Archive for September 30th, 2008
Sprint on Monday launched its next-generation 4G wireless 
network in Baltimore. The network, which runs on WiMAX technology, could start a new era in mobile broadband.Dubbed XOHM, the WiMAX technology extends home and office Internet connections and mobile multimedia applications in two ways. First, it lets wireless users log onto the Internet outside their four walls. Second, the network makes way for additional devices beyond Sprint phones.
As Sprint describes it, XOHM will ultimately allow wireless consumers to experience new forms of interactive communications , mobile Internet browsing, social-networking tools, location-centric services, and multimedia, including music, video and on-demand products, at faster average downlink speeds of two to four Mbps.
“This is truly an historic day with the birth of a completely new Internet-based business model that alters the dynamics of the traditional telecom industry,” said Barry West, president of Sprint’s XOHM business unit. “Wireless consumers will experience WiMAX device and XOHM service innovation on multiple levels as the computer, Internet, telecom and consumer electronics industries converge to redefine wireless mobility.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 30th, 2008
Motorola is reportedly looking to beef up its Android development team, increasing its size from 50 to 350 people in hopes of getting in on the latest Google buzz. Motorola couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, but reports of insider leaks say the handset maker is working with a recruiter to find developers for Google’s open-source mobile operating system.Motorola is one of the founding members of the Open Handset Alliance, which has nearly three dozen technology, wireless and handset makers working together to push the Linux-based Android platform. However, Motorola also has its own Java-Linux initiative. If the news reports are true, hiring hundreds of Android developers could mark a dramatic shift in the struggling company’s strategy.
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 30th, 2008
Google has launched a free Web-based service to help organizations streamline question-and-answer sessions during large meetings. Dubbed Moderator, the tool lets group members submit questions to the meeting leaders, then vote for or against the questions they like or don’t like. The Moderator can then choose the most popular questions.The goal for Moderator is to improve on the familiar “raise your hand” method of questions and answers in group settings, and to get the most out of the time allotted for the session.
Google engineer Taliver Heath designed the program during his “20 percent time.” A “20 percent project” is a Google philosophy that allows employees to spend one day a week working on something not in the regular job description.
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 30th, 2008
The first Android-powered phone isn’t the only big news on the mobile front this week. Applications for the Android operating system are already making their way to market.On Thursday, Visa announced plans to make mobile payment-related services for the Android platform, while PacketVideo stepped out on Wednesday with news that it would launch CORE, a multimedia application framework that powers more than 260 million devices worldwide, for Android.
Meanwhile, Namco launched PacMan for the Android operating system. Glu Mobile announced that Bonsai Blast, an all-new action-puzzle game, will launch on Android. And Big in Japan announced ShopSavvy, an application designed to help people do comparative shopping via the Android Market.
“There’s money to be made in the Android marketplace,” said Bill Ho, an analyst at Current Analysis. “Developers, while they are intellectually stimulated by programming, at end of the day they are going into this to make money. So what we see is an ecosystem that’s been built for this.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 30th, 2008
