ApnaCircle app launched for iPhone

ApnaCircle will also launch its application for Android and Blackberry as well that will widen the platform for professional opportunities of users.

ApnaCircle.com, a business and career networking site, has launched an iPhone application that gives users an easy access to its updates, status, profiles, discussions, connections, inbox, and invitations.

"ApnaCircle application for iPhone is a step taken to give the smart phone consumers an added tool to network for business and career. As mobiles are the closest and fast growing means of communication, our mobile application gives the power of sharing, connecting and networking in the user's hand," said Yogesh Bansal, chief executive officer and founder, ApnaCircle.com. 

Google Wallet is first off the mark — Now What?

At this time, it is just a pilot run in which two cities and some retailers are participating, but if it succeeds, the potential is huge.

Like every other new idea, Google Wallet also has attracted its fair share of detractors who don't think the service will succeed. This is obvious as in case of any new service as most people don't know how it works, and how it may go on to succeed.

Many companies were thinking of using mobiles for making payments, but with Google Wallet, Google turned out to be the first company to make a major move on it. 

Naaptol application now on Android

The app enable users to browse more than two lakh products from more than 500 categories and garner detailed information, reviews, specifications of the products and experts' reviews.

Naaptol, a virtual home shopping brand, has come up with an application for Android-based devices, the users of which can use it for quick and convenient shopping.

The application will enable users to browse more than two lakh products from more than 500 categories and garner detailed information (image review, MRP), reviews, specifications of the products and experts' reviews. This procedure helps the user to do a comparative analysis of the available products and can avail the products at the best price point.

iBUZZ introduces new handset, the i4242 Video BUZZ

The i4242 is equipped with a 1500mAh battery, sound speaker with 20*30mm audio amplifier, opera mini browser, stereo Bluetooth, privacy protection, 1.3 MP camera, and auto call recording feature. It supports MP3/MP4 and 3GP at 30 frames per second.

iBUZZ Mobiles has announced a new mobile phone, i4242 Video BUZZ, which will be available in India from June this year for Rs 2,999.

The i4242 is equipped with a 1500mAh battery, sound speaker with 20*30mm audio amplifier, opera mini browser, stereo Bluetooth, privacy protection, 1.3 MP camera, and auto call recording feature. It supports MP3/MP4 and 3GP at 30 frames per second. 

Samsung Galaxy SII touches 1 million mark in one month

Samsung Galaxy S II sales are attributed to good hardware, though even small improvements like being able to access missed calls and SMSs without unlocking the screen add to user experience.

In record breaking sales figures Samsung Galaxy SII reached the magical one million mark within only a month of its launch. Its previous version, the Samsung Galaxy S had reached the same figure in 70 days. 

The Android handset, which runs on a dual core system on a chip (SOC), hit Korean stores in April and received a rousing welcome perhaps for its good hardware.

Huawei eyes Windows Phone 7 smartphones

Huawei would be the eighth original equipment manufacturer to join the WP7 league, besides HTC, LG, Nokia, Samsung, Acer, Fujitsu and ZTE.

In yet another boost for Windows Phone 7, Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has expressed its interest in the operating system.

"We are in discussions with Microsoft and will probably bring a Windows Phone to market next year," chief strategy and marketing officer of Huawei, Victor Xu was quoted as saying by a UK website.

MAXX bring three mobiles with big battery life

The phones launched are MAXX Hexa (MX155), MAXX Rave (MX182) and MAXX Buzz (MX188). The dual SIM phones are targeted at rural folks and people who need longer battery life.

MAXX Mobiles, an Indian handset maker, has launched three new mobile phones that deliver extended battery life at affordable prices: MAXX Hexa (MX155), MAXX Rave (MX182) and MAXX Buzz (MX188).

Stressing on the need for prolonged battery life, Ajjay Agarwal, chairman and managing director, MAXX Group, stated, "In a vast country like India, people spend many hours using their mobile phones but seldom find time to charge it. Anticipating the need for longer battery life, we created three such handsets. Now, even in places where consumers face discontinued electrical supply, they can enjoy the benefits of extended talk-time and standby time."

