Business News Holding

Category: smartphone

  • Pantech Perception – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

    The Pantech Perception from Verizon is a good, midtier Android smartphone. First off, let's point out the most obvious draw- the price tag: the Pantech Perception is a pretty impressive phone for it's price of only $99.99.

    However, the Perception is a Verizon exclusive smartphone and users would have to switch contracts if they wanted to use this new phone. Designed to react to motion, users can answer phone calls, scroll through contacts and change their playlist by swiping their hand over the screen. The Perception also offers a wide 4.8" HD screen with 1280×720 pixel resolution for superior density in brightness and colors, as well as an 8 megapixel camera and 2 megapixel front camera. The Pantech Perception also boasts a very long battery life compared to other smartphones on the market. The Pantech Perception is runs Android so users can download a plethora of apps available on Google Play.

    Unfortunately it's not all sunshine and butterflies for the Pantech Perception. The camera is not great and the device is rather large, that can either be good or bad. Some people like big phones, some might find this one to be a bit bulky however, at 5.2 inches tall by 2.7 inches wide.

    Pantech Perception is a good base phone for those looking for a standard Android 4.0 smartphone with the basic features, and those who do not have any intention of breaking the bank. The worst feature on the phone by far is the camera, so if that is your least priority on a smartphone, this may be a good, affordable option.

  • iPhone 5Sā€™s Latest Fingerprint Reader Coming Soon

    The iPhone 5S’s latest fingerprint reader has been mentioned in the news a lot these day. It is the latest addition to the parade of features offered by Apple although Samsung and others competitors may have their say about this. Though it has been been given much hype and has already been publicized, fans and spectators must wait until fall before the fingerprint reader will be unveiled.

    For panicky watchers, they will have to wait until the final release is official. Perhaps, there could be changes in the latest software feature that the giant smartphone innovator will reveal during the WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) in June. Some say that the new iPhone might take longer than usual to be released since there could be more updates to be made. The idea of the fingerprint reader innovation was acquired from AuthenTec which is Apple’s security supplier.

    Adding fuel to the fire, some sources say that soon the “I” on iPhone would mean identity. Since many users know about Apple’s inclination for solving problems, the company is trying to venture into solving digital identity. Experts say that this might be part of a grand strategy. Undoubtedly, phones are great part of many people’s lives and some individuals cannot function well without them. Apple is up for the challenge and will soon launch the fingerprint technology on their phones.

    Experts added that this idea will become at a trillion-dollar valuation by 2020. On the other hand, there is one thing that intrigues sources. It is how Apple will approach this digital identity feature because they cannot figure out if it will work like the FB +2.68% and GOOG -0.96% identity systems.

    Apple says that it will allow the user to be in full control of security and how they will handle it. This could work like the slide to unlock feature in many iPhones. It is said that the latest security feature will allow people to choose the level of security they want as well as what situations or maybe even locations in which they would allow identity using their Smartphone. If this idea works, it might be worth the wait for users. Everyone will have to wait and see what Apple is up to this time.

  • Nokia Asha 210, the first mobile with a WhatsApp button

    Nokia is introducing Asha 210, a brand new social smartphone that is proud to be the first smartphone that has its own WhatsApp button. According to Nokia, it is described as the phone that allows you to "have your social life at your fingertips."

    Nokia Asha 210 is considered a budget smartphone and it targets people that enjoy using social networks, but don't want to spend a fortune for a phone. Asha 210 has 2.4-inch display, a QWERTY keyboard, it supports Wi-Fi and 2G connections, while it also has a 2MP camera. It is available in yellow, cyan and magenta and it has been significantly advertised for its unique button for the famous WhatsApp application. WhatsApp is an app that allows you to chat with your friends easily and without any cost, either with calls, or messages. It is available for iOS, Android, Windows phone and Blackberry, which increases the possibilities of chatting with your friends for free. Nokia has already announced that WhatsApp will be free for its users, despite other platforms selling it at a minimum cost.

    "The Nokia Asha 210 really stands out giving super-social consumers new ways to express their personalities through design, color and innovations like the world's first WhatsApp button," explains Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "It has been designed to allow people to easily update their social networks, stay in touch with friends and share user created content."

    What is even more important is that the Asha 210 is going to have a starting price of $72, while it is expected during the second quarter of 2013. As it seems, Nokia is trying to focus at a young age audience, trying to persuade them with the social integration, the beautiful colors and the low price. Asha 210 has already been discussed a lot and this might be the start of a successful phone. 

  • Quickoffice: Mobile File Editing Software Has Arrived

    Being able to share files and add new ones on a mobile device is a process that took a long time to happen but has now officially emerged with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides in a convenient platform.

    Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are a very effective way to share files and add new ones, however, not everyone has converted to the new trend. It is only a convenient process in the business world if everyone associated with the file is able to see it in the form it is in, otherwise, it is a hassle trying to convert from one form to another. Google Apps for Business has started working on the issue of some people being behind in the technology department by developing Quickoffice for the iPad, iPhone, and Android devices to edit Microsoft Office documents.

    Quickoffice was actually invented in 1997 to make Microsoft Office products that were compatible with Palm OS (which is now webOS), Blackberry, Android, iOS, Palm Pilot and Symbian to name a few. Quickoffice was not only the first to be able to translate a file into a mobile form, but it also allowed the file to be edited. Google purchased Quickoffice in 2012 which was an incredible step toward solving the issue of sharing, adding and editing files in the mobile form. This makes it possible for working businesspeople to edit files that need editing while on the go. Whether waiting for a plane at the airport, running to catch a taxi or even taking a quick lunch, Google Apps for Business is helping the busy businessperson out.

    Not only is Quickoffice compatible with Microsoft Office files and Google Docs, Sheets and Slides files, but it is also compatible with programs such as Dropbox, SugarSync, and Evernote. This makes Quickoffice even more universal to even more users.

    When a business is in need of a program that is universal with office type files, Quickoffice is a great program to choose. With the mobility it offers being available on iPads, iPhones, and Android devices, it makes it even easier for more people to use efficiently.

  • Weve and PayPal among the 150+ Mobile Payments experts to meet in London, 23-24 April, 2013

    Weve and PayPal are among the top speakers confirmed for Mobile Payments and Value Added Services, Europe’s biggest mobile payments event, taking place 23-24 April, London. This event looks to unite attendees from major banks, MNOs, payment providers and retailers, in order to debate and discuss how the evolution of mobile technology can be used to cash in on the payments sector.

    Juniper Research predicts global mobile payment transactions will be worth $1.3 trillion over the next five years. The number of people buying physical goods remotely via their mobile handsets is expected to increase by nearly 50% between now and 2015 while 78% of POS terminals in Europe are forecasted to be NFC-enabled by 2017.

    In light of this, many companies are changing their strategies in order exploit the growing adoption of mobile payments. However, the growth in opportunity has also led to the rapid rise in the development differing of payment technologies, and plethora of solutions on the market.  Mobile Payments and Value Added Services will provide a forum to compare these payment solutions and help companies’ assess the benefits of value added services to their consumers.

    The agenda is set to answer the critical questions facing mobile payment professionals today; how banks can preserve their place in the payments value chain; in what way payments can generate additional revenue streams for MNOs; what opportunities exist for the Mobile Wallet; whether one payments solution win out, or is there room for  Cloud Payments, NFC and the rest? Speakers confirmed to speak so far include PayPal, Tesco, Visa, EE, and BNP Paribas among many others.  With attendees from Best Buy, American Express, John Lewis and more

    Event Director, Aoife Gaffney, VP Payments at M For Mobile, outlined what the conference would provide in a recent interview.  “After many years of talking about NFC, we have now seen a variety of other solutions explode onto the scene, using a range of technologies, all competing to reach mass consumer adoption. With forecasts for the payments industry in the billions, in order to profit and remain competitive, it is crucial that companies forge the right partnerships and keep themselves informed to stay ahead of the curve –  that is what Mobile Payments and Value Added Services will allow them to do.’”

    More information on Mobile Payments and Value Added Services can be found here.

    Contact
    Aoife Gaffney
    VP Location
    M For Mobile (Formerly NFC Insight & TheWhereBusiness)
    Direct: +44 (0) 207-375-7521
    US Toll Free: 1800-814-3459 ext. 7521
    Canada Toll Free: 1866-996-1235 ext. 7521
    E: [email protected]
    Twitter: wheresgaff

    About M for Mobile
    M for Mobile publishes news and events for those involved in the mobile industry, primarily mobile technology. Through high-end B2B conferences, we connect people across the industry, provide market leading intelligence and enable companies to capitalise on emerging business opportunities in location-based services, tracking, NFC, mobile advertising and mobile payments and much more.

    M for Mobile was created in February 2012 by uniting two established conference brands; NFC Insight and TheWhereBusiness. Through continuous independent research with hundreds of companies and dedicated journalists, our news portal keeps you one step ahead of an industry in flux, and our events provide key networking forums for the industry.

    Through an unusually high level of support from leading companies we provide opportunities to connect with typically unobtainable executives. Over the past two years we’ve brought together senior execs from companies such as Google, Fedex, Ogilvy, Yahoo!, MasterCard, Nokia, Apple, Microsoft, MTV, T-Mobile, AT&T, TomTom, BBC, Orange, Visa, BMW, Vodafone and many, many more!

  • "Facebook phone": HTC First to arrive with Facebook Home

    Facebook made another big announcement, this time about Facebook Home, an Android launcher that will be pre-loaded on HTC First. Although Facebook did not create its own phone, it managed to grab our attention with something between an operating system and an application that manages to turn an Android phone into a Facebook phone.

    According to Mark Zuckerberg,

    “We’re not building a phone; and we’re not building an operating system, but we are building something that’s a whole lot deeper than an app.”

    HTC First will be the first Android phone that will have Facebook Home pre-installed and it is expected on April 12th by AT&T, at the price of $99.99. It is described by Peter Chou of HTC as the "ultimate social phone" and if you are a Facebook fan you won't be disappointed. It will feature LTE connectivity, it will have a ualcomm dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, a 4.3-inch display and it will run on Android Jelly Bean 4.1. What's more, it will be available in 4 colors, in black, white, red and light blue.

    Facebook Home will be a completely new experience, allowing you to connect with your friends faster than ever. If you also love Instagram, except for Facebook, you need to know that HTC First will be the first phone that will have Instagram pre-loaded at the device.

    As it seems, Facebook is targetinh a young mobile audience, trying to increase its audience, but also its revenue from the mobile market. HTC and At&T will also benefir from such a big collaboration with Facebook, while Android must be happy leaving iOS behind on such a social innovation.

    Whether you'd be interested in buying such a phone or not, HTC First was indeed the first Facebook phone and it cannot be ignored. At least for the time being. 

  • Facebook phone: Ovum comments ahead of Facebook's announcement

    Ahead of Facebook’s announcement today, Adam Leach, principal device analyst at Ovum provides his perspective on how Facebook should move forward.

    Adam Leach, principal device analyst, Ovum:

    “Today Facebook will announce its ‘new home on Android’. There has been much speculation about what this will be, ranging from introducing a more deeply integrated Facebook app for Android all the way to launching its own “Facebook” phone.

    “But why is Facebook doing anything at all? The company wants to increase its engagement with its users and in particular its users accessing the service over mobile. To achieve this Facebook needs a mechanism to deliver its own services to a portfolio of devices. If this can be achieved with an Android Facebook skin or a co-branded phone then this will be better for Facebook as it avoids upsetting its current phone and platform partners and removes the immediate need to launch its own branded devices.

    “Whether Facebook needs to launches its own-branded devices depends on how ambitious Facebook is in moving into new consumer services which it currently does not provide. Facebook currently relies on the good will of its partners to carry the Facebook service. If it intends to move further into delivering digital services and go head to head with its consumer tech rivals such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon. This will bring Facebook into conflict with its current partners and will require the company to have more control over the platform and the devices it delivers the experience to.”

    Image: Michal Bonikowski

  • LG Optimus L5II begins its global rollout

    LG has announced the gradual global launching of Optimus L5II, starting from Brazil and moving to South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Africa.

    LG Optimus L5II is considered an average-priced smartphone and it focuses on the emerging markets for the time being. It has a single-core 1GHz processor, it runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, it has a 4” display, an internal memory of 4GB, a 512MB RAM and a camera of 5MP.

