"The Phone": A a new reality-game show on MTV

A new british reality-game show produced by Justin Timberlake for MTV involves cell phones. The BBC reports.

"The program is based on a Dutch production and begins each time with two hidden mobiles ringing in different locations of a big city.

In the MTV show called "The Phone", contestants who answer the mobiles will have five seconds to decide if they want to play the game for a cash prize.

A guide on the other end of the line then gives them a mission to complete before time runs out.

And hardly going over board, MTV executive vice-president Tony Disanto described the show as "genre-busting".

"Reinvention is at the core of what we do, and The Phone does just that. Each week will be an action-packed mini-movie," he added.

iPhone news for Switzerland, Spain and Poland

According to TUAW, Switzerland, Spain, Poland who are still waiting for the iPhone, may finally be getting them.

For Switzerland, earlier this week, Le Matin reported that Swisscom would be the official iPhone carrier and would launch the 3G version of the iPhone this summer.

However the official spokesperson for Swisscom, Christian Neuhaus, remains secretive about the deal and said "nothing is done".

Apple inks Latin American deal for iPhone

The top mobile phone operator in Latin America, America Movil SAB, said Wednesday that it has inked a deal with Apple Inc. to bring the multimedia gadget to more than a dozen countries starting later this year. Associated Press reports.

"No details were offered about the arrangement, including whether it would be the exclusive iPhone provider in the targeted countries."

Soldier In Afghanistan Accidentally Calls Parents In The Middle Of A Battle

An American soldier in Afghanistan accidentally dialed his parents' phone number in Oregon, just as he was in the middle of a battle. Techdirt reports.

"His parents weren't home, but the message was recorded on their voicemail, including (as you might expect) guns firing, lots of swearing, and the son yelling about problems he was having with his gun as well as the need for more ammunition. Even worse, the call cut off just as another soldier yelled "Incoming! RPG!"

The voice mail has been posted on YouTube via KPTV.

As you might imagine, the parents were a bit freaked out, but eventually reached their son, who says he's a bit embarrassed by the whole ordeal. Yet another reminder to make sure to "lock" the keypad on your phone. "

Synchronoss: Unlocked iPhones Are Killing Us

A lousy Q1 and scary message from Synchronoss, which handles gadget activations for companies like AT&T (T) and Time Warner Cable: The company has "materially lowered" its growth expectations for 2008 "due in large part to reduced revenues associated with the iPhone, which masks the underlying growth and momentum of the rest of our business," CEO Stephen Waldis said in the company's earnings release.

Why the drop? Waldis listed three reasons during the company's conference call. Most important: More iPhones are being sold to be "unlocked" -- and never officially activated -- than Synchronoss expected.

[Silicon Alley Insider via Gizmodo]

Apple Takes a More Open iPhone Tack in Italy

Apple Inc. is adopting a more open strategy for selling its iPhone, allowing two carriers to offer the device in Italy, as it sharply expands the number of countries where the cellphone-media player is available.

[via the WSJ]

Islamic Militants Ban Mobile Phone Ringtones

Islamic militants in Pakistan's tribal areas, which border Afghanistan have issued a decree banning music from mobile phone ringtones and vehicles in tribal areas of the country.

A spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Maulana Faqir Mohammed said, the they would not allow commuters to play music in their cars or use musical ringtones on mobile phones.

He warned that offenders would be punished according to Shariah laws. [via Cellular News. Photo illustrating Shariah law from Frontline World]

Vodafone releasing iPhone in 10 new markets

Vodafone announced this morning that it has signed with Apple to sell the iPhone later this year in ten markets - but not Switzerland - , including Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey.

[via engadget]

Civil rights group warn travellers to limit laptop/cell phone data

A recent federal district court ruling upholding seizures of electronic devices, such as laptops and iPhones, at the U.S. border has traveler- and civil-rights organizations worried that personal and sensitive data could be put at risk. SecurityFocus reports.

"On Thursday, almost three dozen organizations -- including civil-rights advocates, academic groups, and religious and minority groups -- sent an open letter to four congressional committees, asking that their members consider legislation to "protect all Americans against suspicionless digital border inspections."

Related: - How to protect your laptop / cell phone when travelling - know your rights

FaceBook In Real Life

Not relatd to cell phones. Just brilliant. [via Metro]

Mobile downloads 'to be probed'

UK mobile phone premium-rate services, such as ringtones, downloads and games, is to be investigated, the industry regulator PhonepayPlus has announced. The BBC reports.

"The probe comes after rising complaints about digital content provided by the £350m-a-year premium-rate industry.

