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  • Samsung not willing to agree with Apple over patents

    The patent war between Apple and Samsung is not over yet and as it seems, it is not expected to end anytime soon. Although Apple has reached an agreement with HTC, Samsung is not willing to do so.

    It was only a few days ago when we were informed that Apple and HTC have agreed to end their patent war, at least for the next 10 years. This agreement created further speculations, whether it was the beginning of a new era, where patent wars would not exist. And although the collaboration between Apple and HTC might have been a step towards that era, the big deal would be a possible agreement on patent cases between Apple and Samsung, the two big rivals on the smartphone market.

    However, Shin Jong-kyun, the head of Samsung's mobile and IT division in South Korea made sure with his words that there won't be any further questions regarding a possible settlement:

    “We have no such intention. … HTC may have agreed to pay 300 billion won (US$276 million) to Apple, but we don’t intend to [negotiate] at all.”

    And just like that, we are informed that the battle cases between Apple and Samsung will keep going in the future. We don't know whether Samsung is extremely confident over their current and future products, but they surely have paid the price quite expensive on the patent war. Just a few months ago the US court have ordered them to pay 1 billion dollars for copying parts of the iPhone and iPad. And even though they have every right to be confident with their current share in the smartphone market, are they certain about the future? Will they manage to survive the following years or should we still expect a possible settlement between the two companies?

  • The Automotive Aftermarket X-Factor: Telematics Tech Wins Over the Consumer

    By 2014, 70% of consumer devices will be connected to the internet, extending the digital lifestyle into vehicles. So one key questions stands out – how will automotive and consumer electronics technologies optimize the customer experience? Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Honda and six other leading automotive OEMs will take the stage in Las Vegas on Jan 7, 2013 in order to discuss how to satisfy consumer demands for a smooth, seamless In-Vehicle Infotainment and HMI solution in the vehicle at the Consumer Telematics Show, one day before the International CES.

    Technology in active interfaces have proved to drive car purchasing decisions, and the market for infotainment systems alone is set to grow 7.3% year on year to $35.89 billion in 2013, and as a consequence the telematics value chain is currently investigating how companies can take advantage most effectively of this growth in this vertical.

    The Consumer Telematics Show is the premier B2B forum and the key start of year event created specifically to answer the crucial tech and business strategy questions set to unlock the value of telematics innovation in the US market and beyond. High quality, seamless and personalized end-to-end connected driver experiences are at the top of the agenda.

    John McLaughlin, National Manager for Cross Car Line Planning at Toyota, declared “CTS is your one stop shop to get on board with the latest technological innovations driving change in telematics”. Now in its 11th year, CTS is the largest forum dedicated to automotive infotainment and HMI in the USA and is once again set to feature exclusive keynote OEM announcements of brand new services for 2013. 

    The race to merge the consumer’s out-vehicle and in-vehicle lifestyle

    At this lucrative tipping point for connected vehicle services, The Consumer Telematics Show 2013 (Jan 7, Las Vegas) marks the start of a critical year in the development of the consumer telematics industry. Indeed, with embedded connectivity on the horizon, it is imperative that the ecosystem unites at the start of 2013 to engage and maintain consumer loyalty through bridging the gap between life outside and inside the car.

    Senior-level speakers  at CTS 2013 including Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Audi, Chrysler, Toyota, Subaru, Honda, Porsche, KIA and many more will address key infotainment and HMI focused topics such as:

    • CREATE YOUR APP DELIVERY STRATEGY: Assess how the availability of apps will influence consumers’ device-related purchasing decisions and debate their form and function in the vehicle: through a tethered solution, embedded, hybrid, or cloud

    • THE ARRIVAL OF HTML5 AND ITS VALUE TO THE AUTO WORLD: Harness the full capability of an HTML 5 ecosystem to create a flexible, cross-platform, non-proprietary solution which enables developers to build a host of profitable applications for the automotive environment

