The actual launch date for the device will be late June. Pricing for the luggage tracker is $49.99 and it’s roughly the size of your palm. The idea is that you can slip this device into your luggage and keep an eye on your bag as you travel. The tracker doesn’t use GPS signals for tracking; it relies on cellular technology to triangulate an active device’s location.

All the user has to do activate the tracking is turned the device on and slip it inside the bag. The Trakdot is able to turn itself off just before the aircraft takes off and will then turn back on when the aircraft lands. It’s able to quickly determine the city where the bag is located and text that information to the owner.

Users of the technology can also go to a dedicated website to locate where their bag is. There will be an activation fee of $8.99 and an annual service fee of $12.99. People who pre-order the device before April 27 won’t have to pay that $9 activation fee.

[via Trakdot]

The service is set to launch by March 1, though it could happen earlier. This follows a change in North Korean law not too long ago that allows visitors to bring their own smartphones into the nation so that they can be used with the carrier’s SIM card. This is something that was never before allowed, and provides visitors with a level of connectivity with the outside world that has never existed in the northern Korean nation before.

The SIM cards are available at Koryolink retail stores and at the airport, priced at $70USD. The call rate is reported by the Associated Press as being 5 Euros per minute to the United States. Not surprisingly, calls to South Korea are not allowed. The hefty price tags will no doubt prevent travelers from using their cell phone as they would elsewhere, but does provide a necessary service to visitors, giving an (expensive) way to contact home.

In addition, users will be able to purchase a per-month mobile broadband plan via the service, using the SIM card in their mobile data device (USB modems will be supported). The cost of the monthly plan has not been released yet, however, but we’re guessing it’ll be pretty high if the per-minute rate is any indication.

[via Yahoo]

The service is aimed at consumers who make annually between $30k and $40k, as well as the younger consumer crowd that spends most of their mobile usage texting and checking Facebook. GoSmart’s marketing director Shailendra Gujarati said regarding the service, “We are looking at customers whose predominant needs when it comes to wireless are talking, texting or entry level data services.”

The service was already launched in nine markets in December, during which time it was tested. Today, however, the carrier has launched the service nationwide. Needless to say, it runs on T-Mobile’s own network, and two handsets are being offered under the service – a $49 cell phone and a $99 Android smartphone, in addition to an $8 activation kit and SIM.

The cheapest plan is $30 per month, which offers unlimited text and talk but no mobile data, while the best plan is arguably the $35 plan, which offers text, talk and unlimited data access at slower speeds for things like checking email. The most expensive plan is $45 per month, and is the same as the $35, except that web access is high speed for those who want to watch videos and stream music on the go. There’s a 5GB cap, at which point the speeds are throttled.

[via Seattle Times]

The deal allows AT&T subscribers who have Data Global Add-on with Wi-Fi to download the Wi-Fi International app and use it to connect to compatible wireless hotspots. The app is available for both Android users via the Play Store (version 3.2 or higher for tablets and 2.2 or higher for smartphones) and iOS (version 4.3 and higher) users via the App Store.

The obvious issue here is that those without the International add-on will have to subscribe to it in order to take advantage of the free 1GB of wifi data, something that doesn’t seem worth it for such a relatively small amount. The most appeal then will likely fall to those who travel to the U.K regularly and don’t want to be dependent entirely on mobile data connections.

Those who download the Wi-Fi International app will be able to connect to hotspots without having to deal with usernames and passwords. A notification will be given when a partner hotspot is within range of the user’s device. And, of course, users will be able to search for nearby networks based on the country and city they are located in.

[via The Next Web]

Dropped packets are a huge culprit when it comes to clogging up network bandwidth, so letting the device itself solve the problem of missing data frees up the cellular network. Plus, the load put on the devices themselves are said to not be stressful at all for the devices, meaning that solving dropped packets takes little effort and few resources.

This also means devices can weave data streams from WiFi and LTE together, instead of having to use one or the other at any given time. The technology has already begun testing at MIT and researchers are seeing positive results. When 2% of data packets were dropped, speeds were boosted from 1Mbps to 16Mbps. When 5% of data packets were dropped, bandwidth increased from 0.5Mbps to 13.5Mbps.

