05/25, 6:36pm
ZTE allegedly sold embargoed US hardware to Iranian telecom
Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer ZTE is reportedly under investigation by the US Department of Commerce over alleged sales of embargoed US computer equipment to Iran. Commerce Department officials close to the investigation tell Reuters that the department is aggressively conducting its investigation, and fines for ZTE could range into the tens of millions of dollars.
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05/25, 6:20pm
Stability, compatibility listed as issues with Play and ICS
The official Sony blog published an update today, detailing the progress on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) upgrades on Xperia smartphones. As noted yesterday, the Xperia Play has been removed from the upgrade list. All other upgrades are proceeding as previously announced.
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05/25, 4:43pm
Slimmest smartphone to date bound for Chinese market
Chinese electronics manufacturer Oppo appears to be readying to release the Finder, a smartphone that is claimed to snag the title of World's Slimmest at just over a quarter of an inch in depth. A video showing off the slim handset was released yesterday, and specs for the device have been appearing on numerous tech blogs.
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05/25, 12:57pm
Sources suggest Facebook would join browser wars
Facebook may be planning to buy Opera Software, maker of the Opera web browser, according to a rumor. Sources of Pocket Lint say that the social network is looking towards making its own browser, which would put it alongside Apple, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, and Yahoo, and the purchase of Opera Software and its technology would save Facebook from having to build one from the ground up.
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05/25, 11:00am
Nokia Alpha, Pure Phi, Phi, PureLambda handsets coming soon?
New images of a Nokia Lumia 800 handset running on wpbench revealed a list of Greek names for what we can only assume are codenames for upcoming Windows Phone-powered Nokia handsets. Shared by the My Nokia Blog, the images came from a user running the Windows Phone 7 benchmark on his Lumia 800. The names include Nokia PureLambda, Nokia Phi, Nokia Pure Phi and Nokia Alpha.
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05/25, 10:19am
iOS speaker dock doubles as a place to rest your derriere
UK furniture retailer DFS is offering the Trophy Cuddler Audio Sofa that has built-in speakers and a dock for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. The sofa has two speakers and a subwoofer, though their power ratings aren't being listed. Other than docking iOS devices, there is also a USB port and 3.5mm auxiliary input for other audio sources.
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05/25, 9:48am
Unnamed source disputes rumored BBM on other platforms
Research in Motion may not open up its BlackBerry Messenger service as previously thought. Rumors that the BBM service would expand to Android handsets and iPhones, as evidenced by a photo of a beta app, are in doubt following the replacement of Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie by chief executive Thorsten Heins, according to an unnamed source speaking to the Wall Street Journal.
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05/25, 9:10am
Samsung targets budget Windows Phone market
Windows Phone fans currently face a limited selection of new devices, however a few companies, including Samsung, continue to release new offerings powered by Microsoft's mobile OS. Electronista checked out Samsung's Focus 2 earlier this month at CTIA's spring conference for a quick hands-on preview, however our full review takes a closer look at the latest budget-priced Windows Phone offering to arrive at AT&T.
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05/24, 11:15pm
Microsoft adds Nokia map enhancements to Bing maps
Following last year's Microsoft partnership with Nokia, Bing Maps is the latest product to see a benefit. Starting today, users in 24 countries will be able to view active traffic data in Bing Maps as a result of Nokia services integration. United States traffic coverage will include side street traffic as well as freeway information. Behind the scenes, Nokia's geocoding services are now being used to offer improved turn-by-turn directions.
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05/24, 10:43pm
Company boasts of Tegra 3 adoption
As part of Nvidia's annual investor meeting, the company's GM of Tegra operations, Mike Rayfield, boasted that the quad-core Tegra 3 platform is proving to be quite popular, powering 30 different smartphones that are expected to arrive on the market before the end of the year. Nearly half of the models are said to carry a transfer price below $300, in contrast to current Tegra 3-equipped phones that tend toward the high end of the price spectrum.
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05/24, 6:46pm
Samsung, Apple largest single manufacturers
Research firm IDC has published its latest smartphone market-share report, finding Android and iOS to be responsible for eight out of 10 smartphones shipped in the first quarter of 2012. Android captured 59 percent of all sales, while iOS took 23 percent of the 152 million smartphones shipped in the first quarter. Linux phones maintained the same small share held for four quarters. Symbian and Blackberry shipments continued to drop precipitously.
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05/24, 4:40pm
Options for monthly and annual subscriptions now within Android apps
Google has introduced in-app subscriptions to its Play store, according to the a post on the company's official Android developers blog. From today, App developers can use in-app billing to sell monthly or annual subscriptions from within the app itself. The addition brings Google's app portal in line with the Apple App Store in offering recurring billing to its customers and developers, with all subscriptions being auto-renewing by default.
