ArchiveApril, 2007

Consumer electronics giant Sharp today announced a new kind of cell phone display technology that should improve the resolution of tiny screens by a factor of four.

The 2.2″ liquid crystal display boasts a contrast ratio of 2,000-to-1, far better than the 500-to-1 screens we see in use today. Sharp is ready to roll out these tiny screens, and has set its sight on the cell phone industry. The company expects to see $850 million in sales as soon as next year.

The mobile TV phenomenon is already popular in Europe and Asia, and its effect on the American cellular industry is growing thanks to services like Verizon’s VCAST. As more users become accustomed to watching video on smaller screens, the demand for such devices is expected to rise. At least, that’s what Sharp executives believe:

“The culture for watching TV on cell phones is catching on.”

It will be interesting to watch the technological build-up for the kind of mobile content that is, as of now, still something of an unknown to many cell phone users.

The Washington Nationals, as part of a joint venture with tickets.com, just unveiled a fully operational delivery system that will allow fans to receive (and share) game tickets via cell phone multimedia message throughout the 2007 season.

This technology, often discussed as a potential new mobile application with wide-ranging capabilities, allows the team to deliver a seat-specific bar code to individual phones, which will then be scanned as fans progress into the stadium. These “virtual” tickets are also easily transferred among friends and family members, which could eliminate lengthy waits at the more traditional Will Call window.

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A new patent awarded to Motorola features solar panels layered beneath the external LCD screen on a mobile handset, indicating the potential for a solar-powered cell phone at some point in the future.

The “Display and Solar Cell Device” patent allows a cell phone to be powered directly by the solar cell, as well as route power to the internal battery for a quick recharge.

While we’re not likely to see anything like this too soon, it’s nice to imagine a day when our cell phones could receive a supplementary power boost from a built-in solar panel. Chances are, a traditional battery will remain with us for quite some time as the primary power source, but solar power could definitely provide a short-term recharge in case of emergency.

Of course, that won’t help much when your phone dies after sundown, but it’s a start.

Believe it or not, America officially has a ‘National Texting Champion,’ and she’s thirteen years old. Okay, we can believe the part about her age.

The new champ, Pennsylvania’s Morgan Pozgar, defeated a field of nearly 200 to claim the crown in a competition sponsored by cell phone manufacturer LG. In the final round, she typed “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” in just fifteen seconds to edge out the 21-year old runner up and take home $25,000 in prize money. Pozgar says she sends in the neighborhood of 8,000 text messages a month.

We hope she has the right data plan.

Good news for BlackBerry fanatics — Research in Motion (RIM) just announced plans to release software which, in effect, turns any smartphone running on the Windows Mobile platform into a BlackBerry.

When installed, this software bundle will provide access to BlackBerry apps like email, calendar, address book, etc. This option is perfect for those who prefer the look and feel of the BlackBerry interface, but, more importantly, it provides full implementation of the “push” technology that has hooked so many power users, delivering messages automatically and enabling more immediate responses.

The announcement is a notable extension of the BlackBerry brand, now reaching beyond individual smartphone handsets to include a malleable and customizable service.

Many of the safety considerations associated with carrying a cell phone are well-documented: having a phone on you allows you to stay in touch in an emergency, or even be tracked and found when tragedy strikes. Now a new benefit may be right around the corner — will your cell phone be able to protect you from roadside accidents?

Nissan’s Intelligent Transportation Systems is an ongoing project using GPS data to help improve warning systems built into the company’s automobiles. The latest bit of research involves scanning the surrounding area for signals emitted by a 3G cell phone, and then relaying that data back to the car’s automated safety system. The driver would receive a warning, which, theoretically, would help cut down on accidents caused by blind spots or inattention.

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Verizon Wireless introduced a new option within its “America’s Choice” family of calling plans designed to target the text-messaging segment of the market:

“The new plans are in response to customers’ increasing demand for greater text messaging options,� said Jim Naughton, director of consumer marketing for Verizon Wireless.

The text-centric plan offers unlimited text, picture, and multimedia messaging to anyone in the United States; monthly rates begin at $39.99 for 450 minutes (in addition to the unlimited messaging), and range upward from that entry level.

Text messaging in this country lags behind most markets in Europe, but continues to grow exponentially as more Americans adapt the technology as a fundamental method of communication. Verizon, together with the other U.S. carriers, has shown an ability to shape new service options for an evolving consumer base — the prospect of unlimited texting is certain to appeal to many users (yours truly, included).