Incidentally the deal is you get the G1 free with 700 minutes or 1,400 texts (or any mix of the two), unlimited internet and an 8GB memory card for £30 per month. Probably at least an 18 month contract too.

Connected advertising, eh?

ActiveSync.

Your contacts sync correctly.

Same with Nokia handsets running Mail For Exchange. It all just works.

Every since I arsed about trying to get Google, Plaxo, Apple Address Book AND Exchange to sync… big screw ups.

BIG BIG screw ups.

iTunes and Google repeatedly sync and create duplicates for some contacts.

A total sodding bind.

So much so that my 2,000 or so contacts are now 10,000… have a look at this:

Joy.

My Mum gets Carphone Warehouse letters in the post; and the other day I arrived home from School, seeking out any interesting post for myself, when I came across a little Christmas brochure. I expected to see the usual mix of non-interesting and far-fetched mobiles, which have very limited appeal to someone who is as indecisive as I.

Then I came across the LG Cookie.

I’m not an LG fan by any means, yes their phones are nice, and I have to say although I appreciate the minor attempts at creativity with their naming processes; previous experiences of LG’s have taught me that they’re not my cup of tea. Should I mention I’m not a fan of their interfaces, or just generally how they work and feel?

However, the Cookie did catch my eye! It looks nice, it’ll be a new experience, it’s a touch-screen (another learning curve), and also the ability to use an on screen QWERTY keyboard, and importantly its price.

I don’t know what to do.

Now this could just be a sporadic urge to go and spend money, and get something just because I’ve seen it, and I like the price; but then I think… LG. An interface I know I won’t like, and will struggle to get grips with, and I fear I’ll see all the flaws in my purchase just after I’ve broken that “unbreakable seal” on the box.

It’s hopeless! I do this with every wonderful find I come across, and I deliberate an item and a possible purchase so much that it either becomes outdated and therefore useless, or I decide I don’t like it although secretly still wanting it, or I’ll find something else to admire and want.

I know for one, I can’t be the only person who does this; and I know for one that it’s probably a good safety precaution my mind has implemented to stop such impulse buying – a trait I really try to avoid at all costs.

Now I wonder, why is it I find mobiles such as the Cookie, and previously before it the LG KS360 before that, and there was also a Sony mobile before that too; why is it I loose interest, and forget about it, and then find some other mobile-crush?

Could it just be that no matter how lovely one major aspect or feature of a phone is say, it’s price, a new built in gadget or a sleek, slender design; it really isn’t enough to make a mobile good, or at-least good enough to buy.

What I’m beginning to see is that mobiles tend to be about one major factor, be it its connectivity, a particular design focus, a built in application, the camera, the media, the price, or its “technological achievements”.  I don’t want just one particularly above average feature as reason to invest in a mobile; I want a device that has equally good features which aren’t just surfing above the acceptable quality in phone.

So my next mobile-crush won’t be on a weak whim, a spur-of-the moment encounter, it’ll be something which offers more than one better than alright feature, and something I won’t fall out of love with.

Feel free to e-mail me anything at Samantha@mobileindustryreview.com

Only that’s exactly where his Motorola RAZR was — sat in his breast pocket.

“I stopped and I lifted up my sweatshirt and I took out the cell phone to check it to see if it was damaged and this bullet falls out,” Richard told the local CBS affiliate WWL. He said the shot—which was strong enough to tear a hole in his sweatshirt—felt like a punch to the chest.

Well I never.

It’s ok though, as Gizmodo explains:

Investigators said that the bullet could have come from as far away as a quarter of a mile, and that people shoot guns in that area all the time.

So, just like Bas Vegas, Basildon, Essex, then?

I want a phone that works when I need it to.

I want a phone that people can hear me speak on, unless my signal strength is shot to shreds. If I have more than 2-3 bars out of 5, I expect the other person to hear me properly. The fact that most folk can’t hear me speaking on my vodafone Blackberry Bold is rather worrying.

But by far the biggest arse with being me is that I like to buy new stuff. Bleeding edge stuff. That runs down batteries like no tomorrow.

Case in point today at Future of Mobile. I left the house with the following devices fully charged:

- Vodafone Blackberry Bold
- T-Mobile Blackberry 8800
- T-Mobile UK G1
- T-Mobile N95 8GB (that doesn’t ‘do’ data)

By 8pm the Bold was screaming red. BATTERY LOW was constantly flashing up. It was so annoyed with me for using it, it decided to flash yellow every few seconds to remind me how shit the battery is. That’s not even a full sodding day’s usage.

Not to worry. I’ve got the G1 handy.

But that’s a world of pain. Despite NOT Using it at ALL today, I took it out at 830pm to find that it had 21% battery left.

To be clear: I have not used it. I have not DONE anything with it. Sitting idling with the odd email update has flocked the majority of the battery.

Shite.

My 8800 Blackberry is on 95% power. So at least I still have a handset that I can use.

I think I need a rethink.

