[MobileRatty] tag: customer

President-Elect Obama's Mobile Phone Account with Verizon Wireless Breached

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:04:31 +0000

Verizon Wireless said on Thursday that some employees had gained unauthorized access and viewed a personal cell phone account held by President-elect Barack Obama that is now inactive.

An Obama aide said his voice-mail messages and e-mails were not breached in the incident.

"We were notified yesterday that employees had accessed the records of an old cell phone no longer in use," the Obama aide said. "No voice or e-mails were listened to or read."

The company said the device in question was a simple voice phone, not a Blackberry or other device designed for e-mail or other data services.

In a statement, Verizon Wireless President and Chief Executive Lowell McAdam apologized to Obama and said all employees who had had access to Obama's account, whether authorized or not, were put on immediate leave with pay.

Telecom analyst Michael King of Gartner said that a telephone employee accessing billing information could likely see the numbers a customer had called, how long conversations with those people were and when he called them.

King said he could not recall a high-profile case where an employee had unauthorized access to records and that recent public cases involved company outsiders finding ways to check other people's records.

Verizon said it will soon impose disciplinary action against those who accessed Obama's account improperly.

Asked to disclose exactly what kind of information was viewed, the duration and frequency of the unauthorized access, Verizon Wireless spokesman Jeffrey Nelson declined comment beyond the company's statement.

source

eXpansys Friday deals

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:58:54 +0000

eXpansys Friday Deals are only accessible via the links below and are active between 11am and 4pm UK time on Friday the 21st November*. Normal pricing will resume at 4pm.

Apple Refurbished iPod nano Special Offer
Save £25, normal price £94.99,special offer price £69.99
version: Black, 8GB, 3rd Generation
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=172555&partner=tracyandmatt

Apple Refurbished iPod nano Special Offer
Save £25, normal price £94.99,special offer price £69.99
version: Silver, 8GB, 3rd Generation
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=172533&partner=tracyandmatt

Apple Refurbished iPod nano Special Offer
Save £25, normal price £94.99,special offer price £69.99
version: Green, 8GB, 3rd Generation
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=172554&partner=tracyandmatt

Sony Ericsson W595 Walkman Special Offer
Save £20, normal price £189.99, special offer price £169.99
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=176565&partner=tracyandmatt

LG KF750 Secret Special Offer
Save £15, normal price £169.99, special offer price £154.99
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=176564&partner=tracyandmatt

eXpansys USB Adaptor A (Female) to mini USB (Female) 2-Pack
Save £6, normal price £10.99, special offer price £4.99
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=176566&partner=tracyandmatt

*Voucher codes do not apply with these deals. Limited to 2 units per customer.
Prices and availability subject to change, www.expansys.com website price and availability always applies. All prices inclusive of VAT unless stated.
Terms and Conditions apply, E&OE. ©2008 eXpansys plc.

Just arrived

HTC S740 Smartphone only £359.99
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=172699&partner=tracyandmatt

Christmas Gift Ideas

eXpansys Xtreme-Copter Infrared Control Toy Helicopter £19.99
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=175493&partner=tracyandmatt

eXpansys Digital Photo Frame only £39.99
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=144670&partner=tracyandmatt

TomTom ONE v3 Classic only £99.99
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=173524&partner=tracyandmatt

Nokia CK-300 Bluetooth Car Kit £99.99
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=165614&partner=tracyandmatt

Nokia BH-102 Bluetooth Headset £16.99
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=161525&partner=tracyandmatt

Posted by: Matt

[ Post Tags: expansys, deals, special offers, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

BlackBerry Storm in Stores, Features Button-Like Touch Screen

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:00:52 +0000

After hearing some ho-hum reviews about the BlackBerry Storm, I was beginning to think that it wasn't going to give the iPhone a run for its money as predicted. But now that I've watched the Storm in action, there's a feature that I'm already in love with, and I think you physical keyboard fans will love it too.

