Skype for Symbian Now Available via Ovi Store

Skype and Nokia officially announced today the launch of Skype for Symbian in the Ovi Store, the Skype client for Nokia smartphones that run under the Symbian operating system. The application offers Nokia smartphone users the possibility to use Skype while on the move, both over Wi-Fi networks or mobile data connections (GPRS, EDGE, 3G), and can be downloaded for free from the Ovi Store.

While using Skype for Symbian, Nokia smartphone owners will be able to:
- Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world
- Save money on calls and texts (SMS) to phones abroad
- Send and receive instant messages to and from individuals or groups
- Share pictures, videos and other files
- Receive calls to their existing online number
- See when Skype contacts are online and available to call or IM
- Easily import names and numbers from the phone's address book
All Nokia handsets powered by Symbian ^1 are compatible with the application, and Skype says that it also plans on introducing a client for Symbian mobile phones delivered to the market by other handset vendors, including Sony Ericsson. The inclusion of Skype for Symbian in the Ovi Store enables more than 200 million users to download the application on their handsets, something that is expected to increase the usage of the application.
“With Skype for Nokia smartphones, more than 200 million smartphone users worldwide will be able to take the Skype features they love with them on the move. Alongside Skype's relationships with operators and handset manufacturers worldwide, making Skype available direct to consumers will help millions of users keep in contact with the people that are important to them without worrying about the cost, distance or whether they are away from a computer,” Russ Shaw, general manager, Mobile at Skype stated.
The Skype for Symbian application can be enjoyed on a wide range of touchscreen-enabled Nokia smartphones, including Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia 5530 and the following non-touch devices: Nokia E72, Nokia E71, Nokia E90, Nokia E63, Nokia E66, Nokia E51, Nokia N96, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8Gb, Nokia N85, Nokia N82, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8 Gb, Nokia N79, Nokia N78, Nokia 6220 classic, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 5320.
“Symbian enables us to bring smartphones to more and more people and ensures scale for our solutions and compelling services, such as Skype. We're seeing around 1.5 million downloads a day on Ovi Store now and believe that the Skype client for Nokia smartphones will have wide appeal to Symbian users,” said Jo Harlow, senior vice president for Smartphones, Nokia.

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Samsung S7070 Diva Now Available in the UK

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung has just made available a new device on the UK market, namely the Samsung S7070 Diva. The handset comes with a nice range of social networking capabilities, as well as with a Wish List application aimed mainly at women mobile phone users, and sports a diamond-shaped center key on the front, meant to induce the idea of luxury.

The new mobile phone comes to the market with Samsung's popular TouchWiz user interface, while boasting a 2.8-inches QVGA touchscreen display, as well as a fashion-conscious design that makes it stand up in the crowd. The Samsung S7070 Diva also comes with a microSD memory card slot with support for up to 8GB of additional storage space, as well as with a 3.2-megapixel photo snapper that provides a series of art effects.
Other specifications of the mobile phone include DNSe, though no 3.5 mm audio jack is included in the package, a 960 mAh Li-Ion battery that can deliver up to 10 hours of talk time or up to 800 hours of standby time, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, microUSB 2.0, GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 connectivity options, FM radio with RDS, and support for SMS, MMS, Email, all in a device that measures 101 x 54.8 x 13.4 mm and weighs in at 94 g.
As stated above, the device is already available in the UK, and various deals have been put in place for it. Carphone Warehouse has it on sale with a limited number of gift bags that include goodies from Benefit, while O2 UK offers a 12-month subscription to iSUBSCRIBE for the first 8000 users who purchase the Samsung S7070 Diva from it.
Carphone Warehouse has the handset available for purchase on its website with a T-Mobile contract. Those willing to make the purchase will receive the S7070 Diva for free, though they will have to sign in for a £15 per month contract with the carrier. With an Orange contract the device is available for free on a £20 per month plan, but it can also be purchased on pay as you go with T-Mobile, Orange, O2 or Vodafone for £130.

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T-Mobile USA Replaces Yahoo Search with Google

Wireless carrier T-Mobile USA has recently replaced the Yahoo search option for its users with Google search, following the ending of its exclusive search deal with Yahoo, a move that also puts an end to Yahoo's dominance on mobile search in the US. Two of the top four carriers in the country now offer Google search to their users, as T-Mobile has made the transition from Yahoo to Google during this week, a recent post on MocoNews states.

