Apple in Talks to Launch IPhone in Japan

Apple Inc. is negotiating with Japan's top mobile phone carrier to launch the iPhone in Japan, though the cut of subscriber revenue that Apple wants has been a sticking point, according to a report published Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, reported Tuesday that Jobs and Nakamura discussed launching the iPhone in Japan.

Apple has said it plans to launch the device in Asia in 2008 but has not provided details.

Apple and NTT DoCoMo are still negotiating the terms of a deal, with one stumbling block being Apple's demands to receive the same percentage of subscriber revenue from NTT DoCoMo that it receives from other carriers, according to the Journal.

Apple has sold more than 1.4 million iPhones since they went on sale June 29 in the United States. Subsequent launches in Europe have boosted sales and sparked a legal fight over Apple's exclusive use of T-Mobile, part of Deutsche Telekom AG, as its wireless provider in Germany.

Apple's strategy thus far has been to pick an exclusive mobile operator for each region: AT&T Inc. in the United States, O2 in Britain, T-Mobile in Germany and France Telecom's Orange wireless arm in France.

Mobile users, beware of 'Ringxiety'

NEW DELHI: If you have a persistent feeling that your mobile phone is ringing or vibrating even when it is not, chances are high that you might be suffering from a condition called 'Ringxiety.'

Considered more to be a psychological disease rather than a physical one, experts say the condition, in which those affected feel a compelling urge to keep frisking pockets and recheck their phones because they feel that their phones are ringing or vibrating, is becoming more prevalent.

A study by scientists at the Los Angeles-based university has proved that excessive use of mobile phones causes 'Ringxiety,' popularly known as 'Phantom Ringing.'

Though there is no sample study on the incidence of 'Ringxiety' in India, doctors say given the large chunk of people visiting psychiatrists with such kind of problem at least 25 per cent of all mobile phone users may be those who can hear 'virtual' rings 'Ringxiety' a disease is all out of one's thought and imagination.

The more frequently a person uses a cell phone, the more frequent the Likelihood they hear the phantom ring, says the study. Majority of mobile users are reportedly patients of cardio-vascular and neurological disorders as well, the research concludes.

The study undertaken by Alliant International University involved participants in the age group from 18 to 26, all of whom were heavy mobile users, spending a considerable chunk of time talking or sending text messages.

The result showed that 67 per cent of people suffered from this phenomenon and Japan tops the most affected list. The study also discovered that users who rely on text messaging to be in touch with their friends and loved ones faced a higher level of loneliness and social anxiety.

Orange signs movie deal with MGM

Orange has signed a multi-year deal with MGM to add a range of films to its digital TV service. The agreement will see Orange include movies made by the US studio to its 24/24 Video package, which allows Orange customers with a broadband digital television package or a broadband Internet package to rent a film for 24 hours.

Orange has similar deals in place with four other US studios and boasts a catalogue of 3,000 films and 6,000 TV programmes.

Rental prices start from 1€ (72p) per film and customers can watch a movie as many times as they want inside 24 hours. The service is available in France, Spain, Poland and the UK.

MGM’s movie catalogue includes box office hits like Silence of the Lambs, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Rocky and Platoon.
Source: http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk

TAG Heuer to make watch phones? Or that's a Bluetooth-enabled watch?

Roughly 10 days ago, we reported TAG Heuer is working with Modelabs to design its own mobile phone. Now, we have some mockups suggesting the famous watch maker is working on a watch phone. Or that’s a Bluetooth-enabled watch?

Whatever the answer to that question is - we don’t like it. Somehow I can’t imagine TAG ruining its brand with such products. Their watches are known for reliability, and both Bluetooth and cell phone radios would kill the battery of such watch pretty quickly, hence making us change our minds about TAG products. Nah, this is just some designer’s mockup. I hope…

Source:http://www.intomobile.com

Dell smartphones coming in 2008?

Dell is entering the smartphone market next year. And while we’ve heard this before, I must add again it’s probably the only way for the computer maker to expand its business. According to Forbes’ article, we should expect a device that has “video, an MP3 player and internet access and [will] be unleashed on the world early next year.”

Hopefully, Dell will use all the glory of the 3GSM — or Mobile World Congress as it’s called nowadays — to announce its entrance to the smartphone world. Something tells us we’ll also see Microsoft’s representative sitting at the press event, watching their new “partner in crime” unleashing yet another Windows Mobile powered device. Nah, we’re just speculating, but it does sound real, doesn’t it?
Source:http://www.intomobile.com/