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]

Email to SMS is becoming a great new service

Ever been writing an urgent email and wanting to send it to your pal, who you know isn’t near his computer and isn’t going to be for a few hours. Well the solution is here, and it looks to have a great outlook.

Recently domain and web hosting providers have been offering a new service free of charge to anyone using their primary services. One is VoxDomains.com and another is Bonphire.com, both of which seem to work the exact same way. When you are composing your email, you can choose whether you want the email to go to email only, SMS / text messaging only, or both. From there you can enter the email addresses and/or phone numbers. There’s also a function that allows users to keep the email within the 160 character limit for text messages.

[To check out more on this, take a look at VoxDomains.com and Bonphire.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]

Stop waiting in line for your food! Use GoMobo and never wait!

Are you always in a rush to get to work on time, but just wish you could stop at the local coffee shop to grab a cup of their famous latte instead of your Walmart brand dirt the people from work call coffee ? Well, Mobo Systems, Inc has came out with a great service to do just that.

GoMobo is a service that allows customers to text message (SMS) their order to the restaurant before even getting to the restaurant. On top of that, when you get to the restaurant, you don’t even have to wait in line! Each participating coffee shop has an express lane just for people ordering by GoMobo!

GoMobo has made this service easier than ever. You can login online and type in your favorite orders and input your credit card information to be billed for your orders. Then when you’re in your car, you text message the GoMobo number and the message can be as short as one (yes, 1) character. That character you indicate in your message, corresponds with the favorites you indicated online, and you just enter the number.

Here’s a brief explanation of how it would work if you were to order:

1. After creating an account online and entering the information needed, you send a text message to 46626 with the message 1 (your Favorite #1).
2. The resturant will then message you back the estimated delivery or pickup time.
3. You go to the resturant (or receive it if it was a delivery), walk up to the GoMobo line and tell them the last four digits of your phone number.
4. They give you your purchase and you walk away while everyone else wonders how you got the VIP treatment.

Best of all, this service is 100% free to it’s users! No fees are charged to you ever! Unfortunately, GoMobo has restaurants located in New York only at this time, however look for this to catch on quick!

[Check out more info at GoMobo.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]

High school students facing fines for ringing cell phones

A high school in Connecticut is taking an new approach at the way they handle ringing cell phones in class.

Instead of sending the owners of the ringing cell phone to detention, the phones are confiscated. Before the owners can get their phone back, they are changed a fine of $3 for the first offense, $5 for the second, and $10 for the third.

The principal of Derby High School, Michael Novia, said that the phones are constantly going off, and then being confiscated by the teachers. The teachers then pass the phones on to Novia, where he awaits the owners to pay the fine and receive their phone. Novia said that once the phones are in his possession , the phones still don’t stop ringing however.
The money collected from the fines would go to a good use at least, an after-prom party for the students. Novia said, “I think it’s a fun and practical way to lessen cell phone use.” No word from the Board of Education if they agree that it is ‘fun and practical’, and they will be the ones decided whether to approve or decline the idea.

[Story from The Advocate]

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…

Bluetooth and motorcycle helmets combine for a great combo

Now motorcycle riders can enjoy phone conversations while on their bike without even removing their hands from the handle bars. Not only that, they can be listening to the FM radio from their bluetooth headset and decide whether to take the call, ignore the call, or mute the call as well - still without touching their phone.

The SCALA-RIDER FM Headset released by Cardo Systems, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of wireless Bluetooth devices for the consumer market, is a safe alternative for bikers. The SCALA-RIDER can be placed and any helmet within a few minutes, and removed from any helmet in minutes without leaving a trace. The headset is fully weather protected, so rain or shine, this device will perform. Chairman and CEO of Cardo Systems, Abraham Glezerman stated:

“Motorcyclists can have comfortable, secure, hands-free wireless communication, and enjoy their favorite music. As with all other versions of the SCALA-RIDER, this product too puts safety first: Automatic volume adjustment and voice controlled receipt of incoming calls allow users to keep their hands on the handlebars.”

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]

Cingular offers BlackBerry Connect for Palm Treo 650

This week saw the joint announcement by Cingular Wireless and RIM of the introduction of BlackBerry Connect for users of the Palm Treo 650. Push email services are critically important for many mobile professionals and this new service will be welcome news for all Treo 650 fans.

Among other things, BlackBerry Connect provides:

• Push Corporate Email Services
• Wireless Calendar Synchronization
• Attachment Viewing
• Remote Address Lookup

Tim Roper US Region Vice President of Palm said during the announcement:

“Treo 650 already is one of the most compelling mobile-computing devices available today for business users, and the BlackBerry Connect functionality gives Cingular customers another great reason to adopt Treo as a vital business-productivity tool.”

Cingular has unlimited BlackBerry Connect services starting at $44.99 per month. The Palm Treo 650 with Cingular can be bought on Amazon starting at $44.99 on a new plan. More information on the services are available from PalmOne and Cingular.

[Source Cingular Press Release]