Mobility Phones - Mobile Phones

“AT&T on its conference call with analysts today skirted giving numbers about how many of Apple’s (AAPL) iPhones it activated in the quarter ended March 31, which it reported earlier today.”

T-Mobile heralds the advent of spring with a compelling promotion for the Apple iPhone: the price for the 8 GB version has been substantially reduced; the entry-level rate plan Complete S is the new member of the attractive Complete rate-plan family.Spring is truly in the air with these prices. In conjunction with a Complete XL contract, the iPhone from T-Mobile costs just EUR 99 as part of the promotion running from April 7 through June 30. The price for the Apple iPhone handset has also been reduced substantially in conjunction with any of the other Complete two-year contract options. The following prices apply to the 8 GB version throughout the promotional period:

Apple iPhone 8 GB in conjunction with Complete XL: EUR 99 Complete L: EUR 149 Complete M: EUR 199 Complete S: EUR 249

Further information on the Complete two-year contracts can be found at http://www.t-mobile.de/iphone. The price for the 16 GB iPhone remains unchanged at EUR 499 in conjunction with a Complete contract.

Complete S rate-plan promotion for EUR 29 Users now have an even easier entry route into the world of the iPhone by signing up for the Complete S rate plan by June 30. For a monthly basic charge of just EUR 29, Complete S comes with 50 free call minutes and, as part of the spring promotion, 500 MB instead of 100 MB inclusive volume for the first 24 months to surf the web on the move. Complete S also includes the popular weekend flat rate providing free calls to the German fixed network and the T-Mobile network at the weekend. Needless to say, Complete S also supports the unique visual voicemail function in the T-Mobile network.

“Apple is gearing up for a big bump in sales of the next generation iPhone, if new production plans are any guide.”

Apple today updated its AirPort Express mobile base station with 802.11n to deliver up to five times the performance and twice the range of the previous model*. Priced at just $99, AirPort Express is the world’s smallest 802.11n-based mobile base station. It can be plugged directly into the wall for wireless Internet connectivity and USB printing at home or easily brought on the road for wireless freedom wherever there is an Internet connection. AirPort Express features AirTunes(TM), which works seamlessly with iTunes to give users a simple and inexpensive way to wirelessly stream iTunes music from a PC or Mac to any room in the house.”Apple is leading the way with a broad range of innovative 802.11n base stations for almost any wireless networking need,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “From the small and portable AirPort Express, to AirPort Extreme for workgroups of up to 50 users and the new Time Capsule for automated backups, Apple customers now have more great ways to extend their wireless networks with 802.11n.”

AirPort Express features a single-piece, compact design weighing just 6.7 ounces, providing maximum portability. AirPort Express offers both PC and Mac users the ability to share a single DSL or cable broadband connection with up to 10 simultaneous users. Users can also share a printer wirelessly that is connected to the USB port. Apple’s AirPort Utility software provides easy step-by-step instructions for setting up and configuring AirPort Express; and with its advanced security features, AirPort Express safeguards data on networked computers with support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2), 128-bit WEP encryption and a built-in firewall. Apple now includes 802.11n as standard in its entire line of AirPort base stations and Mac notebooks as well as iMac, Apple TV and Time Capsule(TM).

AirPort Express includes a built-in combination digital and analog audio connector allowing users to connect to a home stereo or powered speakers. iTunes automatically detects remote speakers and displays them in a simple pop-up list for the user to select. Once the remote speakers are selected, AirTunes wirelessly streams iTunes music from the computer to the AirPort Express base station. Multiple AirPort Express base stations can be set up around a home, each connected to a set of powered speakers for a whole-home music experience. AirPort Express can also extend the range of an existing AirPort Extreme wireless network.

Pricing & Availability

AirPort Express is available immediately through the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $99 (US).

*AirPort Express is based on an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. Actual performance will vary based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network and other factors.

Apple today announced that more than 100,000 iPhone(TM) developers have downloaded the beta iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) in the first four days since its launch on March 6. The iPhone SDK provides developers with the same rich set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools that Apple uses to create its native applications for iPhone and iPod touch.”Developer reaction to the iPhone SDK has been incredible with more than 100,000 downloads in the first four days,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Also, over one million people have watched the launch video on Apple.com, further demonstrating the incredible interest developers have in creating applications for the iPhone.”

