competitors

New Nokia Internet services

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:59:58 -0500

Have you heard of Ovi.com? If Finnish cell-phone giant Nokia has anything to say about it, you will. Nokia has begun taking steps to compete in the Internet services space, taking aim at the personal web page arena currently dominated by major players like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. With a single sign-on interface for major services that include features like photo organization (a la Flickr) Nokia is aiming to take a large chunk of the still-growing consumer wireless Internet market.

For more on Nokia's new service plans:
- Read the industry news at ITWorld

Too much Verizon at FCC?

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:59:56 -0400

Remember the auction for newly-opening wireless spectrum? The auction that saw so much comment and interest from companies like Google? Well, it seems that Google and others (including congressional investigators) have decided that Verizon has had more contact and influence than it should with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and his staff. What does this mean? It means that no matter how the auction in January turns out, lawsuits will be filed and pursued before the first 700 Mhz devices hit the market. It seems to be the way Washington works these days--so be prepared for delays.

For more on the charges of too much influence:
- read the political analysis at CIO-Today

iPhone transforms AT&T network

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:59:56 -0400

The iPhone has certainly had an impact on customer's wallets, on Apple's Mac OS release schedule and on competitors like Nokia and Motorola. Now, it seems that the device has also had an impact on AT&T's cellular network. AT&T says that network upgrades go on all the time, but 20,000 new radios seems like a significant change for a single new device. The upgrades are having an impact beyond the iPhone, though--customer churn is low, and customer satisfaction is high. With results like these, the iPhone could prove important to AT&T for a long time to come.

For more on AT&T's network upgrades:
- read the business analysis at WirelessWeek

HP smartphone flood

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:59:58 -0400

HP's been known for it's very capable iPaq for quite a while, but it's not a company that you usually think of when it comes time to buy a smartphone. HP wants to change that, and it's starting with a pair of new smartphones that bear the name iPaq. The iPaq 600 and iPaq 900 come with the operating system and features customers have come to expect from HP and adds new features like large screens and a navigation wheel (on the iPaq 600). These aren't necessarily hip competitors to the iPhone, but they represent HPs hope for the smartphone future.

For more on the two new iPaqs:
- see this DailyTechRag article

iPhones galore

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Apple's iPhone is finally on the street and campers are starting to catch up on the sleep they missed waiting for the magic day. The iPhone brings with it a host of competitors, all hoping to make consumers and enterprises look to greener pastures for their next cell phone. Motorola, HTC, and LG are among the companies trying to ride the iPhone wave to great sales. Kowabunga, dude.

For more on iPhone alternatives:
Read the complete article at TMCnet

iPhone causes Leopard delay for Apple

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:01:36 -0400

It's possible Apple can have it all--but it can't have it all by June. In an announcement last week, Apple left Macintosh users waiting until October for the next version of the Mac OS--and blamed the delay on the iPhone. With the new OS and the new phone due in June, Apple was left scrambling to find enough engineers and programmers to finish both products on time. While handset competitors have had to figure out how the iPhone effects their product lines, it wasn't expected that Apple would have this particular issue. Two big products at one time would stress most companies--but Apple has built its reputation on not being "most companies." Next up: customer response to the wait for a new (and much anticipated) OS.

For more on the reasons for the delay:
- Read all about it at DailyTechRag

Will the iPhone affect business phones?

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 19:01:37 -0500

Apple's iPhone has captured the attention of the press, some of whom have proclaimed it the solution to the enterprise's smartphone needs. Apple isn't pushing the iPhone as a business tool, but that doesn't mean that the media darling won't have an impact on corporate cellphone decisions. Just as the first generation of camera phones affected enterprise security policies, the media features of the iPhone--and its ability to use both cellular and WiFi networks--will shape business wireless decisions going forward. The phones that administrators will have to chose from will also be shaped by the iPhone as competitors such as Motorola, Sony-Ericsson, and RIM bring out new devices to compete with Apple's wireless offering.

For more on the iPhone's impact on business:
- read this article at Mobile Tech Today