Escape-A-Date from Cingular is a service that turns handy when you want to escape a blind date that may not be just right for you.

It lets you schedule a "rescue" phone call at a pre-set time. That way, you'll be called at the time you specify. The service tells you exactly what to say to set the tone for a speedy retreat. There are eight randomly generated humorous scripts.

Here's an example:

Hey, this is your escape-a-date call. If you're looking for an excuse, I got it. Just repeat after me, and you'll be on your way!

"Not again! Why does that always happen to you? ... Alright, I'll be right there." Now tell 'em that your roommate got locked out, and you have to go let them in. Good luck!

As Ringtonia writes, this is not a first. Virgin Mobile USA offers it's subscribers the option to set up a "Rescue Ring to" escape any situation. They only need to schedule a time when they want to receive a call.

From Ringtonia. Press Release, via unwired.
Image.

To promote wireless phone safety in the USA, FreeHeadset.org is offering free cell phone headsets. Participants are only required to pay US$3.94 for the cost of shipping and handling.

From GeekZone.
Press Release.

Goopas (short for Good Passport/Good Passgate), is a context-aware information delivery service for train passengers.

When they register, users specify their age, gender, interests, preferences, boarding and destination train stations, and mobile phone address. When the user passes through a ticket gate machine using his or her commuter pass, customized information (leisure, gourmet, entertainment, etc.) is sent to the subscriber's mobile phone.

A user will pass through ticket pass gates twice: at the station near home and when arriving at the destination station. Then, twice again on the way back.

At each station at separate times of the day, the user receives information based on the vicinity (ex. a 10% discount for lunch is delivered in the morning and in the evening contents related to a bargain sale.) Contents can also include a fun quiz, the day's horoscope, or a variety of other entertaining contents that can be viewed while burning time or waiting somewhere.

Goopas began full-scale operation on the Odakyu Electric Railway in February 2003. Omron expects it to expand to railways all over Japan and aims for 1 million users after three years.

Goopas began full-scale operation on the Odakyu Electric Railway in February 2003 and should expand to railways all over Japan.

From Omron, via RFID in Japan.

The Operating Company Name Lookup service from Accudata Technologies allows carriers to track and lure back former subscribers that have moved on to other operators.

First, carriers must send a list of former subscribers for OCNL service to search out and locate them in North America by accessing several databases. The carriers can then use the information to contact former subscribers and try to win them back, say by offering a better deal than they switched for.

From Wireless Week.

This week, Spanish mobile phone company Amena is launching a service allowing seniors or disabled persons to call a unique number 2888 and ask "Operator, put me through to my daughter, please" to be in contact with her. Llama Por Mí (Call [them] for Me) brings back the human interface for people who struggle to digit a number on the tiny keypad of the mobile phone and cannot use the contact list of their device.

The contact list will have to be previously downloaded on Amena Webpage.
Llama Por Mí will be enhanced at the end of this month by the launch of a series of handsets equipped with a green button to call directly the service (thus no need to compose the 2888.)

From AECOMO.

NYKRIS, which had designed the interface of the Tate Modern’s iView application --a handheld device allowing visitors to explore exhibits via a location sensitive multimedia tour, tried to think about how interactive services might be developed for the iPod and came out with the pPod.

The pPod combines text, audio, and music to deliver a guide to London’s public loos. Entertaining audio reviews and even accompanying sound tracks such as Handel’s ‘Water Music’ and ‘Cosmic Winds’ will help users to locate their nearest lavatory.
To download it.