Apple also previewed the new App Store, a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to every iPhone and iPod touch user. Developers set the price for their applications — including free — and retain 70 percent of all sales revenues.

Leading developers such as AOL, Electronic Arts, Epocrates, salesforce.com and Sega have already demonstrated amazing applications using the SDK, and developer response continues to be phenomenal with more developers embracing the platform.

“The iPhone SDK gives us the tools we need to create powerful iPhone applications and is an important part of our overall mobile strategy,” said Rick Jensen, senior vice president, Small Business Group at Intuit. “We’re excited that the iPhone expands the ways our customers can solve key financial tasks wherever they might be.”

“We’re very excited about Apple’s new SDK and reaching every iPhone user through the new App Store,” said Scott Rubin, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Namco Networks. “We can’t wait to show off great new versions of arcade classics like PAC-MAN and Galaga that use the revolutionary features of the iPhone and iPod touch.”

“Apple’s tools have provided our development team the flexibility to make the SuitePhone application richer and deeper,” said Luke Braud, vice president, Software Development, NetSuite. “NetSuite is excited at the opportunity to give every iPhone customer access to their critical business data anytime, anywhere.”

“Apple’s become an important mobile game platform with the iPhone SDK,” said Jason Kapalka, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, PopCap. “The new SDK gives us the tools to innovate and reinvent games like Bejeweled, Zuma and Peggle. With the new App Store we can reach every iPhone and iPod touch user on the planet.”

“Seventy percent of the retail price is hands-down the best deal out there in mobile. It’s simple and motivating for developers,” said Wayne B. Yurtin, president and CEO, Rocket Mobile, Inc. “We can’t wait to get our first iPhone applications on the revolutionary App Store.”

“Six Apart pioneered the mobile blogging experience with an iPhone-optimized blog service,” said Chris Alden, CEO, Six Apart. “We’re taking it to the next level with our native iPhone application for TypePad that’s already in development.”

“The iPhone is the mobile platform game developers have been dreaming of,” said Scott Zerby, vice president, THQ Wireless. “We’re looking at how we can use the iPhone’s innovative user interface to create new game experiences for our big brand entertainment partners that consumers love.”

Pricing & Availability

The free beta iPhone SDK is available immediately worldwide and can be downloaded at http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program. The iPhone Developer Program will initially be available in the US and will expand to other countries in the coming months. A QuickTime video of the iPhone roadmap event is available to view at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/iphoneroadmap.

As referenced during the company’s keynote speech at the recent Game Developers’ Conference, Gameloft, a leading developer and publisher of games for mobile phones, today confirmed its intention to develop over 15 mobile games built upon Apple’s iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK).Though the SDK was recently released, games will only be available to purchase once the App Store, featuring third party applications that can be downloaded to your device via WiFi or EDGE, launches in June 2008.

Utilizing the SDK package, Gameloft development teams have started to create a strong line-up for 2008. As expected, iPhone proves to be a revolutionary gaming device, thanks in part to a 3.5-inch widescreen, the touch screen feature, a strong 3D processor and other exciting features such as the accelerometer.

“The iPhone gaming environment opens a new era in mobile gaming and is exactly what we’ve been waiting for” said Michel Guillemot, President of Gameloft. “The Apple iPhone has changed the way consumers perceive and interact with their mobile phones, and the release of the SDK is a tremendous opportunity for Gameloft to apply its creative and innovative approach to mobile gaming,” said Guillemot. “Due to our investment in creating one of the most advanced and creative development studios to date, we are ideally positioned today to seamlessly integrate new opportunities and quickly produce games that are as evolutionary as they are enjoyable.”

Through agreements with major telephone wireless carriers, handset manufacturers, specialized distributors and its online shop, Gameloft has a distribution network in over 80 plus countries.

Apple today previewed its iPhone 2.0 software, scheduled for release this June, and announced the immediate availability of a beta release of the software to selected developers and enterprise customers. The iPhone 2.0 beta release includes both the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) as well as new enterprise features such as support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide secure, over-the-air push email, contacts and calendars as well as remote wipe, and the addition of Cisco IPsec VPN for encrypted access to private corporate networks.”We’re excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community with potentially thousands of native applications for iPhone and iPod touch,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone’s enterprise features combined with its revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface and advanced software architecture provide the best user experience and the most advanced software platform ever for a mobile device.”

