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Category: smartphone

  • SPB TV for Windows Mobile Smartphones Gets a Major Update

    SPB Software has updated the Windows Mobile version of its flagship application SPB TV to version 2.0. Due to support from advertising revenues the program is now free-of-charge and subscription-free. Ads featured in SPB TV only last as long as channel buffering takes.

    According to SPB, in addition to existing features that include quick channel previews, a TV guide for more than 150 channels in over 20 languages, picture-in-picture mode, fast channel launching and switching, the new version offers also a video on demand option.

    Another enhancement is the Advanced Video Codec (H.264) support which improves video quality. “As a result even with substantial lower bitrates the resolution is strongly improved,” as the company claims. SPB TV 2.0 also allows users with low speed mobile network connections to watch TV.

    SPB TV also works on iPhone, Symbian, Android, BlackBerry and WebOS smartphones. The company has informed that last month SPB TV reached the one million users milestone.

    SPB says that mobile TV watching behaviour differs across countries. For example 71% of US users use SPB TV via 3G while in Greece and Poland only 10% of users use 3G and others use WiFi.

    "Taking all the statistics and feedback collected from our users into consideration, we created the new version of SPB TV, which not only offers our users better video quality but is also available to all Windows Mobile users absolutely free," said Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, CEO of SPB Software.

    SPB TV is also available as a solution for mobile operators. SPB TV Mobile Operator’s Solution allows carriers to couple SPB’s proven solution with their own infrastructure and various subscription models. Three mobile operators worldwide have already deployed SPB TV based mobile TV solutions.

    Related articles
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  • iPhone 4 is Here

    The iPhone 4 has been finally announced at the WWDC 2010. Steve Jobs himself revealed the new smartphone by Apple: the next iPhone is a 9.3mm thick (a quarter thinner than the iPhone 3GS; “the thinnest smartphone on the planet”, as Jobs said), has glass on front and back (“for better optical quality and scratch resistance”), and stainless steel around. It uses the stainless steel band as part of the antenna system.

    “It’s the most precise thing we’ve ever made,” Apple CEO said.

    iPhone 4 is powered by the A4 chip (designed ”in house”) and comes with two built-in cameras (one on the front and one on the back with an LED flash), two mics (one for a noise cancellation), micro-SIM (“we needed the space!"), 802.11n WiFi, GPS, compass, accelerometer, Quadband HSDPA/HSUPA, 7.2Mbps and up to 32GB of storage.

    The display is a huge innovation: based on new IPS technology ("quite a bit better than OLED"), the 3.5 inch, 960 x 640 Retina Display displays 326 pixels per inch (four times as many pixels as in any standard display) giving us really sharp text and pictures. The contrast ratio is 800:1 (4x better than the 3GS).

    Since the battery is now a bit bigger, its life has been improved. Apple says there is 7 hours of 3G talk, 6 hours of 3G browsing, 10 hours of WiFi browsing, 10 hours of video, 40 hours of music and 300 hours of standby.

    Another new piece of hardware is a gyroscope with pitch, roll, and yaw. It provides 6-axis motion sensing and features new CoreMotion APIs for extremely precise positioning. "We’re adding a 3 axis gyro, and we tied the gyro and accelerometer, compass, and gyro together for six axis. It’s perfect for gaming," Jobs said.

    Back camera has gone from 3 to 5 MP. Apple is using something that’s new to smarpthones — a back side illuminated sensor (giving more light to the camera). There’s a 5X digital zoom, tap to focus, and LED flash built in.

    Camera also does HD 720p (at 30 frames per second) video recording. It supports tap to focus and allows us to edit videos right on the phone. It also has 1-click sharing and the LED flash will stay on for the HD video recording. There is also iMovie coming to the iPhone for $4.99 (“if we approve it,” Jobs joked).

    iPhone 4 will also feature "FaceTime" video calling. It works between iPhone 4 devices, doesn’t require any setting-up and works anywhere there is WiFi. “It’s WIFI only in 2010. We need to work a little bit with our providers,” Jobs said. He added that Apple is going to make FaceTime and open industry standard.

    Apple has renamed the iPhone OS. Now it’s just iOS 4." Becuase it’s on iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone,” Apple CEO said. He also said that 100 millionth iOS device will be sold this month. "There is definitely a market for your applications," Jobs added.

    As announced earlier this year, new iOS 4 features include Multitasking for third party apps; Folders to better organize and access apps; improved Mail with a unified inbox, fast inbox switching and threaded messages; enhanced Enterprise support with better data protection, mobile device management and wireless app distribution.

    Apple has also added Bing to the iPhone for search (“Microsoft has done a great job on this,” Jobs said). Google will still be the default, but now we’ll have choice of Google, Yahoo, or Bing.

    Developers will get a Golden Master Candidate release of iOS4 today.

    Apple is also bringing iBooks to the iPhone with the iPhone 4. It has the same bookshelf as on the iPad, the same ability to read a PDF and comes with the same controls, highlighting, notes, and bookmarking. We can download the same book to all our devices at no extra charge (“Buy it on your iPad, download to your iPhone”)! In addition, iBooks will automatically and wirelessly sync our current place, bookmarks, and notes across all our devices.

    On July 1st Apple will also start providing iAds to all iOS 4 devices. “Why are we doing this? To help our developers earn money to continue to create free and low-cost apps for users,” Jobs said. According to him, they are trying to combine “the emotion of video with the interactivity of the Web."

    Apple sells and hosts the ads, so developers just have to tell them where to put the ads. And devs get paid 60 percent of the revenue. The company started selling ads eight weeks ago to: Nissan, Citi, Unilever, AT&T, Chanel, GE, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Geico, Campbells, Sears, JCPenney, Target, Best Buy, DirecTV, TBS Network and Disney. "We’ve got advertisers committing to $60m," Jobs said.

    Price and availability
    iPhone 4 comes in two colors: black and white. 16GB model is for $199, and 32GB model for $299. Old 3GS is now $99

    Jobs said that AT&T is going to make an “incredibly generous upgrade offer: if your contract expires at any time in 2010, you can upgrade to the iPhone 4. You can get it up to six months early."

    The new iPhone will be on sale June 24th. Pre orders begin June 15th. Apple will ship iPhone 4 in US and four other countries on the first day (U.K., Germany, France, Japan). In July they’re shipping in 18 countries more. By September it will ship in 88 countries. "Our fastest roll out ever," Jobs said.

    iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and iPod touch users can upgrade to iOS 4 for free starting June 21.

    Reed Hastings from Netflix, Mark Pincus from Zygna and Karthik Bala from Activision were also on stage announcing that Netflix, Farmville and new Guitar Hero will be coming to the iPhone.

  • Motorola Milestone XT720 Announced

    Motorola has announced MILESTONE XT720, one of the world’s slimmest 8 Megapixel Android smartphones and the first to have a Xenon Flash. This sleek (10.9mm), capacitive touch Android 2.1 phone also features a high definition video experience and enhanced media and mobile internet capabilities.

    It offers 3.7 inch, WVGA (480X854) display, 10x digital zoom, 720p HD camcorder and comes with 8GB microSD card (included inbox; expandable up to 32GB) as well as with a smart image capture (includes easy panorama, face detection, multi-shot (six shots in a row), face filter, red eye reduction and camera shake prevention).

    According to Motorola, MILESTONE XT720 is designed to deliver high speed web-browsing and it has the capacity to support up to eight open browser windows.

    A suite of Google mobile applications including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube are also integrated onto the device, as well as Motorola’s MOTONAV turn by turn navigation.

    The new Motorola also supports management of multiple accounts and document editing.

    Ralf Gerbershagen, vice president and general manager for Motorola’s Mobile Devices business in Western Europe said, "MILESTONE XT720 is one of the most powerful phones in Motorola’s current smartphone range. Slim, sophisticated and technically savvy, MILESTONE XT720 is a high performance device designed for those who are actively engaged in both their work and social lives.

    "With MILESTONE XT720, Motorola has taken yet another step towards eliminating the barriers for consumers to creating and consuming media on the go."

  • Verizon to Build 4G LTE Network in Rural America

    Verizon Wireless is aggressively building its 4G LTE network across the same footprint that is currently covered by its nationwide 3G network, which – according to the company — covers more than 90% of the U.S. population.

    The company has just informed that, “in order to provide access to this 4G LTE network to more of the U.S. population living in rural areas,” they plan to work with rural companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core LTE equipment and 700MHz spectrum.

    Verizon is seeking companies that can assist in bringing 4G LTE service to rural areas that currently lack Verizon Wireless coverage. According to the company, they may work with rural companies that have towers and backhaul capabilities, even if those companies are not currently wireless operators.

    Verizon plans to launch their 4G LTE network in 25 to 30 markets late in 2010, covering approximately 100 million people. They say they’ll double that in 2012. They also plan to cover their entire existing 3G footprint with 4G LTE by the end of 2013.

    Verizon’s 4G LTE network will be backward-compatible with their existing 3G network. That means the two networks will co-exist and services will be integrated between LTE and our 3G Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Rev. network.

    The company claims that with Verizon Wireless’ 10 + 10 MHz implementation, LTE will be supporting average data rates per user of 5-12 Mbps in the forward link, and 2-5 Mbps in the reverse link. LTE will enable video application on the downlink as well as uplink – including, but not limited to video-sharing, surveillance, conferencing and streaming in higher definition than is possible with existing 3G technology today.

    Related articles
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    AIRCOM: LTE Not the Only Option for Mobile Operators Today
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  • BlackBerry Bold 9650 Coming to Verizon

    Verizon announced that the BlackBerry Bold 9650 will be available for online ordering from Verizon beginning June 3 and in Verizon stores beginning June 10.

    The new BlackBerry Bold is the first global phone from Verizon to support GlobalAccess Connect, allowing customers to tether their BlackBerry Bold to a notebook or netbook and use it as a modem for wireless internet access.

    Key features:

    • Optical trackpad for easy and fluid navigation
    • Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
    • Push to Talk feature – allows customers to leverage Verizon’s 3G network for instant two-way communication with up to 50 people
    • VZ Navigator version 6 – gives customers access to free mapping and integration with Bing to sort searches by relevance and a new option to choose day, week or monthly subscriptions
    • VZ Navigator Global capabilities – Provides turn-by-turn directions and maps in English while navigating through more than 20 destinations

    Additional specifications:

    • Mobile e-mail and messaging capabilities
    • 2.45" high-resolution display (480 x 360 resolution at 245 ppi)
    • 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, variable zoom, image stabilization, autofocus and video recording
    • support for the Bluetooth Stereo Audio Profile (A2DP/AVCRP)
    • BlackBerry Media Sync
    • Support for BlackBerry App World
    • 512 MB Flash memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB microSD HC cards (a 2 GB card is pre-installed)
    • Full HTML Web browser, streaming audio and video via RTSP
    • Built-in GPS with support for location-based applications and services as well as geotagging
    • Support for high-speed EV-DO Rev. A networks in North America as well as single band UMTS/HSPA (2100 MHz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks abroad
    • 1400 mAhr battery

    The BlackBerry Bold 9650 will be available for order for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. A non-camera version of the phone will also be available for order online beginning June 3.

    GlobalAccess Connect plans are available for $65 monthly access for 5 GB allowance in the US and Canada ($0.05/MB overage) and 100 MB allowance in select countries ($5.12/MB overage). There is also a $155 monthly access option that offers 5 GB allowance in the United States and Canada and 200 MB allowance in select countries, with the same overage rates as the $65 monthly option.

  • Cortado Delivers Mobile Desktop Solution for Android

    Cortado has announced that it now offers its Cortado Workplace, a free cloud desktop solution for mobile applications, for Android OS.

    Cortado Workplace allows users to remotely store, access, view and manage documents through a smartphone (BlackBerry, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Android devices are already on board), PC or Mac. The solution provides users with a 1GB online storage space where documents can be saved using a mobile file manager.

    In addition, documents can be printed to any local or network printer. In order to use the printer, the user simply needs to connect, through Cortado Workplace, with the relevant Wi-Fi network.

    “Since its entry into the market, Google’s mobile operating system has steadily increased its market share,” stated Dirk Löwenberg, business director online sales & services at Cortado.

    The ever increasing number of Android devices, including the popular Motorola Milestone and Google’s Nexus One, as well as the convincing usability of the system, lead analysts to believe that Google Android devices are destined for a large market share.

    "We are sure that aside from its foreseeable success, Android is ideal for enterprise solutions. For Cortado as an innovative provider, it is important that this operating system is compatible with our cloud printing function. At the same time, we have come closer to our goal of offering cross-platform solutions,” said Löwenberg.

    Cortado is the mobile business division of the printing specialist ThinPrint AG. According to the company, they already have 15,000 smartphone users.

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  • Netsize Trends Survey Tracks Fast-Growth in Independent Application Stores

    Netsize has released “Application Store Billing”, a report that analyzes the wave of recent application store developments and reveals the business models and billing methods that will bring application store mass-market success.

    The report concludes that credit card billing is by no means the way to reach a large and global audience. According to the analysts, to achieve this respondents agree application stores must harness a variety of billing mechanisms. Chief among these is operator billing, indicated by 85 percent of respondents as a key enabler for application store mass market appeal. Almost half (46 percent) of respondents believe operator billing alone will dominate; 39 percent also include credit card billing in the mix. A minority of 15 percent of respondents indicated only credit card billing.

    “The survey shows providers will need to develop much more than a me-too application storefront modeled on the Apple blueprint,” noted Stanislas Chesnais, CEO of Netsize.

    “Clearly, to guarantee a seamless user experience and a ubiquitous quality of service, application store providers must support a variety of payment mechanisms including operator billing,” he said.

    The research also presents substantial proof that a long tail of application stores is indeed emerging. To illustrate this key trend Netsize has identified and ranked the top 52 application stores by size and the number of applications on offer as of May 2010. Predictably, application stores linked with the Apple iPhone and Android platforms lead the list. However, a substantial number of independent application stores run by mobile operators and independent providers also hold top positions.

    “New entrants are breaking on the scene with niche application stores that target geographies and vertical markets, such as retail, enterprise, and even cars,” Chesnais explained.

    “There is huge opportunity ahead for applications stores providers, but the bulk of their business growth will be driven by freemium-type models that offer consumers free applications as a means to cross-sell or up-sell consumers to a variety of paid content and services, ranging from real-world physical goods to digital services. Making money in this new ‘Application Economy’ will therefore require providers to employ in-application billing and solutions that allow them to sell content, virtual goods and add-ons from within their app,” he said.

    This conclusion is further supported by the report findings, which show that 28 percent of respondents deem in-app billing to be a key factor for application store success.

    Related articles
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  • Mobile Location-based Service Revenues in Europe to Reach €420 Million by 2015

    According to a new report from Berg Insight, mobile location-based service revenues in Europe are forecasted to grow from € 220 million in 2009 at a CAGR of 12 percent to reach € 420 million in 2015.

    The research group estimates that one third of all mobile subscribers in Europe will use some kind of location-enhanced application on a regular basis by 2015.

    Local search, navigation services and social networking are believed to become the top applications in terms of number of users. The social networking category is forecasted to experience the highest growth in the coming years.

    According to André Malm, Senior Analyst at Berg Insight, location-based services are finally on the verge of mainstream acceptance. “Increasing sales of smartphones are driving end-user awareness of mobile Internet services and applications in general. On-device application stores enable access to mobile services for a broader audience at the same time as flat-rate data plans make pricing more transparent. More and more developers are now adding location support in their applications to enhance the user experience”, he said.

    He added that integration of GPS in handsets is an important driver. “The installed base of GPS handsets in Europe has recently surpassed 15 percent of total handsets and will increase to 50 percent three years from now.”

    The report shows that the revenue model for many mobile applications in the consumer segment is shifting from premium fees to ad-funding. This is especially the case for location-based services where now also navigation services are becoming free for end-users and developers monetise their offerings through ads and various bundles.

    “However, revenues may not grow at the same rate as usage because the mobile advertising ecosystem is still nascent. It will take some years before a successful model has been established that allows advertisers to reach out to a critical mass of active users. This is especially the case for emerging location-based advertising,” as the analysts claim.

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  • T-Mobile USA CEO Robert Dotson to Leave Company in May 2011

    Robert Dotson, president and CEO of T-Mobile USA, has informed that he plans to leave the company in May 2011, after 15 years of service with T-Mobile.

    According to T-Mobile, “in order to ensure a smooth transition of leadership,” Dotson has committed to stay actively engaged in the business until May 2011.

    His designated successor is Philipp Humm, an experienced DT executive and former CEO of T-Mobile Deutschland. Humm is currently responsible for sales and service in Europe as chief regional officer Europe. After a period of transition with Dotson, it’s the intention that Humm will take over as CEO of T-Mobile USA in February 2011, while Dotson will remain on as a T-Mobile USA non-executive board member until May 2011, as the company informed.

    "For 15 years it has been a privilege to lead the talented T-Mobile USA team in its journey to become a leading U.S. wireless provider. The time is right to ensure a thoughtful leadership transition to position T-Mobile USA for the next 15 years of opportunity," Dotson said.

    "It has long been my intent to step away from the business at this stage in my life in order to devote more time to family and to take on entirely new and unique challenges. That change can only be made possible if a suitable successor is in place. Over the next year, it will be my relentless focus and responsibility to work closely with Philipp to ensure marketplace success, and to enable a seamless leadership transition," he added.

    Before joining Deutsche Telekom, Humm worked for ten years for a number of U.S.-based companies including McKinsey & Company, Procter & Gamble, and Amazon in senior level positions. Humm has since served as CEO of T-Mobile Deutschland from 2005 until 2008. He was responsible for the successful market introduction of the iPhone in Germany in 2007.

    Humm said, "It is a privilege for me to take over the reins from an established leader such as Robert. I look forward to working with him and the T-Mobile USA team during the transition phase, and I relish the prospect of leading such a proud company as T-Mobile USA – a force to be reckoned with in one of the largest markets in the world. It is a great challenge, and I am grateful for having been given the chance to make a difference."

    Rene Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, said, "I sincerely regret Robert’s decision to leave, however I absolutely respect his decision, and am most grateful that he has offered to stay on for another year in order to work with Philipp to ensure continuity in running the business."

  • AIRCOM: LTE Not the Only Option for Mobile Operators Today

    Deployment of HSPA+, set to save operators from costly CAPEX investment, deliver five times current network performance and open up new pricing models, says AIRCOM.

    In its recent analysis, AIRCOM, a network planning and optimisation company, highlights why HSPA+ could make short-term commercial sense to a wide range of 3GPP operators contemplating their mobile broadband network migration strategies. ROI (return on investment) and new pricing models are the key factors.

    According to Aircom, as operators continue to address the rapidly increasing demand for mobile data, further attention and financial investment has been committed to upgrade existing network infrastructure. “With peak download speeds above 100 Mbps being suggested, LTE has been widely hailed as the panacea for operators’ congestion troubles,” as the analysts say.

    Based on analysis of network infrastructure requirements, AIRCOM identifies HSPA+ as a compelling alternative for operators’ mobile broadband strategies.

    Available today, the technology offers up to 21Mbps without any additional antenna infrastructure or second carrier – allowing users to experience mobile broadband around five times faster than the current average of 3.6Mbps.

    HSPA+ also allows mobile operators to control service provisioning and prioritisation, delivering Quality of Experience (QoE) and Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees.

    “Fundamentally, deployment of HSPA+ offers significantly reduced CAPEX investment compared to LTE. Reduction for a UK operator could be as much as £345 million in 12 months; as much as $1.19 billion for a US operator,” claims Aircom.

    AIRCOM Services Director, Fabricio Martinez, responsible for providing the industry with the ‘cost of LTE’ reality check in late 2009, said: “There is great pressure on operators to upgrade their networks and improve the level of service they deliver to consumers and enterprise customers. The so-called ‘iPhone effect’ is piling pressure on to existing infrastructure. There is a real and immediate need for operators to upgrade their networks, but LTE is not the answer – today at least.”

    HSPA+ is able to meet – and exceed – current data demands, delivering a theoretical maximum of 21Mbps and an average experience of around 16Mbps. “With average mobile broadband users experiencing around 3.6Mbps, this is a significant increase,” said Martinez.

    According to him, the increase in speed enables operators to do two things: to combat price erosion, and to offer sophisticated service provisioning. “As operators are able to prioritise data traffic and users, QoE can be assured, data speeds can be controlled, and we will see a tiered pricing model emerge, mirroring the fixed line broadband business,” the analyst claims.

    He believes that the most important factor in deciding a future network technology is ROI. “Due to the low CAPEX investment and new revenue opportunities, deployment of HSPA+ will allow operators to see ROI in three years; perfect timing to upgrade to LTE, when that technology’s ecosystem has matured, devices have come to market, and equipment prices have reduced,” he said.

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