By Editor on April 24, 2012 · Leave a Comment
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.
Filed under America, Mobile, Mobile Smartphones and Devices, USA ·
Tagged with Apple Inc, Apple iPhone, codenamed 'Apollo', Fran Shammo, Google Android, Google Inc, HTC Corp, Microsoft, Microsoft Corp, Mobile Software, Motorola Mobility, Samsung Electronics, Verizon Communications, Verizon Wireless, vodafone group plc, Windows Phone 8.0
By Editor on November 25, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Spanish telecommunications company, Telefonica, is reportedly planning to complete the review of its online assets, Tuenti and Jajah, by early 2012. As per sources, Matthew Key, CEO, Telefonica Digital has said that the company will decide whether to retain or build out assets in markets such as Spain, where it is struggling to stop customers from switching to cheaper rivals.
According to reports, Telefonica aims to take on Facebook and Microsoft Corp., by pulling together its digital assets across three continents. Further, Key has also said that Telefonica is running a separate review of its media assets, including Imagenio, an online TV service along with some Latin American channels; some of which may have an investment implication.
As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, Telefonica has been actively cutting jobs, halting major mergers and acquisitions and reviewing underperforming assets in an attempt to reduce its debt and manage the 22 percent slide in the stock this year.
By Editor on February 17, 2011 · Leave a Comment
It is believed that Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Phone 7 operating system has enticed an increasing number of application developers since the software maker announced a partnership with Nokia Oyj last week.
According to reports, in the four days after the Feb. 11 deal, 4% of new app projects started were for Windows Phone, compared with 1% in the previous four days.
New projects for Windows Phone passed Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry and now rank third behind new apps for Apple Inc.’s iOS and Google Inc.’s Android. Microsoft, which agreed last week to have its Windows Phone software power Nokia handsets, is working to turn around market-share losses to Apple and Google. A wide variety of applications is critical to attracting mobile-phone users.
Apple’s software for the iPhone was the platform for 69% of apps started in the 4 days after Feb. 11. Android had 25%t. BlackBerry was fourth with 2%.
It is predicted that most developers will build apps for three operating systems. Hence, RIM and Microsoft are likely to compete for the No. 3 spot.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Android, Apple Inc, Blackberry, Google Inc, IOS, iPhone, Microsoft Corp, Mobile, Nokia, Nokia Oyj, Operating System, Research In Motion Ltd., RIM, Windows phone 7
By Editor on February 15, 2011 · Leave a Comment
World’s biggest mobile maker, Nokia Oyj has extended its losses in Helsinki trading after analysts lowered their price estimates and stock ratings.
Nokia declined as much as 4.4% and was reduced by 4% at US$9.07 as of 2:12 p.m., bringing its losses to 18% since Chief Executive Officer Stephen Elop’s Feb. 11 strategy presentation and paring the company’s market value to $34 billion.
Analysts cut his rating to underweight from overweight and its price estimate by 41% to US$6.75. Other analysts lowered their recommendation to underweight from neutral. Elop last week stated that Nokia will adopt Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Phone 7 as its main smartphone platform, phasing out the Symbian software that shipped on more than 100 million smartphones last year.
By Editor on February 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Nokia shares fell 14%, the biggest drop in seven months, after its plan to make Microsoft’s Windows its primary software .
This was seen as a sign of the extent of its troubles in taking on Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms.
The move may be the biggest strategy shift by Nokia since the one-time wood pulp company began making mobile phones in the 1980s. According to sources,
Stephen Elop, the new
chief executive officer of the company, is struggling to revive Nokia after its piece of the fast-growing smartphone market plunged to 27.1% in the last quarter from 50.8% when Apple shipped its iPhone in June 2007. Nokia has lost more than 60% of its market value in that time.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Apple, Apple’s iOS, Chief Executive Officer, Google, Google’s Android, iPhon, Microsoft Corp, Mobile, Nokia, Nokia Oyj, Stephen Elop
By Editor on December 22, 2010 · Leave a Comment
If reports are to be believed, Microsoft Corp is working on a version of its core Windows operating system for devices such as tablets and smartphones. The company stated that its Windows Phone 7 software is making headway in the booming smartphone market.
According to reports, Microsoft plans to unveil a version of its operating software that runs for the first time on processors designed by UK-based ARM Holdings PLC. ARM’s processors dominate the tablet and handheld device market.
As per sources, Microsoft intends to announce a version of its operating system to run on ARM chip architecture, which competes with the “x86″ designs favored by Intel. It was unclear when such an operating system might come to market, but the U.S. software maker could claim lost ground in tablets and other battery-powered mobile devices by forging a new partnership with ARM.
According to Microsoft, more than 1.5 million cellphones carrying Windows Phone 7 operating software have sold in the first six weeks of launch, meeting what the company called realistic expectations.
The sales numbers were disclosed for the first time by Achim Berg, vice president of business and marketing for Windows phones, in an internally conducted interview posted on Microsoft’s website.
By Editor on November 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Apple’s iPhone, one of the best-selling smartphones on the market is adding lawyers to the company.
Apple is squaring off against Nokia Oyj, the world’s largest mobile-phone maker, before the International Trade Commission. The dispute, in which each side alleges intellectual property violations, is also a precursor to Apple patent battles with Motorola Inc. and HTC Corp.