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05/24, 1:13pm
Ascend P1 gets FCC approval for sale in North America
The Huawei Ascend P1 smartphone has now completed FCC testing. The Chinese phone-maker still hasn't revealed any official launch information for the 4.3-inch flagship, and it's missed its originally promised April reveal date. This FCC approval means the company is at least certified to sell the handset in the US.
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05/24, 10:10am
Obama order forces agencies to make two public apps each
President Barack Obama has ordered all major federal agencies to make more services available on mobile devices in the next year. The administration wants to increase governmental technology use, with agencies ordered to make services available for public access within 12 months. The news comes at the same time as reports that the US Navy will add LTE capabilities to three of its ships, allowing Android smartphones to be used out at sea.
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05/24, 9:08am
Microsoft retreats from previous sales claims
In a pair of related developments, Microsoft has retreated from earlier claims that its phone OS was more popular in China than iOS just as new figures for the first quarter of 2011 show that Apple has nearly tripled its sales of iPhones in the country and raised its share from eight to 19 percent, mostly due to the launch of the iPhone 4S, which was launched with two of China's major carriers in January to great demand and some crowd issues.
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05/23, 8:02pm
Industrial design buy signifies Google commitment to hardware manufacturing
In a move that signals a greater commitment to hardware design and manufacture, Google has purchased industrial design firm Mike and Maaike. Mike and Maaike is a studio that worked on the first Google Nexus phone, and the purchase seems to indicate a greater focus for Google on hardware design in the wake of its acquisition of Motorola Mobility.
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05/23, 1:58pm
Waterproof Hydro running with CDMA 1900MHz radio
The Kyocera Hydro smartphone running Android Ice Cream Sandwich has been seen at the Federal Communications Commission for testing. Filings on the FCC website under model number C5170 show tests were conducted relating to its CDMA 1900MHz radio, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth support.
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05/23, 1:21pm
Galaxy Appeal becomes first side-slider for AT&T's GoPhone offering
AT&T has just introduced a new smartphone for its GoPhone pre-paid offering, the Samsung Galaxy Appeal. The first side-slider for GoPhone sports a hardware QWERTY keyboard and a 4.3-inch, 480x320 touchscreen. It's powered by an 800MHz Qualcomm processor and Android 2.3.
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05/23, 2:15am
Replaced with one higher plus one lower tier
The 5GB data plan for phones supplied by Sprint acting as mobile hotspots is no longer available. In it's place, comes a 2GB and a 6GB plan. Users on the existing 5GB plan won't be forced to take one of the newer, more expensive per-GB plans. The new tiers are in place effective May 18.
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05/23, 1:35am
Vote continues, despite Samsung's objections
Following last week's compromise between Motorola, RIM, and Apple resulting in a nano-SIM design submission, Samsung has filed a complaint with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) complaining about the voting process on the final design. After an initial denial of Samsung's appeal, Samsung filed the letter with ETSI stating that Samsung believes the vote was advanced before enough time was allowed for discussion and "consensus building" within the organization. Regardless of Samsung's complaint, voting continues and is expected to conclude sometime this week.
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05/22, 9:31pm
Easy install feature coming to Facebook app portal
Facebook's forthcoming App Center portal will feature a "Send to Mobile" option, allowing users to purchase apps on a desktop or tablet and have a notification delivered to their phones. The feature duplicates capabilities already found in Google and Apple's app stores, but uses Facebook's notification system. The Send to Mobile option is expected to be ready in time for the App Center's launch later this year.
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05/22, 9:12pm
Owners of select phone models can try out apps for free
The latest release of the Amazon Appstore allows owners of selected Android smartphones to try out some apps for free before buying them. Users can interact with select apps as though they had been downloaded, running them through Amazon's store. Amazon is planning to roll out the new feature for a wider selection of phones in the coming months.
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05/22, 6:36pm
Droid, Amaze, Desire, Evo, Incredible, Sensation, others to be updated over summer
HTC has upgraded its Android FAQ page to lay out the timeline over which a number of its handsets will receive upgrades to Android 4.0. Over the next few months, the Droid Incredible 2, Amaze, Desire, Desire HD, Evo 3D, Evo 4G+, and a number of other models are slated to receive an update to the latest version of Android.
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05/22, 4:31pm
Bluetooth 4 added to MetaWatch dev kit for iPhone 4s connectivity
Meta Watch has officially released a new smartwatch development system with Bluetooth 4.0, capable of integrating with both iOS and Android devices. A previous beta was limited to Android only. In iOS, an app pushes basic notifications to the watch for things like calls and messages. Developers have access to an API, though, which will let their own apps push virtually any information.
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05/22, 1:25pm
Libelium tech allows tracking congestion, speeds of mobile devices
Libelium has revealed a new technology that can track the amount of foot or vehicle traffic by counting the number of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radio signals from user's smartphones. Integrated into its Meshlium Xtreme multiprotocol router, it will allow the tracking of vehicles as well as their speeds, the amount of time people stand in front of store windows or landmarks, and can even differentiate between local residents and tourists. Any mobile device with a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi radio can be tracked, and no app needs to be installed on the devices.
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05/22, 12:35pm
Global-ready Verizon Jetpack 890L 4G hotspot will cost $20 on contract, after rebate
Verizon Wireless will begin offering the ZTE-made Jetpack 890L 4G LTE hotspot online and in stores on May 24. The device was introduced at CES in January and was since approved by the FCC. It is made for world travelers thanks to support of multiple bands, including CDMA, EVDO, 3G, and Verizon's 4G LTE.
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05/22, 11:58am
Viewdini platform will aggregate video content from free, paid services
At The Cable Show in Boston, Verizon Wireless on Tuesday announced it will soon release a new platform called Viewdini that will allow streaming of video content to subscribers of Comcast Xfinity, Hulu Plus, mSpot, Netflix, and TV sites to their mobile devices. Also, 4G mobile plans are required, and the service will only be available to Android-powered devices first, though support for other platforms is promised, as is content from Verizon FiOS.
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05/21, 10:55pm
Droid 4, RAZR, RAZR Maxx, HTC Rezound
Verizon has announced that four of their phones will receive a patch to enable global roaming on the GSM network. The Droid 4 upgrade was previously announced, and today's announcement adds the Droid RAZR, Droid RAZR Maxx, and HTC Rezound. No specific patch release date has been made public. Following the patch, owners of the four phones will be able to take their smartphones overseas and (for a fee) use voice service in more than 220 countries and receive data in more than 205 countries.
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05/21, 7:01pm
Voyager Mobile launches after 'malicious attack'
Following a delay of nearly a week after repeated denial of service attacks, low-cost Sprint reseller Voyager Mobile has launched in 22 states. Voyager provides Sprint's 3G and WiMAX network for $39 a month, contract free. Alternatively, a $19/month unlimited-talk plan is available.
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05/21, 6:44pm
US customs continue inspection of HTC handsets
Some HTC handsets, potentially including the One X and Evo 4G LTE, are slowly making their way through US Customs, the company reports. A recent update on the HTC corporate website notes that some handsets are passing Customs inspections, despite an International Trade Commission (ITC) ban on the devices entering the US.
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05/21, 6:12pm
Judgment undermines worth of Kodak patent portfolio
The US International Trade Commission has ruled that a patent involved in Kodak's lawsuit against Apple and Research in Motion is invalid, according to AppleInsider. In particular an administrative law judge has quashed the 6,292,218 patent, Method for Live View Display and Digital Camera Using Same, on the basis of claim 15 in the document. Kodak will reportedly appeal the decision to the full commission, a necessary step if it intends to continue suing Apple and RIM for infringing the patent.
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05/21, 6:00pm
Android.Opfake reemerges, now pushing fake free apps
Symantec has discovered a novel implementation of the Android.Opfake malware, one that takes users through a fraudulent app-download process before charging them for what was initially billed as a free app. The malware is notable because it actually directs users through the Google Play app store in the process of defrauding them of money.
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05/21, 7:38am
Motorola issues statement on ICS omissions
Following its publication of an updated list of devices that will get an Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update, Motorola has moved to explain its decision to omit certain devices. Many users were disappointed to learn that popular devices including the Droid X2 and Droid will not be getting an update the latest version of the Android OS. Instead, they will be left running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), which was released in December, 2010.
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05/18, 10:09pm
Commission documents shed light on launch plans
Samsung appears to be readying a Galaxy S III variant for T-Mobile's network, according to Federal Communications Commission filings. The carrier has yet to officially confirm plans to launch the Korean handset maker's latest flagship device, however the FCC test documents point to a new model geared specifically for T-Mobile's 1,700MHz AWS spectrum.
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05/18, 6:53pm
Droid X2, 3 not on list; stuck on Android 2.3
Motorola has updated its list of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) updates today. Eleven phones and tablets are scheduled to be updated to the new operating system between now and the end of the year. Two popular phones, the Droid X2 and Droid 3, won't see the upgrade to Android 4.0.
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05/18, 12:43pm
Comments follow concern over Nokia
AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega suggests the Windows Phone platform may see a significant boost from Microsoft's Windows 8 OS when it arrives on the market. Speaking at the JP Morgan technology conference, the executive noted that he was "very upbeat about what they are bringing to the market."
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05/18, 10:38am
Uses Apple's design as template
RIM and Motorola have submitted a new, compromise nano-SIM design based on a concept from Apple, reports say. The new design has the same outline and contacts as Apple's proposal, but with a notch on one side making space for what RIM calls a "push-push" mechanism; pushing in the card once secures it, pushing it in again pops it out. Apple's idea may have been less practical, requiring a tray to hold a card steady.
