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China’s Growing Mobile Empire
Dec 9th
RIM and Nokia to Join Ranks with Motorola and iPhone
Nokia’s Joint Venture with New Alliance
Nokia Corp., the Finnish Mobile Phone company announced yesterday the makings of a 50-50 joint venture with Shanghai Alliance’s investment and services provider, New Alliance. The joint venture, creating a company to be based in China, Nokia Alliance Internet Services Company Ltd, will open its doors in January and will involve about 80 people, according to The Wall Street Journal Online.
Nokia’s Executive Vice President of Services, Niklas Salvander stated the joint venture was a natural next step for the company to “…bring locally relevant mobile services to Chinese consumers.” He also added that in doing so, they would have “…right platform and expertise to offer a suite of selected Nokia Ovi services–as well as work with local content developers to help bring their applications to market.” Ovi is the platform Nokia uses to bring the internet to their customers.
The Chinese mobile market is the largest in the world and in taking these steps with the joint venture, Nokia could very well outshine all other mobile companies in the area.
RIM to Customize their BlackBerry In Direct Competition with Apple
Taking after Motorola with the customization of the MT710, a necessary evil to offer and use WiFi and 3G services in China, as all other forms are banned, RIMs now offering to customize their BlackBerry i and conform it to China Mobile’s proprietary TD-SCDMA 3G technology to step up competition between them and Apple. Apple started selling their best selling iPhone in China through China Mobile on October 30th. Granted, sales have not been what they predicted, but that is because iPhone refused to compromise and conform to china Mobile’s 3G and WiFi technology standards, leaving the iPhone WiFi and 3Gless because the use of anything but China’s native technology is barred in the country.
According to Bloomberg.com, even though in September, China’s mobile phone users in China totaled over 719.8M, including the addition of 9.3M in September alone, RIM only accounts for 1% of China’s mobile phone market. According to Sandy Shen, “…RIM is needs to appeal to the average consumer as well as the corporates” is they want to get ahead.
The Chairman of China Mobile, Wang Jianzhou, stated the newly customized Blackberry will release “very soon” although no price has been set as of yet because they need to adjust prices based on current offerings and sales. Prices and plans are “quite high” already with the current Blackberry 8700, which runs only on 2G. Sales are not what they should be and the new 3G phones are bound to be more expensive than the 2Gs so prices will need to come down on the current devices before offering the new ones in order to increase sales all around.
And the Verdict Is?
What I don’t understand, if China is such a huge market, why haven’t more companies compromised with them before to get their 3G phones on the market and sold before this? It just makes sense to do so and, as we all saw with the iPhone, not doing so can cause sales to plummet. We also can see this with Blackberry owning only 1% of the market that this holds true.
Maybe if Apple would give in and allow the iPhone to conform, their sales would pick up. Besides, who wants an iPhone that doesn’t have 3G anymore? That is what makes it better than the others in the first place! at least it was until Motorola Droid topped it… Maybe when iPhone first came out it was ok without the 3G, but now, with all the Droid mobile phones out there, an iPhone without 3G is just about as useful as a paperweight, IMHO.
For more great articles and user ratings and reviews, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org
Check back tomorrow for more of the latest in the mobile phone industry. If any if our readers have any suggestions as what to review, or something you think needs to be talked about, feel free to leave a comment and I will see what I can do. Til then, happy phoning!
The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Youserbase.org’s executive staff, and Youserbase.org as such hold no liability of any damages arising from any opinions expressed by the author.
Apple Selling Out, Nokia Taking Over and New Releases for Samsung and Sony
Nov 16th
Apple Patents Advertising Gimmick and Rumors of Nokia Taking Over Palm
What’s the Deal With Apple?
According to the New York Times, Apple filed for a patent for a type of advertisement that completely takes over whatever device you are using. This type of ad will completely lock up your screen until you click on the ad itself, or pass a test and if you don’t, the ads become more aggressive and harder until they are permanently stuck on your screen commanding your attention. And even then it might not let you see the page you are on, and it works on anything that has a screen.
You can’t really tell me that Apple is so hard pressed for money that they have to resort to slimy techniques to get ad revenue, can you? They won the suit against PsyStar and are probably going to rake it in on that one, not to mention the fact they are still on top of the Smartphone world when it comes to popularity AND sales.
