Palm unveils CDMA smartphone

Palm has announced its first CDMA Treo smartphone, offering "broadband speeds" on 1xEV-DO networks, says ITWire.

The Treo 700p smartphone is similar to the Treo 700w but Palm says the higher data rate available on EvDo networks has enabled it to add some additional features. The 700p ships with Palm`s first built-in streaming application, enabling it to stream mobile content such as live TV, movie clips and audio from radio stations, as well as training videos or company communications.

The 700p is also the first Treo Smartphone with built-in dial-up networking capabilities.

Skype is partnering with two companies to provide an interpreter service in more than 150 languages, reports InformationWeek.

The service uses solutions from Language Line Services, a language services firm, and Voxeo, which provides standards-based interactive voice response technology. Generally callers will communicate in English and another language. The offerings range from Arabic to Vietnamese.

The service is touted as being available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at a cost of $2.99 a minute. A live, professional Language Line Services interpreter can be available on the phone in minutes, according to the companies.

Sony Computer executive Phil Harrison has agreed with Microsoft corporate VP Peter Moore`s comments on the new Nintendo Wii console, says DailyTech.com.

Moore said last week consumers could purchase a Microsoft Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii for the same price as a single PlayStation 3. Harrison then said console buyers should buy a Nintendo Wii in addition to a next-generation system, whether it is the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

"I think Peter Moore is exactly right," Harrison said. "I think Nintendo will be the second system consumers purchase after PlayStation 3. I haven`t had a chance to check out the Wii myself, but Nintendo has a great history of innovation and has always done great things for gaming and long may they do so."

MTV Networks, the cable network group that helped popularise music videos two decades ago, is entering the online music market with a new online service called Urge, says LATimes.com.

Urge comes integrated into the newest version of Microsoft`s Windows Media Player, which users of Microsoft`s Windows will receive in coming weeks as an upgrade. Before that, the player upgrade will be available for download at the Urge and Microsoft Web sites.

At launch, Urge will have more than two million tracks, which can be purchased individually for 99c or as full albums starting at about $9.95.