Jul 31 2003 - 11:33 PM ET | Cingular, Rumor
Cingular is going shopping--according to unnamed sources the company is working on a deal with Nextwave. As with most rumors, neither company has confirmed the reports. If Cingular should prevail in its rumored deal to purchase 34 licenses from bankrupt...
Sprint PCS launched a gadget that it says will convert cell phones into wireless gaming consoles. The Game Pad game controller works with Samsung A600 handsets. The phone slides into the Game Pad, allowing people to play using its key-press...
Jul 31 2003 - 09:54 PM ET | Sony Ericsson
MacMinute noted that Makayama Software has released a Mac OS X version of Moviemaker for P800, new software that allows you to create movies for playback on the Sony Ericsson P800 mobile phone. "The software dramatically reduces file sizes, so...
Cell phone tycoon Howard Chui has posted his review of the Nokia 3300. The phone is being marketed towards music lovers with features such as MP3 and AAC music playback and a FM stereo radio. It's got other goodies too:...
Jul 30 2003 - 03:05 PM ET | Sprint Nextel
You can now acccess AOL's email and Instant Messenger services via a Sprint PCS Vision enabled phone. AOL and Sprint PCS have a longstanding agreement to work together and this is simply the latest partnership....
Jul 30 2003 - 02:56 PM ET | Siemens
In an attempt to cut costs further, mobile phone maker Siemens is cutting 2,300 jobs in its handset division. This brings the total number of jobs Siemens has cut in its mobile phone division in the last two years to...
Jul 30 2003 - 11:42 AM ET | DoCoMo, Unique
Cell phones containing platinum are likely to hit the market next year after an announcement by DoCoMo that it will start shipping 3G phones that use fuel cells instead of batteries. Fuel cells require platinum as a major component to...
Jul 29 2003 - 01:29 AM ET | In The News
The woman behind most of the voice-mail systems has died according to the NY Post. Jane Barbe could only be named by a few, but was heard by 40 million people a day for over 10 years....
Jul 28 2003 - 04:32 PM ET | Sony Ericsson
Despite a ton of chatter, the T608 is still not on the market. MobileTracker took a lot of heat from Sony Ericsson fans for declaring the phone KIA, even though the company stated it axed the North American CDMA unit...
Jul 28 2003 - 04:22 PM ET | Unique
A few weeks ago we mentioned a story on an interesting new sport--mobile phone throwing. Well, it's gone global. The original story was out of the Ukraine, but the world championships are in Finland on August 23rd. Nokia's HQ is...
Asus has a new clamshell smartphone in the works. The AGP-600 will run the latest version Microsoft's mobile OS, which is something few big names have done so far. As far as phones go, it looks decent: is a GSM,...
Jul 27 2003 - 08:26 PM ET | SMS
Times have changed--if you're a Malaysian Muslim man, you can now divorce your wife via a text message! You may remember that in 2001 a story came out stating that divorce by SMS was wrong. bq. "Hamid Othman, adviser to...
Jul 26 2003 - 05:16 PM ET | Site News
We're looking for a few qualified people to be moderators over at the boards. Although it's not a paying position right now, you'll get a decent amount of authority and the inside scoop on MobileTracker projects. Any interested parties should...
Verizon Wireless fixed a bug in its text messaging website that let anyone retrieve lists of customers' cell-phone numbers and private text messages. It's been a problem for about 3 months (way to go Verizon), but the fix still is...
Jul 25 2003 - 07:21 PM ET | Bargain, Samsung
Samsung USA has a new promotion for its s307 phone--a free DVD player. You have to sign up through Cingular, and do so before August 10th. The DVD player is pretty decent... Even progressive scan. It lists for $89.99 on...
MobileBurn has gotten ahold of some photos of upcoming Sony Ericsson phones. The Z600 is a clamshell with features similar to the T610. The T810/900 is the model after the P800, and has had some chatter on both sides about...
Jul 25 2003 - 01:19 PM ET | Sony Ericsson
Gizmodo has a long piece on a topic brought up by Ziff Davis--the death of Sony Ericsson. Don't worry, they are guessing that Sony will just buy out Ericsson's share in the partnership. As you may have remembered, Sony Ericsson...
Jul 25 2003 - 10:51 AM ET | Sprint Nextel
The Hitachi SH-G1000, which is launching today on SprintPCS, includes an integrated rotating camera, built-in keyboard and wireless phone. It's powered by Microsoft and aims to keep PDA functionality while tying in the fast data speeds of the Sprint PCS...
