iTunes for cellphones

Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs has announced that Apple and Motorola have formed a partnership that will allow users to transfer iTunes music to Motorola`s next-generation mobile handsets.

MacCentral reports that Apple will create an iTunes mobile music player, which will be standard on all of Motorola`s music phones.

Apple says the new Motorola phones, which are designed to complement the iPod and iPod mini, will be available in the first half of 2005.

Motorola has launched a new phone that it says will switch calls seamlessly between cellular services and wireless Internet networks.

A CNet report says the CN620 WiFi cellphone is expected to be commercially available late this year or early 2005, making it among the first entries in a new class of mobile communications devices that promise to upset the cellular industry by reducing the number of minutes billed to customers.

The phone has been in development since Motorola struck a deal last year to use chips from Texas Instruments designed for the purpose.

The Associated Press (AP) has announced that it is taking steps on behalf of its member newspapers and broadcasters to explore the development of a tool to search online news content more thoroughly.

A SiliconValley report says the goal is to offer a search engine with more participating news organisations and more content than is currently available today.

The report says the news cooperative`s board hopes the enhanced search tool and technical standards will also provide the AP`s member news organisations with greater protection from unlicensed use of their material online.

Swiss watchmaker Tissot has joined Fossil of the US and Finland`s Suunto in offering watches that use Microsoft`s Smart Personal Objects Technology, reports PC World.

The report says Tissot`s new High-T watch is the first Microsoft-based smart watch with a touch-screen. Users touch the watch dial to receive news, weather, appointment reminders, messages, and other information. Users select which information they wish to receive through Microsoft`s MSN Direct subscription service.