| This week's sponsor is Intel. |  | Intel® Software Adrenaline Magazine
Get the latest in touch and sensory technologies. This edition explores the frontiers of touch computing, mobile lifestyles and more. Download today |
Also Noted: Moovweb
Spotlight On... Verizon Wireless joins Ubuntu Carrier Advisory Group
Chartboost launches backend service for IAP; Epic Games cancels 'Infinity Blade Dungeons' for iPad and much more... Top apps and tweaks for jailbroken, rooted devices
 Although Apple currently has no way of officially tracking how many of its devices are jailbroken, many analysts estimate that the number of jailbroken devices is in the millions. This phenomenon is not limited to the iOS community, however. Rooting, which is sometimes referred to as the jailbreaking equivalent for phones running Android, also continues to gain in popularity. Rooted and jailbroken devices also have their own ecosystem of apps unique to those devices. These apps do what regular apps cannot, since they have root access to the device. This feature takes a look at some of the most popular apps for jailbroken and rooted devices. Special Report Which new smartphones will make a splash in fall 2013?
 The fall season is typically the time when OEMs announce the new devices and strategies that will roll out in time for the lucrative holiday shopping season. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge for device makers: On the one hand, they can get out in front of consumers ahead of the big end-of-year rush for gifts. On the other hand, they often need to produce their own launch event and generate enough buzz with the media and among consumers to drive sales. It's a tough balancing act, but it's one that is becoming increasingly necessary in a crowded and fiercely competitive market. FierceWireless is peering into the future to divine which device launches will generate the biggest headlines and consumer buzz this fall. Special Report
| This week's sponsor is Kony Solutions. | 
| Webinar: The Pros and Cons of HTML5 vs. Native
Thursday, July 18, 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT
HTML5 offers many exciting advantages that result in lower development costs. But Native apps also offer advantages, and a familiar business model for developers. Join FierceWireless as we take a look at the pros and cons of HTML5 vs. Native and what it means for developers, enterprises with custom app and more. Register Today! |
Today's Top News 1. Google's Schmidt: Relationship with Apple improving after 'lots and lots' of meetings
Relations between mobile superpowers Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) have improved in recent months said Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, explaining the two companies have conducted "lots and lots" of meetings over the past year.  | | Eric Schmidt | Speaking to media at the annual Allen and Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho on Thursday, Schmidt said Google and Apple are in "constant business discussions on a long list of issues," Reuters reports. Schmidt declined to discuss specifics about the nature of the meetings but said Google Chief Business Officer Nikesh Arora, who joined him at the event, leads many of the discussions. Schmidt once sat on Apple's board of directors but resigned in August 2009, roughly a year after Google launched its open-source Android mobile operating system to challenge Apple's proprietary iOS. Google and Apple are now locked in a two-horse race to dominate the mobile ecosystem: Research firm IDC recently reported that manufacturers shipped 162.1 million Android smartphones during the first quarter of 2013, a 79.5 percent year-over-year spike--the Google OS accounted for 75 percent of all shipments during the period, up from 59.1 percent in the first quarter of 2012. Apple posted its largest-ever first quarter volume with iPhone shipments of 37.4 million, up 6.6 percent from 35.1 million a year ago. However, iOS market share declined year-over-year from 23 percent to 17.3 percent and experienced lower year-over-year shipment growth than the overall smartphone market. As competition between Android and iOS has grown, Apple has taken steps to reduce its reliance on core Google services, most notably dumping built-in Google Maps and YouTube software with the fall 2012 release of its iOS 6 platform update. Apple has struggled to replace Google Maps with its own Apple Maps platform, which has been sharply criticized by consumers for missing and erroneous information, while Google responded to the ouster by developing standalone Google Maps and YouTube apps for iOS, both available for download from Apple's App Store. In addition to its mobile and desktop services, Google is also extending its brand into emerging technology segments like wearable computers and self-driving automobiles. During the Allen & Co. event, Schmidt said that self-driving cars are just years away from commercial availability but that "the exact way in which it all plays out is not obvious to me… The technology has to be right. The regulation has to be right. The partnerships have to be right." He added that Google has held meetings with "every single car company." For more:
- read this Reuters article Related articles:
Google: YouTube mobile ad sales tripled over last six months
Apple did Google a favor by dumping YouTube from iOS
Apple makes Maps improvements, but consumer complaints persist
Apple CEO Cook apologizes for Maps, suggests alternatives Bing, Waze
Google Maps returns to Apple's iPhone, adds turn-by-turn navigation
