Looks like Hutchison (aka 3) snagged the iPhone for distribution in Hong Kong and Macau, which will be coming "later this year." Like the rest, this was another one liner un-announcement with no real info, but you probably wouldn't want to anger Steve before WWDC. Besides, in Hong Kong 3 doesn't sell anything but 3G phones -- so put that in your iPipe and smoke it.

[Thanks, Chris and Joe]

Though it once appeared as if DVB-SH was headed for high times in Europe, DVB-H eventually won out as the nationwide standard, but that certainly doesn't mean other standards can't compete within the region. Reportedly, Alcatel-Lucent has agreed to launch the first trial of the technology in Italy with RAI and 3 Italia, and while DVB-SH would likely be more costly to implement due to its position in the spectrum, European telecoms are grasping for options to satisfy the growing desire for mobile TV. If all goes as planned, the trials will take place in Turin over the next few months, but it wasn't clear when Jane / John Doe would be called in to participate. Also of note, a cellphone provider has yet to be selected, but it sounds like Samsung and Sagem both made it onto the short list.

[Via mocoNews]

Right on schedule, you're looking at the just announced co-branded Skype phone: the 3 Skypephone. Sure, mobile Skype clients are already in worldwide use. This, however, marks the first time a carrier has fully embraced Skype which traditionally has been seen as a threat to carrier tariff schemes. Under 3's plan, Skype VoIP calls and IMs are free to any other Skype user just as long as you're under contract or top up your pay as your go account with at least £10 (about $21) each month. The £49 (about $101) 3G phone with 2 megapixel camera and microSD slot will be available in the UK on Friday; Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Macau and Sweden sometime later in the year. Wanna see it in a video? Sure you do, locked-and-loaded right after the break.

[Via T3]

We aren't etching this in stone just yet, but we've seen numerous reports claiming that the recent partnership between 3 and Skype will soon lead to an actual piece of hardware. Reportedly, the 3Skypephone will be available on October 29th "for a pre-launch," and will be officially official on November 2nd. Specs wise, it should feature free calls to other Skype users / 3Skypephone owners, a two-megapixel camera, video capturing and an MP3 player. Interested consumers can supposedly choose from three different colors, and it should be available on the "£12 ($25) Mix and Match 100 tariff which offers 100 minutes or texts or any mix of the two." Ah well, at least we've but a few days left to find out for sure, eh?

[Via UK Phone News]

Details are pretty light on this one, but Reuters is now reporting that Skype and UK cellphone operator 3 are currently working on a new handset that promises to "make Internet calls mobile." According to Reuters, the phone is expected to "work in the normal way," but also include an option to let users bypass all those hefty cellphone charges and contact other Skype users directly in order to save a few bucks. We assume that means Skype will operate over 3G data, although that's yet to be confirmed by either party. We should know more soon enough, however, as the handset is apparently on track to be released before the end of the year.

The good news is that the official Windows Mobile 6 Professional update for the Treo 750 is just around the corner; the bad news, though, is that you probably can't have it yet unless you're lucky enough to live in one particular corner of the world. Following countless incognito shots of WM6-sporting 750s in the wild, an imminent official announcement was pretty much a foregone conclusion -- though we admittedly never suspected Australia would be the first to get the hookup. Specifically, customers of the Australian branch of Hutchison 3 will be able to download the update free of charge starting mid-month, with "other customers" following on in September. Whether "other customers" includes AT&T is unclear, but we're keeping our fingers tightly crossed.

[Via istartedsomething]

Italians have been getting a taste of that sweet over-the-air digital TV since last year, with tiny phone screens being their primary and possibly sole method of content intake. Well that won't be the case for too much longer, as mobile carrier 3 has announced a partnership with manufacturer Quantum that will bring a dedicated, 4.3-inch portable DVB-H device to the TV-mad public. Called the QTM 1000, this PMP will be able to pull down 12 live stations including Sky, RIA, and Mediaset, and is said to function as a navigation unit as well (details on that aspect of its functionality are slim to none, however). Also no word so far on pricing, but perhaps we'll learn more as the scheduled release window of "this spring" gets closer.

