By Megan Fleet

The appeal of Apple and its iPhone, iPad, and other products has often been one of exclusivity.  In the spirit of a handsfree world, Visual Voicemail gives customers access to voicemail without dialing and has been one such feature iPhone users have been able to take advantage of.

Luckily for consumers with both unlocked cell phone or regular  handsets, they already have their pick of Bluetooth and headsets to up their convenience and safety abilities. And, the Visual Voicemail functionality may be coming their way shortly. Recently documents were leaked indicating that Visual Voicemail will become available on select Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S 2, the Motorola Droid RAZR as well as the BlackBerry Bold 9900 .

For Canadian customers on the Rogers’ network, they will have the benefit of an in-house developed application. Rumors noted that service should be available in February and will cost the same as the non-visual enhanced voicemail currently available with Rogers. For RIM,the launch will extend these new services to support BlackBerry 9700 and Blackberry 9790 devices.

The service will be named “Visual Voicemail Plus” and finally offers an edge on iPhone users: the capacity to save voicemail messages indefinitely. As ever, this kind of storage is exactly the kind of convenience that customers look for at every level of their experience which accounts for continued use of memory cards with smartphones.

Undoubtedly, additional platforms and devices will supported after the launch. The leaked documents noted that any phone with MMS functionality will have Visual Voicemail made available as well. This will include less popular mobile OS like legacy Symbian and Windows Mobile. The biggest question mark is whether the new Rogers Visual Voicemail Plus offering will require additional data plans as the product works through data usage in lieu of dialing.

Aldo Panessidi

Both Rogers and Bell have successfully launched their LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks – offering limited coverage service across various Canadian cities.  While there is no official word o how many Canadians customers have signed up for an LTE device and plan… John Boynton Roger’s CMO stated that LTE sales are ‘Going very well”.  These is a multitude of LTE phones staring to flood the market… including the Motorola Droid Razr and Samsung Galaxy S2.

Juniper Network, a well known network architect and service provider, reported that LTE will enjoy a ‘rapid uptake’ within the next 5 years with a total of about 230 million subscribers by 2016 – which represents almost 6% of the world’s population.  According to the Juniper Network study, we will expect to see most of the growth occurring from 2012 onwards.  Growth will be spurred mainly due to increased cost compared to other 4G networks.  Moreover by 2013 the number of consumer subscribers will increase and eventually take over enterprise subscriber by 2015.  With the influx of LTE smartphone usage… we predict consumers will want to protect, personalize and enhance their devices with latest cell phone accessories.

In Canada there are several data sticks, tablets and smartphones that are currently offered by Bell and Rogers. Smartphones, also known as “Superphones”, include the HTC Raider, Samsung Galaxy S II LTE, LG Optimus LTE and as for tablet we’ve seen the HTC Jetstream and the Samsung Galaxy Tab .

With the upbeat in smartphone and mobile devices sales… we urge consumers to protect their investments from scratches and damage due to accidental drops with branded cases, covers and skins.

Today’s accessories let you fuse trendy fashion with the latest technology to uniquely personalize your mobile devices.  Choose from a wide array of cases, sleeves and bags while enhancing functionality with keyboards, earpieces, docks a s well as stylus and pens.

PureMobile has an accessory solution for every lifestyle…. come discover out unique Shopping Simplified expereince.

The XPERIA Play accessories & phone has been a highly touted device since news of it made its way online for the first time. The Unlocked XPERIA Play is a gaming phone, and while as of right now there are no gaming XPERIA Play accessories to go along with it, you can bet that there will be some in the future. As of right now, even though the phone is young, there are still a number of accessories that are currently available for it. Although the options are limited, these accessories are still compatible with the XPERIA Play accessories & phone.

XPERIA Play accessories: Car Chargers

As for other XPERIA Play accessories, car chargers are some of the more popular accessories that are currently available. There are two different chargers that currently work with the XPERIA Play. These are convenient for giving your phone a charge even when you are out and about and contributing to lasting battery health.

While there are radio apps for most smart phones now, a radio accessory may be ideal because it gives you more flexibility and access to local stations. These also come with head phone inputs that allow you to listen to the radio in your ear buds.

XPERIA Play Accessories: Speakers

The MS340 is a cylindrical speaker and stand that allows you to play your music out loud through speakers, or listen to your favorite radio talk show. The stand clips into the back of your device, and then props your phone up. This would be a great tool for watching movies on, because it gives you access to the screen as well as the added boost to the sound. It is also great for showing things to your friends because of how loud the speakers are. As of right now there is no volume control on the MS340.

The XPERIA Play unlocked is a new device, so expect the number of XPERIA Play Accessories available for it to grow moving ahead.

The Unlocked XPERIA Arc accessories is for a phone that is one of the prides of the Sony Ericsson lineup. Not only is the phone itself quite renowned for its quality, but it also has a range of different accessories that are currently available for it that add extra functionality and bolster the capabilities of the device that are already in place. No matter what you are looking for, there is an accessory to meet your needs. Some of the more common types of XPERIA Arc accessories include the following types;

XPERIA Arc Accessories: Car Chargers

Car chargers are important for keeping your phone charged while you are on the go. There are several different types of car chargers that are directly approved by Sony as XPERIA Arc accessories. These chargers might come with a number of different features, including the ability to transfer data using a Micro USB input, as well as speed and reliability as is seen with the AN300 car charger. Look for a car charger that will meet your needs and provide the speed that you are looking for in your car charger in terms of charging speed – which is a feature that is often overlooked.

