Mobi Press

Mozilla recently revealed manufacturer support for their new Firefox OS, with ZTE and TCL / Alcatel announcing that they will make handsets available for the platform in 2013.

The Samsung Galaxy Chat is an Android 4.0 ICS smartphone with an unusual feature: a physical keyboard, which makes it the only QWERTY-equipped Android 4.0 device from a major manufacturer that we know of.

The Motorola MOTOSMART is an entry-level Android smartphone aimed at first time buyers and those on a budget.

The Motorola ATRIX HD is a big-screen dual-core Android smartphone that ships with Android 4.0 ICS, coming into Motorola's range at one step above the Motorola RAZR.

More than one in four small business owners would consider switching to a rival mobile network provider after O2’s recent major network failure.
The survey by officebroker.com, who work with thousands of small firms each year, found that 28% of small business owners and sole traders had lost confidence in the telecoms giant and would consider switching.
More than half (51%) said they would be heavily inclined to switch to an alternative network of the failures were repeated.

Speaking today at a limited press event in Seattle, HTC creative director Claude Zellweger said that HTC is moving away from smartphones with QWERTY keyboards.
"As a company, the QWERTY keyboard we're moving away from in general."
Zellweger then went on to say that the future of QWERTY on smartphones will likely revolve from newer haptic technologies that are being worked into software based, on-screen keyboards. He also feels that hardware-based keyboards, while still somewhat in demand, would not allow HTC to move forward the designs of its smartphones.
"We feel that putting too much effort into that [QWERTY] would take away from our devices."
This is likely to upset a hardcore base of QWERTY keyboard lovers, but when consumers are demanding thinner and lighter phones with ever larger displays, it is entirely understandable.

The Sony Xperia S is the first Sony branded Xperia smartphone, having been launched after Sony officially bought out Ericsson's share of the Sony Ericsson joint venture that had been building phones for over ten years.
The Xperia S is also the first member of the company's NXT series of devices, and it features high-end specs like a 4.3-inch, 720p HD resolution Bravia touchscreen display, a 12.1 megapixel camera with flash, and a speedy dual-core processor with 1GB or RAM. It also bears the NXT series' iconic clear body section below the screen, which makes it especially easy to recognize.
But while the Sony Xperia S features a very beautiful industrial design, and offers users some tempting Sony-developed software, the device falls quite a bit short in a few regards - especially when you consider the phone's position at the apex of the Xperia food chain.

Apple has had quite a battle over the advertised "4G" capabilities of the new iPad in Australia, as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has accused the company of false advertising, since the new iPad does not support Australia's LTE networks. In response, Apple is arguing that the HSPA+ networks that the iPad does support in Australia offer fast enough speeds that they too can be considered 4G networks.
"The descriptor '4G' ... conveys to consumers in Australia that the iPad with WiFi + 4G will deliver a superior level of service in terms of data transfer speed (consistent with accepted industry and regulatory use of that term), and not that the iPad with WiFi + 4G is compatible with any particular network technology promoted by a particular mobile service provider in Australia," said Apple in response to the complaint.
Essentially, Apple is trying to argue that "4G" does not refer to any specific technology, but that it applies to the data transfer speeds that a device is capable of. Carriers in the U.S., such as T-Mobile and AT&T, have been advertising their own HSPA+ networks as "4G" for some time, even though they are not considered "true 4G" networks by many. In fact, Apple recently updated the AT&T version of iPhone 4S to display a "4G" indicator where it once said "3G," even though the technology inside the iPhone 4S did not change.

Samsung and Verizon Wireless have just announced the Gusto 2, the successor to the basic Gusto flip phone that was introduced in 2010.
Like its predecessor, the Gusto 2 keeps things simple, which should make it appeal to those looking for a no-frills, basic flip phone. The Gusto 2 has a 2-inch color display and a large numeric keypad. It features a 1.3 megapixel camera - an improvement over the VGA shooter on the original - and it supports SMS, MMS, and mobile email messaging services. There is support for Bluetooth hands-free headsets, and buyers can also use Verizon's VZ Navigator service with the Gusto 2.
The most interesting feature of the Gusto 2 is the "Fake Call" feature, which "allows users to set up a pseudo-call to help them escape unwanted social situations." Apparently those in the target demographic for the Gusto 2 have trouble leaving the bridge table on their own.
Verizon will offer the Samsung Gusto 2 in the coming weeks for $79.99 after rebate with a new two-year agreement.

