Research In Motion, MapQuest and Sprint today announced new group communication functionality for “MapQuest Find Me.” The GPS-enabled wireless service is now available on the BlackBerry 7520 Wireless Handheld, operating on the Nextel National Network. “MapQuest Find Me” lets users automatically find their location, access maps and directions and locate nearby points of interest including airports, hotels, restaurants, banks and ATMs.

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Cingular Wireless, Nokia and Research In Motion today introduced BlackBerry Connect to the U.S. marketplace. Cingular is the first U.S. carrier to offer the popular BlackBerry wireless services on a third-party handset via the BlackBerry Connect licensing program from RIM. The Nokia 9300 is scheduled to be available in the U.S. through Cingular Wireless beginning in November.

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Nokia today announced that it has started deliveries of the Nokia N70 3G smartphone. Incorporating a complete smartphone feature set, as well as a 2 megapixel camera, flash and front camera for video calling, the Nokia N70 comes fully equipped with a digital music player and stereo audio.The Nokia N70 features include extensive email attachment support, Internet browser, video streaming and 3G features, such as two-way video calling and video sharing.

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Sony Ericsson today announced the introduction of Auto pairing, a unique proprietary solution, that makes it quicker and easier to connect Bluetooth equipped headsets to Sony Ericsson mobile phones. When the phone and headset are in close proximity and the Bluetooth function is turned on, the Auto pairing equipped Bluetooth headset automatically searches and finds the user’s Bluetooth enabled Sony Ericsson mobile phone.

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Pinstack.com has released some insider information on the highly anticipated 8700 (a.k.a. Electron) from Blackberry. The 8700 would be the first Blackberry to take advantage of EDGE technology for higher data transfer rates. Blackberry had also taken input from many users on what they wanted from a new handheld to help design the 8700. One major concern was form factor, the 8700 is thinner and lighter than most Blackberry’s currently offered. The 8700 will also feature the common ‘QWERTY’ keypad which Blackberry is well known for as well as some new additions, including dedicated send & mute keys as well as 2 user-definable keys.

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Cingular Wireless plans to use RealNetworks Inc.’s video streaming technology to deliver video to mobile phones. Real will provide Cingular with a comprehensive video solution including application development for packaging mobile content, hosting the mobile video service on behalf of Cingular, and delivering the streaming content to a variety of new handsets for Cinugular’s 3G UMTS/HSDPA network. Cingular is scheduled to roll out its 3G video later this year.

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