| This week's sponsor is Kontagent. |  | Whitepaper: 5 Lessons on Driving More Revenue, Loyalty and Lifetime Value to Your Mobile Apps
Learn the five primary lessons that apply to 99% of businesses trying to succeed in the mobile app space. Download Now.
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Today's Top Stories
1. Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean adoption surging, Gingerbread waning
2. Facebook adds voice messaging to Messenger for iOS, Android
3. ComScore: Apple's iOS captures 35% U.S. smartphone market share
4. Starbucks stores now selling Square mobile card reader
5. Reports: Apple/Waze acquisition rumors fabricated Also Noted: Spotlight On... Complete coverage of next week's CES 2013
RCA to introduce Mobile TV Tablet at CES; Escort designing Dyle receiver for Android and much more... The 15 best Android, iOS apps of 2012
 FierceMobileContent's picks for the best iOS and Android apps of 2012 celebrate a year of breakthroughs. There were so many cool, compelling apps released over the last 12 months that it was more difficult to decide which ones to leave off the list than it was to determine which ones made the cut. The final 15 make up a veritable murderers' row of apps--the absolute best of the best. Top Apps Social media integration is critical, yet time-consuming for developers
Social media integration is quickly becoming a critical part of the app experience as Facebook and Twitter increase their presence on mobile devices. According to a research study published by Nielsen and NM Incite last month, the use of social media mobile apps grew 63 percent in 2012 compared with the same period the previous year. However, having to manually write the code that will authenticate users via third-party services, sync friend and profile data and share it with those services can be a time-consuming task. FierceDeveloper investigates. Feature
| This week's sponsor is Aricent. | 
| Webinar: Capitalizing SON – How to Implement SON for LTE to reduce OPEX and Increase Revenue
Tuesday, January 29th, 11am ET / 8am PT LTE is the fastest growing communication technology of all time. In this webinar our experts will discuss how Network Equipment Manufacturers can leverage the concept of Self Organizing Networks (SON) to not only manage highly complex LTE networks but also reduce operational expenditures and enhance customer satisfaction. Register Today! |
| Sponsor: Globalstar FierceLive! Webinars > Globalstar's New "Wi-Fi" Super Highway - Tuesday, January 22nd, 11:00am EST/8:00 am PST
> Capitalizing SON – How to Implement SON for LTE to reduce OPEX and Increase Revenue - Tuesday, January 29th, 11am ET / 8am PT
Events > Fierce Innovation Awards 2012 Live Announcement of this Year's Winners - Now Available On-Demand
Marketplace > Wavefront Wireless Summit
> Brief: Secure Android Capability
Jobs > Field Technician I Job - Portland, OR, USA – Yoh
> FSO Telecom Field Technician I Job - New Orleans, LA, USA – Yoh
> Telecommunications Field Technician Job - Spokane, WA, USA – Yoh
> Telecommunications Project Controls Analyst Job - Bellevue, WA, USA – Yoh
> Director, Business Operations, Marketing and Sales Analytics – Atlanta GA – Cox Communications
> Senior Manager, Business Operations, Sales and Marketing Analytics– Atlanta GA – Cox Communications
> Senior Analyst, Business Operations, Analytics– Atlanta GA – Cox Communications
> Manager, Business Operations, Analytics– Atlanta GA – Cox Communications
> Analyst I, Business Operations, Analytics– Atlanta GA – Cox Communications
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* General ad info: Click here | Today's Top News 1. Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean adoption surging, Gingerbread waning
Android version 4.0 (a.k.a. Ice Cream Sandwich) and versions 4.1 and 4.2 (both nicknamed Jelly Bean), the most recent overhauls of the Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) mobile operating system, experienced significant increases in user adoption during the final weeks of 2012 and now power close to 40 percent of all Android devices worldwide. As of Jan. 3, Ice Cream Sandwich--publicly released in October 2011--powers 29.1 percent of all Android devices accessing the Google Play marketplace, up from 27.5 percent in December, according to the Android Developers Dashboard. Nine percent of Android devices now run Jelly Bean 4.1 (which rolled out in July 2012), compared to 5.9 percent a month ago; another 1.2 percent run Jelly Bean 4.2, up from 0.4 percent. Google issued Jelly Bean 4.2 in mid-November. The combined growth of Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean are eroding the longstanding platform dominance of Android 2.3, dubbed Gingerbread, which first launched in December 2010. Gingerbread still leads all Android versions at 47.6 percent distribution, although that number is down from 50.8 percent last month. Android 2.2, or Froyo, still powers 9 percent of devices close to three years after its original release. As of mid-December, Google is activating new Android devices at a rate in excess of 1.3 million per day. The operating system accounts for 68.3 percent of the worldwide smartphone market, according to market intelligence firm IDC. While the openness of the Android platform is the catalyst fueling its phenomenal growth, carrier customizations are commonly cited as a culprit behind the slow pace of Android OS upgrades and the platform fragmentation that results. In October, Google-owned Motorola Mobility confirmed it is not shipping the unaltered, stock version of Android on its smartphones because of carrier demands to customize the mobile operating system to their own specifications. "Our partners sometimes want customizations," said Motorola Senior Vice President, Product Rick Osterloh. "Our interest is to make it as close to Android as possible and generally we negotiate somewhere in the middle." For more:
- visit the Android Developers Dashboard
- read this Next Web article Related articles:
Google's Schmidt: Android winning the mobile war against Apple
KPCB: Android adoption growing 6x faster than iPhone
Android surges to 75 percent smartphone market share in Q3
Google: Android will power 1 billion devices in a year
Android tablets will end iPad's market dominance next year, analyst forecasts Read more about: Google
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| This week's sponsor is Globalstar. | 
| Webinar: Globalstar's New "Wi-Fi" Super Highway
Tuesday, January 22nd, 11:00 am EST/ 8:00 am PST
This webinar will discuss the innovative technology, public benefits, and regulatory outlook of providing a new 22 MHz channel under the existing 802.11 IEEE standard. Join to learn technical aspects of TLPS deployment and the outlook for near-term relief from the FCC. Register Now! |
2. Facebook adds voice messaging to Messenger for iOS, Android
Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) is adding voice messaging features to its standalone Messenger applications for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS and Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android, with VoIP calling features also on tap. Facebook Messenger now includes a 'Record' button next to the 'Attach a Photo' and 'Camera' options, enabling users to share push-to-talk messages up to one minute in length. Recordings appear in the Messenger conversation stream as a waveform icon, and recipients can listen to messages directly within Messenger or via Facebook's mobile Web interface. Potential use case scenarios for the new feature include hands-free messaging options or more complex messages that are too long and detailed to type as conventional texts. Facebook tells TechCrunch it will limit voice messaging to the mobile platform, with no plans to expand the feature to the desktop. Facebook also is testing free voice calls within Messenger: The trials, initially limited to iOS users in Canada, will enable consumers to speak to their contacts via Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. For now, Canadian users cannot call Android device owners within their home market or speak to contacts outside of Canadian borders, although the Facebook Messenger page in the U.S. outpost of Apple's App Store states the voice calling feature "will be rolling out over the next few weeks." Facebook launched Messenger in mid-2011 in an effort to steer users away from conventional operator SMS solutions--the addition of voice options could further escalate the threat posed to carrier services. Last month, the company expanded Messenger for Android to support mobile device owners without existing Facebook accounts, signaling the first time the social networking giant has made its services available outside its userbase. For more:
- read this TechCrunch article
- read this Next Web article Related articles:
Facebook opens Messenger for Android to non-Facebook users
Facebook trials automatic photo sync for Apple's iOS
Facebook extends Gifts platform to Apple's iOS
Facebook introduces device, OS targeting for mobile advertisers
Facebook: 14% of ad revenue comes from mobile Read more about: Mobile Social Networking, Mobile Messaging
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3. ComScore: Apple's iOS captures 35% U.S. smartphone market share
Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS accounted for 35 percent of the U.S. smartphone market in Nov. 2012, increasing its lead over Research In Motion's (NASDAQ:RIMM) BlackBerry and Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone but still trailing Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android, according to a new report issued by digital research firm comScore.  | | Click here to see the changes in smartphone OS market shares since 2009. | The iOS platform grew its U.S. market share by 0.7 percent between August and November, fueled by the September retail release of the iPhone 5. Apple nevertheless remains far off the pace set by Android, which increased 1.1 percentage points to capture 53.7 percent of the U.S. smartphone segment.
BlackBerry fell further out of contention, sliding 1 percentage point between August and November to make up 7.3 percent of the U.S. market. Windows Phone fell 0.6 percentage points to 3.0 percent, and Symbian slipped 0.2 percentage points to account for 0.5 percent of all smartphones nationwide.
More than 123.3 million U.S. mobile subscribers now carry smartphones, increasing 6 percent since August, comScore reports. The firm notes that 75.9 percent of subscribers sent and received text messages in November, up 0.3 percentage points over July, and 54.2 percent accessed downloaded applications, an increase of 0.8 percentage points. In addition, 52.1 percent accessed their mobile browser, up 0.1 percentage point, and 39.2 percent accessed social networking sites or blogs, jumping 0.9 percent. For more:
- read this release Related articles:
Forecast: Windows Phone shipments in 2017 will match iOS shipments in 2012
Google's Schmidt: Android winning the mobile war against Apple
IDC: Apple must offer low-cost phones to keep pace with Android
ComScore: Android, iOS approaching 90 percent U.S. smartphone market share
KPCB: Android adoption growing 6x faster than iPhone
Android surges to 75 percent smartphone market share in Q3 Read more about: Metrics, BlackBerry, Windows Phone
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4. Starbucks stores now selling Square mobile card reader
Two months after Starbucks began allowing consumers to pay for purchases via the Square Wallet application for iOS and Android, the coffee chain is now offering the Square Card Reader for sale across its 7,000 U.S. brick-and-mortar locations. "We have a lot of small business owners who do business in our stores," a Starbucks spokesperson told Adweek. "So we wanted to offer them the reader for their business needs. And it just seemed like a good natural next step in our relationship with Square." Square Card Reader enables businesses to swipe credit and debit cards through a dongle plugged into a smartphone or tablet audio jack. Square charges a flat fee of 2.75 percent on all purchases, lower than conventional credit and debit card transactions, and promises no contracts, monthly fees or hidden costs. Starbucks is offering the Square reader for $10, with a $10 rebate offered at signup. Starbucks first announced its intention to adopt Square services in August, a move to slash operational costs across its retail footprint. The Square Wallet app links to a consumer's debit or credit card to process transactions--the app generates a QR code scanned by a Starbucks digital reader terminal, and automatically transmits a digital receipt when the purchase is complete. Square Wallet also offers access to Starbucks menu information, store hours and locations and the user's transaction history. With the addition of Starbucks stores, the Square Card Reader is now available for purchase in 30,000 retail locations nationwide. Additional brick-and-mortar partners include Walmart, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Target, Walgreens, AT&T (NYSE:T), Best Buy and Staples. Square now processes $10 billion in annual mobile payment transactions. More than 2 billion U.S. businesses and individuals now use its services. In Sept. 2012, Square closed a Series D financing round led by investors including Citi Ventures and Rizvi Traverse Management; The New York Times reported the round totals about $200 million, valuing the startup at $3.25 billion. For more:
- read this Adweek article
- read this Next Web article Related articles:
Square adds Apple Passbook support with mobile gift card launch
Square processing $10B in annual payments, up $2B in two months
Starbucks launches Square payments across 7,000 U.S. stores
Square goes international with Canadian expansion
Square introduces flat-rate monthly pricing for small business transactions
Starbucks adopts Square for in-store payments, invests $25M Read more about: M-Commerce, Starbucks
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5. Reports: Apple/Waze acquisition rumors fabricated