What on Earth would they need to resort to the low down advertising of the likes of spammers? And Steve Jobs’ name was number one on the patent application itself, and that’s only happened 4 times in the history of Apple. No wonder Bill Gates made a statement recently about Apple being “..a force in doing good things.” They are alike. A force of Evil that must be stopped.
What’s the Deal With Nokia?
You have got to love Wall Street. Apparently there is some hype (again) about Nokia wanting to take over Palm. And because of the rumors, Palm shares have jumped a bit over 5% at closing. This has been heard from Wall Street before, but will they do it this time?
The jury is out on this one. Nokia has some pretty good reasons to buy Palm, like the taking over of control of the Web OS that everyone loves so much. And a takeover of Palm might get them out of the US hole thy dug themselves… But will they really do this? If history shows anything, probably not. It’s most likely just a ploy to get shares up at Palm and Nokia both before the coming holiday season. News like this would definitely move quite a few units, true or not.
What’s the Deal With Sony Ericsson?
Another New release, that’s what. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.
Meet the Xperia X10
This beauty is a much awaited new addition that will be the first Android OS based phone to have an 8 MP camera with touchfocus, and 5 faces finder with the photos to be displayed on a 480×854 WVGA TFT Touchscreen. It will also have ActiveSync, TimeScape, where you can have all your social media apps in one place, and Turbo 3G. The internal memory is 1GB and a powerful 1Ghz SnapDragon processor. The external memory is in the form of a SanDisk Micro SD card of 8GB and can use ones up to 16GB.
Wow. Go Sony… IMHO I think this is one of the nicer smartphones to come from Sony in a while…
What’s the Deal With Samsung?
Samsung has just released, today in Europe, the Samsung i5700 Galaxy Spica. It is the first Android OS(Cupcake 1,5) based phone to offer support for DivX video with the help of an 800 Mhz processor and, according to Mobile Burn.com, it is a
“…quad-band GSM/EDGE phone that also supports 3.2Mbps HSDPA data speeds on the 900 and 2100MHz UMTS bands. It features a 3.2-inch Half-VGA (320 x 480 pixel) TFT capacitive touchscreen display and also sports a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus.”
The phone is also HTMl browser capable with GPS Bluetooth 2.1 and WiFi capable.
And the Verdict Is?
My, my, my… Apple just doesn’t give up do they? First all the petty rejections of the iPhone apps, then court cases and now advertisements lower than those an Affilliate Marketer would use? No offense to those who read this, please, I’m just trying to make a point. Apple needs to get a grip and give up on the ad thing. They get enough sales, and they are on top of the world.
It’s bad enough I got stuck with one of those ads on EWeek.com last night. Now Apple, for whom I actually had more respect than Microsoft, is going to try to use them, or at least sell them to someone else contributing to the loss of respect for them and loss of our browsing freedom… I sincerely hope this goes all over the net in protest.
As for Nokia taking over Palm… Never gonna happen. They have said it before and it never happened. I think it’s just said or hinted at to make shares go uo so they can make some money, since they haven’t done anything here and lost most of their market share a long time ago..
both new releases are great. Sony’s is absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait till it hits shelves. Samsung did the right thing hitting Europe with it today. I’m not sure it would have gone over too well in the US…
For more great articles and user ratings and reviews, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org
Check back tomorrow for more of the latest in the mobile phone industry. If any if our readers have any suggestions as what to review, or something you think needs to be talked about, feel free to leave a comment and I will see what I can do. Til then, happy phoning!
The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Youserbase.org’s executive staff, and Youserbase.org as such hold no liability of any damages arising from any opinions expressed by the author.
Voice On the Go-Talk to Compose Your Email and Text?
Nov 2nd
Making it Safe to Drive and Talk or Text
What’s the Deal?
Apparently there is a new (or not so new, depending on how you look at it) device that allows a person to talk to compose email and text, as well as listen to incoming messages-All while you drive. This can be done anytime, on any network and any phone. Cell phones are Smartphones-it doesn’t make a difference, they are all compatible. The BlackBerry, iPhone-all of them, Nokia’s Motorola’s, WinMo phones, you name it and it will work.
Can It Do Anything Else?
