Apple to launch two new iPad devices in 2012 (USA)
U.S. device manufacturer Apple Inc. may launch two new iPad devices in the coming year. According to reports, the new iPad models are expected to be priced higher than the iPad 2, and will cover the medium and high range segments.
As per industry sources, a major highlight of the new iPad models is going to be an extended battery life, which is rumoured to be more than double of the iPad 2. Further, rumours suggest that Apple has approached Korean giant Samsung to supply the iPad maker with new quad-core A6 processors to be embedded in the new iPads along with a 5 megapixel camera for the medium range iPad. Sources claim that Sony Ericsson will be supplying Apple with an 8 megapixel camera for its second iPad model which is expected to be targeted at the high end segment.
O2 UK to delay launch of Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
O2 UK has delayed the launch of Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play handset after discovering software issues. Stuart Hibberd, head of O2′s testing team, revealed the delay in a blog on the operator’s website.
This means that Sony’s most awaited handset will not launch on O2 until after its planned 1 April launch date.
As per Hibberd, O2 UK discovered “bugs and issues” on the Xperia Play. They have been working with Sony Ericsson to get these bugs ironed out, but haven’t been able to get them fixed in time for us to be able to launch the phone on 1 April as we originally planned. The operator, which has the exclusive on the white version of the Play, it will work with Sony Ericsson to get the problem fixed in the coming weeks. It will update consumers on the new launch date via the O2 UK website.
Clearwire cancels plans to sell own-branded WiMAX phones (US)
Clearwire has cancelled its plans to sell its own branded mobile phones and will rely instead on handsets supplied by its majority shareholder, Sprint Nextel.
The company originally announced its plans to sell its own branded phones last year.
As per reports, Sprint currently resells the Clearwire WiMAX service and offers three handsets and has plans for several new handsets in the next few months.
As per commentators, the decision by Clearwire to start selling own-branded phones is part of the reason why Sony Ericsson would launch a trademark lawsuit claiming that there will be confusion between their respective logos if the Clearwire logo appears on handsets as well.
Apple and other top companies sued in camera related patents (US)
Imperium Holdings has filed a lawsuit against Apple, LG, RIM, Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Kyocera, claiming that they all have infringed five patents related to the cameras and imaging equipment found in phones and other mobile devices.
The patents in question are US Patent Numbers 6271884, 6838651, 6838715, 7,109,535 and 7064768, all of which relate to pixel and imager technology for smartphones and other devices. Apple’s iPhone is named as one of the infringing products.
The five patents deal in:
Patent 6,271,884: Image flicker reduction with fluorescent lighting.
Patent 6,838,651: High sensitivity snap shot CMOS image sensor.
Patent 6,838,715: CMOS image sensor arrangement with reduced pixel light shadowing.
Patent 7,064,768: Bad pixel correction while preserving features.
Patent 7,109,535: Semiconductor device for isolating a photodiode to reduce junction leakage.
As per reports, the mix of patents are actually owned by two different companies: 6,271,884 deals with image flicker reduction, owned by Conexant System of Newport Beach while the other four have the assignee listed as ESS Technology, based in Fremont, California.
NTT DoCoMo to sell Xperia arc from March 24 (Japan)
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo is all set to begin the sales of Xperia arc SO-01C smartphone nationwide from 24th March.
The arc is powered by Android 2.3 and supports download speeds of 14 Mbps. It is a touch screen mobile featuring Wi-Fi connectivity, FM Radio, GPS, Camera, Email, Instant messaging, 3.5 mm audio jack, Google Maps and Media Player.
Play lowers HTC, Sony Ericsson mobile prices (Poland)
Play has lowered the prices of HTC Desire HD, HTC HD 2 and Sony Ericsson Cedar. The company is offering Sony Ericsson Cedar with the tariff Mix i.e. US$0.35, except for the lowest option US$87.88 with 30 top-ups and US$70.23 with 40 top-ups respectively.
The company is offering HTC HD with Mix tariffs for US$423.16 to US$625.57 and the HTC Desire HD for US$458.45 to US$687.87. With Stan Darmowy, All Inclusive and All Inclusive Max, the Sony Ericsson Cedar costs US$0.35. HTC HD 2 prices with these tariffs range from US$0.35 to US$511.39 and HTC Desire HD prices from US$40.82 to US$634.92.
With the tariffs Business and Talks in Firm the prices of the HTC Desire HD, HTC HD 2 and Sony Ericsson Cedar starts at US$0.35. Play has also reduced prices of the Samsung M8800 Pixon and M8910 Pixon 12.
Sony Ericsson slashes prices of Android phones in Thailand
Sony Ericsson is cutting the prices of Android phones by 20 percent in an attempt to achieve a double-digit share in smartphone sales in Thailand, reports The Bangkok Post. The company’s local market share fell last year, mainly due to a lack of Thai-language application support. Smartphones are expected to account for half of local phone sales this year, up from 30 percent last year and 10 percent in 2009. Sony Ericsson has sold 9 million smartphones globally since it entered the segment in mid-2010. Smartphones contributed half of its handset sales revenue. It has nearly a 20 percent share of Android phone sales worldwide and 5 percent of the overall handset market. Sony Ericsson Thailand would soon introduce three new models namely Xperia Arc for THB 19,900, Xperia Neo for THB 14,900 and the Xperia Pro. The phones will cost 20 percent less locally than in other markets. Sony Ericsson has appointed business process services company Synnex as its local IT distributor to expand the market.
Nokia leads in Pakistan
Nokia is considered the market leader in terms of mobile handsets being used to access the Internet in Pakistan.
According to a research, of an estimated 5 million mobile customers using GPRS/EDGE services in Pakistan, a sizeable 74% use phones based on the Finnish company’s Symbian operating system.
While Nokia is struggling to retain market share elsewhere in the world new statistics from a research company showed its Western European market share fell by six percentage points on-year to 33% in Q4 2010 its position has remained relatively solid in Pakistan; the vendor lost just two percentage points of share in the year to February 2011, despite growing competition from the likes of Apple.
Apple’s iOS is Symbian’s closest rival in Pakistan, but with a share of 8% in February it remains a long way behind. Sony Ericsson comes in third with 5% of the market.
Clearwire wins the first round against Sony Ericsson
Last month Sony Ericsson sued USA based WiMAX network, Clearwire claiming a copyright breach over the two company’s logos. A hearing requested by Sony Ericsson for a preliminary injunction has, however, gone against the company, with the judge saying that there is insufficient evidence of likelihood of confusion and no irreparable harm to the company.
Although not a final verdict in the case, it does cast doubt on whether Sony Ericsson would be able to argue on the matter any further.
In a statement, Clearwire stated that it is pleased with the federal court’s decision to deny Sony Ericsson’s motion for a preliminary injunction against the use of the CLEAR marks.The company added that the judge’s findings of insufficient evidence further support its contention that the suit is without merit.
The company concluded the statement claiming that they expect that the final disposition of the case will be in their favor and that it will demonstrate that the CLEAR branding is clearly differentiated from the Sony Ericsson brand.