    LG adds in their announcement:

    "New UX enhancements include Quick Button, which enables users to customize the Hotkey to launch various functions such as QuickMemo, camera, internet, music or any other app. Quick Button is a versatile feature that eliminates the need for tapping repetitively through menus. For example, the Quick Button can be programmed so that in camera preview mode, pressing the button captures the photo and activates QuickMemo at the same time so editing and sending images can be performed with less time and effort."

    According to  Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company:

    “We believe that the Optimus L5II will prove to be irresistible to people looking for a feature-rich smartphone that complements their unique and individual styles.”

    Although there are no details about its pricing, we can tell from the specifications that it would be quite affordable, which make it ideal for customers with the basic expectations from a smartphone. If you are among them, this phone is for you.

    Optimus L5II key specifications:
    • Operating System: Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2
    • Processor: 1 GHz Single Core
    • Display: 4.0-inch WVGA
    • Memory: 4 GB / 512 MB RAM
    • Camera: 5.0MP with LED Flash
    • Battery: 1,700mAh
    • Size: 117.5 x 62.2 x 9.2mm (Single SIM) / 118.4 x 62.2 x 9.2mm (Dual SIM)
    • Colors: Indigo Black, White, Pink, Titan

  • Samsung to launch a 5.9-inch Galaxy Note III?

    Samsung is already planning the release of the following Galaxy Note, hoping that it will be another big success, coming slightly bigger than the previous one.

    According to The Korea Times, Galaxy Note III will be of 5.9 inches, while Galaxy Note II was 5.5 inches, and it is expected during the year. Phablets are very popular lately, with an expanding group of customers looking for a gadget that is not just a phone, but is also not a tablet. Hence, Samsung knows very well that the very successful Galaxy Note II needs to be replaced by an equally successful gadget. Still according to The Korea Times, Galaxy Note III will sport an 8-core Exynos processor, in order to meet with all our needs for speed and performance.

    Although we are not sure yet whether the rumors are true, we can assume that there is a need for a competitive Galaxy Note, while there is also a trend of creating slightly bigger gadgets. After all, there was another rumor that the Galaxy Note III will feature a 6.3-inch screen. It wasn't that long ago when Samsung launched Galaxy Note II, selling within a few months 10 million units. This was a great accomplishment for the company, which gave them even bigger credit in the phablet market, but this won't necessarily last forever. The competition is higher than ever, with ZTE and Huawei having already released phablets of similar size, trying to win the customers that are looking for more affordable gadgets. Thus, except for the constant threat of Apple, there are also new competitors, who seem ready to claim their percentage of the market.

    It is now Samsung's turn to prove us one more time that they know how to create impressive products. And the first rumors that are related to Galaxy Note III don't seem bad at all. Let's wait for the announcements.

  • New rumor about a cheaper iPhone coming out in August

    We never run out of iPhone-related rumors and this month could not be an exception. Although we have heard of various rumors lately, some of them keep coming around, which might actually show a sign of validity in them.

    According to the Chinese tech site "EMSOne", Apple is planning to release a cheaper version of the iPhone during August, in order to attract the emerging markets and eventually increase their reach. It is rumored that this affordable version of the iPhone will cost almost half the usual price of the popular smartphone, around $330, which makes it very appealing to a wider audience. Of course it won't be exactly the same as the more expansive version, but this doesn't mean that it still won't be an iPhone. In fact, the only rumor that we currently hear is that it will be made of polycarbonate, which is not a significant disadvantage, at least not for those that anticipate to buy their first iPhone at a lower price.

    Although we are not certain yet about this rumor and whether Apple really plans to release a cheaper version of an iPhone, the arguments are taking placing all over the Internet. The advocates of this rumor believe that iPhone was overpriced for no obvious reason up to now, which makes this release ideal for them. On the other hand, Apple's big fans wouldn't be keen on such a release, since they feel that iPhones are losing their value by becoming cheaper.

    Even if Apple really intends to release a cheaper iPhone, Apple's fans should not worry. They won't be neglected, since a new iPhone is on its way too, sooner or later. Thus, Apple could target some big new markets and also maintain their loyal fans throughout the world. It does make sense to us, but what about Apple's point of view?

    We just have to wait and see.