IBM and HTC working together to take over enterprise market

 

 

IBM and HTC working together to take over enterprise market.  We should see IBM software running on HTC smartphones and tablets. Does anyone still use Lotus anything?   HTC’s executive director Global Enterprise and Services David Jaegar  said “It’s only been really relatively recently that HTC has broken into the enterprise space. We’re driving toward that magic 100-million device number globally. We see IBM as the gold standard for an enterprise partnership. We want to make sure if IBM is talking about Android or tablets, HTC is in the conversation.” I wonder who will break into the market by full force first, HTC/IBM or Apple? My money is on Apple after yesterdays earnings report.

Best Buy guaranteeing iphone 4S will be in store for pickup, October 14th

Best Buy is guaranteeing your handset will be available for pickup on Friday, October 14th. That is a bold statement for them to make but Best Buy is big enough to fill it. So if you haven’t yet preordered their iPhone 4S there is still hope short of waiting inline for one. They are also offering up to $300 for an iPhone 4 as part of its Phone Trade-In offer. That is a very good deal, considering the iPhone 4 is not that old.

iPhone 4S preorders began today on Apple, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. All sites then crashed for a few hours. So someone people were not able to jump on the iphone fanboy line. Now that Best Buy is offering it that helps a lot of people. You can go to the store instead of siting and waiting for a delivery.

Microsoft plays Goodfella says to Android OEM, Fu*k You Pay me!

If you have seen the movie Goodfellas then the title this post resonated with you right away. That is pretty much what Google feels is happening. Google issued an irate response to Microsoft’s cross-licensing agreement with Samsung.The deal calls for Samsung to pay royalties to Microsoft for each Android smartphone sold. Microsoft has almost the same agreements with ViewSonic, HTC and Acer. HTC and Samsung were responsible for more than half of all Android phones sold in 2011 in the United States. Analysts estimate Android pulls in a most 5 times the revenue that Windows Phone does for Microsoft.

Google said “This is the same tactic we’ve seen time and again from Microsoft. Failing to succeed in the smartphone market, they are resorting to legal measures to extort profit from others’ achievements and hinder the pace of innovation. We remain focused on building new technology and supporting Android partners.”

Microsoft’s general counsel Brad Smith and deputy general counsel Horacio Gutierrez wrote in the post that “We recognize that some businesses and commentators – Google chief among them – have complained about the potential impact of patents on Android and software innovation; To them, we say this: look at today’s announcement. If industry leaders such as Samsung and HTC can enter into these agreements, doesn’t this provide a clear path forward?” In other words if you use Android you will be paying Microsoft protection money.

HTC has jumped on to The Cloud: Strikes deal with Dropbox

It seems that everyone is jumping into the cloud. Even mobile phone makers. Microsoft has Skydrive but to be fair they were in the cloud before the cool kids came. Apple has the iCloud and now HTC has partnered with Dropbox.

HTC latest Android handsets will come with the free normal 2GB that Dropbox gives everyone and 3GB of extra storage. Sense 3.5 devices will be able to take advantage of this deal starting in October. You will be able to save files on your phone and have them automatically synced to whatever other devices you have running the Dropbox. HTC will not be bringing this offer to Windows Phone 7 anytime soon due to Microsoft’s Skydrive. Skydrive gives it’s phone owners 25GB of free storage.

Google buys Motorola Mobility for $12.5 Billion: Says to Apple & Microsoft Now what?!

We were wondering if Google would do anything to gear up for a fight that Apple is bent on bringing to the Android. Google tried to buy some patents. Then went tick for tack with Microsoft over not winning any. They looked pretty childish in the press over it as well. It seems that Google had an Ace in it’s sleeves. A 12.5 Billion dollar deal does not just happen over a weekend. This must have been in the works for a while. It should be interesting to see what if anything Apple has to say about this deal. Also as a side bar. Note to RIM; these are the type of deals you should be looking at doing to help your company out.

Google has more than 150 million Android devices have been activated worldwide. There are more than 550,000 devices being turned on every day. They are in over 122 countries. Given Android’s phenomenal success brings a lot of fear from the other market leaders. Namely Apple. Apple has been going after Android tablet and phone makers as of late. With the way Android was build and the open source nature of the OS. It was hard for companies to defend themselves. Apple has a whole lot of money to through into the law system and comes up with a new patent every week.

Google and it’s Android makers were at a major disadvantage. That is why I am so excited today to announce that we have agreed to acquire Motorola. Google paid $12.5 billion to purchase smartphone vendor Motorola Mobility. That is small change to Google. You might be wondering how does this effect Samsung and other companies that use the OS. The acquisition will not change the way Google handles the Android platform. Motorola will remain a licensee of Android. It will still be open for others to use. Although do look out for MotoBlur to be removed in the not to distant future. and Android will remain open.

