World Mobile Phone Throwing Championship, again

Now in it's tenth year, the World Mobile Phone Throwing Championship was won August 22 by Pauli Kosunen, throwing his unspecified handset over 79 metres - roughly equivalent to an olympic level discuss throw. Why such a championship you may ask? Well, it's not all that ridiculous, here's some history - it's really all about sportsmanship and recycling. And click here for articles related to the previous championships. [All About Symbian] permalink (September 14th, 2009)

Pet Dog Takes Top Prize in the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships

A Finn, two Estonians - and a dog took prizes in the ninth annual Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships held this year in the Estonian town of Narva. Cellular News reports. "... In the freestyle category - a dog named Cara took the top prize after spitting out a phone a distance of 30 centimeters, in a category where only style matters. Cara got full points from the judges. The competition drew in over 50 participants from a range of countries. The contest combines recycling philosophy and fun spirit in active sport. A part of the philosophy is also a spiritual freedom from being available all the time." Links to stories on previous Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships. permalink (August 25th, 2008)

Finn takes gold at 7th mobile phone throwing contest

The seventh annual contest of Mobile Phone Throwing World Championship held in Finland on Saturday, drew some 100 throwers from as far afield as Canada, Russia and Belgium, reports Reuters. "This year's gold medal went to Finland's Lassi Etelatalo, who flung a scrapped Nokia unit a forceful 89.00 metres. "I prepared by javelin throwing, I haven't really practised throwing mobile phones," Etelatalo told Reuters. "Founder Christine Lund describes the event as a good source of light exercise with an environmentally friendly twist. "There are a lot of mobile phones on the second-hand market, and we are recycling them (before they become toxic waste)," she said. Links to previous championships: - Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships - Again permalink (August 27th, 2006)

Mobile phone throwing turns artistic in Finland

It's that time of year again, when contestants gathered Saturday, to compete in Finland's famous Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships. But this year brought something a little different when a teen circus performer won the freestyle gold medal at the gamesjuggling, rather than throwing his mobile phone. Reuters reports. "Taco Cohen of the Netherlands (picture left), who was celebrating his 19th birthday, used acrobatics and juggling in his performance, which was judged on aesthetics and artistic impression. Finnish domination in the distance event continued when Tommi Huotari took gold with a throw of 89.62 meters (294 feet), a few meters short of the world record. Event organizer Christine Lund said the contest reflected people's love-hate relationship with the mobile phone. "This contest speaks to people the world over as mobile phones are a blessing and a curse...phones have become a part of the modern man, and sometimes many of us would like to remove that part." Originally a local event in this small town close to the Russian border, the contest drew contestants from Canada, Austria and the United States." Links to previous championship: -- Finn takes gold at 7th mobile phone throwing contest -- Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships - Again -- 5th International Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships permalink (August 26th, 2007)

Sprint Super Bowl Commercial highlights "crime deterrent" feature

Check out Sprint's Super Bowl Commercial on YouTube boasting Sprint phone features like live TV, wireless music downloads, email and crime deterrent. The clip is funny at first, but in truth, throwing a phone at someone's head (even if he's trying to steal your wallet- that's the "crime deterrent feature"), is kind of irresponsible and could lead kids watching, to do the same. UPDATE Monday night Wrong again, across the line! The above commercial was not this year's commercial nor a spoof, but Sprint's Super Bowl commercial last year. Thank you Natas for setting me straight. UPDATE Monday morning I checked out all the Super Bowl commercials courtesy of CBS, who has listed them by quarter, and the above Sprint ad is not included. So it must be a spoof. Well done!. There were actually two mobile phone related commercials, one entitled "Connectile Dysfunction" by Sprint and the other by T.Mobile entitled "Duane Wade and Charles Barkley", both viewable on CBS or on Moco News. permalink (February 4th, 2007)

