Verizon Wireless blocks access to Google Wallet (USA)
U.S based wireless carrier Verizon Wireless has reportedly blocked Google’s mobile payment service titled ‘Google Wallet’ from Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus smartphone over security issues. According to reports, the mobile operator is currently working towards having the best security and user experience and has said that they would resume the service once these goals have been achieved.
As per sources, the Galaxy Nexus smartphone, powered by Google’s Android software will be Verizon’s first smartphone using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. With an increasing number of users using mobile payment services to pay for goods and services, mobile operators Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile are reportedly planning to invest US$ 100 million in a joint venture titled ‘Isis’. The joint venture which is scheduled to launch in certain markets by next year is expected to compete with Google Wallet.
Congstar launches new smartphones with internet flat rate bundles (Germany)
Congstar, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom has reportedly launched a number of smartphones bundled with an internet flat-rate, enabling users to save upto 25 percent in comparison to the price paid when the service is availed separately. As per sources, the operator offers users five plans to choose from in combination with their preferred Congstar plan.
According to reports, the operator has revealed that the contract term for all the sparpaket plans is two years. Further, Stephan Heininger, Marketing Director, Congstar has reportedly said that they have launched the five offers to suit the varying needs of all their customers, across different budget segments ranging from the Samsung Galaxy to the Samsung Galaxy SII.
As per company reports, the offers include the Samsung Galaxy Mini at a deposit of US$ 40 along with US$ 13 per month, along with the HTC Wildfire 3 at a deposit of US$ 40 and US$ 20 per month. Other bundles include the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active with a deposit of US$ 13 and a payment of US$ 24 per month, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray with a deposit of US$ 81 and US$ 24 per month as well as the Samsung Galaxy S II with a deposit of US$ 135 and a charge of US$ 34 per month.
KT Corp reports profit decline of 41 percent in third quarter (South Korea)
South Korean telecom giant, KT Corp has reported a drop of 41 percent in its third-quarter profit due to the larger discount offers for smartphone users and foreign exchange losses. As per reports, the net income fell from US$ 386 million last year to $ 230 million this year. Further, it has been reported that revenue from the mobile-phone calls in the quarter dropped by 21 percent on account of discounts offered to users of Apple Inc.’s iPhone and Samsung Electronics Inc.’s Galaxy handsets.
As per sources, the operating profit fell by 13 percent to US$ 463 million while sales fell by 6.2 percent to $ 4.5 billion. Further, the carrier also reported a foreign exchange loss of US$ 54 million caused by the depreciation of the South Korean currency. KT Corp had reportedly lowered the phone bills for all subscribers in agreement with the government to help curb inflation.
SK Telecom becomes the first to launch LTE services (Korea)
SK Telecom, a competitive player in the telecoms industry, introduced Long Term Evolution (LTE) smartphone-Galaxy S II LTE and LTE-dedicated price plans for the first time in Korea. Galaxy S II LTE is a smartphone by Samsung Electronics which reportedly offers a wide range of SK Telecom’s LTE services such as high-definition multimedia service, video call service and multiplayer networking games.
The company aims to offer the complete range of 4G LTE services with the addition of the Galaxy S II, in an attempt to increase the speed with which LTE will be adopted in the market. Further, as per reports, SK Telecom plans to release seven different LTE smartphone models by the end of the year.
Jang Dong-Hyun, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of SK Telecom has reportedly said that SK Telecom has been leading innovations in the field of LTE since it commercialized Korea’s first LTE service in July 2011. Looking ahead, SK Telecom will provide differentiated, premium LTE services based on its unmatched competitiveness in call quality, device lineup and service/content, while at the same time making strenuous efforts to further expand and enhance the LTE-based mobile ecosystem.
NEC to sell Android tablet with keyboards in Japan
NEC Corp has announced its plans to begin selling a mini-netbook based on Google Inc’s Android O/S and featuring a keyboard, as it looks to take on the might of Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices in a market where demand for tablet devices is exploding.
NEC is launching seven models onto the market and aims to sell 100,000 units in the first year by March 10.
According to NEC Manager, Toshihiro Watanabe, the clamshell-type devices will start retailing from about US$479.
NEC’s LifeTouch devices will compete against the iPad, the cheapest version of which sells for US$583.89 in Japan, and Samsung’s Galaxy which typically costs between US$478.6 and US$598.25.
Samsung Galaxy A (SHW-M100S) Android smartphone launched in South Korea via SKT
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Samsung’s first Android 2.1 smartphone, the SHW-M100S has been launched in South Korea as Samsung Galaxy A. The Galaxy A will be sold via SK Telecom.
The model features 3.7 inch WVGA screen besides T-DMB mobile TV, 5-megapixel camera, 720MHz CPU, front-facing camera for video calls, 8GB of internal memory, HSPA and WiFi connectivity, 3.5mm headset jack, Bluetooth 2.1 and a 1500mAh battery.
The phone will support all Google services, including access to Android Market.
Rogers Navigator for iPhone to hit the market soon.
New iPhone navigation app from Canada’s ‘Big Red’ is on its way to hit the markets very soon. After launching the Samsung Galaxy ‘Spica’ powered by android 1.5 and the new Rogers ‘RedBoard’ the Rogers is all set to launch ‘Big Red’.
The navigator for iPhone will be made available by March 26th and it will be priced around $4.99. The prominent features of the set will be voice turn by turn directions, real time traffic alerts, one touch reroute, 2D or 3D maps, business finder, listen to music while navigating, and integration with address books.
The turn-by turn directions is expected to be voiced by Kenny Rogers.
Bouygues Telecom to introduce Samsung Galaxy in July (France)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bouyges Telecom, French mobile operator will introduce the Samsung Galaxy HSPA handset, operational on the Google Android operating system, from early July.
Samsung France Director David Eberle said that the Samsung Galaxy will sell for EUR 99 or less, the same pricing level as the HTC handsets. According to Bouygues, it will offer the new phone with its neo.2 subscription, which includes unlimited mobile internet access. The handset adorns a 3.2-inch touch screen, 5 Megapixel camera, audio/video player, 8 GB memory, Wi-Fi and Google applications Search, Maps, Gmail, You Tube, Calendar, Google Talk and Android Market.