Unlike the iPhone, which is strictly a glass touch screen, the BlackBerry Storm touch buttons actually depress when you touch them, since the entire backside of the screen is backed by springs. You will feel the screen being pressed and will hear a quiet click, just as you would with a keyboard on a Curve or Bold!

The Storm hits Verizon Wireless stores today and costs $199 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

Too Many Buttons On Your Remote?

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:45:58 +0000

Okay, I'm a doofus. I've never been able to get a universal remote to work for me. I've tried a hundred dollar jobber with a reconfigurable LCD screen, I've tried one from the dollar store - no dice. I can maybe get one function to work, so a universal remote is just not going to fit into my universe. Therefore, like a lot of people I have a coffee table littered with remotes.

As if multitudes of remotes weren't enough of a problem, almost all of them have nightmarish design. In some cases I've never seen anything designed to fit in a human hand that could be less accommodating to the human hand. Let's not even talk about those remotes you practically have to hold right up to the device you're controlling.

What a lot of remotes need to do is simplify. Since TV's don't come with adjustment knobs anymore, we have to do it all from the remote using tons of tiny and confusing buttons. Maybe RCA got it right with this corded remote. Not only will it work from anywhere in the room (within a ten foot radius), imagine how easy tech support must have been:

- befuddled customer: "I pressed the thing and all it does is change channels."

- warmly smug tech guy: "Hmm... have you tried the other button?"

I'm oversimplifying, though the VCR I had up until the early 90's was a top-loader with a corded remote. I was spoiled with forward and reverse scan on mine as well as a noise-filled pause... so there. Actually what I'd like to come back is something I remember seeing done in the 90's. As TV remotes got more sophisticated, the seldom used buttons were hidden away under a cover. Some companies went as far as to provide a pair of remotes (that's TWO remotes for you to lose in the couch!), a much simplified day-to-day unit, and a Sunday-go-to-meetings fancy pants one.

I hope that someone comes along someday to solve this multi-remote problem for me. Then again, walking the six feet to the television set every day just to control it may be the only exercise I get.

BlackBerry Storm now available on Verizon Wireless

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:43:55 +0000

Since the iPhone was launched last year, all we’ve heard about was iPhone this and iPhone that. For a while, it seemed as though the whole world was caught up in iPhone fever, and it looked like the iPhone is going to be the de facto handset for everyone just like how the iPod is currently king of the hill where portable media players are concerned. Good to know that iPhone fever has died down, although that doesn’t mean it won’t continue to do well though. Other cell phone manufacturers have also stepped up their efforts in a bid to dethrone the iPhone as the definitive touchscreen handset, and we’ve seen efforts from Samsung and LG as well as Nokia recently, but those have failed to capture the imagination of the masses as how the iPhone did. Well, there is some hope that the recently released BlackBerry Storm over Verizon Wireless could be the messiah, or is it not?

While many other smartphones have surfaced over the years, there is still one brand name that holds the trust of many a business customer - and that is BlackBerry. Those who have relied on this platform for years will find it difficult to make a switch to other handsets since it has always been pretty easy to use, while advanced security features offer protection from external threats against their intellectual property. The BlackBerry Storm smartphone does not compromise on security issues and also prides itself in being the first “clickable” touch screen in the world thanks to haptic feedback for intuitive and efficient navigation.

This world phone is able to connect globally in over 200 countries for voice, and 150 countries where data is concerned. US customers will be able to take full advantage of the reliable high-speed 3G Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network from Verizon Wireless, and it will come with a whole host of productivity tools to get you started right out of the box. The BlackBerry Storm can be picked up for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. For more details on its specifications, check out our previous coverage of the Storm.

Press Release

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ BlackBerry Storm now available on Verizon Wireless copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Technology Cisco ISE is expanding infrastructure Deutsche Telekom

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:36:01 +0000

The company Deutsche Telekom is expanding its broadband infrastructure to support innovative multimedia services. For this to belong to the operator Cisco 12000 routers installed technology Cisco ISE (IP Service Engine). The project is implemented within the framework of a broader program to optimize network of Deutsche Telekom and the convergence of diverse services in the world's largest multivendorskoy network infrastructure, IP / MPLS.

