时间：2009年3月6--7日
地点：深圳会展中心
主办单位
中国移动通信联合会
深圳市人民政府
联合主办
香港中瑞会议展览公司
深圳市手机行业协会
承办单位
深圳市中瑞展览设计有限公司
展会简介
“第三届手机采购定制大会暨第五届中国国际手机科技展”（“Mobile China 2009”）将于2009年3月6-7日深圳会展中心举办。连续几届，汇聚40多家手机品牌制造商、27家运营商、170多家手机代工和集成厂商参加了本次展会，近15000名专业人士参观了展览，其中来自中东、印度、越南、新加坡、马来西亚、美国、玻璃维亚、德国、俄罗斯等国家和地区的1000多家采购商光临过现场，中国移动、美国AT&T、BRIGHTSTAR、韩国KTF、新加坡singtel 、台湾亚太电信、澳门电信、富士康、华为、中兴、联想、展讯、联想、海尔、康佳、国虹、宇龙、广东移动、联通、TCL、万事通、创维、友利通、埃立特、蒙宝、天珑、邦讯等手机制造商及运营商采购部门和市场主管参观了展览并提出了采购需求．累计达成意向合作超过4000万部手机。
“第五届全球手机采购定制大会暨展览会”之际,我们继续举办“第三届移动电视、手机电视国际峰会( “Mobile TV 2009”)”,作为大会关联项目,借助手机产业强大的资源优势，促进Mobile TV在移动通信及手机领域的应用发展,继续与业界同时分享全球移动电视产业的发展现状和新的技术，同时为各大终端厂商参与中国的移动电视产业运营商提供了一个面对面的合作交流平台!
参展内容:
运营商、移动终端产品
参展范围：运营商、手机品牌厂商；手机国包商及品牌零售商；手机代工厂商；手机设计公司；手机ODM、OEM、EMS厂商；；小灵通、PDA、PMP、MP3、数码相机、掌上游戏机
核心模组
参展范围：手机模块厂商；手机平台提供商；手机芯片厂商
GPS解决方案商
GPS设备供应商、软硬件开发商、GPS接收设备、各类管理系统、电子地图及各类应用系统、导航手机及解决方案
手机电视解决方案商
移动电视/手机电视芯片商、方案商、CP/SP
增值应用及平台厂商
参展范围：增值应用服务提供商；软件厂商；手机操作系统厂商；JAVA应用；BREW业务；手机电视厂商
硬件配套产品供应商
参展范围：半导体器件及IC电路；显示器件；包装附属品；电路板连线；电源；电池；元器件；接插件和零部件；金属制品及冲压件；塑制品及结构件
时间：
布展时间:2009年3月5日 9:00AM—5:00PM
开幕典礼: 2009年3月6日 9:00 AM
展览时间: 2009年3月6－7日 9:00AM—5:00PM
撤展时间: 2009年3月7日 4:30 PM－7:00PM
组委会联系
匡亮
深圳手机行业协会
深圳市福田区天安数码创新科技广场2期西座629室
Tel:+86 755－82507205
Fax:+86 755－83297552
Mobile: 13528771064
E-mail：zhongrui6688@163.com
网址：www.smca.org.cn
Friday, January 30, 2009
Qualcomm and LT Mobile Sign CDMA Subscriber Unit License Agreement
SAN DIEGO - January 22, 2009 - Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and data solutions and LT Mobile Communication Co., Ltd (LT Mobile), today announced that they have entered into a CDMA subscriber unit license agreement. Under the terms of the royalty bearing agreement, Qualcomm has granted LT Mobile a worldwide patent license to develop, manufacture and sell subscriber units implementing the CDMA2000® standard. The royalties payable by LT Mobile are at Qualcomm's standard worldwide rates.“Qualcomm is pleased to include LT Mobile, a Chinese company, as a licensee of its patent portfolio,” said Derek Aberle, executive vice president and president of Qualcomm Technology Licensing. “Licensing advanced wireless technologies promotes the success of our partners and enriches the lives of consumers globally. This agreement will enable LT Mobile to extend the benefits of high-speed, low-cost wireless products to its customers in China and worldwide.”“This agreement with Qualcomm provides LT Mobile (and its wholly owned subsidiary Shenzhen Tinno Mobile Technology Co., Ltd.) with the opportunity to expand into the CDMA2000 market and to offer our customers a more complete portfolio of products and services,” said Tony Lin, president of LT Mobile. “We are excited about the opportunities made available through the implementation of CDMA2000 in our products and are dedicated to continue developing innovative products to accommodate our customers' needs.”Shenzhen LT Mobile Communication Co., Ltd, founded in 2002, is a professional high-tech company specializing in manufacturing and marketing of CDMA, GSM , PHS and dual-mode mobile phones. It is one of the manufacturing companies that have obtained licenses issued by the National Development and Reform Commission of P.R.C. to produce both GSM/GPRS and CDMA handsets. There are approx. 260 engineers in its Shenzhen and Nanjing R&D centers, including Ph.D. and masters degree holders capable of conducting R&D throughout the development process, starting from mobile chipsets. LT has gotten in on the ground floor in the field of dual mode mobile phone, and has been called “No.1 dual GSM mobile phone manufacturer in the world”. X1 is the world's first dual GSM phone and has applied for dual Baseband & RF core technology inventive patent in 2007. Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 100 Index, the S&P 500 Index and is a 2008 FORTUNE 500® company. For more information, please visit www.qualcomm.com.Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company's ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of CDMA components on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which CDMA is deployed, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2008, and most recent Form 10-Q.
深圳天珑移动技术有限公司
http://www.tinnomobile.com
2008年7月：天珑移动入围中国移动有限公司集合采购大名单。
2008年9月：天珑移动获得中国双卡双通话手机专利。
深圳天珑移动技术有限公司
http://www.tinnomobile.com
2008年7月：天珑移动入围中国移动有限公司集合采购大名单。
2008年9月：天珑移动获得中国双卡双通话手机专利。
Mediatek clinches Sharp GSM order, Will supply EDGE baseband chips
Taiwan-based Mediatek has inked a deal with Sharp for the manufacture of baseband chipsets used in Chinese EDGE based phones. Sharp reportedly chose Mediatek's EDGE-compatible design over Qualcomm International's 3.5G chipset for the SH6010C, which features a thin exterior and high-definition screen. The contract could help the company raise its profile in the US market by linking to mobile phone supply chains utilised by Samsung and Motorola. Indeed, Sharp mobile phones equipped with Mediatek's chipsets have already obtained approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As IT Examiner previously reported, BNP Paribas has forecasted high expectations for Mediatek's low-cost phones, which are set to hit the market in early 2009. The company shipped 84 million units during the third quarter of 2008, compared to 51 million units in the previous quarter. Mediatek's revenue is projected to be (TWD) 94.15 million this year ($2.86 million), TWD 111.75 million in 2009 ($3.4 million) and TWD 130.75 million ($3,984,580 million) in 2010. It should also be noted that China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently issued the country's first 3G telecom licences. Dozens of Taiwanese telecom carriers and equipment suppliers have queued to form partnerships with mainland companies in a desperate rush to participate in the lucrative market. In addition, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs has invited numerous Chinese companies to visit the island for talks, including China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Datang Telecom Technology, ZTE and Huawei Technologies. Official Chinese statistics indicate that telecom revenue reached a staggering 2.04 trillion yuan (US$304 billion) during the first 11 months of 2008, currently accounting for up to seven per cent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).The launch of China's new 3G service could help bolster the country's slowing mobile phone sales. According to ITIS, Chinese mobile phone shipments reached a volume of 175.2 million units in the third quarter of 2008, representing 6.2 per cent sequential growth and 4.3 per cent year-on-year growth. The industry's rate of expansion peaked in 2006 and has now slowed to mid-single digits.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Texas Instruments tallies and cuts
by Angela Gunn
January 26, 2009, 8:23 PM
Texas Instruments on Monday delivered a quarterly report showing a drop in quarterly profits -- but it's not as bad as some were expecting. The nation's second-largest chipmaker also announced plans to cut 12% of its workforce over the next two quarters, and said that factory utilization is expected to dip to 35% during the current quarter.
The cuts are expected to include both layoffs (1800 people) and voluntary retirements (1600 people, or so the company hopes). The firm estimated on its earnings call that the effort will cost around $300 million in severance and related expenses.
TI is, among other things, saddled with winding down its once-lucrative merchant chipset business. (Those chipsets were once widely used by mobile-phone manufacturers, especially Nokia; these days, phone manufacturers generally use multiple supply sources for those basic chips, and TI would prefer to offer more sophisticated OMAP applications processors for smartphones.) During their last quarterly call TI said they were attempting to sell off that division of the company; they've given up and are now treating it as "end-of-life" technology.
And now? Company executives, who like the rest of us have been watching the plummeting sales reports from mobile-phone manufacturers such as Nokia (TI's biggest customer), aren't making any long-term predictions at this point. The earnings report states baldly that the company is "not counting on a near-term economic rebound for improvement."
For the quarter just ended, TI reported revenue of $2.49 billion and net income of $107 million, which works out to earnings per share of eight cents. That's lower than the company's previous prediction of 10 cents/share, but better than the market expected to see, so in after-hours trading the company's stock actually rose 75 cents, or a bit over 5 percent, in after-hours trading.
January 26, 2009, 8:23 PM
Texas Instruments on Monday delivered a quarterly report showing a drop in quarterly profits -- but it's not as bad as some were expecting. The nation's second-largest chipmaker also announced plans to cut 12% of its workforce over the next two quarters, and said that factory utilization is expected to dip to 35% during the current quarter.
The cuts are expected to include both layoffs (1800 people) and voluntary retirements (1600 people, or so the company hopes). The firm estimated on its earnings call that the effort will cost around $300 million in severance and related expenses.
TI is, among other things, saddled with winding down its once-lucrative merchant chipset business. (Those chipsets were once widely used by mobile-phone manufacturers, especially Nokia; these days, phone manufacturers generally use multiple supply sources for those basic chips, and TI would prefer to offer more sophisticated OMAP applications processors for smartphones.) During their last quarterly call TI said they were attempting to sell off that division of the company; they've given up and are now treating it as "end-of-life" technology.
And now? Company executives, who like the rest of us have been watching the plummeting sales reports from mobile-phone manufacturers such as Nokia (TI's biggest customer), aren't making any long-term predictions at this point. The earnings report states baldly that the company is "not counting on a near-term economic rebound for improvement."
For the quarter just ended, TI reported revenue of $2.49 billion and net income of $107 million, which works out to earnings per share of eight cents. That's lower than the company's previous prediction of 10 cents/share, but better than the market expected to see, so in after-hours trading the company's stock actually rose 75 cents, or a bit over 5 percent, in after-hours trading.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
China's handset market expansion continues in 2009
Mobile Phones in China
China's domestic wireless phone market is set to maintain its growth in 2009, with a 7.7 percent increase for the year
China's domestic wireless phone market is set to maintain its growth in 2009, with a 7.7 percent increase for the year
EL SEGUNDO, USA: Defying an expected 10.7 percent decline in global mobile handset shipments, China's domestic wireless phone market is set to maintain its growth in 2009, with a 7.7 percent increase for the year, according to iSuppli Corp.
iSuppli forecasts the domestic handset market will reach 239.1 million units in 2009, up 7.7 percent from 222.1 million in 2008.
"China's three wireless operators are attracting new subscribers by reducing service fees. This will greatly contribute to demand from first-time buyers," said Kevin Wang, senior manager of China research at iSuppli. "New subscribers are expected to exceed 90 million in 2009. Furthermore, more existing mobile users will be subscribe to a second number. Beyond that, the government's broadened subsidy policy for consumer electronics purchases will stimulate demand in rural areas."
The figure presents iSuppli's forecast of domestic mobile handset shipments by technology, including gray-market products.
Domestic authorized handset market shipments surpassed 180 million units in 2008. Meanwhile, the domestic gray market decreased to about 40 million units in 2008, down from more than 50 million units in 2007. A number of gray market suppliers became authorized brand-name companies. Their business grew dramatically in tier-three and tier-four urban and rural markets.
Foreign handset OEMs occupied 56 percent of China's handset market for 2008. Nokia was the largest handset supplier in China in 2008 with a 37 percent market share. At the same time, Samsung expanded its share of handset shipments.
Tianyu will continue to be the leading Chinese brand in terms of domestic shipments.
3G arrives at lastThere is no doubt that the Chinese government finally will issue 3G licenses in 2009. However, domestic 3G handset shipments will not increase dramatically during the year.
The total domestic 3G handset market is expected to reach 8 million units in 2009. Low-cost multimedia GSM and ultra-low-cost CDMA handsets should be among the best-selling products of 2009. However, smart phones and handsets supporting 3G and the China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting (CMMB) standard also will represent high-growth segments.
In term of total unit shipments, Huawei and ZTE are likely to be the leaders in China's 3G handset market.
Both were anticipated to ship more than 30 million units in 2008. Moreover, Huawei is now the largest 3G data card supplier in the world. At the time this was written, Chinese handset manufacturers collectively were projected to ship more than 300 million handsets by the end of 2008. iSuppli forecasts that Chinese handset manufacturers will ship more than 360 million units in 2009 driven by both domestic and export markets.©CIOL Bureau
Friday, January 23, 2009
国产手机上市公司几乎全线预亏 供需矛盾突出
时间：2009年01月23日 10:17:12 中财网
金融海啸席卷下,国产手机的冬天看来要变得更加漫长了。近日,ST科健(000035.SZ)发布2008年全年预亏公告,加上此前已经发出预亏公告的波导股份(600130.SH)、*ST夏新(600057.SH),几乎全线国产手机上市公司2008年都将交出亏损的成绩单。 手机业务一片惨淡 ST科健本来在2008年前三季度曾报出了赢利1.04亿元的好成绩,但是在金融海啸影响下,其主要盈利单元---控股35%的三星科健在2008年第四季度的业务也出现了大幅下滑,初步估计将亏损2.524亿元,这使得前三季度的所有获利成果都付诸流水。ST科健预亏公告称,目前初步估计上市公司全年的亏损约为1000万元。 和ST科健还有一个会生蛋的金鸡相比,完全依靠自身的波导股份和*ST夏新相比情况就显得更糟。此前,波导股份发布的2008年预亏公告称,在2007年亏损逾5.9亿元之后,预计2008年维持亏损局面,而"国内市场竞争激烈导致国内销售规模下降"是亏损的主要原因。*ST夏新发布的2008年年度业绩预告及暂停上市风险提示性公告则显示,其2008年1-9月归属于上市公司股东的净利润为-4.65亿元之多,估计全年业绩也将亏损。 就连早已退出自主品牌手机业务,专心为摩托罗拉代工的东方通信也因为行业环境恶化,旗下专职代工的杭州东信移动电话有限公司的代工量大幅减少,导致净利润大幅下滑,并且有全年告亏的可能。 供需矛盾日益突出 其实从2005年开始,国产手机上市公司的业绩表现就呈现出滑坡势头,到2007年,波导、夏新、科健等都出现了史上最大幅度的亏损。究其原因,资金链管理不善、渠道成本控制欠佳、产品技术竞争力薄弱都扮演着颇为重要的角色。但是更加重要的一点,也是各大上市公司在年报中反复强调的一点,就是山寨手机在市场的横行,大大压缩正规国产手机的生存空间和利润空间。 由于山寨手机的日益扩张,国内手机市场从2006年就开始出现供需失衡的状况,供给远远大于需求。统计数据显示,到2008年上半年,内地手机产能已经达到了约2.79亿部,但同期手机市场仅售出9640.3万部,供过于求的形势更加严峻。2006年中开始,山寨手机大面积出动,用超低价战略又将本来正规国产手机寄予厚望的四、五线城市和乡村市场占据。深圳战国策分析师杨群分析指出,近几年来渠道商侵占手机厂商利润的现象也十分突出。没有山寨机无售后、无税收的超低成本竞争力,正规手机厂商除了长虹、天语、金立等新晋厂商外,盈利能力的下滑十分严重,毛利率甚至跌到了10%以下,这也是造成国产手机上市公司近几年连年大亏的重要原因。
□ .程.鹏 .南.方.日.报
金融海啸席卷下,国产手机的冬天看来要变得更加漫长了。近日,ST科健(000035.SZ)发布2008年全年预亏公告,加上此前已经发出预亏公告的波导股份(600130.SH)、*ST夏新(600057.SH),几乎全线国产手机上市公司2008年都将交出亏损的成绩单。 手机业务一片惨淡 ST科健本来在2008年前三季度曾报出了赢利1.04亿元的好成绩,但是在金融海啸影响下,其主要盈利单元---控股35%的三星科健在2008年第四季度的业务也出现了大幅下滑,初步估计将亏损2.524亿元,这使得前三季度的所有获利成果都付诸流水。ST科健预亏公告称,目前初步估计上市公司全年的亏损约为1000万元。 和ST科健还有一个会生蛋的金鸡相比,完全依靠自身的波导股份和*ST夏新相比情况就显得更糟。此前,波导股份发布的2008年预亏公告称,在2007年亏损逾5.9亿元之后,预计2008年维持亏损局面,而"国内市场竞争激烈导致国内销售规模下降"是亏损的主要原因。*ST夏新发布的2008年年度业绩预告及暂停上市风险提示性公告则显示,其2008年1-9月归属于上市公司股东的净利润为-4.65亿元之多,估计全年业绩也将亏损。 就连早已退出自主品牌手机业务,专心为摩托罗拉代工的东方通信也因为行业环境恶化,旗下专职代工的杭州东信移动电话有限公司的代工量大幅减少,导致净利润大幅下滑,并且有全年告亏的可能。 供需矛盾日益突出 其实从2005年开始,国产手机上市公司的业绩表现就呈现出滑坡势头,到2007年,波导、夏新、科健等都出现了史上最大幅度的亏损。究其原因,资金链管理不善、渠道成本控制欠佳、产品技术竞争力薄弱都扮演着颇为重要的角色。但是更加重要的一点,也是各大上市公司在年报中反复强调的一点,就是山寨手机在市场的横行,大大压缩正规国产手机的生存空间和利润空间。 由于山寨手机的日益扩张,国内手机市场从2006年就开始出现供需失衡的状况,供给远远大于需求。统计数据显示,到2008年上半年,内地手机产能已经达到了约2.79亿部,但同期手机市场仅售出9640.3万部,供过于求的形势更加严峻。2006年中开始,山寨手机大面积出动,用超低价战略又将本来正规国产手机寄予厚望的四、五线城市和乡村市场占据。深圳战国策分析师杨群分析指出,近几年来渠道商侵占手机厂商利润的现象也十分突出。没有山寨机无售后、无税收的超低成本竞争力,正规手机厂商除了长虹、天语、金立等新晋厂商外,盈利能力的下滑十分严重,毛利率甚至跌到了10%以下,这也是造成国产手机上市公司近几年连年大亏的重要原因。
□ .程.鹏 .南.方.日.报
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Movidia launches multimedia processor MA1110 for mobile phones
The MA1110 enables in-phone video post-production in real time on power conscious mobile devices.Movidia will demonstrate the MA1110 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Spain on February 16-19 2009. Customer samples of MA1110 will be available in summer 2009 with mass production to commence later in 2009.Movidia's MA1110 allows the multimedia processor to perform video-editing tasks such as real-time image stabilization, super resolution zoom, slow motion and color matching. Movidia's MA1110 also supports high resolutions of all standard audio and video codecs and APIs to ensure compatibility with a wide range of content, according to Movidia.
Photo: Company, Jan 22, 2009
Photo: Company, Jan 22, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Top 10 Wireless Stories of 2008(Gerson Lehrman Group)
Analysis: Story 10: Femtocell strategies are pursued. AT&T’s and Verizon’s pursuit of a femtocell strategy is good news for an important technology implementation. The need to drive intelligence down as close to the user as possible right into the cell and sector is paramount to ensuring multimedia and Internet services can be sold and used.Story 9: LTE is actively pursued by Verizon and AT&T. LTE got a big boost from these two carriers. Thanks to the participation of these two very deep pocketed carriers, vendors are able to pursue LTE standards and technology development without having to hype the idea to the financial community and their own shareholders. I have lost count of the number of times a vendor had to convince a carrier an idea was hot or Wall Street an idea was a money maker. Vendors were handed a “get out of jail free” card thanks to Verizon and AT&T. Look out for Huawei and ZTE because they are huge LTE supporters and I am guessing they are pressuring American carriers to buy LTE now.Story 8: Apple’s iPhone created such a stir in the handset community that now vendors like Nokia and LG utilize touch user interface technology, high resolution color displays and smartphone technology. Thanks to Apple, the other vendors did not have to spend an inordinate amount of time explaining any of this to their shareholders. Heck, even RIM got into the act with touch user interface technology. I have always believed that the best business is FEAR of losing. Once Apple announced it was going 3G, well that certainly got every vendor’s attention. I just love competition; it spurs innovation. If Nokia wants to stay the world’s biggest seller of mobile handsets; about 37 Million units a month, they better come up with something to compete with the iPhone.Story 7: Introduced in late 2007 and wildly promoted in 2008, Google’s Android platform has given hope to those who support open platforms. Unfortunately for Google, Android did not catch the attention of Wall Street the way the iPhone did. Unfortunately for those who support open platforms, Google’s platform has been criticized for not being that open. However, I would not worry about Google because Wall Street is looking for any exciting news or news that it can make exciting so Google will get some help by analysts in 2009. Further, all of the criticism from open platform supporters plus the recession may actually get Google to pay attention. Why did it make my list for 2008? The answer is simple it got the attention of most of the major technology players and ignored by Verizon. Verizon chose LiMo and was the only major U.S. carrier to ignore Android. Android created quite a stir and then suddenly dropped off the face of the Earth. Verizon saying no to Android also created a big stir as well. Verizon is still ignoring the iPhone.In 2008, Google launched their new web browser called Google Chrome. It kind of snuck in there with all of the bad news about the recession. What is important about this event is that Google has tended to more right than wrong. Next, the web browsing business is not what it used to be; exciting and quite frankly now requires you to have a mobile strategy.Google Chrome is part of larger effort for Google to become the dominant force behind content management. Keep an eye this company because Google Chrome has the potential to turn the world on its ears; quietly. Expect a mobile version for sure and expect it tied to Android. Android will be kind of pointless for Google if Google does not tie Chrome to Android – you have to generate synergies between your products. Story 6: Alcatel-Lucent says goodbye to Pat Russo and a sad realization. This giant of a telecom technology company changed leadership in mid-2008 without a lot of fanfare but a lot of relief. Pat Russo was a CEO who did a monumental job restructuring Lucent twice. Russo proved CEOs that restructure companies need to leave after a merger; CEO burn-out is not a myth. Alcatel-Lucent a combination of France’s premier telecom technology company and the United States once-premier telecom technology company handled the recent leadership transition somewhat smoothly now they have to fix the company in the midst of a global recession. This is a company to keep an eye open for. Two countries have too much vested in this giant for it to fail.The sad realization I mentioned earlier was the United States’ loss of leadership in telecom technology development. With the sale of Lucent to Alcatel, the United States allowed its premiere manufacturer and telecom technology developer to be sold off to the French. We even sold off our nation’s telecom think tank along with Lucent. Bell Labs has done nothing significant in the last two years. Even if Alcatel-Lucent is successful in its restructuring efforts, what is there left for the United States?Story 5: Sprint’s roller coaster restructuring activities for 2008, including the new Clearwire. Sprint hints at selling Nextel and then changes its mind. Then it closes the deal with Clearwire. Hesse makes management changes. Then WHAMMO!!! everyone realizes we are in a recession, now everyone is scrambling to figure out what will happen to the company now. I love the excitement and challenge of an operational restructuring. Financial restructurings (the typical ones) are about throwing money at a problem and buying your way out of a bad deal. Operational restructurings are about hunkering down and getting the problem fixed. Operational restructurings require real knowledge of the company and business; besides they are more exciting. However, the biggest news for Sprint was its continued support of WiMAX. This was a huge shout for support for a wireless technology many are seeing as 4G, which I can be included as one of those voices.Then there is the new Clearwire. The old Clearwire is replaced with the new Clearwire, but now the company can count its investors to include the old Clearwire, Sprint, Comcast, Time Warner, Intel, Google, and Bright House Networks. Not exactly a shabby group of companies but certainly a group of companies motivated to get into wireless. This joint venture was quite a coup, no matter what you think of WiMAX. The venture gave WiMAX a major boost. The real challenge now is getting this joint venture functioning. This group has committed to invest over $3 Billion into this company. With this much money and talent, there are no excuses for failure. Thank goodness Ben Wolff is running the show; Hesse has his hands full with fixing Sprint.Story 4: The collapse of Yahoo. This is not a good story for investors. However, the collapse of Yahoo should become a business case study for corporate executives and investors in how not to believe in your own hype, not under estimating the other guy, not over estimating your own value, not forgetting the shareholders, not getting greedy, and knowing your company’s actual value. Yahoo a disappointment to investors. Yahoo a broken company that is ripe for a 2009 takeover at a fraction of the price Microsoft was willing to pay for it. Maybe Microsoft can use Yahoo in its browser deal with Verizon Wireless.Story 3: Qualcomm versus everyone else. It should not matter whether you support Qualcomm or not. This company’s year long stories of winning and losing patent infringement suits has been a quiet disaster for valuing intellectual property portfolios, raising money for technology companies, and establishing corporate valuations for technology companies. Recession aside, Qualcomm’s losses have impacted all technology companies. Investors are getting smarter and asking questions like: Has the patent been granted? What country has the patent been granted? Is this a provisional patent? What other patents have been referenced in the claims?Qualcomm’s battles go right to the very heart of how technology companies establish and create value. Technology companies have always promoted their intellectual property portfolios as part of the value of the company. Patent portfolios establish clear lines of ownership and value for a technology company. When such ownership is unclear so is the value the portfolio has for the company.However, in the last couple of years, especially the first half of 2008, we saw major victories and settlements all involving Qualcomm versus some other company. Qualcomm turned patent portfolio valuation into a science and art. The patent portfolio became an integral part of establishing corporate valuation. Qualcomm knows how to take 100 patents and build a business. Qualcomm’s losses have had an impact on how startup technology companies will raise money and establish value. The recession has just made the situation even worse. Owning a patent will not mean a thing unless the patent has been challenged and defended in court – and that is a tragedy. Technology investors will no longer view a granted patent as a sign for market dominance or market leadership unless the patent has been challenged in court. With this recession, the patent infringement lawsuits will probably grow. Patents being filed today are mostly about incremental improvements/changes in the way a technology is implemented. It has become increasingly difficult for patent filers to define their unique invention(s) and given the increasing frequency of patent challenges, it is also becoming difficult for patent examiners to define those inventions. I am not blaming anyone. It is what it is. This is going to become a cancer to technology companies seeking investment dollars.After the recession ends next year, technology companies are going to have a rough road ahead raising money from now on. Corporate valuations for technology companies will get less help from their own patent portfolios.Story 2: The downfall of the last American telecom giant, Motorola. This year saw the collapse of a giant. Motorola the wireless technology company of all wireless technology companies cratered in 2008. I grew up in a world where wireless was synonymous with Motorola and this is why the downfall of Motorola is my Number 1. Motorola was key to creating the wireless technology we enjoy today. Unfortunately, Motorola did not change fast enough with the times and has been spiraling out of control for the last 4 years.Even with two co-CEO’s – Greg Brown and Sanjay Jha; running Motorola is tough. Jha is running the mobile devices division. Brown has the rest of the company. Frankly I don’t know how you can run a company with two minds. Further, just when you thought things may actually turnaround for this company; wham we get hit with the worse recession in decades. Before the recession, the company seemed to have a plan on how to resurrect itself. Part of its plan was to divest itself of its money losing handset unit. Then the recession came along and killed off that idea.This company cannot get a break. There has not been an exciting product out of Motorola’s doors since the original RAZR. The RAZR was the handset design that set off the race on innovative handset designs. The RAZR caused a paradigm shift in the way the industry viewed the handset; the handset was now a fashion accessory.This company is in trouble and needs a serious contract win. Let us hope China is a haven of opportunity for this American company. Story 1: The rise of Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE. Huawei and ZTE are the next 8,000 pound technology gorillas in the telecom technology business. Both companies, cover the gamut of telecom both wireless and landline technology products and solutions. They are global equipment suppliers and are giving the likes of Nortel, Ericsson, Siemens, Alcatel-Lucent, etc., a run for their money; need I say more. An advantage both companies have over the other technology players is the fact that China is a huge trading partner of Africa. Africa is untapped territory for most of the major telecom technology companies. I predict both companies will be major forces in LTE and even WiMAX
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
2009 mobile trends
1) The impact of the crisis will increase polarization of the mobile market but regulation issues will be at least as important if not more
- The net result will be a greater polarization of the market between early adopters / innovators and the mass-market.
- Operators are fearing regulation issues much more than they fear limited consumer spend.
2) Acceleration of existing disruption forces, in favor of new entrants.
- Big online players and e-commerce one willing to enter the mobile space.
- Expect lots of improvement in mobile merchandizing and expect a bunch of operators to launch widgets and equivalent of application stores.
- Online/web developers are only really starting to be interested in the mobile space and this will change the pace of innovation and the quality of execution.
- The device landscape will be extremely fragmented and that creating a compelling user-experience will remain a challenge.
3) Web/mobile convergence will really start emerging but despite growing revenues, mobile advertising will still remain in a transition/education phase.
-Web developers are joining the dance and this will lead to a constant flow of innovation around widgets, mobile social computing, IM, VoIP, RSS feeds and the whole 2.0 ecosystem.
-Another key trend will be the integration of location into services.
- The net result will be a greater polarization of the market between early adopters / innovators and the mass-market.
- Operators are fearing regulation issues much more than they fear limited consumer spend.
2) Acceleration of existing disruption forces, in favor of new entrants.
- Big online players and e-commerce one willing to enter the mobile space.
- Expect lots of improvement in mobile merchandizing and expect a bunch of operators to launch widgets and equivalent of application stores.
- Online/web developers are only really starting to be interested in the mobile space and this will change the pace of innovation and the quality of execution.
- The device landscape will be extremely fragmented and that creating a compelling user-experience will remain a challenge.
3) Web/mobile convergence will really start emerging but despite growing revenues, mobile advertising will still remain in a transition/education phase.
-Web developers are joining the dance and this will lead to a constant flow of innovation around widgets, mobile social computing, IM, VoIP, RSS feeds and the whole 2.0 ecosystem.
-Another key trend will be the integration of location into services.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Struggling mobile manufacturer
Motorola to cut 50% of handset workforce
By Nick Wood , Total Telecom
13 January 2009
Vendor plans to launch just 12 devices in 2009, according to media reports; will focus on Android-based smartphones.
Motorola this week will announce a large round of job cuts at its struggling mobile devices division that could amount to 50% of its workforce.
According to a report by Phone Scoop, the handset maker plans to release just 12 new mobile phones per year going forward, and its only smartphones will use Google's Android platform. The report also cited a source familiar with the situation as saying that Motorola will not hire a booth at the CTIA wireless trade show in Las Vegas in April. However, the event's Website on Tuesday still listed the company as an exhibitor. Motorola declined to comment on the report. However, the vendor's co-CEO Greg Brown said in October that he planned to cut another 3,000 jobs, which would drive savings of around $800 million in 2009. Motorola has cut more than 10,000 positions since January 2007. The company had aimed to spin off its mobile division by the third quarter of 2009, but its plans were put on hold by the unit's CEO Sanjay Jha in October. Jha, who was poached from Qualcomm in August, was reported at the time to have said that Motorola's problems were bigger than he first thought, that the company used too many software platforms, and that more aggressive steps to streamline the handset division were needed. Meanwhile, Motorola unveiled only a limited line-up of new devices at last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. According to Dow Jones Newswires, the vendor may only have a small range of new products available in the first half of the year.
By Nick Wood , Total Telecom
13 January 2009
Vendor plans to launch just 12 devices in 2009, according to media reports; will focus on Android-based smartphones.
Motorola this week will announce a large round of job cuts at its struggling mobile devices division that could amount to 50% of its workforce.
According to a report by Phone Scoop, the handset maker plans to release just 12 new mobile phones per year going forward, and its only smartphones will use Google's Android platform. The report also cited a source familiar with the situation as saying that Motorola will not hire a booth at the CTIA wireless trade show in Las Vegas in April. However, the event's Website on Tuesday still listed the company as an exhibitor. Motorola declined to comment on the report. However, the vendor's co-CEO Greg Brown said in October that he planned to cut another 3,000 jobs, which would drive savings of around $800 million in 2009. Motorola has cut more than 10,000 positions since January 2007. The company had aimed to spin off its mobile division by the third quarter of 2009, but its plans were put on hold by the unit's CEO Sanjay Jha in October. Jha, who was poached from Qualcomm in August, was reported at the time to have said that Motorola's problems were bigger than he first thought, that the company used too many software platforms, and that more aggressive steps to streamline the handset division were needed. Meanwhile, Motorola unveiled only a limited line-up of new devices at last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. According to Dow Jones Newswires, the vendor may only have a small range of new products available in the first half of the year.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
中国发3G牌照 能拉动电信投资
中国政府正式为三家电信运营商发放第三代移动通信(3G)牌照。分析人士说，此举的目的不仅在于加速中国信息产业的升级，同时也是中国政府经济刺激方案的重要步骤。
中国工业和信息化部为中国最大的三家电信运营商分别颁发了第三代移动通信(3G)牌照。
正如业界最近几个月来的普遍预期，占中国无线通信市场份额近四分之三的中国移动通信集团公司(China Mobile)获得了中国自主研发的TD-SCDMA业务经营许可；中国电信集团公司(China Telecom)以及中国联合网络通信集团公司(China Unicom)分别获得了美国研发的CDMA2000标准以及欧洲研发和WCDMA标准的业务经营许可。
俗称3G的第三代移动通信标准和第二代相比，最主要的区别在于通信信道容量的大幅度增加。在3G标准下，手机数据传输速度将比现有网络提升几十倍以上。这意味着手机用户下载网页、音频、视频的速度将大大加快。
手机超级大国
目前，中国手机用户已经超过6亿3千万人，移动通信网络规模和用户都居于世界首位。中国工业和信息化部的数据显示，2008年前11个月，中国电信业务总量累计完成超过两万零460亿元人民币，同比增长百分之21点7。电信产业目前占中国GDP比重已经增加到百分之7左右。
扩大投资需求
华盛顿智库国际与战略研究中心技术和公共政策项目主任詹姆斯·路易斯(James Lewis)说，3G牌照的正式发放不仅将对中国电信业的升级换代产生深远影响，同时也将进一步扩大中国国内的投资需求，为产业供应链上的设备制造商以及增值服务提供商创造扩张机会。他说：
“全球经济处于衰退，很多国家都在寻找刺激经济的办法。把钱花在信息产业升级是个很流行的做法。很多国家都在这么做。就中国的情况而言，向3G升级的决定是非常合理的。中国市场和手机用户现在对于3G网络的需求很大，这是电信技术发展的最新趋势。”
中国工业和信息化部长李毅中说，按照电信企业各自的发展规划，2009年和2010年中国预计完成3G直接投资2800亿元人民币。
中国媒体援引业内分析人士报导说，中国在2008年经历的雪灾、地震、奥运等一系列事件都在不同程度上刺激了电信运营商的建网速度。新年伊始推出的3G投资将有助于形成一条包括3G网络建设、终端设备制造、运营服务、信息服务在内的通信产业链。除了政府预计的直接投资外，3G升级有望在未来三年内拉动近两万亿元社会投资。
外商受益
里昂证券亚州电信业研究主管郑名凯对财经媒体彭博新闻社表示，包括爱利信在内的国外无线通讯设备提供商将成为中国电信产业升级的最大受益者。郑名凯估计，中国移动和中国联通将各自投资一千亿元人民币用于网络升级，中国电信将投资 800亿元。全球最大的无线设备制造商爱利信的首席执行官卡尔-亨利克·斯万伯格去年年底表示，由于中国政府即将推出3G升级计划，爱利信预计2009年在中国市场的销售业绩将有不俗表现。
三种标准角逐
行业数字显示，截至2008年1月，全球总共发放3G牌照超过210张。其中，W-CDMA的用户数量发展速度大大超过CDMA2000等其他主要标准。不过，在全球超过6亿人的3G用户当中，CDMA2000用户超过了三分之二。在包括美国、欧洲、日本等主要电信市场普遍采用这两种标准的同时，中国政府把国内自主研发的TD-SCDMA业务经营许可颁发给目前全球市值最大的电信企业中国移动。
福布斯杂志的分析文章指出，和主导全球的W-CDMA制式相比，TD-SCDMA在安装和维护方面将更加昂贵。该杂志因此认为，中国移动在采用TD-SCDMA标准过程中承受的额外负担将有助于优化中国国内电信产业的竞争结构。
民族主义和国家安全
不过，华盛顿智库国际与战略研究中心技术和公共政策项目主任路易斯(James Lewis)对于中国政府的升级3G的产业布局做出不同解读。他说：
“中国的信息产业政策始终带有一种民族主义成分。其主要目的是保护中国自主研发的知识产权不受国外竞争的冲击。所以，3G牌照以这种形式发放并不奇怪。此外，由于TD-SCDMA是北京唯一完全掌控的3G标准，因此这个决定也有国家安全的考虑。”
中国移动发表声明说，3G牌照发放后，中国具有核心知识产权的TD-SCDMA的发展将进入一个新的阶段。中国移动表示，已经在2008年末完成了TD-SCDMA与2G网的融合工程。
用户激增还是考验重重?
麦格里集团驻香港的亚太地区电信市场研究主管蒂姆·斯马特预计，按照中国政府目前的构想，中国的3G用户将在未来三年内激增至一亿零三百万人。
不过，国际与战略研究中心技术和公共政策项目主任路易斯指出，尽管中国无线通讯网络升级已经正式启动，但和美国、欧洲、日本、澳大利亚等市场相比，3G技术在中国发展还面临时间、政策以及消费者信心等多重考验。尤其是受到经济减速的影响，中国今年的电信行业从整体上看增速将比2008年放慢。
中国工业和信息化部为中国最大的三家电信运营商分别颁发了第三代移动通信(3G)牌照。
正如业界最近几个月来的普遍预期，占中国无线通信市场份额近四分之三的中国移动通信集团公司(China Mobile)获得了中国自主研发的TD-SCDMA业务经营许可；中国电信集团公司(China Telecom)以及中国联合网络通信集团公司(China Unicom)分别获得了美国研发的CDMA2000标准以及欧洲研发和WCDMA标准的业务经营许可。
俗称3G的第三代移动通信标准和第二代相比，最主要的区别在于通信信道容量的大幅度增加。在3G标准下，手机数据传输速度将比现有网络提升几十倍以上。这意味着手机用户下载网页、音频、视频的速度将大大加快。
手机超级大国
目前，中国手机用户已经超过6亿3千万人，移动通信网络规模和用户都居于世界首位。中国工业和信息化部的数据显示，2008年前11个月，中国电信业务总量累计完成超过两万零460亿元人民币，同比增长百分之21点7。电信产业目前占中国GDP比重已经增加到百分之7左右。
扩大投资需求
华盛顿智库国际与战略研究中心技术和公共政策项目主任詹姆斯·路易斯(James Lewis)说，3G牌照的正式发放不仅将对中国电信业的升级换代产生深远影响，同时也将进一步扩大中国国内的投资需求，为产业供应链上的设备制造商以及增值服务提供商创造扩张机会。他说：
“全球经济处于衰退，很多国家都在寻找刺激经济的办法。把钱花在信息产业升级是个很流行的做法。很多国家都在这么做。就中国的情况而言，向3G升级的决定是非常合理的。中国市场和手机用户现在对于3G网络的需求很大，这是电信技术发展的最新趋势。”
中国工业和信息化部长李毅中说，按照电信企业各自的发展规划，2009年和2010年中国预计完成3G直接投资2800亿元人民币。
中国媒体援引业内分析人士报导说，中国在2008年经历的雪灾、地震、奥运等一系列事件都在不同程度上刺激了电信运营商的建网速度。新年伊始推出的3G投资将有助于形成一条包括3G网络建设、终端设备制造、运营服务、信息服务在内的通信产业链。除了政府预计的直接投资外，3G升级有望在未来三年内拉动近两万亿元社会投资。
外商受益
里昂证券亚州电信业研究主管郑名凯对财经媒体彭博新闻社表示，包括爱利信在内的国外无线通讯设备提供商将成为中国电信产业升级的最大受益者。郑名凯估计，中国移动和中国联通将各自投资一千亿元人民币用于网络升级，中国电信将投资 800亿元。全球最大的无线设备制造商爱利信的首席执行官卡尔-亨利克·斯万伯格去年年底表示，由于中国政府即将推出3G升级计划，爱利信预计2009年在中国市场的销售业绩将有不俗表现。
三种标准角逐
行业数字显示，截至2008年1月，全球总共发放3G牌照超过210张。其中，W-CDMA的用户数量发展速度大大超过CDMA2000等其他主要标准。不过，在全球超过6亿人的3G用户当中，CDMA2000用户超过了三分之二。在包括美国、欧洲、日本等主要电信市场普遍采用这两种标准的同时，中国政府把国内自主研发的TD-SCDMA业务经营许可颁发给目前全球市值最大的电信企业中国移动。
福布斯杂志的分析文章指出，和主导全球的W-CDMA制式相比，TD-SCDMA在安装和维护方面将更加昂贵。该杂志因此认为，中国移动在采用TD-SCDMA标准过程中承受的额外负担将有助于优化中国国内电信产业的竞争结构。
民族主义和国家安全
不过，华盛顿智库国际与战略研究中心技术和公共政策项目主任路易斯(James Lewis)对于中国政府的升级3G的产业布局做出不同解读。他说：
“中国的信息产业政策始终带有一种民族主义成分。其主要目的是保护中国自主研发的知识产权不受国外竞争的冲击。所以，3G牌照以这种形式发放并不奇怪。此外，由于TD-SCDMA是北京唯一完全掌控的3G标准，因此这个决定也有国家安全的考虑。”
中国移动发表声明说，3G牌照发放后，中国具有核心知识产权的TD-SCDMA的发展将进入一个新的阶段。中国移动表示，已经在2008年末完成了TD-SCDMA与2G网的融合工程。
用户激增还是考验重重?
麦格里集团驻香港的亚太地区电信市场研究主管蒂姆·斯马特预计，按照中国政府目前的构想，中国的3G用户将在未来三年内激增至一亿零三百万人。
不过，国际与战略研究中心技术和公共政策项目主任路易斯指出，尽管中国无线通讯网络升级已经正式启动，但和美国、欧洲、日本、澳大利亚等市场相比，3G技术在中国发展还面临时间、政策以及消费者信心等多重考验。尤其是受到经济减速的影响，中国今年的电信行业从整体上看增速将比2008年放慢。
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
My Top 10 Wireless Stories of 2008(UNSTRUNG NEWS ANALYSIS)
10. T-Mobile's LTE leapfrogA major Euro-scoop [ed. note: Less comfortable to drive but way better mileage] kicks off our roundup. European editor Michelle Donegan buttonholed T-Mobile International AG CTO Joachim Horn back in November, who revealed that operator is bucking carrier trends and leap-frogging faster 3G in favor of proto-4G Long Term Evolution technology.
T-Mobile Beefs Up LTE Plans
9. Open up and say, 'ankle braclet'We wondered whatever happened to Verizon Wireless 's open networks plans this year; then we found out: The machines are taking over, at least for now. Be afraid.
Verizon Wireless: Rise of the Machines
8. Bringing sexy back(haul)Only your pals at Unstrung could make microwave backhaul radios a hot topic this year. We shone a spotlight on the problems that potential 4G operators could face as Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) anounnced its first WiMax delay in April, blaming a backhaul bottleneck for its problems
Sprint's Backhaul Bottleneck
7. The 700MHz questionThe early days of 2008 were all "open access" this, "wireless broadband" that, as the auctions for this prime slice of spectrum continued. In 2009, the $16.9 billion question will be: How easily and cheaply can these networks be deployed?
AT&T & Verizon to Use 700 MHz for 4G
6. Apple in 3GThe big story of the year in many people's eyes, a faster smartphone from Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)
Top 5 3G iPhone Launch Moments
5. Clearwire does itWe wrote about Clearwire LLC (Nasdaq: CLWR) so much in 2008 they even got their own top 10. (See 2008 Top Ten: Clearwire Craziness.) Here's the Cliff Notes version if you don't want to be bothered with all that jibber-jabber.
Sprint, Clearwire Create $14.5B WiMax Giant
4. VRZN FMTOAnd wherever Verizon goes femto-wise it seems that AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) will follow. (See AT&T Targets Q2 Femto Launch.)
Verizon Eyes Femtos for 2009
And watch this video for more on femtos:
Function VBGetSwfVer(i)
on error resume next
Dim swControl, swVersion
swVersion = 0
set swControl = CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." + CStr(i))
if (IsObject(swControl)) then
swVersion = swControl.GetVariable("$version")
end if
VBGetSwfVer = swVersion
End Function
On Error Resume Next
Sub flashObj_FSCommand(ByVal command, ByVal args)
Call onFSCommand(command, args)
End Sub
3. Touching alternatives to AppleThe Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; Toronto: RIM) Storm finally arrived in November, but we were writing about a BlackBerry touch-screen way before that.
RIM's Four Aces
2. Comcast's WiMax secret is outA tasty little scoop from what we at Unstrung will fondly remember as the "summer of femtos." Then-new Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) wireless SVP Dave Williams let it slip that the firm was planning to deploy WiMax mini base stations in the home sometime in 2009. Whoopsy!
Comcast Goes for WiMax Femtocells
1. The Android hordes
Readers just couldn't get enough of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)'s initial foray into cellphone software in 2008. So, in that spirit, we've picked the slideshow that introduced the G1 to the masses along with an Unstrung exclusive that points toward future routes that Android could take as our top of the pops for '08. Have our cake and eat it too? You betcha!
Slideshow: Switching On AndroidCTIA: Clearwire Talks Android & More
— The Staff, Unstrung
T-Mobile Beefs Up LTE Plans
9. Open up and say, 'ankle braclet'We wondered whatever happened to Verizon Wireless 's open networks plans this year; then we found out: The machines are taking over, at least for now. Be afraid.
Verizon Wireless: Rise of the Machines
8. Bringing sexy back(haul)Only your pals at Unstrung could make microwave backhaul radios a hot topic this year. We shone a spotlight on the problems that potential 4G operators could face as Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) anounnced its first WiMax delay in April, blaming a backhaul bottleneck for its problems
Sprint's Backhaul Bottleneck
7. The 700MHz questionThe early days of 2008 were all "open access" this, "wireless broadband" that, as the auctions for this prime slice of spectrum continued. In 2009, the $16.9 billion question will be: How easily and cheaply can these networks be deployed?
AT&T & Verizon to Use 700 MHz for 4G
6. Apple in 3GThe big story of the year in many people's eyes, a faster smartphone from Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)
Top 5 3G iPhone Launch Moments
5. Clearwire does itWe wrote about Clearwire LLC (Nasdaq: CLWR) so much in 2008 they even got their own top 10. (See 2008 Top Ten: Clearwire Craziness.) Here's the Cliff Notes version if you don't want to be bothered with all that jibber-jabber.
Sprint, Clearwire Create $14.5B WiMax Giant
4. VRZN FMTOAnd wherever Verizon goes femto-wise it seems that AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) will follow. (See AT&T Targets Q2 Femto Launch.)
Verizon Eyes Femtos for 2009
And watch this video for more on femtos:
Function VBGetSwfVer(i)
on error resume next
Dim swControl, swVersion
swVersion = 0
set swControl = CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." + CStr(i))
if (IsObject(swControl)) then
swVersion = swControl.GetVariable("$version")
end if
VBGetSwfVer = swVersion
End Function
On Error Resume Next
Sub flashObj_FSCommand(ByVal command, ByVal args)
Call onFSCommand(command, args)
End Sub
3. Touching alternatives to AppleThe Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; Toronto: RIM) Storm finally arrived in November, but we were writing about a BlackBerry touch-screen way before that.
RIM's Four Aces
2. Comcast's WiMax secret is outA tasty little scoop from what we at Unstrung will fondly remember as the "summer of femtos." Then-new Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) wireless SVP Dave Williams let it slip that the firm was planning to deploy WiMax mini base stations in the home sometime in 2009. Whoopsy!
Comcast Goes for WiMax Femtocells
1. The Android hordes
Readers just couldn't get enough of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)'s initial foray into cellphone software in 2008. So, in that spirit, we've picked the slideshow that introduced the G1 to the masses along with an Unstrung exclusive that points toward future routes that Android could take as our top of the pops for '08. Have our cake and eat it too? You betcha!
Slideshow: Switching On AndroidCTIA: Clearwire Talks Android & More
— The Staff, Unstrung
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Kelsey Group and ConStat: Almost 10% On Social Networks Via Mobile
The proportion of U.S. mobile subscribers who access social networks on their cell phones nearly tripled to almost 10% over a year ago, according to a consumer study by The Kelsey Group and ConStat spotlighted Monday by eMarketer.
Specifically, 9.6% of mobile users were connecting to a social network as of October 2008, compared to 3.4% in September 2007. The rapid growth is due in part to the small base of people who are social networking on mobile.
By 2012, eMarketer projects that more than 800 million users worldwide will participate in social networks via their mobile device, up from 82 million in 2007.
While the total base of mobile social networking users will remain under 20% by 2012, eMarketer believes "that these users will have a disproportionate impact on marketing, media and mobile communications because creating and sharing digital content (user-generated and professional) forms much of the social networking experience."
Research released by Nielsen Mobile in September showed that 21% of U.S. mobile users recalled seeing an ad while accessing social networks and blogs. That compares to 57% who recalled seeing an ad while browsing the mobile Internet overall.
Mobile social networking is still more prevalent outside the U.S., according to eMarketer. It points to the growth of mobile-only social networks such as Germany's itsmy.com, which has 2.5 million registered users. Facebook in November said use of its mobile services had grown from 5 million to 15 million during 2008, but did not break out usage by country.
As of Monday, Facebook had the 12th-most-downloaded iPhone application in Apple's App Store.
Among other key findings from the Kelsey study, 15.6% of mobile users used their phones to search the Web for local products and services, compared to 9.8% a year ago. And 14.3% searched outside their local area, up from 6.4%.
When it comes to media consumption, 8.4% watched a music video or other type of Internet video on mobile devices--nearly double the 4.4% from 2007.
The research results were based on online surveys completed by 512 U.S. mobile subscribers ages 18 and over.
Specifically, 9.6% of mobile users were connecting to a social network as of October 2008, compared to 3.4% in September 2007. The rapid growth is due in part to the small base of people who are social networking on mobile.
By 2012, eMarketer projects that more than 800 million users worldwide will participate in social networks via their mobile device, up from 82 million in 2007.
While the total base of mobile social networking users will remain under 20% by 2012, eMarketer believes "that these users will have a disproportionate impact on marketing, media and mobile communications because creating and sharing digital content (user-generated and professional) forms much of the social networking experience."
Research released by Nielsen Mobile in September showed that 21% of U.S. mobile users recalled seeing an ad while accessing social networks and blogs. That compares to 57% who recalled seeing an ad while browsing the mobile Internet overall.
Mobile social networking is still more prevalent outside the U.S., according to eMarketer. It points to the growth of mobile-only social networks such as Germany's itsmy.com, which has 2.5 million registered users. Facebook in November said use of its mobile services had grown from 5 million to 15 million during 2008, but did not break out usage by country.
As of Monday, Facebook had the 12th-most-downloaded iPhone application in Apple's App Store.
Among other key findings from the Kelsey study, 15.6% of mobile users used their phones to search the Web for local products and services, compared to 9.8% a year ago. And 14.3% searched outside their local area, up from 6.4%.
When it comes to media consumption, 8.4% watched a music video or other type of Internet video on mobile devices--nearly double the 4.4% from 2007.
The research results were based on online surveys completed by 512 U.S. mobile subscribers ages 18 and over.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Apple's iPhone Advertising Opportunity
Peter Burrows on December 09
In a Web world in which so many companies peg their futures on advertising revenue, Apple has always showed incredible discipline in not degrading its products by selling space on iTunes or on the desktops of Macs, iPods or iPhones to the highest bidders. Nor do I expect it to. The company makes great margins as it is, and understands that the main reason is that it provides a user experience that its customers love. And most of us don’t love ads.
But the iPhone is fast developing into a breakthrough product for mobile advertising—the first portable device that combines a stellar display, a tremendous Web-surfing user base, and GPS-enabled apps so as to reach people where they physically are. As more people use the device for more things, there are far more ads they might want to see—sales on fishing gear to folks that download the iFish game, or a 10% off coupon to UrbanSpoon fans from the burger joint they’re walking past.
It’s early days, but such advertising is on a fast upswing. Here’s a video from AdMob, which served up more than 100 million ads on iPhones in September, that gives a sense of the many ways this is occuring: So far, Apple doesn’t get a cut from advertisers, as it does on the software people buy at the App Store. But with the help of new technologies that will further enhance the iPhone for advertising purposes (here’s a post by Rob Hof, about Google’s new program to automatically convert Web ads for various smart phones), this will add up to real money some day. At some point—and it won’t be soon—I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple demand a small, appropriate piece of the action. As its markets mature in the years ahead, it’s one more way for the company to cash in on the value it has created.
In a Web world in which so many companies peg their futures on advertising revenue, Apple has always showed incredible discipline in not degrading its products by selling space on iTunes or on the desktops of Macs, iPods or iPhones to the highest bidders. Nor do I expect it to. The company makes great margins as it is, and understands that the main reason is that it provides a user experience that its customers love. And most of us don’t love ads.
But the iPhone is fast developing into a breakthrough product for mobile advertising—the first portable device that combines a stellar display, a tremendous Web-surfing user base, and GPS-enabled apps so as to reach people where they physically are. As more people use the device for more things, there are far more ads they might want to see—sales on fishing gear to folks that download the iFish game, or a 10% off coupon to UrbanSpoon fans from the burger joint they’re walking past.
It’s early days, but such advertising is on a fast upswing. Here’s a video from AdMob, which served up more than 100 million ads on iPhones in September, that gives a sense of the many ways this is occuring: So far, Apple doesn’t get a cut from advertisers, as it does on the software people buy at the App Store. But with the help of new technologies that will further enhance the iPhone for advertising purposes (here’s a post by Rob Hof, about Google’s new program to automatically convert Web ads for various smart phones), this will add up to real money some day. At some point—and it won’t be soon—I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple demand a small, appropriate piece of the action. As its markets mature in the years ahead, it’s one more way for the company to cash in on the value it has created.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
No more fast track, Go smart or not smart!!! IDC: 2.2% Cell Phone Sales Contraction in 2009
By Evan KoblentzWirelessWeek - December 18, 2008
After finishing 2008 by shipping more than 1.2 billion units, up 7.3% from last year, the global mobile phone industry will sell 2.2% fewer devices in 2009 but will rebound with 7.7% in 2010, IDC said today.
Particularly telling is the gap between smartphones and traditional phones. Smartphones grew 27% this year, now accounting for around 12% of all cell phones, while growth continues at a slower rate of 8.9% in 2009. Feature phones grew just 4.9% this year and that market will contract by 3.8% in 2009.
In the United States, the smartphone market grew a massive 75.7% in 2008, but will only grow 3.1% next year. IDC defines a smartphone as any handset on which users can install aftermarket applications.
Sales of feature phones – a large portion of which do have smartphone-like capability such as address books and Web browsers – contracted by 9.8% this year and will shrink another 11.6% next year.
Announcements from component makers such as MediaTek, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments were an ominous sign, said senior analyst Ryan Reith, adding that markets are even shrinking for low-end phones in China and India. However, the market’s limited growth will mean lower prices for consumers, he added.
The market will see a limited rebound in 2010, Reith said.
After finishing 2008 by shipping more than 1.2 billion units, up 7.3% from last year, the global mobile phone industry will sell 2.2% fewer devices in 2009 but will rebound with 7.7% in 2010, IDC said today.
Particularly telling is the gap between smartphones and traditional phones. Smartphones grew 27% this year, now accounting for around 12% of all cell phones, while growth continues at a slower rate of 8.9% in 2009. Feature phones grew just 4.9% this year and that market will contract by 3.8% in 2009.
In the United States, the smartphone market grew a massive 75.7% in 2008, but will only grow 3.1% next year. IDC defines a smartphone as any handset on which users can install aftermarket applications.
Sales of feature phones – a large portion of which do have smartphone-like capability such as address books and Web browsers – contracted by 9.8% this year and will shrink another 11.6% next year.
Announcements from component makers such as MediaTek, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments were an ominous sign, said senior analyst Ryan Reith, adding that markets are even shrinking for low-end phones in China and India. However, the market’s limited growth will mean lower prices for consumers, he added.
The market will see a limited rebound in 2010, Reith said.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Reandevou Software Releases the First UPS Shipping Application for the iPhone
December 8, 2008
Reandevou Software today previewed its first serious business application, UPS Workbench, which gives UPS a global shipping courier a leg up over its competitor with the introduction of its first iPhone application.
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) December 8, 2008 -- Reandevou Software today previewed its first serious business application, UPS Workbench, which gives UPS a global shipping courier a leg up over its competitor with the introduction of its first iPhone application.
UPS Workbench takes the basic online features of shipping and puts the power in the hands of the consumers. UPS Workbench enables users to track packages, view rates, determine shipping options and find UPS stores any where in the world using the iPhones GPS capabilities with a single touch.
"We're excited about creating an application that benefits UPS and its consumers, we wanted to bring an application that the world could use on the iPhone" said Troy Simon, Reandevou CEO."
The current release of the product is targeted to the consumer, but we have plans on making the iPhone and UPS Workbench into solution for business as well. UPS Workbench is slated to go on sale in the iTunes App Store early December, just in time for the Christmas package rush.
Reandevou Software today previewed its first serious business application, UPS Workbench, which gives UPS a global shipping courier a leg up over its competitor with the introduction of its first iPhone application.
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) December 8, 2008 -- Reandevou Software today previewed its first serious business application, UPS Workbench, which gives UPS a global shipping courier a leg up over its competitor with the introduction of its first iPhone application.
UPS Workbench takes the basic online features of shipping and puts the power in the hands of the consumers. UPS Workbench enables users to track packages, view rates, determine shipping options and find UPS stores any where in the world using the iPhones GPS capabilities with a single touch.
"We're excited about creating an application that benefits UPS and its consumers, we wanted to bring an application that the world could use on the iPhone" said Troy Simon, Reandevou CEO."
The current release of the product is targeted to the consumer, but we have plans on making the iPhone and UPS Workbench into solution for business as well. UPS Workbench is slated to go on sale in the iTunes App Store early December, just in time for the Christmas package rush.
Monday, December 1, 2008
News Old ideas
starting up a mobile entertainment company
- next great advertising medium
- handle a lot of promotions for the urban demographic
Start web / Linux education package for Netbook
- growing network
- growing Linux or browser centric package
- mulitmedia support /stream server
- installable Linux client to control the machine (prevent children to leave the app)
FLASH on mobile
- research free Flash tool
- webbase Flash tools with Ads
AJAX base education or game creation tools
Python on Symbrian
Write iPhone app and stay at the top of the list for a 1 year
- make 3 to 20 million dollars per year
- food caterlog for delivery service
- next great advertising medium
- handle a lot of promotions for the urban demographic
Start web / Linux education package for Netbook
- growing network
- growing Linux or browser centric package
- mulitmedia support /stream server
- installable Linux client to control the machine (prevent children to leave the app)
FLASH on mobile
- research free Flash tool
- webbase Flash tools with Ads
AJAX base education or game creation tools
Python on Symbrian
Write iPhone app and stay at the top of the list for a 1 year
- make 3 to 20 million dollars per year
- food caterlog for delivery service
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Operator mobile content revenues to rise to $52bn in 2013 - but only if they move towards a smart pipe business model, says research
25 November, 2008 09:43
Operator mobile content revenues to rise to $52bn in 2013 - but only if they move towards a smart pipe business model, says research
A new study from Juniper Research has found that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) will need to fundamentally change their mobile content business models by emphasizing ‘shared value creation' in order to avoid becoming ‘dumb pipes' in the future. Only if they can transform their businesses into ‘smart pipe' service providers, can they significantly increase their income from mobile content - estimated at $23bn in 2008, rising to $52bn by 2013 according to Juniper.
The global mobile content market will be worth $167bn by 2013, shared among players such as MNOs, Content Providers and third parties such as content aggregators and billing companies.
Currently MNOs take a significant percentage of the revenues generated by Content Providers when they use their networks. This has resulted in high prices for end-users and consumers being deterred from accessing mobile content on a wider scale. This unattractive situation has become a disincentive for MNOs and Content Providers alike, with some Content Providers attempting to bypass the MNOs or exit the sector altogether. Clearly, the situation needs to change. But it will be down to the MNOs to make the first moves, says the report.
The new report examines the three main scenarios facing the operators and the sector as a whole - the ‘Dumb Pipe', ‘Smart Pipe', and ‘On-Portal' routes. Modelling the market in such a way is said to have enabled Juniper to create a detailed forecasting and modeling tool to examine how a future market may develop under different conditions.
According to report author Andrew Kitson, "One single scenario will not win out since different business and revenue models have to co-exist in the mobile content market. Players will adopt multiple approaches that best fit their markets. Crucially, if MNOs are to benefit financially, they need to move away from their Dumb Pipe roots to the Smart Pipe model, though they will clash with the content providers which already dominate the Smart Pipe. A compromise needs to be found."
If MNOs can change their ARPU-driven mindsets to focus on value creation and support for their partners, they can swiftly make the change.
Other findings include
Under the Smart Pipe model, MNOs will not see their share of the overall mobile content market rise appreciably, but revenue will rise in value by 125% over the 2008-2013 period.
Under the On-Portal scenario, content providers will see their share of the market rise from 54% in 2008 to 68% by 2013, providing they can secure more attractive terms from MNOs.
Third parties - especially aggregators and billing service providers - will come under pressure from larger players (such as MNOs) seeking to achieve horizontal integration and economies of scale.
The report provides coverage and forecasts from a global perspective as well as from a regional viewpoint by looking at how the market will grow or wane under the On-Portal, Dumb Pipe, and Smart Pipe scenarios around the world.
Operator mobile content revenues to rise to $52bn in 2013 - but only if they move towards a smart pipe business model, says research
A new study from Juniper Research has found that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) will need to fundamentally change their mobile content business models by emphasizing ‘shared value creation' in order to avoid becoming ‘dumb pipes' in the future. Only if they can transform their businesses into ‘smart pipe' service providers, can they significantly increase their income from mobile content - estimated at $23bn in 2008, rising to $52bn by 2013 according to Juniper.
The global mobile content market will be worth $167bn by 2013, shared among players such as MNOs, Content Providers and third parties such as content aggregators and billing companies.
Currently MNOs take a significant percentage of the revenues generated by Content Providers when they use their networks. This has resulted in high prices for end-users and consumers being deterred from accessing mobile content on a wider scale. This unattractive situation has become a disincentive for MNOs and Content Providers alike, with some Content Providers attempting to bypass the MNOs or exit the sector altogether. Clearly, the situation needs to change. But it will be down to the MNOs to make the first moves, says the report.
The new report examines the three main scenarios facing the operators and the sector as a whole - the ‘Dumb Pipe', ‘Smart Pipe', and ‘On-Portal' routes. Modelling the market in such a way is said to have enabled Juniper to create a detailed forecasting and modeling tool to examine how a future market may develop under different conditions.
According to report author Andrew Kitson, "One single scenario will not win out since different business and revenue models have to co-exist in the mobile content market. Players will adopt multiple approaches that best fit their markets. Crucially, if MNOs are to benefit financially, they need to move away from their Dumb Pipe roots to the Smart Pipe model, though they will clash with the content providers which already dominate the Smart Pipe. A compromise needs to be found."
If MNOs can change their ARPU-driven mindsets to focus on value creation and support for their partners, they can swiftly make the change.
Other findings include
Under the Smart Pipe model, MNOs will not see their share of the overall mobile content market rise appreciably, but revenue will rise in value by 125% over the 2008-2013 period.
Under the On-Portal scenario, content providers will see their share of the market rise from 54% in 2008 to 68% by 2013, providing they can secure more attractive terms from MNOs.
Third parties - especially aggregators and billing service providers - will come under pressure from larger players (such as MNOs) seeking to achieve horizontal integration and economies of scale.
The report provides coverage and forecasts from a global perspective as well as from a regional viewpoint by looking at how the market will grow or wane under the On-Portal, Dumb Pipe, and Smart Pipe scenarios around the world.
Blackberry Storm on Verizon network - carriers paired with devices
Verizon - Blackberry Storm
T-mobile - G1
AT&T - iPhone
Sprint Nextel -Samsung Instinct
T-mobile - G1
AT&T - iPhone
Sprint Nextel -Samsung Instinct
Friday, November 14, 2008
Chunghwa Telecom gets iPhone 3G Dec 2008
Chunghwa Telecom (CHT), on November 14, announced it has obtained exclusive sales rights for the iPhone 3G in the Taiwan market, with launch tentatively slated for December 2008.
Eventually, iPhone 3G will landed in Taiwan. In most of the cases, only the No. 2 operator accept Apple offer of iPhone, because the revenue model and threat of becoming pipe provider.
Now, the No. 1st Taiwanese operator is taking agressive approach. ...to become pipe provider...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
China market: Smartphone sales expand over 12% on year in September
11 November 2008
Volume sales of smartphones in the China market grew 12.2% on year to 2.53 million units in September 2008. Nokia, Motorola and Dopod China were the top-three branded vendors, according to data from China-based CCID Consulting.
Nokia ranked the top vendor taking up a 70% share of the smartphone segment in China in September, followed by Motorola with 18.9%, Dopod with 5.2%, Samsung Electronics with 2.6%, and Sony Ericsson with 1%, CCID said.
The sixth ranked smartphone vendor was China-based Coolpad with a 0.8% share, whereas other domestic branded vendors were unable to make significant gains in the segment, CCID added.
Volume sales of smartphones in the China market grew 12.2% on year to 2.53 million units in September 2008. Nokia, Motorola and Dopod China were the top-three branded vendors, according to data from China-based CCID Consulting.
Nokia ranked the top vendor taking up a 70% share of the smartphone segment in China in September, followed by Motorola with 18.9%, Dopod with 5.2%, Samsung Electronics with 2.6%, and Sony Ericsson with 1%, CCID said.
The sixth ranked smartphone vendor was China-based Coolpad with a 0.8% share, whereas other domestic branded vendors were unable to make significant gains in the segment, CCID added.
Taiwan market: Chunghwa Telecom's January-October net profit attains almost 95% of 2008 goal
11 November 2008
Chuunghwa Telecom (CHT) has reported a net profit of NT$41.31 billion for January-October 2008, which accounts for 94.7% of the NT$43.60 billion projected for this year.
CHT had about 990,000 FTTx (fiber to the home/building) subscribers and 550,000 8Mbps ADSL subscribers as of the end of October 2008, the company indicated.
Taiwan Mobile (TWM) and Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET), the other two of the top three operators of mobile communication services in Taiwan, have reported consolidated sales of NT$58.18 billion and NT$52.61 billion respectively for the first 10 months of 2008.
Chuunghwa Telecom (CHT) has reported a net profit of NT$41.31 billion for January-October 2008, which accounts for 94.7% of the NT$43.60 billion projected for this year.
CHT had about 990,000 FTTx (fiber to the home/building) subscribers and 550,000 8Mbps ADSL subscribers as of the end of October 2008, the company indicated.
Taiwan Mobile (TWM) and Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET), the other two of the top three operators of mobile communication services in Taiwan, have reported consolidated sales of NT$58.18 billion and NT$52.61 billion respectively for the first 10 months of 2008.
Monday, November 10, 2008
手機作業平台勢力版圖大挪移, 4大平台搶當2哥 Symbian地盤嚴重縮水
2008/11/10
全球手機作業系統之爭愈演愈烈，不僅蘋果(Apple)及RIM自家作業系統市佔率大幅躍進，由宏達電領軍的微軟(Microsoft)Windows Mobile亦力爭上游，加上Linux陣營寄望Android手機熱賣以拉抬市佔率，4大平台紛放眼2哥地位，使得龍頭Symbian難置身事外，地盤已明顯遭到侵蝕，近期市佔率大幅滑落逾20個百分點。
由諾基亞(Nokia)所領軍Symbian近期表現灰頭土臉，不僅諾基亞市佔率跌破40%，日系手機廠商出貨同樣低吟，使得Symbian市佔率大幅衰退，一口氣從2007年第3季68.1%，滑落到2008年第3季僅46.6%，亦是5大作業系統唯一出貨衰退者。不過，由於Symbian全力轉型為免費授權開放平台，若能開創嶄新商業模式，其市佔率應可力守不墜。
蘋果與RIM堪稱第3季全球智慧型手機市場最大贏家，出貨量年增率各達523%及83.5%，同時亦帶領自家作業系統市佔率持續提升，分別較2007年同期大增13.7及4.6個百分點；儘管蘋果首度從RIM手中搶下2哥地位，但RIM在第4季推出Bold、Storm等多款旗艦新機，加上蘋果調降第4季iPhone 3G出貨預估，RIM很有可能再搶回2哥地位。
在蘋果與RIM夾擊下，微軟Windows Mobile在智慧型手機平台首度落居第4，所幸在宏達電與三星電子(Samsung Electronics)帶動下，其出貨量仍成長42.9%，市佔率提升到13.6%，宏達電亦僅以些微差距落後摩托羅拉(Motorola)，成為全球智慧型手機5哥，由於其同時擁抱Windows Mobile及Android平台，市佔率很可能在第4季再上一層樓。
值得一提的是，微軟Windows Mobile近期雖獲得樂金電子(LG Electronics)力挺，但由於下一代Windows Mobile 7確定延後到2010年才推出，2009年將先推出Windows Mobile 6.5墊檔，已引發不少合作夥伴憂心，畢竟Windows Mobile 6.5與現有Windows Mobile 6.1突破不大，僅在上網功能進行局部改善，而強調全新觸控與手動操作介面的Windows Mobile 7卻久候不至，可能削弱Windows Mobile手機競爭力。
2008年第3季蘋果、RIM、微軟及Linux在手機作業系統市佔均有所提升，其中，蘋果、RIM及微軟差距不到4個百分點，分別為17.3%、15.2%及13.6%(Canalys最新統計)，Linux則以5.1%排名第5，儘管這4個平台仍難撼動Symbian龍頭地位，但已明顯瓜分Symbian既有地盤。
全球手機作業系統之爭愈演愈烈，不僅蘋果(Apple)及RIM自家作業系統市佔率大幅躍進，由宏達電領軍的微軟(Microsoft)Windows Mobile亦力爭上游，加上Linux陣營寄望Android手機熱賣以拉抬市佔率，4大平台紛放眼2哥地位，使得龍頭Symbian難置身事外，地盤已明顯遭到侵蝕，近期市佔率大幅滑落逾20個百分點。
由諾基亞(Nokia)所領軍Symbian近期表現灰頭土臉，不僅諾基亞市佔率跌破40%，日系手機廠商出貨同樣低吟，使得Symbian市佔率大幅衰退，一口氣從2007年第3季68.1%，滑落到2008年第3季僅46.6%，亦是5大作業系統唯一出貨衰退者。不過，由於Symbian全力轉型為免費授權開放平台，若能開創嶄新商業模式，其市佔率應可力守不墜。
蘋果與RIM堪稱第3季全球智慧型手機市場最大贏家，出貨量年增率各達523%及83.5%，同時亦帶領自家作業系統市佔率持續提升，分別較2007年同期大增13.7及4.6個百分點；儘管蘋果首度從RIM手中搶下2哥地位，但RIM在第4季推出Bold、Storm等多款旗艦新機，加上蘋果調降第4季iPhone 3G出貨預估，RIM很有可能再搶回2哥地位。
在蘋果與RIM夾擊下，微軟Windows Mobile在智慧型手機平台首度落居第4，所幸在宏達電與三星電子(Samsung Electronics)帶動下，其出貨量仍成長42.9%，市佔率提升到13.6%，宏達電亦僅以些微差距落後摩托羅拉(Motorola)，成為全球智慧型手機5哥，由於其同時擁抱Windows Mobile及Android平台，市佔率很可能在第4季再上一層樓。
值得一提的是，微軟Windows Mobile近期雖獲得樂金電子(LG Electronics)力挺，但由於下一代Windows Mobile 7確定延後到2010年才推出，2009年將先推出Windows Mobile 6.5墊檔，已引發不少合作夥伴憂心，畢竟Windows Mobile 6.5與現有Windows Mobile 6.1突破不大，僅在上網功能進行局部改善，而強調全新觸控與手動操作介面的Windows Mobile 7卻久候不至，可能削弱Windows Mobile手機競爭力。
2008年第3季蘋果、RIM、微軟及Linux在手機作業系統市佔均有所提升，其中，蘋果、RIM及微軟差距不到4個百分點，分別為17.3%、15.2%及13.6%(Canalys最新統計)，Linux則以5.1%排名第5，儘管這4個平台仍難撼動Symbian龍頭地位，但已明顯瓜分Symbian既有地盤。
Friday, November 7, 2008
HTC revenues hit new high in October on launch of new models
Nov 7, 2008
High Tech Computer (HTC) saw its revenues grow 22.4% on year to hit a record high of NT$16.04 billion (US$489 million) in October buoyed by the launch of new models, including T-Mobile G1 phones, according to company data.
High Tech Computer (HTC) saw its revenues grow 22.4% on year to hit a record high of NT$16.04 billion (US$489 million) in October buoyed by the launch of new models, including T-Mobile G1 phones, according to company data.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Taiwan-based OpenMoko launches Android-based handset
In addition to High Tech Computer (HTC) and Asustek Computer, Taiwan-based OpenMoko has also launched an Android-based handset recently, according to the company.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Compal Communications October revenues at 13-month high
Nov 5, 14:17
Taiwan-based ODM handset maker Compal Communications saw its revenues grow 22.6% on year to NT$4.25 billion (US$129.2 million) in October, the highest
Taiwan-based ODM handset maker Compal Communications saw its revenues grow 22.6% on year to NT$4.25 billion (US$129.2 million) in October, the highest
Friday, October 31, 2008
MediaTek to launch 2.8M TD-SCDMA handset chips in 2009
Oct 31, 01:15
MediaTek plans to become the first chip maker to introduce high-speed 2.8M TD-SCDMA handset chips to China-based handset makers in the beginning of 2009, according to industry players
MediaTek plans to become the first chip maker to introduce high-speed 2.8M TD-SCDMA handset chips to China-based handset makers in the beginning of 2009, according to industry players
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Vodafone places mid-range handset orders with Foxlink, says paper
Vodafone has signed a cooperation agreement with Foxlink (Cheng Uei Precision Industry) for the purchase of a significant quantity of mid-range handsets, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.The handsets to be manufactured by Foxlink for Vodafone will have multimedia-rich functionality built-in using handset solutions from MediaTek. Shipments are to begin in 2009, said the paper, which also noted that China-based ZTE has also landed
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Qualcomm and Foxlink sign 3G CDMA module/modem card license agreement
Telecom service Oct 28, 12:34
Qualcomm, a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and data solutions, and Foxlink (Cheng Uei Precision Industry)
Qualcomm, a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and data solutions, and Foxlink (Cheng Uei Precision Industry)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Keen competition - Windows Smartphone, i-mate Delist
Windows Smartphone Manufacturer to Delist from London Stock Exchange
UK-listed Dubai-based Windows smartphone manufacturer, i-mate has reported sales for the six-month ended of September of $20.6 million compared to $46.2 million for the same time last year. This resulted in an estimated operating loss of $10.8 million loss compared to $29.4 million loss for the same time last year.
The company has cash amounting to $11.2 million and stock at $9.1 million with debtors of $3.9 million and creditors of $2.6 million. As stated in the year end results on 29 September the last 2 months have seen global handheld sales drop considerably and this trend is looking set to continue.
Earlier this year, the company blamed Qualcomm for delays in providing chipsets, leading to problems with the launch of several smartphones in the US market.
"Although we have devices which are not dependent on this chipset, it has a significant impact on the range of product we have to sell," Chief Executive Officer Jim Morrison said in a statement at the time. The shortage affected two of the seven Windows Mobile based models it sells.
The company has now decided to de-list its shares from London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) stock market and will hold a shareholder vote next month. As the CEO, Jim Morrison owns the majority of the company's shares - the resolution is certain to be passed. The delisting should save the company some US$2 million a year in stock-market costs.
Jim Morrison commented “It was made quite clear at the time of our preliminary results last month that the economics and business benefits of being a quoted Company were becoming increasing unclear. Our business and indeed the market continue to weaken as global consumer confidence slides. I fully expect i-mate to be a private company within 60 days.”
If the resolution is passed the Company’s non-executive chairman, Bernard Cragg and non-executive director, Bill Gorjance, will resign and Jim Morrison will take on the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
UK-listed Dubai-based Windows smartphone manufacturer, i-mate has reported sales for the six-month ended of September of $20.6 million compared to $46.2 million for the same time last year. This resulted in an estimated operating loss of $10.8 million loss compared to $29.4 million loss for the same time last year.
The company has cash amounting to $11.2 million and stock at $9.1 million with debtors of $3.9 million and creditors of $2.6 million. As stated in the year end results on 29 September the last 2 months have seen global handheld sales drop considerably and this trend is looking set to continue.
Earlier this year, the company blamed Qualcomm for delays in providing chipsets, leading to problems with the launch of several smartphones in the US market.
"Although we have devices which are not dependent on this chipset, it has a significant impact on the range of product we have to sell," Chief Executive Officer Jim Morrison said in a statement at the time. The shortage affected two of the seven Windows Mobile based models it sells.
The company has now decided to de-list its shares from London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) stock market and will hold a shareholder vote next month. As the CEO, Jim Morrison owns the majority of the company's shares - the resolution is certain to be passed. The delisting should save the company some US$2 million a year in stock-market costs.
Jim Morrison commented “It was made quite clear at the time of our preliminary results last month that the economics and business benefits of being a quoted Company were becoming increasing unclear. Our business and indeed the market continue to weaken as global consumer confidence slides. I fully expect i-mate to be a private company within 60 days.”
If the resolution is passed the Company’s non-executive chairman, Bernard Cragg and non-executive director, Bill Gorjance, will resign and Jim Morrison will take on the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Texas Instruments seen posting lower revenue
17 October 2008
Chipmaker downgraded ahead of third quarter report on concerns of wireless market share weakness.
Texas Instruments Inc. will report third-quarter results on Monday, with analysts expecting the chip giant to post 7% lower revenue as the tech industry reels from the uncertainty in the broader market.
The weakening economy, and concerns about TI's ability to maintain market share in the wireless sector prompted Collins Stewart to downgrade the company to a sell."Weakening trends across key end markets will likely cause TI to come in below mid-quarter guidance," analyst Ashok Kumar said in a research note.Analysts expect the chip maker to report earnings of 44 cents a share on revenue of $3.4 billion, according to a consensus survey by FactSet Research. For the year-earlier period, TI reported net income of $776 million, or 54 cents a share, on revenue of $3.66 billion.Analyst Tore Svanberg of Thomas Weisel Partners said he thinks TI will deliver in-line third-quarter results, but said,"We are incrementally concerned about the company's overall backlog visibility into the December quarter "He added,"While we believe TI's business is diversified, we are concerned that low visibility throughout the entire electronics supply chain is resulting in lower bookings activity than otherwise expected at this time of the year."TI surprised analysts by affirming its outlook, especially after a market-share warning from its biggest customer, Nokia Corp.In its revision, TI said it expects third-quarter revenue of $3.33 billion to $3.47 billion, compared with the previous range of $3.26 billion to $3.54 billion. The company also said it expects a profit of 42 to 46 cents a share, compared with the previous range of 41 to 47 cents.TI's dominant position in the market for cellphone chips has been shaken by the shift among some top customers to a multisupplier strategy. Nokia has decided to work with other suppliers such as Broadcom Corp. and STMicroelectronics NV.Ericsson also began working with other chip makers, including STMicroelectronics.
Chipmaker downgraded ahead of third quarter report on concerns of wireless market share weakness.
Texas Instruments Inc. will report third-quarter results on Monday, with analysts expecting the chip giant to post 7% lower revenue as the tech industry reels from the uncertainty in the broader market.
The weakening economy, and concerns about TI's ability to maintain market share in the wireless sector prompted Collins Stewart to downgrade the company to a sell."Weakening trends across key end markets will likely cause TI to come in below mid-quarter guidance," analyst Ashok Kumar said in a research note.Analysts expect the chip maker to report earnings of 44 cents a share on revenue of $3.4 billion, according to a consensus survey by FactSet Research. For the year-earlier period, TI reported net income of $776 million, or 54 cents a share, on revenue of $3.66 billion.Analyst Tore Svanberg of Thomas Weisel Partners said he thinks TI will deliver in-line third-quarter results, but said,"We are incrementally concerned about the company's overall backlog visibility into the December quarter "He added,"While we believe TI's business is diversified, we are concerned that low visibility throughout the entire electronics supply chain is resulting in lower bookings activity than otherwise expected at this time of the year."TI surprised analysts by affirming its outlook, especially after a market-share warning from its biggest customer, Nokia Corp.In its revision, TI said it expects third-quarter revenue of $3.33 billion to $3.47 billion, compared with the previous range of $3.26 billion to $3.54 billion. The company also said it expects a profit of 42 to 46 cents a share, compared with the previous range of 41 to 47 cents.TI's dominant position in the market for cellphone chips has been shaken by the shift among some top customers to a multisupplier strategy. Nokia has decided to work with other suppliers such as Broadcom Corp. and STMicroelectronics NV.Ericsson also began working with other chip makers, including STMicroelectronics.
Sony Ericsson posts net loss, cost cuts on track
17 October 2008
Handset maker's loss smaller than analysts expected; higher Q4 volumes likely to be offset by lower prices.
Sony Ericsson Friday said it swung to a third-quarter net loss on weaker sales and slowing consumer demand, but cost-cutting steps helped the phone maker lose less than expected.
The company said it sees the global handset market growing about 10% this year from 1.1 billion units in 2007, with growth highest in emerging markets."As expected, the third quarter has continued to be challenging for Sony Ericsson," said Chief Executive Dick Komiyama, He added,"We have moved forward with our plans to align operations and resources with the consolidation of R&D facilities into a more agile and cost efficient organizational structure."Analysts said the loss was smaller than expected and, at 0835 GMT, Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson shares traded up 6.5% at 50.90 Swedish kronor, outperforming a broadly higher Stockholm market.Sony Ericsson, a joint venture between Sony Corp. of Japan and Ericsson of Sweden, posted a net loss of EUR25 million compared to a EUR267 million net profit a year ago as slowing growth in mature markets weighed on earnings.It said its gross margin, which fell to 22% from 31% a year earlier, was hit by increased price competition and higher costs from suppliers. While new products helped offset some of the loss, strong competition, especially in Europe, weighed on earnings.Nomura analyst Richard Windsor said that, although the gross margin suffered, cost control helped minimize the impact on the operating margin. He said the situation for the company isn't likely to change in the fourth quarter as higher volumes will likely be offset by lower prices.The company shipped 25.7 million phones in the period ending Sept. 30, up 5.3% from the previous quarter. Its market share remained flat at 8% in the second quarter.It said sales were down slightly in the Americas and Asia, while Western Europe sales increase 5% from the second quarter.Handelsbanken analyst Jan Dworsky said the earnings were better than expected, given the low expectations. He said many expected a sharper loss and lower volumes."I'm not sure how they did it, but it paid off," he said. He reiterated his reduce rating and SEK50 target price for Ericsson.After two profit warnings this year, Sony Ericsson in July flagged the third quarter as particularly challenging, and said it aimed to cut operating costs by EUR300 million annually by mid-2009 to help the company become more agile and efficient.Unlike its Finnish rival Nokia Corp., which dominates emerging market sales, Sony Ericsson is largely dependent on developed markets sales, making it more vulnerable to slipping demand for high-end devices in mature markets, where it has greater exposure.Sony Ericsson's net sales dropped 9.7% to EUR2.81 billion from EUR3.12 billion. The average selling price for its handsets dropped to EUR109 from EUR116 in the second quarter and from EUR120 a year earlier, due in part to sales of more lower-priced phones.
Handset maker's loss smaller than analysts expected; higher Q4 volumes likely to be offset by lower prices.
Sony Ericsson Friday said it swung to a third-quarter net loss on weaker sales and slowing consumer demand, but cost-cutting steps helped the phone maker lose less than expected.
The company said it sees the global handset market growing about 10% this year from 1.1 billion units in 2007, with growth highest in emerging markets."As expected, the third quarter has continued to be challenging for Sony Ericsson," said Chief Executive Dick Komiyama, He added,"We have moved forward with our plans to align operations and resources with the consolidation of R&D facilities into a more agile and cost efficient organizational structure."Analysts said the loss was smaller than expected and, at 0835 GMT, Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson shares traded up 6.5% at 50.90 Swedish kronor, outperforming a broadly higher Stockholm market.Sony Ericsson, a joint venture between Sony Corp. of Japan and Ericsson of Sweden, posted a net loss of EUR25 million compared to a EUR267 million net profit a year ago as slowing growth in mature markets weighed on earnings.It said its gross margin, which fell to 22% from 31% a year earlier, was hit by increased price competition and higher costs from suppliers. While new products helped offset some of the loss, strong competition, especially in Europe, weighed on earnings.Nomura analyst Richard Windsor said that, although the gross margin suffered, cost control helped minimize the impact on the operating margin. He said the situation for the company isn't likely to change in the fourth quarter as higher volumes will likely be offset by lower prices.The company shipped 25.7 million phones in the period ending Sept. 30, up 5.3% from the previous quarter. Its market share remained flat at 8% in the second quarter.It said sales were down slightly in the Americas and Asia, while Western Europe sales increase 5% from the second quarter.Handelsbanken analyst Jan Dworsky said the earnings were better than expected, given the low expectations. He said many expected a sharper loss and lower volumes."I'm not sure how they did it, but it paid off," he said. He reiterated his reduce rating and SEK50 target price for Ericsson.After two profit warnings this year, Sony Ericsson in July flagged the third quarter as particularly challenging, and said it aimed to cut operating costs by EUR300 million annually by mid-2009 to help the company become more agile and efficient.Unlike its Finnish rival Nokia Corp., which dominates emerging market sales, Sony Ericsson is largely dependent on developed markets sales, making it more vulnerable to slipping demand for high-end devices in mature markets, where it has greater exposure.Sony Ericsson's net sales dropped 9.7% to EUR2.81 billion from EUR3.12 billion. The average selling price for its handsets dropped to EUR109 from EUR116 in the second quarter and from EUR120 a year earlier, due in part to sales of more lower-priced phones.
Sony Ericsson Sales Drop 10% - Loss Shrinks
17 Oct 2008
Sony Ericsson has reported a 10% drop in sales to €2,808 million (US$3,777 million) compared to the third quarter of 2007, citing a shift in production to cheaper phones as well as exchange rate fluctuations. The company posted a net loss of €25 million (US$33.6 million) - lower than the average of €74 million loss which had been expected by analysts.
Gross margin also decreased year-on-year and sequentially due to continued price pressure at a time of adverse cost trends in the supplier base.
The company estimated that its mobile phone market share for the third quarter remained flat and is estimated to be around 8%.
"As expected the third quarter has continued to be challenging for Sony Ericsson. We have moved forward with our plans to align operations and resources with the consolidation of R&D facilities into a more agile and cost efficient organisational structure. As previously announced, our target remains to reduce operating expenses by Euro 300 million annually by the end of the second quarter 2009, with the full effects expected to appear in the second half of 2009.These plans are progressing in line with expectations," said Dick Komiyama, President, Sony Ericsson.
As communicated previously, Sony Ericsson paid a second dividend to the parent companies totalling €300 million (€150 million each) in the quarter based on 2007 earnings, and at the end of September 2008 Sony Ericsson had net cash of €1.4 billion (US$1.9 billion).
Sony Ericsson forecasts that the global handset market for 2008 will grow at a rate of around 10% from more than 1.1 billion units in 2007, while the industry ASP will continue to decline. The majority of this growth is expected to be in emerging markets where lower priced phones dominate.
Posted to the site on 17th October 2008
Sony Ericsson has reported a 10% drop in sales to €2,808 million (US$3,777 million) compared to the third quarter of 2007, citing a shift in production to cheaper phones as well as exchange rate fluctuations. The company posted a net loss of €25 million (US$33.6 million) - lower than the average of €74 million loss which had been expected by analysts.
Gross margin also decreased year-on-year and sequentially due to continued price pressure at a time of adverse cost trends in the supplier base.
The company estimated that its mobile phone market share for the third quarter remained flat and is estimated to be around 8%.
"As expected the third quarter has continued to be challenging for Sony Ericsson. We have moved forward with our plans to align operations and resources with the consolidation of R&D facilities into a more agile and cost efficient organisational structure. As previously announced, our target remains to reduce operating expenses by Euro 300 million annually by the end of the second quarter 2009, with the full effects expected to appear in the second half of 2009.These plans are progressing in line with expectations," said Dick Komiyama, President, Sony Ericsson.
As communicated previously, Sony Ericsson paid a second dividend to the parent companies totalling €300 million (€150 million each) in the quarter based on 2007 earnings, and at the end of September 2008 Sony Ericsson had net cash of €1.4 billion (US$1.9 billion).
Sony Ericsson forecasts that the global handset market for 2008 will grow at a rate of around 10% from more than 1.1 billion units in 2007, while the industry ASP will continue to decline. The majority of this growth is expected to be in emerging markets where lower priced phones dominate.
Posted to the site on 17th October 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Economic of scale can help? Nokia
Nokia's scale helps it weather economic storm
By Nick Wood , Total Telecom
16 October 2008
Net profit down 30% on year but CEO says handset maker is "well positioned" in current climate.
Nokia on Thursday reported a 30% decline in net profit from 2007, citing aggressive pricing competition and a tougher economic environment, but said its scale and margins leave it in a strong position.
"We have our eyes wide open to what's happening out there," said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO of Nokia, during the company's quarterly analyst call."But Nokia is strong, we have the scale, [and] we have one of the best brands in the world," he commented.Third-quarter profit fell to €1.09 billion from €1.56 billion a year earlier and group revenue declined 5% from €12.99 billion in 2007 to €12.24 billion.Sales at Nokia's core devices and services business declined 7% year on year to €8.61 billion from €9.24 billion.One analyst shares Kallasvuo's confidence."In the current economic environment, out of all of the handset vendors, Nokia is best positioned to deal with it," said Carolina Milanesi, research director at Gartner, who explained to Total Telecom that it has the size and distribution strategy to cope with tougher times."Economies of scale are going to matter more and more," she added.Indeed, Nokia shipped 117.8 million handsets during the third quarter, an increase of 5% from 2007, when it shipped 111.7 million.That said, on a sequential basis, the Finnish handset maker saw shipments to Latin America fall by 28.1%, while growth in its North American and European shipments was largely flat at 0% and 1.1% respectively.As such, Nokia's market share fell slightly to 38% from 40% in the second quarter, a decline it attributed to aggressive competition on pricing from its rivals."It sometimes happens in the market, we decided tactically not to participate…We will try to take market share in a sustainable manner," said Kallasvuo."But don't expect us to give our competitors a free ride," he said.Yet Gartner's Milanesi hinted at weakness in Nokia's handset portfolio.She said that Nokia's top-of-the-range N96 model, which launched in early September, is unlikely to drive ARPU."Operators are getting pretty smart when it comes to subsidising the handsets that are likely to drive ARPU, and there's a danger that the N96 will be seen as an upgrade to the N95, rather than a completely new handset," she said.She also explained that Nokia's 5800 is a late arrival to the fiercely competitive touch screen scene, which could explain why it lost some of its market share."Samsung with its Omnia device will have picked up some volumes, you also have the HTC Diamond, and the 3G iPhone of course – so there has been a lot of competition on the touch screen side that Nokia couldn't compete with," Milanesi explained.Still, Nokia maintained steady operating margins of 12.0% across the group, with its handset business showing a slight dip to 18.6% from 21.2% during the same period in 2007.Its infrastructure arm Nokia Siemens Networks meanwhile saw its margins improve from -3.3% in the third quarter of 2007 to 0% in the three months ending 30 September.Going forward Nokia said despite the financial crisis it expects mobile shipments across the sector to increase during the seasonally strong fourth quarter, and for full year industry volumes to reach 1.26 billion units, up from 1.14 billion in 2007.However, Milanesi has taken a more pessimistic view on the handset market for the fourth quarter."We don't expect the weakness in Q3 to be made up in the fourth quarter," she said.Nokia's CFO Rick Simonson also said the infrastructure market remains uncertain, as Nokia Siemens Networks reported a 4.7% decline in year-on-year sales, and a 13.9% drop sequentially from the second quarter."[Nokia Siemens Networks] saw a sharp net sales decline....The infrastructure market is still in a tough environment as we go into what is a seasonally weak quarter," he said.
By Nick Wood , Total Telecom
16 October 2008
Net profit down 30% on year but CEO says handset maker is "well positioned" in current climate.
Nokia on Thursday reported a 30% decline in net profit from 2007, citing aggressive pricing competition and a tougher economic environment, but said its scale and margins leave it in a strong position.
"We have our eyes wide open to what's happening out there," said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO of Nokia, during the company's quarterly analyst call."But Nokia is strong, we have the scale, [and] we have one of the best brands in the world," he commented.Third-quarter profit fell to €1.09 billion from €1.56 billion a year earlier and group revenue declined 5% from €12.99 billion in 2007 to €12.24 billion.Sales at Nokia's core devices and services business declined 7% year on year to €8.61 billion from €9.24 billion.One analyst shares Kallasvuo's confidence."In the current economic environment, out of all of the handset vendors, Nokia is best positioned to deal with it," said Carolina Milanesi, research director at Gartner, who explained to Total Telecom that it has the size and distribution strategy to cope with tougher times."Economies of scale are going to matter more and more," she added.Indeed, Nokia shipped 117.8 million handsets during the third quarter, an increase of 5% from 2007, when it shipped 111.7 million.That said, on a sequential basis, the Finnish handset maker saw shipments to Latin America fall by 28.1%, while growth in its North American and European shipments was largely flat at 0% and 1.1% respectively.As such, Nokia's market share fell slightly to 38% from 40% in the second quarter, a decline it attributed to aggressive competition on pricing from its rivals."It sometimes happens in the market, we decided tactically not to participate…We will try to take market share in a sustainable manner," said Kallasvuo."But don't expect us to give our competitors a free ride," he said.Yet Gartner's Milanesi hinted at weakness in Nokia's handset portfolio.She said that Nokia's top-of-the-range N96 model, which launched in early September, is unlikely to drive ARPU."Operators are getting pretty smart when it comes to subsidising the handsets that are likely to drive ARPU, and there's a danger that the N96 will be seen as an upgrade to the N95, rather than a completely new handset," she said.She also explained that Nokia's 5800 is a late arrival to the fiercely competitive touch screen scene, which could explain why it lost some of its market share."Samsung with its Omnia device will have picked up some volumes, you also have the HTC Diamond, and the 3G iPhone of course – so there has been a lot of competition on the touch screen side that Nokia couldn't compete with," Milanesi explained.Still, Nokia maintained steady operating margins of 12.0% across the group, with its handset business showing a slight dip to 18.6% from 21.2% during the same period in 2007.Its infrastructure arm Nokia Siemens Networks meanwhile saw its margins improve from -3.3% in the third quarter of 2007 to 0% in the three months ending 30 September.Going forward Nokia said despite the financial crisis it expects mobile shipments across the sector to increase during the seasonally strong fourth quarter, and for full year industry volumes to reach 1.26 billion units, up from 1.14 billion in 2007.However, Milanesi has taken a more pessimistic view on the handset market for the fourth quarter."We don't expect the weakness in Q3 to be made up in the fourth quarter," she said.Nokia's CFO Rick Simonson also said the infrastructure market remains uncertain, as Nokia Siemens Networks reported a 4.7% decline in year-on-year sales, and a 13.9% drop sequentially from the second quarter."[Nokia Siemens Networks] saw a sharp net sales decline....The infrastructure market is still in a tough environment as we go into what is a seasonally weak quarter," he said.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Mobile application trends
mashup on mobile phone - eventspace
5 most discussed applications
- Gaming (Super Monkey ball)
- Social networking (Facebook)
- Music (remote)
- Music (Tuner)
- Music (Shazam)
5 most discussed applications
- Gaming (Super Monkey ball)
- Social networking (Facebook)
- Music (remote)
- Music (Tuner)
- Music (Shazam)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Handset Navigation Users Will Reach 70 Million in 2014
According to a new research report by Berg Insight the number of mobile subscribers downloading navigation routes using their mobile handsets is expected to grow from 16 million users in 2008 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.9 percent to reach 70 million users in 2014.
Revenues from subscriptions and advertisements are expected to reach € 597 million by 2014 from € 177 million in 2008, a CAGR of 22.4 percent.
The growing adoption will be driven mainly by the introduction of GPS-technology in smartphone handsets and bundling of navigation applications with mobile devices or service plans. Following the introduction of the first GPS enabled handset in Europe in 2007, there has been a massive increase in the number of models available from Nokia and other manufacturers. Increasing volumes have paved the way for widespread adoption of mobile navigation services in Europe. Meanwhile the US market has continued to grow to a level of 6 million active subscribers to mobile navigation services in Q2-2008. The anticipated launch of GPS enabled handsets by the GSM operators AT&T and T-Mobile USA are expected to drive further growth in 2009.
André Malm, telecom analyst, Berg Insight says, “The mobile industry is now starting to reap the benefits from the introduction of GPS enabled handsets. However, most mobile navigation users only use the service during a free trial period. The key challenge will be to convert these test-users into paying subscribers.”
Posted to the site on 10th October 2008
Revenues from subscriptions and advertisements are expected to reach € 597 million by 2014 from € 177 million in 2008, a CAGR of 22.4 percent.
The growing adoption will be driven mainly by the introduction of GPS-technology in smartphone handsets and bundling of navigation applications with mobile devices or service plans. Following the introduction of the first GPS enabled handset in Europe in 2007, there has been a massive increase in the number of models available from Nokia and other manufacturers. Increasing volumes have paved the way for widespread adoption of mobile navigation services in Europe. Meanwhile the US market has continued to grow to a level of 6 million active subscribers to mobile navigation services in Q2-2008. The anticipated launch of GPS enabled handsets by the GSM operators AT&T and T-Mobile USA are expected to drive further growth in 2009.
André Malm, telecom analyst, Berg Insight says, “The mobile industry is now starting to reap the benefits from the introduction of GPS enabled handsets. However, most mobile navigation users only use the service during a free trial period. The key challenge will be to convert these test-users into paying subscribers.”
Posted to the site on 10th October 2008
SiRF Signs Patent Deal with Qualcomm - Gets Broadcom Review
GPS based platforms vendor, SiRF Technology Holdings has announced a deal with Qualcomm and also received a review notice from the International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding its ongoing patent dispute with Broadcom.
The review by the ITC covers part of the Initial Determination by the ITC Administrative Law Judge that certain SiRF products infringed upon six patents held by Global Locate, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Broadcom. Specifically the Commission has determined to review claims on three out of the six patents.
"We are pleased that the Commission has accepted our appeal to review the initial ruling of the Administrative Law Judge," said Kanwar Chadha, founder of SiRF Technology. "We are working closely with our customers to implement multiple measures to enable them to continue to ship their innovative products into the U.S. market."
The company has also signed a mutual Patent Non-Assertion Agreement with Qualcomm covering each party's patent portfolio.
"As an innovation driven company, we respect Qualcomm's vast intellectual property portfolio," said Kanwar Chadha, founder of SiRF Technology. "We believe that this agreement between leading innovators of AGPS enabled location technology will help expand the market for location enabled products, services and content, while enabling each of us to compete in the market place based on product merits."
Posted to the site on 10th October 2008
The review by the ITC covers part of the Initial Determination by the ITC Administrative Law Judge that certain SiRF products infringed upon six patents held by Global Locate, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Broadcom. Specifically the Commission has determined to review claims on three out of the six patents.
"We are pleased that the Commission has accepted our appeal to review the initial ruling of the Administrative Law Judge," said Kanwar Chadha, founder of SiRF Technology. "We are working closely with our customers to implement multiple measures to enable them to continue to ship their innovative products into the U.S. market."
The company has also signed a mutual Patent Non-Assertion Agreement with Qualcomm covering each party's patent portfolio.
"As an innovation driven company, we respect Qualcomm's vast intellectual property portfolio," said Kanwar Chadha, founder of SiRF Technology. "We believe that this agreement between leading innovators of AGPS enabled location technology will help expand the market for location enabled products, services and content, while enabling each of us to compete in the market place based on product merits."
Posted to the site on 10th October 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
NeuStar Delivers Unified Mobile IM Service to Hong Kong Operator
Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong has ordered a mobile instant messaging platform from NeuStar, to enable its customers to have access to Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and the 3 Community from one central application. Hutchison Telecom trades under the Three brandname. The integrated software client is available for free download on the company's mobile portal "Planet 3", and is available for dozens of the most popular mobile phones on the market.
"The success we have experienced with mobile Instant Messaging to date has encouraged us to develop new services and better ways to integrate messaging into people's lives," said Amy Lung, chief operating officer -- Mobile at Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong. "NeuStar has been our trusted partner of choice in delivering simple and effective new messaging services to our customers. The ability to customize several messaging platforms offers users a memorable and personal application that we believe will be hugely popular."
"Our relationship with Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong has been a successful one, and we are pleased that our relationship has been further enhanced by this new initiative," added Allen Scott, general manager of NeuStar Next Generation Messaging (NGM). "Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong is one of the most innovative operators in Asia, and as they begin to offer an increased level of personalization and convenience to their customers, I am certain they will receive tremendous positive response."
Posted to the site on 9th October 2008
"The success we have experienced with mobile Instant Messaging to date has encouraged us to develop new services and better ways to integrate messaging into people's lives," said Amy Lung, chief operating officer -- Mobile at Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong. "NeuStar has been our trusted partner of choice in delivering simple and effective new messaging services to our customers. The ability to customize several messaging platforms offers users a memorable and personal application that we believe will be hugely popular."
"Our relationship with Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong has been a successful one, and we are pleased that our relationship has been further enhanced by this new initiative," added Allen Scott, general manager of NeuStar Next Generation Messaging (NGM). "Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong is one of the most innovative operators in Asia, and as they begin to offer an increased level of personalization and convenience to their customers, I am certain they will receive tremendous positive response."
Posted to the site on 9th October 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
MediaTek gearing up for WiMAX and WCDMA markets
2008/10/8
MediaTek is exhibiting its WiMAX and WCDMA (W&W) chips at the 2008 Taipei International Electronics Show (Taitronics), with the WiMAX chips perhaps being mass produced at the end of 2008. WCDMA chip samples have already been sent to customers and related shipments are expected to begin in the first half of 2009. The so-called W&W chips will play an important roles for MediaTek's operation in 2009, company chairman Ming-Kai Tsai indicated.
MediaTek is exhibiting its WiMAX and WCDMA (W&W) chips at the 2008 Taipei International Electronics Show (Taitronics), with the WiMAX chips perhaps being mass produced at the end of 2008. WCDMA chip samples have already been sent to customers and related shipments are expected to begin in the first half of 2009. The so-called W&W chips will play an important roles for MediaTek's operation in 2009, company chairman Ming-Kai Tsai indicated.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
ZTE Planning $880 Million R&D Center
China's ZTE is planning a RMB6 billion (US$880 million) R&D centre in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province. The company said that its Xian Hi-tech Park would bring its research and development, production, outsourcing services and customer service training under one roof.
ZTE Planning $880 Million R&D Center
China's ZTE is planning a RMB6 billion (US$880 million) R&D centre in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province. The company said that its Xian Hi-tech Park would bring its research and development, production, outsourcing services and customer service training under one roof.
ZTE Planning $880 Million R&D Center
China's ZTE is planning a RMB6 billion (US$880 million) R&D centre in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province. The company said that its Xian Hi-tech Park would bring its research and development, production, outsourcing services and customer service training under one roof.
Friday, September 26, 2008
MStar looks to challenge MediaTek in white-box handset baseband chip market
2008/9/26
According to market watchers, Taiwan IC design house MStar has shipped handset baseband chips to China white-box handset customers priced almost 30% lower than MediaTek's chips. In addition, MStar is also planning to introduce multimedia chips recently, which may affect MediaTek's margins in the future.
According to market watchers, Taiwan IC design house MStar has shipped handset baseband chips to China white-box handset customers priced almost 30% lower than MediaTek's chips. In addition, MStar is also planning to introduce multimedia chips recently, which may affect MediaTek's margins in the future.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
China Mobile Seeking Cut-Down Version of Apple's iPhone
China Mobile is expected to officially launch the Apple iPhone on its network shortly - but with some of the functionality removed to comply with Chinese regulations. The South China Morning Post, citing a report from the Daiwa Institute of Research said that the 3G and Wi-Fi services would be disabled on the Chinese model.Daiwa analyst Calvin Huang said that Taiwan Hon Hai Precision Industry, which is responsible for assembling iPhone products for Apple, is waiting for verification from the mainland to ship the phone without W-CDMA and Wi-Fi functions.
As China Mobile is widely expected to have to build outs its eventual 3G network using the Chinese developed TD-SCDMA format, disabling the 3G functionality would make it less appealing to users who might buy the handset and unlock it to be used on the expected W-CDMA network from China Telecom.
"Apple shouldn't customise a model of iPhone for the mainland market, given that it only provides a standardised product to operators around the world," Frederick Wong, a BNP Paribas analyst told the newspaper - although making the unit compatible with the Chinese language would be quite a customisation anyway.
China Mobile has been in on/off talks with Apple ever since the iPhone was launched. The talks broke down in January but resumed again in July.
"The talks with Apple to launch the iPhone device in China have resumed because Apple is not insisting on revenue-sharing anymore," China Mobile Ltd. spokeswoman Rainie Lei said at the time.
According to figures supplied by China Mobile to research firm In-Stat earlier this year, there were over 400,000 unlocked Apple iPhones being detected on its network.
In-Stat says that it has never doubted that the iPhone will achieve greater success than iPod in China if Apple teams with China Mobile to launch its Chinese version. There are two reasons. Firstly, different from the US where the smartphone market is fairly limited, appealing primarily to business users, The smartphone market in China, though, is an entertainment-oriented individual consumer market. The main reasons that Chinese mobile users purchase smartphones include entertainment (such as music players, cameras and video) and to access mobile Internet applications (such as IM, e-book, and games).
The company also estimates that 20% of handsets sold in China in 2007 cost more than 4,000 RMB (US$533). In another words, there are an estimated 28 million potential users for the iPhone in China.
On the web: South China Morning Post
As China Mobile is widely expected to have to build outs its eventual 3G network using the Chinese developed TD-SCDMA format, disabling the 3G functionality would make it less appealing to users who might buy the handset and unlock it to be used on the expected W-CDMA network from China Telecom.
"Apple shouldn't customise a model of iPhone for the mainland market, given that it only provides a standardised product to operators around the world," Frederick Wong, a BNP Paribas analyst told the newspaper - although making the unit compatible with the Chinese language would be quite a customisation anyway.
China Mobile has been in on/off talks with Apple ever since the iPhone was launched. The talks broke down in January but resumed again in July.
"The talks with Apple to launch the iPhone device in China have resumed because Apple is not insisting on revenue-sharing anymore," China Mobile Ltd. spokeswoman Rainie Lei said at the time.
According to figures supplied by China Mobile to research firm In-Stat earlier this year, there were over 400,000 unlocked Apple iPhones being detected on its network.
In-Stat says that it has never doubted that the iPhone will achieve greater success than iPod in China if Apple teams with China Mobile to launch its Chinese version. There are two reasons. Firstly, different from the US where the smartphone market is fairly limited, appealing primarily to business users, The smartphone market in China, though, is an entertainment-oriented individual consumer market. The main reasons that Chinese mobile users purchase smartphones include entertainment (such as music players, cameras and video) and to access mobile Internet applications (such as IM, e-book, and games).
The company also estimates that 20% of handsets sold in China in 2007 cost more than 4,000 RMB (US$533). In another words, there are an estimated 28 million potential users for the iPhone in China.
On the web: South China Morning Post
Research In Motion's Profit, Forecast Miss Estimates (Update3)
Sept. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Research In Motion Ltd. forecast third-quarter profit that missed analysts' estimates after boosting marketing to ward off Apple Inc.'s new iPhone and introduce handsets. The shares fell 21 percent in late trading.
