Categories
Close
Menu
Menu
Close
Search
Search

Featured Articles

Opinion

Last week at The Fonecast: 23rd July 2012

Mark

Google employee no.20 becomes the new number 1 at Yahoo!

Share:

Print

Rate article:

No rating
Rate this article:
No rating

Mark Bridge writes:

Internet veteran Yahoo! provided last week’s biggest news, at least in terms of press coverage. It appointed Marissa Mayer as its President and Chief Executive Officer, having enticed her away from Google after 13 years.

Also generating plenty of headlines was an Ofcom report that showed UK mobile users were now texting more than they talked. Apparently the average Briton sends 50 text messages per week.

And O2 mopped up the aftermath of its network problems by explaining how it planned to compensate customers who’d suffered connectivity issues last week.

Quarterly results have been hitting the headlines again – and there have been a few minor surprises so far. Vodafone’s had something of a mixed quarter, with market conditions in Europe (and European exchange rates) being blamed for much of the turmoil.

Microsoft reported its first-ever quarterly loss after writing off most of the money it spent on advertising business aQuantive five years ago. However, that didn’t stop it from generating record fourth quarter and annual revenue. In addition, it revealed details of the new Microsoft Office and said Windows 8 will start selling on 26th October.

Google announced its first quarterly results since acquiring Motorola Mobility. Total revenue and net income were both up from 2011, although Motorola reported an operating loss. Also having a good time was eBay. It revealed a particularly good quarter and, along with its PayPal business, expects mobile transactions to double this year.

Nokia’s quarterly results, with mobile device shipments down 5% year-on-year, appeared to generate a response of “could’ve been worse” from most analysts. And Qualcomm admitted that sales were slower than expected although they’re expected to pick up towards Christmas.

Quarterly figures from Apple are due tomorrow, while Facebook’s first-ever quarterly earnings report is expected on Thursday.

Finally for this week’s newsletter, we bid goodbye (sort of) to the Wholesale Applications Community. WAC’s programmes are being integrated into the GSMA, while a business called Apigee is picking up the technology assets of WAC. Despite all parties offering upbeat statements, I can’t help feeling it’s not the end that WAC would have really wanted.

Start your week with a reminder of the latest mobile headlines. Simply register at TheFonecast.com by clicking the link at the top right-hand corner of our home page and we’ll send you this weekly news summary by email.

The Fonecast is sponsored by 51Degrees.mobi. More details about advertising and sponsorship opportunities are available on the About Us section of our website.

Comments

Collapse Expand Comments (0)
You don't have permission to post comments.

Opinion Articles

ExclusiveThe landline phone may be fading... but its number still remains

Mark Bridge writes:

In last weekend’s Sunday Times, Ali Hussain asked "Is this the end for the landline phone?"

He pointed out that the average mobile bill almost halved between 2003 and 2008, while landline bills fell by less than a fifth – which has meant the average mobile bill is now lower than the average landline bill. He went on to list fibre-optic broadband, mobile broadband, mobile calls, VoIP calls and satellite phones as alternatives to using fixed-line phones.

ExclusiveT-Mobile and Orange isn't a big deal

Mark Bridge writes:

It’s the telecoms industry deal of the year. T-Mobile and Orange form a joint venture. The UK’s "big five" networks (or "big four", depending on your predilection for Hutchison 3G UK) will now be a "big four" (or "big three", if you don’t include 3. Confused yet?)

Everyone has an opinion. On Tuesday I was asked for mine.

ExclusiveHere’s one for the laydeez

Mark Bridge writes:

Once upon a time, I’d probably have described myself as a feminist. These days I probably wouldn’t. Not because my opinions have changed, just because I’ve realised there are a lot of women who’d argue that I can’t be a feminist because of my male undercarriage. And me, by birth and possibly by education, therefore being part of the problem – not part of the solution.

Right, disclaimer over. I’ll get to the point. You want a mobile phone that’ll appeal to men...

ExclusiveMobile phones cause brain tumours?

Mark Bridge writes:

Mobile phones fry your brain. That’s been a warning from some people pretty much since the first cellphones appeared. And although the mobile phone industry has changed and the technology has advanced, the warnings haven’t gone away.

Ten years ago, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones was set up to look at concerns about the possible health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters.

ExclusiveEnthusiasm is my enemy!

Mark Bridge writes:

Enthusiasm is one of the great intangible powers of the world. It’s attractive, it’s compelling and sometimes it’s dangerous. And – yes, I’m going to try to keep this relevant – it sells mobile phones.

I was reminded of this the other day when I read a Sunday Times article about Apple’s Steve Jobs.

RSS
First107108109110111112114116

Recent Podcasts

ExclusivePodcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

ExclusiveLooking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

ExclusiveA month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Archive Calendar

«June 2026»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
25262728293031
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293012345

Archive