Launch of T-Mobile HotSpot service in Starbucks stores (Back to News Reports)

23 August 2002 - High-speed wireless Internet access becomes faster, simpler and more convenient today as Starbucks Coffee Company, T-Mobile International, the wireless subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG, and HP officially launch T-Mobile HotSpot service in Starbucks coffeehouses. This was announced on a press conference in San Francisco with John Stanton, Chairman of VoiceStream, the T-Mobile U.S. Operations, Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman and chief global strategist, and Michael Capellas, president of HP.

As easy as ordering their latte, Starbucks customers can check e-mail, surf the Web, watch streaming video or download multi-media presentations in the comfort of Starbucks via a fast, reliable standards based wireless Internet connection for notebook computers and Pocket PCs. Starting today, Starbucks customers can trial T-Mobile HotSpot service for free at approximately 1,200 Starbucks stores in the United States. An additional 800 Starbucks locations in the U.S. are scheduled to feature the service by the end of the year. With an eye toward global expansion, Starbucks and T-Mobile have also initiated a six-month pilot in select London and Berlin locations.

T-Mobile HotSpot service uses standards based "Wi-Fi" (802.11b) technology and is easily accessible for Starbucks customers with a wireless-ready notebook computer or Pocket PC. Backed by T-1 connections in popular venues in the U.S., T-Mobile HotSpot service is reliable and fast enough to accommodate the full spectrum of applications from checking e-mail to multi-media video conferencing with a high-speed wireless connection as much as 40 to 50 times faster than standard dial-up Internet access.

As the preferred technology provider for Starbucks corporate headquarters and its network of retail stores, HP also introduces the new Wireless Connection Manager. The free, downloadable software makes it simple for mobile professionals to configure their wirelessly enabled notebook and Pocket PCs to automatically sense and connect to available wireless networks, making the move from home to office to Starbucks a breeze. The easy-to-use Wireless Connection Manager software will assist Starbucks customers in moving between T-Mobile HotSpot and other wireless networks in which they may connect. Starbucks customers can visit www.starbucks.com/hotspot to download the free HP software and order specially bundled HP mobile products such as Evo notebook computers, iPAQ Pocket PCs, and Wireless PC cards.

To connect, customers need a T-Mobile HotSpot account and Wi-Fi capability for their notebook computer or Pocket PC. To log in to the service and establish a connection, customers with a properly configured notebook or Pocket PC simply need to launch their Internet browser from within a participating Starbucks and login.

T-Mobile is offering Starbucks customers a Free Day Pass, available in participating Starbucks locations, to get a free one-time 24 hour trial of the wireless broadband service. Additionally, T-Mobile offers a variety of Internet access service plans to accommodate the needs of all customers, including National and Local Unlimited monthly subscription plans, as well as Prepay and Pay-As-You-Go plans. Rate and location information can be found at t-mobile.com/hotspot/.

SOURCE T-Mobile International Press Release Back to News Reports

Multiplayer game for Nokia 7650 (Back to News Reports)

Pleasanton, CA. Cellsoft, Inc. today introduced their second multiplayer game for Symbian OS based handsets.

The game, called CellMill, is a traditional two-player board game that can be played by two players over Bluetooth, or as a single-player game against the smart phone.

“Bluetooth enabled smart phones, like Nokia’s 7650 with Symbian OS, are more suitable for multiplayer games than traditional PDAs and portable game consoles. Our goal has been to develop a user-friendly gaming experience, which is almost as real as players sitting at the same table in real life. CellMill is our second game for this emerging multiplayer game market”, says Esa Ketola, President, Cellsoft, Inc.

“We have received a lot of positive feedback from players who really enjoy the Bluetooth multiplayer feature of both CellMill and CellPoker, which we released earlier this year ”, Ketola continues.

Initially, CellMill will run on Nokia 7650 and other Symbian OS handsets will be supported as they become available.

CellMill demo-version is available for download from Cellsoft’s website www.cellsoft.com.

SOURCE Cellsoft Press Release Back to News Reports

UK Government seeks views on banning hand-held mobiles while driving
(Back to News Reports)

21 August 2002 - A consultation on banning drivers from using hand-held mobile phones was announced yesterday by Road Safety Minister David Jamieson.

Research has shown that drivers are four times more likely to have an accident if they are using a mobile phone.

The consultation, which begins today, seeks views on the possible introduction of a ban on hand-held phones and asks for opinions on issues such as what, if any, exemptions might be needed.

David Jamieson said:

"The consultation, which begins today, seeks views on the possible introduction of a ban on hand-held phones and asks for opinions on issues such as what, if any, exemptions might be needed."

"We are therefore consulting widely on introducing a specific offence of driving while using a hand-held mobile phone. This should leave no-one in any doubt that we are serious about the dangers that this practice presents to drivers and all road users. We are keen to see contributions from as many people as possible to help decide the way forward."

Copies of the consultation document will be available at: www.roads.dft.gov.uk/roadsafety/index.htm.

The consultation will end on 25 November 2002. Recent figures suggest that nearly three quarters of adults in this country own or use a mobile phone.

SOURCE DTI Press Release Back to News Reports

Sony Ericsson searching for the Killer application (Back to News Reports)

The P800 Smartphone re-defines openness for application developers. Based on Symbian OS, it also features Personal Java and Java MIDP support. Running the Symbian OS as base, it also adds Personal Java and Java MIDP support. Advanced MMS is another key feature, together with the WAP 2.0 and HTML capable browser. Enabling applications and content for both professional and entertainment purposes is a core strategy for Sony Ericsson. Through this Application Proclamation and as part of the Sony Ericsson Developer World initiative, Sony Ericsson enables and challenges developers around the world to step up and create the coolest and most original applications for the P800 Smartphone, and in turn provides them with exposure and real opportunity.

The P800 is a multimedia smartphone for worldwide communications. It has a large color touch-screen, built-in camera, access to the Internet and runs on tri-band GSM and GPRS networks. Based on the open Symbian OS v7.0 the P800 is a fully featured mobile multimedia product, and the most advanced phone that has been announced in the GSM industry.

Submissions will be accepted until October 31st. The 50 coolest applications chosen will be highlighted within the Sony Ericsson P800 Smartphone launch campaign, and will be featured on Handango, the leading online marketplace for wireless applications. In addition, winners will receive a P800 Smartphone, Metrowerks CodeWarrior™ development tools, and registration of their applications with the Sony Ericsson Developer World program as part of the P800 Smartphone launch activities.

“The idea is to demonstrate how Sony Ericsson, through our Developer World program, can help developers through the entire process of taking an application to market. We can provide developers everything they need to be successful: tools, training, and a path to profit,” said Rikko Sakaguchi, Head of Corporate Function Application and Content Development at Sony Ericsson. “We’re challenging developers to step up and create the coolest and most original applications for the P800 Smartphone, and we show them how to turn their code into cash,” said Mr Sakaguchi.

The applications will be judged by Sony Ericsson engineering and product development teams on the basis of innovation, relevance, ease-of-use, and “coolness factor.” The top 50 applications will be announced December 1, 2002. For more information and details on how to participate, please visit http://SonyEricsson.com/codetocash .

SOURCE Sony Ericsson Back to News Reports