Iron Ink Media: Inked Up

Verizon Wireless and Danal, Inc., have announced that Verizon plans to launch Danal’s BilltoMobile™ payment service later this spring. This will allow Verizon Wireless customers to charge online purchases of digital goods directly to their monthly Verizon Wireless bills.

Sounds like a pretty nifty idea. Who needs a credit card?

“Verizon Wireless strives to bring its customers services and features they want and that make their lives simpler,” said Ryan Hughes, vice president of business development at Verizon Wireless. “Working with Danal will give our customers the opportunity to make direct online mobile payments with the most secure, feature-rich, convenient method available.”

“Verizon Wireless is combining the convenience of the mobile phone and its strong billing platform to provide their customers with a convenient mobile payment option,” remarked Jim Greenwell, chief executive officer of Danal, Inc. in the United States. “Verizon Wireless is the bellwether service provider in this space, and we see this agreement will likely be the beginning of a change in the industry’s approach to online mobile payments — one that involves ease of use and strong security for subscribers’ mobile payments, as well as robust user controls that will help individual subscribers and families manage their digital purchases and digital lives.”

We still like our iPhones better.

This is the second time that Motorola Droid users have been teased with an upcoming 2.1 update for their software and this is the second time that they’ve been disappointed. A while ago, a post on the Motorola Facebook page said to check for the update on February 12th. That didn’t happen and it was attributed to a Facebook staffer with an itchy trigger finger.

Recently, Verizon Wireless spokesperson Brenda Raney emailed InformationWeek the following statement: “The Android 2.1 upgrade for the Droid by Motorola is being deployed to a small number of Verizon Wireless test users [March 18]. It is expected the broader phased rollout to all Droid by Motorola users will begin shortly thereafter—we will keep you posted.”

What does shortly thereafter mean? Well, it’s not out yet so it didn’t mean by March 22nd. And several blogs have reported recently that it was put on hold due to a last-minute bug.

So, InformationWeek reached out to Verizon again to see what the deal was.

“As per the earlier email, the Android 2.1 upgrade for the Droid by Motorola was deployed to a small number of Verizon Wireless test users as scheduled,” said Verizon spokesperson Thomas Pica. “It is expected the broader phased rollout to all Droid by Motorola users will take place, but not just yet. No date scheduled yet, we will keep you posted.”

This must be company talking points then. So relax Droid users. It seems that Android 2.1 will come at some point, we just wouldn’t keep relying on any set dates to look forward to.

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard that the newest cell phone to take on the iPhone is the Palm Pre. We went to our exclusive cell phone source to find out more. And by exclusive source, I mean the official website.

The new Palm Pre will be available June 6, just two days before the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference where the newest iPhone will likely debut. Pre will use the Sprint network, and will be comparatively priced at $199… that is if you sign a new two-year contract and turn in your rebate. You know Sprint is banking on the fact that most people (like me) either forget about, or screw up, their rebate forms. However, Best Buy is offering to instantly rebate customers the $100. Smart move.

Now for the phone details:
– 3.1-inch touch screen with 24-bit color 320×480 resolution
– Physical QWERTY keyboard
– Microsoft Outlook
– Integrated IM, SMS, and MMS
– Built-in GPS
– 3 megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth of field
– MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV compatable
– Supports WiFi and Bluetooth
– 8GB memory
– Width: 2.3 inches, Height: 3.9 inches, Thickness: 0.67 inches
– Weight: 4.76 ounces

Check out Twinfluence.com. This does relate to the iPhone if you are using Twitterific. Too much Twi-words and Twi-talk? I want to Twivomit?

Twinfluence.com will tell you how influential you and your Tweets are.

Photo Caption: This little blue bird is your key to happiness on the iPhone.