Mobility Phones - Mobile Phones

HTC Corp., a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, today unveiled its advanced next generation business phone, the HTC Touch Pro. Bringing a beautiful new angle to mobile business productivity, the HTC Touch Pro utilizes similar styling and functionality of the highly anticipated Touch Diamond and introduces a variety of business-focused enhancements that make getting work done on the go quick and easy.”The HTC Touch Pro and Touch Diamond have created a new generation of HTC touch devices that make the promise of the one-hand, one-touch mobile Internet a reality,” said Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corp. “HTC Touch Pro is for those customers that demand the ease of use and enjoyment of TouchFLO 3D and want the styling of the Touch Diamond but also need the powerful mobile business experience that HTC delivers.”

A New Dimension To Touch - One hand, one touch

HTC has taken a great leap forward in touch screen innovation with its 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. TouchFLO 3D provides a stunningly intuitive way to zip through common tasks like messaging, calendar appointments or making calls with just one touch. Delve a little deeper to find that your music, photos, contacts and surfing the web are also responsive to the touch. In addition, the Touch Pro includes a new innovative touch-sensitive control for device interaction.

Making The Mobile Internet Useful and Fun

With the introduction of Touch Diamond and Touch Pro, HTC delivers an entirely new mobile Internet experience that utilizes broadband-like speeds with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and wireless connectivity. Committed to improving Web browsing, HTC provides a new customized mobile Web browser that enables easy viewing and effortless navigation of Websites in the way they are designed to be viewed on a PC. As part of this browsing experience users can zoom and pan Websites with one-hand and automatically view optimized content that has been specially created to fit the display. Turning the device sideways automatically rotates the web page view from a portrait to landscape view.

In addition to Web browsing, the Touch Pro includes an HTC-developed, YouTube application for watching a variety of user generated video content as well as including Google Maps for mobile for mapping and traffic data.

Unmatched Style With Complete Productivity

Like the Touch Diamond, Touch Pro is crafted with precision to fit comfortably in a user’s hand and brings together elegant touch screen response with the direct precision of HTC’s trademark sliding keyboard design. Introducing a new five-row QWERTY keyboard layout that makes typing-intensive tasks like composing email or working on Microsoft Office documents quick and easy. Built-in TV-out functionality means users can deliver the perfect PowerPoint presentation from the Touch Pro.

Bursting with Innovation

The Touch Pro delivers an unrivalled combination of features and functionality. The 2.8 inch display provides near-print quality viewing that enables beautiful Web browsing and viewing of photographs. The built-in camera includes an optical auto-focus lens that ensures the photos you take will be clear and consistent. Advanced wireless and auto sensor screen pivoting are just a few of the features that make the Touch Pro experience a stand out.

Availability

The HTC Touch Pro will be available to customers across all major European, Asian and the Middle East markets in late summer. The North American and Latin American versions of Touch Pro will be available later in 2008.

Key HTC Touch Pro Specifications

* Size: 102 x 51 x 18.05mm

* Weight: 165 g

* Connectivity: WCDMA / HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps

* Operating system: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

* Display: 2.8-inch VGA touch screen

* Camera: 3.2MP, with the second VGA camera for video calling

* Internal memory: 512 MB flash, 288 MB RAM

* Expansion Slot: microSD memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)

* Keyboard: Slide-out 5 row QWERTY keyboard

* Bluetooth: 2.0 with EDR

* Wireless: WiFi 802.11b/g

* GPS: GPS/AGPS

* Interface: HTC ExtUSB (11-pin mini-USB 2.0, audio jack, and TV out in one)

* Battery: 1340 mAh

* Talk time: GSM: up to 8 hours

* Standby time: GSM: up to two-weeks

* Chipset: Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528MHz

HTC Introduces New Accessories

Also today, HTC announced multiple accessories will be available for the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro including a similarly designed desktop cradle and travel charger accessory pack as well as an extended battery and slim collapsible case for the Touch Diamond.

Ericsson and Dell have teamed up to ensure international travelers can stay connected with Dell’s next-generation laptops that will support seamless roaming on tri-band HSPA mobile broadband networks. Dell will offer built-in HSPA mobile broadband modules from Ericsson beginning in Q2 2008.HSPA is the world’s most widely deployed mobile broadband technology, with more than 185 commercially deployed networks available around the world serving more than one billion subscribers.

“Consumers are increasingly utilizing notebooks to access the high-capacity services that they have typically experienced only through a wired or WiFi connection,” said Mats Norin, Vice President, Mobile Broadband Modules, Ericsson. “We are excited to work with Dell to give consumers and business users the freedom and flexibility to access internet in the way they want it, wherever they are.

“Dell’s model is uniquely capable of putting the technology and wireless service in customers’ hands. Teaming with Ericsson to offer built-in HSPA in our laptops ensures Dell delivers on the basic assumption that one can access critical information anytime, anywhere, with the speed and rich content that we have all come to expect,” said John Thode, Vice President Small Devices, Dell Consumer Group.

Ericsson’s mobile broadband modules provide the end user with a simple and cost effective solution for broadband access while on-the-go. Seamlessly integrated with and optimized to work within the notebook, the built-in mobile broadband module provides superior downloading and uploading performance and takes less power from the battery. The module also has a GPS receiver, to be used together with positioning applications. Leveraging Ericsson’s in-house HSPA chipset technology and the company’s economies of scale and longstanding operator relationships, Ericsson can offer a very competitive mobile broadband module solution that will help further drive a mass market for mobile broadband.

Market projections indicate that in 2011, approximately 200 million notebooks will ship annually and Ericsson anticipates that 50 percent of those notebooks will feature a built-in HSPA mobile broadband module. Users will increasingly have the option to take their broadband connections with them, delivering on the promise of full service broadband, which is anytime, anywhere access from the screen or device of choice.

