Best Buy, Clearwire launch 4G mobile broadband service (US)
Best Buy Connect has launched 4G mobile broadband connectivity service on an expanded selection of computing devices sold at Best Buy stores nationally.
The 4G service provides consumers with high-speed internet access on-the-go, with service activation, billing, hardware and connection support from Best Buy. The 4G service offering is available through a wholesale partnership with Clearwire.
Users can purchase Best Buy Connect 4G as mobile broadband option on 23 computing models from Asus, Dell, HP, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba at most Best Buy stores across the US. Initially, Best Buy Connect will offer unlimited 4G service for US$45 per month with a month-to-month or two-year contract.
With the purchase of a two-year contract, customers can waive the US$35 activation fee and receive up to an additional US$150 off select hardware devices.
Apple’s revenue to reach $200 bn mark soon (USA)
A group of researches believe that Apple Inc. can keep posting sales growth of more than 50% in the next two years as a mobile applications boom fuels demand for devices such as the iPad.
According to researchers, Apple sold almost 15 million iPads in its debut year and more than 90 million iPhones in its four-year lifespan. Demand for the devices has spawned a market for downloadable apps that let users shop, work, play games and handle other tasks on the go. That in turn keeps customers buying Apple’s products, and puts the company on course for higher revenue than International Business Machines Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co.
It is also expected that the company will be bigger than IBM next year, and they’ll be bigger than HP the year after that. At current growth rates, they’re going to be a $200 billion revenue company.
Hewlett-Packard had sales of $126 billion in the year that ended in October and IBM’s revenue was $99.9 billion last year, making them the largest technology companies, respectively, by sales. Apple ranks No. 1 by market capitalization.
Foxconn plans to manufacture Apple products (Brazil)
Taiwan’s Foxconn Group is planning to build a plant in Brazil as the company is willing to manufacture Apple products.
Foxconn already has two assembly lines in Jundiai, Brazil that presently manufacture products for HP and Sony.
Foxconn has reportedly commissioned studies to analyze the feasibility of adding a third line at its plant, to manufacture products for Apple.
Worldwide WLAN market reaches nearly $5 billion in 2010
A recent research report has revealed that the combined retail and enterprise worldwide wireless local area network (WLAN) market segments experienced year-over-year market growth of 12.4% for the full year 2010 and quarter-over-quarter growth of 11.6% in the fourth quarter of 2010 (4Q10). The enterprise segment paved the way in 4Q10 with impressive 34.9% year-over-year growth and 12.3% quarter-over-quarter.
As per researchers, the tremendous momentum behind smart mobile devices and the continued proliferation of higher performance 802.11n networks are driving enterprises to move forward with upgrades, extensions, and replacements of their wireless infrastructures. Researchers expect these trends will continue over the next several quarters as 802.11n dominates and becomes the de facto standard in the enterprise.
Additionally, the retail-class WLAN market continues to stabilize from previous quarterly declines. Despite tight consumer spending and concerns about the economy, this segment of the market grew 11.1% quarter-over-quarter and 11.2% year-over-year in 4Q10. Dropping prices and increased consumer interest in networked home entertainment applications will continue to support this segment going forward.
Key Vendor Updates
- Cisco’s enterprise WLAN revenue capped a good year with strong growth in 4Q10, growing 43.4% year-over-year and 16.3% quarter-over-quarter. For the full year 2010, Cisco grew revenues 30.7%. Cisco’s Linksys consumer division, after a decline in 3Q10, grew 14.1% quarter-over-quarter in 4Q10.
- Aruba had an exceptional 4Q10 with branded revenue increasing 13.5% quarter-over-quarter and 72.2% year-over-year.
- HP recorded 22.4% year-over-year growth in 4Q10, whereas Motorola had a weaker quarter for WLAN declining 11.6% year-over-year
Korea Telecom, SK Telecom, LG U+ to use apps created in unified global development platform
HP today announced it is providing systems integration services to three Korean telecom companies in their joint effort to vastly expand the number and quality of services for their mobile customers.
SK Telecom, Korean Telecom and LG U+ are cooperating, through a consortium, to create a single, Korea-specific clearinghouse that will link to a global application development initiative called the Wholesale Applications Community ( WAC ).
Formed in 2010, WAC brings together more than 60 of the world’s communications service providers ( CSPs ) to create a common set of interfaces, standards and tools that will help developers create new, enriched applications that will run on the CSPs’ networks and handsets.
The Korea-WAC platform will function as an intermediary, handling transactions and processing, to ensure that global WAC applications are available and optimized for use by the three Korean CSPs and their mobile customers.
In addition, a Korea-WAC application can enrich the mobile experience for all users by integrating key network enablers from the three different CSPs. For example, an application that depends on a user’s location or availability can share that information automatically among all users, even if they are on different CSP networks.
The Korea-WAC platform is being implemented by a consortium formed by the Mobile Internet Business Association ( MOIBA ) and the three CSPs with support from the Republic of Korea.
Our goal is to make sure that Koreans continue to have the best possible mobile experience,†said DongJin Choi, director, MOIBA. Through cooperation, both globally and in Korea, we can reach that goal. The pan-country approach of Korea-WAC is unique, and again demonstrates Korean leadership. We look forward to continued progress with HP.â€
To build the Korea-WAC platform, HP is drawing on its experience in large, complex projects that require both telecom and IT expertise, as well as its capabilities in consulting and integration, architectural guidance and overall project management.
The innovative Korea-WAC approach creates growth opportunities for CSPs and application developers, and will ultimately enhance the mobile experience for millions of users,†said Erwan Menard, vice president and general manager, Communications and Media Solutions business unit, HP. HP believes WAC can be a catalyst for re-shaping the global landscape, and Korea-WAC might well be a model for other countries.â€
The Korea-WAC platform is expected to be fully operational later this year. At that time, the three Korean CSPs intend to start incorporating new, enriched WAC-based applications into their respective app stores.
LG U+, Korea Telecom, SK Telecom and HP are members of WAC.
More information on HP developer communities and app stores is available at www.hp.com/go/sdp
About KWAC
KWAC is a consortium formed by Mobile Internet Business Association ( MOIBA ) and SKT, KT and LG U+ with support from the Republic of Korea. KWAC aims to build an ecosystem for developers, CSPs and consumers in the Korean domestic market in order to promote the production of local-specific apps. KWAC will provide WAC on-boarding services on behalf of the three CSPs so that global developers can sell their apps in the domestic market.
About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP ( NYSE: HPQ ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.
Google named the most reputed firm in UK
Google has been named as the most reputed technology firm in the UK leaving Apple and Sony behind. The survey assesses organizations on their business success, favorability, trustworthiness and product / service quality.
Microsoft, BlackBerry, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Dell, Nokia and HP were also included in the list.
The dominance of these companies, along with Google in the rankings points to consumers’ high regard for technology brands.
Traditionally a top company in such reports, Nokia, however languished down in 23rd place.
Other top line findings show:
- Microsoft is seen as the most successful brand in the UK with 81% of people considering it to have either excellent or very good success. Also, scoring high are Apple and Google, with 80% and 79% respectively.
- Google comes on top for its quality of service offering, with 70% of Britons rating the company’s service as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’.
- Technology brands Samsung, Sony, Apple, Nintendo, and Microsoft are also in the top ten of the most highly rated companies in terms of quality.
The world of technology is fast paced, dynamic and innovative, and is undergoing fundamental category change. As a result, brands are required to continuously evolve in order to be at the leading edge of technology, or at least keep up with the competition. The prevalence of innovation and new product development gives rise to increased brand coverage and awareness through media buzz as well as marketing communications. This along with the integral role that technology plays as part of their daily lives leads to the surprisingly high number of technology brands featuring in the list of reputed organizations of UK.
HP boasts of two new Palm phones
HP now boasts of a range of new devices from a mobile phone, the size of a credit card to a new tablet device. The company, which brought Palm, last year, also restored the Palm Pre with its 3G model.
The small Palm Veer is a 3G smartphone that comes with a 2.6-inch multi-touch screen supporting 320×400 resolutions. In addition to the touchscreen, it also comes with a slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard. The operating system is based on the HP webOS.
According to Jon Rubinstein, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Palm Global Business Unit, HP, while much of the industry is trending toward larger and larger devices, the company believes there’s also a whole lot of room for thinking small. Veer bridges the gap for a new generation of smartphone users, proving they really can have it all without sacrificing the size they want.
At just 54.5 mm x 84.0 mm x 15.1 mm and only 103 grams, Veer flaunts an 800-MHz processor; 8 GB of internal user storage; a browser with full access to the web, including support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta; Wi-Fi; integrated GPS; messaging support; and multimedia options, including music, photos, video recording and playback, and a 5-megapixel camera.
The HP Veer smartphone is scheduled to be available in the early spring. The exact prices and availability will be announced at a later date.
Building on the Pre platform, the Palm Pre3 increases keyboard size and the display resolution, adds video stabilization, a 1.4-GHz Qualcomm processor, and a forward-facing camera for video calling.
The company also introduced a HP webOS based TouchPad, a long rumored tablet device.
ITRI sues LG over patent dispute
Taiwan’s semi-official Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has sued LG Electronics, accusing it of infringing 22 of its US registered patents covering the fields of mobile phones, air conditioners, blue-ray discs, and LCD displays.
According to ITRI, if the court does not block LG’s actions, then it will suffer additional irreparable harm for which there is no adequate remedy at law and impairment of the value of its patent rights.
The case is similar to the IP litigation between Acer and HP three years ago, when the former successfully used the support of the ITRI to force the latter in accepting a settlement.
As per LG’s statement, it will act appropriately when it receives the official court documents, which it expects later this month.
The ITRI is a technology developer that was founded in 1973 and is partly funded by the Taiwan government.
Clearwire Offers the Capital City a New Way to Connect with CLEAR 4G
Clearwire Corporation , a leading provider of wireless broadband services and operator of the first 4G network in the country, today announced the availability of CLEAR(R) 4G, take-it-with-you internet service for businesses and consumers in Sacramento. With CLEAR, anyone can now use the internet at speeds four times faster than 3G* — whether at home, in the office, or on-the-go within CLEAR coverage.
In Sacramento, CLEAR covers nearly 1.2 million people. Regionally, service extends out to Davis to the West, to Elk Grove in the South, to Roseville/Folsom out to the East and Natomas to the North. A detailed coverage map of CLEAR 4G service is available at www.clear.com/coverage.
“Whether as a critical link for the Pony Express or for the first transcontinental railroad, Sacramento has long been at the forefront of this country’s ever-growing need to communicate. With today’s launch, Sacramento reinforces its historical position as a communications hub and becomes the anchor to Clearwire’s 4G network in the Central Valley,” said Allan Lamb, regional general manager for CLEAR. “For the first time, capital city consumers are able to access the content they normally enjoy at home or work wirelessly around Sacramento at an affordable price and without data limits.”
For a limited time, new customers can take advantage of CLEAR’s online-only mobile internet promotion to receive a 50% discount on their service plan for the first two months, with overnight shipping included and no activation fee. This promotion is available at www.clear.com/sacramento.
A CLEAR Difference
The CLEAR experience is similar to Wi-Fi but without the short-range limitations. CLEAR uses wireless 4G technology that differs from Wi-Fi because it provides service areas measured in miles, not feet. CLEAR also offers average mobile download speeds of 3 to 6 mbps with bursts over 10 mbps.* Outside the CLEAR 4G service area, dual-mode 4G/3G modems keep users continually connected by leveraging Sprint’s 3G data network.
With CLEAR, people stay better connected and more productive. For example:
A travelling business executive no longer needs to seek out Wi-Fi hotspots or be constrained by the speeds and limitations of 3G modem cards; A college student can now have affordable internet service whether at home, on campus or on-the-go; A commuter can now work on large files or stream their favorite shows while riding the bus or train; A busy parent can now keep kids occupied studying or playing games in the back of the family minivan.
Unlike service plans from traditional wireless carriers which cap data usage, CLEAR offers unlimited 4G usage plans that do not require long-term service contracts. In most markets unlimited 4G coverage from CLEAR starts at $35 for the home while unlimited mobile plans start as low as $45. Bundled service plans such as Home and Voice start at $50 per month.
Simply Plug-In and Go
Clearwire offers several ways to connect to CLEAR 4G services — via a modem, mobile device, or a 4G-embedded laptop or netbook.
Clear Spots(R): Clear Spots are personal mobile hotspots that allow users to easily and securely share unlimited internet access anywhere CLEAR has coverage simultaneously with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The Clear Spot 4G brings 4G to Wi-Fi devices such as laptops, smartphones, and portable gaming devices. The Clear Spot 4G+ allows power users and road warriors to stay connected across the U.S. by automatically switching from 4G and connecting to Sprint’s 3G nationwide network outside the 4G coverage area. The iSpot(TM) is made exclusively for Apple mobile devices** including the iPad(TM), iPod touch(R) and iPhone(R). The Clear Spot 4G and iSpot each cost $99 or the Clear Spot 4G can be leased for $5 a month. The Clear Spot 4G+ costs $225 or can be leased for $9 per month. Clear Spots can be purchased at www.clear.com/spot and from CLEAR stores and authorized dealers.
Clear 4G+ Mobile USB: Mobile users simply plug-in the compact Clear 4G+ Mobile USB into their laptop to get online. This dual-mode 4G/3G modem gives users access to the 4G network in the CLEAR coverage area and to 3G coverage nationwide. The Clear 4G+ Mobile USB costs $115 or can be leased monthly for $6.
Home Modems: For residential service, CLEAR offers a wireless high-speed modem. Customers simply plug the modem into a power outlet anywhere in their home or office and connect the modem to their PC or wireless router. This enables consumers and businesses to easily install high-speed internet service without scheduling an appointment, drilling holes in their walls, or otherwise disrupting their day. The Clear Home Modem can be purchased for $85 or leased for $5 monthly.
Embedded 4G WiMAX Laptops: Customers can also select from more than 45 different 4G WiMAX-ready laptops and netbooks with Intel(R) Core(TM) or Atom(TM) processors and the embedded Intel(R) wireless module Advanced-N + WiMAX from leading manufacturers including Dell, HP, Sony, Lenovo, Toshiba, Samsung, Gateway, and Asus. All of these operate on CLEAR, and more than 20 of these 4G WiMAX-ready laptops are now available at Best Buy stores and at www.bestbuy.com.
