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Consumers are/aren't hot for mobile TV, Part III
In the last episode of CA/AHFMTV, we opined that that Nokia's recent European survey's "optimistic results could have nothing to do with the fact that Nokia wants to sell people DVB-H handsets," and now here Siemens comes and hits us with some equally "curious" findings. Unlike earlier studies by InSightExpress and IDC, the Siemens poll of 5,300 folks from eight different countries (5,293 from Germany and one each from Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Russia, South Korea, and the United States, we suspect) indicates that in addition to a high desire for email on-the-go, 59% of people are "interested in" mobile TV. Also rather surprising (at least in light of the non-manufacturer-sponsored studies) is the fact that 62% of survey respondents are itching to download tunes onto their cellphones. This surely isn't the last word on the matter, so stay tuned for the next twist and/or turn in this statistical soap opera, when we may present more numbers that will shock and amaze you.
Finnish watchdog group to test cellphone radiation on human volunteers
Ten employees of Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority have volunteered to risk life (not really) and limb (kinda) as part of a study to determine the effects of cellphone radiation on living skin cells. The employees, who are all women (for data consistency with previous studies), will have their arms exposed to the questionably-harmful rays for one hour, with cell samples then taken to investigate for signs of shrinkage or other cancer-enabling activity. Naturally we here at Engadget Mobile will be following the progress of this study closely -- the results of which should be available before the end of the year -- seeing as how we "volunteer" for similar "studies" every time we're assigned to take a new cellphone for a test drive.
Consumers are/aren't hot for mobile TV, Part II
In what we're hoping gets no one wants turned into Engadget Mobile's version of the "cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous" saga, a new study released by International Data Corp (IDC) of Internet users in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan claims that less that 10% of cellphone owners use non-voice features other than text messaging. This study would seem to corroborate an earlier one of U.S. Internet users by InsightExpress showing that less than 25% of Americans express an interest in watching TV on their cellphones- but also contradicts a Nokia-sponsored study of Europeans, whose optimistic results could have nothing to do with the fact the Nokia wants to sell people DVB-H handsets. The IDC study also showed, unsurprisingly, that SMS remains a popular feature among the mobile crowd, with 65% of those surveyed sending text messages every day.[Via textually]
Consumers are/aren't hot for mobile TV
In delightfully conflicting reports today, Nokia claimed that consumers want mobile TV, while an InsightExpress poll concluded that Americans hardly want it at all. Of course there will be a disparity between an American poll and Nokia's European trials, where they claim to have found that people enjoy TV on their mobiles and are willing to pay 5 to 10 euros a month for the privilege. But over in the states a resounding 75 percent said, "I am not interested in watching TV programs or movies on my handheld device." So which one is it? Darned if we know, but it looks like DVB-H service is moving forward in both the US and Europe regardless.Read: Nokia says yesRead: InsightExpress says no
Cellphones vie with radio for drivers' attention
So on top of the fact that cellphones have made us more isolated, may or may not be giving us brain cancer, and tempt up to spend hundreds of dollars for acronym-heavy feature sets, we have now learned that these evil little beasts are partly responsible for the decline in popularity of terrestrial radio. According to a six-month study by Bridge Ratings, satellite radio, MP3 players, and rich in-car media serve as only partial explanations for sinking radio ratings- it turns out that many people are actually using their cellphones while they drive, and some even have the nerve to turn the radio down while chatting. Therefore, next time you're lamenting the fact that your favorite station has gone to JACK, keep in mind that your gossipy tendencies are partly to blame.[Via Techdirt]
DoCoMo does 2.5 Gbps at 12.5 mph in 4G test
Speed freaks rejoice! NTT DoCoMo has set a new record in its latest test of 4G mobile throughput. Using no fewer than six MIMO antennas, the company was able to successfully transmit data at 2.5 Gbps while traveling at 12.5 miles per hour. In a similar test last May, DoCoMo was able to achieve just 1 Gbps. Of course, it'll be a while before you can try this at home, since 4G standards have yet to be finalized. But, hey, at least we've got HSDPA.
Study shows 96% of hospital workers' phones are contaminated
Have a friend who works in a hospital? Better think twice about using his or her cellphone next time you're kicking it; a study conducted at the Craigavon Area Hospital Group Trust in Northern Ireland has shown that hospital workers' cellphones often carry industrial strength pathogens, including the deadly MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus). As many as 96% of the phones they tested, in fact, were apparently bacterially contaminated. If Northern Irish hospitals are any benchmark of sterility, makes you wonder why hospital employees aren't themselves fighting infections if so many of their phones are carrying such bacteria, but either way it looks like maybe the Koreans are right after all with the incessant silver-nano coating and those phone-sterilization procedures.
Korean students sending 100 text messages per day
Our fingers tend to cramp up after we type about three words on our cellphone's keypad, so we've got to give at least some sort of props to Korea's teenagers, who, according to the Korea Times, are clearly the texting champs of the world. A recent study found that up to 35% of Korean students are sending over 100 text messages daily, inspired by the lower cost of texting compared to voice calls, and the fact that it's easier to discreetly send text messages in class than it is to talk. Despite the lower costs, almost half of the surveyed teens said they were having financial problems due to their text addiction. Maybe they can start kicking it old school and just pass notes back and forth in class.[Via textually.org]
Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, the lost episode
When last we visited our hero, the beleaguered cellphone user seemed to be in the clear: a British study had apparently found "no evidence that using a cell phone has an effect on the development of tumors." But in a startling twist, it now appears that those results may not be accurate. A recent German study of cellphone users found that the risk of glioma -- a form of brain cancer -- doubled after 10 years of use. Another study, conducted by Orebro University in Sweden, found an increased risk of acoustic neuromas in long-term users of cellphones. And critics continue to question the interpretation of the results of the British study, saying that the results do, in fact, imply a greater risk to phone users. Will cellphone users develop cancer? Can they protect themselves by using headsets? Or are they doomed to a life of shouting into tin cans connected by very long strings in order to protect themselves from deadly diseases? Find out in our next exciting episode!
Phone-equipped pigeons take to the skies to monitor pollution
Some researchers at the University of California are giving 20 pigeons the mobile phone hookup to monitor pollution over San Jose. Not only will the pigeons carry air pollution sensors, GPS tracking, and phone communication in their little pigeon backpacks, but they'll also carry a camera to snap pics, which will be sent along with air quality text messages to their pigeon blog. We're just happy to know that with all the ways the US lags in phone tech, we'll at least have the most moblogging pigeons this coming August.
