Verizon expected to lead iPad 3 sales over AT&T (USA)
Apple’s latest iPad 3 has created quite a buzz and is eagerly awaited by Apple fans. The new iPad to be unveiled on 7 March will be first sold by wireless operators AT&T and Verizon Wireless. However, according to a report by BN, Verizon Wireless is expected to benefit more with the iPad than its rival AT&T.
As per the report, industry analysts believe that while Verizon Wireless will sell around 3 million to 4 million new iPads this year, rival operator AT&T can expect a sale of around 2 million iPads. The prime reason for this is the operator’s LTE network.
As reported earlier, the new iPad has been designed to be compatible with LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology, enabling users to surf the net and stream videos in a faster and uninterrupted manner. Verizon Wireless boasts of an extensive LTE network coverage, while AT&T is still at the initial stages reaching out to only a few customers.
As per company reports, Verizon’s LTE network reached over 200 million customers at the end of last year, while AT&T covered about 74 million customers. However, Mark Siegel, a spokesman for AT&T, claimed that even when AT&T customers are outside an area covered by LTE, they are still going to have a very fast experience.
Another advantage for Verizon highlighted in the report is the mobile hot-spot feature. Consumers using the iPad with Verizon will be allowed to turn it into a hot spot, to which other devices can connect to surf the Web. However, AT&T’s iPad doesn’t currently have this capability, but is working with Apple to offer it in the future.
Apple Launches New iPad (USA)
US handset giant, Apple has introduced the new iPad — the third generation of its category-defining mobile device — featuring a stunning new Retina display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics, and a 5-megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing incredible photos and 1080p HD video.
As per the company, iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G connects to fast networks worldwide, including AT&T’s and Verizon’s 4G LTE networks, and still delivers the same all-day 10-hour battery life while remaining amazingly thin and light. The new iPad will be available in black or white through the Apple Online Store and in Apple Retail stores on Friday, March 16, beginning at $499.
Customers can begin pre-ordering their new iPad on the Apple Online Store. Further, company report states that the iPad 2 will be offered at a more affordable price, starting at just $399 .
The Retina display on the new iPad features a 2048-by-1536 resolution, 44 percent greater color saturation, and an astounding 3.1 million pixels — in the same 9.7-inch space. That’s four times the number of pixels in iPad 2 and a million more than an HDTV. The Retina display transforms the entire iPad experience, so everything looks and feels incredibly lifelike and perfectly detailed.
The new iPad features Apple’s 5-megapixel iSight camera. The 5-megapixel iSight camera features a backside illumination sensor that captures great-looking pictures whether by sunlight or candlelight. The new iPad offers the most comprehensive support for networks around the world. It’s designed with cellular antennas that access a larger frequency spectrum.
Further, the new iPad supports fast cellular networks the world over — up to 4G LTE. So users can browse the web, stream content, or download a movie at blazing-fast speeds.
Six Technology firms sign privacy agreement (USA)
California’s attorney general, Kamala D. Harris, has said that six of the world’s top consumer technology firms have agreed to provide greater privacy disclosures before users download applications in order to protect the personal data of millions of consumers.
He added that the agreement binds Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Research In Motion, and Hewlett-Packard, and developers on their platforms, to disclose how they use private data before an app may be downloaded. Harris said that user’s personal privacy should not be the cost of using mobile apps, but all too often it is.
Further, he said that currently 22 of the 30 most downloaded apps do not have privacy notices.
Harris also said that most mobile apps make no effort to inform users about how personal information is used. He added that the consumer should be informed of what they are giving up.
In response to this, Google said that Android users will have even more ways to make informed decisions when it comes to their privacy.
Samsung sells 20 million Galaxy SII handsets since launch (South Korea)
South Korean handset maker, Samsung has announced that the company sold over 20 million Galaxy S II handsets since it was launched in April 2011.
The flagship handset has been well received by consumers owing to device specifications including a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with a Super AMOLED display of 4.3 inches. The phone has a 2 MP front facing camera and an 8 MP rear-facing camera.
With competition intensifying between Apple and Samsung, other mobile phone manufacturers have rapidly been losing their market share. As per sources, Samsung hopes to launch the Galaxy S III in the coming months.
However, while Samsung has been basking in the success of Galaxy S II, US based Apple is still in the lead with over 37.04 million iPhones sold in the last quarter itself and 93 million iPhones sold in the past year.
Apple to pay $15 in class action lawsuit (USA)
Apple has settled the Antennagate class action lawsuit for a payment of $15 or a free bumper case to each customer who faced a problem with the iPhone 4.
Multiple lawsuits were filed against Apple alleging that the company misled the customers in its communication regarding the issue. The lawsuit was filed based on the complaints pertaining to the antenna issues leading to poor signals and dropped calls. Initially, Apple refused to comment on the issue, however, later on, the company offered refund on returning the iPhone 4 handsets.
The lawsuit was filed mainly on five grounds which included unfair competition, false and confusing advertising, breach of warranty, breach of Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and a violation of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
According to the settlement, by April 2012, Apple will have to inform the customers whether they are entitled for a $15 check or a free bumper case. The settlement is applicable for those customers who did not opt for the refund or the free bumper case. Apple will be sending out e-mail notifications to the customers in the near future about the settlement.
For the smooth functioning of the settlement process, Apple has planned to launch a website namely, iPhone4Settlement.com.
Apple sues Samsung in another patent infringement case (USA, South Korea)
iPhone maker Apple Inc has filed yet another patent infringement case against South Korean handset manufacturer Samsung. According to reports, in its latest legal suit, Apple has asked for injunction on certain Samsung devices like the Galaxy Note, during the trial period.
As per sources, Apple has claimed in its lawsuit that sales of the Galaxy Nexus during this litigation will cause irreparable harm to Apple. Further, the smartphone market is at a critical juncture, as the overwhelming majority of consumers move to smartphones, and the consumers’ long-term preferences and purchases may be determined to a great extent by the operating system on their first smartphone.
The lawsuit states that the sale of the Galaxy Note in the US can cause Apple to lose its market share. Also, despite that lawsuit, Samsung has continued to flood the market with copycat products, including at least 18 new infringing products released over the last eight months.
Further, Apple alleges that Samsung has systematically copied Apple’s innovative technology and products, features, and designs, and has deluged markets with infringing devices in an effort to usurp market share from Apple.
Reports reveal that the two companies are involved in 30 legal cases against each other.
Apple overturns German online sales ban by Motorola (USA, Germany)
iPhone maker Apple Inc. has managed to overturn a ruling by the German court which imposed a ban on the sale of some of its products in the country. According to reports, Motorola Mobility had won the legal case and forced Apple to remove some of its iPhone and iPad models from the online store in Germany.
As per sources, a statement by Apple claims that all iPad and iPhone models will be back on sale through Apple’s online store in Germany shortly. Further, Apple appealed this ruling because Motorola repeatedly refuses to license this patent to Apple on reasonable terms, despite having declared it an industry standard patent seven years ago.
In response to this Motorola issued a statement saying that they are pleased that the Mannheim court has recognized the importance of their intellectual property and granted an enforceable injunction in Germany against Apple Sales International. However, although the enforcement of the injunction has been temporarily suspended, Motorola Mobility will continue to pursue its claims against Apple.
Apple and Samsung lead smartphone shipments in 2011
The demand for smartphones around the world continues to witness a rise as users across segments have been increasingly replacing traditional handsets with smartphones by Samsung and Apple. According to a report by IDC, the worldwide smartphone market went up by 55 per cent in Q4 2011, largely driven by the demand for the Apple iPhone 4S.
As per the report, around 492 million smartphones were shipped in 2011, a 61 per cent rise from 305 million units in 2010. Apart from the introduction of high and medium-end devices by telecom giants Samsung and Apple, affordable handsets by these firms have gone a long way in increasing their presence in the market.
South Korea’s Samsung emerged as the leading smartphone maker for 2011, with the launch of its successful range of the Galaxy series, primarily the Galaxy SII and Galaxy Nexus. The Apple iPhone 4S helped the US manufacturer maintain its market position as well as set a new shipment volume record for a quarter.
Smartphone vendor Nokia attempted to gain back some its market share with the launch of its Windows Phones, the Lumia 710 and Lumia 800, while BlackBerry maker, Research in Motion (RIM), is still working towards recovering from the losses caused due its network outage and hopes to release its updated handset by the end of the year. Taiwanese handset maker, HTC also saw a decline in the volumes shipped in the fourth quarter as compared to the previous quarter.
German court says Apple did not violate Samsung’s patents (Germany, USA, South Korea)
Samsung Electronics has announced that a German court has ruled in favour of Apple Inc, claiming that the USA firm had not violated Samsung’s technology patents. As per sources, Samsung had filed a lawsuit against Apple last year claiming that the iPhone maker had infringed on its technology patents.
According to reports, Samsung has responded to the ruling saying that they are disappointed that the court did not share their views regarding the infringement by Apple of this specific patent in Germany. Further, they will wait for the written grounds of the judgment, and after thorough review make a decision about a possible appeal to the Higher Regional Court Karlsruhe.
The company also said that the ruling relates to only one of several patents asserted by Samsung in the Mannheim court. A ruling on an additional Samsung patent relating to telecommunications standards is due to be handed down by the Mannheim court in the next several weeks.
Reports reveal that the German court had ruled in favour of Apple last week, in another infringement case filed by Samsung against Apple.
