clicks. Amazingly, you can download the latest java games and play it in your mobile phone at anytime. Apart from call features, it acts as a great entertainer and a best companion.

Sony Ericsson W880i features the internet facility that lets you to send and receive the emails anywhere around the world. With support of WAP Facility in this handset you can access the information like weather, news, health info etc. This model supports GPRS feature that offers moderate speed data transfer facility and offers faster WAP browsing, mails etc. RSS feeds are the special feature that helps you to reduce the time taken for downloading.

Then another significant feature in this Sony Ericsson W880i is that it works on three GSM frequency bands such as 900, 1800 and 1900MHz. Similarly, like other handsets it supports MMS, Blue tooth connectivity, MP3, Organizer etc.

The Sony Ericsson W880i black mobile phone is a small and slim model with highly advanced technologies packed inside. Though it is little expensive it has all the advanced functions and looks professional with easy to use navigation menus.

source : http://www.feelphones.com/

Sony Ericsson T250i

The mobile industry has become so competitive these past few years that all manufacturers are doing their best to go one up against each other. Some companies are doing their best to introduce innovative designs and state of the art technologies towards consumers while others tries to maintain and strengthen their hold on the market with their tried and tested handsets.

The Sony Ericsson brand will always come up whenever we talk about these companies. They are one of the leading manufacturers of mobile handsets and its range of Sony Ericsson mobile handsets has captured a large portion of the global market. Sony Ericsson has designed a wide array of handsets that are extremely popular among mobile users. One of its most impressive creations is the T250i.

Like most of its previous handsets, Sony has once again stamped this phone with its trademark technical finesse in design and beauty. The highlights of this phone includes messaging which provides users with the facility of sending text messages of unlimited number of words. For very long text messages, the phone itself is equipped to divide the message into parts and then delivering them. Apart from this, the phone is also equipped with MMS or Multimedia Messaging Service, which allows users to send and receive video clips.

The T250i is also a good mobile device where you can be connected to the internet. The T250i is incorporated with web service and users can access any websites by their T250i phone. Thus, users can browse the Internet or send and receive e-mails through the phone.

The T250i is equipped with infrared port, which enables the users to transfer items between the computer and the mobile without any cable connection.

Like the majority of Sony’s handset, the T250i also comprises of an in-built camera of 0.3 mega pixels. Throw in a in-built FM radio, then you have basically everything you need in a phone. Having a radio allows users to listen to songs with the help of the simple handset. This radio is available with stereo headset in the kit.

Apart from the above mentioned facilities, the T250i comprises of features like stopwatch, timer, alarm clock, calculator and calendar. The phone also comprises of multidirectional navigation key.

Considering these features, it can be stated that the Sony Ericsson T250i is a decent and standard phone and excellent for everyday use. Its sleek design gives it a very modern and chic look.

source : http://www.camera-core.co.uk/

Samsung Cuts Sales Forecast

Samsung Electronics Co. trimmed its sales forecast for this year on global economic woes, but said profit will increase, helped by earnings growth in key areas such as memory chips, flat-panel displays and mobile handsets.

"Global economic uncertainty will continue this year, affecting our management conditions," Chief Executive Yun Jong-yong said Friday at the annual shareholders' meeting. "We expect competition to become fiercer globally amid higher oil prices and the dollar's weakness."

Samsung aims to raise its 2008 sales by 10 percent on year, Yun said, without providing specific figures. The forecast is lower than the 15 percent on-year increase it projected in January.

But Yun said he expects Samsung's profit in 2008 to be higher than last year's as the company focuses on its four key businesses - semiconductors, handsets, LCD panels and TV sets.

Capital investment will be at a similar level to that of last year, he added.

Samsung, the world's largest memory chip maker, posted 7.43 trillion won ($7.61 billion) in net profit in 2007 on a parent basis, up 12 percent from a year earlier. Sales rose 7 percent to 63.18 trillion won ($64.7 billion).

Some analysts expect Samsung to report first-quarter results next month with the chip business in the red for the first time since 2001, weighed by a sharp fall in chip prices.

