http://www.informationweek.comInformationWeeken-usCopyright 2012, UBM LLC.2012-01-30T12:46:15ZMore U.S. consumers hold on to feature phones and dumb phones. Are U.S. carriers to blame?http://www.informationweek.com/news/232500674?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityEuropeans are ahead of the United States when it comes to smartphone adoption. The rate in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom is about 42% compared to 39% here. Part of the reason may be the differences in how carriers operate in the two regions. <P> The latest <a href="http://econsultancy.com/us/blog/8805-smartphone-penetration-hits-42-across-eu5">ComScore report</a> shows that Symbian still reigns in Europe, powering 32% of smartphones in use in those five countries. That doesn't mean it is the current market leader in sales, as many of those phones are a few years old. Google Android has 28% of that "E5" market and Apple iOS 21%, both of which are headquartered in the United States. <P> The phone market in Europe is very different from the North American market. In Europe, everything is on the GSM network and everyone uses the same radio frequencies. While you can buy a phone from a carrier on contract, it is normal to buy one on the open market, unlocked. You can then buy a SIM card from a carrier and snap it in your phone. <P> In the United States it is rare to buy an unlocked phone. Even if you did, you can only easily set it up on either the T-Mobile or AT&T network. Even then, with the different frequencies in use, you may be limited in what services you can get. Getting an unlocked phone on the CDMA networks that Verizon and Sprint operate is a bit more difficult. <P> Those differences may make Europeans a bit more comfortable investing in higher-end phones. They do it with the knowledge that they can easily switch carriers if desired. In the United States, if you change networks, your only option with your current phone is to sell it online, and then pay $200 and get locked into a two-year contract with your new carrier. <P> There is also the issue that U.S. consumers are <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/blog/mobility/232500512">confused by smartphone offerings</a>, particularly about 4G wireless. Oddly enough, Europe is lagging in 4G implementation. That suggests that a clear message about a slower network is better received than a confusing message about a faster network. <P> Know anyone that is holding off on a smartphone? What are the reasons they give?2012-01-26T10:54:03ZVendors have bombarded consumers with conflicting information about smartphone costs, network data speeds, and features, slowing adoption and upgrade rates.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232500512?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityThe smartphone market has been growing at an astonishing rate, a trend that was kicked off when the first iPhone launched in 2007. For people familiar with technology, smartphones are a no-brainer. For others though, making such a significant investment requires research to get comfortable making the leap. The relatively high cost as well as confusing information on what exactly 4G is has kept the growth rate for smartphones below where it could be. <P> Analysys Mason has <a href="http://www.fiercewireless.com/europe/story/report-smartphones-uptake-limited-confused-and-indifferent-consumers/2012-01-25">surveyed 7,485 consumers</a> regarding smartphone purchases. About 46% that don't currently own a smartphone cited the high price of ownership as well as not seeing advantages of the functionality the devices provide. Buying an iPhone at Verizon will cost $200 for a 16-GB 4S, plus at least $70 per month for 450 minutes and 2 GB of data, and that ignores taxes. That will be more $2,000 during the next two years when all fees are factored in. People expect to know exactly what they are getting when committing to such a bill. <P> The term "4G" hasn't helped matters though. In fact, simply having a "4" in the device name causes confusion as nearly half of iPhone 4/4S owners think their device supports 4G. When you throw in the various technologies that T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon call 4G, it is enough to confuse even the tech savvy. <P> Cellular service providers need to invest in programs that educate the consumer about what their network offers. That would also let users know what phones today will work on their 4G networks in the future. Instead, money is spent on commercials full of computer graphics showing phones flying through the air while the voice-over claims its network is the fastest while disparaging the competition. <P> Information on service provider sites is no more useful in clearing the air. According to the author of the report, if carriers could lay out this information in a clear and concise matter, it would "have a significant impact on take-up of these technologies." <P> It is a risky move though. It means being honest about what they can deliver, which includes highlighting where the competition has some features and services that are better.2012-01-25T12:17:07ZFragmentation allows variety among device makers, but can cause frustration for developers and lower satisfaction among end users.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232500433?