cells

Samsung and Googliath

Google Search, Google Maps and Gmail will come bundled on some Samsung phones, both companies announced Monday at CES. The software will be bundled on phones starting in "early 2007," with Samsung already including Google software on its new ultra-slim HSDPA-ready phone, the Ultra Edition 13.8 (Z720).

The Z720 is fitting as the first Samsung cell phone to come bundled with Google Search, Google Maps and Gmail. That's because the slim slider is a 3G, HSDPA-ready phone, meaning you can connect with the Internet using cell phone signal towers. In addition to WLAN capability, the phone … Read more

Texting machine

Lately, I've been texting more than taking calls on my cell phone. I am in need of a phone with more texting capabilities so I don't get carpal tunnel from texting in my current phone. I think the LG enV would be perfect for my needs. Good bye sore fingers!

Sony Ericsson's low-end Walkman phone

Sony Ericsson's Walkman line has always been great but also relatively expensive. Except for a couple like the W810i and the W600i, most Walkman phones never make it to a U.S. carrier, and as such never enjoy carrier subsidies. But at CES this year, Samsung shook things up a bit with the introduction of the Sony Ericsson W200i Walkman. Even without a carrier it will cost just $179, and with a carrier it will dip low as $79. Though Sony Ericsson wouldn't confirm if a carrier is imminent, we wouldn't be surprised if this phone ended … Read more

Monday evening CES round-up: Year of mobile?

-- Skype on a cell phone. You don't need a Skype-only handset or a bulky laptop to use Skype while traveling. Nokia has a Skype client built-in on its new N800 series. The good news is you can get your hands on the handset right away; the bad news is you won't be able to use Skype on it until June (Crave).

-- Yahoo launches Go 2.0. This new tool combines several of Yahoo's brands into a single mobile app. Most important is the new search tool called OneSearch, which is optimized for mobile phones. There'… Read more

TeleNav Traffic brings road updates to Sprint cell phones

Nobody loves staring into a sea of red brake lights while enduring their daily commute, but TeleNav and Sprint are hoping to relieve some of that headache with TeleNav Traffic. A new feature of TeleNav GPS Navigator, a GPS-enabled navigation service for cell phones, TeleNav Traffic alerts you to congestion and accidents with voice and visual prompts on your mobile phone. In addition, customers can get alternate routes by pressing "0" on their phone, and can receive an estimated time of arrival based on real-time traffic conditions. Swanky.

TeleNav Traffic is currently only being offered to Sprint customers … Read more

More on Verizon's V Cast Mobile TV

Just as everyone suspected, Verizon Wireless is bringing programming from the small screen to an even smaller screen with today's announcement of V Cast Mobile TV. At a multimedia-filled event at the hip Palms Hotel, Verizon execs unveiled the service and the two phones that will support it.

As we told you earlier today, V Cast Mobile TV will bring live full-length television programming to selected handsets via Qualcomm's MediaFlo technology. The service is set to launch by the end of March and will offer eight channels of programming available including CBS, NBC, MTV, Fox, and ESPN. Verizon … Read more

Verizon Wireless to bring TV to phones

CES 2007 has barely begun but Verizon Wireless should strike an early blow today by announcing it will soon bring full-length TV shows to its phones. Though the company is waiting for a 12:30 p.m. press conference to break the official news, the New York Times reported the plan yesterday. And indeed, Verizon employees wearing "Verizon TV" badges have been scurrying around the Palms Hotel, where the announcement will take place.

According to the Times, the service will be available by the end of March and will feature shows from NBC, CBS, Fox, MTV, and possibly … Read more

Bluetooth device worthy of Isadora Duncan

Iqua has made a Bluetooth bar (for lack of a better word) phone that attaches to the back of your car's headrest.

The L-shaped device allows users to be hands-free, and free of an ear piece in their ear, while driving and talking on a cell phone. As Gearfuse points out, the headset does offer stereo speakers. The $179 phone has a battery worth 10 hours of talk time, 650 hours of standby and comes in black or silver.

Sorry, but we just don't see Iqua's reasoning behind the Iqua Snake2 HHF-601. Wouldn't a device like … Read more

Groovr lets you stalk, mobile style

Cell phones with GPS services are starting to become more mainstream, but if you have a five-year-old phone and a carrier that doesn't offer GPS services, you can use Groovr to let people know where you are, using text messages. Groovr is a social network that lets you tell people where you are, comment on your location, find out who's there, and let people know when you've made it home safely. It's not the first service to do this (see Flagr and Dodgeball), but it's the first with a fairly simple check-in/-out system.

Groovr … Read more

Turn your cell phone into a personal trainer...for a price

I went to the gym yesterday and was initially surprised to see how packed it was. At first I attributed it to the fact that there are probably plenty of people who are still taking a day or two off from work after the holidays. Then I remembered, of course, it's the beginning of January, and people are still idealistic about keeping their New Year's resolutions. Even the ones who swear they're too good for resolutions are probably trying to do something about that holiday-party pudge.

Consequently, many a company is currently trying to capitalize on this … Read more