• Commentary and Analysis

    Will Google Someday Become a Network Operator? 

    by
    frail
    Published on 12-30-2010 06:06 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. From The Forums,
    3. Commentary and Analysis,
    4. Carriers

    While mere speculation at this point, this CNN article makes a good case for the possibility:

    NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- From robot cars to wind farms, Google's expansive ambitions have taken it into some surprising corners of the tech field. Here's another it could tackle: Becoming your telephone company.

    Google has assembled all the pieces it needs to be a mobile provider like Verizon, AT&T or Sprint.

    The search company dabbles in selling phones, it licenses the ultra-popular Android smartphone operating system, and it is trying its hand at becoming an Internet service provider.

    But its biggest weapon is Google Voice, the hit low-cost calling service that launched in May 2009. Just five months later, the service had 1.4 million users -- almost half of whom were using it every single day.

    Google currently relies on the established carriers to sell and support its devices. But if Google has the ability to deal directly with its customers, why not cut out the middleman?

    "Google's various efforts are clearly focused on being able to reach as many people on the planet as possible, but that is not something they can fully accomplish just by licensing out Android," says Ari Zoldan, CEO of Quantum Networks, which supplies equipment for Sprint's WiMax network. "If Google could find an easy way to transition into the cell space and provide mobile coverage, there would be some very serious advantages to that."

    Never afraid to push the envelope, Google been moving in that direction for years.
    Does anyone see this coming?

    CNN Money | Via: IntoMobile
    1 Comment

    Would You Switch Carriers For Unlimited Data? 

    by
    frail
    Published on 11-19-2010 10:58 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. News,
    3. Commentary and Analysis,
    4. Carriers

    Would you switch carriers if your current one replaced unlimited data plans with solely UBP (usage-based plans)?

    According to a survey conducted by Sanford C. Bernstein and Co. 58% of light data users and 67% of heavy data users would do just that.

    Mobile subscribers in the United States prefer unlimited data plans, according to a newly released survey conducted by analyst firm Sanford C. Bernstein and Co. The survey, which was conducted in July, comes as a number of Tier 1 wireless carriers unveil usage-based mobile data plans.

    According to the survey, 58 percent of light data users said they would change carriers to get an unlimited data plan. Among the highest data users, that figure rose to 67 percent. "Customers generally have strongly negative perceptions about UBP, and these are often not correlated with self-interest," Bernstein analyst Craig Moffet said in a research note, referring to usage-based pricing.
    What would you do?

    More: Reuters | FierceWireless
    22 Comments

    RIM To Apple: You Don't Need An App For The Web 

    by
    frail
    Published on 11-17-2010 10:56 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. News,
    3. Commentary and Analysis,
    4. Apps

    At this week's Web 2.0 Summit RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie had some words for Apple about apps vs. the web:

    "...the Web shouldn't be an app. I don't need a YouTube app to go to YouTube.
    "We believe that you can bring the mobile to the Web," he said, according to Telegraph. "You don't need to go through some kind of software development kit. That's the core part of our message. You can use your existing development environment. There's still a role for apps, but can you use your existing content? Can you use your existing Web assets? Do you need a set of proprietary tools to bring existing assets on to a device, or can you use known tools that you use for creating websites?"
    Is this simply a case of sour grapes (<20,000 apps vs. ~250,000) or is he on to something?

    More at: FierceWireless - RIM's Balsillie pumps up PlayBook, hits Apple over app model
    9 Comments

    Need Some Help Buying a Smartphone This Holiday Season? 

    by
    frail
    Published on 11-15-2010 02:00 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Devices,
    3. Tips,
    4. Commentary and Analysis,
    5. Carriers

    Are you planning to treat yourself to a new smartphone this season? Or buy one to give as a gift?

    With several smartphone operating systems and form factors out there, you have a lot to choose from.

    With that in mind FierceWireless has put together a nice guide to what they believe are the top smartphone and tablet devices (webOS devices are not listed unfortunately) amongst the U.S.'s Tier 1 carriers (Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile). Visit the link above for the list.

    Did you find it helpful? Anything you would add to the list?
    1 Comment

    State of Windows Phone 7 in Canada 

    by
    howard
    Published on 11-11-2010 10:08 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Devices,
    3. HowardForums,
    4. Commentary and Analysis,
    5. Carriers

    So I was at the Eaton Center today (in Toronto) and figured I'd go to the TELUS, Rogers and Bell stores and ask the people there if people where buying Windows Phone 7 devices and just check out how high a profile the devices have in the stores.

    First off I went to the TELUS store near the south side. There is an HTC Surround right in the middle of the entrance of the store. They were giving away 100 XBox 360's with WP7 purchase on Monday. Seems they sold around 50 or so WP7's on launch (and then MS came and took the rest of the XBox 360's away). The WP7's seem to be moving okay. They have plenty of stock of HTC Surrounds while they never had stock of the LG Optimus 7's.