Apple's new iOS 6 adds deep Facebook integration, dumps Google Maps Read more about: Apple, google maps
back to top |
| This week's sponsor is Cisco. |  |
The Financial Benefit of Cisco's Elastic Core
This whitepaper describes the financial benefits of an intelligent, converged, and programmable network. Read Now
|
2. Android co-founder Miner calls fragmentation fears 'overblown'
Rich Miner, co-founder of Android--the Silicon Valley mobile software startup that originated the open-source operating system of the same name--contends that discussion of Android platform fragmentation is disproportionate to the reality of the situation.  | | Rich Miner | "I think [fragmentation] is a bit of an overblown issue, frankly," Miner said Thursday at a tech forum hosted by the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, Xconomy reports. Miner--who joined Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) in 2005 with its acquisition of Android and helped lead development of the Android OS and ecosystem before signing on as a general partner with Google Ventures in 2009--argued that the size and scale of the Android market makes some fragmentation unavoidable: "Don't forget, there are 1.5 million Android phones being activated every single day," he said. "There are 900 million devices out in the market." According to Miner, Google continues to improve its working relationships with Android manufacturers and carrier partners, in turn strengthening the platform as a whole. He pointed to Google's quick response to an Android security vulnerability identified last week by mobile security solutions firm Bluebox that allows hackers to modify APK code without breaking an application's cryptographic signature, creating malicious Trojans that go undetected by the app store, device or consumer. Earlier this week, Google began distributing a patch to manufacturing partners to fix the flaw. "Clearly, in the early days of Android, there was some learning that had to be done between Google and the ecosystem--the handset OEMs," Miner said. "I think Google is much better, as we've seen with the latest security release. Google got a patch out... very quickly to the OEMs." Miner also believes that most consumers are unaware which version of Android powers their device. "Us techies read the blogs and know what features we may be missing," he said. "I think if you asked a consumer 'Do you feel like your phone OS needs to be updated today?' they're pretty happy with the results and the performance they're seeing. So I'm not sure it's a major issue." Google's Android Developers dashboard reveals that as of July 8, 37.9 percent of all Android devices run versions 4.1.x and 4.2.x, jointly nicknamed Jelly Bean, up from 33 percent in early June. Version 4.1.x, released in July 2012, powers 32.3 percent of devices, with 4.2.x (issued last November) making up the remaining 5.6 percent. Android 2.3.x now fuels 34.1 percent of devices worldwide, down from 36.5 percent last month. Android 4.0.x Ice Cream Sandwich, issued in October 2011, now powers 23.3 percent of devices, slipping from 25.6 percent a month ago. The remaining Android versions, including 2.1 Éclair, 2.2 Froyo and 3.2 Honeycomb, make up the remaining 4.7 percent of the current Android ecosystem. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook blasted Android fragmentation during the company's annual Worldwide Developer Conference last month: "This isn't just bad for users… this version fragmentation is terrible for developers," Cook said. A recent Juniper Networks report also blames Android fragmentation for the operating system's security vulnerabilities, noting that the vast majority of devices run older versions of Android, preventing them from receiving new security measures delivered by Google and leaving users exposed to threats. At Google's own I/O conference in May, Android engineering staffers said they are working diligently to ensure that operating system updates are rolled out in a more efficient manner, reducing the fragmentation that has plagued the platform since its inception. "[Fragmentation] is something we think about a lot," said Dave Burke, engineering director for the Android platform. "And we're working internally to streamline the development process and make the software more layered." For more:
- read this Xconomy article Related articles:
Android Jelly Bean adoption finally eclipses Gingerbread
Google vows to streamline Android development, combat fragmentation
Apple's Cook blasts Android fragmentation
VMware targets Android fragmentation with Horizon Mobile
Apple exec Schiller slams Android user experience, fragmentation
Juniper Networks: Mobile malware threats explode 614 percent year-over-year Read more about: Google
back to top |
3. Report: Windows Phone 8 adding notification center, improved multitasking in early 2014
