Archive for January, 2009:
Verizon Wireless Debuts Femto Cell Product
Verizon Wireless has begun offering a femto cell called the Network Extender. The Extender provides extended cellular network coverage in the home (approx. 5,000 square feet) through a subscriber’s broadband (DSL, cable or fiber) connection. The Extender costs $250, which the users must pay in full, though there are no monthly costs associated with using it. The Extender only provides CDMA 1xRTT coverage for voice and NationalAccess data. It does not support EVDO or GPS services, such as V CAST Music or Verizon Navigator. It will only work with Verizon Wireless subscribers. It can be purchased online or by calling Verizon Wireless telesales.
Senate Agrees to DTV Delay
The U.S. Senate has provisionally approved of a proposal to delay the transition to DTV by four months. The Senate has yet to officially vote on the matter, which is also being debated by the House of Representatives. The proposal in question will push the transition back to June 12. The Senate is also seeking money for converter box coupons that some consumers may need for the transition. Approximately $650 million has been set aside by the House for those coupons. Under the proposal, some television stations have the choice to halt analog broadcasts if they so choose. Verizon Communications has spoken in favor of a delay, while Qualcomm, which hopes to expand its MediaFLO mobile TV network, has voiced opposition.
Verizon Wireless Announces the Hub Home Phone
Today Verizon Wireless announced a new product for the home that is meant to replace landline telephones and act as an accessory to wireless service. The Verizon Hub uses a broadband connection to connect to the Internet and provide VoIP-based telephony services. It has a seven-inch touchscreen display that offers a wide range of features such as access to calendars, maps, directions, traffic, weather and movie times. The Hub will synchronize calendar appointments with any Verizon Wireless handsets that are added to the Hub. The Hub can also receive text messages, Chaperone service pings, and can send driving directions to handsets. The Hub will be available through all of Verizon Wireless’s retail stores and can use any broadband connection. Users will have to live in an E911-capable area, and will be able to port existing home phone numbers to the new service. The Hub will cost $200 after a $50 mail-in rebate, and will require a $35 per month subscription. That monthly fee gets unlimited national anytime minutes and unlimited messaging to/from the device.
Copps Is Obama’s Temporary FCC Chairman Pick
Obama has asked FCC commissioner Michael Copps to act as the FCC Chairman on a temporary basis until a permanent replacement for former Chairman Kevin Martin is found. Obama is expected to nominate Julius Genachowski for the post. Genachowski will have to be approved by Congress before taking office. Copps will head the FCC until then.
Nokia Rebrands, Improves Chat Software
Today Nokia began offering a revised version of its Nokia Chat program. The new version, called Contacts on Ovi, brings a number of fixes and improvements. It now supports S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2, and there is also a J2ME version available for Series 40 phones. Contacts on Ovi, which is beta software, offers the ability to chat via Instant Messaging clients complete with emoticons, presence and “enhanced” presence, which adds user data to presence, such as what you are listening to. The software is free to download.
Sprint Rehashes Direct Connect Plans
Today Sprint announced a new set of calling plans for business users of its Direct Connect service. The Unlimited Workgroup plans offers unlimited Direct Connect and Group Connect, plus unlimited text messaging, mobile-to-mobile minutes and night and weekend minutes for $30 per month per line. Add $10 to get unlimited data, Web browsing and GPS navigation on Nextel phones or add $20 for those features on PowerSource and Nextel Direct Connect capable phones. Sprint is also offering pooled voice minutes starting at 500 for $30 per month or 2000 for $100 per line.
HTC Unveils the Touch Cruise with Footprints
Today HTC announced a new Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional smartphone, the Touch Cruise. The Cruise has the TouchFLO user interface and a host of other features, including quad-band GSM/EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, GPS/a-GPS, and a 3.2 megapixel camera with fixed focus. The display spans 2.8 inches, rating QVGA resolution, and the Cruise has a slot for microSD cards. The Cruise also has a new software feature, called Footprints. Footprints provides the ability to take notes and an audio clip associated with images captured by the phone, while identifying its specific geographical location. In addition to geo-tagging images, Footprints also auto-names them with the general location or area where the picture was taken. An unlocked 850/1900 MHz HSDPA 7.2Mbps variant will be made available in North America for $500 to $600 in the second quarter.
Tags: America, Bluetooth, GPS, HTC, Megapixels, microSD, mobile, SmartPhone, smartphones, software, unlocked
Sprint Accidentally Reveals Its CDMA Treo Pro
A CDMA version of Palm’s Treo Pro briefly appeared for sale on Sprint’s web site today. The phone appears mostly identical to the GSM version already announced, including support for WiFi, GPS, and a memory card. It supports most Sprint services, including Sprint TV, Music Store, Mobile Sync, and picture messaging. Other features include a QWERTY keyboard, 320×320-pixel display, Windows Mobile Pro 6.1, speaker-independent voice dialing, and 2-megapixel camera with video capture. Sprint has since pulled the Web page with details regarding the Treo Pro. Sprint will sell the Treo Pro at some undetermined date in the future for $249 after rebate and instant savings, with 2-year contract, or $549 full price.
Huawei Commits to Revealing Android Phone in February
Huawei recently posted a Web page on its site stating that it will show a “Smart mobile phone based on ‘Android’ platform and first mobile phone based on ‘one’ single UMTS chipset.” The Android phone from Huawei should be on display starting February 16.
Samsung Dials In SRS for Better Audio on Its Phones
Samsung has licensed technology from SRS Labs that should improve the quality of audio and video playback on its mobile phones. Specifically, Samsung licensed SRS Circle Surround Headphone, SRS WOW HD and SRS VIP+. The licenses will allow Samsung to offer simulated 5.1 surround sound through headphones, as well as better bass response and clarity of high frequencies. Samsung will also use SRS’ voice and noise-cancellation technology to improve the clarity and quality of phone calls.