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2010-01-01T12:13:00.004+09:00

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First Android Phone which will be launching in Korea

2009-12-31T11:25:00.002+09:00

Motorola Sholes Tablet XT720 Specifications

Date of Launch : Jan 2010
Carrier: SKT
Cortex A8 quad-core processor
OS: Android 2.0 (or 2.1) with full suite of Google applications
Support for 3G (WCDMA / HSDPA 10.2M / HSUPA 5.76M) HSUPA/ HSDPA
WLAN (WAPI / WIFI) 802.11 b/g with DLNA
3.7-inch Touch-screen, 480 x 854 Resolution, super FWVGA capacitance, high-definition display
Camera and video Camera : 8MP, Auto Focus, Xenon Flash
Soft Keyboard(No QWERTY Keyboard)
Accelerometer, Built-in gravity sensor, infrared proximity sensors, ambient light sensor
720 p Video via HDMI
3.5mm headphone jack
aGPS, DMB service
32GB Micro-SD(HC)
FM Stereo FM radio
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Micro USB Port, USB 2.0
Maps 2.0
Support for MP3/AAC/AACv1/AACv2/AMR-NB/AMR-WB/MIDI/MIDI/WAV/Ogg Vorbis
Supported video formats MPEG4/H.263/H.264
Support SMS, MMS, e-mail (POP3/IMAP4) and enterprise-class http://www.kandroid.org/board/board.php?board=AndroidNews&command=body&no=292

T-Mobile “Officially” Confirms Google Phone

2009-12-31T11:01:00.000+09:00

Update: Our sources are confirming a January 5th date, 9am, ordering through Google ONLY. Sadly, still no word on pricing.

T-Mobile has gone and made their expected support of the Google Phone aka Nexus One “official” this morning, albeit in a vague sort of way. According to our sources, through an internal system T-Mobile is reporting they are getting an Android device but won’t do any support for it other than “billing, coverage, features and rate plans, as we have previously stated. All troubleshooting and exchanges will be managed by Google and HTC. Launch is ‘early January.’” That’s all we’re hearing right now but we’re reaching out to sources across the board looking to find out more. Hopefully we’ll have some pictures here in a few minutes!

Right now we are hearing January 5th still, early in the morning but we can’t say if thats T-Mobile, Google or both. Hopefully with this new confirmed information, leaks will get a little more “leakable” regarding launch dates, pricing etc…

http://www.tmonews.com/2009/12/t-mobile-officially-confirms-google-phone/

Motorola to launch 2 Android handsets at CES, says some dude

2009-12-31T10:56:00.001+09:00

I usually avoid posting rumors started by analysts, because it seems like most have the batting average of a dizzy, blindfolded toddler. Alas, with CES just days away, everything worth writing about is being kept under tight lock and key; at this point, any big leaks would be like somebody ruining a surprise party by shouting “THERE’S A SURPRISE PARTY IN THERE” as the special guest walks up the driveway.

Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry,who at least has some sort of history with Motorola predictions, has a few guesses as to what Motorola will be announcing next week.

Chowdhry claims that Moto will be launching two Android-powered handsets at CES: one for AT&T, and one for Verizon. The AT&T kit will have a physical keyboard, OLED screen, and might be running stock Android rather than the Moto BLUR UI, while the Verizon piece would lack the physical keyboard — or, at least, so says Chowdhry.

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/12/30/motorola-to-launch-2-android-handsets-at-ces-says-some-dude/

Nexus One Google Phone HTC Android 2.1 Preview FR

2009-12-31T10:08:00.000+09:00

With Nexus One, Is Google Eating Its Own Dogfood Or Its Own Children?

2009-12-31T10:06:00.000+09:00

January 5. That’s the day we’ll learn all we want to know about the Nexus One. Google didn’t explicitly say anything about the device in its invites today for an “Android press gathering,” but we all know what is coming. And T-Mobile, which will be the initial carrier option for the Nexus One, does too. And while other Android devices such as the G1, the myTouch 3G, and most recently, the Droid have garnered a lot of buzz, the Nexus One could be different. And its unveiling should mark an interesting moment in the brief history of the Android platform.

Google is unveiling the Nexus One just two months (nearly to the day) after the Verizon Droid was released. The Droid, of course, was seen as the Android platform’s Messiah by some, and the one phone that could maybe hold a candle to the iPhone. Sales have been good, and the general consensus is that the phone is a winner. But now, just two months later, we have a new Android phone that by just about every account is better than it. In fact, the only real upsides for the Droid over the Nexus One is that it runs on Verizon’s network, and that it has a physical keyboard. The Verizon point is certainly a fair one — there’s a reason why everyone is clamoring for a Verizon iPhone. But the physical keyboard argument seems moot, as the consensus is that the Droid keyboard is a pretty poor one.

