Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[T-Mobile working on advanced text blocking capability, maybe more]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/t-mobile-working-on-text-blocking-capability-maybe-more/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/t-mobile-working-on-text-blocking-capability-maybe-more/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/t-mobile-working-on-text-blocking-capability-maybe-more/#commentsFiled under: ,

So we caught wind yesterday of rumors that T-Mobile was planning to offer several comprehensive levels of text and call blocking this summer, offering super-granular control over who exactly can reach your beloved handset. Options would include per-number blocking, SMS, MMS, IM, and email on an individual basis -- only free messages would still be unblockable. We contacted T-Mobile directly and got the following response: "We are working on a service we plan to launch this summer that would enable customers to block text messages (beyond what is available today)...stay tuned." In other words, yeah, it sounds like there are some more advanced options on the way. That's good news for us -- and bad news for our stalkers.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blockblockingsmst-mobiletextThu, 15 May 2008 12:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobilkom I-HSPA tests provide 10.1Mbps speeds, another acronym to remember]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/08/mobilkom-i-hspa-tests-provide-10-1mbps-speeds-another-acronym-t/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/08/mobilkom-i-hspa-tests-provide-10-1mbps-speeds-another-acronym-t/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/08/mobilkom-i-hspa-tests-provide-10-1mbps-speeds-another-acronym-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Nokia Siemens Networks and Mobilkom Austria are likely celebrating some I-HSPA (Internet High Speed Packet Access) test results that rang in at a respectable 10.1Mbps during a data call. I-HSPA is essentially Nokia Siemens Networks' version of HSPA+, with both touted as bringing a flat architecture to the HSPA network by connecting the base station directly to the internet. Bottom line is when we see this on our doorstep, we're just one step closer to LTE, and its speed in comparison will rekindle warm thoughts of the first time we used HSDPA after struggling with GPRS.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HSPAI-HSPAMobilkomNokia Siemens NetworksNokiaSiemensNetworksThu, 08 May 2008 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey finds 37% of Gen Y-ers text while driving]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/02/survey-finds-37-of-gen-y-ers-text-while-driving/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/02/survey-finds-37-of-gen-y-ers-text-while-driving/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/02/survey-finds-37-of-gen-y-ers-text-while-driving/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Oh sure, Americans are adamantly against texting while driving (in theory), but that's not stopping those mischievous Gen Y-ers from getting their SMS on while behind the wheel. According to a new survey of 1,200 people conducted by Nationwide Mutual Insurance (we know, we know), a third of the Gen Y-ers admitted to "always multitasking while driving," and while the "always" bit does indeed frighten us a tad, the real juice was in the next statistic: 37-percent said they sent text messages while driving. Before you start belaboring the imprudent youth, think long and hard about your own in-car cellphone usage -- remember that time you just had to reply "y w pep plz" in order to salvage your friend's pizza order? Tsk tsk.

[Via About]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dangerousdrivingnascarresearchsmsstudysturveytexttext messagestext messagingtextingtexting while drivingTextingWhileDrivingTextMessagesTextMessagingFri, 02 May 2008 15:26:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T reveals iPhone Text Accessibility Plan for hearing impaired]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/02/atandt-reveals-iphone-text-accessibility-plan-for-hearing-impaired/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/02/atandt-reveals-iphone-text-accessibility-plan-for-hearing-impaired/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/02/atandt-reveals-iphone-text-accessibility-plan-for-hearing-impaired/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Although AT&T has had a specialized plan for the deaf and hard of hearing for some time now, the iPhone has been unfortunately unable to take advantage. No longer will that be the case, as said carrier has just implemented the Text Accessibility Plan for iPhone, which provides unlimited texting, unlimited data usage, $0.40 per minute pay-per-use voice and Visual Voicemail. Granted, the iPhone TAP does cost $40 ($10 more than the vanilla TAP), but you are getting limitless texts (versus 5,000) and Visual Voicemail thrown in -- not that those inclusions really warrant the extra Hamilton. Nevertheless, those with adequate documentation can get their iPhone on the plan right now, just click the read link for details / instructions.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleattdeafDisabilitiesdisabledhandicaphandicappediphonesmstaptextText Accessibility Plantext messagingTextAccessibilityPlantextingTextMessagingweb browsingWebBrowsingFri, 02 May 2008 10:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone recommends "more discreet" communication methods in public]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/30/vodafone-recommends-more-discreet-communication-methods-in-pub/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/30/vodafone-recommends-more-discreet-communication-methods-in-pub/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/30/vodafone-recommends-more-discreet-communication-methods-in-pub/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Although it should be painfully obvious, we can't deny that chatting about sensitive information in public takes place practically everywhere. To that end, a new study commissioned by Vodafone UK found that over 70-percent of all workers "talk business on their mobile phones in public, with one-in-five talking about business-critical subjects such as sales leads." Worse still, 15-percent admitted to "openly discussing confidential new products or services whilst traveling," while 26-percent admitted that they have actually followed up on a lead in which they received via listening in to another's public call. Not surprisingly, the company recommends that individuals utilize more discreet methods of communicating in public, suggesting texting and emailing in particular. Of course, it's a good bit more difficult to tell a story through those two methods, but it's a lot better than having your most promising client snatched out from under you, yeah?