    Next I went to Bell. There is live LG Optimus Quantum that you can play with but it's off to the side and it was turned off. Actually both Bell stores were like this. They didn't seem to be pushing WP7 as much. One of the people there said they were selling okay. Some people were coming in wanting to buy them while others were steered towards them.

    Next up was Rogers Plus. The first one (next to the south TELUS store) had a big lineup so I didn't want to wait. I looked around quickly and didn't see any mention of WP7. The Kiosk near the middle of the mall had someone I could talk to. The person told me that you can only get a WP7 device online at rogers.com and that retail wouldn't be getting anything until the end of the month.

    I was about to leave when I decided to swing by Future Shop. I didn't see any WP7 displays or dummy devices. I also took a look at their stock (it was behind glass) and didn't see any WP7 phones. I'll grill some people next time I'm there.

    Overall I was a little suprised Windows Phone 7 didn't have a higher profile. Part of this may be a lack of hardware - Rogers didn't have any Samsung Focus and there were no LG Optimus 7's available at TELUS. Another thing I noticed is that at least in Canada Microsoft is more interested in promoting the Kinect. There was a big bill board at Dundas Square plus they had a store across from the Eaton Center where you could try it.
    6 Comments

    Skyfire's iPhone App Sales Nearly $1 Million In A Weekend 

    by
    frail
    Published on 11-10-2010 03:05 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Devices,
    3. News,
    4. Commentary and Analysis,
    5. Apps

    Skyfire for iPhone's app has been downloaded 300,000+ times over the course of a weekend. Its main claim to fame on iOS is Flash to HTML5 video conversion on the fly, allowing its users to view a piece of the web that can't be viewed on the native Safari browser.

    The large sales amount in such a short amount of time raises an interesting discussion; is this perhaps a sign that might prod Apple to eventually support Flash natively on iOS, or will they wait for HTML5 adoption to catch up?

    An iPad native version is also forthcoming.

    Via: Neowin.net | Skyfire for iPhone here.
    9 Comments

    Are You Planning To Switch To Prepay? 

    by
    frail
    Published on 11-10-2010 10:36 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. News,
    3. Commentary and Analysis,
    4. Carriers

    IntoMobile reports on a survey conducted by the New Millennium Research Council (NMRC) to gauge consumer desire to switch to prepay mobile services.

    Of the 1,000 surveyed, 1 in 5 currently using contract service are planning or desiring to switch to prepaid in the next six months. Over half of those surveyed said they would switch to prepay if not for the early termination fee imposed by their carrier.

    What are your plans?

    Source: IntoMobile
    6 Comments

    Are You Digging HP Palm's New Logo? 

    by
    frail
    Published on 10-29-2010 12:01 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Devices,
    3. News,
    4. Commentary and Analysis

    Without much fanfare, the combine HP/Palm logo debuted earlier this month.

    What do you think? Do you miss Palm's orange?

    More: IntoMobile
    5 Comments

    Are You Guilty Of Any Of These? (Annoying Cell Phone Habits) 

    by
    frail
    Published on 10-25-2010 01:44 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Commentary and Analysis

    CNN Tech has posted an article detailing some annoying habits observed amongst smartphone (and regular cell phone) users.

    The 10 most annoying smartphone habits

    Their list:

    - The Behind-the-Wheel Chatterbox

    - The Movie Theater Lightning Bug

    - The Bathroom Stall Texter (or Talker)

    - The Smartphone Superiority Complex

    - The Social Situation Dropout ...
    Read More Read More 13 Comments

    Verizon Compares 4G Technologies 

    by
    frail
    Published on 10-21-2010 03:17 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. News,
    3. Commentary and Analysis,
    4. Carriers

    Droid-Life has posted a couple screenshots of a Verizon 4G "Reference Guide" that compares and contrasts LTE, WiMAX, and HSPA+.

    Some quick notes:

    LTE: Downlink: 5 - 12 Mbps | Uplink: 2 - 5 Mbps

    WiMAX: Downlink: 3 - 6 Mbps | Uplink: 500 Kbps

    HSPA+: Downlink: 1.5 - 7 Mbps | Uplink: 1 - 4 Mbps

    In the Reference Guide, Verizon also touts other advantages of LTE over the competing technologies such as: global adoption, lower latency, and speed to market for device and app development.

    Verizon plans to first intro USB modems over 4G followed by smartphones and mobile hotspots.

    Visit Droid-Life at the link above for the screenshots and more details. And go here to learn more about Verizon's upcoming 4G LTE network.

    That all being said, we know that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. What do you think about Verizon's 4G claims?
    7 Comments
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