As we have reported in the past, the ability for rescue personnel to maintain open lines of communication throughout a disaster  relief effort is key to the success of the rescue effort. IP networks are uniquely suited for maintaining high traffic, multiple media format communications during a disaster.

Because they can be made to be scalable, modular, standardized, easily deployed and maintained in the field and are efficient at delivering high volume multi-channel traffic, IP networks are more suitable and provide the best results in chaotic disaster situations. While IP networks are a great solution, they are vulnerable to damage from multiple sources found in and around typical disaster relief areas and must be beefed up or "ruggedized" in order to meet the demands of the job.

Entree Wireless (the company that created the Mobile Communications System) is now offering the Rugged Warrior battery pack as a solo unit through the website EV-DO Info. The entire rescue communications kit contains video equipment, WiFi radio and battery, built in camera with a light, an external search camera, a video terminal and is aimed at established rescue units instead of volunteer rescue units or home users.

The rugged powerpack, now being offered alone, is less expensive and functions as battery power for the Kyocera KR1 router in the field. As a person who travels quite a bit and depends on the Kyocera KR1 EV-DO router to keep me connected to the Internet for completing posts and turning in homework, this product would help me tremendously.

However, with most laptop batteries putting out only a mere few hours of juice (my Dell E1705 puts out 1.5 hours, 2 at best), the remaining problem is finding power in the field for the laptop that will last as long as the Rugged Powerpack!

Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me a handset or mobile phone
I don't care if we never get back
Cuz it's root root root for the broadcast
(Yes, Sprint is covering this game)
And it's one two three strikes you're out in the old ball game!

Sprint Nextel Corp. and Major League Baseball Advanced Media (the Internet arm of Major League Baseball) have a new service: radio broadcasts of Major League games will be available to Sprint subscribers for $5.99 a month. This service should start sometime in the middle or end of this month. Coverage should be for all games of all 30 teams.

Instead of sending a text message to somebody asking for the score, you can just tune in to the game. Your mobile phone becomes a handheld radio (this is, after all, a world where an iPod can improve your baseball). Perfect. The boss would ask, "What are you doing on the phone?" I'd say, "I'm calling our researchers about the next article I'm supposed to write." Safe!

Unfortunately, I don't have a Sprint phone. Only those with Sprint PCS Vision or Power VisionSM phones can use the service.

At one of your trips on board Air France, you may notice that "No Smoking" signs are now replaced by "No Mobile" signs - a trend being adapted by many other airlines. Air France, specifically, will only allow mobile usage during flights using special satellite systems, at a cost of about $2.50 a minute. This is one of the number of solutions that are being developed both to improve detection of interference and to enable the safe use of wireless devices in flight.

The use of mobile phones on airplanes in-flight is prohibited worldwide. Usage of other portable electronic devices (PEDs) is also prohibited during takeoff and landing. The reasons, though, remain ambiguous, one of which is that by operating a device that will interfere with the aircraft systems and disrupt the two-way radio used by pilots, a person is endangering the lives of other aircraft passengers.

Whether this reason - along with other reasons - is true or not, you may want to think twice before you turn on your mobile phone while inside the aircraft.

Say goodbye to your free-loading days because come next year, you'd have no excuse not to chip in. Thanks to a new wireless standard called Near Field Communication (NFC), you'll be able to pay simply by swiping your cell phone a few inches from a cash register. The NFC Chip embedded in your phone will be able to send your credit card number stored in your chip by way of short distance radio waves.

If you're thinking that this is nothing different from radio-frequency identification (RFID) and other contactless payments, well hear us out first. Not only could a NFC give data, it could also take in data, such as a receipt zapped to it by a cash register or a bus schedule from a tag embedded in a bus-stop sign.

And if you're thinking that this would only be an unnecessary waste of your hard-earned dough, think again. You need not buy a new cell phone to use this one. The miniSD-card-size adapter from SanDisk can add NFC to any smartphone with a Symbian operating system when it hits stores next spring.

