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[BlackBerry touchscreen phone to be dubbed 'Thunder']]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/13/blackberry-touchscreen-phone-to-be-dubbed-thunder/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/13/blackberry-touchscreen-phone-to-be-dubbed-thunder/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/13/blackberry-touchscreen-phone-to-be-dubbed-thunder/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The industrious Boy Genius has apparently unearthed more juicy tidbits about that rumored BlackBerry touchscreen device. Word from BG is that the new iPhone-ish handset is now internally dubbed the "Thunder," and will come to Verizon and Vodafone as an exclusive device. The phone will reportedly have four physical keys (send, end, menu, and back), sport a hybrid CDMA EV-DO Rev. C / GSM HSPA radio, and could come equipped with a 4G LTE component. Outside Waterloo's labs, the device could be known as the BlackBerry 9500 -- though it's possible that designation could change. BGR has included a self-made mockup (above) of what the device may look like, but as of now, no one has laid eyes on this mythical creature.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9500thundertouchscreenwidescreenTue, 13 May 2008 12:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone releasing iPhone in Australia, Italy, India, and seven other countries]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/06/vodafone-releasing-iphone-in-australia-italy-india-and-seven/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/06/vodafone-releasing-iphone-in-australia-italy-india-and-seven/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/06/vodafone-releasing-iphone-in-australia-italy-india-and-seven/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Vodafone's just got a tiny, minor, insignificant announcement to make this morning: it's signed with Apple to sell the iPhone in ten markets, including Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy (so much for Telecom Italia), India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey. Expect the phone later this year -- that's all we know for now. Score one (or ten?) for Voda.

[Thanks, iB3nji]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsinternationaliphoneTue, 06 May 2008 02:36:00 EST<![CDATA[New Vodafone plans include unlimited internet -- and fine print]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/05/new-vodafone-plans-include-unlimited-internet-and-fine-print/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/05/new-vodafone-plans-include-unlimited-internet-and-fine-print/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/05/new-vodafone-plans-include-unlimited-internet-and-fine-print/#commentsFiled under:

New plans being lauded by Vodafone in the UK are going to run mobile internet fiends £7.50 (about $14.80) less than they otherwise would've thanks to the inclusion of unlimited data right in the bundle. The packages start at £25, and those over £40 also get their pick of unlimited texts, unlimited landline calls, or unlimited Vodafone-to-Vodafone calls. As any skeptic could've easily guessed, there's some critical fine print attached to the deal: the "unlimited" isn't so unlimited, getting capped at 500MB as part of Voda's fair use policy. For a sub-$15 plan that's not intended for tethering, that doesn't seem to be a problem -- but seriously, why even throw the word "unlimited" out there then?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>internetukunlimitedunlimited internetUnlimitedInternetvodavodafoneMon, 05 May 2008 14:40:00 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[China Mobile, Softbank and Vodafone to collaborate on mobile internet services]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/27/china-mobile-softbank-and-vodafone-to-collaborate-on-mobile-int/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/27/china-mobile-softbank-and-vodafone-to-collaborate-on-mobile-int/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/27/china-mobile-softbank-and-vodafone-to-collaborate-on-mobile-int/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Simmer down, we're not talking about yet another homegrown 3G standard from China here. Oh no -- Vodafone, Softbank and China Mobile are teaming up to establish a Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) that will "promote the development of new mobile technologies, applications and services." More specifically, the trio is aiming to accelerate the "commercial deployment of mobile internet services" such as mobile widgets. For starters, the initiative hopes to conjure up a platform for said widgets that can leverage the unique capabilities of mobile operators, and it's most certainly keeping the door to the party wide open for anyone who wants to get in on the action. As expected, we're not clearly told what to expect from this little tie-up, but we'll be keeping an ear to ground for any developments.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina mobileChinaMobilecollaborationinternetJILjoin innovation labJoinInnovationLabmobile broadbandmobile internetMobileBroadbandMobileInternetpartnerpartnershipsoftbankVodafoneSun, 27 Apr 2008 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone chief: Verizon needs LTE before we do]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/16/vodafone-chief-verizon-needs-lte-before-we-do/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/16/vodafone-chief-verizon-needs-lte-before-we-do/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/16/vodafone-chief-verizon-needs-lte-before-we-do/#commentsFiled under: , ,

BusinessWeek recently engaged Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin in an interesting, lively, and positively revealing interview about his company's 4G prospects, Android, and its marriage to Verizon, among other juicy morsels. The whole transcript is a good read, but we were particularly interested about his comments about LTE, the GSMA-adopted roadmap to 4G for GSM carriers. Despite the presumption that Vodafone would be moving to LTE alongside virtually everyone else, Sarin is careful to note that the company has not committed to it yet; they're still concerned about some intellectual property and technical issues, so they're steering clear of signing their names on the dotted line for the time being. He also says that partner Verizon is in more desperate, immediate need of LTE than it is, because EV-DO can't scale up to near-4G speeds to bridge the G gap the same way HSPA can. Either way, though, he says that Voda will be rolling out LTE in the 2011-2012 time frame, and that "for nobody is it an experience before 2010" -- so what difference does a year make, really?