I either need to take a leaf out of the books of other MIR contributors such as James Whatley, Dan Lane and Ben Smith, and carry a Proporta or other such mobile charger around.

That really annoys me.

Or maybe I should faff about with multiple device batteries?

Hugely disappointing, given the cash I’m blowing on these devices.

Maybe I should chuck everything else and just use the Blackberry 8800?

[ Written using the rather limited keyboard on my Vodafone Netbook connected via Voda GPRS on the 2245 to Southend Victoria... so there might be quite a few stupid tpyos. ]

I was browsing around my daily choice of news reads, when I came across an article where a simple SMS message is being used to highlighting the need to have HIV tests in Africa. I think it’s brilliant. It’s short, snappy, and highlighting a point, and trying to induce change with it.

So why then, doesn’t this happen here in the UK?

Now, I’ll tell you, I think it was around a week ago now I received a letter in the post informing me of the free Chlamydia tests I can have.  It’s a brilliant service, and I have to praise my local Primary Care Trust for providing it, and for the notice about it.  But do you know what would be better?

Tell me via the methods of communications I use most. And by that I mean E-mail and SMS.

I admit, I always check I have post, and I do write the odd letter (usually a complaint though), but I do use the “snail-mail” system. But, it’s not engaging, it’s not relevant, and it’s certainly not in touch with the speed of information transfer and communication I’m used to.

Whenever I speak to someone my age, it’s never “Oh, I got this is in the post this morning…” it’s “I got an e-mail a minute ago about…” and “Look at the text I just received!”. The old system of postal mail, I love it, it’s quaint and good to use occasionally, but it’s not good for informing me about a free Chlamydia test I can have.

What would have been brilliant would be a nicely worded (although not txt spk msg) with a link to a free WAP site. If that’s too much to ask for then maybe a service where I could text back my door number and post code to receive more information in the post, or maybe even a test pack.

This really isn’t rocket science, and nor is this asking too much. The most common methods of communication for young people (and probably, most people now), is via our phones. Not to mention, the effort required to get a reply is next to nothing, compared to the mini-form I would have to fill out, then the bother of finding an envelope.  And, with what is it, one in fifteen or ten people getting Chlamydia now, wouldn’t it only just make sense to target me, and all my peers using this method?

Obviously, there is an issue as to how, say my local Primary Care Trust would get hold of my mobile number, and then issues with data-storage and privacy – then again, I was slightly shocked at how information I’ve given to my GP has riddled its way into a mail-merging system.  But, if there was a way in which this system could work, then SMS could be used and become part of the greater-good.

But even say if Mobile Networks became obliged to send out such messages to all people aged nineteen or below, then this system would work brilliantly.

Food for though I think, and I would like to see something developed in the near future which maybe utilised the powers of SMS and even MMS more.

Any ideas, questions, thoughts or suggestions please e-mail them to me at Samantha@mobileindustryreview.com

A Google for Comes With Music should work, also.

As always, we heard about it all after the event. Goodness knows what they’re up to at Nokia Towers. We would have brought you an entire TV show dedicated to Comes With Music had we known about it all.

But don’t fear! Don’t fret!

Oh no. Here’s the email that arrived this afternoon from Nokia:

Dear Ewan,

Please see the link below to view the multimedia news release that contains B-roll material and sound bites in broadcast quality from the NOKIA REMIX event that took place in London yesterday.

http://tinyurl.com/4mpe9f

For viewing the on demand web cast, visit http://events.nokia.com.

Should you have any questions or comments, please send feedback to Danielle Ross.

So if you’d like to watch some B-Roll of the event — that’s your link up there.

We will, whenever we can be bothered, bring you some Nokia related content.

Although, actually, I don’t think we will, come to think of it. What is the point?

Comes With Music. It’s ok. It’s certainly not brilliant. It doesn’t match the iTunes experience one jot. Is it mass market? Yeah. Your normob will soldier on and wrap their head around the rather involved UI. Your average 16 year old will put up with it. Just like they do with their current Nokias. And it’ll work. And it’ll position Nokia nicely with music.

Next.

So, if you’re up for a bit of B-Roll — that’s the link up there.

Otherwise, well.. I’ve a note from Carphone Warehouse telling me the Nokia Comes With Music handset will be retailing for just under 130 quid shortly. I’m not be disposed to Carphone Warehouse either after experiencing their not-Lifeline Insurance service. But I was thinking of going and buying a handset so I can check out Comes With Music.

It’s the right thing to do.

I just don’t feel up for shedding out the cash to both Nokia and Carphone Warehouse today.

Except on my Three contract. What Three do is they show you the price for the tariff, then itemise the extra cost for the handset. And that means that I can see exactly how much I’m paying for those minutes. And it allows me to make an informed decision about how much the shiny new mobile is worth to me
Here’s an interesting perspective from regular contributor Malcolm Murphy.

