AT&T: No vacation around the iPhone anniversary

It would be helpful if from now on, AT&T's HR department would just send their vacation policy emails directly to tech writers, since they're going to get out anyway and they pretty much apply to us as well.

The Boy Genius Report snagged an internal email that made its way around AT&T earlier today instituting a vacation freeze for all sales employees between June 15 and July 15, in order to support "an exciting new promotion/product launch." Hmm, whatever could that be?

A similar email was sent to AT&T reps last year, blacking out vacation during the period around the launch of the first iPhone. The 3G version of the iPhone is widely expected to make its debut in mid-to-late-June, on or around the same time the iPhone 2.0 software is released.

It's not clear what Apple and AT&T have in mind for the one-year anniversary, but AT&T expects "heavier than normal customer traffic in our stores," according to the memo.

Via "One More Thing" blog on CNET News.com

Vodafone to get iPhone in 10 countries

Vodafone has just signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in 10 of its markets around the world. The list of countries include Australia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey and is expected to be available to the company's customers "later this year". The iPhone is currently available in the US, UK, Germany, France, Canada and Spain.

Via Engadget

New iPhone firmware features Chinese handwriting recognition

A day really doesn't go by these days without news of the iPhone. The latest piece of news, coming from a Chinese blog site wretch.cc, shows screenshots of a Chinese handwriting recognition function in the iPhone. According to the site, this function is included in the new iPhone 2.0 beta firmware and this has also been verified by another site MacRumors.

Based on the Web site's description, the handwriting recognition allows users to draw characters on the screen with their fingers. Suggestions for the character will appear on the right of the panel where users can then pick the right one.

With so many rumors and claims that the iPhone (or possibly the much-awaited 3G iPhone) is set to officially debut in Asia this year, this latest news certainly reinforces market speculation that Apple will soon bring its elusive handset to our part of the world.

Via MacRumors and wretch.cc

Possible mid-September release for Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1

Let the XPERIA hysteria begin. Thanks to loose-lipped mobile content provider Handango, we may now know the general launch date of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1. According to a newsletter Handango sent out to its partners, the highly anticipated Windows Mobile smart phone will launch in "mid-September 2008" with the Handango InHand service onboard. Earlier, rumors had put it at delayed till 2009.

The company also noted that if partners want their software to be considered for the catalog, it must support "International English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish", so presumably, the smartphone will be available in appropriate markets. Now, we're not taking this as definitive word, but at least it's a little more encouraging than Sony Ericsson's more generic "second half of the year" response.

Via Crave CNET | Source: Engadget Mobile

VTech has a little fun with home phones

VTech may be one of the most overachieving phone makers in the land-line business. Rather than just lie down and let mobile handsets invade the home, the Hong Kong-based company has continually pushed the envelope by developing computer-like functions for its products, ranging from online news feeds to instant messaging. (We think they may be overcompensating because of their reputation as a toy maker, but that's no crime.)

In fact, it was nice to seem them lighten up a bit with the latest version of their DECT 6.0 home phones. The LS6117 sports a look that was "inspired by skateboard and snowboard designs", according to 7Gadgets, though consumers can also create their own styles on VTech's Web site.

We knew that the company's toy-making background would come in handy at some point.

Via Crave CNET

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