By Editor on May 9, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Internet giant Google has been accused by Oracle of patent infringements for its Android software. According to reports, Oracle alleged that Google has violated the patents from its Java programming language for the Android operating system for mobile devices. Oracle filed a legal case seeking damages as well an order requiring Google to pay for a licence.
According to a report by BN, the jury found that Google infringed Oracle’s copyrights for programming tools and nine lines of code. U.S. District Judge William Alsup said at this point Oracle can only seek damages on the nine lines, which by law would be at most $150,000. Further, the report revealed that a federal judge said that Oracle Corp. can’t seek $1 billion in damages from Google Inc. for infringing copyrights when it developed Android software running on more than 300 million mobile devices because a jury couldn’t agree on whether it was ‘fair use’.
Alsup said that there has been zero finding of liability on copyright, the issue of fair use is still in play, about the 12-member jury’s decision on the programming tools. He ordered the patent phase of the case to begin; damages will be taken up by the jury in the last phase of the 8-week trial.
Filed under America, Mobile, Mobile Legal Court Appeal, USA ·
Tagged with Android operating system, Android Software, District Judge William Alsup, Google, infringed copyrights, Java, legal case, Oracle, patent infringements, Patents, programming tools and nine lines of code, USA
By Editor on March 28, 2011 · Leave a Comment
A new analytical report has unearthed that the Asia-Pacific smartphone market is expected to double to 200 million by 2016, with Google’s Android operating system the leading platform.
According to the report, the growing popularity of the hand held devices, which allows users to surf the Internet and access emails, will mean they will account for almost a third of all mobiles in the region in that time. Despite the continuing success of Apple’s iPhone, the Android platform will be by far the most used system because it is used in so many devices.
The report further adds that smartphones, which numbered 100 million in the region last year, are expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 12.5% between 2010 and 2016 and make up about 32% of all mobiles in Asia-Pacific.
It said that simultaneously, global sales are expected to hit 653 million, with Asia-Pacific accounting for 30.7% of the total. More than 288 million smartphone were sold worldwide in 2010.
It is also expected that the smartphone market will see significant growth over the next five years, once again outperforming the wider mobile phone market.
By Editor on March 28, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Research In Motion (RIM) shares fell by 12% in after-hours trading after the company stated that profits for this quarter will be much weaker than expected.
The company told that the developing of its new tablet-format Blackberry is responsible for the fall, as well as a migration of consumers towards cheaper handsets in its product range is the other reason for the same.
The share price fall came despite the Canadian firm reporting $934 million net profits for the last quarter, in line with expectations. Profits went up by 31% a year earlier.
Revenues of $5.6 billion increase of 36% – were slightly short of expectations, according to the results released after the close of trading on the Nasdaq exchange.
The company has seen its share of its core US market steadily erode by smartphone rivals.
Some 48% of its business now comes from outside the key markets of the US, Canada and the UK.But growth in these new markets has gone hand-in-hand with a shift towards lower-margin entry-point products, the firm conceded.
RIM is banking on its new tablet computer – the Playbook – to regain the initiative.
It will be half the size of Apple’s iPad and will be compatible with Google’s Android operating system.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Android operating system, Blackberry, Canada, Google, Mobile, Playbook, Research in Motion, RIM, Tablet, U.S, UK
By Editor on February 2, 2011 · Leave a Comment
A Rating Agency has put Nokia Corp. on watch for downgrade, citing the cellphone maker’s declining market share and relatively weak showing in the high-end smartphone race.
Nokia’s American depositary receipts were down 4 cents at $10.70 in recent premarket trading. Through Monday’s close, the ADRs were down 24% over the past year.
The move follows the cellphone maker reporting last week its fourth-quarter profit declined and it faces significant challenges that are expected to drag on sales and margins in the current quarter. Smartphones based on Google Inc.’s Android operating system eclipsed those using Nokia’s Symbian software in the latest period.
The downgrade watch reflects Nokia’s announcement that estimated share of the converged mobile device market declined in the end-of-year period, primarily due to its still weak competitive position for high-end smartphones, as well as certain component shortages.
By Editor on January 24, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Research In Motion is aiming to keep its dominance of the corporate smartphone market by enabling the BlackBerry to separate a user’s personal data from work-related emails and other applications sponsored by employers.
According to senior RIM executive, the company would soon introduce software that would effectively give users two phones in one. Its part of RIM’s strategy to arrest a steady erosion of its leadership in the corporate segment as Apple’s iPhone and other consumer-friendly devices make inroads.
Many corporations are now allowing employees to use their own smartphones at work, forcing IT departments to manage confidential information on the iPhone and devices running on Google’s Android operating system.
But those devices are not equipped with the security and system features that have long given the BlackBerry an edge among corporations and other organizations that put a high value on confidentiality and control.
According to Jeff McDowell, RIM’s senior vice-president for business and platform marketing, there are two fundamental use cases on the smartphone – enterprise and personal. The problem is that they are conflicting.
RIM’s solution is software called BlackBerry Balance, which will allow corporate IT departments to retain control over data such as business-related email sent via a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, or BES, while keeping the Web browser and an employee’s social networking and photographs separate.
He added that they just wanted to create an innovative solution that allows enterprises to manage the corporate data side while at the same time give their employees the freedom to use Facebook and browse the Web and get their Internet email at the same time. Carriers were now testing Balance and it should be available in North America within two months. Balance will also be available on the PlayBook, RIM’s yet-to-launch tablet computer. RIM has not stated that it will host BES functionality on the PlayBook, but that is part of their longer-term plans.
Without direct access to the enterprise server, a user will need to bridge the PlayBook to an existing BlackBerry to access corporate email, address book and calendar functions.
By Editor on January 11, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Google Inc. may lose business as Verizon Wireless has started selling Apple Inc.’s iPhone, providing customers with a new to smartphones running the Android operating system.
According to sources, Verizon is all set to announce plans in New York today to bring the iPhone to its network. A Verizon iPhone may cannibalize about 2 million Android phone shipments a year. It is seen that 20.5 million Android devices were sold in the third quarter.
As per source, a lot of people who bought Android phones were buying it in lieu of an iPhone because they couldn’t get one on the Verizon network.
Sources revealed that at AT&T Inc. — the device accounted for 80% of smartphone purchases in the third quarter. If that’s any indication, many Verizon Wireless customers will pick the iPhone over Android- based devices. Even Verizon’s existing Android users may switch estimating that as many as half may opt for the iPhone.
It is expected that Apple would ship about 9 million iPhones this year through a partnership with Verizon. That’s in addition to 11 million units through AT&T. He estimated that AT&T shipped 15.6 million of the devices last year.
While Apple manufactures and maintains strict control over the handsets that run its software, Google supplies Android to a range of phone makers, such as Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.
By Editor on December 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Apple Inc. and its mobile app developers have been sued for allegedly transmitting user information to advertising networks without the consent of owners of its mobile products, like the iPhone and iPad.
In a complaint filed, Jonathan Lalo of Los Angeles County, Calif., stated that Apple and a group of mobile application developers were selling personal data, including his age, gender and location to ad networks.
According to the suit, Lalo did not expect, receive notice of, or consent to Defendants’ tracking of his iPhone app use and did not want Defendants to engage in such activity. The actions are in contradiction with Apple’s stated policies, which do not allow apps to transmit data about a user without consent.
According to reports, many of the apps are listed in the lawsuit, including Pandora Inc.’s Internet music application and Backflip Studios Inc.’s Paper Toss game, both of which are available for Google Inc.’s competing Android operating system, as well.
The lawsuit aims to stop Apple and the developers from continuing to transmit user’s personal information, as well as delete what has already been sent. Lalo is also seeking monetary compensation.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Android operating system, Apple, Apps, Calif., Google Inc, iPad, iPhone, Jonathan Lalo of Los Angeles County, Mobile, privacy issue, sued
By Editor on December 21, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Ignited by support from key wireless players Nokia and Google, global usage of near field communication (NFC) technology in cell phones is expected to begin an explosive growth phase starting next year, paving the way for a boom in the mobile payments business, according to the market research firm iSuppli.
Worldwide shipments of cell phones with built-in NFC capability will rise to 220.1 million units in 2014, up by a factor of four from 52.6 million in 2010. In 2014, 13 percent of cell phones shipped will integrate NFC, up from 4.1 percent in 2010.
NFC is a short-range wireless connectivity technology based on magnetic field induction. It is intended primarily for intuitive, simple and secure communications between two electronic devices in close proximity to each other – a perfect fit for mobile payment applications.
“Imagine paying your bus fare, buying a plane ticket or making an ATM/credit card purchase simply by holding your cell phone near a wireless terminal,” said Jagdish Rebello, director and principal analyst for communications and consumer electronics with iSuppli. “This is the mobile payment revolution on the verge of being unleashed by NFC technology. With NFC technology expected to be integrated into Nokia’s cell phones and Google’s Android operating system, the first shots of this revolution will be fired next year.”
NFC infrastructure
Leading cell phone brand Nokia said it will support NFC in all new smart phone models introduced in 2011.
Google has announced support for NFC in Android 2.3, set for release this week.
Furthermore, after two years of discussions, the three largest U.S. mobile phone carriers – AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile – have launched a joint venture known as ISIS that will develop a mobile payment system based on NFC. While ISIS is initially working with Barclaycard U.S. and Discover Financial Services, the carriers said they are open to collaborating with any bank or credit card company that would like to use the platform.
ISIS within the next 18 months hopes to have NFC-enabled cell phones sold by the three carriers and an NFC ecosystem in place in some regions of the United States, with a full nationwide rollout slated to be accomplished by 2013.
“iSuppli believes that 2012 will be the make-or-break year for NFC,” Rebello said. “With all the ongoing and planned NFC trials in different regions of the world – as well as support for the technology by major stakeholders, including wireless operators, financial institutions and banks – it is imperative that business models be established that allow each of the nodes to see value in offering the service.
NFC technology
Beyond mobile payments in cell phones, NFC enables a range of other functions.
NFC chips are compatible with contactless smart cards. Devices that are NFC enabled can be used as access devices for secure facilities, such as office buildings and gated apartments. They also can work as information retrieval devices – allowing applications including the exchange of electronic business cards and the downloading of information from NFC-enabled posters. Furthermore, NFC can perform authentication features, initiating setup for other forms of wireless communication, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Android operating system, AT&T Wireless, director and principal analyst, Google, iSuppli, Jagdish Rebello, magnetic field induction, Mobile, NFC, Nokia, short-range wireless connectivity technology, T-Mobile, USA, Verizon Wireless, Worldwide shipments
By Editor on December 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment
China’s ZTE has become the latest foreign vendor to attempt to hit Japan’s tough handset market, announcing an exclusive deal to supply smartphones to SoftBank, the country’s third-largest operator.
According to ZTE, SoftBank would launch the first jointly-developed smartphone this month. The device known as the ‘Libero’ runs on Google’s Android operating system, and ZTE claims it is the first Chinese smartphone to launch in Japan. It plans to launch a further eight handset models for SoftBank over the next few months, which have also been developed in collaboration with the operator.
According to figures from IDC, Sharp maintained its leadership in Japan’s handset market with a 18.9 percent market share in the third quarter, followed by Panasonic Mobile (16.6 percent), Fujitsu (15.1 percent) and Kyocera (12.7 percent). However, Apple has finally shown signs of denting the market with the iPhone, commanding a 12.2% share of the market in the quarter. Total mobile shipments in Japan rose 18.9% from a year earlier to reach 8.66 million units in the third quarter, the fourth consecutive quarter of growth.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Android operating system, Apple, China, Fujitsu, Google, IDC, Japan, Kyocera, Libero, Mobile, Panasonic Mobile, Sharp, smartphones, Softbank, ZTE
By Editor on December 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Nokia has delayed the shipping of its Symbian 3 based mobile phone, Nokia E7 to early 2011.
As per the Finnish company, E7 has been delayed to ensure a good user experience. So, Nokia will not have new products for this Christmas holiday. Nokia E7 was announced during the Nokia Conference in Sep, 2010 in London.
Nokia’s previous flagship launch, of the N8, was also delayed and some of the devices subsequently suffered a technical glitch.
Stephen Elop, Chief Executive has vowed to raise Nokia’s game but he faces a difficult balancing act between increasing the speed at which products get to market and improving their quality.
In addition to the iPhone and BlackBerry, Nokia is also under pressure from rivals such as South Korea’s Samsung and HTC of Taiwan, which have adopted Google’s increasingly popular Android operating system.
Nokia, in contrast, has stuck with its Symbian operating system in spite of criticism that users feel it is inferior.
The E7 uses a newly improved version of Symbian. Nokia is also working on a new operating system, called MeeGo, due to be introduced next year.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Android operating system, Blackberry, Chief Executive, E7, Finland, Google, HTC, iPhone, London, MeeGo, Mobile, N8, Nokia, Samsung, South Korea, Stephen Elop, Symbian ^3, Taiwan
