Incorporating the style and functionality of the recently launched HTC Touch Diamond, the HTC Touch Pro features a handful of enriched business-focused enhancements creating a device enabled for a powerful mobile experience. Designed with a slide-out five row QWERTY keyboard, the phone makes communicating on the go quick and easy.

Utilizing HTC’s innovative TouchFLO 3D capabilities, the HTC Touch Pro includes a new touch-sensitive control for device interaction. In addition, the device also boasts broadband-like speeds with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA wireless connectivity, a 1350 mAh battery with up to 8 hours of talk time, 512 MB flash, 288 MB RAM with micro SD memory card expansion, GPS capabilities, 2.8-inch VGA touch screen and 3.2MP camera equipped with video calling.

The HTC Touch Pro will be available to customers across all major European, Asian and the Middle East markets in late summer. The North American and Latin American versions of device will be available later in 2008.

Continuing its efforts to give families the freedom to stay connected on their terms, T-Mobile USA announced a new unlimited family plan that meets the wide array of communication needs for parents and young adults alike. An unlimited plan created especially for families, T-Mobile now offers unlimited nationwide calling (with nationwide roaming and long distance) and unlimited nationwide text, picture and instant messaging (SMS, MMS and IM), for a flat rate of $49.99 monthly access for each line added after the first line.

To take advantage of this plan, new and existing T-Mobile customers would subscribe to the first line for $99.99 monthly access; customers can add up to four additional lines at $49.99 per line after the first line (plus taxes and fees).

T-Mobile USA has aligned with one of the world’s great action sports stars, Tony Hawk, for a multiplatform partnership that includes the creation of a limited edition T-Mobile Sidekick LX device, presenting sponsorship support and programming for Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom HuckJam 2008 North American Tour, and events benefiting the Tony Hawk Foundation.

Tony puts his personal design on the iconic device by giving it a true skateboard look. The bottom cover of the device is outfitted to resemble and feel just like the top of a skateboard, including a texture like grip-tape and eight simulated screws. The limited-edition Sidekick also features a slate-grey shell, accented with blue and white designs, and Tony’s well-known hawk graphic. A customized Tony Hawk theme will be included on the device featuring an exclusive video of Tony performing tricks, a Tony-inspired background, and skate-themed swivel screen open and close sounds.

In addition, the T-Mobile Sidekick LX Tony Hawk Edition will be the first Sidekick to ship with video record, play and share. It also includes other enhancements such as a more personalized Web browsing experience, stereo Bluetooth support, easier downloads and more options for theme and background personalization.

Resco, provider of end-user mobile applications, announced the release of Resco Brain Games version 2.0–a brain training game for Windows Mobile devices. Resco Brain Games is a collection of 36 mini-games aimed to give the brain a workout. Thanks to the well designed touch-controlled user interface, it is easy for anyone to pick up and play. Resco Brain Games was created to allow people to get competitive with themselves and to improve the brain’s ability in the following areas: Memory, Numerical and Analytical.

Following the success of Proporta’s Mobile Device Charger, the clever chaps at Ted Baker got wind of what a great product Proporta had come up with, and asked if they wouldn’t mind making a Ted Baker version in stylish two-tone brown.

Not being ones to disappoint Proporta gladly obliged and have given their Mobile Device Charger a new suit and added loads of handy accessories. Introducing the Ted Baker Six Pack.

A new ChangeWave survey reveals a still soft corporate IT spending environment, although Research In Motion remains a very big exception as it continues to dominate the smart phone market.

The May survey of 2,049 respondents involved with IT spending in their organization shows highly upbeat results for the Canadian BlackBerry maker, with the company expanding its already vast lead (76%; up 3-pts) in the corporate smart phone market. Second-place Palm (PALM; 17% down 1-pt) shows no signs of halting its long-term decline.

Text messages are a great way to reach someone when a phone call won’t do, but do you really have to pull out your cell phone whenever you want to send one? Not if you use Joopz, a Web-based service that enables two-way texting from inside your browser.

All you do is sign up for an account, then type your message and the cell number of the recipient. You can also broadcast a message to up to 10 phones (great for pinging, say, the members of a sales team). Any replies will come in via the Web interface, so it’s not unlike instant messaging. Joopz also has an Outlook plug-in so you can text anyone in your address book.

Steve Jobs’ new iPhone, expected to be unveiled Monday, is headed to Japan by the end of the year. But the device’s famed ease of use may actually be a turnoff in Japan, where consumers want features, not simplicity.

Indeed, Japanese handsets have become prime examples of feature creep gone mad. In many cases, phones in Japan are far too complex for users to master.

Rogers Wireless and Research In Motion have introduced the new BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone to customers in Canada. The new smartphone supports Rogers Home Calling Zone, a UMA-based service from Rogers that enables customers to make unlimited voice calls over a wireless Internet connection. Rogers is the first carrier in Canada to offer UMA services with its new Rogers Home Calling Zone.

The new service leverages the dual-mode Wi-Fi and cellular capabilities of the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone for both cellular and home calling. Rogers Home Calling Zone works by connecting calls through a voice optimized wireless router over a high-speed Internet connection when at home and can seamlessly switch to the cellular network when out of range–offering seamless mobility and the ultimate in convenience. Customers can use the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone inside and outside the home, making it easier to stay connected how and when they want, while effectively managing their phone costs.

The Toronto Star is reporting that Marnina Norys, a 39-year-old Ph.D. student in Canada, was stopped by airport security and prohibited from wearing her necklace into the terminal.

Last week, security officials at Kelowna International Airport in British Columbia forced Norys to remove a silver necklace with a pendant in the shape of a Colt .45 pistol. The 2-inch pendant apparently was deemed a security risk.

An airport security official told Norys that replica firearms are banned from planes and that she’d have to check her jewelry. According to the Star, Dave Smith, director of screening operations with the Canadian Air Transport Authority (CATSA), issued a written apology to Norys and wrote that the screening officer “made a judgment call, rather than refer to CATSA’s standard operating procedures. In retrospect, your revolver-shaped pendant is not a threat and should have been allowed on board the aircraft.”