The iPhone SDK provides developers with a rich set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools to create innovative applications for iPhone and iPod touch. Starting today, anyone can download the beta iPhone SDK for free and run the iPhone Simulator on their Mac. Apple today also introduced its new iPhone Developer Program, giving developers everything they need to create native applications, and the new App Store, a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to iPhone and iPod touch users.

With the iPhone SDK, third party developers will be able to build native applications for the iPhone with a rich set of APIs, including programming interfaces for Core OS, Core Services, Media and Cocoa Touch technologies. The iPhone SDK will allow developers to create amazing applications that leverage the iPhone’s groundbreaking Multi-Touch user interface, animation technology, large storage, built-in three-axis accelerometer and geographical location technology to deliver truly innovative mobile applications.

Apple has licensed Exchange ActiveSync from Microsoft and is building it right into the iPhone, so that iPhone will connect out-of-the-box to Microsoft Exchange Servers 2003 and 2007 for secure over-the-air push email, contacts, calendars and global address lists. Built-in Exchange ActiveSync support also enables security features such as remote wipe, password policies and auto-discovery. The iPhone 2.0 software supports Cisco IPsec VPN to ensure the highest level of IP-based encryption available for transmission of sensitive corporate data, as well as the ability to authenticate using digital certificates or password-based, multi-factor authentication. The addition of WPA2 Enterprise with 802.1x authentication enables enterprise customers to deploy iPhone and iPod touch with the latest standards for protection of Wi-Fi networks.

The iPhone 2.0 software provides a configuration utility that allows IT administrators to easily and quickly set up many iPhones, including password policies, VPN setting, installing certificates, email server settings and more. Once the configuration is defined it can be easily and securely delivered via web link or email to the user. To install, all the user has to do is authenticate with a user ID or password, download the configuration and tap install. Once installed, the user will have access to all their corporate IT services.

The iPhone 2.0 software release will contain the App Store, a new application that lets users browse, search, purchase and wirelessly download third party applications directly onto their iPhone or iPod touch. The App Store enables developers to reach every iPhone and iPod touch user. Developers set the price for their applications–including free–and retain 70 percent of all sales revenues. Users can download free applications at no charge to either the user or developer, or purchase priced applications with just one click. Enterprise customers will be able to create a secure, private page on the App Store accessible only by their employees. Apple will cover all credit card, web hosting, infrastructure and DRM costs associated with offering applications on the App Store. Third party iPhone and iPod touch applications must be approved by Apple and will be available exclusively through the App Store.

The iPhone SDK provides a reliable, fast and secure way to create innovative applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. In addition to the rich set of iPhone OS APIs, the iPhone SDK also provides advanced tools for creating native iPhone and iPod touch applications including: Xcode for source code editing, project management and graphical debugging; Interface Builder with drag and drop interface creation and live preview; Instruments to monitor and optimize iPhone application performance in real time; and the iPhone Simulator to run and debug applications.

During the beta iPhone SDK program, a limited number of developers will be accepted into Apple’s new iPhone Developer Program and offered the ability to get code onto iPhones for testing. The Standard Program costs $99 (US) per year and gives members an iPhone SDK and development tools; access to pre-release iPhone software; technical support; the ability to get code onto iPhones for testing; and distribution of applications via the new App Store. The Enterprise Program costs $299 (US) per year.

In addition to these new iPhone network and security features, the beta iPhone 2.0 software provides several new Mail features such as the ability to view PowerPoint attachments, in addition to Word and Excel, as well as the ability to mass delete and move email messages.

Pricing & Availability

Apple plans to release the final iPhone 2.0 software, including the iPhone SDK and new enterprise features, as a free software update for all iPhone customers by the end of June. Third party applications created for the iPhone will also run on the iPod touch, and iPod touch users will be required to purchase a software update to run these applications. The free beta iPhone SDK is available immediately worldwide and can be downloaded at developer.apple.com/iphone/program. The iPhone Developer Program will initially be available in the US and will expand to other countries in the coming months. Apple is accepting applications beginning today from enterprise customers who would like to join the private iPhone Enterprise Beta Program (www.apple.com/iphone/enterprise).

