So as many of my readers know emoze is a client of mine and I tend to write about them a great deal.  We are going to be launching an emoze blog very soon so there will be a great deal less posting about emoze on here.  This post is all about emoze but it’s definitely for this blog.

I have been using emoze for a while now on my beloved Nokia E71 but I was also using Nokia Messaging at the very same time.  I am a bit of a mobile email enthusiast and pretty addicted to being connected all the time.  I generally checked different email addresses with each of the different apps but a few weeks ago Nokia Messaging went down.  It is a good email app but just not super reliable.  I got tiered of not being able to count on it to always be getting my email.  So what do I do, I decide to go solely with emoze.  I could not be happier.  I have been using just emoze to collect my mail for a few weeks now and it has been wonderful.  I have the icon on my home screen letting me know all is well with emoze and I’m reliably getting all my messages now.

emoze is just rocking and rolling and I’m very excited about what’s coming out soon.  I’ll share a little secret, it has to do with emoze push email on the iPhone.  I know many of you are waiting patiently and I only ask that you continue.  I know it’s not easy but we want to get this right for you.

Blackberry is in trouble, I mean deep trouble.  The trend lately has been for anyone and everyone to go out and pick up a smart phone when it’s time for a new phone.  People are no longer just getting ultra basic phones and only making calls and sending sms on them.  The masses want more from their device, they expect a phone to check the weather, access Twitter, surf the net, get driving directions and I think most common, offer email access.  Email has been a staple for Blackberry since it’s inception and for the most part they have done a great job with it.  Of course some people have a few niggles here and there but bar none Blackberry was the mobile email standard.

Up until a few years ago mobile email was kept in the echelons of the corporate executive and the upper class.  Recently it has gone mainstream (do to Rims excellent marketing) and Rim has been able to milk that and in some peoples minds create a demand for mobile email for all.  Well Rim may have kicked themselves in the shorts.  They created a void with people who want mobile email but can’t afford or don’t want/need a Blackberry device.  People who want email on their phone now have more options then ever and don’t need to stick to a Blackberry.  This means Rim may be seeing a mass exodus to other popular devices like the iPhone, Palm Pre and Nokias vast number of smart phones.  Let’s not forget the dozens of smart phones that go unnamed but can handle downloading apps.  Blackberry is in serious trouble because now most phones can do email and in my circles everyone buying a new phone is getting a non Blackberry smart phone.  They are going for the iPhone,Nokia N97/E71/E75/6650/Surge, or Palm Pre.

Up until recently Rim has had a hold on the market and they’ve done such good product placement and advertising job even kids were getting Berries in mass.  It was the hip cool device to have.  Now times are shifting and people want more from their devices like better music player, camera, and video players.

emoze along with a few other email apps are filling the instant email void.  To the best of my knowledge emoze is the only option that will work on multiple platforms, including smart & dumb phones, Symbian S60, Windows Mobile, and push your email.  If you’re interested emoze (a client of mine) has a paid (about $13/yr) option and a free version.  Check it out at www.emoze.com.

Rim you need to get back to work and not stand on your laurels or you will get cut off at the knees.  You have something very good going but you need to rethink how you’re getting the word out and work on the younger hip crowd again.  Rim are you listening? Ping me and we can talk.

AT&T has a secret plan that most people don’t know about and are never offered publicly as far as I know.  Most people pay $15/month for unlimited internet with a dumb phone and $30/month for internet with a smart phone like a Nokia E71x or iPhone.  Well over the weekend I was on the phone with AT&T and the rep I had was very nice and offered me a great deal.  It is $10 per month for unlimited internet the only stipulation is that you’re on a family plan. Now you’re going to ask “but Jeb don’t you use a smart phone?”, the answer is YES.  But because I tell AT&T I have a dumb phone they give me the $10/month plan.  According to the rep you get the same speeds and she believes (I can’t guarantee) 5GB of data is your max.  So bear in mind Unlimited Data has a fair use policy (just like Unlimited Drinks).

This would be a great plan for people who want full access with email (emoze for example), web-surfing and maybe some Qik video broadcasting but don’t want to pay the outrageous $30/month smart phone fee.

NOTE: @brian_stabile told me on Twitter that you may also need texting plan to be eligible for this deal.

Truphone the leader in mobile VOIP is expanding it’s line up to include 11 more Nokia handsets.
They include:
N96
N78
N85 (also VoIP enabled)
N79 (also VoIP enabled)
5630 (also VoIP enabled)
5800
5320
6210
6220
6650
E63

I’m a huge fan and extensive user of Truphone and think the world of the company and what they have done for mobile VOIP.  They have fought the big mobile telcos and won.  Even more impressive they have provided low price calling/sms for the masses.  Don’t hesitate to download Truphone on a Nokia, Blackberry, Android, or iPhone/Touch, you won’t be dissappointed.

Mobile phone and brand app stores have reinvigorated the internet and it looks like a small version of what it was before the bubble burst.  I was just reading Ewan Macleod come back story (great guy by the way) and I’m thinking about his Mobile Industry Developers TV and I’m thinking, it’s back to the little guy again.  People are building widgets in coffee shops and I recently watched an interview the BBC did with a developer building his app on a MacBook Pro in his kitchen.  That’s it, we are back in business and apps are what’s going to save the mobile industry until it can catch up to where I feel it should be.  I just realized it.  Apps are it.  People like Jan Ole Suhr @JanOle who created Gravity the single best Twitter app for S60 has the number 1 spot on the Ovi store right now.  Jan Ole developed the app all by himself.