The Motorola RAZR MAXX is a almost identical to the RAZR Android smartphone, but with a much bigger battery. The RAZR MAXX is based on the DROID RAZR MAXX, available on Verizon Wireless in the US, however this particular RAZR is heading for China with no word of a European version at present.
Although many people will recognise that the RAZR name has been used before, there was also another RAZR MAXX too back in 2006. More confusingly, the RAZR MAXX shares the "XT910" designation with the standard RAZR smartphone that is sold worldwide.
The key selling proposition here is the battery. Motorola haven't confirmed the size of the cell, but with the US version it is a huge 3300 mAh unit, with nearly twice the capacity of the standard RAZR. The battery adds a couple of millimetres to the handset's thickness and about 20 grams in weight, but it's a good trade-off in our view as you can never have enough battery capacity with an Android phone.
Just in case you're not familiar with the specification of the RAZR, this is a powerful device with a dual-core 1.2GHz CPU, it has a 4.3” 540 x 960 pixel display covered with Gorilla Glass, an 8 megapixel primary camera plus a 1.3 megapixel video calling camera, it has a water resistant coating and it retains the RAZR's signature Kevlar back.
This is an Android 2.3 device, presumably with an upgrade to Android 4.0 in the works. Because this is an Android phone then it does everything that every other Android phone can do, plus it comes with a few software extras thrown in by Motorola.
Motorola have omitted a few key points from their press release - we don't know what carriers the RAZR MAXX will be available on, we don't know what bands or even cellular standards it uses and we don't know how much it will cost. Still, these facts are probably not all that important if you don't live in China.
We very much hope that there will be a version of the RAZR MAXX in Europe and elsewhere. It might just be the perfect cure for smartphone battery anxiety syndrome..

Reportedly costing just €16 before tax, the Nokia 103 is Nokia's cheapest phone ever, and is aimed at customers who need minimal functionality but maximum value.
Launching first in Nigeria, and then following in other markets later, the Nokia 103 is a simple device with some useful features. As well as being a dual-band GSM phone, the Nokia 103 has an FM radio (which requires an optional wired headset) and a flashlight, plus some preloaded games.
Because people in emerging markets often share phones, there's a call tracker and support for different phone books. There's also a calendar and alarm clock and polyphonic ringtones, and the Nokia 103 can store up to 250 SMS messages.
It's a lightweight device at 77 grams and it measures 107 x 45 x 15mm. The keymat is dustproof, and the 800 mAh battery is quoted as giving enough power for 11 hours talktime and 27 days standby time. There's a simple 96 x 68 pixel 1.36" display and really not much else, but then at these prices it is amazing that anyone can make a phone at all.
The Nokia 103 should be available from Q2 2012 in Nigeria, followed by other emerging markets.

The BlackBerry Curve 9220 is a low-cost addition to the Curve range, heading exclusively to the Indian market.
You might guess that this is a step down from the old Curve 9300 from the name, and indeed this is a very basic device that probably wouldn't appeal to most other markets.
This is a GSM-only handset with no 3G support, but it does support WiFi connectivity. The display is a 2.44" 320 x 240 pixel panel, and on the back is a basic 2 megapixel camera. There's an in-built FM radio, but the 9220 lacks GPS. The internal memory is a useful 512MB of Flash paired with 512MB of RAM, plus there is a microSD slot. The Curve 9220 also supports Bluetooth and has a 3.5mm audio socket.
The operating system is the latest BlackBerry 7.1 OS, and of course the Curve 9220 does everything that BlackBerry devices are good at, including BlackBerry Messenger (with a dedicated button) and excellent email support. The lack of 3G isn't much of an issue for these services, most messaging functions work adequately on GPRS/EDGE and WiFi.
RIM say that the battery on the Curve 9220 is good for up to 7 hours talk time and 18 days standby time. It is available to buy now in India for around 11,000 Rupees.

Time Warner Cable for Android
Time Warner Cable (TWC) customers that own iOS devices have been able to enjoy streaming live television to their smartphones or tablets (when on their home Wi-Fi network, of course) for some time, but those that prefer Android have been waiting for streaming capabilities to come to their app. The cable company has provided some further guidance into its Android app development, and described some of the differences between developing for iOS versus developing for Android.
According to Time Warner Cable, the Android version of its app will gain streaming capabilities in just a few weeks, "definitely by Memorial Day." Unfortunately, only devices that have Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or higher will be able to use the feature, as TWC says that older versions of Android are just not secure enough for it to offer streaming television services.
Additionally, TWC noted that developing its app for iOS devices was "much easier" than creating it for Android, noting that with iOS there is only one OS to write for and relatively few differences in hardware. By contrast, TWC says that making its Android app was akin to "tweezing one's eyebrows while using a disco ball for a mirror" and that "we're going to get there, but it's going to happen one facet at a time."
That isn't too consoling to the 97.1 percent of Android users that don't yet have Ice Cream Sandwich on their devices, but as far as TWC is concerned, that is out of its control. Those that are fortunate enough to have Android 4.0 on their smartphone or tablet should be able to start streaming television from TWC in the near term. [a href="http://www.twcableuntangled.com/2012/04/twc-tv-with-live-video-coming-to-android-devices-soon/">Time Warner Cable via

Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung has released a prediction for its Q1 2012 financial report that is due at the end of the month. The company says that this was a record quarter, with double the profits over last year thanks to the popularity of the smartphone-cum-tablet Galaxy Note.
Samsung estimates that profits for January through March of this year were 5.8 trillion KRW (US$5.15 billion) with sales pegged to land at 45 trillion KRW (US$39.83 billion).
Just last week, Samsung said that global sales of the Galaxy Note were more than 5 million since its launch in October of last year. According to the company's figures, three million of those sales happened in the month of March alone.
Samsung is expected to announced the next version of its Galaxy S line of smartphones in the near future. Its full Q1 2012 earnings report will be released on April 27. The company does not normally release specific smartphone or tablet sales figures in its quarterly reports

HTC has revealed its Q1 2012 financials and things are looking pretty dismal for the company. Following its rough Q4 2011 where the company saw its first decline in profits in two years, HTC posted a 35 percent decrease in revenues and 70 percent decline in profits in Q1 2012 over the same period a year ago.
According to HTC's figures, the company brought in 68 billion TWD (US$2.3 billion) in revenue in Q1, a 35 percent drop from the 104 billion TWD it earned in Q1 2011. Profits were a mere 4.5 billion TWD ($152 million), down from 14.8 billion TWD that it saw a year prior.
This past quarter, HTC launched the One series of smartphones, which it hopes will turn its fortunes around this year. The One X and One S have already hit shelves in Europe, and are due to land in the U.S. in the near future. The company has also promised to streamline its offerings in 2012, and release fewer devices than it has in previous years.

It has been a year since Larry Page took over as CEO of Google. In a letter he posted recently, Page listed off a number of figures pertaining to the performance of several Google products, including Android. Page revealed that there are now over 850,000 Android devices being activated on a daily basis, saying that the OS was "on fire." Don't confuse that with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop's famous "burning platform" letter, though.
850,000 daily activations represents an increase of 150k activations per day from the 700,000 figure that Page revealed in January of this year.
The Google CEO also said that Android devices are being offered by 55 manufacturers and over

Speaking to Korea's iNews24, LG executive Kwon Bong-suk, the managing director of LG Mobile Communications, said that his company is working on the next big thing, what he referred to "the thinking smartphone." He says that his company is in the early planning stages of a device that would intelligently adapt based on its user's needs. An example cited would have an alarm go off earlier than normal if traffic were extra heavy on a user's morning work commute.
Kwon Bong-suk also claimed that his company was considering manufacturing a $100 smartphone, but that the company wanted to ensure it could be done without sacrificing too much of the end user experience before it started.

AT&T has announced that, starting tomorrow, April 8, it will offer unlock codes to Apple iPhone owners who have satisfied their contracts and have accounts in good standing.
AT&T customers that meet the criteria will be able to call the carrier to request an unlock code for their iPhones. Once they receive an unlock code, users will be able to utilize SIM or micro-SIM cards from any carrier and use their iPhones on networks other than AT&T's, provided that network has the right frequency support, of course.
The carrier's statement on the new policy is below:
Beginning Sunday, April 8, we will offer qualifying customers the ability to unlock their AT&T iPhones. The only requirements are that a customer's account must be in good standing, their device cannot be associated with a current and active term commitment on an AT&T customer account, and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee.

Very simply, the RAZR MAXX is the RAZR with a battery that is almost twice as big, but only a couple of millimetres thicker and about 20 grams heavier. Motorola say that this battery should give the RAZR MAXX up to 17.6 hours talktime.
Apart from the battery, this is basically the same RAZR that hit the market a few months ago, with a dual core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, a 4.3" 540 x 960 pixel display, a 8 megapixel main camera plus a 1.3 megapixel video calling unit and all the usual Android features are here too.
Some other features include a Kevlar-clad back, a water resistant coating and Corning Gorilla Glass to protect the display. Motorola's built-in "Smart Actions" allow you to do clever things with your phone depending on location, caller or any one of a number of other triggers.
There are also a range of accessories available such as docking stations and vehicle mounts, even including a Lapdock that turns the RAZR into a mini laptop.
Out of the box the RAZR MAXX looks like it runs Android 2.3, although there should be an upgrade to Android 4.0 ICS in the works soon. Motorola say that the phone should be available in the UK and certain other European and Middle Eastern markets from May 2012. Although no price was given, we would expect the RAZR MAXX to retail for something in the €500 region.

The Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.2 looks like a mobile phone, but it is actually a compact Android tablet that follows on from last year's Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0.
In essence, this really is a smartphone with the 3G / GSM circuitry and supporting software removed. That makes it much cheaper to make, although these days we suspect that the bulk of the cost is in paying licenses for the technology rather than the hardware itself. So if you don't want to use mobile cellular networks then this is obviously a good thing.