Gadget Bay » CELLPHONES

Things you should know about cell phone plans

ruben17 — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 04:02:38 +0000

often jokes with your new client that we (telephone companies) to deliberately confuse the mobile phone bills just to difficult for them to see exactly what they pay for.

If you find it difficult to make sense of fees, which will then appear on your mobile phone bill maybe I have attached the information below will help you better understand how to accurately read and decipher your account creation.

HOW TO FIX call rates

probably 80% of customers who I met no clear understanding of its mobile phone call rates, or what they believe they are requested and what the costs are actually two completely different things! Calculate your mobile phone call charges as follows:

). FIND A PHONE CALL 30 seconds
b). FIND PHONE
1 minute c). Reduced to 30 in the second (a) with effect from 1 minute call, (b)

This usually gives you your “real” price in 30 seconds. Now you know that a new 30 / 2 30 / 2 call costs Costs will vary (a) that you found your cell phone bill. This difference is due to an additional fee for the “flag fall” or “membership fee”. If you’re from the new pricing is 30 seconds 30 seconds from the original call costs (a) you will eventually figure flagfall is your cost per call.

What’s flag fall?

flagfall (or paid), what I call “hidden costs” that many customers either forget that they pay, or in some cases were never told they were indicted. Flag Fall ‘single’ at the beginning of a phone call fee each time a “connection” to someone (or something) on the other side. Simply put – if you call and someone (or something) answers, you are charged flagfall. If someone does not comply, and “ring out” flag fall, no fee will be applied. Many customers ask, “What if I get this message to someone, I’m still paying, flag fall?” And the answer is “yes.” In this scenario, mobile voice still associated with something on the other side, and therefore flagfall and call charges apply.

Check your entire BILL

flagfall costs vary in price and carrier of the carrier, plan and plan of Call (see we really try to make things confusing!), And it largely depends on the type of plan or plans for you and your company has been ordered.

To give you an indication, in my experience tends to higher in the CAP PLANS flagfall costs, and sometimes a part of the business does not necessarily flagfall fees at all. You may even find that flag fall (and the cost of the call) depending on the type of call you make. For example, as a “fixed” (office number) may be charged a higher rate if the call is made or a phone call this morning may be due to the call in the afternoon!
So as you can see there are many variables to be considered when trying to determine what you and your company’s mobile phone charging.

I hope these simple ‘& tips, hints to help you make sense of their next mobile phone bill.

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How to rip DVD and convert video to BlackBerry Storm, Bold, Curve, Pearl, etc?

ruben17 — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:55:44 +0000

BlackBerry now very popular with both businessmen and regular mobile phone users. This guide is mostly about how to rip DVD and convert video for BlackBerry Storm, BlackBerry Bold and other series like the BlackBerry Pearl, Curve, etc.

This article contains two parts:

Part1. How to rip DVD and convert video to BlackBerry on Windows?

Part2. How to rip DVD and convert video to BlackBerry for Mac?

Part 1. How to rip DVD and convert video to BlackBerry on Windows?

How to rip a DVD to BlackBerry?

2 How to convert video to BlackBerry?

First, you need to know what video format is supported by the BlackBerry Storm. (Other Serials BlackBerry support similar formats)

Most of the DVD CSS copyright protection, we need a program to rip DVD video format support for the BlackBerry Storm. The tool we use is Wondershare DVD to BlackBerry Converter Suite This program not only BlackBerry Storm 9530, 9500, but the BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry supports other series.

Now, let’s start with the guide about ripping DVDs and converting video for BlackBerry Storm and BlackBerry series.

How to rip a DVD to BlackBerry?

Step 1: Download Wondershare BlackBerry Converter Suite Wondershare DVD BlackBerry Converter and run.

Step 2: Import files to dvd software

Run the program and click ‘Add’. He provides four options to download files:

a. Load DVD Rom: All files on DVD-ROM and DVD as a tool to automatically detect and recognized by the daemon program.

