Motorola on announced plans to launch a series of handsets, with features such as enhanced messaging, in Asia and Europe over the next few weeks. According to News.com, the six handsets–C550, C450, C250, C200, V150 and C343–will include color screens, messaging, text input and downloadable games. Motorola said it is targeting new users with a range of needs and budgets.

Aligo announced that NTT Data Intramart will mobile-enable the groupware component of its Intranet solution using the Aligo Omni Mobile Platform. Omni Mobile Platform was designed to work with all mobile groupware packages including Lotus Domino and Microsoft Exchange and supports all Japanese mobile device protocols, including i-mode, J-Sky and EZweb. Aligo’s Omni Mobile Platform provides a single platform on which to create and deploy applications for Java and Pocket PC/smart phone devices that can run in both wireless and disconnected modes.

FrogPad and Flexible Innovations Limited announced that FrogPad would be installing Flexible Innovations’ egrips pads on the bottom of its portable keyboards. With egrips attached, FrogPad’s one-handed portable keyboards will be able to stay safely in usershands. The patent-pending material in egrips enables devices to stay firmly in place on slick surfaces, even when tilted at a 45-degree angle.

Dell announced the immediate availability of Good Technology’s wireless messaging product, GoodLink. Dell customers can now deploy a complete enterprise wireless messaging and data solution that combines Dell PowerEdge servers, GoodLink system software and Good’s G100 data-capable wireless handheld devices. GoodLink synchronizes wireless handhelds with company Microsoft Exchange servers without the use of a cradle.

Microsoft has confirmed plans that it will offer a music download service in 2004, accessible through the MSN Web site. Geek.com says Microsoft can very easily use its marketshare and brand recognition to launch a very popular online music site.

Sprint is adding a television service for cell phones with real-time programs from cable networks. CNN reports that the new MobiTV service, available starting this week, will cost $9.99 per month in addition to the monthly fee of $15 that Sprint subscribers pay to use the Internet data connection on their mobile phones. Although the audio for MobiTV programs will play in a continuous stream, the cell phone screen will not display the equivalent of full-motion video like that seen on a real television. Instead, the video will play at a rate of one or two frames per second, as compared with more than 20 frames per second for real TV.

palmOne is one of four vendors to be featured in the new Wireless and Mobility Innovation Center at COMDEX Las Vegas 2003. palmOne will demonstrate Tungsten T3 and Tungsten C handhelds using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi wireless technologies, respectively, and the Treo 600 smartphone. In addition to palmOne, the Wireless and Mobility Innovation Center will feature Aruba, Avaya and SonicWALL.

IT managers who use IBM’s DB2 Everyplace database management system for mobile applications are pleased with the enhancements introduced in Version 8 of the product, which was released this week. eWeek reports that DB2 Everyplace 8 includes a new feature called WebSphere Everyplace Access, which offers enhanced data synchronization. Other developer enhancements include IBM’s J9 Java virtual machine, a WebSphere Studio plug-in to aid development for PalmOS and Pocket PC.

Telstra and Microsoft will offer Australian businesses a new range of wireline and wireless technology for fixed and mobile phones and Microsoft smartphones. According to The Age, the new services include Australia’s first release of a range of i-Mate mobile devices that run Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 2003 Platform, including the Microsoft Smartphone 2003 and Pocket PC Phone Edition 2003. Other services include a Telstra hosted Microsoft Exchange 2003 email, calendar and scheduling solution for medium businesses and small corporate customers, also expected to be available from December this year.

InternetNews.com reports the PayPal phishing scourge is wearing a new mask. There’s a new variant of the MiMail email virus is fast spreading through inboxes worldwide, trying to dupe PayPal users into giving up credit card numbers and other sensitive information. The variant that’s being used to phish for PayPal account information comes with a subject line YOUR PAYPAL.COM ACCOUNT EXPIRES and loads a .SCR attachment. The email warns users not to sent credit card information via email but, once the attachment is opened, a PayPal-branded dialog box appears and attempts to collect a user’s PayPal account information.