VeriSign to sell off mobile units

Network infrastructure developer VeriSign Inc. reportedly plans to divest a series of business units, possibly including its mobile messaging and content delivery divisions, to focus its business on securing online transactions as well as overseeing the ".com" and ".net" domain name registries. VeriSign is expected to announce its plans during a Wednesday meeting with analysts. In an interview with the Associated Press, CEO Bill Roper said the firm plans to sell businesses where it's not the clear market leader and focus on areas where it enjoys dominance. According to Roper, VeriSign will sell its mobile transactions infrastructure unit and its telecommunications routing business, although he added the company has not selected all of the divisions it will shed, nor has it settled on their respective price tags. "We're getting a lot of interest," Roper told the AP. "It's not a matter of these being cats and dogs that nobody's interested in. It's just a matter of … we might not be the best home for those businesses." Roper did not specifically address VeriSign's stake in mobile content firm Jamba, which it owns in conjunction with News Corp.

For more on VeriSign's mobile future:
- read this Associated Press article

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Indian government approves the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) from 2008

The Indian government has approved the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) from 2008, which gives cellphone users the freedom to choose their service provider while retaining their numbers.

Govt will introduce number portability in the four metros — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. In the next phase, it will be extended to more parts of the country.

Market surveys have shown that up to 50% of all mobile users in India are unhappy with their operator, and are willing to switch to another service provider if allowed to retain their number. Number portability has so far been introduced in Australia, Korea, Japan, Canada, the US, the UK, most of Europe and Pakistan, among other countries.

Source: Economic Times via Wireless Duniya

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Google Phone, Gphone, GP

So, the Google Phone, Gphone, GP or whatever you want to call it, at least we now know what kind of an OS it’s going to have. But what about the device itself? What is that going to be like? That’s the million-dollar question isn’t it? But here’s what we’ve heard so far through the grapevine. There are apparently five prototypes designed to house the Android OS for Google. As we heard, the models were going to be called the ‘Dream’ phones that were going to be developed by HTC. According to Peter Chou, HTC’s CEO, they plan to launch a commercial version of the phone sometime in the second quarter of next year.

Rumor has it that one of the designs could be the HTC Omni as a few of the specs that were revealed do seem to fit the bill. According to those specs the Gphone would have a 3x5 inch long display, probably a swivel or slide out QWERTY keyboard. It would also have a rather unique touch sensitive screen. According to Unwired view, the screen would actually have a time-sensitive touch screen wherein, depending on how long you keep a portion pressed it would expand. These specs already seem to be part of the Omni’s make up. Of course nothing is conclusive, so once again it’s mere speculation. I guess we’ll have to wait and watch.

Source : tech2

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Paper phone

“Paper Says” is a cellphone whose electronic innards are recyclable and whose outside is made of paper. The idea is for travellers, who first rent and use it, and then return so that the phone is recycled with a brand-new paper exterior.

Designers: Chia-Liang Hsu, Yi-Ting Chen, Jun-Lin Fu, Chih-Chieh Lee, Chun Chia Hsu, Allen Huang

Source : http://www.funforever.net

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Vehix goes mobile

Digital automotive network Vehix announced the launch of Vehix Mobile, which optimizes its auto research and content for mobile devices. According to Vehix, the mobile website services include searches for new and used vehicles as well as dealers, in addition to used auto values and a photo gallery, all specially formatted for the demands of mobile handset screens. Consumers accessing Vehix via PC may also click "Send-to-My-Mobile" links from any vehicle detail page to transmit text messages including the vehicle make, model, price, dealer and dealer contact information, along with a link back to the auto's original Vehix web page. "Vehix mobile solutions enhance the value Vehix provides our advertisers because they can connect with car shoppers through robust advertising and content distribution opportunities that didn't exist before," said Vehix CEO Derek Mattsson in a prepared statement.

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