Ban on Mobile Phone at Golf Open Championship

Golf fans are being banned from using mobile phones at The Open Championship, according to the DailyRecord. "Spectators at this year's The Open Championship at Carnoustie will not be permitted to have mobile phones in their possession within The Open site. This policy is in line with other major golf championships, including this year's Ryder Cup, and follows comments from players concerning the excessive numbers in evidence last year at Hoylake. In order to implement the no mobile phone policy, security checks of every spectator will be in operation at the paygates." Related: -- Golf Rules leave fans pining for phones -- Cell phones, the next big problem for golfers -- Call for Cameraphone ban on Golf Tournaments -- Woods Experiences Golfing in China: Click, Ring, Take a Swing permalink (January 23rd, 2007)

IBM makes trees in London understand Bluetooth

IBM UK has turned the trees in the City of London into hotspots so mobile phone users in the area can access the latest scores from the Wimbledon tennis championships via bluetooth. Party pooper and anti-virus vendor McAfee is warning Londoner's to be cautions, as buetooth is the perfect way for your mobile phone to catch a virus. Probably a legitimate concern, as a similar initiative during the Helsinki World Championship, resulted in hundreds off peoples mobile phones being infected with the 'Comm Warrior' virus after downloading Bluetooth information on the event." [via Phoneyworld and Cellular News] Related: - Mobile phone virus infects Helsinki championships permalink (July 4th, 2006)

National Texting Championship. Win $ 25'000

LG Electronics will be holding a National Texting Championship with the first prize set at $25,000 for the fastest texter. The contest will be held in Hollywood, at Paramount Studios and in New York City, at the Roseland Ballroom. The contest is open to the public and will be held on March 31, 2007. There is a catch though, contestants must own and use an activated LG enV mobile phone to compete. [via MobileWhack] Related competitions: -- Singaporean is world's fastest text messager -- New Text speed record broken in India -- Samsung Mobile hunts for fastest SMSer -- South African Wireless Operator Cell C launches The Fastest Fingers Competition -- SMS speed record sets Guinness World Record -- Txt chmpn -- Lindsay's fleet fingers win texting title permalink (March 15th, 2007)

Urban miners look for precious metals in cell phones

Thinking of throwing out your old cell phone? Think again. Maybe you should mine it first for gold, silver, copper and a host of other metals embedded in the electronics -- many of which are enjoying near-record prices. Reuters reports. "It's called "urban mining," scavenging through the scrap metal in old electronic products in search of such gems as iridium and gold, and it is a growth industry around the world as metal prices skyrocket. The materials recovered are reused in new electronics parts and the gold and other precious metals are melted down and sold as ingots to jewelers and investors as well as back to manufacturers who use gold in the circuit boards of mobile phones because gold conducts electricity even better than copper." permalink (April 27th, 2008)

Bomb hoax goes very wrong

A reporter covering the European football championship, late and fearing he would miss his flight, called the airport from his mobile phone to anonymously say there was a bomb on the flight from the Italian city of Verona to Vienna. Metro reports. "Since no announcement had been made he became the prime suspect. A check of his mobile phone confirmed police suspicions and he was arrested. The fake threat closed air traffic at the airport for several hours while the bomb squad checked out the airplane. " permalink (June 13th, 2008)

The 7th Mobile Throwing World Championships

The Mobile Throwing World Championships are on again, for the 7th consecutive year - to be held on August 26 in Savonlinna, Finland as well as in the UK, in partnership with recycling charity ActionAid. [via SMS Text News] It's not as silly as it sounds, it's all part of a recycling effortand sportsmanship - and by now, a long standing tradition. In their own words: Mobile Phone Throwing is light and modern Finnish sport that suits for people of all ages. It combines recycling philosophy and fun spirit in active sport. A part of the philosophy is also a spiritual freedom from being available all the time. Related posts: -- Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships - Again -- 5th International Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships permalink (June 26th, 2006)

Australia's Top Five Ways to Accidentally Damage Mobile Phones

A study by Australian operator, Telstra has reported that locals are finding increasingly new and more bizarre ways to accidentally damage their mobile phones. Cellular News reports. "According to Telstra customer service consultants, the five most commonly reported ways to accidentally damage a mobile phone are: 1. Driving off with a mobile left on the car roof 2. Damaged by water - including dropping it in the toilet and taking calls when in the rain 3. Sitting on the handset 4. Dropping a phone - most often on the footpath 5. Throwing a mobile - either on a desk, in a drawer, or to a friend permalink (December 4th, 2007)

