Why type when you can talk? That is apparently the new technology that IM+ now carries which can surely make mobile communications a whole lot easier. SHAPE has joined forces with Yap Inc., pioneer of the first fully automated voice-to-text platform, to add the first of its kind, thumbs-free message dictation feature to IM+ for BlackBerry smartphones.

IM+ with speech recognition will allow users to dictate their instant messages and send them as text to their contacts in Facebook, AIM/iChat, MSN/Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber, Google Talk and MySpaceIM. Recent studies indicate that over 70% of consumers prefer using voice to interact with their mobile devices rather than typing. Speech-enablement increases message creation speed and greatly improves the usability of instant messaging on mobile devices.

The beta version of IM+ with voice recognition will be showcased at this week’s Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES) in Orlando, Florida, and the full release is expected at the end of May 2009.

(Source) Press

Tags: Apple, beta version, BlackBerry, Cell Phones, dictation, Google, instant messages, instant messaging, iPhone, jabber, message creation, mobile communications, mobile devices, Mobile Software, orlando florida, smartphones, speech enablement, speech recognition, voice recognition, windows live messenger, wireless enterprise

LG Electronics offers a low cost phone that possesses the high quality features like QWERTY and touch screen features, then the LG Neon may be worth checking out. Also available through Rogers Wireless, the LG Neon is not supposed to compete against a BlackBerry or an iPhone. Instead, it’s a slightly beefier multimedia phone that happens to rock a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Texters will find that quite useful.

The most notable feature on the LG Neon TE365F is its slide-out QWERTY keyboard. This three-row keyboard will certainly come in handy for pumping out those text messages, instant messages, and emails. When you slide out the keyboard, the display automatically orients to landscape mode as well. The display also happens to be a touchscreen, but it comes with a few limitations that I’ll describe a little later in this review.

Other notable features on this multimedia and messaging-minded handset include tri-band (850/1800/1900) GSM/EDGE connectivity, Bluetooth, integrated MP3 player, FM radio, 2 megapixel camera (no flash), picture and video messaging, and an SMS conversation box. It’s nice to see a couple of notable basics like the MP3 player and digital camera, but there isn’t much here that’s going to floor you. At the same time, you have to realize that this phone only costs fifty bucks with contract. That’s pretty cheap.

Inside the box are the phone itself, a SIM card, charger, and supporting documentation. Even though there’s an MP3 player inside and the phone uses a proprietary connection, there is no provided headset.

The LG Neon TE365F QWERTY messaging phone is available through Fido for $50 with a qualifying two-year service agreement or for $175 outright.

(Source) Mobile Mag

Tags: edge connectivity, fido, fm radio, instant messages, iPhone, landscape mode, LG, lg-electronics, megapixel, MP3 Player, quality features, qwerty, radio 2, rogers wireless, sim card, text messages, texters, touchscreen, tri-band, video messaging

If you are among the Facebook addicts who just cannot seem to keep away from logging on and chatting, here is something to spice up your chatting pleasure. SHAPE Services announced today the support for Facebook chat and avatars in its best selling IM+ All-in-One Messenger for BlackBerry.

Facebook users are now able to exchange text instant messages with smileys, send files, log in into multiple accounts simultaneously and preview avatar images of their buddies in contact list.

IM+ 7.0 supports eight instant messaging services: AIM/iChat, MSN/Windows Live, Yahoo!, MySpaceIM, Jabber, ICQ, GoogleTalk and Facebook. IM+ works on all BlackBerry smartphones, and has a special version for touch-screen BlackBerry Storm.

Along with the new version release for BlackBerry, SHAPE is also adding Facebook chat and avatars in the next update of its IM+ for iPhone application.

(Source) Press

Tags: application source, avatars, BlackBerry, buddies, Cell Phones, Facebook, googletalk, instant messages, instant messaging services, iPhone, Mobile Software, shape services, smartphones, touch screen, yahoo