According to the news site, a Yahoo spokesperson already confirmed that T-Mobile is no longer working with them for search services, yet it seems that the carrier hasn't commented on the matter for the time being. Google will deliver search results for the web, and it appears T-Mobile will also work with search provider Medio Systems, which will return results for content, including ringtones and wallpapers, MocoNews notes.
T-Mobile has replaced the search engine on its portal, but that doesn't mean it will not work with Yahoo on other services. According to the Internet giant, the two companies will deliver other solutions to T-Mobile's users, including Yahoo! Mail, Messenger, News, Sports, Finance and Flickr. Moreover, Yahoo stated it would continue to work with T-Mobile in Europe, and that it also has over 80 carrier partnerships all around the world.
Interestingly enough, T-Mobile has replaced Yahoo search with Google at a time when other carriers do exactly the opposite, such as AT&T, which was recently reported to have replaced Google with Yahoo on an Android-based device it would launch on the market as soon as tomorrow, the Motorola Backflip. Not to mention that Verizon Wireless' Palm webOS users can choose from two search providers following a recent software update, namely Google and Bing. And most of you might already know that Microsoft and Yahoo have recently signed a deal through which Bing will power all Yahoo searches for several years.

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Motorola Officially Plans to Spin Off in Early 2011

Motorola officially announced on Thursday that it planned to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies, and that the spin off was planned to be made in the first quarter of the next year. The two companies that will result from the separation will include the Mobile Devices and Home businesses on the one side, and the Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Networks businesses on the other, Motorola also noted.

According to the company, the Mobile Devices and Home businesses will have Dr. Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer of Motorola, Inc., as chief executive officer effective immediately. The product portfolio offered by this business includes “mobile converged devices, digital entertainment devices in the home, and end-to-end video, voice and data solutions.” In addition, the company will also work with carriers on offering advanced personalized services.
Dr. Jha said, “The combination of Mobile Devices and our Home business brings together two highly complementary and innovative organizations. Together we will be best positioned to lead in the convergence of mobility, media, and the Internet. Our expanding portfolio of smartphones and end-to-end video content delivery capabilities will enable us to provide advanced mobile media solutions and multi-screen experiences for our customers."
Motorola’s Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Networks businesses will have Greg Brown, co-chief executive officer of Motorola, Inc., as chief executive officer, the company revealed. The business is focused on providing a comprehensive end-to-end portfolio of solutions, including rugged two-way radios, mobile computers, scanning, RFID, and wireless network infrastructure, and more. Mr. Brown stated, “We are the leading mission-and business-critical technology solutions provider with a commitment to innovation. As an independent company, we will continue to build on our long-standing tradition of strong customer relationships, leading-edge product development, quality, thought leadership, and solid financial performance.”
One more thing that should be noted is that both entities are expected to use the Motorola brand after separation. However, the Mobile Devices and Home business is the one which will own the Motorola brand, and will license it royalty free to the Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Networks business. More details on the separation and future plans of the two companies are to be unveiled at a later moment, the company also reports in the press-release announcing the spin off.

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Palm Releases webOS 1.4 for US and Europe

Sunnyvale-based mobile phone maker Palm announced on Friday the release of a new software update for handsets powered by its webOS mobile platform, namely webOS 1.4. The software solution is being delivered to users over-the-air for handset users on the Sprint network in the US and on the O2 UK, O2 DE, O2 Ireland, and Movistar networks in Europe. According to the company, users on other networks will also receive the new OS flavor in the near future.

