Free eBay SMS text alerts for September

September 1, 2008

eBay are running a promotion for SMS text alerts for September waiving the normal charge of 12p per message. You’ll be able to receive free alerts when watched items are about to end as well as place and raise bids on eBay auctions.

If you’ve not already subscribed for SMS alerts you’ll need to register for the text messaging service. When you add an item to your watched list, or place a bid, click the link to add text alerts and messages will be sent to your mobile when you need to take action. From then on to place or raise a bid simply reply to the alert message with the amount you’d like to bid along with the item number.

If you have a 3G Internet capable mobile phone you may prefer to browse to eBay rather than use text messaging. To access eBay simply browse to ebay.co.uk and you’ll be directed to the mobile eBay site. If you prefer you can switch to the classic view of eBay which is the same view you’ll be used to on your computer.

Although most modern mobiles now support 3G coverage can be patchy in certain areas of the country. Text messages are often more reliable and have the advantage of providing a timely prompt, rather than relying on memory to log on to eBay.

If you’re bidding on an eBay auction sign up for SMS alerts and try the service for free this month.

Written by Chris Dawson · Filed Under CLD | 3 Comments 

Skypephone S2 from 3 will have email capabilities

July 21, 2008

Today 3 mobile let me see one of new Skypephone S2 and it has some fantastic new features that make it even more desirable than the first.

Built into the phone are a host of new upgrades. The main physical changes from the original Skypephone are the larger screen which is upgraded to 2.2 inch QVGA (upgraded from 2 inch QCIF) and the 3.2 megapixel camera (upgraded from 2MP), there’s also the welcome addition of Bluetooth.

It’s the applications that make the difference though - the new Skypephone S2 has RSS feed capability and a facebook application built in but the killer new app will be email.

3 are introducing email on their entire range of handsets from highest spec gizmo down to the most bog standard mobile. Cost will be from just £2.50 per month and it’ll work with any POP3 or IMAP email account (even Hotmail or Gmail). Email on the Skypephone S2 won’t be available on launch date, but is expected to be available within a few weeks of the first phones shipping.

Now email on the Skypephone will make it a true business tool for eBay sellers. Not only can you keep in contact with customers with Skype chats and Skype calls, but you’ll even be able to respond to email from your mobile handset.

Of course you won’t *have* to use a Skypephone to access email, 3 have a whole range of handsets right up to the Nokia E71 and even a Blackberry due out in the next few weeks. The Skypephone however is the only handset in the world that has Skype as a built in as an “always on” embedded tool rather than as an add on application. That means it doesn’t eat into your data allowance and 3 allow a generous 4,000 Skype minutes and 10,000 Skype chat messages a month for free on the Skypephone.

The Skypephone S2 has 3G mobile broadband capabilities with HSDPA speeds of up to 3.6Mbps and comes with the drivers built into the phone so you won’t need an installation disk. It can be used either with a USB cable to your laptop or via Bluetooth.

The cost is expected to be £69.99 on PAYG, and free for contract customers. Delivery of the first handsets is expected to the the 18th August. I can’t wait to get my hands on one that I can keep - email to my mobile at a reasonable cost will save me carrying a laptop around.

Written by Chris Dawson · Filed Under News | 32 Comments 

iPhone hysteria

July 12, 2008

Giving Us a Demo While in Line
Creative Commons License photo credit: chrisscott

What is it about the new 3G iPhone that makes it so desirable? Scot Wingo was up a 4am in the morning to be 11th in line for his. David Suen was first in the queue at the Apple store in Regent Street, London but he didn’t queue. Suen won an auction on eBay for the bargain price of just £41.00 and the seller had the job of standing in line for eighteen hours to reserve his spot.

Of course it’s a great phone, not least because of the new Apple App store which enables you to download tools for everything from games, business, news, sports, health, reference, and travel. Top iPhone downloads for TameBay readers should of course be the eBay and PayPal apps.

It’s not been plain sailing for those clutching their new iPhones though, when they tried to activate them there was a meltdown with O2 and Apple’s servers unable to handle the traffic. In stores across the country people waiting up to two hours to try and get their new iPhones activated and many were sent home to activate the handsets from their own PCs only able to make emergency calls in the mean time.

I’m tempted by the new iPhone, but not enough to buy one. I’ll wait until I can at least get an iPhone on Vodafone with my existing telephone number and wait for the price to drop. After all, do I really need a phone that can do more than make calls?

Written by Chris Dawson · Filed Under News | 10 Comments 

Preview of the new Skypephone 2 from 3 mobile

July 9, 2008

For everyone that loved the Skypephone there’s some great news - there’s a new updated model in development and it should be even better than the first. As rumours began spreading mobile operator 3 confirmed them saying “We are working on a new 3 Skypephone to follow on from the success of the first version.”

They’re short on detail but have confirmed that it’ll be again be a 3G model with an upgraded 3.2 megapixel camera instead of the old 2 megapixel. Sadly the camera is still on the rear of the phone meaning no video conferencing capability. RSS looks like a great feature that may be available on the new Skypephone, the screen shows an RSS symbol so it may be possible to get your favourite feeds (like TameBay) direct to your handset.

The part number will be WMA8709 and the phone when released will be the IMP2. The manufacturer of the original Skypephone, AMOI will again build the new one.

It appears that the new Skypephone has been approved by the FCC and some are speculating this indicates a quad band Skypephone meaning it could be used in the US.

I’m looking forward to the release of the new phone, I’ll be first in line to grab one when it becomes available.

Written by Chris Dawson · Filed Under News | 10 Comments