There’s a lot going on at SMS Text News — we’ve lots of positive changes coming in the next weeks and months. The all-new Who’s Who arrives shortly, as does the uber-useful mobile industry directory, plus the opinions section will soon be ready to rock.

We’re now read regularly by a sizable and — as you yourself can attest, since you’re reading right now — a very influential collection of mobile industry executives, analysts, investors, entrepreneurs, marketers, bloggers and geeks.

If you’re interested in participating as a site sponsor, if you’d like the media pack or if you’ve got some ideas on how we could do business, please drop me a mail to ewan@smstextnews.com.

So tomorrow morning I’m off to gorgeous hotel, One Aldwych, just down the road here in London, to a Mobile Internet Seminar. It’s being put on by 3UK and features presentations from 3, Yahoo, Skype, Jaiku and London School of Economics.

The event starts at 8.30am (”breakfast”), presentations start at 9.00am, followed by a short question and answer session. Very cool. I’ll let you know how it goes.

According to the latest research just released by telecoms analysis company The Mobile World, there are now nearly 3.0 billion mobile users worldwide. The company says that figure is set to rise to over 3.25bn by the end of 2007, giving a global penetration rate of over 50%.

At the end of March 2007, there were 2.84 billion mobile phone connections worldwide, an increase of more than 135 million on the December 2006 number. This is the third strongest quarter in the industry’s history and by far the best ever first quarter.

Some other key points from the report, based on research covering January-March 2007: 

• 2.84 billion mobile users worldwide as at 31st March 2007.
• Global additions of 135 million in the quarter, 25% up on Q1 06. This is equivalent to more than 1,000 new customers every minute.
• The quarter saw the third largest increase in the industry’s history (after Q4 05 and Q4 06, +142m and +163m respectively).
• Mobile penetration in Europe now exceeds 100%, with 666 million connections.
• Over 250 million new handsets were sold in the quarter, another Q1 record

Link: www.equitybulls.com - Your One Stop Shop for Financial Services !!!

Jet Airways India Ltd has announced that the Company has launched yet another pioneering passenger-friendly service “SMS Check-in” for its Jet Privilege members, following the successful launch of its mobile-ticketing solution. Designed to operate on an SMS platform, this user-friendly self-service check-in solution will make travel more comfortable and convenient to its discerning passengers, making it the first airline in the country to launch SMS Check-in.

Very neat. I still like the idea of being able to talk to the check-in person to find out just how busy the flight is going to be…!

Link: T-Mobile Hotspot @Home Service Available Nationwide (MobileBurn)

Following a trial in Seattle last October, T-Mobile have today rolled out their Hotspot @ Home service across the US.

The service, which relies on a handful of branded Wi-Fi compatible phones from Nokia and Samsung, allows customers to seamlessly roam between their home wireless network and the T-Mobile GSM network - and also gives unlimited free nationwide phone calls when in range of a compatible hotspot.

The handsets currently retail for $49.99 on a two year contract, and come bundled with a modified Linksys or D-Link wireless router. There’s a monthly charge of $19.99 for users on a standard plan, or $29.99 for family plans.

What’s not quite clear is whether T-Mobile are planning to launch a similar service here in the UK. Considering their current stand-off with mobile VOIP providers Truphone, it could be interesting times ahead.

There’s some interesting news appearing this morning about the new long-rumoured ‘Google phone’. According to various sources, the much talked about handset is an LG KU-580, and will begin shipping shortly.

Only available on Vodafone in Italy and France at the moment, the handset is especially designed for Google functionality, and includes Google Search, Maps, and Gmail pre-installed.

More on this breaking story at Wired Blogs, Reg Hardware and Gizmondo.

Link: Ingenio Data Attempts to Crack the Code on Mobile Usage

Research released today by pay-per-call provider Ingenio and market research firm Harris Interactive shows that around a quarter of US mobile users would accept mobile advertising.

26% of respondents favoured search-related text link ads, 21% said they wouldn’t mind listening to an audio ad that played instead of the normal ring tone whilst waiting for a call to answer, and 20% said text message ads would be acceptable.

Ad acceptance amongst younger generations was higher than their older counterparts, with 28% of mobile users aged 18-34 happy to receive text message advertising, versus only 14% for ages 45 upwards.

Link: M:Metrics News

According to recent research released by research company M:Metrics, Google is the number one site visited by UK and US mobile users, taking 30.94% and 62.48% respectively.

