Samsung May Be Apple's First Real Mobile Competitor: Analysts - Mobile and Wireless - News & Reviews - eWeek.com

Samsung May Be Apple's First Real Mobile Competitor: Analysts - Mobile and Wireless - News & Reviews - eWeek.com


This week, smartphone giants Nokia, Motorola Mobility and Samsung posted fourth-quarter earnings that, each in its own way, reflected the looming presence—and successes—of Apple....

Loss of iPhone exclusivity will cause 'rocky' time for AT&T, CEO says - Computerworld

Loss of iPhone exclusivity will cause 'rocky' time for AT&T, CEO says - Computerworld

AT&T's loss of its exclusive hold on Apple's iPhone will make early 2011 "rocky, volatile and hard to predict" for the carrier, CEO Randall Stephenson said in a conference call with analysts on Thursday...

Nokia sees profits fall, new competition in emerging markets

Nokia sees profits fall, new competition in emerging markets

Nokia's fourth quarter of 2010 was dark, with operating profit down 26 percent and China ZTE starting to muscle in on its business in emerging markets.

Finland’s Nokia might still be the biggest mobile phone maker on the planet, but the company has been dealt repeated body blows in the smartphone market first by the Apple iPhone and more recently by the Android ecosystem...

Android Tablet, Smartphone Boost Samsung in Q4 - PCWorld Business Center

Android Tablet, Smartphone Boost Samsung in Q4 - PCWorld Business Center

Samsung Electronics reported a fresh all-time sales high in the fourth quarter, boosted by two products with Google's Android mobile OS on board...

New Sidekick Images Surface

T-Mobile 4G Sidekick images surface

T-Mobile has said they are re-introducing the Sidekick. Now there are some images surfacing of the new mobile device. The Sidekick was popular when it was first introduced a while back. But with all the new smartphones coming out, will it regain it's popularity?

2011: The Year Of The Tablet And Smartphone

It's being said the 2011 will be the year of the smartphone. It also should be a year that brings a real boom to the tablet market. The technological advancements this year should be head spinning. And most tech nerds will be creaming their jeans all year.

So what will be the top smartphones and tablets coming out this year? What improvements will be made? What cool new ideas will be sprung?

Well here's a list of the top 5 tablets and smartphones that will hit the market at some point this year. And from the looks of it, there may be a surprise or two in store.

The Mobile Phone Market Is Exploding

Around 15 years ago, seeing someone with a cell phone was all that common. People had them, but there were quite a few that didn't. Nowadays, it's rare to see someone without cell phone.

Last quarter, the mobile phone market worldwide surged 17.9%, according to a report issued Friday from the analysis firm IDC. That's the biggest quarterly increase reported by the firm, ever!

IDC has linked the growth to an increase in affordable smartphones across the globe.

"The mobile phone market has the wind behind its sails," said Kevin Restivo, who is IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker senior research analyst. "Mobile phone users are eager to swap out older devices for ones that handle data as well as voice, which is driving growth and replacement cycles."

IDC also reports that cell phone shipments should increase 43.7% over last year. This si always good news for the consumer because it signals an increase in competition, which means a decrease in price as companies will try to compete for customers.

How Much Will It Cost To Switch To A Verizon iPhone From AT&T

There will be an estimated 2.5 million customers wanting to switch from AT&T to the Verizon iPhone when it comes out. And there's no doubt that those people are trying to figure out exactly how much that will cost.

There are a number of factors that can influence the cost of change. Things like data usage and when you bought your iPhone are things that can have an impact on how much you have to shell out.

First off, if you don't want to buy a new iPhone then you won't be able to switch. Because of technical differences between the two networks, any current iPhone out there will not work on Verizons network. Do right off the bat, it'll cost ya $200 for a new iPhone.

How much data do you use? Depending on how much you use per month means you could pay less, or more, with Verizon. Customers with AT&T pay $15 a month for 200 MB of data, or $25 for 2 GB, plus an additional $10 for each GB of monthly data usage that goes over the allotted 2 GB limit.

Verizon is offering unlimited data for $30 a month, but there are loopholes you have to jump through to get it. The major one being that you have to already have had unlimited data with Verizon previously.

