Trolltech intros Linux development Greenphone

Trolltech has introduced a mobile phone handset designed so that commercial and open source developers, in-house software developers and handset manufacturers can create, modify and test Linux-based mobile phone applications on a working GSM/GPRS device. The Qtopia Greenphone is bundled with a complete software development kit and includes Trolltech?€s Qtopia Phone Edition, an application platform and user interface for Linux-based mobile phones. Although Trolltech does not intend it to be used as a commercial mobile phone, the Greenphone has been designed to have many of the communication functions and features typical of smartphones, such as a working camera, so that developers can exploit these features and functions in their applications. ...more

Microsoft preps MSN Messenger for significant upgrade

With March totting up 100 million active users, Microsoft believes it's ready to put some clear water between MSN Messenger and its closest rivals, with what it describes as a 'significant upgrade' for the summer. According to the companies, independent research firms put MSN Messenger in the top spot for free instant messaging services in 11 countries. This certainly puts it at the top for Europe, holding sway in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. ...more

BPI records music download boom

Music fans switching to legal music downloads are fuelling a digital sales boom, according to new figures from the UK record industry's trade association, the BPI. The digital music market has grown at a rapid rate, with 5.7 million tracks sold in 2004 compared to virtually zero in 2003 and sales continue to snowball. ...more

Bagle variations reaching epidemic proportions

The epidemic of email threats that download the Bagle virus continues apace, according to antivirus experts. Maksym Schipka, senior antivirus researcher at MessageLabs, said 'The quantities are huge to be honest .. ...more

Sony Ericsson launches three new phones

Sony Ericsson is launching three GSM/GPRS phones for Christmas. The Z600 is a clamshell device with changeable covers front and rear. It's a GSM/GPRS phone with Bluetooth, a 65,000 colour screen and support for Java. ...more