Semi-Legal Bluetooth Call Recorder: Did The Wire Teach Us Nothing?

Your smartphone can do many things, but because of legal restrictions, it can’t easily be used to record a conversation. This Bluetooth handset happily will, though, documenting over 340 hours of calls, whether or not the other party knows it.

In most areas, the act of recording a phone conversation isn’t necessarily illegal. It’s when you do it without the other party’s consent that problems can arise. So this handset, which connects to any Bluetooth equipped phone like a headset, can be set to automatically play a custom “this conversation is being recorded” message before every conversation. But only if you want it to.

The $200 recorder has just two gigs of storage on board, but it uses enough compression to hold over fourteen days worth of conversations which can be annotated with comments to make sorting through them a little easier. For reporters the device is perfect for transcribing interviews, or finding a specific quote, but it’s also handy if your conversation has important legal implications. And since people tend to be more honest when they know they’re being recorded, it could even have the benefit of scaring off telemarketers who might not be on the up and up.

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Tags: Accessories, Bluetooth, Call Recorder, Call Recording, Mobile Phones, Smartphones

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Sony to buy out Ericsson’s stake in joint venture, call it quits after ten years

We all saw it coming and, sure enough, it’s finally happened. After all the rumors and opaque comments, Sony has just bought out Ericsson’s share of Sony Ericsson, effectively assuming ownership of the entire venture. Ericsson confirmed the buyout this morning, adding that it will receive a cash consideration of €1.05 billion in exchange for its 50 percent stake. Sony, meanwhile, will now have the chance to integrate smartphones more tightly within its arsenal of tablets, laptops and gaming devices. The agreement also gives Sony an IP cross-licensing agreement and ownership of “five essential patent families” pertaining to wireless tech, though the breadth of this coverage remains unclear. The separation won’t be finalized, however, until January 2012, pending regulatory approval.

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Tags: Mobile Phones, Smartphones, Sony, Sony Ericsson

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Nokia smartphone sales down 39 per cent

Hurry up WP7

Nokia has just posted its Q3 sales results and things aren’t looking too great for the company. The bottom line is that Nokia has managed a $94 million net loss in its third quarter with a worrying 39 per cent drop in smartphone sales.

CEO Stephen Elop has responded to the worrying financial results stating:

“I am encouraged by our progress around the first Nokia experience with Windows Phone, and we look forward to bringing the experience to consumers in select countries later this quarter. We then intend to systematically increase the number of countries and launch partners during the course of 2012.”

Looks like all eyes within Nokia are now on Windows Phone to turn the company’s fate around.

“To position Nokia for the future, we are driving fundamental changes in how we operate. In addition to the changes announced in April, in Q3 we announced plans for structural changes in manufacturing, Location & Commerce and supporting functions. The planned changes we have initiated are difficult but necessary in order to align the company to our strategy.” said Elop.

Nokia was most likely aware that these results were going to be bad. The company has been in a serious period of transition of late, moving towards Microsoft in the hope that Windows Phone 7 can re-affirm its position in the smartphone market.

As Elop states, this takes time and does require some painful financial results on route. Ultimately Windows Phone 7 has got to be Nokia’s last shot. A 39 per cent drop in sales is huge and despite Nokia’s position in the dumbphone and affordable handset market, more and more people are now adopting things like Android as the go-to for phones, expensive or not.

Fingers crossed for next week’s Nokia Windows Phone 7 launch, it’s going to have to be a good one.

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Tags: Mobile Phones, Nokia, Smartphones, Windows Phone

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Sony nearing deal to move cellphone operations in house, buy out Ericsson’s half

Sony is getting tired of sitting idly in sixth place in the battle for cellphone supremacy. Sure, there have been a few noteworthy devices from the company’s joint venture with Ericsson (i.e. the Arc), but for the most part it has struggled since its inception in 2001 to run with the alpha dogs. The Japanese manufacturer’s new strategy involves buying out Ericsson’s stake in the company and having its tablet, smartphone and handheld gaming units work closely together to develop future products. According to the Wall Street Journal, a deal for the Stockholm company’s half of the venture is nearing completion. Some difficulties remain, such as properly valuing the company and settling on a price for Ericsson’s roughly $1.3 to $1.7 billion worth of mobile technology patents, but a deal is expected to be reached sooner rather than later. And maybe, just maybe, the new found flexibility will allow Sony handsets to keep pace with the Samsungs and Apples of the world.

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Tags: Ericsson, Mobile Phones, Smartphones, Sony, Sony Ericsson, Tablet PC's

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Nokia slashes 3,500 more jobs, shutters factory

Nokia has announced it is slashing its workforce by 3,500, shutting its Romanian production facility by the end of the year while also shuttering the Location & Commerce sites in Bonn, Germany and Malvern, US. The reductions – which are expected to be completed by the end of 2012 – are described by Nokia CEO Stephen Elop as “painful, yet necessary, steps to align our workforce and operations with our path forward,” and come before the company has even officially unveiled its first Windows Phone handset.

The company suggests that the Romanian manufacturing plant was unable to keep up with the high-volume production from its Asian plants, hence the marching orders for the staff there. Meanwhile, Nokia will be reviewing its Salo, Finland, Komarom, Hungary, and Reynosa, Mexico plants, with the expectation that they will “shift their focus to customer and market-specific software and sales package customization.” That will likely result in more staff cuts next year, it’s warned.

As for the Location & Commerce business, which pulls together Nokia’s various NAVTEQ, social location services and other developments and acquisitions, it seems that just as in the industrial revolution, staff are being replaced by machines. Nokia has supposedly spotted ways to “increase effectiveness through automation” though doesn’t specify what, exactly, they are.

