New device combines a beautiful fold design with quick cover keys to bring substance to style.

Las Vegas, USA – Nokia today introduced a trimmer fold model to its Nokia Nseries line up, the Nokia N76, a new multimedia computer that brings the complete Nokia Nseries experience to a sleeker body, with little compromise. With the Nokia N76 multimedia computer, technology and design come together to create a revolution in design for a multimedia computer. Using premium materials to enclose world-class Nokia Nseries features and experiences, Nokia has created a very eye-catching device.

“We did not want to compromise any of the key Nokia Nseries experiences when we designed the stylish Nokia N76 multimedia computer,” said Pekka Pohjakallio, vice-president, Multimedia, Nokia. He continued, “Nokia Nseries consumers are bleeding edge technology users and with them in mind we want to offer intelligent and entertaining multimedia functionality in an easy to use, ultra slim package.”

The Nokia N76 is a perfect blend of style and substance. This latest addition to the Nokia Nseries portfolio brings a wide range of multimedia experiences to consumers, enabling them to create, consume and connect, using music, videos, images and the internet.

Musical talent
Nokia Nseries music fans will appreciate the dedicated quick cover keys on the Nokia N76, which let you quickly and easily control the device’s music features from the outside of the folded device, for instant tunes wherever you are. Holding up to 1500* tracks the Nokia N76 works with industry standard 3.5 mm headphones and supports the popular Windows Media DRM for optimal use.

Surf in style
Viewing the 2.4″, up to 16 million color screen in landscape mode brings a familiar feel to surfing the web on a mobile. Navigate web pages quickly and easily with the Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map and enjoy easy access to popular internet services like Flickr and Amazon for searching, shopping or sharing.

With Nokia Mobile Search local services, restaurants, bars, shops or just about anything else you want are just where you need them, in the palm of your hand. You can then locate them using online maps or simply click to call them. It’s that easy.

Ready for your close up?
See a shot you want? Grab your Nokia N76 and using the dedicated quick cover keys, you can snap that unexpected moment without having to open up the device. Feel like sharing? Then upload it to a compatible photo sharing community, like Flickr.

Use the 2.0 megapixel (1600 x 1200 pixels) camera to capture, zoom and review pictures on the large 2.4″ display, then edit either on the go or transfer them to a compatible PC and even get creative with Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition.

Get personal
Use the Download! application to see what new services and software are available for your multimedia computer, as well as keeping other selected applications current on your Nokia N76. With up to 2GB of expandable memory** you can shape your multimedia computer to suit the way you live your life.

The Nokia N76, which is based on S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS, is expected to start shipping in volumes during the first quarter of 2007 with an estimated, pre-tax, unsubsidized sales price of approximately 390 euros.

* Capacity based on using optional 2Gb microSD card, 3:45 per song and 48kbps eAAC+ (M4A) encoding on the Nokia Music Manager. Capacity with 128Kbps AAC encoding is up to 250 songs.
** The memory capacity of the memory card in the sales package may vary depending on the market and/or your network operator/service provider.

Do you want a phone with a Swiss army knife, a Zippo lighter, a double mega pixel digit SLR camera and Photoshop? The Nokia 6639 is the phone for you; this amazing phone has a Pentium M-Dothan binuclear 2.0GHMz with a Dual Channel 512MDDR2 memory with a support memory expansion, it also support all video format, WAV music format, MP3, conjecture, Ogg Vorbis, RAW, VOX, CCIUT u-Law, PCM, MPC (MPEG Plus/MusePack), MP2 (MPEG 1 Layer 2), ADPCM, CCUIT A-LAW, AIFC, DSP, GSM, CCUIT G721, CCUIT G723, G726 format CCUIT.
The Nokia 6639 is sure to be a desktop replacement, its 16 million color TFT color screen parameters will surely amaze you, also don�t forget its camera the exposure mode can be automatic, procedural exposure aperture priority, shutter priority, manual and users set up. Lastly the most remarkable features of this phone is the Swiss yataghan Plug procedures remote car control (with the public wireless transmission protocol), sparking Zippo; the LED beam, severe chemical devices, thermometer, filter and needle guide function for wild camping. The exclusive beer and champagne opening, J device adapter, the adapter can be connected to a dedicated electric razor (needed to support Brown shaving)

Here’s another design from Rune Larsen, the designer of the Easy as Pi phone. All the phone has is a standard keypad and a pop-up see-through LCD.

This makes us wonder. Are people actually interested in higher megapixel counts, more memory, more connectivity, more media playback, and more everything in their phones? Or do they only want one like this, simple and for phone-use only? What’s your reasoning for each?

For us, we’d like as many features as you can cram into a package. Damn the torpedoes�and battery life.

