An Egyptian company launched a mobile 3G service in North Korea today after winning contracts to build the network in a country where private mobile phones and Internet access are banned. Orascom Telecom is investing $400 million in network infrastructure and license fees to make this network a reality.
Orascom was the first foreign telecommunications company in North Korea to gain a commercial telecommunications license. The company now has exclusive rights for four years, with a license to operate for 25 years. North Korea’s Pyongyang government severely limits information resources such as Internet access to government and military officials.
Orascom intends to cover the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, and as many of the major cities as possible during the next few years. It is unclear why exactly the North wants a cell phone network other than to liberalize the economy. Mobile phone service was mysteriously cut short on April 22, 2004, after an explosion on a train at a railway station in Ryongchon that killed 160 people and wounded an estimated 1,300 others.
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Written by Shawn Brown on December 15th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Japan has begun installing signal jammers at various ATMs in an effort to prevent the ongoing fraud problems. Back in October, Japan police made nationwide efforts to prevent citizens, especially senior citizens, from an outbreak of various telephone scams.
The fraud attempts targeted the elderly who were instructed by phone to withdraw money from the bank. During the withdrawal, the con artist told victims to bring a mobile phone in order to receive continuous instructions. Eventually police stationed themselves at ATMs and questioned people who were using cell phones. Mobile phone signal jammers have been installed at 4 unmanned locations in the Tokyo area thus far.
The devices are installed on the ceiling, emitting cellular signal interference waves. People standing at a safe distance behind the customer at the ATM should not be affected by the 1-2 meter sphere being emitted by the jammer. The bank will slowly phase in these mobile phone signal jammers at all of their ATM locations. The Japan Ministry of Public Management must issue a cell phone blocking license before these units may be legally installed. Some medical facilities and music venues in Japan currently have these devices installed.
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Written by Shawn Brown on December 11th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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A cell phone to me is a technology based electronic devices that hold no collective value compares to a sentiment item like a mechanical watch. I couldn’t see any value in a blinged-out handheld covered in gold or showered in diamonds. The connection fails as soon as the next technology rolls in with a bigger LCD screen, storage space or supports a faster communication protocol. But the Canadian has a unique way of making luxury cell phone worth more than its monetary value.
Keeping within the tradition, Mobiado introduces the professional 105GMT Gold, a luxury and limited edition cell phone incorporates a dual mechanical Swiss watch. Each of the mechanical movement contains 25 jeweled bearings and are attached an in-house 3D shock absorbing system.
The whole unit has a total count of 274 Carats of sapphire crystal. The buttons are hand-painted with 24-Carat gold as well as the symbols and lettering. The frame has an Ebony wood inlay with CNC machined solid brass frame, finished with a 5 micron thick 24-carat coating of gold.
The handheld itself has a few features normally found on a typical cell phone: It has a 2-inch QVGA screen, 1GB of storage space, Bluetooth, mircoUSB port. It also plays song, web browsing, email and take 2MP of digital still image. Connectivity supports quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and dual-band UMTS (850/2100MHz).
The price on the Mobiado Professional 105GMT Gold has not yet announced, but the Canadian finest craftsmanship would be available in a limited 50-pieces edition.
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Written by Daniel Lim on December 8th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Even though this was expected, it’s still a bit of a bummer. It seems T-Mobile has decided to boost their wireless data prices for customers that have plans with the carrier on smartphones. Like during the whole credit crisis, people need their monthly bills increased.
The wireless data plans used to cost $19.99 for unlimited data, so long as it was in conjunction with a voice plan. But now you can expect to pay $24.99 a month. However, your usage is no longer allowed to be unlimited. In fact, it has a cap of 400 SMS or MMS messages. If you want an unlimited plan, you’re going to have to shell out $34.99 a month.
Now remember, folks, this is on top of a voice plan. If you got a T-Mobile G1, you were automatically signed up for the $24.99 a month plan.
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Written by Brenda Stokes on November 21st, 2008 with no comments.
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It case anyone has doubted the prevalence of the touchscreen phone, perhaps the announcement of yet another touchscreen model will convince you? The Samsung Eternity has just made its way to AT&T and as you might have guessed, it sports a huge touchscreen.
Featuring a black and chrome look, the Samsung Eternity is also called the SGH-A867. This phone has a 3.2-inch display that uses haptics. It also uses vibrating feedback for an added sense of interactivity. The Samsung TouchWiz interface and an accelerometer add the finishing touches to this very touch-focused phone.