XPERIA Arc Accessories: BlueTooth Accessories

There are a range of BlueTooth accessories that are currently available for the XPERIA Arc that makes them a great choice. It is no secret how useful Bluetooth technology can be with your smart device, but Xperia Arc accessories such as the VH 410 provide a level of quality that is rarely seen from these devices. They are compatible with all Sony Ericsson devices, and are known for their high quality. They are ideal for talking while you are driving on the road and allowing you to keep your attention on what is in front of you. For this new and exciting phone, there are already a wide range of Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc Accessories.

Featured Arc Accessories

AN300 Car Charger In Stock

EP310 Wall Charger In Stock

SMA7110 Leather Pouch In Stock

Recently it was announced by Bluetooth SIG that they planned on starting their second Bluetooth Innovation World Cup (IWC) campaign in 2010. A circular was submitted requesting all interested companies to submit their application concepts for the use of Bluetooth Devices & Technology.  The main focus this year is on three different categories viz. health care, sports and fitness and home information and control. The first IWC competition that was launched in 2009 was a great success and once again Bluetooth SIG plans on calling all developers, students as well as entrepreneurs to submit their designs and concepts. Such designs should make complete use of wireless Bluetooth connectivity.

All submissions are available until September 15^th 2010, and the contest is open to all. All submitted applications will be evaluated on various criteria that are being listed on the competition website. Finalists that are chosen from each category will then have to appear in November 2010 for the Electronica Trade Fair as well as the official award ceremony stated to take place in February 2011 at ISPO11. The winning Innovator of the Year for 2010 will win a cash prize of $5000, Bluetooth SIG support as well as a Bluetooth Qualification Program voucher that has an estimated worth of $5000-$10,000.

Says the executive director of Bluetooth SIG, Dr. Michael Foley, “Everywhere you look, you will find that technology has become much faster. With the introduction of Bluetooth v4.0 technology, what you basically have is a low cost, low energy consumption manner of developing great, innovative wireless solutions. The potential that is available with Bluetooth Devices v4.0 is unmatched as it can reach a very wide array of applications. The latest specifications of Bluetooth v4.0 offer an insightful, global standard so as to measure real time performance that can directly be transferred via your mobile phone to the internet. This is without a doubt the innovation of the future as it will become an information hub.”

As many of you already know Monday was the big day in Ontario.  You are no longer allowed to use your cell phone in the car without a Bluetooth headset or Bluetooth car kit.

Ontario is now the fourth province to ban cell phone use without a handsfree device.  Currently only Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia have a law in place.  Manitoba and British Columbia are looking to have a law in place in 2010.

According to a Globe and Mail article the fine for drivers in who don’t respect the handsfree law is a fine up to $500.  For now the first 3 months police officers are going to give out warnings, but why press your luck.  Just get a new Bluetooth right now and be safe

[image courtesy Globe and Mail]

Earpieces are the perfect cell phone accessory for those who want to talk without having to hold the cell phone to their ear. With the advances in technology, there are many models of earpieces that do require wires and can be connected to the phone through Bluetooth for an uninterrupted talking experience. Several earpieces also come equipped with noise canceling technology which cancels out the external noise for better talking experience. Most popular cell phone companies also manufacture earpieces too. Here are some advantages of using earpieces: 

Earpieces are very comfortable. You just need to press a button to pick the call and you can end the conversation with the same control too.

In situations where both hands are required for work earpieces are very useful. You do not need to hold the cell phone and you can carry on with your work while talking on the phone. 

There are several provinces where talking on a handheld phone is prohibited by the law. Using an earpiece to talk on the phone can save you from a traffic violation. However, this must be done only if the call is very important.

Research has shown that using an earpiece while driving also reduces the likelihood of accidents as compared to driving while holding the cell phone.

Earpieces also provide better clarity and listening experience, both to the speaker and to the listener.

Earpieces can also be paired with music cell phone to listen to music on the go. Earpieces enhance the music listening experience and add to the joy of listening to high quality music.

Popular Earpieces and Headsets

There are different types of earpieces manufactured by top companies like Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola and BlackBerry. Some of the popular models are Sony Ericsson HPM-83 Stereo Headset, Nokia HS-45 Plus AD-54 Music Headset, BlackBerry HDW13019001, Motorola SYN0896 MiniUSB and many more.

   It’s been a few months since Quebec enacted the hands-free law.  You can no longer drive with your cell phone in your hand to talk in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia.

   These provinces are the first and we are sure not the last to enact this law.  With police and the government trying to take a hard line again reckless driving this is just the beginning.  This is a step forward in making driving safer.
  

   Recently, October 4, 2008, the Alberta government rejected two resolutions that would have banned cell phones or cell phone holding.  Many people in the medical community are for the banning or restricting of cell phones.  These problems are “newer” problems facing governments.  It will take some time before laws are fully passed.
The question is what will driving be like in 10 years?  Will we have implants for our cell phones?  Will talking and driving even be allowed anywhere?  These are questions that can’t be answered now but we will likely see many more changes in the coming years.