Tyring BlogJet

Thought I would give BlogJet a go to see what the result was.

Had a few problems getting the proxy settings to work, but by using the freeware Proxomitron utility it seems to work fine.

Warning to HTC Universal Users!

If you have bootloader v0.56 on your device, DO NOT upgrade to an AKU2 or you will turn it into a paperweight!

Read the article at: MSMobileNews.com

Grid Computing: Buying Computing Power, by the Hour

When biotech company Applied Biosystems "bought" 36,000 hours of computing time on 1,000 machines, it figured it could quickly translate data from a genetic project. But how much more quicker than doing it inhouse?

"It basically saved us a couple of months worth of computing time," De La Vega says. "The alternative would have been for us to expand our internal compute farm, and pay the electricity and cooling costs on that, even knowing that it would be idle probably 50% of the time."

Full Article

Averatec Pre-Announces UMPC-Type Device with Keyboard

Although one of the goals of the Ultra Mobile PC is for these devices to be pocket-size, all of the ones announced so far have 7-inch screens, making them too large for easy pocketability.

Averatec, though, has announced a tablet device with a 5-inch screen, making it more easily portable.

The AHI has another feature potential UMPC buyers might be interested in: a built-in keyboard. This can be hidden behind the SXGA (1280 x 1024 pixel) screen.

Technically, though, this won't really be a UMPC, as it won't run the version of Windows specially crafted for this class of devices. It will, however run the Tablet Edition of Windows XP.

Users of the AHI will have many connectivity options, as it will include Wi-Fi (802.11g), Bluetooth, Ethernet, and a modem.

It will also sport two USB 2.0 slots, an SD/MMC card slot, and a 2 megapixel camera.

When not being carried around, this computer can put put into a dock which includes a DVD player.

Averatec plans to have the AHI out by Christmas.

So if you are looking for a Mini-Tablet PC this could be the one……

Article Brighthand.com

Microsoft Explains Why Windows Mobile 5.0 Is Slower

One of the developers of Windows Mobile 5.0 explains why this operating system is sometimes a bit slower than previous versions.

As people have acquired Windows Mobile 5.0 devices and upgrades, many of them have noticed that these devices are a bit slower than previous Pocket PCs.

Until now, most people have chalked this up to this operating system's switch from using RAM for long-term storage to using Flash ROM for this task. Accessing Flash ROM is inherently slower than RAM.

But a recent posting on the Windows Mobile Team Blog by Mike Calligaro says it is a bit more complicated than this.

Full article Brighthand.com

Yorkshire Police turn to RIM for Blackberry connectivity to the ANPR (auto number plate recognition) system

West Yorkshire police are working out how to arm bobbies on the beat with links to their local auto number plate recognition (ANPR) system. They want bobbies to have savvy intelligence that can tell law abiding citizens from rule breakers at their fingertips.

By now the national system, which grew out of an existing MI5 ANPR camera network, should have been clocking 35m registration plates a day with cameras placed on roadsides in town centres and major roads throughout the country. Yet the national centre is a mess of wires while police techies boost the system's capacity to 50m spooks a day.

The national ANPR database was due to be fired up in March but will not see life now till mid-summer because the original blue print has been extended, said John Dean, National ANPR co-coordinator for the Association of Chief Police Officers.

The central database will also keep details of peoples' car journeys for five years, said Dean. A limit of two years will apply only to data kept by regional forces.

Paul Friday, director of information systems at West Yorkshire Police, said he had asked RIM, maker of the Blackberry handheld computer given to his coppers, about the technicalities of an ANPR link.

The police have most streets of Bradford covered by ANPR cameras, while Leeds is being wired. "Once that's stable we'll look at taking it onto BlackBerry," said Friday.®

theRegister.co.uk

Samsung files patent for virtual display for inputting characters on mobile devices.

Have you been struggling with the text input on you phone, when writing SMS message or entering calendar appointment? With the need to press phone key 5 times just to get to the desired character? Cell phone manufacturers have known about this inconvenience for a long time and have come up with different solutions to the problem. Folding QWERTY keyboards, predictive text input, on screen character display, etc. Still, they all have some shortcomings and none of them have gained wide acceptance among consumers.

