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Nokia is shipping their first FOMA 3G WCDMA smartphone to NTT DoCoMo in Japan. The dual mode global roamer is scheduled to hit store shelves February 24th, it uses DoCoMo’s international roaming service ‘World Wing’, and adds videophone capabilities no matter where you are to other users with the same handset. The Nokia NM850iG is a hot handset for business trips and overseas travelers, it also has 3G, EDGE on the S60 platform. A 1.3 megapixel camera will let you snap some OK pics on your travels, there is some internal memory but RS-MMC expansion is what you will rely on.Measuring in at 110 x 60 x 21mm and weighing 129 grams, no price is set yetfor this tri-band Symbian FOMA phone. via mobilemag.com

“For LG, the year of 2005 became the very decisive one, as the company began to aim at manufacturing products distinguishable from the other handsets, though it hasn’t brought any considerable benefits so far, this fact alone is worthy of respect. Though this time not so many new models for the mass GSM-market were introduced. Products aimed at the Korean market and 3G models were of the greater interest.” Find out more about LG new phones here:

Herocraft is happy to announce that a new version of Battle Cake for Windows Mobile 5.0, Pocket PC & Smartphone 2003, Palm OS 5.x, Symbian Series 60 & UIQ is now available for download!This version includes :Improved multiplayer game mode – now more less net lags!Add new multiplayer game mode – Capture The Flag with 7 new maps.Add new multiplayer game mode – Team play.Add different computer opponents to all multiplayer game modes.Add new single game mode – Survival.On Palm we have done big memory optimizations to fit game in strong low RAM limits. Now game can be run on most Palm OS 5.x.Add support Windows Mobile 5.0 devices.Game price dropped more than 40%. Now Battle Cake available only for 6.95 USD.

“As a new entry in the competitive smartphone market the TORQ P120 offers a lot of capability in a compact, attractive package. Integrating the functions of a PDA, GSM/GPRS network phone, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, and a 1.3 megapixel camera, the P120 elegantly covers all the bases for the mobile professional.The P120 builds on the features of its predecessor the P100 model. With a style change from silver to a cool black case, and the addition of 802.11b wireless networking the P120 is a much more capable portable device. This plus the incorporation of the Windows Mobile 5 OS vastly improves functionality. The software and user interface has been well thought out, and the P120 is easy to use right out of the box with a convenient Quick Start Guide brochure to get you started.” via dlmag.com Click to view video review of the TORQ P120 [31MB QuickTime]Click to download video review of the TORQ P120 [43.24MB Windows Media]Click to download video review of the TORQ P120 [73.97MB iPod]Click to download video review of the TORQ P120 [6.95MB cell phones]

Nova Media has updated its mobile connection wizard software to version 5.3.3, introducing support for more mobile phones and network operators. Mobile High Speed makes pairing bluetooth mobile phones simple and supports many models and networks that are not even included in the standard process. Mobile High Speed for Palm OS will configure any Palm OS 4.x or 5.x device to go online in seconds supporting most mobile phones from many manufacturers like Motorola, Nokia, Siemens and Sony Ericsson. Featuring a one-click connection to the Internet, the Software includes more than 200 settings to establish 3G UMTS, EDGE and GPRS connections with most network operators worlwide. In addition, Mobile High Speed features telephone drivers to send and receive SMS messages, tab-dial to dial a number selected in the address book, a feature to establish conference calls and see all relevant mobile phone and network information on a glance. The new release is now compatible with the Siemens S75 and Siemens SL75, Sony Ericsson W900i as well as Motorola L7 SLVR and Motorola V360 phones. In addition, connection settings for new network operators in Germany, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are included. Mobile High Speed v5.3.3 for Palm OS is compatible with all Palm OS Handhelds running Palm OS 4.x and 5.x except the Tungsten W. The fully registered version sells for $24.95 and a demo version is available for download. (15% off with coupon PALMINFO until Mar 1st) via palminfocenter.com

A huge jump from version 1.2, Skype has just released the Skype 2.0 for pocket pc.The minimum requirements to run Skype for Pocket PC 2.0 are: * OS: Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC or Pocket PC 2003 * Display: 320×240, 640×480 (portrait or landscape), 240×240, 480×480 * CPU: 312Mhz + (Optimized sound quality versions for Intel Xscale, 312Mhz and for 400MHz+), b * Network: WiFi, 3G or EDGE Change log (including beta version) * bugfix: After ignoring the call, Skype is still ringing * bugfix: Call to device phonebook entry is started from Skype addressbar * bugfix: callto: link doesn’t work * bugfix: Info icon instead of missed chat icon * bugfix: Received Contact List icon is not displayed * bugfix: During a call, from call menu show profile and add contact don’t work * bugfix: Buttons on ‘Received contacts’ screen are not accessible in Landscape mode * 26.01.2005 Skype for Pocket PC 2.0 beta * feature: Automatic data connection, if no WiFi connection is available * change: Skype for PPC graphics updated to 2.0 style * change: ContactList sorting * bugfix: Incoming chat and call privacy options * bugfix: Impossible to cancel login when in ‘connecting’ mode * bugfix: Missed call notification not displayed for SkypeIn call * bugfix: Skype crashes after 2nd calling to PC and PPC user * bugfix: Chinese languages interchanged * bugfix: Skype stays in connecting mode * bugfix: ‘Call’ and ‘Chat’ buttons are enabled when user is not logged in * bugfix: Received ContactList is not authorized * bugfix: Second authorization request will block accepting first request * bugfix: Registering a new user, doesn’t sign in * bugfix: Login page shown before EULA Get it here

