Latest mobile phone launches
Jewel embedded Nokia Monaco 8800 mobile phone
The National Geographic WP World Phone enables low cost phone calls
Apple iPhone launched
Novomax Bluetooth soundstation
Bluetrek ST1 bluetooth enabled headphones
Freedom Amplified phone for those with hearing problems
Samsung Z720 Ultra Edition 13.8 mobile phone
Philips DECT Cordless Phone
Sony Ericsson to acquire UIQ, a Symbian subsidiary
Linksys Dual-Band IP Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice
Coming Soon: YouTube on your mobile!
HTC - T-Mobile Dash: Hail the new smartphone
T-Mobile finally poses a serious challenge to the Motorola Q.
James Bond and Sony Ericsson team up in Casino Royale movie
Limited edition K800 and X790 phones
Coming soon: Nokia Wi-Max phones
Nokia's WiMax phones to make their appearance by 2008.
Nokia Wibree: A better Bluetooth?
Sony Ericsson and Fossil join hands on Bluetooth watches
Sprint will add Samsung A900m to its network
Spyshots of LG VX9900
Nokia 6288 3G slider phone reviewed
Samsung SGH-P310 mobile phone
Verizon offers Blackberry 8703e
i-Mate Jaq smartphone
Sprint will offer the Samsung IP-830w smartphone
Nokia N93 is European Media Phone 2006-2007
Motorola Motofone F3
Samsung unveils the SCH-B450 gaming phone
The LG U400 DJ phone
Motorola Q case from Brando workshop
hTc Z mobile phone from NTT Docomo
The new Motorola Razr Lime Green
Nokia sells 1 million 3250 music phones
D-Link introduces DPH-540 and DPH-541 Wi-Fi phones
FCC approval for Sony Ericsson P990i smartphone
Samsung launches the SCH-A990 phone
Red Sony Ericsson k750i for British markets
Samsung launches the SGH-i320 smartphone
Golvish mobile phones that cost a million
Sprint introduces Samsung A640
Nokia Smartphones and multimedia phones to include Yahoo Applications
QDA Lite and QDA Icon mobile phones from Qool labs
FCC approval for Motorola ic502
The new Nokia N83 and Nokia N95 cell phones
Nokia announces Mobile TV test run
Vonage to launch the V-phone
LG to launch LV2300 mp3 flip phone
Samsung SGH-E900 slider phone
Samsung launches the Ultra Edition cell phones
T-Mobile launches Sidekick 3
Nokia introduces a new range of cellphones
BlackBerry launches the 8707v
Alcatel OT E260 mobile phone
BT Glide Bluetooth Cordless Home Phone
Motorola Q to take on Blackberry
Google Jan. 28 took its AdWords click-to-call ad program out of beta, offering advertisers a potentially lucrative new way to connect with their target audiences through high-end smartphones with full HTML Web browsers. To help better connect searchers with the right business, click-to-call ads and their corresponding phone numbers are based on users' locations using Google Maps' My Location feature. BroadPoint AmTech analyst Benjamin Schachter said a meaningful percentage of mobile queries are for phone numbers or local information, making a phone number associated with an ad a highly relevant component on a search engine results page.
Google Jan. 28 took its AdWords click-to-call ad program out of beta, offering advertisers a potentially lucrative new way to connect with their target audiences through high-end smartphones with HTML Web browsers.
Click-to-call ads let advertisers add local business numbers alongside their destination URLs in mobile search ads. When users of smartphones, such as Apple's iPhone or Google's Nexus One, search for a local business from their mobile phone and stumble upon ads that have these numbers, they may simply click the number to call the business.
To help better connect searchers with the right business, click-to-call ads and their corresponding phone numbers are based on users' locations using Google Maps' My Location feature.
This is vital because it helps Google weed out local business results where there are multiple locations. For example, thanks to the cellular triangulation technology used in My Location, a person in New York City searching for a TGI Friday's restaurant will get a result and ad from a franchise in New York City instead of in Boston.
Advertisers can gauge the results of their ads by tracking how many calls they receive. Google explained its rationale for offering such ads, and how searches made on mobile devices differ from those on computers, in a blog post:
"When people search for goods or services using their mobile phones, they often prefer to call a store rather than visit that store's Website. Whether they're placing a direct order, making a reservation or inquiring about services, the ability for prospective customers to easily call your business is a key distinguishing feature of searches made on mobile phones versus computers."
