THOUGHT: The 2007's 3GSM World Congress

So it's done, this year's 3GSM World Congress closed its doors but the question is what will stay for the next 12 months? From my point of view - a lot. I'm attending the 3GSM World Congress since 2000 and the first time I attend to cover Windows Mobile related items were back in 2002.
Was the 3GSM World Congress in its early days (when it was just the "GSM World Congress") mainly about network infrastructure and more a congress then a fair, its focused changed over the years. Sure, it's still the main event of the GSM Association and it's still a congress but the parallel exhibition became more important during the past years with a way broader focus on mobile devices and services as well.

When I attend back in 2002 to cover the latest developments for the::unwired (when the::unwired was PPCW.Net) I hadn't too much to write about.

Tech Takes

IN DISCUSSION: Basic Gateway Sdn Bhd manager Quah Peng Kuok (left), Eset Software LLC senior vice-president Maros Mozola (centre) and Basic Gateway CEO Michael Fun having a light moment after an interview at the Boulevard Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

HUGE SCREENS: Models showing off Samsung's new plasma displays, the 63in PPM63M6HB (left) and the 50in PPM50M6HB, at a product launch in Kuala Lumpur, recently.

ALL SMILES: (l-r) Pikom secretary and Redtone International Bhd group managing director Wei Chuan Beng, Info Spec Sdn Bhd managing director Simon Seow, HT Consulting Asia Sdn Bhd group CEO Harres Tan, and Pikom councillor and Malayan United Industries dotCom Sdn Bhd senior vice-president Stan Singh having a good time at the recent Pikom press night in PJ Hilton Hotel.

IT'S ALL ABOUT PRINTERS: (l-r) Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn Bhd imaging and printing group marketing development managers Estee Chin (consumer) and Serene Ho (commercial), country general manager Yan Yoke Ping, commercial business unit manager Paresh Shetty and large format printer business development manager Jimmy Saw at the launch of HP Print World 2007 in Sheraton Imperial, Kuala Lumpur.

GO MOBILE: Dopod International Corporation country sales manager S.K.

Prada Debuts Designer Phone

World-renowned fashion designer Prada and consumer electronics company LG Electronics have joined forces to design the latest must-have fashion accessory: a Prada mobile phone with touch-screen interface. The elegantly designed Tri-Band EDGE KE850 will only be available in Europe and Asia, at various mobile dealerships, as well as selected Prada stores. It will sell starting at about 600 Euros (or approx. CDN$920).

LG and Prada worked closely together in designing the sleek and minimalistic gadget, with Prada involvement extending beyond simple aesthetics to include elements like the touch-screen interface, ringtones, pre-loaded content, and accessories, like an exclusive, Italian-inspired leather case.

Daylight Saving Time fix: Check your mobile devices, too

I'm in Orlando at the moment giving a speech to telecom managers about the explosion of cell phones, smart phones and other devices, and during one of the breaks a consultant came up and asked whether the Daylight Saving Time change could affect mobile devices, especially smart phones like the Palm Treo or any Windows Mobile device.

Yep -- Palm today released a software update for users to download to a Mac or PC and synchronize to a Palm device, as well as over-the-air updates. Palm says customers may need to install two Microsoft updates first, so that Windows and an Exchange server can reflect the DST rule changes.

The update for Palm OS products is here. The update for Palm Windows Mobile PPC products is located here.

Research In Motion has DST patches as well for its devices

Skype asks FCC to open up cellular networks

Skype yesterday petitioned the FCC to lay the smack down on wireless phone carriers who "limit subscribers' right to run software communications applications of their choosing" (read: Skype software). Skype wants the agency to more stringently apply the famous 1968 Carterfone decision that allowed consumers to hook any device up to the phone network, so long as it did not harm the network. In Skype's eyes, that means allowing any software or applications to run on any devices that access the network.

The reason for Skype's interest in the issue is obvious: they want to force network operators to allow Skype-enabled calling across their networks, something currently prohibited on wireless data plans. In its filing, Skype argues that this capability would offer "tremendous new sources of price competition provided by entities such as Skype," and that's exactly why wireless operators will fight the plan tooth and nail.

Hoosiers Donate More Than 25000 Unused Cell Phones

Verizon Wireless says last year Hoosiers donated more than 25,000 cell phones they no longer used, that's up 50 percent over the year before. Verizon says the donations resulted in more than $300,000 in cash grants, cell phones and wireless services being donated to shelters that support victims of domestic violence.