Siemens launches the M50 mobile phone in the UK (Back to News Reports)

Siemens Mobile’s first mass market Java-enabled phone, the M50, produced with a clear focus on design and entertainment, goes on sale in the UK in early July priced at £119 on pre-pay and from £19.99 on post-pay. Designed with a clear focus on entertainment, the M50 mobile phone offers users unparalleled flexibility over applications, downloads and games. It also features EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service), exchangeable fascias and a special Calling Images feature allowing a choice of real images to be stored and linked to specific incoming phone numbers.

Several games come as standard on the M50 including Flowboarding, a sports game based on Siemens’ Wave Tour - a global touring surfing show. However, with the incorporation of Java™ technology, the M50 offers users an infinite number of gaming and entertainment possibilities on top of the pre-configured ones.

Content such as games, ring tones and bitmaps can be downloaded, stored, played and exchanged at the users’ discretion. And downloading is fast thanks to the M50’s GPRS Class 8 specification and WAP 1.2.1 browser.

Wireless Java™ on the M50 also brings Instant Messaging where users can send and receive real-time messages to and from any number of friends who may be members of the huge Instant Messaging community. Furthermore, users can search for friends who are available at that time and communicate with them instantly.

The M50 also encourages messaging to be expressive and inventive with the incorporation of full EMS, which allows pictures and sounds to be embedded into an SMS message and be sent across varying networks, to other EMS compliant handsets.

The Siemens M50 will be available in Chromium Blue with an ocean blue screen display. The M50’s high design standard has a fresh and modern feel. And Siemens Original Accessories has created numerous exchangeable fascias so owners can keep pace with changing moods, designs and trends.

SOURCE SiemensPress Release Back to News Reports

Fresh fears over mobile phones (Back to News Reports)

A major study into the safety of mobile phones has concluded that they may affect the health of people who use them. Research carried out by scientists in Finland suggests radiation from mobile phones causes changes in the brain.

It is the first time that scientists have looked at the effects of mobile phone radiation on human cells rather than those of rats. The two-year study concluded that even low-level emissions from handsets are damaging.

Scientists from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority found that exposing human cells to mobile phone radiation damaged the blood-brain barrier - a safety barrier in the body that stops harmful substances in blood from entering the brain.

They discovered that the exposure caused the cells in blood vessel walls to shrink which enabled molecules to pass into brain tissue.

Professor Darius Leszcynski, who carried out the study, said the results came from laboratory tests on human cells and that further research was needed to see if the same effect actually happened in humans.

But speaking to BBC News Online, he said: "The blood-brain barrier has been shown to be affected by radiation in animal studies.

"There is a lot of uncertainty about whether this happens in humans. We have shown some biological effects."

Prof Leszcynski said these changes could have a serious impact on a person's health if they were found to happen in humans.

"If it did happen it could lead to disturbances, such as headaches, feeling tired or problems with sleeping. A study by a Swedish research group even suggested it could lead to Alzheimer's disease."

However, he added: "It is important to remember that our study has been done in the laboratory where we can detect even the smallest changes.

"We cannot say whether it happens in humans. We need further study looking at real people to see if the blood-brain barrier is affected.

"What is happening in the human brain is an absolute enigma. We don't know at all."

Prof Leszcynski said mobile phones were still safe to use.

"At the moment, there is no scientific support for introducing any sort of limitation either on use of mobile phones or setting new safety limits. "There is no need because we don't have any science to support it. All the guidelines in place at the moment are fine." Prof Leszcynski will present his findings at a conference in Quebec, Canada, next week.

SOURCE BBC News Back to News Reports

Siemens creates a noise in Singapore with the C55 (Back to News Reports)

Today at CommunicAsia 2002, Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) launched the C55 – a mobile phone with a focus on personalization and fun. The C55 offers consumers the unique opportunity to not only play and download polyphonic ringtones but to record their favorite sounds. With advanced messaging services, access to unlimited entertainment applications over Wireless Java™ and a wide range of CLIPit™ Covers in different designs, including an innovative luminescent material, Siemens’ C55 lets users express their personal style with content and color.

The polyphonic sound feature, with a total of 16 chords, brings a new dimension to ringtones and melodies but by introducing a record feature Siemens enables users to capture particular and memorable sounds, voices and noises to truly personalize their mobile phone.

For closer and more emotive communications with family and friends, users have access to the C55’s advanced messaging capabilities including EMS (Enhanced Messaging Services), extended SMS messages of up to 760 characters and Instant Messaging. Over Java™ Instant Messaging allows users to identify friends currently available online before sending and receiving messages in real-time, within the multi-million messaging community. (Instant Messaging is an operator dependent service.)