BroadPoint AmTech analyst Benjamin Schachter said in a research note advertisers pay the same cost-per-click for a call as they would for a "click-through" to the destination URL.
Schachter added that a meaningful percentage of mobile queries are for phone numbers or local information, making a phone number associated with an ad a highly relevant component on a search engine results page. Schachter wrote:
"Given this relevance, we would expect high 'call-through rates' compared with click-through on a mobile text link (after all, the primary purpose of phones is to make calls). If widely adopted by advertisers (they can opt out), this new model could drive increased monetization of mobile searches and accelerate the timeline for mobile search to make a meaningful financial contribution for Google."
Indeed, Paul Feng, Google's group product manager for mobile ads, told Search Engine Land just the "presence of a local phone number improved the performance of ads" in some of the early trials. Feng said that some advertisers in Google's beta tests had seen improved click-through-rates of 30 percent versus comparable ads on the PC.
One downside is that advertisers may prove to be unwilling to pay for these phone calls because finding a phone number has been considered an organic result, Schachter said. Advertisers may prefer not to pay for any resulting calls by opting out of having the phone number in a sponsored link.
Nevertheless, click-to-call ads underscore Google's continued dedication to making money from the mobile Web and it's plausible to believe Google will offer additional ways to leverage mobile ads, such as through GPS and other location-based mechanisms, in the future.
Those interested in seeing how click-to-call ads work should see this video here, along with instructions for how to implement click-to-call ads.
The Mobile Phone Buying Guide - All You Need to Know
Today’s phones come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, and there’s no “best” format. There are, however, certain advantages and disadvantages to each; the standard (or“candy bar”) shaped phones tend to be relatively rugged and durable, but the exposed screens can mean that they are susceptible to scratches when placed in a pocket with loose change and car keys, making a case of some sort essential. Flip,or clam shell phones get around this problem to some extent.
They can also fit a larger screen in relation to the dimensions of the phone (although not all manufacturers choose to take advantage of this).The downsides are that the hinges can sometimes be a weak point if you treat your phone roughly, and most have a smaller secondary screen for use when the phone is closed. This can lead to higher cost and lower battery life relative to an equivalent candy bar phone.
The size is also and important factor -you may not want a phone that you can’t
comfortably slip into a pocket, but equally you need to be sure that the keys are large enough for you to press cleanly. As with all factors, the best thing a potential purchaser can do is try a variety of phones and find one that they are comfortable with.
Features
The feature list on today’s phones is nothing short of staggering; it’s difficult to believe that only ten years ago a very basic mobile phone with limited range, battery life, and portability was the preserve of the very rich. It now seems that everyone has a slim, powerful phone with built in cameras, mp3 players, and internet access. “Smart phones” are even more feature filled, and blurring the line between telephone and PDA – some of these can even be fitted with gps modules and run satellite navigation programs!
With all of these features, the interface becomes very important – if it’s difficult to use a feature, chances are that you won’t. Most manufacturers put a lot of effort getting their interfaces to be as intuitive as possible – try a few and find out what feels right to you. One of the biggest obstacles to changing phones is that after a few years of using a particular brand you become accustomed to the way they operate. Suddenly changing to a different manufacturer can then make the menu system feel clumsy and unwieldy, but give it time;
you’ll soon get used to a new way of doing things, and may find you prefer it – always judge the phone on its own merits.
This rate of change means that you have to be careful when choosing a mobile
phone. Some people are happy to pay a premium for the latest technology and the kudos
attached to owning what are in some cases very fashionable commodities. As long as these people go into things with their eyes open that’s fine – but you should always be aware that the latest portable technology costs, and will be out of date incredibly quickly. By choosing to stay a little behind the bleeding edge (and we don’t mean carrying round something the size of a halfbrick that runs on AA batteries!), you can have a smart, functional phone AND CALLS FREE! (See “Getting the best deals”)
Think about what you really need. We, as consumers tend to be blinded by features
for the first week, but after the honeymoon period is over many people use their phone regularly for little more than telephone calls, texts, and appointments!