Windows Mobile Pocket PC & Symbian Smartphone software and freeware, reviews, tips & tricks

Jan 02 Samsung i300 Smartphone with amazing featues
Found in:Devices, Smartphone, Samsung,

The new music phone from Samsung Mobile and O2, the Samsung i300, is available in stores. Samsung’s Smartphone, based on Microsoft Windows Mobile is equipped with easy-to-use Windows Media Player has an integrated 3GB hard drive, making it the first of its kind in Europe.Its one really amazing smartphone for european customers.

Exclusive to the O2 network in the UK, the Samsung i300 combines a phone, digital camera, Windows Media player and email client, replacing the need for separate devices and providing a truly converged mobile solution for fantastic music performance with world-class phone features.

Music enthusiasts are able to store up to 1000 music files on the phone’s 3GB hard drive. Powered by Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 and Windows Mobile software, the Samsung i300 provides consumers with a highly-compatible and familiar platform for downloading, managing and storing files from their PCs onto their i300 handsets. With high-quality dual stereo speakers and scroll-wheel navigation, the Samsung i300 can also be used on the go with a pair of stereo Bluetooth headphones.



Window Mobile enables users to easily communicate with friends, family or colleagues via instant message through MSN Messenger, via SMS and MMS or via email through Outlook. Plug & Play features allow users to quickly share contacts and calendar information between Outlook on their computers and on Samsung i300s, or to use the phone as a 3GB hard disk, enabling the backup of critical files and data on their PC.

Featuring a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash, and a Micro SD external memory option, photography buffs can take advantage of the phone’s superior digital still and video recording capabilities. Users can record, send, and receive still photographs and video clips instantaneously, whenever and wherever they desire.

As convergence technologies come to the forefront of phone innovation, the i300 provides a music phone with a familiar interface, compatible with Windows on a PC, to allow users to carry their music library with them. Samsung, Microsoft and O2 have worked together to bring the Samsung i300 to market - a converged device which drives ahead their digital strategy to meet consumer desires to acquire, consume and share digital media.



The new Samsung music phone will be sold exclusively through O2 in the UK until 22nd January 2006, and is available for purchase both online, and in stores. For more information, and to purchase the Samsung i300, visit: www.o2.com

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Feb 16 Samsung presents i320 smartphone at 3GSM
Found in:Mobile News, Smartphone, Samsung,

Samsung is set to introduce a compact and easy to carry smartphone, the i320. The Samsung i320 is a clean and compact smartphone running on Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0. One of the great things about the i320 is the whopping 120MB of onboard memory. The Samsung i320 is a tri-band GSM phone capable of GPRS/EDGE.

Roaming in other countries with the i320 is convenient since it can operate on a 900, 1800, and 1900Mhz band. Bluetooth technology provides a convenient method of connectivity as well.

As for the camera you have 1.3 megapixel one. In landscape mode the QVGA screen can display all of 65K color display at a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. The Samsung i320 supports MPEG4 / H.263 / H.264 / WMV video formats and MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / WMA / WAV / OGG audio formats in its media player.

Samsung i320 features:

Band : GSM 900/1800/1900MHz
Data : EDGE/GPRS
Size : 111mm x 59mm x 11.5mm
Weight : 95g (3.35oz)
Display : 2.2" 320 x 240 262K Color TFT
OS : Windows Mobile 5 for Smartphone
Camera : 1.3 Megapixel Camera
Video : Video capture/playback
Messaging : SMS/MMS
Email : Yes (POP/IMAP/SMTP)
Bluetooth : Yes
Infrared : No
Java : Yes
Polyphonics : Yes
Memory : 120MB User Memory, External Memory (microSD)
Features : QWERTY Keyboard, Video Recording & Messaging (MPEG4/H.263), Video Playing (MPEG4/H.263/H.264/WMV), MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / WMA / WAV / OGG, Dual Speaker / Speakerphone, Bluetooth Technology / USB / Voice Recognition, Document Viewer


Samsung i320 Smartphone is scheduled for release in Q2 of 2006.

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Nov 16 Security for Mobile Devices : Threats are Real, Time to Act Now
Found in:Mobile News,

Today's hot new technologies are wireless, smart and multifunctional.

Mobile devices with the latest features catch our attention all the time. And with manufacturers and carriers fighting to gain market share, consumers and businesses alike are benefiting from the advances, convenience, and functionality of these new gadgets.

