Cell Phone News, Photos from 3GSM Barcelona

Most people come to Barcelona to gawk at the amazing Gaudi architecture and enjoy the fabulous food. This week, they're here to see cell phones, too--and so am I (and a raft of my IDG News Service colleagues). The 3GSM World Congress--the biggest trade show for GSM cell phones, networks, and related technologies--has flooded the town with a veritable who's who of people involved in this huge and healthy industry.

Big news at the show, which continues through Thursday, includes the launch of the next-generation version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform for cell phones and connected handhelds. (See my pre-show stories about Windows Mobile 6 and HP's first iPaq smartphone, which will be based on the OS. IDG News Service's Nancy Gohring also reported on vendors that will ship Windows Mobile 6 handhelds.)

Microsoft has also announced a new digital rights management scheme, Windows PlayReady, created to meet the specific needs of mobile content providers.

House Takes Second Crack at Administration Climate 'Control'

(Broadcasting & Cable) _ The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has scheduled a second hearing for March 1 on "allegations of political interference with the work of government climate change scientists."

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6411472.html?display=Search+Results&text=hurricanes with government scientists who did not toe the administration line--as well as a the policy instituted in 2004--to send "minders" along on all media interview to make sure the scientists were not misquoted. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373770.html?display=Search+Results&text=hurricanes after he obtained internal memos suggesting that the administration was keeping a government scientist who did not toe that line from appearing on CNBC.

Copyright The Associated Press 2006.

Cellular South, state of Miss. to sign cell phone deal

JACKSON, Miss. Cellular South expects to sign a deal in four to six weeks to become the sole provider of cell phones to state government agencies and city and county government for the next five years.

The contract will cover wireless voice and data service. That's according to David Litchliter, executive director of Mississippi Information Technology Services. Litchliter says state agencies currently use multiple companies. A 2006 law established a pool of all cell phone use so that one purchase plan will cover all. Litchliter says the transition by state agencies to Cellular South's network likely will take months as current contracts with other providers will be honored or broken if there's no financial penalty. He says cities and counties will be able to transition at their own pace, he said.

Apple and Cisco reach iPhone settlement

Apple Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. reached a settlement in a bitter trademark-infringement lawsuit late Wednesday that threatened the "iPhone" name for the much-anticipated iPod and cell phone combination device.

Under the agreement, both companies can use the "iPhone" trademark, which Cisco has owned since 2000.

No additional details, including a financial settlement, were released late Wednesday. Both companies will dismiss lawsuits connected to the trademark.

The tech industry giants will explore "interopability" in the areas of security, and consumer and enterprise communications, according to a joint news release.

Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO - News) filed the lawsuit after Apple chief executive officer Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone on Jan. 9 during the annual Macworld Conference in San Francisco.

State looks to limit car talk

State legislators say this is the year they might ban driving with a cell phone to the ear.

"I think we're very, very close to letting this thing go into effect," said state House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, a Hoquiam Democrat.

The proposal would allow drivers to use a headset or other hands-free device to talk on the phone.

The Legislature also is looking hard at outlawing text messaging and using a BlackBerry to check or send e-mail while driving.

Legislators on Thursday heard testimony from women whose children had brain injuries from being hit by cars.

Cindy Baker-Williams said she can't prove it, but witnesses said the woman who hit her 8-year-old son, Billy, was talking on a cell phone when it happened. He was trying to catch a school bus in Bellevue when a sport utility vehicle struck him four years ago.

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