[Via textually, image courtesy of Miloh]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessconversationdataprivateresearchsecretstudyvodafoneWed, 30 Apr 2008 02:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio will push your Gmail to you -- or any other mail, for that matter]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/24/helio-will-push-your-gmail-to-you-or-any-other-mail-for-that/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/24/helio-will-push-your-gmail-to-you-or-any-other-mail-for-that/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/24/helio-will-push-your-gmail-to-you-or-any-other-mail-for-that/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Owners of Helio devices equipped with the MVNO's "Ultimate Inbox" feature -- Ocean, Fin, Mysto owners, we're looking straight at you -- will find that they now have a fun little gem waiting for them. Gmail's now being touted as supporting push notifications right alongside Yahoo!, Hotmail, AOL, and My Helio, but the real trick here is that Ultimate Inbox now supports push for any POP or IMAP account of your choosing. In other words, that "my bad, I haven't checked my email recently" excuse suddenly holds, like, zero weight if you own one of these devices. Sorry!
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gmailhelioimapinboxmailpoppushultimate inboxUltimateInboxThu, 24 Apr 2008 10:44:00 EST<![CDATA[MetroPCS extends push-to-talk to wireline users]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/18/metropcs-extends-push-to-talk-to-wireline-users/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/18/metropcs-extends-push-to-talk-to-wireline-users/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/18/metropcs-extends-push-to-talk-to-wireline-users/#commentsFiled under: ,


MetroPCS has come up with a novel -- and long overdue -- concept where push-to-talkers can now irritate wireline subscribers, too. Kodiac Networks, which is behind the ChatLink service has stated this is the first system that will see PTT extended to users without a client. MetroPCS subscribers will now have the ability to create a friends network of up to 10 people and by simply hitting any key on their phone will be able to join in the push-to-talk fun. The service is set to cost only $5 per month, so what you waiting for, Unlimit Yourself.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>metropcspttpush-to-talkwalkie-talkiewirelesswirelineFri, 18 Apr 2008 16:12:00 EST<![CDATA[House bill proposes ban on in-flight cellphone use]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/17/house-bill-proposes-in-flight-cellphone-use/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/17/house-bill-proposes-in-flight-cellphone-use/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/17/house-bill-proposes-in-flight-cellphone-use/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This could -- at least temporarily -- put an end the nightmarish scenario involving you, lack of sleep, and some freakish chatty Cathy plopped next to you by the airline. Lead co-sponsor Rep. Peter DeFazio, hopes the "Hang Up" -- madly clever name here -- bill will stop Airlines from finding yet another avenue to gouge you and maintaining peace and harmony by banning any in-flight calling. Of course, the door will remain wide open for SMS, mail, IM, and other types of electronic conversation, but we're hoping Skype and friends are on the muzzle list, too.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairlinesbillcallingHang UpHangUpin-flightThu, 17 Apr 2008 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon adds new messaging plans, too]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/15/verizon-adds-new-messaging-plans-too/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/15/verizon-adds-new-messaging-plans-too/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/15/verizon-adds-new-messaging-plans-too/#commentsFiled under: ,

The hot new smartphone plan might be the big news out of Verizon so far this week, but riding those coattails are a series of interesting new messaging offerings as well. The plans are targeted squarely at folks who put a bigger emphasis on text allowances than they do on voice minutes, and have allegedly been willed into existence as a direct result of customer feedback. Actually, you don't even need any voice plan at all to make these bad boys happen on your bill. So-called "consumer devices" get dinged for $34.99 a month (mobile email's an extra $5 here) while owners of BlackBerrys and PDA / smartphone class devices pay $54.99, getting in return an unlimited dosage of messaging and on-device data usage; calls run 40 and 25 cents per minute, respectively. If you let your thumbs do 90 percent of the talking on a daily basis, this might just be your hook-up.

[Via Phone Scoop]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>messagingplansmstextverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwTue, 15 Apr 2008 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC gives national SMS alert system stamp of approval]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/10/fcc-gives-national-sms-alert-system-stamp-of-approval/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/10/fcc-gives-national-sms-alert-system-stamp-of-approval/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/10/fcc-gives-national-sms-alert-system-stamp-of-approval/#commentsFiled under: ,

As expected, the FCC today approved plans to roll out a nationwide SMS-based alert system, which is now all but certain to be adopted by all four national carries, and no doubt most regional carriers as well. As CNN reports, under the new plan, the FCC will appoint a federal agency tasked with creating the messages, which will in turn be passed on to participating carriers (which will have ten months to comply with the system once the agency is named). Those messages will be limited to one of three categories of emergencies, including disasters like a terrorist attack, ongoing threats like hurricanes or earthquakes, or child abductions or amber alerts. Also as we had heard before, individuals will be able to opt out of the system if they so desire, and carriers will be required to provide distinct vibration and audio alert options for people with disabilities.