Now Samsung has designed another interesting input method - Virtual Display for inputting characters and symbols on a mobile phone. According to patent application filed yesterday, Samsung is working on a:

…device and method for inputting characters or drawings on a mobile terminal using a virtual screen. To input characters or drawings through a virtual screen, the mobile terminal includes an electronic pen, a virtual screen generator, a position detector for detecting the electronic pen position, and a character recognition algorithm for recognizing a trail as a character. When a signal is input from the electronic pen, the mobile terminal detects the originating position of the signal and its trail. The mobile terminal recognizes the detected trail as a character and generates a virtual screen with the recognized character.

Report from unwiredview.com

 

The Earth in your dashboard

Honda will soon add Google Earth to its ‘internavi Premium Club’ navigation service in Japan. The advanced navigation system was first launched in 2003, offering a wireless connection to the internet to download the latest traffic information to the built-in computer. The technology is now being expanded to interface to Google Earth, which provides high-resolution satellite images of cities. So far, no word on plans to bring the technology to the U.S. In February, Leftlane News reported that Google and Volkswagen had partnered with nVidia to bring 3-dimensional Google Maps to car navigation systems. The companies promised the technology would make it to showrooms very soon.

TechFaith show Q Style device at CTIA

The Motorola Q isn't even out yet, but that isn't stopping TechFaith Wireless, our new favorite renegade Chinese handset manufacturer, from showing off an eerily similar knock-off here at CTIA (or at least a mock-up of a knock-off). We weren't able to get any specs or a name, but we did learn that this fakester will differ from (or improve on, depending on your perspective) the original by running the Pocket PC version of Windows Mobile 5.0 rather than Smartphone. Not sure when this thing will ship, but if TechFaith hurries up they might even beat the Q to market.

Article engadget

Motorola Q: Not Coming this Month says Verizon

According to our source at Verizon, the Motorola Q will not be launching this month. Coming out of “friendly-user testing,” Verizon is looking for keyboard modifications thought to be along the lines of bigger keys and some changes to the way certain keys interact with the phone’s OS. When asked about the EVDO capability of the Q, specifically in relation to the use of applications such as Slingbox’s Sling Player Mobile, our source tells us that though the capability may be there, users downloading gigabytes of data through Verizon’s EVDO network will be turned off. Verizon’s target market for this device and their EVDO service is the businessman - not the techie.

Article: noDRM.com

USB / GPS Data Logger

The TrackStick GPS Data Logger is one of those products that could just as easily be used for good or for evil. It's looks like a slightly oversized flash drive, but it is actually an autonomous device with a GPS receiver in it. Wherever it goes, it records all the relevant GPS data, including time, date, location, speed, direction and altitude. It runs on 2 AAA batteries which provide 5 to 7 days of use. That amounts to about 4,000 records.

Once you have recorded all the data you want to record, the integrated USB connection lets you download the data into your computer. The data can then be integrated into Mapquest, Google Earth, Google Maps or Virtual Earth, so you can track visually where the TrackStick has traveled.

The TrackStick is available from ThinkGeek for $249.99. It measures 4" x 1 ¼" x ¾", which is small enough to stash on someone if you want to secretly keep track of them.

MobileMag

Disney to launch phone service in the USA targeting kids

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) will announce a phone service designed for 10- to 15-year-olds and their parents, dubbed Disney Mobile, at the CTIA Wireless trade show here on Wednesday.

The service allows you to set up a limit on the number of text and voice messages that your kid could send or make. You’ll be prompted when he or she has already reached the limit. You’ll also be given the option to raise or remove the cap.

There’s no need to worry too in case they exceed their allowance. The service will still permit them to call you or other pre-specified numbers, including 911.

If you’re more worried about your child’s whereabouts than his spending habits, then Disney’s phone service would be able to assist you in tracking them down. Its tracking feature is powered by GPS technology. You’ll be able to trace your child’s location through your PC or mobile phone.

While you are busy keeping tabs on the kids, they can download ringtones and various images from the Disney “vault” and link up into Radio Disney.

Disney plans to commission LG Electronics and Pantech for two camera phones that will be used for the service. The units will be priced at US $59.99.

Disneymobile.com or Disney stores can set you up with one.

The service is the latest example of a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, a company selling customized phone service under its brand. Disney sibling ESPN in February rolled out phone service for sports fans. Features include real-time scores, player statistics and video clips of games.

