Phonesnews.com

“Skype released the beta version of Skype 2.5, the newest edition of its software that allows anyone with an Internet connection to make free worldwide voice and video calls.As part of the new software enhancements, registration is simplified for new Skype customers and dialling traditional phone numbers is more intuitive, making calls to landlines or cell phones anywhere in the world easy and affordable. Features such as improved conference calling offer excellent voice quality and make it a natural way to stay in touch. Simple prompts while Skyping allow users to adjust how they manage their internet connection to ensure they have the best possible call quality. Other new functionality includes built-in, localized payment options, now in over 15 currencies. Skype 2.5 Beta Features Easy Dialing – instead of having to remember specific country codes, easily call landlines or cell phones worldwide by selecting the country of choice from a dropdown menu. Send Short Message Service (SMS) Messages–send a one-way SMS message to any mobile phone number in the world by selecting a SkypeOut contact, entering a mobile phone number or selecting a Skype contact’s mobile phone number in their profile. View Outlook Contacts–quickly view Outlook contacts in Skype and call directly using SkypeOut, a call from Skype to traditional landlines or cell phones. Improved Conference Calling–instantly see who is talking on a conference call as the participant’s picture flashes when they begin to speak. Shared Contact Groups–easily share contacts with friends and family and help them connect with other people; bring groups together with just one click of a button to start a group chat or conference call. Simplified Registration–create Skype accounts in one simple step. Automatic Updates–receive an automatic prompt to download the latest Skype software any time the product is upgraded. Call Quality Management–lets users adjust and manage their computer environment and internet connection to ensure they have the best possible call quality”. via slashphone.com

“It seems that Pantech, the second largest manufacturer in Korea really wants to get a piece of the US market share – we’ve already showed some of its low and mid-level models targeted to Verizon and Cingular (CDMA and GSM) and a high-end phone for Helio (MVNO that launched yesterday). Now the FCC pages reveal information on a Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone in clamshell design, which is manufactured by Pantech and is targeted to Verizon Wireless.The PN-820 (PC-8200N) combines high-end functionality and stylish design, has 1.3-megapixel camera with flash, memory expansion via miniSD (I/O) cards. The device has also powerful connectivity features, including WI-FI (Wireless LAN) and Bluetooth. The FCC pages do not reveal information on its display, but we guess it is a QVGA 240×320, 65k color TFT one, and secondary unit is located on the front shell for caller ID functionality.” via phonearena.com

PhatNotes 4.7 Smartphone Edition includes several new features to improve usability and increase user productivity. PhatNotes 4.7 gives smartphone users the ability to instantly dial phone numbers, launch an Internet browser and send an e-mail using information stored in PhatNotes. If a PhatNotes document contains a phone number, URL or e-mail address and the user moves the cursor over it, the right button menu changes to allow the user to dial the phone number, open the Web site or compose a new e-mail message with the single press of a button. “An increasing number of smartphones running Windows Mobile 5.0 have become available to an eager mobile market,” said Stan Miasnikov, president of PhatWare Corporation. “We have developed significant new features and improvements to our award-winning PhatNotes Smartphone Edition application for this growing market, while keeping it affordable for consumers by offering a free upgrade to existing users of the application.”PhatNotes 4.7 Smartphone Edition now fully supports Windows Mobile 5.0 and smartphone devices with QVGA screens. The application includes standard editing commands, such as cut, copy, paste, undo and more. The software also has an improved smartphone user interface and notes synchronization. Additionally, PhatNotes 4.7 Smartphone Edition allows users to attach files to PhatNotes documents, record and replay voice notes and link to other documents stored within the same database..

“RIM is about to launch 3 new Blackberry models to their lineup!Yesterday evening the FCC approved three new GSM BlackBerrys. The 7130e will soon be joined by GSM/EDGE models: the 7130c for Cingular and a 7130g and also the 7130v. The 7130 has a new more-rectangular form factor featuring the hybrid SureType keyboard, quad-band GSM/GPRS with EDGE, mini-USB and Bluetooth 2.0.Here are the first pics, detailed photos.” via blackberryforums.pinstack.com

“Nokia has started deliveries of its E61 business phone with full keyboard, a model directly competing with RIM’s BlackBerry device, the world’s largest handset maker said on Wednesday. “First deliveries started late last week. It’s gradually becoming available across the globe,” Pekka Isosomppi, spokesman for Nokia’s Enterprise division, told Reuters. The E70 model, with a 2 megapixel camera, is expected to start shipping later in May, he said. The first E-series phone, the E60, went on sale in April. The three E-series phones, aimed at business users, and three of Nokia’s flagship multimedia N-series handsets missed their original target shipping dates due to software- related problems. Nokia last October unveiled the new business phone line-up — part of the Finnish company’s plan to win more of the potentially lucrative corporate market — and said at the time that it would start shipments in the January-March quarter. Nokia’s Enterprise division’s first quarter loss widened to 66 million euros ($84 million) and it is aiming to turn to profit in 2007, with the help of its new phones.” via today.reuters.com