[Via mocoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lteverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvodavodafonevzwWed, 16 Apr 2008 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's touchy F490 launches on Vodafone]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/09/samsungs-touchy-f490-launches-on-vodafone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/09/samsungs-touchy-f490-launches-on-vodafone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/09/samsungs-touchy-f490-launches-on-vodafone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As planned, Vodafone has launched the Samsung F490 -- you know, that full-screen touch piece for those of you that find themselves without need of the QWERTY keyboard afforded by the F700. The virtually button-free phone offers pretty much every feature a modern mobile warrior could be looking for -- save a smartphone operating system -- with a 5 megapixel camera, HSDPA, stereo Bluetooth, microSD slot, and that Croix interface Samsung spent a good deal of time touting when it was introduced last year. As is frequently the case with European carriers, there are creative ways to make even this high-end device free depending on the plan you choose, so go ahead and commit yourself to one bajillion minutes and texts per month if you want to keep your wallet stowed when placing your order.

[Via MobileBurn]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f490samsungsgh-f490touchvodafoneWed, 09 Apr 2008 14:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone CEO urges industry to rally around LTE]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/03/vodafone-ceo-urges-industry-to-rally-around-lte/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/03/vodafone-ceo-urges-industry-to-rally-around-lte/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/03/vodafone-ceo-urges-industry-to-rally-around-lte/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Late last year, we were still wondering whether LTE even had the backing to keep up with WiMAX. Fast forward to CTIA 2008, and my, how the tables have turned. Vodafone, which already teamed up with Verizon in order to initiate an LTE trial in 2008, urged the rest of the wireless sector to put its support squarely behind Long Term Evolution. Vodafone Group's CEO, Arun Sarin, suggested that we could all see mobile internet speeds more similar to those enjoyed on the PC today if the industry "rallied around one broadband standard," specifically noting that "we need to look at LTE as an all-encompassing standard." The push comes hot on the heels of Sprint's unfortunate delay of its XOHM WiMAX network, but it should be noted that infrastructure vendors in attendance tended to feel that the two would coexist at least in the short term. Sheesh, let's just forget this whole LTE / WiMAX spat and place our bets on TD-SCDMA.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4gArun SarinArunSarinctiactia 2008Ctia2008industryindustry standardIndustryStandardLTEstandardStandardizevodafoneThu, 03 Apr 2008 08:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone cleans house, 450 big wigs shown the door]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/19/vodafone-cleans-house-450-big-wigs-shown-the-door/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/19/vodafone-cleans-house-450-big-wigs-shown-the-door/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/19/vodafone-cleans-house-450-big-wigs-shown-the-door/#commentsFiled under:

If you're going to cut the fat and get down to business, we suppose there's no better place to start than somewhere vaguely in the middle, and that's exactly what Vodafone has taken to doing in a just-announced round of job cuts. 450 heads in management will roll, mostly in the megacarrier's UK headquarters, while the overall population will remain stable by replacing 'em with 330 "retail advisers" specializing in explaining data services to customers and another 160 in various sales, service, and billing roles. Along with the Orange tower synergy, we're really starting to notice you getting a little thinner in the waist, Voda.

[Via mocoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jobslayoffsukvodavodafoneWed, 19 Mar 2008 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone lining up the Samsung F490?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/14/vodafone-lining-up-the-samsung-f490/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/14/vodafone-lining-up-the-samsung-f490/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/14/vodafone-lining-up-the-samsung-f490/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Say hello to what may well be Vodafone's newest, shiniest, and touch-screeniest new set, the Samsung F490. While we've not seen anything official from Vodafone on this, the pic is looking pretty convincing and the rumblings from near and far seem to agree. Pricing is set -- apparently -- from $free on the right contract. No word on when we can expect this to land on the shelves in the UK, but we'll drop you all a note as soon as we hear something substantial.

[Via Phonemag]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>F490SamsungTouchWizVodafoneFri, 14 Mar 2008 00:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone's Otello draws a blank on Chancellor Angela Merkel query]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/05/vodafones-otello-draws-a-blank-on-chancellor-angela-merkel-quer/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/05/vodafones-otello-draws-a-blank-on-chancellor-angela-merkel-quer/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/05/vodafones-otello-draws-a-blank-on-chancellor-angela-merkel-quer/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If there's one person at CeBIT you don't want to not recognize, it's German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Nevertheless, we can only assume that Vodafone booth workers were left with their tails stuck between their legs after said figure gave its recently announced picture-based search engine a go. Upon Otella returning nothing after a picture was presumably snapped of Merkel, she quickly asserted: "I am not in the database." Better still, she continued by proclaiming: "That's a major gap." Heck, maybe she should be happy -- after all, Vodafone's set to trial the service with Europe's "best selling tabloid," and not being in there would most certainly be a good thing.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bildcebitcebit 2008Cebit2008germangermanyotellopicture searchPictureSearchsearchsearch engineSearchEnginesearchingtrialvodafoneWed, 05 Mar 2008 08:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone's Otello search engine uses images, not text]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/04/vodafones-otello-search-uses-images-not-text/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/04/vodafones-otello-search-uses-images-not-text/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/04/vodafones-otello-search-uses-images-not-text/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've certainly seen some clever methods of searching from one's mobile, but Vodafone's latest idea is quite the stroke of genius. Showcased at CeBIT, the Otello search engine simply uses images as input; in other words, handset owners just snap a picture of anything -- a landmark, DVD case, unidentified flying object, etc. -- and Otello then "returns information relevant to the picture to the mobile phone." Reportedly, Vodafone is expected to conduct a trial with German paper Bild in which readers can "find out more about specially-marked articles by photographing them with their mobile's camera and sending the image to [the aforementioned paper]." Unfortunately, the carrier is being tight-lipped with its plans for Otello beyond the trial, but if this stuff functions as advertised, we can't see it remaining a secret for long.

[Via Pocket-lint]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bildcebitcebit 2008Cebit2008germangermanyotellopicture searchPictureSearchsearchsearch engineSearchEnginesearchingtrialvodafoneTue, 04 Mar 2008 09:36:00 EST<![CDATA[On-device self service for Vodafone: chew out your phone, not a live rep]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/26/on-device-self-service-for-vodafone-chew-out-your-phone-not-a/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/26/on-device-self-service-for-vodafone-chew-out-your-phone-not-a/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/26/on-device-self-service-for-vodafone-chew-out-your-phone-not-a/#commentsFiled under: ,


Likely in an effort to reduce customer service costs and keep the tools for resolving the most basic, common phone problems in the hands of the users themselves, Vodafone has inked a deal with SNAPin Software to bring its SelfService software to handsets. Available initially on smartphones, the app will let folks keep tabs on their accounts, diagnose common configuration issues, and fix them all without having to interact with a pesky (read: expensive) human. Trials conducted by the carrier indicated that the app was well-received, and interestingly could actually boost revenue by making previously timid users more willing to branch out and try new offerings, knowing that they can be bailed out by the software if they find themselves in some sort of quagmire.

[Via Slashphone]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customer serviceCustomerServiceself serviceSelfServicevodavodafoneTue, 26 Feb 2008 16:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone continues self-branding tradition with 227 and 228]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/vodafone-continues-self-branding-tradition-with-227-and-228/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/vodafone-continues-self-branding-tradition-with-227-and-228/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/vodafone-continues-self-branding-tradition-with-227-and-228/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


These two bad boys aren't about to turn any heads, but hey, that's not exactly what they were designed to do. Like self-branded Vodafone handsets of days gone by, the 227 and 228 from Vodafone are intended to fill in the lower end of Vodafone's expansive lineup (if you can really drop a smartphone down into that category, anyway) while name-brand devices occupy every other nook and cranny. To give you an idea of just how low end these particular suckers are, Vodafone's product pages list "color display" as the only feature of the models other than the form factors themselves. On the upside, they're free on contract and are available now on some of Vodafone's European networks, so we guess we don't have a lot of room to complain.

[Via Slashphone]

Read - Vodafone 227
Read - Vodafone 228
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>227228clamshellflipslidervodavodafoneMon, 25 Feb 2008 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't put all your eggs in one basket: Vodafone selects Neverfail for BlackBerry failover]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/dont-put-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket-vodafone-selects-neverfai/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/dont-put-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket-vodafone-selects-neverfai/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/dont-put-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket-vodafone-selects-neverfai/#commentsFiled under: ,


Recent outages of RIM's carrier-wide systems in the States have put a giant spotlight on just how quickly the world's BlackBerry addicts can go into the most severe forms of withdrawal when their life-sustaining email is unceremoniously yanked from their sore thumbs. For companies rolling deep with their own BlackBerry Enterprise Servers on Vodafone, though, life just got a little easier thanks to the addition of Neverfail's high availability service, which stands guard over the back end and can take a number of actions if any problems are detected, including automatic restarting of software and servers, redirection to failover systems, or notification of IT peeps. Of course, it'd be great if the primary system just stayed online to begin with, but failing that, this seems like a solid option for companies whose executives immediately curl into the fetal position and start sobbing uncontrollably if the 8800 in their breast pocket turns into a paperweight.

