Orange LIVE

Image and someof the information is courtesy of Pocket.co.il, other information derives from Orange Israel and other undisclosed sources.

Orange Israel launches it's 3G services today!
Orange has purchased most advertising space in leading Israeli web site's including
Walla! and YNet.
The 3G service, UMTS, has a 70% coverage in Israel which is the largest 3G coverage offered currently (or at least advertised) in the country.
The company is launching the service with the LG U8120i under the brand name Orange LIVE.
Among many interesting service which will be offered is a unique video phone customer service which will allow 3G users to perform a video call to the customer service centre.
The company will not upgrade the SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card to regular users, only 3G customers will recive the upgrade to the new USIM (a special SIM card which supports 3G services).

For more information visit the Orange web site by clicking the title.

Pelephone launches 3G campign

Pelephone will launch it's 3G campign tommorow this as the 3G service's experiment has come to an end today.
Pelephone will spend approximatly 4 Million NIS in this campign which will become a head to head fight with Cellcom and especially Orange which is expected to launch it's 3G service's in December.
The campign will feature the Samsung 740.

Hot Choice

The new upcoming service that has been lobg waiting is moving closer, Hot has decided to launch it's new VOD (Video On Demand) service using the technology offered by SeaChange.
Below are some sneak peaks from the new upcoming service which is gradually being launched within the upcoming weeks starting with the Sharon region of Israel.
One of the exciting options the VOD service will offer is the ability for customers to view the shows/movies provided within the service at their own convenience with fast-forward, rewind and pause capabilities.

YesMAX updates

* All images are courtesy of the NRG web site

Picture of recording screen






Picture of the new YesMAX remote control





Picture of the "PV to GO" - a mobile PVR to be launched in 2007 (expected; includes display)

Hot unification

Sources reveal that Hot will probably launch it's unified EPG (Electronic Program Guide) and change all DVC (Digital Cable Computer - MEMIR) to it's new Hot branded and redesigned systems by December 20th, 2004.

Hot launches telecom service

Hot launches its land-line service in Israel today using the nation wide prefix 077.
Initialy the product will be available only to customers in the Sharon region and the supported areas will increase with time, Hot is obligated to provide nation-wide support within 3 years.
Customer who wish to join are currently being forwarded to the Hot business customer care at *6939
The service cost is 140 NIS for non Hot customers and the estimated pricing for Hot customers, depending on various variables, is:
Customer with above 350 NIS in Hot services: 20 NIS
Customer with above 250 NIS in Hot services: 50 NIS
Customer with above 200 NIS in Hot services: 70 NIS
Customer with under 199 NIS in Hot services: 90 NIS

All packages are for 2000 minutes Hot/Bezeq talk time

Initial installation for Hot customers is 99 NIS, for non-Hot customers 150 NIS

Number Portability

Mr. Ehud Olmert, The Israeli Minister of Communications and VP, said yesterday that within six months number portability will come into effect in Israel allowing customers the freedom to switch networks and keep their own number with them.
For example: A customer subscribed to Pelephone will be able to take his phone number (including the prefix) and move to Cellcom.

The Israeli web site Pocket reports that on sunday Orange Israel will provide a new cellphone from Motorola model V300.
The new phone will be available in the blue colour and it's estimated retail price will be 52 NIS X 36 Months.
The new phone utilizes the new OLED (Organic Light Emmiting Diode) technology, in it's outer screen, which is expected to revolutionize the monitor world thanks to it's small dimentions, flexibility, low voltage use and high quality display.

The phone image and specifications are courtesy of GSMArena.

General Network GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900
Announced 2003, 3Q
Status Available
Size Dimensions 89 x 49 x 24.8 mm, 86 cc
Weight 122 g
Display Type TFT, 65K colors
Size 176 x 220 pixels, 8 lines
- Second display OLED(96 x 32 pixels), 2 lines
- Downloadable screensavers, wallpapers and ringtones
Ringtones Type Polyphonic (32 channels)
Amount 21 poly + 4 MP3 ringtones
Customization Composer, download, order now
Vibration Yes
Memory Phonebook 1000 entries, Photo call
Call records 10 dialed, 10 received, 10 missed calls
- 5MB internal memory
Features GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots)
Data speed 32 - 48 kbps
Messaging SMS, EMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Clock Yes
Alarm Yes
Infrared port No
Games Stuntman & Monopoly
Colors Blue
Camera VGA, 640x480 pixels
- Java
- WAP 2.0
- T9 (iTAP)
- Organizer
- Calculator
- Voice memo/dial
- Nokia Smart Messaging
- USB port
- Built-in handsfree

YesMAX EPG - Preview

Below is a sneak peak of the new Yes MAX PVR.
Image courtesy of Rating2Day.co.il

Internet Zahav (015) Granted permission to test land-line services

The Israeli Ministry of Communications has recently granted Internet Zahav permission to perform a pilot test of land line telephoney services under several restriction for this period.

