Filed under: Software

Why should smartphone and 3 Skypephone users have all the fun? Skype has finally released a client written for mobile Java, enabling the ubiquitous VoIP pipe to be used on a wide, wide variety of phones (Skype says they’ve tested it on about 50, but it’s likely to work on far more than that). Though it’s naturally scaled down a bit to fit in its tiny target footprint, the client still manages to pack in support for Skype-to-Skype and SkypeOut calls, chat, group chat, and your buddy list — pretty much everything you need to make it functional. If you’re going to have a go at it, just make sure you’re on a sufficiently generous data plan, k?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Apple, OS X

We’ve heard that the 3G iPhone would add real, true, honest-to-goodness (no joke) GPS into the mix instead of the fakey guesstimation the current model offers, and data unearthed deep within the annals of the 2.0 firmware emulator lends credence to the scoop. Specifically, users have found references to NMEA data, the raw language used to communicate GPS coordinates between devices; that’d suggest that Apple’s intending to offer official support for GPS add-ons at the very least, but more likely, it foretells the inclusion of a GPS receiver right in the glossy black shell itself. What that means for efforts like locoGPS (pictured) remains to be seen, but it’d be awfully nice of Stevie to let external modules talk to the new firmware features on original iPhones, wouldn’t it?

[Via Navigadget]

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Filed under: Apple

Does that glossy black iPhone-esque thing we recently saw bare an uncanny resemblance to the description we’ve gotten of the 3G iPhone? Yeah, yeah it does — but it ain’t it. As we’ve already mentioned over on Engadget, what we’re seeing here appears to be nothing more than an uber-fancy case for the iPhone Senior. Now, if the 3G model should just so happen to steal from cues from what we’re seeing here anyway, we think that’d be just alright with us. Thoughts?

[Via Boy Genius Report]

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Filed under: Vodafone, Misc, Softbank Mobile, China Mobile

Simmer down, we’re not talking about yet another homegrown 3G standard from China here. Oh no — Vodafone, Softbank and China Mobile are teaming up to establish a Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) that will “promote the development of new mobile technologies, applications and services.” More specifically, the trio is aiming to accelerate the “commercial deployment of mobile internet services” such as mobile widgets. For starters, the initiative hopes to conjure up a platform for said widgets that can leverage the unique capabilities of mobile operators, and it’s most certainly keeping the door to the party wide open for anyone who wants to get in on the action. As expected, we’re not clearly told what to expect from this little tie-up, but we’ll be keeping an ear to ground for any developments.

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Filed under: Handsets, RIM, Apple

The times has a verbose 2,000 word piece about the high stakes world of high-end cellphone manufacturers (no way!), specifically centered around RIM’s post-iPhone trials and tribulations. Besides a bit of vague lip service paid to the 9000 series, they’re claiming that two 3rd party developers — no sources cited — leaked that RIM has a skunkworks product dubbed “AK” (which stands for “Apple Killer”), and that apparently it’ll be touchscreen. And then comes the tub-thumping money shot from co-CEO Mike Lazaridis: “I couldn’t type on [the iPhone] and I still can’t type on it, and a lot of my friends can’t type on it. It’s hard to type on a piece of glass.” Right, until you guys decide to do one of your own — these executive types are so transparent they might as well just be up front.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Handsets, Others, Windows Mobile, E-TEN

It wasn’t too long ago that Acer was finalizing paperwork to acquire E-Ten, and now that it’s moving on, we’re hearing that the company should be launching its very first (aw, how cute) smartphone in around eight to ten months. According to the firm’s president, it’s aiming to introduce the handset “near the end of this year or early next year,” and it will indeed “be Microsoft-based.” Gianfranco Lanci also suggested that smartphones could represent up to 10-percent of the company’s revenue within the next few years. Notably, the outfit is apparently planning to move its phones via mobile network operators, and while it typically takes six to nine months to sweet talk a carrier into marketing a new smartphone, it hopes to use its “existing relationships with telecommunications companies to speed up such sales.” Sadly, we’re not given any clues about what carriers it’s aiming for, but it won’t be too awfully long before we’re sure to find out.

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Filed under: Sprint, CDMA, Misc

Sprint’s not going out of its way to make a big fuss about it, but its long-standing Voice Command service will soon be no more. The service, which allowed Sprint-Nextel phones to dial two buttons and then give voice commands to place calls, will be discontinued on July 1st, 2008, meaning that all your server-based contacts will soon be inaccessible. Aside from removing the VC fee from your monthly bill, Sprint’s advising users to download and print their contact lists, and better still, it’s encouraging users to rely on handset-based voice-activated dialing (or pick up a new phone if their current one can’t pass muster). So long, Voice Command — we can’t imagine too many folks actually missing you.

[Via Phone Scoop]

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Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, GSM

It’s not like Samsung hasn’t simplified a good number of its handsets before, but the Anycall CC03 hearkens back to the days when text-messaging was but a dream and haptics weren’t even mentioned in the same paragraph as cellular telephones (okay, so maybe that’s a stretch). Still, we can definitely appreciate the lo-fi approach given the $65 sticker, and considering that it measures in at just 4.07- x 1.73- x 0.58-inches, we can certainly see quite a few folks picking one up to handle calling, and well, more calling. You’ll find dual-band GSM support, speakerphone / SMS functionality and a battery that’ll provide around 2.8-hours of talk time. No word on a price just yet, but word on street has this phone available as we speak in Hong Kong.

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Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Telus Mobility, EV-DO, CDMA

Just days after Telus picked up the attractive LG Venus, the carrier has officially started offering up the Motorola Mike i877. The half-rugged, half-sleek looking flip phone was designed by Pininfarina and features integrated Bluetooth, a multimedia player (MP3, AAC, WMA), microSD expansion slot, miniUSB port, 1.3-megapixel camera, VibraCall, a digital voice recorder and the obligatory push-to-talk support. If it floats your boat, you can snag it now sans contract for $349.99, or anywhere between $149.99 to $299.99 if you’re cool with signing the dotted line for varying lengths of time.

[Via MobileInCanada]

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Filed under: Handsets, Vertu, GSM, EDGE

You know how it goes — when you’re this high-end, don’t even bother waiting for your bestest of friends to toss you a birthday party to celebrate ten years of mindless self indulgence. Instead, Vertu’s doing the only thing it really can by cranking out a fashionable new collection to commemorate its decennial anniversary. The Constellation Rococo collection was reportedly inspired by “the eighteenth century French art, fashion and interior design movement by the same name,” and if you’re into floral patterns, bold colors and monogrammed Vs, you’re sure to fall head over heels for this lot. Rest assured, however, that the epicurean handset maker won’t be giving these away as gifts (or anything close to it) when they land this summer.

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