Despite a huge increase in interest in SMS technology within the non-governmental organisation sector, many find the technology out of reach due to a combination of lack of expertise, a lack of direction, and cost. Designed with the needs of the non-profit sector in mind, FrontlineSMS is a text messaging solution that allow ONGs to create and manage all of their SMS-related contact groups; send and receive messages via special on-screen consoles; engage with contact groups - run surveys, competitions etc. via the Survey Manager; run their own text-based information service, export data to Excel. The system handles flash messages and long messages up to 320 characters in length and provides incoming and outgoing message history for each contact

No need to be on-line - works on any GSM network via your own PC or laptop.

Thanks Ken.

NEC announced a new "customer relationship support solution" for personalized in-store services that match customers' preferences and personal traits. Customers shows either "RFID-chipped mobile phone straps" or customer loyalty cards to an in-store RFID device. Then, their purchase histories, preferences, etc. are displayed on sales agents' PCs and mobile devices.

The system incorporates the know-how for judging people's personality types, which is provided by a psychology research organization. When analyzing customer data, the system also provides information about customers' personality and "stars" based on their birthdates. Sales agents use this information to adapt their interactions with the customers. Or, sales agents who are highly compatible with the customer go talk with him/her.

The company's goal is to sell 200 systems in three years.

[via RFID in Japan]

Computers and mobiles phones are playing an increasingly valuable role in helping doctors and patients monitor conditions such as diabetes on a daily basis, explains BBC News.

And government ministers believe that new technology can also be harnessed to help elderly people live independently for longer.

A system being used by a thousand patients in the UK deploys mobile phone technology to help patients with diabetes monitor their blood glucose levels. The information gets sent straight back to their GP for immediate analysis.

It has been developed by Lionel Tarassenko, at Oxford University, who said: "Even if they've never used a mobile phone before, we find that if people are motivated to bring their diabetes under control, this technology really works for them."

Tarassenko is hoping to get the number of users up to 10,000 next year. "It costs a staggering six billion pounds a year for the NHS to support people with the complications of poorly managed diabetes - they may go blind or have lower limb problems, requiring amputation. The government is keen to try to do something about these problems - they have begun various initiatives to encourage people to self-manage their condition."

Related: The diabetes phone.

On the 22nd, "San Francisco issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to construct a citywide wireless network that will provide free or affordable broadband internet access to all San Franciscans."Further,"The RFP issuance begins a 60-day process to determine how the City will achieve affordable wireless broadband access throughout San Francisco.The City intends to select a proposal and commence negotiations early next year."

San Francisco Issues RFP To Create Wi-Fi Network

In the UK "software has been developed which enables deaf people to have real-time text conversations using a mobile phone",the BBC reports."But the charity that has created the service says some mobile operators have yet to fulfil a legal obligation to make their services accessible.The Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) says only Vodafone has a relay service that uses the technology.Landline users can already make such calls using the Typetalk facility.Relay services allow a deaf person to make and receive a call via an operator,who turns the voice part of the conversation into text and relays the deaf person's text replies into speech.The RNID's new software effectively extends the facility to people using mobile phones which are now an everyday part of most people's lives.The charity says it will dramatically improve the ability of deaf,hard of hearing and hearing people to communicate in real-time."

Real-time texting for deaf people

As darkness is falling on Christmas Day now across Asia, the route of Santa's sleigh is being picked up and displayed on the official website of the agency. You can follow it here, in 6 languages. NORAD explains in detail how its top line sensors and networks track the sleigh: It all starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system has 47 installations strung across Canada's North and Alaska. NORAD makes a point of checking the radar closely for indications of Santa Claus leaving the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

The moment our radar tells us that Santa has lifted off, we begin to use the same satellites that we use in providing warning of possible missile launches aimed at North America. These satellites are located in a geo-synchronous orbit (that's a cool phrase meaning that the satellite is always fixed over the same spot on the Earth) at 22,300 miles above the Earth. The satellites have infrared sensors, meaning they can see heat. When a rocket or missile is launched, a tremendous amount of heat is produced - enough for the satellites to see them. Rudolph's nose gives off an infrared signature similar to a missile launch. . . .

Michael Calore of Webmonkey has posted a thoroughgoing tutorial on making podcasts. He explains what they are and then describes each step of the making and publishing of the hot new medium. Calore also reminds us of the power the medium gives us: The beauty of the new technologies being born on the web — podcasts, blogs, video blogs, social networking sites — is that they put us in charge. The gap between the creator and the consumer is shrinking as we generate our own content and trade ideas between ourselves more freely. Not only to we have more control over what we're listening to and reading, but it's up to us to create it as well.

via WIRED News

Today's new use for a cell phone: as something to swallow.

A Blue Springs woman was taken to a hospital emergency room early today after a cell phone became lodged in her throat.

Decker said police were told that the woman tried to swallow the telephone because she didn't want the boyfriend to have it. However the case is under investigation.

(via Drudge)

The end of year edition of the Carnival of the Mobilists is up at MobHappy - a collection of the very best writing about mobile on the planet.

This week, we asked for writers to nominate their best writing of 2005, so it's well worth a visit.

I selected one of Howard's posts from SmartMobs (sorry everyone else, but it seemed fitting). I also asked Carlo, ex-editor of now defunct The Feature and my writing partner at MobHappy, to choose the best post from The Feature too, as a last in memoriam. By co-incidence, he chose exactly the same post as the one I had selected from here.

So Howard scored a double whammy - head on over to find out which one it was. That and many others are more than worth the click.

Happy Holidays.

Russell