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is at work on a significant Windows Phone 8 update bringing a notification center, enhanced multitasking and improvements to built-in applications, The Verge reports. Citing sources familiar with Microsoft's Windows Phone roadmap, the report states the so-called Windows Phone Blue update is expected in early 2014, but notes the company could back port some features including a rotation lock option to later this year. Any ported features would support hardware arriving within 2013 and would likely arrive at the request of manufacturing partners like Nokia (NYSE:NOK). The Verge adds that Microsoft had planned to roll out Windows Phone 8 updates more frequently but experienced a series of chipset testing delays, also grappling with bugs. One particularly troublesome bug, afflicting unbranded smartphones not sold by carriers, impacted the way a device is identified on a wireless network. Efforts to resolve the issue reportedly delayed other planned WP8 projects. Microsoft did not respond to a request for comment. Microsoft issued its Windows Phone 8 General Distribution Release 2 on Thursday. The minor update is highlighted by the restoration of FM radio support--a longtime Windows Phone OS feature dropped with the late 2012 launch of WP8--as well as Xbox Music improvements to provide more accurate metadata, a Data Sense app tracking device usage and stability improvements to services like Internet Explorer and Skype. Microsoft plans to support Windows Phone 8 through mid-2014. Earlier this year, Microsoft Senior Marketing Manager Greg Sullivan told PCMag.com that WP8 smartphone owners will be able to update their devices to future versions of the OS, avoiding the fate that befell previous Windows Phone users. Despite positive reviews for Windows Phone 8, consumers have been slow to embrace the platform: WP8 devices accounted for just 4.6 percent of all smartphones sold in the U.S. during the three-month period ending in May 2013, increasing from 3.7 percent in the year-earlier period, according to a recent report issued by research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android mobile operating system powered 52 percent of all smartphones sold in the U.S. between March 1 and May 31, followed by Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS at 41.9 percent. For more:
- read this Verge article
- read this Windows Phone 8 update history Related articles:
Microsoft's sweeping reorganization shifts focus to services, devices
Microsoft: Windows Phone is 'growing faster than anyone else'
Microsoft licenses Xbox franchise Age of Empires for iOS and Android
Halo game franchise coming to Microsoft's Windows Phone this summer
Microsoft finally expands Office productivity suite to Apple's iPhone
Microsoft targets mid-2014 to terminate Windows Phone 8, 7.8 support Read more about: Microsoft
back to top |
4. Vine, Flipboard and Path expand to Windows Phone via Nokia's Lumia 1020
Popular mobile social applications Vine, Flipboard and Path are coming to Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone operating system in conjunction with Nokia's (NYSE:NOK) new Lumia 1020 smartphone, introduced Thursday at a New York City media event. Twitter-owned Vine, introduced for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS in January and ported to Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android last month, enables mobile device owners to film and share videos running no longer than six seconds. Consumers can shoot clips in a single take or pause the recording to string together montages of brief shots. Vine's 13 million users are now sharing more than 1 million videos each day. Flipboard brings together stories, photos and videos from across multiple content platforms and social networks, leveraging a swipe-based user interface that draws inspiration from the look and feel of traditional print publications. Earlier this year, the startup rolled out overhauled iOS and Android apps giving users the tools to create and share their own customized digital magazines spotlighting any topic, event or personal interest. All customized Flipboard magazines are public and sharable via email, Facebook or Twitter. Readers can "like" items, comment on posts or even set up subscriptions for subsequent issues. More than 50 percent of Flipboard users read customized magazines every day. Path launched in 2010 as an alternative to Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), where founder Dave Morin originally helped develop Facebook Platform and Facebook Connect. Path limits social networks to 150 contacts, a move to guarantee users are interacting solely with the people closest to them. Path now boasts around 10 million registered users, with roughly half using the app on a monthly basis. The Lumia 1020 will have a 4.5-inch AMOLED PureMotion HD display in 1,280 by 768 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It will also use Qualcomm's (NASDAQ:QCOM) dual-core 1.5-GHz Snapdragon S4 processor and feature Gorilla Glass 3. During Nokia's launch event, CEO Stephen Elop showcased the new imaging capabilities for the device, which sports a 41-megapixel camera and is equipped with a backside illuminated sensor that is unique to the 1020. Nokia said that the 41-MP camera will also come with Zeiss optics and a 6-lens design. "Pictures will mean more to you. You will see things with this device that you have never seen before," Elop said. "This will change how you shoot, create and share pictures forever." Nokia is releasing a new imaging software development kit opening core Lumia 1020 image editing features to developers. The SDK is available here; Nokia said partners including CNN, Yelp and Vyclone are currently integrating the imaging features into future Windows Phone 8 app releases. AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) will be the exclusive U.S. operator selling the Lumia 1020. The smartphone will be available from the operator on July 26 for $299.99 with a two-year agreement. AT&T will begin taking pre-orders on July 16. For more:
- read this release Related articles:
AT&T to sell Nokia Lumia 1020 41-MP Windows 8 smartphone
Vine for iOS adds video channels, discovery tools and privacy options
Twitter's Vine stretches to Amazon's Kindle Fire, beats Instagram to tablets
Flipboard adds support for Instagram video, Windows Phone 8 app coming
Path again under fire for spamming users with texts, robocalls Read more about: Lumia 1020, Mobile Social Networking
back to top |
5. eMarketer slashes 2013 U.S. mobile payments forecast in half
American consumers will complete $1.04 billion in mobile-enabled payment transactions in 2013, almost doubling from $54 million a year ago, according to new data from eMarketer. The forecast is nevertheless far below the firm's previous 2013 U.S. mobile payment estimate of $2.12 billion. According to eMarketer--which defines mobile payments as transactions for goods or services made by scanning, tapping, swiping or checking in with a mobile phone at the point of sale--the growth of the segment is driven by purchases of items like coffee via closed-loop payment systems (e.g., Starbucks), as well as an increase in bigger-ticket purchases made via smartphones. The firm projects U.S. consumers will complete $2.59 billion in m-payments in 2014, a total expected to increase to $9.69 billion the following year and surging to $58.42 billion in 2017. "The significant jump in total and per-user spending over the forecast period will be driven by consumers adopting mobile payments for a wider array of products and services constituting an equally broad gamut of price points," eMarketer said. "eMarketer views this diversification as critical to driving habitual consumption, which is crucial for moving mobile payments into the mainstream." eMarketer is nevertheless scaling back estimates published in Oct. 2012: At that time, the firm anticipated consumers would complete mobile transaction values would top $2 billion this year and eclipse the $20 billion milestone in 2015, but it now believes the latter will not occur until 2016, when transactions reach $26.45 billion. eMarketer chalks up the revised forecast to delays and adoption issues facing numerous mobile wallet initiatives alongside a congested landscape of competing technological standards, adding that low-value purchases will still represent the majority of transactions in 2013, also triggering a decline in growth rates. "The failure of large-scale mobile payment schemes to take root in 2012 put many merchants and consumers in a 'wait-and-see' mode, resulting in lowered estimates," eMarketer said. "Consumers will also need to find the experience of using a mobile payment platform sufficiently convenient and valuable enough to encourage repeat use. Integration of proximity payments with other mobile commerce activities will contribute to increased consumer awareness and use, encouraging uptake, while concerns about security and smartphone battery life will gradually ebb as consumers grow more familiar with the different systems available. Absent these conditions, the market may not develop as predicted in the model." For more:
- read this release Related articles:
Starbucks: Mobile payments now 10 percent of all U.S. transactions
Report: Starbucks driving most North American mobile wallet transactions
PayPal launches mobile payments SDK for iOS, expands API library
Visa's Gadja: Mobile payment space is not fragmented, and NFC will rule the market
Visa's payWave to be incorporated into Samsung's next-gen phones Read more about: M-Commerce, Starbucks
back to top |
Also Noted | This week's sponsor is Moovweb. |  | Whitepaper: Creating the Right Mobile Strategy: What you need to know before you get started
This whitepaper will cover the pros and cons of custom mobile development, why screen-scraping isn't a good idea, how to think about mobile apps vs. mobile sites, and much more. Download Today! |
SPOTLIGHT ON... Verizon Wireless joins Ubuntu Carrier Advisory Group Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) has joined the Ubuntu Carrier Advisory Group, a consortium of mobile operators participating in technology discussions around the Linux-based operating system. The Ubuntu Carrier Advisory Group allows operators to shape Ubuntu's mobile strategy: Members receive advance confidential briefings and supply feedback, and they are also offered the chance to become a launch partner, gaining the right to ship Ubuntu devices in the markets they serve. Verizon Wireless is the first U.S. operator to join the group, whose 10-member ranks also include China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, EE and SK Telecom. Invitations are extended to any national or multinational carrier who wishes to join, although the CAG will close to new members at the end of this month. Canonical, the firm behind the Ubuntu OS, is currently preparing a mobile version optimized for both high-end and low-end smartphones. Ubuntu for phones allows users to navigate through the platform by swiping from one side of their screen to another: swiping from the left brings up a list of favorite apps, swiping from the right navigates to the most recently used app and swiping from the bottom brings up each app's menu. The first Ubuntu devices are expected to reach retail in Oct. 2013. Blog > Evolving Mobile Data Application Services With SDN - Wednesday, July 17th, 11 am ET / 8 am PT Join Openwave Mobility, Cisco, and SDNCentral as they examine the place of SDN in facilitating next-generation application services. Register Today! > The Pros and Cons of HTML5 vs. Native - Thursday, July 18, 2pm ET/ 11am PT HTML5 offers many exciting advantages that result in lower development costs. But Native apps also offer advantages, and a familiar business model for developers. Join FierceWireless as we take a look at the pros and cons of HTML5 vs. Native and what it means for developers, enterprises with custom app and more. Register Today!
