Apple iPhone is actually monopolized by Globe Telecom since the introduction of the said smart phone here in the Philippines. But it seems that the monopoly will end today as Smart announces that this wireless provider of PLDT will be offering the Apple iPhone 4S (the latest iPhone version) via its post paid plans.

The Apple iPhone 4S offered by Smart is equipped with a dual core A5 chip, 8mp camera and HD video recording, and features such as iOS, iCloud and the access to the AppStore. The device is available in 16GB, 32 GB and 64 GB.

80 Cents Per SMS

We heard from the news that there was an order from the NTC to the wireless communication providers: Smart, Globe and Sun; to lower the rate per SMS sent to 80 cents. But, until today, the 80 cents per SMS is not yet implemented.

Sony Ericsson Philippines revealed that its Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 smartphone handset will be made available through the Smart Philippines post paid offers.

While you can buy the Xperia X10 unlocked unit from the Amazon Online store at about $560 (check it here), you can get the most advanced and first Android phone of Sony Ericsson for free if you’re subscribing the plan 3500 Smart Gold with one month free unlimited mobile browsing.

Its features at glance are:

• 8.1 Megapixel Camera
• Connectivity: Bluetooth technology, Synchronization PC, USB support
• It has a Onscreen QWERTY keyboard
• It has a Phone memory of 1GB and can be expanded up to 32GB through a microSD memory.

The Nokia Asia Team recently informed me that the Nokia Asia will be releasing their new version of their Nokia N phones, the Nokia N96.

The Nokia N96 is similar to the new Nokia N-Series phones. The only difference is that the Nokia N96 phone:

• has 16GB capacity of storage.
• has 2.8 inches screen
• has 5MP quality digital camera
• is using A-GPS and Nokia Maps

Memory:

I already mentioned that the Nokia N96 phones has 16GB internal memory. This is huge already, wherein you can watch video up to 40 hours or play 12,000 music tracks. But that’s not only what you can store with the Nokia N96 because it has one microSD memory slots. So, it is obvious that you can still expand its storage capacity from 16GB up to the maximum available storage capacity using the additional microSD memory.

Features:

• Unlocked for use with tri-band GSM 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, or 1900 MHz service provider and SIM card (Note: phone does not come with service or a SIM card)
• Symbian OS smartphone with dual-function QWERTY/numeric keypad and 3G speeds via UMTs 2100 MHz networks
• Wi-Fi (802.11b) connectivity; stereo Bluetooth streaming; Memory Stick Micro expansion; digital audio player; 3.2-megapixel camera
• Up to 10 hours of GSM talk time, up to 440 hours (18+ days) of standby time
• The Sony Ericsson P1 gives you the ability to handle your corporate or personal emails, contacts and calendar wherever you are

Description:

Building on the feature set of earlier P-series smartphones, the Sony Ericsson P1i helps you stay connected and productive wherever you roam. In addition to high-speed UMTS 3G connectivity (2100 MHz networks), it provides Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b), VoIP capability, and push email with support for Exchange ActiveSync and BlackBerry Connect. The dual function keyboard–full alpha-numeric (e.g. QWERTY) text input combined with one hand phone usability–lets you quickly respond to email and text messages. The large 2.6-inch touchscreen gives you a choice of text input method including handwriting and word completion. Other features include a large 3.2 megapixel camera with business card scanner, 160 MB of shared memory, Memory Stick Micro (M2) expansion, Bluetooth stereo music streaming, FM radio

This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides tri-band connectivity (900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.

The P1i is a 3G data-enabled device, compatible with third-generation mobile networks that offer broadband-like transfer speeds–up to 384 kbps–providing quick and easy access to audio and video streaming, Web surfing, multimedia messaging, and email wherever you go. This phone includes a secondary camera lens on the front that lets you use the P1i as a video phone. During a video call (placed to a compatible phone on a compatible network), you can see a live video stream of the person you’re talking to and they can see you. When the only choice around is GSM, the P1i can hop onto a GPRS data link. Alternatively, you can also switch to a Wi-Fi connection (802.11b) when you find an available wireless LAN/hotspot.

Always being connected while on the move is now a normal part of working life. The Sony Ericsson P1i gives you the ability to handle your corporate or personal emails, contacts and calendar wherever you are. It offers support for a broad range of push email services including Exchange ActiveSync and BlackBerry Connect and allows for remote wiping of email and PIM data–something critical in the event of the phone being stolen or misplaced.

Because the P1i is a Symbian smartphone, it features solid integration of phone, contacts, and calendar applications that can be easily synchronized with other devices and services, making it very easy to bring your office with you wherever you roam. Easily edit documents you receive as attachments to emails, or that you have stored on memory card. The P1i lets you read and edit documents on the move, whether Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel. Or use other tools, such as the alarm clock, a stopwatch, task and notes applications, a sound recorder, and a file manager.

