Everyone has kind of expected this, but it’s surely good to hear an official confirmation: Nokia will soon come up with an Nseries touchscreen smartphone. As reported by Cellpassion, Devinder Kishore, Nokia India’s Director of Marketing, said during an event held in New Delhi: “We will have lots of touchscreen phones coming up, including an N-series device very soon.” This “very soon” might mean that the official unveiling of the full-touch Nseries will happen before the end of 2008. Great news for all Nokia and Symbian fans, indeed. The name of the first Nseries smartphone to come with a touchscreen display is not known for the moment, but it could very well be Nokia N97. A logical successor to N95 and N96. Almost certainly, the touchscreen Nseries device will run on the new Symbian S60 5th Edition OS, announced by Nokia at the same time with the 5800 XpressMusic. Since there is no word yet on how the first touchscreen Nseries looks like, I’ve combined the N96 with the interface of 5800, for a possible preview on the future smartphone: What do you think, could Nokia come up with something like this? :) Well, regardless of its design, the touchscreen Nseries will probably bring extra features when...

  Dopod China is planning to introduce a Chinese version of the G1 in the region for the first quarter of 2009. “We intend to introduce the G1 to China, possibly in the first quarter of 2009, through a deal with High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC). It will be branded as a Dopod. We are now discussing a partnership with China Mobile,” a source from Dopod China told Interfax. The Chinese G1 will be adapted to suit China’s network although Dopod have not currently decided whether the device will be EDGE or TD-SCDMA. With TD-SCDMA being the only 3G standard technology currently in use in China. As a partner of HTC, Dopod China sells selected models of HTC phones in China under the “Dopod” brand.

Orange has sent an internal memo to employees in the UK noting that they have suspended sales of the BlackBerry Bold due to ’software issues’. The suspension is simply an interim measure that Orange made in the best interests of their customers while RIM works away at a fix for the issues. The internal statement from Orange on the Bold: “Following reports of software issues with the BlackBerry Bold handset across a variety of mobile operators, Orange has decided to act in the interest of its customers by suspending shipments of the device in the UK. We are currently awaiting feed back from RIM as to when an industry wide fix for these issues will be in place, and expect this suspension to be an interim measure. We apologize for any inconvenience this issue may cause you. BlackBerry/RIM are doing everything they can to resolve this issue and will be completing full testing and validation to ensure future handsets do not have any quality issues. This may take a couple of weeks so it’s up to us to do what’s best for our customers.” I have to admit, I’ve heard a lot of issues from friends and colleagues regarding the Bold. Spontaneous restarts and OS crashes are not uncommon. Even so, those that have experienced issues...

  More than 100 million users worldwide will use their mobile phone to make international money transfers by 2013, according to a new analysis by Juniper Research. Cross-border mobile money transfers is a new trend, but it is expected to gain traction during the net couple of years, especially on migration routes such as Philippines/Middle East and Mexico/ USA, according to Juniper. “The vast increase in migrant workers globally has fuelled the number of remittances being sent home to friends and families regularly,” said Howard Wilcox, author of the report. “The mobile phone will become a vital enabler in developing countries because often many more people have phones than have bank accounts. The GSM Association Mobile Money Transfer global initiative emphasizes the importance that is attached to this across the mobile industry as a whole.” The top three regions for international transfers by 2013 will be Western Europe, North America and Africa & Middle East, according to the report.

  HTC Corporation has reported September revenues of NT$13.7 billion, up 30% from the same period last year. For the third quarter of 2008, the company's total revenues reached NT$37.86 billion, representing 30.06% year-on-year growth. The company also reported pre-bonus adjusted net income before tax of NT$ 9.4 billion, total net income of NT$ 8.4 billion, and earnings per share of NT$11.14. For its post-bonus adjustment, the company had total net income before tax was NT$ 7,846 million, total net income was NT$ 7,071 million, and earnings per share after tax were NT$ 9.36. HTC's third quarter revenue were in line with guidance provided during last quarter's conference call. Nevertheless, September revenues were slightly affected by the delay of shipment due to a series of typhoons. The company remains optimitics it will achieve annual revenue growth of 20-30%, and close to the upper end of the target.

  Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) announced that volume of mobile phone shipments in Japan dropped by 47.9% year-on-year (YoY) to 2,084,000 units in August 2008. Shipment volume of PHS terminals decreased by 62.4% YoY to 82,000 units. JEITA pointed out that the summer selling season did not last long because of the small number of new functions equipped in mobile phones released in the summer. Another reason for the sluggish handset sales is that, due to a change in marketing method, users now have to pay more for a handset than before, according to JEITA. Shipment of mobile phones with a 1seg broadcasting reception function increased by 20.9% to 1,774,000 units, accounting for a record 85.1% of all mobile phone shipments in Japan. The cumulative shipments of handsets in Japan have reached 41,488,000 units since the research started.

Motorola announced its new model of industrial CPC VC6096-based operating system Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. This, with increased protection to external shocks, the device manufacturer positioned as a mobile computer to use it in cars to help their owners during their frequent visits. For this purpose, Motorola VC6096 is equipped with all modern features including work in the GSM and 3G networks, support for Wi-Fi wireless networking, Bluetooth technology and telematics.  Brief specifications Motorola VC6096: Dimensions: 242x235x49, 5 mm Weight: 2.2 kg External keyboard: 65-Key QWERTY Display: 6.5-inch color with a touch panel, resolution VGA (640x480) Interface: 2 USB1.1 host TYPE A, USB 1.1 Type mini-B, 10/100 Base-T Ethernet, 50-pinovy port with the support of SAE J1708 or SAE J1939, RS-232 digital input / output, analog input Slot under the SD Memory Card Processor: XScale PXA270 624 MHz Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition Memory: 128 MB SDRAM/256 MB Flash Protection: IP64, MIL-STD 810E, Method 514.4, Ground Mobile (VIII), MIL-STD 810E 516.4, MIL-STD-810E, 516.5 Proc VI, MIL-STD 810F, MIL-STD 810E, Method 505.3 Support for mobile networks: GSM, HSDPA ...

  Hop-on today announces that its GSM cell phone, the HOP1811, will be available in the United States for $13.99 with a Graffiti Wireless Airtime Plan. “I use a 3G iPhone, it is a complicated, expensive device. Our phone is an 850/1900 MHz with AMR. You are not going to drop calls in similar areas as our competitor’s device. I challenge anyone to make a call faster than on the HOP1811,” says Hop-on CEO Peter Michaels. “With the cost of living and a borderline recession, this phone is going to be a huge sell for Hop-on in the US and international commerce. We also have a European 900/1800 MHz phone for our international partners.” The HOP1811 is a dual-band 850/1900MHz, or 900/1800MHz phone for Europe and Asia, weighing a scant 79 grams, offers 4 hours of talk time, 150 hours of standby time and polyphonic ring tones. Though low in cost, the HOP1811 uses reliable Infineon chip sets for excellent audio quality, reception and call stability. An MP3 option can also be added to this low-end phone. The company offers a $5 rebate for returning the phone to encourage recycling to “Keep it Green.”

UK: Vodafone has launched a new battery charger serivce in-store, for customers to recharge their mobiles, and other portable media devices. From October apparently, customers in some stores will be able to hire a “chargebox” (locker) where they can choose from a bunch of connectors from different manufacturers - think there will be a Nokia one in there?! Prices start at £1 for 30 minutes of charging, and a maximum of £2 for 90 minutes. Customers can pay by inserting the money directly in to the ChargeBox, or pay via text message. Thirty Vodafone stores will provide the ChargeBox including those in Kings Cross St Pancras, Harrods in London, Birmingham Bull Ring, Newcastle’s Douglas Way, Bristol Broadmead and Belfast’s Victoria Square. Interestingly, people can use the service whether they are a Vodafone customer or not - I would presume the kickback for Vodafone on customers that are not already theirs is that they can try and convince them that Vodafone would be a good Operator to have service with.

