Windows phones overtake Apple iPhone in China (China)
The Chinese market has been showing great acceptance for Windows phones over other operating systems. According to a report by mobile and apps, just two months after the first set of Windows Phones entered the Chinese market, the platform made giant strides to take 7 percent of the market. In doing this, Windows has overtaken Apple and is now second only to Google’s Android based smartphones.
Microsoft’s ultimate target is to overtake Android to be the dominant player in the smartphone arena. As per the report, another 7 percent growth in similar time frame would propel Windows Phone to be viewed as a viable alternative to Android, which would boost growth more significantly.
Michel van der Bel, COO Greater China Region at Microsoft said that their smartphone and tablet-pc are hybrid, making them suitable for the consumer, but also easy to insert within an existing company infrastructure. This will allow them to better anticipate the consumerization of IT than many competitors.
Telefonica launches smartphone chat app titled ‘TU Me’ (Spain)
Mobile operator Telefónica is working towards winning back customers from the free instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Viber that have eaten into its text message revenues, by launching its own smartphone chat app, according to a report by FT.
As per the report, TU Me, developed by Telefónica Digital, the carrier’s innovation unit established last September, will allow customers of any mobile network to send free voice and text messages, photos, video and their location to friends who also use the same app. The app, which is available from Wednesday for Apple’s iPhone and will soon be released for Google Android smartphones, is free to download and use.
The report reveals analysts estimate that they have attracted tens of millions of users and cost operators billions of dollars in lost revenue, by cannibalising text and picture messaging.
Stephen Shurrock, chief commercial officer at Telefónica Digital, said it was important for the operator to meet consumers’ needs, while potentially generating extra revenues from spurring increased data consumption or selling digital goods. He said that they can see users increasingly starting to use Viber and WhatsApp. What they wanted to do is put themselves in the centre of that market as well. ?They thought it was important for them to be in that space.
He said Telefónica was broadly comfortable that there is not going to be a significant impact on its own texting revenues because it already offers inclusive bundles of text messages in many markets. Shurrock said if we are staying close to customers and giving them products they want, that should improve churn.
LG favours Android over Windows (USA, South Korea)
Microsoft’s chief executive, Steve Ballmer has recently announced that the company is planning to focus on smartphones running on Google’s Android mobile operating system. According to a report by KoreaHerald, the executive also said LG is taking a step back from Windows phones powered by Microsoft’s platform, adding that it will continue research and development efforts on Windows Phones.
As per the report, a spokesperson for LG revealed that the total unit of Windows Phone sold in the global market is not a meaningful figure. Further, the company currently has no plans of rolling out another LG-manufactured Windows phone soon.
The report reveals that Ballmer may holding a meeting with the chief of LG Electronics, as the U.S. software giant chief is expected to visit Seoul this month. Microsoft Korea spokesperson Lee Seung-yeon said that Ballmer, who will speak about the ‘new era of technology,’ will be staying for a day in Seoul.
Verizon users for Razr and Rezound may get Android 4.0 upgrade in May (USA)
Verizon users may finally have reason to celebrate as recent rumours suggest that users of the Droid Razr and the Rezound may be getting the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) update in May, according to a report by Cnet.
As per the report Verizon plans to push Ice Cream Sandwich over the air to HTC Rezound users on May 9 and Droid Razr / Razr MAXX users on May 21. It’s also noted that Verizon typically pushes out updates in batches over a two-week period, so Rezound and Razr owners probably shouldn’t expect to see that little Android icon unpacking the update on the exact dates above.
As reported earlier, Vodafone’s Samsung Galaxy S II holders received their Android update earlier this month.
Mozilla to begin sale of smartphone in end 2012 (USA)
Mobile phones running an operating system developed by makers of the Firefox web browser will go on sale in late 2012, according to a report by BBC. The first handsets running Mozilla’s ‘Boot to Gecko’ (B2G) software will be available in Brazil on Telefonica Vivo’s mobile network.
Announced in July 2011, B2G aims to be an open rival to Google’s Android.The Mozilla Foundation is best known for its Firefox browser that adheres strictly to official standards for writing and viewing web pages.
As per the report, Gary Kovacs, chief executive of Mozilla, said this openness would make a difference to the way applications on phones operate. B2G aimed to make apps more like webpages and able to share data and links, he said. It did this by basing everything on the latest web standard known as HTML5.
No details were given on who would make the handsets that Telefonica Vivo was planning to offer to its 90 million customers. It said the phones would cost about the same as existing feature phones.No specific date for the launch was given but Telefonica said it should happen at the end of 2012 or in early 2013.
Verizon to focus on Windows phones this holiday season (USA)
Verizon Wireless plans to put its marketing weight behind Microsoft Corp’s next mobile phone software to help develop a strong competitor to Apple Inc and Google Inc, according to the chief financial officer of Verizon Communications, as told to Reuters.
Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon and Vodafone Group Plc, already sells the Apple iPhone and many devices based on Google’s Android software.
