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Archive for the ‘Mobile Phone Industry News’ Category

The Joy of Text

Monday, August 30th, 2010

The first mobile phone I owned was a Motorola c520. It was a monstrosity, a loathsome piece of machinery that was actually bigger in landmass than several middle-eastern countries.

Even back then, in the dark-ages of 2001, it was considered antiquated and my pre-pubescent chums took enormous delight in mocking me assiduously for possessing such an unpleasant gadget.

Yet despite its grotesque appearance and the fact it weighed fractionally more than a blue whale, there was one thing I could do better on my c520 than I can on my current phone – text.

Only yesterday, whilst I was feebly prodding away at my Samsung Galaxy’s touchscreen keyboard with supreme inaccuracy, I found myself longing for my Motorola brick.

For all the bells and whistles and apps they crowbar into mobile phones these days, I still feel I could knockout a quick SMS using the dial pad on my c520 faster than I can on a Samsung Galaxy S.

That doesn’t seem right.

Perhaps I am looking back with rose tinted goggles, but I recall being able to accurately construct a lengthy text message in a matter of seconds back then. It never seemed particularly strenuous either.

These days, texting seems like a chore and summoning the will to live is a frequent challenge as I aimlessly jab away at the infuriating 3mm wide blocks embedded inside the screen.

And my fingers are spindly.

This isn’t a slight at Samsung, as all touchscreen phones I’ve encountered have been the same (yes even the iPhone). In fact I actually applaud them for innovating with SWYPE technology, which allows you to trace between letters to form words. Once I take the time to master this dark art, perhaps things still start to look up.

Admittedly I’ve never owned a handset possessing a physical QWERTY keyboard, so I suppose I’m my own worst enemy for ignoring what many people champion as the pre-eminent method of texting.

I did look at a Blackberry, honest. But despite boasting clear functional appeal, the handset I had my eye on, the Bold 9700, wasn’t the prettiest in show and came with a below-par web browser.

There’s always a compromise it seems.

If you want cutting edge technology and a sleek, elegant beauty of a mobile phone then you’re going to have to train your fingers to cope with a fidgety touchscreen keyboard.

I pray daily to the mobile phone gods (you know, Apple, HTC, Samsung, etc) that they will bless us with a handset that combines all mod-cons with a super-fast, non-infuriating method of inputting text.

The original Google phone, the G1, was an exquisite piece of kit and boasted a full slide-out keyboard. A return to those former glories, combining Android with the joy of simple text is long overdue.

If not, I might have to delve into my parent’s attic and dig out the old c520, which I really don’t want to do, not just because it was uglier than a guest on the Jeremy Kyle Show, but also because it’s propping up the back-end of their house.

No joke.

Apple iPad Deals Will Still Dominate Tablet Market in 2012

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

The latest research has revealed that despite fierce competition from rival manufacturers including Samsung and RIM, Apple’s iPad deals are destined to reign for the next two years.

Research has been carried out by iSuppli, and indicates that the iPad can compete with the likes of the newly announced Samsung Galaxy Tab and RIM’s BlackPad devices.

Apple currently has an impressive 74.1% share of the tablet market and although this is set to fall during 2011 and 2012, the company will still lead with a 70.4% share next year and a 61.7% share in 2012.

Rhoda Alexander, director of monitor research at iSuppli said: “Although the iPad has been on the market for only a few months, powerful interests throughout the technology business are devoting enormous resources to challenge and topple Apple’s domination in this fast-growing marketplace. However, if recent history is any lesson, it will take some time for these companies to get their products to market, longer for them to offer necessary software support and infrastructure, and an even lengthier period to begin to rival the overall user experience Apple is able to deliver.”

iSuppli base their findings on the strong sales of the iPhone, which was able to compete well against rival smartphones including the Palm Pre. It took five years for rivals to create a device that came close to the Apple handset – and examples of phones which the research highlights can compete include the Motorola Milestone (Droid).

When it comes to apps, Apple has the advantage too: “Competitors face some serious obstacles in their efforts to match the total iPad package, most notably competing with the growing suite of iPad-specific applications,” Alexander added.

The iPad has been popular since its launch earlier this year, selling 3 million units in its first 80 days in the US alone.