[Thanks, Ron]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fccsmssms alertsSmsAlertsThu, 10 Apr 2008 15:13:00 EST<![CDATA[National SMS alert system closer to reality]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/09/national-sms-alert-system-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/09/national-sms-alert-system-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/09/national-sms-alert-system-closer-to-reality/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The FCC is expected to get real with a nationwide SMS-based alert system on Wednesday, revealing the details of a program that will likely be adopted by all four national carriers in the US -- and very likely, we'd assume, most of the regionals as well. The program will be designed to send messages to in-the-know subscribers in the event of a natural disaster, attack, or child abduction, and naturally, folks will be able to opt out if they prefer the "ignorance is bliss" approach. The system is also apparently going to feature specific provisions requiring participating carriers to make sure disabled users can get the alert via special vibration or audible alerts, though it's not clear how those will differ from the vibrates and beeps the rest of the populace receives. If all goes well, carriers who opt to implement the system will have to have it running within 10 months, so we'll finally be able to get that "OMG TRNDO" text we've always wanted to receive.

[Via Phone Scoop]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alertemergencyfccWed, 09 Apr 2008 21:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Qantas bringing in-flight SMS and email coming to all AU domestic flights]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/20/qantas-bringing-in-flight-sms-and-email-coming-to-all-au-domesti/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/20/qantas-bringing-in-flight-sms-and-email-coming-to-all-au-domesti/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/20/qantas-bringing-in-flight-sms-and-email-coming-to-all-au-domesti/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's been two years since we first heard that Qantas was bringing in-flight email and SMS to its fleet, and after a lengthy testing period, it looks like it's finally happening. The last set of test flights wrapped up in January, and allowing people to check in on the status of their Nigerian money transfers and send R U HERE texts apparently didn't cause any major problems, so the airline is moving to bring the tech to all Boeing 767 and Airbus A330 flights in Australia. Voice service still isn't in the cards, but considering how long it's taking to get any of this tech off the ground in the States, we'll take what we can get.

[Thanks, Chris]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>in flightin flight callingin flight callsInFlightInFlightCallingInFlightCallsqantasThu, 20 Mar 2008 20:09:00 EST<![CDATA[India's encrypted BlackBerry network lives to fight another day]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/14/indias-encrypted-blackberry-network-lives-to-fight-another-day/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/14/indias-encrypted-blackberry-network-lives-to-fight-another-day/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/14/indias-encrypted-blackberry-network-lives-to-fight-another-day/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Remember the Indian government's threat to shutdown RIM's in-country network if they didn't open it up for snooping? Ain't gonna happen. Today the Indian government ruled out banning the BlackBerry service. Instead, the government will continue working with the Telecom Commission on security matters (whatever that means) with a promise to resolve the matter soon. Look India, if the notoriously controlling Chinese allow the data to run encrypted, what's your beef chicken?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryencryptionindiarimFri, 14 Mar 2008 07:24:00 EST<![CDATA[New Zealand's fuzz want carriers to save text messages]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/10/new-zealands-fuzz-want-carriers-to-save-text-messages/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/10/new-zealands-fuzz-want-carriers-to-save-text-messages/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/10/new-zealands-fuzz-want-carriers-to-save-text-messages/#commentsFiled under:

Carriers usually don't store text messages these days -- or, at the very least, they're smart enough to claim that they don't, or barring even that, they're trying to move away from storing 'em. In a society that values what little privacy it has left, we figure that coming out and telling your customers that their most intimate 160-character communiques are being locked away ad infinitum on some hard drive in a windowless tower somewhere is a recipe for backlash. Indeed, Vodafone's Kiwi outpost doesn't keep texts any longer than it has to, and New Zealand Telecom has said that it'll stop before the end of the year, but the local police have a different idea in mind. Authorities say that they want the ability to sift through messages, and that it won't be a privacy concern because they'll only get down to business after having obtained the proper warrant. That's all well and good, and we can sorta see where the cops are coming from here, except that means carriers are still going to be required to persist the SMSes to begin with -- a privacy concern in itself. The sitch is shaping up to be a bit of a deadlock, though the government is hoping everyone can come to terms without legislation being required. We're not counting on it.

[Via textually.org]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>new zealandNewZealandpolicesmstexttextingMon, 10 Mar 2008 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia's Text Messenger: another phone feature you probably didn't need on your PC]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/nokias-text-messenger-another-phone-feature-you-probably-didn/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/nokias-text-messenger-another-phone-feature-you-probably-didn/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/nokias-text-messenger-another-phone-feature-you-probably-didn/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bless the hearts of the good folks at Nokia's Beta Labs, because they're really working overtime to make the Finnish devices in our lives do all sorts of things they were never exactly intended to do. Everything they've done so far has been absolutely brilliant at best and merely nifty at worst, and we think this latest effort falls more on the latter end of the scale. Beta Labs' PC Phone dropped a couple months back for controlling basic phone functions from the comfort of a lappie or desktop, and now we have this: Text Messenger is a Sidebar-dockable gadget for Windows Vista that simply displays your connected phone's text messages, and while we can't speak for others, SMS is enough of a time drain for us as it is -- the last thing we need is access to it when we're sitting at our PCs trying to get some work done, too. Now threaded SMS, on the other hand... yeah, we'll take us some o' that.

