Researcher: iPhone has potential security problems

Apple's iPhone is a tough target for hackers, but a security researcher warned Friday that there are ways the sleek device could potentially be compromised.

The iPhone has no security software, but Apple doesn't let people load third-party programs on the device, reducing the risk of infection from malicious software. But when the iPhone is connected to the Web, possibilities emerge, said Marius van Oers, a security researcher with McAfee's AVERT Labs in Amsterdam.

He doesn't claim to have uncovered a specific security hole in the device, but listed several ways that determined hackers could use the Web to try to find a way in.

Apple is relying on developers to create rich Web-based applications that will be accessed through the mobile version of the company's Safari Web browser. Browser flaws are a proven way for hackers to get unauthorized code running on a system, van Oers said.

"It's fairly easy to send someone an SMS (Short Messaging Service) or an e-mail with a Web link," he said. "And once you go to the Web link, then that server can inject code into the iPhone, and if that happens, [a hacker] can have full control."

That's what happened with a Safari flaw found by Independent Security Evaluators, a company that detailed its findings at the Black Hat security conference in August. By constructing a malicious Web site, the researchers injected code into the iPhone and pilfered recent text messages, phone numbers and e-mail. Apple has since patched the flaw.

"Once you get access to the system, it's all over," van Oers said.

He presented his view of iPhone security Friday at the Virus Bulletin security conference in Vienna. Although he is based in Europe, he examined an iPhone purchased in the U.S. His view of the iPhone's security is more cautionary and speculative, but rooted in the well-known ways that hackers work.

Apple also allows the use of JavaScript when the iPhone interacts with Web pages, a programming language that has been used to exploit software problems, van Oers said.

Further, Apple's multimedia application QuickTime has been prone to trouble, and there are several proof-of-concept exploits circulating the Web now for version 7, van Oers said. How that proof-of-concept code could affect QuickTime on the iPhone remains to be seen.

Nonetheless, with the iPhone already popular in the U.S. and due to go on sale in Europe in about six weeks, Apple can expect more aggressive attempts by malicious hackers to meddle with it.

Hacking mobile devices is less prevalent than hacking desktop computers. But interesting malicious programs have been written for mobiles, including some that repeatedly autodial or send text messages to a premium number. The number is owned by the hackers, who collect the revenue.

The chance of those kinds of malicious software affecting the iPhone today is probably low, but "that's the future. Let's hope it will not come to that," van Oers said.

source InfoWorld

BlackBerry 8820

The first Wi-Fi-enabled BlackBerry offers moderately faster data speeds along with GPS navigation and improved multimedia features.

For many BlackBerry fans (and haters), the lack of Wi-Fi has been at the top of the proverbial pet peeve list for years. Well, the wait is over. The BlackBerry 8820 is the first cellular device in the company's stable to offer 802.11 connectivity. While the Wi-Fi was simple to set up, it wasn't exactly blazing, and we wish you could do more with it (like VoIP). This world phone/organizer/media player/GPS navigator has more than enough going for it to warrant the $299 price tag but not enough for current 8800 owners to upgrade.

Design
With the exception of a Wi-Fi logo in the top-right corner of the 2.4-inch display, the 8820 looks and feels pretty much identical to its predecessor. And that's mostly a good thing. Sure, it's heavier and larger than the 3.9-ounce Curve, but the black-and-silver 8820 retains the relatively light (4.7 ounces) and slim profile (0.6 inches) of the 8800. You also get the same tightly packed but speedy keyboard and slick trackball for navigating menus.

Simple Wi-Fi Setup
RIM did a nice job integrating 802.11a/b/g without making it complicated. You simply click on the Manage Connections icon on the bottom of the main menu, which brings up a list of options that includes Mobile Network (AT&T/EDGE), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. A built-in wizard steps you through scanning for and connecting to available networks, whether the phone is in the office, at home, or near a public hotspot. Should the network you're trying to connect to be encrypted, you can easily type in the encryption key (WEP, WPA, etc.)