Jul 25 2003 - 10:30 AM ET | Rumor
Reuters is reporting that Motorola is going to launch a mobile phone based on Microsoft software later this year. That will make it the first top 5 phone maker to jump into the Microsoft pool....
Jul 23 2003 - 07:21 PM ET | Review
The AP reviewed a software package called iPhonebook that aims to make transfering your phonebook to a new phone easy. With Bluetooth, there is no need for iPhonebook, but since only top models include the wireless standard, you may want...
Jul 23 2003 - 07:04 PM ET | In The News
AT&T Wireless posted a profit for Q2 2003 due to higher revenues and stronger-than-expected subscriber growth. They added 446,000 new customers in the quarter--a nice increase over the expected 313,000. Q4 will be the most interesting of the year though,...
Jul 23 2003 - 05:01 PM ET | Accessories
Keyspan let us know that they have launched a line of retractable USB powered cell phone chargers. It's a pretty neat idea if you travel with a laptop (only need to carry the laptop charger). There are a bunch of...
Jul 23 2003 - 04:37 PM ET | 3G, DoCoMo
AT&T Wireless has ordered the tech needed to meet investor NTT DoCoMo's deadline for it to launch a next-generation cell phone network in the United States according to C|Net. If the network isn't up in at least 4 US cities...
Jul 23 2003 - 02:50 PM ET | In The News
NEC is teaming up with AT&T Wireless to bring the 515 High Definition Mobile handset to the states. It's the world's first quad-band GSM phone, and also includes goodies like a 64,000 color display and dual-processors. Look for it July...
Jul 22 2003 - 11:27 PM ET | In The News
July has been deemed National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, but it's not quite clear by who. Jacqueline Whitmore, cell phone etiquette spokesperson for Sprint, stated that personal conversations overheard in public is the most frequent cell phone related complaint she...
Jul 22 2003 - 09:10 PM ET | Handspring
Handspring has released its first financial statement since being bought by Palm back in June. It still lost money, but a lot less than in past quarters. The interesting thing is the volume--down 70%. The outlook is good though, the...
Jul 22 2003 - 11:22 AM ET | Unique
If you thought those games on your cell phone were just for fun, think again. WirelessAdWatch is running an article about how advertisers are getting their brands slapped onto mobile games--it reaches the 18-24 demo that is normally very hard...
Jul 22 2003 - 10:53 AM ET | Smartphone
Smartphone sales in Europe rose and inpressive 1156% against the same quarter last year. Nokia got most of the market, with Sony Ericsson coming in at a distant second. Smartphones are PDA type devices that also double as a phone....
Jul 21 2003 - 02:28 PM ET | In The News
AT&T has started to offer shared plans similar to Verizon's Freedom package. AT&T One aims to simplify life for consumers, but according to C|Net usually combo plans confuse consumers. The plans have been introduced in select markets (Tampa, Florida and...
Jul 21 2003 - 12:31 PM ET | Camera, Samsung
MobileBurn has posted a detailed review of Samsung's SGH-P408. Although it lacks a sexy name, the phone looks gorgeous. MobileBurn really liked the fact that the screen swivels (it's a clamshell, but with a screen that can do a 180º)....
Jul 21 2003 - 11:20 AM ET | Site News
We're proud new announce that we are today launching a new message board system for MobileTracker readers. All the fun is located at: boards.mobiletracker.net. You are encouraged to register and start posting (it gets a lot cooler when everyone is...
Jul 20 2003 - 03:28 PM ET | Nokia, Unique
The report back in May turned out to be correct--the Nokia N-Gage will ship in October (the 7th to be exact), and will cost $299 US. The high-end gaming device sports a high-resolution screen, Bluetooth and an MP3 player. Not...
Jul 19 2003 - 01:15 AM ET | Nokia
Nokia's quarterly profit was down 28% for Q2 2003. Profit should be down for Q3 as well. The company pointed to a weak dollar as well as flagging sales for the downturn. Shares in the companies stock went down an...
Jul 18 2003 - 11:12 AM ET | In The News
Word on the street is that the carriers are preparing for a slowdown... T-Mobile must not have gotten the message. Other carriers are spending less on their networks this year, mostly because sales of handsets are slipping....
Jul 18 2003 - 11:09 AM ET | Unique
infoSync noted a new text input technology dubbed KeyTouch aims to speed up mobile text. Most users are now using a predictive text engine called T9 which is owned by AOL. It uses a combination of buttons and 4-way keypads...
