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Researchers Demonstrate How To Take iPhone Over With Malicious SMS Messages

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Because of the popularity of the iPhone security concerns with the device are oftenignored if not dismissed all together, especially when compared to the BlackBerry.   I’d be willing to bet, however,  that IT firms that allow users to access corporate email from their iPhones will listen intently to what researchers Collin Mulliner and Charlie Miller have to say about iPhone security going forward.

You see, these two gentlemen recently took complete control over the iPhone of Elinor Mills, senior technology writer for CNet, with an SMS message at the Black Hat Security Conference in Las Vegas.

Here’s what happened: While I was talking on the phone to Charlie Miller, his partner, Collin Mulliner, sent me a text message from his phone. One minute I’m talking to Miller and the next minute my phone is dead, and this time it’s not AT&T’s fault. After a few seconds it came back to life, but I was not able to make or receive calls until I rebooted.

My iPhone is not jailbroken and it is running iPhone OS 3.0.

The attack is enabled by a serious memory corruption bug in the way the iPhone handles SMS messages, said Miller, a senior security researcher at Independent Security Evaluators.

Apple was notified about the vulnerability which affects all versions of the iPhone OS about 6 weeks ago, however, no patch has been released to correct the issue as of yet.

[Read]

An update, iPhone OS 3.0.1, which address this issue, has been realeased…

More On Apple Removing Google Voice Applications From The AppStore

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When we first heard that Apple was pulling third party Google Voice applications for the AppStore, we didn’t think that the ban would apply to the official Google Voice App created by Google.  As it turns out, Apple and AT&T are banning Google Voice period.

A Google representative told this to TechCrunch:

We work hard to bring Google applications to a number of mobile platforms, including the iPhone. Apple did not approve the Google Voice application we submitted six weeks ago to the Apple App Store. We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users — for example, by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers.

To make a long story short, Google Voice gives SMS to users for free, something AT&T, and all the carriers, quite frankly, have been over charging customers for, for years.  A lot of iPhone users are questioning why BlackBerry users on AT&T still get to have the Google Voice App for BlackBerry.  I am going to go out on a limb and assume that this is because BlackBerry devices require a special type of data plan, BIS or BES, both which generally include unlimited SMS. Seeing how my previous assumption was completely untrue, I have no clue why Apple is anti GV.

I am sure that this is not the last that we will be hearing of this story…

Apple Pulls Google Voice Applications From AppStore

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I just read a bit of news that will make a lot of iPhone users unhappy. Apple has decided to pull all third party Google Voice clients, err, ugm, GV Mobile and VoiceCentral from the AppStore.  We know that there is an official Google Voice client coming for the iPhone.  Clients for Android and BlackBerry devices have already been released.  We still, however, aren’t quite sure why Apple would pull third party GV clients regardless of if an official GV client is coming out or not.

[Source]

Should Apple Be Concerned About RIM?

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Pretty much ever since the day that the first iPhone was announced we’ve seen blog posts, news and magazine articles, and television reports questioning whether the BlackBerry would be able to survive once the Apple machine got wheels rolling.  I think it is safe to say that Research in Motion and the BlackBerry have fared pretty well and have even exceed expectations.

I, however, want to ask a question from the other side of things.  Should Apple be concerned about RIM? With the onslaught of multiple new BlackBerry devices on pretty much every carrier of consequence over a relatively short period of time, I say that Apple should be…

AT&T Forcing iPhone Users Out Of Pre-Paid Plans

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no-gophone-for-iphone

Although AT&T hasn’t ever really just flat out offered pre-paid phone plans for the iPhone, there have been back door ways to getting pre-paid plans since day one. ( Purposely failing the credit check was my personal favorite ) All that is about to change, however, as it would appear that AT&T is throwing down the gauntlet when it comes to iPhone toting GoPhone users.

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BlackBerry Curve Outsells iPhone… Again

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Contrary to popular belief the iPhone is not the most sold smartphone in the United States.  That title goes to the BlackBerry Curve who has pretty much maintained it’s seat on top of the smartphone  hill of dominance since the quarter that the iPhone was introduced.

Based on U.S. consumer sales of  smartphone handsets in NPD’s “Smartphone Market Update” report, the first-quarter 2009 ranking of the top-five best- selling smartphones is as follows:

1. RIM BlackBerry Curve (all 83XX models)
2. Apple iPhone 3G (all models)
3. RIM BlackBerry Storm
4. RIM BlackBerry Pearl (all models, except flip)
5. T-Mobile G1

What is more impressive than the BlackBerry Curve holding the number 1 spot is that the BlackBerry Storm and BlackBerry Pearl hold the number 3 and 4 spots respectively giving RIM 3 of the top 4 selling smartphones.  No matter how you look at it, RIM is selling a lot more BlackBerrys than is Apple iPhones.  No wonder Apple is looking to bring the iPhone to Verizon.

[Via Silicon Alley Insider]

$99 iPhone Sale For Best Buy Reward Zone Members

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$99 iPhone Sale at Best Buy

Granted, RIMarkable is a BlackBerry blog, however, we aren’t such BlackBerry fanboys that we wouldn’t let you in on a great iPhone sale when we hear about it.

Through then end of the month, Best buy is offerring $50 to $100 off the purchase price of an iPhone 3G for Best Buy Reward zone members with a two-year contract.  Regular members get $50 off and Reward Zone Premium Silver members get $100 off.  This means that you could get yourself an 8 gig iPhone 3G for $99.

I love my BlackBerry, however, a sub-$100 dollar iPhone is a heck of a deal.

[Via Best Buy]

The BlackBerry Is Back On Top

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iPhone vs. BlackBerry

It’s been just 3 months since the iPhone took the top spot as not only the best selling smartphone, but, the best selling handset seeing it’s share shoot up to 30.1% of all smartphones in Q3 last year.  I remember some analyst saying that it was the beginning of the end for BlackBerry maker, Research in Motion.

Boy, what a difference can one quarter make.  According to an IDC report commissioned by The Industry Standard, RIM saw it’s market share increase from 40.4% to 47.5% in Q4.  Conversely, Apple saw it’s share drop from 30.1.% to 22.3%.  BlackBerry market share increased almost exactly by what iPhone share decreased.

I am not saying…  I’m just saying…

Om Malik Dumps His iPhone For A T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900

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om_malik1

Om Malik, 15 year technology writing verteran, former senior writer at Business 2.0, and founder of the GigaOm network, has decided to drop his iPhone for the T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900.

Om’s move to the BlackBerry Curve 8900, wasn’t because of a failing of the iPhone itself, but, because of a failing of the network that the iPhone runs on.

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