We appreciated that the 8820 automatically connected to networks saved as profiles. Once we set up our office profile, the 8820 took only five seconds to latch onto our wireless network after turning Wi-Fi on. The device's range could be better, however. When we walked about 30 feet away from the router, our 8820 showed only one bar of Wi-Fi coverage (out of five), compared with the iPhone's two bars (out of three). Plus, you can't tell how strong your Wi-Fi coverage is on the 8820 while you're surfing the Web; you have to be in the Manage Connections utility.

How Fast Is It?
On our side-by-side tests, the 8820 downloaded pages over Wi-Fi noticeably faster than the BlackBerry Curve did via EDGE, but the margin wasn't very wide. On average, the 8820 started loading CNN.com and other sites a few seconds faster than the Curve, and it loaded pages completely two to seven seconds faster. The reason for these less-than-dramatic results is that no BlackBerry has a direct connection to the Internet; Wi-Fi simply queries RIM's own servers a bit faster, and those servers have always done a superb job delivering compressed Web pages in a hurry. (We downloaded Opera Mini, which offers a more desktop-like surfing experience, but it wouldn't work over Wi-Fi.)

Having integrated Wi-Fi is less of an advantage in terms of e-mail, mostly because RIM nailed that eons ago with its push delivery. We noticed a mere one-second speed advantage when downloading a Word attachment over Wi-Fi versus EDGE. You can use the 8820 at nearly 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots in the U.S. ($7.99 per day, $29.99 per month) and at thousands of other hotspots worldwide with which AT&T has roaming agreements. Connecting to those hotspots costs $39.99 per month.

Sorry, No VoIP Here
Unfortunately, you can't use the 8820's Wi-Fi connection for making VoIP calls. For now, at least, it's for Web surfing and e-mail only. We did get Shape Services' IM+ for Skype to work on the 8820, but it worked only when we had the device's EDGE connection turned on. We're hoping the company will add Wi-Fi support in an update to the client.

GPS Still Good, Improved Multimedia
In most other respects, the 8820 is just as good as or better than the 8800. Like its predecessor, this BlackBerry can provide turn-by-turn directions when you purchase the TeleNav GPS Navigator software ($9.99 per month unlimited). We noticed much improved route-calculation times and appreciated how close to real time our location was displayed on the device. The 8820 incorrectly identified an illegal left turn as part of one route, but in general we were impressed with the accuracy of the results and the robust local search functionality.

The 8820 has also improved on the multimedia front. It's compatible with AT&T's music offerings, including XM Radio ($8.99 per month). That service delivered decent reception, but it works only over EDGE; we'd like to see Wi-Fi support added. As with the Curve, the 8820 ships with a media player that synchronizes with supplied software from Roxio, making it a cinch to drag and drop music, photos, and videos onto the device. You also get the same great multitasking capabilities as you get with the Curve, so you can surf the Web while listening to tunes through stereo Bluetooth headphones. (You can also use the 2.5mm jack.)

Solid Phone and Battery Life
Call quality was good on our tests. We noticed a little background fuzz on our end of the line, but conversations sounded pretty clear and loud overall. Other callers said we sounded very clear and almost too loud. The speaker provided more than enough volume for calls, music, and navigation. Our only nitpick is that calls sometimes took a while to connect, a complaint we also had about the Curve.

The 8820 is rated for 5 hours of talk time and 22 days of standby time. Not surprisingly, having Wi-Fi on and being connected to a network reduces this smart phone's endurance, but as usual, RIM does a nice job with power management. Even though the 8820 uses the same 1400-mAh battery as the 8800, the device lasted nearly three days with intermittent use.

Verdict
Mobile workers who consider Wi-Fi a check-off item when shopping for a smart phone won't be disappointed by RIM's implementation, but they won't be blown away, either. We consider the 802.11 connection a good backup plan for EDGE, especially when you can't get a strong cellular signal indoors. So long as you don't need a built-in camera, the 8820's snappy overall performance, GPS navigation, and multimedia features make it a solid choice for AT&T customers. Others may want to wait and see what RIM cooks up for T-Mobile.

source laptopmag

The iPhone Goes Orange

The iPhone's latest move is to France.

France Telecom will start marketing Apple Inc.'s million-selling iPhone in France through its wireless arm Orange.

