PhoneScoop has the news (and a link to FCC docs) on Motorola’s new mobile phone.
The FCC today approved the Motorola CN620, the first phone capable of operating on both mobile and Wi-Fi networks. Although the phone was developed by Motorola’s iDEN group, the phone supports only GSM and Wi-Fi networks. Voice calls started on Wi-Fi networks can be handed off to a GSM network. The reverse is possible only for certain types of calls. Features of the phone include a large color main display, an external display, speakerphone, eight-way navigation, and PTT (push-to-talk). Although the prototype approved by the FCC operates only on GSM networks, FCC documents reveal that the final model will support all three major types of Wi-Fi (802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a), as well as quad-band GSM.
Devices, Policy 802.11, FCC, GSM, IDEN, Motorola, push to talk, telephone, wi-fi, wireless
NEC launches touchscreen phones for Chinese market. Not much detail available yet, but this is the third announcement of this kind from NEC.
Both the ‘N610′ and ‘N620′ are GSM flip phones with 176 x 220 dot touchpanel displays. They do not have 10-key buttons so typical of modern phones, and the time can be seen through a window on the back side of the unit. The phones feature a Chinese handwriting recognition function, and are operated using the included pen on the touchpanel. Apart from featuring a 0.30MP camera, the ‘N620′ features SMS functions and reading of vocal guidance.
Devices China, GSM, handwriting recognition, mobile, mobileTech, NEC, SMS, telephone, touchscreen
Threateninig to go around service provider revenue with your new mobile handset? Bad customer, bad suppliers, say telco consultants.
New mobile devices based on a version of the Symbian OS are a serious threat to mobile operator revenue streams, according to consultancy Mako Analysis. Savvy users can use devices running on Symbian’s Series 60 operating system (OS) to completely bypass a range of services that are normally charged for by their mobile operator, the UK-based consultancy warned on Monday. While the threat is currently minimal, the loophole has the potential to cause major headaches for operators.
‘The increasing sophistication of high-end mobile devices opens up a range of additional problems and will continue to undermine the data revenue streams of mobile operators at a time when they desperately need them to be increasing,’ a Mako spokesperson said.
Devices, Policy handsets, incumbents, mobileTech, profits, telco, telephone
I tried to become a Vonage phone service subscriber, but too many of their problems got in my way. It’s still not ready for prime time.
First there was the wait. I ordered service on 4 Dec. 2003. They didn’t ship the voice-to-broadband connection box (called an MTA) until 8 Dec. It didn’t arrive until 15 Dec (today.)
Then there was the wait. And wait, and wait. On hold to tech support for over 40 minutes each. The third time I never got to talk with anyone–the recording said “Sorry we can’t help you. Please send email…”
About that wait… Being on hold with Vonage is its own special hell: the music (which doesn’t change) is much louder than the voices (like the “thank you for holding, someone will be with you in a minute” about every five minutes). In fact, the music is so loud that I couldn’t leave the phone to my ear for long. That made the voice recordings especially hard to catch.
In the end, the last tech support guy I spoke with never got my dialtone working. I powered down various pieces of networking equipment, including my MTA (9 times in one phone call). He said that he needed to run some diagnostic which would take a few minutes. I foolishly asked him to call me back. Right, like that ever happened (it did not).
I’ll be sending the MTA back to Vonage tomorrow. And looking for another alternative phone provider tonight. Anyway, now I don’t have to worry about potentially short-sighted FCC interventions into the VoIP space. (Think “communications applications,” not “telephone network.”
Devices, Life, Network phone, sucks, telecom, telephone, Vonage
SBC Communications announced its plans to offer voice over Internet phone service beginning early next year–in a big way.
SBC said it will offer both voice and data services will not be limited to its traditional local markets in the southwestern United States but will be available in all 50 states after having received U.S. regulatory approval to offer long-distance nationwide.
Network incumbent, long distance, telecom, telephone, voice, VoIP