Linear maps Cisco ISE will improve the quality and enhance the diversity of multimedia and broadband services delivered to customers Deutsche Telekom, as well as significantly reduce operating costs. The modular design of linear maps Cisco ISE has enabled the company to provide Deutsche Telekom is inexpensive and effective solution because of its capacity, each line card to replace three existing routers. The result is simplified network architecture, dramatically reduces the cost of technical support, reduced the Working area and reduced power consumption. Each card Cisco ISE gives the customer the additional capacity, enabling the company Deutsche Telekom to increase investment and plan new projects to expand the network.

Cisco facilitates the ongoing process of transforming networks Deutsche Telekom through coordinated services, which are specially adapted to the customer and provided through the specialist department Cisco Advanced Services and some business partners Cisco, specializing in system integration. The technology increases the value of Cisco ISE highway Deutsche Telekom IP / MPLS by improving the capacity of ports, expansion of functionality and increase operational efficiency. All this facilitates the process of converting existing operator networks in a network of new generation IP NGN technology-MPLS.

HTC and IDEA Cellular Forge Alliance to Launch

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:21:00 +0000

GenNext Telephony Experience in India
•The HTC Touch Pro™ (T7276) – A powerful communication device offering one-handed operation of simple tasks and full key-board input
•The HTC Touch Viva™ (T2223) – The joy of smart technology, featuring the vibrant and intuitive TouchFLO™ technology
Mumbai (INDIA), November 18, 2008 – HTC Corp. (TAIEX: 2498; "HTC"), a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design and IDEA Cellular, a leading telecom service provider in India, today announced the Indian availability of the HTC Touch Pro (T7276) and the HTC Touch Viva (T2223). Combining cutting-edge innovation, design and entertainment capabilities, the HTC Touch Pro and Touch Viva provide customers with two strong choices that can meet their different needs.

“HTC Touch Pro and Touch Viva perfectly embody our commitment to build a family of touch phones that are powerful, stylish and offer something for everyone,” said Mr. Jack Tong, Vice President, HTC Asia. We are proud to be working together with a mobile leader like Idea Cellular who shares a similar vision for bringing mobile solutions to India.”

“Innovation and customer delight have been at the forefront of IDEA Cellular’s service delivery to its customers, and this alliance with HTC – a global leader, is a reaffirmation of this commitment to our customers, “said Mr. Pradeep Shrivastava, Chief Marketing Officer, IDEA Cellular Limited. ”Together with HTC, we are pleased to be bringing our customers a complete suite of IDEA communications, browsing, content and Internet services across our network.

“HTC Touch Pro and the Touch Viva are significant touch-based milestones for Windows Mobile”, I am delighted that Indian consumers will be offered these revolutionary devices that are based on the Windows Mobile 6.1 platform, “said Mr. Sumeet Gugnani, Director Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft India. “HTC’s cutting edge technology combined with the advanced network of Idea Cellular will now enable users to access stylish, yet simple touch devices powered by Windows Mobile.

HTC Touch Pro
The HTC Touch Pro offers an elegant and sophisticated touch screen experience for intuitive navigation and a full-featured QWERTY keyboard for text entry. HTC has taken a great leap forward in touch innovation with TouchFLOTM 3D, its 3D optimized touch experience that provides a stunningly intuitive way to zip through common tasks like making calls, writing text messages or emails, listening to music or checking weather. The Touch Pro also introduces a new, five-row QWERTY keyboard layout that makes typing-intensive tasks like composing email or working on Microsoft Office® documents quick and easy. A built-in TV-out functionality has also been incorporated, enabling perfect PowerPoint® presentations from the Touch Pro.

HTC Touch Viva
The HTC Touch Viva comprises the best elements of the touch screen experience in a device that's designed to put this latest, intuitive mobile phone technology in the hands of everyone with a passion for communication. In addition to its compact design with a sharp 2.8 screen, the Touch Viva also includes touch screen for navigation through contacts, media and web pages with HTC’s touch optimized TouchFLO™ user interface. Users can flip through their album artwork, pictures and videos as if they were picture cards in the palm of their hands.

With over a decade’s experience in designing and building innovative smartphones and PDAs, HTC in India offers a wide range of PDAs and smartphones. Currently HTC’s portfolio includes 12 devices on the GSM platform and 3 devices on the CDMA platform.

Availability & Pricing:
The HTC Touch Pro™ (T7276) and HTC Touch Viva™ (T2223) will be available at a Market Operating Price of Rs. 34,900/- and Rs. 16,490/- respectively at all leading HTC Authorized Resellers across the country.

About IDEA Cellular Limited
A leading GSM mobile services operator, IDEA Cellular has licenses to operate in all 22 service areas of India with commercial operations in 13 service areas. With a customer base of over 31 million, IDEA Cellular runs operations in the states of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand, UP East, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra & Goa, Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar & Jharkhand; holds spectrum for Orissa, Tamil Nadu (including Chennai), and Karnataka; and licenses for the remaining 6 service areas. With the planned launch of services in Orissa and Tamil Nadu (including Chennai) before the end of the fiscal year, IDEA’s footprint will soon cover over 90% of India’s telephony potential. IDEA is listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India. More on www.ideacellular.com

IDEA Cellular is part of the Aditya Birla Group, India’s first truly multinational corporation. The group operates in 25 countries, and is anchored by over 100,000 employees globally.

Sprint Asking Employees to Please Resign, Pretty Please [Sprint]

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:40:00 +0000

Some companies, like Dell, are encouraging employees to take a day or two off—unpaid, natch—to help the company save money. Then there's Sprint. Oh, Sprint. Bleeding cash and customers way before the new great depression took root, its most recent quarter was spectacularly disastrous, so we're not surprised to hear that they asking employees to voluntarily resign by Dec. 3 in exchange for a compensation package to cut costs as deeply as possible.

Says Sprint spokeslady Lisa Zimmerman-Mott:

"What is happening is Sprint is offering a personal decision for employees to take advantage of a voluntary separation package. No one is being forced to do anything. There are no forced reductions. There are no layoffs in store. It's a matter of employees having the option to exercise discretion. No targets have been announced."

Supposedly, improving customer service was one of CEO Dan Hesse's major goals when he took over the beleaguered carrier, but we're wondering how shedding staff is gonna help that. Also, how long before the pink slips go from voluntary to mandatory? We can't help but think this move is simply to make a coming massacre slightly less bloody. [Fierce Wireless via Consumerist]

Doro Launches HandleEasy 330 & 326i GSM Handsets in the U.S.

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:44:56 +0000

Doro, the IDEA award-winning phone design company from Sweden, announces the availability in the U.S. of mobile phones designed by experts in ergonomics and in communications technology to meet the needs of consumers seeking design simplicity and functionality in mobile handsets.

Two Doro HandleEasy models available in the U.S., the HandleEasy 330gsm and the HandleEasy 326i gsm, are GSM-compatible, include large easy-to-view display screens and keypads, features that baby boomers and active seniors use most, and none of the complicated features that often go unused.

The palm-sized Doro HandleEasy 330gsm features a high-contrast color screen, text messaging, FM radio, a variety of ringers, a speakerphone, and easy access to phone directories stored on the user’s SIM card. Doro HandleEasy 326i gsm features a conveniently larger keypad, four prominently positioned speed-dial buttons, a phone directory, a speakerphone, and a special coating that creates an easy-grip surface on the entire phone.

Jerome Arnaud, CEO of Doro, explained, “Many senior citizens still believe that mobile phones are difficult to use with complicated functions and therefore are reluctant to buy new ones. In contrast to other mobile phones on the market, we carefully design our phones according to the needs of active seniors and combine ergonomic demands with functions and simplicity. Baby boomers and active seniors don’t have to adapt their lives to our technology; we’ve already adapted it to their needs.”

