Don’t get charged double or triple per SMS!

A man in Finland discovered that he was sometimes getting charged double, and even sometimes triple, for a text message that he sent. He noticed it after sending a single text message under 160 characters, that his bill recorded him sending two or three messages.

The problem: His provider treats an unusual character as a seperate message. Luckily, in Finland, this character is not a common one for the language.

To read more, check out: hs.fi

New great way to find the apartment of your dreams!

TextoRent.com is a new feature that assists people in finding an apartment via SMS. The way it works is simple: There is a broker and the client (you). Your broker will send you listings via SMS as soon as they become available that meet your specifications.
This way, you won’t have to miss out on the apartment of your dreams or any good listing that you might like. You can review them briefly on your phone, or check out the listings on the web for more info.

Sounds like a pretty good idea overall, but just isn’t something I’d do. 1) it’s only limited to the New York City area, and a few other large city in the area. 2) I’d rather not be interupted at work by all these text messaging coming in.
I think this could be a big hit, so if you’re checking out apartments in the New York City area, definetly take a look at this service and review it for us.

More info @ TextoRent.com

Still poking at your phone to text message? Try this!

Now that cell phones are getting smaller and smaller, it’s getting harder and harder to hit those tiny keys. Nuance Communications has released a new software specifically for mobile phones to eliminate having to poke at your phone. It is a mobile speech platform that translates voice into text.

Not only goes it do that, but it does much more. Users can speak natural queries to find ringtones, locate the nearest Starbucks, search the Web, or dictate a complete SMS or email, and much more. This is much better than other speech programs that are available, only allowing basic queries like “Call Sarah at work”.

Ok, so this sounds pretty cool, but is it fast? The answer is yes! So how fast? Well Nuance had a competition versus Ben Cook, the worlds fastest SMSer to put it to the test. Well, the Nuance software beat Ben and other SMSers hands down. To take a look at more info about the contest, click here.

[For more info about the software, visit Nuance.com]

The 9 use cell phone charger!

Nowadays everything has more than one use, but the cell phone charger was always just that. Well thanks to Athena Brands, Inc, the cell phone charger has much more than one use!

Ok, well maybe it’s not your typical cell phone charger, but it will charge your phone and thats what counts. Did I mention that this is the outdoors man (and woman) dream come true? Well anyways, it is! This device has a wooping nine (9) functions! It has:

1. A lantern
2. 15 red and white LED emergency flashing beacon
3. An AM/FM radio (I know, impressive)
4. 120 decibel siren
5. Night light (same as lantern, maybe)
6. Ultrasonic moqsquito repeller
7. DC charger
8. Mp3 cord
9. And of course, the cell phone charger!

But wait, so you’re camping in the middle of the woods and the lantern/radio/cell phone charger/etc goes dead, now what! No worries, Athena has thought of everything! More…

Now you can be James Bond - Control your car with your phone!

Ever wanted to control your car via your computer, or even cell phone? Well, you guessed it, it’s here.

Before you even get to your car, you can have the windows down, radio on your favorite station, and the car started for you. Talk about impressing your friends - and now you can do it a with a few pushes of some buttons.

Technology from Connect2Car has made all of this possible, and even more. You can control everything in your car with their device, here is a short list of some of them; windows, putting the top down, radio on/off, start the car, honk the horn, and more. Even better, if you have a custom car with hydraulics, lambo doors, TVs (they’re almost standard now though), or anything else, you can probably control it with your phone using the Connect2Car device!

Best of all, the pricetag isn’t unreasonable. Starting at $219 (USD) and up to $539 if you want more advanced controls.

[Check out more info @ Connect2Car.com]

Ever want to just scream after you’ve ‘lost’ your phone? Now the phone will scream for you!