Thursday's announcement came days after Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs visited Britain and Germany to unveil similar deals with mobile operator O2 and Deutsche Telekom AG.
The iPhone, a combined cell phone-iPod media player that also can wirelessly access the Internet, will go on sale in all three countries in November -- in time for the holiday season.

The latest deal was announced by France Telecom CEO Didier Lombard during a conference in Hanoi. Apple said last week that it had sold 1 million iPhones in the United States in the first 74 days it was on sale, shortly after slashing the price by a third. The iPhone debuted in the United States on June 29, with service exclusively through AT&T Inc.

France Telecom will be counting on the popular iPhone to raise sales, boosting its share of the cell phone market. Jobs said Tuesday his goal was to sell 10 million iPhones in 2008, representing 1 percent of the global handset market.

Officials with Orange would not say how much the phone will cost in France.
Consumers in Britain will pay 269 pounds ($536) for the 8-gigabyte model -- or about $139 more than what Apple charges in the United States.

In Germany the phone will cost 399 euros ($553). Both European price tags include value-added tax.

The company cut the 8-gigabyte iPhone to $399, from $599, and discontinued the $499 4-gigabyte version. It apologized to those who had paid full price and offered $100 credits to early buyers.

via AP www.ctv.ca

Nokia Unleashes First Unlicensed Mobile Access Cell Phone.

Nokia, the world’s largest maker of mobile phones, on Thursday unveiled the world’s first phone that can provide voice calls both over conventional GSM networks as well as via wireless local area networks (WLANs). While the Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology deserves applauds, its wide adoption is under question as it does not has obvious benefits to end-users.


The new Nokia 6301 cell phone can boast with stainless steel frame, 2” 320x240 pixels screen, 30MB of internal memory, built-in MP3 player, FM radio, microSD card slot, support for GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 networks and other peculiarities of a business-oriented cell phone. The Nokia 6301 weighs 93 grams and measures less than 13.1mm thin. The Nokia 6301 comes with an attractive desk stand, the Nokia Desk Stand DT-23, to hold the phone and keep its battery charged while connected to WLAN. The main feature of the device is support for the so-called Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology.

UMA technology makes it possible for users to seamlessly roam and handover between wireless local area networks (Wi-Fi) and wide area networks (such as GSM) using the same dual-mode device. Instead of constantly communicating with a base station, UMA allows the phone to also make calls through WLAN internet networks, provided that those networks are capable of establishing secure IP connection through a gateway to a server called a general access network controller (GANC) on the carrier’s network.

Nokia claims that with UMA technology ensures excellent indoor coverage both at office and home as WLAN/UMA provides excellent coverage and sound quality even in areas where mobile phone reception has previously been poor. Besides, UMA benefits operators as well, allowing them to deliver voice and data services to subscribers over WLAN, substantially increasing mobile service availability while decreasing the costs related to network deployment.

Orange will be one of the first operators to offer the Nokia 6301, as part of its Unik/Unique portfolio.

“The Nokia 6301 is a stylish new addition to our Unik range of converged fixed and mobile phones. Orange’s Unik offer brings together the convenience of a single phone and tariff at home and on the move and the widest range of UMA handsets. The Nokia 6301, with its sleek candy bar design and attractive stainless steel exterior adds to the appeal of Unik for Orange customers,” said Yves Maitre, senior vice president of devices, Orange.

The Nokia 6301 is expected to begin shipping to select markets in Europe during the fourth quarter of 2007 with an estimated retail price of €230 before subsidies or taxes.

The clean lines and recessed buttons of the Nokia 6301 are highlighted by a stainless steel frame with hand-hugging curves. In addition, the Nokia 6301 includes:

• 2-inch QVGA screen
  
• USB/PC Synchronization
  
• Internal user memory of 30MB and 128MB in-box microSD card, with support for up to 4GB microSD cards
  
• Voice dialing, voice commands and voice recording
  
• MP3 player, FM radio
  
• Integrated hands-free speaker
  
• talk-time of up to 3.5 hours and a standby time of up to 14 days
  

source xbitlabs mobile88

Konan - New Concept Phone from Sony Ericsson

There is a new concept phone in the works from Sony Ericsson. Rumors have emerged that Sony is developing a concept phone that will change the way we use our mobile phones. According to reports, the new phone will be called Konan: Beauty Renaissance 2.0.

