Not only is Nokia the world’s largest mobile phone maker, it seems like they like producing the largest volume of phones too. The Nokia N78 can be thought of as an upgrade for current owners of the N73, but its piano black finish is more reminiscent of the N81 N-Gage gaming phone. We’ve already been treated to the Nokia N82, so it’s interesting that Nokia would already have another candybar smartphone for us to consider in the N78.

Critical specs include a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, WiFi, Bluetooth, and an integrated FM transmitter. Share the tunes! Word is that the Nokia N78 smartphone will get sent away to happy consumers starting next quarter. The MSRP will be around $507.

A new product, compatible with most DCT4 and BB5 Nokia mobile phones, allows users to bypass the lock and utilize different service providers. The No-Key Nokia X-SIM can unlock Nokia mobile phones that operate with a SIM card, allowing phones to work in any network.

Most mobile phone service operators sell their Nokia mobile phones locked and the user must buy the phone together with the operator’s service package. With the No-Key Nokia X-SIM, the user can allow their Nokia mobile phone to utilize other networks where the airtime is cheaper. The working theory of the X-SIM is that each phone operates on an identification system. The mobile phone checks if the SIM card matches the operator. If so, it opens! if not, it doesn’t.

The X-SIM card gives a signal to the Nokia mobile phone simulating the original SIM card. So, phone never really unlocks, it just allows the user to operate in any network. It can still maintain the original warranty and can also install any of the latest firmware from Nokia without problems. So, there is no risk unlocking and no risk of doing any harm to the phone. The user will need to combine their SIM card with the X-SIM, then insert into the phones SIM slot. The cost for the No-Key Nokia X-SIM is $31.69 and can be ordered by visiting. Factory testing shows the No-Key Nokia X-SIM to unlock 2630, 5300, 5700, 6120c, 6110 navigator, 6500c, 6500s, N76, N95, N95 8GB, N61 8GB, E65, N73, N80, 6120c, N75, 6300, as well as all DCT4 and BB5 Nokia mobile phones.

I picked the Sony Ericsson k850 and the Nokia N82 handsets for our shootout because both have 5 megapixel cameras with xenon flashes. Please bear in mind that what we’re doing here is simply ‘focusing’, so to speak, on the camera capabilities of these handsets, and not the entire phone as a whole. Both phones are quick to activate when it comes to turning on the camera.

The N82 has a lever for the shutter cover that you can switch on, while the K850i has a key near the shutter release button that switches it on, just as in a digicam. When it comes to ease of use, I must admit both are quite easy to handle and hold. However, the K850i has an added advantage thanks to some shortcut keys on the keypad for activating a few features.

Otherwise I’d be inclined to lean towards the Nokia. The touchscreen feature of the K850i may be a plus point while using the phone but it’s a bit uncomfortable while using the camera. I also like the K850i’s convenient switch to toggle between video and camera mode and the gallery. The N82 just has a single key that would take you directly to the gallery. I prefer the switch; it makes it feel more like a camera than a mobile.

Ladies, look out. Samsung has just launched two new fashion phones targeted at the girl-on-the-go who wants to look good with her gadgets. Yes, the L310 and L320 clamshell phones sure seem like fashion statements for the fashion conscious woman. The L310 clamshell, available in black and gold, is a tri-band handset with a 1.8 inch TFT display that has resolution of 176 x 220 pixels.

What makes it so feminine (aside form the fact that it simply looks like something a girl would buy), are the applications that Samsung has thoughtfully incorporated into the device – including apps that assist in shopping and counting calories. It’s a very compact handset (with dimensions of 93.4 x 44 x 17.9 mm) and is equipped with Bluetooth and USB 2.0. It has a 2 megapixel camera and microSD card slot, and supports GPRS and EDGE for internet connectivity.

LG has launched the KF600 EDGE which is equipped with a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera and new InteractPad touch screen system. The InteractPad is what they’re calling the lower portion of the display that is touch sensitive. This will allow users to navigate various menus in the handset. The KF600 actually has a slide out keypad, so it’s not fully touch sensitive. It’s equipped with Bluetooth, presumably with an A2DP profile as well. The KF600 is apparently the GSM version of the LG Venus VX8800.There’s no official price linked to it yet but it should be out in certain Asian countries soon. Hopefully India will be one of them. Stay Tuned.

