Mark Bridge writes:
Last week I referred to the previous week as having been ‘big news but no big surprises’ - and in many ways the past seven days have seen much of the same.
Google revealed new Nexus-branded Android devices and an update to the Android mobile operating system, all of which had been widely leaked beforehand. The new devices are expected on 13th November. Meanwhile Microsoft ‘unveiled’ Windows Phone 8, even though we’d already seen glimpses of it on smartphones from Nokia, HTC and Samsung.
RIM reassured the world that BlackBerry 10 was still on course for its launch early next year. Oh, and EE redecorated around 700 shops before turning on its 4GEE service for UK consumers.
Talking of retailing, there was concern in some quarters over news that O2’s franchise plans meant over 40% of O2 UK shops wouldn’t be owned by the Telefónica mobile network by mid-2013. And even more concern as electrical retailer Comet called in the administrators.
Sticking with worrying news, Japanese manufacturing giant Sharp feared for its future and security company Bit9 said 25% of Android apps in the Google Play store were suspicious or questionable.
Still, there was good news for Android with IDC calculating that 75% of new smartphones are running Google’s mobile OS - and good news for consumers as Virgin Media became the latest network to offer unlimited mobile data on ‘pay as you go’ tariffs.
But the biggest news for the week - at least in terms of traffic to TheFonecast.com web site - was the revelation that Motorola Mobility is sponsoring Justin Bieber’s ‘Believe’ pop tour. I wonder if a Bieberphone would outsell the iPhone 5?
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