BlackBerry to start its own App Store

The success of the Apple AppStore is rubbing off on other players too. After the Android Market from Google, Research In Motion is set to be the next brand to have its own version of an online application store. The folks at Crackberry have unearthed some screens of the upcoming BlackBerry Storm that shows the App Center. However, it won't be managed by RIM and instead the carriers will be expected to drive it. Another shortcoming of the App Center, which seems to be in a beta state, is that the app installation will happen from the browser and not directly from the App Center. Nevertheless, it is a good start and we expect every handset vendor worth its salt to start offering an online app store on their handsets in the coming months. Source...

Tips/Hacks - How to send Unlimited Free SMS from Airtel india connections

This is particularly for all the airtel india users. By using this trick you can send unlimited free sms throughout India free of cost by using your airtel connection. There is nothing better than getting messages free of cost and that too throughout the country, no charge for the STD messages also. To start using this trick you just need to configure your airtel phone a little bit, the procedure to which is given below.
Procedure to get startedgiven below
1. The first thing you need to do is create a new service message centre which can be easily done by accessing the message settings option.
2. Now select a name for your connection and the foremost thing is to use the number +919810051905 in the message center number field.
3. Once you are done with this you should set the preferred connection as the packet data. To this you need to go into the phone settings and look in the connections menu for the option of preferred connection.
4. The next step is to change the access point. Access point settings can be accessed from the internet message options and it should be changed to airtel live.
5. After doing this you are all set to use the trick but just remember one thing, you need to add a 0 before each number you want to send message.
This trick may turn out to be really good but as a matter of fact I have not tried this trick yet. So all those who are going to try this, leave back your comments for the ones who will be trying Source...

Visa joined hands with Google Android for mobile payments

One of the big questions surrounding the launch of Google's first Android phone was just how well supported it would be by third party application developers. If today's news is anything to go by, very well indeed should be the answer, as Visa have announced that they're about to launch a brand new mobile payment service on the Android platform.
The new service will alert you to any payments that have been made on your Visa card, ensuring you know exactly what's being spent on your card and when, which should be a great help in combating fraud. You'll also be able to see the locations of ATMs that support your Visa card within your local area, and receive offers from merchants that are redeemable in stores close by.

Visa are also launching a more advanced app for Nokia phones that lets you make payment using your Nokia 6212 Classic or future high-end Nokia phones. The reason you won't be able to do this with Android phones is because the Nokia phones employ Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, which is a wireless technology that enables the transmission of data similar to the Oyster card used on the London Underground.
Android doesn't yet support NFC, at least on the initial Android device, the T-Mobile G1. However, the fact that Visa have developed their NFC-less applications for Android rather than the iPhone or Windows Mobile is a real boost for the new platform, and shows that plenty of big name companies have a lot of faith in Google's new platform.
Details fo the new Visa Mobile Services

Visa mobile services developed for the Android platform include:
Alerts: Consumers will receive near real-time notification of purchase activity based on customized cardholder preferences. The consumer will be able to personalize the types of alerts delivered to their mobile device according to pre-selected parameters, such as the size of the transaction, or whether the transaction is in foreign currency. Because these alerts are triggered by the transaction as it passes through the Visa network, consumers will receive notifications almost immediately, typically before they even leave the store. This adds a new layer of peace of mind when using Visa, and a new way to combat fraud.
Offers: Consumers will receive targeted offers from merchants directly to their phone. These offers - ranging from discounts to loyalty offers - could be based on a consumer's previous purchase activity. For consumers and merchants alike, this service will ensure the most relevant offers are sent in a timely manner, helping increase merchant traffic, loyalty and customer satisfaction.
Locator: The Locator service is expected to integrate with technology developed by Google, such as Google Maps and Google location-based services, to show consumers nearby locations of merchants sending them offers, or of an ATM that accepts Visa. The location would be called out on a map displayed on the mobile device screen.
Source...

