Mobile Tech Today

Samsung Tops Mobile Market In First Quarter, Gartner Says

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:51:49 -0500

Samsung is king of mobile phones, while Apple owns a not-too shabby 7.9 percent of the global phone market. And Android remains the top operating system, with more than half the market.

Those are some of the findings of a report on the global mobile market in the first quarter of the year by Gartner.

Nokia Is Slipping

South Korea-based Samsung's sales to end users amounted to 20.7 percent of the worldwide total in the quarter, up from 16.1 percent in the same quarter last year, Gartner said. That growth comes at the expense of Nokia, the Finnish company that saw its share shrink from 25.1 percent to 19.8 percent.

California-based Apple received its accustomed dose of good news with a share that doubled from 3.9 percent to 7.8 quarter over quarter. Considering that Apple makes only a single smartphone (in varying generations and storage capacity), the news is impressive.

Research In Motion dropped from 3.0 percent to 2.4 percent. The Canadian BlackBerry maker lags behind China's ZTE, South Korea's LG and China's Huawei to take up seventh place.

Gartner's report follows one by Strategy Analytics based on vendor surveys that put Samsung at the top of the market with a 31 percent share, toppling Nokia's 14-year reign at the top spot.

Google's Android OS saw substantial growth year over year, from 36.4 percent to 56.1 percent, while Apple's iOS also grew from 16.9 percent to 22.9 percent, according to Gartner. Nokia's fading Symbian platform dropped significantly as the company switches to Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, dropping from 27.7 percent to just 8.6 percent. Research In Motion's platforms fell from 13.0 percent to 6.9 percent.

Windows Phone also dropped, from 2.6 percent to 1.9 percent.

Overall, mobile phone sales reached 419.1 million units in the quarter, a decline of 2 percent, Gartner said, marking the first decline in sales...

Soaring Mobile App Adoption No Cakewalk for Developers

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:17:03 -0500

With more than 50 percent of U.S. mobile phone users now equipped with smartphones, demand for mobile apps continues to soar. The average number of mobile apps per smartphone jumped from 32 apps to 41 apps during 2011 -- a 28 percent rise in comparison with 2010, according to a new report from Nielsen.

However, U.S. smartphone owners spent about the same amount of time using mobile apps each day in 2011 as they had during the previous year -- 39 minutes per day versus 37 minutes per day, Nielsen said.

Nielsen researchers said 70 percent of the survey's respondents expressed "concern over personal data collection" and 55 percent were "wary of sharing information about their location via smartphone apps." So we asked Al Hilwa, director of applications software development at IDC, what developers need to do to address privacy concerns as well as prod U.S. smartphone users to spend more time using their apps.

Hilwa said he expected to see the development of new app types as well as the further expansion of apps into other areas of life.

"And developers will continue to chase ever narrower opportunities" while hoping to "hit areas that have not transitioned fully from Web to mobile, or aspects of life not digitized fully yet," Hilwa said Wednesday. "But at some point this pace of growth will slow down."

Claiming More Minutes

Privacy and security considerations definitely stop some people from using apps.

"And that may be another area where the industry can move to claim more minutes of app usage by increasing the confidence in apps," Hilwa said.

Clearly, users ramp up the most toward app usage in their first few months of smartphone usage.

"After that, a steady state ensues, and it is a challenge for the app ecosystem to keep existing users engaged," Hilwa said. "There...

Google's Grand Plan for New Android Devices

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:38:33 -0500

Google is revising the way it rolls out new Android versions and devices, according to a new report. The move is intended to give the tech giant greater control over features and apps, and to reduce the influence of wireless carriers.

According to a story in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal, Google will now give new versions of Android to as many as five manufacturers at a time, and devices using the new version will be sold directly to consumers. Previously, Google's practice was to produce "lead devices" for a new version with a single manufacturer and then roll out to other makers, with devices being sold through carriers or retail stores.

Nexus-Branded Products

Under the new scheme -- which has not yet been confirmed by Google -- Google would sell the Nexus-brand products from the manufacturers through its Web site and possibly through some retailers. Google has tried direct sales to consumers on a limited basis previously, with limited success.