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Worldwide sales of mobile phones to end users surpassed 1.15 billion units in 2007, a 16 per cent increase from 2006 sales of 990.9 million, according to Gartner, Inc. Mobile phone sales at the end of the year were consistent with the yearly trend, as fourth quarter sales reached 330 million units.”Emerging markets, especially China and India, provided much of the growth as many people bought their first phone,” said Carolina Milanesi, research director for mobile devices at Gartner, based in Egham, UK. “In mature markets, such as Japan and Western Europe, consumers’ appetite for feature-laden phones was met with new models packed with TV tuners, global positioning satellite (GPS) functions, touch screens and high-resolution cameras.”

“After another strong year, we expect the growth in sales of mobile devices to end users will decelerate in 2008 and fall to about 10 per cent growth as mature markets become more saturated,” added Ms Milanesi. “However, the global mobile devices market will remain relatively immune to a recession in the US and Western European economies as the majority of growth in 2008 will come from emerging markets. The mature Western Europe and North America markets are driven by operator contract terms and replacement cycles and will account for just 30 per cent of the global mobile devices market in 2008.”

Nokia achieved its long-term target of 40 per cent market share in the fourth quarter of 2007 when it sold slightly more than 133 million phones across the world. Despite some component shortages, Nokia increased its market share sequentially in all regions except North America, which remains a challenging market for the vendor. In emerging markets, products such as the 1110, the 1600 and the 2630 were in demand by consumers, while in mature markets such as Western Europe high-end phones like the N95, N82 and N73 were sought-after devices. In 2008, Nokia will need to continue to improve its portfolio, offering not only more applications and functions, but also novel designs and improved user interfaces.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, Samsung maintained second position, and although its market share slipped slightly, the gap widened between it and third-placed Motorola. Its success relied on its Ultra and Ultra II family of products. In 2008, Samsung needs to diversify its portfolio further with more form factors and colours so that single products stand out from the overall line-up.

The problems that beset Motorola in the third quarter of 2007 continued through the fourth quarter, and it recorded sales of 39 million phones across the world, taking 11.9 per cent of the market. It retained second place in terms of annual sales to end users in 2007, largely thanks to the inventory it disposed of in the first half of the year. Nevertheless, the extent of Motorola’s troubles can be seen in the 9.7 percentage-points market-share drop in its fourth quarter of 2007 result from the same period in 2006.

Sony Ericsson ended 2007 with another positive performance, growing its market share on a quarterly basis to 9.0 per cent from 8.7 per cent. Its Cyber-shot and Walkman products, such as the K850i, K610i, W910i, K550i and W300i, remained popular among consumers around the world. As Sony Ericsson widens its reach, adding features such as Wi-Fi and GPS, as well as more low-tier products, it will stay competitive in the coming quarters.

LG’s mobile phone sales totalled 23.5 million units in the fourth quarter of 2007, maintaining its 7.1 per cent market share despite the increase of more than three million in sales volumes. The success of the Viewty, the Venus and the Voyager helped LG gain brand awareness across the world as well as improve its margins. Ms Milanesi commented: “In 2008, LG will need to continue strengthening its high-end portfolio for mature markets as well as its mid tier. In the low tier, LG will increasingly be challenged by vendors such as ZTE, which has already been eroding its market share in key markets such as India.”

The market saw three new entrants into the top ten in the fourth quarter of 2007. These vendors included Research In Motion (RIM), ZTE and Apple. “On one hand, we have aggressive pricing and a focus on emerging markets (ZTE), and on the other, RIM with targeted functions and Apple with brand and design,” said Ms Milanesi.

“Phone manufacturers need to continuously adapt their portfolios to respond to operators’ demands for open platforms, lower pricing and more personalisation,” recommended Ms Milanesi. “They should also try to meet consumers’ desires for fashionable, easy-to-use phones.”

Regional Analysis

In Asia/Pacific, 112 million mobile devices were sold in the fourth quarter of 2007, representing 9.6 per cent growth over the previous quarter. Over the holiday season, operators and distributors offered a wide range of mobile phone options at reasonable prices, tempting new users to sign up to service plans. “Driving factors for growth in emerging markets in Asia/Pacific included huge numbers of new subscribers, lower-priced phones based on wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) technology, as well as ultra-low-cost CDMA phones and low-cost global system for mobile (GSM) phones,” said Ann Liang, Gartner principal research analyst for mobile terminals, based in Taipei.

