It looks like Google is not settling with it’s current role as a small Google-Maps software supplier for mobile phones like the Apple iPhone. According to The Guardian, Google held talks with several companies like Telefonica/O2 to find a European partner for rolling out a "Phone", optimized for Google’s core competences: Search, find, locate, advertise. Samsung shall be the hardware and mobile OS software partner for Google. But until now, non of these aspects are officially acknowledged.

Sources: Guardian.co.uk, ftd.de

The 27 European telecommunication ministers held a meeting today at the CeBit in Hanover, Germany. They informally agreed on mandatory caps on mobile phone roaming charges within Europe.
Last year, European Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding started the discussion roaming charges being too dear within Europe. But he following volunteer price reductions by some of the mobile operators are not enough in the eyes of the EU telecommunication ministers. Mehr …

The German mobile service "Call a Bike" shows, that mobile services do not only need to be virtual. This year the mobile phone based bike-sharing service is rolled out in Stuttgart, the city you probably know as the home of DaimlerChrysler.
The system is quite simple to use: At all major crossings within the city users can rent a bike with a mobile phone call – and return it. The user receives a code via SMS to his or her mobile phone and is able to open the electronic lock of the bike. Returning the bike is as easy as renting it: Just leave it at a major crossing and check out with another phone call and the deactivation code of the electronic lock. The registered user is charged by minute. Mehr …

You probably did not win one of the academy awards this year – and if you did: Congratulations! But if you are experimenting with mobile phone video – you should take a break in the French capital Paris. For the third time the Pocket Film Festival is taking place in the art center Centre Pompidou. The festival is focusing on art films realised with a mobile phone. It’s interesting to see how art is using that new media channel – and this technology is getting part of our culture.

Entry deadline for submissions: March, 30th, 2007.

Source: festivalpocketfilms.fr

Lemgo, a German town situated between Hannover and Dortmund, is testing a new mobile application in a field trial: By sending a 50-cent premium-SMS a street of houses can be illuminated for 15 minutes.
Many communities in Germany turn off their street lighting system from 11 pm to save energy and funds. It’s a bad solution for pedestrians at night, but a town like Lemgo saves about 50,000 Euro a year. Mehr …