Vodafone to provide 3G services to Sony’s PlayStation Vita (Europe, Australia, New Zealand)

On 11.22.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Vodafone PLC, a London based global telecommunications company, has reportedly signed a deal with Sony to provide 3G services for its PlayStation Vita in various regions of Europe along with Australia and New Zealand. According to reports, the 3G enabled Vita devices will include a Vodafone SIM, and will be made available in all Sony stores. Further, it has been reported that while Vodafone is not the sole provider of 3G services, it will be given preference over the others.

As per sources, Sony has said that the data plans will be flexible so as to meet the needs of all its users and also partnering with Vodafone will enable PS Vita users in the selected countries to always be connected with their PlayStation life, friends and games, wherever they are. Reports suggest that the Vita devices are expected to be launched in February 2012.

 

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Ericsson seeks to increase revenues through patents (Sweden)

On 11.10.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Sweden based Ericsson, the world’s leading mobile telecommunications equipment vendor, is reportedly planning to increase revenues from its 27,000 patents as devices from toys to energy meters get wireless access, as said by CEO, Hans Vestberg.

According to reports, Vestberg claims that by 2015 two thirds of all consumer electronics devices will have some sort of connectivity and any company or manufacturer that wants to get in there will require an agreement with Ericsson. The firm currently has the industry’s largest portfolio of wireless communication patents and believes that increased revenue from rights would help smooth out fluctuations in network orders.

As per sources, Vestberg has said that the intellectual property covers basically everything in the telecom industry, including the world’s largest collection of WiFi patents. Sources reveal that revenue from patents went up from $ 368 in 2006 to $847 in 2010. Vestberg also said that if they are going to get 50 billion connected devices in 2020 it’s not only going to be handsets. He added that it is not going to be practical for them to make bilateral negotiations with all the manufacturers, and that they need new business models and need to work in groups.

Vestberg claims that the connected devices may include shipping containers that transmit their position and interior temperature, as well as appliances that are hooked into a network.  He also revealed Ericsson’s plans to get royalties from intellectual property in areas it hasn’t monetized before, such as Web search and optical transmissions.

As per sources, Ericsson had entered into a transaction along with other companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Sony in July to buy 6,000 patents from Nortel Networks Corp for $ 4.5 billion. Vestberg reportedly said that this transaction was important for Ericsson as it didn’t have a deal covering those patents.

According to reports, industry analysts have valued Ericsson’s patents at $ 15.5 billion, on the basis of Google’s agreement to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings for $ 12.5 billion. Vestberg has said that the company has more than 90 licensing deals for its core technologies with handset companies and infrastructure producers. He added that they are not looking to sell patents but to receive recurrent revenue.

 

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Sony to buy out Ericsson’s stake in Sony Ericsson for US$ 1.46 billion (Japan, Sweden)

On 10.28.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Sony has reportedly announced that it will acquire Ericsson’s stake of 50 percent in mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson for $1.46 billion. Consequently, Sony Ericsson will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony and will be integrated into the company’s platform of network-connected consumer electronics products.

As per sources, Hans Vestberg, CEO, Ericsson said that when the joint venture was formed ten years ago, thereby combining Sony’s consumer products knowledge with Ericsson’s telecommunication technology expertise, it was a perfect match to drive the development of feature phones. However, today they take an equally logical step as Sony acquires their stake in Sony Ericsson and makes it a part of its broad range of consumer devices.

Sony President, Chairman, and CEO, Howard Stringer has reportedly said that this acquisition makes sense for Sony and Ericsson, and it will make the difference for consumers, who want to connect with content wherever they are, whenever they want. Further, Ericsson reportedly plans to focus on the global wireless market as a whole as well as how wireless connectivity can benefit people, business and society beyond just phones. The agreement, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in January 2012.  According to reports, the transaction also includes a patent deal enabling Sony to receive the five sets of patents that are essential to making the phones and a licensing agreement on any other intellectual property.

Reports suggest that shares in Ericsson rose by 5.1 percent to $10.7, while Sony’s share price rose 5.4 percent to $21.7 at the time of closing.

 

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KDDI to replace 2 million Sony made lithium-ion batteries (Japan)

On 10.17.11, In Mobile, By Editor

KDDI Corp., Japan’s second-largest mobile-phone operator, will replace the battery packs made by Sony Corp on two million handsets over concerns of the device overheating.

According to reports, KDDI said in a statement that the replacement involves two handsets of Casio and one by Hitachi. Further, the company added that the first overheating problem was reported in January last year but no decision was made to replace the battery packs at that time because the incident occurred after the battery had been damaged. However after two customer complaints in 2010 followed by six this year, wherein the damaged batteries emitted smoke while being recharged, KDDI announced replacing the batteries free of charge stating that the batteries may heat and melt.

