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MOBILE & WIRELESS NEWS

  • Yahoo! News: Wireless and Mobile Technology
    Wireless and Mobile Technology

    • Investors seek signs of China Mobile 3G commitment (Reuters)
      Reuters - China Mobile's 3G outlook will take center stage this week as China's three telecoms carriers begin to kick off quarterly results, with market focus on whether the nation's dominant player will turn up the volume in its low-key 3G roll-out.
    • Smartphones put the moves on social networking (AFP)

      The iPhone 3Gs at an Apple store in 2009. Mobile social networking ruled on Saturday as the techno-hip at South By South West (SXSW) used location-based services on smartphones to track down everything from panels to parties.(AFP/File/Jack Guez)AFP - Mobile social networking ruled on Saturday as the techno-hip at South By South West (SXSW) used location-based services on smartphones to track down everything from panels to parties.


    • China's new generation picky about factory jobs (AP)
      AP - Factory worker Chen Qinghai frowned as he looked at a tall bulletin board full of help-wanted notices from companies making everything from photocopiers and DVD drives to mobile phones and car parts.
    • iPad Will Read Books Aloud, Support Open EPUB Format (NewsFactor)
      NewsFactor - Eager to be the first on your block with an iPad? Apple started taking orders for the tablets on Friday. Wi-Fi models running from $499 to $699 will be available on April 3; 3G models, costing $629 to $829, won't be available until late April.
    • Nokia revises 2009 market share down to 34 pct (AP)
      AP - Nokia Corp. on Friday revised its global market share estimate for mobile phones in 2009 to 34 percent, from an earlier 38 percent, and said it expected no growth this year.
    • Smartphones Spread Slowly in China, Despite 3G and IPhone (PC World)
      PC World - China now has the iPhone and more big-name smartphones are due in the country, but few buyers overall are choosing smartphones despite promotion by China's mobile carriers.
    • FCC Posts Tools To Measure Broadband Speeds (NewsFactor)
      NewsFactor - The Federal Communications Commission unveiled three digital tools Thursday that will enable consumers, businesses, schools and other organizations to test the real-world performance of their fixed and mobile broadband connections and help identify gaps in the nation's broadband coverage. The tools include downloadable applications for mobile devices based on Google's Android platform and Apple's iPhone OS.
    • Apple iPad 3G Options Include a Data Monitor (PC Magazine)
      PC Magazine - In addition to kicking off its iPad pre-sale on Friday, Apple also provided some details on how the device's 3G capabilities will work, including alerts when users are running low on their 3G data.
    • India May Delay Mobile Number Portability Again (PC World)
      PC World - The roll-out in India of mobile number portability (MNP) is likely to delay beyond a March 31 deadline, because operators have not yet upgraded their infrastructure, the country's minister of state for communications and IT, Gurudas Kamat, said on Thursday.
    • Verizon Expects a 4G Smartphone Earlier Than Planned (NewsFactor)
      NewsFactor - Verizon Wireless hopes to debut its first 4G smartphone in the middle of next year, months earlier than planned, a company executive revealed Wednesday. The new handset will debut about three to six months after its Long-Term Evolution network launches, Verizon Wireless CTO Anthony Melone told The Wall Street Journal.
    • RadiSys acquires Pactolus; terms not disclosed (AP)
      AP - RadiSys Corp., a maker of servers that support wireless phone networks, said Thursday it acquired privately held Pactolus Communications Software Co. Terms were not disclosed.
    • Why the FCC National Broadband Plan Should Include Public Wi-Fi (PC World)
      PC World - As the FCC prepares to release its National Broadband Plan next week, I hope it will address expanding Wi-Fi as part of improving mobile data access. It appears no amount of repurposed radio spectrum is likely to meet the expanding wireless data demand for very long.
    • Opera Mini 5 Released for Android-Powered Smartphones (NewsFactor)
      NewsFactor - Opera Software launched an Android version of the company's Opera Mini 5 mobile browser Thursday that promises to significantly improve page loading and speed on compatible smartphones. The beta release continues the company's campaign to increase the visibility of its browser on a global basis.
    • T-Mobile's First HSPA+ Modem Goes on Sale Sunday (PC Magazine)
      PC Magazine - T-Mobile announced that the webConnect Rocket USB Laptop Stick, the first HSPA+ device for the U.S., will be available beginning on Sunday, March 14.
    • Opera rolls out mobile browser for Android (Reuters)
      Reuters - Opera Software unveiled on Thursday a version of its Mini mobile browser for use on cellphones running on Google's Android software.
    • Unlocked RIM BlackBerry 8800 Smartphone (PC World)
      PC World - Newegg.com has an unlocked RIM BlackBerry 8800 for $159.99 with $2.99 standard shipping. The sturdy smartphone is 4.5 by 2.6 by 0.6 inches and weighs 4.7 ounces. It doesn't have a camera, but it does feature music and video players and a 2.5-inch, 320-by-240-resolution display. Though it's not one of the newest smartphones, we noted in our review that it's a great e-mail device (it can support up to ten accounts) and features built-in GPS functionality and Bluetooth support. It does not have Wi-Fi.
    • Sony VAIO W Series Netbook (PC World)
      PC World - Buy.com has a Sony VAIO W Series netbook in cocoa brown on sale for $443.75 with free shipping. The sleek little netbook has a 10.1-inch backlit LCD panel, which has great picture quality with minimal glare, rich colors, and sharp contrast. The VAIO W Series also features 720p high-definition support and plays 720p video stutter-free. The unit on sale boasts a 1.66GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. Like any good netbook, it also has a built-in Webcam and microphone and two USB ports--who needs an iPad when you can get this netbook for $50 less?
    • Rob Glaser Thinks Mobile Is the Next Big Thing (PC World)
      PC World - In his first speech since stepping down in January as CEO of the company he founded, RealNetworks Chairman Rob Glaser on Wednesday encouraged startups to look for business opportunities in wireless.
    • Former FCC Chair Says More Fiber Will Help Wireless Crunch (PC World)
      PC World - Laying more fiber is one way to make more efficient use of wireless spectrum, former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said on Wednesday.
    • China Mobile buys 20% stake in mainland bank (AFP)

      Phone giant China Mobile said Wednesday it will pay about 5.8 billion US dollars for a 20 percent stake in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank as part of its bid to enter the wireless banking market.(AFP/File/Fabrice Coffrini)AFP - Phone giant China Mobile said Wednesday it will pay about 5.8 billion US dollars for a 20 percent stake in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank as part of its bid to enter the wireless banking market.