The next big thing in mobile technology is 4G, but NASA isn't content with that. While tech is still content with the number 3, the space agency already has plans to launch a new armada of satellites that will introduce 5G technology. Details in the full article.

Ok, it's been a few months since the Transformers movie, but it'll still be some time before transforming gadgets-slash-robots will get old. Besides, these new transforming cellphones from Toshiba are just too cute. Go to the full article for details and pictures.

We've been blown away with Sony's press conference about their new HDNA products, and they still have a lot of ammo to feed the waiting presses. Sony presents the newer additions to their plethora of mobile gadgets, such as the cute Rolly and the new Sony mylo. More details in the full article.

You may know this scenario very well: you're in your car, miles away from any workable Wi-Fi hotspot, and you need to check if you've received an important email. You've got WiFi capability, but where can you connect to?

WAAV presents a viable solution to this problems by launching the AirBox CM3, a wireless modem that connects to the 3G cellular network. Upload and download speeds and other general details await you when you read on.

What would you do if your place doesn't have an internet connection? No internet for your PC or even for your Xbox 360. No Xbox Live. Well this guy went to great lengths to get his fix of the world wide web: he used his phone.

He connected his phone to his PC and gave it an Internet connection. That wasn't enough for him though: he then connected his PC to his Xbox 360 and that worked too. Now both systems have a connection through his phone. Go to the full article for more details.

The use of mobile phones on planes is currently prohibited because these gadgets cause interference with on-board communication and navigation systems. Interestingly, we found out today that members of the European Union are devising a technology that would permit passengers to make calls 3,000 meters above Earth.

The said technology uses an on-board base station called pico cell that will communicate with the headsets of the passengers. Aside from having low power consumption, this pico cell is able to create a network area that will re-route the phone calls to a satellite.

The satellite, then, will be the one responsible for connecting the phone calls to mobile networks on the ground. Because of these processes, making calls from a plane will cost significantly higher than normal mobile phone calls. Regulators around Europe are saying, however, that they will monitor the rates charged by networks to avoid abuse.

One spokesperson from carrier Virgin Atlantic said, "We are monitoring customer demand and will act if they say they want to use their mobile phones. If we were to introduce this service in the future we want to ensure we do it in a socially acceptable way." EU regulators added that the technology could be available next year.

Ar first, this will only be implemented with 2G phones. But if consumers respond favorably to the service, the same will also be offered to 3G phones and other standards.

    

NTT DoCoMo is one of Japan's biggest wireless operators. So it is only logical that consumers would expect the bigger innovations to come from them. The company delivered indeed last Monday after announcing five new 3G FOMA 904i models capable of motion-sensing gameplay.

Accordingly, the motion-sensing capability has been made possible because of Chokkan Game support. After downloading the games from online sites, consumers can play these mobile titles by using intuitive motions such as tracing a finger and tilting or waiving the handset. Of course, the type of motion is dependent on the game's content.

The new phones sport pre-existing features common to DoCoMo units. But aside from the above mentioned, they will also have the following:

• 2in1 support: This service provides the capabilities of two separate handsets in one single unit. Under a single FOMA card, users are provided with two phone numbers and two i-mode mail addresses, and these are accessed independently by means of a Mode Switching function. Switching between modes changes the phone number, i-mode mail address, address book, mail boxes and call history. When using A Mode, the customer cannot view B Mode, and vice-versa.
• Uta-hodai support: Users can download full music tracks from i-mode sites supporting Uta-hodai for a flat monthly subscription fee. When downloading, users will accrue an i-mode information fee and packet communication charges. DoCoMo suggests that users planning to download a significant volume of data every month consider subscribing to flat-rate data communication billing plans "pake-hodai" or "pake-hodai full."

The D904i, F904i, N904i and SH904i could begin arriving in stores as early as May; at the latest they will be available in June. The P904i will go on sale in June.

Put it on, grab your joystick, and enjoy a full 360-degree view of your tube with this three-kilo helmet from Toshiba. Ladies and gentlemen, the new visual revolution has dawned upon us.

Toshiba came up with this concept as a response to the growing need for simulated VR environments. Recall Virtusphere, where a platform, a hollow sphere, and a head mount (visor) allow you to get a realistic feel of the game. It also works for virtual explorations, like manning a spacecraft or roaming a virtual city.

We may not be able to outline the full features of this amazingly gargantuan helmet (except for the fact that the dome screen measures 40 centimeters), but one thing's for sure: Toshiba must be dead serious in its futuristic technological vision to revolutionize our TV-watching that they may have missed the point of 3G mobile phones and iPods. Anyone heard of reduction technology? Man, this giant helmet rocks! (Hey, still wanna watch TV or what?)

Losing a pet back in the old days means finding them the old-fashioned way as well: by looking. Now if a pet gets lost, owners just call them in their cellphones. Collars and picket fences don't do it for us any longer. We have to go do THIS hightech. And the kinds of advances we have are already bordering the level of the absurd.

As aptly called, PetsCell is the first voice-enabled waterproof cellphone. Measuring 5cms wide, 2.5cms thick and 9cms long, manufacturer PetsMobility Inc. thinks that this thing hanging from the neck of your pet sets the standard for GPS tracking devices.

With tracking software combined to CDMA technology, it allows users to track their pets anywhere within the network. And since we're talking about a cell phone coverage as network here, the whole of the globe is basically it. PetsCell can be matched with a 3G Phone, PDA or via the web.

Another thing is the geo-fence option which creates a boundary around the owner's property. Once their pets cross this geo-fence, PetsCell will automatically inform the said owner. Bread Crumb feature reveals past locations of the pets. Should our loyal four-legged buddies start raising privacy issues, we don't know anymore.

Korea, always a leader in the tech industry, has spawned yet another innovative product. Known as the IM-H100, this USB device grants users access to 3G HSDPA networks (like the one run by Cingular in the US).

Currently, there are precious few solutions that provide access to the newest generation of wireless broadband  networks. As we've mentioned here before, Verizon offers a competing flavor of wireless broadband service known as EV-DO as does Sprint (US only).

The HSDPA 3G USB Card from SK is small enough to be carried in your laptop case and is designed with flexibility in mind. The USB cord can be twisted and maneuvered into a position that keeps it out of your way and in the best spot to receive a clear signal.

With one big red dial for controls, the IM-H100 looks to be easy enough to use. However, without a port for an external antenna users will miss out on some locations because of signal attenuation that could easily be countered with an antenna.

Sometimes referred to 3.5G, HSDPA is descended from the W-CDMA standard. Speeds achieved by HSDPA are currently similar to EV-DO's top speeds. HSDPA tops out at around 1Mbit per second in bursts, with sustained download speeds between 400 and 700 KB per second.

Verizon and Sprint both have EV-DO networks currently up and running. In fact, Verizon is in the process of upgrading its network to the next generation of its EV-DO technology called revision A.

Cingular is playing catch up with its network, which is scheduled to be in most major cities by the end of this year. Similar to EV-DO, HSDPA is also an evolutionary technology.

UMTS universal mobile telecommunications system is the basis for the HSDPA technology and since the technology is backwards compatible, upgrade costs are lower and handsets and modems are compatible with each generation of the standard.