Google said it will run Motorola as a separate business. Google CEO Larry Page explained the acquisition will help bolster the tech giant’s patent portfolio. That is the main reason that Motorola was brought. To be in a position to better protect Android as a whole. Even though Motorola will test future versions of the OS before others. Samsung, Sony Ericsson, HTC, and LG have all issued statements in support of the acquisition. They realized that it is good for business as a whole. They had the following to say:

• J.K. Shin, president of Samsung’s Mobile Communications said “We welcome today’s news, which demonstrates Google’s deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem”

• Sony Ericsson president and CEO Bert Nordberg said “I welcome Google’s commitment to defending Android and its partners”

• LG’s president and CEO Jong-Seok Park said “We welcome Google’s commitment to defending Android and its partners”

• HTC’s CEO Peter Chou said “We welcome the news of today’s acquisition, which demonstrates that Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem”

Google CEO Larry Page wrote the following:

“The U.S. Department of Justice had to intervene in the results of one recent patent auction to ‘protect competition and innovation in the open source software community’ and it is currently looking into the results of the Nortel auction. Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies.”

The Press Release: Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility

Combination will Supercharge Android, Enhance Competition, and Offer Wonderful User Experiences

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of about $12.5 billion, a premium of 63% to the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on Friday, August 12, 2011. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

“Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.

Larry Page, CEO of Google, said, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses.”

Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union and other jurisdictions, and the approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012.

This is getting ridiculous: Apple files patent complaint against HTC.

I am starting to think that Apple is running out of ideas. First it was the iPad 2 which was more like the iPad 1.5 since there was little change. Then came the Apple Cloud which at its base is not really a streaming service. It more like Google and Amazon’s music locker service. It is not streaming like Pandora or the soon to invade US shores Spotify. Apple also tried to unsuccessfully sue Amazon over the word AppStore. Apple is also battling Samsung over patents.

I love Apple because they were the innovative company. They didn’t try to sue everyone like other technology giants. It just kept making better products than the competition. Today when it filed a new patent complaint with the International Trade Commission it made it clear that Apple is more about protecting than inventing at this point.

Why would you try to block the sale of HTC devices. They have their own well designed skin that in some cases is better than Android and iOS. The claim it infringes on some patents on the surface seems like a reach at best. Although I disagree with the lawsuit; Samsung Galaxy line of phones mimic iDevices more than anything. HTC has nothing to fear other than a waste of time if a judge entertains this complaint as valid.

HTC Flyer will soar over Samsung Galaxy Tab but not iPad nor Xoon

The HTC Flyer as first glance looks great. Look closer though; it’s 7″ screen may not be enough real estate to keep you in the moment. I was interested to see what HTC would do in the tablet space. I will say I am impressed at first. It will be a strong competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7″ but not the Xoon or iPad.  Why you may ask?

First I do not want an accessory that I am going to lose. That is what will happen with the Scribe pen. The note taking and drawing you can do with it are wonderful. I only ask one question; LiveScribe are you getting a check? The pen and recording software is a blatant rip off  of the LiveScribe Pen. HTC boast that you can sync your notes with Evernote but so can iPad.

For the entertainment side of things. Music was glanced over but not shown off. What was shown off was a program called HTC Watch for streaming movies.   The prices are 1.85 rent & 9.99 to buy. No Netflix or Amazon buddy

One can not be in tablet fight without some gaming. It’s big business just as Angry Birds and Farmville addicts. The Flyer has access to OnLive; the streaming game system. Now not much is know about this yet since  only the Arena was shown. No actually gaming.

The Flyer looks great. The UI is classic HTC simplicity at its best. No word on what networks it will be on or price just yet. We will hold out full judgement untill more information is released but 7″ is not going to cut it.

What would happen if Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile all decided to do LTE at the same time?

What would happen if Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile all decided to do LTE at the same time? Well other than make customer happy that is. It would be wonderful. Your phone would work on all networks. You would have high speed data where ever you went.

 The is just what is going on in Russia.  Yota is building the 4G network for the whole country. Beeline, Megafon, MTS and Rostelekom are all going to share it rather than each operator doing their own thing like here. The four majors over there will be able to a buy 25% stake in Yota.  The goal here is to have LTE in 180 cities with a total population of more than 70 million citizens by 2014.

Press Realease [shorten]

Russia Takes 4G Lead With Strategic Approach to Nationwide Infrastructure Build
- Rival Operators Buy-Into Yota’s Vision of the Future of Telecoms

Press Release Source: Yota On Thursday March 3, 2011, 1:09 pm EST

Yota, the Russian mobile broadband company, has today signed a deal with the country’s main network operators that will place Russia at the forefront of the development of 4G telecoms services.

The deal will see Yota become the 4G network provider for the Russian telecoms market and guarantee the roll-out of its LTE network to cover 180 cities with a total population of more than 70 million citizens by 2014.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin witnessed the signing of this landmark agreement by the heads of the leading Russian telecoms operators at Yota’s Moscow office.

The agreement will see the country’s major network operators – Beeline, Megafon, MTS and Rostelekom - working with Yota to offer 4G services over its network. The deal provides each of the participants with an option to buy shares in Yota in 2014 and sees the realization of Yota’s vision of the future of telecoms: the ability to offer open infrastructure to competing service providers.

State corporation Russian Technologies supported the agreement in a bid to ensure an efficient and collaborative approach to rolling-out 4G services.

Sprint will have its own Windows Phone 7 on 3/20 for $199.99

 

Sprint  will launch the HTC Arrive on March 20th. Sprint more or less already let us know this with all the tweets this week.  The HTC Arrive is Sprint’s very own HTC 7 Pro. It features a 3.6-inch WVGA touchscreen, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 16GB of internal storage, a 5-megapixel camera, 720p HD video capture and a slide-out keyboard. The HTC Arrive will cost $199.99 with a two-year service contract when. I don’t know if I want to jump to a windows phone just yet. Sprint iPhone. Come on Apple make it happen.

Sprint’s press release (shortened).

First Windows Phone 7 Device for Sprint, HTC Arrive, Available Beginning March 20 for $199.99

New Windows Phone 7 phone brings the Start screen to life with Live Tiles for a glance-and-go experience; offers Xbox LIVE and Zune integration with Microsoft Office Mobile

Starting today, customers can pre-order HTC Arrive at any Sprint Store; For more information, visit www.sprint.com/arrive

Available from Sprint on March 20, the HTC Arrive™ smartphone (announced by HTC globally as HTC 7 Pro) offers the Windows Phone 7, glance-and-go experience combined with an innovative design that features a sliding full QWERTY keyboard and tilt-up display. Its unique Start screen with Hubs gives easy access to the user’s most valuable content and customizable Live Tiles come to life with real-time updates from the Web.

Depending on the app, the Live Tiles might show pending messages and appointments, news and weather, or game notifications and friend status – all continuously refreshed. It also lets the user customize people, apps, playlists, pictures, and other favorites to the Start screen, so they’re available at a single touch.

Windows Phone 7 Hubs bring together related content from the Web, applications and services into a single view and offers quick and easy access to the users’ most valuable content. The six Hubs are built on specific themes.:

• Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon Processor
• 3.6-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch capability
• Full HTML Web browser with Bing Search and Maps for turn by turn directions, address mapping and even street level views via voice search or typing
• Windows Phone Marketplace offers a single view to showcase apps, games, music and premium Xbox LIVE games
• Corporate email (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync^®), personal (POP & IMAP) email and text messaging
• 5MP camera with flash, autofocus and digital zoom and 720p HD camcorder. The camera button will snap photos fast, even if the phone is locked.
• 16GB internal memory for storing pictures, videos and large files
• Wi-Fi^® (802.11 b/g/n)

HTC Arrive will be available beginning March 20, for $199.99 with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $100 mail-in rebate (taxes not included) in all Sprint retail channels, including the Web (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1).

HTC Arrive requires activation on one of Sprint’s Everything Data plans, plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, Anytime^SM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $39.99 per month vs. Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and Web (excluding Verizon’s Southern California plan; pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).

Sprint Everything Data plans qualify for automatic enrollment in the Sprint Premier^SM loyalty program¹. Existing Sprint customers can switch to an Everything Data plan without extending their service agreement. New lines of service require a two-year service agreement.

Facebook phone comes out to play, sort of…

HTC announced two new phones today. They were not the Facebook phone per say but they were close enough. The phones have Facebook buttons. The HTC Chacha and HTC Salsa are Android phones that have HTC’s new enhanced Facebook experience. Ready to get one for your Tween or even yourself you Facebook addic you? Well there is no U.S. carrier partners at this time.  But rumor has it that AT&T will carry two of its own Facebook phones from HTC.  “In the U.S., AT&T and HTC are exclusively bringing this unique user experience to the market later this year,” an AT&T spokesperson told Mobilized. “It goes without saying this is part of our commitment to have the industry’s best Android portfolio this year.”