Sony Ericsson launched Play Now Plus in Sweden

Sony Ericsson today announced the launch of Play Now Plus -- an online music service that will go live in Sweden. The service will take on Nokia's Comes With Music strategy and Amazon's Music Store aboard the T-Mobile G1. Sony Ericsson's service, however will be carrier driven and will allow subscribrs to download and play unlimited numer of tracks on their Sony Ericsson handhelds for a monthly subscription. On the Telenor network in Sweden, Sony Ericsson phones will come pre-loaded with 1,000 tracks along with the option to download more directly from the handset over the air. What's more, users can keep their most played tracks after the end of the subscription. Source...

Yahoo! Blueprint

Yahoo Blueprint is a "framework" that allows you to create websites or adapted to mobile applications for Java phones, Symbian and Windows Mobile. Based on XML and XForms, including services or location maps, as well as with the elements that create a pleasant user interface and intuitive.

Through the SDK Blueprint is possible to create the outline of a Web site or service in our own server. Using a "runtime", connections to our website "blueprint" pass through Yahoo to provide the user with content tailored to their mobile phone. With the "runtime" for applications can be created comprehensive programmes and distribute them freely. Right now, "runtime for mobile apps" is currently in "preview" and generates applications for a large number of mobile Java, being planned at a future incorporation of Symbian, Windows Mobile and perhaps the iPhone. Blueprint is partly an evolution of Yahoo Go! Also serves to create widgets for this utility that brings together the services of known search engine.

How to Activate vodafone live gprs setting manually ?

We have been receiving so many request to post about how to activate vodafone live on any mobile phone.
Today, we are going to share some manual gprs settings to activate vodafone live on your mobile phone and also how to get grps settings on your vodafone mobile phone.

How to activate vodafone live gprs

• For postpaid customers: SMS ACT VL to 111
  
• For prepaid customers: SMS ACT VL to 144
  

Note: There is no charge for activating vodafone live.

• For kolkatta prepaid customers: SMS ZERO to 144
  
• For kolkatta postpaid customers: SMS ZERO to 111
  

Generally for all new customers will automatically get the settings for Vodafone live and Vodafone MMS when you put in your Vodafone SIM card into your mobile phone
In case if you don’t get the settings automatically or if you didn’t save them.
SMS VL to 52586
Even if it does not work for you then you can check the following links to figure out the manual settings according to which company phone you have.

• for Nokia phone, click here
• for Samsung phone, click here
• for Sony Ericsson phone, click here

After activating to press ‘0′ key on your nokia phones or launch wap browser and go to http://live.vodafone.in to check whether the gprs is activated and running successfully.
Source...

Unlimited music download service from Sony Ericsson

When you’re a big mobile phone company losing market share fast, it would be a good idea to work on more ways to fix what’s broken and get back on top.
So other than letting lose very stylish and feature-packed smartphones that have best-seller written all over them (like the Sony Ericsson G705), Sony Ericsson is also working on deploying its very own unlimited music download service, to rival the likes of Nokia’s Comes with Music.

The new music download service is supposed to be an expansion of its existing mobile download services, and is in coordination with all the major music labels in the world.
Currently, Sony Ericsson is still in talks with the labels, but hopes to launch the new service in Europe before Christmas.
Source...

Buy a Nokia 5310 & get 1 year Free music Downloads

Music lovers in the UK, Nokia now has a new phone for you. The Nokia 5310 XpressMusic ‘Comes With Music’ edition will be the first handset to feature Nokia’s new “Comes with Music” service. Makes sense, right? The subscription model music service allows phone owners one year of free access to Nokia’s music catalog which includes artists from Sony BMG, EMI, Warner Music, and Universal Music Group. Users can download tracks to one phone and one computer and are able keep the downloaded tracks after their free subscription expires. A “relatively high” download limit has been hinted at and PlaysForSure DRM is expected to hinder your overall music experience. After the trial year has ended, you can purchase new music by renewing your subscription (for a fee of course) or by purchasing on a track by track basis. If you buy a new Comes with Music phone, you can transfer your purchased music to your new phone. One little problem with that scenario is how do you coordinate a 12 month subscription service with an 18 month contract? Hmm. Hopefully that question and more will be answered on October 2 when more information about the Comes With Music service will be released at a Nokia event to be held in London.