Jul 17 2003 - 11:48 AM ET | Siemens
Gizmodo notes that Siemens is "seriously considering" making a cellphone running on Microsoft's Smartphone operating system. Don't get too excited though because it's rumored to only be available from T-Mobile in Germany. TelcomTV has the rest of the scoop....
NEC thinks 2 is better than one so is including 2 digital cams on the e808Y, its new 3G phone for 3 (the mobile-operator not the number). Why would one need two cameras? One for stills and one for video...
Jul 16 2003 - 10:42 PM ET | Rumor
Amazon.com will began a $150 rebate on the Sony Ericsson T610 today as we previously reported. However, they raised their price on the phone by the same amount so there is no net gain (the phone is NOT -$50). It's...
If you can live with one bad review, the Sony Ericsson T610 will cost you just $99. Amazon.com is selling the phone for $149.99 $299 (see this for explanation) and offering a $150 rebate. On top of that T-Mobile is...
Jul 15 2003 - 02:59 PM ET | Sony Ericsson
They may be bleeding cash, but at least Sony Ericsson is gaining some market share. According to this Reuters article, the company sold 6.4% of phones in the last quarter compared to 5% in the first quarter. The new T610...
Jul 15 2003 - 02:51 PM ET | T-Mobile
T-Mobile has given a $500 million contract to Ericsson for expansion into western Virginia and New England markets as well as increased coverage in some 18 cities. This is great news for the struggling Ericsson who yesterday announced its 11th...
A decision in a lawsuit between NTP (a patent holding company) and Research In Motion is expected to come as early as this week. If the case goes in favor of NTP, sales of BlackBerries will be put on hold...
Jul 15 2003 - 12:59 AM ET | Bargain, Data
Gizmodo notes that you can snag unlimited GPRS data over in India for a mere 9 Rupies (about $2 US). T-Mobile offers the same plan at $20 a month and upon its introduction it was hailed as revolutionary....
Jul 14 2003 - 09:07 PM ET | SMS
The new over-the-top Fox show Banzai allows viewers to vote via SMS. The show which premiered last night didn't put much focus on the SMS voting, but flashed the number several times during the 30 minute program. Check back next...
Jul 14 2003 - 09:03 PM ET | In The News
According to a recent New York Times article, the adoption of WiFi is out pacing cell phones. This isn't very surprising as it's a much newer technology, but it's still interesting. The bit about cell phones is located on page...
Jul 14 2003 - 03:16 PM ET | Handspring
Handspring is partnering with several leading email providers to offer Treo 600 optimized wireless email solutions. Good Technology - promises to bring GoodLink 2.0 to the Treo 600. It brings cradle-free, real-time synchronization for Microsoft Exchange to the device. SEVEN...
Jul 14 2003 - 12:20 PM ET | Review
MobileBurn got the e606 in for review and wasn't too impressed. It's got 3G stuff like video calls, but the simple things like UI just weren't there. bq. "I’m going to be really blunt and just say that the e606...
Jul 14 2003 - 12:14 PM ET | Unique
If you've ever wanted to throw your phone, you'll be happy to know that you aren't alone. Lonely people in Ukraine have made a competition out of it--57 meters is the current record. If you are able to beat 57...
Jul 14 2003 - 11:57 AM ET | In The News
Wired News is running a story about AirCell, a new company that is trying to patent a technology that allows passengers use their own cell phones during flights. If they can get it by the FCC, they will have a...
Steven Frank has posted a comparison between the Sony Ericsson P800 and the T-Mobile Sidekick (AKA Danger HipTop). Steven has used the Sidekick as his primary phone for quite a while and recently picked up a P800 instead of upgrading...
Jul 12 2003 - 12:10 PM ET | In The News
Handset makers are no longer exempt [PDF] from making hearing aid compatible digital phones. The FCC today voted unanimously to require digital phone makers to make hearing aid compatibility wireless phones, saying its former exemption was outdated. According to the...
Jul 11 2003 - 06:03 PM ET | Camera
MobileTracker would like to second Gizmodo's rant about people (mostly media types who probably can't even turn on their stereo without asking for help) complaining that camera phones are going to ruin everything. Yes--there are some creeps that take pictures...
Jul 11 2003 - 10:09 AM ET | DoCoMo
Remember the NTT DoCoMo Wristomo? It's a fully functioning cell phone that doubles as a wrist watch (it can pop off and turn into a pretty normal looking device). It sold out in a few days and was the talk...