—
In my case, I pay 20 quid for 1100 minutes or texts. Or, to put it another way, less than 2p per minute or text. Just think about that. Less than 2p per minute to make a call, to a landline or a mobile, any time of the day or night. That’s cheaper than my landline provider, who want a connection fee, plus 5p per minute from me during the day, more if I want to call a mobile. Less than 2p per text message, when I’m continually informed by people in the industry that the wholesale cost of sending a message is around 3 euro cents – a little over 2p.

Except, it’s only less than 2p if I actually get round to using all those minutes or texts. And, as the people from Three are already well aware, I don’t. Well, not usually. So, I’m probably paying more like 3 to 4p per minute/text. Even so, that looks like good value. And it’s a good deal for both of us. The operator knows that I’m going to give them at least 20 quid per month for the rest of my contract. And in return for me probably buying more minutes than I need, I get a certain amount of predictability on how much my bill will be. Of course, anything international throws the predictability out of the window, but let’s put that to one side for the moment.

Now, my example may be extreme because I signed on when Three had a promotion, but it’s not massively out of kilter with the rest of the deals out there. Yesterday, for example, I walked past a Vodafone shop and saw a SIM only offer: 600 minutes and unlimited texts for 20 quid a month. So, let’s generalise and say that in bundle deals are around 3-4p per minute or text.

Things get interesting when we consider the out-of-bundle rates, or what you’ll pay on PAYG. These rates are at least four or five times the in-bundle rates. Ouch. So, either, the operators are gouging me if I go over my inclusive allowance, not to mention all their PAYG customers, or the in-bundle rates are very cheap.

I have no inside knowledge of how much it costs an operator to provide the service, but if I had to guess, I’d say that the answer to the above is somewhere in between. If I used all my minutes every month, then I suspect I wouldn’t look like a very good customer. I strongly doubt that the operator would be losing money servicing me, but they won’t be making the huge margins that their shareholders have come to expect.

I’m interested to see how the headline price for a contract will change over the next couple of years – my guess is that we will move from the 30-35 pound level that seems to be the norm currently to a 20-25 pound level. What I’m not so sure about is whether we’ll see handsets, or inclusive minutes, or both, compromised to achieve that.

But for now, while I despair at the packaging and marketing , I think that (contract) mobile price plans generally represent decent value. What do you think?

For just ten pounds per month, users will be entitled to unlimited free evening and weekend texts. Obviously this will be in-accordance to a Fair Use Policy of some nature, but brilliant nonetheless.

Still not happy?
Well topping up thirty pounds a month entitles you to unlimited free texts anytime!

I’ve never taken Vodafone into consideration for anything really, but I have to say, I’m rethinking my plans to join Virgin Mobile. I’m not an avid text’er, but for ten pounds, I can’t go wrong can I?

In addition to this, new and existing Voda-customers will see the peak call price drop ten pence, to 20p.

That’s what I like to hear!

I have to say, in recent weeks all I’ve been reading about Vodafone is good (other than some price changes which weren’t that brilliant), but even so… They definitely seem like the people to go to for customer service, and reliability.

Firstly, I should point out, the iPhone didn’t work. It’s by no fault of Ewan or I, but more like the Antenna is dead. I tried it out on O2, Virgin, Orange, Vodafone and other networks and it just wouldn’t get coverage.
Despite this, I have to say I grew close to the device.

Although I couldn’t text, e-mail, phone, browse or anything that the iPhone was mainly designed to do, I could use the functions of the device. I particularly found the QWERTY keyboard useful, and brilliant.

I hate touch screens, but the keypad was for the most part absolutely brilliant. I had a couple of issues with the fact I couldn’t have it in landscape mode whilst texting or writing notes; but even so, brilliant.

I was equally surprised at the ease of use. My Grandma instantly fell in love with it, and was even thinking up ways in trying to persuade my Grandad to buy her one! I did find the lack of options and settings annoying; I like to have full control over a device I have, and I wasn’t impressed with the lengthy settings menu with little depth.

Annoyingly, I found that the iPod on the iPhone was disappointing; the sound quality from the built-in speakers was horrific. The amount of energy it drained from the battery was equally appalling, and iTunes drove me utterly insane. However, I do have an iPod compatible Altec Lansing speaker device which I had never used with an iPod before. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality, but that was only because it was better than the worst I imagined it would be.

I can’t say I definitely like or even love the iPhone, and nor can I say I hate it. I have enjoyed using it. I will admit I was wrong about the touch screen interface, it won me over; actually it pretty much won over everyone in my house.

I can’t vouch for the whole quality of the phone either, and although Antenna issues exist in many phones, my research into the problem, and general issues with iPhones generally aggravated me.

You won’t see me in the Carphone Warehouse or O2 store signing up for a lengthy contract for the device, but it has certainly opened up my eyes to some of its features. If I can, I will try and definitely get a device with a good QWERTY keyboard, and simple interface; but I will also need something that suits my needs.

It’s a shame it didn’t work entirely, because I would have loved to have found out whether the applications, browsing abilities and the like could have also won me over?