Mobile Devices, Apps Turned Heads on CTIA Show Floor

by Chris Preimesberger

MobiTV for BlackBerry OS 6.0 was released for the BlackBerry Torch device in August. Its new interface allows users to search and find specific content quickly. Users also can store shows if they choose to do so.

The Lotus Elite’s Red Dot design provides a fashion statement, with its square shape, bold color and tattoo-pattern design. It features a highly customizable interface, external touch screen and Sprint Navigation for Sprint TV and Music Store.

Samsung had an impressive number of new devices on display at the CTIA conference, and many of them won awards. This well-designed device features a 3.2megapixel camera/camcorder, a full slide-out QUERTY keypad and a score of other features.

This one has a 2.8-inch WQVGA screen with full glow-through external QUERTY keypad and sub-display, 1GB MicrosSD memory card, 3.2MP camera/camcorder, threaded text and picture messaging, and many other features.

This service works on numerous devices, and many of them were displayed at the conference. DeCarta’s main features include an off-board map and POI data fetched from the network, providing the most up-to-date information possible, as well as turn-by-turn voice guidance with announcements of street names and road signs.

This innovative company is always coming out with new shapes and sizes for its mobile wireless devices. Here are a few of them.

This San Francisco-based company had possibly the most original name at the show. Boopsie is a custom mobile application builder that can create enterprise-level apps—most often within a matter of weeks. Boopsie, led by founder and CEO Greg Carpenter (second from left), built and ran a special app for the CTIA show itself.

Ford is one of several major automakers that are committed to one day “connecting” their entire product lines with IT furnished by Microsoft, Sirius HD Radio, Sony, Nuance and TeleNav. Features now available include on-board radar and self-parking.

Hewlett-Packard isn’t well-known for a lot of mobile devices, but it is making a huge push to create a mobile printing network with partners Hilton, RIM and FedEx Office. These new printers have minds of their own; documents can be sent to them and prints made on the fly using the growing network and a BlackBerry.

This popular device features a full slide-out QUERTY keyboard, Android OS and capacitive touch-screen interface. It also has Google Maps and a 3.2-megapixel camera with video.

This company won an award for its cool-looking and high-quality headsets at the CTIA event.

Fortune Magazine’s Jon Fortt awarded Samsung a best-in-show award for its Android-powered Galaxy Tab. Word is that it will be priced at $400 with a two-year contract on Sprint and $600 without a contract. The device will be available starting Nov. 14 in the United States.

Developers take a break during the long session schedule. This was the CTIA application developer’s event. The larger CTIA device event is held each spring in varying locations, including Orlando, Fla., Las Vegas, Chicago, New Orleans and Los Angeles.

Motorola’s gigantic “robot” hovered over the lobby at CTIA—a can’t-miss personality.