Astraware has released the popular PC game Westward for Windows Mobile phones, noted Smartphone Thoughts.
Originally developed by Sandlot Games, Westward thrusts players into a wild west setting, allowing them to take over a number of different characters as they tame the wilderness. 25 different buildings, from farms to mines, must be constructed to bring your settlers to your camp and provide them with jobs.
The game is available for $19.99.
Yeah, go figure, right? What we’re really wondering about is how the iPhone is shaping up. While they’ve only grabbed 5% of the corporate market, that’s a very happy 5%. RIM remains second to the iPhone, with 47% of customers saying they were “very satisfied” compared to the iPhone’s 59%. Still, RIM continues to dominate, with 73% market share in the enterprise sector and 77% of businesses planning on buying a new BlackBerry in the next 6 months. Apple dropped 3 points to 11% in the latter category, and Palm… well, Palm bid a tearful goodbye to the double digits.
The exhibitor spotlight continues with Pyxis Mobile. We haven’t heard from these guys in a while, but they continue to offer high-quality applications for users in the financial services industry. Their Application Studio allows users to configure, build, and deploy custom apps without the need for any IT staff. The applications can be configured for investment, insurance, and banking needs, giving end-users immediate access to enterprise data. Check ‘em out if you get the chance, and don’t forget to sign up for the Best of WES Awards if you’re going to be exhibiting.
Just as we thought, RIM is moving into Africa in a big way. They’ve partnered up with EMS and Celtel to release phones in Madagascar and Nigeria, and with EMS and Orange for a release in Botswana. Nigeria will be getting the 8100, 8300, and 8800, while Madagascar will be hooked up with just the 8800. Botswana will get the 8100 and the 8700g. Just a another example RIM’s continuing focus on the African market.
Smartphone Thoughts posted about a new virus called WinCE/InfoJack that can run wild on Windows Mobile phones.
McAfee issued asecurity alert regarding the virus, which is mostly tame itself but leaves users wide open for abuse in the future. The virus changes the user’s browser home page and sends device information like operating system and model number back to the creators. Worse, it turns off all installation protection, allowing it to update itself and allowing other malware to be installed silently.
The website from which it spawned has been shut down, but the virus was added to legitimate downloads like Google Maps and game packs and might still be floating around. Be careful!
For our next Exhibitor Spotlight we have Handmark, makers of the Pocket Express software we reviewed last September. Pocket Express is their flagship product, allowing users to view stocks, weather, general news, sports news, and great deal more from within the application. At WES, they’ll be focusing on that and its companion Pocket Express Travel Edition, which features travel services such as up-to-date flight information from the OAG. They’ll also be showcasing content from the Extras channel of Pocket Express and other tidbits from their online web portal.
BerryReview posted about a site called BigOven, which allows you to search and view a database of over 160,000 recipes directly from your phone. You simply head to the mobile version of the site, enter in your search terms, and select your recipe from the returned list. It includes a big picture of the finished product and, of course, detailed ingredient lists and instructions. The search function is pretty basic, but you can use the more robust search on the main site to build a list of favorites, which you can then access from the mobile site.
A user on our Facebook page posted about a new BlackBerry-centric social networking site called BlackBerry Ave. The site is designed from the ground up to be viewable on mobile browers, a bit like BBMnation. BlackBerry Ave. has the usual features of a social networking site like basic demographic information and interests, but has some unique features such as the ability to upload 1000 MB worth of files to share with other users. It also allows you to list your specific BlackBerry model and PIN. Definitely worth checking out if you just can’t get enough social networking.
Softick has announced the release of version 1.20 of their Auido Gateway software for Palm handhelds, reports PalmInfocenter.
The software allows any Bluetooth-enabled Palm OS device to link up to a pair of Bluetooth headphones and listen to any audio played by the handset, from music players to games to audio books. Version 1.20 adds support for AVRCP connections and fast forward and rewind buttons on some headsets, and fixes some problems with mono sound as well as other minor bug fixes.
The update is free for all registered users.
According to The Washington Post, BlackBerry sales in Taiwan have suffered due to language issues, but things are looking up. Phones in Taiwan currently use Pinyin, which uses Latin characters to phonetically spell out the sounds that more complicated Chinese character sets like Zhuyin represent. No support for Zhuyin has been available, leading to disappointing sales of only 3,000 to 3,500 BlackBerrys in the region. RIM is scheduled to release two phones supporting Zhuyin in the second quarter of this year, and hopes to increase sales to 11,000 or higher. Asian character support has always been a trial for the computer industry, especially for cramped phone keyboards, but things definitely been improving for BlackBerry users.