[Via All About Symbian]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta labsBetaLabsnokiasmstext messengerTextMessengerMon, 25 Feb 2008 21:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Now at Ikea: get some mobile with your Swedish meatballs]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/17/now-at-ikea-get-some-mobile-with-your-swedish-meatballs/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/17/now-at-ikea-get-some-mobile-with-your-swedish-meatballs/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/17/now-at-ikea-get-some-mobile-with-your-swedish-meatballs/#commentsFiled under: ,


Meet Ikea Mobile. No, it's not a phone, and no, you don't have to build it yourself. Well, actually, you sort of do -- the new kiosks popping up in those giant blue megastores transmit deals to you via text message by photographing a barcode on the display, which we guess constitutes a do-it-yourself ad flyer of sorts. It's cool, we suppose, but we seriously would be all over an Ikea phone that shipped to you in like twenty pieces, especially if it was suspiciously cheap.

[Via OhGizmo!]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ikeaikea mobileIkeaMobileSun, 17 Feb 2008 18:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Polymer Vision's e-ink Readius]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/hands-on-with-polymer-visions-e-ink-readius/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/hands-on-with-polymer-visions-e-ink-readius/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/hands-on-with-polymer-visions-e-ink-readius/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The long wait is over, the Polymer Vision Readius has finally made an appearance and from our quick -- and loving -- glance, it's the stuff. Featuring Bluetooth, dual-band HSDPA, tri-band GSM / EDGE, expandability via microSD, and it'll also SMS -- albeit, without a keyboard, it'll be tough -- and can make calls. The cellular calling and messaging features are likely an afterthought since connectivity to get at the content via the Readius portal was the goal. The site will push content to your device based on choices made there for feeds, newspapers, mags, audio books, and whatever else Polymer Vision sees fit to add. The device will support books in HTML, text files, and PDFs, though, we expect as they gain ground with partners the list may expand. Hit the gallery for a pile of pics of it in action.

Gallery: Hands-on with Polymer Vision's e-ink Readius

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e-inkebookfeatureshands-onMWCPolymer VisionPolymerVisionreaderReadiusThu, 14 Feb 2008 10:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Finland's roadside toilets: now accessible only by SMS]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/05/finlands-roadside-toilets-now-accessible-only-by-sms/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/05/finlands-roadside-toilets-now-accessible-only-by-sms/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/05/finlands-roadside-toilets-now-accessible-only-by-sms/#commentsFiled under: ,


While those in London can use SMS to actually find a lavatory, folks passing through Western Finland will be required to bust out their handset in order to relieve themselves in select public restrooms. In an attempt to curb vandalism, the Finnish Road Administration has implemented a system along Highway 1 which requires restroom visitors to text "Open" (in Finnish, of course) in order to let themselves in. The idea is that folks will be less likely to lose their mind and graffiti up the place knowing that their mobile number is (at least temporarily) on file, but it remains to be seen if uprooters will simply take their defacing ways elsewhere or actually excrete in peace.

[Via Switched]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>finlandsmssms lockSmsLocktexttext messagestext messagingtextingTextMessagesTextMessagingthefttoilettoiletsTue, 05 Feb 2008 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[ShakeSMS delivers novel SMS message retrieval to S60 handsets]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/30/shakesms-delivers-novel-sms-message-retreival-to-s60-handsets/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/30/shakesms-delivers-novel-sms-message-retreival-to-s60-handsets/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/30/shakesms-delivers-novel-sms-message-retreival-to-s60-handsets/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tong Ren is at it again, his first excursion into the N95's accelerometer functions with FlipSilent seem to have been successful enough to afford him another, ShakeSMS. This tiny program will -- once released that is -- enable select S60 users to be able to shake their handset to go from a locked screen to viewing a newly arrived SMS message. Once done reading another shake will close the message, return you to the home screen, and lock your handset again. This idea is so simple and seemingly useful we wonder why it's never popped up before, job well done on an absolutely useful little program. We'll be keeping our eyes on this tool's release, so expect more word as soon as we get it.

