Business News Holding

Category: smartphone

  • Mobile Firefox Expected On HTC Touch Pro


    A beta version of Mozilla’s mobile Firefox web browser – codenamed Fennec – could be launched on the HTC Touch Pro as early as next week.

    The move is part of Moxilla’s announced intention to move onto Windows Mobile and Symbian platforms.

    A post on Mozilla’s official mobile Firefox wiki said: "We are targeting a Milestone release for the first week of February, targeting the HTC Touch Pro."

    For WinMo developers, Firefox’s inclusion on the HTC smartphone will provide the opportunity to port the browser to other WinMo-based hardware.

    In December, Mozilla’s director of mobile engineering, Christian Sejersen, said the company would look to offer the platform on Symbian-based phones.

    He said this was essential to ensure Mozilla was relevant in the smartphone space.

  • Android App Developers Get AdMob Option


    AdMob has announced that it has launched its first advertising unit for Android applications.

    The move by the world’s largest mobile advertising marketplace will give developers an option for monetizing their applications on the open source device platform.

    The first developers to leverage AdMob’s new Android ad unit in their applications include AccuWeather, Jirbo, and TapJoy.

    AdMob’s presence will add another dimension to Google’s Android Market.

    While it now has more than 800 applications, that figure is dwarfed by Apple’s App Store, which has more than 15,000 apps.

    One reason for the gulf – aside from the fact Android only launched three months ago – is that Apple has the ability to offer paid apps.

    So the flood of developers rushing to the platform following the launch of T-Mobile’s G1 last October never happened.

    This is despite Google being seen as far less restrictive with regard to what apps could be created for Android.

    Android Market’s lack of a payment system is one reason.

    AdMob’s new Android ad unit will also allow brand and performance advertisers to reach consumers engaging with applications on their Android device.

    Advertisers will be able to use these ad units to drive customer actions such as going to the Android Market to download an application.

    AdMob already serves ads on mobile Web sites on the Android platform and received more than 27 million requests in December 2008.

    Building on the initial success of the G1 device, several new devices expected to come to market in 2009.

    More than 6,000 mobile sites and 450 iPhone applications are a part of AdMob’s publisher network worldwide.

  • Alliance Could Fuel Global LTE Adoption


    An alliance between Vodafone, Verizon and China Mobile could provide sufficient stimulus to drive the adoption of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard on a global basis.

    That’s the expectation of Vodafone’s chief executive, Vittorio Colao, who has suggested that closer ties between the three companies could be forged.

    He said the three operators could create an "unbeatable" alliance that would allow them to drive adoption of the LTE standard on a global basis, according to the Financial Times.

    It would also allow them to focus on Internet services and provide them with added bargaining power in the purchase of handsets and other mobile equipment.

    "If you think of three players, China Mobile is very strong in China… Vodafone is very strong in Europe, Africa, India. Verizon is very strong in the US," he said.

    "If these three companies could work more closely… in the management of customers, procurement and service creation, we could be unbeatable, quite frankly."

    The LTE standard is oriented around upgrading UMTS to a so-called fourth generation mobile communications technology – essentially a wireless broadband Internet system with voice and other services built on top.

    The aim is to improve spectral efficiency, lower costs, improve services, make use of new spectrum and refarmed spectrum opportunities, and better integration with other open standards.

    Vodafone owns a 3.2 per cent stake in China Mobile, China’s largest mobile operator, and a 45 per cent stake in Verizon Wireless, now the largest mobile operator in the US.

    All three companies have previously pledged their support for LTE.

    China Mobile announced at last year’s GSMA Mobile World Congress that it is to join Vodafone and Verizon in trialing LTE, using a version of LTE known as TD-LTE.

    This is an evolution of China’s homegrown 3G standard, TD-SCDMA.

    Verizon Wireless is planning to launch LTE services before the end of this year, potentially making it the world’s first mobile operator to go live with the new standard.

    However, a four-month delay in the switchover to digital TV in the US – which was confirmed yesterday by the US Senate – could now jeopardise this timeframe.

