mobile

Buzz Out Loud 754: Molly.wood, here I come!

ICANN approves its plan to totally overhaul the Internet domain structure, but all we can do is make fun of the name "Winklevoss." Hee. "Winklevoss." Also today, Microsoft wants to shut off your gadgets from afar (or at least, their patent filing suggests that they do), the Samsung Instinct is totally the new iPhone, and torrent freaks think JJ Abrams' new show, Fringe, will be a hit. Phew! Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 754

Judge Ends Facebooks Feud With ConnectU http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/judge-ends-facebooks-feud-with-connectu/

Facebook suspends app that permitted … Read more

Microsoft to acquire mobile-data company

Microsoft announced Thursday it has made plans to acquire MobiComp, a mobile-data company founded in 2000

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. MobiComp, which is based in Braga, Portugal, will become part of Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business division.

The acquisition will be used to bolster a number of services on the Windows Mobile smartphone platform as well as the Windows Live Web services division.

MobiComp has developed an array of products: MobileKeeper Backup & Restore, MobileKeeper Sharing & Communities, and Active mTicker. They're used by companies to back up data stored on mobile phones, submit content from … Read more

Clipping mobile coupons with Cellfire 3.0

In the Internet Age, clipping and keeping coupons is a bunch of busywork. Cellfire's compelling mobile coupons service, however, helps users redeem offers from the cell phone, today's essential pocketbook.

Version 3.0 of Cellfire for the mobile Web and for Windows Mobile phones, adds three new useful ways to work with mobile coupons in your area. That is, if your area happens to be in the U.S.

The first change is the ability to save offers of interest, which are generally good for a week, in a separate silo. From the offer details page, you'll … Read more

Dialed In 37: Symbian takes on Apple, Google

Apple and Google better watch their backs. The newly formed Symbian Foundation is out to create the most open mobile platform, and all for free. This week we discuss how this will impact the industry. Plus, T-Mobile launches a new service; we check out the Samsung Soul and HTC Touch Diamond; and more of your answers to your cell phone questions. Listen now: Download today's podcast NewsNokia buys Symbian http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9975873-1.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9976434-37.htmlLG Dare to launch tomorrow http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9976979-1.htmlVerizon leaks information about the G'zOne … Read more

Buzzd: 1.2 million venues in directory, strategic investment on the way

Buzzd, a mobile service focused on "real-time" reviews of bars and restaurants, says it's making some inroads in the tough, crowded location-based networking market.

The New York-based start-up is set to release numbers on Thursday announcing that 1.2 million venues are now listed in its directory, 10 percent of which were added by users. As for demographics, about 80 percent of Buzzd's users (it doesn't provide specifics on active users) are in the U.S., concentrated around cities like New York and Los Angeles, with another 10 percent in Europe and 10 percent in … Read more

Motorola Rokr E8 to land at T-Mobile

Motorola's Rokr E8 will go on sale July 7. The phone will be available with T-Mobile for $199 with a two-year service contract. As you might remember, the Rokr E8 debuted five months ago at CES where it won CNET's Best of CES Award in the cell phone category and the People's Voice Award. Its main attraction is a "ModeShift" keypad that morphs depending on how the handset is used. As you shift from phone to music to imaging modes, the backlight on the control changes to illuminate only the relevant buttons for your current … Read more

Virgin Mobile USA, Helio merger talks heat up

UPDATE: This story was updated at 3:00 p.m. PDT with comments from Helio about its retail strategy and merger talks with Virgin Mobile USA.

Virgin Mobile USA is expected to announce a deal to acquire fellow mobile virtual network operator Helio as early as this week, according to a story in The Financial Times.

The report cites sources close to the companies that say Virgin Mobile and Helio's majority owner South Korean cell phone operator SK Telecom have agreed in principle to a deal. As part of this deal, Helio's subscribers will become Virgin Mobile USA-branded … Read more

First look at the T-Mobile @Home service

The news has broke that T-Mobile will be offering a VoIP service called T-Mobile @Home in select cities nationwide. However, yours truly had a chance to get some hands-on time with the specially built T-Mobile HotSpot @Home HiPort wireless Linksys router made especially for this service. T-Mobile also sent me an optional VTech cordless phone so I can test it out.

Setting up the router is the same procedure as setting up any other router, save for one difference: You need to install a SIM card. T-Mobile provided me with one, which I then snapped into place in the back … Read more

T-Mobile's home phone service goes nationwide

T-Mobile USA plans to announce Wednesday that its new @Home voice service will be available nationwide starting July 2.

The cell phone operator has been testing the new Internet telephony service since February in Dallas and Seattle. And now the new service, which is meant to replace traditional home phones, will be offered to any T-Mobile cell phone customer.

Subscribers will be able to connect any regular home telephone to a T-Mobile router that will send calls over the Internet much the same way as services like Vonage operate. The service costs $10 a month plus taxes and fees for … Read more