Ready for SMS2.0?

Affle, a UK-based mobile media company, is looking to redefine the "service" in SMS to "search". Its new application for Nokia's Series S60 phones will enable a new search function within the familiar text messaging interface.

According to the press release, SMS2.0 is currently compatible with the Nokia N70, N72, 6680, 6681 and 6630 models. However, Nokia has said the application will work with the Series S60 2nd edition (or higher) handsets.

When installed, SMS2.0 will become the phone's default text messaging program. The beauty of it is that everything remains the same except there's now an additional search menu within the options. The company is in talks with various online search engines but there are no firm plans on which engine will power the new search function.

Affle is also working with local telco MobileOne (M1) to bring targeted advertising to the SMS2.0 platform. Ticker-roll advertisements will appear on the bottom portion of the screen as the user types a text message and turns full screen when the message is sent, or when he clicks on it.

According to Neil Montefiore, CEO of M1, these content are updated via a backend system to maintain relevancy. Users will not be charged for the data traffic for SMS2.0 content due to a tie-up with Affle. They will, however, be prompted if a fee is to be levied.

Homegrown phone brand SEVO strikes back, 1:0

The company claims to be Singapore's first mobile phone brand and one with the latest technology at CommunicAsia. How true is it? You'll have to decide for yourself.

According to its Web site, SEVO is a "new-generation company of mobile phones, offering the latest models with fruitful features, better quality and cheaper products". Some of the handsets the company is showing at this year's CommunicAsia are the P809 and the P888.

What's interesting about the latter is its dual SIM card slots and a 3-inch touchscreen display. It comes also with a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth with A2DP support, microSD expansion card slot and functions as a USB drive.

The SEVO P809 is a Windows Mobile 5 PDA-phone with also a 3-inch touchscreen LCD plus a 2-megapixel camera. Both handsets, however, work only on the GSM 900/1800 network, which is really quite unheard of these days.

Our roving reporters at CommunicAsia spotted another brand called Scud, a China-based company offering strikingly similar products except for a few cosmetic differences. We suspect the phones come from the same OEM, but we can't say for sure. You'll have to decide for yourself.

More CommunicAsia 2007 coverage here.

Pictured on the left is the SEVO P808

Funky Bluetooth speakers

If you think speakers with the Sony Ericsson label are the only ones decent enough to own for your phone, think again. The Pivot Bluetooth Speaker SR 204BT is one speaker that looks as good as the A2DP phones and MP3 players that can sync with it.

The SR 204BT has a pleasant and simple design flanked with several buttons on the top such as volume controls and Bluetooth sync. It uses Bluetooth 2.0 Class 2 technology so it has a wireless range of up to 10m. Users can also activate bass enhancement and surround sound effects, but we were unable to test out its capability as Pivot could not seem to synchronize the Sony Ericsson K610i we had on hand.

The speakers are powered by four AA batteries, but strangely enough the power adapter will not included with the set.

The speakers are expected to launch within the next two months at US$230 (S$354) in selected locations around Asia.

More CommunicAsia 2007 coverage here.

iPhone to feature special YouTube player

Apple's made it official: The iPhone will have full-blown YouTube integration.

According to the iPhone Web site, the much-anticipated handset will include "a special YouTube player that you can launch right from the home screen." iPhone owners can now load and browse videos from the video-sharing site as well as email them to their friends.

This comes less than a month after Steve Jobs announced that the company's Apple TV set-top box would also have built-in integration for the wildly popular YouTube.

The iPhone, as we all know by now, hits stores at 6 PM Eastern Time on June 29. That's next Friday!

Via CNET Crave

Jawbone to be sold alongside iPhone

When Apple fans across the country flock to their neighborhood Apple Store to pick up their shiny new iPhone next Friday, they'll also have the opportunity to buy a Jawbone Bluetooth headset to go along with it.

That's right. the Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headset will be sold alongside the iPhone at all Apple Stores (plus Apple's online store) starting June 29, 2007.

Designed by Yves Behar and decked out with military-grade noise-canceling technology, the Jawbone is certainly no slouch in the design and performance department, but we can't help but wonder whatever happened to Apple's own Bluetooth headset that Steve Jobs showed at MacWorld earlier this year.

Will that be available in stores as well? Or will it be bundled with the phone? Considering the Jawbone sells for around US$119.99, it might be wise for Apple to offer its own headset at a lower and more affordable price. That said, the Jawbone is a quality device (it's one of CNET's highest rated Bluetooth headsets), so if you have the cash to spare and the wherewithal to wait in line for the iPhone, it'll be there waiting for your Bluetooth-hungry hands.

Via CNET Crave

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