They can certainly target the younger market in some confidence. The vast percentage of those who embrace new technology tend to come from the younger age range, but there is also a vast market of older users who may have different needs.

They may not be interested that the latest phone can download music, run an app to tell them how to bake a goat’s cheese and lemon terrine or that they can now access the Internet while they are pruning their hedges at the bottom of the garden.

Many of these users, as strange as it may seem to many of the younger folk, would just like a mobile phone that is simple, easy to understand and performs the seemingly forgotten art of actually calling someone to speak to them. Fortunately, this is where a website like www.phones4u.co.uk is so beneficial.

This autumn, many new students will be heading into colleges and universities across the UK. Parents can give them a head start by taking a look at the fantastic ‘student saviour’ deals on offer on the website at present. These are the best mobile phone contract/laptop package deals and the value to be had is truly astonishing.

Take the popular Samsung Tocco Lite, a fantastic little mobile phone using touch screen technology. For just £30 a month with 02, you receive this great little handset on a 24-month contract but for that you get unlimited texts over the two-year period (which will be invaluable when little Jonny forgets the power of speech while at University and decides to communicate only via SMS!), 600 talk time minutes a month (which will no doubt keep him from running up a huge phone bill ordering Chinese takeaway).

A great deal, but it gets even better when you learn that he will also get completely free a fantastic Dell Inspiron 11Z laptop on which to do his vital University work, or more likely, spend the day on YouTube watching videos of skateboarders fall clumsily to the ground.

If you are a techno-lover then you will no doubt want the latest technology and Phones4u once again delivers. They offer the full range of fantastic new smartphone packages, including the superb new Samsung Wave S8500 and the astonishing Samsung Galaxy S.

They also offer a comprehensive range of Blackberry handsets, the stylish new offerings from the likes of HTC, Nokia, LG, Sony Ericsson and of course Apple.

Yes, fans of the iPhone 4 will be understandably feverish with the news that Phones4u have some of the best deals available on this latest Steve Jobs creation.

For instance, the stylish Apple iPhone 4 16GB is available under contract from Vodafone for 24 months. For that you receive 1GB a month mobile Internet browsing and 900 free minutes and 3000 texts messages a month.

All for just £40 a month and a one off initial payment of just £89. Alternatively, if you are going to be using your brand new iPhone 4 online a great deal, you could opt for Orange’s similar deal, which is exactly the same price, £89 initially and £40 a month, with the same number of texts and minutes free each month, but which comes with unlimited browsing and WiFi included!

If you aren’t an Apple fan, then don’t worry. There are still plenty of great contract phones on offer to you, at a vast range of prices and on a suitable tariff to match your budget. Many also come with a fantastic free gift to sweeten the deal further.

This gift is often delivered the same day as your phone, no needlessly sorting vouchers, having to send them off to some obscure address in the remote Orkneys and then waiting three months for delivery with Phones4u! If you order a phone with a free gift then, pending satisfactory credit checks, they should be with you the next day!

For instance, let’s imagine that a customer wants the stylish Blackberry Curve 8520. Once they have logged in, checked the specifications of the phone and read the all-important customer reviews of the phone on the site, they then decide that they want to order the phone.

The choices available to the customer are frankly astonishing. If he wants a cheaper monthly package, he can take the 18-month 02 woo contract, which offers a quality phone free of charge, for just £20 a month. Plus the customer would receive 100 call time minutes and 3000 texts free each month!

However, if the customer wants a little more then they will surely be delighted to find that they receive a lot more for their money! If they opt for the Blackberry Curve 8520 on the Vodafone Blackberry your plan Text £30 contract, for his £30 a month he would get 300 minutes of talk time and 3000 text messages. A great deal, but one made even better when you consider he would get delivered, free of charge usually within 24 hours, a brand new slimline 120GB Playstation 3!

A quick browse of the offers for your choice of phone will highlight the myriad of free gifts, from games consoles, televisions to laptops, cashback and iPods, all of which are offered alongside some of the best deals available anywhere in the UK.

Pay as you go customers are not left behind either. Whether you don’t want to be tied down to a monthly contract and want a stylish, modern feature-laden phone, such as the new Samsung Monte or Sony Ericsson W995, then they are available on fantastic, affordable pay as you go deals.

At the other end of the scale, if you just want an emergency back-up phone to keep in the car, or a phone so simple even your mildly eccentric granny could use it, then you can spend the princely sum of £2.95 to get a rather elegant Nokia 1661 – when you buy £10 airtime with Virgin to credit the account with.

With mobile broadband deals, laptop packages, special offers by the dozen, phone reviews and all the latest mobile technology news, the Phones4u website isn’t just about buying phones, but enhancing your life with them. Best of all, that applies if you are a techno-wizard who wants the most expensive gadget and gizmo money can buy, or whether you are of a more venerable age and want the simplest of phones to contact your family.

The name says Phones4u, but really they have phones, gifts, features and advice that is perfect for everybody.

You can also tag your favourite landmarks etc yourself to add your own contribution to the database to share with others. This excellent little app can be found at the Ovi store and is free to download for most Nokia mobile devices.

Here is a clip of how the application actually works;

world cup 2010 mobile apps

In case it had passed you by, the 2010 World Cup finals kick off this weekend in South Africa and to celebrate the greatest sporting event of all, almost everything in the media at present appears to have a World Cup theme.

Mobile applications are no exception to the rule and there are an abundance of apps available featuring football games, live score and news information, star player profiles and much more.

If you have a Nokia mobile device the range of World Cup apps in the Ovi store is growing on a daily basis, fans from all over the globe are invited to download wallpaper featuring their national team colours and theme to brighten up the appearance of their mobiles.

The EA Sports 2010 FIFA World Cup game is apparently the only official game for mobiles and is available on Ovi for only £4.00  which looks good value if you fancy playing out the finals in your armchair or on the commute to work.

For only £1.00 you can own Fantasy World Cup, where you are invited to assemble a team of top players from the 32 competing nations, with points awarded for each players real life performances in the competition.

There are a stack of mobile apps offering Live updates, scores and stats, in fact everything that you could possibly want to know, always available to impress your mates down the pub or simply to keep in touch with any games that you are unable to watch.

Even the free Fring app that connects you to all IMs and Social Media sites for FREE calls is listed as the must have World Cup app, inviting fans to keep connected during the games & share your World Cup excitement with your friends, live!

Sat amongst the long list of World Cup apps is one that is just begging to be downloaded, though again not just for the World Cup. It is called The Special One Speaks and promises a personal supply of wit and wisdom from Jose Mourinho.

‘Call upon The Special One at any time for an instant quote to inspire, amuse and console you and your friends throughout the World Cup and beyond.’

Check out all the World Cup mobile apps at the Nokia Ovi store and let us know your personal favourites or the ones that should be avoided!

opera mini browser

To be honest, working on PCs all day every day of the week, I never gave much thought to browsing on a mobile device, happy to shut the door on computers along with the office door.

My Nokia mobile device has managed to keep me updated with urgent e mails allowing me to keep in touch with business and personal contacts alike and generally that has been more than I could hope for.

But the quick connectivity of the Nokia to the web via wi-fi has recently found me checking websites and such while relaxing in front of the tv or listening to music in the evening.

For someone like me who is used to working on a desk or lap top computer, I never imagined that the small mobile screen would be very pleasurable for much more than reading text and e mails.

However, I have found that watching music videos and film trailers on the small screen isn’t so bad after all and now the Nokia is getting much more use for browsing the web.

The software that comes with Nokia’s smartphones can be clumsy and slow, so when I saw the Opera Mini browser in the Ovi store I downloaded it straight away.

OK, it is not the latest offering from Opera, but having used the full blown version on my PC it is a product that I have found both stable and simple to use for web browsing, not to mention the fact that it is fast.

Opera Mini is free to download from Ovi and is installed on the smartphone within minutes, ready to browse. It has transformed my Nokia into a much more user friendly mobile computer, with software that I know and trust as well as being much faster than the original software.

The only problem for me is that I am now spending almost every waking hour with a computer in front of me, but the main thing is that Opera mini has made that a fun, rather than miserable, experience.

skype app from ovi store

Over the last few years the Skype application enabling voice calls over the internet has developed into a household name and a must have for most PC owners.

I was first introduced to the Skype service around five years ago while living abroad and at that time was sceptical of anything that claimed to offer a ‘free’ service.

Over time, and after using the service to make regular free calls to home my views on Skype changed and I found myself recommending the application to anyone that asked.

Of course running such software on a desk or lap top is one thing, but I had never even considered the service as an application for a mobile device.

Again I was sceptical, but this time not over the ‘free’ part of the service, but moreover how it would perform on my Nokia N97 mini.

Again there was no reason for concern. Having downloaded the Skype app from Nokia’s Ovi Store I was instantly requested to register or add my current log in details.

Connecting to my domestic wi-fi the application proved to be perfect and for the first time I was able to wander freely around the house conversing through the internet connection.