In the UK, mobile operator Orange come in at number two with 21.68%, and in the US search engine giant Yahoo! grab second place with 33.54% of visits.

Other companies hitting the UK top ten include the BBC (20.90%), Vodafone (16.79%) and eBay (13.08%). In the US, Microsoft grab 33.36%, AT&T 21.22% and Walt Disney gain 17% of visits from M:Metrics’ “panel of metered smartphone device owners”.

Nate emailed suggesting I check out Crunchgear’s collection of review links here. Thanks Nate!

Before the reviews are posted, before the big chaps weigh in, here’s what I think.

1. It will be generally well received
2. There will be a few ‘limiting’ factors. For example, the keyboard looks to be an issue for anyone with fingers and a standard amount of moisture on them. Who knows.
3. Texting will probably be a load of shit with that keyboard. We’ll see.
4. The email will be useless for anyone who gets more than 5 emails a day … unless of course, they keyboard is any good.
5. The music integration will be brilliant.
6. Someone will realise that at 2G/2.5G speeds, it ain’t that brilliant for the UK. Although if you live in and around a wifi area, could be good, could be good.
7. Just what is going on about the battery? Will it screw things up for Apple? My iPod battery is fine. But I don’t use it religiously like I do my handsets. They’re being recharged like no tomorrow.
8. I will want one I’m sure.

Got any to add?

Link: European Regulators Pick Nokia’s DVB-H Mobile TV Standard — Mobile TV — InformationWeek

According to reports, the European Union has decided to go with the DVB-H standard for mobile TV. This is a bit of a blow for companies backing streaming TV via 3G data - DVB-H is an adaptation of the existing DVB-T terrestrial digital TV standard, which relies on the existing broadcast TV network.

“I know that competition among different standards can, for some time, be a good way to let the market identify the best solution,” EC telecommunications regulator Viviane Reding told an industry conference. “But we have been waiting too long. The opportunities are slipping away. It is time to break the deadlock.”

She added that she favors the DVB-H standard because it’s based on and partially financed by European interests.

The European Commission is due to publish the DVB-H standard in mid-July. Whereas existing services like ROK TV and operator services from Vodafone and Orange rely on TV streaming via IP over 3G, the DVB-H standard is a ‘broadcast’ multicast service - with O2, Nokia and transmission company Arquiva trialing a service in Oxford back in 2005.

I’ve been trying to sync my Nokia for the last 3 hours between doing other stuff.

Fookin Fookin Fookin

No matter what I do, I get my contacts duplicated three times.

Goodness know’s what’s going on. I think I’ll sync from the laptop.

This is me at the moment.

If you’re a fan of Gordon Ramsay’s F-Word, you’ll know why I’m putting DONE after all my sentences in this post. DONE!

A friend of mine met the big man today. DONE!

Although I only heard about this after the event. DONE!

If I’d found out beforehand, I’d have asked her to berate him for using a standard Christmas Cracker handset. DONE!

He cooks a mean steak, Mr Ramsay.

DONE!

PS Gordon doesn’t like Nutella.

In the first major software update since the recent acquisition by Motorola of mobile email company Good, they’ve announced the forthcoming release of version 5 of Good Mobile Messaging.

The new version, due for roll-out in September, includes thread/sender filtering and sorting, mobile RSS reader, personalized notifications, an updated calendar application and the ability to attach files to email.

“The holy grail of mobile email lies somewhere between complete IT control and unencumbered usability; products that try to close that gap often compromise the mobile experience,” said Rick Osterloh, Senior Director Product Management and Marketing, Motorola Good Technology Group. “With Good 5, we’ve successfully bridged the divide by giving end users the usability and personalization they want, while arming IT with even more manageability and security.”

There’s also some security add-ons and upgrades aimed at the corporate IT administrator, including features previously only available through Good’s Mobile Defense product.

Link: Netgear promises 3G femtocells by end of year | The Register

According to The Register, Netgear has promised the launch of a 3G femtocell home gateway product by the end of the year.

The femtocell also connects to the home network, enabling content on the phone to be streamed to devices around the home, such as TVs and stereo systems, as well as giving the user access to all the normal 3G services at up to 7.2Mb/sec (assuming their handset supports HSDPA).

Wide scale deployment of femtocells has the potential to make Wi-Fi networks redundant: why use a power-hungry, short-range, technology when the addition of a femtocell provides all the same functionality without the drawbacks?