Wynncom launches two feature rich handsets

Both the devices come with widget menus, optical track pad for smooth navigation and hordes of other high end features.

Wynncom has come out with a range of phones under the Wynncom OGO label, which it said "deliver all that the smart phones do and more". 

The phones, named as O 77 Konnect and O 78 Touch, are EDGE enabled dual SIM phones. 

These new Wynncom OGO phones are powered with Synchronica UK's Mobile Gateway messaging services. This enables the handsets to support features like realtime Push Email, Instant Messaging, Social Networking Services with support of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts; and access to thousands of Indian and International news, sporting and entertainment web feeds. 

ASUS launches PadPhone at Computex 2011

Android based smartphone gets hooked to the back of an Android tablet.

ASUS has launched what it calls a PadPhone at the ongoing COMPUTEX 2011 convention in Taipei, Taiwan. The device involves a pair wherein an Android smartphone docks at the back of an Android tablet.

The ASUS smartphone has a 4 inch display and is expected to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Samsung promises 4G Android tablet later this year

Current generation Galaxy tablets 8.9-inch and 10.1-inch continue to remain absent from retail chains.

Following the success of its Galaxy S and Galaxy S II smartphones, Samsung is now eying an Android tablet supporting fourth generation network technology.

Samsung's mobile division president JK Shin has hinted that the tablet will be released later this year. 

"The race for 4G (fourth-generation) has already started," Shin said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

Popular video game emulators disappear from Android Market

Following complaints from game manufacturers, Google acts against console emulators on Android Market.

Popular video game emulators like the Nesoid, Snesoid, Gensoid, Ataroid and many others have reportedly been removed from Android Market by Google.

Google had in the past also removed a few emulators from the marketplace following a complaint by game and device manufacturer Sega.

Easy to check in and easier to rate: Google Places

Google's latest Google Map update for the Android devices adds easy check in facility for the users along with a one touch access to rate the place as well.

Google has announced yet another update for its Maps service which enables easier check in and rating of places. Google Places is a service in which users can access Google Maps to find out information about a particular place or places near them. 

The new Google Maps 5.5 allow users to get one touch access to check in and rating the place in Google places with up to 5 star rating.

The location history database, which was added to the Google latitude check in sometime back, has also been improved. Also included in the history dashboard are buttons that allows users to quickly change their office and home location with just a single touch. 

No 3G video calling on iPhone 4

Users in India can make video calls using WiFi, but not over 3G as the application that enables the service has been locked by Apple.

The Apple iPhone 4, which is being regarded as the most unique device, is not capable of making video calls over a 3G mobile network despite being a 4th generation smartphone.

Users in India can make video calls using WiFi networks, but not over 3G as the application which enables the service is locked by Apple.

The Apple spokesperson in India said, "FaceTime, the application that allows video calling on the Apple iPhone 4, is a closed user application that allows people having iPhone or compatible Apple hardware like the iPad 2 and forth generation iPod touch running FaceTime application to have video calling."

Nokia to frequently refresh Windows Phone portfolio

Unlike other companies which treat Windows Phone 7 as the secondary operating system, Nokia is betting big on it. That's why it needs to keep its product portfolio fresh to keep the enthusiasm alive in the market.

Nokia, which may come out with its first Windows Phone probably in September or October this year, is likely to launch newer models on the same platform every few months after that.

"We should be launching new devices in a rhythm that might be every couple of months, every three months, something like that," said Jo Harlow, Nokia's executive vice president of smart devices, to PCMag.

Windows Phone 7 may have more quality apps

Microsoft is aiming for quality over quantity for its marketplace, so that its apps may command higher price from the consumers.

Notwithstanding the popularity of Android, primarily due to its free applications, Microsoft wants its developers to sell quality apps at higher price points for its Windows Phone 7, Bloomberg has reported.

It's not that Microsoft wants the developers to charge more for the same apps, it actually wants them to create better and more feature rich apps, and then charge more. 

