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All posts tagged "services"


Thursday, December 11, 2008

Microsoft Updates Windows Live Services for Mobile

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Sites & Resources" @ 09:30 AM

http://mobile.live.com/

"Great news! We are now live with our new and updated Windows Live services for mobile. Go to http://mobile.live.com from your mobile phone's web browser and check it out. There are a lot of new features and services that weren't even available for our beta users. We're really excited about these new mobile experiences! The new and updated mobile web services include Windows Live Home, Photos, Profile, People, and Spaces. These complement our existing mobile services, like Hotmail and Messenger. (An update to Hotmail for mobile web is on its way in the coming months - check this blog for more mobile news as it becomes available). With this release, we are extending even more of Windows Live to mobile devices, but with a mobile twist. To get started, all you need is a phone with a browser and a data plan. Using these services doesn't require a download - all you do is go to the new Windows Live website at http://mobile.live.com."

Microsoft's quest to roll out its new and improved Windows Live applications and services has extended to mobile devices. Windows Live Home, Photos, Profile, People, and Spaces have all been updated. Visit the Windows Live Team Blog for a detailed look, or check it out for yourself.

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  • Source: Windows Live Team Blog


Friday, September 19, 2008

Sync Services for ADO.NET on Windows Mobile Released

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Developer" @ 11:45 PM

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&displaylang=en

"Microsoft Synchronization Services for ADO.NET 1.0 provides the ability to synchronize data from disparate sources. Rather than simply replicating a database and its schema, the Synchronization Services application programming interface (API) provides a set of components to synchronize data between data services and a local store. Applications are increasingly used on mobile clients, such as laptops and devices that do not have a consistent or reliable network connection to a central server. It is crucial for these applications to work against a local copy of data on the client. Equally important is the need to synchronize the local copy of the data with a central server when a network connection is available. The Synchronization Services API, which is modeled after the ADO.NET data access APIs, gives you an intuitive way to synchronize data. It makes building applications for occasionally connected environments a logical extension of building applications where you can count on a consistent network connection. Synchronization Services for ADO.NET 1.0, which released with Visual Studio 2008, enabled synchronization between a server database and a SQL Compact 3.5 client database running on a desktop. With this download, you can also synchronize between a server database and a SQL Compact database on a Windows Mobile 5 or 6 device."

Developers, head over to the Microsoft Download Center and grab Sync Services for ADO.NET on Windows Mobile. The prerequisites are SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP1 and Visual Studio 2008 SP1, so install those if you already haven't done so. Happy syncing!

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  • Source: Microsoft Sync Framework Blog


Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Roadblocks to Delivering Mobile Internet Applications and Services

Posted by Rocco Augusto in "ARTICLE" @ 06:33 AM

http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/10/20/HNmobiletough_1.html

"Unlike the PC-based Internet, companies often can't simply put up a Web site to deliver a service, such as photo sharing or Internet voice calling, to mobile users. That's because mobile phones are constrained by less memory and slower Internet connections than PCs and because browsers may not be able to interact with some phone functions that might enhance an application, said Tony Cripps, an analyst at Ovum."

InfoWorld has posted a thought provoking article which outlines the challenges placed in front of mobile application developers. It would be nice if in the next few years carriers and mobile phone manufacturers would sit down and hammer out a standard that could be set in place for mobile web browsers. Who would have thought such tiny devices would cause such a headache? ;)

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  • Source: Pocket PC Thoughts


Friday, May 12, 2006

Placeshifting Devices Could Threaten Mobile Video Services

Posted by Mike Temporale in "ARTICLE" @ 11:30 AM

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/2517/placeshifting_devices_could

"As more consumers use products such as the Slingbox to get "anywhere access" to their premium and personal content, so-called "placeshifting" technologies may face opposition from wireless carriers, according to a new study from ABI Research. The ability to stream pay TV from a set-top box and digital content from a home PC over the Internet to a variety of devices has the potential to disrupt new content services being delivered by mobile operators."

Oh, now this is shocking. The carriers won't like people streaming video from their home systems because it has the potential to cut into their revenue from the content services they're offering. Boo hoo! I really couldn't care if they like it or not because I love it. I can only hope there will be a large backlash if they start to block content being stream to a phone on their network. 8)


Wednesday, May 3, 2006

McAfee to Offer Cingular Wireless Customers Mobile Anti-Virus Security Services

Posted by Jerry Raia in "SOFTWARE" @ 02:00 PM

http://www.msmobilenews.com/page/1235/

"McAfee, Inc. (NYSE: MFE), the leading dedicated security technology company, today announced that it will offer Cingular Wireless customers mobile security solutions for business-oriented devices. McAfee provides comprehensive mobile security solutions that are designed to protect against and prevent mobile threats and vulnerabilities. Its flagship product is McAfee VirusScan Mobile. "While mobile threats have presented themselves largely as proof of concept, we think it's important for carriers to get ahead of the curve, and offer proactive and preventative solutions before a significant attack occurs," commented Todd Gebhart, senior vice president of Worldwide Consumer and Mobile Sales at McAfee, Inc."