Rumors are making rounds as usual about Nokia’s models in the making. This time its the “Improved” versions of two of the best phones Nokia has ever released.

N93i is being rumored for a long time now, but the recent pics released by the Chinese site, it168.com, add fuel to the fire. And now, its almost certain that N93i is real. The core features remain the same, however, the old Pop-port connector is now replaced by a Mini-USB port!

The most interesting aspect of this phone is that, the external screen now looks sleeker and sexy (It’s gonna attract dust and finger prints I am sure!). The positions of the IR port and the MiniSD slot have been reworked. The phone will most probably run the S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 which has some nice improvements over its predecessor.

Another phone thats being rumored is the E62i. Its actually the E61 plus a camera, yes you read it right, it’s got a camera! Nokia seemed to listen to its customers, they added the camera. But there’s still no secondary VGA camera for video camera.

The N93i specs are as follows:

* Size: 119 x 56 x 28 mm
* Display: 2.4″ TFT display with 262.000 colors QVGA resolution
* Camera: 3.2 Mpixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, auto focus, flash, optical zoom and DVD quality recording
* Memory: 50 MB internal, MiniSD memory slot
* Connectivity: Mini-USB port, Infrared, Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE, 3G/UMTS, Wifi 802.11b/g
* Messaging: SMS, MMS, Picture messaging, Email
* Operating system: Symbian S60 3rd Edition FP1
* Miscellaneous: FM-radio, Video-out, Flight mode

The most notable part of the new E62i is the addition of the D-Pad instead of the joystick on the E61. Many users complained about the joystick on the E61. Apart from that, all other features of the E62i remain pretty much the same except for the addition of a camera.

As you know, our interest is usually focused in GSM mobile phone news, but now we bring to your attention a product which is not a mobile phone, it is more of a PC product, but uses GSM networks to help you communicate at lower rates.

The technology development company, Euro Design Intl. has presented its newest product, named MobiGater. This tool’s purpose is making low cost calls using the Skype protocols via mobile phones.

MobiGater MobiGater
MobiGater � How it works

The receiver antenna needs a SIM card, USB connection to a PC with Skype and electric power. Making a call in Skype, with the MobiGater activated, redirects the call from the SIM card to a mobile phone number you have assigned. And this results in low cost call if you are using some kind of a call rate program with free or very cheap minute charge. The technology works both ways: you can either receive Skype calls or call Skype contacts through your phone. Another option is using the SkypeIn and SkypeOut features of the messaging application. In this case international calls are much cheaper than using common GSM network operator rates.

MobiGater is to be released very soon and will cost approximately 200 Euro for the Plus version. You can learn more by visiting the MobiGater web site.

We did have the pleasure to review a non-retail version of the device and share our impressions with you.
MobiGater – Skype and mobile phones were never so integrated.

Imagine what it would be if you could use the free in-Skype calls or the low cost SkypeIn and Out calls on your mobile phone. Well, dream no more, as MobiGater does just that. It is a gateway which serves as a connection between the VoIP world of Skype and the GSM SIM-based mobile network.

To use it you only have to dispose of these hardware devices – a PC, a mobile phone, two SIM cards in a low-cost calls group and the Mobigater itself. To connect them you only have to make two connections – one between the Mobigater and the Skype-enabled PC via USB and a second one between the Mobigater and the GSM mobile network by inserting a SIM card in it. The second card goes into your regular mobile phone that you use everyday.
Design and construction: almost like a network router.

Euro Design’s device sure looks a lot like a regular network broadband router. No unnecessary additions to the black structure of its body, no nothing. It has absolutely black body with the MOBIGATER insignia and logo and four light diodes which represent (from left to right) the power status, mobile phone connectivity, Skype connectivity and USB connectivity with the PC. That’s the visible front part of MobiGater.

On the back side of it you can find (I really hope that you find it at first sight) the antenna, which is quite striking anyways. This long, thin stick provides the all-necessary transfer from Skype to your mobile phone. The retail package would also include an antenna with a longer cable for locations where the GSM network coverage is weaker.

There are the ports for the power cable and the USB cable too. There were some free empty slots for other ports but since the version we tested is not a retail one, we cannot tell for sure what the further options of the device will be. It also has speakers and microphone jacks. But they would most likely remain unused except for troubleshooting perhaps.

On the bottom of the device you will find the SIM card bed cover. It is a bit tricky to open when trying for the very first time. You must slide it downwards (if you turn the facing towards you device horizontally) and then it will enable you to remove it and unveil the SIM card bed. After you insert your card you must put the holder on a very accurate position as it is quite shaky and unstable to our opinion.
Installation and customization: Like a 1-2-3-Step Wizard

After you plug in all the cables, put the SIM card in its bed and start your PC and your Skype, get to install the drivers, provided on a CD. After doing so, you will find a MobiGater application on your desktop. The red icon will take you to your Skype contact list but with a bit different view. Before that, though, Skype will ask you whether you will authorize the application to use it.