Cupertino, California-based Apple is trying to protect its right to import the iPhone, while shutting out rivals, particularly those whose phones are powered by Google Inc.’s Android operating system, the world’s most popular smartphone software. Android-based phones also are made abroad.
According to Lyle Vander Schaaf, an attorney at Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione in Washington, who handles cases before the commission, these are very well-known, deep-pocketed, high-end manufacturers, usually you have one 800-pound gorilla going after a new entrant. Here you’ve got 800-pound gorillas fighting each other.
Apple has been the most-sued technology company since 2008; the year after the iPhone was introduced, topping Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc., according to LegalMetric Inc., a compiler of litigation data based in St. Louis.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with an attorney at Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, Android, Apple, Dell Inc., Google, hewlett packard co, HTC, InternationalTrade Commission, iPhone, Lyle Vander Schaaf, Microsoft Corp, Mobile, Motorola, Nokia, smartphone, Washington
By Editor on November 24, 2010 · Leave a Comment
The world’s second- largest computer maker, Acer has unveiled a lineup of three tablet devices to compete with Apple’s iPad.
According to Acer, two of the three tablets will be based on Google Inc.’s Android platform and feature 7-inch and 10.1-inch screens, while the third 10.1-inch-display device will run on Microsoft Corp.’s Windows software. Acer intends to capture about 10% of the market for tablets.
Acer is the latest PC maker to join the tablet PC bandwagon after Apple Inc.’s iPad attracted strong consumer demand. Many device makers including BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Samsung Electronics Co., have recently announced plans to introduce tablets to compete with Apple’s wildly popular product.
According to Jim Wong, Acer’s head of information-technology products, this is a market that’s still not fully known, not fully satisfied. The company expects 40 million to 50 million tablets will be sold worldwide next year.
The two Android tablets will be available in April and the Microsoft device will go on sale in February. All three will offer Wi-Fi connectivity and allow users to surf the Internet using a 3G connection. Wong said the tablets would likely be in the previously stated range of $299 to $699.
Acer has also released a smartphone with a 4.8-inch screen based on Android that they touted as a phone with the soul of a tablet.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with 3G, Acer, Android Platform, Apple iPad, Blackberry, Google Inc, hewlett packard co, Microsoft Corp, Mobile, Research In Motion Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co, Tablet, Wi-Fi, Windows software
By Editor on October 27, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Sony Ericsson is acquiring the Japanese market with its new and attractive handsets. According to MM Research Institute Ltd, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB’s Xperia captured 21% of Japan’s smartphone market in the six months ended September, cutting the share of Apple Inc.’s iPhone.
As per Tadayuki Shinozaki, an analyst at the Tokyo-based research, devices running on Apple’s software accounted for 60% of all smart phone shipments in the nation during the period, down from 61% a year earlier. Xperia, which runs Google Inc.’s Android software, went on sale in Japan on April 1.
According to reports, Sharp Corp., which introduced its first Android model in June, had 6.3 % of the shipments. Toshiba Corp. and handsets made by Taiwan’s HTC Corp., which run on Android and Microsoft Corp.’s Windows software, had the same share of 4.5%.
Softbank Corp., Japan’s third-largest mobile-phone operator, is the exclusive provider of the iPhone in Japan. Xperia operates only on the network of NTT DoCoMo Inc., the country’s largest wireless carrier.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Android, Apple, Google Inc, HTC Corp, iPhone, Japan, Microsoft Corp, MM Research Institute Ltd, Mobile, NTT DoCoMo Inc., Sharp Corp, smartphone, Softbank Corp, Sony Ericsson, Taiwan, Tokyo, Toshiba Corp., windows, Xperia
By Editor on October 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment
If sources are to be believed, Microsoft Corp. will officially reveal an array of Smartphones via the overhauled version of its mobile operating system on Oct. 11, and AT&T Inc. will begin offering them four weeks later.
The launch is crucial for Microsoft, which has been damaged by Apple Inc.’s iPhone and a range of Google Inc.’s Android mobile software.
According to Avi Greengart, who follows consumer electronic devices for research firm Current Analysis, this is critical to Microsoft’s overall business. They are being badly outflanked right now by their competitors.
Microsoft will receive the marketing support of AT&T, which will be the initial exclusive U.S. carrier to sell the Windows Phone 7 smartphones. AT&T plans to sell the devices on Nov. 8.
According to Gartner, last year, Microsoft’s share of the smartphone operating system market has nearly halved, falling to 5% in the second quarter from 9.3% a year ago.
Android has since replaced Microsoft as the mobile operating system of choice for handset vendors that don’t already have their own proprietary software.
Windows Phone 7, which has taken its inspiration from the user experience found in the Zune portable media player, represents Microsoft’s chance to start over with a new platform.
According to Patrick Morck, chief marketing officer for online app store GetJar Inc., the developers are being pushed and pulled in several different directions.
Microsoft, however, has been alluring app developers for months in preparation. The company has also promised to integrate features and games from its Xbox Live online gaming service.
The company, however, will see a range of new smartphones-many of them running on Android-which will be fighting for the customer’s attention. According to Greengart, the company expects Microsoft to stick with it and continue working diligently on the mobile OS platform.
Filed under Mobile, Mobile Phones ·
Tagged with Android mobile software, Apple Inc, AT&T Inc, Google Inc, iPhone, Microsoft Corp, Mobile, perating system, smartphones, Windows Phone 7 smartphones
