Click below to
find interesting
information on
from our latest
newsletter
relating to:
Mobile Phones
Travel
Roaming
Mobile
Phones
iPhone - Why the
Fuss
Although the
iPhone will not
be launched in
Australia until
late 2008, there
has already been
significant hype
about the phone.
We found the
following
article to be a
great summary of
what makes the
iPhone something
that will make a
big impact when
t finally
reaches us.
Basically it has
huge memory, an
amazing virtual
keypad, an
inbuilt iPod and
a battery that
can stand up to
the usage.
iPhone
Specs Sure to
Impress
As a smartphone
the iPhone is
truly an amazing
mobile phone.
The core iPhone
specs which
define the
iPhone as a
mobile phone
superstar in the
making include
an integrated
2.0 megapixel
camera, a built
in Wi-Fi
connectivity
feature, as well
as a large memory.
It supports text
messaging, email
reading and
sending, and
internet
browsing.
Powered by an
optimized for
mobile phone
version of the
Mac OS X
operating
system, iPhone
specs simply
don't stop here.
Its cutting edge
touch screen
truly stands to
be the
specification of
iPhone specs.
Calibrated to
optimally
perform without
the use of a
stylus, the
iPhone's user
interface is
simply amazing,
as it utilizes a
virtual keypad
as its "main
mobile phone
input system".
It is worth
noting that the
iPhone's battery
has a
standby charge
duration of up
to 250 hours, 8
hours of
talktime, 6
hours of
internet
browsing time, 7
hours of video
viewing, and 24
hours of audio
playing, the
iPhone
outperforms it's
leading
competition's
battery
performance
ratings. For
example, Nokia's
impressive N95
boasts only 4
hours of
talktime battery
life, which the
iPhone easily
doubles.
Talking about
iPhone specs
wouldn't be
complete without
mentioning its
music player
capabilities.
Though the whole
interface
resembles that
of an iPod's,
the font sizes
are much larger,
with more
details about
files, making it
easier for users
to organize
their archived
songs, as well
as their
compiled
playlists.
As a mobile
phone, call
holding, caller
ID, call merging
and call
conferencing are
supported by the
iPhone, which
puts it at par
with other
mobile phones
out in the
market. It comes
with "smart"
protocols when
it comes to
receiving text
messages or
phone calls. For
example, if one
is listening to
music when
someone calls,
the being played
song fades out,
not abruptly
cut, then
resumes once the
call is
complete.
Traveling
Overseas
New
Australian
customs
rules
for
cross-border
funds
movement
A reminder has
been sent out by
the Australian
Transaction
Reports and
Analysis Centre
(AUSTRAC) to
remind
travellers
heading overseas
for Christmas
that there are
new Australian
laws regarding
the cross-border
movement of
funds.
The new
legislation
requires all
travellers
entering or
exiting
Australia, if
asked by a
Customs or
police officer,
to report
whether they are
carrying bearer
negotiable
instruments (BNIs)
such as
traveller’s
cheques, money
orders, postal
orders or
promissory
notes. The
separate
requirement for
travellers to
declare if they
are carrying
$10,000 cash or
more (or the
foreign currency
equivalent)
still applies.
If a traveller
is asked about
their BNI’s they
may be asked to
fill out a
Cross-Border
Movement -
Bearer
Negotiable
Instrument form,
which will be
given to them by
a Customs or
police officer.
This will
probably occur
at the Customs
examination
area. Any
persons found
with a bearer
negotiable
instrument
during a search
may also have to
fill out the
form.
AUSTRAC is
currently
working with
customs to
ensure that
travellers are
aware of the new
rules. "The
legislation was
introduced in
December 2006
and will play a
key role in
deterring money
laundering and
terrorism
financing. Money
laundering is a
serious issue; a
recent report
estimated it
costs the
Australian
community $4.5
billion each
year," said
AUSTRAC Chief
Executive
Officer, Neil
Jensen.
Travellers can
visit the
AUSTRAC website
or call the
AUSTRAC
help desk for
more
information.
www.austrac.gov.au
Roaming
Bridge
Alliance
Launches
Flat-rate
Data
Roaming
in Asia
The next battlefield in roaming, after voice calls, is the
extreme prices
the carriers are
charging for
data roaming.
vRoam is
currently
negotiating to
take advantage
of new deals
that are
becoming
available both
in Asia and in
Europe. The Bridge Alliance, which brings together
mobile operators
in Asia Pacific
is launching a
one-flat rate
mobile data
roaming plan
spanning 11
territories in
the region.
-
One-flat
rate for
easy-to-understand
pricing
across the
region
-
Competitive
rates
provide up
to 10 times
more usage
benefit
-
Choice of
capped usage
monthly
subscription
plans
The one-flat
rate is
applicable when
customers roam
on the
alliance’s 11
member operator
networks,
namely: Airtel
(India), AIS
(Thailand), CSL
(Hong Kong), CTM
(Macau), Globe
Telecom
(Philippines),
Maxis
(Malaysia), SK
Telecom (Korea),
SingTel Mobile
(Singapore),
SingTel Optus
(Australia),
Taiwan Mobile
(Taiwan) and
Telkomsel
(Indonesia).
vRoam plans to
have this
service
available when
it is launched
in Australia in
2008. Please
contact us
regarding any
data
requirements you
may have.
To
subscribe
to our
Newsletter
click
here
