Mobile Web - ultimate choice of the youth

By SiliconIndia
Most 18 - 27 year old Opera Mini users use their mobile phones to browse the Web more often than they use a desktop or laptop computer for the same purpose, according to the results from a survey released by Opera.

The findings are published in Opera's State of the Mobile Web report also found that the countries with the highest percentage of respondents using desktop or laptop computers as the primary means of Internet access were countries where Smartphones are more common among the top handsets used, including the U.S. and Germany, where the split between phone and laptop or desktop is about fifty-fifty. However, in Nigeria, South Africa, and Indonesia, more than 9 out of 10 respondents said they browse the Web on their handsets more than they browse on a laptop or desktop computer. Looking at the top handsets used by Opera Mini users in those countries, the survey found fewer Smartphones compared to Poland, Germany, United States, and Brazil etc. This result presents a challenge to the long-standing belief that Smartphone uptake will be the major driver of mobile web usage globally.

But the results show that there is a need for a good browsing familiarity on feature phones as well, according to Opera. Opera signed a deal in April with Vodafone to use the Mini browser to push Web browsing in emerging markets. Also, Nokia acquired Novarra with the same intent which shows that Opera isn't alone thinking in the same lines.

At the same time, the phone market is changing rapidly, with the emergence of Smartphones at increasingly lower prices, according to Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner. The arrival of 3G phones based on MediaTek's Android-based platform next year will help push prices down further, she said.

iPhone rules in smartphone customer satisfaction

By ZDNet

A recently released survey of new owners of smartphones by 5 manufacturers report that Apple continues to top the satisfaction list. The phones were purchased in the past 6 months. This survey of 1,212 smartphone owners was conducted by ChangeWave Research and covered phones from Apple (iPhone 4), HTC (EVO 4G, Droid Incredible), Motorola (Droid 2, Droid X), RIM BlackBerry (Torch, Bold, Curve) and Samsung (Galaxy S).

In an article at Investor Place, Paul Carton, ChangeWave vice president of research, said the results showed that the iPhone 4 “continues to outperform the industry in terms of customer satisfaction.” Here are the results for ratings of very satisfied by maker:

iPhone (77 percent), Motorola (71 percent), HTC (63 percent), Samsung (45 percent), and RIM (44 percent). The results for RIM and Samsung don’t reflect much of the recently launched models such as the Samsung Galaxy S and RIM Torch.

Here’s what Carton said about the iPhone 4 results:

The iPhone 4’s exceptionally high Very Satisfied rating (84% for 32GB; 78% for 16GB) confirms our earlier survey findings that despite the controversy surrounding its initial launch, the iPhone 4 has been extraordinarily well received by its owners. These iPhone 4 scores are even better than the ratings for the earlier generation iPhone 3GS models (81% for 32GB; 77% for 16GB) which were recorded in our May 2010 new smart phone owners survey.

Meanwhile, Carton also said a third of non-AT&T smartphone purchasers said they would have bought an iPhone if it was available from their current carriers. Ouch. And while the Motorola phones came in second place (a surprise he said), almost 40 percent of these owners wished they had an iPhone.

Apple Co-Founder Says That Android's Features Will Put It Out On Top.

By TFTS


Steve “Yellow Lasers” Wozniak spoke at a technology conference in The Hague and his comments are getting a fair bit of press today. The Apple co-founder said that eventually, Android‘s openness will put it out on top, besting the iPhone in marketshare. Though, Wozniak believes that the iPhone will still be the better quality device.
Wozniak, like so many other pundits in this space, have compared iPhone-Android to Mac-Windows. Wozniak believes that Android will eventually dominate the space, but he did say the he believes that the iPhone will be a better device. He said the iPhone “has very few weak points. There aren’t any real complaints and problems. In terms of quality, the iPhone is leading.”
Wozniak believes that, like early versions of Windows, Android has issues with the user experience and consistency, but you’ve got to reckon that those things will improve over time.
Finally, Wozniak went on to explain that Apple had co-developed a phone in 2004 with a Japanese company (Sony? Panasonic? Who?) and the phone was well-designed and well ahead of its time. Unfortunately, Apple decided not to bring the proto-iPhone to market then. As I’m sure you know, the first iPhone wouldn’t come out until three years after that.
Wozniak took a parting shot at European favorite Nokia in the interview. He said that Nokia was “The mark of a previous generation” and he feels that Nokia needs to launch a fresh new brand. Kinda like MeeGo?