“Acer n311 measures 110x70x13.7 mm and weighs – 135 g. This is the tiniest VGA PDA at the moment. It size can be compared to the legendary HP iPaq 1910/1940, which enjoyed great popularity due to its design and tiny size. I can recall two models with smaller size – Palm Z22 and HTC Galaxy, however they belong to another class, so we can compare Acer n311 with them. Given the light weight of the PDA it can be carried comfortably anywhere – in pockets, on the belt or belt case.” Read this nice article here:

“Opera Software today released Opera Mini 2.0, the new version of the tiny Web browser that runs on almost every mobile phone. With over 2.5 million users since its first release in January 2006, Opera Mini has revolutionized mobile Web browsing. Opera Mini 2.0 further improves the Web surfing experience for any mobile phone user by enabling them to download MP3s, images and other Web content directly to their mobile phone. Additional features include quick and easy mobile shopping, improved design, bookmark speed dials, and moreNew capabilities in Opera Mini help businesses take the pain out of mobile commerce. Opera Mini now supports seamless mobile commerce via SMS. For example, users can click directly on the Web site to purchase ringtones, games and other content which will then be delivered as an SMS. The charge will appear in the phone bill as an SMS with the price set by the seller. This form of mobile commerce – direct from the browser to SMS – simplifies the transaction for both the business and the consumer.Opera Mini is also available as a customized browser for businesses that want to reach mobile customers. Operators, broadcasters, mobile content providers, handset manufacturers and others can take advantage of Opera Mini’s fast and easy way to make both existing and new content available on all handsets.New features in Opera Mini 2.0 include: Content download: Download images, MP3s, etc. directly to the phone. New skins: Make Opera Mini your own by selecting from several new and bold skins to suit your mood. Multisearch: Opera Mini offers advanced searching functionality by allowing users to select extra search engines for the home page. Speed dial: Bookmarks displayed on the home page are assigned a shortcut key combination, giving users faster and easier access to their favorite sites. Visual navigation: Quick and smooth horizontal panning when browsing backwards or forwards.Direct the mobile phone’s WAP browser to http://mini.opera.com (No cost)Opera Mini is available in the following languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Russian, Polish, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish. More languages will be available shortly.””Opera Mini has kick-started real mobile Web browsing by enabling non-smartphone owners to surf the full Internet on their phones, just as they do on their PCs,” said Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. “Opera Mini 2.0 adds a more personal aspect to mobile Web browsing. Whether you want to change the way the browser looks to suit your mood, download today’s most popular song, or even check movie times and book tickets, Opera Mini 2.0 is the mobile browser designed for the way you live your life.”

“Solidly built, the centrepiece of the OQO 01+ is its 5-inch active touch screen, which unfortunately suffers from poor brightness and a notorious lack of precision during stylus use. Furthermore, as with newfangled UMPC devices, its 800 x 480 resolution teeters on the very brink of usability for several reasons, including limitations in Windows XP and the vast majority of recent applications and web pages being adapted for resolutions from 1024 x 768 pixels and up.” Check out this review here:

“Garmin International has announced its new premium navigator for cars and motorcycles – the StreetPilot 2820. This model is based on a successful StreetPilot 2700 series, it got the support of Bluetooth, including the opportunity to make hands-free calls in pair with a Bluetooth-phone. In this mode the users can dial numbers from the phone address book or call history and also make calls using database stored in the navigator.The StreetPilot 2820 can be used as the MP3-player. Besides it is waterproof and complies with IEC 529 IPX7 standard, i.e. it can work at a 1 meter’s depth during 30 minutes. There is an optional function, which can trace traffic situation with the help of FM RDS-TMC (Traffic Message Channel) or XM NavTraffic (in the US only). With the latter you can use some other services, including weather forecast and share quotations.The StreetPilot 2820 is expected to be available in June. The recommended price makes up $1099. The device will be supplied with the maps of Europe or the US.” via mobile-review.com

“Taiwan-based BenQ and High Tech Computer (HTC) are speeding up the respective launch of their HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) phones, with BenQ expected to deliver its first HSDPA phone, the EF91, to T-Mobile in July and HTC to begin shipping its model, codenamed Muse, to Qtek (Model S300) in the third quarter, according to market sources.BenQ previously indicated that it planned to launch the EF91 in the fourth quarter of this year, according to a previous report. The new schedule may place BenQ ahead of other leading vendors such as Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson for the launch of HSDPA phones, the sources noted.Both BenQ and HTC will promote their HSDPA phones first in the European market, the sources indicated.In related news, Jerry Wang, chairman of BenQ Mobile, stated that the company started small volume shipments of its two new 3G handsets, the S81 and EF81, in April, with shipments to start rising in May.” via digitimes.com