Thursday, March 31, 2011

Google Joins NFC Forum, To Get “NFC Forever!!!” Tattoo Next Week

NFC (the short-range communications tech that’ll allow us to pay for things with a Jedi-esque wave of our phones) is coming. Hell — it’s already here. It’s just got a mountain of technical and logistical hurdles to overcome before any of us will actually be using it in our day-to-day lives.

Fortunately, there’s a massive group, the NFC Forum, focused on little more than killin’ off these hurdles one by one. Their roster is impressive, to say the least, with the likes of AT&T, Qualcomm, Motorola, RIM, and LG amongst their members. Today, they’re adding one more tech monster to the list: Google.

Google’s already thrown their support behind NFC with Android (where they’ve steadily been adding payment-focused APIs over the last few months), so their fondness of the tech is nothing new. At this point, buyin’ their way into the forum is pretty much just a pledge to stick with the tech — and, perhaps, to influence the standards/specs a bit as they’re finalized.

Attract Birds to Your Yard iPad App: iBird HD

If you love birds then iBird Yard HD for iPad is definitely a download you should consider, how to attract birds to your yard is easy enough but to name all species is hard. Let this app help you with all the details you need.

iBird Yard is a stunning interactive guide to most of the planets species found in your backyard of North America, so far the app contains over 86 birds to the database including raptors and common shorebirds. This app has many photos, illustrations, bird calls plus comprehensive facts to help you identify and enjoy 234 North American bird species.

You do not need internet connection with this Apple iPad app because all the data is right there for you, this app will allow you to sync Notes and Favorites with iTunes.

Features Include: Attributes are grouped into basic, head and flight related area, Taxonomic and Alphabetical family sort options on Browse screen and Updated state and province bird lists using official references.

Main Features Include: 2 hours of audio bird songs and calls from the Macaulay Library at the Lab of Ornithology, Over 300 24-bit color high resolution hand-drawn illustrations from professional artists, 600 24-bit photos from respected expert photographers, Parameter-driven decision engine for quickly identifying birds by their shape, colour, location, habitat, head pattern, flight pattern, bill shape, length attributes, and Play bird songs and calls to attract birds right to your iPad for easier identification, clearer photographs and more enjoyment.

You can even find out more about behaviour, and habitat information, including everything from eye colour, Full colour range maps for every species, Links to detailed Wiki pages and hundreds of Flickr photos for each bird, Bookmark birds as favourites for fast access – use multiple favourite lists for keeping track of all your observations, Time and date stamped Notes for each species also sync with iTunes for backup and even Lifetime updates to bird information.

For more information please visit ibird.com, or simply install direct via Apple iTunes, this is a great app to have on your iPad. If you already have this application, please use the commenting area below and send in your personal reviews.

Google tightening control of Android, insisting licensees abide by 'non-fragmentation clauses'?

A storm seems to be brewing over the realm of Android development. Bloomberg's Businessweek spies have received word from "a dozen executives working at key companies in the Android ecosystem" that Google is actively working to gain control and final say over customizations of its popular mobile OS. That might not sound unreasonable, and indeed Google's public position on the matter is that it's seeking to stabilize the platform and ensure quality control, but it does mark a major shift from where Android started -- an open source OS that was also open to manufacturers and carriers to customize as they wish. Not so anymore, we're told, as apparently Mountain View is now demanding that content partnerships and OS tweaks get the blessing of Andy Rubin before proceeding. The alternative, of course, is to not be inside Google's warm and fuzzy early access program, but then, as evidenced by the company recently withholding the Honeycomb source code, you end up far behind those among your competitors who do dance to Google's pipe.

Things have gotten so heated, in fact, that complaints have apparently been made to the US Department of Justice. They may have something to do with allegations of Google holding back Verizon handsets with Microsoft's Bing on board, ostensibly in an effort to trip up its biggest search competitor. Another major dissatisfaction expressed by those working with Android code is that Google needs an advance preview of what is being done in order to give it the green light -- which, as noted by a pair of sources familiar with Facebook's Android customization efforts, isn't sitting well with people at all. Google and Facebook are direct competitors in the online space and it's easily apparent how much one stands to gain from knowing the other's plans early. As to the non-fragmentation clauses in licenses, Andy Rubin has pointed out those have been there from the start, but it's only now that Google is really seeking to use them to establish control. The future of Android, therefore, looks to be a little less open and a little more Googlish -- for better or worse. As Nokia's Stephen Elop puts it:

"The premise of a true open software platform may be where Android started, but it's not where Android is going."

IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit via Woot

If you own a Bluetooth enabled device such as a mobile phone and like car accessories then why not take a little look at the IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit for only $14.99.

If you use mobile phones and drive a vehicle you may want the IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit, as this is safer than holding the phone in your hands whilst driving, which is also very dangerous and against the law.

This Bluetooth car kit works with Bluetooth enabled handsets, PDA’s, and anything else that has Bluetooth enabled, when you buy the device you will get in the box the IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit, Micro-USB Charging Cable, USB Car Charger, Quick Start Guide, Mounting Brackets, Suction Cups and Warranty / Registration Card.

Main Features Include: Hands-free, receive and answer calls wirelessly, integrated solar panel for easy charging, compliant with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR specification and supports headset and hands-free profiles, Windshield and visor mounting bracket included, Superior echo cancellation and noise reduction, it also comes with Multi-point connection and much more.

For more information and the option to bag this bargain please visit woot.com, this is a very cheap product that all cars should have. If you already own one of these devices please do send in your personal reviews.

Need for Speed Shift 2 Unleashed Hits Stores

You might recall back in February we got word that NFS Shift 2 Unleashed has been postponed for a week. It turned into more than a week with the official launch in the US coming yesterday. The game is now on store shelves for gamers to purchase.
Need for Speed Shift 2 Need for Speed Shift 2 Unleashed Hits Stores

Shift 2 has an all-new rendering engine and has had a graphics overhaul with a new helmet camera, night racing, and degradation of tracks and cars during a race. The game sounds really cool and the screen shots I have seen look really cool too.
Shift 2 has a bunch of cool racing cars including the exclusive Pagani Huayra and a lot more. The game is on the PS3 and Xbox and has received some very good reviews so far. I own the first Shift title and it is a lot of fun to play.

WiFi Samsung Galaxy Tab Priced at 299

Samsung recently announced range of new tablets in the Galaxy Tab range, we saw the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Galaxy Tab 8.9, we were expecting Samsung to launch a WiFi only version of the original Galaxy Tab at the end of last year, and it has now turned up on Amazon and is available to pre-order for 299.
The WiFi Galaxy Tab comes with a 7 inch touchscreen display, with Android 2.2 Froyo, there is also a three megapixel camera on the back and a front facing VGA camera for video chat.
WiFi Samsung Galaxy Tab WiFi Samsung Galaxy Tab Priced at 299

Processing is provided by a 1GHz processor and it comes with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of built in storage, it is available to pre-order for 299 from Amazon and it looks like it will, ship on March the 31st.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

MetroPCS lays the TapouT smackdown on Huawei's Ascend... gently

Is it really, truly possible to market a Froyo-based smartphone -- let alone one from 2010 -- to a demographic obsessed with Cauliflower ear? MetroPCS seems to think so, and its version of the Huawei Ascend just so happens to be "sanctioned" by TapouT. Hailed as the first brand to represent MMA, TapouT's roots are plastered all about the innards of the phone, with this Special Edition handset shipping with ten virtual training center videos, a dozen static wallpapers, six live wallpapers and a host of presumably violent Android applications. You'll also get a pair of interchangeable backs, a 2GB microSD card and support for the company's contract-free $50 / $60 smartphone plans. As for the cost of the phone itself? Free after a suplex + sleeper hold combo on the dude working the desk.

Show full PR text

MetroPCS Introduces TapouT Special Edition Android Handset, Nationwide Tour with MMA's Best Fighters

Custom Huawei Ascend brings the thrill of the cage to the palm of your hand with pre-loaded, exclusive TapouT training content and new TapouT application

DALLAS, March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MetroPCS Communications, Inc., in partnership with SA Studios Global, today introduced the Huawei Ascend Sanctioned by TapouT, a special-edition handset designed in conjunction with Mixed Martial Arts ("MMA") and lifestyle brand TapouT, an Authentic Brands Group company. The phone will be available exclusively at MetroPCS stores and online within the next few weeks.

The Huawei Ascend Sanctioned by TapouT comes with two interchangeable backs and is pre-loaded with a full content suite featuring TapouT static and live wallpapers, TapouT Virtual Training center videos and a new TapouT application exclusively available on the phone.

Finished in high gloss black with matte black casing, the Huawei Ascend Sanctioned by TapouT features the iconic TapouT logo emblazoned on the back of both covers, one in tonal black and the other in dark grey with the cage graphic frequently seen on TapouT merchandise. The handset is powered by Android™ 2.2 (Froyo), features a large 3.5 inch touchscreen and a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera and camcorder, and comes with a 2GB microSD™ memory card.

The Huawei Ascend Sanctioned by TapouT is available with MetroPCS' smartphone service plans at $50 and $60 a month, including all applicable taxes and regulatory fees. Both plans offer unlimited talk, text and Web services for about half the cost of other carriers' smartphone plans today, along with Metro USA(SM) nationwide coverage covering more than 90 percent of the U.S. population.

"The TapouT brand is admired by MMA fans around the world, and we're proud to offer consumers a unique and personalized handset that carries the energy and radical design for which TapouT is known," said Phil R. Terry, senior vice president of corporate marketing for MetroPCS. "Special edition handsets are one of the ways that we're giving consumers the devices, services and features that are a perfect fit with their lifestyles and interests."

TapouT is the most recognizable brand in the MMA world. Founded in 1997 by Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr., Dan "Punkass" Caldwell and Tim "SkySkrape" Katz in California, the three made t-shirts and sold them at local gyms and MMA events. The brand rapidly became the de-facto brand worn by MMA fans throughout the U.S. and now has global distribution sponsoring a number of top athletes including Ryan Bader and Jake Shields.

"When we started TapouT, the goal was to create a brand that captured the true essence and lifestyle of MMA fans. Today, the mobile phone is the most important piece of technology that we own, and is an extension of the owner's personality. TapouT fans now have a handset that reflects their lifestyle and the latest technology on the market. The value that MetroPCS offers consumers is unmatched in the industry and was an obvious choice for us," said Caldwell, co-founder of TapouT.

Cross-Country Tour

To celebrate the launch, Punkass and SkySkrape will travel across the country on the TapouT bus to visit MetroPCS stores and host The Ultimate Fighter™ watching parties. A full schedule of locations and dates can be found at www.metropcs.com/TapouT. Additionally, customers who purchase the phone will be able to redeem 20 percent off gear and apparel at www.TapouT.com and enter to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to watch the finale of The Ultimate Fighter™ with Punkass and SkySkrape.

Smartphone market to expand by 50 per cent in 2011

IDC research suggests total shipment of devices will grow to 450 million this year, also adding that Android will be the top operating system by years end

The worldwide smartphone market is expected to grow by 49.2 per cent or four times faster than the overall mobile phone market this year according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

IDC says its research shows that smartphone vendors will ship more than 450 million smartphones in 2011 compared to 303.4 million in 2010.

IDC senior research analyst said: “Last year’s high market growth was due in part to pent-up demand from a challenging 2009, when many buyers held off on mobile phone purchases.

“The expected market growth for 2011, while still notable, will taper off somewhat from what we saw in 2010.”

Meanwhile IDC says Android is “poised” to take over as the leading smartphone operating system by the end of the year.

IDC senior research analyst Ramon Llamas said: “ For the vendors who made Android the cornerstone of their smartphone strategies, 2010 was the coming-out party.

“This year will see a coronation party as these same vendors broaden and deepen their portfolios to reach more customers, particularly first-time smartphone users.”

Nokia’s recently announced shift from Symbian to Windows Phone will also have significant implication for the smartphone market going forward according to Llamas.

“The new alliance brings together Nokia’s hardware capabilities and Windows Phone’s differentiated platform,” Llamas said.

“We expect the first devices to launch in 2012. By 2015, IDC expects Windows Phone to be number 2 operating system worldwide behind Android.”

Gamma aiming to increase revenues by 20 per cent

Target follows company’s announcement that it posted best ever financial results in 2010

Gamma Telecom is aiming to grow its total revenues by almost 20 per cent by the end of next year to 156.2 million, after it posted financial results for 2010 that saw its best annual performance since the business was established in 2001.

Underlying revenue increased 5.6 per cent to 6.6 million, with total revenue now standing at 126.2 million.

Gross profit grew from 23.6 per cent to 26.5 per cent in what Gamma Telecom said was due to the increased proportion of business coming from higher-margin IP and software-based products.

The company’s EBITDA rose 21.5 per cent to 7.9 million despite the loss of its Tiscali contract. Profit before tax was up 69.9 per cent to 3.9 million and net cash-flow increased by five per cent to 4.3 million.

The company’s recent MVNA agreement with Vodafone is currently being rolled out among its near-600 reseller partners with the first phase of its new hosted platform, Horizon, available in April.

Over the next 12 months the portal will develop into a single Gamma Telecom user interface.

The company is launching Gamma Assured IP Services to its resellers in April, a voice-only service sold exclusively with Gamma Telecom’s IP telephony products, as well as its Next Generation Broadband services, which will follow in June.

Gamma Telecom chief financial officer Gerard Sreeves said the company is looking to add 15 million a year over the next two years to its total revenue figure.

The growth from new products this year will probably not be recognised until they come to full fruition, but the immediate target is to continue the growth it has experienced with its inbound calling and SIP trunking products, which is what it based its success on last year.

“We’ve primarily based our success on our inbound calling and SIP trunking products, and are expecting that growth to continue this year,” he said.

“The introduction of our new products in 2011 will be relatively modest in profit terms, because there is an element of start-up cost with those.

“The main profit drivers we see in 2011 will be built on the products we currently have in our portfolio.

We’re looking to grow revenues by around 15 million year-on-year until the end of 2012.”

Commenting on Gamma Telecom’s financial results, chief executive Bob Falconer (pictured) said: “2010 has been a good year of progress for the Gamma group with every key area in the business demonstrating solid improvement, backed by a strong set of financial results.

Our customer base has widened and strengthened, with a much-reduced dependency on any single customer and a rapidly growing contribution from our newer products, such as our inbound suite of services, which has exceeded our expectations.

“We will be driving ahead with our investment programme, introducing significant new services for 2011 with the objective of continuing to give Gamma partners that extra edge in the marketplace.

These include a range of new data services; a new hosted platform; and, off the back of our recently announced MVNA agreement with Vodafone UK, a more comprehensive mobile offering that offers true FMC.”

 

HTC Thunderbolt Battles Inspire 4G In Comparison Videos

So how about a battle of the Android 4G giants whereby the HTC Thunderbolt 4G goes face to face in a comparison battle against the HTC Inspire 4G? Good because that’s exactly what we have for your viewing pleasure.

Aaron Baker over at Phone Dog has done the deed in pitting these two Android 2.2 Froyo 4G enabled smartphones against each other in a two-part video, so basically also pitting a Verizon 4G handset against an AT&T 4G handset, so an added bonus.

Spec wise there isn’t much difference between the two Android devices with the exception of the HTC Thunderbolt sporting a front facing camera while the HTC Inspire doesn’t, and of course the Thunderbolt has that built-in kickstand, but the Thunderbolt costs $249.99 on Verizon while the Inspire 4G costs $99.99 on AT&T.

So will these two Froyo 4G smartphones come out equal, can the HTC Inspire 4G take down the HTC Thunderbolt, will there be a clear winner in the Thunderbolt versus Inspire face off? To find out you are going to have to hit those play buttons below, and feel free to let us know if you agree or disagree with the outcome…enjoy.

Hercules Sets a New Standard with its Latest Generation of eCAF Netbooks

Hercules Sets a New Standard with its Latest Generation of eCAFE Netbooks Hercules Sets a New Standard with its Latest Generation of eCAF Netbooks

Hercules eCAFTM, eCAFTM EX HD, eCAF Netbooks, Hercules eCAFE Netbooks, New Hercules Netbooks, eCAFE Slim HD, eCAFE EX HD

Hercules, a specialist in IT devices including multimedia speaker sets, webcams, DJing solutions and consumer-friendly WiFi products, demonstrates its creative talents with smarter designed netbooks that will boost your connected experience. This spring, Hercules will release two new 10-inch eCAF models that are all about mobility. Hercules is pleased to announced the eCAFTM Slim HD: the slimmest and lightest model in its category; and the eCAFTM EX HD: which boasts the best battery life on the market.

Today, new mobile devices are part of everyday life and users have come to appreciate the advantages they offer: smartphones for their small size and immediacy, pocket multimedia players for their entertainment value, and netbooks for their comfort of use. With its two new eCAF models, Hercules has incorporated all of these features, and even taken things a step further…

More than just a standard netbook, eCAFTM is proud to be different

The Slim HD model offers a 10-inch screen and all the essential connectors (3 USB ports, an Ethernet port, headphone and microphone connectors and a card reader), but weighs in at just 1.9 lbs. Plus, it is extremely slim – only .8″ thick.

The EX HD model features 13 hours of battery life in real use conditions* and makes it simple for users to watch videos on their television thanks to the HDMI port and multimedia touch controls. It is also incredibly compact: at 1.1″ thick and 2.4 lbs., it is one of the slimmest models on the market.

The eCAFTM Slim HD and EX HD are ultra-mobile entertainment devices that smoothly play 720p HD videos, while allowing users to enjoy all of their favorite Internet activities as well email, web surfing, social networks, online shopping, and more.

Designed for everyday use

Both new eCAFTM models offer instant readiness, eCAFTM wakes up from standby mode in just 4 seconds, giving more flexibility of use – even on short trips or breaks.

The eCAFTM is highly intuitive: applications are grouped by theme (Internet, multimedia, games, office software etc.).

It comes bundled with essential applications such as a full office suite (compatible with Microsoft Office), an audio player and music management, a video player compatible with most formats (avi, divx, mpeg2, xvid, h264, mkv, mov, and more), and even an instant messaging system (compatible with Windows Live, Yahoo, AIM, Google Talk, etc.).

Managing social networking accounts, including Facebook, Twitter and Flickr (among others) is now easier than ever, thanks to an application which groups them all together so that you don’t miss any of the latest news.

The exclusive eCAFTM Sync application lets you connect your eCAFTM to your main computer (Windows, Linux or Mac OS X) via the included mini-USB cable, allowing you to transfer files quickly and easily when needed.

A strong identity: that’s eCAFTM

Hercules has broken with tradition and introduced its own design statement. The screen folds into the body, providing even greater protection for your netbook. The compact, super-slender design makes it easy to slip into bags of all shapes and sizes. The LEDs and backlit multimedia touch controls are located on the edges of the device, as are all ports and connectors, making them easily accessible. The chiclet keyboard with flat, separated keys and 10-inch, high-brightness LED screen make the eCAFTM comfortable to use, even for long periods of time.

The eCAF’sTM identity is also reflected in terms of the technology it employs: its optimized and low power consumption processor allows it to combine energy management with efficient everyday use. It doesn’t heat up and because it has no fan, it is especially quiet. Flash storage makes it perfectly suited to mobile use, thanks to fast and efficient data access and greater shock resistance.

The eCAFTM Slim HD and eCAFTM EX HD will be available starting April 2011, at suggested retail prices of $229 and $269.

Apple iPad Accessories: Recycled Vintage Outfit

Okay so you have an Apple iPad and you are looking for a case to keep your beloved iOS tablet in, but maybe your don’t want a run-of-the-mill case and would rather have one that kind of stands out from the rest and doesn’t look like an Apple iPad case.

So with this in mind we have for your consideration a rather unusual Apple iPad accessory in the form of the Recycled Vintage iPad Outfit, a holder for your tablet that looks just like clothing and is custom fitted to suit the Apple iPad.

Thee Recycled Vintage iPad Outfit is computerwear with a breathable, soft organic lining that should protect your iOS device from the usual scratches and bumps although probably not from drops, and apparently it is completely washable.

I have to say though dressing your iPad up in a shirt and cardigan could be seen as taking the love of your device a tad too far; however if you are interested in purchasing a vintage outfit for your iPad you can do so by visiting Etsy where you can purchase the case for 65 bucks.

Now where’s my iPhone slippers?

Apple iPad 2 iMovie App Reviewed on Video

As you are no doubt aware if you are an owner of the Apple iPad 2, the iOS tablet can use a version of the popular Mac app iMovie that enables the user to shoot videos, but with the iOS version of the iMovie app the user can also edit their videos.

So what we have for the iOS faithful’s consideration below is a review video of iMovie for the Apple iPad 2 courtesy of the guys over at Phone Arena, and delivers three and a half minutes of getting to know the iMovie iOS app.

The guys have of course done a written review of the app which can be read over on their website, but if you don’t have time for that you can simply check out the footage. The guys say that the iOS iMovie app interface is similar to that of the Mac version although it doesn’t offer the same variety as the Mac version.

Apparently once you’ve edited your video with iMovie you can export the footage to the camera roll or social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo or other, although iMovie for iOS does the job it doesn’t have the feature rich editing tolls of the original version.

So with that all said I’ll just let you make the jump to hit that play button and check out ther review of iMovie for the Apple iPad 2, and if you use the app which is available from iTunes for $4.99 feel free to let us know what you think of the app…enjoy.

Android In-app Billing Taken for a Spin on Video

The Android faithful are probably aware that in-app billing has come to the Android platform, and for those that may be a little unsure what in-app billing is and how it works we have a video of Android in-app billing in action for your consideration below.

The Android in-app billing video comes our way courtesy of the guys over at Android Central who take in-app billing for a spin using the Tap Tap Revenge game, and they say that using in-app billing is easy enough to get along with.

Apparently all you do if you wish to purchase a new level, weapon, song and the like is tap on whatever you want to buy, a pop up pops up and you confirm the purchase and after the purchase has been authorised, you tap to download and use…job done.

So if you are a little unsure how in-app billing works or just how easy it is, head on down and hit that play button to check out this Android in-app billing run through…enjoy, and feel free to let us know if you experience any difficulty with in-app billing.

AT&T Bid to Buy T-Mobile Bad for Consumers and other Living Things

With only a handful of wireless telecoms in the U.S., the cannibalistic notion of AT&T absorbing T-Mobile is a troubling idea on many levels, and all of them end badly for both the consumer and the industry. If there is one thing that the wireless industry needs it’s more competition, not less. Whether it’s carriers or handset manufacturers, more is better.

When you have multiple players in a  vibrant marketplace such as wireless, innovation is much more likely to occur. Companies are forced to develop new ideas in order to satisfy customers and win market share, to please stockholders and appropriate a larger portion of the proverbial pie, to fight hard for well-earned branding while fending off an army of competitors. All of this improves product and delivery.

Conversely, when you limit the number of players the result is reduced innovation, fewer risks, and less allocated to research and development. It’s academic and it has been played out many times before.

Consider what the industry would be like right now where there no Apple. How many more years would it be before touchscreen technology would have emerged as an exciting and workable idea? Palm has had touchscreen technology for 20 freaken years and the best they could come up with is a crayon drawing of a horse. Come on, folks!

I am old enough to remember the last time AT&T had a monopoly, and looking back at those dark days is like peering into a bad but accurate Sci Fi  movie where the monolithic corporation provided the single source of communication. While the masses were grateful, thankful and amazed at their modern mode of communication,  smart people were left to wonder what could have been had others been allowed to play in the sandbox.

Indeed, prior to deregulation in the U.S., telecommunications was under the full and complete control of AT&T and its seven subordinate regional companies. Customers could not own their phone. It was illegal to do so.  Instead, they had to rent it from AT&T, in whatever color they wanted as long as it was black. Young people  may find it amusing, but it was also illegal to attach anything to your phone, such as an answering machine, which was considered a foreign device. Folks were prohibited from even putting a protective cover over their phone as this, too, was illegal.

As for the phone itself, well, dialing 911 required genuine dedication and in some cases time off from work. But the trains ran on time, so to speak, and since there were no other options, no Apple, there was no protest. And again, so many were mesmerized by the grace and craft of AT&T that they rarely considered what could have been.

Do you see how the world appears when there is a vacuum of competitors? That vacuum prevents a public from indulging in alternatives which, ultimately, would reveal the only player as an unimaginative hack. Oh, I said it. Oh yes I did.

MCI Communications sued AT&T in 1974 over restraint in trade, and that was the seminal moment when everything changed. March, 1974. Following the government-enforced break-up of AT&T was a Tsunami of innovation that benefited the consumer and industry in more ways than anyone can count. For the first time consumers could purchase and own their phone. They had choices as to which manufacturer they wanted to buy from, as new entrants in the industry offered automatic redial while others offered answering machines built into the phone. New long distance options appeared, and with them new services, such as call-waiting, speed-dialing, three-way calling, etc.

When AT&T was the only game in town there was no need to create such exciting new products and services; there was no ROI on driving customer costs down or offering more bang for the buck.

Remember, when AT&T was the only game in town, the only color was black.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Rumour: Apple’s iOS 5 To Have Deep Voice Integration

Apple has scheduled their WWDC for the 6th of June this year, and one of the things mentioned that will be featured at this years conference is that Apple will be unveiling the future of iOS.
The statement from Apple gives us the impression that we will see quite a few changes in the next version of iOS, which is rumored to be iOS 5, and although we have heard it may not launch until the fall, we are expecting Apple to unveil the major new features in iOS 5 at WWDC 2011.
Apple’s iOS 5 Rumour: Apple’s iOS 5 To Have Deep Voice Integration

One thing we have heard previously is that cloud based services, like the rumored ‘Music Locker’ will be integrated into iOS 5, and now there is a new rumor that iOS 5 will feature heavy voice integration.
Apple purchased a company called Siri, which developed an application for the iPhone app for a virtual personal assistant, according to Tech Crunch this technology could be integrated into iOS 5.
Apparently you would be able to speak commands to your iOS device, and automatically accomplish tasks from voice commands, like booking a reservation at a restaurant.
The voice technology could have a range of other uses, and it could be possible that Apple would let developers integrate the technology into individual applications.
It certainly sounds very interesting, and we suspect that iOS 5 will come with a wide range of new features, that could possibly change the way people use iOS devices.

AT&T Confirms Work on Allowing Amazon App Store Access

Amazon App Store for Android logoNot long after last Friday’s launch of the Amazon AppStore for Android and subsequent blockade of AT&T customers, AT&T has confirmed that it is indeed working with Amazon to allow AT&T customers to access the third-party storefront.

The recent change of stance from AT&T is a welcome change from its previous anti-3rd party app stance on Android, even going as far as disabling sideloading and forcing customers to use cumbersome workarounds to load non Market apps, as AT&T forces all branded devices to use the Android Market.

The reasoning given by AT&T for the third-party blockade and subsequent nixing of sideloading of apps is one of security concerns and customer protection, but the concerns ring hollow in the face of previous anti-enthusiast practices instigated by the carrier, such as the forced tethering plan debacle on all rooted smart devices.

Introducing Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon Cloud Player for Web, and Amazon Cloud Player for Android

Introducing Amazon Cloud Drive Amazon Cloud Player for Web and Amazon Cloud Player for Android Introducing Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon Cloud Player for Web, and Amazon Cloud Player for Android

Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon Cloud Player for Web, Amazon Cloud Player for Android, Android phone, Android tablet, Amazon MP3

Amazon.com, Inc. today announced the launch of Amazon Cloud Drive (www.amazon.com/clouddrive), Amazon Cloud Player for Web (www.amazon.com/cloudplayer) and Amazon Cloud Player for Android (www.amazon.com/cloudplayerandroid). Together, these services enable customers to securely store music in the cloudand play it on any Android phone, Android tablet, Mac or PC, wherever they are. Customers can easily upload their music library to Amazon Cloud Drive and can save any new Amazon MP3 purchases directly to their Amazon Cloud Drive for free.

“We’re excited to take this leap forward in the digital experience,” said Bill Carr, vice president of Movies and Music at Amazon. “The launch of Cloud Drive, Cloud Player for Web and Cloud Player for Android eliminates the need for constant software updates as well as the use of thumb drives and cables to move and manage music.”

“Our customers have told us they don’t want to download music to their work computers or phones because they find it hard to move music around to different devices,” Carr said. “Now, whether at work, home, or on the go, customers can buy music from Amazon MP3, store it in the cloud and play it anywhere.”

Store Music for Free

Customers automatically start with 5 GB of Cloud Drive storage to upload their digital music library, and those who purchase an Amazon MP3 album will be upgraded to 20 GB of Cloud Drive space. New Amazon MP3 purchases saved directly to Cloud Drive are stored for free and do not count against a customer’s storage quota.

Adding Music to Cloud Drive

Amazon’s easy uploading process makes it simple for customers to save their music library to their Cloud Drive. Files can be stored in AAC or MP3 formats and will be uploaded to Cloud Drive in the original bit rate. Customers can hand-pick particular songs, artists, albums or playlists to upload or simply upload their entire music library.

Cloud Player for Web

Customers who have a computer with a Web browser can listen to their music. Cloud Player for Web currently supports Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari for Mac, and Chrome. Cloud Player for Web lets customers easily manage their music with download and streaming options. Customers don’t need to worry about regularly updating software on their computer to enjoy music, and Amazon MP3 customers can continue to use iTunes and Windows Media Player to add their music to their iPods and MP3 players.

Cloud Player for Android

Cloud Player for Android is now bundled into the new version of the Amazon MP3 App; it includes the full Amazon MP3 Store and the mobile version of Cloud Player. Customers can use the app to play music stored on their Cloud Drive and music stored locally on their device. Features include the ability to search and browse by artist, album or song, create playlists and download music from Cloud Drive.

Secure Storage

Customers never need to worry about losing their music collection to a hard drive crash again. Files are securely stored on Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) and each file is uploaded to Cloud Drive in its original bit rate. Customers can buy music anywhere and know that their MP3s are safely stored in Cloud Drive and accessible from any device.

Store More than Music

Cloud Drive allows customers to upload and store all kinds of digital files; music, photos, videos and documents can be stored securely and are available via web browser on any computer. In addition to the 5 GB of free storage, customers can purchase storage plans starting at $20 a year for 20 GB.

Sound ID 512 Bluetooth Headset- The only headset with an app for Droid & Blackberry

Sound ID 512 Bluetooth Headset The only headset with an app for Droid Blackberry Sound ID 512 Bluetooth Headset The only headset with an app for Droid & Blackberry

blackberry compatible, blackberry headset, droid bluetooth, droid bluetooth headset in Android Headset, BLUETOOTH EARPIECES, bluetooth android, bluetooth app, bluetooth app headset droid, bluetooth cell phone headset, Sound ID 512

Compatible with all Bluetooth enabled mobile phones (2.0 and higher), Sound ID 5 Series Premium Bluetooth Headsets combine the best industry features into one sleek and powerful headset, plus the refined sound quality you’ve come to expect from Sound ID.

With touch sensitive volume control, easy one button functionality, 3X NoiseNavigation with advanced wind protection, and even more customization available with EarPrint App, the Sound ID 510 is truly revolutionary—the most personalized premium Bluetooth headset ever.

Slim Compact Design

2.165″ x 0.6“ x 0.325″ (55 x 15.5 x 8.2 mm)

Ultra Lightweight

Weighs less than .28 ounces (8 grams)

Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and eSCO

Improves sound quality transmission; compatible with earlier Bluetooth versions a range up to 33 feet (10 m)

Advanced Lithium-Polymer Battery

5 hours talk time / 135 hours standby Approximately 2.5 hours charge time

Accessories

Comes with a small, energy efficient Universal AC travel charger (100-240 VAC), USB charging cable, clip holster carrying case, three sizes of RealComfort EarLoops and an Ear Hook for an alternative over-the-ear wearing option.

Vimeo an App for iPhone, iPad 2 And iPod Touch

Vimeo has launched a new app for Apple’s iOS devices, and it is compatible with the iPhone 4, iPad 2 and the fourth generation iPod Touch, and you can now upload, edit, manage and watch your videos from your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
The Vimeo iPhone app will let you capture videos, with focus control and grid alignment, you can then combine, edit and trim your videos, as well as add in a range of features like titles and also add effects to your videos.
Vimeo App Vimeo an App for iPhone, iPad 2 And iPod Touch

Introducing Amazon Cloud Drive, Cloud Player for Web and Cloud Player for Android

Amazon.com, Inc. today announced the launch of Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon Cloud Player for Web and Amazon Cloud Player for Android. Together, these services enable customers to securely store music in the cloud and play it on any Android phone, Android tablet, Mac or PC, wherever they are. Customers can easily upload their music library to Amazon Cloud Drive and can save any new Amazon MP3 purchases directly to their Amazon Cloud Drive for free.

"We’re excited to take this leap forward in the digital experience,” said Bill Carr, vice president of Movies and Music at Amazon. “The launch of Cloud Drive, Cloud Player for Web and Cloud Player for Android eliminates the need for constant software updates as well as the use of thumb drives and cables to move and manage music.”

Mobile Music Subscribers to Reach 178 million by 2015

A new report published today by Juniper Research forecasts that the number of mobile users who pay a monthly subscription for access to music catalogues, either via download or streaming, will reach 178 million by 2015, more than triple the number of users doing so in 2010.

In emerging markets, such as China and India, where subscriber penetration is growing quickly and the number of these subscribers with access to 3G networks is also increasing, subscribing to mobile music services will become increasingly popular. India, in particular, is a strong market for music given its links to the Bollywood film industry.

MOBIADO CPT002 ASTON MARTIN CONCEPT PHONE: DESIGN IN MOBILITY

MOBIADO CPT002 ASTON MARTIN CONCEPT PHONE DESIGN IN MOBILITY MOBIADO CPT002 ASTON MARTIN CONCEPT PHONE: DESIGN IN MOBILITY

MOBIADO CPT002, CONCEPT PHONE, BaselWorld, Switzerland, CPT002 software, luxury mobile phone

The CPT002 exemplifies what a concept phone can be, combining existing technology and software with state-of-the-art advances in electronics to create a realistic vision of luxury mobile phones.  The CTP002 will present this futuristic image at BaselWorld, the world watch and jewelry show in Switzerland (Hall 2.1, Booth A22).

The CPT002 is the key to your Aston Martin vehicle, automatically unlocking the doors as you approach, however this is just the beginning as the phone also connects directly to the car display while remaining in your pocket.  The CPT002 software combines with the vehicle GPS providing a new level of social network experience:

FourSquare -will show your current location as well as the location of your friends and nearby venues all integrated on a GPS map of the Aston Martin car display, to help you plan your night and organize parking locations. Cameras integrated into the vehicle can be set to periodically update FaceBook and

Twitter – with pictures, video, and information of passing cities/landmarks during road trips, or can update your social sites in real time with your progress during race track days.

At the time of an accident, the vehicle Airbag will receive accelerometer information from the CPT002 in the driver’s pocket.  These readings will give the car information of the driver’s acceleration movement from within the car seat, allowing for more responsive control over safety deployments such as airbag sequence, timing, and seatbelt stiffening.

Mobiado is consistently guided by a philosophy of doing things differently, and this principle has now given rise to the CPT002 Aston Martin Concept Phone.  Staying on the cutting edge of design required the freedom to push the limits of what a luxury phone can be.  The heart of the CPT002 is the solid sapphire crystal, see-through capacitive touch screen.  The sides of the CPT are crafted from platinum; they incorporate the battery, electronics, and SIM card allowing for the

screen of the phone to be transparent giving the phone a simple modern look while maintaining a luxurious appearance.

The purpose of a concept is to push the boundaries of invention, allowing concept ideas to be identified for future production designs.  Mobiado’s passion for the avant-garde is an essential element of its DNA and history, and the driving force of its R&D strategy.

Verizon Wireless And Samsung Deliver The 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is available for order today in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at Verizon Wireless for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a 4G Mobile Broadband plan.

The 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot will be available in stores on March 31. Key features include:

Xperia Play Review Videos: Perhaps Not As Good as Expected

There’s been quite a bit of hype about the first PlayStation phone, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, and now the gaming centric Android device has been given an in-depth review along with some video coverage that shows that maybe the Xperia Play doesn’t stand up to all the hype.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play review videos comes our way courtesy of the guys over at 9to5 Mac, and by way of the guys at Engadget who have posted quite an in-depth review of the Android Gingerbread smartphone.

The in-depth review covers such things as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play hardware, the construction, the internals, the display, the camera, and the software, but if you don’t have time to pursue the full written review you can simply check out the video footage below.

The guys do say though that as of right now the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is somewhat barren when it comes to games with only one game available exclusively for the handset, and apparently the display is somewhat dismal when used outside and thus the guys can’t recommend the device at present.

So if you are thinking about picking up the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, perhaps you may like to check out the review and the footage below before doing so, and of course feel free to let us know if you agree or disagree by posting us a comment…enjoy.

Shocker! Sprint officially opposes AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile

Yes, you read that right. Sprint is actually going out on a limb and officially opposing AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA. Apparently, it thinks that the transaction would "reduce competition and harm consumers" if it's allowed to go through, and it's vowing to "fight this attempt by AT&T to undo the progress of the past 25 years and create a new Ma Bell duopoly." It further goes on to note that the combined company would be almost three times the size of Sprint in terms of wireless revenue, and that it and Verizon would "overwhelmingly dominate" the US wireless industry and have "unprecedented control" over the post-paid market. Full press release is after the break.

Show full PR text

Sprint Opposes Proposed AT&T Acquisition of T-Mobile USA
Transaction would reduce competition and harm consumers

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 28, 2011 - Sprint Nextel [NYSE:S], the nation's third largest wireless provider and a leader in advanced wireless broadband technologies, announced today its opposition to AT&T's proposed $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile USA.

The transaction, which requires the approval of the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission, and will likely spark a host of hearings in the U.S. Congress, would reverse nearly three decades of actions by the U.S. government and the courts that modernized and opened U.S. communications markets to competition. The wireless industry has sparked unprecedented levels of competition, innovation, job creation and investment for the American economy, all of which could be undone by this transaction.

AT&T and Verizon are already by far the largest wireless providers. If approved, the proposed acquisition would create a combined company that would be almost three times the size of Sprint in terms of wireless revenue and would entrench AT&T's and Verizon's duopoly control over the wireless market. The wireless industry moving forward would be dominated overwhelmingly by two vertically integrated companies with unprecedented control over the U.S. wireless post-paid market, as well as the availability and price of key inputs, such as backhaul and access needed by other wireless companies to compete.

"Sprint urges the United States government to block this anti-competitive acquisition," said Vonya McCann, senior vice president, Government Affairs. "This transaction will harm consumers and harm competition at a time when this country can least afford it. As the first national carrier to roll out 4G services and handsets and the carrier that brought simple unlimited pricing to the marketplace, Sprint stands ready to compete in a truly dynamic marketplace. So on behalf of our customers, our industry and our country, Sprint will fight this attempt by AT&T to undo the progress of the past 25 years and create a new Ma Bell duopoly."

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 49.9 million customers at the end of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Xperia Play delayed by O2 due to Bugs

The new Sony Ericsson Xperia play is due to go on sale in the UK shortly, mobile operator O2 has an exclusive deal with Sony Ericsson to sell a white version of the Xperia Play.
Now O2 has announced on their blog that they will be delaying the launch of the Xperia play on their network here in the UK, and the reason they have given is due to a number of bugs they have found whilst testing the Xperia Play.
Sony Ericsson Xperia play Xperia Play delayed by O2 due to Bugs

We’ve been testing the phone non-stop for weeks and have found some bugs in the software that, if they’re not fixed, means customers won’t have a great experience. We’ve been working with Sony Ericsson to get these bugs ironed out, but haven’t been able to get them fixed in time for us to be able to launch the phone on April 1st as we originally planned.
It isn’t clear whether these bugs that have been found in the Xperia Play will actually delay its launch here in the UK, or if the delay will be limited just to O2?s network.

iPhone 5 Not at WWDC, Early Next Year Release

Well now we’ve just posted word that Apple has now gone all official with the dates for their Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco, when most are expecting the unveiling of the next generation iPhone, the iPhone 5.

However according to an article over on 9to5 Mac, Jim Dalrymple of The Loop is reporting that no Apple hardware will be unveiled during this years WWDC so that means no new Apple iPads, Macs or iPhones, including the iPhone 5.

As reported, WWDC 2011 will concentrate on iOS and Mac OS so it looks like Apple is breaking with their usual pattern for launching new iPhone handsets.

This seems to be further confirmed by Japanese website Macotakara who reports that production of the iPhone 5 will not go into mass production until later this year and intimates an early 2012 launch for the iPhone 5.

Of course Apple did release the Verizon iPhone not too long ago, and there’s rumour that the white iPhone 4 is coming sometime in spring, so perhaps Apple has decided that June is not the right time to release the 5th generation handset.

If true will you be disappointed if Apple doesn’t come out with the iPhone 5 during WWDC 2011?

Try out the new and improved Nokia Ovi Suite 3.1 Beta

Try out the new and improved Nokia Ovi Suite 3.1 Beta Try out the new and improved Nokia Ovi Suite 3.1 Beta

Nokia Ovi Suite 3.1 Beta, Nokia Ovi Suite

A new version of Nokia Ovi Suite is now up for grabs (available since Friday). Nokia Betalabs team has enhanced key parts of Nokia Ovi Suite to make sure they are easy and efficient to use. For example, updating your phone software and mobile apps takes place more easily and you can now update both in one go. What’s more, when you choose to download something from Ovi Store through Nokia Ovi Suite, the download link is sent to your phone. You can then go on to download the selected item directly to your phone. This saves some of your valuable time and there’s no need to open a web browser on your desktop anymore.

Then there are the new additions. You can see the results of your latest sync in the Sync log view. The results include all the details that were added, updated or deleted during the sync, in addition to the information where each of these changes took place. Keeping track of your map downloads is now easier than before, too, as you can view your download queue by clicking Downloads in the Maps view. And, if you feel that sending text messages to groups is something you’ve been missing, you’ll probably be happy to know that creating contact groups is now possible in the Contacts view. Sending messages to all the members of a specific group is then simple to do in the Messaging view.

They’ve been busy getting Nokia Ovi Suite to work with greater reliability. Creating the connection between your phone and computer and syncing content between the two have been improved with critical fixes. You might also like to check out the fine-tuned playback of high-definition videos. Playing your videos with Nokia Ovi Suite is now smoother and nicer than ever before.

Vendors consolidate after Japan catastrophe

Sony Ericsson and Nokia say shortages to memory chip and semiconductor production will disrupt parts of product supply chains

Sony Ericsson and Nokia expect disruption to parts of their supply chain, due to the Japan earthquake.

Japan manufactures memory chips and semiconductors for smartphones.

Panic buying from phone manufacturers is expected.

Prices have already increased as a result of the shortage.

Last week, Nokia said it expects “some disruption” to supply for some products, due to the “anticipated” industry-wide shortage of components and raw materials from Japan. It did not expect first-quarter sales to be affected.

Nokia executive vice president of markets Niklas Savander (pictured) said Nokia was in talks with suppliers in and outside Japan to ensure components could be sourced.

Savander said: “Nokia’s supply chain management system is designed to mitigate operational disruptions. We use alternative sources for components and production processors.”

Sony has ceased operations in five of its sites in Japan because of the earthquake, halting production of Sony Ericsson handsets, camcorders, headphones and televisions.

Sony Ericsson’s 1,100 staff in Tokyo are all unharmed and there has been minimal damage to Sony buildings.

The global giant is seeking alternative component supply for its products.

Sony Ericsson said: “We are in contact with all our key suppliers in the region and are identifying relocation of certain components for manufacturing, and secondary sources of supply.”

HTC’s CEO Peter Chou said HTC supply chains were “operating as normal”. Samsung reported it would monitor the situation in Japan and remain in “close consultation” with clients and suppliers.

Supplies of the new iPad 2, which uses Japanese components, will not be affected. Scheduled launch in to 25 countries last Friday proceeded without disruption.

Apple said it will delay the Japan launch of the iPad 2 indefinitely whilst the country recovers.

UK distributors Data Select, 20:20 and Brightstar have not received warning of stock shortages at time of writing.

They did not anticipate problems in the short term.

Vodafone and O2 were monitoring the situation regarding handset deliveries and said a full assessment would be completed in the coming weeks.

Business Watch: Service revenue struggles to shake recession

First the good news. Mobile industry service revenue growth improved across Europe in the Christmas quarter, according to industry experts Enders Analysis.

Now the bad news. By “improved growth”, Enders only means that revenues fell less than in the previous quarter the same year.

Worse still, things are going to get tougher this year as enforced price cuts by regulators start to kick in.

Enders’ work study of revenue growth trends for mobile operators in the top five European markets – the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain – shows that service revenue growth improved in Q4 2010, but only by a little, improving by 0.1 per cent on a reported basis and 0.2 per cent on an underlying basis.

According to Enders’ James Barford: “The post-recession recovery is still very slow; before (and during) the recession underlying mobile service revenue grew at an average of 3.5 percentage points faster than gross domestic product, but now its growth is equal to GDP.

“Only the UK now enjoys a significant growth premium to GDP (three per cent), with Italy and Spain at minus-three per cent and minus-four per cent respectively.

This is, hopefully, a delayed reaction rather than a permanent change, but when this delay might be caught up with is very uncertain.”

Smartphone sales are ballooning as a proportion of overall handset sales, which should catapult data usage higher but, worryingly for operators such as Vodafone, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Three, “Their impact on revenue growth is much harder to see, with substantially all of the improvement in revenue growth over the last year coming from old fashioned voice and text.”

Three’s radical move

And the grimmer news is voice revenues are set to take a kick from the latest round of mobile termination rate cuts. Severe cuts in Germany and the UK are likely to hit revenue growth hard over the next few quarters.

“The short-term outlook is therefore bleak,” concludes a grim-sounding Barford.

In its drive to steal customers from larger rivals, Three is doing its bit for lower industry growth by offering “all you can eat” PAYG data tariffs to pre-paid punters.

The radical move is totally against the trend, which has seen O2, Vodafone and Everything Everywhere (owner of T-Mobile and Orange) now starting to penalise very heavy downloaders.

For just 15 a month, Three’s PAYG customers can download as much data as they like – the company said it would enable customers to “set their smartphones free and still stay in control of their spending”.

Three, which launched similar data plans for its contract customers a couple of months ago, claims its network is better able to cope with data surges than those of its rivals.

It’s true that networks such as that of 02 have struggled to deal with the explosion of data usage on iPhones.

But it’s also true that Three has fewer customers, so its network is far less full than its rivals, giving it a unique selling point.

The question is, can it make the new pricing model into a profitable one?

One man who’s developed a profitable pricing model for himself is Stephen Elop.

It’s emerged that the new Nokia chief executive received a 3.7 million “golden hello” when he left Microsoft last year to try to turn around the world’s largest mobile phone company.

On top of the 1.85 million-plus he got on his appointment, the Canadian is due another 1.85 million next October “as compensation for lost income” from the Seattle-based software giant, where he was head of the business division.

Elop, the first non-Finnish national to run the mobile phone giant, also got more than 437,000 to reimburse fees he was obliged to repay Microsoft, and 272,860 to cover legal expenses.

Meanwhile, the man he replaced, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo – who was ousted due to poor share price and Nokia’s market share losses – got a payout of 4.04 million but had to give up nearly 12.2 million in pension payments, stock and options because of his departure.

Daunting task

Nokia’s annual filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission also does a rather good job at spelling out the scale of the task facing his successor.

It admits that Elop’s plans to get into bed with Microsoft and use his former employer’s operating system for Nokia’s mobile phones is a risky venture.

Nokia, you will remember, has been shedding market share like nobody’s business to Apple and Google in the smartphone operating system market.

The SEC filing says that: “The Windows Phone is a very recent, largely unproven addition to the market.” It also says Windows Phone currently has “very low adoption and consumer awareness relative to the Android and Apple platforms”.

It even admits that Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft may not become a “sufficiently broad competitive smartphone platform”.

Not only that, but Nokia said the Microsoft alliance could erode its brand identity in markets where it is dominant, and may not add to the brand identity in a market where it is already weak.

Of course, these are the kind of legal warnings companies insert into their US filings these days: in the wake of the scandals of the global financial crisis, corporates are ultra-wary of exposing themselves to class-action law suits from investors who claim they weren’t warned of the full risks associated with the companies they lost money on.

So they should be taken with a pinch of salt. But it’s clear Elop will be worth his golden hello, his million-pound salary and his potentially huge bonuses, if he can make this strategy pay off and transform Nokia’s fortunes.

The company’s long-suffering shareholders would finally have something to smile about, too.

Meanwhile, a tiny Finnish company has shown where some of the best growth is in mobile these days: games.

Rovio, the company that created the addictive iPhone game Angry Birds, has raised 26 million from investors to expand and develop more games.

More than 40 million people have started playing the game since it was launched just 15 months ago: it’s the kind of growth Nokia would kill for.

Mystery Shopper: Chippenham

Mystery Shopper was looking for a contract smartphone that has a QWERTY keypad, within a budget of 30 a month

5: O2

Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 3/5
Airtime knowledge – 3/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 2/5
Shop appearance – 4/5
Total – 17/30

4: Carphone Warehouse

Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 4/5
Airtime knowledge – 3/5
Questioning ability – 3/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 19/30

3: Orange

Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 4/5
Airtime knowledge – 4/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 4/5
Total – 20/30

2: Three

Product range – 4/5
Product knowledge – 4/5
Airtime knowledge – 3/5
Questioning ability – 3/5
Sales ability – 4/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 21/30

1: Vodafone

Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 5/5
Airtime knowledge – 4/5
Questioning ability – 3/5
Sales ability – 5/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 23/30

Summary

The popularity of BlackBerry handsets as the solution to those users looking for a QWERTY keyboard was clear for all to see.

With BlackBerry tariff costs remaining consistent across networks, it was only Vodafone and Orange that took the opportunity to differentiate themselves by mentioning extra customer opportunities.

Three offered the greatest-value option combined with the Nokia E5 handset, but the sales process lacked enthusiasm and was incomplete when compared to the winning Vodafone example.

Full review in Mobile News issue 485 (March 28, 2011).

Motorola Xoom WiFi Model Gets Root: Video

For those of you that like rooting your mobile devices, if you own the WiFi version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb touting Motorola Xoom tablet, you can now gain root access to the device so you can tinker to your hearts content.

According to Android Central, the hacking aficionados over at XDA-developers have now released the necessary to root the WiFi-only model of the Motorola Xoom, which involves using an Android SDK along with a certain amount of code knowledge.

Of course if you do choose to gain root access to the Motorola Xoom you will void the tablet’s warranty so if anything should go wrong you’ll be on your own, but if you wish to give it a go you can grab all that’s required from the XDA guys.

We also have a video, which shows how to root the Motorola Xoom WiFi model for those that wish to try courtesy of YouTube user HBGadgetHacks and lasts six and a half minutes, so check that out before going ahead, and if you do give it a go feel free to let us know how you get on…enjoy.

Switched On: The PlayBook polyglot

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

When Apple introduced the iPad, it had but a smattering of third-party applications, but the company stressed its own. As Apple iPhone software SVP Scott Forstall stated in the iPad introduction video, "We looked at the device and we decided: let's redesign it all. Let's redesign, reimagine and rebuild every single app from the ground up specifically for the iPad."

Compare this to the strategy employed by RIM, makers of the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. One year after the iPad's debut, Apple's head start in apps has proven a formidable advantage against the onslaught of slates announced by its competitors in the smartphone world. Some have chosen to latch onto Android and attain backwards compatibility with over 200,000 existing smartphone apps. HP, with its TouchPad as flagship, will circle its wagons of PCs, printers and phones around the webOS platform. However, the announcement this week that RIM, too, will support Android apps says much about how the company sees its position in the tablet wars.

C and C++ are the native routes to app development on RIM's long-gestated tablet, but they certainly not the only ways. Flash / Adobe AIR and HTML5 will also be supported as will several popular game engines. Android and Java apps will be accommodated with add-on players and distributed via RIM's App World, RIM's app marketplace. The ability to run Android apps without the underlying Android operating system certainly helps bring a degree of cachet as well as functionality. At a discussion with an executive from a downmarket carrier at the CTIA Wireless show in Orlando last week, I asked what customers are asking for as they adopt smartphones. His response: "Android. Android is the brand. They want the apps."

Android support could serve as a sideshow that gives developers less reason to natively support the platform.

But support for Android could also have some potential downsides. With the BlackBerry OS platform generally taking a backseat to other smartphone platforms and a major platform shift to QNX in the works, Android support could serve as a sideshow that gives Android developers even less reason to natively support the platform. Android apps are also unlikely to exploit the PlayBook hardware and user interface, both of which have generated consumer excitement on their own merits. Contrast this with Apple's attempt to optimize the iOS app experience to the point where it sought to block third-party development tools because of concern about cross-platform apps that might pander to the lowest common denominator.

Controlling the software platform may not be as vital to RIM as it is to Apple or others, but it's still an important priority in which RIM is heavily investing. RIM's challenge will be weaving the PlayBook's hodgepodge of sources into a tapestry of engaging functionality. Apple may prioritize a consistently crafted experience but RIM is about delivering what works to encourage adoption and development. The key is ensuring that Android apps remain more or less an option of last resort, while the company can build the case for QNX apps that showcase and differentiate the PlayBook from competitors in the tablet space, and to help the company make a case for the same operating system to power future smartphones.

Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sonos Controller for Android delayed until April, heartbreak available now

Is it really the end of March? That's debatable, but if you've been wondering where Sonos' Controller for Android app is, well... wonder no more. Rather than cutting it loose within the next week (as promised earlier in the year), the outfit's vice president of quality has informed the world that it won't be available until next month. The exact quote?

"We know you're anxiously awaiting the Sonos Controller for Android. Unfortunately, testing the app is taking a bit longer than we anticipated. The latest addition to our free controller line-up won't arrive until April, but when it does, it is going to rock."

But will it rock as much as the image above? Time will tell, friends.

Xoom Challenges iPad 2 in Comparison Fight Videos

For anyone that may still be sitting on the tablet fence when it comes to choosing the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Motorola Xoom over the Apple iPad 2 or visa versa, we have a two-part video comparison fight between the two tablet giants for your consideration below.

The Apple iPad 2 versus the Motorola Xoom comparison videos come our way courtesy of Aaron Baker over at Phone Dog with part one delivering almost sixteen minutes and part two delivering just over eleven minutes we have 26 minutes of up close and personal with the tablets.

I’m pretty sure you already know the spec differences between the Apple iPad 2 and the Motorola Xoom and that it also places the latest Android operating system against Apple iOS platform, so I won’t go over that old ground here.

As usual with such comparisons the faithful on both side will come down on their respective tablets, so I’ll simply leave you to check out the tablet fight between the iPad 2 and the Xoom o make up your own mind…enjoy.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Digital strategy accelerates with new value mobile plans from Telstra

Digital strategy accelerates with new value mobile plans from Telstra Digital strategy accelerates with new value mobile plans from Telstra

Telstra new mobile plans, buying goods online, paying bills online, Telstra Digital

Telstra has announced new mobile plans to cater for customers’ insatiable appetite to be connected on the go. The new plans, available from 29 March 2011, also cater for customers who prefer the convenience of buying goods and paying bills online and follow the creation last month of Telstra Digital, a new business unit that will expand Telstra’s online self-service offerings.

Gerd Schenkel, the new Executive Director of Telstra Digital, said nine out of ten Australians preferred making simple transactions on their PC or mobile phone, rather than in person or over the phone and it was important to have packages available to meet their needs.

“Telstra Digital was set up to deliver simple and convenient services so customers can order new products, change their plans, activate features, pay online and receive bills direct to their email, all from their computer or mobile.

“As a result, we’re expecting Telstra customers will perform about 35 per cent of transactions using Telstra’s online self-service channels by 2013,” he said.

Mr Schenkel said Australians were embracing the digital economy, with banking, buying goods or services and paying bills online some of the most popular activities.

“Since last year we’ve been busy boosting the data inclusions on our plans and the new Freedom Connect Plans provide even more options for our customers.

“We’re continuing to offer the most popular price points of Telstra’s Next G Cap Plans for the new Freedom Connect Plans but they feature extra call inclusions, a larger data allowance on the $99 plan and a new $59 plan with generous call and data value and unlimited SMS,” Mr Schenkel said.

The new Freedom Connect Plans will be available online, in-store or by calling Telstra:

$49 Plan with a $450 monthly call allowance – up $50 compared to the previous $49 Next G Cap Plan – along with 1GB of data to use in Australia.

$59 Plan with a $550 monthly call allowance, unlimited SMS and 1.5GB of data use in Australia.

$79 Plan with an $800 monthly call allowance – an extra $50 compared to the previous $79 Next G Cap Plan – along with 2GB of data to use in Australia, unlimited SMS and unlimited MessageBank retrieval.

$99 Plan with a $1,200 monthly call allowance – an extra $200 compared to the previous $99 Next G Cap Plan – along with 2.5GB of data to use in Australia, unlimited SMS and unlimited MessageBank retrieval.

$129 Plan with an unlimited monthly call allowance for standard national voice and video calls, SMS and MessageBank retrieval, 3GB of data to use in Australia, $50 of international calling value.

These Plans include unmetered Green Dot BigPond browsing and free-to-browse social networking via Telstra Tribe on compatible handsets.

The Freedom Connect Plans encourage customers to pay bills electronically and receive their bill online or by email, by applying a small fee for alternate billing and payment options. If customers don’t want to take up the new plans with this fee, they have the option of staying on their existing plan.

Mr Schenkel said: “Customers wanted more certainty and that’s what these mobile plans offer with generous calling value, unlimited text on the $59+ plans, a great 2.5GB data inclusion on the $99 plan and unlimited MessageBank use on the $79+ plans.

“The Freedom Connect Plans will hit the market next week to add to the sales momentum seen in the first half and further accelerate Telstra’s digital strategy,” Mr Schenkel said.

Apple iPad 2 International Release Attracts Long Queues

Well yesterday saw the release of Apple’s latest iOS tablet outside the US of A, and as expected many countries saw exceedingly long lines of customers waiting to get their hands on the Apple iPad 2, with apparently on potential owner in Sydney Australia queuing for a staggering 53 hours.

According to an article over on the Boy Genius Report, lines for the Apple iPad 2 in other coutries were just as ridiculously long and have posted a video of one such Apple iPad 2 line outside the Apple retail store in the Toronto Eaton Center in Canada, which of course we have for your viewing below.

The Apple iPad 2 queue filmed in the video by YouTube user Nlightn7, was shot at approximately 930 AM, and the iOS tablet wasn’t due to become available until 500 PM, so it just goes to show how long people are prepared to wait in line for the device, something I personally don’t have the patience for.

So check out the video footage below to see just how long that line was, and of course if you joined on of these line to gain the Apple iPad 2 anywhere in the world feel free to let us know if you managed to get the device before stocks ran out…enjoy.

Canon U.S.A. Announces Five New Portable LCD Projectors

Canon U.S.A. Announces Five New Portable LCD Projectors Canon U.S.A. Announces Five New Portable LCD Projectors

Canon LCD Projector, Portable LCD Projector, LV-8225, portable multimedia LCD, digital imaging, Portable LCD Projector

Presentation professionals encompass a broad range of occupations, but common to all is a need for affordable, high-performance portable projectors offering such essential user benefits as high brightness, long lamp and filter life, and the convenience of auto set-up functions. Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, responds to this need with five new affordable multimedia LCD projectors. These new products include the LV-8225, Canon’s latest WXGA-resolution widescreen 16:10 LCD model. Together with the new LV-7490, LV-7390, LV-7295 and LV-7290, all are targeted at value-conscious users, including educators, traveling salespeople and small-business entrepreneurs.

“Important to the presentation market are innovative features providing real end-user benefits in addition to competitive pricing,” commented Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technology and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “For educators and economy-minded users, the introduction of these new portable multimedia LCD projectors offers greater value than ever before with no compromise in picture quality.”

Advanced Features

Shared by all five of Canon’s affordable new multimedia LCD projectors are innovations and improvements designed to maximize convenience and economy for end-users. These advanced features include:

Auto Set-Up Functions – for signal input, PC signal type, and vertical-keystone correction. One push of a button automatically identifies the type of input signal (video or computer), and – if a computer input – automatically synchronizes the projector’s display with the computer screen’s pixel configuration. Auto vertical-keystone “squares” images when the projector is facing the screen at an angle.

Extended Projection-Lamp Life – up to 6,000 hours in Quiet Mode (projection-lamp life of the model LV-7490 is 5,000 hours in Quiet Mode).

Extended Air Filter Life – up to 5,500 hours in ECO Mode (the filter, made of a new three-layer, highly efficient, hybrid material, cleans the air drawn in by the internal fan that cools the projection lamp).

Wide-Angle 1.2x Zoom Projection Lens – for bright, clear picture quality.

Manual Zoom and Focus – for exact user-determined settings of projection optics.

Quiet Operation – at only 29 dB (in Quiet Mode), these new projectors are equipped with a cooling system that produces very little noise.

Easy-Install Lamp and Direct Power-On – convenient features for users wanting to ceiling-mount their Canon multimedia LCD projector.

Multiple Inputs – ample computer, video, and audio connections ensure compatibility with a wide variety of display sources.

RJ-45 Network Connection and RS-232C Serial Connection – for full LAN control and remote PC control.

Widescreen Display and High Brightness

In addition to the features cited above, Canon’s new multimedia LCD projectors provide special added capabilities. The new Canon LV-8225 LCD Projector, responding to the growing popularity of widescreen notebook and desktop computers, delivers native WXGA-resolution (1280 x 800) for widescreen 16:10 images. Rated at 2500 lumens, this projector is designed for full-screen display of diagrams, spreadsheets and video, so often included in educational presentations, and it avoids the need for image compression or other picture-distorting measures.

With 4000 lumens of brightness, the new Canon LV-7490 LCD Projector has XGA-resolution (1024 x 768), making it a great choice for larger environments and those with higher levels of ambient light. This portable model would be ideal for many educational institutions where students would be able to take notes without having to darken the entire classroom.

The new Canon LV-7390, LV-7295, and LV-7290 LCD projectors are versatile XGA-resolution models with all of the advanced features referenced above and provide excellent brightness levels of 3000, 2600, and 2200 lumens, respectively.

Pricing, Availability and Warranty Information

The new Canon LV-8225, LV-7490, LV-7390, LV-7295, and LV-7290 have suggested list prices of $799, $1099, $799, $699, and $599, respectively1. All models are expected to ship in early April and each is backed by Canon U.S.A.’s exclusive Triple P (Projector Protection Program), a FREE service program that provides a loaner projector of equal or greater value to the end user in the event their projector needs to be repaired.

Business Watch: Nokia Microsoft gamble could be worth billions

So now we know what Nokia’s new chief executive Stephen Elop had up his sleeve as his big-bang turnaround strategy for the world’s leading handset maker

Elop’s decision this month to effectively dump Nokia’s long-standing Symbian operating system and get into bed with Microsoft, is one of the most controversial moves in the sector for years – and there are several reasons why that’s the case.

The first, and perhaps the least surprising given the funk Nokia has found itself in, is that it will make “significant reductions in headcount” at the Finnish giant’s global operations.

The unions have predicted as many as 6,000 job cuts in Nokia’s home country, with most concentrated among research and development workers.

Elop hasn’t put a number on it yet, but admitted there is a “great deal of pain” inside the company.

The second is that Nokia’s long-suffering investors are unconvinced the strategy makes financial sense for their company.

That was clear from the fact that Nokia plunged close to 13-year lows on the day Elop uncovered the strategy, and are still plumbing those depths.

At the Mobile World Congress, Elop defended his decision to adopt Microsoft’s Windows Phone as the group’s main smartphone operating system.

Elop and Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer insisted that the proposed strategic partnership was good for both companies.

Many analysts claim Microsoft will come off best from the team-up but Elop begged to differ.

The tie-up would, he said, transfer “substantial monetary value” to Nokia, which he estimated to be worth “billions” rather than “millions” over the lifetime of the deal.

What is abundantly clear is that Elop had to do something. Nokia’s share of the all-important smartphone market tumbled to 31 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2010, from 38 per cent in the previous quarter. Symbian has also lost its place to Google’s Android as the leading smartphone operating system and is never going to get pole position back. Research group IDC reckons Android will have hoovered up 60 per cent of the smartphone market within three years.

In a hurry
Meanwhile, Apple is at war with Google’s open system, with its own closed operating system tied to the best-selling iPhone. It’s set to be an ugly battle.

Nokia needs a mass-market alternative to the operating systems of Apple and Google. But some analysts think that the company’s market share could suffer if it takes too long to actually get Microsoft-powered smartphones into the marketplace. The company has indicated that it wants to get at least one smartphone using Windows Phone out in 2011.

Meanwhile, Elop stressed that the deal is not just a case of Nokia shelling out expensive royalty fees to Microsoft every time it shifts a new smartphone. Nokia’s research and development costs will drop dramatically, which is where those job cuts come in. Elop also pointed out that Nokia will, for instance, allow Microsoft to integrate Nokia’s mobile maps service into the US giant’s web search engine.

And by giving its support to Microsoft, Nokia is turning Windows Phone into a viable alternative to Google and Apple in mobile.

“For all of the unique elements Nokia is contributing, including the swing factor, including the decision to make Windows Phone a challenger, Microsoft is contributing to Nokia substantial monetary value,” Elop was reported as saying.

Another controversial element of the deal is that some think Nokia has simply backed the wrong horse. Microsoft has failed to repeat its dominance of the PC operating systems environment in mobiles despite 10 years of trying. In those 10 years Google and Apple have changed the game and Microsoft is now coming from behind. The doubters include Google’s own chief executive Eric Schmidt, who told those gathered in Barcelona that Nokia should have gone with Android instead.

Schmidt cheekily added that Google was open to moving Nokia onto Android in the future. “We would have loved if they had chosen Android. They chose the other guys, that other competitor, Microsoft. I think we are pretty straightforward,” he said.

“We would like them to adopt Android at some point in the future and that offer remains open. We think Android was
a good choice for Nokia. We are sorry that they made a different choice.”

Schmidt admitted Google and Nokia had on a potential tie-up before Elop eloped with Microsoft.

Network concerns
The Nokia/Microsoft partnership has even raised concerns with network operators themselves.

Jean-Paul Cottet, Orange’s chief of marketing and innovation told Reuters that operators could be discouraged from offering Nokia-Microsoft phones if the pair go for a closed system like the Apple iPhone.

Apple insists on approving programs that run on its iPads and iPhones and it largely controls the billing relationship with the customer so as to maximise profits.

The system has worked well so far because of the brilliance of the device (iPhone 4’s many faults notwithstanding), but the approach is unpopular with some of the network operators.

That includes Vodafone, whose chief executive Vittorio Colao, was busy slagging off the “walled garden” Apple appears to be creating around content on
the iPad.

Orange’s Cottet echoed those sentiments as regards the Nokia/Microsoft deal.

“We want a mobile ecosystem that is open and allows our clients to use all the services they want, not closed systems that benefit one company or another,” he said.

Cottet is also understandably concerned about how the deal will affect Orange’s forward planning in the short-term.

“Nokia’s new platform with Windows is planned for 2012, so what happens until then? We know what we sell of Nokia’s line-up for the first half of this year, but are wondering what they will propose to us to sell in the second half of the year.”

Elop was dealt a rough hand because his predecessor failed to address the threats of Google and Apple early enough. So the market will have to give the new CEO time to prove he can make the deal work. But picking Microsoft over Google was a huge call.

Friday, March 25, 2011

XGear iPad 2 Smart Cover Enhancer Case

Apple’s new Smart Cover protects your iPad 2?s screen, unfortunately it does not protect the back of the iPad 2. Yesterday we showed you the Enki iPad 2 Genius case which works alongside Apple’s Smart Cover, and today we have another new case which is designed to compliment the Smart Cover.
The XGear Smart Cover Enhancer is designed to snap on to the back of your iPad 2, and it is compatible with Apple’s Smart Cover, which means you can protect both the front and back of your shiny new iPad 2
XGear iPad 2 Smart Cover XGear iPad 2 Smart Cover Enhancer Case

Speakers’ Corner: Long odds on operator epiphanies

David Hilliard, chief executive of Mentor, specialist in telecoms execution challenges, explains why crucial plans from the networks will either fail, or only work at a great cost

There are mission-critical change programmes afoot in almost every UK network operator at present. What follows is reason why most are likely either to fail, or only succeed at great expense and at great length.

When it comes to managing complex programmes, there are only slight differences in the way operators tackle them.  The same howlers are repeated again and again on network modernisation schemes, new CRM systems and whatever. These are blunders that would not be tolerated in other business disciplines.

The reasons they break down are numerous, but always to do with vague objectives and karaoke programme management. More often than not, the link between strategy and execution is broken. If there was a programme sponsor, it was an ‘absentee’ director who set objectives, allocated funds, selected the programme manager and held sign-off authority. But, mostly, it was top management gone AWOL – dressed up as delegation.

Programmes are usually assigned to the ‘most affected’ director – the function most concerned with change. Regular calamities prevent these people from spending much time on the programme. Instead, they delegate responsibility. As a result, key strategic programmes suffer from light-touch management and never get the visibility they need.

The ‘most affected’ director appointment is a deeply flawed management delusion – an ineffective way of dealing with a thorny organisational issue – “who do we have that is senior enough to run this programme?”

On failing programmes, a small core execution team is usually supported by staff from other functions. It is unmanageable, and causes massive friction and time-wasting. CEOs mostly feel these problems are a temporary setback. But this is their instinct only; it is rarely based on experience.

That combination – CEO,  ‘most affected’ director and under-powered programme manager – is lethal; one of the biggest blind spots for top management in delivering major change programmes.

With problems, the CEO normally asks for a drill-down to flush out the problems. And through a collusion of optimists, the revised plan is presented. No one wants to look bad and there is a tendency to bend the truth. “The situation is tight but achievable”. That is how the issue is presented internally, which is code for “we’ve already blown it.”

This story of failure repeats itself before CEOs are compelled to eventually admit the programme team is out of its depth. And so the ‘programme healthcheck’ gets underway. Budgets and revenue forecasts go out of the window. The whole programme must be replanned to put focus on salvaging as much as possible of the original objectives.

From here, it is about developing a realistic route forward. But it is expensive and time consuming to reconnect strategy and execution, to restructure the programme and its leadership, to reconstruct plans and budgets.

But what happens next is astonishing.

CEOs at last make clear the priority of the programme. They agree that the programme director will now report to them directly, or else to another board level sponsor and that they will personally run the ‘programme review board’. Dramatic signals like these show companies will ultimately do almost anything to sidestep the most glaring gaffes. It prompts staff to ask: “Why didn’t we do all this in the first place?” Why indeed?

It is not unusual then for the disgraced programme team to develop a new sense of purpose; perform way beyond expectations and subsequently celebrate a fabulous victory.

The business landscape is littered with expensive strategies that failed in execution. Why don’t businesses make the same investments in realistic plans, capable programme leadership and provide enough skills and resources to get the job done?

If a business is about to start on a mission-critical programme, CEOs should ask hard questions. Most executive teams dawdle for too long before acting – and, with hindsight, always wonder why they waited so long.

How much sooner would problems be knocked on the head, if the initial plans were independently reviewed – and if the ongoing control system had regular independent reviews built in? The answer is obvious, but it is rare to see these simple measures in place.

Cutting Room:Three fighting for spectrum share

All eyes are on Ofcom as the spectrum debate carries on with Three continuing to make it known it doesn’t feel it will get a fair deal

There aren’t many of us who envy those working in or for the Government. Expenses scandals, massive job cuts, embarrassing foreign policy fiascos in North African countries – there isn’t much positive to say about working for the Government at the moment (if there ever was).

And closer to our own industry, regulator Ofcom and its chief executive Ed Richards (pictured) find themselves between a rock and a hard place, with the industry holding its breath to see which way judgment on next year’s auction of spectrum will go.

The auction is much needed to keep the UK catching up with rivals like Germany, where LTE is already being launched.

But Ofcom must make the right call in how it will run the auction – or find itself in a quagmire of network fallout.

Obviously, the Government wants to make as much money out of the auction as possible, though no-one is predicting the astronomical levels of the auction of 2000.

But if it allows a no-holds-barred auction-bidding process, the three larger operators – Everything Everywhere, O2 and Vodafone – could make strategically high bids to squeeze its rival Three out of the market – or at least that is the complaint of the latter.

Three chief executive Kevin Russell has been vocal in demands on the regulator to introduce rules into the auction that would give his company an advantage in the next round of bidding.

The company is concerned that it might be forced out of the UK market, and that an Ofcom decision to hold an auction based simply on encouraging the highest bids, could result in further consolidation of the UK mobile market if Three is forced to sell up from a weakened position.

And if this comes to fruition, the Government could face legal battles as well as stirring into action the double headache of competition regulators and consumer groups.

Three is already feeling hard done by, after the Government gave the green-light last year to the re-farming of spectrum, which enabled operators to use the spectrum traditionally used for voice and texts for mobile data services.

From having a 25 per cent share of 3G spectrum, this combination of 2G and 3G spectrum now sees Three’s total share down to 10 per cent.

And to remain competitive post-2012 auction, Three claims it will have to acquire at least 40 per cent of available spectrum.

The resentment lies in the fact its rivals were handed extra spectrum in 2010 at relatively little cost, but Three could well have to pay big to stay competitive, or not compete at all.

But its rivals arguably have a case, too – while Three feels the other networks have had a free lunch in the combined use of 2G and 3G spectrum to deal with increased mobile data demands, the likes of O2 and Vodafone could well ask why Three deserves a free leg-up in the next auction. In other words, pay up or shut up.

At the recent Westminster eForum, covered in this issue on page 14, O2 UK chief executive Ronan Dunne made thinly disguised references to Three’s stance on the auction, saying “there will be plenty of people who want to tell you that this auction is all about the history of who owns which 3G licences” but insisting that the auction should be about “the future”.

He went on to call for “real competition” for the 4G spectrum and added that “any rules that limit the freedom of operators to bid for spectrum in this auction would effectively be a constraint on a business’s ability to grow.

For one operator to claim ‘it’s not fair’ simply doesn’t wash.”

Dunne did concede, however, that the situation may call for “innovative solutions, including sharing” (Ofcom has proposed an open system of trading spectrum, which Three has said will not work as networks will not hand over strategically important spectrum).

Details of the auction are understood to be coming out in the week commencing March 21, if not sooner. The structure of this auction will change the mould of the network world as we currently know it.