[Via textually.org]

Continue reading ShakeSMS delivers novel SMS message retrieval to S60 handsets

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometerflipsilentS60Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:41:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T boosting pay-per-use text and MMS rates -- again]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/26/atandt-boosting-pay-per-use-text-and-mms-rates-again/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/26/atandt-boosting-pay-per-use-text-and-mms-rates-again/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/26/atandt-boosting-pay-per-use-text-and-mms-rates-again/#commentsFiled under: ,

Whoa there, didn't these just go up not long ago? Indeed they did, but in the fast-paced, money-grubbing world we call home, two price bumps spaced a year apart are sadly par for the course. AT&T has started informing customers that unless they're subscribed to a messaging plan, they'll be paying 5 cents more for both text messages and picture / video messages -- now up to 20 and 30 cents per, respectively. The change takes effect March 30, so we'd recommend you either tell all your peeps to cut it out with the messaging or sign up with a package by then. Follow the break for AT&T's full manifesto.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading AT&T boosting pay-per-use text and MMS rates -- again

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attmessagingmmspicture messagepicture messagingPictureMessagePictureMessagingsmsvideo messagevideo messagingVideoMessageVideoMessagingSat, 26 Jan 2008 14:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphone bill on the rise? Check your SMS charges]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/23/cell-phone-bill-on-the-rise-check-your-sms-charges/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/23/cell-phone-bill-on-the-rise-check-your-sms-charges/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/23/cell-phone-bill-on-the-rise-check-your-sms-charges/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If you've been paying attention to mobile carriers' SMS pricing lately (and something tells us you haven't) you'd be surprised to discover a fairly disturbing trend amongst providers: price hikes. Over the past year or so, nearly every major carrier in the US has raised their per-price cost of SMS messages, with Verizon and Sprint jacking up the fee from $0.15 to $0.20 a message, and AT&T and T-Mobile adding another nickel to their $0.10 charge. Of course, this trend of rising prices accompanies a major spike in the use of text messages amongst customers, with some surveys marking a 130-percent jump over SMS use since June 2006 -- and telcos are taking it to the bank. What's most insidious about the inflated costs is the fact that SMS data is particularly low-bandwidth, and analysts say that the price increases aren't related to higher operating costs -- these companies are simply gouging customers for a service which they have embraced. Companies say the hikes are meant to encourage customers to go for more expensive "bundles," though we're confident they won't mention it when your Mom uses more messages than her plan allows and unwittingly pays a few extra bucks on her bill -- that stuff adds up, you know?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attcostsfeesprice hikePriceHikeproviderssmssprintt-mobiletext messagestextingTextMessagesverizonWed, 23 Jan 2008 08:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Pizza Hut serves up SMS ordering: "lg π w xtra chz, plz"]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/20/pizza-hut-rolls-out-sms-ordering-lg-w-xtra-chz-plz/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/20/pizza-hut-rolls-out-sms-ordering-lg-w-xtra-chz-plz/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/20/pizza-hut-rolls-out-sms-ordering-lg-w-xtra-chz-plz/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pizza Hut has joined rivals Domino's and Papa John's in implementing a nationwide order-by-text service, giving customers even easier access to its tasty-but-greasy fare. To take advantage of the "Total Mobile Access" feature, you have to visit the Pizza Hut website for a one-time registration of your mobile number, along with setting up your so-called "pizza playlist" to enable easier ordering. You can also satisfy your pizza jones by hitting up the same site on a mobile browser, which provides an optimized version of the desktop ordering system that has been in place for several years.

[Via InformationWeek]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesdeliverypizzapizza hutPizzaHutsmstext messageTextMessageSun, 20 Jan 2008 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[European carriers about to see data and SMS rate caps?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/20/european-carriers-about-to-see-data-and-sms-rate-caps/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/20/european-carriers-about-to-see-data-and-sms-rate-caps/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/20/european-carriers-about-to-see-data-and-sms-rate-caps/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Europeans should now be accustomed to reasonable roaming rates when calling thanks to the Eurotariff put in place late last year. Well, round two looks set to begin and this time the target will be data and SMS charges -- and we're fully aware how ugly they can get after having racked up $500 plus bills ourselves. EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding has admitted concern after having read a report on the roaming charges for 150 operators from September to April last year. So, while we're not seeing anything near as granular as numbers, yet, we're betting the powers that be at various providers are going to be under the gun for changes in the near term. Job well done, let that velvet tariff hammer drop we say.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dataEurotarrifroamingSMSSun, 20 Jan 2008 00:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Indian government to SMS food alerts to poor, forgets poor lack cellphones]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/19/indian-government-to-sms-food-alerts-to-poor-forgets-poor-lack/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/19/indian-government-to-sms-food-alerts-to-poor-forgets-poor-lack/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/19/indian-government-to-sms-food-alerts-to-poor-forgets-poor-lack/#commentsFiled under: ,

A regional government in India has decided to send out alerts via SMS to families in need when their 35kg monthly rice ration is ready to pickup. The system is set to cover as many as 3.4 million families -- or 60 percent of the region's population -- though the gents running the show were unsure how many families in need actuality had cell phones to receive the notice or the means to sign up. We really have to wonder why nobody stopped to consider that the poor in need of food to survive might not have cell phones to get these messages in the first place. Perhaps a cheapo prepaid could be part of this high tech recipe in the future?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlertfoodindiaSMSSat, 19 Jan 2008 07:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Philippines Minister dreams of cash windfall via SMS taxes]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/18/philippines-minister-dreams-of-cash-windfall-via-sms-taxes/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/18/philippines-minister-dreams-of-cash-windfall-via-sms-taxes/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/18/philippines-minister-dreams-of-cash-windfall-via-sms-taxes/#commentsFiled under: ,

Philippine Trade Secretary Peter Favilla has proposed adding a new tax on SMS messages purportedly to offset the loss of a 12 percent sales tax on oil products. Though it would seem from an interview, that Mr. Favilla is a hater where SMS is concerned as he's quoted saying that an SMS tax would shift Filipino focus to endeavors that are more productive. We're huge fans of SMS messaging round these parts -- and remain pretty productive -- a tax on it would likely drag significant cake from our pockets, here's hoping the tax isn't a per use affair.

