Pantech Crossover on AT&T Targets Android Newbies

By Jared Newman , PCWorld Jun 1, 2011 4:29 am
Resource: http://www.pcworld.com/article/229065/pantech_crossover_on_atandt_targets_android_newbies.html

Pantech's first Android smartphone in the United States, the Crossover, isn't much to get excited about. If you've been watching the smartphone market for a while, you'll be let down by its specs: 600 MHz processor, 3.1-inch display, 3-megapixel camera, a pre-loaded 2 GB microSD card and up to five hours of talk time, all for $70 with a two-year contract. Spec-wise, it's not much different from the HTC Aria, which AT&T gives away for free with a two-year contract.

But unlike the Aria, the Crossover does have a physical QWERTY keyboard. Pantech has had a successful portfolio of "quick messaging devices" (or QMDs) on the carrier, which are essentially feature phones with keyboard.s According to AT&T and Pantech, the Crossover meant to comfort feature phone users who aren't accustomed to touch screen keyboards. The Pantech Crossover also has rubberized corners, so "it's not afraid of a little action" according to AT&T's press release. (Note that this is not a "rugged" phone like Casio's G'zOne Commando, which meets military standards for resistance to the elements.)

The Pantech Crossover also comes with a few added apps (or bloatware, however you look at it) in the form of AllSport GPS, though it may be useful for joggers and hikers. The app has a workout tracker, calorie counter, lap times and social network sharing. The Crossover runs Android 2.2, and for all those smartphone newbies who are ready to tack on a tethering plan, the phone can connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices with AT&T Mobile Hotspot.

I haven't seen the Crossover up close, so I can't say whether its keyboard and design make up for its weak processor and camera, tiny storage capacity and limited battery life. But hey, those smartphone newbies can't tell the difference, right?

Mobile phones are a human necessity

Mobile phones were invented for communication. The smartphone is helpful for people in many ways. The basic phone used to be attached to the wall. It was impossible to carry them to where one wanted. One was restricted in connection to places. The smart phones have come to solve many unwanted problems. Before the basic phone, one cannot even think of talking to relatives or people living in far-away places.

Now, the mobile phone has made that thought possible. The invention of mobile phone is revolutionary. Everywhere, mobiles are used for solving problems, which can be easily solved using these phones. For people who use it most, the mobile phone may have an adverse effect. The way it carries sound with certain frequencies could harm one’s health. It is no doubt that the cell phone has made every day jobs bit easier. Mobile phone users are in abundance. On the road, almost everyone possesses a mobile phone. A simple mobile phone is just meant for dialing and receiving calls and messages. It is easy to call on ordinary mobiles. Cell phones are available in different price ranges. A mobile is available at cheap prices as well as a bit more costly ones. Possessing a mobile phone is the general habit of youth today.

Even children are not far behind in possession of mobile phones. The records of calls are maintained in ordinary cell phones. The basic intention of the mobile phone is contacting the desired person who is far away or not in reach. There are many companies in telecom industry. Along with government-owned companies, there are private sector companies who are working in networking facilities. A mobile phone has thus become a basic need of people. The BlackBerry phone has dominated the mobile world with its advanced features built in these phones. A mobile phone is a part of human life. Mobile use has become compulsory. Mobiles are unrestricted to places but some places are exceptions, such as meetings and conferences where mobile use is restricted. Mobiles give the pleasure of easy talking. The main thing that differentiates the basic phone from the mobile is the wire. The keyboards in smart phones give their user smooth dialing pleasure. Calls in the Mobile Phones can be easily received and disconnected.

Touch Screen Mobile Phones - Good or Bad?

Cell phones are becoming more and more advanced as the days roll by. The market loves to introduce new cell phones and every one of them is more wanted than the next. From PDA Phones to BlackBerry phones - they are all a wanted item on the market. What is becoming more popular is the newest and latest so called Smartphones. These smart phones are not something to be missed, because everyone knows that a Smartphone can be the doorway into a whole new world.

