Mobilizing music and text

Move over, Mickey Mouse. An estimated 40,000 mobilephiles have skipped past the Magic Kingdom and other Floridian points of interest to see the latest developments in mobile technology at CTIA, in Orlando, the biggest trade show in the U.S. devoted to mobile technology. While the show officially began today, it was clear at Monday's preshow events that, beyond voice, it's music and text messaging that will be the "killer apps" of the foreseeable future.

Here's a quick look at some new products that aspire to take mobile music and texting to a new level:

Texting from a different point of view. The Samsung SCH-u740 takes an intriguing approach to the cluttered keyboard problem that plagues most phones designed for texting. Its dual-hinged design integrates a full QWERTY keyboard with conventional phone controls into a relatively small package: just 3.84 in. x 2.04 in. x 0.58 in. Controls are arranged and color-coded to allow the SCH-u70 to function as a phone when you open it vertically, or as a texting device when you open it from the side; the screen is designed to automatically adjust to landscape or portrait orientation. Other SCH-u740 features include Bluetooth for wireless headsets (mono only), a MicroSD card slot for memory expansion, and a 1.3 megapixel camera, and access to Verizon's high-speed EV-DO data network. (We're testing the phone now and will post our findings soon.)

A music phone to flip over. A few months ago, we reported on two-faced cell phones with a media player on one side, a cell phone on the other. The idea is to avoid the confusion that arises when phone keys do double or even triple duty. This week one such phone the Samsung UpStage, makes its debut. Available from Sprint ($149 with a 2-year contract), one side of the UpStage has a smaller LCD screen and the dialing keypad for making phone calls, the other a large LCD screen and a dedicated touch-sensitive pad for music. Pushing a button on the side of the phone flips operation from one side to the other.

Unlike many of the music phones we've seen in the past, especially from CDMA carriers like Verizon and Sprint, the UpStage lets you easily transfer unprotected songs from a PC to the handset via an included USB cable. You can also sync music wirelessly via Bluetooth. Besides synching, the phone's Bluetooth supports wireless stereo headsets, as well as a new feature called Bluetooth Caller ID. If a call comes in while you're listening to music, Bluetooth Caller ID pauses the music and speaks the name of the caller's name.

The UpStage is relatively thin and light, measuring just 4.07 in. x 1.73 in. x 0.37 in. and weighing just 2.57 ounces. It also includes a 1.3MP camera and camcorder, and a MicroSD card slot for up to 2GB of external memory. An optional case with a built-in battery can give the UpStage an additional 3-plus hours of talk time.

Wireless headsets with strings. Another form factor is emerging among stereo Bluetooth headsets. Departing from the "Princess Leia" earmuff designs that began appearing last year, some new models comprise earbuds that attach by wire to a Bluetooth pendant. The pendant interfaces with the phone, which can be several feet away. Manufacturers say these headsets are lighter and less cumbersome than the earmuffs. Another advantage: earbuds are easiest to remove from your ear to carry on an impromptu conversation.

One such model is the $110 Plantronics 260 Stereo Bluetooth Headset. The 260 allows users to wirelessly switch back and forth between conversations and music streaming from a Bluetooth device that's up to 33 feet away. The 260 is claimed to be noise-isolating and able to operate up to 12 hours on a charge. It has an audio-out cable for connection to any music source that can accept a 3.5-mm jack.

Cell-phone boom box. With the rise of stereo Bluetooth capability, it's inevitable that other accessories besides wireless headsets would emerge. Enter Altec Lansing's T515, a wireless speaker system designed to play music streamed from any stereo Bluetooth phone that's up to 30 feet away. A built-in microphone allows the unit to act as a hands-free extension, such as in teleconferencing. Weighing just 2 lbs., the T515 runs on either AC or 4 AAA batteries. It measures 11 in. x 7.25 in. x 3.5 in. Pricing and availability was not available at press time.

--Mike Gikas

—Paul Eng