    • BALANCE NEXT-GEN HMI WITH D.O.T GUIDELINES: Discuss innovative HMI technologies such as touch, gesture and audio to ensure the compliancy of your solutions in a landscape fraught with fears over driver distraction

    • BRING CLOUD-BASED APPLICATIONS UP TO AUTO STANDARD: Render apps to the high-quality and robust specifications which customers expect, and ensure a seamless transition for the driver when it comes to cloud-based integration in the vehicle

    • A BRAVE NEW WORLD OF M&As: Hear directly from Hughes Telematics and Verizon Wireless as they speak out on the telematics industry’s first major acquisition and forecast its impact on the market’s development from 2013 to 2020

    With exclusive OEM presentations, 350+ exec delegates, 25+ senior-level telematics speakers and 10+ businesses-focussed sessions, CTS 2013 is the premier business intelligence and networking forum for the CE, telematics, digital, mobile and wireless industries.

    For the complete CTS 2013 conference program and speaker line-up, access the e-brochure here.

    Register today to join the 350+ senior delegates already registered.

    About Telematics Update:

    Telematics Update Conferences are the most prestigious in the industry. We produce the largest telematics events in North America, Europe & Asia, and attract the most influential speakers providing a rich environment for establishing strategic relationships and networking.

  • BlackBerry 10 to be introduced on January 30

    After all the speculation regarding the release of the Blackberry 10, RIM finally made an official announcement, informing us that they will introduce BlackBerry 10 on January 30.

    Although we do not know any details regarding the phones that will be presented, we do know that the two new smartphones will be faster, with a great range of choice among applications and will have touchscreens. Blackberries might have been popular about their QWERTY keyboards, but RIM seems to understand that touchscreen is preferred lately in the mobile industry and that's why their first smartphones will follow the latest trends. However, if you are a fan of the classic Blackberry smartphone, you won't be disappointed. You will just have to wait  little bit more for the next line of Blackberries.

    According to RIM, they will present both the new phones and their updated operating system, in multiple countries simultaneously on January 30, hoping that the delays have made them even more competitive.

    According to Thorsten Heins, the president and CEO of Research in Motion:

    “Our team has been working tirelessly to bring our customers innovative features combined with a best in class browser, a rich application ecosystem, and cutting-edge multimedia capabilities. All of this will be integrated into a user experience – the BlackBerry Flow – that is unlike any smartphone on the market today,”

    What's more, RIM is already trying their new products with many carriers around the world and they already have obtained a  U.S. government certification, which means that they will be ready to launch their brand new smartphones in USA.

    As it seems, RIM has finally managed to create a calendar with everything that we are expecting from Blackberry 10 the following months. We might not know whether the anticipation will be satisfied, but RIM surely needs it in order to survive in the mobile industry.

  • Sony Xperia J goes on sale

    Sony launched another smartphone from the Xperia line, the Xperia J, which was presented in IFA2012 and went on sale in UK just a few days ago.

    Sony Xperia J is presented as the "affordable" smartphone and seems to be a decent choice, if you are not looking for an expensive smartphone. At first sight it looks like Xperia T, which you might have already seen in the "Skyfall' movie, while its dimensions are of 124.3 x 61.2 x 9.2 mm. Apart from slim, it is also quite light, since it weighs 142 grams.

    It has a 4-inch and 854×480 display, it features an 1GHz processor and it has a 512MB RAM. Moreover, it has a 5MP rear camera, an 1,750mAh battery and a built-in storage of 4GB, which is enhanced with the microSD slot. It runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is currently available by Three in UK in less than $240 for the device.

    Sony Xperia J is considered a bargain that has the features of a great smartphone. Except from its basic specifications, it also offers great sound quality, but what might be even more important is that it is socially orientated. We all live in the era of social media and we know that a smartphone that has an one-touch-function for content sharing and a special light that notifies you in everything that is new from your Facebook and Twitter accounts should not be ignored.

