One-third of Americans would give up sex before their cell phones [infographic]

A recent survey found that 33% of Americans would sooner give up sex for a week than go without their mobile phones for the same period of time. Navigation software leader Telenav surveyed 514 mobile phone users in the U.S. last month to find out how willing they were to give up certain things ahead of their cell phones. Respondents were most willing to part with alcohol instead of their phones, with 70% saying they would go a week without booze before going a week without a phone. At the other end of the spectrum were computers, with only 20% of those surveyed having said they would prefer to part with a PC than a cell phone. A few more interesting snippets were also provided: 63% of BlackBerry users and 62% of Android users said they had never paid more than $1 for an app, compared to 45% of iPhone users. 50% of iOS users and 55% of Android users said they update social networks from their phones, compared to 40% of BlackBerry users. Finally, 66% of all smartphone users polled said they sleep with their handsets next to them.

Telenav’s infographic detailing highlights from the survey follows below, along with the associated press release.

T-Mobile responds to Sen. Al Franken’s recommendation against AT&T merger

Minnesota Senator Al Franken sent a letter to the heads of the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice earlier this week, stating that AT&T’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA was not in the best interest of the American public. “The competitive effects of a merger of this size and scope will reverberate throughout the telecommunications sector for decades to come and will affect consumer prices, customer service, innovation, competition in handsets and the quality and quantity of network coverage. These threats are too large and too irrevocable to be prevented or alleviated by conditions,” Franken wrote. The Minnesota democrat also said that the deal could cost thousands of Americans their jobs. T-Mobile issued a statement in response to Franken’s note late on Tuesday, stating plainly that Franken’s assessment of the deal is wrong. “While we respect Senator Franken, his analysis of our pending transaction is just wrong,” T-Mobile said in a note to the press. “The combination of T-Mobile and AT&T should be approved because it will deliver what consumers are looking for in the age of smart phones, tablets and mobile internet – speed, service quality and reduced costs. As is documented in our government filings, the combination of our two networks creates significant efficiencies that will trigger strong benefits for consumers. We are confident that a thorough review of the record will demonstrate the transaction advances the public interest.”

 

BGR

T-Mobile doubles 4G HSPA+ speeds in 56 new markets

T-Mobile on Wednesday announced that it has doubled the theoretical download speed ceiling on its 4G HSPA+ network in 56 new markets. “America’s Largest 4G Network is now faster than ever and continues to deliver a fast and reliable broadband experience in more places than any other carrier,” said T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray in a statement. “Video streaming on T-Mobile’s network has more than tripled over the last year, and consumer demand for access to rich mobile content from anywhere continues to grow. T-Mobile is now supplying more than 170 million Americans with lightning-fast HSPA+ 42 speeds to feed that explosive demand.” For the time being, T-Mobile offers just one device capable of making full use of its new HSPA+ 42 service: the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 laptop stick. The carrier has confirmed that it will launch its first HSPA+ 42-capable smartphone later this year, but it has provided no additional details or timeline. T-Mobile’s full press release follows below and it includes a list of each newly upgraded 4G market.

T-Mobile’s Faster 4G Network Now Available in More Locations

T-Mobile's 4G Network has Download Speeds that Might Break the Sound Barrier

T-Mobile BlackBerry users should be proud to hear that, T-Mobile’s 4G download speeds are faster than ever!!!! …wait 4G? What’s that? Oh Yeah! Thats the network that all these devices work on, except BlackBerry! Maybe RIM should get on this!

Still, this is very cool for T-Mobile customers. The 9900 should be a great phone on the T-Mo network. For AT&T customers this is also good news, seeing how T-Mobiles network and AT&T’s network will be merging very soon.

T-Mobile has seen average download speeds approaching 10Mbps with peak speeds of 27Mbps on the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 laptop stick (the company’s first 42Mbps device). T-Mobile expects more than 150 million American’s to have access to these increased 4G speeds by mid-2011, which is right around the corner.

Currently T-Mobile customers can choose from more than a dozen 4G devices, including:

• 4G Smartphones: the Galaxy S™ 4G, the T-Mobile® myTouch® 4G, the T-Mobile® G2® with Google™, the T-Mobile Sidekick® 4G™, the T-Mobile® G2x®™ with Google™, HTC Sensation™ 4G and the upcoming BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900.
• 4G Tablets: the Dell™ Streak™ 7 and the T-Mobile® G-Slate™ with Google™ by LG.
• 4G Laptop Sticks: the T-Mobile Rocket® 3.0, T-Mobile’s first HSPA+ 42-capable device, the Rocket™ 2.0, T-Mobile’s first HSPA+ 21-capable device, the T-Mobile Jet® 2.0 and the prepaid T-Mobile Rocket 4G.
• 4G Netbook & Mobile Hotspot: the Dell™ Inspiron™ Mini 10 4G netbook and the T-Mobile 4G Mobile Hotspot

T-Mobile’s 4G network (HSPA+ 21) already reaches more than 200 million Americans in 184 markets.

