CallerID devices have been able to automatically match a name stored in the device to the incoming telephone number and display it on the device since 1984. A new feature, Screen-it, developed by MetroPCS Communications, allows wireless subscribers to see the name of the caller even if his/her name is not saved in the phone. It’s in partnership with TARGUSinfo and aims at providing users with the identities of the people who are calling them.
With approximately 4.8 million subscribers nationwide as of September 30, 2008, Screen-it will enhance consumer demand for MetroPCS’ affordable, unlimited, no signed contract, flat-rate wireless service. MetroPCS owns or has access to licenses to provide unlimited wireless communications service to a population of approximately 149 million people in 14 of the top 25 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.The underlying technology is simple. Whenever a call comes in, computers use a database to match the number to a name and then send the name to the customer’s phone. Rather than building its own system, MetroPCS turned to Targusinfo, a company that provides similar information to cable companies that offer home telephone service with caller ID. Screen-it, which will cost $2 for most customers, duplicates a popular feature that has been available for home phones since 1984.
T-Mobile has announced that it will be offering its popular BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone in three new colors – black emerald, indigo, and frost. It seems that T-Mobile subscribes to the above statement and, in order to bring more diversity. The new colors are available nationwide now for US$149.99 with two year service agreement.
Apart from the new colors, the new handsets are identical to the current Pearl 8120. BlackBerry Pearl 8120 delivers Wi-Fi connectivity and access to T-Mobile’s HotSpot at Home service. The smartphone also brings a 2.0 Megapixel camera with flash and video recording, a 240 x 260 pixel display with 65k colors, SureType QWERTY keypad, quad-band GSM connectivity, myFaves, stereo Bluetooth, Media player, 3.5mm stereo headset jack, email and Instant Messaging, HTML browser, BlackBerry maps, document viewer, USB and microSD card slot – all packed in a case that weighs only 3.2 ounces (91 grams), and measures 4.2 x 2.0 x 0.55 inches (107 x 50 x 14 millimeters).
This slider is believed to be the Nokia 7110 Slide. The Nokia 7110 slide seems like what Nokia has in store to replenish its lower midrange ranks. Even though the unannounced phone is not as sophisticated as N-Series or E-Series, but good enough as one of choices for consumers.
It seems to be a lower midrange phone equipped with QVGA display, 1.3-megapixel camera, microSD slot, FM radio, support tri-band GSM/EDGE. A standard microUSB slot completes the list. According to the source, the estimated retail price of the Nokia 7100 slide will be 200 euro, but we highly doubt that. Just looking at the specs sheet, any price over 100 euro seems way off. Still, we’d better wait for the official announcement before making any further assumptions
Alltel has just announced the LG Rhythm, a music phone almost in the style of the LG Chocolate with the middle scroll wheel and the slider form factor. Â the LG Rhythm offers customers a premium music player with Digital Signal Processing as well as a graphic equalizer professionally tuned by Mr. Mark Levinson. Â The device is with a built-in FM transmitter that lets users easily stream music to a car stereo or other FM radio receiver. The Rhythm also packs a standard 3.5mm audio port and Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support for stereo headsets.
If users have favorite songs they want to access, the phones comes with a 1-inch circular touch screen that acts as a hot key.With 120 MB of internal memory, users can store their favorite songs or video files. Other non-music features of the phone include: read more…
The latest smartphone to get a Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade is Sprint’s Samsung Ace. Sprint has announced the availability of a firmware update for its Samsung SPH-i325 Ace smartphone that includes an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.1. This means that applications are now safer to use, faster and easier to navigate. The Samsung Ace had the GPS hardware but no software to make it work. With the new update, you can now tap into that GPS. The new software’s downloading instructions are available at Samsung website
Interestingly the update does nothing to get you on EVDO rev. A. You’ll still have to put up with regular EVDO, but at least you get Windows Mobile 6.1. with this update you’ll be able to view and edit Excel and Word files on the go, you’ll enjoy chat-style text messaging, Sprint Navigation with Live Search and a whole lot more. Therefore, current upgrades which are now available for ACE are Windows Mobile 6.1 and the GPS Navigation (Sprint Navigation). read more…