Some consumers have been hit with bills they did not expect after downloading pictures or tunes on their mobile.

The regulator, which was previously known as Icstis, said there has been a 40% rise in gripes already this year."

Happy birthday, web and thank you Tim Berners-Lee

Fifteen years ago yesterday the protocols behind the world wide web were released for free to the world by CERN, thanks to Tim Berners-Lee - making the world a better place.

Below is the official declaration that sealed the release:

Related: Luminaries look to the future web - from the BBC

Exactly 15 years ago the directors at the lab where the web was first developed signed a document which said the technology could be used by anyone free of charge.

That decision was instrumental in making the web truly world wide. BBC News talks to some of the leading figures in the web community about their hopes for the future of the web.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee

Professor Wendy Hall

Dr David Belanger, AT&T

Mark Bernstein, Parc

Robert Scoble, blogger

Professor Nigel Shadbolt

Kai-Fu Lee, Google China

Mitchell Baker, Mozilla

Robert Cailliau, Cern

Tim O'Reilly

Canada to get the iPhone

Canada's largest telecom operator, Rogers, has announced a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone i(finally) to Canada. Nothing specific about a date though.

In a very brief statement, Ted Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rogers Communications said "We're thrilled to announce that we have a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year. We can't tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned."

Here in Switzerland, still no such announcement by any operator. On a personal level, Swisscom's (the most probable candidate) continued silence on the issue just makes me angry.

[via engadget:mobile and Cellular News]

Price, a deciding factor in purchasing a cell phone

In a recent survey, proportionally fewer cellphone users than in 2006 cited signal quality as their main reason for having switched to their current carrier, according to comScore, a research firm. And a larger proportion than before cited price as the deciding factor; that percentage crept up to 19 percent from 14 percent.

In other words, people are beginning to treat cellphone service as a commodity, its providers distinguished only by price.

[via The New York Times]

First pics of the Boston Apple Store

[via Tuaw]

Digital Procuts/iPOD Tax

Tennessee Republicans are raising the alarm about a new tax proposal they say the Bredesen administration is formulating, reports WDEF News 12.

"They say the Department of Revenue is considering a Digital Procuts/iPOD Tax.

An analysis by a Nashville law firm claims that it would make digital purchases of movies, music, news and entertainment programs, ringtones, and electronic books subject to the retail sales tax."

Digital Products/iPOD Tax. The Bill contains sweeping legislation that would subject downloaded sales of digital media, including music videos, motion pictures, news and entertainment programs, music, ringtones, electronic books, etc. to the retail sales tax. Under current law digitally delivered goods are not taxable unless delivered in a tangible form.

Are cellphones our new 'private parts'?

I thought that would get your attention, it certainly got mine. But it's only a catchy headline from IOL Technology. The article is just a skim-through cell phone function and behaviour roundup.

Lego Men Unpack iPhone

Flickr slideshow of Lego Men unpacking and iPhone. Fun.

[via MIT Avertising Lab]

Republicans push for phone company immunity

Republican politicians in the U.S. House of Representatives failed last month to persuade Democratic leaders to back a spy law rewrite that would immunize telecommunications companies that cooperated with allegedly illegal government spying. Now they're trying to force the issue.

[via News Blog]

Insects Use Plant Like a "Telephone"

Dutch ecologist Roxina Soler and her colleagues from the Netherlands Institute for Ecology have discovered that subterranean and aboveground herbivorous insects can communicate with each other by using plants as telephones. [via Cellular News]

"Subterranean insects issue chemical warning signals via the leaves of the plant. This way, aboveground insects are alerted that the plant is already 'occupied’.

Aboveground, leaf-eating insects prefer plants that have not yet been occupied by subterranean root-eating insects. Subterranean insects emit chemical signals via the leaves of the plant, which warn the aboveground insects about their presence. This messaging enables spatially-separated insects to avoid each other, so that they do not unintentionally compete for the same plant.

... The communication between subterranean and aboveground insects has only been studied in a few systems. It is still not clear how widespread this phenomenon is."

Nokia Music Store France goes live

Nokia Conversations reports on the opening today of the French Nokia Music Store.

"The opening follows yesterday's launch of the Nokia Music Store in Australia and the recent launches earlier this month in Ireland and the Netherlands.

Over 2.5 million tracks will be available from EU1 each or EU10 ($1.59) per album. Users are also able to subscribe for EU10 ($15.89) per month to get unlimited access to the music of their choice.

Like the other stores, the French edition includes music from local artists. Local music makes up 60 per cent of the songs in the French 'Hit Parade'.

Free music will also be on offer to users every week to help new artists get discovered."