[Via IntoMobile and Mobile Europe]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryneverfailrimvodavodafoneMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone, Orange detail upcoming "joint network efficiencies" in UK]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/vodafone-orange-detail-upcoming-joint-network-efficiencies-in/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/vodafone-orange-detail-upcoming-joint-network-efficiencies-in/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/25/vodafone-orange-detail-upcoming-joint-network-efficiencies-in/#commentsFiled under: ,

Perhaps spurred to action by T-Mobile's cooperation with 3, Vodafone's and Orange's UK networks have fleshed out some details over how exactly they'll be sharing infrastructure going forward. Starting this year, the two carriers will begin tag-teaming some cell sites across the country, leading to a roughly 15 percent reduction in the total number of sites needed (or so they say) in the first two years of the plan. They're quick to point out that they'll both continue to maintain totally separate networks and be solely responsible for the quality of service provided, it's really just a simple matter of slapping both companies' repeaters up on the masts. Seems like a win / win, we figure.

[Via MobileBurn]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>orangeukvodavodafoneMon, 25 Feb 2008 06:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung i640 now available on Vodafone]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/23/samsung-i640-now-available-on-vodafone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/23/samsung-i640-now-available-on-vodafone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/23/samsung-i640-now-available-on-vodafone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Took a little while, but the Samsung i640 is finally here. Well, "here" is the proper word to user if you live in the UK, anyway; otherwise, "there" is likely a better term. The follow-on to the attractive i620 (and the i600 before that) packs Windows Mobile 6, HSDPA, a 2 megapixel camera, QWERTY keyboard, and the BlackJack II's scroll wheel into a fabulously compact slider form factor. The i620's white was a nice change of pace, but we imagine they'll still be able to push a few of these in the subdued, biz-friendly black we're seeing here, especially considering that it's as cheap as zilch on contract.

[Via Coolsmartphone]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>i640samsungsgh-i640slidervodavodafonewindows mobilewindows mobile 6WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6wm6Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:38:00 EST<![CDATA[O2, Vodafone both working on 3G femtocell trials]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/22/o2-vodafone-both-working-on-3g-femtocell-trials/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/22/o2-vodafone-both-working-on-3g-femtocell-trials/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/22/o2-vodafone-both-working-on-3g-femtocell-trials/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Femtocells may be one of the closest things we have to a win / win in the wireless industry, lowering infrastructure costs for carriers and giving customers on-demand, self-installable coverage where they wouldn't have it otherwise, all without requiring WiFi-capable handsets that UMA services like T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home do. It makes sense that a number of carriers would be rushing to get femtocells into end users' hands, then, and both O2 and Vodafone are doing exactly that in separate European trials. O2's trial involves NEC equipment in the UK, while Vodafone is turning to Huawei and Alcatel-Lucent to supply hardware to Spanish testers. Both trials involve 3G cells (yay!) and at least O2 has gone on record saying that a successful test will lead to commercialization by early next year. Kinda strange that Sprint is so far ahead of the curve on this one, but hey, do you see us complaining?

Read - NEC and O2 trial femtocells in the UK
Read - Vodafone Group trials 3G femtocell technology
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alcatel lucentAlcatelLucentfemtocellhuaweineco2trialvodavodafoneFri, 22 Feb 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[China Mobile embraces actual standards, commits to LTE trial]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/china-mobile-embraces-actual-standards-commits-to-lte-trial/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/china-mobile-embraces-actual-standards-commits-to-lte-trial/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/13/china-mobile-embraces-actual-standards-commits-to-lte-trial/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For a country with a vibrant history of shunning global standards in favor of homegrown, royalty-free ones, this is a pretty huge reversal of strategy -- and possibly an implicit admission that rolling your own wireless broadband specification is just more trouble than it's worth. Even before China's 3G TD-SCDMA network is deployed on a wide scale, China Mobile has hooked up with Vodafone and child Verizon Wireless to trial LTE on its home turf to help figure out what type of spectrum utilization yields the fastest and most efficient coverage. As China Mobile itself points out, the hookup could ultimately lead to an extraordinarily large -- dare we say, global 4G network that leads to a huge win for customers of the trio. It'll be a few years yet before any of us can reap cold, hard benefits, but it's a start.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewschinachina mobileChinaMobilelteverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvodafonevzwWed, 13 Feb 2008 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile advertising takes center stage at MWC]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/11/mobile-advertising-takes-center-stage-at-mwc/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/11/mobile-advertising-takes-center-stage-at-mwc/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/11/mobile-advertising-takes-center-stage-at-mwc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Because the mobile industry isn't nearly monetized enough as it is (we jest, we jest), big players have come out of the woodwork at Mobile World Congress this year to announce some pretty heavy initiatives with the goal of revolutionizing the way we're hit up with advertising on our phones. Nokia has actually come forward with two mobile ad headliners: first, the Nokia Media Network is now official, bringing together ads on Nokia's own sites as well as 70-plus publishers' and carriers' properties under a single umbrella, all made possible by the company's 2007 acquisition of Enpocket; second, Nokia Siemens Networks has announced a turnkey solution for folks wishing to bite the targeted mobile ad bullet, spanning from consulting to infrastructure and ad delivery. Meanwhile, the big five carriers in the UK -- Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, O2, and 3 -- have announced that they're working with the GSM Association to develop a common standard for measuring mobile ad reach, a marked change in some of the carriers' typical policies of keeping customer metrics well out of reach of potential advertisers and therefore limiting interest. One of those carriers, O2, has separately revealed that it has launched its own mobile advertising service (take that, Nokia Media Network) following a 2007 trial that will allow advertisers to get really, really down and dirty with their target demos -- age, location, browsing behavior, and so on -- through a system that generated a 6 percent click-through rate in testing. As long as the average phone display stays QVGA or lower, we're pretty sure we're not down with teeny, tiny banner ads all up in our business, but it's the wave of the future, it seems.