A recent survey conducted by Bluefire Security revealed that a majority of mobile device users rely on their smartphones and PDAs for:

# surfing the web (65 percent),
# sending corporate and Internet-based e-mail (50 perecent),
# using text and picture messaging (60 percent)
# & voice communications. (85 percent)

You should consider some points before rushing out to buy the latest and greatest PDA or smartphone. Because today’s handhelds perform many of the same functions as a notebook computer, they pose similar vulnerabilities to themselves, to data and to networks. Securing and protecting these devices and ultimately the enterprise is an absolute must.

Industry Trends
But first, let's understand what is happening in the mobile industry. Several recent moves in the mobile industry point in one direction, e-mail.

Microsoft has launched a new version of the Windows Mobile operating system (Windows Mobile 5.0) with BlackBerry-like push e-mail added to the equation, while Palm, Inc. recently announced that the next edition of its very popular Treo smartphone (the Treo 700w, due early next year) will run that very same Windows platform and not the Palm OS. Palm isn't abandoning the Palm platform, its simply (and smartly) expanding its options.

Motorola has introduced the "Moto Q," an email-centric device modeled after the design of the well-received Motorola RAZR phone, that will be available in early 2006. Cingular Wireless, in conjunction with Hewlett-Packard, has released the new iPAQ hw6500 series Mobile Messenger. And Nokia is getting deeper into the e-mail game with a new series of devices including the Nokia E61, available with no fewer than five e-mail clients on board.

All of this industry activity means, among other things, that mobile e-mail is the "killer app" and it is here to stay. The e-mail a space looks so good everybody is now gunning for the messaging market position that was once owned almost exclusively by Research In Motion and its Blackberry devices.

Notwithstanding any challenges RIM faces in its ongoing patent dispute with NTP, there are even bigger challenges from global handset and service providers seeking to take a big piece of the mobile e-mail market that RIM pioneered.

Providing secure e-mail and network access will be one differentiator other vendors will offer to meet market demands and gain competitive advantage.

Survey Says
According to Bluefire's survey, when asked to indicate which items on their devices require security protection, survey respondents selected corporate e-mail access (e.g. Outlook) 89 percent, corporate network access (e.g. database, CRM) 80 percent, and the "my documents" folder (Excel, Word, etc) 61 percent, as the top three.

Clearly, users want and are getting more sophisticated functions from an appetizing menu of devices and operating systems. But the expansive and seemingly ever-increasing array of device and operating platforms certainly does not make the job of security any easier.

Along with the progress and increased functionality, there are also threats and bumps in the road. Once users realize they can download files, share pictures, add games, or connect to the web, Pandora's box is open and their devices—indeed, perhaps their corporate networks—are just as open to the outside world and all of the vulnerabilities. Bluefire's recent survey revealed that concern about the integrity of data residing on mobile devices and networks has reached a critical point: some 80 percent of respondents said that their purchase and use of devices would increase if they could guarantee security.

Where does one begin to understand and address the security of mobile devices, and the networks on which they run? Stay tuned.

Over the next few months, I will tackle in this space some of the key questions concerning mobile device and network security we encounter in our work for clients, in our discussions with partners, and in our dialogue and surveys of individual users:

# What are the security implications of the consolidation of operating systems - and the proliferation of mobile devices?
# What are the most serious threats to the security of my mobile devices and networks?
# Are there some immediate and cost-effective measures my organization can take to better protect data on mobile devices?
# How should I handle the issue of employee-owned devices used for work purposes?
# What are the costs and benefits of managed security service offerings vs. owning and controlling the security software myself?

There really is no time to wait. The time for action is now. It is my hope that information in this space will help you and your organizations make smart decisions about your smart devices. I look forward to bringing you honest analysis, direct answers, and useful advice, and I welcome your feedback, questions or comments.
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Apr 13 Skype Mobile VoIP for your Palm TREO by EQO
Found in:Mobile News, Software, Treo, Tips, VoIP,

EQO Communications announced immediate availability of EQO Mobile for Skype on the Palm TREO 650 and Motorola ROKR, SLVR, and RAZR handsets. With this announcement, made at the CTIA Wireless 2006 conference, EQO brings the number of EQO-supported handset models to more than 45 and finally, PalmOS community can put the Skype petition into reset, EQO Communications Mobile Instant Messaging for Skype is now available for download for Palm Treo 650 smartphone users.

"We've built a platform and a solution that is both flexible and adaptable," said Colin Quon, Founder and CTO of EQO. "This enables us to respond quickly to customer demand in expanding support for new and popular phone models as they hit the streets."

