Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has sealed separate agreements with Verizon and AT&T for a combined contract price of $970.5 million.

Under the Department’s agreement with Verizon, Internet protocol (IP), security services and emergency communications services will be provided by Verizon to the Department of Homeland Security. This would greatly help the Department’s response time in a disaster situation. The deal would enable Verizon to assist the 22 agencies of the Department to combine their IP network.

This deal would add up to the previously won 10-year, $20 billion contract won by Verizon which would provide a full range of telecommunications and related network services to the whole organization of the U.S. government.

Meanwhile, the deal with AT&T calls for the company serving as the secondary network service provider in the Eastern and Western region of the U.S. Their deal will cost the Department of Homeland Security around $292 million.

Read [Reuters]

A fascinating report by the United Kingdom’s version of the Federal Communications Commission paints a vivid picture of a technology-driven world right out of a Vernor Vinge novel: Bluetooth implants in your body warning doctors of impending heart attacks; wireless sensors in cars slamming on the brakes before collisions; reminders from doctors to take medications based on wireless vital sign readings.

The Office of Communications, known as Ofcom, is the UK’s independent regulator of competition in its television, radio, telecom and wireless communications industries. Its new report, “Tomorrow’s Wireless World,” features technology innovations being tested in some British cities and it already has some privacy advocates shouting about a digital Big Brother. But the tone of the report is generally positive about the role technology could play in saving lives, trimming health care costs and making travel safer and greener. 

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Nortel is bringing in a new optical technology that will speed up telecommunication companies network speeds. The optical technology will improve network speeds up to 40G-bps, four times faster than today’s standard network speed provided by telecommunications company.

Nortel is introducing the new technology to help telecommunications company provide the network speed that users currently demand. This is in the light of the boom in Internet video, high-definition programming and web mobility. With more devices and gadgets connecting to the internet through telecommunications network, Nortel is preparing the companies’ infrastructure for future increase in bandwidth demand. Increasing network speed to 40G-bps will also increase network capacity ten times more than it is right now, up to 100G-bps increase.

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Perhaps one of the simplest mobile phones to show its sleek, proud face at the Consumer Electronics Show is the Sanyo S1 Palmtop. It can hold its own even in the face of the amazing and dazzling strides made in the world of wireless technology. The Sanyo S1 Palmtop is for those among us who believe in simplicity and desire a phone that geeks might consider primitive; one whose primary selling point is reliability in getting connected for voice and basic e-mail.

Sanyo’s goal is to provide to all consumers a more comfortable life; a life in harmony with the environment. The S1 Palmtop lives up to that standard with every little breath that it takes. It is ultra sleek and weighs only 2.5 ounces. It is just 11mm thin, wrapped in a silky, soft-touch finish and feels like it belongs in your hand. Despite its size, the S1 Palmtop boasts a robust 24mm speakerphone, integrated Bluetooth wireless technology, large, colorful LCD screen and a voice-activated Wireless Backup allows users to easily manage the phone’s contacts list in case the phone is lost, stolen or damaged.

The Sanyo S1 Palmtop is ultra-slim, stylish and sophisticated and reflects Sanyo’s commitment to becoming an indispensable element in the lives of people all over the world.

Read [New Launches]

Are ringtones becoming a flash in the proverbial pan? Perhaps all things have an end, ringtones included, or perhaps they don’t die but merely fade away with obsolete mobile phone styles and shapes. There’s no question that the market has waned and reports indicate (New York Times) that the trend for this industry is declining because of several factors.

It doesn’t seem to be a matter of consumers actually tiring of ring-tones per se, as much as it is that the market has drastically changed over the years and things have reached a saturation point. Too many manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon, making ringtones trite and boring. Today, record labels and handset manufacturers have all developed their own master ringtones and even iTunes has included the ability to create ringtones.

Ringtones are no longer reflective of customized tastes as they once were. They are as ubiquitous as the names, Joe and Jane. Today’s fickle consumers want to stand apart from their proverbial neighbors, the Jones’, (even if they still can’t keep up with them).

According to M:Metrics, a market research company, ringtone purchases have fallen consistently in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Even the most popular ringtone players, such as Jamba and Musiwave, are having trouble staying afloat.

Do you still…ringtone?

Read [Mobile Whack]

Our mobile phones are invading every aspect of our lives more and more with each passing day. Will they replace movie theaters? In India, they just may as portable entertainment there is about to embark on a new and exciting threshold. Rajshri Productions plans on launching a 90-episode soap opera on mobile phones! The first episode is slated for release at the end of January 2008.

It’s not that watching television on a cell phone is new, because it certainly isn’t, especially for the Koreans and Japanese. What makes this news actually news is that these soap opera episodes will be streamed and/or downloaded over the cellular network. Each episode runs but 3 minutes, making them perfect for those multi-taskers among us who find themselves in too much of a hurry to do almost anything.

There are more than 220 million cell phones (and owners) in India, and it is believed that many of those same people also enjoy watching soap operas. Time will tell how successful this venture will be.

In the meantime, pull up a seat and help yourself to some tissues and popcorn.

Read {Mobile Mag]

As the cell phone invades every facet of our lives, it may just be a matter of time before we are all born with them attached to our ears! While we must concede that may not occur in our lifetimes, it is certainly true that the cell phone has gone beyond just a communications device as manufacturers introduce more and more enticing features.  After a while, it seems that some of these peripheral functions, such as games and integrated cameras, start to replace the devices designed to do the same thing.

According to a recent ongoing poll, nearly two-thirds of people prefer to check the current time on their cell phone rather than on a conventional wristwatch. At this time, 64.7% of people look up the time on their phones, compared to 31.0% of people who still use a wristwatch. The poll did not include the option of those many in between who use both devices.

Even if the poll is totally accurate, there’s no accounting for the fickle human race and its passing caprices that come and go like a summer breeze. Still, it’s something for the people at Timex other places need to think about. How can they continue to attract the attention of consumers? Perhaps new watches with pulsating diamonds might work?

Hey, do YOU know what time it is?

Read [Mobile Mag]