Glamor may be hard to define but it's easy to spot. Take the BenQ-Siemens SL91. Everything about this shiny, piano black beauty screams for movie-star attention. But underneath the red carpet glamor are some pretty good features. It has an innovative Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR) technology where the surface reacts to slight pressure to reveal navigation keys. With its FSR, the BenQ-Siemens SL91 can even be used with gloves. How's that for class?

Its 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus delivers excellent photos and videos. For video telephony via UMTS, the BenQ-Siemens SL91 sports a second VGA camera at the front of the phone. Adding substance to this uber-stylish mobile are the MP3 player, stereo RDS FM radio, fast USB connectivity and interchangeable Micro-SD cards. The BenQ-Siemens SL91 is the next best thing to dating a supermodel.

RaNo Software has released something good for Palm OS users. The software, called WiFiTalkie, will let you use your handheld like a Walkie-Talkie 2-way radio.

WiFiTalkie uses VoIP technology to broadcast audio tidbits and data. And since this is made to support full duplex mode, you could broadcast and receive voice simultaneously -- just as if you're using a walkie-talkie. Aside from that, it will also host other features such as "push-to-talk", "noise if no transmission", "beep after each transmission" which really adds to that two-way radio feel.

For you to be able to take advantage of this, you will need two or more compatible devices with a broadband network connection. Obviously, the handhelds must have WiFi connections. Consumers who are using Palm OS 5+ Sony Clie models are lucky since most of 'em are supported. Same goes for the LifeDrive and Palm TX (but you'll only receive audio messages since it has no mic).

If you really want this app but you are afraid that your Palm model can't handle it, then you could always pop in a Palm Wi-Fi SD Card. WiFi Talkie v1.0 comes with a free trial, but if you want the real thing you'd have to shell out $15.

Motorola has recently released a contraption that aims to amp your mobile music to its most exciting level. Motorola's newest innovation - the S705 SoundPilot Bluetooth Stereo Controller for wired Headphones, also combos as its first Class 1 Bluetooth stereo headset on the street. The S705 SoundPilot simultaneously connects to your compatible Bluetooth-enable phone while streaming music from a separate music source, allowing you to listen and wirelessly control your tunes without the worry of missing a call.

This baby is packed with a lot of features, including an extensive range from Class 1 Bluetooth up to 330 feet of wireless connection. It enables you to remotely control your music, plus, this thingamjig is also very considerate for it provides you with a standard 3.5mm headset jack so you can use whatever headphones you like. It is also blessed with an FM radio with RDS technology, and simple music to call switching.

This contraption is expected to be present in your friendly neighborhood stores in the third quarter of this year. Pricing and availability will be announced in the coming days or weeks.

   

Sodiff is prepping for the release of their new baby, a still unnamed 4.3" WiBro device. This one does not have an exact launch date but most likely, it will come out this coming November or December. WiBro, in case you don't know, is short for wireless broadband, just so you won't get confused.

Anyways, the future users of this particular WiBro device will basically be able to use the Internet, instant messenger, and email applications. You can also conduct video conferences using this one. Its other features include audio/video playback, FM radio tuner, 2M camera and IPTV. Its price tag and availability has not yet been disclosed as of now.

Sony Ericsson has unveiled the V630 for Vodafone customers. Styled in black and orange, the V630 sports a 1.9-inch 262k color TFT  display with a resolution of 176x220 pixels.

The V630 features full 3G support for that fast data transfer, comes with a 2-megapixel camera (sans autofocus), a Memory Stick Micro (M2) card slot, Bluetooth, and USB 2.0 support. It also has a Walkman navigation D-pad, which turns into a music navigation combo during playback.

The Vodafone-branded version of Sony Ericsson's K610 handset is additionally designed to make use of all existing Vodafone 3G services, which include video calls with VGA camera and streaming Mobile TV, as well as the the Radio DJ Service. With the V630, users can also enjoy full HTML browsing and blog reading with its built-in RSS feeds reader.

The phone is expected to hit shops this June.