June 20, 2006, 7:28 PM CT

Disney Launches Family Mobile Phone Service

Disney launched its "family mobile phone service" in the United States last Tuesday. This service aims to regulate mobile phone usage by children. With this, parents will be able to choose when, how long and to whom their children talk on their cell phones.

An extract from this report on CNET News:

Disney Mobile, which is carried in the United States by Sprint Nextel, also blocks kids from using their phones until they respond to messages that parents have flagged as urgent, and has a built-in satellite tracking feature to locate the cell phone.

Individual service plans for a single line start at $39.99 per month up to $169.99 per month.

Family plans, which include a minimum of two lines, range from $159.99 per month to $249.99 per month.

Handsets start at $59.99 with a two-year service agreement.

While I would certainly feel safer knowing that I can "track" my children at any time of the day, it would also be fairly easy for parents to get unreasonably addicted to such technology over a long term. Makes me wonder how much "regulation" is really okay when it comes to parents and kids. I guess a fine balance, however, is hard to pin down - as always.........

Posted by: Ashley      Permalink         Source

June 20, 2006, 7:25 PM CT

Moto Q Vs RIM Blackberry 7130c

For those of you who have not heard about it already, Cingular Wireless and RIM unveiled the new Blackberry 7130c smartphone recently, a week following the release of the Motorola Q. Nearly six months after it was supposed to hit the market, the Moto Q's much hyped CDMA launch happened in the last week of May.

As I attempt the daunting task of outlining a fair (and concise) comparison of the two, the first aspect that comes up is Moto Q's sleek form factor. At 0.45 inches and claiming to be the world's thinnest, lightest QWERTY phone, it couldn't get much better. The Moto Q is extremely thin and fits very comfortably in the palm of your hand. The Blackberry 7130c isn't so bad either, but it doesn't score any brownie points in this category as it is quite similar to the rest of the 7100 series, offering a cell-phone-like form factor and a SureType keyboard that may not appeal to users of the traditional QWERTY layout.

Priced at US$199 with two-year activation and qualifying plan, and $419 full retail price.

For most users, perhaps the most significant drawback of the Moto Q is the absence of push email ability without using SMS or a third-party client. The Blackberry conveniently scores here as Cingular's BlackBerry Internet Service provides push email to the handset. However, for me personally, the absence of integrated push email facility is not really vital, as I am not a keen instant email user. The other drawback with the Moto Q is that there is no possibility of using the device as an EV-DO modem for a PC, which could be rather disappointing.........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

June 20, 2006, 7:11 PM CT

Solar Powered Mobile Phone Concept

As a number of features in a mobile device, equally great chunk of power it requires to run. So, to prevent your screen going black or system hanged in between, you need great power densities. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE are working on technologies that will make it possible to achieve greater power densities.

The ISE has demonstrated the use of solar cell technology by introducing a solar-powered mobile phone that will enable unlimited standby times, thus enabling your phones to stay powered-on permanently! With such technology, the scientists aim to use power management effectively to let your mobile devices powered-on, like a laptop could switch to fuel cells when the battery is depleted which in turn would be continuously recharged by the solar cells whenever light conditions were favorable. Sounds like a great idea to keep you hooked always to your portable gadgets.....what say!!!........

Posted by: Ashley      Permalink         Source

June 17, 2006, 2:14 PM CT

The Motorola Q is RAZR Sharp

Since its unveiling last year at Motorola's MOTONOW event in Chicago, people have been hot to get their hands on Motorola's answer to the RIM BlackBerry. In fact, while it was still under wraps, rumors swirled around the internet of what people usually called the "RAZRberry", which while less than original, turns out to have been reasonably accurate.

Now that it has finally been released on Verizon Wireless' CDMA EV-DO network, people have been going wild for the Q. And with good reason, it seems. It has the full QWERTY keyboard of its competitors, yet is lighter and thinner than any of them. In fact, Motorola touts the Q as the thinnest QWERTY device on the market.........

Posted by: Ashley      Permalink         Source

June 17, 2006, 2:11 PM CT

GSM-smartphone Nokia 5500

Established high market segmentation, and constant attempts of manufacturers aimed at making up new niches have brought up to life a couple of cutting-edge projects. Especially one of them is springing up before your eyes - so called sport-centric handsets, designed specially for people going in for sports. The first sign of this infant line-up is Nokia's very own the 5500, which can be considered as a pioneer of the field not only in terms of feature set, but its announcement time.

