Modu, a personal mobile device

Old fashion victim or the real gadget ?

Could it be more to ModuMobile than some strange avanguard/fashion experience or an extreme customisation experiment ( jackets ) for mobile phone ? Pics from Barcelona 2008. Have not too much hopes.

Some investors seem to think that way and they could be ready to take ( $ 100 million ? ) a second round ? ( The first round was raised by Gemini Israel Funds and Genesis Partners. )

I have mixed feelings . This phones can take many forms, but at the same time I ask myself could these devices become an engine for the array of mobile apps ( deal with Universal Music ? )
Personalising your mobile phone is an individual ( social ) statement which is an old news ( people want more flavors for his mobile toy ).

ModuMobile does reminds me about various conceptual handsets made by major mobile phone vendors and looks like a mobile phone still in the lab ( years away from the market ) , but Telecom Italia seems to be already having close co-operation with Israeli start-up.

Going deeper into my research, I can see that the founder is Dov Moran ( he made his fame with DiskOnKey – so he's an USB flash drive expert )

ModuMobile has developed a cellular handset that can be connected to a USB port on any computing device. It is based, among other things, on flash memory technology, and a unique memory technology that interfaces with any device it is connected to, enabling the uploading all forms of data, from telephone numbers to multimedia files.

Having in mind how these days USB sticks for wireless access are all the rage in the 3G world as a selling point, you get a point... connected consumer electronics devices ?

Hmmm....but, as I said, I have mixed feelings ( overstreched expectations by ModuMobile ) about too much avanguard with design forms regarding mobile phones ( we've seen a lot of design failures in this industry ).
How good marketing you need for this to succeed ? Who can pay for that :))

ModuMobile does blog.

USB stick modem for wireless internet access

Wifi hotspots are yesterday. 3G dongles are today. Affordable for consumers, not only businesses.

In essence, mobile lifestyle ( mobility ) is all about your mobile devices and connectivity . Right ?
Your phone, laptop or other gizmo makes true communication device when connected to a wider network.
Yet, it's not on cheap and it 's not much about convenience.

The business usually pay montly subs on 12 or 24 month contract and get PCMCIA card ( if they are not in mood to mess with WiFi , we have only few commercial hotspots in Croatia , but there's VIPNET's Mobile Connect modem only still too expensive ).

But 3G networks are reaching much more these days and perfect plug & play solution for connectivity seems to be USB dongle ready to access the Web without much intervention from the average user. No configuration at all.
I spotted this issue writing last year about Sony Ericsson's MD300.

Now, I've seen that Vodafone sells 3G dongle ( USB stick modem ) as well. The price of data and network bottlenecks are still important issues for widespread adoption.
Dean Bubley comment is right spot on:

'' Operators in the UK, Austria, South Africa, Portugal & others are definitely going after the consumer 3G dongle market.
Typical user is someone (student, recent immigrant etc) who doesn’t want a 12-24mo fixed-broadband contract at home, because either they share apartments, don’t have a current landline (which would cost £££ to get re-connected), move flat every 6 months or don’t yet have a local bank account / credit record.
Another segment is people who want a 2nd broadband line (maybe families, maybe young professionals).

While I do agree with most what Dean says, I think this type of connectivity is ideal for professionals on the move ( as a second broadband line ) and people without broadband connection in rural places.

The prices in Australia , for example, have dropped dramatically in the last year. AU$100 to AU$14.50 a month on a two year deal + free dongle.

When will those mobile data plans for laptops go hand in hand with mobile phone data plans ?

USB Mobile Broadband Gizmo

USB info smog, wherever you are, huh

A gizmo made by Sony Ericsson.
USB mobile broadband modem called the MD300 .
Available in Q1 next year and stylish.