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05/18, 7:37am
Nokia facing serious financial troubles
Nokia is said to be facing critical cash flow issues as it struggles to stem its growing losses in cellphone market share. Just five years ago, the Finnish handset maker had a cash stockpile of over $11 billion, which has now eroded to the point where the company only has $2.7 billion on hand which is shrinking by the day. Compounding matters, the costs of its debts are also rising, while its Lumia Windows 7 smartphones are yet to gain significant market traction making a quick turnaround unlikely.
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05/18, 6:13am
Samsung Galaxy S III pre-orders in the millions
Samsung is reported to have notched up 9 million pre-orders for its Galaxy S III smartphone ahead of its launch. According to Reuters, the pre-orders have been made from over 100 global carriers, not customers, ahead of its release. Customers will be able to get their hands on the device starting May 29 in Germany, before it begins rolling out across other countries.
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05/18, 2:53am
No city list or timeline for rollout
On May 16, British mobile telecom carrier O2 announced that they are building out a DC-HSPA wireless network capable of 42Mbps wireless downloads in the UK's largest cities. Samsung has jumped on board the effort by announcing yesterday that the Samsung Galaxy S III would connect to the DC-HSPA network. The Galaxy S III is expected to launch in the UK on May 29.
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05/18, 1:50am
Android leads, talks underway for new carrier for iPhone
The burgeoning Chinese smartphone market stands to earn companies billions of dollars in coming years. Though this has not been independently confirmed, Microsoft now claims that Windows Phone has edged out the iPhone with a seven percent share compared to Apple's six percent, despite Apple's emphasis on the emerging market.
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05/17, 7:00pm
Discussion order after HTC handset ban enforced
The US District Court of Delaware has ordered Apple and HTC to enter settlement discussions. Judge Sherry Fallon will be moderating the talks, which follow the import ban that has stalled HTC's Evo 4G LTE and One X from entering the US, reports Florian Mueller.
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05/17, 6:54pm
Virgin Atlantic allows cell calls between London and New York
Virgin Atlantic is the first British airline to offer in-flight mobile phone calls, text, and data usage. The service powered by AeroMobile will start being used on flights from London to New York, but will expand to 17 planes on at least ten routes by December. Competing airline British Airways already allows passengers to text and go online whilst mid-flight between London and New York, but does not allow for in-flight calls to take place.
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05/17, 5:19pm
Patent finds comparable apps for migrating from Android
Microsoft filed a recently uncovered patent application in November 2010 for a service allowing users to transfer apps and app data between devices, even if those devices run on different operating systems. The technology could prove to be a selling point as Microsoft looks to draw users away from iOS and Android.
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05/17, 3:05pm
NTT DoCoMo to bring three new Android 4.0 phones this summer
NTT DoCoMo has announced that the Sharp Aquos SH-07D, SH-09D, and SH-10D smartphones will be appearing on its network this summer. The three phones, each running Android 4.0, will debut separately on the network in a variety of colors.
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05/17, 2:52pm
First LG handset running ICS with 2GB of RAM
LG has unveilled the Optimus LTE II in Korea. Successor to the Optimus LTE and other Optimus variants, the handset claims to be the world's first smartphone to be released with 2GB of RAM, shortly before the Samsung Galaxy S III reaches Japan in its own RAM-boosted state.
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05/17, 1:08pm
Per-GB price reduced
T-Mobile has announced that it is changing its prepaid mobile broadband offerings to include several additional data caps and a new pricing structure. The one-week pass has jumped from $10 to $15, however customers will be able to utilize 300MB of data instead of 100MB for the seven-day span.
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05/17, 10:06am
Samsung Cares Android app brings information, troubleshooting abilities
Samsung has just released a new Android app called Cares (Google Play) that aims to improve the customer service experience. It will allow users to check out FAQs, How-To guides, tutorial videos, and troubleshoot issues with their Android 2.1 and newer Samsung devices. Not all devices are covered, however.
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05/17, 8:37am
Japanese Samsung Galaxy S III users get bonus RAM
The forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S III for Japan has been fitted 2GB of RAM, versus the standard 1GB of RAM for most other international markets. The Japanese variant of the GS III also runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 ‘Krait’ dual-core SoC, which is compatible with Japan’s NTT Docomo 4G LTE network. The inclusion of the additional RAM is likely to help support Japan-only features such as 1 seg TV tuner without bogging down overall system performance.
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05/17, 2:42am
Now third-largest mobile maker
Data from research analysis firm Gartner has revealed that Apple has managed to capture almost eight percent of the global market for mobile phones of all types -- both feature phones and smartphones combined, The Mac Observer reports. This makes the company the third-largest mobile phone maker in the world, behind Nokia and Samsung. Apple has doubled its share of the global cell phone market in only a year.
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