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Monday, April 29, 2013

Last week at The Fonecast: 29th April 2013

Money, messaging, microphones and M2M

Mark Bridge writes:

This week there was only one set of financial results that attracted the mainstream tech media. Apple reported the first drop in quarterly profit for several years as figures fell by 18% to around £6.1 billion. On the positive side, it made around £6.1 billion profit. It also announced dates for its developer conference in June and promised a new version of iOS.

Samsung’s quarterly profit was up to £4.2 billion, ZTE’s profits rose to £21 million and LG’s profits fell to £12.9 million… but it did manage to produce over 10 million smartphones in the quarter, which is a new record for the company.

In fact, research company IDC reckons quarterly smartphone shipments have now overtaken feature phones.

Sticking with manufacturers, Nokia is claiming a new ‘world first’ by putting a dedicated WhatsApp messaging button on its forthcoming Asha 210 mobile phone. There’s legal action, too: the Finnish company has won a court injunction that prevents HTC from using a microphone made by STMicroelectronics. Apparently the microphone was developed exclusively for Nokia, which is bad news for the HTC One smartphone.

Microsoft and ZTE have been friendlier; they’ve agreed a licensing deal that gives ZTE coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for smartphones and tablets using the Android and Chrome operating systems. Yes, this sounds very familiar, doesn’t it?

Finally for now, UK telecoms regulator Ofcom is encouraging companies to operate wireless devices without a license. Well, sort of. It’s asking companies to take part in a trial of ‘white space’ wireless technology, which is designed to take advantage of unused gaps in frequency bands. If it all runs smoothly we could see machine-to-machine connections and broadband services using the new tech across the UK next year.

Talking of M2M, last week we broadcast a special programme that took a look around the GSMA’s Connected City at Mobile World Congress. You can listen to the podcast via the built-in audio player on our website or by downloading the MP3 file.

Every Monday morning we summarise the past week’s mobile industry headlines in a newsletter that’s rather 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

Hotel phone charges demonstrate the value of packing your mobile

Mark Bridge writes:

I like hotels. Free biscuits in your room and all the portions of UHT milk you can drink. But the phone calls... that's a different story.

Dearie me, you're paying for that hospitality tray when you pick up the phone.

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Charlie Chaplin, a mobile phone and a time-travel mystery

Mark Bridge writes:

A Charlie Chaplin DVD includes an image of a woman using a mobile phone in 1928.

That’s the suggestion surrounding a YouTube clip that’s currently received more than 2½ million hits since it was posted online last week.

Author: The Fonecast
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Why the Sat-Nav Application Model is Broken

James Rosewell writes:

Most Sat-Nav applications are now obtained via the Application Store used on the mobile phone. Navigon have gone so far as to remove access to their application via any other route. Application Stores are now the only choice. This move to a platform-specific sales model is a massive mistake.

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Come on, Steve Jobs – why don't you attack a few more mobile companies?

Mark Bridge writes:

Mark Zuckerberg's girlfriend breaks up with him acrimoniously. So off he goes and creates Facebook. Yes, there's nothing like an insult to fire up the creativity. Well, that's certainly what the plot of The Social Network would like you to think.

And, you know, it's got a point. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that sticking two fingers up at the opposition seems to be the new way of doing business.

Author: The Fonecast
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The positive cult of giffgaff

Mark Bridge writes:

Wouldn't it be great if mobile customers loved their networks so much that they'd fight for them?  Ofcom would be inundated with complaints from O2 users about its decision not to allow GSM frequencies to be used for 3G services. Vodafone customers would demand that Nokia pre-loaded the N8 with a Vodafone 360 application. Orange users would be sending petitions to radio stations, asking them to implement HD Voice on phone-ins. And giffgaff users would take to online forums to defend the service they receive.

Oh, hang on. That last one's already happening.

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Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

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Author: The Fonecast
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A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

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?

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