B. Load DVD folder (data-DVD), sometimes your DVD folder on the hard drive seems like the “VIDEO_TS” AUDIO_TS “folder. You can download it by clicking” load DVD folders “button.

c. The ISO image file, you can amount your iso file and then Daemon Tools virtual DVD movie to load up a DVD drive.

D. Load IFO files: Click to import a DVD movie loaded IFO files

Step 3: Edit Video (Optional)

If you want the video to adjust this DVD to BlackBerry Converter Storm offers powerful video editing functions including harvesting of the video, a video effects, movie trimming, even adapting a personal watermark.

Crop Video: Many people can annoy with black edges around DVD movies, do not worry more, the BlackBerry Converter You can easily convert DVD movies and remove them. Just click on the Edit icon to open the Edit window. Go Crop tab, and you can output video aspect ratio crop set of the movie video.

Set Video Effect: You can adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation to set and adjust the volume effect. Everything you see on the success of “preview pane” clear.

Trim movie: If you do not need to The entire DVD movie to the clip, you can change capture convert.

Customize a personal watermark: Wondersahre DVD BlackBerry Converter allows you to own a personal watermark to the image including a watermark or the watermark test.

Step 4: Select output profile

This software can convert DVD to all common formats for the BlackBerry Storm as MP4, WMV, AVI, M4A, AAC, MP3, etc. You can set the output format you want to opt below.

Step 5: Start to

“after editing the video (optional) and select the format, all you have to do is click on the Start button . Then you have a coffee and come back later to see if the result is complete. It takes about 30 minutes to two hours to convert a regular DVD movie. When the conversion is complete, click on “Target Search”, which is located in the converted video on your computer, connect your BlackBerry Storm on your computer, and then the video onto your BlackBerry memory card, which is everything.

2 How to convert video to BlackBerry?

[b] Step 1: [/b] Download Wondershare BlackBerry Converter Suite Wondershare DVD and run BlackBerry Converter.

Step 2: Add Video Files

Click the Add button and the program allows you to browse your computer’s hard drive. Select the video files to convert, and OK.

Step 3: Output Settings

After adding video files, you can start with the output settings each file to set:
A. Select output format from the Format drop-down list. If you select the format according to the player you want to put their videos.

B. Click the Settings button the video encoding settings including resolution, frame rate, bit rate and video encoder, audio encoding settings including sample rate, channel, bit rate and audio encoder.

c. Click the Browse button to locate the folder output of the converted files to be saved.

Note 1: If you want all the added files in a format that the convert has the same encoding parameters, you can click the “Apply to all” button.

Note 2 : You can use the “Merger Regulation into one file” check option for all added video files to convert into a file.

Step 4: Start conversion

Click the Start button on the Bold Video Converter to convert start. And all you need to do now is wait for the transition to complete. The time remaining is shown the conversion window for your reference. Try Wondershare BlackBerry Converter Suite

2 Part A: How to rip DVD and convert video In BlackBerry for Mac

1: Convert DVD to BlackBerry for Mac

2: Convert video to BlackBerry for Mac

This is an easy to use and the converting speed is fast! After testing , all formats conversions, well, the audio and picture quality is excellent! Let’s look at the steps.

1 Convert DVD to BlackBerry for Mac

Step 1: Download Wondershare DVD BlackBerry Suite for Mac, and run DVD BlackBerry Converter for Mac.

Step 2: Import video files

Click the Load DVD button, select the folder of your DVD movie, and click OK. If the film has its own disk, you can drive and click OK.

or click the Load IFO button, open the folder of your DVD movie, and find two folders: AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS. Open VIDEO_TS folder, select all the IFO files, and then click OK.

After the movie is loaded, you see all the chapters and sections, and then you get to see what you want to convert. If you want to put the whole movie, you just keep all the titles or chapters checked.

