Motorola has introduced the MOTO Q 8, the GSM version of the original CDMA-based MOTO Q, as well as the flagship, quad-band 3G QWERTY, the MOTO Q 9h, in India. The MOTO Q 9h, based on the Windows Mobile 6 operating system, features a dual-processor HSDPA/UMTS engine, enabling downloads at up to 3.6Mbps. Moto Q 8 is a quad band GPRS/EDGE1 QWERTY device that is also based on Windows Mobile 6 operating system.”

Motorola is expanding its range in the enterprise segment in India with the launch of  MOTO Q 8 and MOTO Q 9h’” said Lloyd Mathias, Director Marketing, India & South West Asia for Motorola Mobile Devices. “The MOTO Q 9h was developed as a multi-purpose communication device that is easy to use and doesn’t compromise on experiences. This smartphone offers state-of-the art voice quality technology, messaging, and speed, processing power, keyboard and display packaged within a sleek design for the modern consumer.

A complete productivity and entertainment-on-the-go device.” Both MOTO Q 8 and MOTO Q9h are preloaded with Documents To Go application which enables user to create, edit and view Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and Powerpoint slides and view PDF files.

3D graphics benchmarks aren’t the ‘be all and end all’ when it comes to games playing performance, but they’re a good clue as to how capable a device is. So it was interesting to find out about a regularly updated and bookmarkable table of OpenGL ES benchmarked smartphones. It’s topped by the ‘if you believe Nokia’ obsolete N93 and the N-Gage 1st access smartphone, the N81, comes in a lowly 22nd. Read on for comment. As evidenced by the ‘where’s the N93 update?’ outcry when we announce news of new firmware for other devices, the N93 does seem to be ‘the device that Nokia has forgotten’, despite the stellar showing here and despite the fabulous video recording and (recorded) sound quality.

Nokia - this used to be THE flagship, it’s still the fastest and best for many applications, even in 2008, and yet we haven’t had a firmware update for years! Also high up in the 3D benchmark table are the N93i (essentially the same as the N93 under the hood), the N82 and N95 variants, followed shortly by the VGA-screened Dell Axims, the UIQ 3-powered Motorola Z8 and the Nokia E90. Everything else, on all platforms, is a long, long way behind….The necessity for 3D graphics acceleration hardware (as in the N95, N93, N82 and E90 above) for gaming is a moot point. You’d have thought that this would be a requirement for next-gen N-Gage games, but it seems that most titles are built around software-rendered graphics and have the likes of the N81 and N73 as their baseline.

The Mobile World Congress at Barcelona saw Motorola introducing three new models: MOTO Z6w, W181 and W161. The Wi-Fi enabled MOTO Z6w is fully compatible with Windows Media Player 11 on the PC, works on high-speed USB 2.0, and features a 2.0 megapixel camera and video capture, and has up to 4GB of optional removable memory.” We’re proud to add our latest Wi-Fi enabled handset to our growing portfolio, delivering a compelling wireless experience to consumers anywhere they go,” said Rob Shaddock, senior VP, feature and mass market handsets, Motorola Mobile Devices. “

The new W series handsets offer both great mobile phone basics and a solid music experience, in a candybar form factor that you can show off with pride. The new candybar W161 and W181 come with the patented Motorola Crystal Talk technology, and also feature FM radio.

Kudos to Rogers Wireless! The Canadian service provider has really started to step it up with the handsets that they offer and the latest leak could be one of the best. Poking around on the Rogers Wireless website, you may discover an entry in the drop-down menu that’s quite surprising. It’s the Nokia N95.

If you didn’t know already, the Nokia N95 is probably Nokia’s flagship cell phone with its five megapixel camera, dual-slider design, and multimedia functionality busting at the seams. By and large, the only way to get this phone would be through the official Nokia store or through gray market importers, both of which prove to be quite expensive endeavors. If Rogers does indeed start to offer the smartphone, the subsidy-with-contract could make the N95 a heck of a lot more affordable. We can say for sure, but the Boy Genius has his fingers crossed for a sub-$500 Nokia N95. Who knows? It might even be the 8-gigger.