[Via mocoNews]

Read - Nokia Media Network
Read - Nokia Siemens Networks
Read - UK mobile companies to develop advertising standards
Read - O2 sets sights on mobile advertising market
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3adadsadvertisinghutchison 3Hutchison3mwcnokianokia media networknokia siemensNokiaMediaNetworkNokiaSiemenso2oranget-mobilevodafoneMon, 11 Feb 2008 22:12:00 EST<![CDATA[LiMo Foundation plans SDK for mid 2008]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/11/limo-foundation-plans-sdk-for-mid-2008/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/11/limo-foundation-plans-sdk-for-mid-2008/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/11/limo-foundation-plans-sdk-for-mid-2008/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


With all the hubbub over Android at Mobile World Congress this year (and in the world, in general), it only makes sense that other Linux-based contenders would step into the light. The LiMo Foundation -- a consortium of some pretty major players -- has announced plans for an official SDK in the second half of the year which will cover native, Java, and WebKit development. The software, dubbed the R1 LiMo Platform, will pull together existing APIs and development tools into a more cohesive whole, with ACCESS taking the lead on the native side, Aplix heading up Java development, and Motorola fleshing out the WebKit tools. There are 18 LiMo-powered handsets on display at Mobile World Congress this year, with seven vendors using the platform -- including Samsung and LG -- and the group says it's just added nine new companies to the team. The creation of a cohesive platform should bolster the consortium's position in the market. Says CCS Insight's Ben Wood, "To have a credible platform, a more detailed operating system framework is likely to be required."

Read - LiMo Foundation Announces SDK Strategy
Read - LG, Samsung bet on new mobile Linux platform
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>limo foundationLimoFoundationmobile linuxMobileLinuxsdksoftware development kitSoftwareDevelopmentKitMon, 11 Feb 2008 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone Germany already committed to Toshiba G710 as "VDA"]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/vodafone-germany-already-committed-to-toshiba-g710-as-vda/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/vodafone-germany-already-committed-to-toshiba-g710-as-vda/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/vodafone-germany-already-committed-to-toshiba-g710-as-vda/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Like the QWERTY form factor on Windows Mobile Standard? Like Toshiba? Hate 3G data? Live in Germany? If you answered "yes" to all of the above, you might just be a perfect fit for the "VDA." Hot on the heels of an announcement from Toshiba as the unbranded G710, the::unwired reports that Vodafone Germany has signed up to carry the little beast in its lineup as the VDA. Besides EDGE data, you get a 2 megapixel cam, GPS, 64MB of RAM, 128MB of internal ROM, and support for microSD cards up to 2GB all displayed through a positively uninteresting QVGA display. No word yet on pricing or availability, but we can't imagine there are too many folks out there rearing to line up for this one.
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And it's coming to Vodafone Spain. We're not sure why only Vodafone would think that a white version of the F700 is such a great idea ('cause it is), so we're kinda hoping Verizon takes note.

[Via PHONE Magazine]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f700samsungsgh-f700spainvodafonevodafone spainVodafoneSpainwhiteTue, 15 Jan 2008 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Self-branded WinMo 6.1 smartphone leaks out of Vodafone, too]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/self-branded-winmo-6-1-smartphone-leaks-out-of-vodafone-too/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/self-branded-winmo-6-1-smartphone-leaks-out-of-vodafone-too/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/self-branded-winmo-6-1-smartphone-leaks-out-of-vodafone-too/#commentsFiled under: , ,


