I’m sitting in on a panel right now discussing what “Open” means in the context of mobile.  We’ve got representatives from Frog Design (Mark Rolston), Verizon (Anthony Lewis), Kleiner Perkins (Matt Murphy), Nokia (David Rivas) and Google (Rich Miner).

Google's Version of Open Mobile

Listening to this “talking head” from Verizon is pretty amazing.  Typical for a big carrier, this guy says one thing and then the company behaves in a fashion totally contrary to their line.  For example, Verizon has service marked the term “Mobile Web 2.0″.  This demonstrates the amazing audacity that only a big company like Verizon exhibits.  In this case, Verizon is usurping a term that they didn’t even coin; what’s more their version of Mobile Web 2.0 bears about as much semblance to the real definition of Mobile Web 2.0 as double entry bookkeeping has to philosophy.

Here’s an example of how “Open” verizon is acting.  Saying they’ve “launched” “Mobile Web 2.0″ is a bit like saying that by putting a satellite in orbit Hughes created geosynchronus orbits.

By comparison, here’s Google’s version of open: Android.

Nokia just launched this new site announcing the very limited availability of their newest multi-media computer, the amazing N96.  We’ve been hearing about this phone since 3GSM…the specifications are basically mind-blowing.  It’s the N95 on steroids, growth hormone, speed and Jolt Cola.  It is THE DEVICE for the UBER-GEEK and the toy I currently want most to add to my collection.

Apparently a select number of people will be able to get these devices via this site - ahead of the device being available in most countries.

Their launch site is pretty cool, too.

Recently, several people have inquired about the extent of my “toy” collection. Mostly it consists of Nokia phones (although there’s also a Treo, an iPhone, a Helio Drift, and a Samsung SCH-i830, and a few others hardly worth mentioning), various commercial and custom handheld lasers and a couple of collectible and wearable watches (I used to have more exotic timepieces but the cost and the frustration of having one stolen put me off that hobby).

Of course the photo below does not include the large number of computers that I have but I don’t like any of them enough to consider them toys (with the soul possible exception being my MacBook Pro and then only when it is behaving - which it hasn’t been lately).

Nokia has just announced the impending launch of four new handsets to the line up of the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer.

For readers of my prior blogs, it is likely that the N96, the successor to the vaunted N95 will be the most exciting. Picking up with the N95 left off, the N96 comes standard with 16 Gigs of memory that can be expanded with an additional 32 Gig from the new massive, solid-state memory cards.

Expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2008, the phone sports a bevy of new or expanded features including an even wider range of video formats, including higher definition and high speed video modes. The large 2.8″ screened dual-slider also has another feature that will be much loved by the hard-core geek crowd; Full Flash. No more annoying Flash incompatibility or frustrating attempts to upgrade the Flash installation on your browser you can now navigate to any video file on YouTube and simply push play.

Other features include and FM Out to allow quick and easy integration with your TV or home audio system or in your automobile. Check out the video of the new device being introduced right here:

Nokia has a great deal of news this morning including announcing several new phones, improved maps - Nokia Maps 2.0, as well as the first new service based upon their purchase of TWANGO last year: Share on OVI.

First,
Nokia’s newest promo video.