InterDigital announced that the English High Court issued a judgment finding that European Patent (UK) 0,515,610 (the ‘610 patent), owned by InterDigital Technology Corporation, is essential to the 3G UMTS WCDMA European standard promulgated by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and that this patented invention is infringed by carrying out the method described in the standard. The ‘610 patent relates to open loop power control, a fundamental aspect of 3G technology.

Foreign counterparts having identical or similar claim language to the ‘610 patent have been issued in many parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Sweden. The judicial determination of essentiality is in addition to Nokia’s withdrawal of its challenge to the essentiality of another patent, European Patent (UK) 0,515,675 relating to pilot codes, effectively conceding that that patent is essential as well.“We are pleased to receive a ruling that the ‘610 patent is essential to the UMTS WCDMA standard,” commented Lawrence F. Shay, Chief Legal Officer for InterDigital.

“Indeed, we believe this is the first ruling by a court of law finding any patent to be essential to the 3G standard. While we believe our patent portfolio includes a number of patents and patent applications that are or may become essential to the UMTS WCDMA standard, having a Court confirm our position on the ‘610 patent after a long and thorough litigation, and coupled with Nokia’s withdrawal of its challenge against another of our patents, provides added strength to our licensing program.”In bringing the action in July 2005, Nokia sought a declaration that 31 of InterDigital’s UMTS patents registered in the UK are not essential to the standard.

Generally, under the ETSI rules, a patent is essential to a standard if the patent cannot be avoided in producing a product compliant with the applicable standard. In addition, the ETSI rules provide that a patent is essential if it claims an invention that is among a limited set of solutions that the manufacturer can choose from in producing a product compliant with the standard, and all such solutions are patented.

Nova media announced the immediate availability. The plug-ins enhances iSync by adding support for additional cell phones. The new version added support for Nokia’s 3500 Classic, 7900, E51, N82 and N95 8 Gigabyte phones. iSync phone plugins is compatible with Mac OS X 10.4.9 and higher as well as Mac OS X 10.5 and higher.

The plug-ins support over 125 cell phones from BenQ Siemens, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.  Apple did not include that with iSync for sharing data with iCal and Address Book. iSync phone plugins 5.1 is priced at €9.95 (about US$14.64) and is available for download at the nova media. Updates are free for one year from the date of purchase.

CCID Consulting, China’s leading research, consulting and IT outsourcing service provider, and the first Chinese consulting firm listed in Hong Kong, presents its article on Mobile Telephone Subscriber Survey and the Degree of Satisfaction.During the 2007 China’s Mobile Telephone Product Conference, the 8th CCID China’s Mobile Telephone Subscriber Degree of Satisfaction Survey Findings Release Conference held by CCID Consulting Co., Ltd., discussion topics included degree of satisfaction of subscribers, product innovation and the five hot segment markets of GPS mobile telephones under the theme “Pioneering the blue ocean of mobile telephones and driving the development of 3G.”During this conference, CCID Consulting released the 2007 White Paper on China’s Mobile Telephone Subscriber Degree of Satisfaction Survey and 2007 China’s Mobile Telephone Market Development Blue Paper.

Based on CCID Consulting’s degree of satisfaction quota system, the 8th CCID China’s Mobile Telephone Subscriber Degree of Satisfaction Survey was conducted with meticulous statistical analysis and expert evaluation. Motorola, TCL and Dopod won the 2007 User-Satisfied Brand Award for brand strategies matching the market. Sony Ericsson, ZTE, Haier, Samsung and Changhong won the 2007 User-Satisfied Quality Award by virtue of their excellent product quality.In the market with homogenous products, innovation has become the source of power for enterprise development, and ZET and TCL earned the Innovative Enterprise Award owing to their sound performance in the mobile telephone blue ocean market. In addition, ZTE E700, Dopod P800 and Amoi N6 won the User- Satisfied Navigation Mobile Telephone Award for their sound performance in the navigation market, and Samsung W579 and Haier N96 won the User-Satisfied Dual- Mode Dual-Standby Mobile Telephone Award owing to their performance in the dual mode market.

