Mobility Watch

Rejoice Apple Fanboys (and girls)

Gizmodo has the inside scoop! iPhone is now available without the soul-crushing contracts!

8GB models for $599 and 16GB ones for $699 are now available from AT&T and Apple stores, with AT&T requiring buyers to be existing AT&T customers, limited at one per, while Apple stores will sell the handsets.

Of the 15 Apple retail stores we surveyed today, each one reported no knowledge of their store handling proof of wireless service, contract establishment, or contract extensions with AT&T. More to the point, 6 of the stores specifically stated that no contract would be required to buy the phone, and that the customer would be responsible for establishing service with AT&T after purchasing the iPhone from an Apple retail store.

No only does this likely squelch rumors about through-the-roof non-contract prices for the iPhone (previously rumored to be as high as $899 and $999), but it introduces a new segment of demand to the iPhone launch: opportunistic buyers that have no plans for personal use of the iPhone, only resale at a higher price. As we’ve seen in recent months with the launch of the Playstation 3 and the Ninetendo Wii, large volumes of iPhones could be bought up by “entrepreneurs” looking to make a fast buck on the upcoming iPhone frenzy.

Clearly the possibility exists that Apple has continued to withhold details about contract requirements from employees at it’s own retail outlets as part of an effort to contain as much information about the iPhone prior to launch. Should that be the case, information provided to iPhoneFAQ may be a result of assumptions on the part of these employees due to lack of information, rather than clear indication from Apple that no contract would be required. However, that said, most of the salespeople and managers we spoke with indicated clear knowledge of the no-contract policy. As with everything iPhone, only time will tell.

According to AT&T, purchasing the Apple iPhone at AT&T retail outlets will require a contract with AT&T.

via engadget: Rough morning for Nokia. After having its trio of new music-oriented handsets leaked, Gartner goes and releases a set of unflattering sales figures related to Nokia’s beleaguered smartphones. While smartphone sales overall increased 3.7% in Q4, Nokia’s share slid from 50.9% to “just” 40.8% on 15.6 million units. While many, including Samsung and HTC gained, it was RIM and Apple that made the biggest advances. RIM increased its share of the lucrative market to 19.5% (7.4 million units) from 10.9% while Apple more than doubled its share, up from 5.2% to 10.7% (4.1 million units). Keeping things in perspective: smartphones accounted for only 12% of all mobile device sales for the quarter. There’s a method to Nokia’s mid- to low-end handset madness.

And from Nokia’s own editorial board:

Industry and Nokia outlook (January 22, 2009)

Nokia expects industry mobile device volumes in the first quarter 2009 to decline sequentially to a greater extent than the seasonal sequential decrease in the first quarter of the past few years.
Nokia expects its mobile device market share in the first quarter 2009 to be at approximately the same level sequentially.
While noting the extremely limited visibility, Nokia now expects 2009 industry mobile device volumes to decline approximately 10% from 2008 levels. Nokia expects the decline to be greater in the first half than in the second half of the year. This is an update to Nokia’s earlier estimate that industry mobile device volumes would decline 5% or more from 2008 levels.
Nokia continues to target an increase in its market share in mobile devices in 2009.
Nokia now targets its full year 2009 non-IFRS operating margin in Devices & Services to be more than 10%, rather than in the teens, as previously targeted.
Nokia targets its annualized non-IFRS operating expense run rate in Devices & Services to be lower than EUR 6 billion by the end of 2010. This would represent a reduction of more than EUR 700 million to the annualized run rate at the end of 2008. Nokia targets that a majority of the reduction will happen during 2009.
Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks continue to expect the mobile infrastructure and fixed infrastructure and related services market to decline 5% or more in Euro terms in 2009, from 2008 levels.
Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks continue to target for Nokia Siemens Networks market share to remain constant in 2009, compared to 2008.

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen has revealed that Apple and Adobe are “collaborating” on making Flash a reality on the iPhone, citing the technical challenge it presents.

From the Adobe forums:

We are developing a large on-line project based on flash technology. And now we are planning to port the project to mobile devices. We will use Flash Lite for that. But because information about the Flash Player + iPhone platform hang in the air - somebody say that the version being developed, while others say it is not possible, we need to decide whether to use flash technology more directly, or use the iPhone SDK. And it would help us version flash player for the iPhone, or at least some firsthand information about work on them to plan our work.

As you probably already know, Apple had produced a free SDK for iPhone (http://developer.apple.com/iphone/), and recent information from official sources on the development of Flash Player for iPhone obsolete. Therefore become an urgent need to update the information in this regard.

Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion Ltd. have high hopes for the BlackBerry Storm, which they spent nearly two years developing as their big response to Apple Inc.’s iPhone.

My Nokai 9500 Communicator feels so much better now that this has come up.

But despite a marketing campaign that cost more than $100 million, the smart phone has gotten off to a bumpy start.

Some early buyers have complained about technical bugs with RIM’s first touch screen BlackBerry, although others say most new gadgets have problems that need to be ironed out.

People familiar with the matter say Verizon Wireless, is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the device, sold roughly 500,000 units in the first month after the Storm’s Nov. 21 launch.

That is a promising start, though well off the pace of AT&T Inc.’s sale of 2.4 million iPhone 3G devices in that device’s first full quarter on the market.

Some Storm owners have complained about everything from clunky software for typing on the touch screen to the device’s sluggish performance with basic tasks like dialing-by-voice or taking photographs.

Talk about Mobility… Yes… the Macbook Air.
Read USA Review of the Macbook Air here.

If you read the review, you will know that the Macbook does not have an optical drive, an ethernet input and are the slowest of the Macs in the production line.

What a waste right? Well, I believe that the Apple employees spent too much time into making this product smaller than powerful. I mean, we all want powerful, but if we could have it in a smaller area, then power to us!

Along with this, one of the biggest hassles of the Macbook Air is its inability to connect to the internet via Ethernet. There is one thing that you must know before I continue:

Apple products are made for the typical college student

Even though they say that everyone can use a Mac, (they are just saying that so you can buy their product) the Apple company simply makes its products for the average teenager.

I don’t know about the statistic on this one, but I can be sure that most of the iPods and iPhones go to the young generation of the world. I mean, come on, you will never see the old guys carrying an iPhone, or iPod. Its just not right.

So, with this in mind, they made the Macbook Air because they think that college students will want the power of a Macbook smaller, so small that it can fit into an envelope.

Unfortunately, what they didn’t realize is that without the ethernet input, it is a hassle to buy another ethernet to USB converter with the package. Along with that, the Macbook Air fans are losing a USB port everytime they want to connect to the internet in their dorm rooms.

I’m not even going to go into the Macbook Air not having an optical drive. I would go completely insane if I didn’t have one. Wouldn’t you

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I am surprised to see that the iPhone has never been mentioned here at Mobility Watch. Okay, so it might have been. I’m a little lazy to go through all of the posts and really see, but I have to post this again. I think the iPhone deserves this much attention. Here are some videos for your viewing pleasure:

We all love Steve Jobs, don’t we? Do you like how he promoted his iPhone with a clip of “The Office?” Its a business scheme, he displays something that we all have in common, and makes you feel like Steve is just another person like you. Unfortunately, you didn’t know that Steve was going to rip you off by over pricing the iPhone by nearly 200+ dollars, or did you? Probably not.

This is something that CBS broadcasted at the Apple showcase center. Easy video to watch. No big deal.

And here is something that will maybe broaden your perspective of blenders all across the world

With this “Will it blend” clip, no wonder this guy is making money off of his blenders. Speaking of which, so is Steve Jobs. If you think Apple products are worth their cost, then you should re-think your opinion because compared to all of the other products out there on the market, Apple compares to nothing.

I mean, for example, does it have a HD DVD Player out yet? NO How about Blu-Ray? NO So, what does it have when it comes to screen resolution and high quality content? NOTHING Thats right. It just has everything that is small.

So this time, you make the decision, “Is the iPhone worth what it costs? why?”

After the iPhone made pretty big waves in the US mobile phone market, it is now set on conquering yet another industry battle. It is now dead set on setting out for the United Kingdom and take full charge of the mobile phone market there.According to the creators of the iPhone, Apple Inc., they are going to send the iPhone to the UK and it would be O2 Plc which would be the service provider for the gadget. O2 is based in Madrid and it is the second largest telecomm company in Europe.

Starting November 9, the iPhone would be available in the UK. Including taxes, it would cost around $536.

Gene Munster is an analyst from Piper Jaffray & Co. and on this change, he says, “For the iPhone to be a success, it needs to be a hit in Europe. The good news is Europeans are willing to spend money on phones.�

[Via Bloomberg]
[Image from Gadgettastic]

We all know that the phenomenal iPhone has been secured so much so that a user can only use the phone for AT&T services. Other than that, the phone is locked and won’t work to whatever network.

But that does not seem to be the case for George Hotz, 17 years old. Hotz was able to unlock his iPhone.

Well, he had made a deal with CertiCell, a mobile phone company who does repairs in Kentucky. Of course, if that company knows the ins and outs of the iPhone, they could start out to earn more by offering unlocking of iPhones.

Hotz was quite successful in that task. He shared with the blogging world his experience. He also disclosed that he swapped his unlocked iPhone with “a sweet Nissan 350Z and three 8GB iPhones�. He also writes, “This has been a great end to a great summer.�

I wanna learn how he does it.

[Via Scotsman.com]
[Image from Los Tiempos]

So okay. There have been some mobile phones in the market trying to own some of the share that current belongs to the iPhone. But then again, there is this new gadget that seems to be a total copycat of the popular mobile phone.

It comes with the name Love Feng Mobile Phone and at first glance, I don’t think there is not much difference between this one and the iPhone. And those who have seen the copycat are now saying that if Apple does get hold of this, they’ll sure want to rip it off to shreds. That bad.

Of course, those behind the Love Feng Mobile Phone are saying that their product is far better than the iPhone. It has almost the same features like the camera with two megapixels, the 3D sound, and, yes, it can also run on Windows XP.

I think this is a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

[Via Product Reviews Net]

And so it seems like the newest (and much hyped) iPhone is going to take on a contender as early as now. There is a new mobile phone out in the market which is going to take on the battle for a larger market share. This new mobile phone comes as the new HTC mobile phone from Taiwan which also is a device carrying a touch screen.

The phone has already been launched in Australia and it seems like it is going to have an advantage in that market. After all, the iPhone just docked at the mentioned continent in this week.

Of course, the HTC mobile phone, dubbed as Touch, has received some unkind words from consumers. One of the most popular that they have heard is that the new HTC Touch is a copycat of the iPhone. However, the CEO for HTC did deny such an allegation.

Now this is one very interesting battle to look out for.

[Via The Sydney Morning Herald]
[Image from Guardian Unlimited]

Different people, different personalities, different tastes. This one is quite true for almost all products in the market right now. And there is no exception when it comes to the much-talked about iPhone from Apple.Looking at how the iPhone would be welcome in the market, I came across this article from Yahoo!. I found it pretty interesting so I’d like to share with you just what kind of people would go for the iPhone and which groups would not. Here are some samples:

The Music Listener
Maybe yes. Maybe no. Yes because this kind of person would love using the iPhone to browse through albums and songs and at the same time see the album covers of those pieces. And no because the memory is not that high as compared to the iPods.

The Video Watcher
Yes. You got a huge screen which would allow you to totally enjoy what you’re viewing.

The Phone Chatter
No. But if this would be the main reason you are buying the iPhone, then settle for all other normal phones.

The Gamer
No. No games for the iPhone.

[Via Yahoo! News]
[Image from launchr]

In just a couple of days, the Apple iPhone is soon going to hit the market. However, the spotlight may not be forever directed on that mobile phone for there is a new unit which is going to compete with it.

The new phone is the HTC Touch and it was just launched a couple of days back. Like the iPhone, it comes with a touch screen. And looking at how the mobile phone was perceived, you can find some reviews online.

Gizmodo describes the phone saying that the gadget “can tell whether you’re using your stylus or your finger, and if you’re using your finger, you can activate a ‘three-dimensional interface’�. Also, Ryan Kim of the San Francisco Chronicle states that this phone is “more aimed at consumers who want more oomph from their phones.�

I wonder what Apple is thinking of right now with such a competition ready to make it big in the market.

[Via seattlepi.com]

And so the countdown begins. It is already June and this is the scheduled month when the extraordinary Apple iPhone would be made available in the market. Well, that is, for the US customers.

If you have noticed, there have been advertisements and commercials shown over broadcast media which tell you just how the iPhone can change your life. It also boasts to the audience that you can use the gadget for calls, for text messaging, and for internet browsing. But that does not end there for we know that the iPhone has been made to also play music files as well as show photos and video clips.

I think you better start saving your cash for the mobile phone comes quite pricey. If you opt to have the one that has a 4GB memory, you would have to shell out $499 for that. But if you’re going for the 8GB one, then that be $100 more.

Better mark your calendars now. June 29. That’s when the iPhone hits the market.

[Via Guardian Unlimited]

[Image from Pierce Law IP News Blog]

If iPod owners were to get a new phone, 50% of the whole lot say that they sure are going for the iPhone.

That is according to a survey which was done by Canalys, a market research company in Europe. This study was done just this April and it was done online. There were around 2000 respondents and these were those who are iPod owners, are employed and are mobile phone users. The respondents were from different countries - UK, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.

Pete Cunningham is a senior analyst for Canalys and on the study that they conducted, he analyzed, “Apple’s rating improves dramatically when you talk to existing iPod owners. Almost half the respondents who owned an iPod rated Apple as more likely than not be considered for their next phone, compared to just 20% for those who didn’t have an iPod, and they were five times as likely to give Apple the highest rating. There is a lot of loyalty there that Apple can tap into.�

[Via Ars Technica]

[Image from kottke.org]

Markitecture made a study of the market and they did it through a survey. And according to the results, the unique iPhone from Apple would not be taking the market by storm but instead it would only be enjoying just 6% of the whole pie when it enters the market next year.

The survey was conducted with 1,300 mobile phone owners as respondents. More than 77% of the whole lot disclosed that they did know what the iPhone was all about and all that it could offer its user. Almost half, with 41% of the group, said that they thought that the mobile phone was one good product and even 83% said that it was even excellent.

But the thing is, only 6% wanted to own it. The reasons disclosed included the fact that the product was quite expensive.

“There’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance. It’s a $500 subsidized item. They may make a lot of money. But if you actually take a look at the 1.3 billion phones that get sold, I’d prefer to have our software in 60 per cent or 70 per cent or 80 per cent of them, than I would to have 2 per cent or 3 per cent, which is what Apple might get,â€? expresses Steve Ballmer who is Microsoft’s CEO. He is predicting that the iPhone would never make it big.

[Via earthtimes.org]

[Image from Gizmodo]