The unlocked E90 is a much-improved follow-up to the clumsy 9300 and 9500 Communicators. Along with stellar voice quality, the E90 includes dual screens, dual keyboards, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 and GPS, plus an entire suite of applications that would cost significantly more with other smartphones. Any way you slice it, this is a precision-engineered instrument for those who can spare more than a grand and have extra-large pockets. The E90’s sturdy matte aluminum-and-plastic enclosure feels great in the hand.

At 5.2 by 2.2 by 0.8 inches (HWD) and a hefty 7.4 ounces, you certainly won’t mistake this beast for a slim RAZR2.The E90 may be a big phone, but all that bulk is put to good use. On the outside, there’s a 2-inch QVGA screen with 320-by-240-pixel resolution. Its backlit numeric keypad sports large, clearly labeled keys with just the right amount of resistance.

Sony Ericsson announced an exclusive colour range with Vodafone that combines both companies’ expertise in mobile music with a unique new style, labelled the Havana collection and finished in a stand-out Havana colour.The chic family of mobile phones and accessories unveiled today by Sony Ericsson and Vodafone sets out to combine music with fashion. The new collection comprises exclusive colour variants of the popular W880i and W910i Walkman® phones, plus a colour-matched music accessory, the Portable Speakers MPS-70. The final addition to the collection is the Sony Ericsson V640i, a music-enabled phone available exclusively to Vodafone customers in selected markets*.

W880i Walkman® phone in Havana colour
The Sony Ericsson W880i Walkman® phone has become a style ‘must-have’ since its launch in early 2007. As Sony Ericsson’s slimmest phone to date at just 9.4mm thin, the W880i fits neatly into a handbag or pocket; not that you will want to keep it there with the stunning new Havana colour. Still able to store up to 900 full-length tracks on the 1GB Memory Stick Micro™ - that’s around 75 albums – this exclusive colour refresh adds further desirability to an already feature-packed phone.

W910i Walkman® phone in Havana Bronze
The new W910i is a 3G broadband (HSDPA) Walkman phone that is designed for entertainment; whether music, 3D games, video, or high-speed Web access. It is geared to let you choose your music, your way. Select Shake control and just flick the phone to control games or skip and shuffle between tracks. Or opt for SensMe™ and discover music to match your mood and tempo. The W910i is the ideal mobile music companion, and with the addition of the exclusive Havana treatment it is ideal for Vodafone customers who are looking for a great Walkman® phone with added style.

Sony Ericsson V640i in Havana Gold
The Havana collection is further extended by the launch of the Sony Ericsson V640i, exclusively available to Vodafone customers. The V640i is a music-enabled phone that offers high-speed 3G broadband (HSDPA) performance. As with the W910i Walkman® phone, the V640i offers Media Manager software***, making it straightforward to transfer music, photos, videos and more from PC to phone and vice versa All of the phones in the Havana collection let you download music directly from Vodafone’s Music Store, either via 3G or high speed 3G broadband (HSDPA). With the V640i it takes around 14 seconds to download a full-length music track**.

The three mobile phones also feature Sony Ericsson’s exclusive TrackID™ music recognition software, which lets you identify a music track played from an external music source and receive a notification back within seconds of the artist name, song title and album. Once you have identified it, you can then download the full-track from Vodafone’s Music Store.

In a move that is intended to deliver benefits for the mobile industry and for mobile customers, Nokia and Vodafone today announce the formation of a mobile service architecture initiative. The aim of the initiative is to simplify mobile Java standards by defining the next generation, open standards-based mobile Java services architecture specifications. It will serve and represent the mobile value chain, including other leading mobile device manufacturers, mobile operators and IT companies.

