Today the Google Maps for Mobile team launched a server-side change that makes it easier to get directions to businesses. Until today, if you tried to get directions and entered a business name, let's say "Starbucks", as the end or start point, Google Maps for Mobile did not understand that you meant Starbucks - the business. Rather, Google Maps for Mobile tried to search for an address with "Starbucks" in it. Now, with the server-side change, you can get directions to restaurants, stores and other points of interest by entering their names in the start or end point:

Expansys just confirmed the upcoming launch of the HTC Iolite, a lower-end Windows Mobile Professional touchscreen smartphone, most likely replacing the HTC Touch Cruise. Nevertheless, even if the design is somewhat different, the HTC Iolite isn't anything new because it's the smartphone, O2 Germany announced late last year as the O2 Xda Guide.
Like the Xda Guide, HTC's version is running on Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional smartphone OS, is powered by a Qualcomm MSM 7225 CPU at 528 MHz and features quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE as well as European/Asian dualband UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA in addition to Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi b/g and GPS.

Announced late last year in Europe and Asia, the HTC S740 - HTC's latest Windows Mobile Standard smartphone (see our photo- and videoviews) - wasn't compatible with North American UMTS bands since it supports European and Asian WCDMA frequencies at 900 and 2100 MHz only. Nevertheless, HTC America unveiled today that it now plans to launch a North American version - the HTC S743 - in the first quarter 2009 too. Like the S740, the S743 combines a traditional 12-key keypad design with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and it will supports AT&T's HSDPA (850/1900 MHz) network.

While details and specs are still sketchy, in its CES press release, Motorola announced the upcoming launch of the MOTOSURF A3100 Windows Mobile Professional smartphone, Motorla calls a "touch tablet" with a customizable home screen which is layered on top of Windows Mobile 6.1. This customizable home screen is said to has many applications that can be accessed with the tip of a finger, a stylus or an omni-directional trackball. The home screen icons can be personalized to give 'live' feeds on weather, news, personal and work E-Mail, messaging and calendar events. WiFi and 3G connectivity make the experience seamless and fast.

fring today announced that - in response to the ongoing development they've been doing to fring for Windows Mobile - Microsoft has recognized fring and awarded them their "Designed for Windows Mobile" certification which means it's 100 % Windows Mobile compliant. Secondly, and this is even more important for users, fring just released a major new version of fring for Windows Mobile devices, including Sony Ericsson's new Xperia.
Updates in this version include the new and improved fring Add-ons plus, fring included their popular File Transfer function allowing users to send digital files over IP to all their fring, Skype, MSN & Yahoo buddies at the click of a button.