For customers seeking a smartphone that makes a bold statement, Research In Motion (RIM) today introduced the admirable BlackBerry Bold smartphone. Crafted from premium materials, inside and out, that radiate elegance with a dramatic presence, the BlackBerry Bold is designed to give business professionals and power users unprecedented functionality and performance in an intuitive BlackBerry smartphone. It is the first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi, as well as a rich set of multimedia capabilities. From its lustrous black exterior, satin chrome finished frame and stylish leather-like backplate, to its stunning display, sophisticated user interface and newly designed full-QWERTY keyboard, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone is a symbol of accomplishment and aspiration.SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone’s support for tri-band HSDPA and enterprise-grade Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g) networks and its next-generation 624 MHz mobile processor make short work of downloading email attachments, streaming video or rendering web pages. The BlackBerry Bold also includes 128 MB Flash memory plus 1 GB on-board storage memory, as well as and a microSD/SDHC memory card slot that is conveniently accessible from a side door. It comes with the renowned BlackBerry productivity applications, including phone, email, messaging, organizer and browser, and works with thousands of mobile business and lifestyle applications, making it easier than ever to stay connected, productive and entertained. With this powerful new smartphone, users can even talk on the phone while sending and receiving email or accessing the web, and download Word, Excel or PowerPoint files and edit them directly on the handset using the preloaded DataViz Documents to Go suite.

STUNNING DISPLAY

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone comes with the most vivid and bold display ever introduced on a BlackBerry smartphone. Its half-VGA (480×320 resolution) color LCD is fused to the undersurface of the lens, making images leap out with stunning definition and clarity. Pictures are vibrant and razor sharp, while videos play smoothly and web pages, documents, presentations and messages snap with exceptional quality and contrast.

DESKTOP-STYLE WEB PAGES

With its newly enhanced, high performance browser and high-resolution, ultra-bright display, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone gives users an on-the-go web browsing experience with desktop-style depiction. The trackball mimics a mouse, making it easy to navigate sites in “Page View” or “Column View” or to zoom in on specific parts of a web page, while various emulation settings allow users to choose between the full desktop-style HTML content and layout or the mobile version. Attachments can also now be downloaded from within the browser and there is support for watching streaming videos (RTSP - real-time streaming protocol).

RICH MULTIMEDIA

While it is designed to meet the extensive requirements of the business professional during the day, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone also caters to the business person’s consumer side during evenings and weekends. It features a 2 megapixel camera with video recording capability, built-in flash and 5x digital zoom. The enhanced media player can display pictures and slideshows quickly, play movies smoothly in full screen mode, and manage an entire music collection. Audio can be played over the handset’s dual speakers in rich, stereo sound, and when using wired headphones or external speakers, the media player gives the user an equalizer with 11 preset filters — like “Lounge”, “Jazz” and “Hip Hop” — that boost or soften audio ranges to create the perfect ambiance.

For managing music and video, the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software includes Roxio Media Manager for BlackBerry as well as Roxio Photosuite 9 LE, which makes it easy to enhance pictures and create photo albums on the computer. For users that manage their collection with iTunes, the new BlackBerry Media Sync application provides a simple way to sync iTunes digital music collections with the smartphone***. Support for High Speed USB 2.0 allows all files to be transferred quickly from a desktop computer to the BlackBerry Bold smartphone.

POWERFUL WI-FI & GPS

For even broader high-speed network coverage, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone supports the 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi standards, ideal for use in enterprise or campus wireless LAN deployments, over Wi-Fi hotspots and on wireless home networks. A new “Push Button Setup” is included, making it faster for users to connect to protected wireless networks that require a sign on process.

Through its integrated GPS, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone can pinpoint its exact location, supporting applications like BlackBerry Maps and other location-based applications or services. With its improved rendering capabilities, faster download speeds and ability to support simultaneous voice and data, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone even allows users to navigate while on a call.

FIRST CLASS PHONE

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone features a new acoustic design that increases the size of the phone’s audio sweet spot, improving listening quality and clarity. It also comes with numerous premium phone features including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), Bluetooth 2.0, with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including car kits that adhere to the Bluetooth Remote SIM Access Profile) and other Bluetooth peripherals. It is a quad-band EDGE and tri-band HSDPA handset that supports global roaming**** and features dedicated ’send’, ‘end’, and ‘mute’ keys, smart dialing, speed dialing, conference calling and call forwarding. It also features noise cancellation technology that offsets background noise, a powerful speaker phone and support for polyphonic, mp3 and MIDI ring tones.

ROBUST EMAIL & MESSAGING

Like all BlackBerry smartphones, the BlackBerry Bold gives users the industry’s leading mobile messaging solution. It works with BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which enables advanced security and IT administration within IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise environments, as well as BlackBerry Professional Software for small businesses. It also works with BlackBerry Internet Service, which gives users access to up to 10 work or personal email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts), and the BlackBerry Unite! software for SOHO and home users.

CONVENIENT ACCESSORIES

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone comes with a variety of convenient accessories including a stereo headset, travel charger, carrying case or sleeve and USB cable. Users will also be able to personalize their BlackBerry Bold smartphone by purchasing replaceable leather-like backplates that come in a range of colors. The removable / rechargeable 1500 mAhr battery provides multi-hour usage with a target talk time of approximately 5 hours and 13 days standby time.

Accessories for BlackBerry smartphones, including leather holsters and totes, charging pods, premium earphones, the BlackBerry Remote Stereo Gateway and Bluetooth headsets, are available through retail outlets or online at: www.shopblackberry.com.

AVAILABILITY

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone (model number: 9000) is scheduled to be available from wireless carriers around the world beginning this summer.

* Keyboard also available in AZERTY and QWERTZ configurations to support different language groups.

** MicroSD/SDHC memory cards are available today in configurations of up to 8GB and the BlackBerry Bold is expected to support upcoming 16GB microSD/SDHC cards.

*** Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies.

**** Check with service provider for roaming services.

In the wake of personal navigation devices’ success, cellular carriers have started to offer on-board and off-board navigation solutions, as well as a range of LBS (Location Based Services) such as friend finder and local search on GPS handsets. Community and social-networking-related functionality, such as the sharing of POIs (Points of Interest) and geo-tagged pictures, is also becoming popular and is expected to boost GPS-enabled handset uptake as carriers, handsets manufacturers, and service providers look to capitalize on the LBS trend.”While most CDMA handsets are already GPS-enabled and GPS is set to become a standard feature in GSM smartphones, GSM feature phones are next on the agenda to be equipped with GPS technology,” says ABI Research principal analyst Dominique Bonte. “GPS chipset vendors increasingly target handsets, looking for new markets and spurred on by the recent dramatic growth of personal navigation devices.”

However, as GPS begins to penetrate lower-end phones, the cost, power consumption, and footprint of GPS chipsets will have to be further reduced. This will be made possible by single chipset technology and the emergence in 2009 of combination chips integrating GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi all on one die. Major silicon vendors such as Broadcom, NXP, and Atheros are well positioned to develop such solutions following the acquisition of GPS chipset vendors Global Locate, GloNav, and u-Nav, respectively.

At the same time, the thorny issue of indoor GPS coverage has to be addressed, since handset-based LBS services are frequently used in challenging environments with reduced GPS signal strength. Network-assisted A-GPS and high-sensitivity GPS-receivers are becoming key requirements to reduce the time necessary to acquire fixes and to improve location accuracy.

ABI Research’s report, GPS-Enabled Mobile Devices, examines the market landscape and future potential for GPS-enabled mobile phones. It discusses critical business and marketing issues, as well as market opportunities and challenges for handset vendors, mobile operators, semiconductor vendors, and other industry players who address the GPS-enabled handset market.

This report forms part of two ABI Research Services: Mobile Devices and Location Aware Services, which include a variety of Research Reports, Research Briefs, Market Data, Online Databases, ABI Insights, and Analyst Inquiry Support.

HTC Corp. today unveiled its new flagship phone, the HTC Touch Diamond. Delivering unmistakable style and meticulous craftsmanship, the HTC Touch Diamond is defined by its compact size, game-changing Internet and its new captivating 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. The result is an uncompromising mobile phone that sets a new benchmark for phone sophistication and shapes consumer expectations for how a phone can be used.”Today we mark a new era in mobile phone evolution, an era where beauty and size integrate with uncompromising innovation at broadband speeds,” said Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corp. “The HTC Touch Diamond will make browsing the Web and using Web-enabled applications just as practical and easy to use as making calls.”

A New Dimension To Touch

HTC has taken a great leap forward in touch screen innovation with the introduction of its new 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. TouchFLO 3D provides animated access to people, messaging, email, photos, music, weather and more. In addition, HTC is introducing a new innovative touch-sensitive control for interacting with Touch Diamond.

Making The Mobile Internet Fun

With the introduction of the Touch Diamond, HTC delivers an entirely new mobile Internet experience that utilizes broadband-like speeds with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA wireless connectivity. Committed to improving Web browsing, HTC provides a new customized mobile Web browser that enables easy viewing and effortless navigation of Websites in the way they were designed. As part of this browsing experience users can zoom and pan Websites with one-hand and automatically view optimized content that has been specially created to fit the display. Turning the device sideways automatically rotates the web page view from a portrait to landscape view.

In addition to Web browsing, the Touch Diamond includes a customized new, HTC-developed, YouTube application for watching a variety of user generated video content as well as utilizing Google Maps for mobile for mapping and traffic data.

Unmatched Style and Size

The Touch Diamond is crafted with precision to fit comfortably in a user’s hand without compromising on features or functionality. Blending contrasting design elements of metal and unique geometric facets, the Touch Diamond complements a user’s personal style.

Bursting with Innovation

The Touch Diamond delivers an unrivalled combination of features and functionality that set a new standard for integrating mobile phone innovation into a small package. The 2.8 inch display provides near-print quality viewing that enables beautiful Web browsing and viewing of photographs. The built-in camera includes an optical auto-focus lens that ensures the photos you take will be clear and consistent. Advanced wireless and auto sensor screen pivoting are just a few of the features that make the Touch Diamond experience a stand out.

Availability

Orange today announced the availability of the HTC Touch Diamond in its Signature devices range.

The HTC Touch Diamond will be available to customers across all major European carriers in June. It will be available later this quarter in Asia and the Middle East. The North American and Latin American versions of the Touch Diamond will be available in the second half of 2008.

HTC Touch Diamond Key Specifications

* Size: 102 x 51 x 11.33mm

* Weight: 110 g

* Connectivity: WCDMA / HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA

* Operating system: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

* Display: 2.8-inch VGA touch screen

* Camera: 3.2MP, with video calling

* Internal memory: 4 GB Internal Storage, 256 MB flash, 192 MB RAM,

* Bluetooth: 2.0 with EDR

* Wireless: WiFi 802.11b/g

* GPS: GPS/AGPS

* Interface: HTC ExtUSB (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)

* Battery: 900 mAh

* Talk time: GSM: up to 4 hours

* Standby time: GSM: up to 300 hours/100 hours with push email

* Chipset: Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528MHz

Nokia and ARC Transistance, the European network of automobile clubs, announced today that they are working together to provide Real Time Traffic Information to users of Nokia mobile devices. Nokia will offer the service as a premium offering in Nokia Maps 2.0 and in future versions of Nokia Maps.By adding RTTI, Nokia can save precious time for drivers by alerting them of traffic, construction or other road hazards that could affect their journey. When Nokia Maps receives the road updates from ARC Transistance, the application can dynamicly re-route during navigation and provide a faster route. This is a significant milestone for Nokia Maps, which makes navigation an even more compelling experience for Nokia device owners.