Orange ready to launch 3G services

According to the Pocket web site, Orange Israel is about to launch it's 3G services within two weeks in a massive internet campaign.
Other source's back this information as it has become known that Orange has purchased almost all advertising space in high traffic web site's for that period.
It is expected that during early December 2004 the service will become available backed by a massive general media campaign.
Orange is expected to launch the 3G services with the LG U8120i.
Below is an image and some specifications courtesy of GSMArena (bottom image and specifications).

Click HERE to see the Orange Direct online manual for this phone.




General Network UMTS / GSM 900 / GSM 1800
Announced 2004, 2Q
Status Available
Size Dimensions 96 x 50 x 23 mm
Weight 126 g
Display Type TFT, 64K colors
Size 176 x 220 pixels, 7 lines
- Second external monochrome display, 96 x 64 pixels
- Four way navigation keys
- Wallpapers
Ringtones Type Polyphonic (72 channels)
Customization Download
Vibration Yes
Memory Phonebook 500
Call records 20 dialed, received and missed calls
32 MB shared memory for pictures, MMS messages and Java apps
Features GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots)
Data speed 384 kbps (WCDMA)
Messaging SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
Clock Yes
Alarm Yes
Infrared port Yes
Games Yes
Colors Silver, Blue
Camera VGA, 640x480 pixels, 180 deg swivel, video
- Video calling
- Java
- WAP 2.0
- eZi text (T9)
- Media player
- Voice memo/dial
- Calculator
- USB port
- Built-in handsfree

Nasty concept!

A new site has been published (click on the title) which has gone way beyond any boundary we had so far and I believe it is time we all think if this is where we want our future to head to.
The new site called Live-Shot currently offers shooting live ammunition at paper targets and will soon offer web surfers the option of shooting AT REAL LIVE ANIMALS over the net.

disgusting!!

Bezeq joins FMCA (Fixed Mobile Convergence Alliance)

Bezeq joined the FMCA recently, the organization formed in June 2004 targets creating advanced communication solutions incorprating land-line and cellular technologies allowing (for example) the creation of dual hand sets which will allow users to automaticaly dial using a cellular line when out of the home/office and use the land-line when near by the home/office.

Passwords are dead!

Speaking at Microsoft's annual IT Forum in Copenhagen on the 18/11/2004 Bill Gates announced that Smart cards and 64-bit computing are the future of IT.
Among other news and interpetations of this news the most significant is the movment towards a password free world which will be replaced with other various means of identification such as smart cards, finger recognition and biometric means.
IBM has recently released the first fully integrated biometric ThinkPad (notebook pc) offering high grade security by utilizing hardware and software based integration for a higher security level.
The new system has already won many praises from key market and security figures.
The fingerprint reader is built into select models of the ThinkPad T42. With the new reader, located on the wrist rest below the arrow keys, users swipe their finger across a small horizontally oriented sensor to log-on to their systems, software applications, web sites, or databases. The scanning process takes only seconds, combining convenience with the strongest notebook security available as a standard feature. This type of fingerprint reader captures more data than a traditional "picture" capture window because it scans more of the fingertip's surface area, helping to prevent misidentification.

Prices for ThinkPad T42 models with a fingerprint reader start at $1,699.

Pelephone offers ANOTHER new LG phone - 8380

Pelephone launches another LG phone, this time it's the 8380 model.
The new model features two colour displays and:

• MMS (Multi Media Messaging)
• AGPS - Advanced GPS services including location finding
• Photo Caller ID
• organizer
• 64 Poly Audio
• 1000 Name / 5000 Number phone book
• 180 degree camera (310,000 pixel)
  
• Flash for camera
• Supports Video recording
• Supports Photography
• BREW VM

Retail price: 79.90 NIS X 36 Months

HOT new channels

Hot is launching new channels on the 28/11/2004:

Karma:
Channel 39 - Spirituality and soul

Bait +:
Channel 32 - DIY (Do It Yourself)

Yes MAX

Yes launches the Yes MAX PVR (Personal Video Recorder) based DVC (Digital Video Computer - MEMIR) using the Mcann Erricsson house.
The new campaign is using the slogan "From today you are the boss, off your television".
Yes has also been granted permission, by the Ministry of Communications, to launch a new channel name Yes MAX which will probably deal with help and support for the new PVR DVC.

To pre-register your order click here

HDTV in Israel

Globes, print edition, reports that during 2005 Yes will launch a DVC (Digital Video Computer - or MEMIR) by Nokia which supports HDTV (High Definition TeleVision).
The TV must also support this new service and initialy few HDTV channels are expected.
During Telecom 2004 HOT also showed a similar service which is also expected during 2005.