As for its functionalities and capabilities, not much has been revealed. Pictures above however shows that it is indeed an eye candy for mobile users. Well, we all just have to wait.

» via mobilewhack | esato

Sony Ericsson Unveils 5 MP Cyber-shot K850i Handset in India

Sony Ericsson has launched the 5 MP Cyber-shot K850i mobile phone in India. The K850i was unveiled by the two International WTA players Mario Kirilenko and Marto Domachowska.

The K850i 5 MP Cyber-shot phone with a 16X digital zoom packs state-of-the-art digital camera features into a slim-design mobile phone. The K850i allows a user to click life-like images with features like BestPic that allows clicking as many as nine images in one click and choose the best one amongst all. The Photofix feature automatically adjusts the combination of light, contrast and brightness to give to the best images.

The K850i is a capable multimedia phone. The new media browser puts all of your photos, video, music or podcasts, in one place offering users a unique Sony Ericsson media experience. Users can scroll, sort and access their media from a single point in the menu.

The phone also allows users to carry out an intelligent search to see photos by the month they were taken, view thumbnail images or scroll through in full-picture mode on its 2.2" crystal bright display. The auto rotate feature displays it in the correct aspect, portrait or landscape, irrespective of the orientation it was taken in.

The K850i Cyber-shot handset at a glance:
Camera Features: 5 MP camera, Auto focus, 16X Digital zoom, Xenon Flash, PictBridge, BestPic, Photo fix, Automatic postcard creation, Slideshow with music, Pocket album - thumbnail, Fast scroll, Intelligent photo
Display: 2.2" QVGA 262K TFT scratch resistant crystal bright display
Phone memory: Up to 40 MB
Memory card support: Memory Stick Micro (M2) and SanDisk micro SD/Transflash, 512 MB M2 in box
Phone Functions: Video call, Music tones, Polyphonic ringtones, Speakerphone, Vibrating alert, Picture messaging (MMS), Text messaging (SMS), Predictive text input
Talk time GSM/UMTS: Up to 9 hrs/3 hrs 30 min
Standby time GSM/UMTS: Up to 400 hrs/350 hrs
Video call time (K850i): Up to 3 hrs 20 min
Internet: WAP 2.0 XHTML, Push email, Web browser
Entertainment: Video recording, FM radio, Streaming audio/video, PlayNow 4.0 Media browser, Podcasting (Access NetFront)
Other Features: Navigation key, Picture wallpaper, Java support, Sound recorder, Alarm clock, Calculator, Calendar
Networks: (UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900/2100-GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900)
Size: 102 x 48 x 17 mm
Weight: 118 grams
Colors: Luminous Green / Velvet Blue

» via ITNewsOnline

More: Nokia E51, Smarter Than It Looks

Nokia has said it's latest addition to the eSeries business oriented smartphones will be available globally from next Quarter. The E51 might look like a consumer device, but it's packed with business smarts that you will thank your boss for.

Slim and elegant, Nokia has taken time to make sure the Nokia E51 looks good yet has all the business features you need for working on the go. The company says it has also taken time to make sure this device is easy to use with features such as set-up wizards for email and VoIP, dedicated keys and a home screen that is user configurable.

"Business users increasingly need one device that they can count on to work productively and which offers them the level of efficiency that brings more freedom and balance to their personal lives," said Antti Vasara, senior vice president, Mobile Devices Unit, Enterprise Solutions, Nokia. "With the new Nokia E51 device, we are responding to this need with a business smartphone that combines the latest advances in business mobility and a classic, stainless steel design, at a price that makes it perfect for company-wide deployments."

That price - without carrier subsidies - is EUR350.

Nokia E51 is a real corporate phone, though with support for corporate telephony systems through and supports Nokia Intellisync Call Connect for Cisco and Nokia Intellisync Call Connect for Alcatel. These solutions deliver desk phone calling features - such as extension dialing, hold, transfer and conferencing - to a single, mobile device. Companies can also reduce their international call charges by routing the call over the corporate IP networks. Those without the big corporate IP Telephony systems can, of course access VoIP with the Gizmo application which is available to Nokia Eseries customers through the Nokia Download!