Sales in the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region remained strong in the fourth quarter of 2007 and reached 61.8 million units. Mobile operators continued to add new subscribers to their networks, especially in Africa where countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria and South Africa saw healthy net new additions.

In Japan, sales to end users numbered 12.5 million units in the fourth quarter of 2007, a decrease of 3.6 per cent year-on-year. Strong sales in the early part of the year brought total sales in 2007 to a record high of 52.3 million units — more than in 2003, when many Japanese bought their first camera phones. “In 2007, music player functions and embedded TV-tuners with large, high-resolution displays persuaded users to replace their devices,” said Nahoko Mitsuyama, principal analyst for mobile communications research at Gartner, based in Tokyo.

In Latin America, sales reached 38.8 million units in the fourth quarter of 2007, a 12.5 per cent increase from the same period in 2006. “In December, the holiday season, along with accompanying promotions, meant sales hit a new record level,” said Tuong Nguyen, analyst for mobile terminals at Gartner, based in Arlington, Virginia.

The fourth quarter of 2007 was another record quarter in North America, as sales to end users continued at a rapid pace, reaching 49 million units, an increase of 9.2 per cent from the fourth quarter of 2006. “AT&T and Verizon Wireless continued to be the strongest performing operators, while Sprint Nextel lagged,” said Hughes De La Vergne, principal analyst for mobile terminals research at Gartner, based in Dallas, Texas. “Replacement devices continued to dominate sales and growth in new subscribers slowed down as penetration rates climbed.”

In the fourth quarter of 2007, mobile phone sales in Western Europe totalled 55 million units, up 2 per cent from the fourth quarter of 2006. Features such as music players, GPS and cameras proved to be significant attractions. In the same quarter, operators in Germany, the United Kingdom and France introduced Apple’s long-awaited iPhone to the market. Although sales have been small, this iconic device renewed consumers’ interest in high-end phones, which in most Western European markets are still heavily subsidised by operators.

“Apple shares are down sharply to their lowest level since June, as several analyst reports have triggered fresh concerns about the state of demand for iPhones and iPods.”

Apple today added new models of the iPhone(TM) and iPod touch which have double the memory, doubling the amount of music, photos and videos that customers can carry with them wherever they go. The revolutionary iPhone now comes in a new 16GB model for $499, joining the 8GB model for $399. iPod touch now comes in a 32GB model for $499, joining the 16GB model for $399 and the 8GB model for $299.”For some users, there’s never enough memory,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod and iPhone Product Marketing. “Now people can enjoy even more of their music, photos and videos on the most revolutionary mobile phone and best Wi-Fi mobile device in the world.”

Both iPhone and iPod touch feature Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch(TM) user interface and pioneering software that allows users to find and enjoy all their music, videos, photos and more with just a touch of their finger. All iPhone and iPod touch models include the latest software enhancements announced last month including the ability to automatically find your location using the new Maps application*; create Web Clips for your favorite websites; customize your home screen and watch movies from the new iTunes Movie Rentals. Both iPhone and iPod touch feature the world’s most advanced mobile web browser in the world with Safari(TM) and great mobile applications including Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes.

Pricing & Availability

The new 16GB iPhone is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) through the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and AT&T retail and online stores. The 32GB iPod touch is available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) through the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only. iPhone and iPod touch require a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X 10.4.10 or later and iTunes 7.6; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) or later and iTunes 7.6.

Gizmo5 Technologies announces Gizmo5 mobile and desktop software is now connected with the MySpace IM network. For the first time ever, MySpace users on any mobile network can receive MySpace alerts, see who’s online and send/receive messages with their MySpace buddies directly from their mobile phone or desktop using Gizmo5.Through this new feature, users can be alerted on their mobile phone to MySpace activity in the same manner that MySpace IM alerts work on the desktop. There is no charge for this service and only a data connection on the user’s phone is required. Anyone can chat with their MySpace buddies for as long as they wish, for free.

At Gizmo5.com, users can get an SMS sent directly to their phone to download the software. Hundreds of phone models including, but not limited to, Nokia, Motorola, Blackberry, Palm Treo and Samsung devices can be used. Even lower end phones are supported, which are commonly provided for free with a mobile plan. No WiFi or advanced functionality is necessary. With a simple installation, users can be chatting and receiving MySpace alerts.