Google launches new scholar search engine

The new search engine uses material provided by scientific communities with support from academic, scientific, and technical publishers.

Some of the sources are Association of Computing Machinery, Nature, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Online Computer Library Center.

Gmail now supports POP access

Google announced that within a couple of weeks it will add POP (Point Of Presence) access to it's Gmail users thus allowing them to gain access using email applications' such as MS Outlook and Mozilla's Thunderbird.

Some user's, such as myself, already have access to this setting and other users will gain access
to this setting within the upcoming weeks.

To gain access to this features enter "Settings" -> "Forwarding and POP"

For information on how to configure your email client click here, you must enable the setting first!!

Pelephone offers a new LG phone

The Israeli cellular provider Pelephone has launched a new phone by LG (Lucki-Goldstar).
Click on the title to reach the product page.

Microsoft Vs. Google

Microsoft is expected to launch it's new web search engine tomorrow, sources reveal.
The new search engine is coming out late in the game way after Google in an effort to
stay competitive in this field.

It is still unknown when the new desktop search tool will be launched but it is expected to be during late 2005.

To preview the new search engine click here.


Editors note: Try looking up the word jew and the very first hit is an antisemetic web site.

Skype goes cordless with Siemens

Skype has announced its free software is now available for the Siemens Gigaset DECT cordless phones, meaning that users can now utilise a cordless phone to place calls to other telephones, over the Internet.



Originally announced to be released last September, Skype's free Internet telephony software works with Siemens phones via the Gigaset M34 USB adapter, an open interface adapter that is plugged into the USB connection point of a users' PC. It communicates with the phone's base station to either make or receive a Skype call. The handset then enables users to gain cordless access to the Skype feature set including free Skype to Skype calling, buddy lists, the Skype Global Directory and conference calling.

The adapter works with the recently launched Gigaset C340/345 and Gigaset CX340/345isdn, Gigaset S440/445 and Gigaset SX440/445isdn, Gigaset S645 and Gigaset SL440.

The Gigaset M34 USB adapter will also enable Gigaset phones to utilize the SkypeOut service. With SkypeOut, users pre-pay to make calls to any traditional phone numbers at local rates. The adapter is available at retail outlets, including an up-to 120 minutes free Skype Out telephony voucher.

Article courtesy of: GeekZone.co.nz

Yes beats Hot in the race for the PVR

As we have mentioned in previous posts Hot has managed to slip official and unofficial information about their intention to launch a PVR device.



Now it seems that Yes has beat them to the punch and is installing PVR's in several hundred home's and the service will be publicly available
in about a month.
The PVR launched by Yes is not a TIVO as many expected, but rather a device by the Israeli company NDS which will also supply Hot with
their PVR, XTV.

Firefox 1.00 Released!!

Mozilla Firefox has been released!! Click on the title to download the file.
Another intresting find is this page at google which
continues to feed rumors of a Firefox-Google partnership.

Hot opens registration for Telecom & VOD service

Hot opened the registration, free of obligation, to the new telecom service which will be
available from the 25 of this month.
During the registration the user can also pre-register for the VOD service which
is currently experimental and has started in Hod Hasharon.

Hot Telecom - Update!!

The Israeli site Ynet reports that the land-line telecommunications company Hot Telecom will launch its service
to the public on November 25 this year, this after an announcment by the Israeli Minister of Telecommunications
at the Israel 2004 Telecom Conference which was launched today.
Sources reveal that Hot will not charge a membership fee and there will not be an inter-connect fee with Bezeq.

The Official Google Store

Have you visited the official Google store ?
Check it out and support Google!!

LitePC Technologies - New version for XP

LitePC Technologies became known thanks to it's MS Windows '98 utility
which is able to drastically reduce the size of the operating systems
size to the minimum as chosen by the user.
Now, LitePC Technologies, they have launched the new MS Windows XP
utility.

The utility is available as freeware and shareware (the shareware
version has many more features).

Shareware version
http://www.litepc.com/xplite.html
Freeware version
http://www.litepc.com/xptrial_lic.html

GET READY Firefox to be released on November 9

Siemens to market DECT phones in Israel

Siemens will beging selling DECT phones in Israel via Newpan.
DECT is a technology which allows usage of many service's similiar
to the one's available in cellphone's and provide a sort of breed
between
a PBX and a cellphone (among other advantages).
Initaly four models are expected to be launched in Israel.

NTT DoCoMo and Cellcom in i-mode deal-sources

Japan's largest mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc., will licence
its industry-leading i-mode mobile Internet service to Israel's largest
mobile operator, Cellcom, potentially boosting Cellcom's revenues,
sources close to the matter said.

