The problem appears to particularly affect the white handsets of Apple’s new turbocharged device, which is twice as fast as its predecessor, the iPhone 3G, and boasts an improved camera and the ability to record video. Dozens of users have reported overheating issues, with some iPhone owners unable to pick up the device because the handset gets so hot to the touch. Owners of the white iPhone 3GS say the casing turns pink with the heat. Some users have said the device has been too hot to put to their ear while making a phone call, and others have said they were worried it could explode. The overheating seems to occur when owners are using the iPhone’s mapping software, which uses the handset’s built-in GPS technology to pinpoint their location and provide directions.

On Apple’s support forums, iPhone owners have been complaining about the problems. “My iPhone 3GS back get somewhat warm when playing a few mins of games. Is this normal?,” asks one user, Dreamcast DC. “I am having the same issue,” reports Ron Lift. “I am definitely experiencing issues with the iPhone running warm and quick battery life lost,” writes Tom Goldstein in another discussion thread. “The phone seems to warm up almost immediately if I am doing anything that pulls data over the network. It doesn’t get burning hot, but very noticeably warm.”

“I was on a call for 20 minutes and it was so uncomfortably hot I had to put it on speaker,” reports Alan Ziegler. Several other users have also complained that the iPhone 3GS, which is supposed to boast a longer battery life than the iPhone 3G, in fact loses its charge quicker than its predecessor. Some gadget experts believe faulty batteries could be the cause of overheating and poor battery life. “My guess is there’s going to be a whole lot of batteries affected because these [iPhones] are from very large production runs,” said Aaron Vronko of Rapid Repair, which fixes iPods and iPhones. ( www.telegraph.co.uk )

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The application, which will be unveiled at the CITA wireless convention in Las Vegas tomorrow, will be free to download, and will allow iPhone and iPod touch owners to make free calls from one Skype account to the other. In future, the service is also expected to support video calling. Skype, which has 450 million registered users worldwide, said that the number one request from its customers was being able to use the service on their iPhones. “There’s a pent-up demand,” said Scott Durchslag, Skype’s chief executive. “I’m firmly convinced that if Skype could find a way to bridge all those cellphone cameras and laptop cameras it might kick-start a video telephony opportunity.” Several other companies, including Truphone, have already offered released software that turns the iPhone and iPod touch in to an internet telephone, but this will the first to offer Skype functionality under the Skype brand. Skype is already available on a wide range of other handsets, including the T-Mobile G1, which runs Google’s Android operating system, and more than 100 other Java-enabled phones.

( www.telegraph.co.uk )

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According to a US security company, botnets, which represent networks of hacked computers used to support cybercrime without any awareness from their owners, may become mobile in the near future. It is worth mentioning that a new cell phone virus is able to spread by sending out a number of text messages that ask users to visit a weblink. In its latest report, Fortinet, a network security firm with headquarters in California, states that though users have to choose in order to follow the link, the cell phone worm generates a bridge that connects cell phones with the Internet. Statistics show that one in four computers in the United States is part of a botnet. Botnets can link millions of computers that can be then used to send out spam email or get money from website owners. One of the latest cell phone viruses is entitled Yxes.A or Sexy View. The worm targets cell phones that are running the S60 3rd edition of Symbian OS. One of such phones is Nokia 3250.According to Derek Manky, project manager for cyber security and threat research at Fortinet, in the near future different mobile devices will face much more threats than they do now.

"We are just starting to see the tip of the iceberg with Sexy View, but we predict much more to come with the growth of mobile platforms, applications and broader bandwidth," he said.

Besides being able to interfere with a cell phone's function, Sexy View is able to collect information about the serial number of the phone and the cell phone number of the user, which is the main goal of the worm. Gathered information is sent back to a remote server. However, experts still don't know how hackers use the gathered information. In case the cell phone worm is upgraded to the level where it can gain more access to a phone, it may lead to the creation of botnet-like mobile networks. Thus, hackers will be able to attack websites using zombie cell phones.( www.infoniac.com )

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The death of the digital camera moved a step closer after Sony Ericsson unveiled the world's first mobile phone with a built-in 12.1-megapixel camera. The device, codenamed Idou, will go on sale later this year, and is expected to be available in UK shops in time for Christmas. Sony Ericsson's new handset could render digital cameras obsolete by offering as many megapixels as many semi-professional and consumer cameras. The Idou will also compete directly with Apple's hugely popular iPhone, and features a 3.5in widescreen touch-screen and powerful flash for high quality photos. It also has all the capabilities of Sony Ericsson's Walkman range of phones, which means it can be used for music and video playback as well as taking pictures. The device will run the Symbian mobile phone operating system, and users will be able to download extra software and applications to their device. "The Idou is certainly an impressive change in direction for Sony," said Ernest Doku, a consultant with mobile phone comparison site Omio.com. "Sony has produced a slick, feature-rich handset to combat the iPhone's dominance, and Idou is bound to make waves with its built-in 12-megapixel camera. ( www.telegraph.co.uk )

