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Monday, July 29, 2013

Last week at The Fonecast: 29th July 2013

Surprises and statistics

Mark Bridge writes:

Google’s big announcement last week involved the company introducing Android v4.3 (as expected), launching a new Nexus 7 tablet (as expected) and also revealing a ‘Chromecast’ HDMI adaptor that’ll stream from most portable devices. That was more of a surprise.

And Nokia announced the large-screen Lumia 625, which had also been much rumoured.

O2 UK had its own unexpected revelation, deciding to close down its Help at Hand mobile care service less than five months after the public launch. Customers with one of its telecare phones will receive a refund and free service for the rest of the year.

Meanwhile, the Mobile by Sainsbury's MVNO announced its tariffs – sensible-sounding ‘pay as you go’ deals – and mobile payment service iZettle cut some of its transaction fees.

Other than that, the week seemed mainly to be about quarterly results. Those headlines included Samsung profits reaching a new record, LG smartphone shipments reaching a new record, Apple iPhone sales increasing, Facebook making over 40% of its revenue from mobile advertising and Amazon.com reporting a $7 million loss.

Finally, we’re starting this week by looking forward to another Google announcement: the company’s Motorola Mobile business is due to unveil its new smartphone on Thursday. 1st August is also the traditional start of the ‘silly season’ for news. Let’s hope there’s no connection between the two.

On Monday mornings we summarise the past week’s mobile industry headlines in a newsletter that’s a lot like this article. To receive it, simply register your email address at TheFonecast.com by clicking the link at the top right-hand corner of our home page.
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Opinion Articles

World class, my a**e!

Iain Graham writes:

I recently had to, as a last resort, call the customer service department of a large communications company about a problem I currently have with a piece of equipment. I know I could have looked in the 150-page accompanying instruction manual but I haven't got half my life to spare! (as I mentioned in my previous blog piece on handsets!)

Businesses these days are telling us "Customer service has been outsourced to the Indian subcontinent and technologically streamlined in order to offer our customers a better, more efficient service"!

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Don’t be a not-so-early adopter

Mark Bridge writes:

So – you’re thinking about buying a new mobile phone. A smartphone. And yes, I mean a real smartphone, not just something with a touchscreen that looks nice.

I know, I know. You’re tempted by the iPhone. It’s all those apps, isn’t it?  100,000 and counting.

Yet Android is catching up. Admittedly it’s still got a long way to go to match that six-figure total… but the signs are certainly there.

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Probably the best Bluetooth headset brand in the world

Mark Bridge writes:

I really don’t want to make a habit of pointing at surveys and laughing – or even scratching my head in the kind of theatrical gesture used by Stan Laurel – but I should imagine there was some wry amusement at Strategy Analytics this week.

They’d been talking to car owners in Europe and the USA about their preferred brand for Bluetooth headsets and speakerphones. In the United States, 45% of respondents said Bose was their preferred brand. Excellent news for Bose. Excellent news for Bose stockists. Except...

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Movon MB80 Bluetooth handsfree wristband review

Mark Bridge writes:

I’m always on the lookout for technology that’ll make life easier. That’s one of the reasons the Movon MB80 caught my eye. It’s a Bluetooth handsfree unit that you wear on your wrist. The MB80 is designed for the times your phone’s not convenient and you don’t want to miss a call – but you also don’t want to wear a Bluetooth headset. Perhaps you’re playing sports or are out for an evening with friends. The Movon Bluetooth wristband rings or vibrates when someone calls – and then can be used as a handsfree loudspeaker.

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"Cancer" mobile phone headlines don't help anybody

James Rosewell writes:

"Mobile: new cancer alert" - The Daily Telegraph

The front page of Saturday's Telegraph led with the headline "Mobiles: new cancer alert" re-igniting fears about mobile phone usage. The centrepiece of the article is "a £20 million, decade long investigation, overseen by the World Health Organization (WHO) will publish evidence that heavy [mobile phone] users face a higher risk of developing brain tumors later in life". How should this topic be reported and what will it mean for our industry?

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