Alive Status Verification SMS Service got my attention on textually.org.
One of the strangest SMS offers to ever cross my desk is South Africa's "Alive Status Verification" SMS Service launched this Monday by Home Affairs which allows citizens to find out whether they are officially dead or alive.
The purpose of the service is assist South Africans to check their status to ensure that they have not been fraudulently declared dead on the population register," the department said in a statement.It did not elaborate on why anyone would be fraudulently declared dead
Full press release<http://www.dha.gov.za/media_releases.asp?id=519>.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Windows Mobile 6.5
Windows Mobile 6.5 Update from blogs msdn.com
Lots have been said already about the end user features of Windows Mobile 6.5 like My Phone, The new look, the enhanced touch support, etc. but now it is getting time to start talking about what is new for developers as well.
For the first time since windows mobile 6 shipped we are expanding our development story to make easier and more accessible writing applications that not only look great but also consume cloud services to bring a portable chunk of the web to our mobile devices.
Up until today developers have basically two options to create applications for Windows Phones:
a) Native Code (primarily in C/C++)
b) Managed code (using the .net compact framework)
And even though there have been lots of improvements on our tools and libraries, writing great looking mobile apps is still hard to do. Starting on 6.5 though we are adding a new option for developers out there… “Windows Mobile Widgets”.
A good way to think of a Windows Mobile Widget is as a “Portable chunk of the web” or just basically a rich internet application. Widgets are written using all the web technologies we know and love (HTML, CSS, AJAX, JavaScript) and, since they are powered under the covers by our new internet browser, they have full access to flash and other ActiveX controls available on the device (Like MediaPlayer).
The interesting thing about our Widget Platform is that it allows them to look and feel, to the end user, as a normal standalone application does; they have their own start menu icon, they show up as an individual apps in task manager and, most importantly, they have full control of the SK menu bar as any other application would (just easier J).
Sounds good so far? Well there is more, For this new platform we are implementing the latest draft of the emerging W3C standard for mobile widget applications (http://www.w3.org/TR/widgets/) as well as ensuring that basic things like native support for transparent PNGs as well as support for the Window.XMLHttpRequest object work as expected.
Expect to hear a lot more information about our Widget platform on the following months; specifically we will have sessions on TechDays in April http://www.msfttechdays.com/public/home.aspx and TechEd 2009. But for now here are some screenshots of the MSN widgets created by the Windows Live team as a showcase for our new platform.
Lots have been said already about the end user features of Windows Mobile 6.5 like My Phone, The new look, the enhanced touch support, etc. but now it is getting time to start talking about what is new for developers as well.
For the first time since windows mobile 6 shipped we are expanding our development story to make easier and more accessible writing applications that not only look great but also consume cloud services to bring a portable chunk of the web to our mobile devices.
Up until today developers have basically two options to create applications for Windows Phones:
a) Native Code (primarily in C/C++)
b) Managed code (using the .net compact framework)
And even though there have been lots of improvements on our tools and libraries, writing great looking mobile apps is still hard to do. Starting on 6.5 though we are adding a new option for developers out there… “Windows Mobile Widgets”.
A good way to think of a Windows Mobile Widget is as a “Portable chunk of the web” or just basically a rich internet application. Widgets are written using all the web technologies we know and love (HTML, CSS, AJAX, JavaScript) and, since they are powered under the covers by our new internet browser, they have full access to flash and other ActiveX controls available on the device (Like MediaPlayer).
The interesting thing about our Widget Platform is that it allows them to look and feel, to the end user, as a normal standalone application does; they have their own start menu icon, they show up as an individual apps in task manager and, most importantly, they have full control of the SK menu bar as any other application would (just easier J).
Sounds good so far? Well there is more, For this new platform we are implementing the latest draft of the emerging W3C standard for mobile widget applications (http://www.w3.org/TR/widgets/) as well as ensuring that basic things like native support for transparent PNGs as well as support for the Window.XMLHttpRequest object work as expected.