  • WinMo And Mobile Services Microsoft


    Interest continues to grow over Microsoft’s intentions for next month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

    Among the expectations are an update to its mobile software and services strategy.

    This could extend to the unveiling of three mobile services:

    • SkyBox to synchronize a phone’s information with the web
    • SkyLine to synchronize with Microsoft Exchange servers
    • SkyMarket – a mobile marketplace.

    If they take place, the announcements will set them up against Apple’s MobileMe and App Store.

    Microsoft is also expected to reveal the latest update of Windows Mobile – version 6.5 – at the telco show.

    The first tranche of WinMo 6.5-based devices could then be available in the third quarter of the year.

  • South Korea's KT Absorbs Mobile Unit In Battle For customers


    South Korea’s fixed-line operator, Korea Telecom (KT), is to merge with its majority-owned mobile unit, KTF, the country’s second-largest mobile operator.

    The merger is an effort to offer bundled fixed and mobile services and increase its global exposure.

    KT’s move is seen as necessary if it is to compete with SK Telecom and LG Telecom.

    South Korea’s mobile and household broadband markets are approaching saturation and operators in the country are battling for customers.

    This has led to the offering of products bundling fixed-line, broadband, Internet TV and mobile services.

    The deal ends months of speculation and will see KT absorb the mobile unit, of which it owns 54 per cent.

    NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s largest mobile operator, also owns 11 per cent of KTF.

    The terms of the deal mean KTF shareholders will receive 0.719 of a KT share for every KTF share they own.

    KT is also to sell USD $253 million bonds exchangeable into its stocks to DoCoMo as part of the merger plan.

    The Japanese firm will transfer 60 per cent of its holding in KTF to KT.

  • Will GPS-enabled Smartphones Avoid Handset Slowdown?


    Demand for GPS-enabled mobile phones will slow in 2009 but will avoid the fall in shipments expected to affect handsets generally.

    At least that’s what ABI Research is predicting. It forecasts that feature-rich smartphones will post year-to-year unit growth through the current economic downturn.

    For 2009 that translates into a climb in shipments GPS-enabled phones to 240 million units, an increase of 6.4 per cent over 2008.

    This contrasts with a drop of 4—5 per cent for global handset shipments generally in 2009, according to a study by the researchers.

    For the period through to 2014, the analysts suggest demand for smartphones will increase at an average annual unit shipment rate of 19 per cent.

    ABI says this "surprising performance" will be driven by the ongoing demand for feature-rich smartphones, including the Apple iPhone 3G, RIM’s BlackBerry devices and Nokia N series phones among a growing list.

    During the period, the report says GPS chipsets will continue to penetrate this segment; nine of every ten smartphones will contain GPS ICs in 2014, compared with one in three in 2008.

    George Perros, senior analyst with ABI Research, said that falling component prices and increasing consumer awareness of handset locationcapabilities will keep demand for GPS-enabled phones healthy, in spite of the slumping global economic picture.

    Other factors that will continue the trend toward the inclusion of GPS functionality in handsets include the spread of open source operating systems such as Google’s Android.

    It provides application specific interfaces (APIs) that allow software developers to create location-based content for mobile devices.
    The report also highlights the continuing emergence of navigation and map-based applications for handsets.

    "As the quality of positioning technology in handsets improves and the cost of including it declines, GPS location technology will approach the status of a standard device feature," said Perros.

    "We are approaching the point where location awareness will be synonymous with smart devices, a point where personal navigation, social spatial knowledge, and location-specific contextual information will be assumed handset capabilities."

    If accurate, the report’s predictions will certainly be welcomed by smartphone manufacturers.

    We’d be interested in hearing your view on the figures.

  • T-Mobile to take G1 into continental Europe


    Various countries on the European continent are in line to get the HTC G1 following its October launch in the UK and US.

    T-Mobile is continuing the roll-out of the handset – the first to run Google’s Android operating system – with a launch in Germany on 2 February.

    That follows the arrival of the touchscreen device in the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Austria before the end of 30 January.

    It will also hit Poland sometime in February.