In case none of the HP or Palm options struck your fancy, there'll be yet another way to get your Windows Mobile on through Vodafone this year. Voda has a tendency to self-brand some of its lower end offerings, and this here v16xx seems like no exception on account of its EDGE radio and 1.3 megapixel camera (though the integrated GPS is pretty nice, we suppose). The QWERTY-equipped touchscreen device will feature Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional by the time it gets around to launching in September of this year, likely sourced from a Chinese ODM that prefers to stay out of the spotlight. Worth the £120 (about $237) asking price? If you can afford to lose fast data and the fame and celebrity that comes with owning a name brand phone, we'd say so.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>qwertyv16xxvodafonewindows mobilewindows mobile 6.1WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.1wm6.1Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone's Symbian roadmap for 2008 revealed]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/vodafones-symbian-roadmap-for-2008-revealed/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/vodafones-symbian-roadmap-for-2008-revealed/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/vodafones-symbian-roadmap-for-2008-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We've seen so much stuff flowing from BoyGenius about what Vodafone is up to that we almost missed this, the Symbian roadmap for 2008. Nothing too mysterious can be gleaned from the roadmap, we just see that the previously leaked Nokia Dora and Nokia Liam are set for release in the second half of this year. Enjoy the pretty pic.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESCES 2008Ces2008DoraLiamNokiaroadmapSymbianMon, 07 Jan 2008 15:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone's Windows Mobile roadmap revealed, delights aplenty]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/06/vodafones-windows-mobile-roadmap-revealed-delights-aplenty/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/06/vodafones-windows-mobile-roadmap-revealed-delights-aplenty/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/06/vodafones-windows-mobile-roadmap-revealed-delights-aplenty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Wow, just when we thought Vodafone might not have any more secrets, a couple more were dragged out of the bag. Seems BoyGenius' presentation extraordinaire wasn't complete without laying out exactly what can be expected this year on the Windows Mobile front. As you can see there are a couple new tasty morsels such as a HSDPA tablet with GPS and WiFi -- could be HTC Shift -- an unknown HSDPA slider with GPS and WiFi as well as the previously mentioned Palm Drucker, HP Oak, HP Silver, and Palm Wanda. Big year ahead for Vodafone on the business user front, and we're stoked to catch these things as they start to land, so see ya in Q2 2008 friends.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HTCroadmapshiftvodafonewindows MobileWindowsMobileSun, 06 Jan 2008 12:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone roadmap reveals HP Oak, all gloss no wood]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/vodafone-roadmap-reveals-hp-oak-all-gloss-no-wood/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/vodafone-roadmap-reveals-hp-oak-all-gloss-no-wood/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/vodafone-roadmap-reveals-hp-oak-all-gloss-no-wood/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


HP's Oak makes an appearance in the relentless binge of new handset madness that is the Vodafone roadmap. The HP Oak delivers many of the baubles we've come to expect from Windows Mobile devices, things like 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, quad-band GSM, qwerty keyboard, a touchscreen, and even GPS have found there way in. Other connectivity options include the almost standard WiFi and Bluetooth, with chatter time listed as 3.5 hours and 360 hours standby. We're feeling a lot of similarities between this fella and the HTC TyTN II, but the HP gets the puffy rainbow sticker -- with prancing Pegasus, of course -- for opting to add that ultra-handy dialpad on the front. Oak's due date is set for September 2008 at roughly $500.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2008Ces2008HPoakVodafoneSat, 05 Jan 2008 23:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia "Dora" to replace E65]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/nokia-dora-to-replace-e65/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/nokia-dora-to-replace-e65/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/nokia-dora-to-replace-e65/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