Believe it or not, if your old iPhone is in good condition it may cost you less. If you trade in, for example, a 32GB iPhone 4 it could get you a $285 Verizon gift card. Even older iPhones can get you a little cash. A 16GB 3GS could get you upwards of $116.

The bottom line is that it's going to cost you to switch. It's just a matter of what kind of deal you can get.

The Focus Of Macworld 2011

The Macworld expo floor officially opened yesterday in San Francisco. This year, there will be more of an emphasis on third party companies.

Since Apple reps won't be at the show or unveiling any new products, the focus can shift onto other things. Namely the little guys that may not get any attention when the computer giant casts a huge shadow over the weekend.

Estimates of around 250 vendors pitching their products to an increased attendance of over 21,000 people should set the stage for some really cool new products for Mac users.

Because there will be no new hardware revealed, there will be a lot more attention on things like software and products centered around the Apple mobile products like the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The iPad should get most of the focus because of the products potential.

It will be interesting to see recaps of the show and some of the cool new products that surface.

Verizon Could See 25 Million iPhone Subscribers In 2011

With Verizon coming out with the iPhone just around the corner it will be interesting to see what kind of chunk they take out of the pie. Some seem to think it will be fairly large.

William Power, an analyst with RW Baird & Co., has said he figures that the potential number of Verizon iPhone users could reach 25 million in 2011. Those numbers aren't a prediction as much as they are a directional number, based on eligibility and would be constrained by Apple's ability to produce enough handsets.

Another number that is a bit of a surprise is that only 5.6 percent of AT&Ts existing customers said they'd be interested in switching over to Verizon. Many thought that a good chunk of Verizons customers would be former AT&T customers jumping ship.

Some Info On Google Androids Honeycomb

The Android has a new OS called Honeycomb that is apparently looking quite amazing. Google's vice president of engineering in charge of Android had this to say in a recent blog post:

Honeycomb is the next version of the Android platform, designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. We've spent a lot of time refining the user experience in Honeycomb, and we've developed a brand-new, truly virtual and holographic user interface. Many of Android's existing features will really shine on Honeycomb: refined multitasking, elegant notifications, access to over 100,000 apps on Android Market, home screen customization with a new 3D experience, and redesigned widgets that are richer and more interactive. We've also made some powerful upgrades to the Web browser, including tabbed browsing, form auto-fill, syncing with your Google Chrome bookmarks, and incognito mode for private browsing.

CNET did a really good overview of Honeycomb that's definitely worth the read. Check it out here. This new Android OS, and whatever tablet runs it, may wind up giving the iPad a run for it's money.

AT&T Gives Some Unlimited Data

Verizon is releasing the iPhone 4 very soon to it's customers and this will no doubt strike fear in AT&T. For a while, AT&T was the only show in town as far as iPhone 4 carriers went. But now that there's a new gun in town, AT&T has to up the ante.

In a move that signals AT&Ts fears, the company is allowing those who had unlimited data plans in the past to be able to have them again. The policy is no good for new AT&T customers who have never had the unlimited data plan.

AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel wouldn't confirm the option to return to an unlimited plan. "We handle customers and their situations individually, and we're not going to discuss specifics," he said.

Regardless of what the reasoning is for AT&T to make this possible, the bottom line is that the consumer wins. This gives customers much more leverage than they had before. And this, my friends, is why monopolies are no good for anyone but the person that is doing the monopolizing.

Get a Free iPad - How You Could Get a Free iPad in 3 Steps

When Apple released the iPad earlier last year there were questions around it's functionality and whether or not it was just another gadget. Now it seems that every day that goes by another useful app comes out for it, making it seem like there's no end to it's usefulness. If you'd like to get your hands on one here's your chance. With just 3 simple steps you can have a chance to get a free iPad.

Lots of companies were offering to give away the iPad for free. However there are a lot of people that think these offers are nothing but scams. What they don't realize is that a good majority of these offers are put together by third party companies that are 100% legit. They are able to give away these products because they generate money through their advertising, which allows them to get a certain amount of iPads, for example, that they can give away for free.

