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Category: smartphone

  • Handset Shipments Expected To Drop 20% in 2009


    While cellphone shipments and subscription numbers have held up relatively well during the global recession, the outlook is more tumultuous for the mobile industry.

    In-Stat forecasts that both handset sales and subscriptions will take a hit this year.

    Allen Nogee, In-Stat analyst, said that subscriptions, however, are expected to weather the financial crisis better than handset shipments.

    "People that are unemployed are less likely to replace their cellphones, and businesses will not pay for cellphone subscriptions for employees they’ve let go," he said.

    "Even those with existing subscriptions are more willing to ‘make do’ with their existing handsets.

    "As the wireless industry matures, replacement handsets make up three-quarters of handset sales; handset sales are now particularly vulnerable to economic contraction."

    Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

    • After experiencing a 19.3 per cent growth in subscriptions in 2008, subscription growth will fall by more than half to 8.9 per cent in 2009 and by 6.3 per cent in 2010.
    • Worldwide, In-Stat is forecasting a 20.5 per cent drop in handset shipments for 2009 compared to 2008.
    • It will take until 2011 for shipments to regain robust growth, a forecasted 9.6 per cent increase.
    • Middle East and Africa will have 75.2 million WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+ subscriptions by 2013.
    • SC-SCDMA subscriptions in Asia Pacific will rise more than ten-fold between 2009 and 2013.

  • Strong Q1 Expected from Nokia's 5800 Smartphone


    Nokia’s Q1 sales are expected to be down when accounced tomorrow – despite the success of its 5800 XpressMusic smartphone launched last year.

    Analysts estimate 2.5 million 5800s may have been sold in the first three months of the year – helped by repeated sell-outs in the UK and roll-outs into new markets.

    Key to the Nokia smartphone’s success is its cost – often undercutting the iPhone while offering comprehensive features.

    Despite the device’s strong sales, however, the Finnish mobile giant is expected to report a drop in overall shipments of 20 per cent, with revenues around USD $12.6 billion.

    The company had sales of USD $16.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008.

    While Nokia remains the leading global mobile maker, its position has been under fire recently – not least in the smartphone category where the iPhone and BlackBerry have nibbled at its market share.

    However, there may be positive news for Nokia. Some analysts expect the company to announce that it has reduced inventory levels from the fourth quarter of 2008, raising the prospect of an upswing in the second quarter.

    Recent measures have seen Nokia streamline its operations, cutting 1,700 jobs worldwide and temporarily suspending outsourcing for handset manufacturing.

    Nokia is also expected to provide more details tomorrow on reports that its joint venture with Siemens is bidding for parts of Nortel Networks’ CDMA carrier networks business.

  • Dell's Smartphone Preparations Gain Pace


    Dell’s plans for entering the smartphone market have gained some more meat.

    The world’s second largest PC brand is working with two companies to develop software and hardware for new mobile devices.

    Accel’s Jim Breyer join Dell’s board

    Chi Mei Communications – an unlisted unit of Taiwan’s Hon Hai – is involved with the hardware, while China-based Red Office is engineering the operating system, according to Reuters.

    The outcome is expected to be the launch of multiple smartphones in the Chinese market before the end of the year.

    If all goes well, the US and Europe would then get the PC maker’s devices.

    Dell’s move into the smartphone market – and China, where China Mobile is seen as the favored operator – could be part of the reason why it has appointed Jim Breyer, of Venture firm Accel Partners, to its board.

    Already on ten boards, including Facebook, Etsy, Wal-Mart and Marvel, his company launched a USD $250 million fund in China in 2005.

    Breyer’s experience of finding the right partners and market could be important to Dell as it prepares new devices.

  • Palm's App Catalog v. Apple's App Store. How Do They Compare?


    Mobile application stores are becoming ten-a-penny these days, what with Nokia’s Ovi Store set to launch within a month and Palm’s App Catalog expected with the eagerly-anticipated arrival of the Pre (next month?).

    But as the potential market for app developers expands, how do the six "stores" (iPhone App Store, Android App Market, BlackBerry App World, Windows Mobile Marketplace, Nokia Ovi Store and Palm App Catalog) compare?

    Gizmodo has done a good job on listing the pros and cons of each mobile OS’s offerings, including providing a point-by-point comparison table.

