Wireless Federation

Doro to launch handsets for senior citizens (Sweden)

On 03.17.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Doro is planning to reveal several senior-friendly models and systems at the International CTIA Wireless show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from 22-24 March. The company is also planning to reveal its new product and design, which is part of the collaboration with MyGlucoHealth and Medixine, to deliver care assistance applications, services and systems via the mobile handset.

The fifth generation mobile phones, inspired by the Doro PhoneEasy 410gsm are HAC compliant and feature enhanced sound quality and shortcut keys, some of which offer enhanced display and large size.

Doro’s new products are Doro PhoneEasy 615, Doro PhoneEasy 610, Doro PhoneEasy 680 and Doro PhoneEasy 682.

Doro PhoneEasy 615 is a 3G and camera phone, which has a specifically selected chipset platform for the North American market. It features direct memory and SMS buttons, loud sound, readable text and display and security functions.

Doro PhoneEasy 610 on the other hand is the successor to the Doro PhoneEasy 410gsm. It has a direct key for text messages, readable text and display, loud sound, security functions and enhanced battery life.

The two other handsets -Doro PhoneEasy 680 and Doro PhoneEasy 682 feature built-in GPS locators. Both phones feature a ‘point the way’ function, noise reduction and loud sound, enhanced battery life and readable text and display.

Doro has also introduced global mHealth initiative selected specifically for the North American market. Aimed at assisting the senior mobile user to maintain health and well-being, the company’s phones will now be used for the delivery of care assistance applications, services and systems through a connection to diabetes management system and a one-touch medication reminder service.

Israel to ban the use of SIM locking on handsets

On 12.08.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Israel’s Knesset Economics Affairs Committee has approved plans to ban the use of SIM locking on handsets sold by the mobile networks in the country.

The ban on SIM locks is considered by the Ministry of Communications as vital, if new mobile networks and MVNOs are to compete in the market.

Presently, the mobile networks lock their handsets to their networks, but offer to unlock them for a fee.

The Economics Committee also approved network neutrality for mobile Internet, including prices and technology. The decision bans mobile carriers from restricting the use of certain Internet applications or protocols.

According to Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon, from now on, a customer can take a device purchased from one network with him when moving to another network, without the former company having to permit use of the device by the new company. The financial significance for the citizen is a further reduction in transfer barriers and a savings of tens of shekels.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Handsets • Israel • Knesset Economics Affairs Committee • Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon • Mobile • MVNO • SIM locking

Vodafone Opens its 360 Shop to Mobile app developers

On 04.09.10, In Mobile Marketing, By Editor

Vodafone has announced that it will enable developers to publish applications to the Vodafone 360 Shop through the JIL.org website. By this way developers can monetize their creations on JIL-enabled handsets.

Developers can choose to select from one, some or all of the selected markets for each app they publish. they can also select from 20 price points ranging from â‚¬0.49 to â‚¬9.99 (£0.49 to £9.99 in the UK) and set separate prices for each Vodafone market.

A standard 70/30 revenue share is offered, with developers paid monthly, approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which revenue was earned.

According to Lee Epting, Director of Content Services at Vodafone Group, through the JIL.org site, they are providing developers with simple upload methods, a transparent review process and greater insight, thanks to enabled country-specific market and pricing information.

Filed under:Mobile Marketing Tagged with: Handsets • JIL-enabled • Mobile • SIM • UK • Vodafone • Vodafone 360

Orange and HMV join hands to launch Mobile Games

On 03.20.10, In Mobile Marketing, By Editor

Orange UK has partnered with HMV to launch a mobile-gaming service. The service will be available in the next one week for customers across any network and on over 1,000 Java-enabled handsets.

To access this service the customers will have to text HMVâ€ to 87010. They will receive a link in the reply. By clicking on this link they will find reviews and previews of the latest games; free demo downloads, and games to buy.

Under this, HMV mobile games will provide its customers over 400 games with a new title every week. Names of a few games which will be available during the launch include, â€˜Fifa Manager 10′, â€˜Tetris’, â€˜Call of Duty MW2′ and â€˜PAC-MAN’. The starting price of the games will be £1.

Orange customers will be billed directly for their mobile game-play, while customers on other network will have to use the â€˜Payforit billing system, where they will be required to pay for the individual cost of each game.

According to Orange UK Business Development Director, Stephen Harris, the company is proud to be introducing this new service in strategic partnership with HMV, which will enable both the parties to deliver greater value, products and services to their customers.

Filed under:Mobile Marketing Tagged with: Handsets • HMV • Java-enabled • Mobile • Mobile Games • Orange • Orange UK • PayForIt

GPS Moving beyond handsets: Study

On 03.20.10, In Mobile Marketing, By Editor

According to a research study, global shipments of GPS-enabled GSM/WCDMA handsets increased 92% in 200, to 150 million units.

It is being said that since the shipments are growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.7%, it might reach 770 million units in 2014.

GPS technology started catching pace within the Smartphone segment not so long ago and now it is a standard feature of all new models. As per the study, high attach rates of GPS in new low-cost Smartphones will soon be entering into the market. GPS is also expected to become more common in mid-range feature phone models during 2010.

According to Andr© Malm, Senior Analyst at Berg Insight, Chipset developers and handset vendors are already working on next-generation location technologies that will address the limitations of GPS when using handsets in urban canyons and indoors.

