MobilePhones
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T-Mobile's FlexPay plan to be eliminated as soon as December?
We've suspected for some time now that post AT&T-Mobile merger, Magenta's FlexPay plan would be on its way out sooner rather than later. The payment plan was originally discontinued for new customers back in July, but now it appears the company will completely phase out FlexPay as early as December -- forcing loyalists from the old regime to choose an alternate plan and clearing the way for postpaid and Monthly 4G alternatives. According to the leaked memo intercepted by TmoNews, customers who migrate to Postpaid plans will be able to keep the same rates, migrate without signing a contract or paying fees -- making the switch a little less painful. RIP FlexPay, you'll be missed.
New York City braces for Tuesday's arrival of mobile service on subway platforms
It's hardly a natural disaster, but the landscape of Manhattan is about to change once again with the arrival of cellular signal to a handful of the borough's subway platforms. Both AT&T and T-Mobile are taking part in the pilot program, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority expects the service to begin rolling on Tuesday at several stations along the 14th Street corridor, including A, C, E, F, L and M, along with stops 1, 2 and 3. The 23rd Street line will also see part of the action, as coverage is expected for the C and E stations. Of course, straphangers are unlikely to receive signal once on-board the trains, as the tunnels themselves aren't included in this rollout. Currently, the MTA expects all 277 underground platforms to be equipped for mobile chatter by 2016. Transit Wireless, the company responsible for the expansion, is said to be in talks with Sprint and Verizon for a similar introduction, although its customers must be content to listen in on the conversations other commuters for the time being. [Image from SeanPavonePhoto/Shutterstock]
KDDI's mind-reading Android app monitors your brainstorms, or lack thereof... (video)
Ready for an epic brainwave dance-off between Jobs' Jets and Rubin's Sharks? Well, put down your shivs and get back to that alpha state because it's gonna take a little while. Developed by KDDI's R&D labs, this prototype mind-monitoring, sensor-laden headband connects wirelessly to your Android device to let you know just how stressed out you are. All it takes is a simple 30-second game of "mash mash mash the little green robot" (amongst others) to translate your focused and relaxed states into an easily readable brain pattern chart. The tech's nothing we haven't already seen the ominously named NeuroSky do for the iOS platform, but it should help to get those fanboy flames a-blazing. Of course, if mobile OS turf wars don't get your neurons in a tizzy, you could always spend half a minute thinking of your honey -- or actual honey. Whatever floats your neural boat. Video demonstration after the break.
NTT DoCoMo announces 24 new mobile wonders (yes, really) to flood its network
So, Japan... want a new mobile device? How about 24? This grandiose announcement comes straight from NTT DoCoMo, which commonly lays its cards on the table for the delight of consumers. Among the selection you'll find eight new Gingerbread phones, six incredibly high-res shooters (ranging between 12.2 and 16.3 megapixels), eight waterproof handsets, and one embedded with Swarovski crystals. We're particularly thrilled to see the mighty Galaxy S II, 3D-capturing Aquos SH-12C, 700-nit Optimus Bright (contrastingly-named but nearly identical to the Optimus Black), ultra-slim MEDIAS WP N-06C, and mobile payment-enabled Xperia Acro. Oh, and don't forget about the LOOX F-07C -- a multi-talented handset that's running Symbian and Windows 7 Home Premium -- while two LTE-enabled WiFi routers are sneaking into DoCoMo's party, too. That's a lot to absorb, so check out the source for individual release timeframes, which begin now and continue through August -- or just check out the PR after the break.
China approaches 900 million mobile phone users, India's market is the fastest-growing
Even if everyone and their dog in the US bought a cell phone, the total number of mobile users would still pale in comparison to China's. The country is on the verge of becoming the first with 900 million cell phone owners, according to stats collected by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The number of mobile subscribers reached 889 million at the end of March, up 30 million, or a modest 3.5 percent, from the previous quarter. That would put China on track to exceed 900 million sometime in May. Just to put that in context, the US is home to 303 million subscribers, and there's not a ton of room for growth. China's wireless subscribers, meanwhile, surpassed the total US population four years ago. But, notes PCWorld, India remains the fastest growing mobile market with 791 million users in late February -- a 15 percent boost over the 687 million reported just five months earlier. Which will hit one billion first? Place your bets!
Flickr headed to Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7
It's official: Flickr has announced that it's launching an officially official Flickr app for Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7. Though we don't know exactly when the photo sharing apps will launch, you can sign up at the source link on Flickr so they can let you know when it actually launches. In the meantime, there's a video demo of the apps in action, and we have to say, we like what we're seeing.
ReCellular will recycle your phone and donate all proceeds to Haiti disaster relief
It might've been hard to watch pictures of the latest natural disaster striking the island of Haiti recently, but lending a hand in the relief effort shouldn't be. If you've got an older cellphone -- functioning or otherwise -- batteries, chargers, or other accessories, ReCellular wants to hear from you. The cellphone recycling company has launched a Phones for Haiti program, whereby you can donate your unwanted handsets and rest assured that 100 percent of the revenue raised from them will go to helping Haiti survivors rebuild. Partnering with the American Red Cross, ReCellular will even pay for the shipping of your castoff electronics, so really, how much easier do you want it?
