Mobiles

Amazon.com is trying to help consumers during the economic downturn by launching a new service that will alert consumers by text message about low-priced items of the day.

Customers can now sign up for a daily text alert at www.amazon.com/gp/anywhere/sms/goldbox or simply text 'GB' to '262966' (AMAZON) which will feature the popular Amazon.com Deal of the Day, sent directly to their mobile phone. Customers can then reply-to-buy with the text command "buygb" or follow the link in the text message to the Amazon mobile Web site to view the full details of the deal and shop other deals in the Gold Box directly from the mobile phone.

"Customers come to Amazon.com for low prices," said Eva Manolis, vice president of Retail Customer Experience at Amazon.com. "We are obsessed with lowering prices and we work hard every day to make it even easier to find and buy the best deals on the site. We're excited to offer customers new features like Amazon's Daily Deal Text Alerts in time for holiday shopping."

The Strategy Analytics Wireless Device Lab service research, “The Camera is Still King: Consumers Willing to Pay for a Quality Camera on Their Mobile Device,” shows that a quality camera is the primary mobile phone add-on for which consumers in the U.S. and Western Europe would be willing to pay–and willing to pay the most–compared to other mobile device features.

These findings are based on a survey of over 2800 wireless device owners in the US and Western Europe. The survey showed that mobile consumers are also willing to pay for a video camera, music player and removable memory cards.

“Strategy Analytics research shows that over 60% of all respondents would be willing to pay extra for a quality camera on their mobile device,” commented Chris Schreiner, Senior User Experience Analyst at Strategy Analytics. “This desire for imaging features prevails across all age ranges in both regions.” Kevin Nolan, Vice President of the Strategy Analytics User Experience Practice, added, “Cameras, video cameras and music players are quickly becoming table stakes when consumers shop for mobile devices. They also requested additional memory in order to store this media.”

AccuWeather has added flight delay information to the AccuWeather.com mobile web site. The flight delay information covers the entire U.S. and is viewable in map and text form. Flight delay information on the AccuWeather.com mobile site includes national and regional maps with color-coded indications of delays at various airports. For each airport where there is a delay, a text description will appear below the map. All forms of delays are reported including weather and non-weather related delays. To see the flight delay information, go to AccuWeather.com mobile on your web-enabled cell phone and select the Flight Delay link on the home page.

Local.com and Virgin Mobile USA today announced the launch of Local Mobile on the Virgin Mobile USA network. Local Mobile is an ad-supported local mobile site that provides users with easy access to directory services and search results for local businesses, products and services via their mobile internet service.

Local.com partnered with Trilibis Mobile, a leading provider of mobile community applications and enabling technologies, to develop and deploy Local Mobile, which is listed in Virgin Mobile USA’s mobile web directory. Local Mobile enables users to access:

• Local business information based on simple “what” and “where” directory search
• Business profile pages, complete with mapping 
• Driving directions 
• Click-to-call functionality
• Listings sent to a mobile phone or device via SMS
• Results sorted by relevance, distance or name 

“We are pleased that Virgin Mobile USA has integrated Local Mobile into its wireless network catalog,” said Bruce Crair, Local.com president and COO. “This partnership allows Virgin Mobile USA customers to easily access relevant local business information from their mobile devices, and is part of Local.com’s efforts to expand the reach of our Local Mobile product to consumers nationwide.”

 

Scartel (brand Yota), Russian provider of Mobile WiMAX, and HTC today officially announced the HTC MAX 4G, the world’s first integrated GSM/WiMAX handset. The HTC MAX 4G was first leaked early last month as HTC T8290. It has a mix of HTC Touch Diamond and Touch HD design, comes with a 3.8-inch display screen, 800 x 480 WVGA resolution, built in WiFi and Bluetooth.

 

 

Thanks to mobile WiMAX, high-quality multimedia entertainment is no longer limited. With Yota Video, a full video on demand (VOD) service, users can watch their favourite movies and videos from their personal Yota catalogue anytime, anywhere.

Broadcasting 14 free channels at launch and 23 channels by the end of 2008, the new device will support Yota TV service. The vibrant, 3.8 inch 800×480 screen of the HTC MAX 4G can display up to nine TV channels simultaneously, allowing quick and easy channel surfing and programme selection. Thanks to the device’s TV-out capability, users can also watch content on the big screen, putting the HTC MAX 4G at the very heart of the mobile entertainment experience.

The HTC MAX 4G supports GSM calls using a SIM card from any Russian network operator and when both callers are Yota subscribers, the call will automatically be routed as a VoIP call over the Yota Mobile WiMAX network. The Yota Phone service also supports more business applications, allowing users to switch between English and Russian contact records while providing functionality such as call holding, conference calling and video calling using the VGA camera on the front of the device.

The HTC MAX 4G also integrates a 3.5mm headphone jack to create the best possible experience for enjoying movies, music and photos on the go. Running Windows Mobile 6.1, the HTC MAX 4G incorporates HTC’s proprietary Touch FLO 3D user interface, allowing swift and intuitive navigation to key applications such as dialling calls, listening to music, taking picture and more.

Key HTC MAX 4G specifications:

• Processor: Qualcomm ESM7206A 528 MHz
• Platform: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• Memory: ROM: 256MB / RAM: 288MB / Flash: 8 GB
• Dimensions: 113.5mm x 63.1mm x 13.9mm
• Weight: 151 grams (with battery)
• Display: 3.8-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen
• with 480 x 800 WVGA resolution
• Network: Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:900/1800/1900 MHz
• Yota Mobile WiMAX 2,5-2.7 GHz
• Device Control: TouchFLO 3D
• GPS: Inbuilt GPS
• Connections: VoIP
• Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR
• HTC ExtUSB
• Main camera: High-resolution with autofocus
• Second: VGA-camera
• Additional: Motion G-sensor (automatically rotating picture)
• Proximity sensor (saving energy while talking due to the switching the display off)
• FM-radio
• Audio: Ring tone formats: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV
• 40 polyphonic and standard MIDI format 0 and 1 (SMF)/SP MIDI
• Battery: Li-Pol, 1500 mAh
• Talk time: GSM: up to 420 minutes
• VoIP: up to 230 minutes
• Standby time: GSM: up to 350 hours
• VoIP: up to 50 hours
• AC Adapter: Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz
• DC output: 5V and 1A

[via SlashGear]

In the coming Private Sale event by Verizon Wireless, one of the invited VIP has posted his invitation card to the Gizmodo, showing its VIP members to be able to purchase the BlackBerry Storm in the private sale event from November 17 to 21. It is not clear how to get invited but one of the Gizmodo reader reply, “In order to be a member you have to be on a calling plan of $79.99 or higher AND pay your bill on time for 3 months. The catch here is that for them to see you paying $79.99 or higher you must be on one of the bundle plans if your regular calling portion does not exceed $79.99. What I mean is if you have a $39.99 minute plan, and then the data add on for unlimited use at the price of $40+ dollars, they do not consider this a plan over $79.99.”

For the rest of the Verizon Wireless subscribers, the BlackBerry Storm will most likely to be available from November 24th or November 25th this month.

Sierra Wireless today introduced the Compass 888 and the Compass 889 USB modems. The difference between the two models is found in their network compatibility - the Compass 888 supports HSPA networks utilizing the 850, 1900, and 2100 MHz frequency bands, while the Compass 889 supports 900, 1900, and 2100 MHz frequency bands. Networks in Europe are expected to begin utilizing the 900 MHz frequency band within the next year. The Compass 888 and Compass 889 USB modems are backward compatible with UMTS, EDGE and GSM networks around the world.

“Sierra Wireless is continually driven to provide our customers with industry-leading, cost-effective mobile broadband solutions,” said Trent Punnett, senior vice president, Marketing and Corporate Development for Sierra Wireless. “The Compass 888 and the Compass 889 are the smallest global HSPA USB modems on the market today and serve as examples of the company’s ability to fulfill the needs of our network operator customers for high-quality, high-performing products that meet their cost requirements.”

With its TRU-install software installation technology, installation of the USB devices is easy and can be done directly with the USB modem, without the need of a CD. Both models will come with a built in microSD card slot for convenient transfer of photos and other information between your laptop and your phone or another computer

The Compass 888 USB modem is scheduled for commercial shipment in December. The launch of the Compass 889 is planned for the first quarter of 2009.

App Cubby is introducing their new Gas Cubby 1.0, a gas mileage and vehicle maintenance app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Gas Cubby will save money and help keep any vehicle operating at its peak. With a focus on ease-of-use, Gas Cubby supports multiple vehicles, and offers excellent charts for miles-per-gallon (MPG), gas price, gas expenses, as well as service expenses. Advanced searching and filtering allow for in depth analysis and will automatically generate new charts based on the filtered data. Users may store vehicle data, such as VIN, license plate, and insurance policy. Among Gas Cubby’s most helpful features are its customizable service reminders.

Data fields can be turned on an off, allowing the user to enter as much or as little information as necessary. Customizable tags allow grouping or categorization of records. If further visualization or analysis is needed, a few quick taps will create an Excel-compatible (CSV) report. Once a report has been generated, it can be emailed to anyone as an attachment using App Cubby’s secure, custom mail service.

Feature highlights include:

• Tracks gas mileage and vehicle maintenance
• Charts: MPG, gas price, gas expenses, service expenses
• Charts update as data is filtered
• Customizable service reminders
• Supports multiple vehicles
• Store vehicle data: VIN, License Plate, and Insurance Policy
• Turn data fields on and off 
• Excel compatible email reports (CSV attachment)
• Easily search, sort, and filter records
• Customizable tags
• Number Pad or Odometer style entry
• If data entry is interrupted by a phone call, the data will be stored and retrieved on next launch

Gas Cubby 1.0 for iPhone is available at $4.99 (USD) through Apple’s App Store.

Today Sony Ericsson updated its promise to deliver the Xperia X1 Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional-powered smartphone to the U.S., saying November 28th is the day.
Read the full story here.

Sprint has hooked up with Scanbuy to launch ScanLife, a 2D barcode scanner app for Sprint phones that will be able to read 2D barcodes found in advertisements and elsewhere.
Read the full story here.