Users can add all of their MySpace IM contacts with just a few clicks. Once the user completes this process, all of their buddies from MySpace will appear in their Gizmo5 buddy list. No need to add contacts one by one, no need to add contacts when changing computers or devices; contacts are stored safely and securely online along with existing Gizmo5 buddies.

“We saw heavy daily usage of the AIM, Yahoo and MSN networks in our Gizmo5 software once we connected to them,” said Michael Robertson, CEO of Gizmo5. “Our users indicated that MySpace IM would be next network on their wish list. Now, for the first time, Mac users and mobile phone users can get full MySpace connectivity.”

Support for MySpace IM is available on all flavors of Gizmo5 software, including hundreds of mobile phones and blackberry devices, Windows, Apple Macintosh and Linux. All versions are available for free download at http://gizmo5.com for mobile phones and http://gizmoproject.com/download for desktop.

“More than a quarter of people who bought Apple Inc’s iPhone are using them on wireless networks other than AT&T’s, the exclusive iPhone carrier in the U.S., a “stunning” number that will pressure the company’s business model, an analyst said on Monday.”

Apple announced a free software update for its revolutionary iPhone that allows users to automatically find their location using the redesigned Maps application*; text message multiple people in one message; create Web Clips for their favorite websites; customize their home screen; and watch movies rented from the new iTunes Movie Rentals right on their iPhone. With its revolutionary multi-touch user interface and pioneering software, users can easily add significant new features to their iPhone through software updates whenever an update becomes available. New iPhone products shipping from the factory will include the software update and existing iPhone customers will automatically get the update for free when they sync their iPhone with iTunes (www.itunes.com).Maps, one of the most popular and helpful applications on iPhone, has a new interface that is simpler and easier to use and adds incredible new features such as the ability to find your location automatically. With just the tap of a button, iPhone can now triangulate your position using nearby Wi-Fi base stations or cellular towers. You can use this as a starting or ending point for directions or to find local points of interest. The new hybrid map view combines map view and satellite view so you can see major street names overlaid on satellite imagery.

Users can now create Web Clips icons on the home screen that take you directly to your favorite websites, including to the exact spot you have zoomed into. Web Clips are a great way to easily track websites that you frequently check such as news, blogs, sports sites and movie listings. In addition, users can now customize their home screen by repositioning any of the icons, and even create up to nine different home screens that they can easily flick between.

iPhone’s new software update also adds the ability to send the same SMS text message to multiple people, and iPhone saves a history of your text messages, so with one tap you can send a new message to the same group.

With Apple’s new iTunes Movie Rentals, movie fans can rent movies on their computer, easily and quickly transfer them to their iPhone, and watch them anywhere on iPhone’s gorgeous 3.5 inch screen. Users can also now navigate forward or backward through their movies by chapters, select alternate language tracks and view subtitles, if available.

Pricing & Availability

The iPhone software update 1.1.3 is available immediately for free via iTunes 7.5 or later for all existing iPhone customers in the US, UK, Germany and France. New iPhone products shipping from the factory will include the software update and existing iPhone customers will automatically get the update for free when they sync their iPhone with iTunes (www.itunes.com). iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only. Further information for iPhone can be found at www.apple.com/iphone.

*Availability and precision of Maps positioning features will vary depending on actual location.

“Apple Inc. and China Mobile have called off talks to launch the U.S. firm’s popular iPhones in China, dashing investor speculation that the device will hit store shelves soon and sending China Mobile shares down.”

Yahoo! launches a new version of the company’s mobile home page in early beta at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2008. Today’s announcement further extends Yahoo!’s mobile leadership by providing consumers with a visually-stunning and easy to navigate interface for the most visited mobile site in the U.S. (M:Metrics, October 2007). By visiting http://beta.m.yahoo.com from select mobile phone browsers, consumers will experience an open and customizable home page where users can personalize their mobile experience like never before, drawing content from the Yahoo! network and leading Web properties from around the Internet.Yahoo!’s new mobile home page was designed to quickly become the essential starting point for the mobile Internet. Incorporating the best “home page” elements from pioneering PC portals such as My Yahoo! and the Yahoo.com Front Page, it embraces a dynamic, open and highly personalized approach.

