Contract manufacturers—companies that produce electronic products for clients who own the world’s most famous brands—are the unsung heroes, the quiet movers of the consumer electronics industry. They churn out day in and day out endless strings of gadgets and devices that consumers use to play their MP3 files, take pictures, send SMS, connect to the internet, or call their friends.

For quite some time now, Taiwan’s nameless, relatively unknown companies have been globally recognized for making quality electronics at friendly costs. This reputation has enabled these companies to establish a close relationship with Apple, one of the computer industry’s icons. Taiwanese contract manufacturers have been manufacturing Apple’s ubiquitous iPod MP3 players for quite some time now.

Now, this relationship seems to be certain to last a lot longer with the iPhone.

Taiwanese manufacturers might be basking in IT glory courtesy of the iPhone’s coming, but South Korea’s LG Electronics Co. is all set to release soon a new mobile phone that comes with a touch screen display that looks and works like that of Apple’s much hyped iPhone.

Manufactured in partnership with Italy’s fashion brand, the 600-euro Prada Phone will go on sale in much of Europe in February, and comes to Asian shores in March, way ahead of the iPhone.

The Devil wears a Prada phone?

Leading internet phone service provider Skype is set to offer domestic call plans in 24 countries and in Hong Kong. The calling plans will see consumers paying a monthly subscription and a connection fee. Local phone companies may have to re-examine their pricing policies once they learn that Skype’s call plans will not include per-minute charges.

Unfortunately (for consumers, fortunately for local phone companies), the name of our beloved country does not appear on Skype’s list of proposed markets.

Advanced Access Content System, an industry group tasked to develop copy-protection software for next-generation DVD platforms, plans to investigate reports that a number of hackers have found a way to circumvent its technology.

Designed to protect both Blu-ray and HD DVD high-definition DVDs, the DVD-viewing software has been attacked by hackers. InterVideo Inc., distributor of the software, has revised the software to eliminate further risks of hacking.

Calling 911 to report a crime or call for emergency assistance might be passé for New Yorkers who want to contribute to the city government’s efforts to fight criminality. A high-tech initiative announced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg empowers consumers with mobile phones with cameras to send photos and videos to the city’s emergency call centers.

Residents who might witness a crime in progress need only take a video or a photo with their mobile phones and send it to the call center or online to www.nyc.gov. The police or emergency service personnel will take it from there.

I have always believed that there is more to the mobile phone than forwarding inane jokes and heavily edited, fake, nude celebrity photos to friends and associates. Fortunately, some local companies and agencies view the mobile phone in the same light and have been using this mobile device for fund-raising and public awareness campaigns.

While some civil rights activists might feel uncomfortable with the NYC crime-reporting initiative using the cellular phone, it cannot be denied that the ingenious initiative might be able to help deter some crimes after all.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT. (For feedback: adlfrancis@gmail.com)