Apple Excludes iPhone 4 Deals from UK Green Mobile Phone Scheme

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

O2 has today launched a new green ranking initiative for mobile phones – but Apple has excluded its iPhones from being included in the scheme.

Run together with Forum for the Future, O2’s new green scheme ranks how environmentally friendly a handset is. Phones are scored between zero and five, depending on how green they are.

Peter Madden, chief executive of Forum for the Future, said: “Billions of people worldwide are using mobile phones to organise their lives. We want to reward manufacturers who make efforts to reduce their environmental impacts and think creatively about how their devices can contribute to a better world.”

Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung have all taken part, and RIM has said it will join the scheme next year. However, Apple has opted out of the voluntary scheme – so we can’t say how green iPhone 4 deals are – and refused to comment, although the company has pointed out its environmental reporting is online.

The mobile phones are scored according to how green they are, and factors taken into consideration include packaging, materials, manufacturing process and energy efficiency.

From 65 handsets, the Sony Ericsson Elm won first place as the greenest device, with a score of 4.3.  Seven phones took second place with 4: the Nokia 1800, Nokia 6700, Nokia C7, Samsung GT-58500, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro, and Sony Ericsson Zylo.

In total, 5 Sony Ericsson handsets came in the top 10, with its GreenHeart model leading the way.

Ronan Dunne, O2’s UK Chief Executive said: “We know that sustainability is important for many of our customers and for the first time they will have the whole picture from which to make a full and balanced purchasing decision. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the social and environmental impact of the technology they buy and we believe this kind of product transparency will help empower them to make greener choices.”

Would a mobile phone’s green ranking affect your purchase decision? Let us know, below.

UK Woman Changes the Reputation of Touch Screen Keyboards

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Physical QWERTY keyboards are very much in demand these days. After all, switching to the strange feeling of touch screen typing when it comes to inputting plenty of text content is not only bizarre, but downright difficult.

But now, it seems that there is a whole new generation of smart phones users that are among us –those with the uncanny ability to type and text on a touch screen smart phone without even the need for advanced haptic feedback technology.

Melissa Thompson is considered to be, unofficially, the fastest texter in the whole world. She typed out “the razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human” in the span of 25.94 seconds, about 9 whole seconds faster than the previous record set by an American.

This is a big thumbs-up for virtual onscreen keyboards and according to Thompson; it is also a testament to how effective Swype technology is. Samsung also got a little pat on the back with the feat as the record breaking message was typed out using the Samsung Galaxy S Android smart phone –though no specific Samsung features has been used, it is still a worthwhile endorsement.

Of course, this is unlikely to change the overall perception of touch screen keyboards. The smart phone industry still heralds physical keyboards over their virtual counterparts and devices such as RIM’s BlackBerry series of handsets are still on the top end of the food chain when it comes to mobile typing technology.

Thompson is currently surprised by the feat. When asked in an interview, she replied that she did not expect to earn the rank of being the fastest texter in the world. However, that title is still unofficial for now. With Guinness officials still verifying the authenticity of the feat, it may be a while before the proper accolades are awarded.

Pink Slider Phone Virgin VM202 Deals Launched in UK

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

A new device that offers style, function and affordability has been launched by Virgin Media.

The Virgin VM202 is manufactured by ALCALTEL Mobile Phones but available exclusively with Virgin Media in the UK – the company is the first to receive the new phone and has a one-month market lead time. The so-called Dazzle Pink colour is exclusive to Virgin too.

With a neat design and vibrant pink slide-out QWERTY keyboard, the VM202 is sure to appeal to fashion conscious phone users on a budget. The keyboard is described as “practical and soft to the touch” and is complemented by a numeric keypad on the front of the phone – so you can navigate when the phone is closed and slide out the QWERTY to write those longer messages. The screen can be changed to landscape too to enhance how web pages look, for example.

Considering you can get your hands on Virgin VM202 deals for £29.99 on PAYG, you get a lot for your money. For social networking, apps for Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging and email are all available on this phone. And for accessing the internet, there is Mini Opera as well as online widgets including weather and news. When it comes to entertainment, you can enjoy music on the MP3 player or FM radio – and Virgin includes a 1GB microSD card with the handset for storing your songs, photos (taken using the inbuilt VGA camera), and data.