Did you know that approximately 10,000 mobile phones are stolen every month? Perhaps you have been one of the unlucky victims of phone theft, and yes, it sucks. All of the data remaining on the phone is now in the hands of someone that wants to use it for everything he or she can. To top it off, studies show that on average, it takes 30 seconds for someone to notice that their phone is missing. Ahhh!!

Well, Synchronia has released a mobile phone software that will do just that, SCREAM! With Mobile Manager from Synchronia you can remotely turn on a scream feature, which will release an annoying and embarrassing high pitched noise from the phone. The software however can go far beyond a scream. With it you can remotely lock and wipe the data from the phone. It can also be used for business to update and remotely install software on company smartphones.

[To learn more about the software, visit Synchronia.com]

Free calls with Jajah…now also on Blackberry

Jajah is a fantastic, powerful and convenient web-activated Internet telephony solution for cell phones and landlines alike. Their service allows you to make calls across the globe at the vastly reduced prices typically associated with VoIP providers and often calls are free!

To make a call you visit Jajah.com, enter the number where you are located, then the country, area code and number of the person you wish to call and click ‘call’. Within seconds, your phone will ring, you answer and then Jajah automagically connects you to the person you wanted to call, instantly across the Interweb.

Jajah offers free calling for landlines AND cell phones within certain locations, and really cheap rates for everyone else. This is a very neat, simple VoIP solution, devoid of fancy adaptors, contracts or special software. Jajah leverages the power of the Internet to connect you with your friends and loved ones locally or on the other side of the world… Give Jajah a try. They offer a 5 minute trial for free (landline numbers only for the trial). It really is quite amazing - it just works! Registration enables more advanced features such as conference calling.

BBCalls have recently released a Jajah tool for the Blackberry addicts among us, allowing ‘free’ calls to be established from within your Blackberry.

[Full details at Jajah and BBCalls]

OK. So we didn’t get an iPhone on Tuesday, but what about this?

So, Mr Jobs announced a selection of snazzy new iPods but no iPhone, at the special media event on Tuesday. It must be coming soon though. The buzz is alive and kicking once more with more speculation about what this new device might look like. MacRumors.com have a story purporting to contain info from a reliable source about yet another iPhone prototype.

This one looks pretty slick. Very Nano-esque, complete with click-wheel, and a slider to reveal a full size number pad. Take a look…

[More at Macrumors.com]

C-SAM innovates mobile banking and more!

A company by the name of C-SAM may have brought mobile transactions to a new level. Not only have they done what other companies have such as Paypal’s Text2Buy, but they offer many features that are not available by larger companies. With C-SAM pay your bills, send money to other mobile users, move money between bank acounts, get money order and send wire transfers, get prepaid cards and replenish them, get coupons, get tickets for more than the movies, and much more!

This isn’t the usual SMS mobile payment site, this has everything you need and more! If you love your mobile phone and hate your wallet, surely stop over at C-SAM and take a peek for yourself.

[More at C-SAM.com]

iPhone this time around? Perhaps something even better?

The web is humming once more with iPhone rumors in the lead up to Apple’s upcoming media event in California that coincides with the launch of Apple Expo in Paris on Tuesday 12 September.

With it’s media invitations issued under the teaser-title “It’s Showtime” many expect the rumored addition of feature films to the iTunes movie store. Additionally, commentators anticipate upgrades to Apple’s flagship laptop range and possibly a new iPod.

MacNN, however, has a load of intriguing information surround a patent application that Apple lodged in March and the details of which were published by the US Patent & Trademark Office just last week. Instead of a new iPod or iPhone, Apple MAY be set to release a feature-filled multi-function device which combines those two features but adds a whole lot more, including features such as a camera, GPS, PDA and more. We’ll see…roll on Tuesday!

[More from MacNN]

Are your mobile phone records being sold?

Well there may not be a clear answer to this question, but if you’ve been receiving text messages from advertisers and/or phone calls then the answer could be yes.