But Verizon’s CFO Fran Shammo said the company wants a third strong software competitor in the mobile market where operators pay hefty subsidies for smartphones like the iPhone.
As per the interview, Shammo said that they are really looking at the Windows Phone 8.0 platform because that’s a differentiator. They are working with Microsoft on it.
Microsoft has not said anything publicly about the next update of its mobile software, but Windows Phone 8 — codenamed ‘Apollo’ — is expected on phones this holiday season.
As per the report, Shammo said that Verizon Wireless expects to have phones based on the next Microsoft software in time for the 2012 end of year holiday shopping season. The executive suggested that Verizon could play a similar role with Microsoft as it did with Google’s Android.
Verizon Wireless marketing played a big part in boosting the popularity of Android phones from manufacturers including Motorola Mobility, Samsung Electronics and HTC Corp. Verizon’s Droid brand even managed to give a struggling Motorola a new lease of life.
Nokia is Microsoft’s closest mobile partner as the Finnish company has bet its smartphone business on the U.S. company’s software. But Nokia’s fortunes have fallen sharply since it took up with Microsoft.
While Samsung and HTC both already sell phones based on Microsoft software, Motorola Mobility’s future plans are uncertain as it is in the process of being bought by Google.
Will your phone get the Android 4.O Ice Cream Sanswich (ICS) update? (USA)
South Korea based Samsung has rapidly been taking over the smartphone market owing to its wide range of smartphones powered by Google Android. Samsung loyalists around the world have been wondering if their phone will receive Google’s latest Android version, the 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS).
According to a report by androidandme, the following provides comprehensive information regarding the upgrade status of most handsets. Samsung devices that have Android 4.0 include the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Global Version), Samsung Galaxy Nexus LTE, Samsung Nexus S (rolling update should be completed in Q1), Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (unreleased) and Samsung Galaxy S II. The Samsung Galaxy Note is expected to receive the Android 4.0 update in Q2.
Other Samsung devices that will receive Android 4.0 across time include Samsung Nexus S 4G (likely Q1), Samsung Galaxy Note (AT&T), Samsung Galaxy S II (T-Mobile), Samsung Galaxy S II, Epic 4G Touch, Samsung Galaxy S II (AT&T), Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD, Samsung Galaxy R, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE and Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus.
On the other hand, owners of the following handsets will be disappointed to know that it is unlikely for them to get an ICS update – Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy S Captivate, Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate, Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant and Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.
RCOM inks deal with Google Android to target high end consumers (India)
Indian mobile operator Reliance Communications (RCOM) has entered into a two-year partnership with Google in an attempt to target the high end consumers. According to reports, as per the partnership all Android powered smartphones, from different vendors, will come inclusive of RCOM’s 3G network with 1GB free data download for six months. However, consumers will be iven the option to switch to another operator.
The opertaor is expected to launch a marketing campaign worth $5.8 million to promote the same. As per reports, Sanjay Behl, group head, brand and marketing, Reliance Communications, said that they are creating a dedicated help desk to which any android phone bought under this agreement will be mapped automatically.
Android gets Mashreq’s mobile banking app (USA, Middle East)
Leading financial institution Mashreq has announced the launch of its Mobile Banking for Google Android devices. Mashreq’s mobile app is also accessible through smartphones and devices such as iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Java OS Mobile phones.
The mobile banking application is a fully integrated transactional service offering customers to check their accounts’, make payments to Mashreq Credit Cards and transfer funds anywhere in the world through their mobile phones at anytime, from anywhere.
Furthermore, recharge Etisalat, du, Salik and make other bill payments such as DEWA, SEWA, ADDC through its safe, secure and customer friendly interface. Customers using this service enjoy easy access to their bank accounts through their mobile phones 24/7, from any GPRS / 3G / wireless (Wi-Fi) network, anywhere in the world, as per a press release.
Aref Al Ramli, Head of Alternate Channels at Mashreq commented that they are continuously working towards offering various distinctive platforms for customers to carry out their banking transactions. As technology evolves, so does their online banking services. They are proud of their multi-faced Mobile banking system, which is now available across all systems to reach out to further customers extending a hassle free banking service and help them save time.
For iPhone and Android, the app is to be downloaded from AppStore and Google Play (Android Market). Once installed, Mobile Banking app is ready for use completely free of charges from the bank.
Android controls 50 percent of smartphone market in the U.S. (USA)
Google’s Android operating software accounted for over 50 percent of the U.S. smartphone market for the first time in February, according to a report by Mashable.
The figures were a 17-point increase over February 2011. As per the report, Apple’s share for iOS for the month was 30.2 percent, which was up five points over the same time period. RIM’s BlackBerry platform claimed 13.4 percent vs. 28.9 percent in February 2011 while Microsoft had 3.9 percent of the market compared to the previous 7.7 percent.
The report reveals that overall, in February; 234 million Americans aged 13 and up used mobile devices. Some 69.5 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones during that time. Meanwhile, the U.S. market appears to lag the rest of the world for Android adoption. Global market share for the platform approached 50 percent last August.