These mobile phones are great - just like the touch phones. The touch screen phones are really a popular choice when it comes to choosing a mobile phone. Nowadays there are more manufacturers making these types of phones, or at least are incorporating some of the designs and features into their touch phones. We all want to know about the new technology available to us, as we do not want to be stuck in the dark ages. The truth is that no matter where you are, you cannot sit for more than a minute before you hear a ring and someone brings out a touch phone.

Touch phones are something that we all love, from Tablet phones to the BlackBerry, as with BlackBerry videos you can watch anything that you like with your touch screen phone. The truth with these touch screen phones is that there are not a lot of things that can be said about them that is actually bad.

The truth with these phones is that they are not really bad, as they are so very popular - much more than a normal phone. They actually do everything that a normal cell phone does, but much more. They are so much smaller and so are the screens and buttons; and this is where some of the problems start. We all can find that trying to text is a little more difficult when it comes to the buttons and the screen being smaller but, having said that, they are still great. The screens are not that small and you can still see what you are doing, whether texting, emailing or watching videos.

We all love touch screen phones. The only off-putting thing is the price, which can seem a little steep in bad times and, to be honest, a new phone should not then be your first priority. That said, these phones can be found reasonably priced, depending on where you shop. You just have to keep in mind that you do not need to be a millionaire to own one of these phones.

As we are being honest, touch screen phones are not always going to be for everyone, especially if you cannot get your fingers to work the buttons and are not comfortable using the touch screen, but there are both good and bad points. There are only a few negative points, but a lot of good points; and that is what makes these touch screen phones great.

Microsoft Officially Announces Windows Phone 7.1 Mango With 500 New Features

Recourse from:http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/microsoft-officially-announces-windows-phone-71-mango-with-500-new-features/2011/05/24/AFkafVAH_story.html

By TechCrunch.com

Today at Microsoft's Windows Phone VIP Reception, president of mobile communications Andy Lees and senior Windows Phone product manager Derek Snyder gave us a quick rundown of what to expect out of the newest version of the Windows Phone platform, WP7.1 or “Mango.”

Though he didn’t have time to cover all 500 new features, the focus will certainly center around communication, applications, and the way we use mobile internet. Along with the current service offerings in People Hub such as Facebook, Hotmail, and Gmail, Microsoft has gone ahead and added LinkedIn and Twitter. Mango will also bring with it a Groups feature, allowing multiple people to communicate across a multiple platforms, while simultaneously integrating those people’s profiles, pictures, and a group history of all events and communication shared. Instead of only being able to communicate with groups that all share the same hardware maker, Mango employs Windows Live Messenger and Facebook Chat to keep you connected with friends, including those with other phones.

Rock Yourself with Touch Phones

When it comes to touch phone, they are the one thing that people love more than ever today, as a touch phone is something that cannot be matched. Other marketers will try but will not make a perfect touch screen phone.

These cell phones are great when it comes to making your photos more accessible. You can now use your cell phone or your touch phone to get to your pictures easily; and then be able to move through them by flicking through them simply with a touch on the screen. These mobiles phones are really very elegant in style, because we all want a mobile phone that is up to date and one that makes it so much easier for us to navigate through our phones.

With a touch screen phone you can find your way through the different web pages very quickly and easily. You can even type on the phone easily. They can even show you videos which you can use on a BlackBerry to play BlackBerry Videos, but with a touch phone you can control the video so much more easily. With the BlackBerry you cannot flick through a video by touching the screen as you have to press a button, which is why the touch screen phones are so much better.

Smart phones are so much in demand today and touch screen phones are really a fantastic new Smartphone that you can buy today. Smartphones are something that you cannot match. Tablet phones are great and are a variety of touch phones. PDA phones are great to have in your pocket and they are a good phone - but they are not a touch phone.

With touch phones you can actually start texting faster with the keypad. Most of these touch phones are going to have the best screens; their sizes are actually big, but not that big. The battery life is very strong and they have best quality of screen. The pixel quality is larger, so you have an even higher resolution screen.

