Google Mapps 4.2 gives bike route directions and maps.

Bike enthusiasts got a treat this week from Google with the release of an app for biking route directions. Called Google Maps 4.2, the app, is available at the Google Android apps marketplace and is compatible only with phones running the Google Android operating system vesion 1.6 and higher.
The apps can work either in the direction mode with the touch of the bicycle icon on the screen, or as one of the layers of the Maps app.
In directions mode, the app will give you a route favoring roads that are considered good for cycling, roads with bike lanes and bike paths.
When open as a layer of the Google Maps, the app will highlight bike-only trails showing them in dark green, while showing roads with bike lanes in light green, and roads Google considers good for cycling get a green dotted line.
Google is said to get the information it displays in the app from different sources like bike organizations, bike maps, municipalities and riders who send in routes.
At this point, the data stored is said to cover nearly 200 cities all in the U.S.

For more, see CNET.com

Square is a free alternative to accept credit card payments through smartphones.

For business people who lack the resources to use a traditional credit card processing service to accept credit card payments, or people who conduct most of their business on the go, there is now an option to take credit card payments if they own a smart phone.A startup called Square.com launched this past December, has devised a mobile payment system that works through a smartphone. Vendors can sign-up at SquareUp.com and receive for free a small credit-card reader that is to be inserted into the audio jack of the phone. When customers make a purchase, they swipe their credit cards into the reader which would authenticate the card through the phone and let the customers sign their names on the screen to complete the transaction.

Available at first for iPhone and other Apple mobile devices, the system is now available for Android based phones.

According to appscout.com, Square charges a flat fee of 2.75% plus 15 cents for every swipe, and 3.5% plus 15 cents for any charge where a card is not present but the number is keyed in.

For more, see appscout.com

Skype internet calling is coming to Verizon Wireless soon.

Verizon Wireless has announced last week that beginning in March, it will offer free Internet -calling service on some of its smart phones. But the offer comes with a catch as the users will need to subscribe to a Verizon data and voice plan. If users decide to settle with Verizon cheapest data and voice plan, it will cost them a minimum of $70 a month ($40 for 450 voice minutes and $30 for a data plan.)
The Skype app will made available in late March to nine smart phones on the Verizon network, including Blackberry models and Google's Android models, according to the Wall Street Journal.

For more, see WSJ.com

Weather Underground offers an excellent mobile forecast tool.

With the latest winter snow storms, it is not a bad idea to have a reliable weather forecaster tool right on your cell phone. But with the plethora of weather apps available, it can be confusing to decide which one is right for you.
Two weeks ago, the New York Times reviewed and gave high marks to the mobile Web page of a weather site called Weather Underground, generally refered to as Weather Underground Lite.
According to the Times, this is not technically an app, but can be made to one thanks to the shortcut features on today's phones.
The site is accessible at m.wund.com from a cell phone and it delivers an easy to read weather report and forecast. Still according to the New York Times, you can link to more sophisticated features like an animated radar map. But one downsize is that weather Underground works better with some phones than others. Google's Android phones do not make it unto the former list. On the other hand, the Weather Underground version for iPhone called i.wund .com, contains extra links and features.

For more, see NYTimes.com