Review: Parrot Conference

Conference calling and mobile phones are two technologies that have seldom crossed paths, but it does make a kind of sense. Most offices won't have a fixed-line conference phone system fitted to every meeting room and although there are cordless conference phones, DECT still isn't quite as free roaming as a mobile phone and Bluetooth device.

The Parrot Conference is pretty much exactly like any ordinary conference phone in most other regards. It has three integrated microphones for a 360 degree voice pickup and a 5W internal speaker so you can hear the person on the other end. To ensure that you can do things completely wirelessly, it includes three rechargeable Li-Ion batteries that offer up to ten hours of continuous talk-time. The unit will also store 50 different phones in its memory and up to 6,000 contacts which, rather than programming in yourself, you can upload directly using any Bluetooth enabled device.

World's slimmest phone measures 5.9 mm thick

Samsung Electronics today at 3GSM 2007 launched its brand new Ultra Edition II handsets. The Ultra Edition II portfolio consists of two sliders, the Ultra Edition 10.9 (U600) and the Ultra Edition 12.1 (U700); a metallic clamshell, the Ultra Edition 9.6 (U300); and a candy bar handset, the Ultra Edition 5.9 (U100). Each of these designs offers 3 megapixel cameras, high-speed web connectivity, as well as extensive multimedia and audio capabilities.

“We believe that the Samsung Ultra Edition II range completely embodies everything that today's consumers are seeking in a mobile in terms of unique design and flawless performance," said Geesung Choi, President of Samsung's Telecommunication Network Business. “We believe that the striking looks, exclusive feel and slim design of these devices, combined with uncompromised performance and function, will make the Ultra Edition II range an instant attraction to business users, fashion conscious consumers and multimedia enthusiasts."

Of all its new handsets, Samsung is most strongly emphasizing that its new lineup contains what it claims to be the slimmest phone today: the Ultra Edition 5.9 (U100), besting its big brother, the Samsung X820.

Sony Ericsson W880: Our in-depth, hands-off impressions

The long-awaited Walkman phone made its debut in London, featuring a slim shell and high speed networking. Check out our initial impressions as we take a close look at the device from afar.

Rumors of a thin phone from Sony Ericsson first surfaced last November, and since then the buzz about the W880, or "Ai" as rumor-mongers have been calling it, has been building to a fever pitch. Last month, Sony Ericsson admitted the existence of the W880 by publishing some enigmatic press photos, and early this week we finally got some detailed specs. Though we weren't able to attend the press event in London, here is our "hands-off" preview, including everything we know about the phone.

Design:

The phone is thin, sure, but it's not the thinnest candy-bar phone out there; the Samsung Ultra Edition 6.9 (or X820), which is about three millimeters thinner, takes that honor.

Samsung Ultra Edition U100 steals the thinnest-phone crown

There's no such thing as too thin -- at least not according to Samsung, which unveiled the 5.9mm U100 candy bar today at 3GSM in Barcelona.

Seems like every time we turn around, Samsung is crowing that it's just released the slimmest phone ever. First we had the SGH-T509 (which, at 9.8mm, seems a bit portly these days), then came the X820, measuring a whispy 6.9mm thick (or about a third of an inch). That sounds pretty slim to us, but apparently Samsung's decided to go for broke with the U100, a candy bar with a razor-thin 5.9mm profile.

The scrawny new handset lacks the 3G of another recently announced Sammy slim phone, the HSDPA-enabled SGH-a727, but the U100 comes right back with its 3-megapixel camera, doubling the resolution of the A727's 1.3-megapixel snapper.

Samsung aims for top

Samsung, which made a pledge to launch 30 3G phones and smartphones with music, video, and messaging functions this year, has unveiled a massive new batch of handsets at 3GSM.Samsung's president of Telecommunication Network Business, Gee-sung Choi, used the launch to claim that Samsung would make inroads into Nokia's market share. Samsung showcased two slim Symbian and Windows OS smartphones, the SGH-i520 and SGH-i600. The latter is already available in Europe and Samsung described it as an 'early example' of its forthcoming smartphone line-up.'Thin' was the buzzword for the new products. The i520 smartphone, with a two-megapixel camera, measures 17.9mm, weighs 99g, and supports 1.8Mbps HSDPA technology. It will be available in Europe in the second quarter. Measuring 11.8mm and weighing 105g, Samsung claims the i600 is the thinnest 3G smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard.

Digital Cyclone, Mayo to offer health info via cell phone

Digital Cyclone Inc. and the Mayo Clinic have teamed up to launched a new product that provides first aid and medical care to individuals via cell phone.

Software applications designed by Digital Cyclone Inc., a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq:GRMN - News), delivers health information to cellular phones. The system, called the Mayo Clinic InTouch wireless health program, will be available in February on Alltel Wireless, Sprint, and other major carriers' wireless phones, according to a press release.

Wireless phone subscribers can use Mayo Clinic InTouch to get first-aid tips, self-care guidelines or advice on emergency care. The service also allows users access to short health-news videos, health alerts and drug watches for $2.99 per month.

In January, the Business Journal reported that Minnetonka-based Digital Cyclone was acquired by Garmin for $45 million.