Companies are apparently already licensing the technology, but MIT is still working on it to improve it further, and there are still a few bugs that need to be kinked out. Sadly, since the project is still under development, the researchers are subject to nondisclosure agreements, so we most likely won’t know more about the tech until it’s ready to be deployed.

[via FierceWireless]

Image via Flickr

This latest Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet sports 3G bands with support for GSM 850/1900, CDMA 850/1900, and WCDMA bands II, IV, and V. This will allow the tablet to be used with pretty much most wireless carriers in the US as well as abroad. Now if only it could support LTE as well, but nothing in the FCC filing suggests that capability.

The rest of the hardware should remain relatively the same as the WiFi-only model, which featured an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, dual cameras, and a good number of ports including micro-USB and HDMI. The capacitive touchscreen can also be used with an optional digitizer pen. For more details, make sure to check out our hands-on.

[via Wireless Goodness]

The original countdown page didn’t give any clues as to the new carrier’s name, but its domain suggested that it would be called “Personalized Wireless,” although that seemed a bit long and completely unrelated to the spikey “C” logo that was revealed in the teaser commercial. But since then, the countdown page has been updated and it’s all clear what’s going on now.

Cellular South as C Spire will focus on providing a personalized wireless experience, introducing some new services around rewards, app recommendations, and social media integration. Specifically, C Spire will offer new features, including Scout for recommending relevant apps, Percs as a rewards program, Circle as customer communications platform, and Pulse, which is ambiguously “the brains” behind all this new stuff.

Congress has now passed the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2010, which makes it illegal to spoof caller ID information. The bill states, “[it is illegal] to cause any caller ID service to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information, with the intent to defraud or deceive.” If signed into law all forms of voice communication will be covered.

It’s also illegal to spam us on our email accounts too, but I get more advertisements for medication to make manhood larger than legitimate messages. I hope one this is signed into law it can be enforced more effectively than anti-spam laws. Now if we can just get Congress to outlaw door to door vacuum salesmen I am golden.

AT&T’s download speeds were 67 percent faster on average than those of the other three largest U.S. wireless providers–Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.  The AT&T network’s reliability improved dramatically, too: in thw latest tests, testers connected to AT&T successfully in 94 percent of their attempts.

AT&T has been getting a lot of flak lately (then again, which provider isn’t?) for its spotty service, but performance-wise, seems to top the charts.   Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle were all the cities tested.

This carrier is CDMA and will use EVDO for access rather than HSPA. The netbook itself is one we’re all very familiar with. It has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, a GPS, Wi-Fi and 3G.

Other features include Windows XP and a multi-touch trackpad. Weighing in at only 2.6-pounds, this netbook is light enough to bring with you anywhere. You can get it now from Cellular South for $199 so long as you sign up for a two-year contract. Two plans are available, with 500MB and 5GB at $40 and $60/month, respectively.

By utilizing cholesteric liquid crystal display technology, or chLCD, gadgets will be able to change color automatically. These special displays have been modified to wrap around any object–a cell phone in this case.

By using three layers of red, green and blue chLCD, the device can be wrapped in the displays with resin in between each layer. This makes them strong and impervious to breakage. Then, all you do is press a button and a electric current changes the color of the screens. The color stays the same–even when the device is powered off–until you press the button again. Apparently, displays capable of up to 4,000 colors will be made in the future by Kent Displays. It remains to be seen if this tech will be used in next-gen devices, but we don’t see why not.

[via Gizmodo]

After being asked about their smartphone plans at a New York event, the PR people from Acer said that they don’t even have any phones planned for the U.S. until 2010 now. What stinks about this is other countries are already getting their hands on the devices.

The Acer smartphone lineup features a pretty broad range of devices from your standard Windows Mobile-running device to higher-end devices with 1GHz Snapdragon chips, high-rez touchscreens and the possibility of Android.

Update: I just read the Slashgear story that Acer smartphones are delayed until 2010.  I want to let you know that there is still potential for a U.S. Acer smartphone launch in Q4 2009.  Plans are still being determined and we’ll keep you posted as commitments firm up. Per Acer PR, thx Erin!

