Fourteen phone manufacturers have committed to using the new MicroUSB-based design when developing phone charging devices beginning in 2011.

References

1. ^{^} Esther Shein (www.informationweek.com)
2. ^{^} InformationWeek (www.informationweek.com)
3. ^{^} Download it now (www.informationweek.com)

Sony Ericsson posts Q3 profit on smartphone sales

(AP) – 5 hours ago

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson on Friday reported a third consecutive net profit in the third quarter, mainly thanks to success with its smartphones as well as new product launches and cost cuts.

Lower sales volumes, however, disappointed market watchers who had hoped for a rise. The LM Ericsson and Sony Corp. joint venture shipped 10.4 million units in the July-September period, down 26 percent year-on-year and 5 percent from the quarter before.

The company's profit of euro49 million ($70 million), which compared with a year-earlier loss of euro164 million, was helped largely by lower costs, the result of a savings program it launched in 2008.

Revenues, meanwhile, fell slightly to euro1.6 billion from euro1.62 billion, as a 34 percent jump in the average selling price to euro154 could not make up for the lower shipping volumes. Selling prices were down 4 percent compared with the second quarter.

"Our strategy to focus on the smartphone segment is succeeding and smartphones now comprise more than 50 percent of our total sales," CEO Bert Nordberg said, adding his company had launched its Android-based Xperia models in new markets, including both China and the U.S. in the quarter.

"It is our ambition to become the global number one handset provider on the Android platform," he said.

Sony Ericsson said its unit base market share remained flat compared with the second quarter — at around four percent — while the value market share is at around 6 percent.

The group also kept unchanged its forecast for units in the global handset market for 2010, saying it expects slight growth.

Helena Nordman-Knutson, an analyst with Ohman Fondkommision in Stockholm, said the report was overall worse-than-expected, with the volumes being the main disappointment.

"The competition out there is extremely tough right now and you have to have new phones all the time," she said, pointing to launches by Samsung as well as Apple Inc.'s new iPhone 4.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The Irish Times - Friday, October 15, 2010

Apple may still be king of the smartphone app but with over 90,000 apps Google’s Android is catching up. And creeping up too is late-starter Nokia with a vast handset base, writes MARIE BORAN 

IT WAS the summer of 2008. Consumers were excited about Apple’s “revolutionary” new smartphone but the word “app” meant little or nothing to most people. Chief executive Steve Jobs already had another ace up his sleeve in the shape of the App Store, a place where iPhone owners would download – and pay for – mobile applications for everything from checking the weather to updating social networking sites or booking their cinema tickets on the go.

A short few years ago, apps were little more than Java games for regular handsets or pared-down software applications for smartphones or personal digital assistants. Jobs declared the potential revenue from mobile apps was unlimited while many remained sceptical.

Today the picture is decidedly different. Many handset manufacturers and mobile operators have their own version of Apple’s iOS platform and App Store, with internet giant Google catching up through its Android offering.

The latest Juniper Research report has found the number of app downloads is expected to rise from fewer than 2.6 billion in 2009 to more than 25 billion by 2015, with revenue expected to exceed $30 billion (€21 billion). As a consequence of being an early mover, Apple is still the market leader: it has more than 250,000 apps available with in excess of 1.5 billion downloads to date.

“Apple has been able to achieve several billion downloads from a comparatively small handset base because customers are buying the iPhone for the apps,” said Windsor Holden, author of the Juniper Research report.

“That has not been the case with other handsets. So, even if you have a subscriber base of tens of millions, your addressable market is a fraction of that – and spread across a variety of operating systems and handsets,” he added.

Right now, the only serious competition is Google Android. Android Market has more than 90,000 free and paid-for apps and its user base is big and growing.

More than 95 compatible Android devices are available today, delivered through a global partnership network of 22 original equipment manufacturers and 59 carriers in 49 countries. As an open course mobile platform, Android has 78 partners through the Open Handset Alliance and there are, on average, 200,000 daily Android activations.

It comes as no surprise then that, in the US, Android sales outpaced the iPhone for the first time in May of this year. But if we’re looking at app revenue, it must be noted that 57 per cent of apps on Android Market are free compared to just 28 per cent on Apple’s App Store, according to analytics firm Distomo.