    Sylvia Chind, head of devices at Three, mentions that

    “The Sony Xperia J is ideal for style conscious social media fans and its 5 megapixel camera is perfect for Instagramming and sharing pictures on the go”

    To sum up, Sony Xperia J seems to be a good choice if you are looking for a low-priced smartphone, like the larger displays, enjoy great sound and love social media.

  • Apple and HTC agree on patents for the next 10 years

    No more patent cases between Apple and HTC in the near future, since the two companies have reached on a 10-year license "global settlement" for the current, but also their future patent cases. This settlement is related to any possible case between the two companies that has to do with intellectual property.

    The announcement came with a joint press release, proving that the patent wars between Apple and HTC are now over. Although the agreement is confidential and we do not know any details of it, we do know that it came as a surprise, since there were no reports on the two companies discussing a settlement. Delaware court might have suggested they consider reaching an agreement back in May, but they did not seem reluctant back then for such a move. On the contrary, HTC was claiming that they are not planning any settlement with Apple.
    As it seems, things have changed in the last months and we are now discussing their settlement.
    Peter Chou, chief executive of HTC stated:

    "HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation."

    What's more, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, said:

    "We are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC. We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation."

    There were many battles between them and it must be a relief for Apple to get a patent opponent out of their way. 2012 has been the year of the patent wars and although the battle between Apple and HTC was not the biggest one, it is still important that they have reached on an agreement. Who knows, maybe we will see Apple reaching an agreement with Samsung in the future. Or maybe not!

  • Telecom Service Providers Waking Up to Global Wi-Fi Roaming

    15 disruptive service providers around the world with nearly a billion mobile subscribers have partnered with the largest global Wi-Fi roaming network, iPass.

    iPass chief executive officer Evan Kaplan reporting on the state of Wi-Fi in the telecom operator industry said: “Mobile carriers are waking up to the power of global Wi-Fi roaming and the competitive advantage it offers. While Wi-Fi is in its early years, 15 telecom service providers worldwide are pioneering its growth and the signs are incredibly encouraging for explosive growth in this market.”

    Even though the public discussion on mobile operator Wi-Fi has previously centered on cost-savings offered by domestic mobile data offload, global Wi-Fi roaming has the ability to generate revenue. iPass has a unique vantage point in the telecom industry and the ability for service providers to deliver both consumers and the enterprise global Wi-Fi roaming connectivity is set to be an inherent part of their subscriber features in the future.

    “The 15 service providers that have signed up to offer global Wi-roaming have a combined mobile subscriber base of 974 million people worldwide. With high-value customers demanding Wi-Fi roaming, these service providers are seizing the initiative to provide the benefits of a global Wi-Fi network,” said Kaplan.

    With the increasing number of international business travelers using multiple mobile devices – including non-SIM devices – to data roam, various service providers are looking at Wi-Fi to serve the needs of these high-value customers. “Mobile is everything; it has changed how people communicate and work. Wi-Fi is global in nature and these service providers recognize that they are in a highly competitive industry. Providing convenient and cost effective connectivity options all around the globe for their high-value customers is going to be the next big differentiator,” said Kaplan. “We’re breaking a religious barrier by enabling carriers to bundle services to support the needs of their customers who carry both SIM and non-SIM devices that are Wi-Fi enabled.”

    A recent industry report from Juniper Research indicated revenues generated from mobile roaming will hit more than $80 billion by 2017. “There is an increasing opportunity for telecom operators to enhance their roaming revenues and profit margins via Wi-Fi networks,” said report author Nitin Bhas. “These revenues will largely be driven by increasing data usage and mobile operators are looking at global Wi-Fi as a way to protect their post-paid, high-value customers that are demanding Wi-Fi, especially when they travel overseas.”