Step 3: Output Settings

After your DVD movie is loaded, you can start to set output settings:

a. Select output format from the Format drop-down list. Just select the format you want to make a movie on your mobile phone in accordance with.

B. Click the Settings button on the video encoding settings including resolution, frame rate, bit rate and video encoder, audio encoding settings including sample rate, channel, bit rate and audio encoder.

c. Name each title / chapter name and select the output of subtitles and audio track titles / chapters.

Note : You can use the “Merge into one file” option to check all the selected DVD titles / chapters into one file instead of a separate file for each title / chapter.

Step 4:

Click the Start button to start conversion. And all you need to do now is wait for the transition to complete. The time remaining is shown the conversion window for your reference.

2 Convert video to BlackBerry for Mac

Step 1: Download Wondershare DVD BlackBerry Suite for Mac and running Mac Video Converter for BlackBerry.

Step 2: Import video files
Click the Add button, browse your hard drive and add video files to convert.

Step 3: Edit Wondershare Video Converter for BlackBerry can convert video files into movie length trimming, video crop, which the film effects.

Before the conversion, you you:

Input Destination File Name field of each video file.

Select output format from the drop down Format BlackBerry different videos. Strom, BlackBerry and BlackBerry Bold, we could choose MP4, 3GP, etc.

Click the Settings button on the video encoding settings including resolution, frame rate, bit rate and video encoder, audio encoding settings including sample rate, channel, bit rate and audio encoder.

Note: If you ” Merger Regulation in a file “check option, the program will participate in a
ll the added video files into one file instead of writing separate file for each video file.

Step 4: Click the Start button to conversion start. And now, all you have to do waiting for the transition to be completed, and then transfer converted files to your BlackBerry Storm and BlackBerry Bold.

Enjoy DVD and video in New Blackberry Storm, curve, Pearl, Bold, etc. BlackBerry

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Enjoy DVD and video in New Blackberry Storm, curve, Pearl, Bold, etc.

ruben17 — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:52:04 +0000

BlackBerry company has a range of mobile phone like a BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Bold, the BlackBerry Curve. Blackberry Storm is one of the latest additions to the BlackBerry family of mobile phones. Since its release, the storm has been good markets for their positions. Why is it so popular and what are the characteristics of the BlackBerry Storm?
Blackberry Storm is probably the greatest touchscreen phones all done so far, because if you touch it, you really hit the screen as a normal button. The technology is called “click-through and now the Blackberry Storm is exclusive.
This is also something special for lovers of all of the text. The writing of text messages, you can actually hold the phone in landscape mode and use the QWERTY keyboard. Fortunately, the phone itself, the indicator, if you keep in portrait or landscape mode and switch the keyboard, the keys light up when pressed.
Blackberry Storm is Blackberry OS 4.7, the latest version, which is cool because it supports many email accounts, Blackberry Enterprise, Lotus Notes, IMAP4, POP3, Microsoft Exchange, and more.
So the Blackberry is known for its business tools, but this is try to make all kinds of users, a businessman from music collection. The functions are in the range of entertainment business, it happens Media Sync software, which the multitude of file formats including MP3, WMA, AAC, MPEG4, WMV and H.264. It can also sync with iTunes Media Sync. On the other hand, it features 128 MB flash memory and 1 GB of RAM, which can be expanded up through the microSD / SDHC memory card slot up to 16 GB many videos and songs can be instored.