In addition to MMS and SMS messaging, the phone ships with a built-in email client with support for POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols. Push email is also supported, allowing you to have instant email on your mobile phone, just like on your home computer. Messages are sent directly to your phone as soon as they arrive. You can take advantage of the dual-function keyboard for messaging, or use the device’s integrated handwriting recognition to write your email and SMS messages. With a carrier data plan, you can easily connect to the Internet and browse the Web with the included Opera browser.

This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and printing. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking (DUN)–surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server. And with the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. In addition to USB and Bluetooth connectivity, this phone also has an infrared receiver for data synchronization.

The 3.2 megapixel camera takes great shots to store or share via Picture Blogging and is also a useful tool for work purposes. It does away with the need to collect stacks of business cards when traveling. Just take a close-up shot of a business card and the card scanner transfers the contact details directly into the phonebook.

The P1i shines as a music player, offering a great way to listen and organize your digital tunes on the go. The in-phone media player supports video and audio playback–supported audio formats include MP3 and AAC. Catch the latest news via the on-board FM Radio or stream mobile TV direct to the large screen. It also supports Java-based games, as well as sophisticated 3D games that make the P1i great to have along when you need to turn downtime into fun time.

Features:

• Unlocked quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE cell phone with wireless LAN connectivity (802.11b/g)
• 5-megapixel digital camera with Carl Zeiss Optics, autofocus, digital zoom and Flickr support
• DVD-quality video capture (640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps); integrated photo and video editing
• GPS mapping and directions, Web browser, full PIM features
• Note: This phone does not come with service or a SIM card

Combining a cell phone, GPS receiver, digital camera/camcorder, digital audio player, and PDA into an all-in-one multimedia computer/phone, the Nokia N95 features a unique 2-way slide design for easy switching between telephony, entertainment, and Web browsing. The Nokia N95 runs on Wi-FI as well as EDGE/GSM 850/900/1800/2100 and WCDMA/HSDPA 2100 networks and is based on S60 software operating on the Symbian OS, enabling you to personalize the N95 by choosing from a wide choice of compatible applications that can be downloaded–including games, navigation, entertainment, and productivity titles. In HSDPA networks, browsing the internet, reading email, streaming video and downloading large files can be carried out up to 10 times faster than with 3G.

The innovative 2-way slide concept makes it easy to switch between different modes, going from reading maps to watching a video with a simple slide. A numeric keypad slides out from one end of the device while dedicated media keys slide out from the opposite direction, converting the display into full screen landscape mode.

With the Carl Zeiss optics on the 5-megapixel camera, you can capture print quality photos and DVD-like quality video clips. Carl Zeiss, a world leader in high quality camera lenses, brings an award-winning legacy to the Nokia N95 with state-of-the-art optics for mobile photography and mobile video. The Zeiss name has been associated with cameras from Hasselblad, Rollei, Yashica, Sony, and Nikon.

The Nokia N95 actually has two cameras, a high resolution camera on the back of the device (the main camera in landscape mode) and a lower resolution camera on the front (the secondary camera in portrait mode). You can use both cameras to take still pictures and record videos. It supports an image capture resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels using the main camera. Images saved as JPEG files while videos are recorded in the MPEG-4 file format with the .mp4 file extension, or in the 3GPP file format with the .3gp file extension (sharing quality). Photos and video clips can be enjoyed on a compatible television thanks to the device’s TV out feature and support for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology.

With instant access to the Internet, sharing life experiences with the world by uploading pictures and videos directly to popular picture sharing and blogging sites is quick and easy. The N95 includes software for uploading images directly to the Flickr.com website, one of the world’s most popular photo communities, which allows you to share pics with with friends and family, send photos directly to your blog, or simply organize and store.

Aspiring photographers and film makers don’t have to stop at just capturing stunning images and DVD-like quality video (640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps) with the Nokia N95. An integrated photo and video editor allows for music and tags to be added before sending images to friends or uploading them to the web.

The Nokia N95 also offers a large 2.6-inch QVGA 16 million color display, impressive 3D graphics, built-in stereo speakers offering a 3D stereo effect, standard 3.5 mm audio jack, support for compatible microSD cards and mini USB for convenient data transfer. Other highlights include 802.11b/g Wi-Fi with WPA2/WPA security, Bluetooth v2.0 connectivity, and 160 MB of internal memory, as well as the following features.

Lifeblog
Designed with mobile photographers and bloggers in mind, the Nokia N95′s Lifeblog feature lets you view, search, edit, and share your personal digital content with ease. Lifeblog’s synchronizing software automatically pulls your media together into an easy-to-browse, searchable multimedia diary: SMS, MMS, images, videos, sounds, and text notes stay organized between the N95 and your PC.

GPS Mapping
Plan your route, find your way home, and get to know places you’ve never visited with the integrated GPS mapping capability. The Maps application includes maps for more than 100 countries, enabling you to explore the world, find specific routes or locate services such as restaurants and hotels and covering more than 15 million points of interest. You can also purchase additional features, such as city guides and voice guided navigation.

Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map
View web pages as they were originally intended with the integrated Nokia Web Browser, which enables you to zoom out to a full screen view of the entire page using the Mini Map feature. Find the section you want and then zoom in to the content you need. The text instantly adjusts to the size of your screen. The browser also keeps a history of your browsing so you can quickly get back to where you started.