EQO uses a small amount of data traffic on your mobile phone so you may wish to consult your wireless service provider about an appropriate data services plan using GPRS. EQO Mobile for Skype lets users make and receive calls, send Instant Messages, and view presence information about their buddies over the Skype network. It is available for free to consumers as a Beta product via the EQO (pronounced "echo") web site at eqo.com

Useful Feedback from users that have already installed it on their Treos:

1. The Mobile App. UI needs lot of improvements. Specially the standard Palm OS Edit functions should be provided (Cut, Copy, Paste).
2. Need to have support for 5-way navigation pad for the two buttons on the bottom of the screen. It is very annoying to press screen and then use the 5-way pad for other functions.
3. The screen keeps flickering on some views. Do not know why.
4. The Call # screen needs much improvement. The first digit you enter appear off the input window.

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Apr 28 SlingPlayer Mobile released by Sling Media for Windows Mobile
Found in:Software, Pocket PC, Smartphone,

SlingPlayer Mobile is finalized and has been released as promised! If you own Sling Box device and a Windows Mobile Pocket PC or Smartphone now you can enjoy your favorite shows from wherever you are.

SlingPlayer Mobile is the latest product from Sling Media that gives you (if you are Slingbox owner) the most powerful option available in mobile television, combining your unique personal home TV experience with the portability of your mobile phone or PDA. SlingPlayer Mobile extends Slingbox functionality to Pocket PC PDAs, cell phones, or smartphones powered by the Windows Mobile operating system. SlingPlayer Mobile supports any type of Internet connection on your mobile device, including high-speed cellular services like EV-DO or UMTS, WiFi, USB, or Bluetooth-based connections.

SlingPlayer Mobile gives consumers their entire home TV experience, including local channels, local sports teams, video on demand, pay per view, etc. Any program that you can watch on your sofa back home, you can now watch via your Windows Mobile-based device anywhere you can get a standard network connection (3G Cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth or even USB). In addition, SlingPlayer Mobile users can also control their home digital video recorder (DVR) to watch recorded shows, pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV, or even queue new recordings while on the road.



SlingPlayer Mobile Features:

* Intuitive SlingPlayer interface Just like the PC version, SlingPlayer Mobile is easy to use, with most features accessible through familiar icons and a touch-screen interface.

* Automatic Slingbox Directory synchronization SlingPlayer Mobile can automatically copy your PC Slingbox Directory onto your your Windows Mobile device.

* SlingStream video optimization In a mobile environment, your network connections may fluctuate rapidly, so SlingStream technology determines the best video quality to stream your Slingbox, and is constantly monitoring and optimizing the network for you.

* "Favorites" shortcuts One of the most popular features of the SlingPlayer is the ability to set your own Favorites shortcuts. Well, it's in the SlingPlayer Mobile as well, with even more features (yes, we've packed MORE features into the smaller product). Not only can you set shortcuts to your favorite channels, you can also set favorite remote control buttons. Additionally, you can customize different shortcuts for each different device you hook up to your Slingbox!

* Slingbox Finder support Your Mobile device automatically communicates with your Slingbox via the Slingbox Finder, a free service.

* Full-screen video For all Pocket PC's with rectangular displays (320x240 or 640x480 resolution), the SlingPlayer Mobile includes a full-screen "landscape" mode, with rotation

* Graphical SlingRemote SlingPlayer Mobile includes all the remote control capabilities as used in SlingPlayer PC, giving you full control over your Slingbox and whatever device you connected to it, including your cable box, satellite receiver, DVR, or DVD player!

* Audio-only and Slideshow modes Two new ways to watch (or should we say "listen to") your Slingbox, where you can optimize for higher audio quality instead of video quality. These features come in handy if you want to listen to the news or a sports game in a very low-bandwidth environment.

* Keyboard shortcuts Virtually every remote control function is mapped to a corresponding key on your keyboard, which can come in quite handy for devices such as the Treo700w.

* Hardware button remapping If you have a cable box (or TiVo or satellite receiver or DVD player or anything else with on-screen guides or navigation), you can use hardware buttons (such as up, down, left, right, etc) to control your device!

SlingPlayer Mobile is available today from Sling Media's website at www.slingmedia.com and includes a free 30-day trial. The retail price of the application is $29.99. Slingbox owners who purchased and registered their Slingbox on or before April 26th, 2006 will receive a free license for SlingPlayer Mobile. There are no monthly or recurring charges for the use of the software.

Keep in mind that this version of the software supports Windows Mobile Pocket PC devices; a separate version for Windows Mobile for Smartphones will be available in Q2, 2006.