HTC Unveils 2006 U.S. Lineup

At CTIA Wireless in Las Vegas, HTC today revealed the Foreseer, a new DVB-H TV phone for the U.S., and outlined other parts of its 2006 lineup for the U.S. The Foreseer phone is a quad-band GSM/EDGE Windows Mobile Smartphone like the T-Mobile SDA, but with a landscape QVGA display, microSD card slot, and 1.3 megapixel camera. The phone is designed specifically to work with the new DVB-H network being launched by Modeo later this year. An HTC executive also sat down with Phone Scoop and outlined plans for additional phones. The company plans to bring its "Star Trek" ultra-thin clamshell Smartphone to the U.S. in mid-2006, and its Hermes PDA phone to the U.S. in Q4. The Hermes is a 3G update to the Wizard device currently sold as the Cingular 8125 and T-Mobile MDA. The U.S. version of the Hermes will sport tri-band WCDMA (850/1900/2100) with HSDPA.

Full Story…

UNVEILED: Expansys reveled information about the so far unannounced Qtek 8600 Smartphone

A superior Smartphone. Get the memory and processor speed for productive web surfing and emailing from your phone.

Features:

Operating System Windows Mobile 5, Smartphone Edition
Dimensions TBA
Weight TBA
GSM/GPRS Quad Band
Bluetooth Yes
Camera Yes
Memory Slot Micro SD
3G Yes


The Qtek 8600 is the latest high-end smartphone to be announced by Qtek. The unit is a serious business phone, with Global GSM and GPRS, E-GPRS and WCDMA functionality. Rich in applications, the unit is still has a compact 112.4 x 46 x 14.8 mm size.

With Microsoft Windows Mobile Smartphone access the Internet and send emails at an efficient pace. With 128 MB flash ROM and 64MB SDRAM and the option to expand the memory with Micro-SD, manage your inbox with ease during your dead time at station or before a meeting.

Use Mini -USB, Bluetooth or IrDA to connect to your PC. Take pictures with the 1.3 Mega-Pixel Camera and store them on Micro-SD or your desktop.

We expect the Qtek 8600 Smartphone to be in stock by Q4 2006.

New TomTom GO Range Provides the Smartest Portable Navigation on the Market

CTIA 2006 – LAS VEGAS – April 5, 2006 – TomTom, the leading portable navigation solution provider worldwide, offers two new GO models, the TomTom GO 910 and TomTom GO 510. A third, mid-range model, the TomTom GO 710, will also be available in Europe.

“The new TomTom GO range takes car navigation to the next level with its easy to use, stylish and innovative features,” said Harold Goddijn, TomTom’s chief executive officer. “We have expanded the map coverage and made substantial improvements in software and design, as well as developed TomTom HOME, a unique software application for easily managing any driver’s portfolio of content and services. In addition we have added smart new extras like text-to-speech functionality and a fully integrated MP3 player that will complement every drivers’ daily navigation needs.”

Both TomTom GO devices can now be utilized as a hands-free car kit thanks to its compatibility with Bluetooth^TM wireless technology, enabling users to easily make or accept phone calls while navigating.

TomTom GO 910

The TomTom GO 910 is TomTom’s top of the line, feature-rich, all-in-one portable navigation device. It has been developed specifically to meet the requests of TomTom’s most demanding customers.

The TomTom GO 910 is the world’s first device to store pre-installed maps of the US, Canada and Europe, all on one unit at no additional cost.

The TomTom GO 910 includes new advanced text-to-speech* technology enabling street names and places to be read aloud as part of the spoken instructions. In addition, this feature enables traffic alerts and SMS messages to be read aloud.

Another new feature is the built in digital TomTom Jukebox, an MP3 music player enabling drivers to listen to all their favorite tunes while on the move. With a built in 20 GB hard drive there is room to store 1000’s of songs and play them through the car’s Hi-Fi system or the TomTom GO’s built-in audio speaker via Bluetooth or with the included audio out cable.

A remote control comes standard with the TomTom GO 910, enabling passengers to operate the device safely and easily from anywhere in the car.

TomTom GO 510

The TomTom GO 510 features award-winning software, hands-free calling via compatible Bluetooth-enabled phones, as well as the latest pre-installed maps of the US and Canada on SD card for seamless coast-to-coast and cross-border navigation.

Gadget Merges Telecommuting with Listening to Tunes

Nothing gives away an at-home worker more than dialing them up on the phone, and hearing their music cranking on the stereo in the background.

But now comes an answer from Skype Limited, the Internet telephony division of San Jose, Calif.-based eBay and gadgets maker Motorola.