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology means that the Nokia N95 will discover, interact with, and control other compatible home electronic devices. This includes PCs, media centers, home entertainment systems, new smart appliances, home automation systems, networked peripherals, and Web-based services. With compatible equipment, you can stream video from your Nokia device directly to your TV, or hear music tracks stored on your PC through your living room’s sound system.

RealPlayer Multimedia Playback
Take your media with you when you’re out on the go. With the built-in RealPlayer software, you can stream and download your favorite content onto the N95, giving you access to the latest news, sports, and entertainment updates. Or sync up with your PC and play the music and movies stored on your hard drive.

Nokia Asia announced the release of the Nokia 5610 for the Philippine mobile users. This phone has its special features (according to Nokia):

•  XpressMusic. Rock your world – Tune into your favorite tracks instantly with just a single touch.
• Access songs in a slide – The unique Music Slider key takes you to your playlist with a single touch and curtain-like slide of the user interface.
• Capture high-quality images anytime -  Take great pictures and videos under any light with a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with 8x zoom and dual LED flash.
• Look stylishly music-savvy – With its black high-gloss finish, aluminum side panels and iconic design, enjoy the best of music in the sleekest of style.connectivity via GPRS and EDGE.

This phone will be available at the Philippine market by this year.

Nokia Asia inform me lately that we will soon witness another interesting phone that Nokia will release for Pinoys. And it is the Nokia E90 Communicator Phone.
Features at a glance:

• Get high-speed mobile broadband connections via 3G for Internet browsing and file transfer
• Take your office with you – open and edit documents and email attachments on the move
• Talk on every continent with WCDMA and quad-band GSM global roaming
• Access voice and data functions quickly and easily with convenient shortcut keys
• Be in the right place at the right time with versatile calendar functions and integrated GPS

According to Nokia, the Nokia E90 Communicator phone will be available on the Philippine Market this 2nd quarter of 2007.

This is not a “make money online” post. I just want to show you my dream- Nokia 6500 Slide-Picture Perfect phone.

Specs at a glance (source):

1. Take high quality pictures with a 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, auto focus and 8 x digital zoom
2. A powerful double LED flash makes even indoor pictures perfect
3. Add a new dimension to your conversation with 3G TV video calling and TV conference via TV-Out
4. 3G video calling helps you feel even closer to the people you care about
5. Large 2.2″ display with 16.7 million colors makes sure all your images look perfect
6. Horizontal mode with capture and zoom keys, allows you to use the phone like you would use a digital camera
7. Connect directly to Flickr website to share your photos with all your friends
8. Share pictures or videos with friends and family via TV-Out

If I only have a budget for this phone, I will definitely buy it.

According to Nokia Asia, this phone will be available to Philippine market on the third quarter of 2007. So, I still have time to save money for it.

While Matt Cutts is on his way taking photos of his cats, I just want to tell you that Blackberry announced today that they’re now creating software applications and devices that will support Windows Mobile OS and make their devices interoperable with rival OS Windows Mobile. The software will include email, phone, calendar, address book, tasks, memos, browser, instant messenger, and other applications developed to run on BlackBerries, according to DownloadSquad.  Vince pointed that RIM is developing the software so that you’ll be able to switch between Blackberry apps and Windows Mobile apps instantly.

It might be true that Rim slowly expanding its footprints beyond blackberry devices, but at least what they got now is one of the smartest ideas for blackberry, interesting move and a clear way of fighting back at the growing number of other push providers by rolling out a “virtual BlackBerry” service to Windows Mobile 6.

Just like what Michael Parekh‘s thinking of, I am also wishing to have it, touch it and certainly try it. I just don’t know if this kind of mobile works with our local mobile providers. I wish to have a blackberry phone as my  next phone.

Features:

• Unlocked quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE cell phone with wireless LAN connectivity (802.11b/g)
• 5-megapixel digital camera with Carl Zeiss Optics, autofocus, digital zoom and Flickr support
• DVD-quality video capture (640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps); integrated photo and video editing
• GPS mapping and directions, Web browser, full PIM features
• Note: This phone does not come with service or a SIM card

Description:

Use the Nokia N95 for connecting to mobile Broadband using WLAN or HSDPA (3.5G) with up to 10 times faster downloading than 3G. Find directions and locations with the integrated GPS and included maps. The Nokia N95 is a GSM/WCDMA dual mode portable multimedia computer supporting EGSM 850/900/1800/1900 and WCDMA 2100 HSDPA. Use the Nokia N95 to take photos with a 5 megapixel autofocus camera and enjoy videos, music and graphics with crystal clarity on the 2.6” QVGA (240 x 320 pixels), 16M color display. Listen to music with enhanced “3D stereo” using the built-in dual speakers or for a big screen experience, connect the Nokia N95 to a compatible TV using direct TV out connectivity or via Wireless LAN and UPnP technology.

Additional Nokia N95 features include USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR with A2DP stereo audio, and MicroSD memory card support.