The mobile Skype experience via wi-fi is second to none, equal if not better than through the PC and highly recommended.

Skype for Nokia is specifically designed to work on the Symbian OS and is a complete package including instant messaging, video calls and everything else that you would expect from this brilliant software.

Having established themselves as market leaders with the invention of the year in 2007, Apple have invested much time and energy since in establishing their application store, where smartphone users can personalise their devices with free or paid apps.

With the latest devices from Nokia, particularly the N97 and its smaller N97 Mini version, the company have started to make inroads into the market that has been dominated by the iPhone.

The online Nokia app store is known as the Ovi store and offers free and paid apps to Nokia smart and feature phone users. The site has recently had a facelift making it more accessible and user friendly than its previous incarnation.

For users familiar with the Apple stores, the Nokia Ovi version currently looks a bit lean on content, but it is growing on a daily basis as more handset users choose the Nokia devices over Apple.

It is unfair to make a real comparison of the two app stores as Apple have long since held the advantage of operating their stores from back in the days of the iPod with iTunes, as well as having led the smartphone market with the introduction of the iPhone.

Content for the Ovi store continues to grow daily, but there are some massive opportunities for developers to make a name for themselves and Nokia welcome anyone wishing to distribute their product through Ovi to contact the publishers.

Some of the Ovi Store top apps include many free sports offering’s like football news and results service to the inevitable World Cup information provider, but one I missed last week was the T20 Cricket World Cup app which would have provided many happy moments with England winning the trophy!

Just browsing the site today, here are a couple of interesting new items, the WTF Net Slang Dictionary might be worth looking at, but particularly like the NATS Ash Cloud – Airspace updater, very relevant.

We will be looking at the Ovi store and its offerings in future posts, so please let us know your personal favourite apps games or audio/videos in the store.

Microsoft Communicator Mobile for Nokia devices

Microsoft and Nokia launch first application from their alliance, the Microsoft Communicator Mobile for Nokia mobile devices.

This new unified communications client connects directly with a company’s communications systems to streamline mobile collaboration.

Owners of a number of Symbian based Nokia Eseries smartphones can download the English version today from Nokia’s Ovi Store, the easiest place to get content on their Nokia device.

“Our alliance with Nokia aims to bring the Office productivity experience to the millions of people using Nokia smartphones around the world,” says Kirt Debique, General Manager at Microsoft. “With the arrival of Communicator Mobile for Nokia today, we have a great start to fulfilling our joint vision.”

Communicator Mobile enables people to see their colleagues’ availability, and click to communicate with them using the best method, from IM to email, text to phone call.

The names and status of colleagues are embedded directly into the devices’ contacts application, enabling people to update their own presence, start and join instant messaging sessions, and begin calls directly from the contact card.

“This application really provides a much more efficient way to work with others as you can see if someone is busy or available, and the best way to start a conversation with them,” says Ukko Lappalainen, Vice President at Nokia.

“It also meets all of the requirements for enterprise: cost effective to implement, secure, familiar and reliable.”
The launch is the first product from the alliance – announced last August – which was the first time either company had embarked on an agreement of this scope and nature. Since then, the two companies have been collaborating on the design and development of new solutions, as well as embarking on joint marketing efforts around others they already share.

“As part of our push to constantly enhance our unified communications proposition, we are keen to extend the collaborative benefits of Microsoft Communicator Mobile to Nokia devices,” says Scott Petty, Director at Vodafone Group Business Services. “Communicator Mobile offers great potential for our large corporate customer base who have already deployed Communicator for desktop and now are looking to extend that existing infrastructure to mobile.”

“We trial all potential offerings ourselves and have been very happy with the internal response and productivity increase we have experienced using Microsoft Communicator Mobile,” says Roger Wüthrich-Hasenböhler, Executive Vice President at Swisscom / Webcall. “Having these two companies work together is really helping us serve the needs of our customers.”

This new application, available initially for Nokia E72 and Nokia E52, adds to the work Nokia is already doing in optimizing direct access to email and other personal information with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. The companies plan to deliver Communicator Mobile for Nokia pre-installed on select Nokia smartphones in the future and plan to support additional devices, including the recently announced Nokia E5.

Phones 4u have launched the new Nokia X6 16GB mobile phone

Phones 4u have launched the new Nokia X6 16GB phone, exclusively loaded with the b@TV app – a new social platform that connects the clubbing community all over the world; and what a gorgoeus looking slim phone brimming with excitement it is.

