Next month see’s the European launch of the much anticipated, Netgear SPH101 VoIP wireless phone. The Register reports that the handset is available via pre order to North American customers via Amazon.com with an expected availability date of 15th October 2006. However, Amazon.co.uk is currently listing the device as available and ready for shipping.

At £160, the SPH101 competes well with the current offerings, but given Netgears solid grounding and well known name, it is expected to grab a large proportion of the, rather limited, wireless VoIP handset market.

The SPH101 will connect straight to the Skype network using any 802.11b or 802.11g wireless network. The unit also provides all of the features that the common Skype software does. Whilst open networks are said to be hassle-free, secure wireless hotspots that require web based authentification might cause problems with the Netgear device.

PC Pro is currently running an article on new Xerox technologies involving temporary prints via time limited print ink. From the article:

“Xerox has lifted the veil from some of its research and development work in the field of printing. The cutting-edge research highlighted at a press event involved current projects that are expected to see the commercial light of day within 18-months, including a twist on the theme of invisible ink….This offers the prospect of reusable paper in the sense that the content is automatically erased after a period of time, ready for fresh printing. Inspired by the fact that many print outs have a life-span of a few hours (think of the emails you may print out just to read, or the content you proof read on the train journey back home), the specially prepared paper will preserve its content for up to 16 hours.”

Read More : PC Pro - Xerox reveals transient documents

Virgin has announced an October launch for its Lobster 700TV handset, which can receive video and radio over the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) network.

BT has been trying to generate interest in broadcasting video to mobile phones over DAB for a few years now, but the logistics of designing a compatible handset and negotiating for content have put off most network operators; until now.

DAB is a technology well-suited to integration into a phone: it was designed for low power consumption and for use on mobile devices, and while it does need an external antenna, the use of the headset wire makes the experience the same as using an FM radio on a normal handset.

Read More : The Register - BT and Virgin announce broadcast TV over DAB

A hacker who broke into the systems of T-Mobile USA and lifted the personal details of around 400 people, including a US Secret Service agent, has escaped imprisonment. Nicholas Lee Jacobsen, 23, was sentenced to one year of home detention and a fine of $10,000 in compensation to T-Mobile over the 2004 attack.

Even though Jacobsen was left able to access personal data held by Special Agent Peter Cavicchia on a sidekick mobile device, the Secret Service is ruling out the possibility that any investigations might have been compromised.

Source : The Register - T-Mobile hacker escapes imprisonment

The BBC are reporting on the latest advancement in technology - A 110Ghz silicon transistor. By adding flourine to the silicon transisitors, researchers at the University of Southampton managed to greatly improve the speed at which the common transistor is capable of running, making the result a new world record. From the article:

“It just takes a standard technology and adds one extra step……This is a really cheap method.”

The new process is said to be very cheap and easy to impliment, meaning that we should see the new technology in the not too distant future. Ideal implications are in the mobile computing world, with mobile phones and PDA’s at the forefront.

“Complete circuits usually operate at about a tenth of the speed of the component transistors meaning the new devices could allow engineers to build chips that operate at a speed of about 11GHz.”

More Information: BBC News - Speedy silicon sets world record

Irish telecoms regulator, ComReg, recently came under fire from one of the countries biggest cinema groups after it decided that cinemas wishing to implement mobile phone blocking technology would have to acquire the consent of the network operators. Talking on the issue, director of the Irish Cellular Industry Association (ICIA), Tommy McCabe said:

“The use of interceptors would generate significantly greater concerns for users, venues and operators - particularly where public safety is concerned.”

Adding that the issue of mobile phone use in cinemas is one of behavioural rather than regulatory, and should be addressed through education. Further pointing out that nearly all phones have a built in silent mode option that would enable patrons to stay in contact without ruining the experience for others.

A new piece of software is set to launch in the UK, which will allow public mobile phone users the ability to encrypt all or some of their mobile comms. In partnership with German company: Safe-com, and the military, One Day Mobile is offering its encryption application, Babylon nG, to users in the public domain. Unfortunately, the software will send the encrypted traffic over the data channel via GPRS, rather than the voice channel. This could lead to breaks, lag and interruptions, as the GPRS system has no rigorous controls over transmission as GSM does.

Update: I have just been contacted by Danielle Newman of marketing & PR company Pazang Ltd, who has informed me that the mobile encryption software will only be available to businesses, the government and the military.

With reference to our recent report on the RIAA attempts at suing a dead man. It would appear that the huge, and largely negative, response across the worlds media may have quelled the monoliths copyright thirst. RIAA spokesperson, Jonathan Lamy, said that, “out of an abundance of sensitivity, we have elected to drop this particular case.” Or not as the case maybe, given that this renewed view on its victims comes just days after the media tore the RIAA a new asshole.

With all the hype of the new 802.11n wireless spec floating around, it would appear that a number of manufacturers are starting to put out the required hardware. Unfortunately for the consumer, the 802.11n spec is still in the draft 1.0 phase, with a second draft not being planned until early next year.

802.11n, the upgrade from 802.11g, will give speeds of upto 600mbps, a vast improvement in wireless transmission speed. The current problems arise as the spec has not been fully resolved, meaning that many devices currently available will, likely, be incompatible with the final draft. Furthermore, initial testing has shown a very bad inter-manufacturer compatibilty.

As if they couldnt crawl any lower, in the case Warner Bros vs Scantlebury, the RIAA are continuing their case against, the now deceased, Mr Scantlebury who passed away before his trial was resolved. The RIAA have given Mr Scantlebury’s family, a very kind and heartfelt, 60 days to grieve before taking depositions from the Scantlebury family.

More Information: Recording Industry vs The People [blog]