Opinionated comments on mobile phone industry news
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All entries are written by Anders Borg, CEO and Consultant of Abiro, that has a long experience in strategic planning, developing embedded and Java software, usability aspects, and the mobile phone industry in general. You can also read the latest Mobile News entries on your phone via wap.abiro.com, and we provide many News Feeds from popular news services. For advertising and contribution queries, please use the feedback form. News feed (local) FeedBurner Feed
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Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Nokia's new mobile browser, with fish-eye
The fish-eye effect is used to quickly browse through a full web page. Narrow rendering and similar techniques are not used. Rather the fish-eye section of the display shows a scaled up view of the page shown in the background.
It also supports RSS feeds.
Nokia defines The Mobile Web | 11/25/2005 | mobile jones
It also supports RSS feeds.
Nokia defines The Mobile Web | 11/25/2005 | mobile jones
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Nokia 9300i, now with WiFi and corporate e-mail
I'd like this one for Xmas, except it won't be out until next year.
It's very much like the previous 9300 model but with support for WiFi and the software that's in the E series, with more support for corporate e-mail etc.
It supports EDGE, but why on earth not UMTS?
Nokia Makes Enterprise Play with 9300i Smartphone - Yahoo! News
Nokia - This smartphone just got smarter: The new Nokia 9300i is well connected with WLAN and a variety of email solutions - Press Releases - Press - About Nokia
Nokia launches updated enterprise smartphone 9300 - Yahoo! News
Nokia Announces the 9300i (MobileBurn)
Nokia Shows Off New Smartphone - Mobile News - Designtechnica
Nokia�s 9300i WiFi business phone announced - Cellphones - cellphones.engadget.com
It's very much like the previous 9300 model but with support for WiFi and the software that's in the E series, with more support for corporate e-mail etc.
It supports EDGE, but why on earth not UMTS?
Nokia Makes Enterprise Play with 9300i Smartphone - Yahoo! News
Nokia - This smartphone just got smarter: The new Nokia 9300i is well connected with WLAN and a variety of email solutions - Press Releases - Press - About Nokia
Nokia launches updated enterprise smartphone 9300 - Yahoo! News
Nokia Announces the 9300i (MobileBurn)
Nokia Shows Off New Smartphone - Mobile News - Designtechnica
Nokia�s 9300i WiFi business phone announced - Cellphones - cellphones.engadget.com
Sunday, November 27, 2005
SMS junkies
A survey made in Korea revealed:
"four out of 10 students send and receive text messages during class and that the same proportion sends more than 1,000 text messages a month."
One student said she sends as many as 400 text messages a day, and the average sent by all the poll respondents was 45
Appropriately the article ends with a survey, so you can test if you are in the danger zone.
INSIDE JoongAng Daily
"four out of 10 students send and receive text messages during class and that the same proportion sends more than 1,000 text messages a month."
One student said she sends as many as 400 text messages a day, and the average sent by all the poll respondents was 45
Appropriately the article ends with a survey, so you can test if you are in the danger zone.
INSIDE JoongAng Daily
3G, still to show it's worth
This sums it up pretty well: Despite all the fancy offerings, it turns out that most people use their phones to make telephone calls and send the occasional text.
and this: In Europe voice is the clear revenue winner, closely followed by text. But we only spend an average of 1 euro a month on all the other services put together.
Yet, the feature train seems to continue rolling at an even faster pace, making phones unnecessarily expensive to the consumers and the operators. The question is though: Wouldn't the industry deflate if new features weren't added and people wouldn't upgrade their phones? Even if most of the features are not used people still want to have those features, so they upgrade. At least the manufacturers would be hit hard if operators refocused to specifying and offering simpler phones, instead putting pressure on manufacturers to cut prices.
The article mentions HSDPA (in layman's terms "faster 3G") as a way to overcome the limitations in current 3G, but performance can't be blamed for lack of consumer interest. Browsing mobile-adapted sites and transferring MMSs work pretty good over "normal" 3G, even though I admit 2.5G/GPRS is too slow for most anything. I rather think it's the "Don't expect consumers to buy whatever you put on display" phenomenon.
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click Online | 3G industry optimistic for 2006
and this: In Europe voice is the clear revenue winner, closely followed by text. But we only spend an average of 1 euro a month on all the other services put together.
Yet, the feature train seems to continue rolling at an even faster pace, making phones unnecessarily expensive to the consumers and the operators. The question is though: Wouldn't the industry deflate if new features weren't added and people wouldn't upgrade their phones? Even if most of the features are not used people still want to have those features, so they upgrade. At least the manufacturers would be hit hard if operators refocused to specifying and offering simpler phones, instead putting pressure on manufacturers to cut prices.
The article mentions HSDPA (in layman's terms "faster 3G") as a way to overcome the limitations in current 3G, but performance can't be blamed for lack of consumer interest. Browsing mobile-adapted sites and transferring MMSs work pretty good over "normal" 3G, even though I admit 2.5G/GPRS is too slow for most anything. I rather think it's the "Don't expect consumers to buy whatever you put on display" phenomenon.
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click Online | 3G industry optimistic for 2006
Thursday, November 24, 2005
VoIP ICs, an oxymoron?
As VoIP is just software, the notion of VoIP ICs seems a bit odd. TI's site indicates though that it's really a matter of CPU+DSP+USB+LAN+LCD-controller combo chips, to keep cost low on VoIP phones.
Digital Media Europe: News - VoIP IC market to reach �1.1bn in 2009 � report
Digital Media Europe: News - VoIP IC market to reach �1.1bn in 2009 � report
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
China, the biggest mobile market
383M users, up 14% since January with 29% penetration. SMS has increased even more: 40% to 247B.
China: Number of Mobile Phone Users Up - Yahoo! News
China: Number of Mobile Phone Users Up - Yahoo! News
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Sony BMG on a losing street
Sony BMG gets slammed almost daily now for their terrible CD copy-protection solution that is based on spyware-like technology and that was found to include unlicensed open source software. Recently they also got sued by the state of Texas, and this note tells about how to circumvent the protection altogether.
According to Gartner analysts Martin Reynolds and Mike McGuire, Sony's XCP technology is stymied by sticking a fingernail-size piece of opaque tape on the outer edge of the CD.
"The bottom line: Sony BMG has created serious public-relations and legal issues for itself, and for no good reason."
Ouch! If harakiri was still in fashion probably some people at Sony BMG would be in life danger right now.
"After more than five years of trying, the recording industry has not yet demonstrated a workable DRM scheme for music CDs," concluded the Gartner analysts. "It will never achieve this goal as long as CDs must be playable by stand-alone CD players."
Will the mobile phone market have the same problems?
TechWeb | News | Scotch Tape Stymies Sony Copy Protection
According to Gartner analysts Martin Reynolds and Mike McGuire, Sony's XCP technology is stymied by sticking a fingernail-size piece of opaque tape on the outer edge of the CD.
"The bottom line: Sony BMG has created serious public-relations and legal issues for itself, and for no good reason."
Ouch! If harakiri was still in fashion probably some people at Sony BMG would be in life danger right now.
"After more than five years of trying, the recording industry has not yet demonstrated a workable DRM scheme for music CDs," concluded the Gartner analysts. "It will never achieve this goal as long as CDs must be playable by stand-alone CD players."
Will the mobile phone market have the same problems?
TechWeb | News | Scotch Tape Stymies Sony Copy Protection
Auto-opening clamshell
Probably today's stupidest product idea: An add-on to your clamshell phone that flips the phone open by pressing a button. It's very small, not.
Oritatamisiki Keitai Opener
Oritatamisiki Keitai Opener
Mobile growth never ends...
At least so it seems, when Gartner reports that the market has grown by 22% in the last 3 months.
"Year on year sales grew in all regions as replacement sales in mature markets such as Western Europe and North America continued to drive growth while users in emerging markets joined mobile networks and acquired their first mobile device,"
Gartner expects global mobile phone sales to rise a further 10-15% during 2006.
BBC NEWS | Business | Big growth in mobile phone sales
"Year on year sales grew in all regions as replacement sales in mature markets such as Western Europe and North America continued to drive growth while users in emerging markets joined mobile networks and acquired their first mobile device,"
Gartner expects global mobile phone sales to rise a further 10-15% during 2006.
BBC NEWS | Business | Big growth in mobile phone sales
Monday, November 21, 2005
The newest music phones
I hate it when people are calling digital music players and music phones for MP3 (read: MPEG 1 audio layer 3) ditto. Sure it's a popular format for music files, but as we all know there are other, and better, alternatives to MP3 (including AAC, OGG and not the least FLAC).
The phones are not reviewed in this article. Rather there's small snippets of info per phone. Not too informative though.
MP3 Phones Gallery
The phones are not reviewed in this article. Rather there's small snippets of info per phone. Not too informative though.
MP3 Phones Gallery
Mobile Wikipedia
There's now a mobile version of the famous free encyclopedia Wikipedia. Check it out at wap.abiro.com / The Lab / Read Books.
Homepage
Homepage
Friday, November 18, 2005
Infineon releases an IMS client
Sounds odd at first, considering IMS is not yet standardised, but what they offer is currently only push-to-talk, which is, yet promises to support other IMS applications in the future. The client is intended to be integrated in phones, rather than being a stand-alone application.
Digital Media Europe: News - Infineon offers IMS client for mobile phones
Digital Media Europe: News - Infineon offers IMS client for mobile phones
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Vodafone launches mobile corporate e-mail in Ireland
But they are not doing it right in my opinion:
The Internet and Small Office Solutions are available for €20 per month for a 5MB bundle; a 10MB bundle costs an additional €5 per month
OK, but if the phones supported MS Exchange 2003 directly, there would only be a cost for the air time.
currently available on Nokia 6680, Nokia 9300, VPA Compact, IPAQ 6340 and Sony Ericsson p910i devices
Everyone's got those phones, not.
Digital Media Europe: News - Vodafone Ireland launches Vodafone Business E-mail
The Internet and Small Office Solutions are available for €20 per month for a 5MB bundle; a 10MB bundle costs an additional €5 per month
OK, but if the phones supported MS Exchange 2003 directly, there would only be a cost for the air time.
currently available on Nokia 6680, Nokia 9300, VPA Compact, IPAQ 6340 and Sony Ericsson p910i devices
Everyone's got those phones, not.
Digital Media Europe: News - Vodafone Ireland launches Vodafone Business E-mail
The Fly, the first pentop computer
Looks like a pen and writes like a pen, but then the analogies end. It's actually a small computer that can do a number of things, like speaking what you've written, understand what country you are pointing to and say the name of the country, do calculations, play music etc. NY Times was quite impressed by it. It's primarily intended for children but certain features seem useful for adults as well.
I wonder if it's based on Anoto's pen technology that e.g. Logitech and Nokia have licensed. Those pens flopped badly. Maybe The Fly will do better.
The Pen Gets a Whole Lot Mightier - New York Times
I wonder if it's based on Anoto's pen technology that e.g. Logitech and Nokia have licensed. Those pens flopped badly. Maybe The Fly will do better.
The Pen Gets a Whole Lot Mightier - New York Times
Swisscom launches the Ogo instant messaging device
They are playing with words: "the pre-installed MSN Messenger", actually is not about MSN Messenger from Microsoft, but of course a separate implementation of a chat client that supports the protocol used by the MSN chat service. Sorry for that "Messerschmitt" comment :).
They charge CHF 19 ($14) a month, which I find a bit pricey. It doesn't say whether the user also is charged for the air time.
Over one million people in Switzerland - or well over a third of all Internet users ! - use an Instant Messaging service
Still operators like Vodafone are hesitant to introduce mobile IM. I wish I knew how they are thinking, yet it provides opportunities for others to fill that gap.
Unstrung - Swisscom Offers Mobile IM - Wireless Networking News Wire
They charge CHF 19 ($14) a month, which I find a bit pricey. It doesn't say whether the user also is charged for the air time.
Over one million people in Switzerland - or well over a third of all Internet users ! - use an Instant Messaging service
Still operators like Vodafone are hesitant to introduce mobile IM. I wish I knew how they are thinking, yet it provides opportunities for others to fill that gap.
Unstrung - Swisscom Offers Mobile IM - Wireless Networking News Wire
Classics via SMS
It sounds like a pretty stupid idea considering the cost, and compared to the reading comfort (relatively speaking) a WAP/Web-based book service provides (see e.g. wap.abiro.com / The Lab / Read Books, where you can access both classics and different translations of the Christian Bible).
Try this on for size: "Mad woman sets fire to house" (from Jane Eyre) is converted to SMS speak like this: "MadwyfSetsFyr2Haus". If you don't get headache from the small text on the phone you get it from "translating" the text. I guess I'm too old for this.
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Literary classics become txt msgs
Try this on for size: "Mad woman sets fire to house" (from Jane Eyre) is converted to SMS speak like this: "MadwyfSetsFyr2Haus". If you don't get headache from the small text on the phone you get it from "translating" the text. I guess I'm too old for this.
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Literary classics become txt msgs
Content providers circumvent operators
It shouldn't be a surprise, as operators were very sluggish in understanding and exploiting the opportunity in this field. Yet, for the content providers to get the content to the consumers they need to use Premium SMS provided by the operators (unless purchase is done via WAP as at wap.abiro.com) which generates a sizeable revenue for the operators even though they don't take part in the actual content service.
ringtonia.com: Ring tones: Wakeup call for phone companies
ringtonia.com: Ring tones: Wakeup call for phone companies
Cingular intros Live Ticker
As the name suggests this is about showing an animated and constantly updated ticker area on the idle screen of the phone, so that news, ads, offerings etc can be shown. This sounds very much like Vodafone's Live!Cast.
Cingular's goal: getting more of its 52 million wireless subscribers to access the Web via their phones.
New Cingular Service Puts Scrolling News Onto Phone Screens - Yahoo! News
Cingular's goal: getting more of its 52 million wireless subscribers to access the Web via their phones.
New Cingular Service Puts Scrolling News Onto Phone Screens - Yahoo! News
Opera releases support for AJAX
AJAX = Asynchronous JavaScript language and XML
See the Wikipedia AJAX entry for more.
It mentions Opera has 0.54% of the browser market, which is nothing, especially as they don't charge for the browser (which would mean they would have 0% of the market).
AJAX could spark new life into a more or less dead market. On the mobile phone side there's a much bigger opportunity to profit from browsers.
Opera Unveils AJAX Development Tools - Yahoo! News
See the Wikipedia AJAX entry for more.
It mentions Opera has 0.54% of the browser market, which is nothing, especially as they don't charge for the browser (which would mean they would have 0% of the market).
AJAX could spark new life into a more or less dead market. On the mobile phone side there's a much bigger opportunity to profit from browsers.
Opera Unveils AJAX Development Tools - Yahoo! News
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Motorola bets on India
Motorola wants to take back some market share from Nokia with its new phones models aimed for the Indian market. There are currenly 68M users there, but that will change very quickly.
Motorola Inc. to make best-selling handset in India - Yahoo! News
Motorola Inc. to make best-selling handset in India - Yahoo! News
Nokia acquires IntelliSync
This complements Nokia's solution for corporate e-mail: Nokia Business Center. The question is what they need both for.
RIM competitor Nokia to buy wireless e-mail provider Intellisync for US$430M - Yahoo! News
RIM competitor Nokia to buy wireless e-mail provider Intellisync for US$430M - Yahoo! News
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
UK free to adopt RFID
Ofcom deregulates the frequencies used by RFID in the U.K., as the power levels are so low. This opens up the market for RFID.
Digital Media Europe: News - Ofcom deregulates wireless electronic tags
Digital Media Europe: News - Ofcom deregulates wireless electronic tags
Monday, November 14, 2005
Your phone as remote control
Idec makes all kinds of control and sensing devices for industry and elsewhere. The EL35.005 is a GSM device that you can send SMSs to for controlling external devices. It's based on a Siemens GSM module with the addition of connectors for output and input signals, including 10 integrated relays.
Remote control device acts on SMS commands: News from Idec Electronics
Remote control device acts on SMS commands: News from Idec Electronics
Low-end phones from Sony Ericsson
Namely J220i, J230i (candy bar) and Z300i (clamshell). They will sell for approx 1000 SEK. They all have WAP 1.x and MMS. J230i has an integrated FM radio. All have color displays and GPRS. None has a camera.
Sony Ericsson launches new entry-level phones - Yahoo! News
Info at sonyericsson.com:
J220i
J230i
Z300i
Sony Ericsson launches new entry-level phones - Yahoo! News
Info at sonyericsson.com:
J220i
J230i
Z300i
Saturday, November 12, 2005
More wireless-only users in U.S.
9% of phone users in U.S. have only a wireless connection, and Research and Markets expects that to increase to 37% by 2009.
Number Of Wireless-Only Users Is Increasing: Survey - Yahoo! News
Number Of Wireless-Only Users Is Increasing: Survey - Yahoo! News
Friday, November 11, 2005
Philips will make $20 phone
It's for the Chinese market. Feature-wise I would guess it will be only voice, SMS and phonebook on a b/w display.
Philips targets $20 mobile phone for Chinese market - Yahoo! News
Philips targets $20 mobile phone for Chinese market - Yahoo! News
IM key among young adults
These survey results from AOL are pretty confusing.
a third of IM users in general said they send IMs, or text messages, from their mobile phones at least once a week
It's a pretty big difference between IM and SMS. IM is conversational, SMS is transient. Sending just 1 IM a week doesn't make sense.
A significant number of people, 26 percent, said they wanted live streaming TV on their IM service
Huh?
Is AOL meaning SMS? I'm still not sure.
Study: IM Surpasses Email Among Teens, Young Adults - Yahoo! News
a third of IM users in general said they send IMs, or text messages, from their mobile phones at least once a week
It's a pretty big difference between IM and SMS. IM is conversational, SMS is transient. Sending just 1 IM a week doesn't make sense.
A significant number of people, 26 percent, said they wanted live streaming TV on their IM service
Huh?
Is AOL meaning SMS? I'm still not sure.
Study: IM Surpasses Email Among Teens, Young Adults - Yahoo! News
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
RIM gets competition
The reason for his (Scott Cooper, Nokia) optimism is that Nokia, like Microsoft, will practically give away wireless access to business e-mail.
"There is no additional cost, no middleware, no service fee. The only thing that might come up is a new device running Windows Mobile 5.0,"
That's a pretty big "only", as there are hardly any such devices around. Why not license the protocol spec to third-party?
The market opportunity of wireless e-mail has also attracted competition from companies that deliver software only and do not make devices, such as Good Technology, Visto and Seven.
Blackberry faces tougher, cheaper competition - Yahoo! News
"There is no additional cost, no middleware, no service fee. The only thing that might come up is a new device running Windows Mobile 5.0,"
That's a pretty big "only", as there are hardly any such devices around. Why not license the protocol spec to third-party?
The market opportunity of wireless e-mail has also attracted competition from companies that deliver software only and do not make devices, such as Good Technology, Visto and Seven.
Blackberry faces tougher, cheaper competition - Yahoo! News
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Sony Ericsson W800i reviewed
With 34 MB Flash as standard it's on the low side for music, but up to 512 MB can be added. It supports MP3 and AAC. The phone function can be turned off for longer music listening (9 vs 30 hours). 2 Mp camera. Only GPRS.
Review: Sony Ericsson W800i Walkman Phone - Yahoo! News
Review: Sony Ericsson W800i Walkman Phone - Yahoo! News
Vodafone provides MSN chat
In two ways:
1. via phones with a chat client (Wireless Village?); mentions SEMC K300i and Nokia 6230i
2. via the Live! portal
Obviously the user experience will be better from phones with a chat client. Interesting that they haven't chosen to download a Java-based chat client instead (like the ones from OZ or Shape). That would be better than the above alternatives (1: too few phones; 2: too crappy UE).
Digital Media Europe: News - Vodafone, MSN enable instant messaging between PC, mobile phone
1. via phones with a chat client (Wireless Village?); mentions SEMC K300i and Nokia 6230i
2. via the Live! portal
Obviously the user experience will be better from phones with a chat client. Interesting that they haven't chosen to download a Java-based chat client instead (like the ones from OZ or Shape). That would be better than the above alternatives (1: too few phones; 2: too crappy UE).
Digital Media Europe: News - Vodafone, MSN enable instant messaging between PC, mobile phone
Monday, November 07, 2005
Qualcomm sues Nokia
This is clearly a response to the fact that manufacturers complained about high costs for licensing CDMA and WCDMA patents from Qualcomm. There's nothing that indicates Nokia is guilt-free, but Qualcomm is no "cuddly toy" either, as a lot of Qualcomm's profit comes from patent licensing. Their lawyers probably eat puppies for breakfast.
Qualcomm sues Nokia over mobile phone patents - Yahoo! News
Qualcomm sues Nokia over mobile phone patents - Yahoo! News
Yahoo/Google partner on mobile services
Yahoo will even introduce its own branded phone provided by Nokia. My understanding is that it's a GSM phone, considering Cingular is mentioned. Nothing special about the phone though. Could be (and very likely is) an existing Nokia phone with a Yahoo self-adhesive label.
New services will rely on a server part and downloaded Java applications.
Yahoo, Google to launch wireless services - Yahoo! News
New services will rely on a server part and downloaded Java applications.
Yahoo, Google to launch wireless services - Yahoo! News
UK consumers hesitant about Mobile TV
According to the note: 70% of mobile owners said they did not want to watch television on their phone at all.
It's interesting when you think about it that no other consumer device is so littered with features as a mobile phone, and the industry still strongly believes that consumers want even more things (that they in reality won't use). The subsidising of phones is of course one factor (it's virtually free to get a new more advanced phone), but also the fact that operators chase other ways to make money and therefor requires more and more esoteric functionality as so many of those features flop completely (read: doesn't generate more revenue), so they need to continue chasing for the killer-app.
I read somewhere that increasing voice revenue by 1% would be the same as increasing data revenue by 100%. The "cash in the bank" effect would be the same. I don't think it's that ratio by today, as some data services are used more than others, and obviously SMS is a huge success, but it gives some hints about where operators should put their money if everything else fails.
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | TV on mobiles proves a turn-off
It's interesting when you think about it that no other consumer device is so littered with features as a mobile phone, and the industry still strongly believes that consumers want even more things (that they in reality won't use). The subsidising of phones is of course one factor (it's virtually free to get a new more advanced phone), but also the fact that operators chase other ways to make money and therefor requires more and more esoteric functionality as so many of those features flop completely (read: doesn't generate more revenue), so they need to continue chasing for the killer-app.
I read somewhere that increasing voice revenue by 1% would be the same as increasing data revenue by 100%. The "cash in the bank" effect would be the same. I don't think it's that ratio by today, as some data services are used more than others, and obviously SMS is a huge success, but it gives some hints about where operators should put their money if everything else fails.
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | TV on mobiles proves a turn-off
Saturday, November 05, 2005
NFC/RFID on the rise (but slowly)
Main reason for the sluggishness: lack of standards.
ABI analyst Erik Michielsen: "Open, interoperable, standards-based NFC environments are critical to stabilizing NFC ecosystem working relationships and commitment, especially with wireless carriers seeking clarity on NFC business benefits,"
Next Big Wireless Thing: Near-Field Communications - Yahoo! News
ABI analyst Erik Michielsen: "Open, interoperable, standards-based NFC environments are critical to stabilizing NFC ecosystem working relationships and commitment, especially with wireless carriers seeking clarity on NFC business benefits,"
Next Big Wireless Thing: Near-Field Communications - Yahoo! News
ROAD introduces Nokia Communicator like smartphone
This is the form factor I like the most, as it means you get a good-sized full keypad and a large screen in landscape format. From the picture it looks very much like a Nokia 9500/9300. It can run Linux, Windows Mobile or Symbian OS. That's an industry first! It doesn't exist yet though.
ROAD promises Handy-PC smartphone by Q1 2006 - Cellphones - cellphones.engadget.com
ROAD promises Handy-PC smartphone by Q1 2006 - Cellphones - cellphones.engadget.com
U.S. consumers prefer dedicated music devices
Music phones haven't been a hit in U.S. so far. iPod has been very successful though, so I guess part of the market is already saturated. Also, some given reasons are less memory in phones and poor sound quality. Good reasons no doubt.
U.S. Consumers Lag In Adoption Of Music Phones - Yahoo! News
U.S. Consumers Lag In Adoption Of Music Phones - Yahoo! News
SMS in everyday life
The figure is not so interesting as the uses mentioned: informing students about lessons, college info, bus times etc. SMS has certainly become an everyday thing.
Digital Media Europe: News - 32bn text messages to be sent in 2005 in UK � research
Digital Media Europe: News - 32bn text messages to be sent in 2005 in UK � research
Lackluster interest in enterprise mobile solutions
Only 6% were said to be interested in adopting such solutions, which is scaringly low, and an indicator of lack of understanding of the benefits. Just getting Outlook/Notes capability in the hands of sales and service people would be a huge gain. Not that companies offering such solutions have been good at marketing them (not even Microsoft). I also sense that IT departments simply don't understand the issue, as they don't need such functionality themselves (they are never working outside the office).
Digital Media Europe: News - Western European enterprises slow to adopt mobile solutions � survey
Digital Media Europe: News - Western European enterprises slow to adopt mobile solutions � survey
Concerns about mobile data costs
Even though the usage is increasing there are also complaints about the high costs as well as the hassle of getting it going. Operators have an important task here to secure that such services work off the bat. After all, they want more revenue, so why not help the consumer.
textually.org: Mobile data adoption on the rise: survey
textually.org: Mobile data adoption on the rise: survey
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Worldwide smartphone shipments
Total 75% growth since Q3 last year
Order of market volume: Nokia (Series 60), Palm (Treo), RIM (Blackberry), Motorola, HP.