ARC Transistance Traffic Information services aggregate the real time road and traffic conditions of 16 countries in Europe, and growing. The leading navigation industry players also use the ARC Transistance Traffic Information services to enhance the routing guidance and navigation experience of their customers.

Nokia Maps turns mobile devices into local mapping and routing engines with a navigation option, providing worldwide mapping free of charge. In so doing, the unique hybrid solution combines the advantages of on-board and off-board navigation. Maps and location-aware content only need to be loaded once - they are then always available on the device.

Upgrading to the GPS navigation option enables your mobile to become a powerful connected personal navigation device, that provides clear, turn-by-turn visual and voice guidance. If your Nokia device does not have built-in GPS, you can also use an external GPS module with a compatible device. With vector maps provided by TeleAtlas and Navteq, Nokia Maps now has maps covering over 150 countries, with over 70 of them navigable.

The new version of Nokia Maps 2.0 for selected devices is available on the Nokia Beta Labs website: http://www.nokia.com/betalabs. Beta Labs shares some of the exciting new ideas that Nokia is working on and let users help shape their future development. A strong online community has developed around Beta Labs, attracting especially technology savvy, early adopter mobile enthusiasts. The current version of Nokia Maps and the Nokia Map Loader are freely available for download* for selected devices at http://www.nokia.com/maps.

AT&T Inc. and Research In Motion (RIM) today announced the launch of the BlackBerry Pearl(TM) 8110 smartphone, which includes built-in global positioning system (GPS) support for location-based applications and services. Combined with navigation and mapping applications such as AT&T Navigator, the handset provides turn-by-turn voice and on-screen directions with colorful 3-D moving maps that can be used in vehicles or while walking. AT&T Navigator also alerts users through voice and on-screen prompts to traffic slowdowns and incidents along their programmed travel route, and it provides customers with the option to choose an alternative route.”The BlackBerry Pearl 8110’s stylish design and consumer features blend well with the productivity features for managing your day while away from home or the office,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Business Voice/Data and Wireless Products, for AT&T’s wireless unit. “Beyond the BlackBerry Pearl 8110’s powerful e-mail and messaging capabilities, which keep users on track with important information while mobile, its new built-in GPS capabilities — coupled with AT&T Navigator — will keep customers literally on track when they are getting from Point A to Point B.”

The small and stylish BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone from AT&T measures just 4.2 inches by 2.4 inches by 0.5 inches, weighs approximately 3.2 ounces and is available in a glossy titanium or rich red finish. It features the popular BlackBerry e-mail and messaging capabilities, including RIM’s SureType QWERTY keyboard system for easy typing and phone dialing — enhanced with word completion and a spell-checker with a user-customized dictionary. The smartphone features a display that supports more than 65,000 colors and automatically adjusts brightness based on surrounding light levels. The BlackBerry Pearl 8110 also is the first BlackBerry that enables users to wirelessly download AT&T’s popular — and free — YELLOWPAGES.COM Mobile application directly from an icon on the smartphone. Customers can easily find and map local businesses, save favorite listings and get step-by-step directions to or from any location.

“The BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone maintains the exceptional styling and sleek form factor of the BlackBerry Pearl franchise,” said Mark Guibert, vice president, Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. “It expands functionality with richer multimedia capabilities and built-in GPS while continuing to deliver the full power of the BlackBerry platform. With value-added services, like AT&T Navigator, AT&T Mobile Music and AT&T’s global roaming, the BlackBerry Pearl 8110 is an ideal choice for customers who want a new phone that can serve both business and personal needs.”

The BlackBerry Pearl 8110 also features impressive multimedia capabilities, including an advanced media player that is ideal for users who want easy access to music and videos while on the go. It also includes a 2-megapixel camera that supports video recording(1), a 3.5-mm stereo headset jack, externally accessible microSD(TM)/SDHC memory slot for additional storage, high speed USB and Bluetooth 2.0 with support for headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth accessories.

The global capabilities of the BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone from AT&T utilizes AT&T’s industry-best domestic and international wide area wireless data coverage. The BlackBerry Pearl 8110 is powered by AT&T’s nationwide(2) EDGE network — the largest high speed national wireless data network in the U.S. — with availability in more than 13,000 cities and towns and along almost 40,000 miles of major highways. The BlackBerry Pearl 8110 can also keep users who are abroad connected with wireless e-mail, Internet access and other mobile applications through data services in more countries than any other U.S. carrier, with data-roaming in more than 145 countries. Customers can also use the BlackBerry Pearl 8110 to make or receive voice calls in more than 200 countries.

Pricing and Availability

The new BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone from AT&T is available now at AT&T retail stores nationwide, via http://www.att.com and through AT&T’s business-to-business sales teams for as low as $149.99, with a two-year contract, unlimited data plan and $39.99 voice plan. Customers who want personal e-mail access and Web browsing with BlackBerry Internet Service can choose the BlackBerry Personal Unlimited data plan for as low as $30 a month with a qualified voice contract. Unlimited corporate e-mail and data access via BlackBerry Enterprise Server or BlackBerry Professional Software are available for as low as $45 a month when a qualified voice plan is also chosen. Customers who travel overseas can select the BlackBerry International Unlimited data plan for as low as $65 a month with a qualified voice plan. AT&T Navigator requires a separate subscription of $9.99 a month.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8110 also supports AT&T Mobile Music subscription services and AT&T unlimited Push To Talk for walkie-talkie-like communications; both services are an additional $9.99 a month with a qualifying voice plan. Small business customers also can couple their BlackBerry data plans with AT&T’s new BusinessTalk voice plans, which start at $60 a month for five users and 700 Anytime Minutes and can be expanded for $9.99 a line to accommodate up to 40 users and 20,000 Anytime Minutes. When combined with BlackBerry Professional Software, BusinessTalk provides small businesses with a complete voice and data solution. Companies may also choose BusinessTalk with either unlimited Mobile to Mobile or Push To Talk features.