Jul 10 2003 - 01:37 PM ET | DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is installing more anti-spam software to combat the bulk email being sent on its i-mode network. Amazingly enough, the spam that was getting through its old measures was being sent from mobile phones! Those filters relied on users...
Jul 10 2003 - 01:33 PM ET | Unique
Ringback's are the tones you hear when you call someone else and hear a "ring". It's pretty standard to have the plain jain tone we are all used to. A few asian companies think we'll all be jumping on custom...
Jul 09 2003 - 03:26 PM ET | Miscellaneous
PC Pro thinks the next big thing in mobile phones is better text input. T9 is good, but it is going to get some competition. Look for a MobileTracker piece on this topic in the coming weeks....
Jul 09 2003 - 02:20 PM ET | Unique
Every once in a while a real odd story of corporate policy comes along... Today is that day. InfoSync says that AT&T Wireless will be hiring "faux grannies" to tell rude mobile phone users to be quiet and give polite...
Jul 08 2003 - 10:18 PM ET | SMS
MacMinute notes that AIM version 4.6 for the MacOS adds SMS support. We noted last week that Apple's iChat application has the same technology built in. To send an IM to a mobile phone, send it to +1xxx-xxx-xxxx without the...
Even though the T608 was listed as KIA (and had its own movement), it looks like it will see day light. A posting at the mobile site PowerPage.org says Sprint PCS confirmed that it will be available: bq. "I was...
Verizon finally has a camera phone, possibly in an attempt to market towards younger consumers. The LG VX6000 has a full-color screen and a .3 megapixel camera. Not the best resolution, but not bad for a US camera phone. It...
Jul 08 2003 - 01:41 PM ET | Review
Michael Oryl over at MobileBurn wasn't too impressed with Sony Ericsson's latest offering--the T610. He is a big fan of the T68 series (we are too), and it looks like he will be sticking with it: bq. " The display...
Jul 08 2003 - 08:30 AM ET | SMS
Several weeks ago, MobileTracker publisher Jon Gales was sitting in PF Changs and thought that instead of the bulky pagers common at casual restaurants, an SMS sent to his cell phone would be a much better solution. There are numerous...
Jul 07 2003 - 10:18 AM ET | In The News
Looks like there is an upshot to being shot with all the radiation from cellphones--that is unless you are a woman. Researchers from Bradford University’s School of Life Sciences just wrapped up a 2 part study into the effects of...
Jul 07 2003 - 10:14 AM ET | Camera
Samsung has made it clear that camera phones do not belong in their factories... Unless they are being made in said factories. The company is scared of corporate spies and sees camera phones as a security risk....
Jul 07 2003 - 10:12 AM ET | Unique
A company called Sandbridge Technologies is working on a chip with some special software that will make it possible to use several different wireless standards with just one device. For example, your phone could be GSM/CDMA/WiFi. Very cool....
Jul 04 2003 - 10:39 AM ET | Site News
Posting will resume Monday. Today is time to celebrate our independence by blowing stuff up, cooking outside, and enjoying the hot Florida sun. See you on the flip side!...
Jul 03 2003 - 12:52 PM ET | Siemens
Siemens has announced the MC60 over in Berlin. It has a unique key layout, and is the first phone from the company to feature an integrated camera. It's going to be marketed as a "fashion" phone, but it's got a...
DoCoMo is so far ahead of everyone else it is almost sick. Their latest offering is the Mova N505i (related to the Mova SH505i we mentioned back in June) which boasts a dual speaker system with surround sound capability. If...
Jul 02 2003 - 07:05 PM ET | In The News
AT&T Wireless has announced it will cut a "low single digit percentange" of its workforce to increase profit margins and get rid of some satellite offices. Other carriers including Cingular and Sprint PCS have cut jobs this year....
Readers have sent this in so many times that it must be cool. You can send SMS messages from AIM (works in iChat as well, let us know about other clients). All you do is send an IM to +1FULLNUMBER....
Jul 01 2003 - 04:08 PM ET | Sony Ericsson
There is a petition going around the mobile sites aiming to "save the T608". If you haven't heard the news, Sony Ericsson is dropping the phone even before its debut. It was the first CDMA phone to offer Bluetooth. The...
Jul 01 2003 - 01:35 AM ET | Site News
We're proud to announce that the site now has a complete WAP version. You can access the wireless site at: wap.mobiletracker.net right from your device. We've slimmed the site down to just what you need--headlines that link to our stories....