    While its review doesn’t come down in anyone’s favor, it does highlight some of the lesser known issues facing newcomers.

    So while information is still scare on Palm’s App Catalog, what is certain is that it will only be dishing out locally-stored web apps – not local natively running apps.

    As Gizmodo points out, this is likely to have strong influence on the nature and quality of the apps that are listed in the store.

    Just as influencial is Apple’s App store, which has just clocked up it’s billionth download.

    It remains the one to watch – and based on Gizmodo’s comparisions – copy.

    We’d be interested to hear your comments on how Apple’s rivals are faring in their bids to develop worthy competitor mobile app outlets.

  • CTIA 2009: Samsung Launches First WiMAX-Enabled Mobile Internet Device

    Samsung Mobile announced at CTIA WIRELESS 2009 in Las Vegas the upcoming availability of the Samsung Mondi, advanced mobile WiMAX enabled handheld device. The touch screen Mondi is designed for use with the Clear mobile WiMAX service from Clearwire.

    The Samsung Mondi includes the following features:

    • Windows Mobile 6.1
    • Microsoft Outlook and Windows Mobile Office
    • WiMAX Mobile Internet Access
    • WiFi Access (BTv2.1+EDR)
    • GPS: Route 66 Navigation with Preloaded Maps
    • 4GB of Internal Memory
    • Direct Push/Mobile Email (POP3, IMAP, SMTP)
    • Supports Instant Messaging and MMS
    • 3.0 Megapixel Camera and Camcorder
    • Bluetooth ® 2.0
    • Opera 9.5 Web Browser
    • HDMI TV Out

    WiMAX (Worldwide Inter-operability for Microwave Access), the emerging next generation technology for wireless access is supposed to be, together with LTE (Long Term Evolution) a base of 4G networks.

    Samsung is the global leader in delivering mobile WiMAX Technologies. Beside cooperation with U.S. Clearwire, it is now preparing to deliver mobile WiMAX solutions to operators in Japan and Russia.
    Clearwire is building the first, nationwide 4G mobile Internet wireless network in U.S. Currently provides mobile WiMAX-based service, to be branded Clear, in two markets, and provides pre-WiMAX communications services in 50 markets across the U.S. and Europe.
    “The Samsung Mondi is an important step toward our goal of bringing 4G network speeds and connectivity to people across the U.S.,” said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile.

  • BBC Launches Live Wi-Fi TV Service For Smartphones

    The BBC has launched a service that allows UK viewers to watch live TV programs from suitable Wi-Fi connected mobile phones.

    BBC Live TV is available in a beta test form, offering a limited number of the broadcaster’s channels, plus its radio stations.



    Some smartphones already support use of the BBC iPlayer catch-up TV service over a Wi-Fi connection, but this is the first time the corporation has offered live streaming of programmes to mobile phones

    The service currently only works over a Wi-Fi connection and broadcasts a 176 x144 image, but the broadcaster hopes to extend Live TV out to 3G networks and to add more channels during the coming months.

    Live TV is thought to work with a selection of smartphones, including the Android G1 and Nokia N Series devices. It is also supposed to work with Apple iPhone soon.

    There is no need to install any applications in order to watch the channels.

    The service is only available to UK audiences and requires viewers to hold a current television licence.

  • CTIA 2009: First Full Office Suite for the iPhone

    Quickoffice for iPhone enables robust editing of Microsoft Word and Excel documents, cut and paste and file transfer.

    Quickoffice, Inc., provider of mobile office productivity software, announced at CTIA WIRELESS 2009 in Las Vegas, it will unveil the first complete Office suite to provide native Microsoft Word and Excel editing for the iPhone.

     

    Quickoffice is the first iPhone application to include robust document and spreadsheet editors, along with file access and content management functionalities. Quickword enables quick editing on-the-go, font formatting, content selection, bullets and cut, copy and paste within Word documents and modifying documents in landscape mode to leverage a wider keyboard. With Quicksheet Excel users can revise inputs and recalculate, insert and resize rows and columns within the application as well as use extensive mathematical and statistical functions, including advanced Excel formulas for spreadsheet processing.