The amount of involvement that wireless carriers would have in marketing and selling this wave of products is not yet clear. One might assume that phones or tablets sold directly to consumers by Google would not be subsidized by carriers, so, unless Google is ready to pick up that slack, the prices are expected to be considerably higher than what buyers have come to expect.

It would be expected the phones would be sold unlocked, so that they would work on a variety of networks. Unless a contract is packaged with the sale -- something that would seem to counter Google's strategy -- the buyer then would have to find a carrier. But, potentially, a device buyer could purchase a prepaid wireless plan, making the total ownership cost less than currently and not obligating the buyer to a contract.

The new Google strategy, according to the...

AMD Doubles Power in New Chips for Next-Generation Notebooks

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:05:35 -0500

Advanced Micro Devices has launched a new A-series of accelerated processing units (APUs) designed for deployment in next-generation notebooks as well as in traditional desktop PCs. Code-named Trinity, the new series-A APUs reportedly double the performance of prior AMD offerings as well as boost processor performance by 29 percent through the addition of third-generation AMD turbo core technology.

AMD's turbo core technology shifts power between each chip's central processing unit and graphics processing unit to best match each application's specific requirements. As a result, AMD said CPU frequencies are able to rise to a maximum of 3.2 gigahertz.

AMD's new APUs also are capable of delivering up to 12 hours of battery life through CPU and GPU power enhancements, said AMD Corporate Vice President Chris Cloran.

"Our second-generation AMD A-Series APU is a major step forward in every performance and power dimension, allowing users to enjoy a stunning experience without having to give up the things that matter to them most," Cloran said.

The processing boost doesn't stop at mainstream notebooks, Cloran said.

"It carries over into affordable ultrathin form factors featuring the latest in AMD Radeon graphics," he said.

ARM No Threat This Year

Given the inundation of recent media reports about ARM-based processors expected to land in value-added notebooks after Microsoft launches its Windows RT operating system for mobile computing devices, we asked AMD about how the chipmaker's new chips stack up against the ARM-based offerings coming down the pike.

The A-Series APUs that AMD launched Tuesday are destined for deployment in notebooks from Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba and will likely be priced in the $500-$800 range by AMD's OEM partners, said AMD spokesman Phil Hughes.

"Value based notebooks come closer to the value proposition of our E-Series platform, which is designed for essential notebooks in the $250-$500 range," Hughes...

New Nokia Line Bets on Next Billion Mobile Users

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:21:53 -0500

Nokia is struggling on many fronts, but the company is performing well in emerging markets -- and it's looking to boost its chances with two new mobile phones that play on its strategy to connect the next billion consumers.

The Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 aim to attract young, urban consumers who want to experience a fast, affordable online experience. Both devices incorporate social-media aspects, like Facebook and Twitter integration. And a Nokia browser promises to consume up to 90 percent less data by compressing Web sites in the cloud.

"Today's mobile phone users want a quick Internet experience that allows them to discover great content and share it with their friends -- but without being held back by high data costs," said Mary T. McDowell, executive vice president of Mobile Phones at Nokia. She's betting consumers will look to the Nokia 110 and 112, which combine browsing, social media, apps, entertainment and long battery life.

Casual Gaming Savvy

The devices have a 1.8-inch display that Nokia characterizes as "optimized for gaming." In the months ahead, the Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 will bring free EA Games, including favorites like Tetris, Bejeweled, Need for Speed The Run, Monopoly Here & Now, and SimCity Deluxe.

The Nokia 112 features a preloaded eBuddy instant messaging service so users can tap into popular chat services from the mobile device. And both phones offer an upgraded camera that lets users customize contacts with photos, or share images via social networks and Bluetooth.

The VGA camera promises sharper, clearer pictures with support for up to 32GB of external memory, enough for more than 6,000 songs or 90,000 pictures. Consumers can tune into radio stations and share songs with friends over Bluetooth. And all this with a promised 10 hours of talk time and nearly a month of standby.

The Lumia...

