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Monday, February 17, 2014

Last week at The Fonecast: 17th February 2014

Love is in the air

Mark Bridge writes:

Mobile World Congress is just a week away, with lovers of mobile technology preparing to be wooed by manufacturers, networks and developers. But if MWC is like St Valentine’s Day, then LG has been behaving rather like the world’s worst boyfriend.

Not only has it spoiled the surprise of our romantic gift by telling us what we’ll be getting, it’s also told us we’ll be given something that’s very much like last year’s present. At least the G Pro 2 is a bit bigger than LG’s 2013 flagship LG Pro. Currently only availability in South Korea has been confirmed.

However, if you WLTM a new smartphone IRL, take a look at Spanish-based Geeksphone. The Revolution – due out this week – is capable of running either Google’s Android OS or the Boot2Gecko Mozilla operating system, making it particularly interesting to developers (or anyone else that wants to give the Firefox OS a try).

But for a story of true love conquering all, you can’t get better than A4WP and PMA. No, not more dating acronyms. These one-time rivals – the Alliance for Wireless Power and the Power Matters Alliance – have signed an agreement aimed at enabling their wireless power standards to work with each other. Don’t expect seamless compatibility just yet, although there’s now a much greater possibility of chargers supporting both standards.

Sticking with the language de l'amour, there’s a new relationship for mobile VoIP service Viber, which has been acquired by Japanese online specialist Rakuten for £538 million. And there’s a break-up for Motorola Mobility CEO (and former Google exec) Dennis Woodside, who’s off next month to join Dropbox as its Chief Operating Officer.

On Monday mornings we summarise the past week’s mobile industry headlines in an email newsletter that’s very much 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

SpinVox visit offers a few clues about the technology

Mark Bridge writes:

So, dear reader, let’s start at the beginning. Once upon a time, a mere five years ago, there was SpinVox. A company created with help from entrepreneur Christina Domecq – whose surname offers a clue to her family’s background – and Daniel Doulton, the man behind the Psion series 5. (Sherry and portable computers; two of my favourite products. But I digress).

The company’s promise was simple: to turn voicemail messages into SMS text messages.

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That just about covers it

Mark Bridge writes:

In my last article I looked forward to a world of cyborgs… but feared that decent battery life could stifle my dreams. And this week I’m on a similar theme, despairing that the UK’s mobile coverage problems probably won’t be solved before the Silver Jubilee of Vodafone and Cellnet’s networks.

To illustrate my worries, let me tell you a story.

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What price for a hands-free conversation?

Iain Graham writes:

When you get up tomorrow morning and get in the car, why don't you screw up three £20 notes and lob 'em out of the window?!  Oh, and whilst you are at it, take out your driving licence, and put three points in the penalties column!!

Why would you do that, I hear you ask?

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The Singularity is… errm… on its way, I think

Mark Bridge writes:

I’m an optimist. I’m not quite sure why I’m wired that way but I’m perfectly happy with it. Much as you’d expect, I suppose. And although I tend not to tap-dance in the gutter when it’s raining, I firmly believe that life is like a musical.

That’s probably why I’m such a fan of what’s become known as ‘the Singularity’; a point when technology and evolution are expected to combine. As computers become smarter, so they’ll be able to build smarter computers themselves – and before you know it they’ll be repairing people and improving the design. If all goes well I’ll look like a combination of Robocop and Jude Law.

“Fascinating”, I hear you say. “Bring on the medical nanobots. But what’s all this got to do with mobile phones?”

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Web Browser vs. Application Stores

James Rosewell writes:

Anyone involved in the mobile industry will have hardly failed to notice the hype surrounding mobile application stores led by Apple. Application stores provide a really simple way for consumers to install applications on their mobile phones. They’re so simple I heard Iain Graham had used one the other week!

However they don’t solve the fundamental problem of handset compatibility.

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