Microsoft Jumps in the Mobile Market again with a New Mobile OS unveiled

(image found on sify website)
Microsoft, is back in the mobile market again unveiling a new OS for its mobile devices. Windows Mobile 6.5 is being announced as the new OS to rival the Google G series and Apple iPhone Mobile Devices. The updated Mobile OS expected out later on this year offers several new exciting features for consumers to use. A new interface with a dashboard like effect with such options as new texts, emails, calendar appointments and missed calls venue. The new OS will also offer improved touch screen capabilities for end use.

"Another key feature is the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, an online service that allows users to search and download software applications to their handsets. The service is similar to Apple's popular App Store for iPhone users. "

Also, "Microsoft also announced that South Korea's LG Electronics, world's third-largest mobile handset maker, has agreed to make Windows the primary operating system for its smartphones and will tenfold increase the number of its products using the Windows system from 2008 to 2009.

The agreement may result in more than 50 new LG phones running Windows system in the coming years, Microsoft said.

According to the company, mobile operator Orange and handset maker HTC also make further commitments to use Microsoft's latest Mobile operating system in their new products.

Touch Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2, the two new phones launched by HTC, will be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft said."

So it looks like Microsoft is coming back to the mobile market to offer a competitive advantage for users of Windows Mobile over other vendors mobile devices with "a mobile application store and a mobile data synchronization service. "

Microsoft gains momentum in mobile push (sify.com)
Microsoft Revamps Mobile OS, Introduces App Store (Information Week)
Microsoft Wages Mobile War (Channel Web)

New iPhone rumored for the marketplace

(image found on smartphonetoday)
Apple recently released an ipdate (version 2.2.1) for the iPhone and iPod touch devices. There was made mention of a new iPhone Hardware number iPhone 2.1, that has people starting to see a new iPhone device on the horizon. Apple is not officially saying anything to the release rumors.

"MacRumors indicated that Apple uses a specific numbering scheme in firmware to distinguish between iPhone models. For example, the firstgeneration iPhone 2G is labeled as iPhone 1.1, while the 3G is iPhone 1.2. The numbers don't change for storage increases but represent functionality of different devices.

MacRumors said the new model number can be found in the USBDeviceConfuguration.plist in an unencrypted firmware."

"One thing we know for sure is that the supposed new iPhone model won't be the much-rumored about smaller and cheaper iPhone Nano version of the iPhone. When asked about that possibility during Apple's earnings call last week, company COO put the kibosh on that rumor. Cook said:

You know us, we're not going to play in the low-end voice phone business. That's not who we are. That's not why we're here. We'll let somebody do that, our goal is not to be the unit share leader in the phone industry. It is to build the best phone."

Well if Apple is listening i wish a few things could be added to the Apple iPhone:

1. A removable battery option, so if the battery has an issue a customer can easily remove the bad battery for a good one.
2. A nice huge drive on there for video, music and audio books. Face it folks with the solid state drives being now offered at over 512 GB, Apple could find a way to integrate a large drive capacity option.
3. An option to attach an external drive to the unit so if people did get a smaller size iPhone they could upgrade their drive size.

Apple preping new iPhone Model? (SmartPhoneToday)
Is Apple building a Better iPhone? (Channel Web)
iPhone 2 on its way definetly for sure (according to obscure hardware id's) (itWorld)

Can Ya Hear Me Now at Home - Verizon launches Linux Based VOIP hub

(image found on CnetNews)
Well it looks like Verizon has come aboard the home market now by giving us a taste of things to come by introducing the new Linux based Touch Screen VoIP phone for the home. This phone can send & recieve text, picture and video messages with unlimited SMS messages to anyone with a Verizon Wireless phone too. "It also provides additional Web-based services, such as an online calendar and a contact list that syncs with Microsoft Outlook. "

"VoIP phones and services are nothing new, but what makes the Hub stand out is the ability to use the touch screen to access Web services. The screen is filled with large icons that can be used to check the weather, update stock information, get directions, find local phone numbers, view movie trailers through V Cast, and access other services. "