(1) Video recording requires a microSD/SDHC storage card, sold separately.

(2) Not available in all areas

According to a new report from the telecom research firm Berg Insight, more than 100 million mobile subscribers in Europe will use location-based services by 2012. Mapping, navigation and search are believed to become the top applications, followed by social networking and tracking. “All the pieces needed for successful LBS are more or less in place now,” said Andre Malm, telecom analyst, Berg Insight.”GPS is about to become a standard feature in mass-market handsets which are highly advanced and support third party applications. Many will try and a few players will most likely succeed in creating location-enabled mobile applications that will have the same impact on the mobile industry as MySpace and Facebook had on the Internet.” High adoption rates will however not immediately translate into high revenues. LBS providers are going to have to depend on advertising sales in the same way as other online players. The mobile advertising eco-system is still undeveloped and needs many more years to become mature. “First there must be a critical mass of active users to work with, then someone must create a successful model for reaching out to these individuals via their handsets and after that the mobile media must be embraced by the top spenders in the advertising industry,” said Andre.

The Samsung Soul(TM) is the completion of the Samsung’s renowned Ultra Edition line of handsets, demonstrating Samsung’s leadership in both technology and design. Continuing in the line of the Ultra Edition’s minimalistic, slim design, the Soul has a full metal body with a premium finish and 12.9mm-thin form factor. Beautiful and functional, the Soul enhances usability for the user with features that adapt to the user depending on the application. With Magical Touch by DaCP, navigation indicators on the keypad of the phone change according to the user’s needs, making navigation of the menus simple and intuitive. The Soul is also equipped with a 5-megapixel camera with face detection, image stabilizer and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR), as well as a new series of graphic interfaces that provide three different options for users.Samsung and German sportswear giant adidas have teamed up to launch the miCoach phone, the world’s first true sports music mobile phone. Designed for people with an active lifestyle, the miCoach allows users to enjoy music and other multimedia functions while they work out. The miCoach provides a comprehensive on-the-go personal training system fully equipped with a stride sensor and heart rate monitor, as well as training tips and time updates. The personal coach advises the user and provides instant updates during the workout, including time, heart rate, distance, speed and calories burned. The miCoach combines cutting-edge technology and an advanced interactive sport training system with multimedia features for the active mobile user.

Among Samsung’s line up of global handsets on display at CTIA, the F480 is a slim, sleek handset featuring a full touch screen. The F480 is equipped with a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus, power LED image and video stabilization, multi-format audio and video, FM radio with RDS, video messaging, e-mail, mobile tracker and mobile blog.

The Samsung F400 is a music-centric handset that offers premium sound quality and features an ICEpower amplifier developed by Bang & Olufsen, as well as a specially designed music navigation key. The F400 slider also features impressive hi-fi loud speakers located beneath the dual slide design.

G810 is the perfect device for users that desire multimedia services without compromising mobility and portability. The G810 is a Symbian v9.2 edition handset with WiFi connectivity, multi-format audio and video support, GPS navigation, geo-tagging support and 5-megapixel camera with auto focus, optical 3x inner zoom and Xenon flash.

The Nokia N95 8GB has arrived on American shores. Packed with portable entertainment features and high-speed HSDPA connectivity on 850/1900 MHz networks in the Americas, the Nokia N95 8GB is now shipping to select locations across the United States — and with six months of free navigation service included with Nokia Maps.The new Nokia N95 8GB brings the worlds of mobility and entertainment together with its stunning 2.8 inch QVGA screen with support for up to 16 million colors, eight gigabytes of built-in memory, Assisted GPS (A-GPS) for improved location access, and enhanced battery power. Nokia N95 8GB owners in the US can also enjoy the benefits of free turn-by-turn directions and voice guidance in Nokia Maps for six months.

“We’re excited to now offer this all-in-one powerhouse of a multimedia computer in the United States,” said Bill Plummer, vice president, Nokia Americas. “With the added ultra-fast connectivity of HSDPA, the Nokia N95 8GB delivers on the promise of a multimedia computer in one sleek and compact package.”

This attractive package boasts one of the industry’s strongest feature sets — in addition to eight gigabytes of built-in memory, the Nokia N95 8GB includes a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in A-GPS, Wi-Fi, HSDPA and an innovative two-way slide for easy access to both telephony and multimedia functions. The sleek gloss black N95 8GB has a luminous 2.8″ (240 x 320) QVGA display, so watching videos, browsing the Internet or viewing maps is a real pleasure. With its expanded memory, the N95 8GB offers up to 20 hours of video* or up to 6000 songs**.

Now with A-GPS, Nokia N95 8GB owners can quickly navigate to their locations using Nokia Maps faster and access maps for over 150 countries, including a selection of preloaded US state maps. The Nokia N95 8GB will also support Nokia Share Online 3.0, available via Nokia Download!, enabling users to upload photos and videos with just one click straight to Share on Ovi, Flickr or Vox.

At an estimated price of $749, the Nokia N95 8GB will be available through Nokia Nseries retailers across the United States, such as the Nokia Flagship stores in New York City and Chicago, as well as many online e-tailers.