The two companies are expected to announce the deal as early as next
week, the sources said. Cellcom has called a news conference on Monday
at 0900 GMT in Tel Aviv, although the company declined to comment on
the topic.

DoCoMo's five-year-old i-mode is an always-on Internet service that
allows users to send e-mail, chat, play games, download ring tones and
access content from more than 70,000 mobile Web sites.

I-mode helped jump-start Japan's mobile growth when it was launched in
February 1999 and secured DoCoMo's leading position in the industry. In
Japan, 42.2 million people, or about one-third of the population, use
i-mode.

DoCoMo said last week its average monthly data revenue per user was
1,900 yen ($17.85) in the July-September quarter.

Cellcom, like other Israeli mobile operators, is in the process of
deploying a third-generation network that provides access to fast
Internet service. Cellcom's 3G network is already operating in various
parts of Israel.

DoCoMo, whose name is a play on the Japanese word for "anywhere", has
licenced i-mode to operators in nine countries so far, including
Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Australia.

Spammer sent to jail for 9 years!

Jeremy Jaynes, aka Gaven Stubberfield, ranked the eigth most prolific
spammer in the world by the Spamhaus Project, was sentenced to 9 years
in prison in a Virginia court. Jaynes sent out more than 100,000
messages over a 30-day period in July and August 2003 in violation of
state law, according to the charges. His sister was fined $7,500 for
helping in the operation. They used her credit.

More Internet Explorer vulnerabilities found

Not surprisingly, Microsoft's IE has more security holes that can cause
users lots of headaches.
The latest security flaw found was reported by German Security
Researcher Benjamin Tobias Franz reporting a URL spoofing bug with
iframes in IE. When exploited, the bug permits a faked target address
to be shown in the status bar window.
Did anyone say Firefox?

Security hole details:
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/380193

Help & Manual

We would like to thank EC Software for donating a copy of the award
winning software Help & Manual to our group.
The software allows creation of high quality help, support and many
other kinds of manuals using a simple yet comprehensive interface.

RoamDrive

RoamDrive offers an interesting high grade, free, utility to make use
of web-mail accounts (such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) as storage
devices.
Currently only Hotmail is supported but the company promises to add
support for Gmail and Yahoo by the end of the year.

HOT Telecom - update!!

The Israeli web site Walla! reports today that the Israeli cable
television company HOT will launch it's land line telephony service on
Monday next week during the opening of the Telecom 2004 event.
HOT is also expected to launch it's VOD (Video On Demand) service on
the same occasion.
These two announcments are expected to cause a major shock in the local
land line communications market and create quite a stir in the
television market.
It is expected that HOT will offer a deal where the customer purchases
a modem for the telephony service and for a monthly fee of approximatly
70 NIS they will have unlimited land line to land line service at no
charge.
HOT Telecom's new area code is 07 (077) and for the up coming time
there will be NO inter-connect fee's between Bezeq and HOT (dialing HOT
will be exactly like dialing Bezeq as far as pricing matters).
For more information on both topics read previous posts on these
issues.

Toshiba offering replacement for bad laptop RAM

Toshiba are offering to replace as many as 600,000 memory modules that
have been found to cause crashes, freezes and instability. Customers
affected by the faulty RAM can request new RAM, which will be sent to
the customer. The customer then sends Toshiba the faulty RAM. All the
shipping costs are covered by Toshiba. Along with new RAM, Toshiba are
also giving the customers a free 32MB USB storage device.

Nokia NFC (Near Field Communication)

With the Nokia NFC (Near Field Communication) shell on their phone,
consumers will be able to access a variety of services and exchange
information with a simple touch gesture.

The Nokia NFC shell offers consumers access to browsing, and text
message services simply by touching tags that contain service
shortcuts. Consumers are also able to give their favorite service
shortcuts to other users by touching another NFC-compatible device with
their phone. In addition, the Nokia NFC shell comes with tags that can
be used for creating own personal service shortcuts.

The NFC technology evolved from a combination of contactless
identification (RFID) and interconnection technologies. NFC operates in
the 13.56 MHz frequency range, over a distance of typically a few
centimetres. NFC technology is standardized in ISO 18092, ISO 21481,
ECMA (340, 352 and 356) and ETSI TS 102 190. NFC is also compatible to
contactless smart card infrastructure based on ISO 14443 A, i.e.
Philips MIFARE technology, as well as Sony's FeliCa card.

The first mobile phone to work with the new Nokia NFC is the Nokia
3220, a tri-band camera phone that is available in two versions: a GSM
900/1800/1900 primarily for the European and Asian markets, and a GSM
850/1800/1900 primarily for the Americas. The Nokia NFC shell is a
functional cover developed for the Nokia 3220 phone. The Nokia NFC
shell with four tags will be available during the first quarter of 2005
in Europe, and during the second quarter 2005 in the Americas and Asia.