Besides the BlackBerry Storm, the other BlackBerry devices like the BlackBerry Pearl, Curve and courageous support for the media functions. Here’s some info for BlackBerry video and audio formats and parameters. These references can help you find the perfect video and music files on your BlackBerry phone. BlackBerry Storm 9500

support MP4, M4A, 3GP, 3GP2, AVI , ASF, WMV, WMA and MP3 formats.
Featured video formats: MP4, 480 * 360 pixels, up to 2 Mbps, 30 frames per second. BlackBerry Curve 8900

support MP4, M4A, MOV, 3GP, AVI, ASF, WMV, WMA, MP3 format.
Featured video formats: MP4, 480 * 360 pixels, up to 1500 kbps, 24 frames per second. Bold 9000

support MP4, M4A, MOV, 3GP, AVI, ASF, WMV, WMA, MP3 format.
Featured video formats: MP4, 480×320 pixels, up to 1500 kbps, 24 frames per second.
BlackBerry Pearl 8100, 8110, 8120, 8220 smartphones
Support MP4, M4A, MOV, 3GP, AVI, ASF, WMV, WMA, MP3 format.
Featured video formats : MP4, 240×320 pixels, up to 768 kbps, 24 frames per second.

Then I will give you two powerful software for BlackBerry entertainment experience: Nidesoft Video Converter for BlackBerry and BlackBerry Converter Nidesoft DVD.
BlackBerry Nidesoft Video Converter is a powerful and beautiful Movie Converter for BlackBerry mobile phones. It can convert video and audio files to BlackBerry movie and all music formats. Source files in a format that can be converted, the BlackBerry Video Converter: MPEG, VOB, MP4, M4V, WMV, ASF, AVI, 3GP, FLV, YouTube, etc.. You can also use it to your BlackBerry BlackBerry video converter to convert MOD. Fri downlaod here and have a try: nidesoft.com / downloads / blackberry video converter.exe
and you can get more information: nidesoft.com / blackberry-video-download converter.html
After downloading and installing these software, you can watch on your BlackBerry this way:
Step 1: Click the Add button to import your videos from your PC.
second Step: Click the “Format” drop-down list to the BlackBerry format
select Step 3: Click “Convert” button and start the conversion.
Ok, after the conversion finished, you can play movies and music on your BlackBerry.
Nidesoft DVD to BlackBerry Converter is a great BlackBerry DVD to BlackBerry video tool that can convert music and video: 3GP, MP4, MP3, etc. This is a powerful BlackBerry Converter supports all BlackBerry family, including the BlackBerry 8800, BlackBerry 8830, BlackBerry 8820 , BlackBerry Pearl 8800, BlackBerry Curve 8300, and even a new Storm! You can download and try here: nidesof.com / downloads / dvd-to-blackberry-converter.exe and more information here: nidesoft.com / DVD -to-blackberry-converter.html
After download and install it, you videos and music on your phone as follows:
Step 1: Insert the DVD disc into the DVD drive. Click the Open DVD button, browse your computer, the film available on DVD folder, open it and selsect rocks and chapters you want.
Step 2: Select the “Profile” button and select the BlackBerry format.
Step 3: Click “Convert” button to start the conversion.
few minutes restructuring is complete and you can play music, videos and DVDs on your phone. Now you can enjoy videos and music, the BlackBerry Storm.
BlackBerry Storm is not only convenient for business phone and a great media phone. With Nidesoft can enjoy a comfortable and easy on your Blackberry.

How to rip DVD and convert video to BlackBerry Storm, Bold, Curve, Pearl, etc? BlackBerry

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Success of the phones T-mobile

ruben17 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 07:02:51 +0000

Are you looking for some inside information on phone, mobile? Here’s an up-to-date report from phone, mobile experts who should know.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of phone, mobile, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Account with an automaker t mobile phones”, and you will find that phones just perfect for each account. Now it is something done that trade mark, the most popular and most important in the context of the UK mobile market.

The new mobile version of HD2 is the influence of the market. Is a sleek touch screen phone, this is one of the best devices when it comes to attract young mobile users in particular.

In fact, it is something that makes mobile t even more better compared to other handset manufacturers.

In fact, because trends go, we’re the growing popularity of mobile phones, T Mobile produced witnesses of the.

Phones are launched by the manufacturer simply incredible. If you are in features, they are excellent also on style and appeal. They are also affordable. In fact, is what makes popular T-Mobile in the UK mobile market.