| > Whitepaper: Mobile HTML5 For The Enterprise: The Optimum Path to Seamless and Secure Enterprise Mobility The key factors when choosing HTML5 as the development platform for mobile. Download Now. > Whitepaper: Intel Software Adrenaline Magazine Get the latest in touch and sensory technologies. This edition explores the frontiers of touch computing, mobile lifestyles and more. Download today. > Whitepaper: Geocoding Advantage White Paper: Best Practices for Managing Customer and Location-Based Data in Telecommunications Learn the many benefits of high-quality geocoding and how today's market leaders are employing best practices to engage customers, reduce costs, streamline processes and more effectively management risks. Download this white paper today. > eBook: Backhaul Strategies for Next-Gen Networks Wireless operators are considering various strategies when dealing with network capacity challenges. This eBook explores backhaul best practices and solutions. Download for free today. > Whitepaper: How Mobility Can Transform Your Business Mobility is more than just smartphones and tablets. IT professionals need to get their arms around on four key elements of the mobile ecosystem as the rise of mobile devices in the enterprise offer untapped opportunities for businesses...Download today! > Whitepaper: Cisco ONE: Framework for the Internet of Everything Prepare service provider networks to harness network value, increase business agility, and achieve greater operational efficiency. Learn More > Whitepaper: The Financial Benefit of Cisco's Elastic Core This whitepaper describes the financial benefits of an intelligent, converged, and programmable network. Read Now > Whitepaper: 2013 Mobile Sophistication and Strategy Study Download Kontagent's executive brief, 2013 Mobile Sophistication and Strategy Study, now and learn why some companies are set up for success in mobile, while others are stuck on the sidelines. Which type of company do you want to be? > Whitepaper: Evolving Layer 7 Application Services with NFV and SDN Learn how software defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) transforms the way mobile operators manage their infrastructure and monetize services in this whitepaper from Openwave Mobility, a software innovator enabling operators to manage and monetize growth in mobile data. > Whitepaper: How HR Is Solving the Puzzle of Leave Management Over half of HR professionals are unsure how much employee absence costs their organization. This unsettling statistic was revealed in the Optis survey conducted in June at the SHRM 2012 Annual Conference & Exposition in Atlanta. Find out more and download today!
| > Tower Crew Foreman – Minneapolis, MN – CCI Systems, Inc. CCI Systems is a 100% employee owned company seeking experienced tower crew foremen to lead crews on the construction and implementation of cell site upgrades, antenna change outs, new cabling, and all required testing and documentation. Duties & Responsibilities include lead work on tower top…Learn more > Sales Executive with ability to Speak Mandarin – Florham Park, NJ – PCS Wireless The Sales Executive will be responsible for all sales activities, from lead generation through close in an assigned territory. He or she will develop and implement agreed upon Sales Plan which will meet both personal and business goals of expanding customer base in the marketing area…Learn More > Sales Executive, Bilingual Spanish – PCS Wireless – Florham Park, NJ The Sales Executive will be responsible for all sales activities, from lead generation through close in an assigned territory. Candidates must be fluent in Spanish as well as in writing in Spanish. He or she will develop an annual business plan in conjunction with Sales Manager… Learn More > Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs | |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Keep a civil tongue.