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityIf there's one complaint you hear about Google's Android platform, it is about fragmentation. It happens at the device level, the OS level, with the UI, and even with specific apps and services some carriers or manufacturers use. There are plusses and minuses to all of these, and it looks like Google has lost control, ceding the problems to the licensees. <P> Microsoft went through this with Windows Mobile starting in about 2005, and it created serious problems as the platform aged. Palm also had fragmentation in the later years of PalmOS, and it caused enough issues that some developers quit developing for the platform. The economics of developing apps has changed radically in the last two years, though, so fragmentation is no longer something that can be avoided. Instead, it must be dealt with. <P> As <a href="http://ceklog.kindel.com/2012/01/14/fragmentation-is-not-the-end-of-android/">Charlie Kindel's article</a> explains, fragmentation causes problems--but it won't be the death knell for Android. <P> Let's start with the UI. Users moving from one phone to another may have a very different experience because each manufacturer has customized the interface. Consumers are generally used to a consistent experience across different machines if the platform is the same. Windows computers are built by many manufactures, for example, but the desktop is the same overall. If you have an Android phone and move to another one, it can be a jarring experience to see that new screen for the first time and figure out how to do things with the new phone that were second nature with the old one. <P> Google is at least trying to alleviate some of the pain here. Manufacturers can put their custom UI on a device, but they are now required to also <a href="http://www.electronista.com/articles/12/01/03/android.4.ui.elements.required.to.get.market/">support the stock Holo</a> theme so the user can revert to that if desired. <P> Another big issue is that carriers and manufacturers too often fail to provide updates for phones, even though the vast majority of phones are capable of running one, two, or more OS revisions beyond the one it shipped with. Today there are <a href="http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html">eleven major versions</a> of Android in use on phones and tablets, and probably dozens of sub-versions. Fully 30% run Froyo, which is nearly two years old. <P> You cannot argue with the success Android has had in the market. But you have to wonder if Android's satisfaction rate, which is around 50%, would be higher if its fragmentation was more tightly controlled. <P>2012-01-24T11:45:11ZStock drops after new chief Thorsten Heins said he'll stay the course laid out by his predecessors.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232500345?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityFor months, shareholders have been clamoring for something to change in the stop-slot at the company. Co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie built the company, but in recent years, it has taken a beating from Apple, the Android platform, and its own missteps. Thorsten Heins took the reins Monday and spoke for 30 minutes to analysts about the transition. The market was not impressed. <P> On the Toronto Stock Exchange, RIM fell 9.11% to $15.60 in Canadian dollars. The story was similar on the Nasdaq, where RIM fell $1.44 to $15.56, or an 8.47% drop. The concern may be that although there have been some name changes, it looks like the strategy will remain the same. This is a strategy that hasn't served the company well in the last few years. <P> <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39386908/ns/business-us_business/t/blackberry-makers-ceos-hand-reins-insider/">Heins said</a>, "I don't think that there is some drastic change needed. We are evolving ... but this is not a seismic change." He seemed to focus on the need for better execution, but not a change in strategy. Spoken like a true COO, which was Heins' former position. <P> Heins committed to the BlackBerry 10 platform and silenced any rumors that the company would look at Android. <a href="http://informationweek.com/news/mobility/smart_phones/232500267">Eric Zeman</a> said that focusing on the new platform should be the number one priority, followed by reaching out to developers to create a sustainable ecosystem. <P> The first problem is that it isn't a given BlackBerry 10 is the right way to go. Focusing on the wrong direction doesn't earn you an A for effort in the business world, especially one as cutthroat as mobile phones. <P> Secondly, I believe RIM has pulled the rug out from under prospective BlackBerry 10 buyers by supporting Android apps. If you are a software developer and you can support three platforms by writing for two, why in the world would you spend the time and effort to learn a third platform and develop a native app for it? Sure, RIM will make sure that some native apps are written, but I'd be surprised if a significant number would be. <P> That means future BlackBerry 10 handset owners will largely be running Android apps. How does that differentiate BlackBerry from Android? Where is the competitive advantage? <P> These and other questions are likely being asked by shareholders today, as enough of them dumped their shares to drive the price to within $3 of the 52-week low.2012-01-23T11:35:21ZNokia partnership will launch Microsoft's platform to second place in global smartphone market share, iSuppli forecasts.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232500262?