I don’t know about you, but I’d be pretty annoyed if I just shelled out my money for a Droid, and locked myself into a 2-year contract (even one with Verizon). It reminds me of when Apple first unveiled the iPhone for $599 then slashed the price just a few months later, leaving all the early-adopters bitter. Apple eventually gave a partial rebate to those buyers, but it still was a curious move. And Google’s is arguably worse here, as it’s not just about the money, but about the unveiling of a superior piece of hardware so quickly after it put a lot of its own marketing muscle behind the Droid, trying to convince customers that it was the Android phone to buy.

Of course, after news of the device got out, Google’s official stance was that this new Android phone was simply an experiment that it was using internally. But the “eating your own dogfood” excuse quickly evaporates when you open these devices to the public less than a month after writing that. Instead, this looks to be a situation where Google is eating its own children, or at the very least, its own tail.

All that said, while I feel for the early Droid buyers, I admire what it looks like Google is doing here from bigger picture perspective. They don’t seem to care that they’re potentially alienating their existing mobile partners by bringing their own phone, that they will sell themselves, to market. This has long been the exact argument as to why Microsoft would never make its own hardware. (Of course, that stance is not working out so well for them right now as Windows Mobile market share continues to fall.) It would appear that Google realizes that the best way to make a truly great mobile device is to take control of most of it themselves.

The single biggest reason that the iPhone is great is because Apple is in nearly complete control of it. In fact, the only thing they’re not in control of, AT&T’s network, is its greatest weakness. Before the iPhone, no device manufacturer, let alone software manufacturer, had anywhere near the type of control that Apple does over a mobile device. With Nexus One, Google is moving in that direction too. And that’s the right call.

I have no doubt that at their event, Google will have plenty of spin for why they are taking the reins on this device. I’m sure we’ll hear about the dogfood aspect, I’m sure we’ll hear about how great this device is for developers, and I’m sure we’ll hear about “choices” (as in, there are a huge range of Android phones on a wide range of carriers). But make no mistake, the Nexus One will be the Android phone to get. And I suspect that will be the case until Google comes out with the Nexus Two. Hopefully, that won’t be in a couple months from now.

And I hope Google continues down this path. If they do, they’ll be taking power away from the carriers and traditional mobile handset manufacturers, and giving more of it to consumers in the U.S. Those guys have had their time; they have failed. The next logical step for Google along this path is to create a device that can run on both GSM and CDMA networks, so any consumers can pop in any SIM card from any carrier and use their device as they see fit. Of course, obtaining a SIM card without a contract from some of the carriers will still likely be an issue, but moves like this from Google can help pressure them into that.

And further down the line, as we move into the 4G networks, interoperability might actually be something that we see. Imagine a U.S. where the carriers have to have the best network or customers will just leave and join another one as they see fit. Androids may dream of electric sheep, but that’s what I dream about.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/29/nexus-one-google-droid/

The Apparent Cost Of Nexus One Freedom: $530. Why It Still Matters.

2009-12-31T10:01:00.001+09:00

After our earlier post on the Nexus One, there was a lot of debate surrounding how much the thing would cost. It appears that this information is out there now. According to some leaked documents sent to Gizmodo, the Nexus One will be $529.99 unlocked and $179.99 if you sign up for a two-year T-Mobile contract (which runs $79.99 a month). This information is not 100% confirmed, but it seems in line with earlier reports and common sense.

So what does this mean? Well, at first glance, it’s pretty standard, really. For example, you can buy an iPhone without having to sign up for a contract, but it will cost you $599 or $699 depending on the storage size of the device. With a contract, those models run $199 and $299, respectively. The difference is that those phones, and many of the others you can buy without a contract, are still carrier-locked. That means that even if you buy them without a monthly contract, you will eventually have to sign-up for some kind of plan through that carrier, if you plan to use that device. That is, unless you plan to manually unlock it, something which in most cases voids the warranty — if it works at all.

But Google is supposedly selling this $530 Nexus One completely unlocked. That means that you can use it with any carrier — provided that carrier is running a compatible GSM network, which the Nexus One is built to run on. In the U.S., that basically means the device will be able to run on T-Mobile or AT&T. Though given earlier leaked specs, it would seem that if you do run it on AT&T, it may only work with EDGE data, and not the faster 3G variety. In other words, the thing still is rather locked down. In order to use it to its full potential in the U.S., you’ll likely want to be using it with T-Mobile anyway. But that’s not so bad since T-Mobile offers pay-as-you go SIM cards, though they are not a great deal.

Still, the fact remains that this in an important moment in the mobile industry in the U.S. While unlocked phones are common abroad, they’re almost unheard of here where the carriers rule with an iron fist. The iPhone was able to break this domination somewhat, but they’re still only tied to one carrier (AT&T). Google directly selling an unlocked phone, even if it’s limited, is a big step in the right direction. As we noted earlier, the next step for them is to sell an unlocked device that is compatible with both GSM and CDMA networks, then things will really start to get interesting. And even if they don’t do that, in the next couple of years, the next generation LTE networks will come into play, and those promise a more unified mobile experience from a hardware perspective.

