98 percent of iPhone owners use mobile data

There are now 6.4 million active iPhone users in the U.S. according to media research firm Nielsen, and 98 percent of them have embraced the Apple smartphone's data features. Nielsen reports that iPhone users in the U.S. totaled 4.3 million in April 2008, and forecasts that the pending release of a $99 8 GB version should negate consumer cost concerns that have limited the overall size of the iPhone audience.

Existing iPhone users are nevertheless highly coveted by mobile marketers. Nielsen notes that 40 percent boast household incomes of $100,000 or more, compared to 19 percent of all U.S. wireless subscribers. In addition, iPhone users are age-diverse, with the 55-and-older segment roughly equal to the 13-to-24 category.

China Mobile targets residential voice with TD-SCDMA

China Mobile is using its new TD-SCDMA network to offer cut-price fixed-line voice services to residential customers.

The mobile giant, which does not have a wireline business, is undercutting China Telecom and Unicom with its new service in Beijing and Shanghai.

Shanghai Mobile charges a monthly base fee of 16 yuan ($2.34) that includes 50 minutes of local call time, TD fixed-wireless phones use 11-digit phone numbers like mobile numbers with a "188" prefix. For additional use, the carrier charges 0.22 yuan ($0.03) for the first three minutes and 0.11 yuan ($0.02) per minute for extra time. Incoming calls are free of charge.

The phone that looks like a normal wireline phone can be used to send text messages at the cost of 0.10 yuan ($0.01) per message.

Families that sign an 18-month contract and commit to spend at least 88 yuan ($12.88) per month on their wireless phone bills can have the TD fixed-wireless phone free of charge. The phone is not available for sale otherwise.

Beijing Mobile is also selling a TD fixed-wireless phone service, offering 50 minutes of local call time in a monthly base fee of 10 yuan ($1.46) and charges 0.12 yuan ($0.02) per minute for additional use. Subscribers need to pay 20 yuan ($2.93) for the SIM card and can have the first month's base fee waived.

The monthly base fees for both China Telecom's and China Unicom's wireless voice services are higher and do not include any free minutes.

China Telecom, the main fixed-line operator in Shanghai, charges a monthly base fee of 25 yuan while China Unicom charges 21.6 yuan in Beijing. Their standard rate for local calls is 0.22 yuan for the first three minutes and 0.11 yuan for each additional minute.

China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA network, the country’s first 3G network, has struggled to find customers since formally launching early this year.

Tribute To Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

This is an advertisement for Michael Jackson's that many of us had been looking forward. Great tribute to the King of Pop whom I will always remember as the person who had introduced pop music to me and to the world.

His death has shocked the entire world, coming all of sudden without any warning. You can check out on MJ at his YouTube Channel or his life gallery.

The world without MJ will never be the same, no matter how you would had judged or perceived him, he will always be the legendary King of Pop. Here’s his last photo, showing medical officers trying to save him. R.I.P.

Test Your Awareness : Whodunnit?

iPhone interacting with outdoor media

CBS Outdoor and Clusta have designed digital billboards which can connect to your iPhone via WiFi or 3G, allowing you to rotate and zoom the products on screen with the touch-screen by using the "pinch" and "stretch" features on your iPhone. It’s the ultimate combination of “connective ubiquitous technology” and “making people stare at pictures of products for even longer”. It’s certainly a great advance in mass-market interactive technology and we’ll have to wait and see if it ever gets used for local news alerts, public information, or anything at all except selling stuff.

The technology can also be developed for other smart phones and can include SMS interactivity to receive more information about the product.

Mossberg on Palm's answer to the iPhone

Wall Street Journal Technology columnist Walt Mossberg reviews Palm's new smartphone, the new Palm's Pre.

Mossberg's finaly verdict, its an elegantly designed device and certainly will give iPhone a real competition provided if it can attract sufficient developers to its platform.

41 Percent Choosing Smart Phones As Next Device

Over the next few years, the handset industry will increasingly polarize between low-end feature phones and high-end smartphones, according to two separate reports released today by Yankee Group and Juniper Research.

