4INFO adds TV Guide listing data to SMS service

Mobile search provider 4INFO has added TV Guide data to its service. Accessible through both WAP and SMS, 4INFO covers several consumer search verticals such as sports scores, weather, flight tracking and more. USA Today's parent company, Gannett, invested in 4INFO and promotes the company in USA Today.

The new TV search feature allows users to search TV listings for specific shows, times or just see what's on. Test it out by sending a text message to 4INFO (44636) starting with the keyword TV and including your ZIP code. Example: 'tv prison break ZIP'. 4INFO will ask and then save your TV provider for future searches.

4INFO provides a list of keywords to access its different search verticals.

SMS cuts price of ADSL2+ modem by 25%

ADSL2+ connectivity is less expensive for service providers and end users that use modems by SMC.

LAN hardware and broadband connectivity device provider SMC Networks has introduced ADSL2+ Barricade Wireless 4-Port modem and router, a modem delivering support for ADSL2+ technology at a price that is 25 per cent lower than that of the previous model.

The ADSL2+ Barricade consists of an ADSL2/2+ modem, router, 4-port 10/100 LAN switch, 802.11g wireless access and SPI Firewall. Service providers can use the modem to transmit upstream data at up to 3.5MB. End users can use the device to optimize voice and video applications in real time. Hackers are kept away using a security system that features a NAT firewall with stateful packet inspection (SPI), intrusion detection system (IDS) and denial-of-service (DoS) modules. VPN pass-through is also provided for securely connecting to an office or corporate network.

The ADSL2+ Barricade meets all requirements set by the EU’s regulation of hazardous substances. It is available at a suggested retail price of €78, a 25 per cent reduction from the previous price of €103.

Bluetooth Biosensor Fits Within Wristwatch

Exmovere LLC has unveiled a Web-based Bluetooth-enabled biosensor wristwatch dubbed "Exmocare," which is designed to help provide elderly care assistance for individuals 65 years of age and older.

Exmocare allows family and other caregivers to monitor an elderly individual's physiological and emotional health status in from afar [and in real-time!]. The "wearable sensor system" offers automated reports on the elderly individuals' vital signs including pulse, heart rate and motion. It can also assess up to ten different emotions including relaxed, worried and agitated.

Each Exmocare wristwatch runs on Windows, Windows Mobile, and/or Windows Pocket PC software. The device collects information on the wearer every 30 minutes and automatically alerts caregivers of any abnormal activity. Data is transmitted wirelessly via home PC, GSM Bluetooth-enabled cell phone or GPS car kit, which keeps tabs on the wearer's location and vehicle speed. Family and friends can opt to receive alerts via e-mail, SMS or Instant Message.

For caregivers who place higher priority on work and play than on face-to-face interaction with Grandma and Grandpa, Exmocare offers an "Exmonitor" program for Windows PCs. The program "allows you to effortlessly monitor your loved one from your Windows taskbar at home or at work," according to the company Web site.

On a related note, the Exmocare service could potentially be implemented in a hospital setting in order to help nurses and doctors monitor their patients more efficiently. It's food for thought, anyway.

SMS Continues to Gain Credibility with the Internet Industry

Internet Facilitators Limited (IFL) one of the top UK companies offering secure hosting for Internet Service Providers and Telecoms companies has contracted with Simply Mail Solutions for the hosting of Microsoft Exchange mailboxes.

IFL was set up in 1997 and they provide carrier neutral data centre space to internet service providers, web hosting companies and other IT service businesses. Part of the service provided is 24 / 7 support for which they use on call engineers. Ensuring that those engineers have access to email whilst they are out of the office was critical.

Having identified a requirement to improve mobile access to email they looked at the alternatives of hosted solutions compared to in house. The decision to use a hosted solution was based on a combination of cost and simplicity. For a small team cost of the hosted solution was much lower since any hardware or expensive software licenses were not needed. Also as a small team they could just hand over the responsibility for setting up and managing the service to a third party.

Marcus Hopwood, Services Director for IFL commented: “We selected Microsoft Exchange in order to maintain the familiar MS Outlook mail client. The Outlook Mobile Access solution meant that we could also get that same interface from any where in the world that we had access to a web browser. Finally by using Windows Mobile 5 handsets we were able take advantage of push email technology giving us access to email when out of the office.”

Marcus Hopwood further commented: “Having decided to use a hosted mail service we looked a number of different providers. SMS were very responsive to our needs, provided expert advice in helping us select the right service and the cost compared favourably with other providers. Being based in the UK gave us the confidence that the service would perform well with no lengthy transit delays.”

IFL have a number of accounts, and whilst the original requirement was based on a need to provide remote email access to support engineers they have found the business benefits to be huge. They can now respond to sales enquiries faster and keep in touch with every day email wherever they are. As more and more corporate communications move on to email the ability to access that email wherever people are is critical.

Simply Mail Solutions is a dedicated email hosting company based in Warrington, Cheshire. It offers a range of email hosting options from POP3 mailboxes to enhanced email solutions such as MS Exchange and Zimbra Collaboration Suite.

Regarding the service provided by SMS Marcus commented: “The support we have received from SMS has been superb. They provided expert advice when we were selecting a provider and they got us up and running with the service on the same day we placed our order. Teething problems were ironed out promptly and without any fuss. Since then the service has been 100% reliable.”

Commented Colin Smith Managing Director of SMS: “A lot of SME’s are starting to realise that with the new enhanced email packages such as MS Exchange and Zimbra there is a whole lot more they can do to enhance productivity than just get emails to their desk. Mobile access to email is becoming very important now that devices using Microsoft Mobile 5 are coming onto the market and with Zimbra (and MSE) there are very nice tools for collaboration such as shared calendars, contacts and notes”


Source: Simply Mail Solutions