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The colourful device from LeapFrog has a large LCD screen and full Qwerty keyboard, just like a BlackBerry, as well as a built-in calendar to help children learn the months of the year. It contains games that teach basic spelling and computer skills, and even has a puppy ‘guide’, called Scout, with whom children can communicate via ‘text messages’. The toy, which is aimed at children aged three years and older, will cost around £19.99 when it goes on sale in August, and is expected to be a big hit with parents who want to educate their children about modern technology without exposing them to the perceived dangers. Although the Text & Learn can’t connect to the internet, it has a pretend ‘web browser’ mode which allows children to explore and navigate using the device’s keypad. “These new learning toys offer children personalised play, on-the-go learning fun and help build preschool readiness skills,” said a spokesperson for LeapFrog. “We would love to talk to BlackBerry about a tie-up.” The Text & Learn is the latest in a long line of toys and gadgets aimed at children. Fisher Price make robust digital cameras designed for youngsters, while the iTeddy range of cuddly toys have built in music and video players. ( www.telegraph.co.uk )

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Mr Obama was spotted tapping away outside the Oval Office before holstering the gadget on his belt, as photographers snapped away. Mr Obama's super-secure device - nicknamed BlackBerry One in the media - is believed to be encrypted to stop foreign intelligence agencies eavesdropping on the president's private communications or tracking his whereabouts. The president, who says his device is a window out of his strictly controlled world of official meetings and blanket security, told reporters last week he had won a battle with lawyers and the Secret Service to keep the device. "The president has a BlackBerry through a compromise that allows him to stay in touch with senior staff and a small group of personal friends," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs last week. "It's a pretty small group of people." "The security is enhanced to ensure his ability to communicate, but to do so effectively and to do so in a way that is protected," he added. According to The Atlantic magazine, the president will be using a standard BlackBerry but one equipped with a "super-encryption package" developed by an intelligence agency, probably the National Security Agency. Other reports suggested that the President would be furnished with a Sectera Edge, made by General Dynamics, the military contractor, and developed specially for the NSA. Mr Gibbs confirmed that any emails sent or received by the president would be subject to the post-Watergate Presidential Records Act of 1978, which requires that a record be kept of all White House communication.

( www.telegraph.co.uk )

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Passengers on British Airways flights will no longer be disconnected from the world while in the air, because the airline has announced plans to allow mobile phone use during flights. Starting in Q4 this year, business class passengers travelling from London City airport to JFK in New York will be able to use their phones, but without the ability to voice call. This means that text, email and web-browsing will all be possible on the flight, and the rest of the plane's passengers will be able to watch the film without having to have George from the accounts division shouting his instructions to Debbie in their ear. "There are no plans for voice calls at the moment, but we will listen to feedback from passengers," a BA spokesperson told The Telegraph. "The customer is in charge." However, there's no word on when, or even if, the service will be rolled out to other passengers and flights, despite a few competitors trialling similar services on a wider range of flights. The public is divided over the use of mobile phones on planes, with many wishing the skies to remain a peaceful haven of travel. But others, especially business people who spend a large proportion of time travelling, want to make use of the spare time to catch up on work. Banning voice calls appears to be a good compromise, but only time will tell whether the public will change their mind and let loose the full might of the mobile. ( www.techradar.com )

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Japanese robot maker Tmsuk this week unveiled a metal man that will either land it in a lot of lawsuits or will put thousands of security guards on the job market. That security comes in the form of video-camera eyes that effectively make the T-34 a mobile CCTV system and the ability to shoot a net over anyone it fancies detaining. If the idea of an operator at a distant monitoring station watching the robot's feedback on a mobile phone screen, then pressing a button to throw a net over someone suspicious seems ludicrous, that's probably because it is. Tmsuk says it will begin selling the 12kg T-34 this time next year for ¥500,000 (£4,100), although we can't see it doing a great deal of business unless it ditches the net idea. The T-34 isn't a new kind of Terminator, but is instead a droid that can be controlled remotely by mobile phone as it patrols buildings at 10km/h. Tmsuk (it's pronounced "Tim Suck", by the way) plans to sell it as an extra layer of security within buildings that currently rely on human guards. ( www.techradar.com )

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Verizon Wireless announced a VoIP touchscreen phone that incorporates a digital picture frame (DPF) capability and can send navigation instructions to Verizon mobile phones. According to one report, the Verizon Hub (pictured) is based on OpenPeak's OpenFrame phone, which is said to run Linux. The Verizon Hub works over any broadband connection, says Verizon Wireless, including Verizon FiOS, Verizon DSL services, "or any other high-speed service provider." The phone is designed as both a phone and a kitchen computer that offers contacts and calendars, as well as access to the web.

