Egypt Cracks Down on Mobile Networks as Protests Grow

By Peter Ferenczi | Fri Jan 28, 2011 11:09 am

Egypt has ordered the shutdown of mobile networks in "select areas," in an effort to quell widespread protests against the government.

Top News

Samsung Posts Record Profit, Propelled by Galaxy Products

IPhone Owner Sues Apple Over Broken Glass

White House Wants Spectrum for Public Safety

Windows Phone 7 Momentum Begins to Slow

Spam Text Blows Up Moscow Terrorist

More News >

British-based Vodafone, one of Egypt's largest mobile operators, revealed that the government had ordered all carriers to selectively suspend service, and that it would comply because it was a legal request under Egyptian law.
Reports also suggest that BlackBerry Internet browsing had been specifically blocked. Egypt's four primary Internet service providers were also reportedly shut down at 12:34 this morning. On Tuesday, authorities blocked access to Facebook and Twitter.
The measures did not prevent over 10,000 protesters from taking to the streets in Cairo today, as they demanded government reforms and the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power for 30 years. The crackdown on mobile technology has also prompted the international diplomatic community to speak out.
“One of the ground principles of democracy is to protect the freedom of speech,” said Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General.
Mobile and Internet services have played a key role in the protests against autocratic regimes -- including the ousting of Tunisia's unpopular president -- and have roiled the Arab world since late December. Demonstrators have used Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, coupled with cell phones, to coordinate activities and spread news, including images and videos.
Egypt's crackdown underscores both the importance of mobile communications in fostering open democracy and their vulnerability to suppression by the state.

Unlocked smartphones – things that you need to know

You might have heard a lot about unlocked smartphones being sold in the market. There are lots of people who don’t know what it means. In this article I will tell you all about it. Unlocked handset is a phone which is not tied to any carrier’s network. You can use it with more than 1 service provider. A lot of phones sold in the US are tied to a particular carrier like Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. Also, the phone might be already tied to a carrier even if you haven’t purchased it from the service provider. For instance, devices bought from Best Buy stores.

Unlocked smartphones need SIM cards to get started. SIM is short for subscriber identity module and the slot for it is usually located beneath the battery cover. It gives a phone number to your cell phone and also data and voice service. A lot of people are buying unlocked smartphones and it is because these gadgets give you more freedom. But there are plethora of cell phones and service providers out there so there are chances that you might get confused.

Locked phones can be unlocked but not always. You may some need help to get it done. Carriers don’t recommend unlocking because it is in their best interest if the handset is locked to their network. You can ask for the carrier to get the phone unlocked but they might not do it especially if you are still under a contract. Another alternative is to get the phone unlocked from a third party but this will void all warranties.

Instead, I would recommend you to get purchase unlocked smartphones instead of buying a locked one and then unlocking it. This way, it is more reliable too. You will have to pay hundreds of dollars more but you won’t be tied to any network. Also, you won’t have to rely on anybody for getting the phone unlocked.

A lot of phones come only in locked version but there are plenty of devices that are sold in only unlocked versions – for instance – the Nokia N series ones. Such phones can be bought directly from the manufacturer or third party resellers. You will also find unlocked smartphones from cellular carriers

Spam Text Blows Up Moscow Terrorist

A suicide bomber planning an attack in Moscow on New Year's Eve was killed in her apartment when her bomb was prematurely detonated by an unexpected text message.

According to Russian security sources, the text message -- a remote trigger for a cell phone belt bomb -- wished her a happy new year, accidentally setting off the blast. The accident may have saved hundreds of lives, these officials believe, as the woman intended to use the bomb in a suicide attack near Red Square later that night.
The woman is believed to be part of the same group that struck Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Monday, killing at least 35 people and wounding another 100. Officials haven't directly said who they believe is behind the terrorist attacks, but anonymous sources have pointed to Islamic North Caucasus rebels, which have been in conflict with the Russian state for over a decade.
Cell phones have become a remote detonator of choice for terrorist groups the world over. Explosions can be triggered from a distance by calling or texting the number of the phone used in the bomb. Roadside bombs, many set off by cell phones, have been responsible for 619 U.S. fatalities in Afghanistan and 5,764 injuries since the 2001 invasion began.
Pentagon efforts to combat the threat, including cellular jammers, did not prevent a 60 percent increase in deaths in 2010 over the year before.

Polymer Phones : Latest Mobile Phone Technology

How do you know your phone is brand or refurbished

Have you ever purchased a cell phone online that was advertised as "Brand New"' and wondered whether the phone is actually refurbished? Or have you received a phone under your cell phone insurance company that looks like new, but are still left wondering whether the phone was previously used?

We have compiled some tips for the consumer to look for to determine whether a device you've recently purchased or are thinking about purchasing is new or refurbished.

In the case of Blackberrys, every Blackberry comes equipped with an ESN number which is unique to that specific phone.