Consumers can access a broad spectrum of original applications and games at Siemens’ consumer mobile portal wap.my-siemens.com/c55, and download their favorites via Java™, over GPRS (class 8) and a WAP 1.2.1 browser. The photo community application enables users to upload, crop and attribute a photograph to any entry in their phonebook and Siemens also offers attractive services such as a predetermined Shopping list. The C55 comes with two games as standard including The Prince of Persia™, developed by Gameloft. With the added convenience of Siemens OTA (over-the-air) payment solution customers are able to test services before paying for them in full.

Siemens’ C55 is an eye catching and fashionable phone with easy handling and navigation that comes in three standard trendy and stylish designs for summer 2002, Bordeaux, Champagne and Aqua. Siemens’ Original Accessory CLIPit™ Cover range offers the first three covers with luminescent effect. The self-glowing material of the CLIPit Covers give this line its distinctive characteristic - after it is exposed to light it continues to glow in the dark. With a broad variety of CLIPit™ Covers users can keep up with changing moods, designs and trends.

With up to 250 hours standby time and around 6 hours of talk time, the C55 is the perfect accessory for users with an active social life. The ‘Calling Images’ feature enables digital pictures to be downloaded over WAP or sent by SMS to friends. Whilst the conference call feature, ‘Get in Touch’, allows up to five people to be involved in a call. In addition, the diary and ‘Greetings’ functions provide no excuses for missing important events, such as meetings or parties.

Available across Europe and Asia from September 2002, the Siemens C55 weighs just 80 grams and comes with a wide range of Siemens Original Accessories, ranging from headsets to voice commanded car kits. Siemens C55 will be positioned as a mass-market product and priced comparative to C35 at time of market launch.

SOURCE SiemensPress Release Back to News Reports

Siemens launches the A50 - a compact phone for essential mobile communication (Back to News Reports)

Today, at CommunicAsia 2002, Siemens Information and Communication Mobile group (IC Mobile) launched the A50 - a modern mobile phone focused on the essentials of mobile communication. With extended standby and talk times, of over 10 days and 5 hours respectively and the facility to compose extra long SMS and EMS messages, the A50 is designed for getting the message across, with minimum fuss.

EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service) compliant, Siemens’ A50 allows users to insert images and sounds into text messages and with the additional option to format and extend each message, the A50 encourages users to share information and news creatively. Incorporating Siemens’ Calling Faces feature, A50 users can also attribute pictures to each phone book entry. However, with six front and back exchangeable CLIPit™ Covers from Siemens Original Accessories, including a range of fashionable colors, the A50 does not compromise on style.

With a WAP1.2.1 browser and access to the online community at my-siemens.com/city, consumers can now access a wide range of distinctive material including bitmaps, screensavers and ringer melodies in the one place, for quick and easy Over the Air download. Intended to appeal to first-time mobile phone buyers who want a mobile phone for essential communication, the A50 is very intuitive to handle. The simple user-interface makes it easy to phone and send text messages.

Weighing only 95g, with a volume of just 84 cm3, the A50 is very easy to manage compared to other mobile phones in its class. Optional accessories include a MP3 Player, travel charger, headset, car charger, belt clip, leather case, and a car kit portable device.

The A50 will be offered in two standard colors and will be on sale throughout Europe and Asia from October 2002, priced competitively within its class.

SOURCE Siemens Press Release Back to News Reports

Siemens launches chic CL50 mobile phone (Back to News Reports)

Today at CommunicAsia 2002, Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) launched the CL50, an inspiring mobile phone designed exclusively for the Asia Pacific Region. The new model is Siemens’ first clamshell mobile phone. The elegant CL50 has dual screen display, emotive messaging and distinctive aural caller identification, which provides personalized sounds and pictures that cater to users’ individual needs.

Siemens’ CL50 comes with a range of features that include polyphonic sounds, EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service) and ring-by-person. Equipped with a WAP1.2.1 browser, users of the Siemens’ CL50 can access the World Wide Web anywhere, anytime.

”The CL50 is Siemens’ first mobile phone designed specifically for the Asian market. It integrates fashion and technology seamlessly, and is tailor-made for the fashion-conscious, dynamic consumer of today,” says Ray Yam, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Mobile Phones within Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group. He added: ”This is the first of Siemens’ forthcoming range of mobile devices addressing the demands of Asia’s fast-paced, style-driven people.”

The dual band GSM 900/1800 mobile phone offers the latest features with personal, user-orientated options. The Siemens CL50 user will be able to assign different melodies to different callers, resulting in a highly recognizable caller identification. The phone also boasts EMS, a technology that facilitates SMS messages embedded with pictures and sounds to be sent to other EMS compliant handsets.

The new model will be available across Asia Pacific this August, and will be priced between SL45 and S45 at time of launch. It comes in both a Champagne and a Pearl white and weighs only 73 grams. A wide range of Siemens Original Accessories are also available with this device, including the Li-ion 600mAh Battery, Battery Charging Station and Headset with Push-to-talk (PTT) button.

SOURCE Siemens Press Release Back to News Reports