All a person needs to do is simply plug it into a broadband router and pay a small monthly fee of $34.99 for service and they get unlimited calls anywhere in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. The hub is scheduled to be available on February 1, 2009 for a cost of $199.99 after a mail-in rebate with an option to purchase additional hand sets (price hasn't been determined yet).
(image found in information week website)

"Verizon representatives say they aren't trying to compete against Vonage or any other voice over IP service. Instead, they're trying to offer their wireless customers an alternative to home phone service while also providing added features and benefits.

"We are really targeting people who are cutting their traditional landlines," Willsey said. "People are spending between $50 and $60 a month on that service. And we see wireless and voice over IP as an economical alternative that also offers more features and more flexibility.""

Verizon Launches Touch-Screen VoIP Hub (Information Week)
Verizon Wireless Launches Internet Phone (Cnet news)
Verizon Launches 'Hub' VOIP Phone (PCMag.com)
Verizon Hub reinvents the home phone(techradar.com)

Google Android G2 Phone glimps

(image of Android G2 phone found on Gizmodo.com)

Well the rumors have been circulating for sometime now about a new Google Android G phone being called the G2. These are some photos I recently came across on Gizmodo showing a new design that seems to be only offered in this white color. Look out Apple iPhone, it looks like someone is knocking on your door.

(image of the G1 found on dbtechno website)
This new design has gotten rid of the G1 keyboard option to replace it with just a touch screen. I don't know whether to love it or wonder if its a bad design move. Granted everything is getting to be a touch screen environment. But, when it comes to usage these PDA phones hold a lot of information, if the touch screen has an issue and is not working rite, the user could have a big problem. I think having the keyboard option is a nice safety net when it comes to the usability of the device itself. Plus, there are still many people who prefer a physical keyboard instead of a virtual one on a screen.

The device also comes equipped with a 3.2 mega pixel camera upgrade too. Expected release for this new item are being circulated as somewhere around May 2009 but nothing has been officially confirmed yet. Also, this phone does still offer a Linux-based alternative for iPhone lovers.

On my personal phone I have both a keyboard that slide up like the G1 and a touch screen keyboard option. Granted at times i do use the virtual one on the screen but its nice to know if i have a problem with the touch screen i can still use my phone when needed and not have to find a shop or use another persons phone until it can get fixed.

Plus as the current G1 phone continues to expand into Europe and other countries i think that the fan base of the touch screen and slide up keyboard option will grow in popularity and desire.
I think its great to be able to see new items that will soon be released but Google has not officially confirmed that this is what the unit will look like but its a nice peek at what may be of things to come.

Next-gen Android phone coming soon? (Cnet news)
Get your Google Android Based T Mobile G2 Pics (googlewatch.eweek.com)
T-Mobile G1 Phone Set To Expand To More Countries in Europe (dbtechno.com)

Obama gets a sweet new phone

(photo obtained from PCmag.com Security Watch website)

The new president will be getting a new phone for work because it seems his blackberry just doesn't cut the mustard when it comes to security. The photo above shows an example of the new windows mobile NSA approved pda phone.

As reported by PCMag.com: Security Watch

"One report notes that there is a Windows Mobile phone that might meet the requirements. General Dynamics Corporation's Sectera Edge is NSA-certified "...to protect wireless voice communications classified Top Secret and below as well as access e-mail and websites classified Secret and below," giving secure access to classified networks, your e-mail and web browsing via high-speed GSM or CDMA cellular networks worldwide."

Looks like a sweet device for the lucky owner of this pda. This device even has two screens on it too, with a warning of secured network connections and some extra features to fight off service attacks and possible un-authorized intrusions.

The only thing though is it doesn't include a camera with the pda but, it does have a windows media player. Hmm i wonder if someone could make a hack for some other media player for the unit so that the user doesn't end up with some typical windows codec error when trying to play a video.