What we really need is a good backup solution for our phones, not a cure for which there is no disease yet. I think I'll save my money and wait for the first virus to hit. I've been waiting a few years now. The AV people keep trying to sell us stuff we don't need. I mean what virus signatures are there to download yet?


Saturday, May 28, 2005

Review of SHAPE Services New IM Client

Posted by Jerry Raia in "ARTICLE" @ 11:00 AM

http://www.mpx200.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=8545

"Two weeks ago I mentioned a new product called IM+, a SmartPhone and PocketPC instant messaging client. The developer offered to let me review the software so I have used it for a week now. Let me say that Instant Messaging on a phone is tedious regardless of what client you use. But how well does IM+ work? Is it worth the $29.95 price tag?"

User submitted image

This might be new and improved and anything else you might think of but $29.95??? It had better type the messages for me for that price especially considering how many FREE IM clients there are out there!


Monday, May 23, 2005

Cellular Customers Dissatisfied with Data Services

Posted by Mike Temporale in "THOUGHT" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.mobilepipeline.com/163105981

"Most wireless subscribers aren't using cellular data services and many of those who have tried such services are dissatisfied, a survey in the United Kingdom released Friday by the NOP research firm. The survey covered 800 U.K. users and found that 77 percent of the respondents said they have never used data services such as video messaging, gaming or ringtone downloads. Only 12 percent said they were satisfied with those services. In addition, 44 percent of those who did use data services stopped using the services because they didn't feel they work."

While I do agree that mobile data services are not up to the quality and reliability that they should be at, I don't think the reason 44% of people stopped using data services is because they don't work. In my opinion, the problem would be more along the lines of "they don't work as expected", or "the ringtone did not work on their phone". I've had unlimited data on my device for a while now, and I can't imagine my Smartphone without it. What are your thoughts about data services on your device? Does it work for you?


Thursday, May 5, 2005

Wireless Data Services Accounts for $1.6B in Revenue for Q4 2004

Posted by Mike Temporale in "NEWS" @ 02:00 PM

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050502005395&newsLang=en

"As the wireless market matures and voice services become more of a commodity, the competitive landscape among U.S. wireless carriers is rapidly evolving. In a new study of the U.S. wireless services market, IDC found that U.S. wireless carriers generated $1.6 billion in data service and application revenues in 4Q04 from a base of 178.2 million subscribers and customers. Data services and applications are essential to slowing or reversing the slide in average revenue per unit (ARPU) associated with the voice side of the business - and while data represented some 5.8% of industry-wide ARPU in 4Q04, IDC anticipates it will grow to better than 15% of total service revenues in the years ahead."

According to the study, Messaging lead the way with around 50% of the total revenue for Q4, 2004. This is why Microsoft is interested licensing it's Exchange OTA sync technology to anyone and everyone that will listen. ;) Let's not forget that these numbers are only for the 4th quarter. Which means, the yearly revenue for data is around $5.5 to $6.5 billion. 8O

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  • Source: MobileTracker


Tuesday, May 3, 2005

Sprint Launches Location Based Services

Posted by Mike Temporale in "NEWS" @ 06:15 AM

http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=1183

"Sprint yesterday announced new services for roadside assistance and directory assistance callers. When users of either service call in for help or directions, they can now ask the operator to locate them using their phone's assisted GPS instead of having to know where they are. There is no extra fee beyond normal charges for network location. Sprint also said they intend to extend location based services to user accessible data services like local weather, movies, traffic information and more."

Hopefully someday we'll have a GPS embedded Smartphone that can take advantage of this. :(


Thursday, April 15, 2004

Using VB.NET And Web Services For Windows Mobile Development

Posted by Mike Temporale in "DEVELOPER" @ 12:00 PM

http://www.enterprisej2me.com/blog/ms/?postid=60

"Do you have questions about mobility and how to implement it using Windows Mobile devices and .Net? If yes, then it may be worth a look at a Michael Yuan's blog, where the author presents the concepts behind mobility, design and implementation using .Net and smart devices."

Michael has also published sample code for both Pocket PC and Smartphone showing how to use Amazon's web service to check the availability and price of a book. If you are thinking of doing some Windows Mobile development, I would suggest you take a look at what Michael has made available.

