Tag archive: SIM

“According to people who have been briefed on the plans,” Apple is developing new, less expensive iPhone models to compete with lower level smartphones. In a move to compete with the rapidly expanding Android market, which integrates on smartphones of various makes and prices, Apple will market a cheaper, smaller version – about one-third smaller than the existing iPhone 4. Bloomberg claims one of its sources has seen the prototype, and… Read More

SIM cards may soon operate more than just your phone. The GSM Association, a group that oversees the GSM phone network technology announced that it is assigning a task force to adapt SIM cards for use in a variety of mobile devices, reports CNET. AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, and China Mobile have joined forces to expand the role of the SIM. SIM cards are small rectangular chips about the size of a thumb nail that store a… Read More

Super-small, low-powered netbook computers are about the only segment of the computing market that seeing any growth at all during the economic downturn—and apparently that business has been robust enough to lure the world's top phone maker, Nokia, in the netbook game. Today the company expanded out from its portable “Internet Tablet” devices and announced its Booklet 3G, a full-featured Intel Atom-powered netbook… Read More

Microsoft’s Flight Simulator might be the longest-running computer game series ever, originating in 1982. But the question is how much longer it might last. Microsoft has laid off the people at its Aces studio, the team behind the popular game, leaving Flight Sim fans wondering whether their favorite game will be around much longer. According to the BBC, Microsoft has stated that it’s “committed” to the series,… Read More

Google has announced the availability of a SIM-unlocked and hardware-unlocked Android phone explicitly aimed at Android developers in the U.S. and some 18 international markets. The Android Dev Phone 1 is available for $399 to registered Android developers—about the same price as an unlocked T-Mobile G1—although developers would need to pay an additional $25 to join the Android Marketplace to purchase the device. Google warns… Read More

Earlier this year, Australian online-only electronics retailer Kogan claimed it would be bringing a mobile phone to the Austrialian market based on Google's Android operating system by the end of 2008 for a price as low as $199 AUD. Although Kogan is going to miss both those marks by a bit, the company has taken the wraps off the Agora and Agora Pro, two Android-based handsets that will begin shipping in January of 2009. And although… Read More

Yes, elephants sending texts might seem like a comedy image. But it happens in Kenya. Whenever elephants wearing collars that contain special SIM cards cross a geofence that’s set up using GPS, the animals automatically send a text to rangers, AP reports. When elephants go after village crops at harvest time, they can take out a lot of food, and villagers can easily lose six months’ income. This way, rangers can rush to the… Read More

After making a big splash about exclusive arrangements with mobile carriers in different countries and regions, Apple has very quietly made unlocked iPhones, not tied to any specific carrier, available for sale in Hong Kong. Of course, they’re for sale at a premium, about $695 for the 8GB model and $798 for the 16GB, compared to $199 and $299 in the US, where the phone is tied to AT&T. Previously the iPhone was tied to Hutchison… Read More

Archos has been sticking with the personal media player market, gamely continuing to compete with the Apple iPod juggernaut by consistently offering players that offer more storage, better specs, bigger screens, a wider degree of compatibility, and a wider range of features. Now, the company is rolling the sixth generation of PMPs—dubbed “Internet Media Tablets”—that all pack Wi-Fi, and which include models offering… Read More

If EA’s placeholder site weren’t a big enough clue for Sims fans what was around the corner, the publisher made it perfectly clear at its E3 press conference this year: The Sims 3 is coming. Rod Humble, head of EA’s Sims division, took the stage Monday night to explain more about the hotly anticipated update to the franchise. The biggest change will be the scale of the world a Sim is able to interact in. While previous… Read More

In an age where manufacturers routinely release do-it-all phones for hundreds of dollars without consumers flinching, one company is attempting to do the opposite, cutting features – and price – to the bare minimum. Hop-On’s new Hop1800, announced Friday, has no Wi-Fi capabilities, no 3G Internet, no texting, no alarms, and not even a screen, but it costs just $10. Designed to be used as a prepaid phone, the… Read More

She obviously has a glowing career ahead as a detective. 16-year-old Yudelka Polenco of New York had her cell phone stolen by a pair of youths as she was walking home. However, when one of thethieves used her phone’s SIM card to gain Internet access, he inadvertently revealed his e-mail address. From that Polanco was able to find his MySpacepage, she explained to CBS News. However, the page was private, so she couldn’t add him.… Read More

Maxis Software’s much-hyped “Sim Everything” title, known as Spore, finally received a firm release date on Wednesday. The simulated universe title will launch for PC, Mac, Nintendo DS and mobile phones the weekend of September 7. “The wait is almost over,” said Maxis chief designer Will Wright, in a statement. “We’re in our final stages of testing and polish with Spore, and the team at Maxis… Read More

Now that Macworld has come and gone with no announcements from Apple about upgraded iPhones—or a much wished-for 3G iPhone—AT&T is getting busy with its plans to offer the existing iPhone to business customers. AT&T's business plans for the iPhone start at $45 per month for unlimited data service, visual voicemail, and 200 SMS messages; for $55/month, customers can get 1,500 SMS messages, and $65/month removes all limits.… Read More

Since it's announcement last January (and debut in the U.S. market in June), Apple's iPhone has become the de facto benchmark to which other Internet-enabled devices and smartphones are compared. As the iPhone debuts in Europe, speculation is mounting when the iPhone will leap to the Asian market—and Chinese mobile operators are fueling speculation that they'll be offering the iPhone soon. In recent comments, the… Read More