Other features include GPS, a 3-megapixel camera, support for AT&T Mobile TV, Bluetooth, a microSD card slot, HTML browser, 3G, speakerphone, AT&T Video Share service and more. You can get the Samsung Eternity now on AT&T for $149.99 with a two-year contract.
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Written by Brenda Stokes on November 14th, 2008 with no comments.
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AT&T has just announced the release date for the stylish and innovative Nokia 6650. This flip style phone runs the Symbian-based S60 platform, allowing for customization with the addition of many third party applications, themes and profile settings. The Nokia 6650 will come in silver and red, just in time for the holiday season.
Powered by the nation’s fastest 3G network, the Nokia 6650 is designed to help you navigate wherever you want to go with a dedicated menu key for AT&T navigator. The 6650 offers a broad range of AT&T mobile services including, AT&T Video ShareSM and AT&T Mobile Music. This beautiful handset will be easily noticed on the street because it is designed with premium materials and customizable illumination.
“AT&T’s reputation of offering the best and broadest choice of mobile phones is strengthened with the addition of the Nokia 6650,” said Carlton Hill, vice president of Consumer Devices and Product Development for AT&T’s Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Adding another Symbian-based device to our lineup underscores our commitment to customer choice.”
The Nokia 6650 will give you clear conversations, fast Internet browsing and up to four hours of talk time with AT&T’s 3G network covering more that 325 major metropolitan areas. This mobile phone will be available tomorrow, November 14th, in AT&T retail locations nationwide, for $69.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate when you sign a two-year agreement. The Nokia 6650 will come with many features including:
- 2.0 megapixel camera — Integrated flash that allows customers to capture quality photos
- Brushed metal fold design — Features a sharp 2.2-inch display with QVGA (16 million colors) resolution
- AT&T Navigator — A dedicated key allows customers to access AT&T Navigator with a click of a button
- AT&T Video Share — The first-ever service in the U.S. that allows users to share live video over wireless devices while participating in a voice call
- AT&T Mobile Music — Customers can listen and download their favorite music from Napster, eMusic, XM Radio and more wirelessly over the air
[Via PhoneMag]
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Written by Shawn Brown on November 13th, 2008 with no comments.
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Now I’ve heard everything! Apparently all of that frequent cell phone use isn’t fairing well for many people’s skin. A group of U.K. doctors have determined some have an actual skin reaction to holding a cell phone to their faces. And the condition’s name? Mobile phone dermatitis.
If you talk on the phone for a long period of time, you could end up experiencing an allergic reaction to the nickel in common handsets. The nickel is usually in the menu buttons, any logos, metal frames and other prominent areas. Unfortunately, these are often areas that come in direct contact with your ear and face.
In an advisory to doctors, the British Association of Dermatologists revealed today that common symptoms of mobile phone dermatitis include a rash or persistent itchiness of the ear or cheek area.
[via Gadget Lab at Wired]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on October 16th, 2008 with no comments.
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After much speculation and talk that the phone would be released soon, the BlackBerry Pearl 8220, formerly the KickStart, is a RIM flip phone, and though it’s still smart, the new form factor should act as a middle ground option for those that love a flip but need smartphone functionality.
Read the full press release after the cut.
When the phone is closed, it looks very much like your average, albeit stylish, flip. It has a 128×160 external display and a 2-megapixel camera. But open it up and it’s unmistakably BlackBerry. A larger SureType keyboard will keep typing error-free and a 320×240 internal display is clear and attractive. With Wi-Fi connectivity, media players and a 3.5mm headphone jack, this phone could potentially be your all-in-one handset.
The actual release date is not yet known and the pricing is still a mystery, but we do have the press release that was just distributed below for your convenience.
New BlackBerry Pearl Flip Brings The Industry’s Leading Mobile Messaging Solution To Consumers Who Prefer Flip Phones
Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM, TSX: RIM) today unveiled the BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8220 smartphone, the first BlackBerry® phone to come in the popular flip form factor.
The new BlackBerry Pearl Flip provides flip phone fans with all the power of a BlackBerry smartphone in a fun and familiar design. One quick flip of the handset opens up a world of possibilities with the industry’s leading mobile messaging solution and a wide range of impressive Internet and multimedia capabilities, all in one powerful yet approachable smartphone. You can send a message to your friends or family, make a call, browse the web, snap a picture, watch a video or listen to your favorite song. It’s all in your control with a simple flip.
