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iPhone Responsible for Half of All Mobile Traffic, Globally

Pulkit Chandna — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:37:42 -0600

Where is half of the world's mobile data bandwidth disappearing? The avaricious Apple iPhone is devouring more than half of the global mobile data bandwidth, according to a new report published by mobile advertising company AdMob. The report details the mobile internet usage trend during the month of October. This is the first time that the iPhone's share of the global mobile internet traffic has gone past 50 percent. It stood at 43 percent at the end of September.

The iPhone is almost performing out of its skin when it comes to hogging mobile data bandwidth. This is because its share of the global smartphone market is just a third of its contribution to the world's mobile internet traffic. Symbian smartphones came in a distant second in October with a 25% share, down 4% from the previous month. While RIM and Blackberry smartphones lost a bit of their share, Android's share rose to 11% during the month.

Image Credit: AdMob

RIM Enables Third-Party Developers to build Web Apps for Blackberry with Widget SDK

Ryan Whitwam — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:01:38 -0500

Perhaps after seeing the lackluster selection in Blackberry App World, RIM decided to change it up a bit. The Blackberry maker has announced a new web-based Software Development Kit (SKD). The Widget SDK will utilize the Blackberry browser engine to render apps using HTML, CSS, and Javascript languages.

Existing web content can be brought to the surface easily in the form of an always-on widget. The widgets will have full access to the operating system via the Widget API. Apps would be able to take advantage of the email system to display messages, location-based services, and the Blackberry’s push notifications system, just to name a few.

The new Blackberry Widgets will be distributed via the Blackberry App World interface. Unfortunately, all the live widget running goodness will only be available on Blackberry OS 5.0 or greater. When official, 5.0 will include an enhanced browser (finally), and support for both SQlite and the Widget API.

Over-the-Air Music Downloads Now Available for Blackberry

Pulkit Chandna — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:45:23 -0500

Blackberry users will no longer have to feel let down by their inability to download music wirelessly. UK-based service provider 7digital and RIM have made good on their promise of an over-the-air music download service for Blackberry. 7digital’s application is now available on the Blackberry App World Store.

The absolutely free app provides access to 7digital’s 6 million track-strong library of DRM-free music. Users can download low-quality tracks when on the move. Such downloads are automatically replaced with high bit-rate tracks (usually 320kbps) when the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network. The majority of tracks and albums are priced at $.77 and $7.77, respectively. Smartphones supported at launch are the BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Curve 8900, BlackBerry Tour, BlackBerry Curve 8520 and BlackBerry Storm.

Image Credit: IntoMobile

Regular Mobile Phones Decreasing in Popularity, Smart Phones Grow 27 Percent

Andy Salisbury — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:28:44 -0500

According to Gartner, Inc., a business technology research company, cell phone sales totaled 286.1 million units during the second quarter of this year – a 6.1 percent decrease over the second quarter of last year. But, smart phone sales picked up considerable steam surpassing 40 million units in sales, a 27 percent increase from the second quarter of last year.

“Despite the challenging market, some devices sold well as consumers who would usually have purchased standard midrange devices either cut back to less expensive handsets or moved up the range to get more features for their money,” stated Carolina Milanesi, a research director at Gartner. “Touchscreen and qwerty devices remained a major driver for replacement sales and benefited manufacturers with strong, touch-focused midtier devices. However, the decline in average selling price (ASP) accelerated in the first half of the year and particularly affected manufacturers that focus on midtier and low-end devices, where margins are already slim.”

A great deal of this is credited to Apple’s expansion to a larger number of countries, which has had a clear effect on volume. Still though, companies like Nokia with their N97 and Research In Motion (RIM) with their popular BlackBerry line continued to dominate the number one and two positions respectively.

Image Credit: Gartner

RIM Considers Adding Foxconn as EMS Partner for Smartphones

Paul Lilly — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:53:25 -0500

According to news and rumor site DigiTimes, Foxconn appears to be the frontrunner to produce smartphones for BlackBerry developer Research in Motion (RIM), or so say the site's un-named sources within the Taiwan handset industry.

RIM, who currently works with EMS firms Elcoteq and Celestica, wants to ramp up its output to meet its expanding global market share, DigiTimes reports. Should Foxconn snag a partnership deal, it will become the most comprehensive OEM smartphone maker on the planet, capable of producing smartphones that run on every major handset OS, including Windows Mobile, Android, Web OS, iPhone OS, and BlackBerry OS.

The deal would give second-ranking smartphone vendor RIM, who holds an 18 percent market share, a boost in its bid to compete with Nokia, the No.1 smartphone vendor.

Plummeting Share Prices Could Leave RIM Vulnerable to Takeover

Alex Castle — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:20:45 -0500

Research In Motion, maker of the Blackberry, is in a bad way. The recent economic crisis has seen their stock fall from $148 to $60 in just 4 months, Reuters reports, leaving the company on shaky footing.

At the same time, Microsoft is looking to strengthen its presence in the handheld market, an arena recently invaded by two of the Redmond giant’s key rivals: Apple and Google. There have been rumors of Microsoft’s interest in RIM for years, but the Blackberry maker’s present financial situation has renewed and reinvigorated talk of a Microsoft takeover.

Peter Misek, an analyst with Canaccord Adams has said “RIM is a massive strategic fit [for Microsoft]. I’m fairly certain they have a standing offer to buy them at $50.”

It’s unknown how strongly the co-CEOs of RIM would oppose such a deal. If they resisted strongly, it’s considered unlikely that Microsoft would attempt a hostile takeover.

Image Credit: RIM

RIM Introduces Its First Flip Phone, Tries to Expand in Consumer Market

Tom Edwards — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:31:11 -0500

At this week’s CTIA trade show in San Francisco, Research in Motion, developer of the BlackBerry, announced the release of its first flip-design phone. Based on the candy-bar-style Pearl, the Pearl Flip 8220 will include a 240x320 primary display, a camera, music and video capabilities, and Wi-Fi. Like the Pearl, the Pearl Flip has been designed for the consumer market. Instead of a full keyboard, the device includes two letters on each key and also has a trackball, similar to the Pearl’s. T-Mobile will be the exclusive carrier of the Pearl Flip in the United States. Although no street price or relapse date were provided at the show. It is widely expected that the Flip will be available by the holiday season.

BlackBerry 8820

Tom Edwards — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:11:05 -0500

Ostensibly designed for business users who can’t have a cameraphone in the workplace, the BlackBerry 8820 is, in fact, a consumer-friendly device that includes one major upgrade over its predecessor, the 8800: Wi-Fi. And while this addition allows for speedier web browsing and better connections in spotty coverage areas, it comes with one major caveat—AT&T has chosen to allow Wi-Fi to carry only data, not voice, so VoIP, isn’t a possibility. That said, the inclusion of Wi-Fi is welcomed, particularly because RIM has made searching for and logging onto a network so simple.

The 8820 continues BlackBerry’s dominance as the device of choice for those who need constant access to email while outside the office. While push email has become ubiquitous on mobile devices, we appreciated this device’s ease of use. Setting up email accounts on the 8820 was as easy as entering our user names and passwords, and the Blackberry works with up to 10 accounts, including Exchange, POP3, and IMAP accounts. Additionally, unlike keyboards on many smartphones, the keys on the 8820's full keyboard are raised up enough and provide enough response to minimize typos.

Real-time driving directions via the built-in GPS are available through an optional TeleNav account ($10/month). We found that the phone connected and downloaded maps from the service quickly and was able to promptly redraw maps across the 8820’s 2.5-inch screen when necessary. Additionally, the option of creating a route based on current traffic patterns was a great benefit—particularly during a trip to Los Angeles.

BlackBerrys have never been known for their prowess as media devices, but lately, RIM has tried to change that perception. While the 8820 won’t replace our MP3 player, the included media management software at least made listening to music a possibility. XM radio (streamed over the Internet) is also available for nine dollars a month.

Overall, voice quality was good; however, we encountered some static on two separate occasions. Since these seemed to be isolated incidents, we’re willing to give the device the benefit of the doubt. People on the other end of our conversations had no complaints about sound quality.

The 8820 delivers plenty of value, but people who often travel overseas should also consider the BlackBerry 8830 (which operates on the CDMA network in the United States but allows for roaming on GSM networks). That device, however, lacks Wi-Fi. And those who just can’t live without a low-quality camera jammed into their phones will be attracted to the latest Curve, which includes Wi-Fi but lacks GPS. Of the three devices, though, the 8820 is our choice for its inclusion of WiFi and GPS.