• Canadian operators Rogers and Telus are both launching Research In Motion's BlackBerry Torch on Sept. 24. Telus did not release details on pricing, but Rogers is selling the device for as low as $199.99 with a three-year contract and $45 monthly plan. The Torch, which features a qwerty keyboard and a touchscreen, will launch with RIM's new BlackBerry 6.0 operating system.
• Russian wireless broadband company Yota has deployed its trial 4G network in Kazan, the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan. The network was launched with a number of live demonstrations proving wireless broadband speeds of up to 100 mbps in a lab environment and a suite of next-generation wireless services such as live 3D-video conferencing and full HD video streaming. Yota has invested $20 million in building the Kazan network, which covers the city's whole population of over one million people with 147 base stations.
• The Wireless Power Consortium has launched the Qi 1.0 standard, which enables consumer electronic brands and device manufacturers to bring interoperable wireless inductive charging devices to market. The consortium also announced the first products certified with Qi, including chargers for the iPhone 3G and 3GS and the BlackBerry Curve 8900.
• The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) says it is repositioning itself to better meet members' needs and provide greater visibility for the mobile marketing opportunity. The MMA will focus on five key areas: promotion, education, measurement and metrics, best practices and guidelines, and regulatory issues. The MMA also unveiled a new logo with a more modern look at its forum in Sao Paulo.
• Truphone has reduced its calling rates to more than 30 destinations worldwide by an average of 60 percent when compared to previous rates for calls made using its Apple iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Nokia and Android smartphone apps. Truphone has also reduced the cost of its unlimited monthly call package to $12.95 per month. Truphone's new rates are now as low as 2.1 cents per minute.
• Mobile marketing company Vibes Media has released its new Retail CRM alerts platform. The technology allows marketers to send promotional messaging, redeemable codes and news and information to millions of customers during preferred time windows. Vibes currently has more than 400 clients using its mobile message platform, including Old Navy, Best Buy and Gamefly.
• Vlingo is partnering with foursquare to allow Android users to use foursquare simply by speaking to their phone. Users will be able to check in to locations, locate friends, update social media accounts and send shout outs. Vlingo is available for Android 2.0 and above. U.S. users can download Vlingo from the Android Market for free.
• International Data Corporation (IDC) reports that the mobile phone recycling rate is "amazingly low" today, with rates of 10 percent considered good. IDC said the top five mobile device manufacturers in terms of their sustainability policies and practices are (in alphabetical order): Apple, LG, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. Apple recycles in 95 percent of the countries where its products are sold. LG has made progress in power management; up to 80 percent of the materials used in Nokia devices can be recycled; and Samsung scored well in its reduction of hazardous materials. Sony Ericsson has optimized packaging to be more environmentally friendly.