Nokia has announced a range of new e-series phones that start to blur the lines between business and lifestyle use. The e90 is the company's latest version of its Communicator handset that has been around in different forms for a fair few years, so what makes it think that it has the answer now? We were given access to the new handset at a small launch event in central London.


Before we start, there is no getting around it, the Nokia e90 Communicator, no matter what Nokia are keen to say about it, is still a brick, it has been heavily re-styled, with nips and tucks all over the place, but it's still large compared to other handsets.

That said, the phone's features are starting to justify the size. A 3.2 megapixel camera, a further camera inside, GPS receiver, a 512MB MicroSD card in the box and a slot which is hot swappable, two colour screens, a new vibrate feature, 3G, Wi-Fi, HSDPA, quad-band, and more are just some of the new features.

First impressions still remind us of the Palm 3 or Palm 5 PDA from yesteryear and the keyboard is very easy to use, being considerably wider than that found on the company's e65i or the any of the BlackBerry handsets.

Likewise the series of shortcut keys above the keyboard and elsewhere that link to your contacts book or the web browser for example make it in incredibly easy to use rather than having to fathom out the menu system.

Email is incredibly easy to use, backing up Andrew Hawking's, Head of the e-Series in the UK, statement that Nokia wants "To make email as easy to use as voice".

Upgraded from previous Communicators is the introduction of the Symbian Series 60 third edition on the outside screen as well as the inside display, so whatever you were accessing when the phone is flipped out is still accessible when you close it. It's a great decision and one that even in our brief play made a lot of sense whether it is accessing further mobile phone numbers or continuing a text you've started.

Bridging the gap between business and lifestyle (don't worry it supports all forms of email from BlackBerry Connect to POP3) the e90 Communicator even has games.


We had a quick play of the racing game included; the widescreen experience and the Need for Speed style gameplay was surprising good. We aren't talking PSP or Nintendo DS Lite good, but for a business device we can see plenty of businessmen choosing to have a quick go while waiting for the plane rather than being bothered to reply to yet another email.

Menu and interface hasn't changed much since the last outing and the phone in our First Look whether it was playing back video or checking emails seemed snappy, fast and good enough to get the job done.

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Nokia mobile phones have made a remarkable job in offering latest mobile phones to the consumers all around the world. Once again the recent launch of Nokia N95 phone from Nokia N-series has also hit the mobile industry. All N-series phones are endowed with great multimedia features and so the Nokia N95.This phone is packed with great features like 5MP digital camera, advanced messaging, multimedia and latest technologies like Bluetooth, 3G, Internet and lots more. All these numerous features are concealed in a compact and stylish phone.


The handset with two way slider mechanism allows you to open the phone in either way. View the user-friendly applications on a wide 2” colour screen display. The handset provides user-friendly keywords to navigate all the latest features with ease. The N95 comes with GPS navigation feature display map—find your desired location on the go. The Symbian OS enables you to download new application in your phone. With Quad-band you can stay connected anywhere in the world.

3G phones bring broadband Internet for users to enjoy the Internet with fast connectivity. Browse the internet on XHTML and HTML platform. Connect you phone to other compatible devices via USB, Bluetooth, Infra-red Pop Port, EDGE technologies and download music, videos, images in no time.


Capture the moment—the Nokia N95 is equipped with a 5MP camera, auto focus and Carl Zeiss optics—shoot and share the moment on the go. With video recording feature—grab video footage and share through MMS. What else, the Nokia N95 offers great multimedia feature. Download music tracks and enjoy your favourite music wherever you go. Listen to your favourite radio station from stereo FM radio and visual radio.

In addition to these features Nokia N95 also offers many features to entertain you and bring smile on your face. So, don't wait; bring the latest N95 mobile phone and feel the difference.
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This summer, Britain's teenagers will be able to stop badgering their parents to pay off their mobile phone bills, with the launch of a new service that offers free calls and texts provided users are willing to receive adverts on their phones.

Blyk, a start-up run by the former president of the Finnish mobile firm Nokia, will today announce it has signed deals with advertisers including Coca-Cola, L'Oréal and Buena Vista, part of the Disney media empire, as it works up to a summer launch in the UK.


Blyk, which is aiming for the 16- to 24-year-old market, is also understood to be close to a deal with mobile phone operator Orange to run the service over its network. Orange refused to comment, saying only that it was always on the lookout for partners.

Advertisers are starting to look at mobiles as a useful medium. Google is experimenting with mobile search advertising, tying up partnerships with several operators. In the US, Virgin Mobile has launched Sugar Mama, which gives customers free airtime if they agree to watch adverts and give feedback. Also in the US, Xero Mobile is testing an ad-funded service aimed at college students.

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The recently announced Philips 598 is a handset designed with features to appeal to female mobile users – although it is surprisingly not pink mobile phone!
Philips have made a mobile that can hold your shopping list, and work out the all important sale discount once you have found that perfect pair of shoes! The Philips 598 oozes more feminine appeal than the Samsung X830 and LG Chocolate combined.


The glossy black and gold finish makes the 598 a stylish clamshell phone. With an mp3 player and memory expansion up to 1GB, it is a good all-rounder for the ladies out there, although the 1.3 megapixel camera is a little disappointing given the standard we are becoming used to.

Features include:

Size 83 x 43.1 x 20.2 mm
Weight 82 g
Screen TFT, 256K colours with a second external OLED, monochrome display
Type Clamshell
Music MP3 player
Camera 1.3 MP, 1280 x 1024 pixels, video(QCIF)
Memory MicroSD (TransFlash), with 128 MB built-in user memory
Connection GPRS, Bluetooth, USB & Infrared
Extras Women’s diary and calendar, buying list, discounts manager, price table, personal card info, body weight index and basal metabolic rate measurement.
london mobile phone shop
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In an industry first, Verizon Wireless is putting customers in the driver's seat to take the nation's most reliable wireless network for a spin. On Monday, March 26, Verizon Wireless will introduce Test Drive, an initiative that gives customers the opportunity to be their own Test Man or Woman and experience the Verizon Wireless network virtually risk-free for 30 days. If at any point during the 30-day Test Drive customers are not satisfied with their experience and take their number to another wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless will refund their money for their calls, equipment, activation fee and taxes, as well as release them from their contract without an early termination fee when they return their phone within the Test Drive period.


"Test Drive is another example of Verizon Wireless breaking new ground in the industry and represents a new way to do business with wireless consumers - a way to truly put customers first," said Jack Plating, chief operating officer for Verizon Wireless. "Customers are deluged with promises of the best wireless experience. Test Drive will help customers cut through the clutter and determine for themselves how the quality of the network makes all the difference in their wireless experience."

Test Drive is available to new customers signing up for the America's Choice or America's Choice with Push to Talk Calling Plans. Customers will remain responsible for data services, application downloads, such as games, music or other V CAST services, applicable taxes on those services, 411 calls and certain Verizon Wireless surcharges.

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Verizon Wireless has gotten into the Valentine's day spirit by
launching the Pink LG Chocolate. Technically the shade is called Strawberry, but we've never seen strawberries quite this shade. The Chocolate is also available in black, white, red and green. Color is the only differences among the models, much like with Motorola's various shades of RAZRs.

Features of the Chocolate include:

MP3 player
EV-DO data (V Cast compatible)
1.3 megapixel camera
Bluetooth
microSD card slot
QVGA screen with 262k colors
The pink LG Chocolate is available.
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There are hand free attachments for most of the mobile phones currently available for use at London mobile phone shop. These are easy to attach to the phone and consist of an earpiece, a microphone, and a clip to attach to your clothing so you can have both hands free to do other things, such as drive a car. The phone will even allow you to automatically pick up any incoming calls without you having to press any of the buttons on it. Therefore, you are truly 'hands free' yet still in contact. In addition, if you are worried about what emissions may be coming of your phone this is one way to give you a little bit more distance from the phone itself.

Nokia's latest smartphone is appropriately titled the N80 Internet Edition. It's a littler smaller than your average smartphone, which makes it more portable.

Among the Internet functions available are VoIP calling, Web browsing, ebook reading, and photo sharing. An agreement with search engine giant Yahoo has enabled use of the Yahoo Go for Mobile installation.


This being a phone, it also has cellular capabilities, of the quad-band GSM/WCDMA variety. If you're looking to make a VoIP call, the WLAN wizard finds the nearest hotspot for you and logs right on.

