BlackBerry 8700c Leaked Photo
October 30, 2005
Hopefully, RIM’s recent court troubles will be resolved so that the company can continue to introduce new products to the US marketplace. On Blackberry enthusiast site, Pinstack, the Blackberry 8700c was supposedly leaked in a Cingular ad.
The 8700c will apparently feature quad-band GSM plus EDGE high speed data, Bluetooth, color screen and slim-form factor. The reported cost will be $299 (with contract).
[Via Mobiletracker.net]
Weblogsinc.com Sold to AOL for $25 Million
October 6, 2005
This isn’t related directly to cell phones but I thought I’d mention it since I do read Engadget quite a bit. Jason Calacanis’s Weblogsinc.com network was sold to AOL for $25,000,000. Not bad for a network that’s less than 3 years old (started in 2003)!
Rival weblog network Gawker Media owner Nick Denton of Gizmodo fame says his network “is not for sale,” noting that “The whole point about blogs is that they’re not part of big media. Consolidation defeats the purpose.”
AOL was looking to reposition itself as a new portal. Maybe they see this as moving them to the About.com model? Calacanis will retain his title as CEO of Weblogsinc.com.
[Via [WSJ.com](http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=1447374402) (Subscription)]
European Commission Website On Mobile Roaming Charges
October 5, 2005
The European Union has created a website to help consumers estimate their calling charges while roaming with their mobile phones in other countries.
“International roaming” is the ability of mobile phone subscribers to use their phones whilst travelling abroad. Users can make and receive calls using the same number as they do at home. For this, a mobile network operator needs to conclude international roaming agreements with operators in other countries.
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Russell Beattie’s Comment on Convergence
October 4, 2005
Russell Beattie makes an interesting argument that cell phones are becoming consumer electronics with music portability and that means that some traditional manufacturers like Nokia and Motorola will be hurting when that transition is complete. In response, I made the following comment:
>Nokia and Motorola will always (probably) have a market. The fact is there is a huge proportion of mobile phone users who don’t want music on their phones (or cameras, bluetooth, etc.)-businesses and governments. They want a reliable phone that will last long hours. Any music phone or camera phone isn’t going to do that-all the juice will be eaten up by the player/camera/gizmo.
>Having said that, the one who will succeed in the consumer market assuming what you say is true, Russ, will be the manufacturer with the largest access to the largest music collection. Apple had the foresight to come out with itunes before many portable music manufacturers and made the integrated ipod easy and fun to use. They now dominate that industry. Come out with a phone that allows one to access one’s huge music collection on itunes (or better yet, remotely) may be the killer app you describe. The new ROKR was no hit because it couldn’t do either-limited to 100 songs and you can’t download music right to the phone.
[Link to RussellBeattie.com](http://www.russellbeattie.com/notebook/1008637.html)
Sprint and Motorola Unveil IDEN i930
October 4, 2005
Sprint and Motorola unveiled the IDEN i930 clamshell phone, a compact clamshell device featuring the Windows Mobile OS. This device is unique because it operates on both the IDEN frequency as well as on GSM.
Global road warriors will appreciate that this device will truly be global. The IDEN i930 features the standard Nextel walkie-talkie nationwide service in the US and the Windows Mobile OS will utilize the standard Microsoft mobile applications such as Word and Excel.
Pink Razr for Christmas
October 4, 2005
Motorola will come out with a pink version of its highly popular RAZR cell phone in time for Christmas. I’m surprised at the lasting power of this phone given that cell phones these days are introduced every week and become “old” within a few months.
Looks like Motorola has gotten itself another winner with the RAZR much in the same way the old Startac phones were favorites during the analog age.
[Via [Gizmodo](http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/pnk-razr-4-xmas-127905.php).]
“Screw the nano,” says Motorola CEO Ed Zander
October 4, 2005
At a Churchill Club leadership seminar last month, Motorola CEO Ed Zander commented on the Apple Nano (probably in response to the Nano stealing thunder from the ROKR) by saying “Screw the nano,” and continuing by stating rhetorically asking “Who listens to 1,000 songs?” I guess he feels 100 songs is more than adequate for the average user of the Moto ROKR…
Later on, Jon Rubenstein, Apple VP and iPod division head expressed general disappointment in the ROKR and the multi-functionality of a cellphone-portable music player, “Is there a toaster that also knows how to brew coffee?”
Hey, didn’t they work on this thing together??? In fairness, Motorola has brought out some pretty impressive looking phones recently, clamshell and candybar (e.g. the RAZR) but, like I said before, the ROKR is a yawner.
Nokia 9300 Communicator Coming to US Market in November
October 2, 2005
The Register has a review of the Nokia 9300 Communicator, which has been announced by Cingular to be coming to the US market in November 2005. The Communicator is the first Nokia phone to be using the RIM Blackberry Connect. It also comes with a QWERTY keyboard from the foldout design.
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