Expect to hear a lot more information about our Widget platform on the following months; specifically we will have sessions on TechDays in April http://www.msfttechdays.com/public/home.aspx and TechEd 2009. But for now here are some screenshots of the MSN widgets created by the Windows Live team as a showcase for our new platform.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Cocerns Grow about Mobile Phone Information
Three civil liberties groups have asked a U.S. appeals court to strike down a U.S. government request to obtain stored mobile-phone location tracking information without showing probable cause.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF, the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have filed a brief asking the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals to reject the U.S. Department of Justice's request that courts give permission for it to obtain historical mobile-phone tracking information without a court-ordered warrant showing probable cause.
Mobile's Best Practices & Challenges
Mobile Developers Clash on Mobile FutureThe first Mobile Developer Live: Silicon Valley, held Feb. 26, 2009 at Keynote Systems, brought together more than 150 mobile Web developers and thought leaders – live and online — from Silicon Valley and around the world to discuss today’s mobile best practices and tomorrow’s challenges in an informative networking event.
Participating companies included CBS Sports, Cellfire, iLoop Mobile, Mobile Distillery, MobileAppLoader, Nokia, Yahoo!, Nokia, VeriSign, and Verizon Wireless.
Most of you have heard me complain and gripe about cell phone security. This article below will explain why....
Think nobody cares about what is on your phone?
Phones are more powerful, more widely adopted, and cheaper than PCs, and they often house important data, giving hackers a financial incentive to go after them.
Click on this link and learn: Browsers Get Hacked Before Phones at Security Show (PC World)
iPhone 3.0: Apple Finds New Ways to Engage
iPhone 3.0: A brand new iPhone in a free update (InfoWorld)I thought this Info World article was worth passing along!
iPhone 3.0: Apple Finds New Ways to Engage
Apple's adeptness at creating new ways to delight its customers while finding equally creative ways to draw revenue from already closed sales. Some fifty million owners of iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod touch got a sneak peek at iPhone 3.0.
Internet Access on Mobile Devices More Than Doubles
There is new research from comScore, a provider of Internet tracking, got my attention today: more consumers are using smartphones to access the Web for personal and business use.The number of people using mobile devices to access the Internet more than doubled from January 2008 to January 2009, according to comScore. Internet users have been using smartphones for personal use and to conduct business, similar to the way they would use a laptop or home computer.
Researchers find proof online content for mobile device users is resonating with consumers, which bodes well as advertisers and publishers consider mobile as part of their marketing mix.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Abbreviated mobile SMS search for sportsfans
This one got my attention as we enter March Madness:
Mobile search provider ChaCha is introducing a new sports update service ahead of the busy March sports season.
Thumbsavers allows users to send abbreviations by texts to ChaCha to get live scores, news and updates.
ChaCha claims its service will send fans the results they’re looking for, even if the abbreviations are spelled wrong! So, perfect for the pub.
Mobile search provider ChaCha is introducing a new sports update service ahead of the busy March sports season.
Thumbsavers allows users to send abbreviations by texts to ChaCha to get live scores, news and updates.
ChaCha claims its service will send fans the results they’re looking for, even if the abbreviations are spelled wrong! So, perfect for the pub.
G1’s Going for Under $100… But Why?
The Android Guys blog caught my eye on why G1s are on sale now.
“There are a handful of reasons as to why the G1 is going for this price, all of which are unconfirmed. Let’s take a look at the three most obvious reasons…
The G2 is right around the corner.
The black model is not selling as well compared to the others
These vendors are clearing out their own stock and this has nothing to do with the G1 as a whole
The G2 is right around the corner
CTIA is coming up and the rumor mill is starting again. Folks are starting to expect T-Mobile to announce the G2, or US version of the HTC Magic. Although it would make sense to see a new Android handset from T-Mobile, it’s not guaranteed. One could hope that after 6 months that we’re ready to get our second device from the carrier.”