Blinged out Michael Jackson phone is fashionably late
Michael Jackson may never take the stage again, but that doesn't mean you can't commemorate him in your pocket, right? This special, "limited edition" mobile phone appears to have been dipped in gold and diamonds, and, if we're not mistaken... it's basically a Vertu KIRF that's dressed like a headless MJ? We're pretty light on specs and pricing information here, but rest assured that unless you live in China, you'll probably never be able to get your be-gloved hand on one of these. Nothing like cashing in on the dead. [Via Shanzhai]
Nokia plays musical execs, moves CFO to new Mobile Phones post
There's nothing quite like a dismal quarterly report to shake things up, and that's exactly what Nokia's doing after losing over $800 million in its most recent three-month period. CFO Rick Simonson is being whisked over to a new post as head of the Mobile Phones group -- concentrating on Series 30 and Series 40 handsets -- within the Devices division, while Timo Ihamuotila, who currently leads up global sales, will take over for the CFO position being vacated by Simonson. For what it's worth, the move doesn't seem like a demotion for Simonson; he'll be in charge of "strategic sourcing" for the entire Devices division and still sit on the executive board, so we're sure he'll be doing alright for himself. All things considered, there's no way of knowing whether this would've all gone down without the quarterly performance, but it makes you wonder, doesn't it?
Samsung InstinctQ for Sprint passes by the FCC and turns a few heads
It's been a little piece of time since we saw that photo of the G1-esque Samsung InstinctQ emerge, and we were starting to wonder what had become of our newest QWERTY cutie. Well -- the M900, as it's also known -- has just ducked through the old FCC, and though we didn't really learn anything we didn't already know, it was just nice to see its face again. The Sprint-bound, CMDA / EV-DO-loving Android slider will pack Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and we have to say that it's looking pretty fly to our eyes. We're not sure when this bad boy's going to hit reality, but the FCC appearance makes us think it won't be too long now.[via Unwired View, thanks Ryan]
Wales produces exceptionally graphic, educational film about the dangers of texting while driving
Alright, texting while driving? Obviously stupid -- but that doesn't stop tons and tons of people from doing it. The Gwent Police department in Wales hopes that its newest PSA film will help deter this bad behavior. In much the same spirit as the drunk driving on prom night films we ourselves had to sit thorough in high school, this film is pretty graphic. Okay, it's actually shockingly graphic -- but we're pretty sure that's the idea. Video is after the break.[Via Gizmodo]
Sony Ericsson bracelet phone concept unearthed in patent app
Yeah, we can probably safely leave this one in the file we found it in: you know, the one marked "never going to happen." Regardless, when we spied this little dude on Unwired View, we thought we'd pass along the weirdness. Unearthed in a Sony Ericsson patent application mysteriously dubbed "Mobile Terminal," what we have here is a bracelet mobile phone concept, sort of reminiscent of LG's infamous GD910 watch phone. This one's got some added fun in the form of keys on the side of the wristband for a fuller typing experience. Like we said, it's never going to happen, but that won't really stop us from hoping.
Maria Sharapova models Bluetooth-enabled Sony Ericsson prototype dress
Sony Ericsson's official spokesperson, Maria Sharapova, was on hand recently to unveil a student-designed prototype of a Bluetooth-enabled dress. The iridescent scales that run up one side of the dress move and light up when the phone rings, enabling its owner to know about calls even in noisy places (so says the dress's maker, Georgie Davies). Yes, it's just a prototype for now, but it's a pretty cute dress, so hopefully we'll see these hit the streets at some point in the (nearish) future.[Via Switched]
Samsung Blue Earth finally gets a hands-on treatment
We've been hearing about the Samsung Blue Earth -- an eco-phone, if you will -- since way back at MWC. Now CNET's finally gotten its hands on one at CommunicAsia in Singapore, and we have to say that we're pretty intrigued with what we're seeing. The back of the phone is covered with a solar panel, and Samsung says that one hour of sunning time for the mobile equals about 10 minutes of talk time. The handset also has a built-in pedometer to count steps for the Eco Walk carbon footprint app -- certainly something prospective buyers of the Blue Earth might be interested in. We still don't know full specs, pricing or availability for the phone, but we'll let you know when we do. Hit the read link for a video.
