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Did you fire off a bunch of texts this Christmas? Welcome to the museum
Finland might be the spiritual home of the SMS, but it also proves that this ancient form of communication is going the way of the rune stone. A mere 8.5 million texts were sent over the country's Sonera network on Christmas Eve, versus 10.9 million on that festive day in 2010. The same trend was spotted on other Finnish networks and also on the other side of the world: Christmas Day texts in Hong Kong were down nearly 14 percent on the year before, and Telstra in Australia experienced a nine percent year-on-year decline over the whole of 2011. Things are different in America, where texting has continued to grow, but that growth seems to be slowing down and some analysts expect "SMS erosion" to hit Verizon and AT&T by 2014. The obvious culprit is mobile internet: social networking apps, BBM, iMessage and a host of other 'free' options, but you won't find carriers complaining -- data contract ARPUs suit them just fine.
2degrees users overloaded with random late-night texts -- the alcohol apparently not to blame
When we send out an embarrassing text message at 2am, at least we can -- in the words of Jaime Foxx -- blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol. Unfortunately for New Zealand mobile carrier 2degrees, pinning it on the Henney, just ain't gonna cut it this time. Early Wednesday morning, a few unlucky users were greeted by an influx of hundreds of unsolicited text messages. A few of those affected took to the company's Facebook page for answers, and were provided with the following response: Early this morning, a software implementation problem caused a small number of people to receive texts not intended for them. Our network team quickly identified the problem and resolved it by 2:30am. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience this may have caused. On second thought, judging from the reactions that apology received, the outfit might have been better off using the Blue Top as a scapegoat.
Sprint text messaging down, subscribers' thumbs left feeling unfulfilled (updated: back up)
Having issues sending text messages today from your Sprint-enabled device? You're most certainly not alone. We've received a number of complaints from users indicating they can't TXT, while the company's own @sprintcare Twitter account is firing on all cylinders, tossing out replies like "our network team is aware and are working to get txts back up and running as fast as we can." Until that comes to pass you're stuck in a dark, painful world bereft of any and all means of external communication -- other than calls, emails, letters, smoke signals... Update: Looks like we're good to go again, folks. Get your SMS on. Update 2: Sprint sent us an official statement on the matter, which we've included after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony Ericsson introduces Mix Walkman and txt pro feature phones, available in Q3
Congratulations -- you spent the last two weeks earning points on the latest 'ville, when you could've used your time on Facebook to win phones instead. That's what Sony Ericsson was offering, anyways, giving fans the chance to review and win one of two mystery devices. Now that these reviews are live, the manufacturer is ready to lift the curtain and show off the WiFi-enabled Mix Walkman and txt pro feature phones. The former, as you could probably derive from the name, is a music-centric handset that doubles as a karaoke player; the latter, in contrast, is focused on messaging, implementing a full slide-out QWERTY and 3-inch touchscreen display with 400 x 240 resolution. Let's be honest here -- you can't really hate a phone that plays karaoke, right? Unfortunately, these are feature phones only; no trace of Android can be found on either phone, but rather use an interface "inspired" from the Xperia Mini series. Aside from being available in select markets in Q3, we have no word on pricing or individual carrier availability. In the meantime, you have at least a few months to get prepared for it by belting out Dancing Queen in the car several times a day -- as if that's any departure from your usual routine. Full press release after the break.
Slide launches Disco: Google's group texting app comes to iPhone, not Android
When Google acquired Slide way back in August of 2010, when it was warm and sunny and phones only had single-core processors, the plan was to "build a more social web." Now we know a little more about that plan... sort of. A new app from Slide has just hit the app store and an accompanying site has just hit the internets. It's called Disco, a group texting service that has an app and a web interface. When you sign up you're assigned a new phone number (ours was a 302 -- hello Deleware) and you're invited to send texts to a number of people, any people, regardless of whether they're Disco users themselves. Those people can then reply and things get bounced around all crazy like, so make sure those you add have opted for unlimited texting. Intriguingly at this point the app is only available for iPhone, and that's certainly the platform that takes front and center on the main Disco site. Given the Google parentage here we have to assume that there's an Android flavor coming here, but crazier things have happened at the club. [Disco Stu could not be reached for comment, but has in the past indicated an affinity for group texting.]
iPhone SMS database hacked in 20 seconds, news at 11
It's a story tailor-made for the fear-mongering subset of news media. This week, a pair of gentlemen lured an unsuspecting virgin iPhone to a malicious website and -- with no other input from the user -- stole the phone's entire database of sent, received and even deleted text messages in under 20 seconds, boasting that they could easily lift personal contacts, emails and your naughty, naughty photos as well. Thankfully for us level-headed souls, those gentlemen were Vincenzo Iozzo and Ralf-Philipp Weinmann, security researchers performing for the 2010 Pwn2Own hacking contest, and their $15,000 first prize ensures that the winning formula will go to Apple (and only Apple) for further study. Last year, smartphones emerged from Pwn2Own unscathed even as their desktop counterparts took a beating, but this makes the third year in a row that Safari's gotten its host machines pwned. That said, there's no need for fear -- just a healthy reminder that the Apple logo doesn't give you free license to click links in those oh-so-tempting "beta-test the new iPad!" emails.
