Day: October 5, 2010

“New data from The Nielsen Company shows that Google’s Android mobile operating system is now the most popular OS among those who bought a new smartphone in the U.S. during the last six months, with a 32% share of recent acquirers. Blackberry and Apple are meanwhile tied for second place, in a “statistical dead heat,” says Nielsen. Nielsen analyzed data from smartphone sales from January of this year through August to arrive at its conclusions. Among new smartphone purchasers, the Android OS is being adopted by 32% of handset buyers, while RIM (makers of Blackberry smartphones) and Apple are tied for second with 26% and 25% of new users, respectively. However, among all smartphone owners, RIM is still number one here in the U.S., but Nielsen notes its lead over the Apple iPhone (number 2) is now declining. In this group, RIM has 31% market share, Apple has 28% and Android has just 19%.” Read more here:

“Motorola BRAVO™, FLIPOUT™ and FLIPSIDE™ Smartphones Powered by Android Coming Soon to the Nation’s Fastest Mobile Broadband Network

DALLAS, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ —

Key Facts

* AT&T* today announced it is significantly expanding its portfolio of Android devices by introducing three new smartphones powered by Android™, the Motorola BRAVO, FLIPOUT and FLIPSIDE, from Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT).
* All three smartphones pack the power of the Android 2.1 platform and the latest version of MOTOBLUR, Motorola’s exclusive smartphone experience.
* MOTOROLA FLIPOUT™ will be available for $79.99 with a two service agreement and 2 year smartphone data plan beginning October 17 in AT&T stores, online and in business channels. (No rebate required)
* MOTOROLA BRAVO™ will be available for $129.99 with a two service agreement and 2 year smartphone data plan in AT&T stores, online and in business channels by this holiday period. (No rebate required)
* MOTOROLA FLIPSIDE™ will be available for $99.99 with a two service agreement and 2 year smartphone data plan in AT&T stores, online and in business channels by this holiday period. (No rebate required)

In a move that further strengthens its industry-leading smartphone line-up, AT&T today introduced three new Android-based smartphones from Motorola. The powerful new devices give AT&T customers even more choice when selecting a mobile computing device to use on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network. AT&T will have eight Android devices available to customers once these smartphones arrive in stores.

All three new smartphones feature Wi-Fi® connectivity, and qualifying AT&T customers receive access to the entire AT&T national Wi-Fi network included as part of their data plan. AT&T’s has the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network with more than 23,000 U.S. hotspots.

MOTOROLA FLIPOUT™

MOTOROLA FLIPOUT delivers an enhanced user experience, with a stylishly square, affordable and innovative pivot design. FLIPOUT whips open to reveal a full keyboard below its touch screen with a dedicated fifth row for numbers. Users can customize the color to match their mood with Dark Sapphire and Saffron battery covers included in the box for personalization. Additional colors will be available for purchase in AT&T stores and online. Get all the MOTOROLA FLIPOUT™ details at http://att.com/flipout.

MOTOROLA BRAVO™

BRAVO offers the power of Android, an 800 MHz processor and a large screen all in a compact design. The device features a 3.7-inch full WVGA touch screen experience, enhanced Web-browsing and entertainment while on the go. With a 3-megapixel camera with digital zoom and auto focus, customers can catch memorable moments to share with one-touch social media uploads to Facebook®, MySpace, Picasa™ and PhotoBucket®. Motorola BRAVO is a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) enabled device, so customers can stream, store and share entertainment with multiple devices around the home-including PCs, TVs and other mobile devices using an existing home Wi-Fi network. Get all the MOTOROLA BRAVO™ details at http://att.com/bravo.

MOTOROLA FLIPSIDE™

MOTOROLA FLIPSIDE enables users to seamlessly manage their work and personal life. With a full slide-out QWERTY keypad, FLIPSIDE’s 3.1″-inch high-res HVGA display supports pinch to zoom gesturing, while the laptop-like track pad provides an alternative way to navigate with one hand while keeping your fingers off the screen. Users can stay connected to work with full push corporate e-mail, support for Microsoft® Exchange, unified inbox and enhanced features for IT compliance like remote wipe and password enforcement. Get all the MOTOROLA FLIPSIDE™ details at http://att.com/flipside.

Enhanced MOTOBLUR

MOTOBLUR is Motorola’s exclusive experience that syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos and much more – from your favorite social media sites, work and personal e-mail, and last.fm – and automatically delivers them to the home screen. MOTOBLUR can locate or remotely wipe lost or stolen devices, MOTOBLUR can also automatically restore a user’s contacts, log-in information, home screen customizations and e-mail with one username and password.

The new and enhanced MOTOBLUR functionality and features include:

* Filter social networking and Messages widgets – filter by social networking account, by contact(s) or by contact group to only see the information you want.
* Screen customization – move and resize preloaded widgets on up to seven home screens
* Battery Manager – manage battery consumption by operating in one of three performance modes
* Personal and Corporate e-mail – pushed directly to the device
* Improved social networking functionality – Retweet, like Facebook comments and more
Quotes

“We want nothing less than the best smartphone line-up on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “These diverse new Android devices from Motorola add diversity to our Android platform and provide more options for our customers.”

“Motorola is committed to offering consumers phones that work best for their lifestyle. These three new devices each have a new unique take on the typical smartphone,” said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president, portfolio and device product management, Motorola Mobility, Inc. “Plus, the latest enhancements to MOTOBLUR not only allow users to easily stay connected with their networks but better filter so they can focus on the people and information that means the most to them.”

“Sharp have lifted the lid on the IS03, a new Android smartphone for the Japanese market that is packing some serious heat. The device sports a 3.5 inch 640×960 pixel resolution screen. Does that sound familiar? It should because it’s the same resolution screen as found on the iPhone 4 … yes that’s right folks this thing has a Retina display! Whatever you might think of the iPhone or Apple the Retina display on the iPhone 4 is a pretty impressive piece of kit and it’s great to see it making the transition to Android. That’s not all though because the IS03 also manages to squeeze in 9.6 MP camera. Annoyingly there is no word on a global release so this is bound for Japan only at the present. As such it comes with all the usual features expected there such as support for watching TV and contactless payments using NFC technology. If we’re lucky this thing, probably in a modified form, will show up on European and North American shores too.” via mobile-review.com

Skype today announced the release of Skype for Android™, a client for mobile handsets, built for smartphones running Android OS version 2.1 or above. With this latest release, the majority of smart phone users globally will now be able to experience the benefits of Skype on the move using either a WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G). Skype for Android is downloadable for free from the Android Market or consumers can visit www.skype.com/m to find out more details about how to get the application.
Skype for Android enables users to:
Make free Skype-to-Skype calls over WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G)* to other Skype users anywhere in the world using Skype’s SILK codec for CD-like audio quality. Make low rate Skype calls to landline or mobile phones. Send and receive instant messages to one or a group of friends on Skype. Synchronize contacts between Skype and the native address book and after synchronization place Skype calls directly from the native address book. See when Skype contacts are online and available to call or chat. Easily import names and numbers to the Skype application from the native address book. Receive calls on their Skype online number Mark Douglas, Product Manager of Android said: “The Skype experience is ubiquitous today. More and more people are using Skype to do things together when apart. With the addition of Android, we are pleased that Skype is now available on three of the most popular mobile platforms today: Android, iOS and Symbian”