UK telecoms regulator Ofcom recently issued a statement reminding the 3G network holders (3, Orange, O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone) of their obligation to meet their target of 80% 3G network coverage by the end of 2007.
The 80%-coverage target, which is measured against population numbers not land area, was set as part of the 3G spectrum auction back in 2000 (which added £22b to the UK government’s coffers), is to be reviewed through this year and will use 2001 UK census as its basis. Thinking back, we never guessed that filling in all those census forms would help ensure we could watch 3G video in Penrith.
News bubbling out of Motorola Korea is that the company’s classic StarTac phone brand is making a comeback with this, the new StarTac III MS900.
The slim 89 × 49 × 20mm handset weighs in at just 92g - but while it sports a nice QVGA (240 x 320 pixel) screen and 128MB of on-board memory (and support for MP3 playback), it lacks an external screen and a camera. We can live without the former (especially as there’s an LED indicator to show what type of call you’re getting), but the latter seems essential for a handset to survive these days.
Still, it’s a nice looking phone, and call us old-school but we think there’s always something kind of cool about a flip-screen handset.
(Via Unwired View)
Something for the weekend: A chaku-uta is a high-grade Japanese ringtone, essentially an MP3 of a popular song, which can be bought from service providers in Japan via 3G handsets. A chaku-movie is a downloadable music video that can also be used as an audiovisual ringtone. (And Chack’N Pop is an ancient Taito arcade game, but that has nothing to do with anything.)
Yesterday, the producer of Lumines II (a nifty version of the original Lumines is available for phones the world over) released his self-produced debut single, ‘Heavenly Star’, as both a chaku-uta (at Y105, which is about 45p) and a chaku-movie (Y315, £1.50). We’re downloading this technopop gem to our phones right now, but you can see-hear the music video by hitting the link.
(‘Heavenly Star’ on Youtube)
A mobile blogging community designed specifically for girls has dreadful potential for tweeness: all pink colours and ponies. Thankfully, that’s not the case with MiniFizz, which m-trends seems very impressed with, saying it’s “varied, multiple, complex and not stereotypical.”
It involves designing an avatar character, style it with clothes and accessories, and then start your own blog or posting on mobile forums. There’s even five virtual hosts – SofiaFizz, JulieFizz, LisaFizz, LilouFizz and ChristieFizz – keeping the community in check.
Not being a 14-24 year-old woman, I can’t say I’ll be joining the community if it ever comes to the UK. But it’s a good example of how a focused and funky community can carve out a niche for itself, rather than trying to appeal to everyone.
Pocket Picks is mostly UK-focused, but I wanted to post about this story that US operator Sprint Nextel has launched a full-length film rental service for its customers. You pay $3.99 - $5.99 to rent a movie for between 24 hours and a week (it varies according to the film), and there’s 45 available at launch including Spider-Man 2 and Scarface.
Is there a huge demand for films on your phone? I’m not sure. I’ve regularly watched trailers on mine when planning a night at the cinema, but can’t say I’ve ever felt the urge to watch a whole movie on a 2-inch screen.
It sounds like Sprint have made great efforts to make their service right for mobile, breaking the films up into chunks and ensuring that when you stop watching, next time you’ll start in the same place. But… hmm. People haven’t been overly keen to watch films on their PSPs, and that’s got a lovely wide screen.
Still, we’ll have to wait and see how Sprint’s service does (and if anyone launches it over here).
No, if you’re going to Chelmsford or Staffordshire this weekend, you can’t leave the paper ticket at home. But if you’re a Virgin Mobile customer, you will be able to use an m-ticket to get backstage, trouser some free food, drink Radiohead’s absinthe rider and pass out in Imogen Out Of Big Brother’s lap. Probably.
Virgin Mobile is working with marketing firm Flytxt and m-ticketing company ActiveMedia to run the special promotion, which will give 250 punters entry into the VIP lounge at the festival simply by scanning their mobiles. Judging by the weather forecast for Chelmsford, festivalgoers would probably appreciate being texted a money-off voucher for some wellies and a canoe, mind.
Cor. I knew the Eden Project was pretty high-tech, but they’ve gone one better than simply plonking a bunch of greenhouse domes in the middle of Cornwall now. The attraction has just introduced mobile ticketing, allowing you to pay for entry and get your ticket sent to your phone as a picture message.
The Eden Project gets to save money that can be ploughed back into its contents, while you get to swank past punters queuing for old-fashioned paper tickets on the way in. What could be better? I can’t find a link on the official website to actually buy the m-tickets yet though.
M-ticketing is taking off - when the Millennium Dome reopens next year as The O2, a huge music venue, it will also be making heavy use of mobile. For venues of course, the other advantage is that m-tickets can’t be touted.
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