The European Union already initiated a Battery Directive in 2006 that aimed to make it easier to dispose of and recycle old batteries, but it looks like it's now taking things one big step further with its "New Battery Directive," which proposes that batteries in all electronic devices should be able to be "readily removed" for replacement or disposal. New Electronics' Gary Nevison further adds that "the requirement is clearly intended to ensure that users can remove batteries by opening a cover by hand or after removal of one or two screws," which would obviously pose a bit of a problem for the iPhone, not to mention every iPod and even a few non-Apple devices. Then again, this wouldn't be the first time that Apple has tangled with the EU, and we have a sneaking suspicion that it won't be the last. Source

  The company Rover Somputers introduced a new Communicator RoverPC evo V7, which she was positioned as the «best». According to the manufacturer, it has been established taking into account all the needs of mobile rights. " Among the advantages of Staff are the display with a resolution VGA, 3-MP camera, GPS-receiver and wireless modules. There are VGA-out which allows the communicator to connect to the monitor. According to the Rover Somputers, like all the most modern model, RoverPC evo V7 is controlled by touch of fingers, it is based on the platform of Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. Characteristics RoverPC evo V7: Networks GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz Operating system Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Processor Marvell PXA310, 624 MHz + NXP 5209 ROM - 256 MB + 8 GB (perhaps a memory card), RAM - 128 MB 2,8-inch touch screen with VGA resolution and support 65K colors 3-MP camera FM-radio GPS-receiver The miniUSB Wireless Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g Microphone, speaker, 3.5-mm jack for headphones Lithium-ion battery capacity 1500mAch Standby time - up to 150 hours Time running conversation - up to 4 hours Size - 114,5 x60x15, 5 mm Weight - 113...

  At the Nokia Remix event held in London and Singapore, Nokia announced the debut of its pioneering Comes with Music digital entertainment service which offers consumers a new way to discover and enjoy music. Customers who buy a Comes With Music device will be able to explore and enjoy a diverse catalog of music of international and local artists with unlimited access to millions of tracks for a year, keeping the music once the year is over and revolutionizing their digital music experience. Comes With Music offers one year of unlimited access to the entire Nokia Music Store catalogue and customers can keep all the music that they have downloaded at the end of the year to continue enjoying their music collection. Comes With Music will be available across a range of Nokia devices, including the new Nokia 5800 XpressMusic - also announced today and the Nokia N95 8GB and Nokia 5310 XpressMusic. With more than 10 million units sold globally since its introduction last year, the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic is the best selling music phone in the world. Comes With Music will also feature a tremendous selection of independent music, courtesy of deals with The Orchard (NASD: ORCD), Beggars Group, IODA, the Ministry of Sound, PIAS and Pinnacle. These companies join...

  HTC Corporation today announced the introduction of the HTC S740, a slim, compact, and stylish smartphone that provides the perfect combination of a traditional 12-key phone design with HTC’s signature sliding QWERTY keyboard for optimal messaging. The S740 is designed to offer the most flexible and efficient messaging experience on the market. From the design of its 12-key keypad (ideal for super fast one hand messaging) and full QWERTY keyboard (perfect for those who prefer a two handed messaging experience) both input capabilities ensure efficient and accurate typing, as well as support for POP3, IMAP and Exchange push email. Instant messaging (IM) and SMS can also be accessed through the familiar 12-key interface on the front of the phone. The HTC S740 features the fastest mobile broadband capabilities with a maximum download speed of 7.2 Mbps, up to 18 times faster than 3G. This true mobile broadband experience allows users to leverage the mobile Internet in a variety of ways including browsing to a favourite website. What’s more, HTC S740 is built-in GPS function, FM radio and 3.2 megapixel camera for stills and video. The S740 follows the sleek design of HTC’s hit consumer handset, the HTC Touch Diamond. This slim...