• Read More from T-Mobile’s Press Release

via:bbos

Android, iOS see continued growth in U.S. at cost of RIM

On Friday comScore released its latest mobile subscriber market share report, which suggests that both Android and iOS are increasing their U.S. market shares at the cost of RIM’s BlackBerry OS. ComScore surveyed 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers during a three month period ending in April 2011 and found that Android’s U.S. market share jumped 5.2 percentage points to a 34.6% grip of the industry. Meanwhile, Apple’s iOS market share grew a marginal 1.3 percentage points to a 26% share. RIM’s BlackBerry OS share fell from 30.4% in January to 25.7%. Samsung remains the most popular mobile phone manufacturer with a 24.5% share of the market and is followed by LG (20.9%), Motorola (15.6%), Apple (8.3%), and RIM (8.2%). Hit the jump for the full release from comScore.

 

comScore Reports April 2011 U.S. Mobile Subscriber Market Share

RESTON, Va., June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending April 2011. The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 24.5 percent market share. Google Android led among smartphone platforms with 36.4 percent market share.

OEM Market Share

For the three month average period ending in April, 234 million Americans ages 13 and older used mobile devices. Device manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM with 24.5 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers, followed by LG with 20.9 percent share and Motorola with 15.6 percent share. Apple jumped to the #4 position with 8.3 percent share of mobile subscribers (up 1.3 percentage points), while RIM rounded out the top five with 8.2 percent share.

Top Mobile OEMs3 Month Avg. Ending Apr. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Jan. 2011 Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
	Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers
	Jan-11	Apr-11	Point Change
Total Mobile Subscribers	100.0%	100.0%	N/A
Samsung	24.9%	24.5%	-0.4
LG	20.8%	20.9%	0.1
Motorola	16.5%	15.6%	-0.9
Apple	7.0%	8.3%	1.3
RIM	8.6%	8.2%	-0.4

Smartphone Platform Market Share

74.6 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones during the three months ending in April 2011, up 13 percent from the three-month period ending in January 2011. Google Android ranked as the top operating system with 36.4 percent of U.S. smartphone subscribers, up 5.2 percentage points. Apple also gained share, capturing the #2 position with 26.0 percent of the smartphone market. RIM ranked third with 25.7 percent share, followed by Microsoft (6.7 percent) and Palm (2.6 percent).

Top Smartphone Platforms3 Month Avg. Ending Apr. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Jan. 2011 Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
	Share (%) of Smartphone Subscribers
	Jan-11	Apr-11	Point Change
Total Smartphone Subscribers	100.0%	100.0%	N/A
Google	31.2%	36.4%	5.2
Apple	24.7%	26.0%	1.3
RIM	30.4%	25.7%	-4.7
Microsoft	8.0%	6.7%	-1.3
Palm	3.2%	2.6%	-0.6

Mobile Content Usage

In April, 68.8 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device. Browsers were used by 39.1 percent of subscribers (up 2.1 percentage points), while downloaded applications were used by 37.8 percent (up 2.4 percentage points). Accessing of social networking sites or blogs increased 2.7 percentage points, representing 28.0 percent of mobile subscribers. Playing games comprised 26.2 percent of the mobile audience (up 2.5 percentage points), while listening to music represented 18.0 percent.

via:BGR

Mobile Content Usage3 Month Avg. Ending Apr. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Jan. 2011 Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
	Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers
	Jan-11	Apr-11	Point Change
Total Mobile Subscribers	100.0%	100.0%	N/A
Sent text message to another phone	68.1%	68.8%	0.7
Used browser	37.0%	39.1%	2.1
Used downloaded apps	35.4%	37.8%	2.4
Accessed social networking site or blog	25.3%	28.0%	2.7
Played Games	23.7%	26.2%	2.5
Listened to music on mobile phone	16.5%	18.0%	1.5

Press Release: Android sees continued growth while BlackBerry OS falters, comScore says

Android’s U.S. market share is continuing to grow at the expense of RIM, Microsoft, and Palm, according to a new report from comScore that took a snapshot of the mobile phone market during the March quarter. The report found that Android powered 34.7% of all U.S. smartphones, up 6% from December 2010. RIM’s BlackBerry OS market share fell 4.5 points to a 27.1% share of the market, while Microsoft’s Windows and Palm’s webOS each saw a 0.9 percentage point decrease. Apple’s iOS market share jumped 0.5 points to a 25.5% share of the market, just behind RIM’s 27.1% grasp. Samsung remained the most popular mobile phone brand with a 24.5% share of the market, followed by LG (20.9%), Motorola (15.8%), RIM (8.4%), and Apple (7.9%).  The report also found that 234 million Americans above the age of 13 used mobile devices. Hit the jump for the full release.