Here in Ireland, Android Market has introduced paid-for apps, a move which should improve the overall quality experienced.

Looking at the bigger picture, quality control could be one of the key drivers in bringing Android up level with the iPhone.

Global online trader Amazon.com is reportedly looking at creating its own online store for Android. This would bring the unity, stamp of quality and prestige that Android apps needed from the beginning.

Another reason for success is the fact that prominent handset manufacturers, including Samsung and HTC, have embraced the Android platform. Samsung, in particular, is moving it into the tablet arena with the Tab, which will compete for the attention of the app-loving public at a lower price than the iPad.

These platforms have very different operating processes. Apple’s model has being criticised for being closed, restrictive and strict on developers, while Android is seen as the opposite.

Apple’s attitude to content-filtering and the strict approval process can be summed up in the words of Jobs, who is quoted as saying: “We do believe we have a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone . . . folks who want porn can buy an Android phone.”

While this comes off a tad catty, there is a vein of truth: submissions to the Android Market are not regulated as closely and a keyword search for a particular app will also return a multitude of ringtones, themes and skins to sort through.

It is refreshing to have so much choice but the “kid in the candy store” feeling wears off pretty quickly and, in the hunt for quality apps, the Android phone owner has a difficult time of it.

Its openness also has a more serious downside: in August, TrendLabs reported the first ever Android Trojan while an app called TapSnake was sending out users’ GPS co-ordinates without their knowledge or consent.

Meanwhile, other mobile manufacturers are edging on to the scene, Nokia being the biggest player. With Ovi, Nokia is aware that it has its work cut out. Not only is it late on the market but it also has a multitude of handset styles to work across. Unlike the average iPhone or Android user, the Nokia owner can range from those who want basic functionality to the sophisticated tech elite, making it more difficult to have a central message or appeal to its app store.

The outlook, however, is not so bad for Nokia. Its overall western European market share stands at a healthy 32.8 per cent with 14 million phones. Recently the Ovi Store hit 2.3 million downloads a day and, while there are only 40,000 “content items” on the store, with 18,000 apps Nokia’s plan of attack is to act locally and encourage Irish app developers to come on board.

With the completely overhauled Windows Phone 7 about to burst onto the scene – complete with the Stephen Fry seal of approval (you may remember his thoughts on the ill-fated Blackberry Storm where he likened the user interface to “an antelope trying to open a packet of cigarettes”) – it is difficult to say how exactly the app marketplace will be divvied out by next year. But it is safe to say the iPhone, iPad and Android devices will be playing a major part.

References

1. ^{^} Zewde Yeraswork (news.google.com)
2. ^{^} smartphone (www.crn.com)
3. ^{^} Next >> (www.crn.com)

For 2010, International Data Corporation (IDC) is now predicting total shipments of 269.6 million smartphones, compared with 173.5 million units in 2009 - growth of 55.4 percent. That's up nearly 25 percentage points from the company's 30.7 percent growth forecast released in March.

More Smartphones that Work for Business

New smartphones that are suitable for business use.

With these numbers and the rate of growth, it’s easy to see why consumers have come to expect anytime, anywhere access to the Internet, data and applications, whether they interact using their computer, mobile device, tablet or kiosk. And what makes mobile access possible? Why, the cloud, of course.

So what are the factors that have led to adoptions of these technologies?

Widespread Wi-Fi

Access to Wi-Fi is one of the driving forces that is increasing adoption of the smartphone and cloud-based technologies. Today you can access an Internet connection in any local coffee shop, bookstore, or restaurant you visit, making it easy to surf the Web, complete online transactions, update your Facebook and more. It’s only natural that a more personal, mobile device would be needed to access these Wi-Fi networks quickly and easily.

Rise of the Mobile Operating System

Users have moved beyond simple feature phones and on to smartphones in large part because of the development of advanced mobile operating systems. No longer do you have to scroll through endless black and white text menu options to complete tasks. Now advanced visual experience, easier navigation and touch screens lead the way to sophisticated mobile operating systems, making them easier to use and in turn easier for the masses to adopt.

