ctia

Symbian chose CTIA 2007 as its stage to unveil the latest version of its smart phone operating system, Symbian OS v9.5. The revamped OS brings a number of improvements to e-mail, multimedia, and performance. Notable enhancements include Exchange ActiveSync integration, automatic RAM defragmentation, 35 new camera features, and more support for GPS and location-based services. Symbian also claims that v9.5 will reduce battery, processor, and memory consumption, making it a more affordable solution and allowing more handset manufacturers to use the OS in midrange devices and not just high-end smart phones. Version 9.5 won't be available … Read more

We stopped by Motorola's booth today at CTIA 2007 and among other things, got an update on the whereabouts of the Motorola Q GSM and Motorola Q q9. Apparently, the GSM Moto Q won't be coming to the States because there isn't much interest. Ohhhh, really? I would have thought otherwise based on the number of reader e-mails I get about this device. Then again, we can understand how interest for the GSM Q would wane in the shadow of the faster, more powerful Motorola Q q9, which, by the way, has been renamed the Motorola Q … Read more

I know it's only the first day, but so far CTIA 2007 has been a bit of a snoozer. Beyond the announcement of Samsung's UpStage, most carrier announcements have been few. Even Samsung hasn't given us much beyond Sprint's new dualsided music phone. Nokia didn't show us anything new and concentrated only on phones it had already announced earlier this year at 3GSM. Sony Ericsson only gave us a couple models as did LG and (so far) UT Starcom. Pantech and Kyocera made respectable showings with five new phones each, but it's still not … Read more

It's an all new Kyocera at CTIA, as the company commonly known (at least in the United States) for simple, reliable phones does everything it can to show it's not resting on its laurels. Of the company's five new phones, only the S1000 rests on the simple, functional end of the product scale. The other phones, however, feature sleek profiles, stylized keypads and fashion-friendly design. Take the E5000, for example. It's not only thin but it also supports a stainless steel body and an S-shaped hinge.

Kyocera isn't shy about admitting its new direction. Its … Read more

I've never been one for cell phone dangles. If you're over the age of 15, I just don't see the point of putting some useless accoutrement on your phone. But after seeing this doughnut dangle on Samsung's Simpsons phone, I have to admit that dangles aren't all bad. Pictured here on the Samsung Sync Simpsons phone that we first saw at CES, this doughnut dangle (complete with a Homer-size bite) is one of the most unique cell phone accessories I've ever seen. It definitely completes the desired effect on a handset that is as … Read more

BlackBerry is branching out. Beginning Tuesday, Research In Motion will open the BlackBerry platform further by offering developers APIs (application programming interfaces) that allow them to make more interesting lifestyle-oriented applications.

Having customer relationship management software on your smart phone is cool and all, but soon BlackBerry addicts will have access to applications that are far more consumer oriented: apps with embedded audio and video, more location-based services, support for better 3D graphics, and more customizable wallpaper and ringtones.

The new collection of BlackBerry APIs are based on the industry standard Java Micro Edition.

Last night at Pepcom in Orlando, Nokia demoed Real's recently-released version of Rhapsody for the N800 Internet Tablet. Or at least that was the plan: as I'm not actually at CTIA, I can't confirm that the demo ever really happened. What is certain, however, is that N800 owners who also subscribe to Rhapsody will now have direct access to the music service on their tablets (as long as there is a Wi-Fi connection available at the time). Users can search the entire Rhapsody catalog, browse their libraries, listen to playlists and Channels, and read editorial commentary--pretty much … Read more

Even though the LG VX8700 isn't "officially" launched at CTIA, it was still out and proud at the LG booth. The LG rep we talked to even referred to it as the U.S. version of the LG Shine. We've mentioned the LG VX8700 before, but we haven't received any information about its specs until now: features include a 2-megapixel camera, a 262,000-color TFT internal display, a music player, a microSD card slot, a video recorder, a video player, stereo Bluetooth, text and multimedia messaging, a speakerphone, voice recording, a 1,000-contact address book, … Read more

Here at CTIA, there's one cell phone that everybody is talking about but is nowhere to be seen in the Orange County Convention Center. That phone, of course, is Apple's iPhone, which is set to be available in just two months. While we're not surprised in the least that Apple didn't come to Orlando, we are surprised Cingular is taking such a low-key approach as well. As the exclusive carrier of the iPhone, you'd think Cingular could own this show simply by putting one of the phones behind glass. And if they had a few … Read more