Mobile Networks Featured Article

Three cheers to the most successful Cyber Monday (News - Alert) yet -- and the growing number of consumers who paid for gifts via their mobile phones.

 

Page views from mobile phones for bestbuy.com, argos.co.uk and other retailers increased dramatically during holiday shopping season kick off, according to newly released data from Novarra.

 

The Chicago-based mobile Internet application provider said mobile phone web traffic to retailer and shopping sites increased twelve-fold on Friday and more than doubled on Cyber Monday compared with the pre-holiday shopping season.

 

Among the mass of gadgets out there, a few cool phones squeaked onto our radar.

 

LG Mobile introduced two new smartphones, the LG GW620 and the LG BL40, in selected countries. The phones are designed to offer seamless, high-quality DivX video experience on the go. The LG GW620 is currently available in North America and Europe; the LG BL40 will be available worldwide by the end of this year.

 

Meanwhile, Nokia and Rogers Wireless released the new Nokia (News - Alert) N86 8MP, a dual sliding smartphone.

 

And if you’ve already got a Flip camera, perhaps you want to bring your new home movies to the family.

 

This week Cisco unveiled the new FlipShare TV, its first non-camcorder launch in the 2-year-old product line, which brings the Flip Video library onto the TV screen. And, it does this wirelessly. 

 

Speaking of wireless, the CTIA (News - Alert) issued a statement that it is “pleased” the FCC put out a public notice on uses of spectrum to gather the facts and make sure it is being used efficiently.

 

“We need at least another 800 MHz within six years to meet the increasing consumer demand whether it's for mobile Internet, mHealth, smart grids, or a number of other wireless uses that change the way we live and work,” President and CEO Steve Largent stated.

 

And with 10 million WiMAX (News - Alert) subscribers worldwide, as reported by the WiMAX Forum this week, we’ll definitely need some of that spectrum to accommodate the gadgetry of the future.

 

In terms of gadgetry today, what’ll be really interesting is finding out this year’s “hot” holiday item, tech-wise. I can think of at least one candidate: The Barnes and Noble ‘nook’ ebook reader. Turns out that gadget was out of stock on Black Friday (News - Alert), so you’ll have to buy a gift certificate.  

 

Let that be a lesson to last-minute shoppers who thought they could wait until the day after Thanksgiving!