Open Source Applications

Open source application development has also paved the way for increased smartphone and cloud technology adoption. With barriers to mobile OS application development being broken down, developers are free to capitalize on mobile Internet technology, creating applications for the smartphone customer that make their day-to-day life easier. Applications like GPS, restaurant locators, personal finance tools, and more combine the use of the Internet with the personalization of the smartphone features.

Decreased Cost of the Smartphone

In 2007, Apple introduced its own version of the smartphone, the iPhone, retailing for $500 for the cheapest version. While smartphones are far from cheap today, the cost has come down, with costs hovering around $200 to $300, making adoption of these devices and the cloud technology they utilize more common.

As the adoption of the smartphone and cloud-based technologies increases, developers of each technology are sure to find more and more uses that will become functional in consumers' everyday lives. For now, the convenience these technologies offer makes you wonder how you ever got along without them in the past.

DynaSis is a computer support Atlanta^[1] firm that has been serving small and midsized businesses since 1992. DynaSis offers managed IT plans, cloud computing, managed hosting, IT strategy, and professional installation services. To find out more about DynaSis, visit www.dynasis.com^[2].

References

1. ^{^} computer support Atlanta (www.dynasis.com)
2. ^{^} www.dynasis.com (www.dynasis.com)

References

1. ^{^} press conference (www.microsoft.com)
2. ^{^} Kin (consumerist.com)
3. ^{^} New Devices on Display as Windows Phone 7 Availability Dates Announced (www.microsoft.com)

References

1. ^{^} solutions (news.softpedia.com)
2. ^{^} Yahoo! Mobile (news.softpedia.com)
3. ^{^} post (www.ysearchblog.com)
4. ^{^} stock (news.softpedia.com)
5. ^{^} The new solution (news.softpedia.com)
6. ^{^} the company (news.softpedia.com)
7. ^{^} @softpediamobile (twitter.com)

PHOENIX - The Apple iPhone is number one in mind share, Google Android is gaining ground, Blackberry is trying to stay alive and a few other smartphone operating systems are fighting for a piece of the pie. Do we really need another mobile platform? Microsoft thinks so.

On Monday the company will hold a media conference in New York City to launch its new Windows Phone 7 operating system. Microsoft’s previous mobile operating system, Windows Mobile, has been dying a slow death since the iPhone and Android came out. Now, Microsoft is trying to reinvent itself in the mobile world.

The problem is, they’re way behind in the race. Microsoft has already admitted that some pretty big features will be missing form the first version of Windows Phone 7 (including copy and paste, just like the original iPhone). Sure, Microsoft is big enough to move fast but is it too little too late? Can they really steal the market away from Apple and Google?

The easy answer to that question is, no. They can’t and they won’t. Nonetheless, they don’t have to. The majority of cell phone users don’t have what’s known as a smartphone. Sure, it seems like we see iPhones and Blackberrys everywhere these days, but the fact is that most people still have flip phones that don’t do much more than make phone calls and send text messages. The future market for smartphones is much bigger than the existing market.

Microsoft will have to make a big splash, impress people out of the gate and innovate quickly. They’ll also be facing some stiff competition from HP/Palm, Nokia and Blackberry who are also fighting for market share. It will be a game of survival, and I don’t think all of these mobile platforms will survive.

Will Microsoft be able to pull this off or will Windows Phone 7 end up being another Zune? It’s tough to say. The early screenshots of the OS look interesting. Monday will be a big deal and the next year will be a big year. The good thing is that with all of the competition, consumers win. Companies will innovate faster, keep prices reasonable and we will end up with smartphones that do so much more.

Just because it's a smartphone doesn't mean you need to buy a data plan.

There is a line between those willing to pay for mobile data and those people who "just want a phone".  I'm always trying to convince my friends and family members who still use feature phones to jump on the smartphone bandwagon.  Just look at the compelling "free" offers combined with a two-year data smartphone plan^[1].    By and large, the biggest inhibitor to buying a smartphone isn't its complexity,  it is the initial cost and the added $30 or so per month in data costs.

As the price to manufacture smartphones comes down and WiFi nears ubiquity, a new breed of device may convert those remaining feature phone users.