Yankee Group said that 41 percent of consumers in US are likely to choose a phone with an advanced operating system for their next device. At that pick-up rate, smartphone volumes will make up about 38 percent of all handsets by 2013 in North America. In the U.S., the average consumer has had four phones, which increases their likelihood of wanting to have more sophisticated features for their fifth device.

While the smartphone trend increases in US, Juniper Research is forecasting that developing markets, like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, will increase demand for low-cost handsets, reports cellular-news.com. By 2014, annual sales of low-cost mobile handsets will rise by 22 percent to more than 700 million phones.

Juniper predicts that the worldwide smartphone share will be grow to 27 percent of all mobile devices shipped in 2014 (up from 13 percent in 2008).

Over 1 million iPhone 3G S sold over the First weekend

Apple announced sales of its new iPhone 3G S topped the 1 million mark on Sunday, the third day the latest edition of the touchscreen device was available at retail. In addition, the computing giant reported that 6 million customers have downloaded the new iPhone 3.0 OS software in the first five days since its release on Wednesday.

iPhone gaining business approval

Apple smartphone seeing increased adoption in the commercial sector. The business world is seeing a steady uptake in adoption of Apple’s iPhone. According to the Channel Insider, the device currently holds around one per cent of the global business market, but this figure is increasing as more people bring their iPhones in to work and a greater volume of business apps are made available.

Apple has reported that the device has been implemented as a business smartphone by Kraft Foods, while Nike and Disney have promised to support the device. Additionally, biotech firm Genentech has said that it will deploy 3,000 iPhones to its employees.

SaaS provider Salesforce.com has also reported 80,000 sales of its customer relations management iPhone app.

Top Airports

UK-based civil aviation consultant Skytrax just released a 10-month survey of airline passengers who voted in the world's best airports in 2009.

A total of 8.6 million passengers at 190 airports were invited to rate the facilities based on their experiences at check-in, arrival, departures and transfers.

Six Asian airports make the top 10, along with Zurich, Munich, Amsterdam and Auckland.

The top 10 airports, according to the survey, are :

1. Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea
2. Hong Kong International Airport
3. Singapore Changi Airport
4. Zurich Airport, Switzerland
5. Munich Airport, Germany
6. Kansai International Airport, Japan
7. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia
8. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the Netherlands
9. Central Japan International Airport Centrair Nagoya, Japan
10. Auckland Airport, New Zealand

Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates is voted the best duty-free shops.

Hong Kong is voted for serving the best food.

Wondering when the Chinese airports will ever make it to the center stage.

iPhone titles currently has 10% of US mobile gaming market

New platforms such as Apple's iPhone, Nokia's N-Gage and Google's Android will spur the growth of the mobile gaming market, according to media research firm Screen Digest.

Apple alone accounted for $100 million in gaming revenues in the second half of 2008, translating to 10% of the US mobile games segment.

The report contends that new smartphone platforms will pick up the slack, although games for new platforms represented only 15% of mobile games revenues in North America and Europe during 2008.

Screen Digest cites Apple's combination of appealing hardware, large developer community and easy-to-use retail environment as the keys to its lead in the mobile gaming sector.

And for major publishers, the greatest impact of the iPhone and App Store is not the additional revenues generated via game sales but rather the overall effect of the App Store's business model on the wider mobile games market.

Screen Digest credits the App Store for increasing awareness of mobile games and for persuading some network operators to lower their revenue shares and build their own application stores. At the moment Apple is out in front in terms of user experience, range of content and in generating consumer and developer interest in mobile games for its devices. While the market for mobile games on the App Store is strong, iPhone users still only account for a tiny proportion of the market. In Q4 2008, iPhone shipments made up less than 2% of total handset shipments.

It’s no secret that mobile gaming has really been around since applications took off, it’s also no secret that the iPhone revitalised the almost-dead application market. With so many players charging in the new arena, I reckon you can expect to see mobile gaming become a significant percentage of the overall gaming market in the next few years and Apple will certainly be one of the successful player up there.

iPhone 3Gs TV Ad

Palm Pre Vs. iPhone 3G

China limiting number of messages to curb with SMS spam messages

China will limit the number of messages that a mobile number can send per day to battle rampant spam messages clogging cell phones. Spam messages, largely consisting of real estate offers, ads for English lessons, fake tax receipts and other frauds have grown very quickly in China in recent years. It is not unusual to receive dozens of messages a day, including the odd gun ad.