When you have a touch screen phone then you have the ability to have all of your multimedia in one place and being able to flick through from one source of music to your photos. All you have to do is to flick from screen to screen.

With touch phones you really do have all the features that you could ever possibly need when you use your phone for your business. You will have a fantastic built in GPS system with a fantastic dual core processor and Wi-Fi capability. The keypad is so easily to operate and yes, we can find it difficult to operate a touch screen phone, but once you get the hang of it, it really can be the most fantastic phone that you could ever have.

Some Interesting Facts about Touch phones

Gone are the days when a cell phone was a device that served as a communication tool, a portable and convenient version of a stationary phone that sat on the side table. One may be surprised to learn that the first cell phone made its appearance in 1983, a generation before the next smart phone generation. Mobile phones are no longer two-way radios, they are a mini office. A minicomputer for all practical purposes, smartphones are fast becoming something that we cannot do without.

Smartphones are fast overtaking the mobile phone market. Of the 1 billion phones sold in 2008, 10% were smartphones. The way they are growing, standard cell phones may become obsolete very soon. Internet connectivity and all its accompanying conveniences have taken the market by storm. You can send text messages, take photos with the camera, use its multi-functional programs for browsing the internet and send email; and you can hook on to local wi-fi. The touch screen phones and sliding keyboard are both stylish and functional, whether it is a BlackBerry, iPhone, Samsung or Palm, which are the most visible smart phone varieties.

The innovations and new developments have started to be taken for granted and young people hardly have time to stop and think. They buy up any new device without a thought to the old retainers; and think nothing of throwing them away to replace them with new devices. It will not be long before standard phones become obsolete. 125 million touch phones are discarded every year by users worldwide. This is good for money circulation, but the environmentalists are worried sick about the disposal of this very toxic material. The backlight have unexpected fall-out. People who have started using the backlight of their touch phone in an emergency as a flashlight are now usually reluctant to also buy a flash light - and this has resulted in a fall in the sales of flash lights.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not Nokia that invented cell phone. Motorola did it and it named its first cell phone the DynaTAC 8000X. There are approximately 3.3 billion touch phones, including smartphones and tablets, now in use. Some estimates say that this will jump to 5 billion in 5 years.

In India, where it is mostly taboo to fall in love and, if you do, you cannot openly conduct a courtship, falling in love now and marrying the person you love has found increasing acceptance by parents and society - due to touch phones and text messages. Lovers in India unite and rejoice in your touch phones!

If you find your cell phone battery on the blink and are desperate to use the phone, you can dial *3370# and immediately the built-in battery upgrades by 50% which, of course, you must use sparingly.

The 10 Best BlackBerry Apps

Resource from:http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/the-10-best-blackberry-apps/?scp=6&sq=BlackBerry&st=nyt

By BOB TEDESCHI

BlackBerry owners aren’t voracious app users. They can’t be. With only about 15,000 (often uninspired) apps to choose from in BlackBerry’s App World, the selection simply isn’t deep or broad enough to stoke the fires of a true app devotee. Android users have more than 100,000 apps to choose from; iPhone owners can pick among 300,000.

But if you own a BlackBerry, there are still enough good apps to give your device a high-tech boost. To that end, here’s a list of 10 apps that will make your BlackBerry much more handy—and fun—than it was when you first bought it.

Google Mobile (free): Use your voice to search.

Google Maps (free): Turn-by-turn directions, and more.

Evernote (free): Sync notes from your BlackBerry to your other computers.

Poynt (free): Find local restaurants and businesses, read reviews and more.

Shazam (free): Identify songs that are playing on the radio. Users of the free version get five songs monthly, and you can buy the unlimited version for $5.

Weather Channel (free): Solid forecasts, nicely laid-out.

ScoreMobile (free): Keep track of scores, read game recaps and view standings for major U.S. sports and foreign soccer leagues.

Bloomberg Mobile (free): Great one-stop-shop for financial news.

Viigo (free): For tracking news across many categories.

UberTwitter (free): More full-featured than the standard Twitter app, this is a must-have for people with serious Twitter habits.

Latest Touch Screen Phones - A Complete Mobile Experience

During the past few years, touch screen phones have had no relevance to any mobile experience, but today almost everybody talks about then. More people are comparing notes with what they experience with their smartphones or the applications they have downloaded. Touch-based mobile phones are hitting the market like crazy, which has created a large demand for touch screen phones developers to offer the latest and newest designs for their mobile phones. Also, the explosive growth of the touch screen phone division provides support to the ongoing mobile phone revolution and persuades developers to come up with applicable apps that will give similar experiences around a number of gadgets ranging in navigational experience, screen size and computational command.

Mobile experience is constantly changing. This has been brought about by the constant development and upgrades on touch screen phones. The changes in mobile experiences are getting better all the time. Mobile phone developers and interface designers are faced with the unending dilemma of either to design a better smarthphone or better universal apps that work on other gadgets as well. However, on the part of the users, what is important is the experience they get, whatever cell phone they use.

Cell phones earlier functionality gave users the experience of being able to quickly type on the keyboard and press keys to navigate within the screens with minimal time lag; until one developer introduced the touch system. Now, the terms such as taps, swipe and gestures are the common language used by mobile phone users and designers. Good and complete user experience is provided by the apps designed for the latest touch screen phones. Better yet, the mobile phone user experience has been further revolutionized with the increased screen actual estate, segmented controls and multitasking controls.

Earlier, the experience of working on computers was not perceived to be applicable with cell phones, but the limited size of the screen and the lesser computing capabilities of cell phones compared to computers challenged mobile designers to design smartphones with touch screen features. This discovery created a big leap in the popularity of smartphones, by letting users experience convenience doing everything with a few swipes and taps, rather than by pressing keys. The limited size of the screen that gives very little room for better resolution images and animations did not deter people from choosing smarthphones over other gadgets, because of the awesome experience these cell phones provided.

Achieving a complete mobile experience is attainable with the use of the latest touch screen phones. However, care and awareness are still essential in choosing the best phone for you. Getting the appropriate smarthphone is essential in achieving the absolute convenience provided by these mobile phones.

A Guide to Top Smart Phones

In many social circles you are likely to find touch phones. You are probably not sure about everything to do with these devices. It is therefore important that you should continue reading this article, especially if you want to get clarification about these devices. First and foremost, you should expect to do more than receive and call on these devices. The devices are powerful and elegant. They have multifunctional capabilities which are almost similar to that of your personal computer. The advantage of these devices is that they help you in managing your work when on the move. This is possible because you can send emails and work with programs such as Excel and Microsoft word.

You are likely to find a variety of smart phones on the market. You need to take your time and look at the various types available before making the final decision. There are reputable companies which are involved in the production of these devices such as Samsung, Nokia and LG. Different companies provide different features for their phones. You can look at the different features so as to know which phone meets your needs. There are various methods that you can use when looking for these phones.

One method that you can use is by carrying out some research. Ensure that you take your time to research. Researching will not only help you to know the best features that you should go for, but also the best price for the device. This will eventually help in saving some cash. There are several features that should be considered. One of the important features that should be considered is the operating system. There are different operating systems that are used in these phones. You can check whether the phone allows accessing the web using 3G cards.

Smart phones have an elegant touch that will blow you away. The devices have become quite popular, mainly because they provide a sense of style and class. The technology that comes with the devices is something to die for. Looking at the different phones will help in knowing their capabilities as well as their cost. You will find a manufacturer that provides the operation that suits your needs and lifestyle. It is recommended that you look at the customer reviews that are provided on the internet. The reviews will help you to know what others have to say about the phones. You will even find ratings of the phones that will be helpful. Ensure that you are aware of the features of the phone that you want to go for. People will have different ideas on which is the best device to go for.