L.A. College Grad Wins West Coast Mobile Phone Texting Contest

The West Coast mobile phone texting champion is Eli Tirosh, a 21-year-old recent college graduate from Los Angeles, reports Information Week. "Later this month, she will compete in New York City for the LG National Texting Championship. About 150 participants used their LG enV Qwerty keyboard mobile phones Saturday in the competition at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood to represent the West Coast. A spokesperson for LG said competitors were evenly divided between females and males. " Related competitions: -- Singaporean is world's fastest text messager -- New Text speed record broken in India -- Samsung Mobile hunts for fastest SMSer -- South African Wireless Operator Cell C launches The Fastest Fingers Competition -- SMS speed record sets Guinness World Record -- Txt chmpn -- Lindsay's fleet fingers win texting title permalink (April 3rd, 2007)

Airline Bans Woman for Air Rage Over Phone

Vietnam Airlines has banned a woman from flying on its planes after she attacked an attendant who tried to stop her from repeatedly using a mobile phone during a domestic flight last month, according to Reuters. "The 19-year-old passenger, identified as Vo Thi Thu Ngoc, is accused of slapping a female flight attendant and throwing water in her face after being told repeatedly to stop using a mobile phone during takeoff and landing". permalink (June 9th, 2004)

Ferrari Championship for Mobile Phones

The international mobile phone game publisher, IN-FUSIOannounced today the launch of Ferrari Championship for the mobile market. It is planned to be distributed to Vodafone live!, reports GameSHOUT. "Ferrari Championship is a mobile racing simulation. It is loaded with features as players are able to compete against ‘official’ Ferrari drivers on some of the most challenging Formula 1 tracks. Players will be battling for the coveted Champion title as they record their best and fastest track times." permalink (January 13th, 2006)

EU Seeks Access For New Media In Olympic Bids

European Union regulators are asking Olympic Games broadcasters and organizers for assurances that mobile phone and Internet operators are treated fairly during the bidding process for rights to show live images from this summer's Athens sports events, according to the WSJ. "The EU's tactics are part of a campaign to broaden access to popular programming -- from Hollywood films to championship soccer -- and to provide relatively newer media with premium content to compete against television broadcasts. Olympics officials say demand for new-media rights was weak because the market is still immature. "There's no queue of companies wanting to get online," said IOC's marketing director Michael Payne. He also said "there isn't the bandwidth" for proper coverage of the games across mobile phone networks". permalink (April 30th, 2004)

Motorola's Sharapova phone to be on sale, first in Korea

Motorola Korea announced Tuesday the orange-colored handset that Russian tennis star, 17 year-ol Maria Sharapova used to call her mother in her home town after her winning - no not Wimbeldon - but the Hansol Korea Open championship- , reports Telecom Korea. "The so-called Sharapova phone (model name : ms330) will be released in the Korean market mid-October, earlier than in any other country." In a related story, last July, Maria Sharapova beat Serena Williams at Wimbeldon. After the win, Sharapova's father passed his cell phone down to center court so she could call her Mom in Florida. Unfortunately, like too many other mobile phone calls, the phone didn't work. It keeps switching off, I don't know what's wrong with it," she said. "I was trying to phone my mum." "Come on technology," said a frustrated Sharapova." permalink (October 5th, 2004)

5th International Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships

Finland knows what to do with Nokia Phones. They throw them. This weekend was the (ridiculous) 5th international Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships, reports Esato.com via i4U.com. Also in Engadget. "At the 5th international Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships on Saturday the 28th of August in Savonlinna Kirkkopuisto was set a new world record. Nokia flew 82.55 meters. The new champion is Ville Piippo is from Helsinki. Altogether there were 117 contestants from five different countries, 57 in individual categories, 42 in team categories and 18 in juniors. Next year the championships will be held on the 27th of August. More here. permalink (August 30th, 2004)

Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships - Again

For the sixth year in a row, Finland wil be hosting their Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships, next August 27. [via Alfie's Blog] Why?, you may ask. Well, it's not all that ridiculous, here's some history - it's really all about sportsmanship and recycling. Mobile Phone Throwing became a hit when first arranged in year 2000 in Savonlinna. Organizer was a translation and interpretation company Fennolingua. It's multinational personnel and many carneval spirited athletics threw away their frustrations along with the mobile phones. The local recycling center was a partner and they collected all the toxic waste and people could also buy a new mobile phone at the Championships. The first prize was of course a new mobile phone. About the sport There are officially two categories in the Mobile Phone Throwing: -- Traditional style ie. over the shoulder throw, where the length of the throw is crucial. -- Freestyle where the contestant gets points for aesthetics and creative choreographics from 4 to 10. In both categories the contestant with the highest score wins. Mobile Phone Throwing is light and modern Finnish sport that suits for people of all ages. It combines recycling philosophy and fun spirit in active sport. A part of the philosophy is also a spiritual freedom from being available all the time. Previously: -- 5th International Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships permalink (June 6th, 2005)

More alarms over cell phone E911

A sizable percentage of U.S. cell phone subscribers aren't upgrading to new phones as quickly as they used to, throwing into doubt a major initiative designed to improve wireless 911 calling, writes ZDnet. Late Thursday, many U.S. operators asked federal regulators to suspend rules that, by year's end, require 95 percent of their subscribers to have handsets capable of sending details about their geographic location to emergency operators. Some 15 percent of subscribers are happy enough with their service and handsets to hold on to their old phones. On average, cell phone customers replace their handsets within 18 to 24 months. Those who hold on to them are less likely to upgrade to new location-sensitive handsets and many wireless carriers will not probably be able to rectify this situation in the next six months. The proposed waiver would apply only to Verizon Wireless, Sprint and other operators using GPS technology in their phones. It wouldn't apply to Cingular Wireless or T-Mobile that use a different technology to locate subscribers. permalink (July 2nd, 2005)

Footballer targeted by cellphone missile in the UK

Police were today investigating after a mobile phone was thrown on to the pitch following a goal scored by Manchester United and England football ace Wayne Rooney, writes The Scotsman. The incident happened as Rooney celebrated in front of opposition fans after Liverpool keeper had blundered, allowing his long-range shot to pass underneath him. The Merseyside Police spokesman said: “We have recovered a mobile phone from the pitch. We are not sure whether it was thrown at anybody. We are making inquiries. One person has been arrested for a throwing incident but I am not sure whether it was connected.” permalink (January 15th, 2005)

Smash my Phone

A website devoted to smashing cell phones . Even silllier than the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships. [via J-Walk Blog] permalink (November 16th, 2004)

Mobile phones, the new chocolate

According to Matt Donovan, director of ad agency Euro RSCG in Australia, who has just conducted a survey to prove women are not technophobes, has targeted the campaign for the soon-to-be-launched 3G phone services, just as much at women as men. A first for a major new technology. The 3G phone services will offer video and photo messaging and internet-like chat services, as reported in smh.com Australia.

"Mobile phones are the new chocolate - instead of dashing to the fridge in times of emotional fragility, girls are now grabbing their mobiles phones and texting a support team of female friends".

permalink (March 17th, 2003)

Animated Marvel characters for your cell phone

Picked up on Paul Golding's Weblog on Wireless, Marvel comic characters to send out as animated Multimedia messages (MMS), from Shout Messenger.

For each of the four characters (Spider-Man, The Hulk, Wolverine or Storm) in color and in 3D, you can select one of nine expressions including happy, sad or surprised. And send them to any mobile phone or email address in the US. Cool for kids.

permalink (March 17th, 2003)

Theme phones with "intelligent" faceplates

Are you ready for an Avril Lavigne mobile phone? It would for example, feature a photo of the teen pop star on the faceplate, with embedded software that shows an Avril screensaver and include clips from her latest video, concert ticket information or links to her favorite Web sites.

Korean handset manufacturer Curitel and software company Wildseed are developing such a wireless phone. Code named «Onyx», it will feature an “intelligent” faceplate that will allow subscribers to personalize the look and design of the phone, as well as get theme-related ringtones, games and video clips, according to an article in MSNBC.