So yes, while it’s true that Google is unlikely to be selling a $530 phone in droves, its existence means something. It points to a future where the carriers don’t dominate the mobile scene with their ridiculous contracts and lock-in policies. And that’s a good thing.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/29/nexus-one-price/

Android This Week: Google’s Phone Gets Buzz; Who Will Sell Sony Ericsson’s?

2009-12-29T10:33:00.001+09:00

Substantial buzz continues to surround Google’s Nexus One Android phone. This week specifications came out for it, and they do make it look like the most powerful Android handset yet, although predictions about it being hugely disruptive seem overblown. One big question being asked about this phone is whether Google Voice, Google Talk and other services could enable people to use it without cellular plans. Meanwhile, check out this video walkthrough of the phone.

Also this week, Mplayit launched its Facebook-centric take on how to get Android apps — akin to an app store. It’s designed to make Android apps more discoverable than they are on Android Market, and includes social sharing features.

Plus, the FCC recently approved two versions of Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X10 Android-based phone — one for AT&T and one for T-Mobile. Who will actually sell it though? Neither company has confirmed plans to sell the device, as InformationWeek notes this week. The first quarter of next year is when we’ll know for sure.

Meanwhile, lots of people welcomed the Android version of Buzzd, the social city and nightlife mobile app. It culls data from Twitter and shows graphical views of which locations in a given area are being talked about. And those hungry for new Android apps will also want to check out NPR’s new offering. It uses open-source code and an open API that will allow developers and NPR stations to iterate and improve the app in the future. Good idea.

http://gigaom.com/2009/12/26/android-this-week-googles-phone-gets-buzz-who-will-sell-sony-ericssons/

Android, iPhone & the Freelance Nation

2009-12-29T10:31:00.001+09:00

There’s no question that 2010 is going to be a big year for Google’s Android operating system, which means it’s also going to be competing with Apple’s iPhone for developer attention next year. Apple’s iPhone ecosystem so far has an advantage. Google has some teething problems it needs to resolve..

The competition between these two ecosystems is what prompted me to ask Menlo Park, Calif.-based startup oDesk for a historical comparison of the number of iPhone and Android jobs listed on its marketplace. oDesk is a marketplace that connects freelance developers (and others) with those with jobs for them. I thought it could be a rough indicator of developer interest in the two platforms. oDesk obliged. According to its data, there’s been a slight uptick in the number of Android jobs. iPhone seems to be holding its own. Another data point to note: There are 2,071 iPhone developers listed on oDesk vs. 624 Android developers.

http://gigaom.com/2009/12/26/android-iphone-odesk/

For Apple, a Holly Jolly Christmas

2009-12-29T09:46:00.001+09:00

Apple, it seems, had a very nice Christmas — thanks to booming sales of its iPod touch. Apple’s App Store saw a a sharp spike in downloads during the month of December, according to results of a study conducted by Flurry Media, a San Francisco-based mobile analytics company. In 2008, when Apple’s App Store saw similar spikes during the holiday season, the company later reported strong sales of its two flagship products, the iPhone and iPod touch.

The iPod touch, in particular, seems to be enjoying strong sales this year. According to Amazon.com, the 8GB version of the iPhone was one of the best-selling devices during the 2009 holiday season and “Amazon customers bought enough 8GB iPod touches to play 442 years of continuous music.” Flurry’s data offers more anecdotal information about the hotness of the iPod touch.

App downloads on the iPod touch soared past the iPhone for the first time.
iPod touch 3G downloads increased by more than 900 percent on Christmas Day vs. the average of all previous Fridays in December.
Total iPod touch downloads (all generations) jumped by over 1,000 percent on Christmas Day.
iTunes gift card giving may have driven downloads to older-generation iPod touch devices.

The strong sales of the iPod touch reaffirm my longstanding belief that it’s a critical weapon in Apple’s battle against its smartphone rivals including Google. Here are some of our previous posts that you might enjoy:

All Hail the iPod Touch
Is the iPod Touch a Bigger Game Changer Than the iPhone?
Is iPhone the New Gaming Platform?
With iPod Touch (& iPhone) Apple Will Rule the Mobile Web
http://gigaom.com/2009/12/28/for-apple-a-holly-jolly-christmas/

Mobile Web's Explosive Growth

2009-12-28T17:20:00.004+09:00

Mobile ad firm AdMob has revealed the dramatic changes the mobile industry has seen in their latest Mobile Metrics Report, released just this morning. Believe it or not, it was only a year ago that the Motorola RAZR scored as the number one phone here in the U.S. while the iPhone was the only touchscreen device to even make the list of top ten handsets.
Only a year later, and so much has changed. Now half of the top ten are touchscreen devices, six include Wi-Fi capabilities, and six have mobile application stores. And as you would expect, this new crop of super-powered phones are making heavy use of the mobile web.