Engadget posted^[2] a $150 (w/o plan) Huawei Ascend (pictured, right) yesterday.  It is a full-featured Android 2.1 (shame on you Dell and Sony!) phone with typical Android smartphone phone features.  Engadget notes:

... It's got physical buttons in all the right places (including a bendy metal Send / Menu / Back / End panel on the bottom) and a surprisingly responsive Android 2.1 UI with a few neat quirks -- like a nine-panel home screen -- so we could honestly see this EV-DO Rev. A pretty fantastic handset for first-time  Android users.

We'd choose it over the Motorola Citrus in a heartbeat, that's for sure, especially when Cricket gets its Sprint roaming agreement later this year.

What strikes me is that this Android smartphone costs about the same as a good feature phone^[3].

This isn't the only example of $150 outright Android smartphones.  The Orange San Francisco^[4] (which is actually a higher-end HTC phone with 480-800 pixel display) is selling in the UK for nearly the same currency-adjusted price on a pay as you go plan (meaning no subsidies).

There is something important happening here ...

Why buy a feature phone when you can get a smartphone?  The price of the plan?  Here are some important things to consider:

1. Consumers can opt to purchase inexpensive voice plans for the Android and just use the Internet features when in range of WiFi (which is 'usually' for most people)  If they have a MiFi or your parents (for kids) have a Hotspot-enabled phone, they are pretty much never out of WiFi range.  While it isn't a perfect solution, the alternative feature phone isn't going to give you all of the market-leading Android smartphone features (MP3 player, Video player, Webkit web browser, apps) when in range of WiFi.

2. An interesting alternative is to do the exact opposite and purchase an unlimited data plan with no voice and use VoIP for calls.  I don't think this is  a mainstream option because mobile VoIP clients aren't mature (but look for Google Voice to change that in the coming year).  Virgin currently offers^[5] unlimited data on Sprint's (S) network for $40.  The cost of the data plan could also be offset by customers who shut down their home Internet connections to use the unlimited wireless plan.

3. Companies like AT&T (T) are now selling their data in smaller tiers.  $15 per month for 200MB 'if you need it.  This is likely to come down even further (both in price and data allowances).  Getting a smartphone that can go online only in emergencies might appeal to people currently on feature phone plans who don't want to pay more for data on a monthly basis.

4. The $150 price point is only going to head south.  Maybe a $150 Android phone doesn't make sense to the pay-as-you-go crowd, but a $99 might.  As an example, companies in India^[6] are busy building sub-$50 Android tablets.

5. At some point, the carriers will jump on board with this and offer voice plan subsidies, driving the price even further south toward free.

While RIM (RIMM^[7]), Android, Nokia(NOK^[8]), Microsoft (MSFT^[9]) and Apple (AAPL^[10]) compete for the mid- to high-end market with their new smartphone OSes and devices, only Nokia and to a lesser extent RIM are offering low-end solutions. But those often pale in comparison to what Android has on offer.

If you are looking at growth in the smartphone market, the high end is already saturated with Blackberry, iPhone and Android users.  The low end is ripe for picking as feature phone customers make the leap to smartphones. Android, with its free (Microsoft's claimed patent subsidies notwithstanding) OS and gangbusters popularity is positioned to dominate this sector.

If you look at the global picture with the multiple billions of people using Nokia and Samsung feature phones who will be upgrading to smartphones over the next few years, the future is even rosier for Google.

Perhaps that's why Google (GOOG^[11]) CEO Eric Schmidt could tell^[12] the Wall Sreet Journal, with straight face ...

"If we have a billion people using Android, you think we can't make money from that?" Schmidt asked rhetorically. All it would take, he said, is $10 per user per year.

A video of the 99-pound Orange San Francisco product is embedded below:

References

1. ^{^} a two-year data smartphone plan (amzn.to)
2. ^{^} posted (topicfire.com)
3. ^{^} a good feature phone (amzn.to)
4. ^{^} Orange San Francisco (mobile.engadget.com)
5. ^{^} currently offers (www.facebook.com)
6. ^{^} companies in India (tech.fortune.cnn.com)
7. ^{^} RIMM (money.cnn.com)
8. ^{^} NOK (money.cnn.com)
9. ^{^} MSFT (money.cnn.com)
10. ^{^} AAPL (money.cnn.com)
11. ^{^} GOOG (money.cnn.com)
12. ^{^} Eric Schmidt could tell (tech.fortune.cnn.com)

Published: Friday 8 October 2010