CLEAR 4G products and services are available for purchase by going online at www.clear.com/sacramento, calling 1-877-499-6681, or visiting a CLEAR retail store or other authorized CLEAR dealer. A CLEAR retail store is located at Market Square at Arden Mall in Sacramento. CLEAR service is also available from other outlets including Best Buy, RadioShack and Fry’s Electronics.
Clearwire’s 4G Network in 2010
CLEAR 4G service is currently available in 63 markets across the United States, including: Sacramento, Merced, Visalia, Modesto and Stockton, Calif.; New Haven and Hartford, Conn.; central Washington, D.C.; Wilmington, Del.; Tampa Bay, Orlando, Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Fla.; Atlanta and Milledgeville, Ga.; Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii; Boise, Idaho; Chicago, Ill.; Boston, Mass.; Baltimore, Md.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo.; Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro, N.C.; Trenton and New Brunswick, N.J.; New York, Syracuse and Rochester, N.Y.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Salem, Portland and Eugene, Ore.; Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Reading, Lancaster and York, Pa.; Providence, R.I.; Nashville, Tenn.; Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Abilene, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Waco and Wichita Falls, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Richmond, Va.; Seattle, Tri-Cities, Yakima and Bellingham, Wash. By the end of 2010, CLEAR 4G will also be available in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Denver, Miami, Cincinnati and Cleveland.
For more information about CLEAR, visit www.clear.com/sacramento or The CLEAR Blog www.theclearblog.com. You can also follow CLEAR information on Twitter at @Clear. Information about Clearwire is available at http://www.clearwire.com. For press and broadcast: images, video and company logos are available from the Clearwire Newsroom at www.clearwire.com/newsroom. To subscribe to Clearwire’s RSS news feed, click here.
About Clearwire
Clearwire Corporatio, through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of wireless broadband services. Clearwire’s 4G network currently provides coverage in areas of the U.S. where approximately 101 million people live, and the company plans to continue to expand its 4G coverage. Clearwire’s open all-IP network, combined with significant spectrum holdings, provides an unprecedented combination of speed and mobility to deliver next generation broadband access. The company markets its 4G service through its own brand called CLEAR(R) as well as through its wholesale relationships with Sprint, Comcast and Time Warner Cable. Strategic investors include Intel Capital, Comcast, Sprint, Google, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks. Clearwire is headquartered in Kirkland, Wash. Additional information is available at www.clearwire.com.
*Speed claims based on download speeds only. Actual performance may vary and is not guaranteed. CLEAR performance claim is based on average download user speeds achieved during tests performed on the CLEAR commercial network by CLEAR. Other carrier performance based on their advertised claims.
**Apple does not endorse Clearwire products or services and is not affiliated with Clearwire.
Unlimited plans subject to CLEAR’s Acceptable Use Policy, posted at www.clear.com/legal/aup.
Clearwire, CLEAR, and the CLEAR logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Clearwire Communications LLC in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
Apple conquers 95% of tablet market
Strategy Analytics believes that Apple’s iPad has conquered the tablet market with 95% of sales in Q3, despite the invasion of competitors.
According to the research firm, Apple shipped nearly 4.2 million of the estimated 4.4 million units sold in the quarter. Global tablet shipments grew 26% sequentially. Second-placed Android achieved just a 2.3% share of the global tablet OS market, but is expected to increase in the current quarter. The other tablet OS providers combined namely Microsoft, RIM and Nokia currently only equal Android’s share.
While the US remained undoubtedly the world’s largest tablet market during Q3, demand in Asia and Western Europe is also beginning to swell.
According to Strategy Analytics director Neil Mawston, the tablet wars are up and running. Android, Microsoft, MeeGo, webOS, Blackberry and other platforms are trailing in Apple’s wake and they already have much ground to make up.
According to Paul Carlton, Vice President of research at ChangeWave, Apple’s rivals face a tough time gaining market share because the iPad has already set the bar so very high in terms of customer expectations.
The iPad has taken a big slice out of the netbook market. US consumers’ interest in netbooks has plummeted by ten percentage points in the past year, according to a ChangeWave survey.
The research firm found just 14% of consumers who plan to buy a laptop in the next 90 days will opt for the netbook form factor, compared to 26% that said they plan to buy a tablet.
Demand for the emerging form factor is driven by Apple’s iPad. The device scored highly in satisfaction ratings among current owners, while 80% of consumers planning to buy a tablet said they would pick the Apple unit.
Other tablets grabbing consumer attention are RIM’s PlayBook desired by 8% – Samsung’s Galaxy Tab (3%), and HP’s Slate (2%).