On April 4, the partners introduced the Talk&Tune Wireless Internet kit, which consists of a headset, and an adapter that plugs into computers.

The adapter wirelessly streams music stored on the PC to the headset, which also doubles as a phone for Skype calls.

By tapping on a button on the headset, someone can accept an incoming Skype call and simultaneously pause the music.

While largely aimed at consumers, a Skype representative said the kit is also sure to resonate with SMBs (small to midsize businesses) that employ lots of workers that either travel or work at home.

Read the full article at eWeek.com

The Ultra Mobile PC

The Ultra-Mobile PC is a new kind of computer. It combines the power of Windows XP with mobile-ready technologies that make it easy to access and use your software on the go.

With small, lightweight, carry-everywhere hardware designs, you can connect and communicate, accomplish any task anywhere and at any time, and be entertained and informed wherever life takes you.

The Ultra-Mobile PC at Microsoft.com

Qtek S300 Media PDA

Welcome to the HTC Muse AKA the Qtek S300 Media PSA. This device will have Windows Mobile built-in and is more of a media player than a phone, but the tri-band GSM with EDGE isn't too shabby with the 4GB built-in memory, a 2.1 megapixel camera, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. The device also comes with an FM tuner and stereo speakers along with TV-out.




MSMobileNews.com

Security fears delay mobile take-up

Businesses are holding back on deploying mobile devices such as PDAs and smartphones because of concerns over their impact on network security.

Research by the Economist Intelligence Unit and Symantec has revealed that 60% of firms are delaying the introduction of wireless and remote devices, despite the potential business benefits.

“People are being cautious, but it is not sustainable in the longer term,” said Ollie Whitehouse, wireless research scientist at Symantec.

The survey of nearly 250 senior executives found that firms are concerned that the loss or theft of a mobile device would cause greater financial loss than an external hacking attack.

Business leaders said they were worried that wireless networks are more vulnerable than fixed networks to viruses, hacking, and disclosure of sensitive information. Just under 50% had experienced losses because of viruses introduced through wireless networks and 80% said their firm had suffered damage due to  the loss or theft of mobile devices.

Despite their worries over mobile security, nearly 90% of companies deal with mobile devices on an ad hoc basis or try to integrate devices into their existing network security, rather than taking an overall approach.

Only 26% had assessed the security risk of smartphones and only 9% had upgraded their security architecture to include mobile device access, the survey reveals.

“We are currently reliant on using security build within the devices themselves, which in many instances is not sufficient in protecting our mobile workforce,” said Benoit Laclau, chief information officer at EDF Energy.

Article from computerweekly.com

Microsoft Wins Biggest Phone-Software Order, Rivals BlackBerry

April 4 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. won its biggest-ever contract for mobile-phone software, an order from the U.S. Census Bureau that covers 500,000 handsets.

Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker, plans to unveil the deal today, general manager Scott Horn said in an interview. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft expects to increase its mobile unit's sales to $1 billion in one to three years, from $337 million last year, and break the dominance of Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry.

``Up until now, BlackBerry had the market for themselves,'' Peter Knook, a Microsoft senior vice president, said in an interview. ``That landscape has changed.''

Sales of handsets with Windows will double to 20 million units in 2007 as corporate customers opt for those devices instead of the BlackBerry, Knook said. They still would be just a fraction of Microsoft's almost $40 billion in annual sales.

The company declined to disclose the value of the Census Bureau contract for Windows Mobile phones, which can link to the Internet, run Office, read e-mail and play music. Census takers will use them in collecting information door-to-door during the 2010 U.S. census.

Microsoft already won contracts to supply software for Palm Inc.'s Treo and Motorola Inc.'s new Q, after five years of delays and problems with its product.

Playing Catch-Up

It's still an uphill challenge for Microsoft. Researcher IDC expects shipments of Windows-based phones to double in each of the next two years. Even then, the software will account for only 13 percent of the total market, which includes business and consumer users, Framingham, Massachusetts-based IDC said.

``They're nowhere right now,'' said analyst Kevin Burden at IDC. ``RIM is still the mobile enterprise solution that all others should be measured against.''

Research In Motion spokeswoman Marisa Conway declined to comment. The Census Bureau phones will be built by Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp.

The first sign that Microsoft was cracking the market came in September, when Palm said its new Treo would use Windows, after three years of clandestine meetings. During the project code-named Hendrix, staff referred to Microsoft as Woodstock and Palm as Purple Haze to keep it secret, Knook said. The companies had been rivals, and they didn't want workers to find out too soon.