To proceed another five miles, TXT 'DESIGN FLAW' to your Reva electric car
Not long ago a motorcycle with a fuel gauge was basically unheard of and even "low fuel" idiot lights were rare. Riders used advanced (and generally inaccurate) mathematics to calculate remaining mileage and, when the engine inevitably sputtered, switched over to a reserve tank that would let them nervously motor along a few more miles. Reva, an Indian company set to start shipping electric cars next year, plans to resurrect that most irritating sequence of events in their two-door NXR -- albeit with a modern spin. Now, instead of reaching down and turning a dial to get to that precious extra juice, drivers will need to call or text Reva HQ. Some overworked customer service agent will then remotely activate the "reserve battery," which surely doesn't even exist, to give a bit of extra range. We pity the fool who runs out of charge somewhere outside of cell range, but not quite as much as the designer who pitched this terrible idea.
Girl texts 14,258 times in a month, has sore fingers, and only 3 friends
In December, Reina Hardesty sent 14,258 text messages, which works out to 470 a day, or one every two minutes. Father Hardesty -- he's not a priest, we just don't happen to know his full name -- apparently caught on to his daughter's madness when he received a 440-page bill from AT&T, which, we're really hoping, was the electronic kind. This story does have a happy ending, mind you: the parents had wisely opted for unlimited texting for the youngster and have now applied an electronic muzzle on her texting after dinner.
Telus intros ZTE TXTster, "wow factor" nowhere to be found
While we patiently wait for certain other hotly anticipated handsets to drop on Canada's Telus, we can try and make do with the ZTE TXTster. This vowel-dropping flip boasts a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash and video capabilities and a 180 minute talk time and 120 hours of standby. This Fastap-equipped device -- you know, that quirky input method with tiny letters inbetween larger number keys -- can also take advantage of Telus' mobile music and navigator services. You can nab it now for a paltry $29.99 on a 3-year contract, or $229.99 straight up. You'd better really like Fastap.[Via mobilesyrup]
Samsung & LG HDTV prototypes battle for supremacy
Samsung and LG are locked in a tight race for "best HDTV you won't be buying this year or next" this week at the International Meeting on Information Display 2008, trading shots with OLEDs, LCDs and more. Samsung brought along an upgraded version of its true 240Hz 15-inch Blue Phase LCD panel with improved image quality, some fresh carbon nanotube-based color electronic paper, plus slimmed-down versions of its 40- and 50-inch LCDs. Then it got busy with the OLEDs, dropping in a 14-inch HD display, 31-inch 1080p display and 5-inch VGA panel, to which LG could only respond with the above 19-inch OLED powered by amorphous silicon TFT. More stills of the carnage exist beyond the read link, but in the battle of display tech streeting in 2011 at the earliest, we just hope LG is holding back a few surprises for CES.[Via OLED-Display, thanks Erik]
Kam Kam Mobile Alert detects GSM calls, wags tail
We've seen this type of toy before, but never in such a plush and cute form factor. The Kam Kam Mobile Alert -- that's the cat version -- and Don Don Mobile Alert detect the GSM radio on your handset from up to five feet away when a call or message comes in. Instead of blinking or spinning, Kitty or Rover will wag its tail for 15 seconds to let you know if your ringer happens to be silent. The desktop critter has a handy spot to plonk your handset in when in use, but sadly doesn't offer a charger option. The holiday season is approaching and this would likely make a cute gift, and at $30 a pop, it shouldn't break the bank.[Via ShinyShiny]
Intel's new vPro processors toughen up your system
According to Intel, your computer-security fears will be a thing of the distant past thanks to its latest vPro technology update. Apparently, the new safe-guarding apparatus is a combination of the company's Core 2 Duo processors and the Q35 Express chipset, in addition to several "technology innovations" that the chipmaker says will fortify business-centric systems against "software-based attacks," as well as viruses and the ominously vague "other threats." New components of the technology include Intel's Trusted Execution Technology (TXT, AKA LaGrande), which isolates assigned memory and protects it from access via unauthorized software, and improved system defense filters, which can identify a larger number of threats in network traffic. "Today, the business desktop PC just got more secure," says a company spokesperson, though for our system "protection" we're sticking to NoDoz and nunchucks.
Dominos now accepting pizza orders via SMS... in the UK
If you thought ordering pizza online was the best thing since Deep Dish, you'll be delighted to know that the next logical step in getting pizza to your mouth with minimal effort is here... if you reside in the UK, that is. Reportedly, Dominos is now allowing customers surrounding its 470 UK-based locations to place their orders via SMS, and this move comes after "successful trials" that began in July. To utilize the service, you must first enter in your details online, but after that initial registration, pizza is simply a text away. Impulse eaters, rejoice.[Via TechDigest]
eBay launches PayPal Mobile for impulse buying IRL
So PayPal Mobile -- not to be confused with Papal Mobile, the MVNO for the active-lifestyle Pope on the go -- is finally getting off the ground today, bringing a whole generation's eBay buying addiction to bear in the real world. We're just excited to finally put an end to certain restaurant leechers (you know who you are) who never seem to "remember" cash, but won't have as much of an excuse with their phone sitting right there in their pocket. PayPal hopes to work with brick and mortar stores, charities, and media outlets to nab those impulse buys from people who might not be carrying a credit card, or don't want to take the time to make a regular physical transaction. To make payments you first need to activate you phone at the PayPal website, and then you just text message PayPal a product ID number, or an amount and a recipient. PayPal will then call you to make sure the purchase is legit -- they require a unique PIN number to confirm. After that PayPal will pay the recipient, and even specify shipping info with what is currently listed on your account. Current retailers that are slated to work with the service include 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Bravo, MTV, and the NBA Store.[Via CNNMoney.com]