CHSE results on SMS

CHSE has declared the results for class 12 (Plus Two) for Arts, Science, Commerce and vocational courses for which the examinations were conducted earlier this year during March - April.

This year millions of school students in Orissa, who appeared for Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) examination, can access their results on their mobile phones. Anxious students and their parents, who line up for hours outside schools and cyber cafes, don't need to step out anywhere this time as their results are just an SMS away.

CHSE has declared the results for class 12 (Plus Two) for Arts, Science, Commerce and vocational courses for which the examinations were conducted earlier this year during March - April.

MTNL launches push email services in Delhi, Mumbai

It can run on any Java enabled, GPRS-enabled handsets including platforms like Blackberry, Symbian, Android, and Windows Mobile.

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), which provides GSM telecom services in Delhi and Mumbai, has announced Push- email services for all its mobile subscribers in the two metro cities. The service was launched first in Mumbai on May 27.

With the service, users can automatically get new emails on their mobile phone. Much more preferred than the "pull email" option, "push email" are generally device dependent and are provided by the device manufacturer. MTNL has tied- up with Bharat Berry Technologies to provide the services.

HTC Wildfire S launched in India

The Android based smartphone is said to be the smallest in HTC's kitty with a 3.2 inch touchscreen, 5 MP camera and its unique HTC Sense user interface.

HTC Wildfire S smartphone has been launched in India for Rs 14,700. 

It is the smallest phone among the HTC smartphones, measuring just 10.13 cm long and 5.94 cm wide. The phone has an average 3.2 inch touchscreen that produces pictures at 320 x 480 resolution. It is available in two colours, dark grey and silver white.

The Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread based phone is powered by a 600 Mhz processor and a RAM of 512 MB.

How costly is iPhone 4 overseas?

Apple's iPhone 4, which was released by Airtel and Aircel in India 11 months after its international launch, is more expensive here than anywhere else on earth.

There was a time when handset giants used to launch their products in international markets first and then bring the products to India after one or two years, but now things are changing, with companies increasingly launching their handsets in India simultaneously or within a couple of months of the product's international launch.

Users in India would have loved to see the iPhone 4 launched in India at the same time as abroad, but better late than never: Apple iPhone 4 was released here courtesy Airtel and Aircel on May 27, almost a year after it was launched in international markets.

Check CBSE class X results on mobile

Students who have appeared for their class X examination can get information about their result through IVR (interactive voice response) and SMS.

Every year during the month of May and June when the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) declares the results of class 10 and 12 examinations, parents and students spend anxious moments checking different websites for results.

These results are declared in phases according to the various regions of CBSE, i.e. Delhi, Guwahati, Allahabad, Chennai, Ajmer and Panchkula. Class XII results were released recently and those of class X are expected any time now.

Hardware buttons missing from next Google phone

The next Google phone is being tested on both CDMA and HSPA+, and it appears to have the front facing camera on the top left.

Google's upcoming Nexus 3 smartphone will have no physical buttons on it and will just have a touchscreen in the front, a technology website has revealed.

The phone will use Android Honeycomb operating system, which is meant for tablet PCs. Honeycomb will enable the phone to work smoothly even without physical buttons.

This plan seems very much in line with Google's vision to combine the tablet and smartphone operating systems in a single device. Users won't need hardware buttons simply because all they need will be available on the screen itself.

Forget Angry Birds; try 'The Heist'

The game challenges its players with a variety of puzzles, at the end of which users can open a vault to get the prize.

The Heist, a puzzle game, has now beaten Angry Birds as the top paid and top grossing mobile game in the UK and the USA.

The mobile game, which was developed by MacHeist and tap tap tap, has now broken Angry Birds' record of 275 days in the top spot. According to a report, 25,233 copies of the game sold on Wednesday itself in about half a day.

Micromax launches the Bling-2

It comes in a white leather carry case enclosed with a compact mirror and special pouch where ladies can keep their lip gloss, making it easier for them to retouch their make-up anytime, anywhere!

In a move to win the hearts of fashion-savvy women mobile users, Indian handset maker Micromax has launched Bling 2, a successor to Bling Q55.