Apple Considering 'Free' Access to iTunes Library

Apple is talking with the major record labels about a change in the iTunes Store business model that would give customers free access to the store's complete music library, according to The Financial Times. The catch is that consumers would pay a premium for Apple's iPod and iPhone devices.

[via Mobile tech Today]

Apple Unveils Its First Store-in-store In Mainland China

Apple's first store-in-store in mainland China has been unveiled at the Best Buy store in Shanghai's Xuhui district. China TechNews reports.

"... The new store is known to be the only Apple Store-in-Store in mainland China. Occupying a total area of about 50 square meters, it displays more than 60 kinds of Apple computers and Apple brand accessories. Apple will send two technical consultants to the store to provide sales support for it.

Apple is also planning to soon open its own stores in China in Beijing. It has said that one store will be located in the city's Sanlitun area and the other will be in the Qianmen area."

Photo from ICSC.

Apple files for universal iPhone instant messaging patent

According to Apple Insider, Apple has filed an application for a patent on a universal interface for real-time text chat services.

Apple said to have signed landmark 3G iPhone deal for Italy

Apple Inc.'s next-generation iPhone will arrive in Italy in a matter of weeks under a landmark deal that will see handset sold through Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) without a contract and carrier lock, according to Repubblica.

Under the terms of the deal, TIM will reportedly receive a several month exclusive on sales of a 3G iPhone through its retail shops, which will be staffed with specialists who are trained to support iPhone customers and get the touch-screen handsets up and running on the carrier's 3G network.

[via Apple Insider]

House bill aims to ban new cell phone taxes

A bipartisan bill introduced Tuesday in the House of Representatives would ban new state or local takes on mobile phone services for a period of five years. Sponsored by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and five co-sponsors, the bill is known as the Cell Tax Fairness Act (HR 5793 )

[via News Blog]

iPhone Sales in Europe Affected by Anticipated 3G Version

While consumers await with bated breath for the upcoming 3G iPhone, mobile operators such as the O2 and T-Mobile in Europe are facing possible unsold stock from its current batch of iPhones.

On the bright side, consumers are not only looking at a newer and faster iPhone, they might also get a bargain from slashed down prices on the current iPhones, so it's a win-win situation for the consumer group.

[via HardwareZone]

Cell Phone Deep Fry

At a deep frying fest, or a "Fry-Bar-B-Q" - apparently there is such a thing - Xeni Jardin on bbvTV wraps her Treo in bubble gum, has it deep fried and takes a bite. Then does the same thing with a bacon wrapped clam shell phone, then another Treo this time wrapped in cookie dough.

This is such a delicious phone. What a beautiful way to preserve memories. the wonderful memories of conversation...

Go figure. Lost in translation by me. Or the end of civilization as we know it.

"Nerdic" is fastest growing language

The explosion of technology has created the fastest growing language in Europe, according to research published this week by PIXmania.com. Pocket-Lint reports.

"Dubbed "Nerdic", this new way of communicating via technological terminology has developed separately to English and become the shared language of Europe, allowing people to communicate without geographical boundary.

Nerdic is evolving faster than the English language, at a rate of more than 100 new words per year.

... From "dongle" to "Wi-Fi" 100 new words were added to the Nerdic vocabulary in the past 12 months­ - over three times more than the Oxford English Dictionary added to the official English language, with experts predicting that this figure will more than double in 2008. "

Image from Valleywag

Movement grows for digital day of rest

"Sharon Sarmiento knew it was time to unplug when she realised she was blogging in her dreams and hearing imaginary instant messages.

For Ariel Meadow Stallings, it was the hours lost while surfing the internet that left her feeling like she had been in a drunken blackout.

Both women are part of a new grass-roots movement in which tech geeks, internet addicts, Blackberry thumbers and compulsive IMers are deciding to wrest back control of their lives by daring to switch off - if only for a day." The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"... Some call it the "secular Sabbath." For others it is "unplugged day." In Quebec, Canada, professional computer developers Denis Bystrov and Ashutosh Rajekar are organising a global "Shutdown Day" in May.

Stallings, 33, a Seattle author, blogger and part-time marketing manager for Microsoft, made a resolution in January to spend "52 Nights Unplugged" this year.

In an ironic twist, she quickly spread the word through her blog 52nightsunplugged.ning.com and connected with thousands of people across the world who habitually text while driving, take their laptops to the bathroom, or check email during dinner.

"I thought it was just a problem that affected me and my geeky colleagues. But then I started hearing from Italians with similar issues, and Poles and Czechs, and I even got a query from someone in Colombia."