Add to these features a battery that supports up to 480 hours on standby, and 300 free texts when the VM202 is bought with a £10 top-up card, and the phone is looking generous.

The director of mobile at Virgin Media, Jonathan Kini said: “The VM202 is a great new addition to our pay-as-you-go range and we’re delighted to be first to bring this stylish, affordable device to our customers. With easy access to Facebook and Twitter plus great multimedia features, the handset is perfect for teenage socialites on the go or as a great messaging device for existing Virgin Media families to take advantage of with huge call savings to be made with free calls between Virgin home phones and Virgin Mobiles.”

So will you be buying the new Virgin VM202 device on PAYG? You can share your views on the phone in our VM202 customer ratings area, here.

New iPhone 4 Deals From Orange UK

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

If you’re still debating whether to invest in Apple’s newest gadget and, if so, which network provider to go with, you may be interested to discover Orange UK has added some alternative tariffs to its previous range.

You can now choose between having more minutes and less data, and having fewer minutes and more data and some extras. For example, there are now two £35 per month iPhone 4 deals on an 18-month contract – one with 600 minutes and 500MB of data, and one with 400 minutes, 750MB data, free sat nav with Orange Maps and 50 photo messages. Similarly, on the two-year £35 per month contract, you can choose to have 200 extra minutes or to have an extra 250MB data, free sat nav and 50 photo messages instead.

The Orange Maps app lets you establish where you are, search for places, and find directions on foot and by car in up to 26 countries. And the included photo messages mean you can send images to friends on any UK network.

On the monthly plans up to £45, you can select between the standard tariff and the “extras” tariff. On the £50 and £75 monthly packages, the only tariff available for either 18-months or two-years is the one with sat nav and photo messages included.

So it seems Orange is keen to offer iPhone 4 users a bit more flexibility when it comes to tariffs – more minutes or more data with sat nav and some photo texts thrown in. The cost of the handset is the same, regardless of whether you select the standard tariff or the one with the extras.

Are you tempted by Orange’s new tariffs? We’d love to hear your views on this and the smartphone over in our iPhone 4 customer ratings section.

Sony Ericsson Wins European Award for X10 Mini – Deals Available

Monday, August 16th, 2010

The compact smartphone from Sony Ericsson has scooped the “European Mobile Phone 2010-2011” award by the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA).

The Xperia X10 Mini is, as its name suggests, a miniature version of the popular original X10. It was thanks to its size and performance that the handset won the award.

Chosen from among other smartphones by a panel of 50 editors from special interest magazines across Europe, the Xperia X10 Mini was praised for its design, capabilities and strong connectivity support. The phone was said to offer users the “full benefits of a much larger device”.

Timo Maassmann, global product marketing manager Sony Ericsson said: “We’re delighted Sony Ericsson has been recognised for refining the smartphone user experience. Over time, the relationship people have with their mobile phones has changed significantly. Consumers have moved away from using them as pure communication tools to creating a more personalised entertainment experience. As a result, mobile phones were growing in size. Sony Ericsson has identified the need for a compact and powerful mobile phone with all the benefits that come from a smartphone platform.”

Despite the screen on the Xperia X10 Mini measuring just 2.55 inches, the user experience is a good one because of the responsiveness and quality of the display. Little touches including the customisable corner shortcuts help the screen perform on a par with a larger handset.

Full of features including a 5-megapixel camera and an array of Google apps, the X10 Mini also comes with access to the Android Market. You can download music, stream videos and transfer data onto the smartphone, expanding the memory according to your needs, to up to 16GB with a microSD card.

Do you think the right mobile phone was selected for the award? Share your thoughts on this and on the phone generally, over in our X10 Mini customer reviews area. And if you’re tempted by this compact device, you might want to take a look at our Xperia X10 Mini deals – available on O2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile, and 3 on contract, and on O2 and Orange on PAYG.

O2 Launches iPhone 4 Deals on PAYG

Friday, August 13th, 2010

O2 has joined Orange and Vodafone in offering iPhone 4 deals on PAYG.

Currently in stock, you can buy the 16GB iPhone 4 on Pay As You Go with O2 for £495 and the 32GB model for £595.

