Some days ago our phone calls started to be more unsecure due to the hack of the main code of the GSM encyption algorithm. Karsten Nohl, a german computer engineer, and his crew got this code by brute force technique, that means they tryed enough random keys until they got the password. This information was published in the ‘Chaos Communication Congress’ that took place in Berlin.

The cracked algorithm is called A5/1 and is the one it is used in over 80% phone call connections so this represents a big problem for our voice communications according to our privacy violation. Besides, the discovered code/password has been published via torrent, so anyone can access it and with the proper software could spy our phone calls. Some phone operators have said that changing that code in the operators networks would solve the problem, but it would keep being as vulnerable as the previous one that has been discovered.

The code of A5/1 algorithm, devised in 1988, consists on a 64bit string. Actually there is a newer algorithm based on a 128bit code that is called A5/3, available since 2007, but operators have not introduced this algorithm in their networks yet. This code has not been hacked, at least so far …

The company Cellcrypt, has said that what Karsten Nohl has published will help criminal organizations to listen private conversations. Nowadays this technology was only available for governments and intelligence agencies.

Maybe its time to change our minds, maybe it is time to stop using an old voice technology, maybe it is time to establish our voice communications in other way… Technology has improved in all ways and two facts could help us solve this problem. Nowadays we can use VoIP (Voice over IP) to call a friend wherever he is at really cheap rates using internet connection. In addition personal certificates identify and secure us in the internet when we make important operations such as banking, or administrative tasks. What about joining both? That could solve our impending problem.

At the moment make sure your private conversations are not through a mobile phone call…

Via Engadget | Cellcrypt

The new Blackberry Storm opened as new mobile device for the members of Congress of the USA. They were waiting for a touchscreen device, but was not well received, though it had passed the tests the CAO had performed on the phone.

Some of the Washington elected officials have found problems using the Storm. Senator Harry Reid had trouble sending emails on the Storm and did not like the touchscreen. I guess that is because of the particular functionality of the touchscreen that consists on that the screen must be pressed like a button (not just touch, cause actually is a button, =(  ). Jeff Ventura, spokesman of the House chief administrative officer, said that many who tried the Storm on the Hill have returned it.

A number of members tried to use the Storm but only one or two still use it. A workshop has been started for Storm users, teaching them how to use the many functions on the device. But maybe this does not solve the problem, cause, for instance, some people don’t like the touchscreen even if they know it has to be used like a button.

Via PhoneArena

No, it´s not a mistake. You can really run a web server on your S60 mobile phone. Wheter you find it useful or not, that´s up to you.

Nevertheless, they have found some interest uses. Accesing calendar, contacts or SMS through the website the phone provides (and that includes sending SMS) are just the basic features. Sharing the pictures of you camera gallery and maintaining a mobile website like a blog with RSS support are some of the advanced features.

Beware, get an unlimited data plan or prepare to face the famous “carrier charges may apply”.

Link Mobile Web Server

NTT Docomo has announced that it will stop accepting applications for its 2G Mova mobile phone service nationwide on November 30. Docomo has two main mobile phone services: Mova (2G service) and Foma (3G service). Given that Mova subscribers keep constantly migrating to Foma service, the company has decided to stop Mova and concentrate in the popular 3G service.

Docomo’s effort towards new generation mobile services and the fact that 1 million Mova subscribers per month migrate to Foma, will help their aim of becoming the first mobile market to have “only” 3G – or even higher speed – networks. In addition Docomo will help subscribers migrate to Foma not charging the usual 2,100 yen for subscriptions beginning August 8.

Docomo is the world’s leading mobile communications company. It serves over 53 million customers, including 45 million people subscribing to their Foma 3G service.

Via Wireless Watch Japan

According to a study by Nielsen Mobile (a service of The Nielsen Company), Spain achieved the more than respectable third place on percentage of mobile subscribers who access social networks over the mobile Internet, just following U.S . and U.K.

Source: Nielsen Mobile; EU data Q1 2008, US data December 2007.

Of course, Myspace.com and facebook were the most visited sites, with the exception of Italy and France on first quarter of 2008 were MSN’s Windows Live Spaces become the leader.

Read More on Social Networking Going Mobile, Nielsen Finds

Last week, several Indian news media reported that RIM was working with Indian governmet in order to let their security agencies spying on domestic Blackberry network.

The inmediate and natural complains of Indian Blackberry’s clients has made the company to state it’s commitment to “serving security-conscious businesses in the Indian market.”

RIM has answered Indian government that there are some other ways for “government to take care of security concerns”. But Indian government keeps on demanding “satisfactory answers” to its security questions, so we’ll see if RIM is able to maintain its security commintments.

Via EngadgetMobile

Nokia Siemens Networks and Mobilkom Austria has succesfully tested the new I-HSPA (Internet High Speed Packet Access) which offers 10.1Mbps speeds on data calls, which is great enough till we wait to 2010 for the so-called LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology with 173Mbps (Wow!) as peak rate one kilometer away.

If you want to know more regarding I-HSPA, visit this brochure.

Via EngadgetMobile
Link EngadgetMobile lte tag, The broadband world is flat

The Nokia Siemens joint venture focused on network hardware announced several weeks ago the beginning of 2.6 Ghz band LTE trials. Now, at the end of 2007 we know that the tests have been a big success, reaching 173 Mbps during a Berlin based test.

173Mbps WOW!!! Well, it has been at best conditions possible, but even a 25% of that speed would be impressive nowadays. Recall that LTE is years away from being commercially launched, but this kind of news is the best publicity campaign possible for such a new technology. Isn’t it?

Via Engadget Mobile