T-Mobile HD2 are all modern features such as the virtual QWERTY keyboard and many features that are simply incredible. Indeed, this is what makes the most important is mobile and stylish affordable phones mobile manufacturer.

If T – Mobile HD2 seems little bulky bulky there doing with its height. The device comes with 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, a quick transfer of data to tender processing and fast. Now, it’s something as this mobile still more important and interesting from the perspective of the user.

As we can see trends, mobile phones t over the years are gaining popularity.

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you’ll be glad you took the time to learn more about phone, mobile.

iphone and Today Mobile Market When the i
Safety is a strong need for Mobile Computing Intended T

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Nokia C2-01 and X2-01

ruben17 — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 07:08:30 +0000

Nokia C2-01 promised a 3G hp cheapest Nokia has ever released. Hp is still based Series 40, 2-inch screen, a standard keypad, but the camera is 3.2 MP. there’s a music player, FM radio, Bluetooth & memory card slots support a maximum capacity of 16GB. Unlike C2-00, C2-01 only have one SIM card slot.

Nokia has introduced one series of rings to class is an entry-level Nokia & Nokia C2-01 X2-01 is claimed to have maximum functionality with minimal cost. Nokia C2-01 will be out first quarter next year with a price range of € 70, while Nokia X2-01 with a price range € 80.

Nokia X2-01 is intended for fans of social networking. No wonder the new version has been integrated up Communities; all status also basically monitored from the homescreen. Updating status & upload photos were as simple. QWERTY keypad more simpler typing.

Nokia includes Nokia Messaging for e-mail & instant messaging. SMS & can be displayed in the form of threaded chat view. There Ovi & Ovi Music Store, Ovi Life Tools but only in definite regions.

As a member of the X Series family, of work, chilled music features. there’s a one-click shortcuts to reach the music, media player, FM radio & Ovi Music. However, countless access to music collection on Ovi Music only exist in definite regions. Similarly Ovi Life Tools; only available in definite regions. Store Ovi work is basically obtainable anytime.

Nokia X2-01 armed with 2.4-inch QVGA display, VGA camera, memory card slot up to 8GB capacity, & only support GPRS / EDGE.

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Smartphone Palm Pre 2

ruben17 — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:59:29 +0000

Smartphone Palm Pre 2 has been available on site HP (Hewlett-Packard) & sold directly without a contract. Palm Pre booking this 2 can be done & the handset will be delivered within 24 hours after booking.

Palm Pre 2 makes use of a 1GHz processor, kamrea 5MP, & Gorilla Glass lining HVGA 3.1-inch touchscreen that supports multi-touch. Successor Palm Pre 2 and also has 16GB of memory & 512MB RAM, GPS, & wifi & Bluetooth. Palm webOS 2.0 Pre 2 use a variety of excellent features such as multitasking & a browser with Flash.

The selling cost of handsets in the United States is 30% cheaper than the Palm Pre 2, which sold in the United Kingdom that sold for 400 GBP (470 euros). Buyers in the United States can get this handset for $ 450 (about 4 million dollars) or the equivalent of 330 euros.

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Recent Mobile Phones have Many Functions but Low Price

ruben17 — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:16:02 +0000

Mobile phones are the most important electronic device in human life. People can get in touch with other people through mobile phone. Many years ago, mobile phone is merely for communication tool in which people can make a phone call, receive a phone call, sending text message, sending a voice mail, and many more. However, in earlier decades, this communication tool is very expensive and has a large shape as well as heavy weighted. Usually, only rich people who can possess a mobile phone. The good news is that right now, people even ordinary people can have their own cellphones with cheap price. The cheap price doesn’t mean that these cell phones are not in good condition. Just like its name today cell phone is very little and fit to the pocket. Precisely, today cell phone is indeed has many greatest functions which people cannot imagine for some years ago. You don’t have to bring digi cam, laptop, game portables anymore because all of the functions are in one little electronic device.

