FMC: December 2007 Archives

Samsung and T-Mobile announced the availability of the new Samsung Katalyst. The Katalyst adds a stylish, slider design to the growing line-up of phones that support T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service that enables customers to switch between T-Mobile phone wireless service and Wi-Fi HotSpot@Home services.

Key features of the Katalyst include:

• Wi-Fi-enabled phone; supports T-Mobile HotSpot @Home
  
• Bluetooth 1.3 Megapixel camera
  
• Bluetooth(R) wireless technology
  
• Music player
  
• Expandable memory (microSD memory card)
  
• Speaker-independent voice recognition
  
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE Quad-Band: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
  
• Dimensions: 3.97" x 1.98" x .65"
  
• Weight: 4.1 ounces (with standard battery)
  
• Main Display: 176 x 220 pixels, TFT, 262K

Nortel has successfully tested a solution with Qualcomm that will improve the mobile phone experiences allowing users to continue conversations uninterrupted and avoid additional roaming charges when a caller is moving between different wireless networks.

The completion of testing between Nortel’s IMS-based Voice Call Continuity (VCC) network solution and the Qualcomm chipset solution that uses their IMS/VCC device client is a major step towards the availability of out-of-the box VCC-enabled mobile phones.

VCC helps decrease mobile phone charges by seamlessly switching voice calls, without interruptions, between WiFi and cellular networks. Airtime and long distance charges do not apply when the user roams into areas of WiFi coverage - which can be in the home, office or some public retail locations.

Nortel and Qualcomm’s pre-validated solutions allow dual-mode mobile phones to be VCC-ready upon purchase without any additional software downloads or service provider configuration, which is expected to help accelerate broader use of the technology.