Swedish mobile communication company launching cell phones in Asian market

Neonode, the Swedish mobile communication company that develops touch screen technologies and designs mobile handsets, today announced that Excel Field International LTD, a major privately held Asian distributor, has placed an initial $1.1 Million order for the Neonode N2 handset for April.

Excel Field International has direct reach to 4,000 retail outlets in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand throughout which the Neonode N2 will be distributed.
"We are delighted to add Excel Field International to our growing list of global partners. They will play an important role when we now enhance our focus of moving into the Asian market and the relationship also represents an important step forward in achieving our 2008 sales target of 200,000 phones," said Per Hellberg, Vice President of Sales at Neonode.

"The interest for our phones and technology has been strong in these markets and through Excel Field's relationship with key carriers and retailers within the region, we are now well-equipped to establish Neonode as a niche player and not only compete against the big established players in the region, with Nokia and Samsung in top, but also the smaller local players on their home markets," Hellberg continued.
Source: scandasia.com

Cell phone firms to redial North plans

A cellular phone company has dialed down its plans to construct a 120-foot wireless phone tower on property behind the Allen Avenue School - at least for now.

Lightower Wireless, a company that builds and operates cell phone towers and rents them to carriers and Metro PCS, a company in the process of building a wireless network, have withdrawn their proposal to build the tower on property at 346 Allen Ave., which abuts the elementary school.

However, the companies intend to come back to the zoning board again later with another plan.

"It has come to our attention another wireless company has a service gap in that area," said Ricardo Sousa, an attorney representing the phone companies.

Sousa said the companies will work together to compile information and coordinate for another application from the zoning board.

The tower is being proposed for the property, which currently has a three-family home, due to coverage gaps for cellular phone service in the Interstate 295 area.

The proposal has drawn a mixed reaction from residents of the neighborhood. Some looked forward to the tower because it would improve telephone service in the area.

Other residents argued against the idea, saying that a cellular phone tower does not belong in a residential neighborhood.

Source: thesunchronicle.com

Nokia nanotech cell phone - Morph

Nokia and the University of Cambridge are showing off a new stretchable and flexible mobile device of the future called Morph.

The new concept phone is part of an online display presented in conjunction with the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition underway through May 12 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The device, which is made using nanotechnology, is intended to demonstrate how cell phones in the future could be stretched and bent into different shapes, allowing users to "morph" their devices into whatever shape they want. Think Stretch Armstrong for cell phones. Want to wear your cell phone as a bracelet? No problem, just bend it around your wrist.

Nokia says the concept device demonstrates handset features that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering, including flexible materials, transparent electronics, and self-cleaning surfaces.

"Nokia Research Center is looking at ways to reinvent the form and function of mobile devices," Bob Iannucci, chief technology officer for Nokia, said in a statement. "The Morph concept shows what might be possible."

Even though Morph is still in early development, Nokia believes that certain elements of the device could be used in high-end Nokia devices within the next seven years. And as the technology matures, nanotechnology could eventually be incorporated into Nokia's entire line of products to help lower manufacturing costs.

Motorola W230 Cell Phone

Unveiled on CES last January and showcased on the recently concluded MWC 2008 is Motorola's new low-end music phone -- the Motorola W230. The phone is part of the W-series along with the W161 and the W181. The Motorola W230 is a phone which goes straight to the nitty-gritty. No frills, no added layers of useless fat. In short, it only has basic features. A candybar, it has 1.6” 128 x 128 color screen, 9 hours of talk time, and the CrystalTalk audio technology. It also features support for Hinglish (Hindi + English), as well as seven different African languages. Its main attraction though, is the dedicated music key, which audio (iMelody, MIDI, MP3, AMR) listening easier. The Motorola W230 comes with two color faceplates: manadarin-bordered dark titanium gray and lustrous silver-bordered licorice. It's now currently available in some countries for around US$50-75, depending upon the market. Yes, that's 50 to 75 bucks. And that's not the price after a mail-in rebate either. The phone costs just that, without plans of any sort whatsoever.