Order of growth: Motorola, Nokia
HP is also mentioned, but I sense they will soon drop out of this market.
Digital Media Europe: News - Worldwide smart-phone shipments up 75% in Q3 � report
Order of market volume: Nokia (Series 60), Palm (Treo), RIM (Blackberry), Motorola, HP.
Order of growth: Motorola, Nokia
HP is also mentioned, but I sense they will soon drop out of this market.
Digital Media Europe: News - Worldwide smart-phone shipments up 75% in Q3 � report
Nokia trials UMA
UMA = Unlicensed Mobile Access
UMA deals with handover from mobile radio networks to local WiFi/VoIP-based network. Benefits are lower costs for calls (hopefully), but also less burden on the mobile network, as actually the vast majority of mobile calls are made from within buildings.
Digital Media Europe: News - Nokia completes UMA voice, data calls
UMA deals with handover from mobile radio networks to local WiFi/VoIP-based network. Benefits are lower costs for calls (hopefully), but also less burden on the mobile network, as actually the vast majority of mobile calls are made from within buildings.
Digital Media Europe: News - Nokia completes UMA voice, data calls
Nokia launches 3 new N series phones
Nokia releases another bundle of high-end phones, and they seem to be quite interesting ones too. They are all Series 60 based.
* N80: WiFi, 3 Mp camera, 352*416 display, 40 MB, EDGE
* N92: WiFi, DVB-H (digital TV), 2 Mp camera, 320*240 2.8" display, 90 MB, WCDMA
* N71: broad music file support, 2 Mp camera, 240*320 display, 10 MB (way too low), GPRS?
all have high-res displays (240*320!) and USB2.
Nokia�s N71, N80, and N92 media phones - Cellphones - cellphones.engadget.com
* N80: WiFi, 3 Mp camera, 352*416 display, 40 MB, EDGE
* N92: WiFi, DVB-H (digital TV), 2 Mp camera, 320*240 2.8" display, 90 MB, WCDMA
* N71: broad music file support, 2 Mp camera, 240*320 display, 10 MB (way too low), GPRS?
all have high-res displays (240*320!) and USB2.
Nokia�s N71, N80, and N92 media phones - Cellphones - cellphones.engadget.com
Nokia N92, supporting digital TV
...via DVB-H. Currently there are no broadcasts to receive though.
DVB-H, a standard which enables up to 50 channels of video to be broadcast to mobile devices using cellular networks.
analysts and industry watchers suggest regulatory and licensing issues may put off widespread deployment by until 2008 or later, particularly in the U.S.
I don't think even Nokia believes the N9x series will sell much. I see them more as technology showcases/trials. N70 on the other hand could become a big success.
The browser used in the N92 supports something called Mini Map that makes it possible to navigate easily on a web page. Other players are also announcing such support, including Obigo.
Nokia's N92 To Support DVB-H Mobile TV - Mobile News - Designtechnica
DVB-H, a standard which enables up to 50 channels of video to be broadcast to mobile devices using cellular networks.
analysts and industry watchers suggest regulatory and licensing issues may put off widespread deployment by until 2008 or later, particularly in the U.S.
I don't think even Nokia believes the N9x series will sell much. I see them more as technology showcases/trials. N70 on the other hand could become a big success.
The browser used in the N92 supports something called Mini Map that makes it possible to navigate easily on a web page. Other players are also announcing such support, including Obigo.
Nokia's N92 To Support DVB-H Mobile TV - Mobile News - Designtechnica
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Operator shopping spree
This in just a few days. I haven't seen any indicators why this is happening right now. Anyone knows?
Digital Media Europe: News - Telefonica to buy O2 for �26.2bn
Digital Media Europe: News - Teliasonera gets clearance to acquire Chess/Sense in Norway
Digital Media Europe: News - BT acquires TNS
Digital Media Europe: News - Telenor acquires Vodafone Sweden for �1bn
Digital Media Europe: News - Telefonica to buy O2 for �26.2bn
Digital Media Europe: News - Teliasonera gets clearance to acquire Chess/Sense in Norway
Digital Media Europe: News - BT acquires TNS
Digital Media Europe: News - Telenor acquires Vodafone Sweden for �1bn