The upgrade of most import here is the move up from a 3.2-megapixel camera to a 5-megapixel camera. This is good enough to please most folks. Other additions include an improved operating system, the Symbian S60 FP2.

You can also expect a new color option as well called mocha brown, changing up the E71i to make it stand out from the standard E71 and the E71x. If the current rumors are correct, you can expect the Nokia E71i to appear at Nokia World in September or in October at the latest.

This phone is tough. It meets military-grade specs and can stand up to solar radiation, vibration, shock and even dust. The Clutch supports messaging of all kinds including IMs, e-mails and text messaging.

Other features include a micro USB port, a 5-pole accessory connection, a 3-megapixel camera for stills and video, a 2.5 mono audio jack, 20MB memory and a 1,130mAh battery. It has support for MP3, WAV and MIDI ringtones and has Bluetooth 1.2. We don’t know when the Motorola Clutch i465 will be released or even how much it’ll cost, but we do know it’s meant to stand up to the elements while offering a decent feature set. It will appear on Boost Mobile first.

This new phone will feature new custom items that make it uniquely Star Trek-oriented including four screensavers, three wallpapers and eight brand new ringtones. And the best part? It comes with a Phazer application. Yes, dear SlashGear readers, you can set it to stun.

The Star Trek edition of the 5800 XpressMusic phone will only be available through Phones 4U in the UK at first as a part of a limited run starting on May 1st. However, it will also be available through Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile and Orange with the equivalent of a $32.87/month contract.

You can customize the interface using all sorts of fonts and wallpapers of your choosing. Plus, the phone comes with two interchangeable faceplates in pink and grey, however, you can buy more to fit your preferences.

Features include email, a web browser, ChatLINK, Bluetooth, voice dialing, a camera and more. We don’t know how much the Samsung Tint will cost, but you should be able to get it from MetroPCS now.

[via Unwired View]

For instance, this phone will have a 20-key interface that’s not quite QWERTY, but close. It also has a 1.3-megapixel camera that captures video as well, plus has Bluetooth support.

Other features include e-mail, IM, messaging, and a rumored AMOLED display. We don’t know the pricing for this device just yet, but you can most likely expect it soon, since the release date is less than a month away now.

In case you’ve forgotten, the Pearl Flip is a smartphone encased in a clamshell design with a small external display and an internal display with a 240 x 320 resolution. Other features include GPS mapping, a SureType keyboard, a 2-megapixel camera that’s capable of video, microSD or microSDHC card support and more.

This phone can play music and offers Bluetooth support. You can get the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 on Alltel for $79.99 with a two-year contract and a $70 rebate. The contract is for the carrier’s unlimited plan which costs $70/month.

This unlocked GSM phone is available in glacier white, cobalt blue or ruby red, so you have some aesthetic options there. And while this isn’t the newest handset in the world–it was released in 2007–it still has many features people could find use for.

It has a full QWERTY keyboard, a 320 x 320 display, a microSD card slot capable of 4GB of external storage, Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera, your choice of 64MB or 128MB of internal storage, e-mail syncing and more. There is also Google Maps support, support for Office and PDF files and a web browser is included. While no official reason for the big time sale has been released, many think it’s due to the upcoming Palm Pre.

[via Gearlog]

The touchscreen is capacitive with a 480 x 800 resolution and features a 3D interface. Other features included an 8-megapixel camera that is capable of video at up to 480p and an ISO of 1,600. The LED flash, panorama stitching and continuous shooting features make this one really special and really add to the notion that this camera could be great even outside of a phone.

With 3G support, a microSDHC card slot that can hold 32GB and on board storage of 1.5GB, you have plenty of room for all your media. You can expect the LG Viewty Smart to make its first appearance next month in Europe and then expand to other countries thereafter.

[via SlashPhone]

These new specs allow hardware builders to start working on devices that will work on the new network, which is specifically a 700MHz Long Term Evolution or LTE network. The whole idea behind releasing the specs early is to give developers enough time to come up with devices that are LTE-ready by the time the 4G network launches early next year.

Trials for the LTE network have already shown speeds of 60Mbps and would make it possible to stream HD video on your mobile device. An early 2010 release is expected for Verizon’s LTE network, but we’ll just have to wait and see if there are sufficient devices to take advantage of the improved speeds at that time.