The only downside is licensing: the radio spectrum required to offer this sort of product is owned by the mobile network operators - so unless there’s a change in the way the frequency space is dished out, the products will have to be sold - and possibly managed - by existing licensed 3G operators.

Had a quick note from Max, the organiser of networking event FILMOBILE, which takes place this Friday in London. Here’s the scoop.

- - -

FILMOBILE is a project which aims to create a dialogue between the industry, filmmakers and artists working with mobile devices through a variety of on and off line events.

In order to kick-start its activities, FILMOBILE is organising a networking event in the Centre for Excellence at the University of Westminster on the 29th June. The program includes presentations by leading industry practioners, artist,
photographers and filmmakers. The talk is followed by an open discussion and wine reception.

Alfie Dennen - mobloguk
Daniel Florêncio - filmmaker
Davide Scalenghe - Current TV
Dennis Morrison - Zzizzl films
Romain Forquy - photographer
Max Schleser - FILMOBILE

- - -

It’s being held at the University of Westminster Centre for Excellence this Friday, between 5pm and 7pm. To get there, just jump a Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee or Metropolitan line tube to Baker Street - you’ll find the venue directly opposite at 35 Marylebone Road. Or tap in NW1 5LS if you’ve got satnav - but be warned parking is only available for those with special needs.

If you’re interested in going, drop a note and RSVP to info@filmobile.net - don’t forget to mention SMS Text News.

Link: iTariff for iPhone to iCost an iFortune

AT&T have today unveiled tariff details for the iPhone. According to reports, as well as the $499-$599 you’ll be splashing on the handset, it’ll also cost you between $59.99 and $99.99 per month on a two year contract. Oh, and a $36 activation fee too.

$59.99 will give you 450 minutes of talk time and 200 texts, and $99.99 includes 1,350 minutes. Apparently the plans include unlimited data - although whether that’s ‘unlimited’ (subject to fair use policy and a monthly cap) or really unlimited is not known at the moment.

I actually got my hands on the HTC Touch at the weekend when I walked down to Tottenham Court Road to get myself a new Nokia.

Here it is in my hand:

I first spotted it because the guy in front of me was looking closely at buying it. I asked the chap if I could have a look at it. Geez it was small. Perfectly formed. I’ve never seen a Windows Mobile device like it.

Yes some of those Samsungs and Motorola Qs look smart, but the HTC Touch is something else.

I liked the look of it.

£300 though. But it IS gorgeous.

I only got a chance to look at the form factor though. I couldn’t switch it on. Not in the shop.

So I gave a muted glance to the ‘touch’ labelling and diagrams on the screen.

Then Lisa from HTC PR whacked me over the HTC Europe product site link. I don’t know why I hadn’t looked before.

If you’ve got a spare few minutes, checkout the HTC Touch page and browse through the flash animation. Wow. It’s iPhone-esque. Although actually, the interface looks a lot better than the rudimentary iPhone gestures I’ve seen Steve Jobs demoing. You can ‘flick’ the menu around. You can flick up and down. Very swish. Really cool.

And it’s Windows Mobile 6.0.

Now. Is that good news or bad news? Good news, I reckon.

It’s not often you come across a Windows Mobile device that you’d actually like to have in your pocket. And one that would fit gorgeously in the pocket without confusing women.

Link: BBC NEWS | Education | Mobile phones ‘offensive weapons’

Expect this to turn up in the Daily Mail tomorrow..

A teaching union is calling for mobile phones to be classed as potentially offensive weapons.  NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said the way pupils misused them to bully their teachers meant they should be banned from school premises.

Hmm ok. There was me thinking from the headline we were talking about throwing mobiles at the teacher, or attacking them with the power of a Razr flip. Anyway, the article goes on:

Ms Keates is raising the issue of mobiles with ministers at a task force meeting on Tuesday. She is particularly concerned about websites such as Ratemyteacher and Bebo which, she says, provide a vehicle for false allegations and abuse by pupils which can damage teachers’ self esteem and careers.

She said: “These sites are fed by pupils’ misuse of mobile phones. The time has come for mobiles in schools to be placed in the category of a potentially offensive weapon and action taken to prevent their use by pupils while on school premises. Regrettably, our evidence shows that some schools are still not taking these issues seriously.”

Right. Firstly, what’s stopping pupils using Ratemyteacher and Bebo from their PCs at home? In fact, they’re probably more likely to do that as the data charges on prepay are pretty crippling. 

And second - ‘offensive weapon’? What’s that about? I’m surprised they haven’t banned pencils yet, following my complaint sometime in the 80’s that the boy that used to sit next to me in Infants school used to constantly stab me in the leg with a blunt HB.

Of course if you’re a Daily Mail reader, this is yet another serious issue that needs a knee-jerk reaction. Standby for the feedback from ‘Angry from Tunbridge Wells’..

UK property website RightMove has launched it’s new mobile-enabled website, allowing home hunters and property professionals to search for property on the move.

Although the new mobile site is accessible to users on all networks, Vodafone subscribers have access to a ‘find me’ facility, which allows them to see all available property in the area and locate their nearest Rightmove agent. The service makes use of Location-based Services (LBS), although the press release quite excitingly claims “the user can ask the Vodafone mobile network to find their current location using satellite technology” - which I’m sure sounds more exciting than cell triangulation and the like. 

The new mobile RightMove site is available at http://mobile.rightmove.co.uk - just be careful of low flying satellites if you’re a Vodafone user.

If you fancy a chat, say hi. I’m loving this LivePerson. It’s brilliant to talk to readers directly!

Mobile operator 3 Hong Kong, sister company to 3 (or is it Three?) UK, have launched Windows Live Messenger using a turnkey solution from Miyowa.

The MoveMessenger solution provides a tiny (60k) Java J2ME instant messenger client, which is compatible with more than 300 handsets and complies with existing standards including Jabber and Wireless Village. It also includes a feature called EcoLife, which aims to save the handset battery during usage.

Amy Lung, Chief Operating Officer - Mobile of Hutchinson Telecom Hong Kong, said: “Miyowa has proven track record in delivering superb universal mobile instant messaging solution in Asia.  Leveraging the strong and reliable local support of Miyowa, we have achieved a fast and robust roll-out of Windows Live Messenger service for our i-mode customers.”

Picture 26
Originally uploaded by smstextnews.

600 USD will get you the Z8.

It does look pretty hot.

I will take a look when the handset gets anywhere near a phone shop here in London.

I’m tempted.

Tempted to just get out the credit……….

NOOOOOOOOOOO

DON’T DO IT!

Relax.

Breathe.

WOOOSAHHHHH.

Anyone put their hands on one of these yet?

Hot news in from an o2 subscriber and regular SMS Text News reader who has been royally screwed by Messrs O and 2.

Do you remember a few months back when o2 was being nailed in the press for having an absolutely abysmal data policy? Well, a chap contacted me to say he’d got super service from o2. He phoned up, threatening to quit to another network because of o2’s silly data charges… o2 responded by offering him 75mb/month for a tenner.

Only………..

Well they didn’t quite mean that.

Not when the bill arrived.

It’s come flying in for 75 meg x £3(ish). £225.

What a stupid thing to do, eh? I’m sure it’s a billing error. The reader is understandably absolutely SEETHING with annoyance.

Do you know what’s needed right here? A Three Concierge. Someone that I can phone up, with the reader’s permission to say, “Hi Linda, it’s Ewan, listen, this reade needs a bit of help… he’s being screwed by o2 — will you sort him out a decent deal?” and then pass on his contact details.

But then Three don’t even get it. They’re busy staring, nose pressed to the window, watching all these triple rated customers walking straight past them and spending money with other networks.

There should be a Three blog-rep on this post demanding to know who the reader is, so that he can be offered a phenomenal Three deal.

Come to that, there should be a T-Mobile rep. And… heh… an o2 rep. Geez, that chap would be a difficult job.

Anyway, the net result?

If you’re an o2 customer, you really, really, really need your head examined.

And what’s more, you’re a chump for even giving the network the time of day. Even Goliath Vodafone has dribbled out is half-decent, half-annoying mobile data plan.

I have been talking with Aleem Tayyab, one of the chaps who runs the rather famous Tayyab Indian Restaurant here in London’s Aldgate.

Aleem is a self-confessed gadget freak and regular SMS Text News. He and his brothers who run the restaurant always have the latest gizmos. He was on the LivePerson chat with me asking if I’d hear anything about the new Sony Ericsson P1 handset.

Latest I’ve heard is ’summer 2007′ from various people. Judging by the rain outside, I reckon that ’summer’ means sometime shortly Maybe August? Do you know any better?