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  • Source: Geekzone


Tuesday, February 24, 2004

MSN Services Coming to Mass-Market Phones

Posted by David McNamee in "NEWS" @ 08:39 AM

http://www.openwave.com/us/news_room/press_releases/2004/20040224_opwv_msn_0224.htm

MSN and Openwave Systems have agreed to bundle MSN Mobile services into the Openwave Phone Suite V7. This phone platform is used by operators to quickly add features to their phones. Openwave's software is currently on half a billion phone worldwide.

In V7, MSN will provide a Hotmail client and MSN Messenger. This will allow phones not running Windows Mobile to access MSN's communication services.


Sunday, February 22, 2004

Location Based Services Getting Closer

Posted by Robert Levy in "THOUGHT" @ 04:43 PM

http://blogs.msdn.com/cthota/archive/2004/02/22/78004.aspx

Chandu Thota works for the MapPoint group at Microsoft and posted an interesting photo to his blog today. This shows an app built using a pre-release version of the MapPoint Location Server. Man... that's one product with a lot of potential to stir up the industry. There's going to a few talks about this at MDC for developers who want to get the scoop on what it will do and how to use it.

User submitted image


Thursday, February 5, 2004

"Try" Orange Services For Free

Posted by David McNamee in "NEWS" @ 01:25 PM

http://www.silicon.com/networks/mobile/0,39024665,39118170,00.htm

Orange has launched a new program dubbed "Try" that allows customers to try out different services for one month before purchasing them. The idea here is that once people see how valuable things like picture messaging and mobile e-mail are, they'll be willing to pay for them.

This is a really good idea. Orange continues to bring new ideas to the mobile phone market. They have also had an in-store "Learn" campaign where Orange employees would answer questions about using the new features of the SPV. Makes me wish that either I lived in the UK or Orange would buy AT&T! :wink:


Saturday, January 31, 2004

Location-Based Services: Friend or Foe?

Posted by David McNamee in "THOUGHT" @ 02:11 PM

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1463849,00.asp

U.S. cellular providers have until the end of 2005 to implement their required piece of the FCC's E-911 program. The carriers must be able to provide a mobile phone user's location to 911 dispatch centers to within 50 to 100 meters (about 160 to 320 feet). This information can and will save lives once it is implemented.

The carriers, looking to make the best of forced capital upgrades, are trying to leverage this location information into a revenue stream by offering services that use your location data. These location-based services are going to surface in many different ways. Companies will be able to track their employees and improve their logistics. This will be of interest to couriers, field maintenance companies, or anyone sending their employees out into the world. There is also potential for personal services that show where you currently are in relation to your friends. AT&T Wireless already has a "Find Friends" service on mMode to let you physically find the people on your buddy list. Reportedly, and not surprisingly, some carriers are evaluating services that would allow restaurants and retailers to target potential customers in the area.

This is beginning to sound like some bizarre combination of the ship's computer in "Star Trek" that always knows where everyone is, and the creepy adverts in "Minority Report" that personalize themselves as different people walk past. At what point do the convenience and safety features of location-based services become a dramatic invasion of a person's privacy?

To help with the situation, Lucent's Bell Labs subsidiary is working on a software solution that allows people to control the distribution of their location data. Using the software, the carriers and 911 centers will be able to track a mobile phone user's location. The customer can allow the location to be used in any, all, or none of the above scenarios. Hopefully, the carriers will adopt this solution or a similar one. We've already traded a degree of privacy to receive the benefits of mobile phones. I hate to think that we might be forced to forfeit all of our privacy.


Monday, October 13, 2003

Microsoft and Vodafone Partner for Mobile Web Services

Posted by Robert Levy in "DEVELOPER" @ 12:31 PM

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=1610

"Microsoft and Vodafone outlined their plans to help create mobile Web services standards that will enable new business opportunities for application developers and mobile network operators and deliver new integrated services for customers across wired and wireless networks. Vodafone has more than 123 million mobile customers throughout the world.

Mobile Web services will utilize existing industry standard Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based Web services architecture to expose mobile network services to the broadest audience of developers. Developers will be able to access and integrate mobile network services such as messaging, location, authentication and billing into their applications. The companies' efforts will help expand commercial opportunities for developers to further promote their applications and enable solutions that work seamlessly across PC and mobile environments. Customers will be able to use mobile Web services from multiple devices on both wired and wireless networks."

Web services are clearly a natural fit for applications targetted at connected mobile devices such as Smartphones. It will be interesting to see what exactly this partnership with Vodafone will mean for software developers. The information we have here is vague but I have high hopes. At the Professional Developers Conference later this month, Microsoft and Vodaforne are expected to go into more detail about their roadmap for this partnership.


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