Mobiles

News from BGR that RIM will also release a 3G-less Blackberry 9000. The Blackberry has a codename Niagara, is having a similar specs as Blackberry 9000 except the 3G support. Expect to see a cheaper price for this version, of course you can also imagine a longer battery life without a constant 3G connection.

The Blackberry 9000 is the next business phone from RIM. The Blackberry Niagara will support GSM Quadband, comes with a 2 megapixel camera, WiFi, A-GPS, 480 x 320 resolution display and microSD card slot.

Source [BGR]

Vodafone UK has changed the way it structures its price plans to include access to the internet and email on their mobile as an integral part of the monthly price plan. Monthly customers will no longer need to buy an additional internet bundle for £7.50 but instead every plan will automatically include internet access.

The new plans will give Vodafone customers an “unlimited” access to the internet, but subject to a 500MB per month usage. Price plans start at £25 and customers who select a £40 or higher price plan will also for the first time have the choice of unlimited texts, unlimited landline calls or unlimited Vodafone to Vodafone calls.

T-Mobile USA has taken the first commercial step in the rollout of its third-generation (3G) wireless network by launching its UMTS/HSDPA network in New York City. T-Mobile plans to continue the rollout of its 3G network across major metropolitan markets through the year.

T-Mobile’s 3G network supports voice and data services consistent with available service and handset offerings. The company today offers multiple phones that are able to operate on the UMTS network. The phones are designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide the great call quality and rich communication services customers expect from T-Mobile.

Customers using a 3G-capable handset from T-Mobile will also experience faster data speeds when accessing the Web, or downloading content from the T-Mobile t-zones content portal, for example.

The Associated Press today debuted its Mobile News Network, a multimedia news portal targeted at wireless users who want access anytime and anywhere to international, national and local news content from the cooperative and its members. The web application has been optimized for use on iPhones and can be accessed directly at apnews.com or via iPhone web application pages at www.iphone.com/webapps.

The new service, optimized for the iPhone, offers a full multimedia experience, from photo galleries of sports events to spot video coverage of the presidential campaign. The Mobile News Network provides a single access point for both news and advertising, both national and local. Users can select news from their hometown, business destination or favorite cities, share stories, photos and video with friends and rate the information they receive.

Future versions of The Mobile News Network will include additional content from more newspapers and broadcasters and will be optimized for additional next generation mobile phones.

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) and Verizon Wireless announced today they have signed a 5-year agreement for Qwest to market and sell Verizon Wireless service beginning this summer. Financial terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

Under the agreement, Qwest customers will have access to the full line of Verizon Wireless handsets, smartphones and BlackBerry devices. Residential customers will be able to choose “wireless only” and be billed directly by Verizon Wireless, or include Verizon Wireless service as part of a Qwest bundle with their home phone, Internet and video services, and receive one bill from Qwest for all services.

In addition, the companies will work together on bidding for enterprise and government wireless contracts, and collaborate in the development of converged services, such as a unified voicemail box for mobile and landline as well as integration of Qwest’s IP networking solutions with Verizon Wireless’ mobile data network for business and government customers.

The Movaya team is excited to announce that popular gaming site, VideoGameCentral.com has added mobile games to their online destination at videogamecentral.mobi.

VideoGameCentral Mobile will be offering a platform chock full of mobile content from new & classic games to fan based items such as phone game wallpapers and video game ringtones.

"We acknowledge that gaming is a global platform & that there are many casual on-the-go gamers. Not everyone has the need to purchase portable game systems or home units to enjoy casual gaming. We are in a day & age that our cell-phones, blackberries & mobile communication devices have the robust ability to provide quality entertainment easily at a low price" said Dave Scarpitta, Marketing Director at VGC.

Just another example of the growing trend towards off-deck sales of mobile content here in the US. Look for other big online merchants to follow suit.

ABC News Technology Reporter Andrea Smith featured three Mobile Edge laptop bags in a Mother’s Day Gift Idea segment on the local ABC affiliate in New York City. She showcased the Komen Milano, the BEF Signature Tote and the Monaco Notebook Case.

She talked about some of the functionality of the laptop bags while her co-anchor modeled the Komen Milano. She made sure to mention that Mobile Edge donates 10 percent of the sales price back to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation for research and awareness. Her personal favorite of the three designer laptop cases was the BEF Signature Tote. Click the video below to see the review.

Today Qwest Communications and Verizon Wireless have announced a new 5 year deal that will have Qwest selling Verizon's wireless services to Qwest's customers. Verizon services will be available from Qwest's retail locations, website, and call centers.
Read the full story here.

AT&T has launched its first 3G-enabled cellphone from Sony Ericsson, the Z750a. This clamshell handset sports a hidden outer display with a smooth mirror finish. The Z750a also houses a 2 megapixel camera and a memory card slot for expansion.
Read the full story here.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), HTC Corp., and I-Play are hoping to discover the next breakthrough mobile game with a newly-launched AT&T Game Development Contest for Windows Mobile. Starting this week, independent game developers can submit their homemade Windows Mobile games to AT&T for a chance to win a large cash prize and a publishing contract with I-Play. The contest is designed to bring new talent and ideas into mobile gaming and also increase consumer awareness about the mobile gaming market.

AT&T claimed in a press release that Windows Mobile games are the fastest growing segment of the AT&T gaming business. "AT&T has a strong commitment to deliver more wireless choices to our customers -- in terms of products, services and applications," said Mark Collins, vice president, Consumer Data, for AT&T's wireless unit. "One way we reinforce this commitment and demonstrate that we are open to innovation is by working closely with the developer community so that we can bring visibility to their creativity, while ensuring that our customers have access to the most advanced, compelling and fun products and services -- now and in the future."

To submit your game, click here to access the online entry form.

The winner will receive a mobile game developer contract with I-play, prime placement of the finished game on AT&T MEdia Mall's game portal and a cash prize of $25,000. Prizes will also be awarded to three finalists and ten semi-finalists. Games will be judged on the basis of gameplay value and quality, uniqueness and creativity, and marketplace potential. The deadline to enter is July 31, 2008, and the winner will be announced at this year's CTIA mobile conference in September.