Smartphones wouldn't be smartphones these days without cameras, and the N95 Internet Edition has one, a 3-megapixel one at that.

Another helpful feature is Nokia's Download, a handy software application finder, allowing you to log on to the company's website and find new applications to use on your N80 or upgrades to software you already have.

Wait just a few more weeks and you can have one of these, in either bronze or black.

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TOUCHMATE, a subsidiary of the Quality Group of Companies and a leading manufacturer, exporter and distributor of a wide range of branded computers, accessories and peripherals in the Middle East, Africa, UK and India has launched the world's smallest mobile phone - Diamond Cam Mobile TM-M800G.

Measuring a mere 3cm x 9cm and weighing in at only 99gms, the mobile phone combines features such as mp3 and mp4 capability and USB support along with a fashionable Swarovski diamond crystal design. The company's latest offering is part of a strategic bid to tap the growing mobile phone market, which in the EMEA region is expected to grow by 12 percent in 2007 to reach 400 million units according to the latest IDC forecast.

'Our decision to enter the mobile phone market is part of a calculated business plan to capture a bigger market share. The expected rise in mobile units in the EMEA region presents a great market opportunity and with the launch of our Diamond Cam Mobile, we hope to address the growing demand for smaller yet stylish, feature-packed mobile devices in the Middle East,' said Vasant Menghani, Managing Director, TOUCHMATE.

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Vodafone showcasing Skype enabled mobile phone service Starfish

UK based mobile service provider Vodafone has shown Skype enabled VoIP calling service from mobile devices. The company said that they might launch such a service in the near future.

This service has been named Starfish and the company showcased it at its booth at the CeBIT trade show. However, they have not confirmed plans to launch it considering such a service would eat into its traditional mobile voice telephone business.

Jan Holzberg, the manager for the product at Vodafone Group said in a statement: “We have not yet decided if we will launch it, or the commercial terms and prices.”

The service enables a mobile user to see a list of buddies from various services including MSN, Yahoo, AOL and Skype. They can send messages and also make VoIP powered internet calls.
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Searching around on the Web, I’ve found a lot of sites that will charge you between $25 and $35 to unlock your Samsung i607 Blackjack. However, I came across a post describing how to get your phone unlocked for free via Cingular. I decided to try it, since I’m legitimately headed to Europe this summer and need to unlock my phone.

I couldn’t find much on the Web about it, so I thought I’d write up a comprehensive post about my experience unlocking the phone.


I called Cingular’s International Care Center at (916) 843-4685 Tuesday morning and spoke with a customer service representative, who confirmed that I could unlock all my Cingular phones for international travel. To unlock my Blackjack, I read him my International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI, number, which can be found on the product box or by entering the code *#06# on the Blackjack’s keypad.

After I read him the IMEI, he processed it through the computer and gave me an unlock code specific to my phone. He then instructed me to power down my phone, take out the Subscriber Identification Module, or SIM, card and power it back up. Once the phone rebooted, I entered in the code #7465625*638*, which brought up the prompt: Enter Network Control Key. I put in my unlock code, and the phone returned the message: Successfully Disable Locking Status.

I haven’t tested the phone with a SIM card from a different network, so I’m not sure if this actually worked. However, the screen prompts looked promising.

Afterward, I tried to unlock my old Motorola v551, however, the representative told me that I could not do it over the phone and had to wait seven to 10 business days for an e-mail with an unlock code and instructions. I went ahead and submitted a request.

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There is good news for all cricket fans across the world as they now will get detailed live updates of the cricket World Cup also on cellphones being held in the West Indies.

With the launch Tuesday of Mobio Cricket Centre, a new applications on mobile phones by Mobio Networks, cricket fans around the world can get real time score updates, wagonwheels, match schedules, player statistics, standings, and scorecards for all matches, team rosters, and player profiles.

Mobio will release these applications in India and then worldwide over the next few days. In India the applications will be released in partnership with Indiatimes, the digital wing of the Times Group. The live scores application will be offered as Cricket Station and users can get access to it by sending a text message.

The application is optimised for use when mobile and comes with a graphical and intuitive user interface. The Mobio technology facilitates mash-ups of web services to create dynamic applications and widgets which work seamlessly together.

