MobiMate announced the Professional Edition of WorldMate is now available for BlackBerry, developed by Research In Motion (RIM). WorldMate provides subscribers with a host of best-of-breed wireless content services for their travel needs, making it a valuable application for BlackBerry users on the go. WorldMate is an all-in-one package for the frequent business traveler, featuring essential services including world time, global weather forecasts provided by The Weather Channel, comprehensive Flight Schedules provided by OAG WorldWide, currency and measurement converters and more.

Major cell phone lobbyists have launched a campaign opposing a proposed law for Oregon municipalities to collect a 5 percent cell phone tax. Wireless operators would keep a small percentage, about 3 percent of the overall pool of money, to pay for the costs of collecting the tax. The legislation is generating controversy because it’s the first to give municipalities cell phone taxing authority.

Microsoft on Monday plans to show off pretty much the dream portable computer–a tiny tablet computer as thin as ten sheets of paper with a camera, a battery that lasts all day, and a price of about $800. The only problem is that it’s still several years from reality. Microsoft commissioned the 6-inch-screen prototype, but still doesn’t know exactly when it will be commercially feasible. It will probably come at least a year or two after the arrival of Longhorn, the new version of Windows set to ship at the end of next year.

Orange Romania and Research In Motion (RIM) announced plans to introduce the BlackBerry wireless platform to customers in Romania. Orange Romania will initially launch the BlackBerry 7290 Wireless Handheld and BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.0. Orange Romania’s customers will be able to enjoy secure, always-on access to email, phone, text messaging, organizer, Internet browser and corporate data applications via the BlackBerry 7290, operating on Orange Romania’s GPRS network.

Connex and Research In Motion (RIM) announced plans to offer BlackBerry to mobile customers in Romania. BlackBerry will operate on Connex’s GSM/GPRS network in Romania and international roaming will be supported in countries where Connex has GPRS roaming agreements in place.

ValueFirst Messaging has launched a new version of ValueFirst Velocity, an Enterprise-class SMS text messaging suite to process and send SMS in a complex database environment to fulfill any customer need related to SMS messaging transactions in an automated or a manual mode. ValueFirst Velocity is launched in two versions: Enterprise Edition or Professional Edition. ValueFirst’s Mobile Messaging Platform is capable of delivering SMS services to virtually any CDMA/GSM mobile handset.

Orthopedists say they are seeing an increasing number of patients with a condition known as “overuse syndrome” or BlackBerry thumb. In some patients, the disability has become severe. The American Society of Hand Therapists issued a consumer alert in January saying that handheld electronics are causing an increasing amount of carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. With that warning, the society included directions on how to properly hold the devices, urging users to take breaks and, if possible, place pillows in their laps so their wrists are in a more upright position.

We’re moving the ZATZ Online Store to a new server today, so there will be some downtime. It should be back up and running tomorrow. We’ll be moving the rest of the ZATZ Web sites over to new boxes in the next day or so, therefore there may be some site downtime. All should be running smoothly shortly.

A firmware upgrade is now available for the Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer. New features include increased image handling, compatibility with a larger range of digital SLR cameras and the addition of histograms. The Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer allows users to store and preview digital photos, movies and music. The 3.8 inch Photo Fine display provides outstanding definition for unsurpassed picture quality.

RealNetworks has released a security patch aimed at plugging a flaw in its multimedia software that could allow hackers to run their own code on people’s computers. The flaw, rated a “highly critical” risk by security company Secunia, affects most recent consumer versions of the RealPlayer media player software, for both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. Also at risk are some, but not the most recent, versions of the software for Linux. The flaw exists in some RealOne Player versions too, RealNetworks said.