Vopium is a free software program that uses mobile VoIP and Wi-Fi technology to reduce the cost of international phone calls on mobile whilst also maintaining excellent call quality. Free and easy to download, Vopium integrates directly with the address book on the phone, automatically re-routing all international calls via the least expensive method available. In addition to heavily discounted international calls, Vopium users can also slash the costs of sending text messages (SMS) abroad as each message only costs 9p.

It’s pretty much by the book in terms of implementation – address book sync, WiFi calls but what we like is that it makes use of a system that determines the cheapest reroute from an International call.

Post from: Cellphone9

Remember Truphone, the app that turned an iPod touch into an iPhone and make calls? Well it’s out for Android!

As well as being able to make low-cost international voice calls, Truphone customers can also easily Instant Message their friends across a variety of networks including MSN, Yahoo!, Google Talk and Twitter from within one Android application. Customers can also call friends anywhere in the world on Google Talk for the price of a local call, and similarly will soon will be able to Instant Message and call their friends on Skype.[source]

Truphone wants to be what Skype is for desktops and portables. Available for Symbian, Apple iPhone / iPod touch, BlackBerry and now on Android, we’re looking at a quick deployment for Android. Seems like 2009 will be the year for fast rollouts. Everyone seems to want a piece of the Google OS.

Post from: Cellphone9

There is no charge as of the trial period but Nokia hints that your local telco will be able to integrate Nokia Messaging into their list of data services. Currently, these are the features for Nokia Messaging:

What’s new in this release of Nokia Messaging?

* Improved application performance, including rapid access to the Inbox
* Support for up to 10 email addresses
* Better support for subfolders in IMAP email accounts
* Flagged messages automatically become starred messages in Gmail
* Improved battery life
* More intuitive inbox navigation
* Support for more Nokia S60 phones
* Support for Google Apps hosted email addresses
* Mail sent from any email address on your phone now syncs to the server

Post from: Cellphone9

Ah, Biometrics. The selling point of life sensitive security controls is its supposed ease of use. A survey sponsored by Biometric manufacturer Authentec shows that finger scanning on mobile devices is preferred by consumers, if they were to have that option. Of course, this is also a PR spin towards their way, but we can see past that to look at how interesting this slap it on type of technology is, especially for mobile phones.

The independent survey of cell phone users (ages 18-25) was sponsored by fingerprint sensor supplier AuthenTec (NASDAQ: AUTH) and indicates that the vast majority (80%) would like to see widespread availability of fingerprint-enabled phones in the U.S. between now and next year, and nearly half (45%) would be willing to pay $10 or more for a phone if it was equipped with fingerprint security. Highlighting the desire and trust in fingerprint sensor security, more than two-thirds of respondents (69%) would feel more secure about conducting mobile financial transactions via their phone if it was equipped with a fingerprint sensor. [source]

I’ve had my fill of biometric scanners and I honestly can’t compare the experience to not having one. Well, what I’m trying to say is that I’ve always been fearful of the possibility of not being able to access my phone if my fingerprint is read wrong. Are biometric scanners very reliable in this day – for mobile phones or are phones too personal for us, that we don’t really find the need yet? Survey says that close to 50% are willing to have one.

Well, as a consumer, if my phone comes with it, I’ll use it. Maybe. But it won’t be on my top priority list.

[logo c/o Authentec]

Post from: Cellphone9

Running on Windows Mobile 6, the Dolphin 9900 from Honeywell is one of the more heavy duty B2B Windows Mobile devices available today. The 9900 comes with a bar code scanner. It is enhanced with excellent battery life and wireless full area LAN for direct and real time communications with your workforce.

The Dolphin 9900 comes with a wrist strap for all day comfort and a magnesium alloy environment resistant casing for resilience against the wear and tear of data gathering. This is perhaps one of those devices that come with a pretty good camera because image scanning forms a core part of this device’s function.

Oh, and it also comes with an orange stylus, so that it sticks out like a sore thumb when you accidentally drop it in your huge pile of inventory!

Specs
640×480 pixel camera and bar code scanner
256 MB RAM, 1 GB Flash
2500mAh Extended life battery with hot swappable design
Intel XScale PXA270 624 MHz
User accessible SD card slot
Bluetooth
WLAN
Wireless Full Area LAN for Real – Time data communications

Post from: Cellphone9

Steve Jobs is mad. He’s mad at Canada. Not at the Canadians in particular. but to Canadian telcos who are described to have the most horrid data plans, it makes the whole thing disgusting. Tris from Maple Leaf 2.0 has A LOT to say about this.

The 6 Apple Stores in Canada will demo the iPhone 3G but will not sell them. But this isn’t what’s appalling – Steve Jobs is diverting shipments of iPhone 3G to Europe. Rogers tries to defend their stand:

Rogers has historically been criticized for being the most reluctant of Canadian providers to decrease its data fees. A year ago, the company’s pricing for 500MB of data would have cost $295 per month, while Bell and Telus shortly afterwards began dropping the cost of data to where unlimited browsing would cost as little as $7 per month on Bell’s HTC Touch. Rogers has since responded by offering its own $7 plan for any device but limits it only to the default web browser.

Post from: Cellphone9