So here's your chance to get an iPad and not have to pay anything for it. All you have to do is complete 3 simple steps for your chance to cash in. This is a great offer so don't miss out:

1. Enter your zip code to check and see if you qualify for the offer
2. Fill out a quick information sheet
3. Choose what offer you're interested in to complete

Unfortunately, for all you residents outside the U.S., this offer is available to U.S. citizens only that are over the age of 18.

So there you have it. That's all that's required for your chance to get a free iPad. Just click here to check out the offer and get started. Don't miss out on this great opportunity.

Complete 3 Simple Steps and You Could Get a Free iPhone 4

The new Apple iPhone 4 is one of the hottest products available right now. It broke sales records for Apple upon it's release, beating the previous records held by Apples other release this year the iPad. Now is your opportunity for a chance to get a free iPhone 4.

The iPhone 4 has been selling like crazy and with good reason. The new features like Facetime and multitasking make this a huge step up from the previous model, the 3GS. Now you can use multiple apps of functions at once without having to close one down and open up another. The Facetime feature is a truly great innovation and gives a whole new dimension to cell phone usage.

The iPhone 4 isn't cheap, as most Apple products usually aren't. Not to mention the fact that they're quite hard to get. But this is your opportunity to forget about all that because you could get one for free. All you have to do is follow 3 easy steps and the iPhone 4 could be yours for free:

1. Enter your zip code to see if you qualify for the offer
2. Fill out some quick information
3. Choose an offer to complete

Take note that this offer is available to U.S. citizens only that are over the age of 18.

So that's it. That's all you need to do for your chance to get a free iPhone 4. Just click here to check out this great offer. You don't want to miss out on this one.

News Corp Coming To iPad

It looks like were going to be getting the first big time digital newspaper made exclusively for tablet devices. It was really only a matter of time.

On Feb. 2nd, News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch and Apple Vice President of Internet Services Eddy Cue will introduce the Daily, a digital newspaper for tablet devices.

Companies that publish magazines and newspapers will watch this closely. They are hoping that this will lead to a revival in the industry that has seen some serious low points recently. The digital publication will be available only in the U.S. at first, but will be closely watched and analyzed.

iPad And iPhone Gearing Up For Final Draft

Anyone who is into writing movies knows how amazing Final Draft is. It makes writing scripts a fill in the blank exercise. That is, if you have an idea for a movie of course. Well now Final Draft is about to get much more accessible.

According to Final Drafts Facebook page, an app to bring the software to the iPhone and iPad is in the final stages of development and should be available later this spring.

The iOS app will be compatible with version 8 FDX files and will support two-way transfer which will allow you to easily move your script from your iOS to your desktop and vice versa.

Once again, Apple is showing just how amazing the iPad, and iPhone, really is. And the further along the iPad goes, the more amazing stuff will surface for it.

Could The Verizon iPhone Knock Out The Android

When the iPhone 4 was only available through AT&T, it allowed other carriers to feature other smartphones. for example, Verizon was able to really focus on the Android because it was the top smartphone available to Verizon clients.

Now that the iPhone is available to Verizon customers, could this mark the end of the Android and other smartphones?

Here is an interesting article that gives 10 reasons why Verizons new deal could annoy Android smartphone makers

2GB Teathering For $20 On Verizon iPhone

So it looks like Verizon is offering the same deal to it's iPhone subscribers as it does to it's other smartphone subscribers.

Yesterday, Brenda Raney, who is executive director of corporate communications for Verizon Wireless, told MacWorld that there will be a $20 a month plan for 2GB of data. Anything over that amount will cost an additional $20 per GB.

Something that sets Verizon apart from AT&T is the "Personal Hotspot". The "Personal Hotspot" allows the user to connect with up to 5 WiFi devices.

The Verizon iPhone will also feature a revamped antenna, which will no doubt help it avoid the major reception problem the AT&T iPhone had.

AT&T Says iPhone Subscriber Growth Missed Expectations

During the final quarter, AT&T activated 4.1 million iPhones. And believe it or not, that didn't meet expectations.

The fact that Verizon is planning it's iPhone launch is said to be part of the lower than expected subscribers. The company reported a $1.09 billion profit for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2010, which was short of its $2.7 billion profit from the same quarter last year.

The result was 400,000 new contract customers during the quarter, 100,000 subscribers short of Wall Street's consensus view.

