At last week’s Games Convention in Leipzig, Sony announced more details of its soon-to-be released VoIP solution for the PlayStation Portable. “Go!Messenger”, developed in partnership with telco BT, adds video and voice calls, as well as instant messaging to the device using its built-in WiFi connection.

According to BT’s press release, the service will first launch in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy this January, “before extending its reach to more than 100 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.” No mention of North America, so as with Sony’s recently announced DVR solution for the PS3, U.S. customers look set to miss out.

Now what will Google do?

The Federal Communications Commission voted today to approve rules governing an auction of 700MHz wireless spectrum that could alter the U.S. wireless industry’s competitive landscape. The commission voted to give consumers more choice and freedom with their cell phones and wireless devices. The “open access” provision will allow customers to use whatever phone and software they want on one-third of the network to be auctioned.

Now that the rules are finalized, possible bidders in the auction include Verizon, AT&T, Vodafone, and maybe a new player, Google.

The iPhone is far from perfect, but it has potential to change the U.S. mobile-phone market unlike any smart phone/PDA/cell phone I’ve used.

Whether you like the iPhone or not isn’t important. What Apple has done is succeed in wresting an unprecedented amount of control from a carrier — in this case AT&T — in designing the device, determining its applications and mindset of use, and how to price the phone and service. At a minimum, the iPhone could impact future design for all phone manufacturers as they offer more features and functions — and a new platform — based on the way people are living their digital lives. At the extreme, the iPhone could inch the powerful carriers in the U.S. mobile-phone industry to update their 1980s business models, sort of like what the iPod is doing to the music industry.

Apple, Nokia, and Google are already working toward breaking down barriers.

One thing about the iPhone. After nearly a month on the planet, there are already hundreds — thousands! millions! — of aggregators, blogs, critic and user reviews, tips and tricks, hacks, applications, podcasts and video podcasts about the little phone that could.

I’m overwhelmed. I’ve been on safari, hunting resources on the iPhone, and I’ve collected a few links and applications of interest along the way.

This list, like others I’ve seen, is far from complete as new sites and applications are added daily. Please feel free to jump in and add your own favorites to the comment section.

Here goes.

TiVo, front-loading washing machines, Nike shoes, the Xbox. All are products someone, somewhere has looked forward to buying and using. Yet I don’t recall people weighing in on the features and functions of these, or any other product, as loudly and as passionately as they have with the Apple iPhone.

This is due, in part, because people have a love-hate relationship with their cell phones, which they carry with them every day. And because they use their phones daily, features and functions are of interest, especially when it comes to the iPhone.

After nearly a month of use, I take a look at some of the features and function of the iPhone, noting what I like and dislike, and weighing in on issues people are talking about.

Skype was touted as one of the killer-apps for Nokia’s newest version of its WiFi Internet tablet, the N800, and yet the Voice-over-IP software was noticeable by its absence when the device was released earlier this year — although support for Gizmo and Google Talk was included. However, that’s set to change.

Reporting from Digital Experience in New York, jkOnTheRun’s Kevin Tofel stopped by at Nokia’s booth where he saw a a demonstration of Skype running on the N800. Better still, the software should be available for download sometime in July. On the downside, however, they’ll be no video conferencing support, despite the device’s built-in webcam.

With all media attention focused on the iPhone, it’s worth mentioning that there’s almost zero chance of VoIP functionality coming to Apple’s device any time soon.

Related post: iPhone: exploring the limits of third-party apps