Verizon Hub features are said to include:

• VoIP phone service
  
• Widget/icon interface
  
• Calendar alerts sent by text message
  
• Text, picture, and video messaging with wireless phones
  
• Ability to deliver VZ Navigator audible turn-by-turn directions to Verizon Wireless phones
  
• Local traffic, weather, and directory information
  
• V CAST video content, including movie trailers and ticket purchasing
  
• Remote access to Verizon Hub via a companion website, including adding calendar entries and inputting contacts
  
• Chaperone application for tracking children's cellphones
  
• DPF photo mode when not in use

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic was originally announced last October as part of Nokia’s flat-fee music download service, Comes with Music. It has 8GB of expandable memory for storing up to 6,000 songs, an FM radio, and a 3.2 megapixel camera capable of taking still photos and recording video. There’s also a “media bar”, activated by tapping the 3.2in touch-screen, that provides a drop-down menu for direct access to a user’s music library and photos, as well as one-touch access to the internet. A “contacts bar” on the phone’s home screen allows users to choose four of their favourite contacts and get one-touch access to all of the text messages, emails, and phone calls made by that person. “The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic turns a ‘user interface’ into a ‘human interface’ by truly putting people first,” said Jo Harlow, vice president of Nokia. “With this device, we’ve set out to connect people through the one thing we all feel a universal connection to – music.” More than 100 people queued overnight at Nokia’s flaship store in Regent Street, London to be the among the first to get their hands on the device. The device will go on sale nationwide on Jan 30. Nokia said the phone was aimed at technology-savvy music lovers aged between 16 and 30, as it allows them to download songs straight to their phone. The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will be available on both a contract and pay-as-you-go basis, costing around £249 SIM-free, or available for free through most major network operators. Although touch-screen handsets have been available for years, this is Nokia’s first touch-screen phone. ( www.telegraph.co.uk )

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LG - Lucky Group, Life's Good, whatever you want it to stand for - is clearly proud of its initials after it sold the third largest amount of mobile phones worldwide last year. During 2008, it managed to sell 100 million phones overall, narrowly slipping past Motorola who sold around 100,000 handsets less than that figure (helped largely by maintaining a strong US presence). Sony Ericsson is lagging somewhat behind, selling just under 4 million handsets less than LG worldwide... Hopefully, 2009 will be a better year for the Swedo-Japanese alliance (although the two might end up splitting, depending on which rumours you trust.) But the market leaders, as we all know, are still way out in front. Nokia sold a frankly baffling 470 million handsets (it knows how to work those emerging markets, clearly) and Samsung threw another 200 million into the pot. That means in the last year alone, nearly 1 billion handsets were sold. According to the Boy Genius Report, LG alone plans to release 100 more (which averages around two new mobile phones a week). ( www.techradar.com )

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Ericsson, the communications equipment manufacturer, has been forced to cut 5,000 jobs in the continuing financial crisis. Six per cent of its workforce will be laid off in the coming months. Despite posting strong financial results in many sectors, the company's net profit has dipped by 3.9 billion kroner (£338m). The company also reported a "dramatic drop" in the money received from Sony Ericsson, which 'helped' things out with a loss of £174 million in the fourth quarter of last year. The job cuts were justified by the need to increase cost savings throughout the company, due in part to the global financial crisis and increasing competition in the technical development sector. However, Ericsson, like so many others at the moment, has predicted that it will save around £900m annually by the middle of next year, so things may not be as gloomy as they currently seem. "Sales grew by 11 per cent with good demand for our entire portfolio and across the world. Changes in currency rates had very small effect on full year growth. Professional services have continued to show strong growth," said Carl-Henric Svanberg, President and CEO of Ericsson. "Operating margins, excluding Sony Ericsson, have steadily improved, and our financial position is strong with net cash of 35 billion kroner. Sony Ericsson is affected by the economic downturn and the declining demand in the consumer market and has taken necessary actions." ( www.techradar.com )

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