Just yesterday, Apple released iPhone update 2.0.2 which is supposedly designed to improve communications between the smart phone and wireless networks. This is good news considering, since the release of the iPhone 3G on July 11th, there have been nothing but complaints about glitches and poor connectivity and bad battery life.
The bay area-based company didn’t even acknowledge a problem with is phone until two days ago… only after completing the 2.0.2 patch to offer worldwide. And even then, the description of the iPhone issue was vague at best, as Apple spokespeople decline to specify the Apple part that the patch was targeting, whether it be the antenna and amplifier, the radio frequency transceiver, etc. This is a little bit scary in terms of consumer confidence… if they neglected to tell us about this problem until it was solved months later, are there any other significant problems that Apple is keeping under wraps? For more info here’s an article printing an interview with Jennifer Bowcock, Apple spokeswoman.
Technorati Tags: iphone, iphone 3g, 2.0.2, 2.0.2 update, patch, poor connectivity, consumer confidence, smart phone, glitches, battery life
August 20th, 2008
T-Mobile just released their new Sidekick 2008 today, and the price for this new device will start at $149.99 so long as you make a 2-year service commitment along with your purchase. They also are selling custom removable shells… you can literally create your own pattern or design and T-mobile will print it onto a blank shell for $10 each. Not too bad if you ask me.
Sharp is responsible for manufacturing this piece of equipment, with offers a 2.6″ swivel screen, a QWERTY keyboard, a 2 megapixel camera, 3G capabilities, email, messaging, video, bluetooth technology, etc. - It basically has all the same stuff that personal devices have these days. I personally have never owned a Sidekick before, but I do have other Sharp equipment in my house, like a flat screen TV and radio, and those are both very well made. And with all the phones these days being equal in terms of capability, this Sidekick 2008 makes a good offer: a quality phone for $150. Plus that swivel screen is awesome!
Technorati Tags: t-mobile, sidekick, sidekick 2008, swivel screen, sharp, bluetooth, 3g network
July 30th, 2008
Last Friday, Virgin Mobile announced their intentions to buy off Helio, the mobile handset provider, from SK Telecom for 13 million shares in Virgin Mobile USA class A stock, the equivalent of about $39 million. This, combined with their launch of an $80 unlimited flat rate calling plan with no contract, shows the company setting its sights on a more professional class of consumers, a clear contrast from their current youthful customer base.
In acquiring Helio, Virgin Mobile USA will not only get over 170,000 subscribers (who spend more that 3 times more per month than the average Virgin subscriber), but will also get Helio’s stylish handsets and access into the emerging 3G market. Cellular-News reports that the typical Virgin customer spends only about $20 a month on pre-paid plans, but the purchase of Helio will allow the company to target consumers who spend between $40 and $70 a month.
Hopefully this step towards a new market will pay off and Virgin Mobile will be able to capture more US customers. The acquisition of Helio will most definitely be a step in the right direction, but the risk remains very high, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to steal market share from such dominant national carriers in the US. Either way, more competition in our mobile service can’t hurt right?
Technorati Tags: Virgin Mobile, Virgin Mobile USA, SK Telecom, Helio, acquisition, mobile, 3G, unlimited plan, handset
June 30th, 2008
T-Mobile in Germany announced that they will sell you the 8GB iPhone 3G for 1 euro if you have a contract that cost 69 euros or more. That comes out to be a little more than $100 a month for the monthly contract.
That’s some genius marketing. They give you the phone for free basically, but requires you to pay more for the contract so they can make the money back in the long run. That’s a great selling point though… “Get your new iPhone for 1 euro!”
Read the article on Reuters
Technorati Tags: 3g, cell phone, iphone, 3g iphone, iphone 3g, money
June 16th, 2008
As we reported a while ago, Microsoft said that they expect Windows Mobile to reach a large amount of the market.
However, Todd Bishop reported this on his blog:
… In today’s letter, Microsoft’s Andy Lees instead says the company “will sell nearly 20 million Windows Mobile smartphone licenses.”
Is the change from “more than” to “nearly” a meaningful hedge? Some might read it that way. But Microsoft representatives say no.
“We’ve always said our goal has been 20 million, and we’re on track,” said Scott Rockfeld, group product manager in the company’s Mobile Communications Business, when asked about the change. “If it’s short of 20 million, it’s going to be a rounding error.”
It’s ok. 20 million or not, I am more excited about the 3g iPhone anyway.
Technorati Tags: iphone, apple iphone, windows, microsoft, blog
June 5th, 2008
The US Patent and Trademark Office has recently published an extensive patent application, seemingly for the 3G iPhone and software version 2.0, both now expected to be released next Monday. Features detailed: IM and blogging applications, Video Conferencing (with front-facing camera), etc.
read more | digg story
Technorati Tags: digg, 3g iphone, iphone, 3g, apple iphone, phone, mobile, phone, cell phone
June 5th, 2008
Most of us have heard of 3G by now, or even have a phone that’s 3G. But what’s 4G? I barely even heard of 4G! Given that the iPhone isn’t even 3G yet, 4G sounds like it’s far away.
Wikipedia puts it this way:
4G (also known as Beyond 3G), an abbreviation for Fourth-Generation Communications System, is a term used to describe the next step in wireless communications. A 4G system will be able to provide a comprehensive IP solution where voice, data and streamed multimedia can be given to users on an “Anytime, Anywhere” basis, and at higher data rates than previous generations. There is no formal definition for what 4G is; however, there are certain objectives that are projected for 4G.
These objectives include: that 4G will be a fully IP-based integrated system. This will be achieved after wired and wireless technologies converge and will be capable of providing between 100 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s speeds both indoors and outdoors, with premium quality and high security. 4G will offer all types of services at an affordable cost.
I think this is what WiMax is supposed to be. Talking about way into the future…
Technorati Tags: phone, cell phone, mobile phone, 3g, 4g, wimax, wiki, wikipedia
May 21st, 2008
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