Rob Cell Phones

There are several key factors to weigh before deciding on a smartphone: the mobile operating system, the handset maker, available apps and the way the underlying wireless network theoretically performs in areas where you live, work and travel. But all things being equal — and they rarely are — the display is what’s critically important for many people.

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  Samsung

  The Samsung Infuse 4G smartphone.

Samsung

The Samsung Infuse 4G smartphone.

Last week, ATT unveiled two smartphones that, from the screen-size perspective, couldn’t be more dissimilar. The Samsung Infuse 4G has a mammoth 4.5-inch touch-screen that is the largest I’ve seen on a U.S. smartphone. It’s formidable for watching movies on the go.

By contrast, ATT is going small with the petite Hewlett-Packard Veer 4G, a comfy little cutie with a 2.6-inch multitouch display. Side by side, that difference is ginormous, as if NBA legends Nate “Tiny” Archibald at 6-foot-1 went up against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who’s more than a foot taller.

Size is relative, of course. While the overall design of the 4.6-ounce Infuse is much larger than the 3.6-ounce Veer, Samsung’s device is actually thinner. Samsung claims that Infuse — a shade over one-third-inch thick — is the thinnest 4G smartphone on the market.

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Veer is just a little bit chunky, mainly because of the hidden physical keyboard that is revealed when you slide up the touch-screen. You rely on that keyboard a lot, because Veer doesn’t have a virtual keyboard equivalent. Infuse is just the opposite. It has a virtual keyboard but no physical keyboard.

There are other important distinctions. Infuse runs version 2.2 (Froyo) of Google’s Android mobile platform, not the latest Gingerbread version that is coming to the device later. Veer runs the WebOS operating system that HP snapped up last year with its acquisition of Palm.

Infuse arrives in stores Sunday for $200 with a two-year contract. Veer hits the same day for $100 less with a two-year contract. Both can tap into what ATT considers a 4G (fourth-generation) wireless network. Both function as mobile Wi-Fi hot spots (for up to five devices), with a $20 tethering plan on top of a $25 monthly data plan. A closer look:

Infuse. Several smartphones have cracked the 4-inch display barrier but none to the degree Samsung has with the Infuse. That pushes it close to small tablet territory. I’m reminded of the Dell Streak that emerged last summer. With its 5-inch screen, Streak was billed as a tablet, though it also functioned as an oversized smartphone.

Dell’s size didn’t quite measure up in my view, but Samsung’s device feels as if it’s within reasonable bounds. The handsome phone takes advantage of stunning screen technology called Super AMOLED. Infuse is preloaded with a version of the popular Angry Birds game from Rovio. The first 500,000 devices sold will also include a $25 voucher to download movies or TV shows through the Samsung Media Hub store app. And the supplied 2-gigabyte micoSD card is preloaded with summer movie trailers. (The device can accommodate up to a 32-GB microSD card.) I rented The Dilemma from Media Hub and watched it, among other videos. Infuse has a gorgeous screen with vivid colors and a wide viewing angle.

But I received low-battery indications faster than I’d have liked. I also had difficulty making the screen out in direct sunlight, despite Samsung’s claims to the contrary. And good as the screen is for movies, the text on Web pages isn’t at all crisp.

Infuse comes with a 1.2-gigahertz processor, 8-megapixel camera with flash that can shoot HD video, plus a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera.

Veer. As a fan of the original WebOS-based device, the Palm Pre, it’s refreshing to see that elegant software platform live on in the Veer, a prelude to other WebOS devices promised from HP this summer, including an upcoming tablet and new version of the Pre.

As on its predecessors, you engage the WebOS screen interface through finger motions or gestures. Multiple apps can be opened at the same time, through a clever deck-of-cards-like screen metaphor.

The Palm Synergy feature lets you easily collect, coordinate and consolidate all your personal information from many Web sources, including your e-mail, contacts and calendar. I did encounter one snag — apparently because of subsequent software updates since I reviewed earlier WebOS devices — I couldn’t populate Veer with all my information based on a so-called Palm Profile I had previously set up.

With only about 6,000 apps in HP’s App Catalog store, the Veer badly trails Android (200,000-plus) and Apple (around 350,000).

The Veer battery (unlike Infuse’s) is not removable, but at least it survived a full day of mixed use on a single charge. The qwerty keyboard is usable, but I’m not wild about its tiny keys.

And I can’t imagine spending much time watching movies on the Veer. But the 320-by-400-pixel screen is decent for surfing the Web. The handset comes with 8 GB of internal user storage and a 5-megapixel camera.

WebOS is a big-time mobile operating system that in this case is trapped in a compact capsule of a phone.

THE BOTTOM LINE

ATT HP Veer 4G

www.palm.com/veer

$100 (with two-year contract)

Three stars (out of four)

Pro. Petite phone is small and light. WebOS operating system.

Con. Small screen won’t appeal to all. Ditto for physical keyboard. Weak on apps.

ATT Samsung Infuse 4G

www.samsung.com/mobile

$200 (with two-year contract)

Three and a quarter stars

Pro. Stunningly large display is terrific for movies. Thin handset.

Con. Battery is so-so. Text for Web pages wasn’t crisp.

Posted | Updated

In today’s mobile world I see people switching carriers more than before since they can port their number and seem to be more willing to switch to get the device they want. Some carriers provide backup services for phones that are on their network, but services that are cross carrier are more attractive. I have also tried some backup solutions on devices, but none of them are universal. Wirefly revealed their latest Mobile Backup Pro service that works across BlackBerry, Android, iPhone, and Windows Mobile 6.5 devices.

I mentioned that I purchased my HTC ThunderBolt from Wirefly and they have been fantastic in working with me to resolve my WiFi hotspot issues. Back in November they released their Wirefly Mobile Backup basic plan that gives you 2GB of storage for free for life with support to backup contacts, photos, and calendar on up to five phones and one PC.

Their new Pro version gives you the basic version storage and backup capability, but adds more storage and these enhanced features:

• Last Known Location: View the approximate location of your registered phone(s) on an integrated map using the phone’s built-in GPS.
• Lock/Unlock Phone: Remotely lock your phone to prevent unauthorized use and protect your personal information.
• Display Message: Send a message to your phone that locks and displays a message requesting that the good Samaritan holding your phone contact you to return it.
• Set Phone Alarm: Lock your phone and send a loud, audible alert directly to your phone to immediately pinpoint its location.
• Erase Phone: Remotely erase your phone’s content. Since Wirefly Mobile Backup already backs up your contacts, photos and more, you can easily transfer your stored data to your replacement device in minutes.

I have a great service on my Nokia N8 that lets me send a signal to my device if I misplace it with a loud signal eminating from it with the ability to find my phone too. Thus, I really like the phone alarm feature and the lock/unlock phone functions and find them useful even for those times when you misplace your phone.

Wirefly Mobile Backup Pro comes in two versions; an individual account for $2.99 per month that gives you 10GB of storage and support for one phone and one PC and a family account for $5.99 per month that gives you unlimited storage and support for up to five phones and one PC.

You can try out the Pro service for free for 30 days by entering the promo code WMBPRO during checkout. At the end of the 30 day period you can continue to use a free account or pay to have a Pro account.

Recently it has been clear to see that Google Android is growing in popularity, well now we have some figures to share with you which show just how successful the mobile OS is becoming, especially when compared to BlackBerry OS and Apple’s iOS.

According to figures released by ComScore there are currently 72.5 million smartphones being used in the U.S., apparently 34.7% of these run Android, whilst 27.1% run BlackBerry OS and just 25.5% ran Apple iOS.

It looks like Google’s OS has stolen most of this impressive market share from RIM, last year BlackBerry OS accounted for roughly 40% of the market share in the U.S., since then a lack of releases has hit RIM hard, we wonder if the recently unveiled BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are enough to turn things round.

Lots of experts have had hands on time with the new BlackBerry Bolds and have not been blown away, if you compare these to high-end smartphones which run Android there is no comparison, perhaps RIM should release a touch-only device with internals similar to the Bold 9900 / 9930.

You can find out more detailed information regarding the U.S. smartphone market share over at CSMonitor, do you think Android’s share will increase over the course of the year?

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The BlackBerry Touch 9860 has spent as much time posing for photos and videos as most phones that have actually been released, with yet another photo shoot turning up online.

RIM’s first full-touch BlackBerry since the Storm range, the Touch 9860 features an optical trackpad and four physical navigation buttons along with a fairly large-looking touchscreen.

Code-named the BlackBerry Monaco, we were hoping to see the Touch 9860 launch at BlackBerry World last week, but that brought only the BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900 with it.

Iconography

We’d fully expect the BlackBerry Touch 9860 to come with the newly revealed BlackBerry OS 7.0, and from the look of the redesigned icons in the leaked image, we’d be right.

That means we could also reasonably expect a high-resolution capacitive touchscreen and a 1.2Ghz processor, as well as juicy extras like NFC.

Of course, we won’t know for sure until RIM gets around to launching the BlackBerry Touch 9860; let’s hope it gets its first official outing soon.

Via CrackBerry and PocketNow

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May 11th, 2011, 13:03 GMT| By Cosmin Vasile

Smartphone Market Grows 79.7% Year Over Year in First Quarter of 2011, According to IDC

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The worldwide smartphone market grew 79.7% year over year in the first quarter of 2011 (1Q11), driven by a combination of vendors releasing highly anticipated models, widespread availability of older smartphones at lower prices, and sustained end-user demand. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, smartphone vendors shipped a total of 99.6 million units in 1Q11, nearly double from the 55.4 million units in the first quarter of 2010.

“Conditions in the smartphone market are creating a perfect storm for sustained smartphone growth,” says Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Phone Technology and Trends team. “First, vendors are increasingly emphasizing smartphones as the key to their own growth. Second, selection has proliferated from mostly high-end devices to include more mid-range and entry-level offerings. Third, pricing has become increasingly competitive, with even high-end devices available at low price points. Finally, users continue to seek greater utility from their mobile phone beyond voice, and smartphones have been the ideal solution. Altogether, these add up to continued smartphone growth throughout the year.”

The strong demand for smartphones also means the market will remain highly competitive and fragmented. “The rise of Android as a prominent mobile operating system has allowed several suppliers to gain share quickly,” adds Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. “Also, the relatively nascent state of smartphone adoption globally means there is ample room for several suppliers to comfortably co-exist, at least for the short term.”

Top Five Smartphone Vendors

Nokia, despite announcing its intentions to move from Symbian to Windows Phone as its primary smartphone operating system, maintained its leadership position in the smartphone market. Demand for Symbian-powered smartphones remained strong within its traditionally strongest markets of EMEA and Asia/Pacific, and the company continues to announce more devices running on Symbian, including the E6 and the X7. Still, as Nokia transitions from Symbian to Windows Phone, it may find itself in danger of ceding market share as the competition ramps up smartphone production.

Apple reached a new record shipment volume in a single quarter, and inched closer to market leader Nokia with fewer than six million units separating the two companies. The company posted market-beating year-over-year growth and recorded triple-digit growth in two key markets: the United States, with the release of its CDMA-enabled iPhone, and Greater China. Additionally, the company enlisted South Korean Telecom and Saudi Telecom as carrier providers of the iPhone.

Research In Motion remained solidly in third place from the previous quarter, as the company grew its presence outside of its home territory of North America. RIM has launched several 3G devices to the market, and recently announced two new BlackBerry smartphones running on its new BlackBerry 7 OS. Still, the majority of RIM’s shipment volumes have been comprised of older, lower-cost devices. The company expects this trend to continue into the following quarter.

Samsung posted the largest year-over-year gain of any other vendor on the list. With a multiple operating system strategy in place, Samsung has been able to grow its smartphone portfolio to meet the needs of a diverse market. Accounting for the majority of its smartphones and driving shipment volumes higher was the continued success of its Android-based smartphones, including the high-end Galaxy S devices and mass-market Galaxy Ace and Galaxy mini devices. Meanwhile, its bada-powered Wave devices and Windows Phone 7 devices continued to gain traction.

HTC posted yet another record shipment volume, nearly surpassing the ten million unit mark for the first time. Like other vendors, HTC announced multiple new devices, including the Facebook-optimized Salsa and ChaCha. In addition, the company launched several new devices, including its Inspire 4G, WiMAX-enabled EVO Shift 4G, and LTE-enabled Thunderbolt. These, along with its investment and developments on hardware, displays, and its HTC Sense layer have helped HTC differentiate itself further in an increasingly crowded market.

For more information about IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or knagamine@idc.com.

Samsung is one of best mobile company in india.Let’s discuss the some great features and specification of two superb and latest Samsung mobiles .i.e. Samsung Wave 2 and Samsung Galaxy.

Samsung Wave 2 Price

The new Samsung Wave 2 S8530 carries a 3.7 inch full touch screen display and running on the latest Samsung Bada mobile OS .It is the successor of the popular Samsung Wave mobile phone .It come equipped with a powerful 1GHz processor and supports the Samsung’s new “Super Clear LCD” display screen . It is quite different from the first wave. It has 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash which delivers the good quality of the picture and also supports the 720p video recording as well.

The Samsung Wave 2 S8530 is designed with the slim and solid metal body. It has impressive looks which increases the charm of your personality. Moreover the phone is allied with advanced connectivity options such as Wireless LAN Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n connectivity with WPS support, Wi-Fi tethering. It is also preloaded with the Social network Services (SNS) which help you to stay connected with your friends from anywhere. Samsung Wave 2 comes with the 2 GB of internal storage and has memory card slot for further expansion.

The Samsung wave 2 price in India is near about Rs. 16, 399. Overall the Samsung Wave 2 mobile phone holds the large screen which makes the mobile taller, thicker and solid. It has all the factors of the original’s chick appearance.

Samsung Galaxy Price

The new Samsung Galaxy S i9000 holds a 4 inch AMOLED touch screen and powered with a 1GHz processor. The new Samsung Galaxy S embedded with the HD videos playback, ‘Social Hub’ (always on social networks connectivity), and mDNIe (mobile Digital Natural Image engine) the technology used in Samsung’s best-selling LCD and LED TVs that increases an even more sharp and clear viewing experience for photos, videos, and e-books. It is one of the most admirable smart phones from the house of Samsung.

IDC has just released its numbers for the first quarter of the year and Samsung and HTC have posted the largest growth out of the top five manufacturers. While both still trail Nokia, Apple, and RIM, we’re sure it primarily has Android to thank for the massive growth this past quarter.

Nokia remains the leader for the quarter with 24.2 million handsets shipped, but Apple is close to closing the gap by shipping 18.7 million handsets. Nokia may ship more smartphones than anyone right now, but even at second, Apple makes the most money, which isn’t anything we haven’t heard before. We still have to wait and see if the Nokia/Microsoft proves to be fruitful, as it needs to be for Nokia to remain the leader.

RIM is solidly placed in the third position and it shipped 13.9 million Blackberry handsets in the quarter. It is being trailed by Samsung, which shipped 10.8 million. While HTC sits at number four, the manufacturer has broken previous shipment volume records with 8.9 million handsets.

While Samsung and HTC are the fourth and fifth largest handset makers in the report, both have seen the largest growth from the same quarter last year than any other company on the list. Samsung saw an insane growth of 350% year over year and HTC grew 229%. While both manufacturers have Android to thank for this growth, both HTC and Samsung have released Windows Phone 7 handsets and Samsung also has its Bada-based handset, the Wave.

Handsets like the Thunderbolt and the upcoming Galaxy S 2 will likely increase shipments for both handset makers for this quarter, with more smartphones on the way.

Overall, the entire smartphone market grew nearly 80% since the first quarter of 2010, and, with more and more compelling products from these top dogs, we don’t expect to see this type of growth slow down anytime soon.

With so many great handsets coming down the pipe in the next couple of months, it’ll be a tough choice to decide which smartphone will be the right one for you when you have so many choices at your fingertips.

2011-05-04 20:23:41 – After the success of the N8, Nokia has announced a brace of new smartphones, the Nokia E6 and X7. Both offer a wealth of appealing features, and whilst both tick all the boxes, it is apparent that these two phones are aimed at two very different markets.

The Nokia E6 strikes as a business phone. It is aesthetically similar to a Blackberry Curve or Bold, with a QWERTY keyboard which is clearly on hand to aid in those who are prolific users of SMS and emails. This feature would indicate that it is aimed at business users who need to regularly send emails when out of the

office. Additional features which make the Nokia E6 good for business users include Quick Office documents editor which is compatible with Microsoft Office documents. This enables users to view, create and edit documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats, as well as view PDF files. Several internet connectivity options are employed which aid not only in internet browsing, but makes sure that business users are able to send those all important emails. 3G coverage and Wi-Fi offer fast internet browsing, whilst GPRS and EDGE keep the handset connected to cellular networks. Effective time management is very important to the business user, and Nokia has included a handy organiser so users can keep track of their meetings and appointments etc. All in all, the Nokia E6 is an effective device for getting the job done. It provides all the tools to stay productive and connected, and as an added bonus, it is available in black, white and silver colour schemes.

The Nokia X7 is an equally impressive handset, but this is for very different reasons for the most part. Multimedia usage is clearly the order of the day when you take a look at the spec sheet of this handset. It is more advanced than the E6 in several respects; a more powerful processor, larger touchscreen are included, and this phone lacks the QWERTY keyboard of the E6. Both handsets sport an 8 megapixel camera which also comes with the added bonus of high definition video capture. Numerous multimedia formats of both music and video files are supported by the Nokia X7, and thanks to the ample 4 inch screen, video playback looks great, as does gaming and web browsing.

Both handsets sport the newest Symbian OS, called Symbian Anna. Both of these handsets showcase this software well. Having both a QWERTY smartphone and a touchscreen entertainment device shows that this is a versatile OS, and one to keep your eye on in the future.

These handsets are equally impressive when you bear in mind that they seem to be aimed at different markets. Therefore, it would be unfair to say that one is better than the other, however both have the specifications to wow their respective target markets.

Check out the best Nokia E6 deals:
www.phoneslimited.co.uk/Nokia/E6.html
and Nokia X7 deals:
www.phoneslimited.co.uk/Nokia/X7.html

The latest quarterly ad metrics report published by mobile ad network Smaato reveal Windows Phone 7 owners are clicking on more ads than those with iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Symbian devices. This is a large change from last year’s numbers, which had Symbian handsets at the top of the ad click-through rates. Smaato’s CMO, Harald Heidhardt, helped put the results in perspective.

Heidhardt believed that despite their relative small market presence due to how new they are, WP7 devices are seen as a novelty by owners and this contributes to the higher mobile advertising performance. Because Microsoft’s SDK isn’t bringing ads outside of the US and there may be less mobile ads in Windows Phone devices, it’s likely more attention is paid to the ads in apps or mobile websites, he said.

The Smaato numbers give the click behavior or anonymous smartphone OS owners averaged over the global inventory and is meant to give advertisers an idea of which OS is the most efficient to sell advertising on. [via GigaOm]