One day after TechCrunch reported that Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) was in advanced negotiations to acquire crowdsourced location services firm Waze, the publication posted a follow-up article stating the deal is not happening, an assertion backed by other media outlets. Citing sources close to the talks, the original TechCrunch report stated Apple offered $400 million and another $100 million in incentives to acquire Waze, which supplies mapping and navigation data for the much-criticized Apple Maps platform for iOS. But other sources close to the situation have since told TechCrunch that no deal is in the works, with a source familiar with Apple's thinking telling CNet the original rumors are "fabricated." Both Apple and Waze have declined to comment. It's worth noting that the Waze rumor followed just weeks after analyst Hans Slob of Rabobank International published an investor note speculating Apple could make a bid for navigation software developer TomTom. Saying there is a 30 percent chance Apple would pursue TomTom in an effort to improve and expand Apple Maps, Slob wrote "TomTom needs the cash from Apple, and Apple needs the know-how of TomTom," adding a takeover is a "royal way out" for TomTom's founders. The Wall Street Journal also has reported Apple is in discussions to integrate foursquare's local data into Maps for iOS. It appears likely that additional rumors about Apple acquiring a location services firm could surface until the company clarifies its plans for overhauling Maps for iOS. Consumers have been harshly critical of Apple Maps, identifying dozens of inaccuracies, and the outcry prompted a public apology from Apple CEO Tim Cook, who said the company is "putting all of our energy into making it right." "We've got a huge plan to make [Maps] even better," Cook said in a BusinessWeek interview published last month. "It will get better and better over time." Cook did not divulge specifics on that plan, nor did he reveal when consumers can expect the overhauled Apple Maps to become commercially available. For more:
- read this TechCrunch article
- read this CNet article Related articles:
Rumor Mill: Apple acquiring Waze to fortify Maps for iOS
Report: Apple, foursquare in talks to share local data
Apple CEO Cook: 'We're putting all our energy' into Maps improvements
Apple CEO Cook apologizes for Maps, suggests alternatives Bing, Waze
Apple promises to improve iOS mapping service as consumer fury mounts
Google Maps returns to Apple's iPhone, adds turn-by-turn navigation Read more about: Apple, VC/M&A
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Also Noted SPOTLIGHT ON... Complete coverage of next week's CES 2013  The Consumer Electronics Show, held in Las Vegas, is the biggest electronics trade show in the United States. Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, said CES 2013--which kicks off Jan. 8--will expand to a record amount of exhibit space, from 1.862 million net square feet in 2012 to 1.87 million net square feet this year. With mobile heavyweights Qualcomm, Samsung, Verizon Wireless and others scheduled to make major appearances, FierceWireless will offer comprehensive coverage and analysis from the show floor all week long; click here throughout the days ahead for all the latest.
Quick news from around the Web @FierceMobiCo: Special Report: The 15 best Android, iOS apps of 2012 http://bit.ly/136oOHf Article | Follow @FierceMobiCo > RCA to introduce Mobile TV Tablet at CES. Article > Escort designing Dyle Mobile TV receiver for Android. Release Wireless News > HTC's Chou vows to improve marketing, innovation in 2013. Article > CTIA's newly merged show will conflict with CCA's annual event in 2014. Article And finally… The science of itchy wool sweaters. Article > Globalstar's New "Wi-Fi" Super Highway - Tuesday, January 22nd, 11:00am EST/8:00 am PST This webinar will discuss the innovative technology, public benefits, and regulatory outlook of providing a new 22 MHz channel under the existing 802.11 IEEE standard. Join to learn technical aspects of TLPS deployment and the outlook for near-term relief from the FCC. Register Now! > Capitalizing SON – How to Implement SON for LTE to reduce OPEX and Increase Revenue - Tuesday, January 29th, 11am ET / 8am PT LTE is the fastest growing communication technology of all time. In this webinar our experts will discuss how Network Equipment Manufacturers can leverage the concept of Self Organizing Networks (SON) to not only manage highly complex LTE networks but also reduce operational expenditures and enhance customer satisfaction. Register Today!
| > Fierce Innovation Awards 2012 Live Announcement of this Year's Winners - Now Available On-Demand Please join Jason Nelson, Publisher of FierceWireless, FierceTelecom, and FierceCable as we announce the winners of the Fierce Innovation Awards 2012. Click here to RSVP today.