With its glossy finish frame made with Swarovski Zirconia, Bling 2 has an Android 2.2 Froyo operating system and numerous pre installed apps. 

To add to its design and features, it comes in a white leather carry case enclosed with a compact mirror and special pouch where ladies can keep their lip gloss, making it easier for them to retouch their make-up anytime, anywhere!

Vodafone offers national roaming to WB prepaid users

This national roaming facility, which was available only for postpaid customers, will now be available to all Vodafone prepaid customers of the state.

Vodafone Essar today started the prepaid roaming facility for its customers of West Bengal travelling to Assam and North East. This national roaming facility, which was available only for postpaid customers, will now be available to all Vodafone prepaid customers of the state. 

The service will be pre-activated and will not require any additional charges for activation. 

Acer BeTouch E210 touch and type Phone

After BlackBerry Acer unveils it's Touch and Type smartphone for the Indian market based on Android.

After Nokia and BlackBerry, Acer has announced a new touch and type interface based Android smartphone for India, named as BeTouch E210.

The new Acer BeTouch E210 is a 3G capable phone based on Android 2.2 Froyo and has a full Qwerty keypad along with a 2.6 inch big capacitive touch screen that supports multi touch gestures like pinch to zoom and more. 

Happy to have iPhone 4: Paoli Dam

Paoli Dam, Bengali actress who was recently in the news for flaunting a skimpy bikini and hot, revealing costumes, was quite excited about getting the latest Apple device — the iPhone 4 — on Friday from Airtel.

Paoli Dam, a Bengali actress who was recently in the news for flaunting herself in a skimpy bikini and hot, revealing costumes, was quite excited about getting the latest Apple device — the iPhone 4 — on Friday. The device was presented to her during the launch of the product in West Bengal by P D Sharma, chief executive officer of mobile services in Kolkata, West Bengal and Odisha at Bharti Airtel.

Windows 8 tablet version demo possible next week

Microsoft has made statements in the past which suggest it is working on ARM SOC (system-on-a-chip) compatible Windows 8, but it has not commented over reports of possible demo next week.

Microsoft may demonstrate its Windows 8 tablet user interface in June, according to a report. 

The details of the new UI are expected to be announced by the company in near future.

The tablet UI is likely to use ideas from the now famous Metro user interface of Windows Phone 7. The touchscreen interface will likely to be shown on hardware with NVIDIA Tegra chip based on ARM's technology. Microsoft had earlier also made it clear the Windows 8 would support all the architectures — Intel, AMD and ARM. 

Indians mostly look for Nokia phones online: Survey

35 per cent of users searched for Nokia followed by 30 per cent for Samsung and 29 per cent for BlackBerry. Micromax came in a close 4th at 22 per cent.

Nokia is the most sought after mobile phone in India, according to the findings of a research conducted by ViziSense on the 'interest in mobile phones online'.

The study, which cited data for the January-April 2011 period of all the users who searched for mobile handsets on ecommerce sites, said that 35 per cent of users searched for Nokia followed by 30 per cent for Samsung and 29 per cent for BlackBerry. Micromax came in a close 4th at 22 per cent.

Xperia Arc, Play get Android update

Sony Ericsson rolls out first update for Xperia play and Xperia arc fixes bugs, adds Facebook Inside and updates the core system to Android version 2.3.3.

Sony Ericsson has officially announced the launch of its first update for the users of Xperia Play and Xperia Arc smartphones, which will now be upgraded to Android Gingerbread version 2.3.3.

Besides, they will also get the recently launched feature 'Facebook inside Xperia' that was introduced during the launch of the new range of Xperia Mini's. The feature allows users to share, like and connect on Facebook in a faster and easier way that is not possible through an application or through website. 

Samsung music hub may come to India soon

It allows the users to browse, listen, and purchase selected songs from a catalogue of over 10 million Mp3 songs.

Samsung Music Hub, a dedicated music service for Samsung smartphones and tablets, might just come to India sooner than later. It allows the users to browse, listen, and purchase selected songs from a catalogue of over 10 million Mp3 songs. 