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Cellular telephones are about to become a little more mobile. With a regulatory change, wireless phone numbers will become as portable as the tiny devices that place the calls.

Wireless number portability was mandated by the previous federal Liberal government two years ago. Since then, cellular companies have been making the required technological changes and Wednesday is the deadline for their work to be done.

When Canada's mobile phone giants flip their switches, customers will be able to take their phone numbers and move to a new cellular carrier.

Observers expect number portability will spark a round of intense competition in Canada's cellular industry, which is dominated by major players Bell Canada, Rogers Wireless and Telus Mobility.

Until now, cellular phone numbers were controlled and assigned by the companies and most customers were locked into term contracts.

Wireless number portability will allow customers to shop around for a better service plan and price without having to change their phone number.

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The BlackBerry Pearl and Palm Treo 680 smart device officially are red hot as Cingular today introduced an eye-catching, dark ruby-colored version of the BlackBerry Pearl and a striking crimson iteration of the Treo 680. The red BlackBerry Pearl is the first wireless handset to be branded for the new AT and T.


Both new, colorful models are available immediately and exclusively to AT and T customers at Cingular Wireless retail stores -- the Treo 680 initially at select outlets and the BlackBerry Pearl at all stores nationwide -- and through , AT&T's wireless business-to-business sales organization, authorized dealers and select national retailers.

Although the Palm Treo 680 and BlackBerry Pearl from AT&T now come in a choice of colors -- AT&T continues to offer the attractive original models -- the compelling looks, features and functionality that have given them a broad following remain the same.

The red BlackBerry Pearl's sleek and stylish exterior measures just 4.2" x 1.97" x .57", weighs only 3.1 ounces and includes the supple and responsive trackball that makes vertical and lateral scrolling fast and easy. It's packed with such features as a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, multi-media capabilities and an expandable memory slot along with easy-to-use phone, email and browser applications. The unique "push-based" BlackBerry service gives users synchronized access to both personal and corporate email accounts with attachment viewing, and the ability to manage multiple email accounts while on-the-go.

The red BlackBerry Pearl also includes optional services such as Push To Talk and GPS-based wireless navigation services from TeleNav, Inc. -- the subscription-based TeleNav GPS Navigator, and the free -- and now wirelessly downloadable - TeleNav Maps.

The all-in-one crimson Palm Treo 680 smart device is a compact, full- featured mobile phone with an MP3 player, digital camera, camcorder and video player. The Treo 680 includes a built-in QWERTY keyboard that gives users the ability to easily compose and reply to email, edit documents and use a messaging application that displays text-messaging conversations as "threaded chats," similar to IM. It supports a variety of email platforms, including Good Mobile Messaging from Motorola Good Technology Group and Cingular Xpress Mail.


TeleNav GPS Navigator also is available on the crimson Treo 680 on an optional, subscription basis.

For GPS capabilities, both the Treo 680 and BlackBerry Pearl require a Bluetooth enabled GPS receiver that can be purchased separately.

Like their siblings, the red BlackBerry Pearl and crimson Treo 680 have quad-band capabilities. Both can be used in more than 13,000 cities and towns across the U.S. and along some 40,000 miles of major highways, as well as abroad in more than 190 countries for phone calls and in over 125 countries to access data.

Both the Palm Treo 680 smart device and BlackBerry Pearl are available for as low as $199.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates.

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AT&T Inc. is offering subscribers a new kind of TV remote control: their cell phones.

The company this week began offering its "Homezone" customers the ability to control their digital video recorders through Web-enabled phones. The interface lets cell phone users schedule or delete recordings on their set-top boxes from anywhere.

Homezone is a $10-per-month product for subscribers of the Dish Network satellite TV service. It includes a set-top box that brings content from the Internet to televisions, such as on-demand movies, plus caller ID information from the phone and photos from the home computer.

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O2 has begun selling the XDA Graphite, the Asus-made Wi-Fi and 3G Windows Mobile smart phone that emerged way back in October 2006 in US Federal Communications Commission filings.

