Sprint to announce building of a WiMax network

Sprint is scheduled to announce later today that it is choosing the WiMax technology to build a brand new wireless internet network. Although this will not be available until 2008, this is definitely something to look forward to. Sprint will be working with Motorola and Samsung using Intel chips to make headsets that are compatible. The service is said to be available nationwide (in the United States), and could even replace cable and DSL.

[To read more, check out dailywireless.org]

New system to deliver cell phone photos to 911 operators

There are over 370 million camera phones in use worldwide, and increasingly they are being used to communicate news as it breaks.

In July 06, the London bombings saw images of the devastation being uploaded from cell phones to blogs and sites like Flickr as the event unfolded, and many cell phone recorded video clips made the mainstream broadcast news.

PowerPhone who specialise in software and training for 911 operators, have developed a new system named Cell Phone Delivery (CPD) allowing callers to send photos from a camera equipped cell phone handset via email direct to the console of the 911 operator, providing the operator with far more accurate information from the scene of a crime or emergency than a mere verbal description might allow.

“Citizens are now the eyes and ears for our 9-1-1 operators — and camera phone photos are going to be an important part of improving safety and security.” Chris Salafia, PowerPhone’s president and CEO

[More from PRWeb]

Franklin helps fill the gap with new CDU-550 USB EV-DO Modem

Wireless broadband manufacturer, Franklin Wireless, anounced on Friday the launch of their new USB 1x EV-DO modem, the CDU-550, a first for the industry.

This new modem released under a partnership with Sprint, who now have the largest mobile network in the US (Sprint Power Vision Network), offers high speed wireless internet access to laptops that do not have PCMCIA card slots, offering instead a USB interface. The card will have immediate benefit for those with new MacBook Pro laptops where a PCMCIA slot was dropped in favour of the incoming ExpressCard/34 format interface.

The Sprint Power Vision Network now covers 153 million people and services customers in 220 major metropolitan areas as well as 470 airports across the nation, the most of any carrier.

[Press release from Franklin-Wireless]

Yet more iPhone speculation - could THIS be the one?

The web is abuzz once again with yet more dubious, ‘top-secret’ images of the much anticipated Apple cell phone. Just take a look at Flickr. More pictures of a new supposed, handset dubbed ‘iChat Mobile’ have surfaced along with a scratchy video on YouTube of someone supposedly wielding one.

These new images feature a phone sporting iPod shuffle like controls along with a keypad that would presumably have a similar feel to the click controls of a traditional iPod.

The thing that seems to have most people puzzled is the appearance of what looks to be an iSight camera on the rear in combination with the name iChat. The camera could either be a traditional camera, as we’ve come to expect in most handsets, OR maybe this is for a Wifi/VoIP/Skype like application (akin to iChat proper) offering video conferencing facilities and not a cell phone at all….but, then shouldn’t the camera be on the front so you can see the other caller while they see you?

While, I like really like the look of this thing, to me the corners look far too sharp to be slipped in and out of a pocket and the handset looks to be the size of a very large remote control. Apple’s specialty is designing functional, stylish and practical technology and this to me doesn’t fit the mould and the whole package just doesn’t add up.

As convincing as this unit looks, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that this is not THE cell phone we have all been expecting. We’re itching to see what Apple really has in store for us though. Roll on WWDC…

Mmm…Chocolate… LG’s VX8500 Chocolate

Monday, 31 July, saw the official release of the LG VX8500 Chocolate by Verizon Wireless.

The “Chocolate” is “Part MP3 player. Part phone. Totally sweet.” according to Verizon, and it really does look the business. They’ve gone for the stylish Nano piano black finish with stylish red accents for a stunning, sleek look.

Consumers have long been fed up with only being able to get a small handful of songs on their mobile phone handsets, but the Chocolate, with its support for 2Gb’s worth of expansion via microSD memory card allowing for the storage of almost 1,000 songs (in MP3 or Windows WMA format), makes the “Chocolate” a viable MP3 Player/Phone convergence device.

iPod like controls are available on the front panel, with the keypad concealed under the sliding top panel.

Verizon’s Chocolate music phone is also fully compatible with Verizon’s V CAST music service, which, (somewhat coincedentally), dropped it’s US$15 per month subscription fee on Monday. Chocolate lovers can now buy and download songs over the air for US$1.99 each.

Other features :

• QVGA screen (320×240)
• Bluetooth
• EV-DO
• 1.3 Megapixel camera (with video)
• Verizon’s VZ Navigator
• V Cast Music and Video compatibility (now with no monthly fees)
• Dimensions: 3.8″ x 1.88″ x 0.69″
• Weight: 3.53oz
  

The Chocolate really does look quite delicious, but c’mon Apple, show us what YOU have got!

Pre-order your Chocolate from Amazon now.

Diamond studded phone for $300k anyone? No thanks!

It’s probably just a little too late to start saving your pennies to be one of only 5 in the world to own Swiss VOIP company, VIPN’s ridiculously expensive Black Diamond handset, scheduled for launch early in ‘07.

Seriously, $300,000USD for a phone? Who has that kind of money to burn? Sure the styling is sleek (has that same piano gloss finish of the black iPod Nano) and yeah, it has a couple of big diamonds stuck on it and can operate using VOIP over regular Wi-fi, but the rest of the feature set is comparable to many regular ‘off the shelf’ PDAs or Smart Phones. Really nothing all that special at all.

And while we are at it, sure, there’s a language barrier to get through for those where English is not their native tongue, but come on, if you want to convince me to buy a phone worth the same amount of money as an average house, I’d probably be taking a closer look at the spelling and grammar on my site thankyou very much. Sheesh…

My advice, hold out for the Apple iPhone (if that’s what they are gonna call it), hope they sell them in black, and stick a big diamonte on the back - who’s gonna know the difference…?

[Take a look at VIPN.ch]

More ways to pay, the cell phone way…

A few days ago we reported on the new mobile based serviced ‘Paypal Mobile‘ that helps facilitate settling the check with your friends after a great dinner by allowing payments to be sent to your friends and other services via a text message from your phone. Well, it turns out there are many ways of using your phone for bill settlement and instant payments, Textpayme and Obopay can also help out when your wallet is devoid of the folding stuff.

Oh, and thats not all - how about using your phone to save money? Turns out downloadable coupons for your phone are making the scene and becoming increasingly popular. Dry Cleaning, video rentals, you name it. Pizza anyone?

[More from SmartMoney.com]

Hot new headsets from Plantronics coming soon!

Headset manufacturer Plantronics has four new Bluetooth devices coming our way to round out Q3.

For $80 the Bluetooth 1.1 Explorer 330 uses the typical ‘apostrophe’ style around the ear approach that many of us have become accustomed to.

The Pulsar 590E (pictured right) features over the ear style headphones and an boom-style mic and has an SRP of $139.95.

And then there’s the Pulsar 260. A control unit sporting Bluetooth 2.0 for the more discerning users with MP3-playing phones demanding high quality stereo earbuds and remote facilities for volume control and track selection.

Also using 2.0 is the Discovery 655 a super-lightweight ‘in-ear’ headset with optional charger.

If you are in the market for a new Bluetooth partner for your ‘phone, sit tight and watch out for these bad boys to start appearing in stores from Sept ‘06.

Using your phone on a plane, possibly coming soon?

A company by the name of ASiQ has applied for a patent to allow using your cell phone while flying. The unit is connected by either a standard cable or bluetooth connection, and it claims to not interfere with ground networks or the aircraft’s avionics.

[Read more]