Bond and Bond are one of the best and trusted e-retailer which provides the mobiles from top mobile phone manufactures with low price. Just visit their website to find out about the latest mobile phone now.

Success of the phones T-mobile Are you lo
Things you should know about cell phone plans often joke
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Cell Phone Radiation Could Actually Prevent and Treat Alzheimer’s

ruben17 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:07:20 +0000

Since everyone seems to be arguing over whether or not cell phones cause cancer, no one seems to be paying attention to how the ubiquitous gadgets might be related to other diseases. But that might change following the release of a study from the Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, which has found that radiation from a cell phone could protect against — and possibly reverse — the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

In the study, mice with Alzheimer’s were exposed to electromagnetic waves from a cell phone. Apparently, the waves stimulated brain activity and erased deposits of beta-amyloid, a telltale sign of the disease. The mice, which were genetically modified to develop the beta-amyloid deposits and eventually the disease itself, were exposed to a cell phone antenna over a period of time. The mice that were genetically disposed to Alzheimer’s but had not yet developed it maintained their cognitive abilities. Those who had already slipped into full rodent dementia actually regained their abilities and performed as well on cognitive tests as the mice who had never developed the disease.

Further tests are needed, and the benefits took months to become apparent in the mice, but researchers are optimistic that the experiments could lead to a viable treatment for humans. On a side note, the study failed to find any abnormal growths in the brains of the mice exposed to the radiation for months on end. Score another point for the cell-phones-cause-brain-cancer skeptics. [From: LiveScience]

Things you should know about cell phone plans often joke

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Bigasoft 3GP Converter for Cell Phones

ruben17 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:50:37 +0000

Bigasoft 3GP converter can change movies into 3GP, MP4 to help you enjoy favorite movies on cell phones, PDAs. The 3GPP converter supports various mobile phones (Samsung, Motorola, LG, BlackBerry, Nokia, Apple, HTC, Sony Ericksson etc.) and handheld computers.

The 3GP video converter can convert all popular video formats (AVI, MPEG, WMV, MP4, MKV, H.264, DivX, Xvid, MOV, RM, M4V, VOB, ASF, 3GP, etc.) to 3GP, 3G2, MP4 with high video quality. Meanwhile, you can also convert AVI to 3GP, MP4 to 3GP, MPEG to 3GP, WMV to 3GP using the 3GP converter.

Key Features
1. Watch on cell phones
* With Bigasoft 3GP converter, you can watch your favorite movies and films on various mobile phones (Samsung, Motorola, LG, BlackBerry, Nokia, Apple, HTC, Sony Ericsson etc.) and handheld computers with ease.
2. Hear sounds on cell phones
* The 3GP Video Converter helps you to hear and share fantastic songs no matter where you are.
3. Convert to 3GP
* The 3GP converter can convert all popular video formats (AVI, MPEG, WMV, MP4, MKV, H.264, DivX, Xvid, MOV, RM, M4V, VOB, ASF, 3GP, etc.) to 3GP, 3G2, 3GPP, MP4 with high video quality. Meanwhile, you can also convert AVI to 3GP, MP4 to 3GP, MPEG to 3GP, WMV to 3GP using the 3G2 converter.
4. Extract music from films
* The professional converter extracts music from movie file to help you hear music from music videos or films on your cell phone.
5. Edit video effort
* The versatile 3GPP converter can adjust video effects like video cut, trim, crop, merge, clip and so on to help you make your unique creative movie with ease.
6. Batch conversion
* Automatically turn off your computer after long time batch conversion makes your life easier.
7. Pause during conversion
* It may also manually pause and resume while converting.
8. Preview before conversion
* Adjust output video effects like cut video into small pieces, remove black edge of movie to best watch on your cell phone.
9. Easy to use
* With the user-friendly interface, Bigasoft Audio Converter is suited for both veterans and beginners you can complete your conversion as easy as 1-2-3.
10. Support multi-language
* Support multi-language like English, German, French, Chinese and Japanese now.
11. Support Windows Vista and Windows 7