[Via textually.org]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PhilippinesSMStaxFri, 18 Jan 2008 03:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Update: Windows Live Mobile only a pay service on Nokia Series 60]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/16/update-windows-live-mobile-only-a-pay-service-on-nokia-series-6/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/16/update-windows-live-mobile-only-a-pay-service-on-nokia-series-6/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/16/update-windows-live-mobile-only-a-pay-service-on-nokia-series-6/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We posted a piece about users who were seeing a message on their Windows Mobile devices stating that their 30 day trial was starting when using Windows Live Mobile Messenger. As it turns out, there is a new pay service rolling out, but only for users of the software on the Nokia S60 platform in the UK and Sweden. A Microsoft spokesperson admitted that while the idea of charging on the Windows Mobile platform is being considered, there are no solid plans yet -- can I get a collective, phew?. The glitch is being addressed so you needn't worry about getting dinged for your mobile messaging addiction, just yet.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Live MessengerLiveMessengermessengerNokiaS60Windows MobileWindowsMobileWed, 16 Jan 2008 20:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Texter's thumb strikes again]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/15/texters-thumb-strikes-again/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/15/texters-thumb-strikes-again/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/15/texters-thumb-strikes-again/#commentsFiled under: ,

Alternately known as texting tenosynovitis, BlackBerry thumb, text messager's thumb, or simply "ow ow ow ow" as you bang out your next SMS, texter's thumb is no laughing matter for afflicted individuals. A 20 year old Kiwi is the latest to be diagnosed with the painful ailment, brought about in no small part by her 100 message per day texting habit. Though there have apparently been only three cases officially diagnosed worldwide, the authors of the case report believe it's likely that many cases go undiagnosed given the overwhelming popularity of SMS worldwide. No bother; it's nothing a little BlackBerry Balm couldn't smooth right over, we imagine.

[Via textually.org]
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File this under evil chain mail letters come true friends, but if you believe the rising buzz we're seeing at MoDaCo -- and we totally do -- Microsoft may well be set to start charging for Windows Live Mobile Messenger. Apparently users are seeing a message about a 30 day trial with an option to purchase a 30-day pass at the conclusion of the trial. While we understand that this service must cost Microsoft something, we don't think Microsoft understands just how upset this is going to make users of its platform -- even if it is covered under the service's terms and conditions. We're so stoked to watch the fallout, oh, and if you have a Windows Mobile device and want to try setting the date forward on your device, let us know what happens.

[Via the::unwired]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>live messengerLiveMessengermessagingMicrosoftMSNwindows MobileWindowsMobileWed, 09 Jan 2008 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC outs Ogo in new 3G CDMA flavor?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/fcc-outs-ogo-in-new-3g-cdma-flavor/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/fcc-outs-ogo-in-new-3g-cdma-flavor/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/fcc-outs-ogo-in-new-3g-cdma-flavor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Seems IXI mobile is up to something as the FCC has outed what may well be a CDMA Ogo. This would be the first OGO device that packs any type of 3G love, but sadly, the pics are currently hidden away under a confidentiality agreement. However, we did manage to find the label positioning doc that tells us oh so much -- pssst, we added the logo for clarity. We did hit up some PR from Revol Wireless about plans for the EV-DO Ogo2.0 in the States, here's hoping it is getting closer to reality. We've not heard anything at CES but will definitely see if we can get any more info before the show is done.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon upping per-text rates]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/verizon-upping-per-text-rates/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/verizon-upping-per-text-rates/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/verizon-upping-per-text-rates/#commentsFiled under: ,

Verizon has recently told its subscribers to expect a healthy bump in their text messaging rates, going from 15 cents to 20 cents this March for domestic texts to match Sprint's numbers. The change only affects postpaid customers; prepaid dudes and gals soldier on at 2 to 10 cents per, depending on plan. Incoming international texts go up from 15 to 20 cents, too, though the outgoing rate remains unchanged at 25 cents. Whether that'll hold if some random patent holding firm wins bazillions from Big Red, well, that's another matter entirely.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>messagemessagingsmstextverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwTue, 08 Jan 2008 11:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint Nextel first national to test emergency alerts]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/sprint-nextel-first-national-to-test-emergency-alerts/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/sprint-nextel-first-national-to-test-emergency-alerts/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/sprint-nextel-first-national-to-test-emergency-alerts/#commentsFiled under: ,

