Industry association Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) revealed on Thursday that some of the biggest carriers in the world have successfully tested Next Generation Hotspots (NGH). Wi-Fi access to these hubs is much simpler, and the second half of 2012 will see more tests that involve more advanced features. The first commercial NGHs will be built over the course of the next 10 months.
Nokia's Lumia 900 might have inadvertently been given an anticipated release date in a conversation with SwissCom's support. The carrier claimed the flagship Windows Phone was targeted for the "end" of February. It would line up with rumors of the 4.3-inch phone either showing at CES or at Mobile World Congress, the latter of which also takes place in late February.
The LiMo Foundation on Monday announced six new wireless providers have committed to release LiMo Platform based handsets in 2009. The Linux OS-based phones will become available from Verizon Wireless, NTT DoCoMo, Orange, SK Telecom, Telefonica and Vodafone sometime in 2009. The open-source Linux operating system in the devices will be based on the latest version of the LiMo Platform.
UK sales of the iPhone have diminished in recent weeks, sources claim. Regional carrier O2 is said to be selling between 18,000 and 20,000 phones per week, down from recently-quoted levels of about 27,000, and an early high of 50,000. The reason for the decline is uncertain, but is said to be attributable to the Android-based T-Mobile G1, and Research in Motion's BlackBerry Storm, both of which have been highly anticipated and are due to release soon in the UK.
Swisscom has announced its plans for the iPhone 3G, according to company PR. With the launch of the device on July 11th, Swiss customers will have access to three two-year subscription plans, in three different sizes: piccolo, mezzo and grande. At the piccolo level people will pay 249 CHF for an 8GB phone, or 349 CHF for 16GB; this costs 25 CHF per month, and is limited to a 0.70 CHF hourly voice rate and just 100MB of data per month.
Analyst firm Piper Jaffray on Friday offered analysis of the recent additions of many new carriers and countries to the iPhone fold, pointing out that Apple could quadruple its total addressable market share from 153 million potential subscribers to 575 million in 42 countries. In a note to investors, senior analyst Gene Munster says the recent agreements with Orange, Vodafone, SingTel, American Movil, and Swisscom put Apple's international rollout of the iPhone eight months ahead of schedule.
Swiss national carrier Swisscom today revealed that it too will carry the iPhone, making it the fifth new European country after the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, and Portugal confirmed to be offering the device. The provider echoes previous announcements for other providers and doesn't provide specifics as to the devices or plans. The iPhone will be available "later this year," the company says.
Reports are circulating that Apple would launch the iPhone in Switzerland this summer under the mobile provider Swisscom, presumably with the heavily-rumored 3G iPhone. French-language news site Le Matin Online reports that Swisscom nor Apple have confirmed any details, but the recent alliance with Vodafone – which is affiliated with Swisscom – could potentially indicate that it's just a matter of time until the device is officially unveiled.