Enough of the music service, now back to the phone. Only the music service appears to differentiate the new 5310 Comes With Music edition from the original Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone. The phone will be sold through Carphone Warehouse who will start taking pre-orders today. Carphone Warehouse has an exclusive UK deal until the end of the year so don’t look for the phone outside of the UK anytime soon.Source...

Nokia launched its new "Ovi" service

Nokia has officially announced their Ovi today. Ovi provides many useful services to users such as Share on Ovi, Files on Ovi and a new service called Sync on Ovi. Sync on Ovi in particular will be quite interesting as users will be able to synchronize their contacts, tasks and notes from their phone to their account with nokia. Users will be able to edit those calendar appointments directly from their computer via a browser, and then synchronize it with their phone. Source...

Airtel India & Vodafone to Launch iPhone 3G on August 22

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar have just confirmed the launch date of iPhone 3G in India.

Both cellular companies will start selling this much awaited phone in India from August 22. Am still thinking whether or not to replace my trusted BlackBerry Curve with an iPhone.

There’s no word on the pricing of the phone yet. Details on PTI and Mint. Source...

India to Hold 3G Auctions Soon

India is the world’s second-largest mobile phone market with 287 million phone users (and one of the fastest-growing), and none of them are using 3G technology. But that may all change soon as India’s government has announced plans to begin auctioning off 3G licenses.

Up to this point there has been little demand for high-end multimedia services because 90% of the phones in the country are used as pre-paid.

The auction, set to begin within the next few months, will require a minimum price of 20 billion rupees ($472 million US) to compete. According to Financial Times, aggressive bidding is expected from several leading firms and telecom companies in competing for key cities. Questions still remain about how profitable this may be for telecom but it’s now or never. Mobile providers realize the need to take a risk in order to continue forward, even if it means pushing through a few years with low demand.Source...

T-Mobile 3G launches on October 1st, officially…kind of

This one has been rumored for quite a while, but if a small piece of paper taped to the window if a T-Mobile store is to be believed, we now have semi-official confirmation that the carrier will be flipping the switch on its 3G network on October 1st. The high-speed data network should go live in 27 of T-Mobile’s most populated markets, which is good news for anyone that’s growing a bit tired of their lowly EDGE connection (read: everyone). The carrier has been testing its 3G network in New York over the last several months, though we’re not aware of any similar tests in any other markets. Whatever the case, lets hope that they pull this off in conjunction with the release of some hot new handsets, as their current crop of 3G-capable phones is, well, awful. Source...

Sprint and Palm add Bluetooth voice dialing to Treo 800w

This thing hasn’t been out for more a week, and already Palm and Sprint have issued an update that enables a significant new feature. A new page over at the Palm support site has just gone live, noting the availability of a new patch that brings full voice dialing over Bluetooth support to Palm’s new king of the hill Treo 800w. Oddly absent from the first shipment of handsets, it’s still good to see both Palm and Sprint taking a proactive approach to delivering new features to their customers. Then again, both of these companies need all the help they can get to retain subscribers and users respectively, so any little bit might be too little too late. Source...

Get iPhone availability updates every 15 minutes

Can't find an iPhone 3G? Well, TopMuffin has created a site that checks Apple's store inventory every 15 minutes. According to the site, Apple updates the inventory throughout the day. TopMuffin's site parses the feed (feed link) and shows iPhone 3G availability by Apple Store.

TopMuffin doesn't just post availability info, they also do some statistics to find the percent available. When we checked the page, Apple had 45% availability for 8GB black iPhones, 53% availability for 16GB black iPhones, and 41% availability for 16GB white iPhones.

This site does not list availability for AT&T stores, and only lists stores located in the U.S. A disclaimer is posted on the page lets viewers know that the best way to check iPhone availability is to call your local store. You can view the site by clicking the read link. Source...

Lost Your Cellphone? Protect Your Data

It can be a scary time when your cell phone goes missing. First of all, it’s an expensive item and you’ll be out cash. You’ll also be out a phone, which, in this day and age can feel like a crisis. Even so, we’re overlooking on of the most terrifying aspects of losing a cell phone–your data.

