MetroPCS Offers Ultimate Caller ID Name Services

MetroPCS Communications in US has launched Screen-it, a service that displays the calling party’s name on a subscriber’s wireless phone. Screen-it allows consumers to more successfully manage incoming calls to their phone by seeing the caller’s name before answering the call. Even if the call is from an unknown caller, the service will try to identify the caller name at the backend.


“The new Screen-it service is a core part of MetroPCS’ landline replacement strategy as it offers our customers the same standard features that they enjoy on the landline telephone,” said Tom Keys, chief operating officer for MetroPCS. “Being the first to introduce this service demonstrates MetroPCS’ commitment to providing the best wireless service to its customers.”

MetroPCS has selected TARGUSinfo as the provider of caller name services for Screen-it. MetroPCS plans to offer the new Screen-it feature to its customers in October 2008. Screen-it will be included with select wireless packages and will be an enhanced option available to add a la carte for other packages.

Open University counts 1 million iTunes download

A staggering one million items equating to seventeen terabytes of educational content from the Open University has been downloaded in the four months since it joined Apple’s itunes U channel.


Professor Brenda Gourley, Vice-Chancellor of the Open University, said the relationship with Apple was a great example of the University looking for new and innovative ways to provide students with its award winning curriculum.

“The Open University, recently ranked second in student satisfaction for all UK universities, is providing high quality educational outcomes for more than 200 000 students.

“iTunes U makes high quality educational content available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to anyone with access to an internet connection, free of charge,” she said.

“The Open University is widely known to be a world leader in the distance education learning, and this partnership with Apple is another example of how we are maintaining our position by utilising current and emerging technologies for our students’ benefits,” she said.

Samsung ACE Can Now be Upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.1

Today Sprint and Samsung announced key enhancements, including GPS to support Sprint Navigation, Windows Mobile 6.1 and the addition of Office Mobile 6.1 for the Samsung ACE. The new software’s downloading instructions are available at http://www.samsungmobileusa.com/i325/upgrade


Other than Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade, the GPS will be enhanced to provide support applications such as Sprint Navigation. Sprint Navigation provides audio and visual turn-by-turn directions, more than 10 million local listings, and one-click traffic rerouting on compatible phones, similar to an in-vehicle GPS system.

“The software upgrades make the Samsung ACE more powerful and easy-to-use than ever before,” said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile. “Our customers want to be able to do business whether they are in or out of the office and the ACE’s new features make working while on-the-go even better.”

The Samsung ACE is available in Sprint for $99.99, with a two-year service agreement and a $100 mail-in-rebate.

App Store - Byline 2.0

Phantom Fish today announced the release of Byline 2.0, a major update to the RSS news reader and offline web browser for iPhone and iPod Touch. Byline synchronizes new items, starred items, notes and folders from a free Google Reader account. New features include a streamlined interface for browsing folders from Google Reader, a built-in web browser for online and offline browsing, and a function to create and share notes.

Byline’s new interface is sleek and powerful,” said Milo Bird, the
developer of Byline. “You can star, share, and create notes from articles, and your changes are automatically kept in sync with Google Reader.

Byline synchronizes new items, starred items, notes and folders from a free Google Reader account. When navigating to a folder, Byline presents a list of articles from the RSS feeds within the folder. Tapping on a headline brings up the content of the article in the built-in web browser. A toolbar at the bottom of the screen offers intuitive controls for the browser, and allows links to be opened in Safari or sent via email.Byline provides offline access to all articles, including embedded images, making it ideal for use on the subway or in areas with poor 3G reception. In addition, Byline’s offline browsing feature offers instant access to complete web pages.

Byline 2.0 is available through the App Store for $3.99 or 2.99€.

App Store Link: Byline 2.0

My Apple Space announces iPhone support

On My Apple Space developers are meeting reviewers and customers, media is finding new readers, gamers are setting up tournaments and switchers are finding new Apple friends to help them make the important leap to the fantastic world of Apple.


My Apple Space is designed by Apple users for Apple users. iPhotos, iMovies, GarageBand, and Blogging are all available including one click integration with today’s popular social networks like Facebook, My Space and 15 other social networks. Share photos like on alternative networks, but with the security of Facebook for private photos, as well as sharing Apple related photos that go into a collective photo album for all to enjoy.

And likewise with iMovies. Upload movies and choose them to be “private” so only your friends can view them. It’s a great way for members to show off their home-spun movies with other Mac enthusiasts. Members meet at My Apple Space for live chat at 9 pm according to their own timezone around the globe, every night, 7 days a week.

My Apple Space also endears to help switchers get to know their Macs by answering common questions and solving problems. As new software releases become available, My Apple Space provides press releases to their members as well. My Apple Space groups have a unique opportunity to embed within their own groups from other social networks. This feature is available for the average Apple user to the software vendor, game developers, and more.

More info: My Apple Space

AT&T Quickfire Coming in November

A slider boasting a touch screen in addition to the full keypad, the AT&T Quickfire can read messages in portrait or landscape mode and also download music over the nation’s fastest 3G network with Napster Mobile and eMusic Mobile. Other features include a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen, 1.3 megapixel camera and microSD card slot. The AT&T Quickfire will be available in November in orange, lime and silver for $99.99 after a two-year agreement and mail-in rebate.



Specifications:

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Network: GSM Quadband850/900/1800/1900MHz
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UMTS 850/1900/2100MHz
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GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA
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Dimension: 109 x 56 x 18 mm
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Weight 136 grams
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2.8-inch 256k colors TFT touch screen (240 x 320 pixels)
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1.3 megapixel camera
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Bluetooth
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29MB internal memory
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microSD card slot
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Up to 12.5 days standby time
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Up to 3 hours talk time

Motorola Krave ZN4 Available Now at Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless and Motorola today introduces the new Motorola Krave ZN4, featuring two layers of touch - on the interactive clear flip outside and the full touch-screen inside - is now available exclusively offered by Verizon Wireless Communications in US. Krave supports all of the hottest multimedia services from Verizon Wireless, including V CAST Mobile TV, V CAST Video, V CAST Music with Rhapsody and VZ Navigator.

With the flip closed, the interactive clear flip provides one-touch access to the camera, picture gallery, live TV, music, VZ Navigator, and viewing of pictures and text messages so it’s easy to access your favorite features. With the flip open, you can access the full range of menu options. Haptic technology provides reassuring sensory feedback so you know your touch was registered. The durable flip helps protect the touchscreen underneath, and a prominent side key locks access to the external buttons, preventing accidental use when the phone is in your purse or pocket.

The dedicated camera key on Motorola Krave provides quick access to a touch-controlled 2.0 megapixel camera. The accelerometer detects the movement when the phone rotates and changes the display, making it easy to catch landscape and portrait shots, as well as capture and view video. Texting and e-mailing can be done with its virtual landscape QWERTY keypad with haptic feedback, conveniently-sized buttons and accelerometer.

Motorola Krave ZN4 is available for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.