Profit will be 89 cents to 97 cents a share on sales of as much as $3.1 billion, Research In Motion said today in a statement. Analysts predicted 99 cents in profit on average and revenue of $2.96 billion, according to a Bloomberg survey.
Research In Motion's earnings forecast missed projections for the second straight quarter as it readied four new phones. The cost of promoting new models contributed to $379.6 million in sales and marketing costs last quarter, almost double the year- earlier amount. The company also had to delay the U.S. release of its Bold product, which will challenge the iPhone 3G.
``The cost of selling and launching all these platforms is much higher than what people thought,'' Pablo Perez-Fernandez, an analyst with Global Crown Capital in San Francisco, said in an interview. He recommends buying the shares, which he doesn't own.
Second-quarter net income rose 72 percent to $495.5 million, or 86 cents a share, from $287.7 million, or 50 cents, a year earlier, the company said. Analysts predicted a profit of 87 cents on average for the period, which ended Aug. 30. Revenue climbed 88 percent to $2.58 billion, compared with a projection of $2.59 billion from analysts.
Shares Plunge
Research In Motion, based in Waterloo, Ontario, fell $20.06 to $77.47 in extended trading after closing at $97.53 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The shares have dropped 14 percent this year.
The company is working on a touch-screen phone and an update to its Curve consumer model, in addition to the Bold and a flip- phone version of its Pearl, according to Mike Abramsky, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets in Toronto.
Some of the new phones aren't as profitable as older models, co-Chief Executive Officer Jim Balsillie said on a conference call today. The Bold, for example, has a brighter screen, making it more expensive to produce.
``It's difficult to pass on all these costs to customers,'' Balsillie said.
That will push down gross margin, the percentage of sales remaining after deducting production costs, to 47 percent in the current quarter from 50.7 percent, Vice President Edel Ebbs said on the call. That measure may drop further in the fourth quarter, she said.
Rising Costs
Sales expenses in the current quarter may climb between 10 percent and 11 percent from the previous period, Ebbs said.
Research In Motion added 2.6 million users last quarter, compared with a 2.64 million estimate from Perez-Fernandez. The company expects to add 2.9 million users this quarter, missing Perez-Fernandez's projection of 3.09 million. Research In Motion currently has about 19 million BlackBerry users.
The company, which once focused mainly on corporate users, is offering cheaper phones as it competes for consumers with Apple's $199 iPhone. About 40 percent of Research In Motion's customers are now consumers, while the rest are business customers. The U.S. accounts for more than half of the company's annual revenue.
In the past quarter, Verizon Wireless reduced the price tag on the BlackBerry Pearl to $79 from $99.
Apple, meanwhile, is going after corporate users with features such as access to office e-mail. Based in Cupertino, California, Apple introduced the iPhone 3G in July, selling a million units in the product's first three days. The original iPhone, which ran on a slower network, debuted in June 2007.
Wireless carriers are promoting so-called smart phones, devices with e-mail and Web-browsing features, as revenue from traditional land-line service declines. Research In Motion increased its share of the U.S. smart-phone market to 53.6 percent in the second quarter from 44.5 percent in the first, according to Framingham, Massachusetts-based research firm IDC.
To contact the reporter on this story: Vivek Shankar in San Francisco at vshankar3@bloomberg.net
Profit will be 89 cents to 97 cents a share on sales of as much as $3.1 billion, Research In Motion said today in a statement. Analysts predicted 99 cents in profit on average and revenue of $2.96 billion, according to a Bloomberg survey.
Research In Motion's earnings forecast missed projections for the second straight quarter as it readied four new phones. The cost of promoting new models contributed to $379.6 million in sales and marketing costs last quarter, almost double the year- earlier amount. The company also had to delay the U.S. release of its Bold product, which will challenge the iPhone 3G.
``The cost of selling and launching all these platforms is much higher than what people thought,'' Pablo Perez-Fernandez, an analyst with Global Crown Capital in San Francisco, said in an interview. He recommends buying the shares, which he doesn't own.
Second-quarter net income rose 72 percent to $495.5 million, or 86 cents a share, from $287.7 million, or 50 cents, a year earlier, the company said. Analysts predicted a profit of 87 cents on average for the period, which ended Aug. 30. Revenue climbed 88 percent to $2.58 billion, compared with a projection of $2.59 billion from analysts.
Shares Plunge
Research In Motion, based in Waterloo, Ontario, fell $20.06 to $77.47 in extended trading after closing at $97.53 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The shares have dropped 14 percent this year.
The company is working on a touch-screen phone and an update to its Curve consumer model, in addition to the Bold and a flip- phone version of its Pearl, according to Mike Abramsky, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets in Toronto.
Some of the new phones aren't as profitable as older models, co-Chief Executive Officer Jim Balsillie said on a conference call today. The Bold, for example, has a brighter screen, making it more expensive to produce.
``It's difficult to pass on all these costs to customers,'' Balsillie said.
That will push down gross margin, the percentage of sales remaining after deducting production costs, to 47 percent in the current quarter from 50.7 percent, Vice President Edel Ebbs said on the call. That measure may drop further in the fourth quarter, she said.
Rising Costs
Sales expenses in the current quarter may climb between 10 percent and 11 percent from the previous period, Ebbs said.
Research In Motion added 2.6 million users last quarter, compared with a 2.64 million estimate from Perez-Fernandez. The company expects to add 2.9 million users this quarter, missing Perez-Fernandez's projection of 3.09 million. Research In Motion currently has about 19 million BlackBerry users.
The company, which once focused mainly on corporate users, is offering cheaper phones as it competes for consumers with Apple's $199 iPhone. About 40 percent of Research In Motion's customers are now consumers, while the rest are business customers. The U.S. accounts for more than half of the company's annual revenue.
In the past quarter, Verizon Wireless reduced the price tag on the BlackBerry Pearl to $79 from $99.
Apple, meanwhile, is going after corporate users with features such as access to office e-mail. Based in Cupertino, California, Apple introduced the iPhone 3G in July, selling a million units in the product's first three days. The original iPhone, which ran on a slower network, debuted in June 2007.
Wireless carriers are promoting so-called smart phones, devices with e-mail and Web-browsing features, as revenue from traditional land-line service declines. Research In Motion increased its share of the U.S. smart-phone market to 53.6 percent in the second quarter from 44.5 percent in the first, according to Framingham, Massachusetts-based research firm IDC.
To contact the reporter on this story: Vivek Shankar in San Francisco at vshankar3@bloomberg.net
China Mobile may offer Android handsets through cooperation with HTC, say Taiwan makers
2008/9/25
China Mobile Communications (China Mobile), the largest operator of mobile communication services in China, may take the initiative to offer Android handsets in the China market through outsourced production by Taiwan-based High Tech Computer (HTC), the maker of the T-Mobile G1, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
China Mobile Communications (China Mobile), the largest operator of mobile communication services in China, may take the initiative to offer Android handsets in the China market through outsourced production by Taiwan-based High Tech Computer (HTC), the maker of the T-Mobile G1, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Sony Ericsson boss says studying Android system
LUND, Sweden (Reuters) - Sony Ericsson is studying Google's Android mobile operating system, but was not able to embrace it yet, President Dick Komiyama said on Wednesday.
"We are certainly studying this opportunity, although we're not in a position to do this at this moment," Komiyama told journalists at a media event in the southern Swedish city of Lund, where the company has a research and development site.
"We should look at this application," he said. "We are certainly interested."
Android is an open source platform for designing mobile devices which Google (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) says will encourage innovation by allowing outside software developers to tinker with the system and create better mobile programs and services.
However, Komiyama said Sony Ericsson was already part of the Symbian Foundation, a group which since June has attracted some 40 companies and gives developers free access to its software.
Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile unveiled on Tuesday the first cellphone that uses Android software. The phone is being touted as Google's answer to the iPhone. The G1 phone, made by HTC Corp, has a touch-sensitive screen, a computer-like keyboard and Wi-Fi connections.
"We are certainly studying this opportunity, although we're not in a position to do this at this moment," Komiyama told journalists at a media event in the southern Swedish city of Lund, where the company has a research and development site.
"We should look at this application," he said. "We are certainly interested."
Android is an open source platform for designing mobile devices which Google (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) says will encourage innovation by allowing outside software developers to tinker with the system and create better mobile programs and services.
However, Komiyama said Sony Ericsson was already part of the Symbian Foundation, a group which since June has attracted some 40 companies and gives developers free access to its software.
Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile unveiled on Tuesday the first cellphone that uses Android software. The phone is being touted as Google's answer to the iPhone. The G1 phone, made by HTC Corp, has a touch-sensitive screen, a computer-like keyboard and Wi-Fi connections.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
T-Mobile Planning "Google Phone" Launch at End of Sept - Report
T-Mobile USA is reported to be planning a launch of its first Google Android phone within just a few weeks. Sources told the Reuters news agency that the mobile operator would make an announcement in New York City, and said that Sept 23rd was the probable date for the press conference.
There had been reports that the phone would be delayed - but T-Mobile has said that it is still on target for a launch in (or by) October.
"T-Mobile is on track to bring an Android-based phone to market in the fourth quarter," said a T-Mobile spokesman earlier this month. "We haven't announced any specific details about the Android phone at this point and don't comment on rumors."
T-Mobile did not comment when Reuters contacted them today.
The touchscreen based smartphone will be supplied by Taiwan's High Tech Computer, or HTC, a company which has traditionally focused on Windows Mobile based handsets. There were unconfirmed rumours last month that Sony Ericsson is in talks to buy HTC.
Google is also widely expected to announce improvements to the Android platform in the next few weeks - including a new software development kit (SDK) following complaints about the current platform.
On the web: Reuters
Posted to the site on 11th September 2008
There had been reports that the phone would be delayed - but T-Mobile has said that it is still on target for a launch in (or by) October.
"T-Mobile is on track to bring an Android-based phone to market in the fourth quarter," said a T-Mobile spokesman earlier this month. "We haven't announced any specific details about the Android phone at this point and don't comment on rumors."
T-Mobile did not comment when Reuters contacted them today.
The touchscreen based smartphone will be supplied by Taiwan's High Tech Computer, or HTC, a company which has traditionally focused on Windows Mobile based handsets. There were unconfirmed rumours last month that Sony Ericsson is in talks to buy HTC.
Google is also widely expected to announce improvements to the Android platform in the next few weeks - including a new software development kit (SDK) following complaints about the current platform.
On the web: Reuters
Posted to the site on 11th September 2008
Nokia Expects to Support China's TD-SCDMA Standard
11 Sept 2008
Nokia is planning to support all three of the proposed 3G standards in China by releasing handsets for each of the networks. It is anticipated that China Mobile will use the Chinese developed 3G standard, TD-SCDMA, while China Telecom will use CDMA2000 and China Unicom will use WCDMA.
Nokia's vice-president of Greater China sales, David Tang told the South China Morning Post that the company aims to retain its number one position in the market.
As China Mobile has a market share of around 70%, supporting the TD-SCDMA format is essential for any handset vendor seeking to retain their market position.
"Nokia supports the development of TD-SCDMA. We will have the handsets in the market when the service becomes active," said Mr Tang in an interview at Nokia's Green Campus headquarters in Beijing.
Although Nokia does not currently have any TD-SCDMA based handsets, the company is a 49% holder in a Chinese joint venture, Potevio(中国普天 www.potevio.com ) with China Putian to develop network infrastructure based on the 3G standard, so it has access to the necessary technical expertise. Potevio was set up in 2005 and has also been the major supplier of equipment to China Mobile's TD-SCDMA trial networks in Tianjin and Qinhuangdao.
Nokia sold just over 70 million mobile phones in China during 2007, giving it a 42% market share.
On the web: South China Morning Post
Posted to the site on 11th September 2008
Nokia is planning to support all three of the proposed 3G standards in China by releasing handsets for each of the networks. It is anticipated that China Mobile will use the Chinese developed 3G standard, TD-SCDMA, while China Telecom will use CDMA2000 and China Unicom will use WCDMA.
Nokia's vice-president of Greater China sales, David Tang told the South China Morning Post that the company aims to retain its number one position in the market.
As China Mobile has a market share of around 70%, supporting the TD-SCDMA format is essential for any handset vendor seeking to retain their market position.
"Nokia supports the development of TD-SCDMA. We will have the handsets in the market when the service becomes active," said Mr Tang in an interview at Nokia's Green Campus headquarters in Beijing.
Although Nokia does not currently have any TD-SCDMA based handsets, the company is a 49% holder in a Chinese joint venture, Potevio(中国普天 www.potevio.com ) with China Putian to develop network infrastructure based on the 3G standard, so it has access to the necessary technical expertise. Potevio was set up in 2005 and has also been the major supplier of equipment to China Mobile's TD-SCDMA trial networks in Tianjin and Qinhuangdao.
Nokia sold just over 70 million mobile phones in China during 2007, giving it a 42% market share.
On the web: South China Morning Post
Posted to the site on 11th September 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Velocity Mobile Announces Availability of Its First Touchscreen Phone
Velocity Mobile has announced the retail availability of its first touchscreen phone, the Velocity 103. The Velocity Mobile 103 combines Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, an Odyssey Interface, Velocity Over The Air updates (Vota) and will ship by the end of September.
Velocity 103
Velocity Mobile, in collaboration with Inventec, designs and engineers 2G and 3G mobile devices and data cards based on Qualcomm and Samsung platforms.
"Consumers these days are demanding more from their phones. Our research tells us that people want experiences, not applications and functions," said David Hayes, president and managing director, Velocity Mobile. "Velocity Mobile has brought together some of the greatest minds and best of breed partners in the industry to deliver positive experience and value to consumers."
Velocity Mobile's core leadership team collectively has nearly forty years' experience in innovative mobile engineering, design, sales and marketing, and is working in collaboration with Inventec Corporation, one of the world's top three original design manufacturers (ODMs) for notebook computers.
Posted to the site on 10th September 2008
Velocity 103
Velocity Mobile, in collaboration with Inventec, designs and engineers 2G and 3G mobile devices and data cards based on Qualcomm and Samsung platforms.
"Consumers these days are demanding more from their phones. Our research tells us that people want experiences, not applications and functions," said David Hayes, president and managing director, Velocity Mobile. "Velocity Mobile has brought together some of the greatest minds and best of breed partners in the industry to deliver positive experience and value to consumers."
Velocity Mobile's core leadership team collectively has nearly forty years' experience in innovative mobile engineering, design, sales and marketing, and is working in collaboration with Inventec Corporation, one of the world's top three original design manufacturers (ODMs) for notebook computers.
Posted to the site on 10th September 2008
Sony Ericsson Announces Xperia Launch Date
Sony Ericsson has finally confirmed the launch date for its first Windows Mobile phone - the Xperia X1. The phone will be initially available to consumers in the UK, Germany and Sweden from the 30th Sept and available in other markets across Europe, Asia and Latin America throughout Q4 2008.
Availability dates for North America, China, Australia and Russia along with other countries not mentioned above will be announced by local markets in the coming months.
"We are extremely pleased with the innovation and new user experience we have created for consumers on the Xperia X1," said Rikko Sakaguchi CVP and Head of Creation and Development at Sony Ericsson.
The Xperia X1 is the first product under Sony Ericsson's new premium sub-brand Xperia.
Posted to the site on 10th September 2008
Availability dates for North America, China, Australia and Russia along with other countries not mentioned above will be announced by local markets in the coming months.
"We are extremely pleased with the innovation and new user experience we have created for consumers on the Xperia X1," said Rikko Sakaguchi CVP and Head of Creation and Development at Sony Ericsson.
The Xperia X1 is the first product under Sony Ericsson's new premium sub-brand Xperia.
Posted to the site on 10th September 2008
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