By Wailin Wong
Until recently, consumers wanting to take advantage of 4G wireless network speeds didn’t have much choice in devices. Carriers offered laptop cards and USB dongles, but the selection of smart phones and other gadgets was minimal.
This dynamic will change dramatically this year, thanks to a flurry of product launches from mobile operators that are eager to meet increasing consumer demand for fast wireless broadband and draw more revenue from data traffic. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, carriers announced more than 15 new 4G devices, many of them smart phones or tablets. Get the full story »
By Dow Jones Newswires
Skype has agreed to buy Qik, a service that lets users stream video from their smart phones, for an undisclosed amount.
The price tag has been reported to be about $100 million, though Skype said it won’t provide terms. The deal is expected to close this month. Get the full story »
By Dow Jones Newswires-Wall Street Journal
Google Inc. and Apple Inc. have stepped up their battle to win over publishers, as the two companies vie to become the dominant distributor of newspapers and magazines for tablet computers and other mobile devices.
Google is trying to drum up publishers’ support for a new Google-operated digital newsstand for users of devices that run its Android software. With the effort, it is chasing Apple, which already sells digital versions of many major magazines and newspapers through its iTunes store. Get the full story »
Dec. 30, 2010 at 4:58 p.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
China,
International,
Technology
By Reuters
A powerful virus targeting smart phones in China running Google Inc’s Android operating system may represent the most sophisticated bug to target mobile devices to date, security researchers said on Thursday. Get the full story »
Dec. 22, 2010 at 8:09 a.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Internet,
Wireless
By Dow Jones Newswires-Wall Street Journal
Verizon Wireless will distribute a smartphone made by Motorola Inc. to run on its new 4G network, the carrier’s chief operating officer, John Stratton, said in an interview Tuesday. The comments mark the first time the carrier has identified a handset maker for the closely watched launch and represent an important vote of confidence in Motorola. Get the full story »
Nov. 23, 2010 at 2:59 p.m.
Filed under:
Computers,
Wireless
By Reuters
Acer Inc., the world’s No. 2 PC manufacturer, unveiled a range of tablet computers to help it compete with Apple Inc.’s iPad.
The tablet computer market is becoming crowded as more companies produce the new devices, which fall between traditional PCs and smartphones. Get the full story »
By Associated Press
Google Inc. is taking another stab at designing a game-changing mobile phone, this time by including a built-in payment system that could eventually enable the devices to replace credit cards. The new phone got a brief preview Monday when Google CEO Eric Schmidt took the stage to kick off the Web 2.0 summit, a technology conference held annually in San Francisco.
Schmidt confirmed that Google has been working on a sophisticated new computer chip and an upgrade of its Android mobile operating system that will include a payment processing tool. He showed off the new phone with the device’s name and manufacturer concealed. Get the full story »
Nov. 9, 2010 at 3:59 p.m.
Filed under:
Computers,
Litigation,
Software,
Technology,
Wireless
By Reuters
Microsoft Corp stepped up its legal battle with Motorola Inc on Tuesday, as the software company accused the phone maker of charging excessive royalties on network technology used in Microsoft’s Xbox game system. Get the full story »
By Associated Press
Smartphones running Microsoft Corp.’s new software are now available for AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA customers. Get the full story »
By Wailin Wong
(Motorola)
Motorola is launching a new Android-based smart phone for globe-trotting executives later this month at Verizon Wireless.
The Droid Pro, unveiled Monday, is the latest device in Verizon’s Droid line-up, its portfolio of premier Android-based smart phones. Motorola has been an important maker of Android devices for the carrier and its other phones for the Droid line include the Droid, the Droid 2 and the Droid X.
The Droid Pro is designed for business users and comes with QuickOffice, a mobile software suite for editing Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. The phone also has a physical keyboard and is global-ready, meaning it is compatible with wireless service in different countries. Motorola said the device can tap into voice service in more than 220 countries and will have data coverage in more than 200 countries. Get the full story »
Oct. 28, 2010 at 5:04 p.m.
Filed under:
Consumer electronics,
Earnings,
Technology,
Updated
By Mary Ellen Podmolik
An app on the Motorola Droid X. (Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune)
Motorola Inc., reached a milestone Thursday as its mobile division reported an operating profit a quarter ahead of schedule, and the company said its smart-phone sales will near 14 million units for the year.
The company’s Mobile Devices unit reported operating earnings of $3 million on Thursday, versus a year-ago operating loss of $183 million. During the quarter, the company’s shipments of smart phones rose to 3.8 million and included 22 new products introduced this year.
Smart-phone shipments totaled 2.3 million units in the first quarter and 2.7 million in the second quarter. Analysts had expected ships to total about 3.7 million in the third quarter. The company said smart-phone sales will near the upper end of its previously announced guidance of between 12 million and 14 million units for the year. Get the full story »
Oct. 28, 2010 at 1:47 p.m.
Filed under:
Technology
From The New York Times | An Android app that allows phone users to secretly spy on their significant others was pulled from the Android market Wednesday shortly after being introduced. The application, called Secret SMS Replicator, claimed to be able to forward all text messages from one person’s phone to any other phone without the owner’s knowledge (after being secretly installed on the owner’s phone.)
By Dow Jones Newswires-Wall Street Journal
Amazon.com Inc. plans to open a software-applications store for smartphones running Google Inc.’s Android operating system, putting it in head-to-head competition with Google’s own digital-app store.
According to an Amazon document for developers viewed by The Wall Street Journal, Amazon would take a 30 percent cut of sales, with the developers keeping the rest. The document includes a stipulation that the apps can’t be offered at a lower price elsewhere. Get the full story »
Oct. 5, 2010 at 2:25 p.m.
Filed under:
Computers,
Technology,
Wireless
By Dow Jones Newswires
Toshiba Corp. plans to release new tablet devices in the U.S., Japan and elsewhere early next year, a top engineer at the company involved in the development of tablet computers told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday.
“The market for tablets is very hot right now,” said Hideo Kasuya on the sidelines of the annual Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies, near Tokyo. Get the full story »
Oct. 1, 2010 at 3:42 p.m.
Filed under:
Litigation,
Technology,
Updated
By Wailin Wong
Microsoft Corp. said Friday it has sued Motorola Inc., claiming that the Schaumburg-based company has violated nine of its patents with smartphones running Google’s Android operating system.
Microsoft, which is headquartered in Redmond, Wash., filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on Friday. The company said it also filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission. Get the full story »