500 million people will be using mobile health apps by 2015 -- A report by research2guidance

By Research2guidance
Smartphone applications will become the killer applications for mobile health solutions.
Although the potential benefits of mHealth solutions have been widely discussed for over a decade, the market never emerged from the trial phase. Smartphone applications will enable the mHealth industry to successfully reach out to 500m of a total 1.4bn smartphone users in 2015 the new “Global Mobile Health Market Report 2010-2015” by research2guidance says.
Ralf-Gordon Jahns, Head of Research at research2guidance, points out “Our findings indicate that the long-expected mobile revolution in healthcare is set to happen. Both healthcare providers and consumers are embracing smartphones as a means to improving healthcare.”
Not only are consumers taking advantage of smartphones to manage and improve their own health, a significant number (43%) of mHealth applications are primarily designed for healthcare professionals. These include CME (Continued Medical Education), remote monitoring and health care management applications.
Currently there are 17,000 mHealth applications in major app stores, 74% of them adhering to the paid business model. With more and more traditional healthcare providers joining the mobile applications market, the business models will broaden to include healthcare services, sensor, advertising and drug sales revenues.
“With the growing sophistication level of mHealth applications, only 14% of the total market revenue in the next 5 years will come from application download revenue” explains Egle Mikalajunaite senior research analyst. “76% of total mHealth application market revenue will come from related services and products such as sensors”.
The “Global Mobile Health Market Report 2010-2015” is a business guide for traditional healthcare companies as well as for mobile operators wishing to successfully engage into the new mHealth market.

Google’s new Android phone aims to replace credit cards

By Telegraph
Eric Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, showed off the company’s next Android-powered phone, which will contain a chip that will allow people to make payments via their handsets.
Opening this year’s Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco, Schmidt showed off the new phone, which had the manufacturer’s label deliberately covered up, but is assumed to be the next Nexus device, following the Nexus One, and will contain a Near Field Communication chip, that will allow people to use their phones like credit cards.
The latest version of Android, called Gingerbread, due to come out in the “next few weeks”, will power this new handset according to Schmidt, and will feature this new mobile payments system as a key tool.
“This could replace your credit card,” Schmidt said. “The reason this NFC chip is so interesting is because the credit card industry thinks the loss rate is going to be much better, they’re just more secure.”
Users will need both a phone with an NFC chip and Android’s Gingerbread operating system in order to activate the technology. The near field communication technology allows people to tap their phones on a symbol or an item in the real world to make an action happen, such as a payment. Schmidt said it will it will allow people to “tap and pay”.
Schmidt stressed that Google had no alliances with any retailers and those relationships would be put in place by the credit card companies and retailers independent of the search giant. Instead Google will partner with third party payment processors.
He also said that Google would not retain any personal obtained through credit card transactions via the phone.
However, despite saying that he could envision this type of mobile technology replacing the credit card, Schmidt would not put a time frame on this migration. Instead he said: “ Who knows? [how long it will take]. I anticipate my credit cards will be around for some time.”
Schmidt was keen to emphasise that the new chip, which is a key feature of Gingerbread, provides a brand new platform for people to start thinking about new apps, which can use the same “bump for everything” technology, as it was described on stage. 

Over 27 percent workers deem laptops to be replaced with tablets

By   SiliconIndia

In a gadget war arena where tablets are gaining dominance day by day over laptops, yet another survey authenticates the tablet authority.27.4 percent of 'mobile workers' believe that tablets will replace laptops for general business use in the next year, according to findings from iPass, a provider of mobile connectivity services to companies.

