Samsung P110 (SGH-P110)

We often criticise Samsung for producing almost identical slider phones.. but the SGH-P110 demonstrates that they are perfectly capable of coming up with something radically different and interesting to look at.

There are two striking features on the Samsung P110 - one is the multiway hinge that allows the display to be moved into just about any orientation you might need, and the second is the two-way keyboard which provides standard numeric functions one way and a QWERTY keypad the other way. This is not quite the first time we've seen this arrangement, the short-lived Motorola MPx did something a little similar, but it is an unusual approach and it certainly makes the SGH-P110 stand out from the crowd. At the time of going to press, the full technical specifications of the Samsung P110 are now known, but we do know that it has a 2.1" 176x220 pixel switching display, a basic VGA resolution camera, a media player and stereo Bluetooth, 25MB of internal memory, and instant messaging support.

It's like a secretary in your cell phone

The software converts voicemail from work, home or cell phones to text, and then sends it to an e-mail account, cell phone or other portable device.

Users can instantly see who called while sitting in a meeting or a theater without having to dial into voicemail. The message remains on voicemail if time permits.

When stored on e-mail, messages can easily be saved into documents, forwarded to others or trashed.

Users can avoid roaming charges when calling voicemail by having them delivered to the phone as a text message. The service works with all cell phone carriers.

Monthly subscriptions cost $10 for 40 messages. Additional messages are 25 cents each.

A free seven-day trial is available at www.simulscribe.com.

SimulScribe is only available in English, but check the Web site later in the year for a Spanish version.

LG Mobile: 2007 Spring/Summer Collection

At 3GSM last week, LG Mobile unveiled its Black Label Series, which includes LG Shine and LG Chocolate, as well as its LG Prada limited edition. The Korean manufacturer also won the 3G for All award delivered by the GSM Association.

Comment: Last week at 3GSM, the LG Mobile stand in the exhibition centre was like Barcelona itself that week: packed and vibrant. The reason behind it was the launch of its 2007 brand new portfolio. LG filled its portfolio with disruptive devices in almost all segments, and is attacking Motorola and Samsung heartlands: design and sliders. In 2006, LG Mobile shipped 65 million devices - an 18% increase on 2005. The performance was partly due to the success of its KG800, better known under its stage name: LG Chocolate. GSM devices account for approximately 40% of LG's handset sales last year.

Motorola: Garriques Departure from Cell Phone Business Doesn't ...

Archibald expects Moto's operating profit in the phone business to rebound from low single-digits on a percentage of sales basis to 7%” less than the 10% operating margin CEO Ed Zander is talking about, over the next year or so. He maintains a Buy rating on Moto's shares and thinks the shares are fairly valued at $23.

Moto shares closed down half a percent at $19.17 yesterday. They are down 7% this year.

Naperville residents give first Winterfest a warm welcome

Other than referring to the club as a bat, little Amrith Rsro of Naperville was proving himself quite the golf natural Saturday.

Even though the instrument was a bit unwieldy in his 5-year-old hands, Amrith showed potential during an impromptu lesson at Naperville Park District�s first Winterfest. For one, he made contact with nearly every ball. His seasoned instructor, making sure his head wouldn't meet the same fate, deftly ducked and retreated throughout the lesson, looking more like a boxing coach.

�It was kind of easy, but the bat was too heavy, Rsro said, adding that he like to stick with the lessons.

But if not, he always has another sport to fall back on.

I really love bowling, he said.

Certainly no winter doldrums here, thanks in part to the fact Winterfest not only had a lot to offer, but that it took place indoors at Cowlishaw Elementary School, 1212 Sanctuary Lane, Naperville.

Google, Yahoo offer more mobile search opportunities

Yahoo and Google began a battle for mobile dominance this month, giving marketers additional opportunities in this growing channel.

According to a 2006 AP-AOL-Pew Research Center mobile lifestyle survey, mobile devices now outnumber personal computers 12 to 1 worldwide. It found that the United States has nearly 200 million cell phone users and 31 percent of cell phone users surveyed said they used mobile search or wished to do so with their next mobile device.

The battle begins

The battle for mobile dominance went global in the beginning of February, with Yahoo announcement of Go for Mobile 2.0 and new distribution agreements with Research in Motion, Nokia, Sony, Samsung, 3 Group and Opera Software. In addition, LG Electronics signed a deal with Yahoo last week.