Based on the trends regarding the current working relationship between AT & T and Apple, the iPhone may yet find itself under a new distributor by 2011. This was the prediction shared by Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray regarding the exclusivity of distribution by AT & T for now. Much of this is attributed to the shortcomings shown by AT & T, particularly the current status of video availability on the iTunes store.

And the apparent successor for AT & T points towards the direction of Verizon. Verizon seems to be the logical choice considering other companies like Sprint and T-Mobile have the Palm and the Android to address at the moment respectively. Will Verizon be the next exclusive distributor of Apple’s iPhone? We have 4 months to find out.

(Source) Crunchgear

Tags: 4 months, Android, Apple, Apple iPhone, Business, exclusivity, iPhone, logical choice, munster, Palm, Piper Jaffray, relationship, shortcomings, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Verizon, video availability

After a bumpy issue, Apple and China Unicom have finally come to terms on the official distribution of iPhones in China later this year. There were rumors that the iPhone would not be launched at all but apparently all the kinks were ironed out after both parties agreed to a multi-year deal to have the popular Apple handset distributed by the fourth quarter.

With the deal, Apple is expected to further boost its popularity, covering one of the biggest markets in the world today.

(Source) Wired

Tags: Apple, Apple, Business, China Unicom, fourth quarter, iPhone, iPhone, iphones, kinks, popularity, world today

The iPhone has been capable of MMS messages ever since iPhone OS 3.0 was released however, American consumers on AT&T have not be able to utilize the feature.

One such consumer from Ohio, Deborah Carr, has decided to take Apple to court over the matter. Her case states that Apple had previously said “MMS support form AT&T will be available in late summer” despite the summer being nearly over, this means Apple has until September 22nd to introduce MMS. Below is a excerpt from Carr’s filing:

“Millions of customers, as a result of the false and deceptive representations and concealments of Apple and AT&T purchased the 3G and 3GS, waiting for the wonderful day in June 2009 when the new application would be available which would allow MMS.”

So, loyal readers, do you think Carr has a chance at taking a bite out of the Apple?

Read (InformationWeek)

Tags: Apple, Apple, At&T, Business, Cell Phones, iPhone, iPhone, law suit, mms, Mobile News, ohio, sueing

I don’t even know how many times I’ve picked up the phone expecting to hear a human on the other end but was instead met with a robotic prerecorded voice. Just like everyone else I proceeded to hang up without listening to the voice for more than 2 seconds.

Luckily, the days of these robotic marketing calls are numbered as the Federal Trade Commission has recently announced that they will be made illegal and violators could face fines up to $16,000 per call. Below is a quote from FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz:

Starting September 1, this bombardment of prerecorded pitches, senseless solicitations, and malicious marketing will be illegal. If consumers think they’re being harassed by robocallers, they need to let us know, and we will go after them.

Don’t get too excited yet as the ban doesn’t include prerecorded marketing calls from banks, politicians, charities or telephone companies. Bummer.

via gizmodo

Tags: Business, Calls, Cell Phones, federal trade commission, ftc, marketing, Mobile News, Off The Topic

There have been rumors circulating regarding the iPhone on China Unicom for some time now but we haven’t had any concrete evidence to support the fact. Today, however, the deal has been made official which will effectively intorduce the iPhone to the Chinese market in Q4 of this year.

According to the WSJ, China has over 687 million wireless subscribers with over 141 million of them on China Unicom so it’s needless to say that this is definitely a win for Apple.

Tags: Apple, Business, Cell Phones, China Unicom, chinese market, iPhone, iPhone

Airo Wireless releases a new rugged mobile phone for use with the launch of the Airo Intrinsically Safe A25is. Scheduled to be available by the fourth quarter this year, the latest handset carries a similar platform with their previous A25. The phone is recommended for use in industrial and hazardous environments.

Among the highlights of the Intrinsically Safe A25is includes being a secure cell phone, Push-to-Talk (PTT), a fully independent GPS, and telematics in a rugged Windows Mobile PDA handset that should come in handy for rugged mobile use that caters to the industrial and military sectors.

The A25is meets rugged military specifications and is also certified IP67 for shock-proofing and water immersion. It also has a long list of other global regulatory certifications (PTCRB, FCC, UL, IC, CE, and GCF).

(Source) Press

Tags: a25, airo wireless, Business, cell phone, Cell Phones, certifications, fcc, fourth quarter, GPS, handset, hazardous environments, ip67, launch, military sectors, military specifications, mobile phone, Other Brands, ptt, shock, telematics, ul, water immersion

Mobile banking or sending money through the use of our mobile phones has been something present for certain countries. However, starting next year, Nokia will be joining the fray as it is set to unveil Nokia Money.

As the name connotes, Nokia Money is all about allowing users to send money or settle their financial obligations like bills through a simple text message. To make this all happen, Nokia is currently busy building a network of Nokia Money agents where users can deposit or withdraw funds right on their very own accounts.

Nokia Money will be presented at the coming Nokia World this September and is expected to commence in 2010.

(Source) Slashgear

Tags: Business, financial obligations, mobile banking, mobile phones, Nokia, Nokia, Nokia World, sending money, text message

It was recently announced that RIM, the guys behind the entire lineup of BlackBerrys, has recently acquired Torch Mobile, a mobile software developer.

Before you ask why should you care make note that RIM’s buyout of Torch Mobile means a WebKit-based mobile web browser for the BlackBerry platform. If you aren’t aware what WebKit is, it’s an open-source web browser layout engine that allows mobile browsers to render web pages as they would appear on a normal computer.

In other words, BlackBerry owners will get their hands on an awesome, yet official, web browser at some point in the future.

Read (Torch Mobile)

Tags: BlackBerry, browser, Business, Cell Phones, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Research In Motion, torch mobile, web browser, webkit

The key for any company’s success is nabbing key personnel from other companies. Normally the immediate goal is to fish for the employees of a rival company and it looks like Shuttle has done just that. Though unconfirmed, rumor has it that Shuttle is planning to invade the netbook market thanks to their newly formed team mostly coming from rival Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS).

Shuttle has been known to deliver small form factor desktops but it looks like they are on the verge of expanding. Shuttle has made various experiments to get into the laptop scene but it looks like they lack the manpower to support the development for such. But now, it looks like all that has changed with the said raid of manpower from ECS. ECS of course denied losing any employees or perhaps they have just lost count.

(Source) Slashgear

Tags: Business, desktops, elitegroup computer systems, fish, invasion, Laptops, manpower, market thanks, rival company, shuttle, verge

We’ve known for a while now that Microsoft is planning some sort of application delivery method for their Windows Mobile handsets but the same could not be said for the Zune HD. However, if the above videos is anything to go by, Ballmer and his boys may be working on an app store for the Zune, too.

The video comes to us from a Qik user by the name of Matthew Akin who took the video at a recent Best Buy Zune HD preview. As you can see, in the Marketplace there is an Apps link, but what could it possibly lead to?

Tags: Accessories, App Store, best buy, Business, Mobile News, Mobile Software, MP3 Players, preview, Windows Mobile, Zune HD

Research in Motion (RIM) has been making great strides through the years with its different smartphones despite the stiff competition that Apple via its iPhone is giving. And from the looks of it, the new battle plan will fall in the hands of two people with contrasting personalities. The two people who will be in the limelight are Canadian CEOs, Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazardis.

It is believed that two heads are better than one. But that is perhaps the interesting thing about these two; they have so many differences that the eventual beneficiary will be RIM in its efforts to boost the marketability of the Blackberry smartphones.

The strategy for growth by RIM is called “constructive management” as shared by Mr. Balsillie. One of the highlights of this strategy included outsourcing mobile phone manufacturing rather than make them independently. They partner with outsourced companies to do it for them thus resulting in less overheads and flexible options as far as getting various versions of their handsets.

Also, there are the usual targeted products for specific groups of customers. For most smartphone-crazy individuals, a certain mobile phone with features and specifications in mind exists. A clear example here is the social media market who look for easier means to use their smartphones with various social networking sites.

Finally there is the need to serve the global target market. It is no secret that aiming for a global market is the way to go if you really want to succeed. And for RIM, the smartphone demand has gone way beyond the borders of the United States. The regions are endless. It can be seen that Asian and European countries have shown promising opportunities as far as mobile phone requirements are concerned.

With two great minds at the helm of RIM, implement these strategies can only promise brighter days ahead for RIM. Apple may be there to dominate but don’t be surprised if RIM through its Blackberry phones suddenly breathe down their necks.

(Source) CNN

Tags: brighter days, Business, ceos, european countries, flexible options, global target, handsets, iPhone, Jim Balsillie, limelight, making great strides, marketability, Mobile News, promising opportunities, Research In Motion, RIM, smartphones, social networking sites, stiff competition, target market, two heads are better than one

We’ve known about MSI’s ultrathin X340 notebook since March and at the time, it looked like a very capable device. However, enough users must have had gripes about it because we were recently notified that MSI has made some hardware changes.

The X340 will come standard with an 8-cell battery, as opposed to the previous 4-cell, the device’s keyboard will be getting an update which Laptop Magazine says will make it “no longer act like a trampoline”. And finally, MSI will cut $100 off the X340’s price tag making it now available for $799.

Any buyers?

Tags: 8-cell battery, Business, keyboard, Laptops, Mobile News, MSI, Portable Devices, price cut, x340

The man chiefly responsible for the turnaround of Sony Ericsson, Hidecki “Dick” Komiyama, will be retiring at the end of this year as revealed by the company. He will be succeeded by Bert Nordberg who will move over from Ericsson. Actually, Nordberg will be named co-President by September to allow a smooth transition until Komiyama officially steps down at the end of the year.

But if Komiyama’s performance is to be a gauge, Nordberg may have his work cut out for him. Komiyama has accomplished a lot of things, including that of turning around the company for the past two years. Now, Nordberg inherits a company experiencing losses since the middle of last year and on the verge of laying off some workers which is not a great scenario to begin with.

