Palm releases firmware update for Treo 650

Palm Inc. today announced a new firmware update for its Treo 650 smart phone customers in the Asia-Pacific region. The Updater 1.20 includes several enhanced features such as the new Versamail 3.1E with Gmail support, Gmail attachment downloads using the Web browser as well as optimized Bluetooth performance and added support for headsets and car kits.

The latest firmware update also promises improved memory handling when opening large Web pages, better device performance for heavy data usage and improved voice quality. It will come with the option for masked password entry in the browser and improved customizable voice or sound recordings for specific callers. The Updater 1.20, which can be downloaded from the Treo 650 support Web site, is available now.

BlackBerry service to shut down?

According to recent news reports, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a petition by Research In Motion to review a patent infringement ruling against the company. Many industry observers believe that this rejection could lead to a wide-scale shutdown of the BlackBerry mobile email service.

However, it seems that the BlackBerry users outside of the U.S. have nothing to worry about as the injunction against RIM will only affect its U.S. customers. A statement issued by StarHub confirms that "the case has no relevance outside the USA, including any effect on StarHub's BlackBerry service or customer in Singapore". RIM has also annnounced that in the event of an injunction, it "has prepared software workarounds designs which it intends to implement if necessary to maintain the operation of BlackBerry services in the United States without customer service interuption". More details are expected soon.

Smart phones overtake PDAs

PDAs aren't going to die anytime soon. Still, they're being given a run for their money by smart phones. Canalys reported global shipments of smart phones up 75 percent year-to-year in Q3 2005. Next to them, shipment for standalone handhelds dropped 18 percent, while converged devices more than doubled in volume during the same time frame.

In all, the worldwide market for "disconnected" handheld devices recorded its seventh consecutive quarter of year-to-year decline in Q3 2005.

Meanwhile, take a gander at the following stats PDABuzz has compiled

Nokia ships a record 7.1 million smart phones, up 142 percent year-to-year.

Palm shipments were down 2 percent overall, although Treo smart phones went up 71 percent, overtaking its handhelds for first time.

20 million smart phones and 13 million PDAs are expected to ship in 2006

Global PDA shipments are expected to grow 22 percent in 2006

Smart phone shipments were up 288 percent in Q2 2005

The global handheld market fell 16.9 percent in Q3 2005

50 percent of new PDAs sold in Europe have a GPS unit

In 2008, 56 percent of all handsets will have Bluetooth

Most important functions in a mobile device: Voice, address book, text messaging

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Hardy handheld that'll endure

It's no surprise the rugged MC9097 handheld computer looks like a barcode scanner. That's because Symbol Technologies is best known for its barcode scanning devices. The MC9097 is among the heavy-duty wireless products that the company is rolling out in an aim to extend its reach into new markets, including the healthcare sector.

So what's hardy about the 32-ounce MC9097? For one, it's waterproof. For another, you can drop it 6ft down onto solid concrete and run it over with a truck, and it'll still bounce back into action. Now all that's needed is for it to get smaller and smarter looking.

Cell-iPod "Mobile Me" combo appears likely

It appears quite likely that Apple is getting ready to release a cellular-enabled iPod. Either that, or an iPod-enabled cell phone. If not, then why did Apple, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Ryan Kim, file four trademark applications earlier this month, covering such terms as "digital music", "cellular" and "communications"?

In a blog posted on ZDNet by Russell Shaw, he notes that the four trademark applications in question are Word Marks Apple has filed for the term "Mobile Me".

Additionally, Shaw notes that lots of people are speculating. Albert Lin and Shaw Wu of American Technology Research think an iTunes phone in the mold of the Motorola ROKR could be in the offing. So could a cellular-enabled iPod where Apple would act as a cellular reseller, buying bulk minutes from an established carrier and then reselling them to users.

With such technology, iPod users could download tunes over the air, from the iTunes store. That would mean an iPod phone would need to have enough browsing functionality to process secure micropayments.

Shaw adds that not everyone agrees Apple is necessarily headed toward making itself a cell phone reseller. Julie Ask, senior analyst for Jupiter Research, told the Chron's Kim that "Apple sells hardware and software. They don't have an existing subscriber base like cable companies, and they don't have content like ESPN that people have an affinity to."

But what if Apple were to launch streaming music channels that an iPod cell phone could offer access to? Now that would be the crunch.

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