System Requirements
* Microsoft® Windows® 2000, Microsoft® Windows® XP, Windows Vista®, Windows® 7
* 1GHz Intel®/AMD processor or above
* 512MB RAM or more
* 30MB free hard disk space for installation
* Super VGA (800 x 600) resolution, 16-bit graphics card or higher

Check out Bigasoft 3GP Converter just $19 or download for trial

Enjoy DVD and video in New Blackberry Storm, curve, Pearl, Bold, etc. BlackBerry
How to rip DVD and convert video to BlackBerry Storm, Bold, Curve, Pearl, etc? BlackBerry
Things you should know about cell phone plans often joke

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Android Army Pumped for All-Out Attack on iPhone

ruben17 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:45:59 +0000

Soon, you’ll need more than two hands to count the number of Android phones on the market. At this rate, it seems inevitable that the number of phones running Google’s open source operating system will eventually outnumber the number of iPhones, which run Apple’s proprietary (and closed) operating system.

It’s a situation that has many observers thinking back to the 1980s, when IBM introduced its PC and eclipsed Apple in market share by betting on open platforms. In the end, Apple was left with a respectable business, but a single-digit morsel of the PC market share. (The Mac has since crept up to 9.4 percent, according to IDC.)

How could Google draft more customers into the Android army and diminish the iPhone’s market share? Focus on the iPhone’s weaknesses, of course. The iPhone’s lack of background-processing capability (i.e., the ability to run multiple third-party apps at once) could push multitasking professionals toward Android. And the notoriety of iPhone’s exclusive carrier in the United States, AT&T, could compel consumers to embrace Android phones carried by Verizon, which has a bigger network and a better reputation for service.

Then there’s the App Store. Despite harboring upward of 90,000 apps, and letting a few developers earn hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Apple’s App Store approval process has been roundly criticized for being opaque. Apple has rejected some apps submitted by third-party developers for unclear reasons. Programmers complain it’s difficult or impossible to communicate with the secretive Cupertino, California, company.

Did we mention the App Store is overcrowded? In a way, that’s a plus for consumers: the more choices, the better. But it can be a headache for third-party programmers, who have difficulty getting exposure for their apps in an increasingly cluttered space. The flaws of the App Store could drive away the people who create the element that makes the iPhone so appealing — its wealth of apps furthering the capabilities of the handset.

There’s a lot at stake. Research firm Gartner this week stated that worldwide smartphone shipments would grow 29 percent year over year to 180 million units, exceeding notebook shipments. That would suggest smartphones are shaping up to become the next major computing platform — and the companies who control the dominant platforms stand to gain billions in revenue.

Still, most analysts and developers polled by Wired.com aren’t too worried about Apple’s prospects in the smartphone space.

“This is not going to be a space with two giants,” said Raven Zachary, a technology analyst and owner of iPhone app-development house Small Society. “It’s going to be a healthy competitive environment for some time to come.”

Relatively young, the mobile platform ecosystem is a new kind of beast in the technology world. Unlike the PC industry — where Microsoft conquered the operating system market, claiming roughly 90 percent market share to date — the mobile space has multiple companies fighting for their fair share of the pie. Some of those players include Research In Motion, Palm, Symbian and Microsoft.

With an early start, Microsoft did have a chance to dominate the mobile landscape. The software titan launched its first mobile OS back in 1996: Windows CE, which served as the foundation for the Windows Mobile OS shipping with some smartphones today. However, in terms of market share, Windows Mobile has been in steady decline. In 2008, its market share dropped to 14 percent — down from 23 percent in 2004.