Key Takeaway #1: iPhone Still the Top Smartphone Worldwide and Has Traffic to Prove It

Among the devices making the heaviest use of the mobile web are the iPhone and its non-smartphone counterpart, the iPod Touch. The data traffic created by these two handhelds has increased 19 times from September 2008 to this past month and now accounts for 43% of all smartphone requests worldwide. In the U.S., that percentage is even slightly higher, with iPhone traffic accounting for nearly half (48%) of all smartphone requests.

Apple devices (iPhone and iPod Touch) also claim the top two spots on both the U.S. and the worldwide charts of top handsets. However, feature phones like the RAZR v3 and Samsung's R450 are still making the top ten list as well and account for 60% of ad requests in the U.S. - a figure that's likely due to the unlimited data plans available with each of these devices.

Key Takeaway #2: Watch Out! Android is Rising Fast

Now climbing up the charts, Google's Android, the newcomer to the mobile operating system game, is beginning to have an impact on mobile web traffic as well. From August to September of 2009, the percentage of smartphone traffic generated by devices running the Android OS grew a whopping 13% over the course of the month. That's a dramatic increase in such a short period of time and gives credence to recent reports that Android is poised to become the number two smartphone in the worldwide market. While still far behind the iPhone OS in terms of traffic with only 17% of U.S. traffic and only 10% of traffic worldwide, Google's mobile OS is already beating out competitors like RIM, the maker of Blackberry devices, and Windows Mobile. It has also claimed two spots on the top 10 chart of handset models in the U.S with the HTC Dream coming in at number 3 and the HTC Magic coming in at number 10. Worldwide, the Dream is also number 3, but the Magic only makes it to spot number 15.

Key Takeaway #3: Outside of U.S., Mobile Web Strong in India, Indonesia, U.K., Philippines

When looking at the number of ad requests by country, the U.S. is still dominating with 47.3% of all requests coming from the States. The next nearest country, India, only comes in at 6.5%. Rounding out the top five are Indonesia, the U.K., and the Philippines. These numbers point to heavy mobile web use in each of these countries as compared with the rest of the world.

When grouped by larger regions, North America is number one with 49.5% of requests, most of that from the U.S., and the second largest region is Asia, accounting for 25.3% of requests. Western Europe, Africa, and Latin America follow with 9.4%, 5.3% and 5.0% respectively.

Looking at just percentage increases in traffic growth, a different picture appears. Latin America is showing a large percent increase year-over-year at 0.6%, second only to North America's 1.1%. Other regions in the top five, while still accounting for large numbers of requests, actually saw slight decreases in growth (less than 0.5%) over the past year.

Smartphones are Taking Over, Mobile Web Grows

While none of the data included in this report is all that surprising, it's interesting to see actual numbers put to the reported trends. We can now see the disproportionate amount of web surfing done by iPhone users, no doubt thanks to the phone's Safari web browser, a vast improvement over the browsers included in many other mobile devices on the market.

It's also worth noting how fast Android is moving up the charts right now. It could very well be the next contender to the smartphone crown, especially given the company's plans to continue spreading its OS across numerous devices worldwide. As Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently declared, "Android adoption is about to explode." Also, AdMob noted on an earlier blog entry that there are already 12 Android phones available through 32 carriers in 26 countries. By the time they release their next Mobile Metrics report, those numbers are sure to have increased.

What all this means to the consumer is that smartphones are now edging out feature phones as the devices of choice. More phones than ever come with the advanced capabilities like touchscreens, full-featured web browsers, and Wi-Fi. With features like these, more people will begin to surf the mobile web and download mobile applications. This, in turn, will drive related changes in mobile platforms, communication, e-Commerce, and more, all of which are bound to see similar upward trends over the coming months.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/admob_reports_on_mobile_webs_explosive_growth.php

Apple Will Soon Overtake RIM in Consumer Smartphone Market

2009-12-28T17:18:00.001+09:00

A new report by ChangeWave Research provides yet more evidence of the surge in consumer interest in smartphones; and of Apple's iPhone in particular. Last week we reported statistics from AdMob stating that smartphones are now edging out feature phones as the device of choice for consumers. In the race for the highly lucrative consumer smartphone market, blackberry devices still hold the lead over iPhone - but ChangeWave's data shows that the gap is rapidly closing.

We predict that it won't be long until Apple overtakes RIM as the leader in this hotly contested (and vitally important, in context of the Web's shift from PC to phones) market.

RIM's market share is creeping down, while Apple's surges up. ChangeWave puts RIM at 40% of market share, but Apple is now just 10% points behind at 30%. This was mainly due to the iPhone 3GS release, which saw Apple gain 5% since June. Meanwhile Palm's fortunes continue to sag - they're at a dismal 7% according to this report.

39% of the 4,255 people polled by ChangeWave Research said that they own a smartphone. This is an increase of 2% since June and nearly double the level of two years ago. 11.6% now say they plan on buying a smartphone in the next 90 days.

AdMob's report was particularly bullish on Apple, reporting that iPhone traffic now accounts for nearly half (48%) of all smartphone requests in the United States. The ChangeWave report adds some much-needed context into smartphone statistics, by reporting that RIM - the makers of the blackberry - remains the market leader in terms of number of devices.

