Mobileshop Archive from May 2009
Sony Ericsson launches movie download platform
Posted: 29 May 2009
A new mobile service has been launched by Sony Ericsson that may interest movie lovers across the globe.
The manufacturer - which also announced three handsets this week - said the PlayNow platform has been boosted with a facility that allows the film downloads as part of a package deal.
Bundled with a number of the company's latest phones, the offering will allow 60 titles to be watched over the course of the year and a catalogue of 15 films can be queued on the device at any one time.
Once these movies are 'side loaded' onto the mobile phone, they can be viewed as frequently as the user wants over a 90-day period.
Martin Blomkvist, head of content acquisition and management a ...
New tariffs launched by Virgin Media
Posted: 29 May 2009
It has emerged that Virgin Media will revise its tariffs to compete with its rivals on pay monthly deals.
The carrier said this week that unlimited texts, voice calls and web browsing would form part of the offering and would in some cases undercut rival networks by £2.
One of the deals will involve an £18 monthly payment that will give users the chance to take advantage of the two former incentives, while subscribers to the £25 tariff will receive the internet.
It was noted these would be "competitive bundles" and Virgin Media's managing director of mobile Graeme Oxby said it was hoped people would be keen to take advantage.
"We're offering consum ...
Becks has mobile phone dilemma
Posted: 29 May 2009
Former Manchester united and England footballer David Beckham has been spotted out and about fiddling with a new mobile phone.
However, the Daily Mail reported the device Golden Balls had in hand was not the Motorola Aura which he was recently signed up to promote as part of a major marketing campaign.
Instead the AC Milan player was papped using an Apple iPhone 3G while "looking relaxed in a brown t-shirt".
The article adds it was not long before Beckham realised he had been seen and began attempting to "hide the evidence under the table".
"Despite having signed a highly lucrative deal with Motorola, it appears David Beckham's loyalties could lie elsew ...
Sony Ericsson announces 12.1 mp cameraphone
Posted: 29 May 2009
A new mobile phone has been launched by Sony Ericsson that the manufacturer claims offers "the ultimate multimedia experience".
The Satio is equipped with a 12.1-megapixel camera that has digital zoom facilities of up to 12x, as well as extra photographic features like auto focus, BestPic, face detection, geotagging, image stabiliser and red-eye reduction.
Video content can be downloaded and viewed via the unit's 3.5-inch screen - which comes in a 16:9 widescreen format – and the gadget also promises easy access to photo sharing websites.
Fredrik Mansson, market business manager at Sony Ericsson, said the photographic features of the handset would produce "perfect pi ...
Nokia and Palm 'could tackle Apple'
Posted: 26 May 2009
New mobile phones from Nokia and Palm could be among those which challenge the Apple iPhone 3G, one expert asserts.
Stuff.tv believes that the Finnish manufacturer's upcoming N97 device could be a serious contender in the battle to overthrow the touchscreen gadget that has held most of the headlines for a while.
Joe Minihane, online multimedia editor at the site, suggests that gadgets including the latest from Palm were among the next generation of mobiles that could soon give Apple cause for concern.
"The Palm Pre has already set the bar really high and the new iPhone is obviously going to match that […] but I think any new Nokia touchscreen phone will happily go up against t ...
Vodafone 'seems dedicated to cutting costs'
Posted: 26 May 2009
Vodafone has made a commitment to saving its customers money with a number of recent decisions, one expert argues.
Shaun Collins praises the network in a new post for the CCS Insight Blog for making the smart move of removing roaming fees for its users this summer.
He suggests this is not only a great deal for Vodafone customers, but may also have appeased the European regulators currently looking for a way to make international calls cheaper.
In addition, Mr Collins says it is not only with this particular change to its contracts that the carrier has enhanced its price structures for users.
"Just a few weeks ago it announced a flat rate of £0.50 a day for mobile web ...
Nokia celebrates Ovi Store launch
Posted: 26 May 2009
Nokia has said the launch of its new Ovi Store will provide a simple and fun way for people to make the most of its handsets.
This week, the Finnish manufacturer celebrates the opening of the online applications facility and suggests there are a number of reasons why people should be excited.
According to the firm's executive vice-president of Nokia Services Tero Ojanpera, users will be able to access the most up-to-date new software downloads easily and in an enjoyable way.
"Ovi Store is open for business and we've stocked the shelves with both local and global content for a broad range of Nokia devices," he added.
The group believes the Ovi Store will be compatible ...
HTC Magic 'hard to put down'
Posted: 26 May 2009
A new handset that is exclusive to the Vodafone network has been praised in a recent review.
Russell Jefferies of Mobile Burn recently put the HTC Magic through its paces and states the device follows the T Mobile G1 in terms of being fun to use - thanks to the Google Android operating system.
He highlights HTC's decision to remove the full qwerty keyboard that featured on its predecessor in favour of a touchscreen option, adding the overall design of the phone is "very fresh".
"The HTC Magic is a great handset and I thoroughly enjoyed using it," Mr Jeffries explains, although he does say the lack of support for a 3.5mm headphone port and poor battery performance wil ...
Mobiles 'do same job as a laptop for many'
Posted: 26 May 2009
Mobile phones are rapidly becoming a more popular business companion than the laptop, according to one expert.
A spokesman for Neighborhood America, a group which provides software solutions to increase efficiency and business performance, said it was clear there had been a shift in how people purchase technology.
Michael W Thomas, director of CRM and social media strategy for the organisation, said the level of functionality the latest mobile phones offer means they are a real solution for professionals as an alternative to the computer.
He explained: "Mobile devices such as [Research In Motion's] BlackBerry devices also enable social media reach-outs such as Twitter to keep your ...
Popularity of recycling phones 'on the rise'
Posted: 22 May 2009
There is a new trend for recycling old mobile phones, it has been claimed.
New research from Hitwise found the number of internet searches for terms surrounding trading in old handsets has swelled over the last year.
The activity coincided with a rise in traffic websites offering consumers cash for phones.
A 189 per cent increase in searches was noted between the week ending May 16th 2009 and the corresponding period last year.
However, this rise was bettered by the 205 per cent surge in clicks enjoyed by sites offering the service between April 2008 and 2009, the study found.
Two major factors in the trend have been the threat of climate change and the continuing fina ...