To cut a long story short, all devices having knack for the sports are equipped with somewhat different casing, featuring splash resistance, media capabilities, built-in pedometer and other functions which may come in handy in course of exercising. The most elementary form of pedometer is a 3D-sensor detecting number of steps made. For instance is Samsung E750/E760 similar technology is applied to managing media player and several games, yet in sports it finds no application. If you turn the review of these handsets you will see us complaining about absence of steps counter - in fact that capability would have increased overall utility of the devices. But the chance missed by the Korean engineers was taken advantage of in Finland. However the truth is a couple of years ago we spotted Pantech introducing a phone with pedometer at CeBIT - in Asia these solutions even if not widely adopted, are at least well-recognized, while the Europeans were experiencing lack of these gadgets until now.........

Posted by: Ashley      Permalink         Source

June 17, 2006, 2:01 PM CT

Three More Entry-level Handsets From Sony Ericsson

Not everyone is exactly in the market for a blinging Walkman phone, and the suits at Sony Ericsson must be pretty aware of that. That doesn't mean, however, that the company is ignoring the entry-level end of the market, because just yesterday, Sony Ericsson unveiled three new additions to their family: the Z530, K510, and K310.

All three handsets are tri-band GSM and come with not-huge 128x160 LCD screens. The Z530 is your standard SE clamshell, and is the baby brother to the W300i Walkman phone. It only comes with a VGA shooter, but you'll be able to cram in more storage space via the M2 slot.

The VGA cam-equipped K310 seems to be as basic as it comes, because eventhough it plays music, there's only 15MB on board, whereas the K510 bumps that number just a touch to 28MB. On the plus side, the K510 looks sleeker and comes with a 1.3 megapixel digital camera.........

Posted by: Ashley      Permalink         Source

June 15, 2006, 11:49 PM CT

Mobile Data Retrieval Improved

Penn State scientists have developed a new algorithm which enables cell-phone users to fetch data from music to TV shows as quickly as feasible with minimal channel switches.

With the computing technique, mobile devices can pick up data that may have been "missed" when first broadcast, thereby alleviating the wait for subsequent broadcast cycles. Because it minimizes channel switching, the new algorithm also reduces power use, thereby extending battery life.

"Currently, mobile devices retrieve broadcast data similar to how TV viewers watch TV shows simultaneously broadcast-by switching channels," said Prasenjit Mitra, assistant professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST)."But with our algorithm, cell-phone users don't have to wait for fewer broadcast cycles to retrieve the data as the mobile device can pick up objects broadcast across parallel air channels."

The technique is described in a paper, "Efficient Object Retrieval from Parallel Air Channels in the Presence of Replicated Objects," that appears in the proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Mobile Data Management, held in Japan in May. The other authors are Padmapriya Ayyagari, an IST graduate student, and Ali Hurson, a professor of computer science.........

Posted by: Ashley      Permalink         Source

June 11, 2006, 8:43 AM CT

The Phone Thong: Leather Cell Phone Case

The original Phone Thong from Superior Communications is still our most popular phone thong. It comes in 3 great styles and works perfect for the woman looking to carry her cell phone in stylish comfort and ease.

We also have the Phone Thong with Flair! This is fast becoming the accessory of choice for the distinguished woman looking for a little more feminine look. It's also an improved version of the original, offering a Quick Connect system to put the strap together without having to throw it over your entire body.

See the comment below from a satisfied user.

These are truly a breakthru for those of us "Girlie-Girls" who hate the look of the belt/pocket clips and don't like having to dig them out of our coat/pants pockets or purses.Charlen Nich.........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

June 11, 2006, 7:56 AM CT

Put that CrackBerry down, you addict!

Help to fight your gadge addition.

BlackBerry addicts have a crack at freedom when they check into one Chicago hotel: the manager will put the communications devices and others like them under lock and key for guests who want a break.........

Posted by: Ashley      Permalink         Source

June 3, 2006, 7:19 PM CT

GSM Cellular Spy-phones

This cellular spy phone can be used as a normal mobile phone. And will remain normal until it receives an incoming call from a telephone which you have selected to activate surveillance mode. Upon connecting the mobile will remain visibly and audibly unchanged allowing you to monitor what is being said around the phone. At all other times the mobile remains a normal phone.

Ideal for spywork.........

Posted by: Ashley      Permalink         Source