INTEL AND NOKIA have joined forces, combining the Moblin and Maemo to create Meego, a new Linux based, open source operating system and developer platform for mobile devices.

Source: The Inquirer

Google is launching its new Android handset Nexus One. This 11.5mm thin handset built by HTC runs on Android 2.1.

Some of its features are:

• a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
• a 3.7 inch AMOLED touchscreen display
• a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash
• a multi coloured trackball that changes colors depending on the application running
• noise cancellation technology for eliminating background noise
• new news & weather widget
• voice commands to all applications on the phone that have text input fields

Nexus One  will be sold directly to consumers through a newly launched web site at Google.com/phone.The phone is available unlocked online for $529 and for $179 through T-Mobile USA with a T-Mobile Even More individual 500 Plan, which costs $79.99 per month. Unlocked, the phone will be able to access AT&T Mobility’s EDGE data network.

Source: Fiercewireless.com

Cartoon Network, a leading kids entertainment channel has introduced the mobile version of comics for its popular toon characters Ben10, Johnny Bravo, Dexter and Powerpuff Girls. The service will be made available in collaboration with the Mumbai-based VAS provider Nazara Technologies.

Cartoon Network will be offering the mobile comics with the telecom operators Airtel, Idea, Reliance Mobile and Tata Docomo. The comics can be downloaded for Rs 1 per day, Rs 10 per week and Rs 30 per month depending on their operator. Nazara Technologies will be handling the management and distribution.

According to a study conducted by Cartoon Network, 63% of kids today make use of mobile phones at least once a week. Observing this, the channel has taken the mobile route to reach its ultimate audience.

Along with the comic application, Cartoon Network would also provide videos, themes, colour logos wallpaper, animation, and greetings on its popular characters. Additionally, the channel is also looking to introduce a customised java application next year to download an entire comic in one go.

Source : Media Mughals

Chinese search giant Baidu announced plans to step up its ongoing rivalry with Google via the introduction of a new mobile search application that will arrive pre-installed on handsets. According to Baidu, the new search app will begin shipping sometime in 2010, adding the firm has already completed deals with several unnamed device manufacturers–in addition to conventional search tools, the application also connects users to Baidu’s message board and online Q&A services.

China IntelliConsulting reports that Baidu presently accounts for close to 70 percent of online searches in China, compared to about 20 percent for Google–of the more than 270 million mobile web searches conducted by Chinese subscribers in the second quarter of 2009, Baidu and Google accounted for about 26 percent each. In October, Baidu announced an agreement with China Unicom to begin preloading search and related web services on the operator’s 3G devices.

GETMO Arabia (a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Media Company and Arvato Mobile), has signed a strategic partnership agreement with leading Middle East and African mobile telecommunications company Zain to deliver a unique 360 degree managed games portal for single and multiplayer games to Zain customers. The portal will be available to Zain subscribers online and via mobile phones across Zain’s 24 territories in the Middle East and Africa.

The portal features are :

§ It is built in a dynamic way; games on the web are updated simultaneously with the mobile portal

§ Multi Player Games supported

§ Multiple languages: English, Arabic, French

§ Territory specific currency § Territory specific content

§ User Ratings

Zain customers will now have access to cutting-edge games services and top notch games publishers from Getmo Arabia’s long standing relationships with the industry’s biggest names. The service will feature games from some of the leading international & local games publishers via the Zain Create WAP and web portals in three major languages (Arabic, English and French).The multiplayer gaming portal will launch under the umbrella of Zain Create, which already includes music and video content. Gamers will be able to log on to the portal via a web interface or mobile phone to purchase and play games (or continue one they started earlier). It will be available from Zain’s 24 operators in territories such as GCC, Levant and Africa, reaching over 70 million Zain customers.

Samsung Electronics announced the launch of BADA, a new open mobile platform promising developers the tools to create applications optimized for millions of devices across the handset maker’s smartphone portfolio. According to Samsung, bada–which translates to “ocean” in Korean–draws on the company’s experience in building proprietary platforms, guaranteeing a developer-friendly environment emphasizing the creation of web-based applications. Samsung also touts bada’s user interface, which it says can be transferred into a sophisticated UI design for developers.

Samsung offered few additional specifics on bada, but said the new platform will tie directly to its Samsung Application Store, which opened in September. Samsung said it will release the bada software development kit in December in conjunction with an official launch event taking place in London.

Source: Fierce Wireless

The first footage of Moto Blur, Motorola’s just announced social-network-centric homescreen overhaul for Android, has just gone live.

Motorola introduced the first of a new generation of smartphones on Thursday that it hopes will reverse its plummeting cell phone sales.

The phone, called the Cliq, is meant for young people obsessed with social networks. Instead of the traditional menu of features, the Cliq’s home screen is an ever-changing mosaic of e-mail, Twitter tweets and status updates, superimposed over photos of the people sending those messages.

Phone is based on Google’s Android operating system, but Motorola has substantially modified the Google software
to make its phone stand out from the dozen or so other Android phones that are expected to be introduced before the holiday sales season. While phone users will be able to download and use any of the growing list of applications for the Android system, the look of Motorola’s phones and the way they operate will be different from other handsets using the operating system.

Source : ET

Reliance Mobile announced the launch of its maps service on its GSM network, which will allow users to search for directions, events, businesses and movies.

Available on mobile phones through SMS, WAP and downloads, ‘BIGMaps’ service will offer local search in form of maps.

The service, which will provide users information on local business, directions to locations, events and movies, will also be provided through internet in the near future.

Source: Reliance release

Etisalat recently launched the Etisalat Messenger, the company’s new messaging service.

Instant messaging is one of the most popular mediums that connect the youth today and with this value added service, etisalat aims to target the young generation in the UAE.

The service allows subscribers to exchange instant messages between etisalat mobile phones, and between phones and personal computers.

It also allows multicast services between personal computers.

Etisalat Messenger is similar to internet chatting applications, such as Yahoo Messenger, MSN, Google Talk and others.

Dialogues can include multimedia for example pictures, video and sound clips, Offline IM delivered as SMS/MMS, support multi-languages – Arabic and English.

Etisalat Messenger comes in two packages: the first one (Chat Plus Package) provides unlimited use for a flat rate Dh25 per month; the other package (chat Package) allows users to send and receive unlimited instant messages for a fixed period of 15 minutes, at a cost of Dh2 per session.

Customers can register to Etisalat Messenger services by calling 125 from their etisalat mobile number in UAE.

Source: Etisalat Press Release