[via GigaOm]

This date makes sense and syncs up with the Microsoft TechEd 2009 conference, which will serve as a demonstration of the new operating system for developers and other people involved in the tech industry.

There will also be special seminars on various aspects of Windows Mobile 6.5 including the gestures and touch interface. The newest version of Microsoft’s mobile platform is intended to keep them afloat in the world of handhelds where touch UIs have become so commonplace.

Zer01 is contract free, pre-paid, and thus sells unsubsidized devices. You’ll see a larger cost initially for the purchase of your phone (unless you bring your own) but you’re paying considerably less for the service overall. In addition, you can cancel when you want, so the company has to work much harder to retain your business. We’ve been seeing more and more pre-pay options in this economic climate, and the slow increase in diversity of carriers is a good thing to see.

Zer01 is using VoIP technology over existing cellular networks, and won LaptopMag’s Best of CTIA for their service, which is a pretty big deal. Not as big of a deal as SlashGear’s Best of CTIA, but I guess you have to start with something. Look for Zer01 to end beta in May, and service starting in June.

Zer01 Mobile

This phone runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 and has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard that’s arranged vertically. Though this phone is meant for texting and e-mailing primarily, it also has 3.6Mbps 3G and Wi-Fi plus assistive GPS.

Other specs include a web browser, media playback, a 528MHz processor, 256MB ROM and a microSD card slot that supports up to 8GB-sized cards. You can get the Samsung Propel Pro on AT&T now for $149.99 with a two-year contract.

The app store will launch in parts beginning in June and will feature applications for Symbian, Windows Mobile, Linux and Android. The great thing here is that any phone running on these systems will be able to access the store, regardless of their carrier or phone type.

The only real problem here is that only a small percentage of people with cell phones in South Korea have smartphones. That means they’ll have to download content on their computers and then transfer the apps to their phones. SK Telecom subscribers will have access to the store for free. An SDK is available already though a revenue model is not yet known.

[via FierceMobileContent]

The Precision Zen interface has been extended, making for a nicer look on a wider array of menus and screens including messaging. You’ll also notice collapsible menus and easier emoticon insertion abilities.

Photo browsing makes more sense now and you can also check the free memory much easier. There is one actual new feature, however, called Files. Files is a file browser that shows hierarchical views of storage and network directories for BlackBerrys on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server. This makes it possible to download files without having to e-mail them to the phone. We’re expecting BlackBerry OS 5.0 to be released sometime in May, perhaps at the RIM Wireless Enterprise Symposium.

For instance, the TouchFLO interface is customized a bit for Verizon and also features Visual Voice Mail. Also included is the VZ Navigator service, which features GPS mapping built-in. But other than these few carrier-specific modifications, the phone remains pretty much the same.

In case you need reminding, the HTC Touch Diamond features 3G, Wi-Fi, a 640 x 480 touchscreen and Windows Mobile 6.1. What’s surprising on Verizon, however, is the price tag, which is a high $300. This includes a two-year contract and a $70 rebate! You’ll be able to order this phone from Verizon starting tomorrow.

[via Crave at CNET]

Normally, the demand for consumer phones outweighed the demand for professional PDA-like devices. Thanks to the iPhone and the internet, more consumers are relying on access to information at any time during their daily routine, increasing the demand for devices that can support this sort of information addiction. As a result, normal consumers like yours-truly are looking for devices that can meet this need, and we turn to phones like the iPhone and the Palm Pre. These phones are becoming integral parts of our lives, and are extending beyond the capabilities of previous phones. It is going to get to the point where the Palm Pre will know my schedule better than I do, and will inform me when I forget a meeting or appointment.

With this capability, users are going to be relying on their phones even more, and companies are going to produce more phones with these functions. Feature phones and dumb-phones are slowly becoming more and more like their smartphone cousins as more consumers want the capabilities normally reserved for the business user. High end devices are no longer pricey luxuries for those with too much money; they’re now necessities for anyone who has a life on the internet (aka my generation and every generation after it). They’re not mobile phones anymore, they’re pocket sized computers, and the availability of the Palm Pre and others is driving a market-wide shift in demand for these feature-rich smart phones.