Source : http://www.examiner.com/

592Kbps EDGE Downloads Offered by Nokia Siemens Networks Upgrade

Today Nokia Siemens Networks announced the launch of its new Dual Carrier EDGE upgrade for its 2.5G network base stations. This new software upgrade will allow networks using Nokia Siemens equipment to boost EDGE data speeds on their networks by 100%, bringing EDGE into proper 3G territory. Nokia Siemens has claimed that its new Dual Carrier EDGE solution will be able to offer mobile EDGE devices download speeds that reach 592Kbps. The new software upgrade will be available to carriers in Q3 of this year.

Nokia Siemens also says that it is already working on the next generation of EDGE, EDGE Evolution (also known as EGPRS 2). The company claims that EDGE Evolution devices will enjoy download speeds of up to 1.2Mbps and upload speeds as fast as 473Kbps, which by most standards today would qualify as mobile broadband connectivity.

No word yet from Nokia Siemens Networks as to what type of additional hardware or software support cell phones will require before they will be able to enjoy the faster EDGE data rates, but we do not expect that the upgrades will work retroactively on existing devices.

source : http://www.mobileburn.com/

Nokia 6300i GSM, VoIP Phone Introduced

Nokia today introduced the Nokia 6300i, a GSM mobile phone offering a fully integrated VoIP (Voice over IP) client. Ideal for connections from the home office, the Nokia 6300i can browse, download applications and make VoIP calls effortlessly.

The Nokia 6300i features VoIP, high-speed WLAN Internet connection, a 2.0-megapixel camera, expandable memory, built-in MP3 player and FM radio. The 30 MB internal user memory and 512 MB microSD card provide extra storage. A set of new applications such as Nokia Maps, WidSets and Download! ensures consumers can get the information when they need it. The 6300i allows up to two thousand VoIP, home and mobile numbers to be listed side-by-side and dedicated WLAN and VoIP symbols to show the connection status and type of phone call, whether it is using GSM network or VoIP.

The Nokia 6300i, which is estimated to start shipping in the second quarter of 2008 in select markets with an estimated retail price of EUR 175, before taxes and subsidies.

source : http://www.mobiledia.com/

Nokia N95 Updated with Flash Lite 3 and Web Runtime

The venerable Nokia N95 has received a much-anticipated firmware update today, v21.0.016, bringing integrated Flash Lite 3 and Web Runtime support to this original N95 model. The firmware update is available to users through the Nokia Software Updater software built into Nokia's PC Suite.

Integrated Flash Lite 3 enables the S60 Web Browser to display online video content from sites such as YouTube directly in the phone's browser, eliminating the need for 3rd party applications. Web Runtime support allows developers to create robust and lightweight web applications using standards-based web technologies.

The Nokia N95-1 features a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, Carl Zeiss optics. WiFi, quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and WCDMA (2100MHz) is also on board, right next to the built-in GPS receiver. This slider smartphone uses the Symbian operating system with Nokia's S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 user interface.

source : http://www.mobileburn.com/

Ofcom Approves Mobile-Phone Services on U.K. Aircraft

U.K. telecommunications regulator Ofcom will allow mobile-phone services on U.K.-registered aircraft if airlines get authorization from European aviation authorities.

The decision was developed with other European Union countries, Ofcom said today in a Regulatory News Service statement. The European Aviation Safety Agency and the U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority will need to authorize the systems before they can be installed, the regulator said.

The Ofcom announcement comes less than a week after the first authorized in-flight mobile-phone call on a commercial flight took place -- on an Emirates flight from Dubai to Casablanca, according to London-based satellite operator Inmarsat Plc. The call was sent over Inmarsat's satellite network.

Calls will be routed via satellites, Ofcom said. The on- board networks and handsets will be switched off during take-off and landing to ensure they do not interfere with other networks.

Calls from aircraft will be billed through passengers' service providers, Ofcom said.

Carriers such as Ryanair Holdings Plc, Europe's biggest discount airline, are looking to ancillary services including wireless phone offerings to boost revenue as ticket prices slide. In February, Ryanair said onboard tests of mobile-phone services would begin in April.

Qantas and Air France are testing mobile-phone services, Inmarsat said in a statement today.

source : http://www.bloomberg.com/

Motorola to break up firm in 2009

Motorola says it will split into two companies next year, as it attempts to revive its flagging mobile phone unit.

One business will concentrate on making mobile phones, while the second will make television set-top boxes and other communications equipment.

Investors have been demanding action as Motorola has been losing market share to Nokia and Samsung and shares have fallen 40% over the last year.

But some analysts were disappointed the split would not come until 2009.

"It could be 18 months before it happens, by which time the outlook for either of the businesses could be completely different," said Nomura analyst Richard Windsor.

Motorola's phone unit lost $1.2bn (£0.6bn) in 2007 and sales plummeted 33%.

The company has struggled to find a successor to the successful "Razr" phone.

Analysts say that once divided the mobile phone business might merge, or partner, with a Chinese or Japanese rival.

"I suspect it's a prelude for a joint venture for the mobile devices business," said Tero Kuittinen, an analyst at Avian Securities.

source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Nokia 6210 Navigator- Finding Your Way for You

The Nokia 6210 Navigator replaced the Nokia 6110 Navigator. This sliding mobile phone has plenty of excellent features to make it a success. However, the most notable feature that it has is the application created by Nokia, none other than Nokia Maps 2.0! Also, for those of you who were not satisfied with the 3G the previous Navigator had, this time around you are sure to have satisfaction guaranteed!

The main focus of this mobile phone is to provide pedestrian users very accurate directions. The previous Navigator had only a typical navigation. The 6210 also has an integrated accelerometer. This will turn the map provided in the phone into the right direction depending on where you are headed. Also, you are sure to appreciate the phone’s integrated compass. This will keep the map in your phone updating regularly while you are on foot. The update rate is quiet a reasonable one. This means then that the Nokia 6210 Navigator will provide you with a ‘turn by turn’ guidance! This mobile phone also comes with a standard car mount. So, it would not only benefit you when you are walking, but also when you are driving! This mobile phone also packs some more cool features. It comes with a microSD card of 1 GB. It also has FM radio features along with the MP3 player. Moreover, it has a 3.2 megapixel camera and Bluetooth 2.0. Its internal storage amounts to 120 MB and has a 3.5 G HSDPA (High- Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. You can also use the 6210 Navigator for navigating your way around even if there is no SIM card inside! If you want to have more multimedia city guides and maps, you can easily buy them from maps.nokia.com. The Nokia 6210 Navigator is indeed one handy device, especially for those with no sense of direction!

source : http://www.freepressreleases.co.uk/

iPhone’s mobile Safari browswer still gaining popularity

The sheer number of people with iPhones is having more and more of an effect on the browser market. The mobile version of Safari has seen exponential growth in the past few months, especially since this past holiday season. In December of 2007, mobile Safari had a market share of .14 of one percent. Remember that this is comparison to full-fledged browsers like FireFox and Internet Explorer. Now, mobile Safari has jumped to .23 of a percent, an increase of 65 percent. At this point, the only browser ahead of the iPhone’s is Nokia’s… and just try to imagine how many Nokia phones there are out there.

source : http://www.iphonematters.com/

Modu claims lightest mobile phone; Will you buy it?

Modu on Tuesday touted its Guinness World Record for the lightest mobile phone–weighing in at 1.41 ounces–but is that a reason to buy it?

The question is largely academic since modu–an Israeli company founded by Dov Moran, who sold msystems to SanDisk–launched just a month ago. However, how important is it to have the lightest phone?

Given the need to surf the Web and get a good data experience, I reckon that being lightweight isn’t the most important quality. Of course, you don’t want to lug around a brick, but you’re not going to sweat a few ounces here and there.

What makes modu interesting is that its a modular mobile phone. Think Legos. You buy the modu and then tack on accessories to add features. So far, the modu story is one for the emerging markets and abroad. Partners include: Bee-Line (VimpelCom), Cellcom, Telecom Italia, Blaupunkt, Magellan Navigation Inc., SanDisk, Card Guard, Tele Atlas, Universal Music Group, WorldMate, Amphenol, ChiMei, In4Tel, Texas Instruments, Renesas, RiTdisplay, SKY MobileMedia and Varta.

Bottom line: modu is worth watching even if today’s Guinness World Record spiel isn’t going to drive sales.

source : http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8298

A Mobile Future

Imagine having internet access anywhere, every minute of every day. Or being able to pull up any document or presentation, and get directions to the local coffee shop--all without a computer.