- Siemens unveils the U10 - its first UMTS colour-screen mobile phone operating both in W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) networks and in GSM/GPRS 900/1800 and 1900 MHz frequency bands - in New York.Siemens mobile will distribute U10 3G handsets, a first result of the technical collaboration with Motorola, to selected operators to help build up UMTS networks and services.

One of the first manufacturers to offer 3G handsets to UMTS carriers, the Germany-headquartered company has also created a dedicated 3G service and customer support team to assist their customers to drive next generation telecomms development.The U10 is a mobile multimedia powerhouse. It has an integrated camera which rotates 180� and captures video with sound and still images. With its Multi Media Messaging and Email capabilities sending and receiving images, video clips, and melodies happens fast and easily.

With high speed Internet access via WAP 2.0 it allows data streaming at up to 384kbs and offers the download of additional applications based on JavaTM Wireless Technology as well as connectivity to peripheral devices such as laptop computers through Bluetooth, USB or infrared.The U10 supports video streaming with file formats such as MPEG-4 and music files like MP3 and AAC (Advanced Audio Coding). It has 2MB worth of memory expandable with a MultiMediaCardTM.

Siemens mobile aims to use the 3G network trials as a platform to test its first 3G consumer product. The European number two mobile manufacturer will first use the U10 for selected customers and formed a new 3G customer support department to support those clients and assess their feedback of the phone�s capabilities. Recording, watching and sending video for instance, as well as testing video download speeds will not only reveal the performance of UMTS features, but also help both network operators and Siemens mobile to assess consumer expectations to ensure the 3G promise matches its delivery.

- MobileGuru launched Java & SMS games on their fun & games portal offering some of the best mobile contents in the UK market. SMS games such as Mighty Metropolis, Top Agent, Txt to Shoot and at least 40 Java games currently available for download to mobiles such as the Nokia 7650. Popular games such as Goldminer, Jem Jam & Detonate are amongst the list of very exciting java games.

Top Agent is an SMS spy game that allows players to live out their secret agent fantasies in a world of espionage, intrigue and danger.The company has been working with a leading UK contents solution provider to develop a brand of Java & SMS games for 2G & 2.5G mobiles.

Java games can be downloaded to Nokia 3410, 6310i, 7650 and Siemens M50, SL42i, SL45i. The services offered are aimed at mobile users on all UK networks.MobileGuru’s current SMS games portfolio includes Mighty Metropolis, Top Agent, Txt to Shoot with Virtual Lover and Spin the Phone in development.Top Agent is a spy adventure game played via SMS messages. Players live out their secret agent fantasies in a world of espionage, intrigue and danger, where their role is to hunt down the world’s most dangerous criminals and bring them to justice.

O2 announced the launch of the UK’s first large scale pilot of NFC (Near Field Communications) technology on mobile phones. The trial of the O2 Wallet paves the way for the mass market use of mobile phones to pay for purchases, access events or even be used as Oyster cards for travel around London, simply by touching the phone to a reader.
“Research shows that people are more likely to return home if they leave their phone behind than their wallet or keys,” said Cath Keers, Customer Director, O2 UK. “So why not have your wallet on your phone? We believe that NFC technology is going to fundamentally change the way people use their mobile phones.”

The trial, which will involve over 500 people invited from the O2 customer base, takes place across selected sites throughout London and begins on 28th November 2007 running for six months until the end of May 2008. NFC is a contactless functionality, enabling a wide range of secure uses including cashless payments, public transport and event ticketing, and smart posters. In order to make this as comprehensive a pilot as possible, O2 has brought together a broad range of partners, including Transport for London, TranSys, Barclaycard, Visa Europe, Nokia and AEG.Each trialist will be given a Nokia 6131 NFC handset installed with the O2 Wallet. Just like a normal wallet, this will hold various everyday cards, including Oyster and Barclaycard, but in virtual form and with NFC functionality.

Trialists will be able to test a wide range of different services in London, such as making purchases in retail outlets and travelling on London’s public transport system. All participants will be asked to provide feedback on the services featured in the O2 Wallet evaluating its ease of use, security and overall usefulness.