The E51 is only 12mm thick with its other dimensions 114mm x 46mm and a nice light weight at 100 grams. Nokia has packed enough business smarts into the phone to make it acorporate buy, but have a few features to make this phone your own. It has an FM radio and of course music and multimedia players, a 2 megapixel camera with 4x zoom and among its business features like Outlook and Lotus Notes integration, the phone will let you runYahoo Go! WidSets, and a number of travel, personal productivity and entertainment applications.

Connecting via 3G, HSDPA, or WLAN connection you can quickly get access to Windows Live services including Hotmail, Messenger and Spaces. The phone integrates with a wide range of business email solutions, including Nokia Intellisync Wireless Email and Mail for Exchange to communicate with Microsoft Exchange Server, but you can also use consumer mail solutions as well.

Other features mentioned include One Touch keys to get at key functionalities like email, contacts, calendar and the home screen, while the s set-up wizards offering step-by-step guidance for setting up email accounts, configuring Internet calling and accessing wireless local area networks

Nokia says it has also streamlined the email reading experience with easy access to attachments and has included an email indicator light so you know when you got mail.

For all the technical specs it's probably easiest to go to NokiaforBusiness

» via mobilised

Nokia Unveils Dual-Mode E51

A revamped interface joins GSM and Wi-Fi functions in Nokia's newest business model.

Nokia Corp. released on Tuesday the newest addition to its E-series lineup of mobile phones for businesses, revamping the user interface for easier navigation, executives said during a London product launch.

The E51 is a dual-mode model, working with GSM networks and Wi-Fi hotspots for businesses eyeing or already using so-called "converged" services -- VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) technology alongside traditional phone networks.

Nokia is hoping to spur businesses to adopt its E-series phones by convincing IT managers they'll save money over the long term by using the mobiles in combination with VOIP software. The unsubsidized price of the E51 will be ,350 (US$485) and should be available in the last three months of the year.

Cost savings through converged fixed line and mobile networks are a "door opener" for IT managers, said Mary McDowell, executive vice president and general manager of Nokia's Enterprise Solutions division.

Expensive data plans -- which increase the total bill for companies every time employees read e-mail -- remain a barrier, although Nokia has brought the issue up with operators, McDowell said.

Still, Nokia sees big opportunities, as 44 percent of businesses still lack plans for mobile usage by their employees, said Antti Vasara, senior vice president for the mobile devices unit of Enterprise Solutions.

Nokia simplified the E51's main navigation window and added setup wizards for functions such as e-mail to make it easier during the initial set-up, Vasara said.

Those improvements came to address user complaints that those functions were "more difficult" than on other models, Vasara said. Another improvement lets users access frequently used features, such as e-mail or their calendar, with the push of only one button, he said.

The E51, which runs the S60 series operating system, may be built for business, but it's shiny, slim and attractive, forgoing a fattening QWERTY keypad to keep its figure. It has a 2-megapixel camera and an FM radio.

The device will perhaps fill the void caused by Nokia's E70 mobile. Despite the full, fold-out keyboard that extended to the left and the right of the main screen, the E70 has not been very popular despite doing well in initial user trials, McDowell said.

The E51 is compatible with Nokia's Intellisync Call Connect software for businesses using equipment and software from Cisco Systems Inc. and Alcatel-Lucent SA. The Intellisync software enables desktop phone functions -- such as call forwarding, extension dialing, hold and conferences, among others -- for mobiles.

BT Group PLC will test a client version of its BT Corporate Fusion software next month on the E51, with expanded trials by the end of the year, said Rakesh Mahaja, global director of mobility for BT Global Services.

BT's Corporate Fusion software uses Wi-Fi to let mobile devices communicate with the fixed network, and runs applications and other calling management functions through an IP network.

» via PCWorld

New 3G iPhone due in early ‘08 will have “assisted GPS chips”

Scott Moritz of financial news site TheStreet.com reports that a second-generation, 3G iPhone will be released early next year.