With today's smartphones, all these things are possible. A recent study from In-Stat found that 8 percent of regular business travelers have ditched their land lines and rely solely on their mobile phones. And while some people do consider mobile phones little computers, the current phones are only glimpses of their true potential.

Reaching People

For starters, mobile phones offer huge advertising potential. "As larger screens become more common, we're going to see new opportunities in mobile marketing," says Michael Gartenberg, analyst at Jupitermedia Corp.

According to the Mobile Advertising Report from Nielsen Mobile, 58 million U.S. mobile users said they were exposed to advertising over a 30-day period. Between the second and fourth quarter of 2007, mobile users exposed to ads jumped 38 percent.

Networking via smartphone is also bringing people together. Established networks like LinkedIn, Facebook and Friendster are joining the mobile social network. Other startups like Dodgeball, which is now owned by Google, Loopt and Socialight use location-based software, which takes advantage of mobile phones' ubiquity.

"Much of mobile today is replicating the functionality in some stripped-down format of what people have on the desktop," Gartenberg says. He predicts that mobile phone applications will soon rely less on desktop replications and be optimized for their unique form.

Software Magic

Since they're small enough to fit in your hand, mobile phones also offer unique software opportunities. GestureTek Mobile was recently awarded the GSM Association's Mobile Innovation Global Award for its EyeMobile Engine, which uses the phone's camera to create a gesture-based interface. Users shake, rock or move the device to do things like answer calls or flip through pictures, similar to playing the Nintendo Wii.

KnfbReading Technologies allows users to capture text items with the phone's camera and have the text read aloud. This technology was developed to help the visually impaired. Imagine being on a business trip ready to make yourself a cup of coffee in your hotel room, except that you can't read whether the package says decaffeinated or caffeinated. Problem solved.

PC Mobilizr from Rove Mobile allows users to connect to their home or work PC remotely and use their mobile screen to navigate, access and modify any file they want from their phone.

If you've ever punched in an address on a tiny mobile keyboard you know it can be cumbersome. Ask.com Mobile launched a new service at the beginning of this year that allows users to receive directions on their mobile device simply by speaking their start and end points.

Despite these amazing innovations, the iPhone or Google's upcoming mobile platform Android lead us further into the future of mobile phones.

The Future According to Giants

Big-name companies have picked up the trend of mobile smartphones. In less than a year, the iPhone garnered a 28 percent smartphone market share, according to Apple CEO Steve Jobs. That puts the iPhone behind Research in Motion, maker of the BlackBerry (41 percent), and ahead of Palm (9 percent).

"If we were having a conversation a little over a year ago, we wouldn't be talking about Google or Apple because neither one of them were in the mobile market," says Gartenberg. "Today, these are the companies that dominate the conversation. There's no doubt in my mind that 2008 is going to become a very pivotal year. The rate of growth and acceleration, if anything, is getting faster and not slowing down."

In the first week of March, Apple announced it was adding enterprise features to the iPhone, like compatibility with Microsoft Exchange and remote wiping of the device. It also announced it was opening the iPhone platform for outside software developers to create original phone applications.

In response, VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers announced a $100 million fund, appropriately called the iFund, to encourage entrepreneurs to build new software for the iPhone.

While information on Google's Android is still pending, and the phone is set to release later this year, Gartenberg says the mere fact that it is a Google product gives it immediate legitimacy in the market.

One thing we do know is that touchscreen, motion- and location-based technologies, synchronization with the web, widgets and more are the immediate future of mobile devices. However, these phones still have a way to go.

"You look at the core experience of the phone, which is to make voice phone calls and there hasn't been a whole lot of improvement in that experience," Gartenberg says.

A Different Spectrum

That said, the FCC has begun the process of auctioning off a spectrum of airwaves that has companies such as Google, AT&T and Verizon all vying for the waves that can send signals farther, with less power, over wider territories and with the capability of penetrating dense walls. Gartenberg believes a lot of focus will be on improving the phone experience and says this spectrum will be a major catalyst for tomorrow's smartphone innovations.

While you wait, it's nice to know that the innovations are coming fast and furious.

source : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

Email@Mobile rolls out first free mobile email id

With mobile computing gaining prominence with each passing day, Adroit Claretdene Infotech on Monday announced the launch of a new mobile email solution - email@mobile which will allow worldwide mobile users to own a free mobile email ID which shall be accessed over any ordinary mobile phone capable of internet browsing.

Users can now use their existing mobile phone with WAP 1.2 and above browser to wirelessly access their new e-mail box as well as register for new email ID through their basic mobile phone.

email@mobile is the first solution of its kind which allows users to register for new email ID through a mobile phone.

Unlike other free Web-Mail services, email@mobile is built on the idea that users should neither have to rush to their computer nor buy an expensive mobile phone just for accessing their emails.

"So far people have heard the concept of Free Web Mail which allows one to check emails on one's computer via a web browser, with email@mobile email IDs we have introduced the concept of Free Mobile Mail, accessible on ordinary GPRS enabled mobile phones, which will be more spontaneous, effective, and convenient," said Arvind V. CEO with Adroit Claretdene Infotech.

"There are companies providing mobile access to existing web-mail but the device compatibility and monthly subscription charges are the major constraints" Arvind added.

Users can read text/ attachments, reply or compose new email, delete or send email, set up address book and avail other features what a web-mail program offers - from a basic mobile handset.

Users neither have to buy any smartphone/PDA nor install any software on the mobile phone. All that is required is a mobile phone capable of Internet browsing.

source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

China end-Feb mobile phone users 565 mln - Xinhua

China's mobile phone users totaled 565 mln at the end of February, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement from the industry and information ministry.

The report did not give a growth rate for mobile phone users.

It said fixed-line subscribers declined by 3.26 mln year-on-year to 362 mln.

In the first two months of 2008, China added 17.94 mln new mobile users, with the telecom sector's revenue at 122.03 bln yuan, up 10.1 pct, the report said.

source : http://www.forbes.com/

Icahn Sues Motorola For Mobile Phone Document Access

Motorola (NYSE:MOT)'s second largest shareholder, Carl Icahn, on Monday said he's suing the communications company in order to obtain records detailing the vendor's strategy for its struggling mobile device business and documents pertaining to the use of a corporate jet by top Motorola executives and their families.

In a statement, Icahn said he's filing a lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware ordering Motorola to allow him to inspect the requested materials.

"Over the past 12 months the statements and predictions of Motorola's management and the Board about Mobile Devices business have too often proven to be wrong," the billionaire activist and financier wrote in a statement. "We want to ascertain what the board could have done in the exercise of its fiduciary duty to assure Motorola stockholders that Motorola's statements and predictions were not incorrect and would not provide Motorola stockholders with an inaccurate perspective on the prospects for the mobile devices business."

Icahn said he demanded materials to determine whether Motorola's board failed in setting the vendor in the right direction, but said Motorola would not comply with his demand. Motorola could not be immediately reached for comment.

Icahn is seeking materials including board and committee minutes relating to the service and selection of Motorola's senior officers; the prospects or strategy of Motorola's mobile devices business; and the realignment of its business regarding mobile devices, including the potential spinoff of the mobile devices business.

Icahn also seeks to look at any documents provided to Motorola's board regarding matters disclosed in certain press releases and conference calls concerning Motorola's performance, particularly those that mentioned improvements or changes in the mobile devices business that have not come to fruition.

Lastly, Icahn is looking for documentation showing the use of Motorola's corporate aircraft and other property by members of senior management, the board of directors and their families, including the aircraft's use for personal reasons. The request also includes all records regarding reimbursements to Motorola.

"We demanded these materials for the purposes of enabling us to investigate whether and to what extent the board of directors for Motorola failed in their duties as directors in supervising management and setting policy and direction for Motorola," Icahn said.

Icahn also urged stockholders to vote for new directors of Motorola at the 2008 annual stockholders meeting, scheduled for May 5.

In addition to his statement, the New York-based Icahn issued a letter to shareholders, highlighting Motorola's struggles.

"As we all are painfully aware, over the past 18 months, the market value of Motorola has dropped by over $37 billion," he wrote. "More than $17 per share of stockholder capital has vanished under the 'guidance' and 'leadership' of the current board."