At first, we sorta thought those air raid sirens (you know, the ones that are freakin' loud enough to wake the dead) were enough of an "emergency alert" as it was, but consider this: they usually don't tell you the nature of the emergency or give you instructions on exactly how you're supposed to proceed. That's not the sirens' fault -- a mind-numbingly loud "whoop whoop" really doesn't have the bandwidth to reveal that kind of information to the human ear -- but now that SMS-capable phones are ubiquitous, it's time to smarten things up just a tad. The government's Emergency Alert System has had just such a plan in the works for a while now, and Sprint Nextel is becoming the first national carrier to trial a system capable of sending targeted, location based alerts when bad stuff goes down. The trial is taking place in scenic Contra Costa, California; no word on a national rollout, but if you find out about your next tornado, earthquake, or other scary sitch via text, your area have just gotten swept into the craze.
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Switzerland's three largest carriers have reported that their subscribers sent a grand total of 62 million-plus text messages on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, 5 million more than were sent in the same two-day period last year. Any way you slice it, that's a big steaming pile of SMSes -- especially considering that the good, neutral folks of Switzerland total under 8 million in population. Swisscom reports that a little over half of the messages were sent on Christmas Eve, a stat we can totally buy since we know we were too busy unwrapping phones and headsets on the 25th to bother firing off texts.

[Via textually.org]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>messagesmsswissswitzerlandtexttext messageTextMessageWed, 26 Dec 2007 17:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Texting, talking at the wheel could land Brits in jail]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/21/texting-talking-at-the-wheel-could-land-brits-in-jail/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/21/texting-talking-at-the-wheel-could-land-brits-in-jail/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/21/texting-talking-at-the-wheel-could-land-brits-in-jail/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We already knew that UK motorists caught driving while texting (or vice-versa) could face a penalty of two whole years in the slammer, but now it seems that merely talking while controlling a motor vehicle could land you in the exact same predicament. Reportedly, British drivers caught chatting on a handset or sending an SMS while on the road "could be jailed" under new guidelines that are expected to be published. In the most extreme cases, they could be tagged with "dangerous driving, which carries a two-year maximum sentence and an unlimited fine." Currently, these folks simply get slapped with an "automatic fine and three points on their license under the lesser charge of careless driving." But honestly, it's not like prison would be so bad for cellphone addicts -- after all, we hear some cells over there actually provide service.

[Image courtesy of MotorTrend]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Britishfinejaillawlegalpoliceprisonsmstexttext messagingtextingTextMessagingukFri, 21 Dec 2007 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Text to win: SMS playing a larger role in US elections]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/text-to-win-sms-playing-a-larger-role-in-us-elections/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/text-to-win-sms-playing-a-larger-role-in-us-elections/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/text-to-win-sms-playing-a-larger-role-in-us-elections/#commentsFiled under: ,

Despite skyrocketing growth, it's no secret that acceptance of text messaging in the US is still light years behind Europe and Asia. Countries around the world have been using SMS as a viable, effective method to get out the vote ahead of elections for years, and although we've seen sporadic efforts to do the same stateside, there has been no concentrated effort that has yielded tangible, measurable results. Of course, that's likely to change over the course of the next two or three presidential elections; young'uns in the US are far more likely than any other age group to send and receive text messages, after all, and those crafty politicians are always looking for exciting new ways to trumpet their agendas. Indeed, AFP points out that three Democratic candidates for the 2008 presidency -- Obama, Clinton, and Edwards -- have SMS short codes set up that let folks subscribe to campaign updates (interestingly, no Republican candidates have followed suit so far). A study by a Princeton grad student looking into technology in elections showed that people who were texted shortly before an election were a full four percent more likely to vote; while that doesn't sound like a big number, it's huge when you're talking about a national election where a single percent accounts for a million or more voters. Heck, who knows, in 20 years, we could all be voting by SMS, American Idol-style.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>messagingsmstextvotevotingMon, 17 Dec 2007 23:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel offers Voice2TXT voicemail transcription]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/alltel-offers-voice2txt-voicemail-transcription/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/alltel-offers-voice2txt-voicemail-transcription/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/alltel-offers-voice2txt-voicemail-transcription/#commentsFiled under: ,

Powered by SpinVox, Alltel has become the first national US carrier to offer a service capable of transcribing voicemails and sending them to subscribers as text messages. Dubbed Voice2TXT, the feature is offered in plans starting at $4.99 a month for 20 conversions all the way up to $19.99 for 100 conversions (what, no unlimited plan?) with texts sent by the system not counting against users' text messaging allowances. Signing up for the service apparently requires that folks reset their voicemail systems and re-record their greeting, and after that, you theoretically never need to listen to a recorded message again. Alltel's targeting the feature at people that frequently find themselves in meetings and can't take a call, but we have to ask: since you don't need to speak when you're listening to your voicemail, isn't staring at your phone and pressing keys every bit as annoying to those around you as holding the phone to your face?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelspinvoxvoice2txtvoicemailMon, 17 Dec 2007 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't forget it, kwiry it]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/13/dont-forget-it-kwiry-it/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/13/dont-forget-it-kwiry-it/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/13/dont-forget-it-kwiry-it/#commentsFiled under: ,