Consultations with Sales, Marketing and Corporate Functions are beginning now, with regards to the job trimming announced back in April. Still, there’s at least one place Nokia is taking on new staff – or one new staff member, anyway. Jesper Ovesen has been brought on as new Executive Chairman for Nokia Siemens Networks, with Oli-Pekka Kallasvuo stepping down as non-Executive Chairman, and Nokia and Siemens announcing they will each be investing €500m in capital to help the company find its feet as an “independent entity.”

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Tags: Mobile Phones, Nokia, Smartphones, Windows Phone

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Willcom unveils its 33-gram WX03A, a phone-accessory phone?

You can’t get more niche than a phone accessory that’s also a phone, but that’s exactly what Japanese network Willcom has got here in the miniscule WX03A “strap phone” — a candy-bar handset that attaches to another phone. The device weighs in just 33g, crammed in a 32 x 70mm frame boasting a thickness of 10.5mm — which, as you can see, compares favorably with a packet of curiously-named Japanese mints. With the space at a premium, features are very thin on the ground; no Bluetooth, memory card slot or even email functionality. There is, however, an infrared connection (for exchanging contacts), microUSB port, headphone socket and a battery capable of 300 hours standby. Those genuinely interested in carrying two handsets can pick one up in December, and we hope to see in-the-wild pictures of lop-sided, dual-phone nunchucks soon after.

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Tags: Frisk, Mobile Phones, Willcom, WX03A

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Dell and Baidu are working together on tablet computers and mobile phones

In China, the Baidu search engine is the most popular and widely used. Google operates in China as well, but is second place behind Baidu. China is also one of the fastest growing markets for tablets and has one of the largest mobile phone using populations on the planet. Dell is teaming up with Baidu to make new mobile phones and tablet computers for the Chinese market.

The phones would apparently be branded with the Baidu name, which is one of the largest brands in the country. Dell hopes that the tie up with one of the largest brands in China will help jump start its ailing tablet and smartphone business. Some analysts don’t think the tie up will help Dell that much with one saying China is still Apple’s market and that this is just Dell “grasping at straws.”

Dell has offered no time line on when the devices will launch. However, Reuters reports that a Chinese outlet is saying the products could come as early as November. Dell and Baidu are already working together on a Baidu branded Streak 5 tablet in China. The Streak 5 was discontinued in the US last month after poor sales. Dell has had more success in China with its new products than in other countries so the tie up with Baidu is no surprise.

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Tags: Baidu, China, Dell, Mobile Phones, Smartphones, Tablet PC's

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Nokia pitches cheapest voicephones yet

Fancy a two-Simmer for £22?

Voice-centric handset for 17 quid, anyone? That’s what Nokia’s offering in the form of the 100, a €20 handset pitched as its cheapest yet.

The Nokia 100…

It’s a basic voicephone, of course, with texting and an FM radio as its only other key features.

It’ll be accompanied by the 101, which adds a second Sim slot to the package for an extra €5. Like the 100, it’s a dual-band GSM device.

…and the 101

Both phones are aimed at developing nations, but we’re sure they’ll tip up here from the usual online retailers. Both should make handy secondary handsets for travellers who don’t want to take their pricey smartphones to ‘forn parts’.

The 101 is out later this quarter, the 100 in Q4.

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Tags: Budget Phones, Mobile Phones, Nokia, Nokia 100, Nokia 101

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Google buys Motorola Mobility for $12.5bn

Google has announced that it is buying Motorola Mobility, in a $12.5bn deal expected to close either by the end of the year or the start of 2012. Described by Google CEO Larry Page as a move to “supercharge the Android ecosystem” the deal will see Motorola operated as a separate business with the company remaining an Android licensee.

“Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers” Larry Page, CEO, Google

According to Google, Motorola’s devotion to Android figured big in the company’s decision to purchase. Back in 2008, Motorola decided to leave its own OS and others like Windows Mobile, and devote resources entirely to building an Android-based range. It seems unlikely that Motorola will now look to Windows Phone, even if Microsoft was to offer them a Nokia-style deal.

“This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses” Sanjay Jha, CEO, Motorola Mobility

Page also says that Motorola’s home-entertainment business will feel some refreshed attention, likely to see the first Motorola Google TV boxes arrive among other things. The acquisition will also net Google a significant patent portfolio, one which Motorola suggested recently would put it in a strong position versus other Android OEMs.

“We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices” Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile, Google

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Tags: Android, Google, Mobile Phones, Motorola, Motorola Mobility, Smartphones, Tablet PC's

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Vodafone 555 budget Facebook Phone on sale now

Vodafone’s super-cheap interpretation of the Facebook Phone, the Vodafone 555, has gone on sale, offering straightforward access to the social network for just £62.50 ($102) SIM-free. Announced back in July, the 555 offers a full QWERTY keyboard and 2.4-inch non-touch display, synchronizing your Facebook news, photos, chat, messages and contacts over EDGE.

Like the HTC ChaCha there’s a dedicated Facebook button, which can be preset to automatically share photos snapped with the 555′s 2-megapixel camera, though since this is a featurephone rather than a smartphone, don’t expect the full app experience. Vodafone does preload Opera Mini, however, for browsing, though again you’re stuck with EDGE data speeds since there’s neither 3G nor WiFi.

You do at least get an FM radio and expandable memory, handy if you want to make the 555 your media player too, and there’s Bluetooth and a speakerphone as well. The Vodafone 555 is available now.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73NAhjHWqAM

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Tags: Facebook, Facebook Phone, Mobile Phones, Pay As You Go, Video, Vodafone, Vodafone 555 Blue

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