Their sources report that the upgraded phone will offer GPS from as yet-unspecified navigation services.

The new 3G iPhone is expected to include features like global positioning for navigation services.

This functionality, apparently, will be actualized via chips from Broadcom, optimized to work with capabilities already offered by a new (July of this year) Broadcom acquisition called Global Locate. Global Locate manufactures “assisted GPS chips” that use both satellite and cell antenna signals to pinpoint locations. Now part of Broadcom’s portfolio, Global Locate’s solution set is said to make the long-elusive dream of GPS indoor functionality a high-performance reality. The assisted GPS chips also are said to boost GPS fuctionality at points on the globe where a direct satellite read isn’t possible.

TheStreet also reports that chipmaker TriQuint will also be part of the next generation of iPhones. TriQuint’s specialty of interest to Apple: power amplifiers for the iPhone.

» via ZDNet

Jobs Says Apple Will Fight iPhone Unlocking Hacks

Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs said Tuesday that it's his company's job to stymie hackers who try to unlock the iPhone -- the first time the company has officially said it would fight attempts to use the popular device on unauthorized networks.

At a London Apple retail store where he announced the iPhone's Nov. 9 U.K. debut, Jobs responded to a question about whether Apple would put a stop to the unlocking hacks that have mushroomed recently. "It's a cat-and-mouse game," said Jobs. "We try to stay ahead. People will try to break in, and it's our job to stop them breaking in."

In last few weeks, people have unveiled several unlock hacks that let users swap the iPhone's included SIM card with one from another cellular service provider so the phone can make calls on that carrier's network. With the iPhone limited to domestic sales until November, unlocking is the only way consumers living outside the U.S. have been able to use their phones.

Last week, the iPhone Dev Team posted a free unlocking hack, then followed it Monday with anySIM, an unlocking tool tucked into a graphical interface. Just a day before the iPhone Dev Team released its free hack, a group called iPhoneSIMFree began selling an unlocking tool of its own through a network of online resellers at prices ranging from US$45 to $99.

Carolina Milanesi, a Gartner Inc. analyst who was at the London presentation, said she wondered if it matters much in the long run whether Apple stays a step ahead of hackers, as Jobs said it must do. "At the moment, as a consumer, you need to be very careful about unlocking the iPhone, and know how you want to use it," she said. "If you unlock it, you are not going to have a flat rate, and you will not have access to the 7,500 hot spots."

O2 Ltd., the iPhone's sole carrier in the U.K., will offer three flat-rate plans -- dubbed "tariffs" in Britain -- that range in price from $70 to $110 per month. Flat-rate plans are relatively rare in the U.K., said Milanesi. "If you unlock and then use the Internet and e-mail, you may be surprised by your first bill," she added, referring to the pay-as-you-go data rates charged by most carriers in the country and elsewhere in Europe.

O2 has struck a deal with a Wi-Fi provider called The Cloud that will give iPhone users unlimited wireless access to some 7,500 hot spots in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

"There's a difference here, too, compared to the United States," said Milanesi. Because Apple plans to release its iPod Touch, an iPod-cum-Internet device, in the U.K. by the end of the month, consumers will have a choice between that and the iPhone when the latter launches five weeks later.

"Now with the Touch, you have an alternative," she said. People who might have been drawn to the iPhone for its music capabilities, interface and/or its Web browsing features -- and might have used an unlocking hack so they could avoid paying a penalty when they ditched their current carrier -- could instead opt for the iPod Touch.

Jobs did not go into details on how Apple would bar hacks, but the process would presumably involve firmware updates to the iPhone, delivered via the iTunes software. Both of the firmware updates issued since the iPhone's U.S. debut in late June have either broken other, non-unlocking hacks, or forced users to restore the device from scratch. IPhoneSIMFree, for instance, does not guarantee that its unlocking tool will work after future firmware updates.

Keeping unlocking hacks completely at bay, though, will probably be impossible, something Jobs tacitly acknowledged when he said that while it was a cat-and-mouse game between Apple and hackers, "I'm not sure if we are the cat or the mouse."

"Jobs said that they would stay a step ahead," said Milanesi, "but that will be easier said than done."

» via PCWorld