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityWindows Phone is currently a distant fourth in what looks like a four-horse race for smartphone platforms. Android has nearly half of the global market. The iPhone's iOS platform is at around 18% share. All other platforms together, including BlackBerry, Bada, and the remnants of webOS, make up about a third of the market, and Windows Phone is barely a blip on the radar. Not for the first time, research indicates that by 2015 Microsoft will move from being a young startup in the smartphone world to second place. Nokia gets much of the credit for this. <P> In April 2011, IDC made <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/articles/229401210">a similar prediction</a>. This time, the analysts are from iSuppli. It predicts that iOS will fall slightly from 18% today to 16% in 2015. This will allow Windows Phone to move up to be equal--or just ahead--of iOS. The "other" category, though, will dive from 33% today to less than 9%. <P> For platforms that are essentially dead, like Symbian and webOS, this is no big deal. The problem is, BlackBerry is in this category. That doesn't bode well for RIM at all. It has already been suggested that <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/articles/232500106">RIM give up on BlackBerry</a> altogether and move to Android or Windows Phone, and iSuppli's forecast suggests sticking with its own platform makes little sense over the long term. <P> It makes you wonder whether Windows Phone could have made it on its own, without the Nokia partnership. Devices like the Lumia 710, 800, and 900 have all garnered good reviews, each with its own price point. Nokia also has great relationships with most international carriers and has committed to giving its relationships with North American carriers a boost. <P> While the announcement last year by Nokia to abandon its Symbian and Meego platforms and adopt Windows Phone was surprising to many, in hindsight the phone manufacturer had no choice. The former platform was dead already and the latter was a huge unknown with no ecosystem at all. Nokia could have gone with Android, of course, but its deal with Microsoft includes more than just a license. Marketing dollars, more input into how the OS evolves, and Nokia's name on Bing mobile mapping sites are just a few goodies that never would have come from adopting Android. <P> There has been a lot of hype about Windows Phone in recent weeks, and expect more out of Mobile World Congress in late February. There is little doubt its share will increase, but whether or not it rises to second place, well, I think it is too early to tell. Apple won't sit still for the next three years.2012-01-20T11:30:29ZTo be successful in North America, you have to have a device on the biggest network, Verizon.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232500175?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityThe Lumia 710 has been getting good reviews after having launched on the T-Mobile network recently, especially at the $50 price point. There is a lot of enthusiasm for the Lumia 900 coming soon to AT&T. Both of those networks use the global GSM standard though. To be successful in North America, you have to have a device on the biggest network, Verizon. <P> In an interview on <a href="http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/nokias-weber-looks-beyond-att-t-mobile-2012-growth/2012-01-19">FierceWireless</a>, Nokia U.S. president Chris Weber stated Verizon is an important partner for the carrier, but I am not sure Verizon feels the same way. <P> Verizon has said that it wants to <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/business/232200719">focus on LTE devices</a> and has even gone as far as saying that <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/blog/mobility/232400323">all future smartphones</a> it launches must support the 4G standard. Thus far, Windows Phone 7, on which Nokia is standardizing in the United States, doesn't support LTE and, therefore, Verizon has shown little interest. <P> When asked about Windows Phone's lack of market success thus far and if LTE was partially to blame, Weber chose his words carefully. <P> "I don't know if I can talk about what's caused the results to date on it. I think there's a lot of things that go into that," Weber said. "I think you've got to have great hardware, and obviously Nokia brings some very innovative hardware. I think obviously the LTE support helps. &#91;It's&#93; building the ecosystem, so Windows is 50,000 apps and they're adding a significant amount on a daily and weekly basis--all of those things combined. I feel like we've got an innovative set of products." <P> That is a pretty long non-answer. Without insulting or attacking Microsoft's other Windows Phone partners, he simply said Nokia has its own way to innovate and that will be its strategy. <P> He was also asked about second-tier carriers. He would only go so far as to say that Nokia wants multiple partnerships. Since Nokia wants to give each U.S. carrier it works with a <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/blog/mobility/232400119">unique offering</a>, I would think it is putting most of its efforts on finding a solution for Verizon that Big Red will want to get behind. <P> For now, we'll have to be content with the 710 and 900. There are rumors the 710 will make its way to Verizon, but that isn't going to be a blockbuster launch. For that, Nokia needs to get an LTE device ready and price it competitively, but not as an entry-level phone.2012-01-19T11:55:17ZRIM's best move may be to cut its losses on BlackBerry 10 and adopt Android or Windows Phone instead.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232500106?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityRIM is planning to launch its BlackBerry 10 smartphone platform in September 2012, but that is a best-case scenario. If there are any problems in development, that date slips. Even if it launches on time, it won't be smooth sailing for the QNX-based platform. It will be way behind in app development. Should RIM drop it altogether and focus on integrating either Android or Windows Phone into its future handsets? <P> <a href="http://gdgt.com/discuss/it-s-time-for-rim-to-abandon-blackberry-10-and-adopt-either-android-or-windows-phone-iaf/">Peter Rojas</a> at Gdgt thinks so. He argues that the market is now made up of two dominant forces, iOS and Android. This will either be the breakout year for Windows Phone, or it will be the year people talk about putting it out to pasture if sales don't pick up. I think the former is more likely, now that Nokia is launching devices and putting a lot of funding into marketing. A LOT of funding. <P> Can RIM do the same thing though with BlackBerry 10? There have been two major platform launches in the last three years, webOS and Windows Phone. The former is now dead. HP purchased Palm and webOS in 2010 and, just over a year later, killed off all devices and open-sourced the platform. The potential return wasn't worth the billions HP would have had to spend to make the platform a contender. <P> It wasn't that webOS wasn't a good platform, it simply didn't have the ecosystem necessary to compete with iOS and Android. Windows Phone has been fighting the same battle since launching in fall 2010--and making little headway. The Nokia partnership, though, appears to be bearing fruit, and the OS has a real chance to become the third major platform. <P> RIM simply doesn't have the resources to make that happen. BlackBerry 10 won't be a platform substantially better than the competition. The company does make a great keyboard, but not everyone wants a keyboard. Those who do are unlikely to switch from their current smartphone just for that, especially if it means losing most of their apps. The current trend is as more people use smartphones, the <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/18/2715730/smartphone-penetration-increase-iOS-Android-market-share-grows-nielsen-report">worse the problem becomes for RIM</a>. <P> The reality is though, RIM won't change course. The company has an arrogance about it, at least with the current co-CEOs in place. Five years ago, that confidence was well justified. It had the best overall email solution for companies, one that was so popular it won over a lot of consumers as well. Today things are different. Everyone supports Exchange ActiveSync for push email, which is a secure solution and requires no extra hardware or software in the IT department. IT departments today not only welcome, but often recommend the iPhone or an Android device. Consumers moved to modern touchscreen devices years ago. <P> Watching RIM is eerily similar to watching Palm over the last decade. Both created a market and then dominated in it, both continued to ship an aging platform way past its prime, and both took too long to come out with a replacement. All that is left to finish the tale is for <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/business/232500039">RIM to be acquired</a>, then abandoned. <P> That is more likely to occur than you might think if RIM forges ahead with its current plans.2012-01-18T08:30:00ZMicrosoft's forthcoming tablets have the bar set high for minimum hardware requirements.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232400502?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityWindows 8 won't be the first table entry for Microsoft, but the market may finally be ready for the software giant's idea of what a tablet should be. The Tablet PC, based on Windows XP, and aimed at the tablet form factor, arrived in 2005. Today you can find Windows 7 running on a variety of Slate PCs. Neither idea really took off. Windows 8, however, is designed from the ground up with a UI designed for touch. The hardware specs give us a sense of what the tablets will offer. <P> With desktop and laptop computers, Microsoft has little or no control over what manufactures include in the hardware. With the tablet though, Microsoft is <a href="http://www.theverge.com/microsoft/2012/1/17/2713192/windows-8-tablet-and-pc-hardware-requirements">keeping a tight grip on what is allowed</a>. This will give the platform a minimum performance level and uniform user experience, helping to ensure that reviews of the OS won't be dragged down by anemic hardware, or features that are difficult to access because an OEM is trying to safe a few pennies. <P> Gone is the need for three keys that have been on PCs since time immemorial--CTRL-ALT-DEL. Computers with keyboards will still use the three-fingered salute, but tablets will use the Windows key with the power button, to the same effect. Tablets will also be required to have a rotation lock button and volume buttons in addition to power and the Windows key. <P> As for the more interesting parts of the machine, a 720P camera is mandated. WLAN support, Bluetooth 4.0, a gyroscope, at least one USB 2.0 port, speakers, an accelerometer, and a magnetometer are also required. The minimum screen resolution is 1366x768. It is a shame that there is no SD card slot requirement. No one should have to grab a USB card reader to get images from a camera. <P> No specs were given on RAM, storage, and power consumption, but I suspect those will be released in the coming months. <P> This isn't the first time Microsoft has laid out hardware requirements. The original Pocket PC in 2000 required up/down navigation buttons, an OK button, a record button, and a power button. Those requirements were relaxed in subsequent years though, leading to fragmentation that frustrated users. Some manufactures dispensed with the OK button, requiring the user to grab the stylus and touch the screen. Small issues like that can really drive up the frustration level over time. <P> With the release of Windows Phone, Microsoft reset its requirements for buttons and other features with the chassis 1 spec. From a usability standpoint, this has been successful. If Windows Phone has received one thing, it is good reviews on its speed and silky smooth interface, much of which depends on solid hardware. <P>2012-01-17T14:54:11ZIs hiring the investment firm a sign that the BlackBerry maker is ready to seriously entertain buyout offers?http://www.informationweek.com/news/232400414?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityIt's true that 2011 was surely among the worst for RIM, and 2012 isn't shaping up to be much better. <P> Operational issues like the big network crash of 2011 aside, RIM is still in trouble. The current BlackBerry OS 7.0 was effectively dead on arrival. Everyone knew that BlackBerry 10 was in the works long before 7.0 hit the streets. BlackBerry 10 is a complete rewrite using the QNX platform, similar to the PlayBook tablet, and is a major undertaking for the company. The problem with knowing an all-new OS is in the works is it tamps enthusiasm for the current platform, both from a user and developer standpoint. <P> Making matters worse is the launch date <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/smart_phones/232400449">keeps getting pushed out</a>. Don't expect to see a phone running the new OS until late 2012. <P> RIM's foray into the tablet market hasn't been a success either. The company is selling <em>all</em> of the PlayBooks for $299. Why anyone would pay $299 for a 16 GB model when you can get the 64 GB version for the same price is beyond me. The whole thing looks like a closeout sale to me. <P> None of these issues alone is critical, but together they add up. The board has finally realized things won't get any better without some outside help. It has hired <a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2012/01/12/rim-stock-up-on-talk-blackberry-maker-hired-goldman/">Goldman Sachs</a> to help RIM out of the mess it is in. It looks like the company has realized that doing more of the same will yield only the same results, which haven't been good. <P> Recall we saw <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/business/231600175">rumors of buyout offers</a>, or at least feelers, in 2011 from Amazon and a Nokia/Microsoft partnership.Those rumors may bear fruit this year. <P> Android and iOS are putting significant pressure on BlackBerry, and despite Windows Phone's distant 4th place status in the market, the platform is modern and is expected to show a <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/microsoft_news/232400222">lot of growth this year</a>. RIM is the odd man out--its current platform is ancient in comparison and there will be nothing new for months. A sale or other venture could be the best thing for the company and its shareholders.2012-01-13T14:59:04ZTo ease traffic on its 3G network, Verizon wants all future smartphone releases to support LTE.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232400323?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityVerizon made its name by having the best overall network in the country. With users consuming more and more data with each generation of smartphone, the limits of the current 3G network will become evident in the near future. Verizon could, of course, invest in its 3G network so it can grow, but why invest in yesterday's technology? The better bet is to move customers to its new 4G network by requiring new smartphones to support it. <P> Verizon currently has a batch of LTE phones running Android, but <a href="http://ces.cnet.com/8301-33370_1-57357241/verizon-all-our-smartphones-will-be-4g-lte/">other phones supporting the 4G technology</a> are already in the works for BlackBerry and Windows Phone handsets. Of course, Apple won't be left behind. Both the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 should <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/mobiledia/2011/12/02/apple-to-add-4g-lte-to-iphone-5-ipad-3/">support LTE</a>. <P> In addition to phones, hotspots, tablets, and netbooks also will move to the new network. There will be some exceptions to the new rule. If you need a push-to-talk phone, those will likely be 3G for some time to come. <P> Before it moves exclusively to 4G for smartphones though, Verizon needs to improve its LTE network reliability. The network went down <a href="http://androidcommunity.com/verizon-experiencing-another-network-outage-can-you-hear-me-now-20111228/">three times in December</a>, and the outages were widespread and several hours long. <P> Many consumers won't see significant performance benefits from 4G. While those that stream video or use larger devices like tablets and netbooks will love the speed of the LTE network, smartphone users may not. Web browsing will be faster, but over 3G, it isn't too slow. Social network updates, email, and other apps also work fine over 3G. <P> The point is, the biggest benefactor, at least initially, of moving to LTE is Verizon. The company needs to first ensure, though, that the network is stable--far more stable than it has been in recent weeks. <P> If you are in the market for a 4G device on Verizon's network, you need to act fast. The company is running a "double data" promotion where you can get 4-GB, 10-GB, or 20-GB plans for the price of its 2-GB, 5-GB, or 10-GB plans, respectively. That deal expires this Sunday, January 15.2012-01-12T15:02:25ZMicrosoft failed to gain much ground in the mobile phone market in 2011, but its partners should help it grab a piece of the market this year. http://www.informationweek.com/news/232400222?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityDespite having several high-profile partners at its 2010 launch, over a year later the Windows Phone hasn't made significant waves in a pool that is dominated by iOS and Android. But Morgan Stanley sees the Nokia partnership as a catalyst that <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/microsoft_news/232400203">could make the Windows Phone a contender. <P> <A HREF="http://allthingsd.com/20120111/nokia-could-sell-37-million-windows-phones-this-year/?mod=tweet">Morgan Stanley is projecting</A> Nokia to move 37 million phones in 2012 that run Windows Phone 7. In 2013, they predict that number will jump to 64 million. <P> For Microsoft, the news gets better. HTC is expected to ship 43 million Windows Phones this year and 74 million in 2013. That says nothing of what Samsung, Acer, and LG will ship. <P> Assuming those numbers come to pass, that would average 219,000 daily activations from just two OEMs. <A HREF="http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/21/9614252-google-says-there-are-700000-android-activations-a-day">Compare that</A> to over 315,000 per day for the iPhone and 700,000 per day for Android. It isn't market leading, but it is respectable. <P> Once volume picks up, more top-tier sites will begin to support the platform with apps of their own. And each new app is one less reason for a user to hang on to their current device when upgrade time comes. <P> Word of mouth from existing users will also help. During CES, Microsoft is ready to pony up $100 to anyone who takes the #smokedbywindowsphone challenge. The goal here is to show how easy the platform is to use and how fast you can do things with it. In the contest, a Microsoft rep and a challenger agree on a scenario, such updating a social network status, identifying a song that's playing, texting your spouse, etc. If you win with your phone, you walk away $100 richer. If you lose, you just have to concede that you got smoked on camera. <A HREF="http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2012/01/11/day-1-results-from-the-smokedbywindowsphone-100-challenge.aspx">The first day</A>, Windows Phone racked up 21 wins, two losses, and one tie. Word of mouth, more high-profile apps, and projections above 70 million phones in 2012 bode well for the platform. But it also means that the Windows Phone has to perform. If sales don't take off now, the only thing left to do would be for the civilized nations to get together and sign a treaty banning the use of iOS or Android behind their borders. <P>2012-01-11T15:06:39ZWill unique devices appease carriers and change Nokia's Microsoft Phone fortunes?http://www.informationweek.com/news/232400119?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityNokia's new Lumia line, which runs Windows Phone 7, started rolling out late last year with the 800 in European markets. The <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/smart_phones/232400141">710 launched</a> on T-Mobile Wednesday and the 900 will be at AT&T later this year. In an effort to make inroads back into the U.S. market, Nokia is committed to providing unique phones to each of the carriers. Will this be enough to give Windows Phone 7 the traction it needs? <P> In speaking to <A HREF="http://www.fiercewireless.com/ceslive/story/nokia-deliver-exclusive-us-windows-phone-devices-each-carrier/">FierceWireless</A>, Chris Weber, Nokia's president for the North American market, said: "The most important thing we can do in the U.S. market is bring exclusive devices and opportunities to each of the carriers. Doing that exclusivity, and giving them something unique, allows us to get great carrier support." <P> The big question is: What is going on with Verizon? It was recently reported that Big Red confirmed its early December pronouncement that it would carry <A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/business/232200719">no more Windows Phones</A> (and thus Nokia devices) without LTE support. But in late December we learned that Nokia has <A HREF="http://www.winsupersite.com/blog/supersite-blog-39/windowsphone75/exclusive-microsofts-lte-plans-windows-phone-141743">several LTE devices coming out</A> in the first half of this year. It seems, though, that they will all be on AT&T's network, because Verizon turned down the opportunity to carry them. However, reports say the Lumia 710 is coming to Verizon by April of this year. <P> We'll have to wait and see what Nokia does to promote its phones. Even though the company hasn't had a big presence in the U.S. recently, it is still one of the most well-known brands in the technology world. It will rollout a marketing campaign for the Lumia 710 on T-Mobile and offer a $50 rebate, bringing the phone's price down to $50 with a two-year contract. While it's too early to know pricing on the 900, I'm sure Nokia will be just as aggressive in marketing for AT&T. <P> Will it be enough, though, to turn both Nokia's and Windows Phone's fortunes around? We should have a good idea how well it is working by this summer.2012-01-10T11:01:52ZNew Forrester report has advice for enterprises supporting the consumerization of IT.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232400022?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityPublishing an app in an enterprise today means supporting at least two platforms--and potentially up to four--to cover all of your employees. Unlike apps published for consumers, enterprise apps often need to rollout changes and enhancements simultaneously to all employees, rather than one platform at a time. How can you maximize functionality and performance without breaking the bank or killing your IT staff? <P> Forrester Research has released a report called "<a href="http://www.forrester.com/rb/Research/building_mobile_apps_start_with_web%3B_move/q/id/61154/t/2">Building Mobile Apps? Start with the Web; Move to Hybrid</a>." It discusses the four main approaches to development: native, hybrid, mobile middleware, and Web. <P> Native apps are the best-performing apps. They are tailored to each platform and take advantage of functionality provided by the OS. For example, Evernote probably has <a href="http://www.evernote.com/evernote/">more clients available</a> than most apps. It supports Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Android, Blackberry, webOS, Windows Phone 7, as well as ensuring Web