Filed under:Mobile Marketing Tagged with: GPS-enabled • GSM • Handsets • smartphone • smartphones • Technology

Xobni for blackberry is now available

On 03.18.10, In Mobile Marketing, By Editor

The Much awaited Xobni Mobile for BlackBerry has been launched and made available for blackberry users by Xobni.

According to the company, the app reinvents the address bookâ€, which automatically creates rich profiles for every contact, a person can ever communicate with, regardless of whether they’ve been manually added to the native address book.

Xobni Mobile for Blackberry can be downloaded via the Xobni website and very soon it will also be available on Blackberry App World. Xobni is also launching Xobni One, a service that links information between Microsoft Outlook and mobile versions of Xobni for a more comprehensive and up-to-date address book.

According to Xobni CEO Jeff Bonforte, Xobni Mobile automatically builds and maintains the fastest, most complete and smartest address book a person would have ever used.

The launch is expected to be an important milestone for the company, and the company has made it even more compelling by powering it with Xobni One. This new service will prove out to be the foundation for all their future products.

Xobni Mobile is compatible with the Blackberry Tour, Curve 8900, Bold and Storm handsets. The cost of standalone app is $9.99, however Xobni Mobile with Xobni One costs $6.99 plus $3.99 per month or $39.90 per year.

Filed under:Mobile Marketing Tagged with: Blackberry • BlackBerry App World • BlackBerry Tour • Handsets • Information • Microsoft • Mobile • standalone • Xobni

Bluesquare launches iPhone App

On 03.15.10, In Mobile Marketing, By Editor

As a part of its mobile phones sportsbook offering, the online bookmaker Bluesquare has launched an iPhone web application which has been enabled by its mobile partner mkodo. The application offers live prices that refresh automatically within the page.

According to the sources from the company, live prices have been offered to allow customers to place bets faster than ever before. A user can easily get accustomed to its pop-up log-in system. The application also features the ability to add the blue square icon to the iPhone homescreen. The application is easy to handle and can be accessed anytime and anywhere at the touch of a button even while a customer is on move.

According to the Mobile Product Manager for Bluesquare parent company Interactive, Simon Woolf, the iPhone has revolutionized the mobile industry and in turn, the mobile gaming industry- it’s already five times more popular than other handsets on their existing mobile betting site.

This product complements the iPhone’s ability to get a customer’s bet on quickly with the ease of use on the increasingly popular â€˜Betting-In-Running’ markets.

According to Woolf, the aim of the company is to offer its customers a brand new platform or quick and easy betting on-the-go.

Filed under:Mobile Marketing Tagged with: Application • Bluesquare • Handsets • homescreen • iPhone • mkodo • Mobile • Sportsbook

The Bellperre Nero Gold

On 03.08.10, In Mobile Phones, By Editor

Bellperre has continued its lineup of luxury handsets through the launch of its tailor-made NERO GOLD â€˜Brushed Steel, Precious Buttons’ mobile phone. The Bellperre Nero Gold (100 x 44 x 15,5mm) is now available in high polished solid silver or gold buttons.

The shiny buttons are meant to capture the light, to create a great design with the unique combination of black crocodile shiny patent leather combined with brush steel metal and shiny gold buttons.

According to Bellperre, the handset includes only luxury leather, pure steel, hard wood, sapphire crystal, precious gold and diamonds.

There is also a 2-inch TFT display made of sapphire crystal that can offer a 176 x 220 pixel resolution. In addition, the Bellperre Nero Gold also features Windows Mobile as its operating platform and includes Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities, as well as a camcorder and a video player.

Filed under:Mobile Phones Tagged with: Bellperre • Bluetooth • Bluetooth 2.0 • camcorder • crocodile • Handsets • Luxury Handset • Mobile • Nero • phone • pixel • TFT • TFT Display

LG GS290 Cookie Fresh launched

On 03.08.10, In Mobile Phones, By Editor

Following the announcement of its bigger brother- the GS500 Cookie Plus, LG GS290 the third Cookie has hit the market now. Though its camera resolution lacks 3G, it retains the cartoon UI and standard audio jack.

A month ago LG had announced two new Cookie handsets- the GS500 Cookie Plus and the GS290 however disclosed only the specs of the Cookie Plus. Fortunately LG set that right with the latest announcement of GS290 Cookie Fresh.

The spec sheet of the model resembles the original Cookie and while a standard 3.5mm jack is added here, the camera of the set is downgraded to 2 megapixel resolution. The rest of features are as usual. The set has a 3-inch resistive touchscreen, Bluetooth, FM radio and microSD card slot.

The LG GS290 Cookie Fresh will be made available in ten vibrant colors across the markets of Europe and Asia in the second half of this month.

Filed under:Mobile Phones Tagged with: 3G • ASIA • Bluetooth • camera • Cookie • Europe • FM Radio • Handsets • LG • megapixel • MicroSD card • Touchscreen

Nokia Passion Fire Edition â€“ Igniting the passion for luxury

On 03.07.10, In Mobile Phones, By Editor

The Nokia Passion Fire Edition designed by Katherine Hughes is being retailed by Goldstriker at an estimated cost of $4,100.

Limited to 250 handsets, this luxury Edition has been crafted using 40gms of hallmarked 925 Sterling silver handmade veneer made complete with 24ct gold and 60 beautiful Swarovski crystals.