DigiCube unveils newest MID, doubles as a giant cellphone
Jkkmobile's gotten a hold of DigiCube's just unveiled MIDPhone-50 at Computex, and we have to say that from the looks of it, it's quite a wild affair. The MIDPhone-50 is a Windows XP, full QWERTY-boasting, touchscreen mid, and a 3.5G mobile phone to boot. The tilting, 800 x 480 touchscreen is 4.5-inches, with mini-USB, standard USB, and microSD slots, plus a docking station with VGA output. Specwise, the phone / MID has an Intel Atom Z-series CPU with up to 1GB of RAM, with Bluetooth and WiFi. The battery supposedly gets a quite sad two hours of life. There's no word on price or availability yet, but there is a video after the break. [Via Jkkmobile, Slashgear]
Korean carrier KTF launches mobile phone-controlled vacuum cleaner
South Korean telecom firm KTF has just announced a cleaning robot which can be controlled by a 3G cellphone. The robot -- called the CW100 -- was built in collaboration with Microbot, and is a "smart" vacuum (much like a Roomba). The CW100 uses an onboard video camera to send live images of what it's "seeing" to the mobile phone, and the user can then remotely control it using the keypad. The bot will be sold for KRW 500,000 (about $370) in conjunction with a data plan that runs KRW 5,000 (about $3.70) per month. Sounds pretty affordable and awesome to us -- as long as it doesn't run over the family cat. Check out another photo after the break.[Via Unwired View]
Sony Ericsson officially announces Maria Sharapova's fave phone, the T707
Sony Ericcson's just officially announced the T707 we caught sight of in a slide not too far back. The clamshell, as expected, has a 2.2-inch, QVGA external display, plus a 1.1-inch internal monochromatic OLED display (128 x 36 resolution), 100MB of internal memory, and a 3.2 megapixel camera. It will be available in Mysterious Black (black), Spring Rose (pink), and Lucid Blue (blue) when it's launched in "selected markets" during Q2. No word on pricing yet. Check out a few more shots (sans Sharapova) after the break.
HP's new iPAQ lineup surfaces with fresh photos
Hot on the heels of those blurry, low-quality photos of the upcoming HP iPAQs, come these shiny new pics sure to have waiting fans foaming at the mouth. As you can see, the new handhelds are definitely a reality, and now we've got details on added models to the lineup, as well as rumored release information. First and foremost is the iPAQ 914 (pictured), a Windows Mobile smartphone with a 3-megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi, and HSDPA support. HP is also intro'ing the 614, another Windows Mobile device (this one presumably with a touchscreen), plus GPS, WiFi, and HSDPA -- both new phones are said to be selling for around $800. The company is also introducing the 314, a GPS navigator with custom HP software, and the iPAQ 214 and 114 ($500 / $430), two Windows Mobile-based PDAs without any phone functions (though they have WiFi, allowing for VoIP). All of the devices are said to be hitting shelves in October, save for the 914, which is due (supposedly) in November. Feel free to hit the read link for more info, though we warn you, it's in Swedish.[Via Unwired View]
On doubting the iPhone and making the wrong comparisons
John Gruber already pointed out some flaws of The Register's Lance Davis who doubts the iPhone, but I have an even bigger problem with the line of thinking Davis used in his analysis. He writes: Remember, the mobile industry is one where some of the biggest companies in the world have tried and failed: Siemens, Philips, Fujitsu. None of them have creditable [sic] market shares. Even IBM put a toe in the water in the late nineties and then stayed away.Obviously, no one can truly say one thing or another about the iPhone until we all get our hands on one and the market decides whether the device sinks or swims. Until then, everyone is free to say what they want as long as we all take it with a grain of salt. The qualm I have with Davis' analogy is that the manufacturers he cites - Siemens, Philips and Fujitsu - are using Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform on their smartphones. Setting aside the debate about Microsoft's ability to write software for a moment, the more significant factor here is that these manufacturers are using someone else's software on their products, which means they're susceptible to all the circumstances that come with pairing one's hardware with software they have an inarguable lack of knowledge and experience with.
Why you won't be buying an iPhone-like iPod anytime soon
Since the iPhone's introduction in January, the requests and baiting rumors for a touch-screen iPod that looks and acts like an iPhone - sans the actual phone - have sounded from every corner of the web. The world is inarguably intrigued by this new UI Apple developed for their highly anticipated gadget, and many are waiting with bated breath and credit card in hand, believing the iPod will naturally gain these touchy-feely features any day now. The only problem is: there's no way in Cupertino that's going to happen. At least, not anytime soon. Put yourself in Apple's shoes: you've just smashed one out of the park with the iPod. You spent a few years working on it, polishing it, developing generation after generation of updates that instantly make the previous version look old 'n busted. After a slow start, you eventually take the DMP (Digital Media Player) market by storm, beating out a few major companies at their own game. Six years and a ton of 3rd party accessories later, you are the king of this particular domain, with what appears to be nary a formidable challenger in sight. Next: imagine that, after introducing the iPod and giving it that nudge it needed to skyrocket in popularity, you embark on another project, spending at least four and a half years developing a killer mobile phone + DMP + internet device the likes the world has never seen. A gadget so cool and anticipated that it is not only shaking up the mobile phone market, but it single-handedly drowns out the entirety of CES during the week of its introduction. A key factor here, oh reader who is momentarily in Apple's shoes, is that the mobile phone market currently speaks in the mouth-watering language of 'billions,' while Apple's iPod sales - impressive as they may be - are playing in the kiddie pool at 'millions.' Whether you want a mobile phone packed into your iPod or not, you can't ignore the fact that the mobile phone market makes iPod sales look like the Zune's on a good day.
