Globe offers Nokia's wireless e-mail service

By Lawrence Casiraya - INQUIRER.net

Mobile communications firm Globe Telecom has announced support for Nokia's Intellisync, a wireless e-mail service that competes with the Blackberry e-mail service.

Intellisync is initially available as a corporate service. Globe said the service will soon be available for non-corporate users.

Globe will charge each user P150 (in addition to regular subscription charges for postpaid accounts) for every two megabytes of data used. Per kilobyte charges will apply beyond that.

Aside from push e-mail, Intellisync also allows users to enter contacts and calendar data.

According to Globe executives, the service is also intended for mobile users who have web-based email addresses. Intellisync allows less data consumption than checking web-based e-mail such Yahoo or Gmail via a browser.

Nokia to incorporate Google search engine in mobile phones

HELSINKI--Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia said on Tuesday it had reached an agreement with Google to incorporate the Google search engine in its handsets.

In a first stage, the US firm's search technology will be available in a limited number of countries on Nokia's high-end N96 and N78 models as well as on the Navigator 6210 and the classic 6220.

The agreement, for which financial details were not disclosed, will gradually become available in more 100 countries in 40 languages, Nokia said in a statement.

The Google search engine is already available on Nokia Internet navigators, known as Nokia Internet Tablets, and Nokia last year signed an agreement with Google to share videos from Google's You Tube service to make them accessible on Nokia's N95 8GB model.

The latest agreement is part of Nokia's strategy to offer a product that combines written and oral telephone services with document and photo sharing, audio and video applications, Internet navigation and on-line music. Agence France-Presse

PLDT launches mobile TV service; eyeing local networks for more content

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), the nation's largest phone firm, launched on Thursday a mobile TV service, which will bring television content to 3G-enabled mobile phones.

For just P488 a month, Smart subscribers with mobile TV-capable handsets can subscribe to "myTV" and view 10 channels including CNN, MTV Philippines, Cartoon Network, National Geographic Channel, Pinoy Box Office, History Channel, Solar Sports, Basketball TV, ETC and Jack TV.

Local content providers, such as ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and GMA Network Inc., are also being eyed by PLDT to provide content to myTV service.


The monthly package, which is available to both post-paid and pre-paid Smart subscribers, will be an additional charge on top of the regular postpaid airtime plans. Prep-paid subscribers need only maintain P1 airtime load on top of the P488-monthly fee to avail of the service.

This service can be viewed using the Nokia N92 and Nokia N77.

Initially, myTV can be viewed in Mega Manila, Cebu, Davao, Tagaytay, Batangas, and Baguio City. Boracay and Cagayan de Oro will soon be covered.

PLDT's wholly-owned unit MediaQuest said it poured in $30 million to jstart the mobile TV service.

The company, which focuses on media related investment opportunities, is earmarking $50 million for the next three years to fund the operation of its mobile TV.


myTV is being offered by 360media in cooperation with Smart Communications, which will handle the billing, sale and distribution of mobile TV-capable handsets.

PLDT president Napoleon Nazareno said revenues from the service will be shared between MediaQuest and Smart.

Danilo Mojica, head for Smart’s wireless consumer division, said the PLDT group hopes to attract 60,000 to 70,000 subscribers in the next few months.

"Mobile TV is a natural for a market like the Philippines. Studies show we average nearly four hours a day watching TV. myTV will allow us even more viewing time and will forever change prime time TV," said Mediaquest president Orlando Vea.


Mojica said the PLDT group may create its own programming content soon. "We are ramping up the service within the next few weeks. This is just phase 1 of the commercial launch," said Mojica.