Ranjit Yadav, country head, mobile and IT business, Samsung India, said this during the launch ceremony of the Samsung Galaxy SII in India recently. He also added that the Music Hub will soon start featuring on smartphones starting with the Samsung Galaxy SII. 

Nokia to support Symbian till 2016

The users who are more concerned about third party apps will face some difficulties since app developers would be more interested in developing apps for those platforms which have longer term potential.

Finnish handset maker, Nokia will support Symbian based devices till 2016, two years more than its previous deadline.

Chief executive officer of Nokia, Stephen Elop said in an official blog, "Even as we go through a transition towards our primary smartphone platform, Windows Phone, you will see that continued investment, software updates to Symbian devices are expected until at least 2016." 

iPhone 4G or Samsung Galaxy S

With two of the most anticipated handsets launching soon, here are a few points you could consider before buying them.

With the Apple iPhone 4 hitting stores in India, followed by Samsung's announcement to launch its coveted Galaxy S2 smartphone in the country, mobile enthusiasts here will soon have a tricky but pleasant choice to make: Whether to buy the most advanced iPhone or to go for a Samsung Galaxy S2 instead.

Galaxy S2 has seen record sales in some countries; while Apple's iPhone has proven its worth in others. We understand that considering the price of these handsets, it will be tough to decide which one to buy, and an informed recommendation will go a long way.

Airtel, Aircel to launch iPhone 4 today

Airtel and Aircel are in a race it seems, both announced that they will launch iPhone 4 almost simultaneously, both have the same launch date, and now they have announced a very similar plan.

Airtel and Aircel will launch the famed Apple iPhone 4 today in India, which has been priced at Rs 34,500 and Rs 40,900 for the 16GB and 32GB versions respectively. 

Aircel, which made the announcement of the launch a little earlier than Airtel, will be offering 100 per cent value back to its iPhone users though two plans. Aircel postpaid customers can avail up to 100 per cent of the value of the iPhone 4 as talktime and data spread over a time period of 24 months. 

Idea announces new prepaid plans for J&K

Idea has also introduced a plethora of new value added services for its prepaid subscribers in the state.

Idea Cellular has announced a range of new prepaid plans and value added services for the Jammu and Kashmir region. 

Launching the new initiative, Anish Roy, chief operating officer (Punjab, J&K and Himachal Pradesh), Idea Cellular, said, "We are pleased to bring these prepaid offers, they are not only good value for money options but also provide many VAS benefits to our subscribers. Apart from offering affordable call rates, they also have options of free SMS' and GPRS; thus helping us break through a large segment of users in the region". 

New guidelines for MNP

TRAI, the telecom regulator, makes it easier for consumer to avail mobile number portability, now operators can't reject porting request for an outstanding amount of less than Rs 10, they can also not reject the request sighting contractual obligation in case of a premium number.

TRAI, Telecom regulatory authority of India, has come out with a new set of guidelines to make it easier for consumer to port. A key directive is that operators should not reject mobile number portability (MNP) request if the amount due from the customer is Rs10 or less (rounded off to the nearest rupee). The amount can be adjusted in the customer's next bill.

So far, companies have reportedly been rejecting porting requests over outstanding dues of as little as 13 paise. Another reason for porting requests being denied is 'contractual obligation', particularly in the case of premium or vanity numbers. Now, TRAI has ruled that ''since numbering is allocated free of charge by the licensor, service providers are not justified in putting any condition for retaining premium numbers under the garb of contractual obligation.''

The next big thing in feature phones: Cloud

Users will benefit from the low cost of phones because they won't need to store apps on their phone and will be able to access apps from a cloud server.

We keep hearing about new smartphones, but it appears Samsung and Motorola are going to surprise us with a new concept — cloud based mobile phones.

These are cheaper phones that will run on software stored in a remote server, or cloud. Usually, the data accessed by smartphones resides on the phone itself, thus raising the cost of the device. Cloud phones, on the other hand, will have no need to carry data with them. Rather, users can just pluck data from the cloud and use it as per their convenience.