File this one in the "YES! this happens to me all the friggin' time" department: start-up kwiry has gone live with its SMS-based reminder service, which is free and dead simple to use (two key phrases we love to hear). Basically, the idea is this -- you're walking around, you see, hear, or think about something you want to remind yourself about later, and you text it to kwiry's SMS short code; the service collects your saved searches online so you can check 'em out later. It might not be too useful for smartphone power users that insist on doing all their mobile searches directly from their devices in real time, but for the overwhelming bulk of dumbphone folks, this could be huge. Head over to kwiry's site to sign up.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kwirysmstextThu, 13 Dec 2007 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA[SMS parties down on 15th birthday... again]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/07/sms-parties-down-on-15th-birthday-again/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/07/sms-parties-down-on-15th-birthday-again/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/07/sms-parties-down-on-15th-birthday-again/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ever wondered what it'd be like to have two birthdays in a single year? If so, just phone up, er, text SMS -- it's living the dream, baby! Apparently, the first "recorded text message" was sent from software engineer Neil Papworth to Richard Jarvis, a director at Vodafone, on December 3, 1992, which is arguably the birthday of SMS as we know it. Granted, the Short Message Service Center has been around just a hair longer, but without an official birth certificate tied to either, who are we to argue? So, here's to you (yet again), dear text messaging, but if you really try to sneak a third shindig in before the year's up, don't look to us to provide another round of hors d'oeuvres.

[Via TGDaily, image courtesy of The Sydney Morning Herald]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15birthdaysmstext messagestext messagingtextingTextMessagesTextMessagingFri, 07 Dec 2007 04:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple doesn't give us MMS on the iPhone, so the community does]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/06/apple-doesnt-give-us-mms-on-the-iphone-so-the-community-does/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/06/apple-doesnt-give-us-mms-on-the-iphone-so-the-community-does/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/06/apple-doesnt-give-us-mms-on-the-iphone-so-the-community-does/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Golly, we heart iPhone hackers. Seriously, is there anything these cats can't do? Short of magically bestowing our favorite Apple phone (see what we did there?) with 3G data, we're pretty confident that the dev community is going to end up fulfilling every last wish that Apple doesn't. A ModMyiPhone member has busted out an early release of a true, honest-to-goodness native MMS app, filling in perhaps one of the biggest gaps in the iPhone's out of the box functionality (yeah, we know you can MMS most carriers' phones via email, but it's still super annoying), and even better, it seriously looks stock from the screen shots. It's apparently still got a few issues -- and it's send-only for the moment -- but it's a great start. Keep on keepin' on, fellas!
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleiphonemessagingmmsmodmyiphoneThu, 06 Dec 2007 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Montclair State mandates use of GPS-enabled phones]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/04/montclair-state-mandates-use-of-gps-enabled-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/04/montclair-state-mandates-use-of-gps-enabled-phones/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/04/montclair-state-mandates-use-of-gps-enabled-phones/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nearly six months after Slippery Rock University introduced a RFID payment system for mobiles at its campus, we've learned that Montclair State University is requiring that all full-time undergraduates carry a school-issued mobile for their own safety. The handsets, which cost some $210 per semester, are already being carried by about 6,000 students, and feature a GPS function that can be activated to ensure campus police are alerted of their location if something goes awry. Aside from being able to send a request for help immediately, the phone will also call for assistance should the feature remain on for longer than a preset length of time. As it stands, the university has yet to see the Rave Guardian technology used in situations other than false alarms, but a 32-member police force is kept on staff in case any future calls prove legitimate.

[Image courtesy of WCBSTV]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gpsgps phoneGpsPhoneMontclair State UniversityMontclairStateUniversityrave wirelessRaveWirelesssafetysprintuniversityTue, 04 Dec 2007 01:03:00 EST<![CDATA[NEC develops real-time Japanese-to-English mobile translation software]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/30/nec-develops-real-time-english-to-japanese-mobile-translation-so/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/30/nec-develops-real-time-english-to-japanese-mobile-translation-so/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/30/nec-develops-real-time-english-to-japanese-mobile-translation-so/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We've already seen the idea of data-to-voice translation passed around, but NEC's latest software is far beyond the drawing board. Reportedly, the firm has developed a system that can understand around 50,000 Japanese words and translate them to English text on the mobile's display in just a second or two. The software was made compact enough to "operate on a small microchip mounted in a cellphone," and was designed especially to help users convert common travel phrases. Notably, it would be technically possible to make the English translation vocal, but according to NEC spokesman Mitsumasa Fukumoto, the firm isn't looking into that possibility at the moment. No word on when we'd see this technology hit the masses, nor if any other language combinations were in the works, but this would certainly make touring English-speaking locales a lot less strenuous for Japanese speakers.

[Via Physorg]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>englishjapaneselanguagenecsoftwaretranslationtranslatorvoice-recognitionFri, 30 Nov 2007 11:32:00 EST