The push towards mobile games

At a time when most of the handset makers are offering similar features to their users, the companies are looking at mobile gaming to differentiate themselves.

Even the hardcore gamers have started converting towards the mobile games — partly due to sheer need, after all the consoles cannot be carried everywhere, and second, the mobile gaming segment is being taken seriously by even the handset makers.

It's good to be a part of the market which is being pampered by the mobile companies, right?

Sony Ericsson has launched a dedicated gaming phone, called Xperia Play, which has dedicated slide out keys for gaming. Since users are also able to make calls on the same device, gaming turns out to be an added bonus.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

You can be a Radio broadcaster using your phone!

A technology, which allows mobile phone to create an infrastructure less mesh of network, can be used to create community radio services, where everyone can broadcast a program.

Your mobile has been your phone, calculator, alarm, mini computer and so many other things. However, do you know it can also be your own radio station? 

According to report published in Daily Bhaskar, Prof Kavitha Ranganathan and Prof Ankur Sarin, faculty members at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), have proposed to use mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) to start community radio service where each community member can air his/her own programme. 

Nokia announces two dual SIM phones

Nokia has launched two dual SIM phones, Nokia X1-01 and Nokia C2-00. Both the phones remember the settings for up to five different SIM cards. C2-00 also offer hot swap for SIM card.

Nokia has launched two dual SIM phones, Nokia X1-01 and Nokia C2-00. Both the phones remember the settings for up to five different SIM cards.

The phones offer dual SIM and dual-standby, means you can always receive notification of calls and messages on each account -- rather than having to switch your SIM cards on and off.

MAXX Mobiles unveils MAXX GLO MX388 gaming phone

Priced at only Rs. 2361 (MRP),MAXX GLO MX388 comes with a free 2 GB memory card, and is JAVA enabled, with Bluetooth, FM Radio and MP3/MP4 player, making it a feature-rich yet affordable for the aspiring youth of India.

MAXX Mobiles, one of India’s largest homegrown mobile phone companies, today announced the launch of a new gaming phone – MAXX GLO MX388. With 250 preloaded games and dedicated gaming buttons, MAXX GLO MX388 is the perfect choice for mobile gaming enthusiasts in India.

Mobile gaming is an INR 2.8 billion market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 45 percent to reach INR 17.4 billion by 2015, according to FICCI-KPMG Indian Media and Entertainment Industry Report 2011. With mobile phones becoming increasingly popular in India, mobile gaming is expected to bring in large traction from the youth.

Location tracking basics

Despite controversy about the location tracking service of Google and Apple, this is a useful and essential feature.

The recent controversy surrounding Apple's location tracking services has shone the spotlight on these services.

Location tracking is a service through which one can find the current position of a mobile phone. The phone needs to contact the closest antenna, which it constantly does even while it is moving, and the strength of the signal is also used to determine where the phone is located.

New chip to give feature phones smartphone like powers

With the chip, feature phones can have JAVA, Internet, GPS, high-def video player, 5 MP cam, 3D and Flash.

Feature phones have many features, but so far they have lacked processing powers. Spreadtrum Communications, a semiconductor company based out of China, has claimed that it has developed a new chip set that will address this problem.

The chip set based on ARM9 CPU will offer JAVA, Internet access, GPS navigation, high-definition video player, a 5 megapixel camera, 3D and Flash user interface and more in feature phones. 

Nokia's next MeeGo device N9 revealed

A teaser video on Youtube revealed the nitty-gritty of Nokia's next MeeGo based device, to be named as N9, which will be the successor of Nokia's N900.

Nokia could soon come out with yet another MeeGo device and it may be named as N9.

A purported video of the device was uploaded on the Youtube. However, the video was removed immediately by Nokia claiming copyright issues.

Notably, the Finnish handset maker had, during the Nokia 2011 Developer Forum earlier this year, announced that it would come out with another MeeGo based device soon.

LG Optimus 2x finally available in India for INR 27K

LG has finally made dual core Android smartphone Optimus 2x available in India. Online retailer Flipkart is now selling it for INR 26,990, much below the announced recommended price of INR 30,000. It however is shipping it within 6 to 8 days, which is a bit odd considering Flipkart’s record of shipping in three days normally. They might be still waiting for the stock, which would be due in a few days, so this long shipping time.

Anyways, it is certainly good news for everyone waiting for this dual core beast in India. LG Optimus 2x has been getting negative publicity recently due to the rebooting issues on the phone, but LG has confirmed that it is going to release a fix soon for this problem.

Neotel’s new home phone reviewed

Neotel this week unveiled a new “fixed-wireless” handset aimed at the retail consumer market. TechCentral put the device, made by China’s ZTE, through its paces.

The handset, which uses Neotel’s wireless code division multiple access (CDMA) network, is aimed at consumers who are looking for an alternative telephony solution to options available from Telkom.

Best capacitive touchscreen phones in India

These three handsets have the best capacitive touchscreens among all the brands available in the world today.

Touchscreens were initially introduced to understand how people would feel if physical buttons were removed from their beloved devices. And things took a totally different direction altogether. Today touchscreens have become main-stream, replacing physical keys and buttons in mobile phones, laptops and tablets, all of which have touchscreen variants that are loved by people the world over.

Loop launches new tariff plan for Mumbai

Now Loop Mobile customers will get 1,000 minutes of bonus talktime along with the normal recharge value.

Loop Mobile, one of Mumbai's cellular service providers, has announced the launch of its new tariff plan for both old and new subscribers. 

Under this scheme, which is named as Mumbai Meri Jaan, Loop Mobile is offering 1,000 minutes of free talktime between Loop Mobile subscribers. This new tariff plan is an extension to the Mumbai Meri Jaan campaign started by the teleco to cheer the Mumbai Indians team during the IPL 2011. 

Techcom launches two entry level handsets

Both phones have some nice features such as LCD screens, 1.3 MP camera, video player, audio player, FM radio, Bluetooth and torch.

Techcom, an IT peripherals and consumer electronics provider, has entered into the Andhra Pradesh market with the launch of two new mobiles, the T35 and T65.

The devices come with a bouquet of pre-loaded multimedia features, catering to the user on the move. Both the handsets are dual SIM.

The bar styled T35 has a 4.6 cm LCD screen along with a 1.3 megapixels camera. Besides, it boasts a 3GP/MP4 video player, video recorder, 1500 mAh battery, GPRS, WAP, FM Radio and a torch.

Techcom T35 can also support up to 8GB of external memory.

On the other hand, T65 has a slightly upper hand when it comes to features. It comes with a 6.1 cm QVGA LCD screen and a 1.3 megapixel camera.