| > Wavefront Wireless Summit 50 billion connected devices by 2020 – how are you going to stay relevant? Hear how leaders at HP, Google, Deloitte and more are using mobility solutions to fundamentally change business operations. Learn more and register at wavefrontsummits.com. > Brief: Secure Android Capability Securing mobile devices is crucial because the same capabilities that increase our social interactions and business effectiveness can be subverted and used for unintended uses. Download this Brief to explore how Wind River has combined extensive experience with our capabilities in secure certified embedded systems to develop an advanced security strategy that also ensures compatibility with the commercial Android development model.
| > Field Technician I Job - Portland, OR, USA – Yoh Yoh has a contract opportunity for a Field Technician I to join our client in Portland, OR. Responsibilities include developing proficiency in primary skills of customer relations, basic electricity, basic electronics, basic telephony, radio principles for CDMA and iDEN, and basic principles of digital transmission, fiber communication, data communication, telephony terminology, industry standards, and on-line network control/maintenance systems. Two to five (2-5) years of basic microwave experience required...Learn more. > FSO Telecom Field Technician I Job - New Orleans, LA, USA – Yoh Yoh has a contract opportunity for a FSO Telecom Field Technician to join our client in Knoxville, TN. Responsibilties include developing proficiency in primary skills of customer relations, basic electricity, basic electronics, basic telephony, radio principles for CDMA and iDEN, and basic principles of digital transmission, fiber communication, data communication, telephony terminology, industry standards, and on-line network control / maintenance systems. Travel required...Learn more. > Telecommunications Field Technician Job - Spokane, WA, USA – Yoh Yoh has a six (6) plus month contract opportunity for a Telecommunications Field Technician to join our client in Spokane, WA. This role requires reliable transportation, and successful background, driving record and drug test prior to employment. Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. is required...Learn more. > Telecommunications Project Controls Analyst Job - Bellevue, WA, USA – Yoh Yoh has a five (5) plus month contract opportunity for a Telecommunications Core Project Controls Analyst to join our client Bellevue, WA. Resonsonibilties include to assist with Core Network Order Fulfillment (CNOF) by working directly with Supply Chain, Warehouse, Shipping and Procurement departments, as well as Ericsson organizations. Candidate must have five (5) plus years of relevant experience...Learn more. > Director, Business Operations, Marketing and Sales Analytics – Atlanta GA – Cox Communications Responsibilities include to direct and develop a modeling and analysis function and team to quantify impact of key sales, marketing and customer programs and initiatives by channel, leading to revenue growth and improved program effectiveness. BS/BA in quantitative field strongly desired...Learn more. > Senior Manager, Business Operations, Sales and Marketing Analytics– Atlanta GA – Cox Communications This role will partner with functional owners on complex Marketing and Sales initiatives that can have impact across the organization. This leader will also work to build capability development (analytical tools and platforms, etc.) and may oversee or manage the work of other manager level incumbents. BS/BA in quantitative field strongly desired...Learn more. > Senior Analyst, Business Operations, Analytics– Atlanta GA – Cox Communications Responsibilities include providing advanced quantitative support for the development of a business driver framework to understand and quantify the causal impact of key structural, marketing, sales and product decisions on business metrics such as revenue, products and customers. 2+ years of experience using SAS for modeling and analysis required...Learn more. > Manager, Business Operations, Analytics– Atlanta GA – Cox Communications Responsibilities include managing the development of a business driver framework to understand and quantify the causal impact of key structural, marketing, sales and product decisions on business metrics such as revenue, products and customers and use findings to influence business planning, investments and strategy. Experience with Econometric modeling and Machine Learning methodology preferred...Learn more. > Analyst I, Business Operations, Analytics– Atlanta GA – Cox Communications Responsibilities include providing quantitative support for the development of a business driver framework to understand and quantify the causal impact of key structural, marketing, sales and product decisions on business metrics such as revenue, products and customers. Marketing Mix optimization experience in telecom, CPG, retail, financial services, or Consulting preferred...Learn more. | |
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