    Quickoffice also includes file-sharing capabilities to transfer files to and from a desktop using Wi-Fi and remotely access their MobileMe iDisk account. In addition to Word and Excel editing, users can view iWorks, PDF and other common media files. The app also supports ‘Auto-Save’ and ‘Auto-Restore’.
    “We are dedicated to bringing the most robust, full-featured application to this platform and will continue to add capabilities and services” said Gregg Fiddes, vice president of sales and strategic partnerships at Quickoffice.

    Quickoffice for iPhone will be available in early April for $19.99 for a full package. Separate applications – Quickword Word and Quicksheet Excel – will cost $12.99 each. Quickoffice Files, that allows file transfer, will be available for $3.99.

    QuickOffice Website

  • Telefónica Performs First LTE Tests – 10x Faster Than Current 3G


    Telefónica today conducted its first tests on a real 4th Generation network with LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology, installed at its Demonstrations Centre in Madrid.

    The initial tests consisted of a VoIP call and a videocall using an LTE mini-network installed by Ericsson, Video conference, and data and images downloads at speeds in excess of 140 Mbps.

    These are around 10 times those possible with current 3G networks using HSPA technology.

    With LTE and in recent experiences from manufacturers with which Telefónica works on a regular basis, laboratory tests have been conducted showing download speeds in excess of 326 Mbps, while uploads have been possible at up to 86 Mbps.

    Telefónica says that before the 4th Generation or LTE arrives, it will continue to improve the capacity of the current 3rd Generation network.

    This currently gives both voice and data coverage to around 90 per cent of the Spanish population.

    Half way through this year, Telefónica is to start rolling out its HSPA + technology network, unveiled at the last Mobile World Congress with 21 Mbps download transmissions. This will mean it will also be able to offer the first commercial services and data devices this year.

    Information download speeds of up to 21 Mbps and 5 Mbps for sending information will be possible, as new functionalities and terminals become available, reaching 84 Mbps speeds until the arrival of LTE.

    Telefónica currently covers more than 81 per cent of the Spanish population with HSDPA – for downloading information, which it expects will surpass 85 per cent by the end of the year.

    With HSUPA – for sending information – this cover will reach 50 per cent by the end of 2009.

  • Android Market Reaches 40 Million Downloads


    T-Mobile G1 customers have downloaded on average more than 40 applications from Android Market.

    With one million G1s sold that adds up to 40 million downloads in total since the first Android handset was launched six months ago.

    The stats, which come from an interview T-Mobile gave to mocoNews, also show that among T-Mobile customers who’ve purchased a G1 around half traded up from a basic handset.

    Other details include:

    • Approximately 80 per cent of T-Mobile G1 users browse the web on a daily basis
    • The majority of T-Mobile G1 owners use Facebook and Youtube at least once a day and access Wi-Fi on a daily basis
    • Four out of five G1 customers download applications at least once a week

    While the figures pall when compared to the iPhones 500 million plus downloads, but it’s early days for the G1.

  • Blackberry App World Launches, 1,000 Apps Expected in First Week


    Research In Motion (RIM) has launched its application store Blackberry App World in the US, the UK and Canada, with more country launches to follow.

    Unveiled at CTIA 2009 in Las Vegas, the much-anticipated app store for BlackBerry smartphones will offer a mix of personal and business applications, both free and paid.

    RIM will be hoping its platform will be as successful as Apple’s App Store, which has rung up 800 million app downloads since last summer.

    The Canadian company expects approximately 1,000 applications to be posted by partners on BlackBerry App World this week.

    These include popular brands such as Bloomberg, ClearChannel, Lonely Planet, Gameloft, MTV, The New York Times, and World Mate.

    Mike Lazaridis, RIM president and co-CEO, said the BlackBerry platform was used by millions of people.

    He said the new app store will enhance that experience by connecting consumers with developers and carriers.

    "BlackBerry App World aggregates a wide variety of personal and business apps in a way that makes it very easy for consumers to discover and download the apps that suit them while preserving the appropriate IT architecture and controls required by our enterprise customers," he said.

    Among the features on App World are:

    • a "front page carousel" that showcases several applications and lets users browse through featured applications
    • a Top Downloads area that lists the applications most downloaded, by category
    • a keyword search tool for apps
    • user recommendation function – by e-mail, PIN, SMS message, or BlackBerry Messenger
    • My World folder to keep track of downloaded applications

    BlackBerry App World is available for BlackBerry smartphones with a trackball or touchscreen running BlackBerry device software 4.2 or higher.