Novatel Wireless has announced that it has successfully completed another data transmission (see the post about 4G data here), this time over dual-carrier HSPA+, using Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM)’s MDM8220 chipset.

For those of you not in the know with the network terms, Dual-carrier HSPA+ is a network innovation that will deliver more advanced data capabilities by (surprisingly enough) banding data carrier channels together. Novatel Wireless is apparently working with operators and plans to launch commercial data devices based on the MDM8220 in the second half of 2010.

It really does shoe that there is life left in 3G as a network technology – moving from 3G to 3.5G, and now 3.75G technologies, we are already heading toward 40Mbps – which certainly does make the argument to rollout out all-new 4G network technology that much harder!

One of the things we’re most excited to see at Mobile World Congress 2010 is the unveiling of the Windows Mobile 7 platform from Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT). Ever since the iPhone came on the scene and showed the world just how horribly behind the times Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system had become, we’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about what to expect in the revamped WM7. They’ve mostly painted WinMo 7 in a positive light, but the latest rumor chops our excitement down a notch. Word on the street suggests that Microsoft will not allow multi-tasking in Windows Mobile 7. That means you can only actively use one mobile app at a time, much like the iPhone OS.

The rumor goes on to mention that Windows Mobile 7 will allow apps to be “paused,” rather than allowing them to continue running in the background. That pretty much means Windows Mobile 7 will allow apps to save their current state when the user closes them or switches to another app. When the “paused” app is reactivated, the user will see the app exactly as they had left it – text intact, cursors in the same place, document scrolled to the same position, and maps pointing to where you left off. The rumor also makes mention of a push notification system, similar to the way iPhone apps notify iPhone users of updates even when the apps are not running.

There are a lot of things about the iPhone OS that we’d love to see in WM7. There’s the intuitive interface, the finger-friendly buttons and menus, the lack of a stylus. Microsoft would do well to emulate Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s iPhone OS on those fronts. But, when it comes to multi-tasking, we’d rather see Microsoft going down a different road. Push notifications are great, but they’re still a compromise. Allowing apps to save their state (pause) is handy, but still not the same as allowing apps to run in the background. Granted, multi-tasking is resource intensive, but seeing as how it’s already 2010 and we’re not flying around in spaceships or eating food made by replicators, it’d be nice to at least have a Windows Phone that can multi-task.

As for the user interface, Microsoft is rumored to be using design elements from its Zune HD interface. The interface is codenamed “Metro” and is said to be clean and soulful. It’s this interface that Microsoft will unveil at MWC. Unfortunately, we’re also hearing that apps will only be allowed to install through official channels, like Windows Marketplace for Mobile. The days of side-loading apps on your Windows Phone might soon come to an abrupt end.

We’ll know more next week, at Microsoft’s press conference in Barcelona. Make sure to keep an eye on IntoMobile, we’ll be coming to you live from Mobile World Congress with complete coverage of the event!

[Via: PPCGeeks]

By Ben Robinson on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 2:31 PM PST In Announcements, Applications

There are a real mixture of Apps for the iPhone – some useful, some more for fun – I can’t decide which category ‘Slango Urban Dictionary’ falls into, but it certainly brings a smile to my face

Here’s the spiel:

Ever wanted to know what your favorite rappers were talking about when they referenced their “whip” or their “chrome four-fifth”? Ever wanted to know what all the cool kids were saying? Wonder no more with Slango!

Slango is the best Urban Dictionary app in the App Store. With access to over 4,000,000 words and features suchch as Word of the Day, Search, Share, and Bookmarks with offline-viewing support, it’s a no-brainer. Try Slango!

Well I have to say I gave it a go, and it’s very amusing – there’s a wide variety of phrases in there, and some I’d not heard before – but will certainly be going in my ’street lingo’ repository! I’d say if you’re bored and fancy a chuckle, which you can share with others, give it a go!

Slango Urban Dictionary / £0.59 [iTunes link]

Our buddies at Oled-display.net have let us know about a nifty new Samsung handset that is going to be announced at MWC 2010, packing a SUPER AMOLED (yes, SUPER!) touchscreen!

We do a little bit more, but not much – the AMOLED will be WVGA, and around 3.3 inches. Apparently Samsung have suggested that the new screen is 5x more vivid than normal screens, and 20% better outdoor. I’m not 100% sure I believe it will be that much better outdoors (AMOLEDs aren’t historically the best in sunlight), but giving more vivid colours is definitely something we could all do with.

Unfortunately we don’t know the model name/number yet – but, we will dear readership, oh yes, soon we will!

[Via: oled-display.net via: Koreatimes / jknews]

Novatel Wireless today announced that it has successfully completed the first data transmission call using Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G technology. Fascinatingly, LTE provides data rates of up to 100Mbps on the uplink and 50 Mbps on the downlink by leveraging new, wider bandwidth spectrum.  Many operators are already planning to overlay LTE on their 3G networks to augment data capacity. Novatel Wireless is working with operators and plans to launch commercial data devices in late 2010.

“We are pleased to achieve these important first data transmission milestones on next generation technologies, last week with dual carrier HSPA+, and now with LTE, and we expect to leverage our industry-leading position to offer  4G wireless data products to our customers,” said Dr. Slim Souissi, CTO, Novatel Wireless. “We believe our aggressive development efforts will enable us to deliver these innovative solutions with the fastest possible time to market.”

All I’ve got to say is I want one. Now. Whatever form-factor it comes in, I’ve got to have that 4G data love as soon as possible!

And now for something a little bit different….

Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) UK (and in fact other Vodafone OpCos internationally) have rolled out an initiative called ‘World of Difference’ – it’s a charitable programme which lets volunteers go and help out in places that need it:

Vodafone’s World of Difference programme gives people the opportunity to spend time working for charities without having to worry about making financial sacrifices.Through World of Difference people can get paid experience – for two months or a year – at a charity of their choice in the UK or overseas. The World of Difference programme, delivered by the local Vodafone Foundation in each country, currently operates in 14 countries, with many more countries launching in 2010. To date it has allowed over 700 individuals, around the world, to work for their dream charity – and be paid.

Vodafone has just announced a new phase of WoD, with 500 new people – if you’d like to read about them, and the great work that the Vodafone Foundation is doing, then click here.

By Ben Robinson on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 1:08 PM PST In Android, GPS/Satellite Navigation, Windows Mobile, iPhone OS