Emergency Alert System Expected for Cellphones

Resource from:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/us/10safety.html?scp=4&sq=cell%20phone%20&st=cse

By EDWARD WYATT

WASHINGTON — The emergency broadcast system is coming to cellphones.

Updating the national emergency alert system, federal officials planned to announce on Tuesday in Manhattan that some cellphone users in New York and Washington will soon be able to receive alerts by text message in the event of a national or regional emergency.

The service in those cities is scheduled to start late this year as a prelude to nationwide service next year, perhaps as early as April. To receive the alerts, users must have mobile phones with a special chip, which is currently included in some higher-end smartphones like the latest iPhones. The service will also require a software upgrade.

How quickly consumers are able to participate in the system depends on the rate of replacement of cellphones with the special chip and the software, officials said.

The emergency text messages will include alerts issued by the president, information about public safety threats and Amber Alerts for missing children. Text messages will be sent to customers of participating cellphone companies who are in an area affected by the emergency. Users can opt out of any of the alerts except the presidential messages.

The alerts are designed to mimic the familiar radio and TV broadcast alerts that for decades — accompanied by a shrill whistle and, in most instances, the message “This is only a test” — have advised Americans where to tune in for an emergency message.

Known as the Personal Localized Alerting Network, or PLAN, the new system will be a free service for people in New York and Washington who have enabled phones and are customers of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile mobile phone systems.

“This new technology could become a lifeline for millions of Americans and is another tool that will strengthen our nation’s resilience against all hazards,” W. Craig Fugate, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said in a statement.

Julius Genachowski, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said the system was designed to minimize the ability of hackers or spammers to send fraudulent messages. The alerts could appear directly on a cellphone screen, for example, rather than appear as a text message notification, and would probably be accompanied by a special vibration or other kind of signal.

“We don’t expect the alerts to be frequent,” Mr. Genachowski said. “They will be reserved for when they are truly needed, for tornadoes or for disasters like 9/11.”

Emergency authorities in several Asian and Pacific countries sent text messages warning of tsunamis after the March 11 earthquake in Japan.

Authorized government officials will be able to send emergency text messages to participating wireless companies, which will then use their cell towers to forward the messages to subscribers in the affected area. A New York City resident who is traveling in Chicago at the time of an emergency in New York would not receive a message; a Chicago resident who is a customer of the same phone company would see the text alert while in New York City, officials said.

The messages are also designed to avoid user congestion that often mars standard mobile voice and texting services.

Although cellphone companies in the United States are not required to participate in the system, officials said they expected that cellphone makers would promote the inclusion of the special chip as a selling point for new mobile phones.

Friendship with 4G technology

The rate of the change in technology particularly in the filed of communication technology is really awesome. It is definitely beyond the imagination of the common man. The generation is grateful to community of scientist and engineers which has converted the vast world into a small village. In the field of cell phone technology the 2G, 3G or 4G are the buzzwords. We easily heard in everyday life that mobile phone is supporting the 3G technology or not. But most of the consumers do not know what the stories behind the G alphabet are. For the common man the story is very simple it has nothing do with features in mobile or any other device. It is just simply the set of standards of technology which bring specific functionalities in devices like smart phones or any stationary device.

The term 4G defines cellular wireless standards of the fourth generation which is the advance version of 3G. The main objective of the 4G is to transform the wireless communication technology into entirely different way. The users of the 4G have the well known slogan of any time, any where. These set of standards are really boon to the mobile technology and they are going to change the cell phone into the magic box. The main features of the 4G technology is mobile multimedia, anywhere and any time access, support for global mobility, integrated wireless and customization of the personal services.

It is beyond doubt that the 4G service is very recent concept. This technology is not very widespread and it still under the developing phase. But when it will be on the full swing it will be the killer technology for data transmission and accessing the multimedia applications. The 4G technology will definitely establish a new landmark in the field of communication technology. The combination of 4G networks and the compatible mobile phone with digital cameras of high quality will open the doors for video bogging in cell phones. At present unfortunately this technology is not available in every part of the world. It is only available in few cities of developed countries only like USA, Japan etc.