* Capacity based on H.264 750-Kbps video at 320 x 249 resolution, combined with 128- Kbps audio. Capacity is half of this with H.264 1.5 Mbps video at 640 x 480 resolution, combined with 128-Kbps audio (near DVD quality). ** Capacity based on 3 minutes, 45 seconds per song with 48 Kbps eAAC+(M4A) encoding on the Nokia Music Manager

Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N82 in stylish black, bringing a blend of state-of-the-art imaging, integrated navigation and high-speed Internet connectivity to the Nseries range of converged devices. This jet black multimedia computer enables people to “geotag” the images they capture - allowing them to not only be saved by date, but by location as well. This adds to a line-up of compelling photography features, including a 5 megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss optics and a Xenon flash. Not only does the Nokia N82 take great pictures, array of advanced connectivity features makes it easy for consumers to share their discoveries, journeys and locations. The Nokia N82 in black is expected to start shipping within weeks, with an estimated retail price of approximately 400 euros, before taxes and subsidies.”The Nokia N82 is made for storytelling,” says Juha Kokkonen, Director for Nokia Nseries devices. “As one of Nokia’s leading-edge connected camera, the Nokia N82 in black captures people’s journeys and discoveries. With built-in A-GPS it even helps people to find new places by pairing ‘contextual’ information with a wide array of connectivity features such as Wi-Fi and HSDPA. We make it easy for consumers to quickly share those moments as they happen.”

When it comes to camera capabilities, the gloss-black Nokia N82 is set to wow world travelers and photography enthusiasts alike. The 5 megapixel camera, powerful Xenon flash and Carl Zeiss optics, ultra-fast camera activation, autofocus with a dedicated assist lamp, fast reloading between shots and DVD-like quality video capture all ensure that special moments can be captured “picture perfect” - even in low light conditions.

Taking advantage of its integrated A-GPS functionality and high resolution camera, the Nokia N82 automatically tags images with capture location metadata, making it possible to view the capture location on a map either on the Internet or on the device itself. When it comes to sharing, consumers can upload their pictures or videos directly from their Nokia N82 to services like Share on Ovi, Flickr or YouTube. By installing Nokia’s exclusive and free Sports Tracker application, consumers can share their whereabouts and travel route with others on the Sports Tracker website - including the capture locations of images. The Nokia Sports Tracker is a GPS based activity tracker that runs on Nokia smartphones. Information such as speed, distance and time are automatically stored in the application, and can be shared with others.

Urbanistas explore the world

To showcase this exciting application, several explorers took off across the globe, each with a GPS-enabled Nokia N82 as their travel companion. On http://www.nseries.com/urbanistadiaries, people around the world could follow these intrepid travelers, and share the experience in near real-time through images captured on each explorers’ device. The Sports Tracker widget tracked the explorers’ location and marked the spot where each image was taken on a constantly updated map. The widget has now been embedded in many blogs and social networking sites.

So that everyone can track and share their own journeys, stories and pictures with friends - just like one of the explorers - the Sports Tracker mobile widget will soon be made available with many new and existing S60-based converged mobile devices. It is also possible to share and compare travel routes or workouts with friends or the Sports Tracker community. Others’ journeys can also be browsed by location, for example to find a more exciting travel route.

The Nokia N82 is a true travel companion and supports microSD memory cards of up to 8GB which allow the device to hold the user’s choice of up to 3,600 high-resolution pictures, 5 hours of high quality video capture, up to 6,000 songs or all of the available regions for the Nokia Maps application.

Alltel Wireless and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) announced that the highly anticipated GlimmerTM by LG will be exclusively available in Alltel retail stores and online at shopalltel.com beginning March 13. With a slide-out keypad and touch-screen interface, the LG Glimmer incorporates traditional phone functions with the latest multimedia features.The LG Glimmer is loaded with a 2 MP camera with video capabilities, an MP3 player with customizable equalizer, an expandable memory slot and is GPS capable. This slick phone is rich with several of Alltel’s Axcess applications including Alltel Navigation, Axcess Search, CityID and Axcess TV. In addition, users can listen to their favorite music while utilizing other multimedia features on the phone, such as taking photos, recording video or sending text messages. The Glimmer also features 3D graphics support and 128MB of internal memory.

“With touch-screen phones revolutionizing wireless, the LG Glimmer from Alltel has an innovative new touch interface while offering the convenience of a slide-out physical keypad,” states Brian Ullem, vice president of device strategy for Alltel Wireless. “Its large display and multimedia capabilities allow our customers to access and manage their video and music with a simple touch.”

“Consumers will appreciate the durable metal body of this elegant, user-friendly mobile phone,” said Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of product strategy & marketing at LG Mobile Phones. “With its slim form factor and large sliding touch screen the Glimmer by LG is another example of forward-thinking technology and design.”

Alltel Wireless is offering the Glimmer by LG for $249.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate. This discounted price is available to new customers who sign-up for a two-year service agreement and to existing eligible customers on qualifying rate plans. All Alltel customers who purchase the LG Glimmer and are on a qualifying rate plan are able to receive “My Circle,” Alltel’s exclusive calling feature allowing customers to receive unlimited calling to any five, 10 or 20 numbers, any network. In addition, Alltel was the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time, without extending their current contract.

The LG Glimmer also supports Alltel’s new service, Axcess Voice2TXT. The service, which is available on any Alltel Wireless SMS text message capable phone, quickly converts incoming voicemails to text messages in the customer’s inbox and also allows customers to store and forward converted voicemails as regular text messages. For more information on this innovative feature, please

AAA, today announced that AAA Mobile is now available for download on the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition and BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphones from Research In Motion (RIM) — the first smartphones compatible with the award-winning navigation and local search application from AAA.AAA Mobile subscribers, whether they are AAA members or non-members, can now use a BlackBerry smartphone to receive visual and audible directions to any travel destination in the U.S.; locate AAA Approved points of interest (POIs), including Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants; and search more than 100,000 locations that offer AAA Show Your Card & Save member savings. AAA Mobile subscribers can review detailed AAA descriptions for POIs on their smartphone, receive a map showing a destination on the mobile phone screen, receive audible turn-by-turn navigation to the destination, and bookmark locations as favorites for quick recall in future.

If AAA members experience vehicle difficulties, AAA Mobile streamlines access to AAA’s member roadside assistance service. The press of a single button on the BlackBerry smartphone sends the member’s GPS location to AAA and connects the member with AAA for reliable roadside assistance services.