Janole is a great example of how apps are going to revolutionize the net, yet again.  We are going to have a big swing back to guys grouped together in a coffee shop whispering and typing like mad on their computers.  It will be like 1997 all over again but instead of being all about apps for your computer that sits on a table it will be for your mobile phone that is almost able to everything an average desktop can.  We are seeing a revolution started when Apple opened the iPhone app store.  There are many many people that I never figured to be mobile phone app developers cranking out their inspirations.  Out of work developers/programmers are finding inspiration and evening and weekend developers are doing it to.  We are going to see a controlled “Wild West”.  Controlled by the app stores but hopefully open to all kinds of apps.

I’m hoping it gets really wild and that the app stores support their developers who make the stores stores.  Give them a good revenue model and give them the freedom they need.

On your marks get set GO!  It’s a gold rush mixed with the wild west and we are all going to witness it, don’t miss it.  Good luck developers and make us some useful apps.

I have heard two interesting rumors floating around the internet about emoze and I’d like to happily address them.

The first is that there’s going to be an emoze app for the Nokia N97.  That is absolutely True.  We can publicly say that yes we are currently working on getting emoze migrated over to the N97 and  hope to be done with it and get it out the door very soon.  UPDATE: It’s available and working WELL.

The second rumor I have heard and have been asked about extensively is regarding emoze and the iPhone.  So the big question is will there be an emoze app for the iPhone?  The big answer is YES.  We are working really hard to get the app to you as soon as we possibly can.

I hope that clears up some peoples questions.  Hang in there a little longer if you are waiting for the iPhone or N97 and I promise to keep you updated.

For the most up to date news about emoze follow us on Twitter at @emozepushemail.

My friends over at Nimbuzz announced some exciting news yesterday.  They have finally updated their app and it now includes VOIP.
They are focused on bridging the 3G VoIP gap on the iPhone – anywhere.

Here are some highlight of the new app.

>With free Wi-Fi calls to instant messaging buddies already available, we added a full dial-pad, and the ability to make VoIP calls to landlines and mobile phones with Skype Out, and via our 10 VoIP partners including Gizmo5, Vyke, sipgate and A1.
You can even see the available Skype Out credit you have directly on the dial pad!

>If Wifi is unavailable you can make VoIP calls to Nimbuzz buddies using Nimbuzz Dial-Up VoIP in over 50 countries. Dial-Up VoIP? What this means is that Nimbuzz dials a local access number that connects to anywhere in the world via Nimbuzz VoIP servers. So you can call your Nimbuzz buddies anywhere for the same cost of a domestic call.

>Turn iPod touch into an iPhone! Make calls over Wi-Fi via Skype Out or via VoIP provider.

>Upgraded interface with much improved usability and the awesome landscape-mode chat.

I’m really happy to see this as they were one of the winners in our TopMobile20 competition.

By Jeb Brilliant
Chief Editor
I had a really nice conversation with Jeff Rice today.  He’s the CEO at DeFi Mobile (disclosure, they provide me with VOIP).  I had some pointed questions I wanted to ask but we started off with what they are up to right now (the good stuff).  First though I should tell you that DeFi is a Mobile VOIP provider, working over wifi networks with a list of thousands it auto connects to and only costs $40/month for unlimited calls.

Now to let the cat out of the bag, DeFi has their app being reviewed by the iPhone people so they can get it into the iPhone App Store.  This is big for people living in the States.  There are many times more iPhones here then Nokia N and E Series devices, so they hope this means that the general public here in the US will start to download DeFi on to their iPhones and get a taste of Mobile VOIP.  And DeFi will be offering all new accounts a 101 free minutes anytime and to anywhere in the world.  So you can call landlines and mobiles.  You will also be able to always call for free other DeFi users, other VOIP providers, iNum #rs, Google Chat folks, and hopefully soon Skype folks.  So that’s what’s going on at the moment with DeFi.

To get started with DeFi once their iPhone app is available you will just have to download it and give them your mobile # and email address and poof your in business.  This is a great opportunity for couples to talk to each other for hours at a time or companies with globally located employees to talk, all for free.  This is just a stepping stone for folks to then pay the $40/month and get flat rate unlimited calls to anybody on any network, anywhere in the world.  Maybe even disrupt the big telcos by lowering your minute plans with them.

One very interesting and important innovation by DeFi is that they are going to be giving out iNum numbers in the future.  This iNum is a very new concept giving people a # geared toward being used around the world and not being chained to a geographic location.

On a side note, Jeff is currently using a Nokia E51, E71 and iPhone.

Thank you to Jeff Rice for his time and Tim Warner for making this happen.

I don’t have all the details just yet, but I got an IM the other night telling me that Truphone (mobile VOIP) is now set up to receive calls on the iPhone.  Previously users could only place calls, which is nice but a little restrictive.  Now having Truphone on your iPhone is like having 2 phones built into one.  Truphone will give you the ability to make and receive calls at a much reduced rate when roaming outside your home area.  I use Truphone on my Nokias every time I travel out of the country.  It has been the cheapest and easiest way for people to reach me and gives me the opportunity to reach out.

Check out the Truphone website to get all the details, I’m still a little vague on how it works on the iPhone but I do know that these guys have a really useful app that is now available on at least 3 platforms, iPhone, S60, and Blackberry.