Comcast launches Xfinity 3G / 4G MiFi for $25

Comcast teamed up with Clearwire to bring WiMAX to the masses a couple of years ago, and now the company is jumping on the bandwidth-sharing bandwagon by offering a mobile hotspot. It’s the same Novatel 3G/4G MiFi from Sprint that’s been putting internet access in our pockets for a month, only this one sports an Xfinity badge and cheaper price tag. While the Now Network version costs $80, Comcast’s Internet 2go customers get the device for $25 on a one-year contract. Plus service is only $40 a month for the same Clearwire coverage that costs $50 from Sprint. Sounds like a winning WiMAX combination to us.

Government workers may be forced to surrender BlackBerry devices if put on furlough

Americans are facing a potential government shut down tonight at midnight, as the deadline for the FY 2011 budget is ticking down. If Congress can’t get a budget passed that Obama will sign off on, midnight tonight will mean many government employees will be put on furlough. Not only does this mean no work and potentially no pay for many thousands of people, it also means they will be cut off from technology provided through their job. Those with BlackBerry smartphones, laptops, and other devices administered through their government employers will possibly be required to turn them in until the furlough ends.

While it doesn’t appear to be set in stone that these devices must be surrendered, it does seem to be a good possibility. Though government workers are prohibited by law from doing any volunteer work or telecommuting while on furlough, it would be somewhat hard to enforce if they still have physical possession of such devices. A Democratic Senate aide interviewed by the Wall Street Journal indicated that some chiefs of staff on Capitol Hill may “go soft” on the rule, allowing workers to keep possession of their devices, which would allow for messages to be viewed, yet discouraging responses to emails. “I don’t think every office is going to put a big bucket out and make you put in your BlackBerry,” the aide said. Many workers are plotting how to have emails redirected to other email accounts so they may stay in the loop if they are required to hand over their BlackBerry.

What do you think about all of this? If you were (or are) in a similar situation, and required to surrender your employer provided BlackBerry, how would you deal with it? Would you take extra measures to stay connected, even if you could potentially face discipline or termination for it?

via:n4bb

Zillow Real Estate BlackBerry App Released

Zillow announced today the release of their real estate app for BlackBerry. “We’re excited today to expand the Zillow mobile experience to the millions of Americans who are passionate BlackBerry users,” said Spencer Rascoff, chief officer of Zillow. “Many of our fans – including significant numbers of real estate professionals – have asked us to bring our transformative mobile experience to the BlackBerry platform, and we’re thrilled to give them this option today.”

The location-based Zillow BlackBerry App uses GPS technology to find and follow users on an aerial map, and displays Zestimate® home valuations, homes for sale, homes for rent, Rent Zestimates, Make Me Move® listings and recently sold data on the homes around them. Additional features on the Zillow BlackBerry App include:

• Multiple search filters that include price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms and other valuable home-related information.
• Homes viewable on a map with high-resolution satellite and street view.
• Home search by location or by typing in a city, ZIP code or address.

You can download the Zillow BlackBerry App for free from App World here. For more info visit www.zillow.com/blackberry/

[qrcode pix=120]http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/35741?lang=en[/qrcode]App World Code

[qrcode pix=120]http://www.zillow.com/blackberry/[/qrcode] Direct website

 

via:n4bb

Secure mobile payments appeal to 94% of North Americans

A recent study conducted by payment solution provider Mobio Identity Systems suggests that North Americans are eager to see mobile payments become a reality. At the same time, however, security is a top concern for the majority of potential users. Mobio recently surveyed 1,085 people across North America and found that the overwhelming majority — 94% — would use mobile payments if they knew the system was secure. Mobio’s study also found that 73% of respondents said security was their main concern regarding mobile payments, while 12.4% said simplicity and 8.5% said speed. As such, it’s safe to say companies looking to bring mobile payments to the mainstream market must focus a tremendous amount of effort on security. As luck would have it, this study just so happens to come from a firm that specializes in mobile payment security solutions. Will wonders never cease?

[Via NFC World] / BGR