The initiative will function and create its specifications within the Java Community Process(SM) (JCP(SM). Earlier this month, the J2ME(TM)Executive Committee approved the first Java Specification Requests (JSRs) from this initiative. These JSRs, 248 and 249, will not introduce any new API specifications but will include a number of new component JSRs and clarifications to existing specifications to define a consistent Java API services architecture. This will enable application compatibility across multi-vendor mobile devices.The initiative will further seek to harmonise the licensing terms of the component JSRs to be open, fair and predictable. As specifications leads Nokia and Vodafone, in conjunction with Sun Microsystems, will define the licensing framework of the initiative, while the role of creating and licensing the Technology Compatibility Kits (TCKs) for JSR 248 and 249 will be undertaken by Sun Microsystems.

The initiative has received widespread support from leading representatives of the mobile industry, including Orange, Siemens, Sony Ericsson, Sun Microsystems and T-Mobile International. It is expected that a number of these companies will join Nokia and Vodafone to become members of the Expert Group for the specifications created by this initiative.By using the specifications, developers can create software that is easily portable from one Java-enabled mobile device to another. This will ultimately provide mobile customers with a wide choice of feature rich Java-based applications.

The management framework of the mobile Java services architecture also includes security enhancements. It will support advanced remote platform and application management for enterprises and service providers by enabling delivery and management of software components to mobile devices over-the-air. This is expected to result in cost savings for mobile software maintenance.

Furthermore, it will offer business users and consumers an easy way to have the latest applications and services available on their mobile devices. The application platforms built on these specifications will enable new business opportunities for operators, enterprises, service providers, and device manufacturers. The objectives and responsibilities of the initiative will be aligned and coordinated with organisations such as the OSGi Alliance, the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), the Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) and World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to specify the requirements and the capabilities of the platform. The specifications will also offer smooth backward compatibility with the highly successful MIDP environment. John Jackson, Senior Analyst, Wireless/Mobile Technologies, The Yankee Group commented, “This initiative extends the foundation of JTWI, taking important steps to align the CLDC and CDC platform specifications and their future evolution under a simplified licensing structure. With the support of leading industry players in the mobile Java value-chain, this initiative should offer greater consistency and continuity to developers and end-users.

It’s a significant step toward accelerating the development and distribution of more robust mobile applications.”"This initiative will significantly strengthen Java’s leading position as the environment for powerful, state-of-the-art mobility solutions for both consumers and enterprises in the era of 3G,” said Pertti Korhonen, Chief Technology Officer, Nokia. “It provides enterprises and service providers with unparalleled end-to-end management capabilities. In addition, it offers application developers the best and fastest opportunity to leverage their Java-based solutions in volumes and also lets them fully exploit the great performance of Java-enabled smart phones.”Alan Harper, Group Strategy Director at Vodafone, said: “The mobile industry is aware of the need for standardisation and a lot of work has been undertaken towards achieving that aim.

It will build upon the JTWI vision, and output from other industry groups, to create an open and evolving platform roadmap to enable consistent and predictable implementation on a wide range of mobile devices.”
“As the inventor of Java Technologies, Sun welcomes the leadership of Vodafone and Nokia to spearhead such an important effort within the JCP”, said Alan Brenner, Vice President of Sun Microsystems. “Sun will develop and deliver the underlying Technology Compatibility Kits and Reference Implementations for these new specifications. Together, we will build on the widely adopted Java Technology for the Wireless Industry (JTWI) specification and streamline the advancement of mobile Java technologies.”
The participants of the initiative have committed to deploy the platform, and the first reference implementations are scheduled for next year.

Intel Corporation, Nokia Corporation  announced today a collaboration to bring smartphones based on the Nokia Series 60 Platform to market using Intel technology, as part of Intel’s recent membership in the Nokia Series 60 Product Creation Community. Also, Intel and Symbian have agreed to invest in the joint development of a reference platform to enable a new class of 3G devices based on Symbian OS(TM) and
The Series 60 Platform, built on Symbian OS, is one of the world’s leading smartphone platforms. It is licensed by some of the foremost mobile phones manufacturers including Lenovo, LG Electronics, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung, Sendo and Siemens. Support for a large color screen, easy-to-use interface and extensive suite of applications make this software platform ideally suited to support new mobile services such as email, browsing and streaming.As part of its new role as a member of the Series 60 Product Creation Community, Intel will complement the Series 60 Platform by providing high performance, low power processing to enable mobile browsing, multimedia messaging and content downloading, as well as a host of personal information management and telephony applications. The Series 60 Platform is the latest smartphone user interface to be supported by Intel technology. Also, Intel and Symbian are investing in the co-development of a reference platform. The development agreement focuses on building the first 3G reference platform that utilizes both Intel’s and Symbian’s expertise in smartphone technology.

The reference platform will enable mobile phone manufacturers to create differentiated handsets while significantly reducing development time - speeding the delivery of new phones to market.”The next generation of handsets for 3G networks will require a platform approach that couples low power and high performance with robust application development,” said Sam Arditi, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Cellular and Handheld Group. “Intel’s wireless platforms combine leading edge hardware with Intel’s decades of experience in creating application ecosystems for data networks. Working with Nokia and Symbian to help bring Series 60-based devices to market means that developers and phone manufacturers will have new compelling tools to deliver on the promise of 3G.”"We are delighted that Intel is joining the Series 60 Product Creation Community. The wide adoption of Series 60 Platform and Symbian OS by key wireless technology providers like Intel is essential for providing competitive solutions for the smartphone market,” said Antti Vasara, Vice President, Nokia Technology Marketing and Sales. “By joining forces with Intel, Nokia has an additional compelling Series 60 3G offering for handset manufacturers, operators and developers around the world.”
“We are delighted with the collaboration between Nokia, Intel and Symbian to develop a 3G reference platform,” said David Levin, Chief Executive Officer, Symbian, Ltd. “This co-development marks a deepening of the relationship between Intel and Symbian. By utilizing reference platforms from semiconductor technology providers such as Intel, Symbian OS licensees will be able to focus their energies to develop an even wider variety of differentiated, competitively priced Symbian OS products that meet the specific needs of the market and their network operator customers.”

The UK’s big five mobile phone firms have switched on a payment system that turns handsets into digital wallets. Called PayForIt, the scheme is designed for those buying goods and services with a value of up to £10.The industry hopes it will be used to pay for ringtones, train tickets, parking fees and eventually as a payment system on web shops and sites.Any cash spent via the scheme will automatically be added on to a customer’s phone bill.Cash crunch. The scheme standardises the way phones can be used to make payments so the process is the same no matter which operator a customer has signed up for or which handset they are using.Mike Short, chairman of the Mobile Data Association, said PayForIt had been developed as an alternative to other systems such as premium rate SMS.Many people, said Mr Short, were unhappy using that payment system because of past uncertainty about how much they would pay and who they turn to if things go wrong.”It’s for those customers who have not felt comfortable with mobile transactions or payments,” he said.Trust in mobile payments would be boosted, said Mr Short because shoppers will know who they are buying from and what they are spending.Anyone paying for goods with PayForIt will see an information screen that lays out what they have bought, who it has been bought from and how much it will cost.”It’s about opening up the micro payment choices,” said Mr Short, “but it’s not a total cash replacement.”PayForIt will appear as a payment option on sites that people can get to via their handset and soon will also appear as a way to pay on websites too, said Mr Short.Companies such as I-play, Gameloft, EA, Multimap, SonyEricsson and Samsung have become the first to sign up and let people pay using the PayForIt system.PayForIt was first announced in March 2006 and the official start date for the scheme was 1 September.”Most big brands would not use premium rate SMS to run their services, it’s not a good experience, it’s not consumer friendly,” said Anuj Khanna, a spokesman for Tanla Mobile which is one of the firms administering payments made via PayForIt.”It’s entirely geared at the low value, high volume transaction market,” he said.Paul Hunt, an expert on mobile commerce at consultancy Atos Origin, said there had been many failed attempts to set up similar schemes in the past. He said PayForIt has a good chance of success.”There’s a much wider age range of mobile users and the capabilities of handsets have changed,” he said. “The click to buy reality is catching up with the hype.”But, he added, the backers of the scheme had to work hard to distinguish PayForIt from alternatives to ensure people realise how it differs from other schemes.