Among the novelties brought to handsets by the new operating system flavor, we can count the ability to capture, edit, and share videos. WebOS 1.4 offers users the possibility to easily record video clips with the camera on their Palm webOS handsets, and also offers them the possibility to quickly edit and upload them on YouTube or Facebook. At the same time, users can also sent clips via email or MMS, all via a few clicks. The video embedded at the bottom of this article shows how the new feature works.
According to Palm, webOS 1.4 enables users to “get more done faster: The Calendar, Phone, Messaging, and Email apps have all been enhanced with new features to simplify common tasks (many based on feedback from our customers). For example, in the Calendar app, you can now dial a number that appears in the subject of an appointment. In the Email app, you can now sort by date, sender, and subject. In the Phone app, the Call log offers more options to easily connect to a contact (such as via SMS). And there are some new shortcuts for zipping from one app to another (for example, moving from a chat view to a phone call with that person). You¹ll also see improved performance in these apps.”
Among the other enhancements the new operating system flavor brings forth, we can also mention improved notifications, with the LED in the gesture area now being set to pulse when one receives a notification. At the same time, users will also be able to customize notification sounds in Messaging, Email (on an account-by-account basis), and Calendar, will enjoy enhanced Calendar synchronization performance, along with system improvements, security fixes and many other changes, all of which are detailed on Palm's website.

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Affordable Nokia 6303i classic Unveiled

One of the latest mobile phones that is set to deliver a nice range of capabilities to cellphone users out there while keeping the costs at a low level is the Nokia 6303i classic, a device unveiled today by the worldwide leading handset vendor Nokia. The new phone is said to include all the features that one user would need when connectivity is involved, and its capabilities are leveraged by the low price tag it comes to the market with, a little more than 100 Euros.

“Nokia today announced the Nokia 6303i classic, a sophisticated and compact device that follows in the footprints of the Nokia 6303 classic and builds on the proven formula that made Nokia the world leader in mobile phones. The device is great value for money with its amazing feature list and an estimated retail price of EUR 105, before taxes and subsidies,” a recent post on Nokia Press Bulleting notes.
According to the announcement, the new Nokia 6303i classic can easily prove itself as a reliable companion, which is also meant to provide users with at all times connectivity with family, friends, or people that matter most. The handset comes with support for email and instant messaging through the inclusion of Nokia Messaging in the package, a new means for one to keep in touch with contacts at all times.

At the same time, the new mobile phone sports a 2.2-inch display, along with a 3.2-megapixel photo snapper, along with an 'unequivocal' design: “stainless steel covers and compact size feel solid in the hand, and the intuitive user interface makes all key features easy to find.” On top of that, the device comes with extended battery life, which is meant to deliver enhanced experience when it comes to sharing online, browsing web, or listening to music.
According to the handset vendor, the new Nokia 6303i classic is expected to arrive on the market during the first quarter of the ongoing year.

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Motorola Invests in Mobile Barcode Developer Scanbuy

Mobile phone maker Motorola announced today that it has made an investment in Scanbuy, Inc., a leader in mobile barcode solutions. According to the company, its strategic investment arm, Motorola Ventures, was the main investor in Scanbuy, and was joined by Masthead Venture Partners, Hudson Ventures and other private investors. However, the company hasn't disclosed the financial terms of the investment.

The “ScanLife” platform from Scanbuy is a solution that offers a simple solution for advertisers to deliver digital information to consumers via the use of barcodes and camera phones. Businesses can place one- or two-dimensional barcodes on products, in magazine ads and other media, while consumers will receive product reviews, price comparisons and coupon offers when scanning the barcode. At the same time, users can also go to a website, view a video or share info with friends through a single click.
“Motorola has looked at this market very carefully and believes that Scanbuy has the best combination of technology and strong ecosystem partners in its space,” said Reese Schroeder, managing director of Motorola Ventures. “Mobile barcodes are an extremely powerful tool for consumers, businesses and wireless providers, which makes this opportunity very exciting for Motorola. The camera quality, display capability and processing power of today’s smartphones, coupled with advanced network speeds, now enable consumers and the advertising community to fully take advantage of mobile barcode technology.”
Businesses have at their disposal the ScanLife Code Management Platform, which enables them to track and analyze data like scan locations or quantities, so that they can understand the consumer habits better. ScanLife is already present on a wide range of mobile phones all around the world, including those powered by Android, BlackBerry OS, iPhone OS, Java and Symbian, Scanbuy notes.
“We have spent the last couple of years securing partnerships with leaders in the wireless ecosystem that now will set the stage for the expansion of mobile barcode technology around the world,” said Jonathan Bulkeley, chief executive officer of Scanbuy. “We are thrilled to have a strategic investor like Motorola involved at this next stage of development. Their expertise and resources will contribute to mass adoption of this great technology.”

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