Google’s Motorola buy could spell trouble for Android partners

By now, you’ve no doubt seen the news: Google intends to acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. What this will do is not only give Google access to Motorola’s vast patent library consisting of nearly 25,000 patents, but it will also give Google an end-to-end hardware and software strategy with smartphones, tablets and even with Google TV. The thing is, Google didn’t need to buy Motorola. Google could have just licensed the patents from Motorola. Google bought Motorola because it felt like control of the Android experience was slipping away. It’s apparent that one Nexus-like device from Google a year won’t be enough — MOTOBLUR has probably given Andy Rubin ulcers — and it’s apparent that a company that’s leading in many areas of the smartphone arena wants to control that entire experience. Open or not, it is Google’s, after all. Smartphones and tablets are also going to be the biggest categories in technology for the foreseeable future, and if you think Google is just going to play around with that, well, you obviously haven’t seen the company’s recent moves.

Read on for more.

T-Mobile to offer prepaid phone in 6,000 Family Dollar locations

T-Mobile announced on Tuesday that it is now offering the LG GS170, a prepaid phone, in 6,000 Family Dollar stores around the United States. As you might expect from a phone being sold at a dollar store, the $30 GS170 offers a relatively basic feature set. It offers a large keypad, a VGA camera, Bluetooth 2.1 and support for e-mail. The phone will be available with T-Mobile’s no annual contract Monthly 4G plans, which includes the carrier’s $50 unlimited talk, text and web option. “T-Mobile’s track record for providing quality service and customer support fits well with our culture and commitment to the customer, and we are very excited to take our partnership to the next level and begin selling the company’s devices as well,” Family Dollar divisional vice president Bob Giles said, suggesting that Family Dollar will begin to stock more T-Mobile devices in the future.

Read on for the full press release.

FCC filings Monday's

We here at NHCBBA  tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol’ Federal Communications Commission’s site. Since we couldn’t possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we’ve gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don’t need). Enjoy!

Phones

Read – LG LS700
Read – LG E730
Read – LG P690F
Read – LG P690G
Read – Samsung GT-3778
Read – Samsung GT-S5270K
Read – RIM BlackBerry Bold 9930
Read – RIM BlackBerry Torch 2
Read – Huawei C6050
Read – Sony Ericsson CT18a
Read – Sony Ericsson CK17i (Xperia Mini Pro)
Read – Motorola XT311

Peripherals

Read – Sierra Wireless AC754S (AT&T Elevation 4G)

 

via: engagdet

AT&T intros $50 unlimited GoPhone plan

On Tuesday AT&T officially announced that its customers can now sign up for a $50 unlimited GoPhone plan that includes unlimited text, talk, and web for $50 per month. AT&T’s GoPhone option does not require a contract and it also allows customers to text Mexico, Canada, and 100 other countries at no additional cost. AT&T’s new pricing is a considerable drop from the original$60 per month GoPhone option, which just provided unlimited talk and text.Read on for the full release.

Prepaid Calling Just Got Better: Nationwide Unlimited Talk, Text & Web Plan Now Available for $50

AT&T Customers Can Save More Than 20% With No Long-term Commitment Starting June 26

Dallas, Texas, June 21, 2011

Key Facts

• Consumers can sign up for an unlimited talk, text and web nationwide GoPhone^® plan for $50 per month starting on June 26 with AT&T* — a savings of more than 20%.
• Plan includes unlimited text and instant messaging to Mexico, Canada and 100 additional countries.
• Customers can apply this new GoPhone plan to quick messaging phones such the Pantech P7040p, available for purchase on the same day for $59.99.
• Available to new and existing GoPhone customers with a feature phone.

Customer Benefits

AT&T GoPhone customers can now take advantage of a new unlimited talk, text and web nationwide plan for $50 per month. Unlimited text and instant messaging to Mexico, Canada and 100 other countries are also included at no additional cost.

GoPhone service can be purchased at AT&T company-owned retail stores, online at att.com/gophone and thousands of authorized retailers nationwide. Smartphone customers can choose unlimited talk and text for $50 and select one of three data package options from $5 to $25.

Earlier this month, AT&T announced the new Pantech P7040p, a stylish quick messaging phone, would also be available on June 26 in company-owned retail stores for $59.99. With a full keyboard, the Pantech P7040p is ideal for maximizing the value of this new plan.