I got a good look at Kyocera/Sanyo’s next entry into the low-cost, high-volume market. Even it has a full QWERTY keyboard. Every new phone that AT&T launched just last week had a QWERTY keyboard. Every phone has the capability to go onto the internet, text, and send MMS (oops, sorry iPhone, you can be included in June). There are features that have become staples of the mobile phone market, and the list of these features is increasing daily. And why not? Low-end device consumers want the functionality of the more expensive phones, and slowly, the capabilities are trickling down to those less-expensive devices.

The Palm Pre and iPhone themselves are Pro-sumer devices; made for both worlds, and well suited in either. More of these phones have been popping up as manufacturers realize that there are a dwindling number of niche markets. There are basically four left: texting teenagers, internet-savy consumers, business/crackberry types, and technophobes. The first three markets can easily be satisfied by the same device with a plethora of features and capabilities that the user can customize and use to their own ends. The technophobes are going to want their simple clamshell no matter what, and there will always be simple devices. Yet we might be seeing even less variance in next-gen devices as they try to copy features that the iPhone and Palm Pre made popular.

This means that any peer-to-peer file sharing services are blocked now, so downloading movies is a no-no. The ToS actually states that several service types are no longer allowed including:

“…downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices.”

The real problem here is that such limitations could make it impossible to use totally legit applications like the CBS TV.com app for the iPhone. This isn’t just affecting the BitTorrents of the digital world. The real focus here is to stop the Sling Media SlingPlayer app, which was set to be released for the iPhone in the near future. It makes it so you can relay your TV broadcasts onto your phone and control DVR functions from your phone. There’s also new overage charges, so you’ll have to pay $0.00048/kilobit over 5GB if you’re on the 5GB DataConnect plan or $10 for an extra 100MB if you’re on the 200MB DataConnect plan.

[via Crave at CNET]

The Lotus is a flip phone and has a single click interface, providing shortcuts to frequently used applications. It also features a full QWERTY keyboard, a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and Wireless Backup. The microSD memory slot makes adding up to 12GB of storage a snap and external music controls make enjoying your tunes a breeze.

Another cool feature is the fact that music playback can continue while you’re performing other functions like texting or browsing online. The LG Lotus on Sprint will be available starting on April 19 and should cost about $100 with a two-year contract, though an official price has not yet been announced.

[via Electronista]

We don’t know any of the official specs as of yet, but what we do know is that it will be very similar to the LG HB620T, which is available currently in Europe. We can assume it will have a 240 x 320 rez screen with a 2-megapixel camera. Other features will possibly be an FM radio tuner and Bluetooth.

But with a TV tuner thrown into the mix, it’s hard to say how this one will work.The big question on everyone’s minds right now is how the TV signals will get to the phone in the first place. MediaFLO seems like a likely option, but nothing is official at the moment.

[via UnwiredView]

For starters, let’s talk about what the handsets share. Both have a 240 x 400 resolution touchscreen a both have a home button. And though their exteriors look the same, there is a lot going on inside each that’s different. For instance, we don’t know much about the S8000, but what we do know is slightly interesting. It features a 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and autofocus.

The M8000 on the other hand also has the camera but it seems to be marketed toward the music-listening crowd with a music key on the screen and a 3.5mm headset jack. Unfortunately, we don’t know anything else, but it is likely an official announcement will come sometime this spring.

[via Unwired View]

This microphone wraps around your neck like some weird futuristic necklace. But it doesn’t work by picking up the sound from your mouth. Rather, it works by picking up the vibrations as you speak at your throat. This transmits very clearly through the mic, making it easy for those you’re talking with to hear you.

So, you might look a little weird, but at least it works pretty good. There’s no information on when the Sanwa Throat Microphone will be available or how much it will cost yet, but we’ll keep you posted.

[via Coolest Gadgets]

The KM900 Arena will come with 3G support according to the FCC documents. In fact, the specifics are 850MHz and 1,900MHz WCDMA support. This means the phone will likely show up on AT&T, though that hasn’t been confirmed or denyed.