[Via PMP Today]

We've seen dozens and dozens of aftermath photos from laptops and other random batteries suddenly possessing violently explosive tendencies, but we all know full motion video is more satisfying than simple stills. In this particular case, we're thrilled that the smoking, fizzing Nokia 6280 was filmed while in a location where humans couldn't be harmed, and initial reports are (unsurprisingly) tagging the battery or charger as the culprit. The 3 customer reported that his new handset "began fizzing white smoke" just hours after switching it on for the first time, and Nokia is reportedly investigating the issue. Of course, this isn't the first time a Nokia battery has been blamed for a fire, but unlike the previous case, we kind of doubt the firm will get off as easy here. So if you've actually hung around to read this far, we'll let you get to the fun stuff now, so go on and hit the read link for the final moments of the mobile's smoky death.

[Via Inquirer]

Apparently a London firm that goes by the name of Omnifone is working with Vodafone and 3 to support what could be among the first 3G-based over-the-air subscription music download services. Apparently the biggest of all record labels, Universal, is on board (we wonder how much cash they had to bribe, er, subsidy them with) for Omnifone's sub-£10 per month service, but we've still got questions that need be answered, like: is this PlaysForSure? Can you move tracks to your PC? Can you move PC tracks to your phone? Hopefully we'll find out at 3GSM this week, so watch out.

[Thanks, John]

With cellular providers upping fees left and right, it's refreshing to finally see a provider offer up a valuable package to its users with a halfway decent pricetag. UK's 3 has struck a nerve with 3G gurus and multi-taskers alike, and its flagship X-Series platform has received a thorough critiquing from the folks at Digital Lifestyles. Currently running on Nokia's N73 (with Sony Ericsson's W950i to follow in January), the all-you-can-download approach to utilizing 3G applications apparently did fairly well in testing. Garnering praise in the diversity and usability departments, reviewers were pleased with the inclusion of Skype, Yahoo Go!, Mobile Mail, 3's web browser, and Windows Live Messenger -- all of which performed at least up to expectations for the low £5 ($9.85) per month fee. The only major digs came from the lack of SkypeOut support (which is promised for the future), no caller ID data on incoming Skype calls, and the inability to control / watch recorded shows via SlingPlayer. Of course, the latter headache will only bother those who spring for the £10 ($19.70) monthly package, which includes the ability to purchase the Sling software for a discounted £99 ($194.95) and use OrbPC to boot. Overall, the crew was generally pleased with the service and its performance on the N73, and while it called the SlingPlayer "a pig to set up," it dubbed the X-Series platform "the future" of cellphones.

LG's Chocolate just got a little sweeter, with the recent addition of HSDPA to that fantastic flip phone. The U830, its new designation, is loaded up with all sorts of other tasty treats, including 185MB of storage, a 2 megapixel shooter, stereo Bluetooth, three hours of talk time, 300 hours of standby time, and a music player (with 3.5mm headphones included!) -- all of this is pretty much what we'd seen rumored a few months ago. It'll first exclusively hit Hutchinson's 3 network in the UK, but we've got no further information as to when (or if) it'll be crossing the pond.

[Via AVING]

It's always a bit dodgy pulling amps off the mains in the local, now it can land you in jail. Let's say you're out and about in the UK watching TV on your new, Mobile network 3 provided N73 or W960 cellphone mobile with SlingPlayer client. As soon as you jack into the wall to top up the battery -- you're breaking the law if you're watching TV. By plugging in, you invoke the wrath of TV licensing laws since your home license only covers your device outside of the home as long as the battery -- not the mains -- is providing the juice. But wait, it gets worse. You also risk violating the terms and conditions of broadcasters such as BSkyB's Sky satellite television service which forbid the viewing of their content outside the registered address. Of course, this applies to any system that allows you to watch broadcast, streamed, or recorded television outside the home so why is this now, suddenly an issue? Whatevs, with the service set to go hot next week in the UK, you can expect to hear a few "oi, unplug that cellphone mate!" warnings from up on high.