In the letter, Icahn details a situation that has "gone from bad to worse," noting that this year was supposed to be a successful and profitable year in mobile devices with the potential to achieve 10 percent operating margins in the near future. Instead, Icahn said, it has become a "stockholders' nightmare."

This isn't the first time Icahn has squared off against Motorola. Last year, Icahn argued that Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola needed true stockholder representation on the board of directors, a battle he lost in a close election during last year's proxy contest.

"Motorola's board and management made enough empty promises to convince stockholders to give them another change to get it right," he wrote. "They didn't. What we got instead was a year of revolving-door executives, a leadership vacuum, and accelerating deterioration of Motorola's Mobile Devices unit."

He plans to use the materials he obtains through the lawsuit as part of his ongoing battle to win four seats on Motorola's board. Icahn has nominated former Viacom CEO Frank Bondi, WR Hambrecht & Co. founder and CEO William Hambrecht, MIT professor and semiconductor materials processing expert Lionel Kimberling and Icahn Enterprises CEO Keith Meister for spots on the board.

Icahn now owns 6.3 percent of Motorola shares. In the final quarter of the year, Motorola told investors that net profit dropped 84 percent and sales of mobile phones fell 38 percent, while rivals Nokia and Samsung continued growth.

Along with dipping profits, Motorola faced other challenges in 2007, including CEO Ed Zander stepping down.

Recently, Motorola has said it is considering selling or spinning off its cell phone division, which is now headed by Greg Brown, Zander's successor. Icahn has said he supports spinning off the devices division.

source: http://www.crn.com/

Mobile contract complaints on the rise

Complaints about mobile phone contracts could be up by over a quarter on last year’s figures if they continue at their current rate.

So far this year, only second-hand cars have generated more complaints than mobile phones, according to figures obtained by Mobile .

A total of 32,496 calls were made about contracts during the whole of 2007, and if complaints continue at the current rate they will hit just over 43,000 by the end of the year.

Government watchdog Consumer Direct received 7,239 calls from unhappy consumers about mobile phone service agreements during the first two months of 2008.

The only sector with more complaints was second hand cars, which generated 11,093 calls.

Calls about mobile phone hardware reached 4,029 during January and February.

source : http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/

Motorola's first AWS RAZR - The Motorola MOTORZR V3s

Just how long can Motorola milk their RAZR brand? Well, they're going on 4 years now - ever since the MOTOROLA RAZR first revved-up the industry in 2004. We can't blame them for trying to wring as much revenue out of the RAZR's success, but the whole thing is starting to get a little tired at this point.

The FCC has revealed a new RAZR in the MOTORZR V3s. What's new? Well, the "A" in "RAZR" has been axed in favor of an all-consonant setup - RZR. But, more interesting is the MOTORZR V3s spec-sheet that indicates CDMA support on the AWS 1700Mhz frequency band (you know, the same AWS spectrum that T-Mobile USA is using for their 3G network). With a 800/1700/1900Mhz CDMA radio in tow, the RZR V3s is Motorola's first AWS-compatible handset.

Nothing much else is innovative about the "new" RZR handset, so go about your business. Just know that Motorola is seemingly on-board with AWS.

source : http://www.intomobile.com/

Samsung’s latest phone is the Miniskirt

Samsung have announced a new phone with an odd name The phone in question is called the Samsung Miniskirt Season 2 (or the even-less intuitive SCH-C225, SPH-C2205, and SPH-C2255), a title that contains not a hint of the gadget it actually refers to. Looking nothing like a mini-skirt, the new Samsung phone is being pitched firmly at women, who apparently like to Talk, Play, Love.

More details and pictures of the Samsung Miniskirt phone (and girls in miniskirts, naturally) after the jump.
New Samsung mobile phone
Given its role as a fashion phone, you'd expect the Samsung Miniskirt to be short on features, but not a bit of it. Not only does it have all the usual features you'd expect (2 megapixel camera, bluetooth, MP3 player), it also comes with GPS and a rather oddly-named "Smile shot" function, which recognizes a subject's smile when taking pictures of them, and uses as that as the focal point. There's also a haptic touch-pad, just to round off the features.

As you've probably guessed by now, the Samsung Miniskirt is destined for the Korean market only, priced between 400,000 and 500,000 KRW.

Source : http://mobilementalism.com/