More news out of Barcelona, and this time it comes from Virgin Mobile. The company was showing off a funky looking multimedia phone that can do DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) TV. The handset was created by HTC, a company well known for pumping out original designs and high functionality in packages that never carry its branding, and is known as the Trilogy, though that name may by changed by Virgin before launch. This handy little handset is running on the very popular Windows Mobile 5.0, and shows off all its DAB TV goodness on a large-ish 2.2-inch display. The integrated 1.3 megapixel camera is adequate, and expansion comes in the way of a micro SD slot. You can probably expect all the usual bells and whistles like MP3 playback and whatnot as well. Give that hard button the side a touch, and you can instantly access all sorts of digital television, though Virgin Mobile hasn’t made any specific mention of what programming they’ll be carrying. Word on the street is that this UK release will be showing Sky and Channel Four.

Worldwide personal digital assistant (PDA) shipments totaled a record 14.9 million units in 2005, a 19 percent increase from 2004, according to Gartner, Inc. The 2005 results topped the previous record of 13.2 million PDAs shipped worldwide in 2001. Research In Motion (RIM) became the No. 1 PDA vendor based on worldwide shipments in 2005 (see first chart) as it accounted for 21.4 percent of total shipments. Its shipments in 2005 increased 47 percent from 2004. These results do not include an estimated 858,000 BlackBerry smartphones shipped in 2005, which Gartner classifies separately because of their voice-centric design. “RIM does not appear to be losing much momentum despite its legal problems and the threat of an injunction,” said Todd Kort, principal analyst in Gartner’s Computing Platforms Worldwide group. “Generally, BlackBerry users are staying put because of the high cost of switching, lack of suitable alternative devices, and the low probability of BlackBerry service being shut down.” Palm shipped 2.77 million PDAs in 2005, down 25 percent from 2004 shipments. These results exclude Palm’s Treo smartphone shipments of 1.95 million units in 2005. Palm regained the PDA market lead in the fourth quarter of 2005 with 1.04 million units shipped, reflecting the traditionally strong consumer PDA sales associated with the holiday season. “Consumer sales in the fourth quarter enabled Palm to surpass RIM and HP, but we expect RIM will recapture the lead in the first quarter of 2006 as consumer PDA purchases subside,” Mr. Kort said. “Palm’s PDA sales are being cannibalized by its Treo smartphones, which are expected to surpass Palm’s PDA shipments in 2006.” Microsoft Windows CE was the No. 1 PDA operating system (OS) in 2005 as 7.05 million PDAs were loaded with the OS, up 33 percent from 2004 shipments of 5.28 million units. Palm OS PDA shipments declined 34 percent to 2.96 million units in 2005. Gartner defines a PDA as a data-centric handheld computer weighing less than one pound that is primarily designed for use with both hands. These devices use an open market operating system supported by third-party applications that can be added into the device by end users. They offer instant on/off capability and synchronization of files with a PC. A PDA may offer WAN support for voice, but these are data-first, voice-second devices. Additional information is available in the Gartner report “Dataquest Alert: Record 14.9 Million PDAs Shipped in 2005, Up 19 Percent Over 2004.”

NEC is set to launch the Visual On-demand Tool of Life (VoTol) media player. A ‘cool’ portable device that shows its battery status via a moving water level. Now who says watching your player’s battery meter is boring?Of course, that’s not all there is to the VOTOL PK-MV300. It features a compact design, measuring just 123x61x18mm, and has an impressive 2.7-inch QVGA display. Its 188g weight complements its small and portable architecture. Switching or selecting functions is as uncomplicated as its design. The cap on top of the unit can be turned to shift between functions.NEC’s new device supports a wide array of media files too. The VoToL can play MPEG2, MPEG4 (SP/ASP), andWMV9 (DRM10 support) videos. It also recognizes a variety of audio formats such as WMA (DRM10 support), MP3, WAV, AAC, and Ogg Vorbis. It can also display still images in GIF, PNG, JPEG, and BMP file formats through its integrated photo viewer.The VOTOL has a 30GB capacity. Its SD card slot provides a convenient way to expand data space. This unit is NEC’s answer to the Apple iPod. Its debut is slated on March in Japan. The company has not made any announcement yet if it will deploy the media player in North America and Europe but unit price is set at 39,000 Yen (approx. US $332). via mobilemag.com

“Tatung is ready to ship the M1 Smartphone Platform to the European markets through selected distributors and ODM partners while Tatung declined yet to name these distributors and ODM partners. However, the platform should be available with specific IDs to differentiate the two distribution channels, but the overall functionalities are M1 is a Windows Mobile 5 platform that offers quad band GSM communication and GPRS Class B multi-slot class 12 data together with up to date features like Bluetooth 1.2 with A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for stereo wireless headsets and speakers, 1.3 megapixel camera for pictures and videos usable for wireless messaging – all in a compact and lightweight form factor” Read more here: