Mobile news

Adobe confirmed to Phone Scoop in a call that though Android 2.2 is required for Flash Player Mobile 10.1 to work, that doesn't mean that all Android 2.2 devices will be able to access and run Flash Player Mobile. According to Adobe, smartphones need to have a minimum set of specifications in order to run Flash PLlayer Mobile, including a fast enough processor and graphics support. Adobe's web site notes that devices with a VGA screen need to have at least a 550Mhz processor in addition to hardware vector FPU support. Devices with WVGA displays need to have a dedicated Cortex A8 800MHz processor or higher, with the same hardware vector FPU support. Adobe said that the Google Nexus One, HTC EVO 4G, HTC Desire, and Motorola Droid, Droid 2 and Droid X are all certified to run Flash. Adobe noted that it knows of several Android handsets that will be released later this year that won't meet the minimum spec requirements to support Flash, though Adobe couldn't name them because they haven't been announced by the manufacturer/carrier.

BlackBerry owners can now use a new Starbucks Card Mobile App to manage a Starbucks card and even make mobile payments at select stores. The app lets Starbucks Card holders check their balance, reload their card and also make payments at more than 1,000 U.S. Target stores and in Starbucks locations participating in a trial in Seattle and Northern California. The app also lets users check their My Starbucks Rewards status and find local shops. The app is available now for download on Starbucks' site.

Verizon Wireless today began offering a prepaid data package for use on 3G capable phones, including a wide range of smartphones and 3G feature phones. Customers will get unlimited data for $30 a month on smartphones and multimedia phones, or multimedia phone buyers can choose a $10 monthly plan that includes 25 MB of data, with a $0.20 per MB overage fee. The new data packages is available in stores today, and will be sold online at Verizon's Web site starting September 28. The featured phones include BlackBerry models like the Curve 8530, both Storm models and the Bold 9650; the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus; and the full Verizon Droid lineup, including the Droid 2 and Droid Incredible, among numerous others. Supported feature phones include the LG enV Touch and enV 3 models, the LG Chocolate Touch, and the Samsung Alias 2, among a few others.

Huawei today revealed its first Android handset that it expects to sell on a wide scale across Europe, Asia and the Americas. The IDEOS, which runs Android 2.2. Froyo, will come in both a GSM configuration and a CDMA configuration, based on documentation published by the FCC. The IDEOS U8150 has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios and 850/1900/2100MHz HSDPA at 7.2Mbps, making it compatible with AT&T. The C8150 will have tri-band 850/1700/1900MHz CDMA on board, making it compatible with networks such as Cricket and MetroPCS. Other features of the IDEOS Android phones includes GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and support for microSD cards. The IDEOS will also support the Android wireless hotspot feature. Huawei has said prices for the IDEOS will range between $127 and $179. Availability wasn't announced.

Vlingo today announced the integration of Vlingo's voice commands into the Android version of Foursquare. Foursquare users on Android will now be able to use voice commands to open the application and check into venues through Foursquare. Users will also be able to locate friends and send shout-outs with the Vlingo voice commands. The Vlingo application for Android, which isa free download from the Android Market, also brings other voice commands to Android handsets, including send texts and emails, search the web, update Twitter or Facebook, and have incoming emails/texts read out loud.

T-Mobile has provided a few more details about what will be its first HSPA+ compatible handset. The HTC G2, according to a T-Mobile published web site, has a touch screen, an optical mouse for on-screen navigation, and the standard set of Android shortcut keys. Based on the image published by T-Mobile, the G2 will run the stock version of Android 2.2, and T-Mobile says it has an 800MHz processor, and Flash Player Mobile 10.1. T-Mobile says more information will become available about the G2 in the coming weeks.

Skype has pushed out a minor update to its Skype for Android application. The revised application offers several new features. For example, it now supports incoming caller ID, so you'll be able to see your Skype contacts' names when they call you. Uses can now copy and paste within instant message conversations, as well as use emoticons. Users will see country names and flags when they dial international numbers, and users can set their location as their status message. Another important chance affects the Wi-Fi radio. The application no longer kills the Wi-Fi radio when Skype is turned on. Skype for Android can still only make phone calls via Verizon Wireless' voice network. Voice calling does not work over Wi-Fi yet. However, with this minor update, users of Skype for Android can at least have the Wi-Fi radio on, where previously the Wi-Fi radio was shut off by Skype. Verizon Wireless' Android and BlackBerry users can download the updated application for free.

Samsung today indicated that moving forward, Google's Android mobile operating system and its own bada mobile operating system will be the focus of its smartphone efforts. "We are Prioritizing our Android platform. Android is very open and flexible, and there is a consumer demand for it," YH Lee, head of marketing at Samsung Mobile, told Reuters in an interview. This focus on Android and bada comes at the expense of Microsoft's Window Phone 7. Samsung plans to introduce one WP7 handset later this year. Lee said, "There is still some professional, specialized demand there." Samsung will not be developing WP7 handsets in significant numbers, though.

Nokia has indicated via an email to users of its Ovi Files service that the file-accessing feature will be shut down on October 1, 2010. Ovi Files, one of the many Ovi-branded services that Nokia offers, allowed users to access files stored on their computer from their Nokia handset. Nokia is asking users of the service to uninstall it from their machines. Nokia also recently ceased development on a social networking application for the Symbian platform.

Microsoft today announced that Windows Phone 7 has reached the Release To Manufacturers (RTM) milestone. That means Windows Phone 7 is now in its final form as developed by Microsoft and is fully ready for manufacturers to use in handsets. In addition to reaching the RTM marker, Microsoft also explained that it was able to integrate some facets of Facebook into Windows Phone 7. Specifically, users will be able to filter through their contacts for Facebook friends, as well as like items and post to Facebook directly from the People Hub. Microsoft says that the user interface has been refined throughout the operating system, and that a dedicated search button has been added to the contacts application for faster searching. Though some manufacturers have committed to introducing Windows Phone 7 handsets later this year, none have confirmed any specific details about their devices.