I mean, cell phones are no longer just cell phones. They’re filled with your personal information. Contacts, e-mails, text messages, web browsing history–you name it! And should misplace your phone or it ends up stolen, all of that valuable info could be at the fingertips of an identity thief. But now you don’t have to worry, because a superhero of sorts can swoop in to save the day.

Well, not exactly. But YouGetItBack.com is now offering a unique service that lets you lock your cell phone so that the only outgoing phone call can be to YouGetItBack and whoever finds your phone can help get it back to you. Pretty neat, really. You can also retrieve your contacts list from your missing phone.

However, the service does not work on every cell phone yet. Source...

Send web content instantly to your mobile phone with ZipClip

Mobile phone usage worldwide continues to evolve and increase to include forms of enjoyment and entertainment. Mobile users want new and better ways to personalise and boost fun on their mobiles. Berggi’s ZipClip may be the answer.

A review on Slashphone says ZipClip can clip videos, images, photos, animations, graphics, avatars, thumbnails, along with text on the web and instantly send them to your mobile phone with just a right click of your mouse.

To gain ZipClip you need to visit their website and select “get It Now”, ZipClip will then direct the user through the installation process thus installing ZipClip onto both computer and mobile phone.

When a user browses the net and see a certain item they would like on their mobile phone, they just right click on the content, select “Send to my phone” from the ZipClip menu and the clipped content is instantly sent to their “My Stuff” folder which is in the ZipClip app on their mobile. Source...

Free Java mobile push email from Emoze

Emoze has announced a free, network operator independent mobile email offering. According to a report on phonescoop.com, Emoze will support Java based mass market mobile handsets belonging to Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Motorola.

Mobile users who may be interested in using this email service can download the Java client free of charge from the Emoze website.

Emoze mobile email service uses technology supplied by Sun and will offer up a more superior user interface than many other mobile email products.

Emoze say their email service will support Microsoft Exchange, POP3/IMAP servers along with Web mail servers such as Gmail. The Emoze email service is to be rolled out in waves, while the first mobile phones to be supported are to be the Nokia Series 40 handsets. Other mobile phones such as Ericsson and Samsung will of course be added in due course. Source...

Navigate through foreign lands with the new version of AT&T Navigator

TeleNav Navigator AT&T Navigator has recently been updated with expanded coverage for international navigation. You can now use your supported handset to find your way around any of 20 different foreign countries, all for the low price of $19.99/month. 20 countries isn’t the most comprehensive collection of nations we can imagine, but it’s a decent start. The list includes a number of western European countries, as well as many locations near the Olympic sites in Beijing, China. $20/month isn’t bad, and until we can get some turn-by-turn support on our new iPhones, we’re pretty confident that Telenav AT&T Navigator is one of the best handset-integrated solutions out there. Source...

No End To MobileMe Woes

When it launched, it was well received, though it may not be so popular amongst existing users anymore. The latest problems with MobileMe are related to the email bit of MobileMe. It seems like quite a few of MobileMe subscribers are unable to access the email portion of their MobileMe account. Apple has already posted a bulletin acknowledging the problem, and states that it is affecting less than 1% of the user base. While that may be true, users who are affected are rather peeved at the whole issue, and apparently aren’t getting anywhere with Apple’s support team.

To make matters worse, it seems British customers who signed up for the free trial of the service have been hit by a flawed billing system. The system placed a 121 Pound pre-authorization charge on many new customer accounts. The good thing is that Apple is providing affected customers with an additional 30 days of free service, and when that is coupled with the 60 day trial, and initial 30 day free credit, comes to a total of 120 days of free MobileMe access. In the end, Apple will have to sort this out sooner rather than later, as users aren’t going to keep using a trial service that isn’t reliable. Source...

BlackBerry Thunder Gets Visual Voicemail

Word on the street is that Verizon is going to go head to head with AT&T and the iPhone and release Visual Voicemail for some of its devices, which will include the BlackBerry Thunder. This service is rumored to be launched later this year, which will allow users of select LG and Motorola phones to view their messages on-demand, and skip back and forth through them. It’s even said that this service will be supported on the BlackBerry Thunder. While it sounds pretty, it’ll stay a rumor until someone from Verizon confirms it. Source...