Mobile Phones: Their importance in daily life

The inventions of landline phones and Mobile Phones were definitely a huge historical landmark in mankind’s history. The current generation will be grateful to Alexander Graham Bell and his contemporaries this huge leap in technology, and the gains it provided to society. It is unlikely that he would have ever imagined that there would be such rapid advancements advancement in phone technology, in such a short duration of time. Credit for this advance is also due to professionals in the software industry for offering wonderful support to the technology. These mobile phones are so important to our everyday life that many people struggle to survive without them.

At first, mobile phones were considered as a luxury item, but now they are viewed as a basic need for many people. Cell phones are the smartest and cheapest tools to communicate with anyone, in any part of the world, all within fractions of seconds. The main reason for their immense popularity is their portability and the low cost of communication. The ultimate reason for the low cost of communication is sharp increase in the number of users. It may be impossible to overstate the importance of mobile phones to current society. They have increased the productivity of people from every section of society, ranging from high profile businessmen to laborers. Now it seems that everyone requires a mobile phone to perform their job.

The earliest forms of cell phones were only capable of being used for the purpose of verbal communication. The entire scene has been changed as technology has advanced. The handsets of current generation are well equipped to manage different multimedia applications and can use advanced, cutting edge technology in the internet,such as BlackBerry Videos. The major players in communication technology are everyday coming up with some new features which are far beyond how anyone would ever have thought mobile phones would be capable of, when they were first invented. The giants of the software industry, like Microsoft and Apple, have developed their own operating system embedded in the mobile to give the full functionality of a personal computer within a mobile handsets.

The Touch Phone: Trends and Technologies

The cell phones of the present generation are the marvelous handy tools of communication. Their role in the modern day living is really immense. The modern civilization is so addict of the usage of the touch screen phones that its users never want to keep the mobile phone away for a moment. The change in the area of information technology has played a very vital role in the advance of the mobile technology. The operating systems designed and developed basically for the mobile phone played most significant role in the evolution of the cutting edge mobile handsets. The current state of the art will give strong foundation for the future technology. The consumers have also tasted the fun of technology and they also want a new taste every day.

The compatibility and support to the 3G or 4G technologies is one of the important considerations for the technology of the future. These 3G or 4G is nothing except the set of technological standards in the field of technology. They enhance the speed of data transfer at very high rate, global accessibility and good support to advance multimedia technology. By using the 4G technology the user cell phone handset will be able to download or upload the file in a fraction of seconds. The designers of the cell phones are trying to incorporate all the functionalities of the personal computers into the mobile phone handset.

The evolution of the open source technology and entry of the IT giants like Microsoft Corporation, Apple and Google has absolutely given the twist to the story of mobile phones of the future. The pages of the media are filled with the story of the new mergers and acquisitions of the corporate houses involve in the business of the mobile communication. The companies involved in this business spending millions of dollars on research and development activities for developing the cell phones supporting the required technologies of the future. The main emphasis of the manufacturers to developed mobile phone handsets of the future must be able to work with the all the features of the high end computing and latest techniques information technology.

Handle your cellphone as you wish

How could I access some business-related Touch Phones? The business phone can include some critical processes, and it is difficult to first understand it. When you understand all activity, the applications cannot be used as easily as you want them to. It does not obey all your orders and commands.

Nowadays, there are a lot of Touch Screen Phones available on the market, which not only gives you simple access but also gives you lots of high standard applications which are easy to operate. Some mobile brands make applications that are inbuilt. Here, some rules or instructions are given on how access it.

Many give customers a demo menu on how to access your most awaited application. With the help of this demo video, you can easily understand what an application does. As of these facilities, you could easily manage all your applications as you choose. But most business Touch Phones are also similar; no one can access it without knowledge. If you put your finger in some wrong applications or some point of instruction then all of your documents can be erased. So, mobile designers tell you please access your business phone carefully.

