Truphone
Truphone is a VoIP application that you install on your cell phone and allows you to make cheap (very cheap) international and overseas calls, and it is now available for BlackBerry devices.
Truphone will also be available for other devices (LG, Samsung, HTC, etc.) in the future.
If you own a compatible phone, you can download the software for free on the Truphone website (link bellow), and start saving money now!
Casio EXILIM W63CA
The Asians will never cease to amaze us. One of the latest phones from Casio is the EXILIM Keitai W63CA.
This “flip and twist” phone packs an 8.1 megapixel camera lens with 9-point autofocus and flash, and a 3.1in OLED display (480×800).
Casio is well known for their cameras here in America but not for their phones, so it would be very surprising that we would ever see this phone on our turf anytime soon.
Apple & Yahoo! Financial Results
This week saw 3rd quarter results announcements from many companies including Apple and Yahoo!.
While Yahoo! were announcing a 10% workforce reduction, a 64% drop in profits, and an overall goal to cut expenses, Apple were showing optimistic results for the 3rd quarter that ended in September 2008.
Apple, along with its iPhone, is now considered to the be 3rd largest phone distributor behind Nokia and Samsung. Additionnally, iPod and Mac sales were still going strong, and as a result, Apple posted net quarterly profit of $1.14 billion, or $1.26 per diluted share.
Google Android
The Android platform is following in Apple’s footsteps as Google has specified in their terms and conditions that it could remotely “remove those applications from your device at its sole discretion”.
This means that they control what you can and cannot use on your own device.
Of course, Google will probably only use this in case certain applications are messing up with the internal components of the software to a point were it could make the device operate outside of their established norms.
Only time will tell.
Motorola Krave ZN4
Here is yet another touchscreen phone that could have been interesting but that just isn’t: The Motorola Krave ZN4. It’s available now with Verizon Wireless for $149 (after $50 mail-in rebate).
The first thing to know about this flip-type phone is that it has only one screen but two touchscreens. When the phone is closed, you see the screen that is behind the flip cover because it is made of clear plastic. The flip cover is also touch sensitive so you can still access the main phone features even if the flip is closed. Read it all..
BlackBerry Pearl Flip
T-Mobile is the exclusive carrier to offer the BlackBerry Pearl Flip in the US and has now announced that the device is available for purchase.
The base price is $349.99. Subscribers that sign up for a 2-year contract will get a $150 instant rebate and a $50 mail-in rebate.
Orange
Orange is one of the big players amongst the mobile phone carriers in Europe, and they made a “bold” move yesterday towards the RIM device.
They asked their associates in the UK to stop sales of the BlackBerry Bold altogether because of software malfunction that causes headaches to both their users and their tech support people.
This will probably force RIM to work twice as fast on a patch to the existing problems that the BlackBerry Bold suffers from, here in America as well as in the European market.
Apple iPhone
One thing that the G1 and Android community could say they had that the iPhone didn’t was Google StreetView.
Bad news for them, Apple will be releasing a new update for the iPhone (2.2) and it should feature Google StreetView within the maps application. This update will also fix a few bugs, add an option to disable auto-correction in SMS messages, and support for emoji icons (email smilies and such).
No release date has been set for this update.
Style Report
The new upcoming Samsung SCH-W570 is dubbed the “Style Report”. It has been pre-launched in Korea where it should be available shortly (no exact date).
The clamshell style phone features dual screens. Both the internal and external screens are 2.2 inch. The external screen is touch sensitive and allows for operation of the phone’s multimedia features.
The phone also comes with an integrated 3 megapixel camera and is expected to cost around $600 – $700 US.
BlackBerry
The new business model that has been around now for a few years is to build a service around a product so that people are “forced” to spend more money even after having bought the product.
Music, software, games, etc. It has always been around but now is more integrated than before with virtual stores appearing on all games consoles (Wii, PS3, Xbox), music stores specifically designed for specific products (Zune Marketplace, Apple iTunes), and app stores designed only for specific devices (Apple iTunes Store, Android Marketplace).
Now there is a new one joining the hype: the RIM App Center. At first, the application center will support only the new Blackberry Storm touchscreen smartphone but will (probably) be supporting other devices as time goes by.
Each carrier will have their own RIM Application Center so they will be able to control what appears on theirs and maybe have “exclusive” content not available to other carriers.
Apple iPhone
Apple is doing really well with it’s iPhone 3G product in the U.S. market, selling more than 10 million units in 2008.
Since its launch, the smartphone has become the #2 best selling overall mobile handset just after Motorola’s RAZR.
The iPhone 3G has also surpassed sales of all Blackberry and Palm products to become the best selling smartphone in the U.S.
HTC Touch HD
HTC has left us hoping with their upcoming Touch HD phone but they are not planning to bring it over here in North America.
According to a post on a Twitter account, HTC says that by the time they can have it here, the technology will already be “passé”. However, they apparently have “other cool stuff” for us. Let’s hope they live up to it!
Zune
In an almost official statement, Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer indicated that a Windows Mobile version of the Zune software and Zune Store would be in the works.
We don’t know when and how but we know it’s coming. Next version of the Windows Mobile platform should come pre-loaded with Zune we hope.
Nokia XpressMusic 5800
Well, the webcast didn’t seem to work out for me but I got some bits and pieces of information on the new Nokia phone from other web sites as I usually do 
So here it is, the Nokia XpressMusic 5800 will feature a 3.2 inch touch screen with an HD resolution of 640 x 360. The unit will be able to record 30 fps videos and take great pictures thanks to the Carl Zeiss 3.2 Mpix camera with flash.
Specs also include stereo Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, a-GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, and TV out! All of this will be running on the latest version of the S60 operating system (version 5).
Nokia Remix London
Nokia will soon be revealing their new “Tube” phone to the world. The launch is scheduled for 5:30 PM UK Time (that’s 12:30 PM EDT-NY time) and will take place in London.
It seems that the phone releases (iPhone, G1, Nokia, HTC) are now all called “special events” and “partys”. Nokia’s calling their event: “Nokia Remix London”.
You will be able to watch the live event directly on their website are they are transmitting live over the web.