Industry analysts say that while this expense is not of much significance to a large organization like Sony, it does raise concerns regarding the reliability of its products. In 2006, Sony recalled as many as 9.6 million lithium-ion batteries, the largest recall in consumer-electronics industry, over concerns that the batteries could overheat and become fire hazards.

KDDI fell 3.4 percent closing at $6,950.98 in Tokyo, marking a third straight day of declines. Sony dropped 0.5 percent while Casio and Hitachi fell by 2.4 percent and 0.8 percent respectively.

 

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Best Buy, Clearwire launch 4G mobile broadband service (US)

On 03.29.11, In Mobile, By Editor

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.

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Foxconn plans to manufacture Apple products (Brazil)

On 03.22.11, In Mobile, By Editor

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.

 

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Google named the most reputed firm in UK

On 02.15.11, In Mobile, By Editor

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.

Ranking
1. Google
2. Kellogg’s
3. Apple
4. Sony
5. John Lewis
6. Nintendo
7. Marks & Spencer
8. Tetley
10. Sainsbury’s
11. Microsoft
12. innocent
13. Morrisons
14. Samsung
15. Sony Ericsson
16. Kuoni
17. Tesco
18. The Body Shop
19. BlackBerry
20. Virgin Holidays
21. Dell
22. Asda
23. Nokia
24. Visa
25. Hewlett-Packard

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Kodak patent complaint against Apple, RIM rejected

On 01.25.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Eastman Kodak (EK) has announced that the U.S. International Trade Commission has issued an initial determination that the patent claim at issue is invalid and that the patent is not infringed.

According to Kodak, the patent at issue involved a method for previewing images on a digital camera-enabled device. Kodak reported that the patent was recently upheld as valid by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A final decision in the case is scheduled to be issued by the full commission by May 23.

Kodak also stated that the same patent had been upheld by another judge in an ITC case against LG and Samsung. The company that it expects the commission will ultimately rule that the patent claim at issue is valid and infringed by Apple and RIM.

Kodak had filed the complaint in January 2010. The company also filed patent infringement suits against Apple and RIM in federal court. A number of companies have licensed its imaging patents, including the one in question. Licensees include Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, LG, Sharp and Sony, among others.

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Nokia to end free music downloads in 27 Countries

On 01.18.11, In Mobile, By Editor

World’s top Cellphone maker, Nokia, is ending its bundling of free music downloads with cell phones in 27 countries, where it has gained little traction since its 2008 launch.

Nokia will continue to sell phones with 12-month subscription to free music downloads in China, India and Indonesia and with 6-month subscriptions in Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.

All four major labels – Vivendi’s Universal Music, EMI, Warner Music Group and the music arm of Sony, signed up for the service, which was seen at start as a major challenger for Apple’s  iTunes.

Reasons behind the lackluster performance include use of older supporting handsets for the product at its launch and the use of DRM software that tied downloaded music to the device. The service was also said to be difficult to explain to customers in a simple marketing campaign.

According to Nokia’s spokesperson, the markets clearly want a DRM-free music service, the firm continues to offer DRM-free tracks through its music store in 38 countries.

The service will be closed down in a total of 27 countries, although it will continue until the current subscriptions expire.

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Apple, Google aims to buy Nortel’s Patent Portfolio (Canada)

On 12.14.10, In Mobile, By Editor

­Canada’s Nortel Networks is reportedly close on completing the bidding for its patent portfolio as part of its post-bankruptcy protection wind-down, while both Apple and Google have been suggested as potential bidders.

Nortel has a portfolio of over 4,000 patents, which has been valued at least US$1 billion.

As bids for the patents can be expected from the usual technology vendors, it is speculated that Apple’s interest is more defensive as it seeks to build up a portfolio of patents to settle its ongoing legal battle with Nokia etc.

Most mobile technology firms engaged in patent lawsuits settle by means of reciprocal licensing of their patent portfolios, an option which puts new entrants such as Apple and Google at a distinct disadvantage.

A Fairfield Resources study last year estimated that there are 105 patent families deemed essential to deployment of LTE technology, with Nokia controlling 57 of those families. Ericsson is said to control 14 families, while Nortel, Qualcomm and Sony are each reported to control about seven families.

According to reports, the patents were likely divided and classified under six blocks of related technologies. Breaking the patent portfolio into smaller lots is expected to have enabled potential buyers to increase the value of their bids without the risk of paying for unwanted assets.

Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009 and has been slowly selling off its assets to other telecoms vendors.

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