When many companies launch cell phones, they first provide demos of the handset. They give out all the information on the Internet or advertise the new model in televisions ads. This is simple to those who cannot handle our handset without knowledge of that. Nowadays, the Tablet also comes in most of high range price. Most of the mobile prices depend on its features. If it contains a higher number of features, then its price will always be high. But if you are buying a low price handset then you have to don’t have to spend much money. Nowadays, many of the latest mobile techniques arrive on the market. As the boom in mobile world continues, you can get your choice of cellphone at a good price.

Judge ends BlackBerry hearing with no decision

By Stephanie Stoughton
The Associated Press
Resource: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002826594_webblackberry24.html

RICHMOND, Va. — A judge ended a hearing over a request for an injunction against the maker of the handheld BlackBerry device without issuing a decision today.

Shares of BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion Ltd. rose $5.54, or 8 percent, to $75.07 on the Nasdaq Stock Market after the hearing was adjourned.

During the hearing, NTP Inc., a small patent holding firm that successfully sued Research In Motion, asked U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer to impose an injunction on the service but permit a 30-day grace period so all sides could work out the details of how to exempt government and emergency workers, among other issues.

The Arlington, Va.-based company also recommended that the judge immediately halt sales of new BlackBerry devices and award it $126 million in damages - for starters. RIM has deposited $250 million or more in escrow, and NTP says that pot of money should be reserved just in case newer BlackBerry devices infringe on its patents.

"This is a self-inflicted situation," said NTP attorney James H. Wallace Jr., who compared RIM to a squatter who continued to live rent-free. "It's just time to pay up."

Henry C. Bunsow, an attorney for Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM, argued against the injunction, saying it would not be in the public's best interests. The process of exempting government and emergency employees from the BlackBerry ban would prove difficult and problematic, he said.

"It will take a lot of time," Bunsow said. "It will take a lot of effort."

Bunsow also pointed to a number of critical users who would not be exempted — including hospitals, large government contractors, energy companies and financial institutions. Over the years, he said, BlackBerry use has become so prevalent that the device has become part of the country's infrastructure.

At the end of the hearing Spencer said he would rule as soon as possible but provided no timetable. He also said that, if he ordered an injunction, he would make sure that the government's needs were met.

RIM's attorneys also noted that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is poised to finally reject all patents at the heart of the case.

Although Spencer previously had said he was unwilling to delay his proceedings while awaiting final word from the agency, the speedier moves from the patent office have some attorneys wondering whether Spencer will be swayed.

"I really feel it's too close to call," said Stephen Maebius, a Washington patent attorney not involved in the case. "I can really see it going both ways."

Analysts say BlackBerry users shouldn't be too worried. They say RIM could still settle for as much as $1 billion. And, under the threat of an injunction, RIM has said it would introduce new software that would not violate NTP's patents.

How well that software works is another question. Because RIM has released few details, analysts and some companies are concerned.

NTP, based in Arlington, sued in 2001, and a year later, a federal jury agreed that RIM had infringed on the smaller firm's patents. The jury awarded NTP 5.7 percent of U.S. BlackBerry sales — a rate that Spencer later boosted to 8.55 percent.

Spencer first issued an injunction in 2003 but held off on its enforcement during RIM's appeals. After those efforts largely failed, the case returned to Spencer.

The Justice Department, health-care companies and others concerned about a possible injunction have made recent court filings.

But should a BlackBerry shutdown actually occur, a wide variety of rivals might benefit, ranging from Microsoft Corp., Nokia Corp. and Palm Inc. to lesser-known software makers including Good Technology Inc., Visto Corp. and Seven Networks Inc.

A growing number of handheld makers, including Nokia, Palm, Motorola Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., and Samsung Electronics Co., are making keyboard-equipped handhelds that run on the Windows Mobile operating system. These devices can deliver BlackBerry-like service using Microsoft's software or third-party applications from the likes of Good and Visto. BlackBerry users also can switch to their cellular provider's brand of service (many of these are powered by Seven and Visto).

Associated Press Staff Writer Dena Potter contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company