Archive for January, 2009:
RIM Bringing Email Support Back to S60
Several months ago, Nokia stopped including the software necessary for S60-based phones to exchange information with Research In Miotion’s BES email servers. In response, RIM is working to provide the service for Nokia’s S60 devices. Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Tom Furlong, head of Nokia’s messaging services, said, “We are in the interim period of time when we have dropped support ourselves, and Blackberry is readying support for their service on Nokia devices.” Nokia has launched its own branded, consumer-focused mobile email service, called Mail on Ovi. Nokia has also partnered with Microsoft and IBM to provide mobile email for enterprise customers. Nokia’s Furlong was not able to say how soon RIM would have its S60 support ready.
AT&T Sells Off 235 Cell Towers
AT&T has sold 235 of its cellular towers, spanning some 24 states, to Global Tower Partners for an undisclosed sum. Global Tower Partners owns more than 10,000 cell towers, making it the third-largest cell tower owner in the country.
Tags: Cellular
RIM Begins Taking On BlackBerry Apps
Research In Motion recently revealed that it is now accepting applications from developers for BlackBerry phones. The BlackBerry Application Storefront is open for developers only. Those wishing to submit applications can do so via the RIM Web site. Developers will have to agree to terms and be accepted into the developer program. RIM is anticipating it will launch the storefront later this spring.
Qualcomm Buys Part of AMD’s Mobile Chip Business
Today Qualcomm announced that it has acquired certain graphics and multimedia technology assets, intellectual property and resources that were formerly the basis of AMD’s handheld business. The new multimedia technologies should allow Qualcomm to improve its ability to provide 2D and 3D graphics features, as well as better audio/video and display support. Qualcomm is paying AMD $65 million for the assets, and has made offers of employment to the AMD personnel involved in developing these technologies. AMD said the sale will allow it to focus better on its core business of creating x86 computing and high-end graphics chips.
LG Serves the UX280 Wine to U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular recently began selling the LG UX280 Wine. The Wine is a clamshell sporting Bluetooth, GPS and a 1.3 megapixel camera. It has four shortcut buttons under the display that lead to messaging, the alarm clock, contacts and favorites. It also has a speakerphone and voice commands. The UX280 Wine costs $30 after rebates with new two-year agreement, which must include a voice and data plan.
LG Surpasses Motorola to Become Third-Largest Handset Maker
According to the DigiTimes, the top five handset makers are now Nokia, Samsung, LG, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson, in that order. In 2008, Nokia sold 470 million handsets, Samsung sold 200 million, LG sold 100 million, Motorola sold 99.9 million, and Sony Ericsson sold 96.6 million.
Palm’s webOS Can Tell If You’re Going to Be Late for Meetings
Speaking in an interview, Elevation Partners investor Roger McNamee shares some more information about the capabilities of Palm’s webOS. McNamee said, “So when you wake up in the morning, it has taken your calendar…and downloaded the maps for your whole day.” He also said that, because the Palm Pre has a calendar, GPS, and a clock, webOS can take specific actions. McNamee continues, “It not only knows where you are, it knows where you’re supposed to be and when. So when it realizes you’re going to be late, it says ‘Hey, not only are you going to be late, but I can take care of it for you. I’ll send an email to your assistant or to the people in the meeting, which would you prefer?’ And oh, by the way, here’s the map.” These details weren’t shared by Palm’s executives during the CES debut of the Palm Pre and webOS.
Verizon Flip-Flops, Supports DTV Delay
Today, Verizon Communication’s CEO Ivan Seidenberg said that the company approves of Senator Rockefeller’s proposed delay of the transition to DTV. Senator Rockefeller made the proposal last week, and suggested that the transition be delayed to June 12. According to Seidenberg, Verizon changed its feelings because there is a definite transition date attached to the proposal. It would not have agreed with an open-ended delay. Seideberg reiterated, “Any further delay would harm the nation’s economy and broadband future, as I noted in my letter earlier this week.” A final decision about the delay has not yet been made.
Nokia to Offer Consumers Safety Suite
Today Nokia announced a new partnership with Securitas, and plans to offer a suite of safety and security products for consumers. To start, four new services will be available, and all of them make use of location/GPS information. The first, Assist, lets users connect to Securitas’ alarm central and provides information about who is connected. The second, Find, provides your friends’ current position. The third, Zone, delivers an SMS if someone leaves or comes into a predefined area. Fourth, Friends, gives an overview of where all your friends are located. The four are packaged as Safe-2-Go and will become available in the first half of 2009. Nokia did not offer pricing information.
Sprint Asks Obama to Set Up $2 Billion First-Responder Network
Sprint sent a letter to President-elect Barack Obama and his incoming administration requesting that $2 billion be set aside specifically for a wireless network serving the nation’s first responders. According to Reuters, “Sprint’s plan calls for 100 satellite-based light trucks that would respond to emergencies, and 100,000 or more mobile handsets and equipment at up to 40 pre-selected sites.” The sites would be able to ship the necessary gear to disaster sites anywhere in the continental U.S. within four hours. Sprint already supplies the network technology, service and handsets used by many of the nation’s emergency services agencies. A Sprint spokesperson said, “We feel that the iDEN network would certainly be a good candidate for this program.” Sprint hopes to attach the $2 billion to the economic stimulus plan currently moving through congress. Sprint also asked the FCC to reevaluate the the fees for routing telephone calls and Internet services, which are mostly controlled by AT&T and Verizon Communications.