Graphite packs in a tri-band GSM/GPRS radio in addition to its 3G link. Bluetooth too. It has a 65,536-colour display and a two-megapixel digital camera on the back. It has the Windows Mobile versions of Word, Excel and Outlook built in.

O2 claimed the handset has a talk time of up to four hours, rising to 150 hours in stand-by mode.

The XDA Graphite is available to consumers and business buyers. Prices start at nothing at all and rise to £60, depending on the monthly airtime package chosen.
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Mobile phones are so intrinsic to our day to day lives that we sometimes forget how important they really are. Not only can you use them to make calls and send text messages, they can also be portals to a variety of cool and often very useful services.

For example, if you're stuck somewhere in London and you need a taxi as soon as possible but you want to make sure it's a licensed one, all you have to do is text the word 'home' to 60835 and hey presto, you'll get a list of all the nearest licensed cab offices. The service is called Cabwise and you'll be charged 35p per enquiry plus the standard text-message rate.

Alternatively, if you'd rather walk back but you're not sure how to get home, you can download the Google Maps mobile application. It's only supported on certain models -- we've tested it so far on Series 60 Nokia phones, Windows Mobile handsets and BlackBerry handsets without any problems. Once you've downloaded it, you enter your location and your destination and it will give you directions.

Downloading and using Google Maps will incur a data charge, so make sure you know how many megabytes you get free with your contract.

Another useful Google service is the Gmail application for mobile phones, which lets you read your Gmail emails on the go. You can access Gmail using a WAP browser, but this Java-based application is much faster and offers a few more features, such as the ability to delete emails. Again, this service will incur a data charge, so make sure you're familiar with your free megabyte quota before you use it.

If you're prone to losing your numbers, you'll be very interested in ZYB -- a mobile phone back-up service that will copy all your numbers. It's all done wirelessly, although you will need to set it up initially on the Internet. There's a list of supported phones on the ZYB Web site, and as well as backing up contacts, ZYB can also save text messages.

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Yahoo has released a new version of Go, its cellphone software, that works with Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system.

The Windows Mobile initiative is expected to expand Yahoo's base of mobile users by millions. Yahoo Go, which provides one-click phone access to a variety of services including Internet search, e-mail, maps and photo-sharing, is now compatible with the more than 175 existing Windows phone devices.


"Windows Mobile phone users tend to be consumers who are relatively data savvy,'' said Ojas Rege, senior director of Yahoo's mobile phone unit. "They are a pretty attractive group of users both from the standpoint of being early adopters of new services and in terms of advertising demographics."

Yahoo is well on its way toward its goal of compatibility with 400 devices by the end of the year. Yahoo has also reached an agreement with Taiwanese company High Tech Computer Corp., the world's largest manufacturer of Windows-based mobile phones, to distribute the new software on its devices.

It has existing agreements to distribute Yahoo Go on the devices of Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, LG Electronics and Research In Motion. Yahoo shares gained $0.49 to reach $30.80 yesterday and are up 21% on the year.
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Verizon Wireless has introduced the first commercial mobile television service in 20 states in the U.S., which includes full length programs and quality that is similar to regular television. A Verizon / Vodafone venture will charge customers a $15/month subscription fee for the service which includes 8 channels, broadcasting content 24 hours a day. It was developed by Qualcomm's MediaFlo.

Verizon has been experimenting with video content in an effort to make up for revenue lost as mobile phone calls become cheaper. Verizon Wireless is the second largest mobile phone provider in the United States, and so far its video services have not received much attention from customers, due to its low quality and high prices.

The first phone to support MediaFlo is the U620 from Samsung. It is being sold for $199, or $149.99 for customers who sign a two-year contract. Verizon plans to add another phone, from LG Electronics Inc. in a matter of weeks. Available channels include a feeds from MTV and programming from CBS, NBC, ESPN, Fox, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.
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Helio today announced their smallest phone to date. The Heat is a slider with touch-sensitive, electrostatic controls on the face. Like the original Chocolate or Sony Ericsson W950, the Heat has two sets of touch controls - one for navigation and a second for media playback. The Heat features a QVGA screen, stereo Bluetooth, a 1.3 MP camera and 136 MB of built-in memory. However it has no memory card slot. It also features access to Helio's GPS and music services like the Drift. Heat is available today in Black or Gold for $150.
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