Really? You want it do do more? Ok, you win… Here goes–The Voice on the go application can also go through your contacts and place a call from the list, check and update your calendar, send Tweets and update your Facebook profile. Wow..That is real cool. Do you know why? Where other apps claim to be all voice activated, this one really is. With others you have to press a button to be able to activate it. With Voice on the Go, it is completely voice activated. Making it a lot more safer to drive. And with the Txt L8R campaign up and running, this is just in time.
What’s the Verdict?
If you own a mobile phone and drive with it, you need this app. Not onl will you be using one of the coolest applications around, you are making the road much safer by being more aware of your surroundings. And it only costs 5.99 a month-A small price to pay for your life and its safety, don’t you think? I sure do.
For more great articles and user ratings and reviews, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org
Check back tomorrow for more of the latest in the mobile phone industry. If any if our readers have any suggestions as what to review, or something you think needs to be talked about, feel free to leave a comment and I will see what I can do. Til then, happy phoning!
Nokia Admits Mistake By Not Pushing In the US Market-(Finally)Launching New Smartphone In the US
Oct 30th
Teaming up with AT&T To Do It
What’s the Deal?
For the first time in about 3 years, Nokia is going to make a push for the American market once again. They are looking to release a Symbian based phone and is teaming up with AT&T to use their SnapDragon processor. Apparently what is happening is that Qualcomm, the chip’s maker, recently joined the Symbian Foundation and will therefore back the Nokia-AT&T deal.
Why All of A Sudden?
Well, since it’s highest market share in March of 2002 of 35%, the Finnish company has been steadily going down the tubes. Last year it was down to a mere 10%. The last figure available is from June of this year and is showing Nokia’s market share in the US at only 7%, a total drop of 28% in 7 years. And it apparently it hit them hard. That’s what they get, though, for ignoring the US market. So now they are trying to make up for it by releasing this new phone.
And What About the New Phone?
Well, there are no actual details about the phone except for the SnapDragon processor. There is still no release date as of yet either.
Ehat is real interesting about all this is in the recent past, Nokia and Qualcomm were bickering over a patent issue. Apparently, The argument was over ownership of a patent to a CDMA chip. But later they finally put the issue to bed.
And The Verdict Is?
The deal itself is still in the works and the last details are being ironed out. Personally, though, I think it’s great that they are using Symbian again. With the N900 getting pushed back over and over again, it makes you wonder why they ever used Maemo in the first place.
And they should never have ignored the Americans. That was a big mistake. In the 7 years that they forgot about the US, they could have made a killing. With all the new Smartphone Technology that is out there and the Nokia branded phones being some of the best, it is going to take a long time to play catch up. Rest assured that as soon as more details and secs are available, I will get right on it and bring you the latest.
For more great articles and user ratings and reviews, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org
Check back tomorrow for more of the latest in the mobile phone industry. If any if our readers have any suggestions as what to review, or something you think needs to be talked about, feel free to leave a comment and I will see what I can do. Til then, happy phoning!
The Long Awaited Nokia N900 Delayed Yet Again-Why?
Oct 23rd
In My Previous Post “Is Symbian A Dead End, Or Just A Fork In the Road,?“…
…I had talked about the Nokia N900 and how it was foregoing the Symbian platform for the newer Maemo OS. I wrote:
Now, back in May of this year a mole form Nokia leaked to the press that Nokia might just be looking to replace their mobile operating system from Symbian to Maemo with the release of the Smartphone successor to the N97, called the N900. All this time since Nokia and Symbian developed the S60 platform, Nokia has firmly stood behind it with their feet firmly planted in cement. Now it’s been confirmed that they are using Maemo instead.
And also went on to say that no one was sure why Nokia decided to switch to Maemo, but we were all supposed to find out by the end of this month (October). But now,the head of Maemo Marketing, Peter Schneider, states that the long awaited Smartphone will …”start shipping at the end of November.”
What’s the Deal With That?
Well, apparently Nokia should have stuck with the older, but working perfectly operating system, based on Symbian. This is because Maemo marketers released about 300 of the Nokia N900’s to test users and, it is being speculated, the feedback was much worse than they had hoped for. Although Peter Schneider didn’t officially state that this is the reason for the delay of the official release, but it sure looks that way. Even all of the sites, like Amazon UK, that were allowing pre-orders on the phone have pulled the orders.