After confirmation go and edit the options of the application. Define the mobile number you want to redirect your Skype calls to, choose whether you would like to use SkypeIn or not, but also take a look at the other preferences as some of them may be of great importance for your personal needs.

We must also point out that there are two different versions of Mobigater: the Mobigater Plus and the Mobigater Pro. The main difference is in the number of mobile phone numbers the device can accept GSM network calls. The Plus version can be set to accept mobile network calls from 1 number only, while the Pro version is meant for the business users and can accept such calls from multiple numbers. In the same time, both versions of the device can forward Skype calls to one preset mobile phone number only. For our tests we received the Pro version.
Calls: Yes, I can hear you, how about you?

These were the first words every time we tested the device as we couldn’t believe the great level of sound clarity and speed, which is quite unusual for Internet calls. There were just minor noises and interruptions which are natural for such type of calls and won’t bother you at all, we promise.

First of all, let us start with the simple Skype calls, when you talk with a Skype contact. Well, after several minutes of “fine tuning” the device’s options (it works quite poorly if you have Blue Soleil Bluetooth application installed, there is some port misunderstanding between the two applications) we got to dialing and after some short seconds the call was initiated successfully. There is nothing strange – the other party calls your Skype and you receive a call on your mobile phone from the the SIM card in the MobiGater device.

If you still haven’t got the idea of MobiGater, let us enlighten you: If you are using some low cost rate program for a group of SIM cards or the calls are free between members of this group, you might be very interested in having one of these “babies” at your disposal, since you can accept and initiate Skype calls for free on your mobile phone, just having your PC switched on back at home or at the office and your Skype working properly.

Soon after the first test, we got to call a Skype contact from the cellular phone. This option can be done by dialing the number of the SIM card you’ve put in MobiGater, after connecting with it you must push the asterisk “*” key then dial the Speed Dial number of the contact you want to call and putting a hash “#” key in the end to confirm your selection. After doing that the device and its application will transfer your request to Skype.

Some phones have the option of a separator in the calls order (like Sony Ericsson – “p”) and you can even enter the whole combination in your phonebook like this: (Sony Ericsson example) +111222333444p*5# where 5 is the Speed Dial number you have assigned to the contact you’re calling.

After successfully tested the Skype calls, we got our attention to SkypeIn and Out low cost calls. They were as easy as the previous type of calls. All you need to have is credit in your Skype account and all you need to know is that dialing is the same but instead of a Speed Dial number, you enter the phone number you want to call. For example (again, for Sony Ericsson phones, with the “p”): +111222333444p*00111222333445# where 00111222333445 is the phone number you’re dialing. This option is very comfortable for making international calls at prices around 0,017 EUR (check the SkypeOut rates here), which is great.

Accepting SkypeIn calls is also as easy as accepting any other call but you still have to have some credit in your Skype account.
Resume: a wonder-tool for the small business

Our conclusion is that MobiGater is very useful for business users who make a lot of international calls and have large SIM card groups who talk for free or at very low rates between each other. This will make this device a very profitable (or expenditure-saving) part of their everyday work-life.

Since the price of MobiGater is 200 EUR, it won’t be unaffordable almost for anybody, so we don’t see any reason why it won’t become popular among home users too. It is easy to use and of great benefit for people who have such SIM card groups and would like to have the comfort of using Skype while are 300 miles away from their PC. We consider this of great importance and as a major benefit.

The drawbacks of the device are its purely simple design, plastic construction and somewhat confusing preferences. But as for the design and construction, MobiGater will mostly sit somewhere hidden, so nobody would care how it looks or is it nice to touch and strong enough. So, if the final version has a simpler and less irritating customizing software options menu, it will be one great product.

Samsung Electronics launches the world’s first mobile phone featuring an ‘Optical Joystick Phone (Model: SCH-V960)’.

Users utilize the optical joystick key by placing their finger and moving a cursor to navigate through the menu, similar to a cursor of a mouse on a PC. Optical sensors will read and react to users’ finger movement, thus breaking down the traditional four-way menu navigation and providing 360 degrees of freedom.

Users can point the cursor and click directly on icons on MyScreen, similar interface to that on a PC environment, and gain direct access to frequently used menus such as photo album, messaging, and music menu. Users can also use the Optical Joystick to easily scroll through the play list while listening to their music.

Through an illumination sensor, the Samsung V960 also includes a ‘Smart Lighting’ feature that automatically controls the brightness of the LCD screen and keypad. In addition, the V960 also supports a 2 mega pixel camera, GPS and Bluetooth function.

The V960 will be launched in the Korean market at the end of December.