We were still kinda settling in with the businesslike E65 slider, a phone that feels like it just found its way into widespread commercial availability a few months back. Ah, that's because it did! No bother, though; time marches mercilessly on, and Nokia's apparently getting ready for the inevitable future with this here piece coined "Dora." We know this from the same endless barrage of Vodafone leaks that have plagued the carrier today, and we're sensing some common themes: like several others in the mix, this one features 3.6Mbps HSDPA, GPS, and WiFi. The camera is up from 2 megapixels to 3.2, and we're a tad skeptical on this one, but the slide claims that we can expect a 320 x 320 display which would be an improvement over the E65's 320 x 240. This one's expected on Voda next quarter for £280 (about $554).
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewse65nokias60slidersymbianvodavodafoneSat, 05 Jan 2008 23:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Wanda is the Treo 500v successor]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/palm-wanda-is-the-treo-500v-successor/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/palm-wanda-is-the-treo-500v-successor/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/palm-wanda-is-the-treo-500v-successor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Wow, look at what Palm and Vodafone are bringing us now via the good people at Boy Genius Report, the Palm Wanda. Terrible name (please tell us it's just a codename!) aside, the specs are looking pretty decent with triband GSM and HSDPA covered as well as GPS for your navigational needs. The sheet also lists a "BURY" hardwire kit for car use and Windows Mobile 6.1 as the OS of choice. Launch is currently set for the September 2008 timeframe with the price set at roughly $350 -- though, of course that's a contract price.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2008Ces2008Palmtreo 550vTreo550vwandaSat, 05 Jan 2008 22:12:00 EST<![CDATA[HP's Pearl -- er, "Silver" smartphone]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/hps-pearl-er-silver-smartphone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/hps-pearl-er-silver-smartphone/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/hps-pearl-er-silver-smartphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Palm's not the only company bringing some new Windows Mobile kit to Vodafone this year -- Boy Genius Report's scoopage of Voda's '08 lineup includes a new HP, too. The "Silver" (a codename, we assume) should put the kinda sad iPAQ 510 out of business and appears to take a page straight outta the Pearl's book, right down to the WiFi, GPS, and SureType keyboard (which is surprisingly actually identified as "SureType," a RIM trademark). Unlike the Pearl, though, this sucker rocks Windows Mobile 6 Standard and HSDPA -- a whopping 7.2Mbps of it. Look for it in July for about £250 ($494).
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewshpsilvervodavodafonewindows mobileWindowsMobileSat, 05 Jan 2008 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia "Liam" is the E61i successor]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/nokia-liam-is-the-e61i-successor/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/nokia-liam-is-the-e61i-successor/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/05/nokia-liam-is-the-e61i-successor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Okay, next up from Boy Genius Report's Vodafone breakdown comes the Nokia "Liam," the phone we just saw in the wild being called the E71. No word from this slide whether the E71 name is gonna stick, but Liam is pretty obviously a codename so it'll pick up an "E" number of one sort or another by the time it launches in the second quarter. Looks like all the features we'd heard so far are holding strong: HSDPA, 3.2 megapixel cam, WiFi, GPS, video call support, and pretty much all the S60 you can handle. No word from this slide whether US 3G's in the mix, but we're crossing our fingers.
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Boy Genius Report has seemingly scooped up a healthy portion of Voda's '08 roadmap here, and with it a host of unannounced devices from various manufacturers. Here's one we kinda expected at this point: a new BlackBerry previously spotted via a shady eBay auction, once thought to be a member of the upcoming 9000 series but identified here as an "8XXX" -- in other words, either RIM or Voda hasn't quite decided yet how to shoehorn it into the 8000 series lineup. Projected launch (on Voda, anyway -- other carriers may vary) is May of this year, bringing quadband EDGE, triband 3.6Mbps HSDPA, a 480 x 320 display, 2 megapixel cam, GPS, WiFi, and a whoppin' 624MHz core to "senior executives" across the land (Vodafone's words, not ours). These guys are getting better at making slick looking devices with every iteration, are they not?
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Wait, what? We'd suspected that carriers always secretly hated subscribers tethering their phones to their computers, but it's another matter entirely for one of the world's largest to just come right out and say it. A British man discovered that the data speeds on his Vodafone mobile were faster and more reliable than those offered by his ISP, so he cabled it up to his PC and proceeded to blow through "20 or 30" TV show downloads and a handful of albums. Next thing he knows, Voda's cutting him off and slapping him with a £27,322 (about $54,000) bill -- a bill he has no capability to pay, and a bill he'd never expected on account of a £7.50 (about $15) data plan that he thought was unlimited, but was actually designed for mobile use with 125MB of data allowance per month. Though it says that the charges are totally legit, Vodafone is considering going easy on the guy, but here's the kicker: the carrier's advice is to "never use a mobile as a modem." What's next, should we "never use a mobile as a mobile" for fear that we might go over our monthly minute allowance?

[Via textually.org]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billvodavodafoneWed, 26 Dec 2007 13:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone quietly kills Windows Mobile-based 920]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/19/vodafone-quietly-kills-windows-mobile-based-920/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/19/vodafone-quietly-kills-windows-mobile-based-920/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/19/vodafone-quietly-kills-windows-mobile-based-920/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We hope you weren't holding out to scoop up one of those Vodafone 920s to slide into the Festivus stocking, because, well, it no longer exists. It seems that Voda has up and pulled a Foleo on the HTC-sourced Windows Mobile slider, silently dropping it from the planned holiday lineup without giving a reason why. Maybe the carrier felt it duplicated some of its other offerings to closely, maybe it couldn't pass the carrier's usual battery of tests -- but whatever the reason, it's time to find another phone to give to that WinMo lover in your life.
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For Ericsson and for the world at large, the company's new Base Transceiver Station Standby feature means a possible reduction of 1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions if the software upgrade were to be rolled out globally. For Vodafone Germany, it represents a power savings of 10 to 20 percent -- and therefore an energy bill 10 to 20 percent lower -- and while we reckon that's not quite as scrupulous a reason, it's still a win / win situation as far as we're concerned. The so-called BTS Standby upgrade is compatible with Ericsson tower equipment manufactured since 1995, giving hope that it could end up seeing fairly rapid and widespread acceptance across the world's GSM carriers, inching us toward Ericsson's lofty CO2 emission reduction claim. Don't suppose Vodafone would want to go with some of those tower tubes while they're at it, would they?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>btsco2emissionsericssonvodafoneTue, 18 Dec 2007 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[UK carriers ganging up on 3?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/16/uk-carriers-ganging-up-on-3/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/16/uk-carriers-ganging-up-on-3/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/16/uk-carriers-ganging-up-on-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The underdog in Britain's mobile market, 3, is accusing its larger rivals of trying to shut it out of the market to the tune of £250 million (about $500 million), taking its sob story all the way to the UK's court system. The claim revolves around a series of meetings in 2005 of the Operator Steering Group -- a group to which Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange, O2, and 3 all belonged -- in which everyone but 3 voted to keep the nation's number transfer delay at five days, despite the fact that the process takes mere hours in other European countries. 3 claims that the larger carriers are using this excruciatingly long window to convince folks porting their numbers to 3 to stay by throwing fantastic discount packages their way. On the surface it all sounds like a plea for government help when the little guy finds itself unable to compete, but who knows, maybe there's some actual collusion going on here.

[Via textually.org]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3hutchison 3Hutchison3o2oranget-mobilevodafoneSun, 16 Dec 2007 15:44:00 EST<![CDATA[German court says T-Mobile can sell iPhone exclusively -- Vodafone injunction dismissed]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/04/german-court-says-t-mobile-can-sell-iphone-exclusively-vodafo/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/04/german-court-says-t-mobile-can-sell-iphone-exclusively-vodafo/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/04/german-court-says-t-mobile-can-sell-iphone-exclusively-vodafo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Surprise! The German courts have reversed the November decision and now say that T-Mobile has the right to sell the iPhone exclusively in Germany. As a result, the injunction granted to Vodafone has been dismissed. T-Mobile still has the right to seek damages. Ah well, there are still unlocked iPhones in France if anyone's looking.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applegermanyinjunctioniphonelegalt-mobilevodafoneTue, 04 Dec 2007 08:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon and Vodafone to launch LTE trial in 2008]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/29/verizon-and-vodafone-to-launch-lte-trial-in-2008/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/29/verizon-and-vodafone-to-launch-lte-trial-in-2008/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/29/verizon-and-vodafone-to-launch-lte-trial-in-2008/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The decision to move to LTE for their next-gen network is old news. However, Vodafone and Verizon's coordinated trial set to launch in 2008 is most definitely new. Suppliers will include Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia-Siemens, and Nortel with devices anticipated from the usuals (LG, Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, and Sony Ericsson) in addition to non-traditional consumer electronics companies looking to get a foothold on the nascent wireless broadband service. Presumably the latter is a nod in the direction of Verizon's suspect, Open Development initiative announced earlier this week. No word on dates or locations but we'll certainly let you know how this trial network, with a theoretical 100Mbps download and 50Mbps upload capability, unfolds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lteThu, 29 Nov 2007 07:48:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile vs. Vodafone: November 29th, Germany -- be there]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/23/t-mobile-vs-vodafone-november-29th-germany-be-there/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/23/t-mobile-vs-vodafone-november-29th-germany-be-there/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/23/t-mobile-vs-vodafone-november-29th-germany-be-there/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The gloves are off and the court date is set: T-Mobile faces off with arch rival Vodafone on November 29th in Germany. Will T-Mobile's exclusivity on the iPhone continue unabated or will Germany's other carriers (and their consumers) still not reap the benefits of an unlocked iPhone due to its prohibitively high, €999 cost? Tune in next week to find out.

Pssst, hey Germany... yeah you. Just in case T-Mobile wins and discontinues the unlocked offering, November 29th is the same date that your neighbors in France will start selling their iPhones. Chances are, an unlocked version will be sold too. Just saying is all.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealapplegermanyinjunctioniphonelegalt-mobilevodafoneFri, 23 Nov 2007 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone to have exclusive rights to 3G iPhone in Q1?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/20/vodafone-to-have-exclusive-rights-to-3g-iphone-in-q1/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/20/vodafone-to-have-exclusive-rights-to-3g-iphone-in-q1/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/20/vodafone-to-have-exclusive-rights-to-3g-iphone-in-q1/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's been awhile since we've had a decent 3G iPhone rumor to kick about. Perhaps it was the collective disappointment of the 2.5G release on Europe which deflated all the mongering. Whatever it was, we all know it's coming, it's just a question of when. Well, the gossip coming out of Italy calls for a Q1 release of a UMTS iPhone. Italian site Morse.IT claims to have spoken to high-level sources and "confirms" in no uncertain terms that Vodafone has signed an exclusive deal with Apple. Right, the same company currently suing T-Mobile in Germany for their iPhone exclusivity. The launch of the 3G iPhone would occur simultaneously in all countries where the carrier operates but will not be announced until after the holidays (MacWorld?) to avoid impacting sales of the existing iPhone. The timing chides well with other rumors calling for a 3G release before May. Still, a Vodafone iPhone sold in the UK and Germany would seem a violation of those long-term exclusive deals presumably signed with Apple by O2 and T-Mobile, right? Sure, unless of course, those contract were for rights to the "iPhone," not the "iPhone 3G" you silly lawyers.

[via Unwired View]
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