HandleEasy 330gsm

“Finally, a phone that is intuitive to use and uncomplicated,” declared John Donnelly, a 65-year-old business management consultant based in New York and a Doro HandleEasy 330gsm user. “I turned on the HandleEasy 330 and began using it immediately without having to read through the manual. From the first minute I turned-on the Doro phone, I could easily navigate through the large, brightly colored screen, look through my phone book without reading glasses, check voicemails, and I especially like the cool, sleek design. It’s much nicer looking, lighter, and easier to use than the three-year-old phone I was carrying around.”

Eighty-two-year-old Manuel Machado – who lives in Modesto, Calif., travels extensively in retirement, and has limited vision from a medical condition, macular degeneration – said of the Doro HandleEasy 326i gsm, “This is a phone I can actually use! I can read the screen, see the directory, and easily make calls. This is the first phone I’ve had in several years that I will use more frequently.” Dr. Steven A. Machado of Los Angeles, Manuel’s son, explains, “Macular degeneration can be especially frustrating for patients like my father because it puts a blank spot in the center of their field of vision, making it nearly impossible to see details right in front of them, like when dialing a phone. So, this phone from Doro is a godsend for Dad.”

HandleEasy 326igsm

A fixture in most every household in Sweden for 35 years, Doro is well known for innovatively incorporating the latest technologies while maintaining simplicity of design and functionality. Consumers in over 30 countries already enjoy the inclusive designs and easy functionality of Doro’s phones. Doro HandleEasy 330 and 326i are the company’s first products available in the U.S.

Doro HandleEasy phones are currently available at all Centennial Wireless retail stores in six states (www.centennialwireless.com). “We are thrilled to offer Centennial customers Doro mobile phones designed especially for baby boomers and active seniors,” said Philip Mayberry, President of Centennial Wireless. “Doro’s long history of design innovation in Sweden is legendary in the telecommunications industry and now Doro’s user-friendly phones are popular all across Europe. Centennial is proud to be the first place in America that Doro phones are available.”

Doro’s U.S. Representative, Christopher Lundstrom, further explained, “Doro’s goal is to make its products available through a national delivery model in the months ahead, we want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy Doro products. We are very pleased and fortunate to have Centennial Wireless offering our products in the U.S. market, Centennial created an excellent custom rate plan for the HandleEasy 330. This is a very attractive offering for both baby boomers and seniors alike, a tailored rate plan is key for this demographic and the overall customer experience.”

Alltel Launches Alltel Perks - An Interactive Content Delivery Service

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:29:41 +0000

Customers of Alltel Wireless can now receive customized content including sports scores, weather, discounts, trivia and more directly on their phone with today’s launch of Alltel Perks.

After downloading the application from the Alltel Shop, Alltel Perks will deliver content to the phone’s idle screen when the handset is not in use. Users will receive content including discount offers from local merchants, coupons for favorite restaurants, sports scores, local weather forecasts and more. Delivered messages are maintained in the “Recent Offer Menu” folder for a short period of time, so customers can easily take advantage of current offers and discounts.

Once registered, the service proactively delivers offers and content to subscribers when their phone is not in use. As offers download to the handset, users can open the banner to display more content by selecting the “View” hot button as indicated on the phone. If any other button is selected the offer will go away, as to not be intrusive. While airtime charges may apply to the service, the initial download of the Alltel Perks application from the Alltel Shop is free for Alltel customers.

The Alltel Perks service, powered by Mobile Posse, the first company to launch idle screen-based advertising in the United States , is fully customizable based on consumer preference and feedback. The application delivers content based on the customers’ ZIP code, age and gender, in addition to providing information and offers related to specific times of day and days of the week.

Examples of the types of offers available include a coupon for $2 off a lunch special at a local restaurant being delivered at 11 a.m. during the work week, or a discount entitling the customer to 10% off their next purchase at a local retail store. To take advantage of an offer, users simply show their handset to the merchant to receive the discount or use the click-to-call capability to contact the vendor directly.