Google to launch Street View in India, starting from Bengaluru

Street View maps offer not just directions but also complete pictures of streets.

Google has announced that it will begin collecting images in Bengaluru for its Street View feature in Google Maps. This is the first time that the internet giant will provide the service for any Indian city.

Google cars and Trikes will today begin driving and taking street level photographs of public locations around the city. The images will be made available at a later date in Street View on Google Maps.

42% users in India access Facebook on mobile: Survey

In India, Facebook is used by 42 per cent of mobile users but only accounts for 27 per cent of all page views in the country.

Social networking is the most preferred activity of a majority of mobile users around the world who surf internet on their handsets, a survey has revealed. And, Facebook has come as a clear leader among all the social networking sites.

In India, Facebook is used by 42 per cent of mobile users but only accounts for 27 per cent of all page views in the country. Facebook is also the second most popular site visited by Opera Mini users from India according to the 'State of the Mobile Web' report conducted by Opera Software. 

Vodafone rolls out 3G services in Kolkata

With internet speeds upto 21.1 Mbps, Vodafone 3G users can enjoy a host of services like video calling, fast internet, and mobile TV.

Vodafone Essar Ltd has rolled out its 3G services in Kolkata. 

With internet speeds upto 21.1 Mbps, Vodafone 3G users can enjoy a host of services like video calling, fast internet, and mobile TV.

Speaking on the occasion, Sridhar Rao, chief executive officer, Vodafone Essar East limited, said, "There are numerous avenues for the consumer to have faster access to entertainment, better fulfillment of their information needs and a smarter way to communicate, while on the go. We expect a strong uptake and high demand for these 3G Services and we welcome all our subscribers to faster, smarter, better world of Vodafone 3G."

Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone debuts in India

The Galaxy S2 is based on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and has a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) Plus display, which is better than the conventional AMOLED displays in terms of contrast ratio and colour reproduction.

Samsung Mobiles India today unveiled its latest creation, the Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone, which is the upgrade of Samsung Galaxy S announced last year. The phone will be hitting the markets next month and is priced at Rs 32,890 for the 16 GB version.

Although there are both 16GB and 32GB versions available internationally, but for reasons untold, the Galaxy S 2 will only be available in 16GB capacity in India. There is no official word from Samsung on the future availability of the 32 GB version.

Top five 3G service providers in India

Although the race is far from over, current subscriber numbers indicate close competition among 3G service providers. Current standings are: BSNL, Airtel, Reliance, Docomo and Idea, in that order.

It has been just six months since 3G services were launched by private players in the country and the installation process is not even complete with many major towns yet to be covered by 3G networks. Yet, subscriber numbers already show decent uptake with more than 13 million people already using third generation telephony services. 

Public sector units like BSNL and MTNL, which got 3G spectrum licenses a year ahead of private players and have been offering services for as long, failed to get many takers, which raised doubts as to whether 3G would be accepted by the masses. 

iPhone app for GMAT preparations launched

Official application for GMAT preparation has been launched, it features a Game Center that lets you study while "competing" against other app users.

Now GMAT test takers can prepare for the exam using actual questions from past exams directly from their iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. The "Official GMAT" app, which costs USD 4.99(Rs 225), was launched today by Graduate Management Admission Council, makers of the GMAT exam. 

The application features a Game Center, which allows you to scoreboard your practice-exam results and instantly compare them with other "Official GMAT" app users. It also has hundreds of official test questions and full answer explanations from the makers of the GMAT exam. 

Mango update for Windows Phone demoed

The update shows Windows Phone multitasking beautifully, easily switching from one app to another. The browser, Internet Explorer 9, is also zippier compared to other phones' native browsers.

The much talked about Mango update for Windows Phone has finally been announced officially by Andy Lees, president of Microsoft's Mobile Communications business. 

He said the main idea behind the Mango update is to make Windows Phone operating system smarter and easier to operate.

