Skype and Nokia have jointly announced the release of Skype for Symbian, a Skype client for Nokia smartphones based on the Symbian platform. Skype for Symbian will allow Nokia smartphone users worldwide to use Skype on the move, over either a WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G). It is now downloadable for free from the Ovi Store.

“With Symbian’s global reach, Skype is that much closer to becoming the ubiquitous real-time communications platform for hundreds of millions of Symbian-based mobile users.”

Skype for Symbian enables Nokia smartphone users to:
•Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world*
•Save money on calls and texts (SMS) to phones abroad.
•Send and receive instant messages to and from individuals or groups
•Share pictures, videos and other files.
•Receive calls to their existing online number
•See when Skype contacts are online and available to call or IM
•Easily import names and numbers from the phone’s address book

Skype for Symbian will run on any Nokia smartphone using Symbian ^1, the latest version of the Symbian platform. Skype will soon introduce this client to Symbian mobile devices from other manufacturers, including Sony Ericsson.

The initial Skype for Symbian application is compatible with the following Nokia touchscreen models: Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia 5530 and the following non-touch devices: Nokia E72, Nokia E71, Nokia E90, Nokia E63, Nokia E66, Nokia E51, Nokia N96, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8Gb, Nokia N85, Nokia N82, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8 Gb, Nokia N79, Nokia N78, Nokia 6220 classic, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 5320.

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Sony Ericsson has announced the Vivaz that follows on from the Xperia X10 announced in November 2009, and is the second phone in the new family of communication entertainment phones coming to market in the first half of 2010. Sony Ericsson Vivaz will come to market in Q1 2010.

The Vivaz has high quality HD video allowing consumers to produce and broadcast their experiences with the latest video capture and sharing features.

The open platform also allows users to personalise their entertainment experience by downloading great applications through PlayNow and the Symbian Developer Community.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz features the new design philosophy ’human curvature’, first introduced with the Xperia X10, which will become a consistent feature of Sony Ericsson’s portfolio.

The Vivaz also features:
•HD video – produce and broadcast your best experiences with the latest video capture and sharing features
•Social networking – easy access to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter
•8.1 megapixel camera – capture life’s moments in high quality
•Face and smile detection – a perfect picture every time
•Sony Ericsson Media Player
•3.2-inch-widescreen
•3D games
•A-GPS
•Google Maps
•Wi-Fi
•Bluetooth
•8GB microSD card

Sony Ericsson Vivaz supports UMTS HSPA 900/2100 and GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS HSPA 850/1900/2100 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and will be available in select markets from Q1 in the colours Moon Silver, Cosmic Black, Galaxy Blue and Venus Ruby.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet.

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English news channel NewsX has now made its videos available on mobile phones with just a 30-second delay from what is seen on the TV. The service is primarily aimed at “tech-savvy” and “corporate people”, says spokesperson Ajatshatru Singh.

“This service is primarily for the urban and corporate people who are very tech savvy and who are happy using gadgets. It is for those who want news on the go – which is what we call the mobile generation… So as long as they have a device in their hands, the news can be delivered to them,” Singh, head of Online, NewsX, told IANS.

As part of this service which was launched last week, viewers can access the same news content on their mobile device as they see it on NewsX TV channel and also its website. A special mobile URL – m.newsx.com/live – can be used to access the same.

Asked why the channel felt the need to introduce this concept, Singh explained: “The opportunity to do this has always been there given that India has the fastest growing mobile market in the world. It was about a year ago that we realised that with so many handsets floating around, people will want to get any kind of content delivered on their mobiles – so why not news?”

According to Singh, the video service will best work on phones such as the Apple iPhone and high-end models of all other companies like Motorola, Nokia, Samsung or HTC.

Also, there are no extra costs for availing the service, except for the basic expense of using mobile Internet.

“We have no subscription charges, no fees attached with this. As long as you have a phone with Internet, you can log on to the URL and access news. There is also no specific operator we have tied up with. The service is cost independent and operator independent,” he said.

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In keeping with its brand positioning of ‘NEXT is What’, Samsung has strengthened its Omnia series with the launch of the Omnia II–GT I8000. The I8000 looks exactly like the Samsung Jet with a larger display.

Announcing the launch, Ranjeet Yadav, Director IT and Telecom, Samsung Electronics said, “Omnia II is designed to take user experience to the next level. It captures our vision to provide phones to the consumers which are not only great looking but provide even greater functionality and usability using latest technologies and messaging platforms”.