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Nov 27 Smartphone battle widens
Found in:Mobile News,

The new and stylish BlackBerry 8700 is the opening salvo in what is about to be known as the war of the smartphones.
While the BlackBerry is the undisputed world leader in convenience when it comes to receiving e-mail on the go on a handheld, Microsoft and Palm will soon enter the fray with the biggest threat to the BlackBerry's dominance: the much-awaited Treo 700.

This new smartphone, a major upgrade to the popular Treo 650, will run on the new Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system from Microsoft, which offers speedy and seamless integration with the ubiquitous Outlook e-mail, calendar and contact functions.

The BlackBerry doesn't use Outlook but rather a suite of proprietary programs developed by RIM.

The new Treo 700 will be released sometime in January on the Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess service, which uses a high- speed technology called EV-DO to deliver broadband Internet speed in 84 major metropolitan areas in about half the country.

The EV-DO network and Verizon service are about twice as fast as technology used by Cingular.

Besides the Treo, several other smartphones with upgraded e-mail capabilities will come out in early 2006 from companies such as Nokia, Samsung and Motorola.

If all that competition wasn't enough, Research in Motion, maker of the BlackBerry, is caught in a nasty patent infringement suit that could see sales of the BlackBerry halted after a federal appeals court upheld a jury verdict that RIM ripped off some of the ideas of a rival company.

RIM is appealing that decision.

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Aug 09 Socket Communications released Go Wi-Fi! P300 802.11g WLAN Card
Found in:Accessories, Hardware, Pocket PC, Smartphone,

Socket Communications, Inc. announced the availability of the Go Wi-Fi! P300 – 802.11g SDIO card.It is designed for Pocket PCs or other mobile devices running Windows Mobile 2003/2003SE or Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and provides a secure wireless connection that is five times faster than previous versions.

The Socket Go Wi-Fi! P300 enables all of the features that users want in a mobile device, including enhanced roaming capabilities, enterprise-class security, network location, and mobile email access with intuitive, easy-to-use software. The Go Wi-Fi! P300 Card includes the highly appretiated Socket Wi-Fi Companion software that makes Wi-Fi connectivity and management extremely easy for the user. In addition to having the lowest power consumption and smallest form factor of any 802.11g SDIO card available, the Go Wi-Fi! P300 provides significantly faster data throughput than wireless broadband and speeds up to 100 times faster than a standard phone connection.

Socket Go Wi-Fi! P300 Key Product Features:

* Supports Windows CE 4.2/5.0 drivers for several processor types for embedded devices
* Supports 802.1x Enterprise-level security that fully protects data privacy
* Supports enterprise class enhanced roaming algorithms
* Friendly, easy-to-use software –Wi-Fi Companion included (a $24.99 value for FREE)
* Graphics show important connection properties at a glance
* Supports Dell, HP, and Palm – Windows Mobile 2003/2003SE or Windows Mobile 5.0
* Includes support for square screens and landscape mode
* Tap on icons to quickly perform related functions – view IP addresses, install security certificates, browse the Web, find WLANs in range and more
* Power Save utility includes automatic power management option
* Works with all WLAN security protocols supported by Windows Mobile (WPA, WPA-PSK, 802.1x, 40/128-bit WEP, Open)

The Socket Go Wi-Fi P300 is available August 1st, 2006 through Socket worldwide distribution channels with an MSRP of $99. The P300 also includes Socket award winning Wi-Fi Companion software, a $24.99 value.

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Oct 13 Sony Ericsson Launches P990 3G Smartphone
Found in:Devices, Symbian,

Sony Ericsson emphasised its continued commitment to Symbian OS today with the announcement of its next generation smartphone to the global development community. The P990 will be the first commercially available smartphone to adopt the enhanced Symbian OS version 9.1 and UIQ 3 software platform. This flagship UMTS smartphone is Wi-Fi enabled, has a 2 megapixel camera with autofocus and features a new hardware keyboard beneath the flip-down keypad. The phone will start shipping during Q1 of 2006.

The P990 is the next in a line of successful Sony Ericsson smartphones - the P800, P900 and P910 – and is based on the same proven concept and recognisable form factor. All have been popular with users, operators and software developers thanks to their powerful productivity features. Operator feedback and download statistics from the Sony Ericsson Application Shop have shown that consumers, both business and personal, are interested in using their smartphones to the fullest potential. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) can be as high as 4 to 5 times that of more traditional voice-centric mobiles.



To ensure a large proportion of applications are available on the new Symbian and UIQ software platform when the P990 goes on sale, Sony Ericsson has decided to announce the smartphone well in advance of availability so that developers have time to create and certify as many applications as possible.

