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The future of Apple’s NFC mobile payment strategy
Posted by Reza Malayeri Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Rumors,
There is no question that mobile phone payments are very popular, and that many of us can operate our entire financial lives from our mobile phones. Apps from PayPal, and Square can turn our iPhones into portable financial centers, allowing us to exchange money quickly and easily. These new applications are creating opportunities and benefits that will shape the future of mobile payments.
Predictions about the iPhone 5 and the iPad 2 are beginning to heat up, and much of the talk has been about the implementation of NFC (near field communication) technology. What we haven't heard about so far, is anything about native intergration of mobile payment solutions from Apple and Google.
Click to continue reading The future of Apple’s NFC mobile payment strategy
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iTunes 10.1.2 drops, adds support for CDMA iPhone
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Music, Software,
If you've got the Verizon iPhone on your mind, you're gonna wanna be sure to grab iTunes 10.1.2, available now from Apple. Aside from bug fixes and performance updates, this version of iTunes carries CDMA iPhone support with it. Fire up Software Update now to nab it.
Ubiquisys attocell will be a personal femtocell for the iPhone
Posted by Reza Malayeri Categories: Accessories, USB, Smartphones, Wireless / WiFi,
Today Ubiquisys announced a new smartphone accessory called attocell; a personal femtocell for the iPhone and other 3G mobile phones. "This remarkable device is a personal mobile phone signal, with a range so tiny it can be used anywhere that your laptop has an internet connection. It provides a great mobile service anywhere in the world, and calls are made and received as though on the home country network."
Depending on the local signal regulations, the device can operate in either the 5mm mode, or it can broadcast a signal within a room. This allows the attocell to intelligently scan the surrounding cellular networks and make sure that it does not have any negative impact on the local operators cell signal.
Travellers across the globe will soon be able to carry the attocell along on their trips, and avoid paying those hefty international roaming rates.
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| Ubiquisys Attocell
Verizon forcing $30 unlimited data plan on new smartphone customers
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi,
Verizon Wireless will cease offering its monthly 150MB data plan, which costs $15, and by default will require all new smartphone users to adopt its existing $30 unlimited data plan.
During Verizon's fourth quarter earnings call on Tuesday morning, chief operating officer Lowell McAdam said the company was scrapping its $15/month 150 MB data plan this month.
A Verizon Wireless spokesman declined to offer any more details but confirmed Verizon would continue its $30 unlimited MB plan.
The announcement deals a direct blow to the original Apple iPhone carrier, AT&T, which had to scrap its unlimited data plan last summer. AT&T's metered data plans begin at $15 a month for 200MB. At the time, AT&T argued that 98 percent of its smartphone users consumed less than 2GB per month, and 65 percent consumed less than 200MB per month.
Click to continue reading Verizon forcing $30 unlimited data plan on new smartphone customers
White iPhone 4 appears in ATT, Best Buy inventory
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
Last we heard from Apple on the white iPhone 4, it had been delayed for a third time, set to debut this Spring. However, the mythical phone has finally started appearing in the inventory management systems of places like Best Buy, Vodafone Germany, and AT&T. With AT&T, customers can even log in right now and see the white models listed in the model picker in the account management area. This is likely a sign that Apple is finally ready to unleash the white model upon us, but really, who wants to buy a white iPhone 4 now when iPhone 5 is right around the corner? Anyone?
Video: Verizon’s first iPhone commercial
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Videos,
Wanna see how VZW is pushing the Verizon iPhone? Check out their first iPhone commercial, which focuses on the amount of time that customers have been waiting for the Apple smartphone to arrive. Great concept.
Pay with your smartphone at Starbucks nationwide
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Software, Wireless / WiFi,
It looks like Starbucks will start offering a new way to pay for all that caffeine nationwide starting this week. Using an iPhone or Blackberry app called Starbucks Card Mobile, users will be able to use their phone as tender at 6,800 locations in the US. The app lets people add payment cards to it, and then simply scan their devices when they want to buy something. The program has been operating as a pilot at select locations, and the company believes customers will appreciate the easier and faster way to pay.
Leaked: ATT raising activation fees starting January 23
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News,
Hot on the heels of our exclusive reports on Best Buy's plan to combat the Verizon iPhone and AT&T's new text messaging plans, we've got another tidbit for you. Aside from changes to their SMS fee structure, AT&T will also be changing up their activation fees. Beginning January 23, the fee on all activations, regardless of the type of phone purchased, will be standardized at $36. Also, the activation fee for additional FamilyTalk lines is being raised to $36 (it is currently $26.)
So now that we know AT&T will be changing their activation fees and SMS plans, we're wondering if talk plans might be getting changes as well. We're doing some digging, and if we find anything, we will let you know.
Leaked: New ATT text messaging plans in preparation for Verizon iPhone
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Features,
AT&T customers, get ready for new text messaging rates to go into effect starting next week. As the Verizon iPhone approaches, the company is looking to make their plans look a bit more attractive, and not so different from what Verizon will be offering. Above is an image leaked out of Best Buy showing that AT&T will have two text messaging plans going forward. The first is a new $10 per month for 1000 text messages (with each additional costing $.10,) while the second is the $20 unlimited text plan ($30 for family plans.) Going away are the $5/200 message and $15/1500 message plans. If you're a current customer on one of those plans, you are grandfathered in and can hold onto it, but new customers won't have those choices starting on January 23rd. Also on that day, AT&T will be raising activation fees.
We're not sure how much this will do to keep people from jumping ship, but it certainly makes the texting plans a little clearer. Also, be sure to check out how Best Buy plans to convince customers to choose the AT&T iPhone. War is upon us!
Today I Die Again for iPhone available free today only
Posted by Drea Avellan Categories: Games, App Updates, iPad Apps, Sales, Free Apps,
In conjunction with Free App A Day (FAAD), Atakamalabs has released the popular IndieCade Jury Award winning title rewrite, Today I Die Again by Daniel Benmergui, completely free. Today I Die Again is a thought provoking adventure using words as means to action.
The scene opens underwater with the body of a dead woman floating lifeless in the dark. The rock tied around her waist suggests that her demise was no accident. A poem floats above her: “hopeless world / full of shadows / today I die”
Players must use the floating glowing words or reveal hidden ones to help you transform the ever-present poem in order to progress through the game. All along the way you battle the dark creatures from the depths in effort to break through to the surface. The oddly creative music score sets the mood perfectly as you are immersed deeper into this pixelated world. Today I Die Again is truly a unique game unlike any other, exploring new ways to express emotions through a video game experience.
Today I Die Again is available free on the iTunes store for iPhone and iPod Touch.
