The worldwide mobile phone market continued solid double-digit growth in the second quarter (2Q08) as competition in high-end devices heated up. According to IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped a total of 306.0 million units, an increase of 5.6% from the 289.7 million units shipped during the previous quarter and up 15.3% from the 265.4 million units shipped during 2Q07. Total shipments for the quarter were in line with IDC's expectations, even as vendors cited economic challenges and changing demands within key regions.
These design changes are escalating competition between devices in a new way. Converged mobile devices, also know to the industry as smartphones, have typically been the category of handsets incorporating higher-end features such as GPS and touchscreen. However, these features are quickly moving onto handsets further down the food chain – feature phones.
T-Mobile USA, Inc., has announced the upcoming availability of Family Allowances, which will be launched in August. The new service allows parents to easily manage when and how their family members use their T-Mobile phones and service.
With Family Allowances, parents can give their teens an upfront monthly wireless allowance that works on all the phones T-Mobile offers — virtually eliminating the worry of surprise overages. The feature lets parents set and change limits for minutes, messages and downloads (e.g., games, ring tones and wallpaper) using a simple online tool.
NTT Docomo, Inc. and AT&T Inc. announced today that the extension of a third-generation (3G) mobile network to all principal islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii has been completed.
Using AT&T's 3G network, which is based on W-CDMA technology, DOCOMO customers now have access to data and voice roaming services in the main populated areas of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kauai.
Today Garmin announced that nüvifone will not be available in fourth quarter as previously announced. Garmin had hoped to have carrier launches in the fourth quarter, but they found that meeting some of the carrier specific requirements will take longer than anticipated. Garmin stated, "We remain pleased with carrier interest in the device and are working toward making necessary design changes to meet their requirements. We anticipate launching the product during the first half of 2009."
Last January, Garmin announced its entrance into the mobile phone market with the nüvifone, an all-in-one, sleek and slim, touchscreen device that combines a premium phone, mobile web-browser, and cutting-edge personal navigator. The nuvifone is a work of art in features, design and functionality and is destined to transform how individuals connect, communicate and navigate their life.
Available today from T-Mobile USA Inc., the new T-Mobile Sidekick powered by Danger (a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.) introduces innovative software, services and hardware customization that improve an already celebrated mobile experience.
The new Sidekick features key software improvements including support for video capture, playback and sharing; wireless stereo music and media sharing via Bluetooth; quick friend search and optimized group chats in instant messaging (IM); customizable Web browsing; and universal search across all phone applications and data. In addition, the phone's shell is customizable, creating a unique look for every device.
The result is a Sidekick that is fun to use and showcases the owner's individuality and style.
Verizon Wireless has introduced the G’zOne Boulder, the newest Push to Talk phone that is exclusively available through Verizon Wireless. This rough and tough phone is built to military specifications to withstand shock, water and dust environments. The G’zOne Boulder provides customers with access to Verizon Wireless’ Push to Talk service that uses the company’s Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network to ensure customers can get their jobs done quickly and efficiently.
Packaged in two smart-looking finishes – black and silver or orange – the G’zOne Boulder is now available online at www.verizonwireless.com and through business sales channels. The phone will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in mid-August.
Leveraging EV-DO Rev. A technology, Push to Talk from Verizon Wireless provides customers with fast two-way communication – all with the assurance of a reliable network so customers can instantly connect to colleagues and friends.
Nokia E71 made its US debut at the Nokia Flagship Store in New York at a private event in the Nokia Flagship Store in midtown Manhattan last week Thursday. Nokia introduced the E71 and E66 last month.
The invited guests had each signed up to ensure that they would be among the first people in the United States to bring home this exciting new device. The Nokia E71, which at .39 inches thick, is the slimmest QWERTY device on the market, is now available to the general public through a variety of consumer electronics, wireless and online retailers, and at the Nokia Flagship Stores in Chicago and New York
The Nokia E71 also includes a number of entertainment features and supports many of the latest Ovi services including Nokia Maps and Share on Ovi. With integrated A-GPS and Nokia Maps 2.0, the Nokia E71 can easily pinpoint locations and provide optional turn-by-turn navigation information. The device also captures high-quality images and videos with its 3.2 megapixel camera, which can be quickly uploaded and shared with friends and family around the world using the fun and easy Share on Ovi service.
Sprint took a blow today in a California courtroom when a judge ordered the company to pay $18.3 million to customers who sued over fees charged to break service contracts. Sprint also has to pay $54.8 million to customers who were charged but did not pay the fees. Sprint tried to argue that the state court had no business deciding an issue considered to be a federal issue.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Bonnie Sabraw is also considering other lawsuits against telecommunications companies over their early termination fees, which can range from $150 to $225. This month Verizon Wireless agreed to pay $21 million to settle an identical lawsuit.
Sprint has launched the updated Sprint Web, a next-generation mobile Web browsing experience on popular Sprint phones. Sprint Web offers an adaptive home page that delivers content based on the customer's previous usage, along with direct access to search from Google Inc. This enhancement is automatic for Sprint customers who currently access the mobile Web on these phones and requires no additional action on their part.
The new Sprint Web home page uses technology by ChangingWorlds, a global expert in mobile Internet personalization and content discovery technologies, to provide each customer with dynamic, relevant content and information as a result of their past usage. This makes each customer's Sprint Web home page unique, depending on their interests. For example, if a customer continually goes to sports links, the top sports stories will be featured.
All these handsets are smartphones with some really cool and unique features.
The Apple iPhone comes with a faster 3G wireless network, Microsoft exchange server e-mail, and support for a ton of third-party software from the iPhone Apps store. The LG Decoy is the first ever cell phone to come with a built-in stowaway Bluetooth headset. The BlackBerry Curve 8320 offers a very spacious and easy-to-use keyboard.
The Nokia N95 features 3G support, more memory, longer battery life, and faster performance. The Instinct which is very similar to the iPhone offers its own brand of visual voice mail, offers 3G network compatibility, integrated GPS, and work e-mail support, to name a few.
Use your iPhone to help you remember all the stuff you need to do in your busy life with reQall. ReQall is specifically created for the iPhone and iPod Touch and is available at Apple's App Store. reQall enables you to simply say what you want to remember straight to your iPhone. Your voice reminders are immediately converted into text and delivered back to you at the right moment.
reQall can remind you via text message, instant message, email, or as a calendar alert about what you need to do and when. And if you shake your iPhone, the patent-pending reQall Memory Jogger springs to action and identifies information designed to maximize memory reinforcement, helping you remember better.
reQall is also smart enough to recognize certain keywords. Say "buy" and reQall automatically adds that item to your shopping list. Say dates and times; things like "remind me to use the travel certificates before May 18"; and a reminder is scheduled in your calendar; use a word like "meet" to automatically schedule a meeting.
According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 U.S. Wireless Prepaid Customer Satisfaction Study released today, overall satisfaction among prepaid wireless customers who subscribe to flat-rate plans with unlimited minutes is considerably higher than that of customers who subscribe to per-minute price plans, primarily due to cost advantages associated with flat-rate plans.
Now in its third year, the study measures customer satisfaction with current prepaid wireless service across seven key factors. In order of importance, they are: call quality (24%); company image (19%); cost of service (17%); account management (15%); initial activation (11%); service plan options (8%); and customer service (6%).
The study finds that overall satisfaction among prepaid wireless customers that subscribe to flat-rate pricing plans with unlimited minutes is 764 on a 1,000-point scale, which is considerably higher than that of subscribers of traditional per-minute pricing plans (717, on average). This gap in satisfaction is primarily driven by differences in the cost of service, as well as by the benefit of unlimited minutes available in flat-rate plans.
NTT DoCoMo exhibited at the Wireless Japan 2008 conference (July 22 to 24, 2008) an smart Li-ION battery pack for cell phones.
The smart battery pack can detect problems within the Li-ION battery and send the information to the user. The smart battery is developed with Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd.
An 8-bit microcomputer embedded onto the battery pack monitors the battery and based on the battery's current, voltage, temperature and other indicators; its state of deterioration, remaining battery level, and problems with the battery unit can be displayed on the cell phone screen.
The battery's status is stored on the battery pack itself, so if the cell phone is changed, the prior data can still be viewed. The smart battery can notify users when it's time to recharge; battery needs repairs, and when it's time to replace the battery. NTT DoCoMo plans to use the new intelligent battery packs on future cell phone models to be released next year.
Samsung Electronics today announced the Innov8, an 8.0-megapixel camera phone available globally starting next month.
The Innov8 (i8510) is Samsung's first 8.0-megapixel camera phone, which captures and stores high-resolution photos. Samsung launched the first 7.0-megapixel phone in 2005 and the 10-megapixel SCH-B600 in the Korea in 2006.
The Innov8 has the latest in imaging applications such as smile shot, blink shot and face recognition. Users can personalize and edit photos, videos and music with Movie Maker and Story Board applications. The Innov8 also acts as a digital photo frame, letting consumers display their favorite images.
The Innov8 has a 2.8-inch 16.7 million color LCD is designed for photography, video and gaming. Viewers can watch videos in DivX, WMV, Real Player and MPEG4 formats. Its external dual speakers and 3D surround sound provide realistic sounds. The Innov8 comes preinstalled with Asphalt and FIFA 08.
Alltel Wireless and Txtstation announced they will be working together as part of an ongoing effort to provide unique promotions to fans at select Alltel sponsored sports properties. As the Official Wireless Partner of Fans, Alltel will leverage Txtstation’s capabilities and implement a real time text messaging feature at five sponsored properties. Additional properties are currently under consideration and may be added to the campaign at a later date.
The text feature, titled the ‘Alltel Fan Poll’ will pose a compelling question to fans inside the stadium and ask them to weigh-in with their opinions. At each home game, fans will be able to interact with the video board by sending a text message from their wireless phone to 88222. Within seconds, votes will appear live on the screen, causing percentages to change and providing a fun and entertaining experience for all.
The “Alltel Fan Poll” will debut later this summer as the football season begins.
Do you ever use your cell phone as a flash light? Well Doapp, a registered developer of Apple iPhone applications, has a neat little application to turn your iPhone into a colored strobe and flashlight. myLite is Doapp's first iPhone app approved for download on Apple's "App Store," and best of all it's free. (See Video)
The myLite app takes the hassle out of trying to find a flashlight in the dark or when the power goes out, and it also makes you the life of the party at rock concerts or the MacGyver on your camping trip. No more digging for a flashlight only to find the batteries dead, or late night stubbed-toe incidents bumping into the coffee table. Your iPhone is always at the ready.
But not only is this instant "night light" good for reading in the dark or finding a keyhole in a pinch, shining as bright or brighter than any traditional or LED flashlight, you can very simply adjust its light beam for both brightness and color with the two convenient "slider" controls. Make your light beam more like fluorescent (cool) or incandescent (warm) light - or any color at all, across the entire color spectrum - whatever your personal preference is at the moment.
MobileSphere has introduced slydial, a free voice messaging service that connects you directly to someone’s mobile phone voicemail. Anyone can use slydial; it’s the best way to save time, avoid an awkward conversation or relay information without interrupting your friends, family or business contacts. Checking-in with a boss, friend, significant other or parent has never been easier as slydial provides the illusion of communication without the hassle of engaging in a time-consuming conversation.
• To slydial someone, simply dial 267-SLYDIAL (267-759-3425) and follow the voice prompts. It’s that easy!
• Once you get hooked, because you will, you can join MYslydial for free and become a registered user to take advantage of advanced features for quick and easy slydialing to your personalized slydial contact list, including:
Hundreds of millions of mobile phone owners can now take advantage of email on-the-move as emoze launches the world’s first push mobile email solution for Java handsets.
Push-mobile email is now available to a whole new category of mobile users, with more than 800 handsets added to the mobile email mix. Standard-grade handsets previously considered ‘dumber’ than Blackberry handsets, Smartphones or Windows Mobile devices, can get very smart with emoze.
Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola and Samsung users will be able to get emoze push mail on their handsets. The deployment will be in stages; Nokia Series40 handsets will be the first to be added, followed shortly after by the rest.
Unique web-like graphics, flexible layouts and animated screen transitions are all supported by the emoze Java client. Unlike other simple push email solutions, emoze delivers slick, colorful and well laid out messaging and content – mirroring what you get on your PC screen – to even the most basic mobile phone.
Do you know you can stream videos directly from your cell phone to the Internet? Well you can with Qik! Qik allows you to stream videos to your friends in Facebook, Twitter, etc. or as your camcorder to capture entertaining and special moments.
Qik allows you to go LIVE by streaming anytime, anywhere right from your cell phone. Be an eyewitness, capture those first steps, or whip up your own streaming video blog. There are just a million and one uses of qik.
Currently, Qik supports video streaming on many Nokia S60 phones and several phones running Windows Mobile. Keep in mind You will need a Data Plan from your service provider; it is also advisable to have an Unlimited Data Plan as video streaming can consume a considerable amount of bandwidth.
Qik has just transitioned from an Invitation-only Alpha to Public Beta with additional features, integrations and additional handset support.
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