Nokia's Oro smartphone to hit market in July

Keeping Symbian alive, Nokia has announced the launch of its latest smartphone encrusted with 17 carat gold and the latest Symbian Anna preloaded.

Finnish handset maker Nokia has launched its latest Symbian based smartphone named Oro, which is a Spanish word meaning Gold. 

Built on Symbians' latest Anna operating system, Nokia Oro had revealed just about a couple of months back. The phone has been named Oro because it is 18 carat gold plated while the center key is made up of a sapphire crystal. The back panel is made up of pure Scottish leather and is available in two, light and dark colour variants. 

Attractive pricing for Amazon tablets

With the cloud music player and Amazon AppStore already in place, it is only a matter of time before tablets too join the mix. If reported prices are correct, the iPad has some serious competition.

Amazon, the online retail giant, plans to launch a range of tablet PCs for about half the current price of Apple's iPad, which is ruling the roost in the segment. 

According to PC Mag report, the 7 inch Amazon tablet (code named Coyote) will be priced at $350 (about Rs 16,000); whereas the 10 inch tablet (called Hollywood) will cost $450 (about Rs 20,000). The models with higher storage are expected to be more expensive. 

Now an ad supported Kindle 3G

Amazon makes it a point to make a statement that the Wi-Fi version of Kindle with Special Offers has done exceedingly well and that the user were actually asking for the 3G version as well, which the company has released now.

Amazon, the online retail giant, has now come up with a 3G capable Kindle e-book reader for a special price of $164 (about Rs 7,500). Just like the earlier WiFi model, the 3G ad supported Kindle is also $25 cheaper than the one which comes without ads. 

"Kindle is the bestselling e-reader in the world. It's been just six weeks since we introduced the new $114 Kindle with special offers, and already customers have made it the bestselling member of the Kindle family," said Jay Marine, director, Amazon Kindle. 

Bing Vision: Visual search for Windows Phone

It looks like the human eye and just needs a tap by the users to start scanning the visual code with the help of phone's camera. Bing Vision seems to be inspired by Google Goggles, though it is visually more pleasing.

Mango update of Windows Phones, which was launched recently, has brought several interesting features with it including the Bing Vision, which allows you to search for things using the device's camera. 

It looks like the human eye; users just need to tap it to scan something with the help of the phone's camera. The feature is basically inspired by Google Goggles, though the user Interface looks better than it. Users can still see the search categories even as the camera keeps running, on a semi-transparent layer. 

Google set to introduce mobile wallet in Android devices

Apart from Android phones, iPhones are also likely to have mobile payment technology embedded in them. Analysts believe that near field communication based mobile payment systems are likely to be the next big thing in commerce.

Google is set to reveal its digital wallet feature in New York on May 26. The digital wallet will allow users to pay for items through their Android phones. According to a Reuters report, the service will initially be available on phones from Sprint Nextel Corp.

The mobile payment system from Google will be powered by Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and will help users reduce dependence on credit cards for shopping. The technology enables mobile phones to transmit data to other devices from a distance of about four inches. 

Letsbuy.com launches Acer Iconia Tab W500

The Tab W500 runs on Windows 7 operating system and has a 10.1 inch HD 1280x800 wide-screen multi-touch display.

LetsBuy.com, an online retailer of digital lifestyle and IT products, has announced the availability of Acer Iconia Tab W500. The device is being offered along with a Keyboard Docking Station and is priced at Rs 31,999.

If you don't have a credit card or don't want to pay through it, you have Cash on Delivery option as well.

The Tab W500 runs on Windows 7 operating system and has a 10.1 inch HD 1280x800 wide-screen multi-touch display.

Idea extends 3G services in Himachal

Idea's 3G services now extend to Dharamshala, Mandi, Sunder Nagar and Mcleodganj in HP.

Idea Cellular has expanded its 3G services to four more towns of Himachal Pradesh namely Dharamshala, Mcleodganj, Mandi and Sunder Nagar. 

The teleco launched 3G services on its network in Himachal Pradesh, starting with the two major towns, Shimla and Baddi, in March this year.