This is where personalizing your phone takes on new meaning.

permalink (March 18th, 2003)

Don't leave home without your «keitai»

For Japanese youth, leaving home without their keitai (cell phone) or letting the battery go dead, is just about the worst thing that can happen. Without a cell phone to spread news, gossip or arrange meeting points on the fly, social life is impossible. Mizuko Ito and her colleagues at Keio University in Japan are studying the ethonographic parameters of this new wireless society. In an article in the Japan Media Review, Mizuko Ito vividly describes how cellphones are changing the way Japanese teenagers socialize. "To not have a keitai is to be walking blind, disconnected from just-in-time information on where and when you are in the social networks of time and place." "The changing dynamics of meeting-making are only the tip of the iceberg in the changes that mobile media bring to how we coordinate, communicate, and share information". Reported earlier last week in Gizmodo, the above study was featured in Friday's Netsurfer Digest with an additional fascinating link, the Keitai Log, "an occasional Web diary by a group of Tokyo college students who are researching the changing role of cell phones in Japanese society". Bookmark! permalink (March 16th, 2003)

Verilocation.com

Verilocation, a new mobile phone tracker, pinpoints a cell user's wherabouts. Log onto the company's proof of concept website to grasp the full meaning of this service. A bare page with only a search field for locating someone, by simply entering their cell phone number.

The results of the search combines a 100-metre accurate cell location with an up-to-date UK digital street mapping. The system is based on cell information provided by the four UK mobile networks, T-Mobile, Orange, O2 and Vodafone. Designed as a pay-as-you-go web application that requires no special equipment and only an initial registration fee, it is target towards companies with staff travelling out and about.

It is also expected to be of interest to domestic users; anyone who needs to locate someone such as an elderly relative travelling away from home, small children out on their own... a straying spouse. Fortunately for Data Protection regulations, prior authorisation from the phone owner is required.

permalink (March 19th, 2003)

Soft Texting

It looks and feels like a fabric, but it's more than that. You can fold it, scrunch it or wrap it, according to your need. What could it be ? Does it have anything to do with wearable computing? Is this yet another foray by engineers to enter the fashion industry? Not quite, It's intelligent technology capable of electronic sensing. It's a soft fabric keybord.

It's launch is timely, when reports are starting to trickle in from around the world on repetitive stress injury, caused by too much texting. Maybe a softer keyboard will help. According to Dr. Josephine Bondoc, as reported in a March 1st post, who is a physician at the Philippine General Hospital, almost 40 percent of patients who seek consultation suffer from the disorder. And just recently, the The British Chiropractic Association (BCA), has issued a warning that too much texting could lead to injuries in later life, and has even published a series of recommended txt-stretches for before and after texting.

Developed by Eleksen, a UK-based company which specializes in soft interface technology, this new fabric keyboard is available as an accessory for users of the SPV Smartphone and subscribers to mobile operator Orange, in four European countries: France, Denmark, Switzerland and the UK.

While you are visiting Eleksen's website, stop by and check out their image archives and click on soft cell phone. Amazing.

permalink (March 13th, 2003)

Attach a camera to your Nokia

My Nokia 7210 is not a picture phone, but I recently bought a small camera for Sfr 149.- ($ 112.-) that I can hook up to my mobile, the Nokia Camera Headset . It's fabulous, you can take pictures while you are on the phone or listening to music through your headset.

permalink (March 11th, 2003)

A Braille Keyboard for Texting

The first integrated cellular phone and personal organizer was on display in Los Angeles recently, incorporating features for the blind and visually impaired. With 20 braille cells, an 8-dot Braille keyboard, users will be able to send out text messages.

Other key features of the ALVA MPO Mobile Phone Organizer: a fully accessible tri-band GSM cellular phone, an essential notetaker, an agenda planner, an alarm and a calculator. Should be available June 2003.

permalink (March 24th, 2003)

SMS, a new weapon used by the police

Chinese officials are hoping to drive crooks crazy, and make them give up crime, with a relentless barrage of messages sent to their cellphones, according to an article in Nando News.

The campaign targets people who paste postcard-sized ads in public places leaving their mobile numbers and offering fake ID cards or academic certificates. Law enforcers have recorded the numbers and sent out the following message at intervals of 20 seconds: "You have broken the law by posting illegal ads. You must immediately stop this activity and go to the Hangzhou Urban Administrative Bureau for punishment."