“Now business travelers can use a BlackBerry smartphone to search for a AAA Diamond Rated restaurant or hotel, and members can send AAA their GPS location if they require roadside assistance,” said Marshall L. Doney, Vice President, Automotive at AAA.

Powered by the industry-leading Networks In Motion (NIM) location-based services platform, AAA Mobile is available for download onto the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition and BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphones for a monthly subscription price of $9.99.

Today, at CeBIT 2008, T-Mobile and Nokia announced the Nokia 6650, a stylish and easy to use device optimized for use with T-Mobile services. Available exclusively for T-Mobile International customers, the Nokia 6650 is equipped with the latest wireless features, such as an integrated GPS and multimedia player, allowing T-Mobile customers easy access to a wide range of services such as web’n'walk, MyFaves, Mobile Jukebox and NaviGate.The Nokia 6650 will be available from T-Mobile during the third quarter at T-Mobile sales points across Europe at a very attractive price. In Germany for example, the Nokia 6650 will retail for just 1 euro together with the Relax 100 rate.

The Nokia 6650 - exclusive multimedia device

The stylish, stainless-steel clad fold design is equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia features and supports T-Mobile’s services such as web’n'walk, a service that allows easy access to the Internet on mobile devices. High-speed HSDPA data connectibity enables fast web browsing and downloading while the 2.2″ TFT QVGA color display can display up to 16 million colours, making browsing and viewing photos, videos and menus a pleasure. T-Mobile service My Faves keeps you in touch with the people that matter the most while benefiting from the device’s extensive talk time. Mobile Jukebox users will appreciate the dedicated keys for the music player. Furthermore, the Nokia 6650 has built-in AGPS (assisted GPS) to enable quick positioning with NaviGate route management.

The Nokia 6650 comes with a 2 megapixel camera with flash, 30 MB of internal memory and a micro SD card slot, FM radio and many other features. Images and videos can be uploaded to the web, sent from phone to phone via a wireless Bluetooth connection, or viewed in full color on the device’s large display.

Boost Mobile(tm), a lifestyle-based telecommunications brand and wholly-owned division of Sprint Nextel, today announced that it has added the MOTOKRZR phone to its Unlimited by Boost service handset offering. The Boost-branded Motorola phone is available in black with a reflective finish, and includes the first month of service free of charge with new service activation on Unlimited by Boost.The Boost-branded MOTOKRZR handset features an MP3 Music Player with Touch Sensor Music Controls, 1.3 Megapixel Camera with 4X Digital Zoom and Video Recorder, Bluetooth wireless technology, GPS, Text and Multi-Media Messaging, Wireless Web and Email capabilities, access to AOL, Yahoo! and MSN Instant Messaging, Hands-Free Speakerphone with Voice-Activated Dialing and Voice Recorder, MicroSD Card slot for optional upgradeable memory, Bright Color TFT Internal Display and Java enabled games and applications.

The phone also includes — The Latest, a new pre-loaded service that provides fast and convenient access to the most useful and local information throughout the day. Basic channels include breaking news, sports news and scores, stock market updates, showbiz and weather information. Premium channels provide street level maps and driving directions, Oxford American Dictionary with over 250,000 definitions and Unlimited Directory (411) search. For a limited time, The Latest is being offered for free for the first seven days. Following the 7-day promotional offer, a basic channel subscription will cost $2.99 per month and $4.99 per month for a premium channel subscription.

“Now is the perfect time for us to introduce the popular MOTOKRZR to our Unlimited by Boost handset lineup,” said Neil Lindsay, vice president of product development, Boost Mobile. “We doubled our base from 224,000 to 500,000 Unlimited by Boost customers in Q4 alone, and introducing this feature-rich handset will help us keep the momentum going.”

Currently available in 13 states including: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, Unlimited by Boost offers unlimited local and nationwide long distance calling from within a large home calling area for a low fixed monthly price. The monthly service fee excludes applicable taxes, including sales taxes, and customers making or receiving calls outside of their home calling area are charged 15 cents per minute. As with all service plans available from Boost Mobile, there are no contracts, credit checks or activation fees.

Sprint announced it will launch a domestic unlimited pricing plan that gives customers unlimited voice, data, text, e-mail, Web-surfing, Sprint TVSM, Sprint Music, GPS Navigation, Direct Connect and Group Connect for $99.99 a month. The new pricing plan is available to existing and new customers beginning Friday, February 29.”This is a bold, unprecedented move,” said Dan Hesse, president and CEO, Sprint Nextel. “Wireless today is about much more than just voice. It is about data services — texting, email, video, pictures, music, navigation, surfing the Web and more. Customers want these applications, but without complexity and without having to worry about their bill. The $99.99 Simply Everything plan delivers it all right to the palm of their hand now.

“Today’s handsets are powerful data devices. Each day they get better, faster and easier to use with more intuitive user interface designs and full Internet access. Our high-speed networks were built with this in mind and it’s where we believe the battleground lies — offering fast access to the best content and data services. We are removing the barriers for customers to feel free to use all of the features of their phones.”

The $99.99 Simply Everything plan is available to customers on both Sprint’s CDMA and iDEN networks. Existing Sprint customers can switch to the Simply Everything plan without extending their current contract either by contacting Sprint customer service or by stopping by any participating Sprint retail location. New line activations require a two-year agreement.

For families, Simply Everything includes an incremental $5 discount for each incremental line, up to five lines on the same bill. For example, two lines would amount to $194.98 ($99.99 + $94.99); a third line would cost an additional $89.99. This is in sharp contrast to the multi-line unlimited rates offered by some competitors. The Sprint plan offers significant savings the more lines a customer adds.

The move to unlimited pricing that includes data signifies a turning point for the wireless industry. Nationally accepted measures of voice quality now show very little, if any, difference among the top wireless providers.