Close Call

The secret almost came out in March 2004 in a private dining room at Arnaud's Creole restaurant during the CTIA trade show in New Orleans. In the next room, a Microsoft salesman met with phone retailers the companies didn't want to know about the pact, Knook said.

As six executives from Microsoft and Palm sat in the bar pretending not to recognize each other, restaurant workers ran upstairs to shut windows and doors connecting the rooms. Over a platter of oysters, executives hashed out sales, marketing and pricing strategy for the device.

The result: Microsoft won a spot in a device that sapped the strength of BlackBerry. Palm's Treo gained 564,000 users last quarter, almost as many as BlackBerry. Palm doesn't break out how many Treos have Windows. Research In Motion forecast BlackBerry user growth of 620,000 to 630,000 last quarter.

Being in the Treo is ``critical for Microsoft,'' said Page Murray, Palm's vice president of marketing. ``Nobody came out with a terribly viable Windows Mobile device prior to this. There was plenty of hardware out there, but nothing that captured the hearts and minds of people.''

Microsoft shares rose 35 cents to $27.56 yesterday in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. They've risen 9.1 percent since the Palm deal was announced.

Motorola Inc., the world's No. 2 mobile-phone maker, was the first company to put the software in phones in the U.S., in 2003. In the next several weeks, Schaumburg, Illinois-based Motorola will begin selling its BlackBerry rival, the Q, with a full keyboard and fast Web access.

Getting it Right

``We had a good understanding that sooner or later Microsoft would get it right,'' said Scott Durchslag, general manager in Motorola's mobile-devices division. ``We thought we could help make it sooner. It was a bet that paid off.''

Some analysts are optimistic. Delivering e-mail to Windows phones will cost less and the devices offer a wider array of features, Forrester Research Inc. analyst Ellen Daley said.

Windows runs 5 percent of high-end devices, which cost $300 or more, at large businesses in North America, she estimated. By 2010, Microsoft may have 60 percent, taking customers from BlackBerry, which now has 80 percent, according to her estimates.

Out of Parking

Knook added 150 people to his staff of more than 2,000 this year. Parking hasn't been able to keep up. With almost two cars for every space, one of his four buildings moved to valet parking.

He wants to enter the consumer market, where he also will fight top handset maker Nokia Oyj, which focused on software for consumer phones and is now also targeting BlackBerry. Espoo, Finland-based Nokia in February bought e-mail software maker Intellisync Corp. and formed a joint venture with Sanyo Electric Co. to improve sales of high-end phones in the U.S.

Knook's group is spending $25 million through June 30 on its first advertising campaign targeted at users. Since February, banners in airports and bus stops in cities from New York to Los Angeles to Paris ask travelers whether that's ``Microsoft Office in your pocket.''

``You may have the best technology, but if you've never told anybody you don't get any credit for it,'' Knook said. ``That's not something you fix overnight.''

To contact the reporter on this story:

Dina Bass in Seattle at  dbass2@bloomberg.net.

Report from Bloomberg.com

Microsoft challenges Nokia's IT credentials

A Microsoft exec has criticised Nokia for focusing too little on the IT needs of its customers.

Marianne Röling, EMEA regional director of mobile and embedded devices at Microsoft, speaking today at the Gartner Mobile and Wireless Summit in London, said the Finnish handset giant fallen short on the IT side of mobility.

"I don't think they know the enterprise business very well – they're a phone company," she said. "They've never spoken to a CIO."

Röling said Microsoft would, however, be glad to expand its working relationship with Nokia, which currently sells one in every three of the world's phones.

"We're courting – we're open for business," she said. "We really like Nokia." The pair already have a business agreement, with Nokia licensing Windows Media Player for its devices as well as the Exchange portion of Microsoft's ActiveSync for push email.

"They recognise we do at least one or two things very well," Röling said.

Nokia, however, has traditionally thrown its not inconsiderable weight behind the Symbian operation system - a rival to Windows Mobile - which now has over 60 per cent market share of smart phones, and bases the majority of its smart devices on its S60 platform, running on top of Symbian.

According to Nick Jones, Gartner VP and distinguished analyst, CIOs should look beyond makes of handset or even operating systems when it comes to standardising.