A similar battled was waged in the Netherlands in 2001, when the Amsterdam police sent out SMS messages every three minutes to stolen cell phone numbers, saying: "This cell phone has been stolen. To buy it or sell it is a crime. The Police."

permalink (March 24th, 2003)

A rating system for mobile content

Mobile phone companies are turning to pornographic content in a bid to recoup the billions they have spent on third generation licences.

But to ensure that the material is not bought by those under the age of 18 and thus avoid bad press and parental backlash, they are considering a rating system for picture and video messaging. More in The Guardian

permalink (February 10th, 2003)

Guardian Angel monitors childrens' whereabouts by SMS

A new system allows parents to keep a closer eye on the movements of their children via their mobile phones, according to an article in the BBC. It will send text alerts to their mobile phone if the child deviates too far from that route or takes too long getting there.

Made by French mobile firm Alcatel, the system takes advantage of the existing mobile phone network to locate a child's whereabouts rather than using global positioning systems like some location-based services.

permalink (March 24th, 2003)

Dialtone Concerts

Precious information picked up on Smart Mobs, linking an Informal Catalogue of cell phone concerts performed around the world.

A collection gathered by American composer Golan Levin who composed the first original ««Dialtones Symphony»» where the 200 instruments played were the audience's ringing cell phones. The concert took place on September 2nd, 2001, at the Brucknerhaus Auditorium in Linz, Austria during the Ars Electronica's annual festival. Golan Levin performed again in the summer of 2002, at the Arteplage Mobile de Jura as a production of the Swiss National Exposition and Swisscom Mobile.

Of note in Golan's catalogue,Japanese Whispers where "About 10-20 cellphones are laid nose-to-toe in a circle. Ambient sound and the voices of the participants are input into the cellphone mouthpieces. Sound is propagated through the phones, becoming delayed and distorted in the resulting feedback loop.

permalink (March 23rd, 2003)

SMS and ringtones lead mobile data services

Young users will account for more than 40 percent of the market for mobile phone handsets and will spend over 13 percent of their disposable incomes on mobile products in the next few years, according to a comprehensive study of the behavior, attitudes and perceptions of mobile consumers, conducted by Telephia and Harris Interactive,

The report, written up in Business Standard, predicts that text messaging will account for 85 percent of all youth spending on value added services in 2006, followed by ringtones.

Youth spending on ringtones will amount to Euro 2.3 billion by 2006, with Japan, Korea, USA, Germany and UK as the largest markets.

permalink (March 20th, 2003)

ChessBuddy for mobile challenges

A new chess game for amateurs lets players go head to head with their mobile phones. ChessBuddy, developed by Netherlands-based Coffee Break, plays at four levels, ranging from easy to pro, and features an artificial intelligence engine that turns the phone into a formidable opponent. And because chess can be a time-consuming game, players can save up to five matches for completion at a later date. cf Wireless New Factor

permalink (March 20th, 2003)

Publish photos from your cell phone

CamBlog (Camera Weblog) is a service that enables you to publish photos from your cell phone, mobile device or from your hard disk and store them online. Simply sign up online to receive back a specific email address where to mail your pictures. Your photos will then automatically be posted in mintues, in the specific file you created for them. You can check out "Photo Test", where I posted a photo of an appliance from my kitchen.

Word of caution if you are using your cell phone, when signing up, you must identify your e-mail adress. If you don't know what it is, send yourself an email (from your cell phone to your computer) to find out.

For more on picture phones, check out PicturePhoning.com

permalink (February 27th, 2003)

Robbers identified by a picture message

Two thieves have been jailed in Italy after being identified from a mobile phone text picture. Daniel Puiu, 20, and 21-year-old Dorin Oborcianu are believed to be the world's first criminals to be convicted using the new technology.

According to articles in both Ananova and the BBC, the two men were snapped by a tobacconist who grew suspicious of them as they hung around outside his shop.

He sent a text message with the picture to police. After checking their files, officers realised the two were wanted for other robberies, so they were arrested.

