Mobile Monday

14/12/09 posted by Liz Niland

A new product built for the iPhone provides more than just an app for that. The Square, an electronic payment facility that plugs into the iPhone’s microphone socket, was unveiled by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey at a European technology expo. Said to be perfect for babysitters and dog walkers, the device offers instant receipts and secure payer authorisation. It sounds like an innovative development that looks like it could even be taken up by slightly larger entities such as cafes or hair salons.

If there is anyone still left doubting the need for smart phones, a London man has a story that will convince such unbelievers. When his wife suddenly went into labour before medical help could be reached, Leroy Smith grabbed his Blackberry and Googled tips for delivering a baby. After following the Wikipedia how-to, the Smiths are now the proud parents of a baby daughter with mother Emma even saying she’s “never going to moan at Leroy about being on the phone again”.

In other telephonic news for this mobile phone Monday, some candid snaps have been leaked of Google’s Nexus One phone - the once-rumoured-now-potential iPhone rival. From the photographs, the hardware is an unbranded HTC Passion device. It will probably take a while to make it onto the market but the question is: Can it beat, or even meet, the power of the iPhone?