With 49 percent market share, Symbian is currently the dominant force in the smartphone platform space, according to Gartner. Gartner predicts Symbian will retain its dominance, and the firm is especially optimistic about Android: Gartner predicts Android will leap to 18 percent market share (up from 1.6 percent to date). Meanwhile, the firm has a less optimistic outlook for Apple: 2.9 percent growth by 2012, giving the company 13.6 percent market share.

These numbers lead Joe Wilcox of BetaNews to declare that “iPhone cannot win the smartphone wars,” in an article that has sparked much debate in the tech community this week. He argues that Android, which is expanding onto other mobiles devices in addition to smartphones (such as Barnes and Noble’s “Nook” e-book reader) is poised to conquer this space.

“Another ‘everyone else against Apple battle’ is coming, with Android looking to be the better OS around which an ecosystem grows and thrives,” Wilcox wrote. “There’s a Star Wars metaphor here somewhere. Apple lost out to DOS/Windows because of the attack of the PC clones. Now the droids are coming for iPhone.”

Tero Kuittinen, an MKM Partners telecom analyst, disagrees, and he isn’t as optimistic about Android because of its bumpy start.

“The key point about Android is the first few models haven’t really been doing great,” Kuittinen said in a phone interview. “Based on that there’s no real evidence that the demand of Android phones is rampant.”

Kuittinen noted that European customers already seem “cautious” about Android because of the sluggish, buggy experience of the earliest Google phones.

Other than technical issues, Google has many areas to address before posing a serious threat, such as offering a compelling music substitute for Android smartphones to battle iTunes, Kuittinen said. Google is just getting started with a music solution: The search giant on Wednesday launched a new music-search feature, which automatically searches for playable music tracks.

Andreas Schobel, co-founder of Snaptic, which develops apps for both Android and the iPhone, said the Android OS has a lot of catching up to do in terms of user interface.

“The UI still sucks; it’s just not being able to pinch, not being able to use gestures, that makes it rough,” Schobel said. “It’s getting better, but it’s still not there yet.”

However, Schobel foresees a division occurring between consumers who opt for Android and those who stick with an iPhone. He noted that Android stands a chance to win over productivity-focused users due to its ability to handle multiple apps simultaneously, which the iPhone cannot do. He added that Android’s open API enables developers to easily create “mash-up” apps that can seamlessly integrate social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter into any app.

Though Android might become a popular platform for productivity, the iPhone will still be the primary handset for gaming, Schobel predicted. Game developers are more attracted to coding a game for the iPhone, because they’re programming a game to work with a specific piece of hardware and take full advantage of its graphic chip — an effort that would not be easy with an open platform like Android, an OS designed for multiple phones using different types of hardware.

In any case, Schobel said Android is gaining momentum fast, and Apple must continue to innovate in order to stay ahead of the smartphone OS curve.

“People on Android are going to be pushing forward in such a feverish pace, and Apple is going to have to start doing stuff really soon,” Schobel said.

Just what determines who “wins” a smartphone platform war? That’s subjective. Wilcox bases his argument purely on market-share numbers; whoever gets the biggest slice of the pie wins by his definition.

But Zachary said the iPhone is still a winner at its current size, and he’d be happy if it one day grew to grab 25 percent of the mobile-platform market share — not a dominating number.

In a space that’s crowded with several players, a definitive loss would be the complete failure and disappearance of a company. Zachary and Schobel are both betting Palm will be the first to go. Palm’s WebOS runs on the Palm Pre, and the company currently possesses 0 percent market share, according to Gartner, who predicts WebOS’ market share will only grow 1.4 percent in the next three years.

The company’s smartphone market share continues to shrink, and Zachary said he previously thought Palm would eventually be acquired by a larger company, such as Samsung, to develop mobile operating systems in-house. However, because Google hands out Android as a free, open source OS, this decreases the value of Palm as an acquisition target.

“Who I’m really scared for is Palm,” Schobel said. “They’re dead.”

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