 

The query was included in iPass latest Mobile Workforce Report, which will be released next week according to Elizabeth Woyke of Forbes.The report attracted 1,100 responses from people working at 'Global 2000' companies who travel and work remotely at least part of the time says IPass spokeswoman Kate Blatt. 37.2 percent of respondents sounded positive when asked whether they thought a device available today or in the next year could replace the laptop for general business use.

The majority of those respondents believed the iPad or another tablet would take that spot. While nearly 6.4 percent thought a netbook or Smartbook would replace laptops, an even smaller 3.4 percent responded that this new all-purpose business device would be a Smartphone. The figures underpin other studies that point to speedy tablet adoption in the workplace. BoxTone, which fabricates software for managing corporate mobile services, lately conducted a survey in which nearly 40 percent of respondents estimated iPad ownership at their companies to increase 20 percent or more over the next year. More than 50 percent of those respondents also said they plan to release at least one iPad application in the next 12 months.

The iPass figures may also reinforce theories about tablet sales cutting into those of laptops and netbooks - a subject matter that has attracted pervasive attention since more companies release tablets into the market. Another question in the survey also estimates the changing Smartphone preferences of business users. Nearly half (42.4 percent) answered that they would choose an iPhone when asked what type of phone people were likely to purchase once their current cell phone contracts expire. Handsets running Google's Android operating system were the second most popular choice with 23.8 percent. Research In Motion's BlackBerrys claimed support from only 19 percent of respondents.

The responses back up recent reports about companies ranging from Dell to Bank of America to Citigroup replacing corporate-issued BlackBerrys with iPhones and Android phones.

Android 3.2 Gingerbread arrives November 15, 2010

By Pressbuzz


According to rumors, it would seem imminent release of its new release of the mobile operating system made in Google. Android 3.2 should see the light to mid-November 2010, just in time for the Christmas period and then future terminal will occupy the place under the Christmas tree. Gingerbread course will be available immediately via OTA update for the terminals Nexus held software developer and later as decided by the manufacturer of smartphones.

Dell turns low-cost with its 3G ready Android smartphone

Dell seems to be bored of the PC business. Probably that is the reason, the PC maker is all set to explore the 3G boom that has begun in India. Dell's interest in mobiles was seen with the streak tablet which had 3G connectivity and used the Android mobile OS. Dell's recently launched two new smartphones- XCD28 and XCD35 are 3G ready and are based on Google's Android platform.

Take on the price war to win the market is the motto of Android in India and now, with its handshake with Dell, the latter too is toeing the same lines by unveiling its Android-based smartphones. The two models XCD28 and XCD35 entered the Indian market at a dirt price of 10,990 and 16,990, may be they were warned to see Apple iPhone and other smartphones face low-demand due to the price. Dell XCD28 will come with a 3.2 megapixel digital camera and a 2.8-inch LCD touchscreen display. Featuring a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display, Dell XCD35 has access to Android Market for applications.

However, if Dell is hoping to play out the smartphone biggies and including the Indian new emerging players like Spice, Micromax with its brand name and the low-priced tag, then it should also be ready to get booed out by the gadget freak. All thanks to their resistive screen, whereby you can't use your fingers to work on the screen rather your only hope would be the stylus. So, lose the stylus and the XCD28 will be just a good-for-nothing answering machine.

Both the phones are powered by Android 2.1 OS and they will support 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth. Dell XCD28 provides full internet browsing, music, photos and features such as location awareness and a media player supporting multiple formats for videos. Supported with an FM Radio and access to Microsoft Email Exchange through Activesync, the phones are equipped with 200MB of internal memory that can be expanded upto 16GB using Micro SD memory cards.

"For more than 25 years, Dell has played a critical role in transforming computing, enabling more affordable and more pervasive access to technology around the world. With today's launch, we extend the same pioneering edge to the smartphones market as starting with the XCD series, we look to offer technology solutions to a much larger audience", said Mahesh Bhalla, General Manager, Consumer & SMB, Dell India.

XCD28 will be available immediately in the market while XCD35 will be available by December 2010.

Hasbro Intros 3D For iPod Touch, iPhone Hasbro Intros 3D For iPod Touch, iPhone

By Informationweek

Toy company Hasbro will debut a handheld device called My3D that will enable three-dimensional views when attached to the Apple iPod Touch and iPhone, according to the Associated Press.

The accessory, which resembles a pair of binoculars, is geared at both children and adults who want a 3D, 360-degree experience when playing games and viewing content. It is being launched at an investor meeting that the country's second-largest toy maker is holding on Tuesday, the AP reported. My3D is not due out until next spring and will retail for $30. It will be available in stores that sell the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Consumers can browse and purchase content for My3D at Apple's App Store. Some of the apps will be free, the AP said. Hasbro reportedly had assistance from Apple during development of the device, the AP said.

Over 125 million iPod Touches and iPhones have shipped, a figure that will rise to 200 million by the end of 2011, analysts predict, who also note that the My3D device may hold appeal if enough compatible content is made available.

Hasbro reportedly partnered with Dreamworks Animation to develop material, and is also planning to use content from a 3D television network set to debut next year from Discovery, Sony, and Imax. My3D users will be able to watch clips for up to 20 minutes of trailers and behind-the-scenes footage, the AP said. Hasbro will also use the My3D device to market its own brands, although it did not provide details, the AP reported.

The toy maker has also worked with the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau to develop virtual travel visits to the Wax Museum and the Santa Monica Pier so users can experience the feeling of being immersed in deep water and explore sea life while they learn about it, the AP reported.

Hasbro's brands include Transformers, Littlest Pet Shop, Nerf, Playskool, My Little Pony, G.I. Joe, and Monopoly.

Android Gingerbread set for 11 November

By t3 news.

The much-hyped and oft-touted Android Gingerbread update, Google’s next-gen edition of its mobile OS, is set to land this week according to inside sources.
IntoMobile has the scoop from a ‘trusted source’ which says Gingerbread, codenamed Android 2.3 and not Android 3.0 as some had expected, will be good to go on Thursday. Google is already testing a slew of devices using the latest version of the operating system, as well as sticking a Gingerbread Man outside its Stateside campus. Who needs hard facts when a life size version of a classic biscuit is on show?
That said, some updates to Google Maps do give an idea of the updated look of Android, while a mooted Samsung press conference was set to show off the so-called Google Nexus Two. It appears that the latter has been delayed, however, owing to major hardware concerns in the final testing stage.

What Do Customers Want from a Mobile Retailing Application?

The Sterling Commerce report indicates that product availability is becoming a necessity for impatient shoppers. Nearly two thirds (66 percent) of consumers surveyed considered it important to very important to be able to conveniently determine in-stock availability before visiting a store.  It was significantly more popular than store locators and even the ability to read product reviews while in the store.
This kind of product and inventory information is invaluable to retail companies developing mobile retail solutions.  However, providing this information may be difficult.  It means your inventory and POS systems must all be integrated efficiently to be able to provide this kind of information fast enough to keep a mobile user happy.

Twitter launches mobile app for Windows Phone 7

 By mobiputing


Twitter may have taken its own sweet time before launching official apps for smartphone platforms such as the iPhone and Google Android. But just days after phones with Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 operating system started to ship in select parts of the world, Twitter has unveiled its new Windows Phone 7 app. There’s no more playing catch-up. The official Twitter app is officially one of the first Twitter apps to launch for this new platform.
As you’d expect, the mobile app supports viewing messages from your timeline as well as direct messages, mentions, and lists. You can also view suggested users, and Twitter for Windows Phone 7 allows you to navigate Twitter without logging into an account. If you don’t have an twitter account.