Before purchasing any phone, especially Blackberry mobile devices, be sure to ask the seller for the phone's ESN number. This will be a string of digits which you can then take to a cell phone provider (e.g. Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc) and make sure the ESN has not been previously used.

If the ESN is currently in use, your mobile device is most likely refurbished. This isn't a bad thing, however. Refurbished phones save you money and save natural resources. They are generally in a condition that is indistinguishable from New.

From the Refurbished device provider, you can also check up on the Mobile's Warranty. Refurbished Cell Phones are typically sold with a standard 90-day warranty.

Inside the phone, you will find a battery. It is common knowledge that a red striped mark on the side of the battery indicates "water damage." However, this is not necessarily true. The red striped sticker is only indicative of "use." Any type of natural moisture will turn this sticker red--and is usually nothing to worry about.

Having said this, a red stripe on the battery is an almost definitive sign of a Refurbished Cell Phone.

Naturally, if your device has been sold to you as New, but exhibits minor scratches and indentations on the surface, it is usually a sure sign of a Refurbished device. This sign, however, could be hidden by new housing around the skeleton of the phone itself. Scratches and markings on the device are a clear indication of previous ownership, but many Refurbished providers have taken initiatives to make sure their phones appear as "new" and presentable as possible.

Lastly, check if the device comes in a brand new, sealed box or has been repackaged in a similar or used Blackberry box.

Again, refurbished mobiles are nothing to be wary of--but if you are indeed in the market for a NEW device, these are some important precautions to take.

Alex Gross currently works Sales and Marketing for The Blue Dot, a company that would like to bring awareness about the impacts of cell phones and the environment. Their website offers great deals on new, used, and refurbished cell phones as well as other brand name electronics. A great place to buy a Unlocked Blackberry phones and save money?

Top 10 selling cell phones in USA

RIM Curve

No. 1
13%

Introduced mid-2007, the Curve continues to outperform other devices, in part due to its low price of $79.99 with a two-year service plan. The Curve is the best-selling device through Sprint Nextel.

Apple iPhone

No. 2
8.3%

Apple's second-edition iPhone remains the clear winner through AT&T, the only authorized U.S. seller of the device. But according to Avian, the Apple phone is getting some competition from cheaper touchscreen devices including LG's Incite and Samsung's Eternity.

RIM Storm

No. 3
7.6%

Though the Storm has met with mixed reviews, and RIM has yet to release official sales figures, published reports say half a million units were sold in the device's first month on the market.

LG Voyageur

No. 4
7.0%

Price cuts on LG's Voyageur, like the EnV2, helped LG achieve share gains in January.

LG Dare

No. 5
6.7%

Sold through Verizon Wireless, the LG Dare has held one of the top spots since July.

Research In Motion Bold

No. 6
6.5%

Launched in November, the Bold is the second-best seller through AT&T, after the Apple iPhone.

Samsung Instinct

No. 7
4.5%

Another Samsung phone sold via Sprint, the Instinct has held one of the top 10 spots in Avian's survey since June 2008.

Samsung Rant

No. 8
4.3%

Samsung's share of sales held steady in January, thanks in part to demand for the Rant, sold through Sprint Nextel.

LG EnV2

No. 9
4.1%

Sold through Verizon Wireless, the joint venture of Verizon Communications (VZ) and Vodafone Group (VOD), LG's EnV2 got a boost after price reductions, Avian says.

HTC G1

No. 10
4%

HTC benefited from popularity of the G1, the first phone boasting the Google (GOOG)-backed Android operating system, on sale through Deutsche Telekom's (DT) T-Mobile USA.

Comming 5 cool phones for 2011

1.The new iPhone 5 is expected to arrive by July 2011. This is slimmer than the earlier versions; 9.3 mm thick, with a shiny glass back piece. It will be accessible on 3G as well as on 4G. Other features include custom SMS tones, custom e-mail alerts with the capability to assign different tones for each e-mail id, OLED scratchproof and shatterproof screen, built-in GPS, and HD audio, to name a few.

2.Qualcomm has announced that they will be launching the 1.5 GHz Snapdragon Processor in the first quarter of 2011. This new processor is expected to double the speed with additional improvements such as HQ multimedia with 3D graphics, built-in GPS, and HD video.
 

3. Verizon Wireless will release 5 new LTE handsets by May 2011. These will be 4G-capable handsets, with competition from LG, Motorola, and RIM. Verizon Wireless is already testing these LTE (long-term evolution) handsets.
 

4. Believe it or not, even Facebook has jumped into the fray with two net smart phones in collaboration with INQ Mobile Ltd. These phones will be available in the U.S. in the second half of 2011. As for the features, these phones are expected to include most of the famous social websites.
 

5.Microsoft is also coming out with Windows Mobile 7 (WinMo 7) phones, which could be out as early as the end of this year. The winMo 7 will integrate a number of platforms from Microsoft such as Xbox Live and the Zune platform.

Read more on Newsmax.com: 5 Cool New Cell Phones for 2011
Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama's Re-Election? Vote Here Now!