This is a little more expensive than on the other two networks but if you top-up £10 each month, you’ll get 500MB of data and 300 texts thrown in.

Available on the 5 major UK networks as well as on 3 for PAYG deals, the iPhone 4 is offered with various calls, texts and data packages. If you want any help or advice selecting the right one for you, we’d be happy to assist.

Whether you opt to get the iPhone 4 on contract or on a PAYG basis, you’ll enjoy all that the new Apple device has to offer. Not that we’re denying the recent bad publicity the smartphone has received with regard to its antenna issue, but this iPhone looks great and is full of advanced features and technology to entertain and keep you in touch.

For example, there is FaceTime which lets you change between the front and back cameras during a video call. So if you’re on the phone to your friend while having a party, you can press a button and show your friend what she’s missing out on! Another favourite is the apps folder function which lets you group your apps together for news, social networking etc. Each folder makes it easier to find the one you’re looking for and keeps your home screen clutter-free too.

We could go on about the highlights of the iPhone 4, but we’d rather hear from you – head on over to our reviews section and share your views with us on the iPhone 4.

HTC Desire HD Deals Rumoured to Launch 15 September

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Yes, we are all aflutter with rumours and guesses about the launch of the HTC Desire HD smartphone.

It all stems from a press event HTC has scheduled for 15 September. While the invite makes no mention of the Desire HD or indeed any new device, the words “Come see what HTC has dreamt up” just invite you to suspect it’s a product launch.

The event takes place in London and as you can see from the picture of the invite, it’s shrouded in mystery – well, smoke anyway.

The Desire HD, also known as the HTC Ace, was previously anticipated for a September release so the timing fits with our theory. Although, the HTC Schubert Windows Phone 7 device is rumoured for an October launch, so this fits fairly well too. So which would you select as the likely phone – Android or Windows Phone 7?

Not a lot is confirmed about either smartphone at this stage, but more is known about the HTC Desire’s successor. With a 4.3 inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, the Desire HD promises a fantastic visual experience that is both responsive to touch and with a vibrant display. The UI is HTC’s Sense and the phone is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor.

The 5-megapixel camera on the original Desire is upgraded to 8-megapixels and comes with HD video recording capabilities – this is a high-end camera that makes the phone standout. Most smartphones sport a 5-megapixel snapper, including the iPhone 4, and only very few feature more – of course, there is the long-awaited Nokia N8 which springs to mind with its 12-megapixels, but this calibre of phone camera is rare currently.

We’ll confirm as soon as possible whether 15 September marks the date when HTC Desire HD deals become available in the UK. And in the meantime, we’d love to hear your theories on what the HTC press event holds.

Nokia’s Symbian OS Top in Q2 and Likely to Continue when N8 Deals Land

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

According to the latest research, the number of smartphones sold during Q2 increased by 50%.

The total number of mobile phones sold globally reached 325.6 million units, an increase of almost 14% compared to Q2 in 2009. Out of these sales, smartphones made up an impressive 19% – a 50% increase on the same period in 2009 – according to Gartner.

According to the company, new devices from Apple including the iPad and iPhone 4, HTC such as the Desire, and Motorola phones like the Milestone XT720, boosted smartphone sales overall. This growth was somewhat hampered by component shortages for some manufacturers, though. Gartner said: “While new product introductions from Apple, HTC and Motorola, along with the drop in ASPs [average selling prices], drove strong sales of smartphones, shortages of components, such as active matrix organic LED (AMOLED) displays impaired sales volumes of some of the more popular new smartphones.”

Nokia managed to top both the manufacturer league and the OS league for worldwide sales. Other manufacturers in the top 10 are Samsung, LG, RIM, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Apple, HTC, ZTE and G’Five.

In the smartphone OS market, Android had considerable success – it overtook Apple’s iPhone OS to come third in the world, and in the US Android overtook RIM to claim the number one place.

“Launches of updated operating systems will help maintain strong growth in smartphones in the second half of 2010 and spur innovation,” Carolina Milanesi said.

It’s quite an achievement for Nokia to cling onto the number one spots – and before the long-awaited Nokia N8 deals arrive too. The N8 is set to become the manufacturer’s flagship device when it launches later this year, and you can leave your thoughts on this media device in our customer N8 reviews area.

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