This Week in Mobility
Mobility isn’t just one of the most hyped parts of the technology world when it comes to press coverage, the move to smartphones has become more than significant with smartphones now accounting for the majority of phone purchases according to Nielsen. So we thought this would be a great time to write up a weekly summary about everything that is going on in this space (because we could write about it all day every day and it’s really only the big picture that matters. Just click on the links that sound interesting to read the full in depth coverage:
That ladies and gentlemen is the big picture. Right now more cell phone subscribers own a smartphone and manage things like email, Facebook, banking and games right from their pocket. What are they buying the most of? Kudos to Apple marketing on this one, despite the iEverything you see on TV, more than half of the subscribes own an Android device. Interesting.
It certainly explains why Apple has found the device so threatening to have a prolonged war with Samsung over alleged copying. Jobs wasn’t shy about his displeasure either:
“Google, you f–king ripped off the iPhone, wholesale ripped us off. Grand theft.” Jobs swore he would “spend my last dying breath” and “every penny” in Apple’s coffers “to right this wrong. I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go to thermonuclear war on this.”
Apple is not letting up it’s court fight against Samsung, it’s largest component supplier by far, because of the threat the Android poses as both the majority of the devices and a relatively open standard that competitors are basing their devices on.
Even the perennially ignored Microsoft Mobility is starting to beat the PR drum about their upcoming devices, but not everyone is as convinced of their chances. Dell has completely dropped their Windows Phone production. But Microsoft is not ready to concede it’s single digit market share as defeat – With AT&T promising the biggest Nokia 900 Windows Phone launch ever. Microsoft is opening 13 new marketplace (similar to Apple App Store and Google Play/Marketplace) around the world and really betting that Nokia’s worldwide brand will help them win. At the same time Microsoft Stores are running a controversial campaign “Smoked by Windows Phone Challenge” in which nearly every device is slower than Windows Phone based on Microsoft’s crooked rules – which even they don’t seem to respect when they lose. Can’t blame them for trying to get some spotlight for a series of devices that is a huge bet not just on Windows Phone but on the entire Windows 8 product line.
But the battle for the modern mobility is far more diverse than just smartphones. Tablets, area already awarded to the iPad by the general public, are starting to show more potential with Android. Rumor mill is heating up about the upcoming Google Nexus tablet which will retail at $199 and force other premium Android tablets to cut costs. Who would want a $199 tablet you may ask? Apparently lot’s of people! Kindle Fire is the most popular Android table to date and it’s being regularly updated and enhanced. Even the Nook is rumored to be launching in Germany.
If you thought this was an info overload, consider the following statement: Nearly 1 billion smart connected devices shipped in 2011 with shipping expected to double by 2016. ‘Nuff said.
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