Dutch start-up Nimbuzz, whose claim to fame has been offering free calls, chat, text and file sharing from mobiles and PCs, has launched its mobile VoIP and IM client.

The new software lets users make free calls as well as send instant messages and participate in group chats across 23 social networks, including MySpace and Facebook. Supported VoIP and IM services include Skype, Yahoo, AIM, Google Talk and MSN Messenger, Digital Media Wire reports.

The Nimbuzz client is compatible with more than 500 handset models worldwide.

Mobile access to auctions isn't just for eBay addicts anymore.

Upscale auction house Christies has launched a free mobile alert system that allows its customers to receive announcements, updates on auction items and place bids from their cell phones, Mashable.com reports.

SMS specialist Clickatell is providing the text-messaging service for the centuries-old institution.

(Image credit: Jupiterimages Unlimited)

It's been a pretty busy Monday for RIM. In addition to unveiling the BlackBerry Bold, its first 3G device, and launching a $150 million venture fund for app developers, the Canadian company also said that it's collaborating with Microsoft to bring Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger to the BlackBerry platform.

According to Windows IT Pro, the companies are enabling "push" Hotmail access and inbox synchronization. This means that a user's Hotmail e-mails will automatically be delivered to the BlackBerry and displayed with his other e-mail messages in a single inbox interface.

Online magazine Slate has added a few downloadable ringtones to its site. But since this is Slate, don't expect your everyday, average ringtones. Nope. They're audio clips from the presidential candidates. Political junkies and fans of quirky ringtones can choose from:

* Hillary Clinton's laugh or a clip of her saying "Shame on you, Barack Obama."

* Barack Obama saying "Yes we can."

* The John McCain "my friends" compilation or a clip of him calling a questioner a "Little Jerk."

Previews of the ringtones and download instructions are at www.slate.com/ringtones. They're available for AT&T, Cellular One, T-Mobile and Sprint phones; Verizon Wireless is not currently supported.

A survey to commissioned by anti-spam firm Cloudmark and carried out by YouGov to determine the state of mobile spam in the UK found that two-thirds of mobile users have received spam messages on their phone, and it's not all just useless annoying messages.

According to a Cellular-news report on the research, nearly 10% of the spam victims have received messages attempting to get their personal data, 38% have gotten a message with a link to an unknown Web site and a whopping 45% have received a text that tried to lure the into calling a "premium rate" phone number.

With figures like that, it's not surprising that 44% of respondents said they'd consider switching to a different carrier to get away from the unwanted text messages.

According to TechCrunch, UC Berkeley graduate journalism student James Karl Buck was arrested on April 10 without any charges in Egypt for photographing a demonstration. It turns out he used his cell phone to twitter the message "Arrested" to his 48 followers, who then contacted UC Berkeley, the US Embassy and a number of press organizations on his behalf, the article said.

After a day in jail, Buck twittered the words "Alive and OK. Still in Jail" to his friends, but authorities released him shortly afterward. The report said that he's still worried about his friend, Mohammed Salah Ahmed Maree, who was arrested with him and remains incarcerated. "Buck says he is on a hunger strike until his friend is free."

Social communications start-up Jaxtr has launched a service that lets its members send text messages to anyone, anywhere in the world for free. The recipient doesn't even need to be a Jaxtr member.

To work around the usual carrier SMS fee, users download a widget that lets them "be messaged on virtual or pre-existing mobile phones from just about every social networking platform in existence," a post on Mashable.com explains.

According to Mashable, Jaxtr is similar to a service from Jangl.

You're getting older; you need more prescriptions to manage your health. And they would, if only you could remember to take them.
Verizon Wireless is here to help with a new app that sends a message when it's time to pop a pill.

The Pill Book application gets much of its info from the latest edition of "The Pill Book," a source of data on most common prescriptions, PC Magazine reports.

It's more than just setting an alarm as a reminder. The Pill Book waits for you to respond to the alert with your personal identifier before dispensing the dosing info and can be set up to let a friend or family member know when you've taken your meds or if you don't respond to an alert.

3 UK has agreed to pre-install the Fun Text graphical messaging application on a number of its upcoming handsets, Cellular-news reports. With Fun Text's new handset-based app, users will have access to its rich media service right from the phone's messaging menu alongside traditional SMS and MMS options.

The "Fun" part is the ability to add things like graphic "smilies" instead of the text-based ones, animations and even videos to make text messages more lively.

3 will initially embed Fun Text on the Nokia N95, N73, E65 and 6120 handset models.

USA Today has launched an instant message alert service that gives its readers easy access to breaking news and all their other favorite features through their AOL Instant Messenger client.

According to MediaPost, once you've opted in to the service, you simply type a keyword or phrase into the AIM dialog box to set up alerts to receive an IM when a new headline with the keyword is posted on USAToday.com.

We don't know if the alerts work with the mobile AIM client, but it would make a lot of sense.