More people are undoubtedly using the iPhone to surf the Mobile Web, but more people still own a blackberry device.

Perhaps the most telling statistic in the ChangeWave report, also happens to be the most qualitative. 74% of the iPhone owners that ChangeWave polled reported that they're "Very Satisfied" with their iPhone. Less than half of RIM device owners said that.

Given what these latest AdMob and ChangeWave reports found, it's clear that smartphones are poised to hit the mainstream in a big way in 2010 and beyond.

AdMob had reported that of the top 10 mobile phones in the US currently, half are touchscreen, 6 have Wi-Fi capability and 6 have mobile app stores. Apple's iPhone led the way on all of those fronts. Android, RIM and the likes of Nokia are all putting out similar smartphone devices now.

RIM still holds sway over the workplace, but Apple definitely has the momentum in the consumer market.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/apple_rim_consumer_smartphone_market.php

Droid Becomes Fastest-Selling Android Phone to Date?

2009-12-28T17:12:00.002+09:00

The Motorola Droid is the newest smartphone on the market to compete for the iPhone's crown. Released by Verizon Wireless on November 6th, the Droid's advertising campaign has been a full-frontal attack on the popular Apple smartphone with a heavy focus on what the iPhone doesn't do. "iDon't run simultaneous apps, iDon't have a real keyboard, iDon't take 5-megapixel pictures," taunts Verizon's Droid ad.

But did the message get through to potential phone buyers? It appears that it did...at least according to mobile analytics firm Flurry. In their latest report, the company found that the Droid is now the fastest-selling Android phone to date, beating the sales of the myTouch 3G by more than four times.

Droid Sales Look Good

Flurry's analytics service monitors over 10,000 mobile applications on both the iPhone and Android, or approximately two out of every three iPhone and Android handsets on the market. While obviously this isn't a look at the mobile ecosystem as a whole, it's a big enough slice to form some initial conclusions about the popularity of the latest mobile device to run Android, Google's mobile operating system.

By monitoring the new Android devices on Flurry's system, the company estimated the first-week sales for the Droid handsets as compared with both the myTouch 3G and Apple's iPhone 3GS. Although the iPhone still outsold the Droid within its first week, Flurry notes that the iPhone simultaneously launched in 8 countries worldwide while the Droid only launched in the U.S.

It's also important to note that the iPhone 3GS was just the latest model of the iPhone to arrive on the market, it is not the original device. Prior to the 3GS, the iPhone had two previous versions, the second which finally allowed for 3G cellular access and GPS capabilities. This update made the iPhone 3G a hugely popular upgrade and the company sold 1 million or so units on their opening weekend. Comparing the third generation iPhone to the first version of the Droid isn't a true "apples to apples" comparison, but on the other hand, the comparison of the T-Mobile myTouch 3G and the Droid is.

According to Flurry, Droid is dramatically outselling the myTouch 3G based on first week sales. That may say something about the quality of the Droid's hardware, the impact of a good marketing campaign or perhaps even people's frustrations with the iPhone's limitations. Or maybe a little of each. Then again, Verizon has nearly triple the number of subscribers as T-Mobile, so they already have a head start.

The Growing Power of Android

In the end, while we can't take any of these numbers to the bank, what we can learn is that the Android OS is making serious headway in the smartphone market. Although no one Android phone on its own may beat the iPhone, as more and more "worthy competitors" launch on numerous hardware platforms, the Android OS's install base may eventually catch up to that of the iPhone's.

In any event, that's what Google believes. In a recent earnings call, Google CEO Eric Schmidt proclaimed that "Android adoption is about to explode," citing 12 Android phones on 32 carriers in 26 countries. Research firm Gartner predicts that the Android OS may end up ranking second worldwide by 2012. However, if more of the Android launches prove to be as successful as it appears the Droid's may be, Android may move up the charts even faster than predicted. Of course, who ends up on top all depends on Apple's next move. If the company decides to launch their phone on more carriers, all bets are off. If that's the case, Apple's market share could double, says Morgan Stanley's Kathryn Huberty. But that doesn't necessarily mean that Android would be left far behind. "Android is "backed by the power of Google's search engine," said Huberty. "Google's other up-and-coming consumer and enterprise products should make [Android] a dominant platform."

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/droid_becomes_fastest-selling_android_phone_to_date.php

Morgan Stanley: Mobile Internet Market Will Be Twice The Size of Desktop Internet -two

2009-12-28T17:06:00.002+09:00

Morgan Stanley: Mobile Internet Market Will Be Twice The Size of Desktop Internet -one

2009-12-28T16:53:00.002+09:00

The Top 10 Mobile Applications of 2012

2009-12-28T16:34:00.001+09:00

Research firm Gartner has just put out a list of the top ten mobile applications of the future. Well, not the distant future, but the far off year of 2012. Nothing on the list is all that surprising or, in many cases, even all that new. Instead, the list includes the sorts of technologies that are just now coming into their own and haven't yet seen widespread adoption as well as the already common technologies that are still experiencing growth.

