Mobile Phone News

Google to launch it's own brand Mobile Phone

Google looks set to launch it's own branded Mobile Phone - the GPhone. The plan is to tap into to advertising potential in agreeing deals with network operators around the world.

This move will put them directly in competition with the current big players in the Mobile Phone market - Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG. The GPhone may well coincide with the launch of the iPhone from Apple suggesting the next 12 - 24 months will be extremely competitive in the hardware sector of the industry. 

Win a fantastic Flat TV with Loyal Insurance

If you sign up to a Loyal Insurance Policy before the end of April you'll be entered into a competition to win a fantastic LG 19 inch LCD TV. For further details visit www.loyalinsurance.co.uk

No more ringing from the stalls

The Alexandrinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia has installed jamming equipment to block the signals to and from Mobiles phones after repeated attempts to get theatre goers to turn off their Phones has failed.

The situation came to a head during a performance of Tolstoy's The Living Corpse 'It was towards the end when the hero was about to kill himself someone's mobile phone started to ring, it was awful' a spokesman said. The euipment cost £1,000 and can be turned on and off at will.

The beautiful Alexandrinsky Theatre, St Petersburg.

Government may miss out on windfall from 3G licence extensions

The Government might miss out on a second windfall payment should Ofcom decide to allow the current owners of 3G licences to own them indefinitely.

It was expected that there would be another round of auctions for the extension of the licences in 2021 similar to the one that netted the government a massive £22.5 billion in 2000 when the Mobile Operators fell over themselves to make sure they were able to change to the new technology.

However, at the time of the first round of auctions many observers thought that the amounts paid were not good value. So far that has been proved to the be the case as the vast majority of revenue generated from Mobile Phones comes from voice calls and texts, services that worked fine on previously exiting technology and not new 3G data services.

Operators have been lobbying Ofcom to allow the indefinite extension of the licences and Ofcom are said to be sympathetic. However, such a move might open the door for legal action from parties who might have bid in the original round of auctions had it been known they were effectively forever rather than 21 years.    

Have you been drinking? Blow into this Mobile please

Japanese transport companies are testing drivers for alcohol by using a Mobile Phone with a built in breathalizer.

The driver makes a video call to their company and breathes into the the phone which then analyses the sample.

The technology, that was developed by NTT DoCoMo, is being used by 15 firms in Japan.

 

Who do Mobile Phone companies sponsor? Part 2

West Bromich Albion football club are sponsored by T Mobile.

Sighting of Jesus ontop of a Mobile Phone mast

Gulu, Uganda - Crowds gathered in Gulu, Uganda last Wednesday after dozens of onlookers reported seeing Jesus in amongst clouds at the top of a Mobile phone mast. Local Anglican Bishop Onwent said:

'I was nearby when we were told Jesus had been sited. We laughed but when I was leaving town I saw thousands of people at the mast, But I don't believe any of it'.

This incident follows the sighting of Mary in a pizza baking tray.

 

Who do Mobile Phone companies sponsor? Part 1

The England Cricket Team are sponsored by Mobile giant Vodafone.

Freddie Flintoff sporting an England One Day international shirt complete with Vodafone logo. Flintoff is currently preparing for the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.

New Mobile Phones on the Loyal Insurance list

Loyal Insurance are always keeping up with the fast moving Mobile Phone market. Here are the latest handsets that can now be insured using Loyal Insurance:

The Nokia 6300

The New Sony Ericsson Phones: K810i & K550i

The new LG 400

........last but not least the Samsung D840

The right Phones4U as long as it's not on O2

O2 will no longer sell contract business through the high street chain Phones 4U. The move follows Vodafone's agreement to sell new contract exclusively in Phones4U stores (outside their own stores). O2 have signed a deal with Carphone Warehouse.

The development is another sign that the network operators are squeezing the third party High street retailers more and more especially when they have a very well developed chain of their own brand stores. Industry watchers will be keeping a close eye on Orange over the next 12 months to see if they follow this trend.

O2 - sponsors or the England Rugby team will no longer sell contract business in Phones 4U stores.