AT&T and Research in Motion (RIM) announced today the availability of BlackBerry Professional Software, providing collaboration solutions with advanced security features designed specifically for small and midsize companies. BlackBerry Professional Software supports up to 30 wireless users for access to email, calendar, contacts, business data and Internet.

BlackBerry Professional Software provides advanced security features that come with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. End-to-end encryption protects communications and information - with simplified administration. Pre-defined IT policies easily control protection from content on the handset, owner-information settings, password use, password complexity, timeouts and more. A lost or stolen smartphone can be locked down, and information can be erased immediately.

LG Electronics today unveiled the LG Iron Man phone, a limited-edition, 18-karat gold slider modeled after the LG Shine. As part of the promotion campaign with Paramount Pictures to promote the upcoming Marvel Studios film Iron Man, the Iron Man phone will not be sold in stores.

Sprint announced today the upcoming launch of the Sanyo Pro-200 and Pro-700, two new devices integrating Nextel Direct Connect push-to-talk (PTT) service. Powered by Qualcomm's QChat, the Pro-200 and Pro-700 operate on Sprint's Mobile Broadband EV-DO Rev. A network instead of the common iDEN network for faster data speeds.

The Sanyo Pro-200 sports an attractive, slim clamshell form factor. Delivering push-to-talk services, key functionalities including Bluetooth, messaging capabilities and mobile email. The Pro-700 is designed for harsh environments, providing a rugged exterior certified to military standards for dust, shock and vibration. Other new features for the Pro-200 and Pro-700 includes:

Apple is expected to launch a high-speed wireless version of iPhone in the second quarter and produce as many as 8 million of the devices in the third quarter, according to Bank of America.

"Our latest channel checks point to a significant production build of a 3G iPhone beginning in the month of June after an initial small build in May," said Bank of America analyst Scott Craig.

AT&T said last year it expects to be able to sell a 3G version of iPhone in 2008, but it declined comment on specific launch dates on Friday.

Taiwan-based Hon Hai, which operates stateside under the trade name Foxconn Electronics, has secured an exclusive contract to assemble a more advanced version of Apple's popular iPhone. Hon Hai would be producing next-generation iPhones for Apple and is the exclusive contract manufacturer for the new phones.