Voice calls have been placed over GSM networks for years now. The calls are encrypted on many networks with a 21-year-old 64-bit algorithm to prevent the calls from being captured. Hackers in Berlin have now cracked the GSM encryption.

A group of 24 hackers led by Karsten Nohl has announced that they have broken the encryption and have provided other hackers with a codebook coming in at 2TB that allows for the decoding of a valid encryption key. Carriers can modify their encryption code to remain protected.

Looking for a gift for that extra-special and older someone? Why not get them the PM-505 Big Button phone? The PM-505 Big Button handset lives up to it’s name with big honking buttons for older folks.

It also sports a large and clear display. The 250 entry phonebook will give them plenty of numbers to call for tech help. There’s even a notebook/journal behind the handset for quick notes like, “Get milk” or “take meds”. A direct SMS button will send them to the SMS page.

The Sony Ericsson T707 is finally out and about and comes packed with cool light effects and gesture controls. The phone lights up when you get a call and you can personalize the light settings to each of your friends, so you know whose calling.

The T707 features a 2.2-inch, 262k color TFT (240×320 pixels) scratch-resistant display, 3.2 megapixel camera with 3.2x digital zoom, geo tagging, video recording and video light, media player with MP3/AAc support, stereo Bluetooth with A2DP, Exchange ActiveSync and Google Maps.

We knew there must have been some significance to the year 2012 other than the Mayan calendar ending. The GSM Association has announced that it and 17 of it’s partner companies are working a universal cellphone charger solution. They think they will have a common format in place by 2012.

Seems like it should meet the deadline no problem since the group’s choice of connector, micro-USB, has already gained acceptance as a pretty common format. They say that the “majority” of new phones sold by 2012 will support what they’re describing as the universal charging solution, which will need to meet strict requirements to be broadly compatible.

The Nokia 3500 is now available in pink from Fido, even though it doesn’t look all that pink. Not really that big of a deal. The pink is limited to the direction pad and keypad which light up. The pinkified Nokia 3500 will cost the same as the regular version of the 3500: $15 a month with a 3-year contract, $90 for a 2-year contract, $100 standalone phone. Probably a good phone for those girls who want to be all Sex in the City.

It features a 2 megapixel camera, music player and built-in FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, tri-band GSM support and a microSD memory card slot. Also has Handsfree speaker, Voice commands, calendar, to-do list, notes, countdown timer, stopwatch and calculator. Just a bit of pink. Nothing to see here. Move along.

The day is rapidly approaching when the phone watch will be here. Well, it actually came a little while ago but we’re talking about the practical phone watch day that’s soon to come. Hyundai may be the leader of the pack with its W-100, a GSM phone that you wear on your wrist. The phone watch comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth connectivity, microSD card slot, plays MP3 and video files and has a touch screen interface. It supports both the English and Chinese language so there’s that going for it too. Most of all we dig the design which doesn’t look too clumsy nor too calculator watch-ish. Loads of more photos after the leap.

Nokia launched a pretty cool product yesterday with the Nokia 6301 mobile phone. The device features a thin, sleek design and looks similar to many other mobile phones that are released these days, but it has a more unique feature you’ll probably be seeing more of going forward.

The 6301 phone is able to seamlessly switch between GSM cellular connections and Wi-Fi connections, allowing voice connectivity through each when needed. The phone can pick up standard cell coverage when you’re out and about like any other cell phone. When your indoors where you might not get the best cell coverage it can switch over and start utilizing your Wi-Fi network instead through Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology.