As reported here on Cell Phones Etc. and across the Web, here’s your daily brief on what happened in the world of mobile phones this Tuesday, June 14th, 2011.
Rogers Drops No-contract Prices Of The Focus, Streak And Curve 8520
Rogers has dropped the no-contract price of a few devices, which means it’s clearance time and more devices are en route. The Windows Phone 7 Samsung Focus is now $499.99 (was $599.99), Android 2.2 powered Dell Streak now $499.99 (was $599.99) and the BlackBerry Curve 8520 $250 (was $350).
MobileSyrup
Samsung’s “Attempt To Harass” Apple Gets Rough Response
Remember that one time when Samsung asked Apple to hand over the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 for legal inspection, just in case the companies’ future products crossed the line between similar and strikingly similar yet again? Well, Apple didn’t like that very much, and has called the request “copyist.” As part of the lawsuit, a federal judge ordered Samsung to give Apple access to the Galaxy S II, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, the Infuse 4G, and the Infuse 4G LTE, so that the Apple legal team could determine if its intellectual property rights had been violated.
CrunchGear
Millennial: Android Maintains Lead In May, Windows Phone Usage Nearly Doubled
Millennial can give us a good assessment of the current smartphone and connected device markets. Android was flat compared to April maintaining its 53% share of Millennial impressions, and Apple’s iOS lost one percentage point in May as it slid to 27%. Apple is also Millennial’s top-ranked manufacturer, with 30.84% of all ad impressions served to iOS devices. Samsung found itself in the No. 2 spot in May with 13.59%, followed closely by RIM at 13.30%. HTC and Motorola rounded out the top-5 with 10.98% and 9.47%, respectively.
BGR
Starbucks Rolls Out Mobile Payment App For Android Users, Java Junkies
After having already introduced its own iOS app, Starbucks has now decided to bring mobile mocha payments to Android users, as well. With the free Starbucks for Android app, all you have to do is add credit to your mobile Starbucks Card, scan the app’s barcode at the cash register, and that triple shot skinny latte will be yours to pound. Available on devices running Android 2.1 or above, the service will also locate all outlets within your immediate vicinity, while offering even more coffee-based incentives, via Starbucks’ rewards program.
Engadget
TELUS Slashing International Roaming Rates June 27th By 60%
Today, TELUS noted that effective June 27 the drop has actually come in at 60%. It’ll be interesting to see if Bell and Rogers follow. For Western Europe, Mexico, Oceania the voice drops to $1.50/minute (savings of 25-50%), and data goes to $10/MB (60% savings). For the Middle East, Caribbean, Latin America, China, India and Africa the voice drops to $2.50/minute (17-38% savings), plus the data falls to $10/MB (60% savings).
MobileSyrup