“Today we set the standard for what consumers are demanding from the mobile Internet. As the definitive starting point for mobile users around the world, our new home page is beautifully-designed and optimized for the mobile device,” said Marco Boerries, executive vice president, Connected Life, Yahoo!. “As we’ve done before, we’ve set an incredibly high bar for the industry with our innovation and ability to deliver prolific services to millions of global mobile users, helping them discover what a truly compelling mobile Internet experience should be like.”

Simply put, the new mobile interface is stunning, easy to use, relevant and fast. Key features include:

– Personal Vitality and Status Updates - Provide an at-a-glance update of what’s new since the last visit - including recent emails, Flickr photos from your friends, upcoming calendar appointments and status of Yahoo! Messenger contacts - all without moving away from the home screen or logging into a separate application.

– Customizable Content - Offers a collection of mobile content modules known as Yahoo! Snippets that provide previews of the user’s favorite content from any source - news headlines, weather conditions, and more - whatever the user wants.

– Quick Links - Customizable links at the bottom of the page, providing fast access to the Yahoo! services and other sites across the Internet that consumers use the most. Consumers can easily add and remove quick links as they desire.

– oneSearch - Mobile search designed to give instant answers and relevant information by understanding the user’s query intent and optimizing the results accordingly. Recently upgraded to include content from Wikipedia and Yahoo! Answers, as well as airline flight status information.

Today the new mobile home page is available to consumers in the United States on numerous mobile devices including the Apple iPhone, several Nokia Series 60 devices and select Windows Mobile devices. Over the coming months, the new interface is expected to become available across additional devices and mobile browsers and also available internationally.

“A lot happened in wireless this past year, from the debut of the iPhone to Verizon Wireless’ move to open its network. But 2008 promises to be just as eventful, starting with the Federal Communication Commission’s spectrum auction in January.”

“NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s biggest cellphone carrier, said Wednesday that its president, Masao Nakamura, has met with Apple Inc chief executive Steve Jobs, amid reports that their companies are in talks about launching Apple’s iPhone in Japan.”

“On Wednesday night, AT&T CEO, Randall Stephenson, is speaking at a Churchill Club dinner in Santa Clara, California. He is being interviewed by Quentin Hardy from Forbes. Among the topics: U-verse, regulation, and the 3G iPhone, which he says is coming some time next year. I’m blogging it live; I’ll post some bullet points as we go along.”

Since the announcement of its arrival in France, iPhone has already won over more than 63,000 fans who have registered on www.iphone.orange.fr, confirming its status as a “must-have” device. iPhone combines three devices into one-a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device-all based on Apple’s revolutionary multi-touch interface and pioneering software that allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their fingers.Its design and interface make it a “one of a kind” mobile, finally offering a genuine mobile Internet experience.

Bringing this to life for customers across France, Orange will be holding late-night openings at 12 of its stores, when iPhone is unveiled on Wednesday November 28, 2007. Bordeaux, Lille, Lyons, Marseilles, Montpellier, Nancy, Nice, Nantes, Rennes, Strasbourg and Toulouse will be welcoming iPhone fans from 6:30 pm onwards. In Paris, Orange will take this opportunity to inaugurate its brand new store at 125, avenue des Champs-Elysees.

As exclusive carrier for iPhone in France, Orange has developed a range of four “Orange for iPhone” plans. These offers have designed to let customers make the most of this revolutionary device that will change the way customers communicate.

All four “Orange for iPhone” plans include:

*Visual Voicemail, an industry first, which allows consumers to see a listing of their voicemails, decide which messages to listen to, then go directly to those messages without listening to previous messages. Just like email, Visual Voicemail on iPhone enables users to immediately access the messages that interest them most, in the order they want.

*Unlimited access to email and the Internet 3, which combined with the revolutionary features of iPhone, at last offers true Internet browsing

With this range of dedicated offers, Orange is meeting iPhone customer expectations in terms of voice, sms & wifi, with prices ranging from EUR49 to EUR119 euros per month, and the iPhone available for EUR399.

Orange is also offering iPhone at EUR549 to customers who do not wish to benefit from one of the four “Orange for iPhone” plans and at EUR649, without a plan. The cost of unlocking the handset is 100 euros during the six months following the acquisition of the iPhone, regardless of the package chosen.

“Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile will allow customers in Germany to buy Apple’s iPhone without having to sign a T-Mobile contract after rival Vodafone obtained a court injunction against it.”