Orange says Polish iPhone 3G customers weren't paid actors
[Image courtesy of AppleBlog]
[Image courtesy of AppleBlog]
Soulja Boy plays with Xbox 360 Special Edition Sidekick LX, pleads for attention on video
Japan to push its whiz-bang handsets overseas
With Japanese handset sales declining pretty much across the board (thanks, lower subsidies!), it follows logic that the government and Japanese-based handset makers would look internationally to pick up the slack. In a rather vague report, we're told that the nation is hoping to push its technologically advanced mobiles in other countries, though it'll have a tough time marketing mobile TV without sufficient infrastructure. One of the token handsets chosen to lead the parade is a Sony-made "wallet phone," which is only described as having cashless technology built in. Color us (very) mildly enthused.Worn out pants collection to show mobile progression
[Via textually]
Colbert's top threat of the week: killer iPhones. Solution: buy a Zune.
[Thanks, Matt]
Lindsay Lohan has a BlackBerry Bold, and you don't
[Thanks, Mo]
PSP phone mod is really exactly what we were waiting for
Verizon pulls pit bull LG Dare commercial after PETA bombardment
Say what you will about PETA's beliefs, but if there's one thing that group proves, it's that there is power in numbers. Verizon Wireless had been fairly adamant that it would continue airing its pit bull ad for the LG Dare -- which shows a pair of the dogs chained up in a junkyard guarding heaps of metal and a misplaced handset -- but after PETA issued an "action alert" that triggered 7,000 emails to the outfit's CEO, its tune changed. For those longing to waste another 30 seconds of their life watching the spot that will never again air on the small screen, click on past the break.
Stewart Copeland composes BlackBerry Bold soundtrack with negative effects
[Via CrackBerry; Photo courtesy of spisharam]
In-flight calling ban passes hurdle in House
It looks like that proposed ban on in-flight calling has now passed its first major hurdle in Congress, with it snagging some much needed approval from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in a voice vote on Thursday. While the so-called "Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace" (or HANG UP, really) would make permanent the current ban on in-flight cellphone use, it'd also go one step further and put a stop to all in-flight voice communications, which its co-sponsors hope will prevent airlines from charging some passengers to use their phones while also charging others to sit in a phone-free section of the plane. Of course, the bill still has a long ways to go before it becomes law, but giving the recent polling on the matter, it would seem to have a better than decent chance of going all the way.[Via Slashdot]
Sri Lanka to ban phone sharing in order to thwart terrorist activities
We've seen countries institute some pretty weird regulations when it comes to wireless handsets, but this one is apt to seem patently absurd to anyone outside of (and possibly within) Sri Lanka. Government officials are reportedly gearing up to implement legislation that would require handset owners to "to carry a certificate of ownership at all times when carrying their phone around." The new law will hopefully cut down on some terrorist activities that have apparently been going on, but it will also inconvenience quite a few innocent citizens as well. Ah well, at least locals can legitimately ask their mooching friends to get their own without sounding all snobbish.[Via textually]
China Mobile soars past the 600 million subscriber mark, refuses to slow down
Just last April, we heard that China Mobile had acquired more subscribers than the entire population of the United States of America. 15 months later, it has doubled up on that figure. Yep, China Mobile has just broken the 600 million subscriber mark as the country as a whole added 53.5 million new wireless users from January to June. Consequently, fixed-line customers fell by 9.3 million to 356 million during the same window of time. So, what's the over / under on months before the carrier breaks the big 1 billion?[Via IntoMobile]
Nokia to pay German state €1.3 million to settle Bochum dispute
Germany wanted $6.2 million in research subsidies back from Nokia, and in addition to the "tens of millions" that the company has already relinquished after the highly-disputed Bochum plant closing, it'll be coughing up another €1.3 million ($2.04 million) to hopefully close the door on the matter. Said payment will be addressed to North Rhine-Westphalia, which was quite angry after the handset maker decided to hack 2,300 jobs from Germany and relocate operations to Romania for "lower labor costs." The sum here is in addition to the €20 million "Growth for Bochum" foundation that the outfit started, but apparently that show of goodwill didn't really change the hearts of those already bitter.[Via PhoneScoop, image courtesy of Reuters]
Pope Benedict XVI texting out messages of encouragement
[Thanks, zedster]
2008 LG National Texting Champion takes home $50,000: omg hez rich!
Raising the stakes, are we LG? If you'll recall, the first ever LG National Texting Championship concluded last year by giving the winner some $25,000 to spend on finger strengtheners, backup handsets and ridiculously priced texting packages. This year, the proud victor walked out with double that. 20-year old Nathan Schwartz from Cleveland State swiped the grand prize as he pumped out "Does everybody here know the alphabet? Let's text. Here it goes ... AbcDeFghiJKlmNoPQrStuvWXy & Z! Now I know my A-B-C's, next time won't you text with me?" within a minute with zero mistakes. Apparently Mr. Schwartz utilized an LG enV to key in the winning message, though he did call the iPhone and BlackBerry "superior products." Better cash that LG-signed check fast, buddy -- ever heard of a "stp pymnt?"[Via textually]