At the moment, the only firmed features are WiFi access, but there’s no indication previous information has been proven false, so you can expect a 5-megapixel camera, GPS and 8GB of storage on the Arena, plus microSDHC. We’re taking a wait and see approach with this one, but with 3G on the docket, it’s very likely this one will show up on AT&T soon.

[via Electronista]

Such stiff competition can force other mobile providers to change their entire plan pricing in order to be competitive.  Boost Mobile is the Sprint brand that offers prepaid wireless services for those who cannot be tied down to a contract. Doing really well they had 3.9 million customers at the end of September. Last year Sprint offered unlimited calling options in the $100 range and it was a success, maybe not the huge serge that was expected, but it certainly did not fail.

Even though the prices for wireless contract options have stayed about the same, the prepaid market pricing has been steadily declining.  Boost Mobile plans to market this new price point very heavily and even reach out to those who currently have contract agreements. The $50 package includes unlimited, voice, text and wireless Internet access. Most contractual agreements do not offer text and Internet in the unlimited pricing, only minutes.  Below are charts outlining the monthly expenses and running totals for each plan price.

This phone may not be the best, in fact its probably one of the cheapest working novelty phones ever. There is a big Obama logo on the back that is sure to catch the eye of people passing while you’re on a phone call. Other Obama “markings” include a distinctive Obama “O” on the main selection button and a very classy color scheme.

Getting a hold of this in the US may not be too easy as its available in Kenya through the mobile carrier miPhone. With Barack’s heritage he has become hugely popular there. Watch for it on eBay, as it should be a hot little item.

The device does most of what you’d expect it to – you can check your email on it, play media files and play games, amongst other things.  A feature that caught my eye is the phone’s ability to switch between two different home screens.  This allows you to keep one home screen for work related items and another for personal items.  Not a technological feat, by any means, but still a cool idea.

The Nokia E63 will be available, as stated, within the next few weeks.  You’ll be able to buy the device, unlocked, through various retail outlets and on Nokia’s website, www.nokiausa.com.  The price? $279.

You see, the Nokia 6208c utilizes a touchscreen, much like Nokia’s recent N97 and 5800 XpressMusic phones.  However, the 6208c is not a smartphone like the other two devices – instead, the phone operates on a version of the S40 operating system, an OS usually found on low-end devices.  The phone is included with handwriting recognition software for the touchscreen that recognizes – you guessed it – Chinese characters.  The phone has a couple cool features, namely the ability to play MP3s, the inclusion of an FM radio tuner and a standard 3.5mm audio jack.

Will this phone ever see the light of day in the United States?  Probably not, but never say never.  The Nokia 6208c is expected to hit China sometime in the first half of this year.

[via Mobile Gazette]

The Neoi 906E is packed with many features including, a camera, MP3 player, microSD card slot expandable up to 8GB. Not too much is known about this phone but what we know is the extremely small screen is capable of 62K colors, TFT 26mm x 21mm, 512MB of internal memory and 620 mAh Li battery capable of up to 300 hours standby time and 150 minutes of talk time on a 90 minute charge.

The claim that the Neoi 906E is “The World’s FIRST micro sized Java J2Me Hand Phone” may be all this handset has going for it. To better incite customers, they are offering a free CoomSuite Chat account and free client for their PC at home and work to the First 1,000 users to register with NEOI with a valid SIM card and Phone number. Not sure where your going to pick one of these up as there is a 500 minimum purchase number.

An Egyptian company launched a mobile 3G service in North Korea today after winning contracts to build the network in a country where private mobile phones and Internet access are banned. Orascom Telecom is investing $400 million in network infrastructure and license fees to make this network a reality.

Orascom was the first foreign telecommunications company in North Korea to gain a commercial telecommunications license. The company now has exclusive rights for four years, with a license to operate for 25 years.  North Korea’s Pyongyang government severely limits information resources such as Internet access to government and military officials.

Orascom intends to cover the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, and as many of the major cities as possible during the next few years. It is unclear why exactly the North wants a cell phone network other than to liberalize the economy. Mobile phone service was mysteriously cut short on April 22, 2004, after an explosion on a train at a railway station in Ryongchon that killed 160 people and wounded an estimated 1,300 others.