    With 1,137,695 Wi-Fi hotspots in 113 countries and territories worldwide, iPass has nearly doubled the number of hotspots in its Wi-Fi network since the beginning of 2012 and expects its network to hit two million Wi-Fi hotspots by the end of 2013. “We are building the largest Wi-Fi ecosystem in the world and operators in Asia and the Middle East are taking an early lead in shaping how people roam today and in the future,” said Steve Livingston, iPass senior vice president of carrier development.

    Both Zain and Etisalat in the Middle East and China Telecom and China Mobile are using the iPass Open Mobile Exchange as a foundation for their global Wi-Fi data roaming service; along with SK Telecom in South Korea, dtac in Thailand and KDDI in Japan there is a surging Wi-Fi expansion throughout Asia. Additionally, Oi, South America’s largest mobile operator has joined the exchange and is building the largest Wi-Fi network in Brazil. With a nexus of forces driven by cloud computing and mobility causing an ever-increasing need for global Wi-Fi, iPass is starting to see carriers thinking of Wi-Fi roaming as an inherent part of their mobility services that subscribers will expect as a feature rather than an add-on service.

    Wi-Fi standards such as the Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) from the Wireless Broadband Alliance and the Wi-Fi certified Passpoint program from the Wi-Fi Alliance are a welcome evolution according to iPass. “NGH and Passpoint are critical to remove the friction inherent in the seamless mobile connection process today as it will improve the user experience,” said Livingston. “iPass is helping lead these discussions on defining and driving the future of Wi-Fi and these initiatives speak to the core value proposition of iPass. The network that iPass has built enables operators to bridge the gap from today’s Wi-Fi into the future and beyond.”

    As Wi-Fi standards continue to progress and improve the user’s experience, iPass is strongly positioned both today and in the future. The company’s global Wi-Fi presence is unsurpassed and their technical integration and expertise over the last 12 years with more than 140 global Wi-Fi networks provides iPass a significant advantage, especially as Wi-Fi uses a different infrastructure to cellular networks.

    “Consumers are very sensitive about expensive data roaming charges but with Wi-Fi people are used to daily, flat-rate or time based billing versus consumption usage,” said Kaplan. “As both mobile and fixed-line operators now have an opportunity to get into the global Wi-Fi roaming business, iPass is there to help operators derive greater wallet share from mobile customers. Whether it’s a smartphone or a non-SIM device, they can use our Wi-Fi network virtually wherever they are in the world.”

    An early pioneer in the creation of the global broadband roaming market, iPass delivered the industry’s first broadband roaming service that gave business travelers simplified, high-speed and secure remote access to their corporate networks. iPass is a board member of the Wireless Broadband Alliance and co-author of the WISPr 1.0 protocol, a standard that defines how smart clients can access Wi-Fi networks.

  • Samsung Galaxy Note II reaches 3 million sales

    Samsung Galaxy Note II has already been a successful smartphone, since it has already sold 3 million units in just a month from its release. In fact, Samsung announced that it took Galaxy Note II just 37 days to reach the 3 million milestone, which is obviously a success for the brand. However, Apple's fans might say that iPhone 5 sold 5 million units in just 2 days, which raises the competition level even more between the two companies.

    Samsung Galaxy Note II has been one of the first smartphones that came with a 5.6-inch screen and became popular as one of the best "phablets" (phone and tablet) in the market. Although some were cautious about its sales due to its relatively large screen, which might have been uncomfortable in holding it, the numbers show that people like having a smartphone with a big screen. Even iPhone 5 slightly expanded its screen, which proves that the new trend is turning into phablet, instead of a simple smartphone.

    Samsung must feel really proud about their recent sales, since they topped the smartphone market in the third quarter between July and September, reaching the 56.3 sales. Now that we are approaching the Christmas holiday Samsung knows very well the importance of performing well in the last quarter of the year and all the bets are placed on Galaxy Note II, along with Galaxy S III. However, with iPhone 5 on the market, who will make the ultimate win of the year, topping the fourth quarter's sales? We just have to wait and see.

  • Xiaomi 2 Launched in China

    Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi is launching its new smartphone Xiaomi 2 today. The Chinese say that the gadget will compete with Samsung Galaxy S3, the new iPhone 5 and HTC One X+, the price being expected to be the main argument for this statement.

    In a first phase only 50,000 phones are on sale and then another 250,000 units in the second half of November.

    Officially announced in August, the phone comes with a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 2 GB RAM. The screen is a 4.3-inch IPS LCD at 720p resolution and a density of 342ppi.

    The smartphone has two cameras, an 8-megapixel one that uses the same lens as the iPhone 4S and Galaxy S III, and a second one of 2 megapixels for video conferencing. Xiaomi 2 provides the user with a storage capacity of 16GB or 32GB, expandable, of course, using an SD card.

    In terms of connectivity, the phone features 42Mbps HSPA+ radio and supports WCDMA 850/1900/2100 MHz.

    Xiaomi 2 comes with two versions of batteries: 2000mAh and 3000mAh.

    Xiaomi Phone 2 runs Google’s Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, along with the MIUI Rom package of applications developed by the Chinese manufacturer.

    The phone is available in the Chinese market at a price of 1,999 Yuan ($320) for the 16 GB version and 2,299 Yuan ($370) for the one with 32GB storage capacity.

    Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi did not announce when or if it will begin selling the new smartphone worldwide.

  • Sample Attendee list just announced for NFC Payments – PayPal, Raley’s, Best Buy, Bank of America, Barclaycard, Verizon, T-Mobile and more to meet

    Press Release

    M for Mobile have released the latest sample of the biggest industry experts to attend this year’s NFC Payments USA (Oct 29-30, Boston) event, taking place in just 2 weeks’ time.

    NFC’s most exciting event yet will reveal a stark comparison and in-depth analysis on NFC as a payments technology, compared with its peer competing payment technologies. 

    It also offers a valuable financial perspective through the high caliber of speakers who will lead the exceptional networking opportunity in Boston on the 29th and 30th of this month, including PayPal, Best Buy, Raley’s, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Bank of America, Citi, Barclaycard, Capital One and many more.

    Identify your future partner here.

    With NFC still topping the charts as the next big thing in mobile payments, this year’s conference is bursting with new ideas including an in-depth comparison and evaluation of NFC Payments technology versus all other forms of mobile payment technologies to measure and plan your future NFC strategy, a financial perspective on NFC including the most effective business models to apply and how to reach the fastest ROI for your organization and the opportunity to network with executives from across the entire NFC ecosystem to form those profitable partnerships for 2013.

    Have a look at the attendees already signed up here.

    Contact [email protected] to see what available discounts are left – make sure you secure your place before.

  • FBI Warns Android Users of Malware Risk

    The news arrived from the FBI via the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) division, warn the owners of Android smartphones about the appearance of new malware targeting this category of devices.

    According to IC3 – the organization responsible for investigating allegations of criminal activities in the online environment, "Loozon" and "FinFisher" are the latest known versions of these forms of malware, each with a slightly different operation mode.

    One of the strategies used to attract victims involves displaying a message that the phone owner is lured with job offers that involves working from home, at a substantial salary and offered in exchange for sending emails. The message contains a link that leads to a website infected with Loozon, the user being instructed to click on the link for more information about the job offer. Once infection has occurred, the malicious app extracts all the information stored in the address book along with the infected phone number.

    FinFisher is a form of spyware that can take control over certain parts of the mobile phone, so that once infection is produced, the device can be controlled and monitored remotely, regardless of the location of the victim. Infection with FinFisher malware can occur when the user accesses using the Web browser a website or an infected link, or opens a text message disguised as an Android update.

    IC3 provides some recommendations for protecting mobile phones, such as turning on the encryption feature in order to protect personal data in case of loss or theft, installing antivirus software for the smartphone, creating an access password and avoiding using untrusted public wireless networks.