Quotes

“As summer approaches, consumers want a plan that provides even more value as they connect with their loved ones in the U.S and abroad,” said Judy Cavalieri, vice president, Voice and Prepaid Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “GoPhone provides customers a unique opportunity to experience the dependability and availability of AT&T’s national wireless network with no long term commitment.”

GoPhone Portfolio

AT&T offers a wide selection of plans and handsets for prepaid customers – everything from feature phones to smartphones with no long-term contract, credit check, or deposit. In April, AT&T launched LG Thrive™, the first Android smartphone available for GoPhone customers. Smartphones require a separate data package to access data/web services.

Learn more about GoPhone offerings at http://www.att.com/gophone.

via: BGR

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

India telecom company to take on BlackBerry with Bharat Berry

BlackBerry news from India heats up as Indian telecom operator, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), has launched a alternative to BlackBerry services last Friday. The service, Bharat Berry, takes the stage as a less expensive and more accessible replacement option for those BlackBerry users who are under the threat of BlackBerry services being cut off by the India government. Features of the service include:

• Works with all compatible Mobile phones
• Works with your Corporate mail, Gmail and your personal email accounts
• Has all data and communication functionalities you are used to
• Provides over the air (OTA) Contact and Calendar backup
• Is an India-compliant solution

This means that the Bharat Berry service will allow users to have their emails pushed to their device, as well as on the go synchronization of calendar and contacts for multiple mail accounts. The service has been “tested on several entry-level handsets,” according to Dr Ajay Data, director, Bharat Berry Technologies.

Executive Director (Wireless Services), MTNL, AK Bhargava said:

BharatBerry is an Indian compliant Product made by Bharat Berry technologies in India keeping in consideration all necessary India laws; the necessary approval from all respective agencies have been received before launching this service for Delhi GSM subscribers. While the services offered by other providers are handset-based, Bharat Berry service can run on any Java-enabled normal GPRS-enabled handset like Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Blackberry, HTC, etc and ensures that you remain connected to your email, calendar and contacts through the servers hosted in India.

The cost of the Bharat Berry monthly subscription rate will be Rs 80 (about $1.77) to use along with any standard data plan.

• Visit the Bharat Berry site for more details

via:bbos

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.

IDC Q4 2010 Smartphone Analysis Shows Huge Mobile Growth

 

DC released its Q4 2010 world smartphone market analysis and it shows some impressive growth for not only the mobile market, but for smartphones in general. Recently, we talked about BlackBerry in South Korea, and according to IDC, Korea had the biggest smartphone appetite in Asia this quarter accounting two-thirds of phones shipped in 4Q10, up from one-eighth a year ago. In Western Europe, the BlackBerry 8520 was among the region’s top sellers and contributed to the overall market’s growth.

The United States saw vendors like RIM and Apple maintain a healthy lead and in Canada, Android, Apple and RIM prevailed. Again, it’s all about smartphone growth and users are aggressively turning in their feature phones for smartphones. In Latin America, Nokia, RIM, and Samsung had strong smartphone sales, as well as relative newcomer Huawei.

Despite all of this, RIM did not make it into IDC’s Top 5 Mobile Vendors list. The Top 5 are Nokia, Samsung, LG, ZTE, and Apple. It’s not clear how accurate IDC numbers are but it seems like RIM may have slipped a little in the global ranks.

 

IDC Q42010 Press Release http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=47732006&access_key=key-1mh3n5zx0d3hl47n8z7h&page=1&viewMode=list

RIM has a 10yr business model; BlackBerry ‘super phones’ coming when the price is right?

In an interview at CES 2011 with PCMag, Co-CEO and founder of Research In Motion, Mike Lazaridis, commented on the present and future of BlackBerry products. Mike did solidify even further the plan to bring QNX to BlackBerry handheld smartphones, or ‘super phones’ as they’re being dubbed. The only catch is the the new ‘super phones’ will have to be dual-core in order to efficiently handle the QNX operating system. As it stands, Mike does not think current multi-core processors are what they want to use due to “Battery life, size, weight, thickness, cost,” not being up to their standards.

While it appears Mike has no fear of the current competition, stating “I think in this kind of business you have to have a lot of planning. It’s one thing to take a reference design and package it. It’s another thing to build a platform that can grow with your customers’ needs, that can grow with where the market is going as opposed to where the market is today. To provide that uncompromised performance for enterprise, for government, for large corporations as well as provide an experience for the consumer that’s unique,” it is unclear when we might see a BlackBerry ‘super phone’.