"As corporations, you shouldn't necessarily choose a manufacturer, you should choose a platform," he said. "And if you're a company, don't choose raw Symbian, choose Nokia Series 60," he said.

Jones added that he expects the unsubsidised retail price of the average smart phone to fall below $120 by 2009 and that such advanced devices will make up 40 per cent of the entire market in Europe that year.

Report from Silicon.com

Organisations Must Take Security Implications Of Mobile Devices More Seriously

Organisations Must Take Security Implications Of Mobile Devices More Seriously

In the rush to provide mobile workforces with the latest Smart technology, businesses are leaving themselves open to the greatest security threat

03 April, 2006 - With a deluge of new ‘smartphones’ on the market businesses are keen to invest in new technology in order to create a truly mobile workforce, but unless a sound security infrastructure is in place, your remote workers could be the unwitting bearers of major security threats, says IT consultants, Frontier Technology.

2006 will see changes to the Blackberry, making connectivity five times faster and many Smartphone manufacturers are quickly adopting the Windows Mobile 5 platform to take advantage of the new features in Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. These new smart devices will leave employees with almost no excuse for being unreachable, allowing them to check emails, receive calls and carry on working wherever they might be in the world. But once the traveling employee returns to the office, how can you be sure that the corporate network isn’t susceptible to malicious attacks when he or she connects their Smartphone to the network?

“It’s a really exciting year for smart technology,” explains Frontier’s director and co-founder, Rafael Khokhar. “There are a lot of new developments on the horizon which will make a big impact on the business world, but not enough organisations are seriously considering the security implications of these devices. Hackers and virus writers regard handheld devices as prime targets because of their multiple functionality and wireless Internet connectivity. A Smartphone can leave a company open to Trojan Horse attacks, traditional viruses, messaging worms, blended threats and denial-of-service attacks.

“However, there are steps a company can take to secure their handheld devices and their network, from these kinds of security threat. A rounded approach should be taken to protect the mobile device itself, the existing infrastructure and wireless connectivity,” continued Rafael Khokhar. “Once the desired level of security is in place, it is imperative that all staff are fully briefed and aware of the data and applications their Smartphone should and shouldn’t be used for.”

Link Bobsguide.com

Nokia delays smartphone delivery

Nokia delays smartphone delivery

From correspodents in Helsinki

04apr06

THE world's largest handset maker Nokia said overnight six of its new smartphones missed their planned first-quarter shipping deadlines as it smoothes software problems.

Company officials said the models -- three of its multimedia N-series handsets and three E-series phones aimed at business users -- would start shipping to customers in the near future.

The company's premium music phone, the N91, will start shipping this week, Nokia Multimedia division spokesman Kari Tuutti said, adding that the N71 and N80 phones would start deliveries in the next two weeks or so.

Nokia had originally planned to have the N91 in the shops in time for Christmas last year, but said in September it was delaying shipments until the first quarter of 2006 while it worked on some software problems.

The phone's 4-gigabyte hard drive stores up to 3000 songs.

"Because the devices are pocketable computers, we need to make sure of the software," Mr Tuutti said.

Pekka Isosomppi, spokesman for Nokia's Enterprise division, which focuses on phones for business users, said the company missed its end-March target to start shipping its E60, E61 and E71 models.

It was testing their software and expected to start shipments within the next few weeks.

The phones are part of the Finnish company's plan to win more of the corporate market, which is dominated by RIM's BlackBerry.

"The basic issue is really about the interoperability of various enterprise applications ... (like) email device management and so on," he told Reuters. "They all need to be cross-tested against one another."

Nokia unveiled the new corporate phone line-up last October and said at the time that it would start shipments in the January-March quarter.

The three E-series phones operate on a similar platform, but Isosomppi said the company was prioritising the E61, which has a full keyboard and has attracted the most interest so far.

Source: Reuters

New Treo Coming Later This Week?

CTIA starts in a few days, and rumors are flying that Palm will use this communications-themed tradeshow to launch the next Treo .

According to palmInsider, Stan Sigman, President and CEO of Cingular Wireless, will supposedly introduce this Palm OS smartphone on Wednesday.

Unfortunately, the site has no other details on this device.

Three Models on the Way

A couple of week ago, Ed Colligan, Palm's president and chief executive officer, said that his company still expects to release three new smartphones before the of this year.

He did not gave many details on these, but did say they will be a mix of both Windows Mobile and Palm OS devices.