    T-Mobile chief executive Hamid Akhavan said the G1 had sold "several hundred thousand" units in the US, where it retails for USD $179 with a two-year contract.

    In Germany the phone will sell from USD €1 on a two-year contract.

    The Android operating system is expected to appear on a number of smartphones in the next 12 months, having won support from major manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, Huawei and Motorola.

  • Skydeck Syncs Mobiles' Calls, Contacts, and Voicemails With Web Browers


    Skydeck has launched a feature-packed beta that syncs what takes place on cell phones to a web page.

    The mobile startup’s offering lists all contacts, received calls, missed calls, voicemails and text messages.

    So much so that the company is calling the new Skydeck "your cell phone, online".

    Previously, Skydeck’s beta used mobile phone bills to display real social network based on numbers called the most.

    Now users can listen to voicemails from their browsers or read a transcribed version of each voicemail (via SpinVox).

    The online service also allows users to search all voicemails and text messages.

    Replies to messages can be sent from a browser, with all the calls appearing to come from the user’s cell phone number.

    It functions best on Blackberry and Android phones with full support for Windows Mobile coming soon, but most of the features work on nearly any handset.

    Currently only available in the US, the service costs from USD $9.95 a month, with calls through a PC costing USD $0.03 a minute, plus USD $0.20 for each transcribed voicemail.

    For USD $29.95 a month users get unlimited PC phone calls and transcriptions.

  • Final Chance to Nominate Smartphone Person/Product Of The Year


    The new year may well be firmly underway but there’s still plenty of time to submit your nominations and votes for smartphone.biz-news’ 2008 Man and Product of the Year awards.

    We have already received numerous nominations from readers in both award categories.

    On the hardware side, the HTC Touch Pro is a leading contender for product of the year – praised for being "the most versatile device available today for anyone who uses their smartphone as a portable".

    On the application front, various front-runners are emerging, including fring, OnRelay, AmazeGPS and Nimbuzz.

    Fans of OnRelay describe it as "the coolest thing ever", a "new and exciting product" and the "best fixed mobile convergence product on the market by far".

    Comments for fring are equally enthusiastic, with readers labelling it the "most wonderful application" they’d come across and a "simple and easy way to keep in touch".

    AmazeGPS is variously described as the "best free navigation system" and is lauded for "kicking dust" at expensive competitors.

    Finally, Nimbuzz is singled out for its "stability, well thought-out interface and impressive network support".

    For Person of the Year, Ivor Plahte, CEO and co-founder of OnRelay, is the leading nominee.

    Ivor Plahte, CEO, OnRelay

    He is described as being the company’s "driving force" and at the "forefront of mobile telephony".

    Praise indeed but don’t let it stop you putting forward other contenders.

    Please send us your product or person nominations before the end of January.

  • RIM now taking BlackBerry Application Store submissions


    RIM’s rival to Apple’s App Store has moved a step closer to fruition.

    The Canadian company has sent a message to all registered BlackBerry developers calling for application submissions for its application storefront.

    RIM tells potential developers that a spring launch is on the cards – so there’s a good chance that come opening day, the "shelves" will be well stocked with software.

    Below is the full note to developers:

    BlackBerry Application Storefront



    Bring us your innovative genius:



    BlackBerry application storefront now accepting submissions



    Be first in line to submit applications you’ve designed for BlackBerry smartphones to the new BlackBerry application storefront. We’re counting down to a spring launch and we’re accepting submissions right now. Find out how to submit an application to the BlackBerry application storefront.



    The storefront will be an ideal spot for developers to bring their applications—whether they are consumer-focused or targeted to business users1.



    Why Submit an Application?



    The market for BlackBerry applications is growing at a phenomenal rate and the application storefront will offer you the exciting opportunity to showcase your applications to millions of BlackBerry smartphone users. It will provide consumers with greater choice, and enhanced application discovery.

    Who Can Submit?



    Developers across the globe are invited to submit their applications for consideration in the BlackBerry application storefront.



    Thank you for considering submitting your application and we look forward to working with you on the launch of the BlackBerry application storefront.



    Learn more about the BlackBerry storefront application submission process.