“All major carriers have good voice networks,” Hesse said. “Our network is about more than voice and more than just being the largest wireless data network. It is about allowing customers to connect with people, information and entertainment. It is about simplicity, usability and real value. The $99.99 Simply Everything plan eliminates overage surprises and provides a worry-free environment.

“Our investments in innovation and speed are becoming the new areas of differentiation. These are the areas where we perform best and where we can deliver a wireless advantage for our customers.”

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.

For drivers geared toward value, Sony Electronics is announcing that its new nav-u(TM) personal navigation devices (models NV-U73T and NV-U83T) are now available at retail and online stores for about $300 and $400, respectively.These in-car portable systems contain navigation features that drivers have come to expect, such as text-to-speech voice commands and real-time- traffic capability. They also add new safety features, such as the super suction cup mounting system.

Sony’s new super suction cup comes with both models. It is easy to mount on the windshield or dashboard, providing a tight, stable attachment. Made with a flexible non-adhesive gel, it grips the rugged surface of the dashboard so the touch screen can be mounted closer for an easier reach.

Designed to stay put even in the most extreme temperatures, the super suction cup can also be easily removed and transferred to another vehicle.

Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone Calls

The top-end NV-U83T model adds another safety feature-Bluetooth technology-for making hands-free phone calls. With a built-in microphone, drivers can use voice commands to initiate calls via compatible Bluetooth- enabled cell phones. The nav-u system connects automatically so drivers can keep their hands on the steering wheel and their eyes on the road.

This new model has a large, 4.8-inch (measured diagonally), 16:9 aspect ratio display and ultra-thin footprint.

With anti-glare coating, it is easy to see the screen in any lighting condition. With its high resolution, the device maintains a clear image even when the screen is split into two images.

This unique dual view feature helps drivers navigate visually so they don’t have to rely solely on street signs. It zooms in and shows certain landmarks to help drivers make the correct turns at the right time. On the highway, dual view shows a 3D rendition of approaching intersections with lane guide information to let drivers know exactly where they need to turn if necessary.

Low GPS Signal … No Problem

When the GPS signal is weak, the nav-u device will still be able to keep drivers headed in the right direction. Another unique feature, called POSITION Plus(TM), provides constant, more accurate positioning and interruption-free guidance. In addition to the SiRF Star III GPS chip, POSITION Plus includes pressure, gyro and acceleration sensors. The device uses these additional sensors to calibrate where drivers are so they can safely plan ahead and not miss turns coming out of tunnels or from in-between tall buildings.

Touch Screen Shortcuts

Gesture command, another unique new Sony function, lets drivers jump to commands with one touch on the display, eliminating the need to dig down on the menu. If drivers want to go home, they just draw a roof (or inverted “V”) and the destination becomes home. Other gesture commands include zoom in or out, call home and two user-customized destinations.

The nav-u device is the first Sony portable navigation system to show brand icons for restaurants, hotels, gas stations and stores. In addition to proactively selecting a point of interest, drivers will automatically see brand icons appear on the map so it’s fast and easy to find favorite locations while driving in unfamiliar cities.

Text to Speech

Ready to use right out of the box, both nav-u devices help drivers map a destination, locate points of interest and find home again. Both models come with text-to-speech technology, which enables the voice prompts to actually say the name of the street or highway. A powerful speaker ensures that voice prompts are clear and audible.

The nav-u systems come with nearly 5 million points of interest, making it easy to find destinations nationwide. The system will automatically complete partial entries of states, cities and street names. It also comes with U.S. and Canadian maps on their 2GB flash memory. Maps of Alaska, Canada, Hawaii and Puerto Rico also come pre-installed.

About as wide as a deck of cards, the new devices have a thin, portable design. They also come with a Memory Stick Pro Duo slot for future expansion capabilities.

The NV-U73T model comes with a 4.3-inch (measured diagonally), 16:9 aspect ratio display. Its features include text-to-speech functionality, the dual view feature, super suction cup mounting system and gesture command.

Availability

The nav-u portable navigation devices are available at www.sonystyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores nationwide, at military base exchanges, and at authorized dealers around the country. For more information about the products, please visit www.sonystyle.com/navu.

In an answer to the growing demand for crossover devices, AT&T Inc. and Palm Inc. announced the availability of the Palm Centro(TM) from AT&T. Centro is designed for the expanding base of customers who want a better way to manage their busy lives. The device is available for just $99.99.(1)Centro offers customers more choices to stay in touch with friends, family and co-workers by using voice, text messaging, instant messaging, e-mail or the Web.(2) Featuring a color touch-screen and full QWERTY keyboard, Centro is the first Palm OS product to launch with AT&T services, such as XM Radio Mobile, Push to Talk and MusicID.(3)

Centro is the smallest and lightest Palm product to date and works with the nation’s largest digital voice and data network. Initially, the Palm Centro from AT&T is available in new “glacier white” with green keypad accents, and, in approximately one month, AT&T will debut a second color — “obsidian black.”

“The demand for crossover devices is skyrocketing, and the Centro hits a sweet spot for many customers looking for a QWERTY device with a solid suite of messaging and multimedia features,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Business Mobility Products for AT&T’s wireless unit. “At a great price that can be coupled with a variety of AT&T’s messaging and data options, we are thrilled to offer Centro to our 70.1 million customers.”

“Centro offers a simple way for customers to stay connected to the people who are important to them while better managing their increasingly hectic lifestyles, all at the price of a traditional mobile phone,” said Brodie Keast, senior vice president of Marketing for Palm, Inc.

Superior Phone

Centro’s touch-screen and keyboard, combined with the simplicity of Palm OS, make it easy to use with key features such as one-touch speakerphone, conference calling, ignore a call with text messaging and Bluetooth connectivity.

Easy Text Messaging

Centro’s text-mess