There are many websites on the internet that are selling peoples phone records for a pretty penny, charging anywhere from $10 to $99.99. The information they are selling is anywhere from your location and phone number to genealogical research. There are also services out there that you can pay a fee to get a person mobile number, but before receiving the information you have to sign a disclaimer saying you have a legitimate reason for wanting the number.

Don’t jump the gun however, the police, FBI and mobile carriers are taking action. Verizon has filed lawsuits with at least three website, and Sprint has done the same. Verizon also filters up to 50,000 text messages that are considered spam every day.

More…

Low on money for lunch? Find out how much is in your bank account quick!

Ever been out to lunch or wanting to get the latest DVD, but you weren’t sure if you had enough money in your bank account? Well, Ahli United Bank may have eliminated that problem by the use of your cell phone and SMS. All you have to do is send a text message to your bank and they will text you back. After selecting from a menu of options, you’ll be able to see your account balance in no time. The system can automatically notify you of credits and payments from your account, as well as view your balance, and conduct different transactions. The service will be available in English and Arabic, and is including free in all of their banking packages.

[Read more from AME Info]

Kidnapped girl escapes while captor makes a phone call

Eight years ago Natascha Kampusch was kidnapped and during her time held captive, she was held in a tiny underground room. Photos showed this small, cramped room had narrow stairs leading down to small space that you would have to crawl to get into. The room also had a metal hatch that sealed the windowless room. Inside was a bed, toliet, small television and a pile of books. Natascha rarely left the cramped space in the eight years she was held there.

Natascha was kidnapped at the age of ten and was anxious for a way out. She noticed that her captor, Wolfgang Priklopil, was making a phone call on his cell phone. He appeared to be busy while on the phone and let down his guard and Natascha escaped.

Priklopil commited suicide just hours after she had escaped by jumping in front of a commuter train.

[Check out more at Vail Daily]

MMS your pic to your online dating profile! EasyDate

The UK’s largest online dating service, EasyDate, boasting almost a million singles across its network of online dating sites, last month introduced a new facility to help their customer’s upload images of themselves direct from their mobile phones, via MMS, to their online dating profiles.

The idea has first been implemented on - youcangetme.com. Sean Wood, EasyDate’s Marketing Manager explains:

We realised by the number of photos we received in the post that not all our members had access to a scanner or a digital camera, so we looked at options that would give them the easiest possible method of completing their profile and increasing their chances of finding a date online. It occured to us that most mobile phones had integrated cameras so this was definitely the way to go.

Our initial trials have proven very successful so we are now implementing this technology across our network of sites.

Youcangetme.com also provides “SMS Text flirting” between it’s registered members, making further use of mobile technologies in the implementation of its matchmaking services.

I think this a great idea. Nearly all handsets have a built-in camera these days, and sending a pic by MMS is a snap. Camera’s in mobile phones are improving in quality every month. Mind you, it could work to your advantage having an older handset with a lower quality camera. A bit of low-light noise introduced into your dating profile pic maybe helps disguise some of the blemishes…!

If you are single and in need of a date - check out their services.

[Full details of EasyDate’s press release at PRWeb]

Frucall adds new services…

Further to our earlier posting, Frucall today announced the introduction of several additional new features to their mobile, voice-based price comparison shopping services.

Frucall Text - allows users to receive price comparison info, (previously only available in audio) via text message delivered to their handset. This convenient features removes the need to have a pen and paper handy to jot down the pricing info or having to commit anything to memory, instead providing a handy text-message version for ease of reference throughout your shopping experience.

Also announced was new buddy list and messaging functionality:

Frucall Buddy List Messaging lets users send voice and text messages to friends, families and groups they define. Users can record voice or text messages that are sent instantly to everyone within their selected Buddy List groups. Buddy List Messaging works on all phones and is not limited to phone numbers on the same carrier network. Normal carrier charges apply to receiving text messages.

Thanks to Michael @ Frucall for the heads up, and good luck with the new services.

Further details can be found here.