Sales of MultiMedia Phones Fly Past TV Sales

By 2011, about 9 of 10 mobile phones will include basic multimedia capabilities; today about 60% have those features, says MultiMedia Intelligence.

Worldwide shipments of multimedia-enabled mobile phones will exceed 300 million units next year, surpassing shipments of television sets, according to a research report being released this week by MultiMedia Intelligence. Sales of such phones will generate over $76 billion in revenue.
By 2011, about 9 of 10 mobile phones will include basic multimedia capabilities, which consist of an image sensor, MP3 audio support, and video playback. Currently, these capabilities are available in 60% of mobile phones, according to the report.

In general, MultiMedia Intelligence defines basic multimedia phones as those that have at least a 1.0-megapixel camera, MP3 audio and video playback capabilities, Java, USB, Bluetooth, 16-bit screen color, QVGA resolution, as well as Wireless Application Protocol and Multimedia Message Service support.

Wireless carriers view multimedia phones as a great opportunity to attract new subscribers. Consequently, they're turning to leading manufacturers, such as Nokia (NYSE: NOK), Motorola (NYSE: MOT), Samsung, LG Electronics, and Sony Ericsson, for exclusive phones with innovative form factors and multimedia features.

A touch screen will be another prominent feature on mobile phones in the near future. The number of phones with touch screens will reach almost 200 million by 2011.

Read the Full Story at Information Week

New Meaning to Shanghaied

When someone was kidnapped, back in the day it was called "Shanghaied". Today, we worry more about our kids than we did even 30 years ago. Now a cell phone keeps our kids safer (as long as the phones aren't dumped along the way).

From Shanghai Daily News:

Shanghai Telecom, the city's largest fixed-network operator, has teamed with the Shanghai Education Commission to launch a handset for children to allow parents to check their child's location by global positioning system, Shanghai Daily reported.

The company sent 2,000 free "Little Smart" handsets to primary and middle school students in the city yesterday.

The phones have only five pre-set numbers instead of a normal keypad, with GPS built in. Parents can track their child's location by visiting Shanghai Telecom's Website, making a phone call or sending an SMS.

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