“There are a handful of reasons as to why the G1 is going for this price, all of which are unconfirmed. Let’s take a look at the three most obvious reasons…
The G2 is right around the corner.
The black model is not selling as well compared to the others
These vendors are clearing out their own stock and this has nothing to do with the G1 as a whole
The G2 is right around the corner
CTIA is coming up and the rumor mill is starting again. Folks are starting to expect T-Mobile to announce the G2, or US version of the HTC Magic. Although it would make sense to see a new Android handset from T-Mobile, it’s not guaranteed. One could hope that after 6 months that we’re ready to get our second device from the carrier.”
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Deal on Microsoft's App Store
Microsoft's App Store: Here's the Deal
Microsoft has unveiled further plans for its new app store called Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
PC World has all the details:“Like the iPhone App Store and Android App Market, Microsoft will give developers a 70 percent cut of app sales and will let them set their own prices. Developers will also be charged $99 annually to submit applications to WMM. The first year's fee will cover submitting up to five applications to the app store, and every program after that will cost $99 per submission. Student developers can submit applications for free through the Microsoft DreamSpark<https://www.dreamspark.com/default.aspx> program.
Apple also charges an annual fee of $99 to enter the iPhone Developer program, but charges $299 for companies with more than 500 employees.”
Microsoft has unveiled further plans for its new app store called Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
PC World has all the details:“Like the iPhone App Store and Android App Market, Microsoft will give developers a 70 percent cut of app sales and will let them set their own prices. Developers will also be charged $99 annually to submit applications to WMM. The first year's fee will cover submitting up to five applications to the app store, and every program after that will cost $99 per submission. Student developers can submit applications for free through the Microsoft DreamSpark<https://www.dreamspark.com/default.aspx> program.
Apple also charges an annual fee of $99 to enter the iPhone Developer program, but charges $299 for companies with more than 500 employees.”
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I would say "good idea"...
Tajikistan Bans Mobile Phones in SchoolsThe parliament in Tajikistan has adopted amendments to laws on education which will now ban the use of mobile phones in all educational facilities in the country, which covers both schools and universities.
The ban applies to both students and teachers, reports Cellular News.
"These measures were taken following multiple requests from the country's president, and are intended to raise quality of teaching in educational institutions," a Tajik lawmaker said.
The decree also banned students from using their own cars to travel to their studies. "
Monday, March 9, 2009
Unauthorized iPhone app stores emerging
Apple may have some competition when it comes to selling applications for the iPhone, as renegade stores are springing up online to sell unauthorized apps for the device.
News.com reports via the WSJ A developer is planning to launch on Friday a new service called Cydia store that could sell hundreds of iPhone applications. The apps aren't available through Apple's official store, and they require "jailbroken" iPhones.
Such iPhones have software downloaded that modifies the device to run any application.The article also mentioned another developer, Rock Your Phone which also plans to sell unauthorized iPhone apps. But this store won't require iPhones to be modified, the article says.
Some of the applications that will be found in non-Apple app stores are ones that Apple won't carry in its own store. For example, there is one application for turning the phone into a modem for laptops and another that turns the iPhone into a camcorder. Other applications might include adult games, which are not sold in Apple's App Store.
News.com reports via the WSJ A developer is planning to launch on Friday a new service called Cydia store that could sell hundreds of iPhone applications. The apps aren't available through Apple's official store, and they require "jailbroken" iPhones.
Such iPhones have software downloaded that modifies the device to run any application.The article also mentioned another developer, Rock Your Phone which also plans to sell unauthorized iPhone apps. But this store won't require iPhones to be modified, the article says.
Some of the applications that will be found in non-Apple app stores are ones that Apple won't carry in its own store. For example, there is one application for turning the phone into a modem for laptops and another that turns the iPhone into a camcorder. Other applications might include adult games, which are not sold in Apple's App Store.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Stats like this should help us get more Mobile Application Development (hint!!!)
A new report from PC Magazine got my attention with a prediction of an eleven percent jump in 2009 smartphone sales!
Up to 11 percent more smartphones could be sold this year despite a falling overall mobile phone market if network operators cut data fees and offer aggressive subsidies, research firm iSuppli said on Wednesday.
Up to 11 percent more smartphones could be sold this year despite a falling overall mobile phone market if network operators cut data fees and offer aggressive subsidies, research firm iSuppli said on Wednesday.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
BlackBerry App Store Update
BlackBerry App Store Gets a Name: BlackBerry App WorldIt is on the way---one stop shopping for your BlackBerry!
Personalize your BlackBerry smartphone with games, social networks, personal productivity applications and more.
Message your best friend, track the stock market, or channel your inner rock god. Sign up for BlackBerry App World today and discover how to put more of your life on your BlackBerry smartphone.
Register now for BlackBerry App World and be the first to know when it is available!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Students Can Download Pro-Level Developer Tools
DreamSpark for Students
“We are often asked by students how they can get powerful tools for Windows Mobile application development.
Mobile development is officially supported using Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition has also been widely adopted by the community as a solid mobile development platform. Many universities partner with Microsoft in a variety of ways to provide software to students.
One popular partnership for students is the DreamSpark program. Microsoft DreamSpark enables students to download valuable Microsoft developer and design tools at no charge. Their site enables students to download professional-level Microsoft developer tools to advance their learning and skills through technical design, technology, math, science and engineering activities.In order to get this software at no charge, students are asked to establish or verify their student status once every 12 months. This process is built into the DreamSpark<https://www.dreamspark.com/default.aspx> site itself.
Verification of valid student status will enable students from around the globe to download Microsoft developer and design tools at no charge.’’
“We are often asked by students how they can get powerful tools for Windows Mobile application development.
Mobile development is officially supported using Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition has also been widely adopted by the community as a solid mobile development platform. Many universities partner with Microsoft in a variety of ways to provide software to students.
One popular partnership for students is the DreamSpark program. Microsoft DreamSpark enables students to download valuable Microsoft developer and design tools at no charge. Their site enables students to download professional-level Microsoft developer tools to advance their learning and skills through technical design, technology, math, science and engineering activities.In order to get this software at no charge, students are asked to establish or verify their student status once every 12 months. This process is built into the DreamSpark<https://www.dreamspark.com/default.aspx> site itself.
Verification of valid student status will enable students from around the globe to download Microsoft developer and design tools at no charge.’’
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Finally, after months of pleading for the opposing views, I received something from someone!
“iPhone Forensics: How a Thief Can Bypass Security to Steal Personal Information and Corporate Secrets”Jonathan is a Chief Scientist with MacAfee where he works with law enforcement to obtain forensical evidence off of cell phones (mainly iPhone).
You can also view a recorded O'Reilly Webcast titled “iPhone Forensics 101: Bypassing the iPhone Passcode” available online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaxSF9EOjxw&feature=related by the same speaker.
Start listening around 6:30 into the video to get a good idea of what’s covered.
Finally, the author also has a book out on Amazon under the same title
Monday, March 2, 2009
Your Phone or Wireless Device is the Key to Banking of the Future
Mobile banking will take off over the next 5 years: Mobile banking will take off over the next 5 years, led by behavioral challenges in the developing world as people who currently have no access to banking or electronic payment services take up mobile banking.Informa Telecoms & Media predicts that in 2013 almost 300 billion transactions worth more than $860 billion will be conducted using a mobile phone, which would represent a 12-fold increase in gross global transaction values in just five years.
-- Informa predicts that by 2013, over 445 million mobile subscribers will be regularly using their mobile phone to purchase physical goods and services remotely.
-- By 2013 there will be 977 million users of mobile banking services worldwide, compared to around 67 million at the end of 2008 forecasts Informa.
-- Informa predicts that by 2013 almost 424 million consumers will be sending over $157 billion of personal funds via mobile domestically whilst a further 73 million will be sending $48 billion of funds via mobile internationally.
Read full article by clicking here.
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