China's three main mobile network operators, China Telecom, China Mobile Ltd and China Unicom have signed onto an agreement to deal with inter-network spam messages. One mobile number cannot send more than 200 messages per hour or 1,000 per day on weekdays, according to the agreement. On holidays, 500 messages per hour and 2,000 per day may originate from one number.

So those one man band compaies who are using individual SIM card to blast will certainly have to think of other alternatives.

The New Nokia E72 promo video

The E72 comes with S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 (just like our AT&T E71x folks), awesome E75-like Nokia Messaging client (Nokia needs to make this available as a download for ALL E71/E71x owners!), 5 megapixel camera, slightly redesigned keyboard with a smaller space bar, 3.5mm headset jack (finally!), compass, and more improvements. Its a huge upgrade from its predecessor.

LG Viewty Smart Revolutionizes Phone Photography

The new LG Viewty Smart mobile had a lot of expectations after the original Viewty sold 6.5 million handsets, but this phone blows it out of the water.

The main focus of the Viewty Smart is its impeccable camera. LG went to 14 countries conducting surveys in order to find out what it is that makes camera phones easy, as well as difficult. These surveys must have worked because this camera phone is pumped.

Aside from LG’s S-Class User touchscreen interface (extremely user friendly), it shoots 8mp with a maximum ISO sensitivity of 1600. It’s Intelligent Shot Mode has new features with photo editing possibilities.

This phone could really be confused for a camera. If you are looking for a powerful phone cum camera or vice versa, you will love this device.

Clawing for Boobs!

Remember the claw machines from the arcades of your youth? For fifty cents a try, you could pick up a cheap stuffed bear or duck or dog. The Japs had just came up with some different this time, how about clawing for some boobs!!

Can you imagine speaking like the way you text on your phone

Skinny Blonde

A new site has just gone live in Australia for the beer brand Skinny Blonde. The label on the bottle is a 1950's woman in a bikini. When you place a warm hand over the label the bikini top vanishes.....which is very courageous and creative for a beer brand. Check it out here

Soon you dont even need controllers to be playing games

Microsoft has announced it will be releasing technology that allows video game players to play their games without the controller.

This new technology is called “Project Natal” and lets players use their bodies instead of hand held controllers. Microsoft Project Natal relies on a camera to capture the movements players make in a 3-dimensional space.

Apple's New iPhone 3GS launches at WWDC

Apple unveiled a new, high-speed version of the iPhone that will come to market later this month. The device will be known as the iPhone 3GS, the ‘S’ standing for ’speed’, and will be available from 9 June, Apple announced at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

The iPhone 3GS will be priced at $199 for the 16-GB version of the device and $299 for the 32-GB option. The phone will be up to three times faster than the regular 3G iPhone and will include a range of the new features. The 3GS features a new 3.2-megapixel, autofocus camera. Video capture is now possible, and users can edit videos on their handset.

Apple has also introduced voice control, which enables users to control music and make calls by talking to the handset. When it comes to form factor, theappleblog.com noted that the iPhone 3GS looks much the same as the existing 3G iPhone. While the new iPhone was undoubtedly the star of the show, Apple also present a range of new applications for its iPhone portfolio, and a new operating system. The 3.0 OS features a cut-copy-paste ability that works across applications; users can shake the phone to undo.

MMS is finally available and will Apple also be introducing the ability to rent and purchase movies from iTunes on the handset, autofill capabilities, and language support for 30-plus languages.

Its Find My iPhone service for MobileMe customers allows users to track their handset and to remotely wipe data if the phone is lost.

And Apple is doing digital books in partnership with Scroll Motion, bringing 50 major magazines and 1 million books to its app store.

Battery life has been further improved. You will get up to 12 hours of talk time on 2G and 5 on 3G, with a up to 300 hour standby time. On 3G, it will deliver 5 hours of internet use. On Wi-Fi, Internet goes up to 9 hours. Video playback is 10 hours vs 30 hours for audio.

Another big news, Apple has also simultaneously announced a cut-price $99 version of the 3G iPhone (it's certainly becoming very affordable to own one).

Apple's announcements drove home the idea that the company remains committed to making complicated features, like video-recording and editing and voice controls, easier than anyone else on the phone. That coupled with new price points and models will likely continue the company's impressive growth no matter what phone is launched by other handset makers.

Steve Jobs could be returning to work soon

Reports suggest the big man could be set for a comeback by the end of the month as planned.
The Wall Street Journal (via Reuters) says Steve Jobs is on the verge of resuming his role as Apple's CEO.

The article cites a source which said Jobs, who has been on medical leave of absence since January, will make a return before the end of June as originally planned.

With Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference on Monday (June 8th) the news, if true, will come as a timely boost for the company and its partners. Lets hope the big man returns to work soon as i m sure many are hoping for his come back.

Updated : Unfortunately Steve didnt turn up...

Apple will be introducing lower-priced iPhone

Apple will announce a cheaper edition of the iPhone very soon. Citing sources familiar with the initiative, Financial Times reports Apple will introduce an iPhone priced at either $99 or $149, down from the current low end of $199.

Operator partner AT&T will continue to subsidize the smartphone when subscribers sign a two-year service contract. "It's either a $50 or a $100 cut," said Morgan Stanley analyst Kathryn Huberty, citing a firm consumer survey indicating that a $50 reduction could increase iPhone demand by 50 percent and a $100 cut could increase demand by 100 percent.

Financial Times notes the lower-priced iPhone will likely begin production in July and boast the iPhone 3.0 operating system update, also expected to be released next week at WWDC 2009. This is going to put alot of sales pressures on the newly launched Palm Pre and the other mobile phone manufacturers. Look at how much damage one company with one device could do to the global mobile phone market.

Mobile browser Skyfire moving out of beta

Skyfire, a mobile browser that wants to bring the full desktop web experience to mobile phones, is taking its product out of beta testing today and launching version 1.0. Skyfire is pretty big already, with more than 1 million users.

The Mountain View, Calif. company has raised a total of $17.8 million in venture funding. Supported phones include devices from Nokia, Samsung, LG, HTC, Palm, and Motorola, with a BlackBerry version still in testing. Check out the video below.

Samsung will be releasing its first android smartphone

Launching “in major European countries from June,” Samsung is releasing its very first android smartphone with the i7500.

The Samsung i7500 comes ready to roll with a 3.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, WiFi, GPS, a 5 megapixel camera with Power LED, 8GB of storage (upgradeable to 32gb), and a standard 3.5mm headset jack.

Smartphones generate 35% of mobile ad requests

Smartphones now generate 35% of mobile ad requests share, according to mobile advertising marketplace AdMob's April 2009 Mobile Metrics Report. While research firm Gartner reports global smartphone sales represented 13.5 percent of total mobile device sales in the first quarter of 2009, 35 percent of AdMob's worldwide ad requests last month originated via smartphone users.

Apple's iPhone operating system which accounted for 10.8 percent of worldwide smartphone OS market share in Q1, according to Gartner generated 43 percent of mobile web requests in April, and Google's Android, despite accounting for less than 1 percent of OS market share, yielded 3 percent of mobile web requests. However, the Symbian OS, which claimed 41.2 percent of the global smartphone market in Q1, generated just 36 percent of mobile web usage during the quarter.

Together, the iPhone and iPod touch accounted for 26.2 percent of total worldwide ad requests in April, followed by Nokia at 25.9 percent. The iPhone generated 20 percent of AdMob's U.S. ad requests in April, followed by the iPod touch at 14.8 percent--the Samsung R450 trailed in third place at 5.2 percent. In addition, 24 percent of U.S. ad requests were made over WiFi networks, led by the iPhone and followed by the iPod touch, Sony PSP, Android G1 and HTC Dash.