Archive for March 15th, 2007

u-blox AG, the leading Swiss provider of GPS receiver technology, today announced a deal that sees its LEA-4S GPS module included in a revolutionary smartphone produced by innovative design house Tranzda Technologies Co. Ltd. The PM328 is a NEWPLUS Linux-Core smartphone that integrates phone, PDA, GPS and other multimedia entertainment functions in a product that is 16 mm thin.

The PM328 has an embedded GPS engine, voice navigation software and maps of 400 cities. This enables users to easily locate and navigate to any location using nothing but their mobile phone. The PM328’s WAP 1.1 / 2.0 browser means users can search for restaurants, museums, cinemas, or similar on the Internet and then use the phone’s GPS functionality to navigate to the chosen location. Other features include a USB interface, Bluetooth support, and Data Synch functions that enable SMS, contacts, email and music synchronization with the user’s PC.

“The PM328 offers everything a handset user could dream of, including phone and PDA functionality, several multimedia features and, of course, the latest must-have for handheld devices: A high performance GPS engine that provides accurate, uninterrupted positioning indoors and outdoors,” said Thomas Seiler, u-blox CEO.

Tranzda chose u-blox’ LEA-4S GPS module for its outstanding performance and power consumption of 38 mA that ensures the smartphone has a long battery times. The LEA-4S measures a mere 17 x 22.4 mm and comes with SuperSense®, u-blox’ award-winning -158 dBm high sensitivity technology that enables coverage indoors and other difficult signal environments where other positioning engines lose the GPS signal and interrupt tracking. “We needed a small, low power and cost-effective GPS engine that could be easily integrated,” commented Li Ming, Tranzda CEO. “The accurate and reliable LEA-4S greatly exceeded all our expectations, ensuring our smartphone users enjoy uninterrupted positioning as they navigate through shopping malls, urban canyons and other difficult signal areas,” added Mr. Li.

The LEA-4S’s small size and SMT pads allow for fully automatic assembly processes with standard pick-and-place equipment and reflow soldering, enabling cost efficient, high volume production. Moreover, the module supports A-GPS services such as u-blox’ AssistNow® Assisted GPS solutions that ensure instant positioning anywhere, anytime. The competitively priced PM328 smartphone is now for sale in China and can be bought from www.powermobile.com.cn . Other u-blox and Tranzda joint developments will follow as the two companies continue to deliver innovative mass-market mobile solutions. u-blox will present the PM328 at CeBIT, Hall 11 Booth C09.

Matt

[Technorati tag(s): smartphone, Pocket PC, GPS, u-blox, Tranzda, PM328, Tracy & Matt]

We just heard from one of our readers, Anthony, that T-Mobile have the Ameo in stock. After about 20 minutes on the phone to the customer service team I have confirmation that the T-Mobile Ameo is in stock and available to order, not only that but orders placed today should be delivered tomorrow!

We are just trying to find out about tariffs and costs and will get back to you!

Matt

[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, T-Mobile, Ameo, Dopod U1000, HTC Athena, HTC X7500, Tracy & Matt]

Following in the footsteps of T-Mobile Germany, T-Mobile UK are getting set to launch the Ameo.

The Ameo is T-Mobile’s version of the HTC Advantage and it has been suggested that device could be available in just two days time!

Other information is a little limited at the moment but we’ll bring you more as we have it.

Thanks to Amir for the tip.

Matt

[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, T-Mobile, Ameo, Dopod U1000, HTC Athena, HTC X7500, Tracy & Matt]

Vodafone announces today that customers in Europe will be able to surf the internet, check e-mail and access their business network when roaming abroad for a flat rate fee of only €12 for every day of use. The tariff will be available to Vodafone customers with mobile-enabled laptops from 1 July 2007 and will significantly lower the cost of data roaming for business customers and consumers alike.

This move is the latest development in Vodafone’s drive to simplify roaming prices, making them more predictable and understandable for customers. The initiative draws upon two years’ experience of the voice roaming tariff – Vodafone Passport – which has already attracted over 12m customers. Following the introduction of daily data tariffs in a number of Vodafone markets last year, Vodafone is now seeking to extend these benefits to customers throughout Europe who wish to use their laptops when travelling.

Besides the clear consumer advantages of reducing prices, Vodafone is continuing to invest in its networks to ensure customers also benefit from rapidly escalating data access speeds. Building on the strong platform of 3G, Vodafone has recently been rolling out faster technologies, such as HSDPA, which is now available in 11 European markets.

Commenting on the new tariff, Arun Sarin, Chief Executive, Vodafone, said:

“Following the success of our Passport service, which has made it cheaper and simpler to call home over the past two years, we are now applying the same principles of value and simplicity for customers who need to access their corporate intranets, business e-mail or surf the web when they are abroad.

“With high speed 3G networks already deployed in many European markets, ongoing investment in new technologies to increase download speeds and clear, effective tariffs, Vodafone should be the network of choice for those seeking to use their laptops when travelling.”

Tariff details
The new tariff replaces complex ‘per Megabyte’ tariffs with a simple flat fee for practically unlimited data usage. The daily tariff enables Vodafone customers to send or receive data at ease within a 24 hour period or one calendar day (depending on the Vodafone market) for a fixed fee of €12 (excluding VAT). The fixed fee covers consumption within either a 24 hour period or a calendar day, up to 50 MB of data, after which the customer’s standard per-megabyte rate applies.

Vodafone will launch the tariff across the majority of its European footprint, including its principal European markets, on 1 July. It will be introduced into the remaining European markets soon thereafter.

As with Vodafone Passport there is no activation charge for opting into the daily roaming tariff.

The €12 (excluding VAT) flat rate tariff is applicable when a Vodafone customer is roaming on Vodafone subsidiary networks in Europe. Should a customer roam onto another network then standard per megabyte charging will apply.

Wholesale data rates
Vodafone also announces that from 1 July 2007 it will enter into reciprocal wholesale arrangements with any other European operator or operator Groups at a new lower wholesale rate for data roaming. In doing so, Vodafone is seeking to lower its own costs and increase overall activity in the data roaming market within the European Union. Vodafone expects this initiative to result in significantly lower data roaming costs for customers of both Vodafone and its competitors.

Matt

[Post tags: smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Roaming Charges, Vodafone, Windows Mobile blog]

Yesterday during a press conference, O2 Germany annouced the O2 XDA Terra, their version of the popular HTC P4350/HTC Herald.

The XDA Terra will ship with Windows Mobile 6 but remember the device does not support 3G or HSDPA.

The Xda terra will replace the Xda mini S (HTC Wizard) and will be available from Mai for a subsidized price, together with a a 24 month contract, for 150 Euro. No word yet, if O2 UK or Ireland will carry the Xda terra as well.

O2 XDA Terra Specification

Source

Matt

[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, HTC P4350, HTC Herald, O2 XDA Terra, Tracy & Matt]