AT&T now has to sit back and see how many customers jump into Verizon contracts. It now becomes a waiting game.

Facebook Denies Phone Rumor

So it looks like there may not be a Facebook phone after all. Earlier today Facebook came out and claimed they are not in talks with HTC to put out a new phone.

"This is really just another example of a manufacturer who has taken our public APIs (application programing interfaces) and integrated them into their device in an interesting way," claimed Dan Rose, who is head of business development at Facebook.

The news was started yesterday by Londons City AM. The news spread fairly quickly, which prompted Facebook to put out a response.

iPads Starting To Enter Into Schools

The Alabama school board is taking a very large leap in the technology department. The Limestone County school system is bringing in iPads for it's school board members in an attempt to cut down on paper usage. Here is a blurb:

Technology Director Karen Tucker said iPad tablets are easier to manage and more reliable than the laptops that school board members have now. Superintendent Barry Carroll told The News Courier that it's the most efficient and budget-neutral way to go paperless.

This is a very interesting move that, when you think about it, could signal a whole new era of school interaction and learning. If the school board is willing to bring the in for faculty, then there's a chance that in the future students could be using them as well. It's an interesting concept that will be looked at very closely I'm sure.

Click here to find out how you could get a free iPad.

Making Purchases Through Your iPhone And iPad May Be On The Way

It wasn't too long ago that the idea of making purchases using your cell phone was being thought about. That idea could become a reality by the end of the year.

It turns out according to reports, the next iPad and iPhones coming out will come equipped with technology that allows you to make purchases. The new devices will incorporate "ear field communication" (NFC), which allows the secure transmission of information to and from a receiver up to four inches away.

This could be the used much the same as MasterCards PayPass feature, and may even allow you to transfer money from one device to another. The terminals needed to facilitate the technology may be given away to help incorporate the new technology.

Click here to find out how you could get a free iPhone 4. And click here to find out how you could get a free iPad.

Verizon Hints At Voice Plans Starting At $39.99

Hmmm. It seems as though the Apple store may have let the cat out the bag. AppleInsider reported earlier this morning that the Apple online store had put up information on Verizon iPhone voice plans starting at $39.99 per month. Here's a blurb from the article:

For a short time Wednesday morning, customers could view both the 16GB and 32GB CDMA iPhone models compatible with Verizon's network, which will be available for $199 and $299, respectively, with a two-year contract. The carrier's standard entry-level individual plan comes with 450 minutes for $39.99 per month, while 900 minutes costs $59.99 per month, and "Nationwide Unlimited" is $69.99 per month.

Verizon will also offer "Family SharePlans" with 700 minutes for $69.99, 1,400 minutes for $89.99, 2,000 minutes for $99.99 and "Nationwide Unlimited" for $119.99.

As fast as the info appeared on the Apple site however, it was removed even faster. The message was removed and now visitors are left with the following message: "Your request couldn’t be processed. We’re sorry, but there was an error processing your request. Please try again later."

Very curious indeed...

Facebook Coming Out With Cell Phone

Looks like Facebook is gonna get in on the cell phone market. Londons City AM announced today that smartphone manufacturer HTC will launch 2 Facebook branded cell phones.

HTC is due to make the announcement of the phones at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona.

Apparently, the phone is expected to run on a slightly modified version of Google Androids OS. The home screen will feature the Facebook users profile content and messages. HTC has come up with a draft of the phone that features the color scheme and logo of the social media giant.

White iPhone 4 Being Released Soon?

People have been waiting some time now for the White iPhone 4 to be released. When the iPhone 4 was released last year, only the black model was released initially. But most people thought the white one wouldn't be far behind. Well, it's been awhile and it still hasn't been released. But there are rumors starting to swirl of the iPhone 4 white release.

There has been a rumor going around that the white iPhone 4 will be released February 27th, but it's still not confirmed. Visual evidence came from Best Buy, which you can check out here, where on the order page it stated that they will be available for purchase on the 27th. But Apple has not confirmed or denied this date.

The only thing people can do is wait, which they've been doing for quite some time now. It will be interesting, however, if Apple offers up an explanation upon the white iPhone 4s release as to why the phone took so long to come out. But somehow I doubt it.

Posted via email from free-iphone-4's posterous