Samsung

Samsung Mobile Innovator beta launches

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:24:33 -0400

Samsung announced the beta launch of its Samsung Mobile Innovator developer program, which promises Series 60 mobile applications developers free access to tools, device specs and technical support. According to Samsung, the Mobile Innovator effort will include a virtual device lab dubbed Lab.dev, business development support (Market.dev) and exclusive technical support (Ask.dev). The handset maker will officially premiere Samsung Mobile Innovator in October during the Symbian Smartphone Show, adding that it will market applications that emerge from the Mobile Innovator program via its FunClub content portal.

For more on Samsung Mobile Innovator:
- read this Mobile Entertainment article

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U.S. mobile device shipments decline in Q1

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

First-quarter mobile handset shipments in the U.S. slipped to 31 million units, down 28 percent year-over-year, according to a new report issued by market research firm The NPD Group. Overall handset sales revenues in the U.S. fell to $2.7 billion, a 7 percent slide from Q1 2007--according to NPD, with the nation's economic forecast grim and belts tightening, many consumers may be holding back on purchasing new devices. Motorola maintained its lead in U.S. market share, although unit sales declined from 35 percent in the first quarter of 2007 to 27 percent this year, followed by Samsung (18 percent), LG (17 percent), Nokia (8 percent) and RIM (5 percent). NPD adds that first-quarter sales favored more feature-rich devices than those sold a year ago, with smartphones representing 17 percent of all Q1 2008 purchases, up 10 percent year-over-year. During the quarter, almost 80 percent of phones sold boasted Bluetooth technology (up from 65 percent a year ago) and 60 percent of phones were music-enabled (up from just 41 percent a year ago).

For more on the NPD Group report:
-read this release

Related article:
Worldwide handset shipments slow in Q1

QUICKLINKS: Sprint to debut Samsung Instinct June 20; Dior follows in Prada's footsteps with fashion phone;

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Sprint to debut Samsung Instinct June 20.

Dior follows in Prada's footsteps with fashion phone.

Videocon woos Motorola's handset biz.

Call Genie, vlingo team on multimodal mobile search.

QUICKLINKS: Report: BlackBerry Thunder to debut in Q3; Microsoft proposes alternative Yahoo deal;

Tue, 20 May 2008 06:59:55 -0400

> Report: BlackBerry Thunder to debut in Q3.

> Microsoft proposes alternative Yahoo deal.

> Windows Live Services to launch on BlackBerry.

> Vodafone, AT&T interested in Huawei handset biz?

> Qualcomm wins L-Band spectrum auction.

> LG and Samsung team on mobile DTV standard.

Sprint Wireless Toolkit 3.3 debuts

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Sprint unveiled its Java-based Sprint Wireless Toolkit 3.3, which includes developer resources for the upcoming Samsung Instinct, a touch-screen Java handset boasting features including over-the-air downloads, GPS support and full multimedia streaming. According to Sprint, the Wireless Toolkit 3.3 also features new automated development protocols and opportunities to debug programs earlier in the creative process. The operator also said it plans an Instinct application development contest, with more details available here.

In addition, Sprint relaunched its Professional Developer Program. Open to all independent software developers for an annual fee, the program promises benefits including access to the majority of the carrier's restricted APIs (including GPS, address book, messaging) enhanced technical support and access to the certification process. Related resources include handset specifications, online forums, white papers and interactive online training.

For more on Sprint's new developer resources:
- read this release

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Sprint launches developer website

QUICKLINKS: Hands on with the LG VU; Samsung booth tour photos;

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

> Hands on with the LG VU. FierceWireless CTIA Live

> Samsung booth tour photos. FierceWireless CTIA Live

> June launch for 3G iPhone? Article

> Motorola gives in to Icahn. FierceWireless

QUICKLINKS: Finding the smartphone sweet spot; entertainment tops Handango Yardstick;

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:59:55 -0400

> Finding the smartphone sweet spot. FierceWireless

> Entertainment tops Handango Yardstick. FierceMobileContent

> Sprint launches EV-DO Rev. A handset. FierceWireless

> Samsung, Adidas unveil fitness phone. FierceWireless

> eMobiStudio software update promises to boost smartphone memory. Article

Sprint to carry Samsung haptics phone?

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:59:57 -0500

Samsung is launching a touchscreen handset called the F490 in Europe that features a 3.2" touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera, tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900), UMTS 2100, HSDPA 3.6, 130Mb of storage, Bluetooth 2.0, haptics feedback and a microSD expansion slot. The handset will cost about $700. Rumor has it that Sprint is set to bring the handset to the U.S. market after the phone undergoes a few tweaks. According to leaked photos, the Sprint version will be called the Samsung SPH-M800, and it will run on CDMA/EV-DO with a 2-megapixel camera in lieu of the F490's 5-megapixel shooter. -Brian

For more on the handset:
-read this Phone Arena article

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Nokia widens global handset lead in Q3

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:59:58 -0400

Nokia increased its mobile phone unit shipments in the third quarter to 111.7 million, up 10.8 percent over the previous quarter and awarding the company a 39.5 share of the global handset market. According to technology research firm iSuppli, Nokia's Q3 increases were greater than the combined increases in phone shipments posted by the other four leading handset suppliers during the same timeframe. Overall, worldwide handset shipments in the third quarter grew 6.4 percent from Q2 to 283 million units, galvanized by sales in emerging markets as well as replacement rates in Europe.

Samsung Electronics' shipments grew to 42.6 million units in the third quarter, a 38.8 percent year-over-year increase. Samsung's 15.1 percent international market share edged Motorola into third place: Although Motorola shipped 36.5 million mobile handsets during the third quarter, up 2.8 percent from 35.5 million in the second quarter, its year-over-year shipments plummeted by 32.7 percent. LG enjoyed sequential growth of 14.7 percent, with global shipments increasing to 21.9 million in Q3.

For more on the iSuppli handset report:
-read this release

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Sun: Java ME facing extinction

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Speaking at a media event last week, Sun Microsystems vice president James Gosling said the Java Micro Edition platform he helped develop is facing extinction, to be replaced by the desktop-centric Java Standard Edition. "We're trying to converge everything to the Java SE specification," Gosling said according to CNet.com. "Cell phones and TV set-top boxes are growing up. That convergence is going to take years." Sun executive vice president of software Rich Green expects Java ME-based handsets will remain on the market for at least a decade.

For more on Java ME's slow death:
-read this CNet.com article

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