We'll all be talking on sunshine in the years ahead, according to predictions by analysts ABI Research. It predicts that solar-powered mobile phone base stations will transform mobile communications into one of the greenest high tech industries. ABI estimates that over 335,000 base stations worldwide will be using powered by the sun by 2013, with 40,000 of those being completely autonomous and off-grid. Solar cell-phones The majority of base stations will use diesel or mains electricity to supplement their solar panels, especially in Northern countries where population density and cloud cover require it. Developing countries will be the biggest winners, with remote communities receiving phone coverage and web connections for the first time. Half the world's population has never made a phone call, according to (slightly outdated) UN figures. Other technologies being considered by networks eager to improve coverage are fuel cells, wind power and even compressed air. A mobile phone network powered by hot air? How...

  One of the most powerful HTC smartphones to ever come out of the woodwork is rumored to be scheduled for an official release on November 6th. Which HTC smartphone is it? It’s none other than the HTC Touch HD. Aside from its humungous (for a handheld) 3.8-inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixels!) screen with force feedback, the HTC Touch HD tastes pretty good on paper. There’s a 5 megapixel camera on-board with autofocus (but no flash!), 3.5mm headphone port, HSDPA data and built-in GPS. What else? Ah, yes, Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. Of course, what’s mentioned above is not all. Here are more of the upcoming HTC Touch HD’s paper-tastic specs: 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7201A processor   Front-facing VGA camer   288MB RAM/ 512MB ROM Bluetooth 2.0+EDR with A2DP 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi Minu USB port   microSDHC card slot 1350 mAh Li-Ion battery Measures 11.5 x 6.3 x 1.2 cm and weighs 146 grams So if you’re looking to bag this baby as soon as it gets released, remember the date: November 6th. And prepare at least 649 € in view of its list...

  Samsung has been the first and so far the only major handset manufacturer to offer dual SIM card phones outside China. And it already has an impressive Dual SIM phone collection under the DuoS brand, which includes their first two SIM phone - Samsung D880, the cheap Samsung P240 / D780, and Samsung D980 touchscreen phone. Today we learned that there’s a new dual SIM phone coming. This time Korean manufacturer is aiming to the very high end segment of the market with it’s new Samsung S9402 DuoS luxury handset. Samsung D9402 will be made of premium materials which include hardened scratch resistant display glass and metal frame covered with rhodium (chemical and mechanical damage resistant platinum group metal). It will also come equipped with Bang & Olufsen/ ICEPower amplifier to improve sound quality of the phone speakers. Other Samsung S9402 specs include: * Triband GSM (900/1800/1900 Mhz), GPRS/EDGE connectivity on 1st SIM card * Dual band (900/1800 Mhz), GPRS/EDGE connectivity on 2nd SIM card * 2″ 262K color QVGA AMOLED display * 5 mpx camera with autofocus, image stabilization, smile detection, WDR and LED flash * FM Radio with RDS * 1 GB of built-in memory * microSDHC memory card slot (up to 8 GB) * Bluetooth 2.0 and...

  LG and Bell have announced a new fashion phone called the LG “Reveal” with no hesitation to promote it as looking like a make-up compact. This will be available in a flowery designed purple and black. It boasts a 2.4 inch high res screen, full QWERTY keyboard with a 2 Megapixel Camera with zoom and brightness controls, video recorder, speakerphone, EVDO, Bluetooth enabled. To kick this beast off Bell has come up with a “Shimmer Kit”. This will include a Bluetooth headset that is all blinged out with Swarovski crystals.

  A phone with an 8 Megapixel camera is nice, that’s for sure. But Samsung knows that a phone with an 8 Megapixel camera and 3x optical zoom would be even nicer. According to Telecoms Korea, Samsung Techwin and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, two of the South Korean giant’s subsidiaries, have already developed 8 Megapixel camera modules with 3x optical zoom. The module has an autofocus performance improved by 57%, a 1/2.5 inch CMOS sensor and lens that support F2.85. The module is also a bit bigger than the 5MP one previously developed by Samsung.   A Samsung Electro-Mechanics official unveiled that the first handset to come with 8MP and 3x digital zoom will be released in early 2009. Even more, the South Korean manufacturer is also working on a 12MP camera module that will be smaller than the 8MP one. There’s no word yet on when this will be integrated into a phone, though.

  We haven’t been hearing much from HP recently, but apparently, the company’s been working very quietly on two new iPAQs, which have just been unveiled as the HP iPAQ Data Messenger and HP iPAQ Voice Messenger. One of these devices features a touchscreen display, while the other has a QWERTY keyboard fitted into an alphanumeric keypad. But what other goodies does each new iPAQ hold? Read on to find out. The first iPAQ we’re going to be discussing is the new HP iPAQ Data Messenger. It’s the one pictured on the left, and has a 2.8-inch touchscreen display, with LED backlight and 320 x 240 pixels. What’s not seen at first glance is its built-in slide-out alphanumeric QWERTY keyboard, and it runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. The HP iPAQ Data Messenger also has GPS (It comes with a 30 Day Trial for Turn-by-Turn Navigation with Google Maps for Mobile), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, 3G/HSDPA and a 3 megapixel camera with LED flash. Desktop syncing is done via its microUSB port and it’s powered by a removable and rechargeable 1140 mAh Lithium-Polymer battery. Memory is taken care of with 128 MB SDRAM for applications, 256 MB flash ROM, and a microSD card slot. On the other hand, the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger only has a...

