New Google program turns voicemail into email

New Google program turns voicemail into email (AFP)

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Google expanded its push into the telephone market, offering a service that provides a single number for home, work and cell phones and turns voicemail into email.

Google Voice automatically transcribes voicemail messages into email or SMS text messages and provides a transcript in a user's email inbox on their mobile phone or computer.

The service is currently available only to existing users of a Google-owned telephone service known as GrandCentral.

Nintendo sells 100 million DS consoles

TOKYO (AFP) - Nintendo said sales of its handheld DS have topped 100 million machines less than five years since its launch, reaching the milestone faster than any other game console.

Worldwide sales of the dual-screen DS passed 100 million on March 6, including the original model -- which was launched in November 2004 -- as well as the DS Lite and DSi.

The DS trumped Sony's PlayStation 2, which took five years and nine months to achieve the 100 million mark.

Global crisis hits smartphone sales

SINGAPORE (AFP) - Worldwide sales of hi-tech "smartphones" grew at their slowest pace yet in the fourth quarter of 2008 as the financial crisis hit demand.

US-based Gartner said an estimated 38.14 million smartphones -- mobile phones with multi-media functions -- sold in the three months to December, an increase of 3.7 percent over the same period in 2007.

Total smartphone sales in 2008 reached 139.3 million units, up almost 14 percent over the previous year, the research firm said in a report received here.

Within the Asia-Pacific region, sales fell 4.6 percent in 2008 from the previous year to 28.1 million units. In North America, 2008 sales grew 69 percent to 35.8 million units.

Google launches targeted advertising system (AFP)

PARIS (AFP) - Google launched a test version of a new "interest-based advertising" system for its network of websites including YouTube.

The new system is designed to record the interests of users based on the pages they view and Internet searches they conduct, offering tailor-made advertising offers to match which can then be further refined by the user.

"Keyword advertising has been so successful because it's useful to users, advertisers and publishers -- everyone's interests are aligned," Google said.

Google said it would ensure transparency and user choice in the new system.

Microsoft unveils mobile phone application store plans (AFP)

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Microsoft detailed plans for a Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Developers will be charged registration fees of 99 dollars and be able to dictate the prices for their applications sold online at Windows Marketplace for Mobile,;

Microsoft will keep 30 percent of sales revenues, with the remainder of the money going to makers of applications. The revenue split is the same at the App Store, which opened in 2008.

Marketplace will launch with the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system.