“The technical prowess of the P990 will be brought to full life by applications from the third party developer community,” said Jan Wäreby, Executive Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing. “Demand for applications on the P800, P900 and P910 has been very high. Our smartphones have been recognised as the most advanced and useful on the market, and we want to maintain this reputation with the P990 by ensuring there’s a rich supply of top applications for enterprise, productivity, leisure and gaming when users make their first visit to the Sony Ericsson Application Shop."
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Feb 06 Sony Ericsson P990i Smartphone apparently with new features
Found in:Mobile News, Devices, Smartphone,

Sony Ericsson has unveild some unannounced applications and entertainment content features for its P990 smartphone. The flagship of Sony Ericsson P990 is Wi-Fi enabled UMTS smartphone and was introduced to the Global Developers community in October 2005. The host of newly announced features about it include:

• New entertainment content and features
• Details on supported push email partners
• Business card scanner
• Application Shop
• Anti-virus/Firewall and VPN clients for secure corporate business


The P990 is successor in this line of successful Sony Ericsson smartphones - the P800, P900 and P910 – and is based on the same proven concept and recognisable form factor. It is meant by its developers and designed to be first and foremost a great mobile phone but also to offer all the benefits of UMTS including video calling, high-bandwidth multi-media downloads and the ability to browse the Internet with full HTML pages. With the help of new Opera 8 browser you can view these HTML pages in landscape mode quite well.
Entertainment

P990 users are expected to spend a fair amount of their time travelling on business and more has been added to the smartphone to make this ‘downtime’ in their working life as relaxing or entertaining as required. The P990’s suite of entertainment applications is supported by a 3D Hardware Accelerator and exciting 3D Java games such as Vijay Singh Pro Golf 2005 from Gameloft, which will lighten up the longest journeys together with a fully equipped music player that supports MP3, AAC and AAC+ formats, and includes a flight mode allowing the music player to be used when the phone is switched off.

Push Email

Secure, simple and fast access to email and the Internet are critical requirements for true office mobility, and this is an area where the P990 excels. The ability to access email and calendar while out of the office is critical for mobile executives as they no longer need to return to the office to perform this task.

The P990 will support a range of push email services from the partners listed below:

Blackberry Connect
Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
Ericsson Mobile Office (EMO) (Try and Buy)
iAnywhere Onebridge
Intellisync
Seven
Altexia
Visto

Business Card Scanner

Cameras in phones have any number of business applications for capturing and sharing images. Creative minds have moved a few steps further by turning the P990’s 2 Megapixel with AutoFocus camera into a Business Card Scanner, using character recognition software to convert the scanned information from the card to Contacts on your P990.

The large 2.8 inch QVGA (262K TFT) touch screen and large viewfinder help you to capture the full business card size in one go.

Security

Sony Ericsson has partnered with virus software giant McAfee to offer McAfee Virus/Firewall Scan to further strengthen the P990’s email and web browsing security. This Try & Buy software provides scanning services on emails, attachments and web pages for cellular communications, all to the same standard as its well known computer applications. Secure access to corporate networks completes the remote email story as Sony Ericsson offers a free VPN client powered by Certicom.

Application Shop

The broadest possible choice of new applications for the P990 will be available at launch from the Sony Ericsson Application Shop. The Application Shop is an important part of the Try & Buy concept. It will feature the full versions of the trial applications that are preloaded on the Memory Stick of the P990, included in the box. With the new mobile storefront, applications can be purchased directly from the phone and downloaded over-the-air.

“The P990 is a very significant new product for us. It’s a sophisticated device that gets us to the point where mobile executives can really start to minimize on the number of devices and paperwork they carry around with them,” said Husni El-Assi, General Manager of Sony Ericsson, Middle East and Africa. “The push email capability especially helps to bring true business mobility and we have deployed technology and formed partnerships to ensure that mobile email and web browsing access is provided in a safe, secure and fast environment.”

This Sony Ericsson P990i smartphone is ecpected to be commercially available in Q2 2006.

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Sep 26 Sony P990i 3G Symbian Smartphone is finaly available
Found in:Symbian, Smartphone, Devices, Mobile News,

The Sony Ericsson P990i finaly hits the market. One of the most anticipated phones of 2006 is now available and it features 3G, Bluetooth, a 2 megapixel camera and a host of applications for business users including business card scanner, the P990 comes with a VPN client as well.

This Symbian based smartphone has lots of entertainment options, including a music player and support for games. Sony Ericsson P990i is a bit late but now t is available for order. It is priced at £569.99 (approx. US $1,084) (Vodafone locked) and you can order it here.

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