He also said they would use a variety of form factors and cellular-wireless standards.

According to rumor, one of these new Treo models will sport a very thin design and no external antenna.

Palm will also supposedly announce its first mid-range smartphone sometime this year. This model is expected to cost about $200.

A device with support for high-speed UMTS wireless networks is also reportedly on the docket.

Article from Brighthand.com

Virtual Server 2005 R2 Will Be Free, Linux Compatible

According to a report on CNET News.com, Microsoft today will reveal that its upcoming server virtualization software, Virtual Server 2005 R2, will be made available to customers for free. The current version costs either $99 or $199, depending on the number of supported processors. Virtual Server 2005 R2 will allow corporations to run guest operating systems in special software-based virtual machines under the host server. It will compete with products such as VMWare Server, which will also be made available for free.

Also new from the Microsoft camp is a sudden resurgence in Linux support. When Microsoft initially developed its Virtual PC and Virtual Server products, both of which are based on technology acquired from Connectix, the first thing the software giant did was remove any official support for running Linux virtual machines. Now, however, after a few years of customer complaints, Linux support is back, and Microsoft says that it has even developed methods for more easily installing popular Linux distributions in Virtual Server-based virtual machines. The company will even support customers that wish to run Windows and Linux virtual machines side-by-side on the same hardware.

"We’ve made a long-term commitment to make sure that non-Windows operating systems can be run in a supported manner, both on top of Virtual Server and our future virtualization products," says Windows Server director of product marketing Zane Adam. Additionally, Microsoft is working to build virtualization services directly into the next Windows Server version, currently codenamed Longhorn Server and due in 2007.

Microsoft's Virtual Server moves are timed to coincide with the start of LinuxWorld in Boston this week. Though Microsoft is a staunch opponent of Linux, the company has been opening up to various Linux interoperability and migration scenarios over the past few years.

Article from WindowsITPro

Beef Up Security for Your Mobile-Device Fleet

With the availability of Exchange 2003 SP2 and the MSFP for Windows Mobile 5.0, it is now possible to greater secure your Mobile-Device fleet. Randy Franklin Smith from WindowsITPro covers how SP2 and MSFP address some of the fundamental security needs of corporations that use mobile devices.

Full article from WindowsITPro

Top 5 Windows Mobile Devices

The graph below comes from Expansys UK and shows the current sales numbers of the last month for the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Devices.

So you need to have mobile Broadband and Phone.. from anywhere.

So you need to have mobile Broadband and Phone.. from anywhere.

So you need to have mobile Broadband and Phone.. from anywhere.

The Nera WorldPro 1000 combines an exceptionally compact design with performance and optimal flexibility. The terminal can be separated into two parts, so users can choose between indoor and outdoor use, with no need for a separate external antenna.

Combined with the Nera Worldset for voice telephony, it is ideal for single users who need to set up a complete broadband mobile office in frequently changing locations.

See the Inmarsat BGAN web site for more details....

Microsoft intros Exchange Hosted Services

Microsoft has rebranded its hosted offerings and unveiled a revised licensing model for the products which form a key element of its software-as-a-service strategy.

Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services (EHS), formerly known as FrontBridge Technologies, include Hosted Filtering, Hosted Archive, Hosted Continuity and Hosted Encryption.

The software giant also unveiled a per-user licensing model for all the services, as well as roadmap details including information about the upcoming EHS 5.3 release and the 6.x series of releases that it aims to align with Exchange "12" availability.

Full report @ vnunet

iPass Expands with T-Mobile Int'l Roaming

The corporate aggregator and end-point security provider partners with T-Mobile International across Europe: By the end of second quarter, iPass will add another 8,000 hotspot locations from T-Mobile’s European operations. While iPass secured a relationship to resell access to U.S.-based T-Mobile points well over two years ago, the European partnership was more complex, said Rick Bilodeau, an iPass director. “This was a long time coming in terms of negotiations because we had to negotiate and get agreement from all the different T-Mobile subsidiaries and the T-Com subsidiary,” he said.

The deal offers metered service up to a daily cap, similar to the T-Mobile USA arrangement. The partnership adds 3,500 hotels, 2,700 food establishments, and a number of Continental and UK airports. The company estimates it will top 60,000 hotspot locations worldwide when these locations are certified and added into their network in a few months. (This includes both wireline-only hotels and primarily Wi-Fi in other locations.)

Full report at WiFiNetNews