Many question the departure of Komiyama, especially since it comes at a time where new products are to be launched. But it was Komiyama himself he felt that the timing couldn’t have been better as the need for someone to complete the program transformation may prove to be better. And the person in the hot seat of it all is Nordberg.

(Source) ZDnet

Tags: bert, Business, co president, dick, gauge, hot seat, Losses, Mobile News, nordberg, program transformation, smooth transition, Sony, Sony Ericsson, Sony Ericsson, turnaround, verge

When it comes to whipping up marketing projection and strategies, any businessman or marketing executive will tell you that forecasting and data gathering will be among the essential factors before a person can immediately come up with a marketing plan. But now, these two strategic factors may yet become easier to handle as Ad-ology unveils the Marketing Forecast iPhone application which aims to speed up the research, news and trends which make up the external factors of doing business.

The Marketing Forecast iPhone app provides a compilation of the latest forecasts, challenges and opportunities for a particular region. Featured information includes advertising revenue, category sales, marketing activities, and consumer spending, plus other insights and news about advertising, branding, and digital marketing.

The app is now available for download at the Apple iTunes store for free.

(Source) Press

Tags: advertising revenue, Apple, apple itunes, Business, businessman, challenges, compilation, consumer spending, digital marketing, doing business, external factors, free source, insights, iPhone, iPhone, marketing plan, Mobile Software, ology, research news, revenue category, sales marketing

AT&T has announced that they have added their new 850MHz spectrum today. The spectrum is a new 3G band for better high-speed service.

“We know many of our customers depend on wireless as their primary communications connection to work, family and friends, and our mission is to ensure that every time a customer hits the ’send’ key, whatever the application,” said Keith Holmes, AT&T’s vice president and general manager. “We’re enhancing our network every day to help customers do more with and get more from their wireless connections.”

Atlanta is the first city to be seeing the new service, while AT&T plans to release the service to different markets throughout the year.

Tags: 3G, 850mhz spectrum, At&T, band, Business

Yesterday we let you know that Nokia and Microsoft were teaming up to launch a Symbian version of the popular Office suite. Well today, that official announcement was made that will bring native support of Microsoft Office to the Symbian platform.

The Symbian Microsoft Office suite will include Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote which will definitly please business users currently using one of Nokia’s handsets.

Tags: Business, Business, Cell Phones, excel, Microsoft Office, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Nokia, onenote, powerpoint, symbian, word

You might think that there’s not a whole lot of point to talking about laptop cases.  After all, you’d think: they hold stuff.  What else do they do?  They hold stuff and they look good.  What’s the point in differentiating between them sufficiently to require a review?

That’s what I thought, frankly.  Then I got to try the V7 Premium Toploader by Targus, and it changed my mind.
(more…)

Tags: Accessories, Business, carrying case, checkpoint friendly, laptop case, Laptops, mobile case, netbooks, Reviews, Targus, Targus Premium Toploading Case

Writing this piece left me downright torn. It’s easy to be enraged at people selling a product so simple anyone can build their own at home.

However, you are restrained in this urge by the knowledge that the product indeed works as advertised as well as provides a significant service, if only to a narrow range of people.  Introducing the bluDangle Headset Lanyard, a device which is, essentially, intended to keep your Bluetooth headgear from falling irretrievably off.
(more…)

Tags: Accessories, bluDangle, bluetooth, bluetooth headset, bluetooth headset lanyard, Business, Cell Phones, Headphones, NC Jobs for Heroes, Reviews

A few days ago we let you in on some rumors that RadioShack was gearing up to completely rebrand their retail stores as The Shack. Well today a few promotional items featuring the transition have emerged.

As you can see above, they are evidentally hyping up the name change before thery get around to actually changing the branding on their stores. Furthermore, they have lauched a countdown website for “The Shack Summer Netogether” that is happening from August 6th - 8th.

Will calling themselves The Shack help bring Radio Shack to greatness? Only time will tell.

Tags: Business, Cell Phones, radioshack, The Shack

Today, people have not completely enjoyed touch-screen technology but RIM is moving ahead. If all goes well with their patent, we may soon see a more sensitive touch-screen interface made of two screens, one a sensitive screen and the next a lesser one, similar to the ones we use in notebooks if you don’t like clicking through the buttons.

One click on the upper layer touch screen would be as the initial selection process while the harder layer would confirm the selection. The new hybrid touchscreen technology is of course going to cost higher as dual touchscreen technology is definitely going to need advanced materials and programming.

But as we have seen, price seems to be nothing for people who want hi-tech devices and gadgets coming out in the market. RIM is no stranger to devices and technology and if this patent does get approved, you can bet that they will once again hog the limelight.

(Source)

Tags: advanced materials, Business, Cell Phones, electronic device, gadgets, hog, initial selection, limelight, Mobile News, Notebooks, patent, selection process, sensitive screen, sensitive touch screen, stranger, touch screen interface, touch screen technology, touchscreen technology, two screens