More on picture phones on PicturePhoning

permalink (February 25th, 2003)

«Slanguage»

According to an article in The Guardian, British operators who have been tracking mobile phone use of picture messaging since its launch last year, have identified the emergence of a new style of communication it calls "slanguage", a new form of slang based on a combination of visual, aural and emotional prompts.

permalink (February 24th, 2003)

I love my cellphone

In an article today in the Financial Times, according to research carried out by Surrey University's Digital World Research Centre on behalf of the UMTS Forum, cellphone users have an emotional relationship and a psychological dependency on their mobile phones.

Some get a thrill out of receving a text message in public and others admit to texting their partner even though they are under the same roof. Interesting, the main finding, that mobile phone users call the same people more frequently rather than enlarging their circle of contacts. There goes believing that mobiles create opportunities for new business relationships.

permalink (March 7th, 2003)

SMS Interoperability

Good News reported in Forbes Magazine. Mobile phone users will now be able to send short text messages to each other's phones between the United States and Canada.

This service will be available to cell phone subscribers with Bell Mobility, Microcell Telecommunications Inc., Rogers AT&T Wireless and TELUS in Canada.

An in the United States, to those who subscribe to one of the six largest telecom operators including Verizon Wireless, Cingular Wireless, and AT&T Wireless Services Inc.

permalink (March 4th, 2003)

Tracking Moose by SMS

The New Zealand Star reports that researchers from the University of Agricultural Sciences of Stockholm are tagging several dozen moose with special cell phones to track their eating habits and movements across the country. Updates by SMS will be sent to the scientists 7 times a day.

Other such experiences have been conducted involving both wildlife and SMS. Last year, UK's Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust tagged 20'000 geese and tracked them with satellite technology from the breeding grounds of Canada to Ireland, a 3'000 km flight. Mobile phone users were able to sign up online for text messages on the whereabouts of the migrating geese.

And from the Scottish waters, seals sent out SMS to scientists, according to an article in Ananova. Tiny tags were fitted on their coats to track their movements and their location pinpointed by satellite global positioning system. As the seals approached shorelines and were within mobile phone coverage, data stored was then sent by SMS from the seals to the land.

permalink (March 2nd, 2003)

Young Americans catch on to texting

PC Magazine reports on a recent study published by Telephia/Harris Interactive. According to the study, 35 percent of cell-phone owners in the U.S. aged 18 to 24 have used Short Message Service (SMS). The survey was based on 40,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and nonsubscribers aged 18 to 24.

permalink (February 23rd, 2003)

Police launch text-messaging service for deaf

West Midlands Police of Breat Britain launched a mobile phone text-messaging service for the deaf in July 2002. The service allows deaf people, those who are hearing or speech impaired, to contact officers through a special number in case of emergency. According to an article in Ananova, a survey carried out in conjunction with Birmingham Institute of the Deaf has shown that 98% of hearing-impaired people used text-messaging and 85% would like to use it to communicate with police. It makes perfect sense. Other countries have similar services. Belgium offers deaf automobile drivers emergency assistance by SMS, and though not an emergency service, but a nice gesture, recognizing texting as a vital communication tool, French operator Orange with «Motamo», offers special SMS rates for the deaf and hearing impaired. permalink (February 21st, 2003)

Us developpers interested in mobile gaming

The US market is gearing up for mobile gaming, which could potentially become a major platform for games after PCs, consoles, handheld computers and the Internet, according to Mike Goodman, an analyst with market research firm Yankee Group, as reported in Wired

Danish consulting firm Strand Consult estimates the market at $3.5 billion a year in Europe alone. With Java emerging as the universal platform.

Some games are free, while others cost anywhere from $1 to $5 in Japan. Some European and U.S. carriers, including AT&T Wireless, charge these amounts directly onto their customers' monthly mobile phone bills.

permalink (March 10th, 2003)

Pervasive gaming

Pervasive gaming is the vision of Swedish company It's Alive!, meaning location-based games that surround you, 24 hours a day, everywhere. When you walk down the street, you're walking through an adventure world draped on top of the real world, and people you meet may be characters in the same game you're playing.

In their much written about game, BotFighters, which has formed a fanatical following in Sweden, Finland, Ireland and Russia, the players locate and shoot at each other with their cell phones out on the streets, where mobile positioning is used to determine whether the users are close enough to each other to be able to hit.

On the BotFighters website, a robot theme community, the players may upgrade their robots, buy weapons, chat, view high scores and get the real time position of other players.

During a game play, the player sends an SMS (or uses his WAP phone) to check his targets real time physical location. If the target is within range, the player can shoot by sending a "fire" SMS.

Some good articles on BotFighters in both Wired and The Guardian,

permalink (February 13th, 2003)

Text-messaging penetration is up 50% from 2002

A recent study conducted by Upoc and Frank N. Magid and Associates found that 140 million Americans, or 59%, ages 12 and up own mobile phones.

Some 35% of U.S. mobile phone owners 12 and older were found to have a wireless Internet feature on their handsets.

Games, restaurant and movie listings, sports scores and weather alerts are the most popular features.

Among the study's other findings:

— 27 million Americans already use the text-messaging feature on their cell phones, up from 18 million in 2002.

— Text-messaging penetration is up 50% from 2002.

— 19% of U.S. mobile phone owners age 12 and older use text-messaging features, up 13% from November 2002. And 72% of this group sends and receives text messages

— Regardless of age, most text messaging is personal, with 73% sending messages to friends, 70% to family members and only 26% to business contacts.

— 28% of U.S. mobile phone owners age 12 and older would consider dropping their land lines and switching to exclusively using their mobile phones. From Adage

permalink (February 25th, 2003)

Walkie Talkie Cell phones

At the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes in February, Nokia, Ericsson and Siemens announced that they are working on a standard for adding walkie-talkie features in mobile phones.

Instead of dialling a number, users will be able to highlight a name on their cell phone screen and press a button to talk to them instantly. No ringing, no waiting.

Similar to Instant Messaging, «Push To Talk» technology will allow users to create a liste of friends (who must first give their OK), enabling them to see who has their mobile turned on. cf The Guardian.

Walkie Talkie features already exist in Nextel phones, and through their Direct Connect service, Nextel phone users get right through.

Both Verizon and Sprint PCS are racing to see who can add "push-to-talk" to their phones first. cf News.com

permalink (February 28th, 2003)

SMS your views on the Oscars

American cell phone users interested in sharing their views on the Acadamy Awards, can check out Oscar's Chat on Upoc, favorite mobile company and provider of mobile messaging communities. Who's going to win best actor? What's the best film of the year? Who's gonna get robbed? Text out!

permalink (March 9th, 2003)

Donating by SMS

Text messaging is being used as a way to raise money, it's fast and easy and the (small) amount is charged directly to the donator's phone bill.

Here are a few examples of innovative fund raising campaigns by SMS:

— Unicef promoted its Christmas catalogue in an SMS campaign. Ads running on one million bus tickets in London and Oxfordshire invited travellers to text ‘xmas' and their name, house number and postcode to a short code to receive the catalogue.

Users were charged £1.50 for the catalogue on their mobile phone bill. A percentage went straight to Unicef, minus the phone operator's charge. cf Revolution Magazine

— Reality TV show «I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here? raised £618,799 for charity through the cost of phoning and texting the show. cf BBC

— BBC offered "Sport World Cup" text alerts in aid of Sport Relief. Each day text messages were sent to mobile phone subscribers, containing news and views from the BBC Sport team. Each message received cost 20p, and all profit, after tax, operator and handling charges, was donated to Sport Relief. cf BBC

— This is one of my favorite campaigns from Australia. In the summer of 2001, people sported red plastic clown's noses and placed them on car grilles, buses and even buildings, to help raise money in a nation wide campaign, for research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Australian telecom company Telstra offered its clients a Red Nose logo sent directly to their mobile phone screens. For each logo Telstra donated $1.84 Australian (US$0.95) to SIDS Australia. So by ordering up the logo via SMS or by downloading the logo from their website, Telstra customers donated about $10,000 Australian (US$5,200) to research. cf Wired

For anyone interested, there is a British company called Mdonate which develops mobile technology and solutions to enable secure and easy wireless donations.

permalink (February 11th, 2003)