Music lovers can follow superstar DJ’s worldwide, re-live their favourite seminal clubbing moments or experience sell-out gigs on the other side of the world, all live and direct to their Nokia X6 handsets.  But this is only available to mobile phone users who buy the Nokia X6 from Phones 4u.

Users of the b@TV app can plug their Nokia X6 in to their television to soak up the festival atmosphere from their front room and with up to 20 new DJ sets added every week to b@TV, there is always something new. Boasting thousands of DJ sets, streaming 230 of the world’s top DJs and with artists live on demand including Deadmau5, Chase and Status, Calvin Harris and Anne Mac, there has never been a better choice of entertainment whether it is having a party in the living room with friends or on the go.

Share these moments with friends by making recommendations on Facebook, Twitter or email through the Nokia X6’s social media function and be part of the global b@TV community by sharing images of your night out, all taken via the X6’s 5 megapixel camera.

Phones 4u spokesperson Russell Braterman commented,

“We are delighted to be exclusively launching the Nokia X6 fully loaded with b@TV software to bring the best in clubbing direct to the pockets of our customers. Our customers care about hearing the best music first and in a way that is accessible to them. The new b@TV platform offers this exactly and we will to continue providing content that matters to a young, savvy, connected crowd”

Ray Smith, co-founder of b@TV commented:

“In less than a year we have built a brilliant community for those who love their music and love to party.  With b@TV, Nokia X6 owners can get the very best music, the best events and the best club nights onto the phone as well as keep in touch with their friends with an interactive HD experience on the go.”

As well as delivering the best in mobile-clubbing, the Nokia X6 16GB has enough memory to store your favourite tracks and allows users to download up to 25 free songs from the Nokia Music Store. Movie buffs are able to watch their favourite films on the go on the 3.2” touch-screen while keen gamers can take advantage of the in-built motion sensor to enhance the gaming experience while on the move. With free games provided in the box and more available at the Nokia Ovi Store, gaming enthusiasts have a world of interaction at their fingertips.

With integrated stereo surround sound speakers, a built in FM radio and access to the entire Nokia Music store, the Nokia X6 covers all your entertainment needs.

Key product features include:

• 3.2″ wide touch screen with scratch resistant glass

• Resolution: 640 x 360 pixels

• Finger-operated touch screen for text input

• 16 GB internal memory

• 35 h music playback time

• Bluetooth version 2.0

• SMS and MMS, Email and Web browsing

• 5.0 megapixel with autofocus, 4x digital zoom and dual LED flash

• Nokia Nseries digital music player (Playlists, 8-band graphical equaliser, Selection by artist, composers, album and genre, Album graphics display, Bass booster, stereo widening, loudness, Music playback file formats: mp3, SPMidi, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA)

• Stereo FM radio

• Integrated 3D sound effect stereo speakers (dedicated audio chip for crystal clear hi-fi sound quality)

If that’s not enough, you can make and receive phone calls too. Amazing innit!?

For more details, please visit the Phones 4u website.

rihanna

Following their tie up with the R&B singer, Nokia have launched a Rihanna app, which promises to bring fans closer to the star by delivering the latest news, music, photos and exclusive video content to Nokia’s entertainment rich handsets N97, X6 and 5800 Xpress Music.

Video content includes live footage from the recent Rihanna album launch event that saw the singer launch her latest release globally via Nokia technology.

Additionally, fans can access music samples, a Rihanna biography and photo library, and, when available, information on Rihanna’s forthcoming 2010 tour. The App content will be unavailable elsewhere and will be regularly updated for fans.

The App also provides a direct link to the Nokia Music Store where fans can download exclusive album content including a Nokia bonus track, Hole In My Head, written and produced by Justin Timberlake.

In addition, an exclusive Donni Hotwheels remix of Rihanna’s smash single, Russian Roulette, is also available to those who download her album, Rated R, exclusively via the Nokia Music Store.

The free Rihanna app is available on Ovi Store.

Nokia X6

It has been announced that Nokia’s latest phone the Nokia X6, is to arrive in the UK this week and is the mobile to have if you’re a lover of music.

The phone pack has a standard 6GB of memory, 32GB internal, 4GB on a microSD card, fantastic for all of you who want more music on the move.

The mobile features a 3.2 inch reactive interface and 16:9 touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera with a dual flash and a Carl Zeiss lens and includes full access to the Ovi Application Store.

The phone can be pre-ordered at a price of around £449 SIM-free or it is to be available at Phones4U stores from Friday 27 November.  The handset will be free, costing around £25 a month or if you trade in an N-Series handset on the Orange Network, costing around £35 a month.