Based on Windows 6.1 platform, Omnia II is the Company’s newest full-touch screen phone that brings together style, multimedia and business performance in one device. Samsung Omnia II features an all new Intuitive 3D UI along with Samsung’s TouchWiz 2.0 UI.

Features include -
a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a480 x 800 pixels and 65K colors
3G (with HSDPA), EDGE/GPRS
Wi-Fi (DLNA supported)
GPS with A-GPS support
Bluetooth with A2DP, USB 2.0
5 megapixel AF camera with a Dual LED flash features Geotagging, face and smile detection
Stereo FM with RDS, Recording
DivX, XviD video support
TV Out
8GB internal memory and a microSD card slot

The Motion-enabled features include 3D photo Album, Video library, Music library, Browser bookmarks and FM Radio UI. The preloaded and downloadable online mobile Widgets deliver up-to-date information. With Samsung communities, the Omnia II lets users upload images and videos to popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Picasa, Flickr, MySpace, Photobucket and Friendster. Add to that, the phone’s high-connectivity functions including Wi-Fi and HSUPA capabilities mean that a user’s photos can be shared to their friends in no time.

The Omnia II is priced at Rs. 28,990.

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Sony Ericsson has unveiled their ‘Communication Entertainment’ consumer proposition, the pinnacle of what the company has been working towards since the start of the joint venture in 2001 – the true fusion of communication and entertainment. Bringing this offering alive and it’s take some time but Sony Ericsson has finally launched its new product line of handsets that include the much awaited 12MP camera phone the Satio and of course the Aino and Yari are also here now.

The future of mobile entertainment, the Satio, Aino and Yari phones are designed to offer users the ultimate multimedia experience with Remote Play access to videos, television shows and photos and they also incorporate gesture based gaming.

Satio
“Bringing together rich content, unique applications and best in class entertainment experiences, our Communication Entertainment proposition is the next step in our evolution”, said Anil Sethi, President, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications India at the launch. “Everything that we have done to date has brought us to this point and we are now ready to unveil the next chapter in the evolution of the company – Communication Entertainment – providing consumers unlimited opportunities to share their entertainment experiences.”

Aino
“The introduction of the Satio, Aino and Yari phones in India will redefine the communication and entertainment experience for mobile users.” said Sudhin Mathur, General Manager, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications India. “The range packs in the best technology and applications, to deliver the ultimate entertainment experience on the go.”

Sony Ericsson’s Communication Entertainment consumer proposition is based around three key promises:

Uniting best in class entertainment experiences into one offering such as the Walkman music experience, the Cyber-shot imaging experience, Java gaming and messaging integrated with services and applications.

Broadening entertainment experiences by integrating the mobile phone into other devices in the home letting consumers share and enjoy entertainment content through a variety of channels including TV, PC and Hifi systems.

Fusing communication with entertainment by removing barriers and offering unlimited sharing opportunities, multiplying the value of people’s entertainment experiences through a host of web applications and Sony Ericsson’s unique Play Now offering.

Yari
A quick recap of the handsets features –
The Satio runs on a Symbian operating system and features -
3.5 inch TFT Touchscreen (360 x 640 pixels, 16 million colors), 16:9 widescreen format
3G (HSDPA), GPRS/EDGE
Wi-Fi, DLNA, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, USB 2.0
GPS with A-GPS support (Google Maps)
12.1 megapixel camera and Xenon flash, LED for Video, geo-tagging, Face and Smile Detection
FM radio
MicroSD card support
The second handset, the Aino slider that offers Remote Play for the PS3 comes with -

3 inch limited touchscreen (240 x 430 pixels, 16 million colors)
3G (HSDPA), GPRS/EDGE
Wi-Fi, DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB 2.0
GPS with A-GPS support (Wayfinder, Google Maps)
8 megapixel AF camera with LED flash, geo-tagging, Face Detection
FM radio
MicroSD card support
The last handset that made its India debut is the Yari slider that has -

2.4-inch limited touchscreen (240 x 320 pixels, 256K colors)
3G (HSDPA), GPRS/EDGE
Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, USB 2.0
GPS with A-GPS support (Wayfinder)
5 megapixel AF camera with LED flash, geo-tagging, Face Detection
FM radio
MicroSD card support
Personally, since we did get a chance to test them at their Singapore event a couple of months ago, I can quite confidently say that the handsets make a great addition to the existing range of mobile handsets in general that are available here in the country today. The price tags on the handsets are as follows -

Rs. 35,950 for the 12 megapixel camera phone the Satio
Rs. 28,950 for the Remote Play, PS3 compatible Aino and
Rs. 16,950 for the Yari that incorporates gesture gaming.

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