LG and Samsung develop solar-powered cell phones

Next week LG and Samsung will reveal prototype handsets that are recharged by solar panels built into the case. In both phones, the solar panels will occupy most of the rear of the phone's case, but doesn't provide enough power to run the phone directly - a conventional battery is also needed.

Network World

US Gaming Market sees 13% growth in January

The US videogame market registered another month of growth in January, adding further evidence that the sector is relatively insulated from recession. The total market was worth US$1.3 billion in January, up 13% on January 2008.

Network World

Microsoft must Fight Back in Mobile Market

Analysts Screen Digest have just published a report which examines the challenges facing Microsoft in the highly competitive mobile market. According to the research Nokia, Google, Research In Motion (RIM) and Apple pose a potent challenge to Microsoft's mobile ambitions.

Cellular News

Telmap Enters Mobile Internet Device Market Segment with Advanced Navigation and Location Services

Telmap, the world leader in mobile location solutions, today announced that it is delivering an advanced navigation and location based service for Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) based on the Intel Atom processor and Linux-based Moblin platform.

GoMo News

YouTube Trials Downloads

The popular video streaming service is going to experiment with allowing downloads to computers and portable devices. Thai Tran, YouTube product manager, said "we've started working with a few partners who want their videos shared universally and even enjoyed away from an internet connection." Watch this space.

Digital Trends

Microsoft offer bounty for worm creator

Microsoft has offered a reward of $250,000 to anyone that reveals the identity of the creator of the Conficker Worm, a self-replicating program that takes advantage of networks or computers that have not kept up to date with Windows security patches.

BBC

Symbian Foundation picks up key allies

The Symbian Foundation, the group behind the mobile platform, has announced more than a dozen new additions to its ranks including Qualcomm, HP, SanDisk and Myspace. News comes after Nokia acquired Symbian last year and its eventual migration to open source by 2010.

VNUnet

Brits still not keen on contactless payments

Survey results released this week show that 35% of Brits polled said they would not use mobile wallet technology, compared to just 9% who said they would definitely use it. Contactless pre-payment cards were slightly more popular with 16% of consumers would use them, compared to 19% who would not.

Silicon.com

Streaming TV viewing doubles again

A survey by Knowledge Networks has found that more than one in five internet users aged 15 – 54 now accesses streaming video to watch full episodes of TV programmes, an 11% increase since 2006. Most IPTV is on demand viewing direct from the networks, however viewing on third party sites has doubled and now accounts for a third of all TV shows watched online.

TechRadar

Ericsson to provide managed services for T-Mobile UK and 3 UK to accelerate 3G network consolidation

Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL), the 50:50 joint venture formed by 3 UK and T-Mobile UK to integrate and manage their 3G networks, has selected Ericsson to provide managed services to complete the consolidation of their 3G infrastructure. Ericsson will be responsible for the network design and deployment of the consolidation program.

Mobile Europe