Why Is the Nokia N900 So Important That We Can’t Wait For IT?
The Nokia N900 actually seems to be the type of phone that is worth the wait. it comes packed with many awesome features and, of course, it has the Maemo OS. Don’t get me wrong, I know I have my preferences, and I have bashed Maemo in preference to Symbian in the past, but it really isn’t a bad little OS at all. After all, it is based on Linux’s open source OS for desktops and I love Linux ( typing this on my own right now). So Maemo, mixed with the cool features of the phone itself, is what makes the Nokia N900 worth squirming for. The N900 comes with a Carl Zeis camera, HSPA, Wi-Fi b/g, a 3.5″ 800×480 touchscreen and a slide out QWERTY keyboard. This smartphone is more like a mobile computer than a phone.
And The Verdict Is?
I think the problem is with the integration of the new OS than anything else. It has a sturdy and reliable hardware package that is sure to beat out the competition, so the only thing that could be the problem is the software. So we are all just going to have to wait until November 17th like everyone else. It’s a bummer, I know, and this is the second time that its been delayed, but it will be worth it, I promise.
For more great articles, user ratings and reviews like these, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org.
And check back tomorrow for the latest in the fight between Nokia and Apple. Hey… I wonder if that has anything to do with the phone being delayed…Hmmm I wonder?
Is Symbian A Dead End Or Just At A Fork In The Road?
Oct 9th
What’s Up With Symbian? A Bit Of History
Despite its surge in sales and its 47% share of the market, Symbian has been declared by most as a dead end. When Sony Ericsson started laying off employees as it closed down its UIQ department and ported some pieces of the UIQ to Nokia in 2008, it has gone downhill. Ever since then, S60 has been knocking at death’s door as well, although David Wood, one of Symbian’s great masters said that “the statement was a little premature, but attention grabbing.”
Recent Developments With Nokia and Symbian
Now, back in May of this year a mole form Nokia leaked to the press that Nokia might just be looking to replace their mobile operating system from Symbian to Maemo with the release of the Smartphone successor to the N97, called the N900. All this time since Nokia and Symbian developed the S60 platform, Nokia has firmly stood behind it with their feet firmly planted in cement. Now it’s been confirmed that they are using Maemo instead.
So Why All of A Sudden the Change of Heart?
With the slated release of the N900 set for later this month, we are sure to soon to find out. Apparently, early reviews are stating that this phone is more than just a Smartphone; it should be in a class all by itself, considering that it isn’t a tablet either. Nokia is saying that it will “…bridge the gap between Smartphone and desktop PC.”
The Verdict
But for all you Symbian freaks out there, don’t be too alarmed. While some people think Symbian is dead, it is still going strong. It is true that it took a bit hit when Nokia dropped them with the release of their new Smartphone, but just look at where it’s still alive and well. Sony Ericsson and Samsung are still running the OS, and many Nokia Smartphones are still using it. So Symbian, although sliding a bit, will be around for a long time to come.
For more great opinionated articles, visit the Youserblog.com
Nokia C and X Series: Why not call them Cybershot and Xperia?
Jul 22nd
The internet is full of rumors. I would not go so far to say that it is actually made for rumors, but this is a nice one: Dial a phone reports that Nokia might name future generations of their handsets introducing new series. This does not sound very exciting unless you hear their names: The C- and the X-series. Somehow, this sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Of course, the number of letters is limited, but why not use something that has not been stolen? Lets have a look at unsued letters:
Will Samsung Mobile take over Nokia?
Jun 30th
The mobile phone industry is always good for a surprise: About five years ago probably noone would have predicted the decline of Motorola. Nobody would seriuosly have predicted the rise of Apple or the complete disappreance of Siemens (well, you may put this eight years ago). But one thing still seems to be certain: The power of Nokia being the number one brand worldwide. But can they keep this position? We have listed the pros and cons about Samsung being the number one in the next five years.
Wow: Nokia finally goes Touchscreen
Sep 29th
Wow, Nokia has finally seen the writings on the wall: They go Touchscreen. At least if you can trust the rumours, but when it comes to this source, it will probably be true. Only 1.7 years after the iPhone has been announced the market leader tries to keep up. So let us have a look at what we have got there:
