Cingular

Layoffs follow Palm revenue drop

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:59:58 -0500

Days after reporting fiscal second quarter revenues some $30 million lower than forecasted, embattled device maker Palm announced it would lay off more than 100 employees, roughly 10 percent of its global workforce. Citing shipping delays plaguing an unspecified product--reportedly a wider rollout of its Treo 755p device, finally issued by Verizon Wireless last week--Palm said it would post revenues between $345 to $350 million, well off October's $370 to $380 million estimate. "Palm is working to sharpen its focus and better align resources behind core initiatives that will make the greatest impact to our business," the company said in a statement. "To this end, and to ensure that our expenses are in line with projected revenues, we have made some reassignments and reductions in staff. This will better enable us to compete most effectively and ensure our long-term success."

For more on the Palm layoffs:
-read this BetaNews article

Related articles:
Palm gets small with Centro smartphone
Palm OS II delayed until 2008
Palm, Cingular launch UMTS Treo 750
Palm announces Windows-powered Treo

QUICKLINKS: Steve Jobs iPhone blunder; J2ME Twitter app;

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 20:01:35 -0400

Nokia Video Manager: copies and transcodes videos for mobile. Website

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Sneak peak at MobileYouth 2007 report. Blog | Analysis

For Java geeks: understanding the CVM bootstrap process. Blog

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Dodgeball founders quit Google for area/code. FierceMobileContent

MSA defines Next-gen J2ME

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:01:39 -0400

J2ME's Mobile Services Architecture

A few weeks ago I wrote about the Sony Ericsson Z750, which is apparently the first mass market device to fully support the Mobile Services Architecture (MSA) standard. But what is MSA?

MSA is an attempt to define a standard platform of APIs developers can rely upon. MSA for CLDC phones is defined in JSR 248, which states, "There is a need to have a single expert group select the relevant technologies for a single specification for the purposes of defining primarily CLDC based mobile handset platform for the wireless industry. In addition, this specification will provide continual architectural consistency, focus, and direction to this collection of efforts for J2ME." In other words, MSA is aimed at one of the J2ME developers' biggest headaches: API fragmentation and inconsistencies.

Current mobile devices generally abide by the Java Technology for the Wireless Industry (JTWI, or JSR 185) to define the baseline of Java support. Unfortunately, JTWI doesn't leave much to work with; the standard only requires three technologies: CLDC 1.0, MIDP 2.0 and WMA 1.1.

MSA, on the other hand, requires nearly two dozen JSRs ranging from CLDC 1.1 to Mobile 3D Graphics API 1.1. Sun has more details on MSA's requirements in this introduction and this datasheet (.pdf).

So far Sony Ericsson's HSDPA Z750 is the only public device to support MSA that I'm aware of, but it is only a matter of time: the expert group that defined the standard included members from Nokia, BenQ, RIM, T-Mobile, Cingular, Motorola, Vodafone and more.

P.S. Continue to send your feedback on the new newsletter layout--it's still a work in progress. -Eli

HTC announces CDMA smartphones

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

At CTIA, HTC announced two QWERTY smartphones: the S720 is the CDMA version of the S710 Vox, and the P4000 is the CDMA version of the TyTN (better known in the U.S. as the Cingular 8528). Both phones have EV-DO support, but only the P4000 has a touchscreen. Rumor is that both smartphones will be available on Verizon and Sprint, but HTC has only confirmed that Telus will be the Canadian carrier. Pictures

Editor's Corner

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:01:39 -0400

Mobile Manufacturer Roundup--Part One
CTIA Wireless is a good excuse to step back from technical debates and take a look at the industry. For developers, this often means following the mobile operators, but this week I'd like to focus on a handful of device manufacturers.

Apple - Apple's iPhone looms large at CTIA--impressive for a device still in development. There are already several "iPhone-killers" and I'm confident the iPhone is behind Sprint's decision to cut prices in its music store to $0.99. Apple also faces continued criticism for its decision to sign an exclusive deal with Cingular (AT&T). Apple hasn't even announced any plans for iPhone in Europe (though rumors suggest Vodafone is the favored operator). As I've I said before, I think it's far too premature to judge Apple's first foray into the mobile phone arena.

