Survey predicts mobile operators face major change

The mobile phone industry is under increasing pressure to change. A survey by industry analysts Informa finds that high subscriber acquisition costs, mostly through the practice of subsidising or providing free handsets in contracts, are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Based on over 1,000 industry survey responses, Informa found that 60 per cent of operators expect subsidies to decrease or remain the same in 2006. ...more

Evolution of Pentium M processor anticipated at forthcoming IDF

Greater power efficiency and improved support for multitasking - these are the claims made for a new Intel mobile processor that the company is about to unveil, according to reports on the Internet. Intel usually uses its IDF (Intel Developer Forum) as a showcase for new technologies, and it seems that the evolution of the Pentium M, which powers laptops as part of the Centrino platform, will headline this event. The rumours precede the latest IDF (Intel Developer Forum), which will be held in San Francisco, 23-25 August. ...more

Palm sticks with Palm platform for Treo 680 launch

The handheld giant has released its latest smartphone running Palm OS but users must wait and see if a Windows Mobile version will follow Palm has launched its second smartphone in as many months by making its Treo 680 device available to users from today. But unlike its predecessor, the Treo 750v, which was launched last month, Palm's latest offering will only run the Palm OS initially. A spokesperson for the mobile device giant was unable to comment on whether a Microsoft Windows Mobile version will be launched in the future. ...more

Scientists discover a DiamondTouch

Scientists in Massachusetts have developed an interactive computer display that can identify, track and differentiate between multiple users. The DiamondTouch system, developed by Mitsubishi Electric Research, comprises a touch sensitive screen and a receiver located in a chair. A computer sends unique signals to each part of the screen and when the screen is touched those signals pass harmlessly through the toucher's body to the receiver. ...more

iTunes for PocketPC?

A German blogger is claiming that he has got his hands on a version of iTunes for Windows Mobile. Accompanying his posting with convincing screenshots, Daniel Kirstenpfad says (in English) that the software is running on a pre-release version of Windows Mobile 5. 'Although it looks pretty complete (everything (except bonjour) is in place and even podcast sync worked like a champ) it's not a customer ready version,' he writes, 'I don't know anything about the release dates or announcement dates at the moment. ...more