Sprint and Alcatel-Lucent have announced that they've developed a comprehensive laptop security service called SprintSecure Laptop Guardian. This new service protects laptops via a special Mobile Broadband Connection Card called the OmniAccess 3500 which allows remote monitoring, tracking, and locking.

The OmniAccess 3500 has its own CPU, memory, SD Slot, and power supply that keeps it working even when the laptop is off. When inserted, it hijacks the TCP/IP stack and controls what information users can download. It then works with a gateway appliance which contains management software that IT administrators use to manage the system.

The card acts as a two-factor authentication key which is said to completely secure the laptop. To gain access to the data in the laptop, users will have to have the card inserted into its PCMCIA slot. If the laptop is stolen, it can be remotely controlled by an enterprise IT administrator via the card.

Here's a list of all the features of the SprintSecure Laptop Guardian:

• Access to laptop status regardless of the laptop’s power or online state
• Status of operating system, applications, policy enforcement and usage
• GPS-based capability (within the mobile broadband connection card) for laptop location
• Remote wipe or locking of data, if laptop is compromised
• Enforcement of policies for compliance
• Over-the-air software distribution

If you plan on picking up this product, expect the OmniAccess 3500 cards to be sold for around US$ 350. The extra security features has been tentatively priced at about US$ 10 to US$ 12 per month. If your laptops contain sensitive data you might want to consider this service as a way of protecting your information.

Phones, phones and more phones are being planned to be released by Alcatel this May 2007. From what we hear, the planned release of phones will be dubbed as the fashionable bunch. There are designs dubbed to be of "soft-touch plastics", "leather-like finish", and phones adorned by "dots of liquid metal." There are even floral finishes for the very ladylike phone buyer in everyone of us.

The French multinational company calls this 20-phone model May launch, a "Spring lineup of fashion" phones. Apart from the looks department, though, the phone models are reported to boast techie features such as 1.3-megapixel camera, 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, dedicated music controls, and support for 1GB TransFlash cards.

Sounds yummy. But if you're thinking a unit from such a well-designed selection of phones is going to cost you mucho dinero, fear not. There are such models in the selection of 20 that will surely belong to the budget of any mid-ranged or lower-ranged buyer. Alcatel is also working with GSM handsets approved by the AT&T; the CDMA phones should also be good to go on several "smaller regional carriers".

Interesting and all, but how will this lineup appeal to the Wi-Fi phone-hungry crowd?

Rise of Antares 2, an all-new turn-based space strategy game from HeroCraft, is back and its a very bitchy mood. The game is designed for all gamers with political ambitions bigger than Hillary Clinton's. As head of an interstellar corporation, gamers must take the reigns, set a successful plan and fight elections in order to rule the freaking galaxy. Oh and there's one more thing on the agenda: kick Star League Bureaucrats asses back to where they belong! Which is anywhere but your turf.

Rise of Antares 2 is packed with features to help fight for intergalactic dominance including:

• Full stepwise space strategy
• A diverse array of technologies
• Masses of different ships and buildings
• Easy-to-follow training system and a captivating campaign
• Game graphics to advanced interstellar standards

Rise of Antares 2 is supported by various handsets from Alcatel, BenQ-Siemens, LG, Motorola, Nokia Panasonic, Samsung and more.