  Inspired by luxury watches and handcrafted design, AURA™ is a unique handset that breaks convention and re-establishes artistry in mobile device design and manufacturing. Combining superb craftsmanship and a distinctive interface, AURA delivers a sensory experience that is second to none for those with refined tastes. From the moment AURA owners pick up their devices, they elevate their own experience in luxury and unmatched quality. 16 Million Colors World’s first 16 million color, circular display with 300 dpi resolution in the mobile phone industry 62 Carat Lens Created from Grade 1 62-carat sapphire crystal, one of the most scratch-resistant materials on earth Meticulously Crafted Stainless steel housing with chemically etched textures and patterns takes nearly two weeks to sculpt, etch and polish Swiss-Made Main Bearing At the center of the mechanical heart is a Swiss-made main bearing, which serves as the foundation allowing the blade to rotate with seamless precision Custom-Engineering Custom-engineered rotating mechanism has 130 precision ball bearings that drive the assisted-opening blade — like opening the door on a high-end luxury car. On the 100,000th opening, the blade glides with the same fluidity and grace that it...

  Mobiado today announces its new designer 105CLB series. The entire front and back of the phone has been crafted from large pieces of sapphire crystal and printed from beneath with the silver Mobiado monogram, providing a modern minimalist look with a wear resistance second only to diamond. The 105CLB utilizes a hidden sliding battery cover mechanism (patent pending) with the battery cover being made entirely from one piece of sapphire crystal. The phone frame is precision CNC machined from aircraft aluminum to create a strong yet light body, it is polished, and then anodized or nickel plated to produce a surface for the toughest of uses. The iconic Mobiado 105CLB is available in two designer styles (black and silver). The 105CLB is unlocked, quad-band GSM/EGSM and dual-band WCDMA network operational. They work within North America, Europe, Africa, Asia- Pacific, and South America where GSM/EGSM 850/900/1800/1900 and WCDMA 850/2100 networks are available. They are equipped with a 2 megapixel camera and video camera, more than 1 GB internal memory, 2″ display with up to 16 million colors, Bluetooth and micro USB connectivity, and a music player that supports AAC, eAAC+, and MP3 audio...

  There are a few other differences. The Hacha, while clearly cast in cheap plastic from the same mold as the Vertu phone, is in fact a $15 MP3 player and not a piece of function-limited jewelry. It also plays music, which – astonishingly – the Vertu does not. For that price, you should really expect nothing, but you get 2GB storage and an the ability to play MP3, WMA and OGG files. You load it up via USB 2.0 and it is guaranteed not to work with iTunes. Even the battery life isn't bad, at 14 hours playback time. Today marks the symbolic end of the MP3 player market. We know that one day, standalone music players will be novelty items and all listening will be done on cellphones. This little piece of plastic tat ushers in the beginning of the end, firmly placing the MP3 player in the realm of the trade-show giveaway, to be ordered by the thousands along with USB thumbdrives and novelty pens.

  The smartphone market isn’t exactly the realm of LG, whose handsets often offer fashion before function, but if a report from Telecoms Korea is to be believed, it looks like the company may be completely changing its stance for the next year. It appears that LG has realized it will need to start producing powerful smartphones of its own if it wants to keep its market influence. From Telecoms Korea’s report, industry observers have noted that, “LG mobile phones made strides in hardware but remained weak in smartphones, which require sophisticated software. The priority should be put on software than making good-looking phones like Prada and Viewty.” It is said that LG plans to release over 10 new smartphones in 2009, and that at least one of them has been confirmed to be running on Windows Mobile. Meanwhile, Symbian and Linux-based smartphones are also being considered by LG, but will only make them if they see that market response is good. Along with their plans for smartphones in 2009, LG has also revealed its goals of making these devices “million sellers.” Well, that should be easy, but only if LG doesn’t screw things up and gets it...

  Meet the new Walkman handset - Twiggy. Twiggy is a thin Walkman phone for 2009 year and it is successor of well-know Walkman flip-phone W350. Twiggy has same as W350 flip design, but features are more high: 240×320 screen, Walkman player 3.0, 3.2-Mp camera. If W350 has 4 colours, Twiggy has only 2 colours. Main colour - black with green parts. Twiggy will be released at the beginning of Q2, 2009. Sony Ericsson planning, that Twiggy will be most popular handset in 2009. By the way, 2009 is year of Walkman phones.