The quad-band EDGE based BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphone presents a sophisticated look with a sleek design and a chrome-finished frame surrounding its smooth, luminescent face. Packed with an abundance of powerful features, it weighs only 3.6 ounces and measures approximately 3.9” x 1.9” x 0.7”. Featuring two high-resolution, light-sensing color displays, the external LCD makes it easy to preview incoming emails, text messages and phone calls without opening the handset, while the large, 240 x 320 internal LCD displays messages, videos and web pages with impressive detail and contrast.
“The popularity of BlackBerry smartphones has grown tremendously around the world and the introduction of this exciting new flip phone will help extend the reach of the BlackBerry platform even further,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “The BlackBerry Pearl Flip is a full-featured smartphone with a unique and friendly design and it is a natural choice for flip phone users who want to start doing more with their phone than just talk.”
FIRST CLASS PHONE
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphone is a top of the line mobile phone that flips open and cradles the face naturally and comfortably during phone calls. It delivers exceptional voice quality and includes many premium phone features, including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), support for mp3 ring tones, smart dialing, conference calling, speed dialing, call forwarding, voicemail attachment playback and enhanced background noise cancellation. It also features a speakerphone and Bluetooth® 2.0 for use with hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals such as a GPS receiver. The removable/rechargeable 900 mAhr battery provides four hours of talk time and over 14 days of standby time.
MESSAGING POWERHOUSE
Featuring a large SureType® QWERTY* keyboard that makes typing messages and dialing numbers fast and easy, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip, like all BlackBerry smartphones, provides integrated access to the industry leading BlackBerry wireless services. Users are able to easily access up to 10 supported personal and work email accounts, send and receive text and instant messages, and connect on popular social networking sites with friends, family and co-workers. The DataViz® Documents to Go® software suite is also preloaded, allowing users to edit Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the handset. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip is supported on BlackBerry® Internet Service, BlackBerry® Unite!, BlackBerry® Professional Software and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, which provides tight integration with corporate email systems and the security and IT policy controls that enterprise customers require to confidently allow smartphones in their organization.
MULTIMEDIA TO GO
With an advanced media player for displaying pictures, listening to music and watching videos, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip is the perfect on-the-go entertainment center. Videos play smoothly on the large internal display, playlists can be managed directly on the handset and there’s an equalizer with 11 preset filters – including “Lounge”, “Jazz” and “Hip Hop” – for customizing audio ranges when using headphones or external speakers. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip works with the new BlackBerry® Media Sync application that makes it easy to sync iTunes digital music collections with the smartphone*** and it also features a conveniently accessible microSD/SDHC memory card slot that supports up to 16GB** for plenty of storage. High Speed USB 2.0 support allows files to be quickly transferred between a desktop computer and the smartphone and the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager software includes Roxio® Media Manager for BlackBerry® to help users easily manage their music and video files. Roxio Photosuite® 9 LE is also included for creating photo albums and editing pictures.
FULL FEATURED FLIP
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip packs an impressive range of features into its compact design, including phone, email, messaging, organizer, browser and multimedia applications, and it can also support thousands of other mobile lifestyle and business applications. It features a 2 megapixel camera with flash, zoom and video recording**** to capture memories while on the move, and includes BlackBerry Maps to deliver maps and step-by-step driving directions quickly and easily. An enhanced HTML browser displays web pages beautifully in either “Column View” or “Page View” and different emulation settings allow users to choose between desktop-style HTML content and the mobile version of web pages. The browser also supports RTSP for watching online streaming video from sites like m.youtube.com. In addition, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphone features built-in Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g) with support for UMA (unlicensed mobile access), extending wireless email and data coverage and supporting carrier enabled voice calls over home Wi-Fi networks, enterprise wireless deployments and Wi-Fi hotspots.
ACCESSORIES
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip comes with a variety of accessories including a stereo headset, travel charger and USB cable. Additional accessories for BlackBerry smartphones, including holsters and totes, charging pods, premium earphones, Bluetooth headsets and the BlackBerry® Remote Stereo Gateway are available through retail outlets or online at www.shopblackberry.com.
AVAILABILITY
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 smartphone will be available from wireless carriers around the world beginning this fall. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip will be available in the United States exclusively from T-Mobile beginning this fall. Specific availability and pricing details will be announced at a later date.
For more information please visit www.BlackBerryPearl.com
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Written by Brenda Stokes on September 10th, 2008 with no comments.
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