For many of the categories on this list, there are a number of mobile apps that are already available today. But what Gartner makes clear is that we're just getting started when it comes to their use.

For example, location-based services (LBS) - there still isn't one single app which everyone uses to find their friends out in the real world via their mobile phones. Instead, we have a number of similar but competing applications all vying to be the Facebook of location-based apps.

Another example is money payments - this type of service is having more of an impact in the developing world right now where access to banks is more difficult than here in the Western world where people just want the convenience of paying through their mobiles. When was the last time you paid someone or paid at checkout through your mobile phone? Never? That sounds about right.

The List

The full list is as follows:

Money Transfer: This refers to people sending money via SMS messages. Like mobile payments, this service has more appeal in developing markets for now. However, there may come a time when even using your debit card seems passé, while paying for something with actual cash seems downright ancient.
Location-Based Services: As mentioned above, there are still far too many services to choose from when it comes to location-based social networking, fragmenting the market. Your friends on Loopt are often different than those on Brightkite and that list is different than those on Foursquare. But LBS extends to more than social networks - it includes any application that taps into your phone's GPS capabilities to offer up location-based services of any kind, whether that's local business reviews or directions to the nearest Starbucks. Gartner says this will be one of the most disruptive technologies in the future, with a user base growing from 96 million in 2009 to 526 million in 2012.
Mobile Search: No, mobile search isn't new, but on the mobile platform, it may get shaken up a bit. Gartner predicts that consumers won't necessarily be sticking with the search services they know and use on the Web (think Google, Bing, Yahoo) and instead experiment with using a few different search providers that have "unique technologies" for mobile search. While that statement is a little vague, it sounds like good news for services like Taptu who have entered this field with search offerings designed from the ground-up for mobile devices.
Mobile Browsing: Saying that mobile browsing technologies will be heavily used in the future sounds a little bit like stating the obvious. But as Gartner notes, mobile browsing capabilities currently exist only on 60%+ of handsets today. By 2013, that number will climb to 80%, meaning that those who are still using the app-less,more basic feature phones will still be joining the mobile web in mass numbers over the coming years. That's also good news for web developers who can build mobile web applications to cater to this bunch as opposed to focusing all their efforts into building apps for the numerous mobile platforms like the iPhone, Android, RIM, and others.
Mobile Health Monitoring: Another technology whose impact will be felt more heavily in developing markets, mobile health monitoring is still at an early stage of maturity and implementation says Gartner. Project rollouts have been limited to pilot projects for now, but in the coming years the industry will begin to monetize these efforts by offering mobile healthcare monitoring products, services, and solutions to various care delivery organizations.
Mobile Payments: Like mobile transfers, mobile payments are more common in developing markets at the moment, but that is quickly changing. Yet even as this type of service grows, Gartner admits there will be challenges. Mobile payments will be a "highly fragmented market" where there will not be "standard practices of deployment," notes the report. That makes it sound like this is one technology that will still need some work, even when 2012 rolls around.
Near Field Communications (NFC): More popular in some European and Asian markets than in the U.S., NFC still isn't a standard feature on many of today's phones. That may be about to change, too. In late 2010, Gartner says that NFC-enabled phones will begin to ship in volume, with Asia leading deployments, followed by Europe and North America.
Mobile Advertising: Also not new but growing fast, mobile advertising is one of the most important ways to monetize mobile content. Total spending on mobile advertising in 2008 was $530.2 million and it will grow to $7.5 billion in 2012. And mobile advertising will also be used by companies alongside their other campaigns including TV, radio, print, and outdoors.
Mobile Instant Messaging: Gartner says that latent user demand and market conditions are conductive to mobile IM's future adoption. It will appeal to developing markets where mobile phones are often the only connectivity device a user owns. But will it be a major app by 2012? It seems that SMS is still the service to beat, especially in the developing world. We'll have to wait and see on this one.
Mobile Music: Sure, you have the iPhone, but what about your other options? What about mobile music services - especially those for non-iPhone devices? We're still waiting on Spotify in the U.S., for example, and their competition too. Gartner says that we're beginning to see new innovative models in this area that will include both device (think "Comes with Music") and service bundles. http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the_top_10_mobile_applications_of_2012.php

Morgan Stanley: Mobile Internet Market Will Be Twice The Size of Desktop Internet

2009-12-28T16:32:00.001+09:00

Morgan Stanley has released a couple of bulky documents about the mobile Internet: 'The Mobile Internet Report,' a 424-page report which explores eight major themes; and 'The Mobile Internet Report Key Themes,' a 659-slide presentation that drills down on thoughts covered in the report.
We've embedded both documents below.

Perhaps the most remarkable statement in the report is that the Mobile Internet market will be "at least 2x size of Desktop Internet," which Morgan Stanley bases on analysis comparing Internet users with mobile subscribers.