Lights Out: LightSquared Files for Bankruptcy

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:29:39 -0500

LightSquared Inc., which hoped to create an independent wireless broadband network in the U.S., filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday.

Regulators blocked its plan this winter because of concerns that its transmissions would interfere with GPS navigation.

LightSquared hasn't given up. Chief Financial Officer Marc Montagner said in a statement that the bankruptcy filing is intended to gain the company "breathing room" while it continues to work through its regulatory issues.

It has said that it has invested more than $4 billion in the network. LightSquared listed assets and liabilities of more than $1 billion each in the filing Monday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

The company, which is based in Reston, Virginia, is owned by Harbinger Capital Partners, a private-equity firm that made billions betting against subprime mortgages ahead of the collapse of the housing market.

Harbinger bought SkyTerra, a provider of satellite communications services to businesses, in 2010. It then lobbied the Federal Communications Commission to allow it to use the spectrum set aside for SkyTerra for ground-based communications -- essentially, a conventional wireless broadband network, rather than a satellite-based one.

But SkyTerra's licenses were for spectrum adjacent to a band used by GPS satellites. On the ground, GPS units had no problem filtering out transmissions from SkyTerra's satellites, but regulators determined that they could be disrupted by strong, ground-based signals.

LightSquared's CEO, telecom veteran Sanjiv Ahuja, resigned in February.

The company's largest creditors are Boeing Satellite Systems Inc., owed $7.5 million, and telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent, owed $7.3 million, according to the filing.

Lenovo Blooming with New ThinkPads

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:33:06 -0500

In time for spring blooming, Lenovo is out with a fresh crop of updates to its venerable ThinkPad line. The new arrivals include the X1 Carbon laptop, which the company called the lightest 14-inch Ultrabook, as well as the addition of Intel's Ivy Bridge processors to an assortment of models.

The X1 joins a variety of Ultrabook models that are beginning to pop up from various manufacturers. Or, as Information Technology Intelligence Consulting analyst Laura DiDio put it, "this is like the Easter parade for Ultrabooks." Lenovo said that its X1 Carbon "exceeds Ultrabook specifications," specifically in its use of a carbon fiber rollcage that enhances durability but keeps the weight under 3 pounds.

3G, RapidCharge

Other highlights of the X1 include RapidCharge for a near-full battery charge within 30 minutes and Intel vPro technology to assist with management.

Senior Vice President Lu Yan said in a statement that innovative thinking extends beyond the X1 to the rest of the new ThinkPad models, which feature "a backlit keyboard, super-bright high definition display, Dolby Home Theatre and rich communications features that balance business performance with personal use."

New models in the ThinkPad X, T, W, and L Series feature Ivy Bridge third-generation quad-core processors, RapidBoot, and Lenovo Enhanced Experience 3.0. The refreshed lineup is designed to start 40 percent faster than a typical Windows 7 computer, with optimized system files, processes and hardware settings.

Several models offer 4G/LTE connectivity, USB 3.0, and an option for contract-free mobile broadband, purchased in time segments.

The X230 Ultraportable, intended for road warriors, provides 24 hours of battery, a weight under 3 pounds, and 4G. The T430s has docking and vPro, and the T530 delivers a full 15-inch HD display.

With Windows 8 coming, there has been a great deal of speculation about tablet-laptop convertibles. The ThinkPad X230t combines both with a...

LiveTime Reduces Government IT Resource Costs

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:24:16 -0500

Newport Beach, CA, May 15, 2012 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC), and the Department of Defense (DoD) have successfully deployed LiveTime's Service Manager to provide streamlined ITSM services that save time, and reduce costs of Government IT resources.

With a $14B budget and 142,000 employees, the DoC used disparate IT systems to manage all of its business processes, from Request Fulfillment through to Problem, Change and Release Management. The DoC wanted to standardize on a single centralized service management product and identified the need for a scalable cloud-based solution based on ITIL 3 best practices with seamless visibility between processes and integrated across all business units.

A very high level of security was also a minimal requirement for a majority of DoC implementations, so LiveTime's private cloud solution was selected for DoC's own data centers. The deployment provides DoC management with a single consolidated view of all processes and business effectiveness with unparalleled ease of use.

