Ice Cream Sandwich update for Samsung Galaxy SII (South Korea, USA)
Handset maker Samsung will be updating its Galaxy SII smartphones with the latest Android version, Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), according to a report by BBC. Consumers using the SII smartphone in Korea as well as those in Poland, Hungary and Sweden will start to get the update from 13 March. However, the update will gradually be rolled out to other markets and is expected to hit the UK on 19 March.
The report reveals that changes in Android 4.0 (ICS), include refinements to the touchscreen and letting owners unlock a phone with their face.
The move comes in line with Google’s ambition of getting all the devices on the updated Android version in an attempt to fight fragmentation issues. As per the report, Samsung is also hopeful of updating the Galaxy Note and its tablet devices to this version.
The Galaxy SII is amongst Samsung’s most popular products and has reportedly sold over 22 million handsets since its launch in February last year.
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.
Mobile data bill to never cross US$ 23.5 per month with Globe (Philippines)
Globe telecom, a leading mobile network provider in Philippines, has launched the new Globe Postpaid PowerSurf, enabling its subscribers to stay connected to the internet via their mobile while saving on data charges.
According to company reports, PowerSurf 99 offers users 50MB of data for US$ 2.3 allowing them to do 1,200 Google searches, tweet 1,600 times, or tag 250 Facebook photos. Further, users can also subscribe to PowerSurf 299 which has 300MB of data for US$ 7 or PowerSurf 499 which gives users 1GB of data for US$ 11.7.
In the event that a user exceeds the usage of their PowerSurf Plan’s MB allocation, they will never be charged more than US$ 23.5 a month, thus offering users unrestricted access to mobile data without worrying about bill shock.
Hence, users can log on and off as much as they want so as to update Facebook, post a tweet, receive push e-mail, search Google or even watch Youtube videos, as they will never be charged ahead of US$ 23.5 for the month, irrespective of the plan opted for.
Joanna Africa, Head for Portfolio Management, Globe has said that bill shock has always been a concern for most of their postpaid subscribers who surf the internet using their mobile phones. Their new worry-free plans, headlined by the US$ 23.5 bill cap, show that Globe truly values superior customer experience by proactively addressing bill shock and helping subscribers cope with their data usage. Further, with the bill cap on PowerSurf in place, they give their postpaid subscribers peace of mind when they surf on their handsets – may it be an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry. For as long as they are registered to any of the PowerSurf plans, they can enjoy mobile browsing without racking up an expensive bill.
EU asks Google to delay consolidation of privacy policy (Europe, USA)
European regulatory group, Article 29 Working Party, has reportedly asked internet search engine Google, to postpone its plan to consolidate its privacy policy in a letter addressed to Larry Page, CEO, Google. According to reports, Google had announced that it plans to consolidate over 60 privacy policies into one universal policy that will govern its entire product range.
Google planned to launch the new policy from 1 March 2012; however, the regulatory group has reportedly asked the internet giant to pause its changed policy in order to ensure that there can be no misunderstanding about Google’s commitments to information rights of their users and EU citizens.
In response, Google claimed that they will continue with the scheduled date as they have maintained that there will be no changes in the privacy policy. Further, the firm also said that they had briefed most of the members of the working party in the weeks leading up to the announcement and none of them expressed substantial concerns at the time.
Motorola files lawsuit against Apple over patent infringement (USA)
In another patent infringement battle in the telecom industry, US based communications corporation Motorola Mobility, has filed a legal case against iPhone manufacturer Apple Inc, for violating its technology patents.
According to reports, Motorola has claimed that Apple has violated six of its patents as seen in the launch of its recent device range, including the much hyped iPhone 4S. As per sources, the patents are related to wireless antennas, software management, data filtering and messaging.
Reports reveal Motorola has claimed that Apple’s infringing activities have caused and will continue to cause Motorola Mobility irreparable harm, for which it has no adequate remedy at law, unless Apple’s infringing activities are enjoined by this Court.
Motorola Mobility is currently awaiting approval by the European Union regulators for acquisition by Google. The takeover, if approved, will provide Google with access to over 17,000 patents held by Motorola.
EU to deliver verdict for Google-Motorola deal on Feb13 (Europe, USA)
The European Union is reviewing Google Inc’s proposed plans to purchase Motorola Mobility and will announce its final decision on 13 February 2012. As reported earlier, the EU regulators had halted their review earlier claiming they required additional information.
According to reports, the takeover will give Google access to over 17,000 patents of Motorola Mobility enabling the firm to better compete with its rivals such as Apple Inc. As per sources, the EU Commission has said that Google has provided them with the required documents supporting the deal.
Industry analysts have a positive outlook on the deal with many expecting the formalities to be completed by the first half of the year.
Apple wins patent battle against HTC (USA, Taiwan)
Apple Inc has emerged victorious in its patent lawsuit against handset manufacturer HTC, as the International Trade Commission has reportedly ruled that HTC has infringed on one patent held by the iPhone maker. As per reports, any of HTC’s phones using the technology which has been infringed will be banned from sales in the USA from 19 April, 2012.
According to reports, industry analysts believe that the ruling is not expected to have a major impact on the company’s sales as the ruling gives them enough time to come up with another feature to compensate for the infringed feature.
As per sources, HTC has said that the feature in question is a common user-interface function which enables smartphone users to access information such as contact numbers and e-mail addresses from apps and other sources, and use them by simply tapping on the text.
The victory will be well received by Apple, after losing out to Korean giant Samsung, on a similar patent infringement case in Australia last month.