The report starts out by saying that Apple's iPhone/iTouch/iTunes ecosystem "may prove to be the fastest ramping and most disruptive technology product / service launch the world has ever seen." It goes on to state that "a handful of incumbents (like Apple, Google, Amazon.com and Skype) appear especially well positioned for mobile changes."

Growth in the Mobile Internet is being driven by 3G adoption and the increasing popularity of smartphones, of which the iPhone is the leader in terms of Web traffic. Morgan Stanley predicts that smartphones "will out-ship the global notebook + netbook market in 2010E and out-ship the global PC market (notebook + netbook + desktop) by 2012E."

The firm has always been bullish on mobile Internet, as Mary Meeker's Web 2.0 conference presentations over the years show. See also our analysis of Meeker's 2009 Web 2.0 presentation.

The reports are far too big to summarize here, so we recommend you read them below - or download from Morgan Stanley's website.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/morgan_stanley_mobile_internet_market.php

Motorola to show “whats next” at CES

2009-12-28T13:57:00.000+09:00

The rumor mill has been cranking way too hard over Motorola as of late for us to feel confident in taking a stab at what they may launch, but Motorola has just more or less confirmed that they'll be launching something at CES.

Got any guesses as to what it is? Drop it in the comments. We'll come back on January 7th, run through all of them, and pick someone at random from those who got it right and send them a box of fun stuff we've got laying around the office.

http://eckiller.com/2009/12/motorola-to-show-%e2%80%9cwhats-next%e2%80%9d-at-ces.html

Nexus One specs leaked, limited launch date revealed?

2009-12-28T13:55:00.001+09:00

Google’s semi-secret Nexus One handset has been more or less exhaustively leaked at this point, with very few cats left to let out of the bag. The only two major points left were the tech specs and the release date – and now, even those have made their way out.

Our friends over at Engadget just had a chat with someone who could spill the beans – and spill they did. Not only did they share the above spec sheet, but they also mentioned that Google’s planning on selling the Nexus One on an invite-only basis come January 5th.

What exactly that entails, we’ve got no idea. Who gets an invite? Certainly not Google employees – they already have the handsets. Long time Google app users? Members of the Android development community? Dudes named Greg who write about cell phones on the Internet all day? Either way, we just Google opens up sales to everyone before too long.

Highlight-worthy Specs:

3.7″ WVGA AMOLED Screen – Should be mind-blowingly gorgeous
119mm tall, 59.8 mm wide, 11.5mm thick – A hair thinner than the iPhone 3GS
512 MB RAM and 512 MB rom, with up to 32GB storage via microSD (4 GB comes in the box)
HSPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 – It’ll work on EDGE on both T-Mo and AT&T, but 3G will be T-mobile only
802.11n Wi-Fi
5 Megapixel camera with Autofocus and Flash
Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/

Clear Channel Radio Debuts Android Version of iheartradio App

2009-12-28T13:48:00.001+09:00

Clear Channel Radio already had mobile applications for iPhone, BlackBerry and Chumby devices, but today it’s adding an Android version to the line-up.

Not that there’s a lack of decent radio streaming applications on well, any platform these days, but here goes: Clear Channel Radio’s iheartradio app gives users free access to some 350 American radio stations, including a couple of artist-hosted stations from the likes of Christina Aguilera, Megadeth, Eagles and Weezer.

The app also enables you to get ‘frequently updated’ traffic reports for large markets including New York, L.A., Chicago, San Francisco and Houston.

Like its iPhone / iPod Touch sister, the iheartradio app for Android can be configured to automatically start playing a specific station upon launch, includes artwork and lyrics and also enables users to tag songs for purchase on iTunes.

To download the free app, simply log on to Android Market from your handset (Android v1.5 or higher).

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/24/clear-channel-iheartradio-android/

VoiceCentral Black Swan -two

2009-12-28T13:45:00.001+09:00

Google Voice Is Coming Back To The iPhone Via The Browser, Thanks To VoiceCentral -one

2009-12-28T13:37:00.002+09:00

Last summer, when Apple pulled third-party Google Voice applications from the App Store, one of them was VoiceCentral. Apple’s subsequent rejection of the official Google Voice app spurred an FCC investigation, but Google Voice never made it to the app store and none of the other apps ever made it back in.

Well, that’s not stopping the developers Riverturn, the company behind VoiceCentral. They are bringing back their app to the iPhone via the browser. They call it the Black Swan edition. You can get on a waiting list to be on the private beta here. The app is completely browser-based but has the look and feel of a regular app, complete with a dialer, list of transcribed voicemails, and SMS messages.

When you dial a number, Google Voice simply makes a call to your iPhone while simultaneously calling the number of the person you are trying to reach, so you still pay for the voice minutes. But the appeal of having Google Voice on your iPhone is the ability to read transcribed voicemails, or play them, and avoid SMS charges by texting through Google Voice. (You cannot yet do all of these things when you access Google Voice via the iPhone’s browser directly).

The downside is that it cannot access your contact list on your iPhone through the browser. Although, VoiceCentral mimics the look and feel of the iPhone contact manager, you have to export your contacts to Google Voice first and access them that way. Another limitation is that the audio plays through the speaker instead of through the earpiece, but if you are using a pair of earphones that is not a problem.

VoiceCentral will probably be a paid app, but Apple won’t get any of the revenues since it is simply a mobile Website. It even offers offline caching and takes advantage of the HTML5 features of mobile Safari. This could very well be the future of mobile apps. As mobile browsers become more capable, more and more developers are going to ask themselves why bother with the limitations of the App Store and be at the mercy of Apple’s whims? And it won’t just be developers like VoiceCentral who have no other choice.

Pedal Brain’s Gadget Turns Your iPhone Into A Powerful Cycling Computer

2009-12-28T13:31:00.001+09:00

For years, runners have been able to take advantage of Nike+, a nifty accessory that lets your iPod communicate with your shoes to turn it into a personal running coach of sorts. Soon, cyclists will have access to a tool that’s in the same vein as Nike+, but far more powerful. It’s called Pedal Brain, and it allows your iPhone or iPod Touch to receive and interpret data from a variety of exercise devices that use the ANT+ wireless protocol. ANT+ is used by cyclists (including many professionals) to accurately measure and analyze their performance over a ride, but until now there hasn’t been a way to connect these devices to your iPhone.

That’s where Pedal Brain comes in. The bootstrapped startup is making a small device called the Pedal Brain Synapse that plugs into your iPhone or iPod Touch and allows them to receive this data, which is then interpreted by an iPhone app. The application shows you how you’re performing in real-time (you’ll want to mount your iPhone in plain view) and can also use GPS to show the position of your team members. Once you’ve completed your ride, you’ll be able to log on to the Pedal Brain site to get more detailed analysis. The site will also have an integrated platform for coaches, so you sign up to get your own trainer to help plot your future rides and track your progress.

Pedal Brain founder Matt Bauer acknowledges that there are a handful of other cycling applications available for the iPhone, like Map My Ride, but says that these only offer basic data. That’s because they rely on your phone’s GPS for data, which can help gauge the distance you’ve travelled but can’t measure many of the things that ANT+ devices can. Bauer explains that power (in Watts) is a common metric used to gauge your progress, and can’t be accurately determined using GPS alone.

Pedal Brain’s iPhone/iPod accessory, which has already been approved by Apple, will be available through local bike shops this spring. The company is targeting a March release date and plans to sell the device for between $130 and $190. The online service will be subscription based, though users will be able to get a limited version for free (you won’t be able to track your data for longer than a couple weeks).

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/26/pedal-brain/

Samsung I8910 Omnia HD firmware improves web and multimedia performance

2009-12-28T13:26:00.002+09:00

Samsung has updated its I8910 Omnia HD with new firmware that aims to improve device responsiveness and add new features. The Omnia HD has been upgraded with a faster web interface, an improved graphics engine for faster multimedia content, and lastly, kinetic scrolling for a better touch interface.

Before the update, many users complained of the Omnia HD's poor performance. Some users even petitioned the company to address bugs on the device.

Users can download the update using Samsung's PC studio 7 or by browsing to Samsung mobile website.

http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=8449

Rumor Has It: 4th-Gen iPhone to Have 5-Megapixel Camera

2009-12-28T13:16:00.001+09:00

Evidence has emerged to back up the theory that Apple’s next iPhone iteration will have a 5-megapixel camera. It comes by way of DigiTimes, which reports that supplier OmniVision has received a sizable order for the parts necessary for the improvement.

The current model only sports a 3-megapixel sensor, which is on par with a lot of devices, but many direct iPhone competitors have begun offering better resolution hardware. Five megapixels isn’t a lot compared to most point-and-shoot cameras on the market right now, but it’s likely enough for most people’s standard usage, and should help the iPhone become even more popular than it already is on sites like Flickr.

DigiTimes is quoting unnamed sources as saying that OmniVision, the company which currently supplies the CMOS sensor for the iPhone 3GS, has received a large order for 5-megapixel versions of the core camera component, which should help it increase its output to between 40-45 million units in 2010, up from 20-21 million in 2009.

The order is set to start being manufactured sometime in the first quarter of 2010, which is in keeping with the expected June/July launch of the next-gen iPhone at WWDC.

Expect video quality to improve as a result. A move to HD video in the iPhone would definitely help the device’s chances in the mobile video market, and could even spell the end for standalone low-cost devices like the Flip HD and Sony’s recently launched competitor, the Webbie HD.

Here’s hoping the next iteration of the iPhone’s camera also handles things like night and low-light shooting better, too. Many competitors now have built-in flashes, but I don’t see Apple marring its minimalist industrial design with an additional break in the back casing of the iPhone.

http://theappleblog.com/2009/12/23/rumor-has-it-4th-gen-iphone-to-have-5-megapixel-camera/#more-38095