Palm - Palm just released quarterly earnings: Treo sales are up, but earnings are down. Overall, it's been a tough year for Palm; its stock fell seven percent, though it got a recent bump thanks to rumors the company is in line for a takeover. This certainly isn't the first time things have looked a bleak for Palm, but this time the takeover rumors are apparently credible enough to have Palm's Taiwanese suppliers worried. Analysts tell the Globe and Mail Palm's best chance lies in new products. Unfortunately, there aren't any major announcements expected anytime soon. One bright spot: a federal judge has ruled Palm can continue to sell devices until USPTO rules on the validity of NTP's mobile email patents.

Motorola - Though the company is often cited as a potential Palm buyer, Motorola has seen better days itself. Conventional wisdom is that Motorola has relied far too heavily on the success of the RAZR to carry its entire mobile product line. Another worrying sign is that CEO Ed Zander canceled his CTIA Wireless appearance on short notice due unforeseen scheduling conflicts. Some analysts have taken that as a sign that more trouble is ahead for the company.

Tune in next week for part two with a look at Sony Ericsson, Samsung and, of course, Nokia. -Eli

P.S. The FierceWireless and FierceMobileContent websites are a great source of ongoing coverage of CTIA Wireless.

Nokia N95 coming to the U.S.

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:01:37 -0400

The FCC has approved the Nokia N95 for sale in the U.S. The phone will be available direct and unlocked from NokiaUSA.com, but the real question is if any U.S. carriers will pick it up. My guess is Cingular will eventually carry the device, but we'll have to wait and see. Recall the N95 is a high-end S60 smartphone with a 5-megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi and 160mb of built-in memory. Blog

QUICKLINKS: Glu Mobile IPO raises $84 million; Multiplayer Tetris; Much more...

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:01:35 -0400

Glu Mobile IPO raises $84 million. FierceMobileContent

EA Mobile announces multiplayer Tetris. FierceGameBiz

Ericsson's mobile JSF kit. Website

Free BlackJack ROM update. Blog

AdMob picks up $15 million in Series B funding. Release

Verizon wins a battle in the war against Vonage. Blog

Cingular Treo 750, BlackJack, and 8525 to get WM6 upgrade. Blog

Microsoft prototypes cameraphone bar code reader & web app. Article

Getting started with sound in Macromedia Flash Lite. How to

Ex-Nokia president launching ad-funded MVNO. FierceMobileContent

FCC will likely abandon plans to allow cell phones on flights. Article

CTIA to audit SMS programs. Release

A look at Web-based RSS aggregators. Blog

QUICKLINKS: Nokia sues Qualcomm in Europe; How to intercept cell calls and text messages; Much more...

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:01:35 -0400

Nokia files patent suit against Qualcomm in Europe. Article

How to intercept cell calls and text messages. Article | Blog

Adobe launches Apollo. Only a matter of time before it goes mobile. Blog

Cingular unlocks Blackjack for free. Blog

Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6 Flash demo. Download

Europe is five years behind Japan. Report

EA launches Sports Link, a sports and gaming news portal. Article

Syware announces mobile developer tools for Vista. Release

LG joins Open Mobile Terminal Platform

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:01:38 -0500

LG has joined the Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP), a group dedicated to consistent hardware, software and, especially, usability standards across handsets. Fellow manufacturers Nokia and Motorola and operators like Cingular and T-Mobile are already members. Article

QUICKLINKS: A mobile advertising reality check; Microsoft "very interested" in Ruby; Much more...

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:01:35 -0500

Microsoft "very interested" in Ruby language. Article

Sony Ericsson opens up UIQ. Article

Rumor: WM6 to be offered as free upgrade to existing vendors. Forum

Telus abandons adult content after boycott. FierceMobileContent

Guest Comment: Mobile advertising reality check. FierceMobileContent

Top ten predictions for XML in 2007. Article

Honda & CellTick beam idle-screen ads to millions of Thai subscribers. Release

SMS marketing firm Mozes scores $5M investment. Release

Survey: 26% want iPhone, 1% willing to pay $500. Site

American Idol voting overloaded some network's SMS capacity? Article

Cingular offers some Blackjack owners free extended batteries. Blog

Reports: T-Mobile USA's $5.99 data plan now restricted to official deck. Forum