NTT, BT Group and others team up to speed development of devices like the Wi-Fi cell phone. The companies have formed the Fixed-Mobile Convergence Alliance in order to speed up development of devices like the Wi-Fi cell phone. The expensive and difficult-to-find device uses both a cell phone network and--through the use of voice over Internet Protocol and a Wi-Fi network--a wired telephone network. BT executives said the alliance will help the carrier offer combined wireless and wired services to its broadband customers by year's end. An NTT executive said the communications giant is looking to introduce similar combined services in a number of different countries in the future.

CNET también está disponible en español, Don't show this again, To use the service, customers need to pre-register their iphone 7 mother of pearl karat case phone and associate it with a specific frequent flyer number, Check-in is accomplished by sending a text message up to six hours before a booked flight, A virtual "boarding pass" that includes flight and seat allocation details is then sent to the phone, which must be shown to staff when boarding, Passengers who are flying without baggage will be able to use the system without showing identification, while the luggage-laden masses will be able to deposit their bags at a counter dedicated to text-message check-ins after presenting suitable ID..

Because the system relies on bar codes, only phones that support graphical messages--a group that includes most recent models--can be used. Last month, Qantas' low-cost subsidiary Jetstar outlined plans for customers to book flights using a text message service. No such plans have been unveiled for Qantas, but the airline is already heavily reliant on Internet bookings and offers other technology-enhanced check-in services, such as QuickCheck kiosks. Over the past two years, it has also relaxed requirements regarding the use of mobile phones on planes before departure, though their use in-flight remains banned.

Angus Kidman of ZDNet Australia reported from Sydney, Send a text message, get a virtual boarding pass, Qantas is testing the bar-code-based system on some Australian flights, The trial, which will initially only be available to frequent flyers traveling from Sydney to Melbourne on flights before 10 am each day, will run until mid-September, If successful, it is likely to be extended to other iphone 7 mother of pearl karat case routes on Qantas' main CityFlyer network in 2005, Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic, We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read, Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion..

CNET también está disponible en español. Don't show this again. The testing is being done under the watchful eye of Nextel Communications, the only carrier affected by the problems, which were discovered in eight different Motorola phones. The company said in a statement that it wants to ensure that whatever is released "fully addresses the issue.". The cell phones with the problems are the Motorola i205, i305, i530, i710, i730, i733, i736 and i830. One of many concerns is how the bug will affect 911 calls. Emergency calls from cell phones must be accompanied by the phone's location, which network operators determine via several means. Because the A-GPS fails to boot up, any features that rely on the phone's location--including some emergency calls, Nextel's fleet-locating service or its real-time weather updates--are affected to various degrees.