The DoD has also significantly reduced its overall IT budget after replacing more than six separate Remedy installations with LiveTime Service Manager in a matter of weeks. Vital to the deployment's success was the transmission of data from other proprietary Asset Management systems to a centralized CMDB of internal assets and services for managing military support operations around the globe.

The DoD leveraged LiveTime's extensive web services API to feed the integrated CMDB inside LiveTime Service Manager. The improved transparency allows the DoD to handle a significantly greater volume of requests, incidents and change than ever before, to provide a higher standard of IT Service Management.

LiveTime 7, which is expected to debut in Q2 2012, continues to drive open standards and increase user productivity by offering unrivaled ease of use for an ITIL 3 certified...

Apple Gives Up on iPad 4G Label

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:21:46 -0500

Throw another Apple on the barbie, mates. In a concession to complaints from consumers down under, Apple is no longer claiming overseas that its newest iPad can deliver 4G long-term evolution (LTE) high-speed data.

New iPads equipped for mobile broadband access are now labeled for sale as "Wi-Fi + Cellular." The change came after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (similar to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission) took the computer giant to court because the iPad's top mobile connection speed doesn't meet that country's definition of 4G.

'A Simple Term'

The Financial Times of London reported that the United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority had been in ongoing discussions with Apple about whether its ads promising 4G were truthful since 4G networks are only in the initial stages in much of the world.

Apple argued that the iPad connects with HSPA+ networks, which are marketed sometimes as 4G in the U.S.

The Sydney Morning Herald cited the change as a victory for the ACCC, saying Apple released "a statement that because telecommunications companies "do not all refer to their high-speed networks with the same terminology" it had therefore "decided to use 'Wi-Fi + Cellular' as a simple term" which describes all of the networks supported by the new iPad."

The International Telecommunications Union, a United Nations-affiliated agency, in 2008 classified 4G as data speed of 100 megabits per second for fast mobility and 1 gigabit per second for pedestrians. Few carriers today can deliver that kind of speed. AT&T and Verizon Wireless promise LTE speed of 5 to 12 megabits per second for uplink and 2 to 5 mbps for downloads. Sprint promises up to 10 mbps for its WiMAX network .

The ITU definition seems to be in flux, however. In October 2010, it announced that two new technologies, "LTE-Advanced" and "WirelessMAN-Advanced" had "successfully met all...

Hotels Offer Meeting Rooms that Serve as Offices

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:31:54 -0500

Hotels have found a new business opportunity in today's mobile, technology-driven world: selling small, tech-equipped meeting rooms for private business gatherings.

Westin [will] announce a pilot program to replace at least some of its old-fashioned hotel business centers with contemporary meeting rooms that offer some privacy.

After about a year of research into the mobile traveler of today, Westin is convinced that more people want to collaborate on the fly and that they're willing to pay for a quiet space that's away from the bustling hotel lobby.

Westin's announcement comes as hotels such as the Westin Arlington in Virginia, Marriott Redmond in Washington state and Ace Hotel in New York City have seen their couch-filled lobbies turn into popular gathering spots.

The trend in small meeting rooms reflects how hotels seek to meet the varied needs of guests who don't want to meet in lobbies or in their rooms to conduct business. It's a way that hotels can attract professionals living nearby who don't have an office but don't want to go to Starbucks to plug in and meet a client or conduct business.

And the meeting rooms don't cost as much as a regular hotel room or a traditionally large meeting room.

"Hotels are learning that they can have multiple uses per day," says Bjorn Hanson, the divisional dean of New York University's hospitality school.

"Although the (the small meeting rooms) may not generate the food and beverage revenue like traditional, all-day meetings, there still can be more total revenue" if enough people rent them each day, he says.

Two Westin hotels have Project Hive work spaces. One is the Westin in Arlington, Va., where the 260-square-foot space rents for $50 an hour.

The Experience

In the lobby of the Westin Arlington on Thursday, business people were working on laptops in a group, solo travelers checked their smartphones and...