compatibility and native clipping features for Safari, Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox. Evernote has stated in podcasts and blogs that native apps provide the richest customer experience, and it's worth it for the company to invest to target each platform specifically. <P> The disadvantage for Evernote is each client is at a different level of functionality. Just peruse through the <a href="http://blog.evernote.com/category/product-updates/">Evernote Blog</a> to see features added to some platforms while others must wait a while. That works for consumer apps, but not for enterprise apps. You generally need to get the same level of functionality out to everyone at roughly the same time. <P> How do you determine what approach to take? By answering some questions about your objectives, strategy, existing technology, and a few others, you can figure out which application model works best for you. For example, if you are a smaller company and the app is 100% internal, you can limit device support to perhaps one or two platforms. For larger companies, where employees as well as external business partners need access to the app, you may now have three to four platforms. <P> The Forrester report will guide you through some of these issues, hopefully saving you time and resources by not heading down a path that will cost too much, or worse, leave you with a project that never quite gets off of the ground.2012-01-06T14:30:59ZApple's best years are behind it, opines one financial reporter. Really? We don't see anyone getting a Samsung tattoo.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232301387?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilitySince launching the Apple II personal computer, Apple has been viewed as a different kind of company. Though all of its products haven't been runaway best sellers, many have attracted a lot of attention. Beginning with the original iMac in 1998, its products often became hits. It revolutionized portable music with the iPod and mobile computing with the iPhone and iPad. Has the company peaked though? <P> Brian Deagon of <a href="http://news.investors.com/article/596371/201112301416/2012-predictions-includes-woes-for-apple-google.htm">Investors Business Daily</a> thinks Apple's best years are behind it. He said "the iPhone is boxy, flat, and feeling stale" and "smartphones and tablets will become commodity items and Apple will be eaten by the collective Android gang." <P> From a sales standpoint, Deagon may have a point. The iPhone is still the number one selling phone, but Android has far surpassed iOS as the largest platform. The Kindle Fire, which uses a heavily customized version of Android, is estimated to have <a href="http://www.bgr.com/2012/01/03/kindle-fire-cost-apple-1-billion-or-more-in-holiday-ipad-sales">cost Apple at least $1 billion</a> in iPad sales during the holiday season. <P> This may represent a financial challenge to the company as it looks to create new markets or radically transform others, as it has done several times in the last decade. That might make Apple's stock uncool to investors, but that doesn't mean the company itself will lose any of its luster anytime soon. <P> Deagon cites the Samsung Galaxy smartphone as one example of something cooler than the iPhone. On paper, it <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/smart_phones/232200123">may have better specs</a>. It may have certain features the iPhone lacks, but that doesn't make it more cool. Ask any random person on the street if they would rather have an iPhone or the Galaxy, I'd be shocked if most knew what the latter even was. <P> Apple is more than a company. It is an image. People love Apple. They want others to know they use Apple devices. Some even do it to the point of being <a href="http://barefootrunninguniversity.com/2012/01/04/cautionary-tale-for-barefoot-runners-dont-become-an-apple-whack-job/">supremely annoying about it</a>. <P> Nothing is guaranteed of course, but Apple was cool long before it was a market leader, and it will be capable of being the same even if it no longer leads the mobile race. What will cause it to lose its cool factor is mismanagement of the legend Steve Jobs created, not some technological wizardry from Samsung or anyone else. How many people would consider getting a Samsung tattoo on their body? Yeah, I thought so.2012-01-05T11:30:42ZSMS isn't going away, but looks to have peaked. That hits carriers in the pocketbook.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232301313?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilitySMS messages are used year-round, but usage tends to spike during holidays. Finland's largest carrier, Sonera, recorded a 22% decline in texting on Christmas Eve in 2011 versus the same night in 2010. It isn't that people are communicating less. They are just using more modern methods of communicating. <P> Text messaging was conceived of in the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS">early 1980s</A> but it was 1992 before the first text message was sent over a phone network. The service became extremely popular over the years, especially among teens, who developed a <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_language">language</A> just for texting. Its usage has probably peaked though. <P> Hong Kong saw a <A HREF="http://www.forbes.com/sites/terokuittinen/2011/12/29/more-signs-of-steep-text-message-erosion/">similar decrease</A> on Christmas, dropping 14% from the same day in 2010. There are no stats yet available for 2011 Christmastime SMS trends in the United States, but if it wasn't down last month, it surely will be over the next few years. <P> People are moving towards IP-based communication methods that have many of the advantages of SMS without some of the limitations. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters, plus it isn't unheard of for a message to get lost or delayed for hours. IP messaging eliminates both issues. <P> Groupme is a popular app on various smartphone platforms that allows you to set up groups, even a group of just two people. It allows you to chat simultaneously across multiple platforms. Blackberry, Apple iOS, Android, and Windows Phone all have a native app. The beauty of Groupme is you can still communicate with people that don't have one of those platforms. Each group you create is assigned a phone number, for free, that you can text to. With that number, friends with their old school feature phones can still be part of your conversation. <P> The major phone platforms also have their own IP-based messaging that users are increasingly switching to. Windows Phone 7 users can drift between SMS, Messenger, and Facebook Chat depending on what system their partner is on. iOS users are using iMessage, and Blackberry users have been using BBM for years. <P> Another advantage of these IP systems is they are virtually free. They use minimal data so even those with the most meager of data allowances won't consume a material part of their monthly allotment by messaging this way, and won't use any of it over Wi-Fi. SMS messages still cost money though. <P> Most people that text a lot buy a bundle of messages. AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon all have a $20 per month unlimited messaging plan. Without the plans, you will generally get charged 20 cents for each message. Unless you are still heavily into texting, the price per message may be the better deal. <P> SMS will still be around for years to come as it is a quick and cheap way to get various alerts, but as more users get comfortable with IP systems, especially those that are cross-platform, expect texting to steadily decline. That is something that can hit the carriers where it hurts--the pocketbook.2011-12-29T09:17:43ZMicrosoft has two updates planned for its mobile platform next year, and its application store has a lot of apps. Will it spur sales?http://www.informationweek.com/news/232301115?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityTwo big events happened in 2011 for Windows Phone. First, Nokia announced it was abandoning Symbian and switching to Windows Phone, and it released a few devices late in the year with more planned in 2012. Second, Microsoft shipped the Mango update to just about every user. Both events generated a lot of news, but sales have yet to move upward. Will 2012 be a better year for the platform? <P> Microsoft is already planning two major updates in 2012, code named Tango and Apollo. <a href="http://wmpoweruser.com/leaked-windows-phone-roadmap-gives-us-a-peak-into-the-future/">WMPoweruser</a> has obtained a few slides showing the roadmap for WP7. Both Tango and Apollo are targeted for the fourth quarter. It looks like it will be a bit of a fork in the platform. <P> Tango looks like it will be targeted for low-end devices in order to compete on price. These will be the phones you get for $50 or less, even for free, when you sign a two-year contract in the U.S. This has been a key area in which Android has dominated. Brand new devices like the T-Mobile LG DoublePlay or the Verizon LG Enlighten have come out of the gate as free devices, helping fuel Android's increase in market share. Even Apple has gotten into the game by continuing to sell the 3GS for $0.99 on AT&T's network. <P> Apollo is for higher end phones. Microsoft expects it will increase sales and cater more to businesses. It should also allow for "competitive superphones," which presumably means dual-core processors and LTE radios. <P> The Windows Phone Marketplace has also <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/12/windows-phone-reportedly-passes-50000-apps.html">surpassed 50,000 apps</a>. While still significantly behind Android and iOS in the app count, it is growing at a respectable rate. It took just over a year to get to 40,000 apps, but the next 10,000 came in just 90 days. <P> It still lacks in content though. All too often, when sites post articles on apps, Windows Phone is left out. LifeHacker has a weekly "<a href="http://lifehacker.com/5870992/this-weeks-top-downloads">Most Popular Downloads</a>" post. When looking at the last three weeks, there are seven apps listed for Android, six for iOS and even one for Blackberry. Windows Phone was nowhere to be found. Users read these kinds of articles and when seeing Android and iOS mentioned so often, it impacts buying decisions. People don't put a lot of consideration into what comes with the phone. Email, SMS, Web browsing, voice calls, etc. are just table stakes. What really matters is what is the phone capable of when downloading a few apps. <P> Nokia and Mango should both boost sales, and we will know when Q4 2011 numbers start coming in how much they move the needle. They will have to, because future updates are about a year away.2011-12-28T10:00:00ZIn 2011, 93 different Android phones have been released across nine U.S. carriers. But there's a downside to this diversity.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232301065?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityProponents of Android claim that one of its benefits is the ability of manufacturers and carriers to customize the platform. This lets each OEM differentiate its devices. Carriers can then add their own special sauce, further adding to the mix. <P> In 2011, <a href="http://www.chipchick.com/2011/12/android-smarphones-2011.html">93 different Android phones</a> have been counted across nine U.S. carriers. Add in unlocked phones purchased from abroad, and the number of new models in use in the United States could well be above 100. This reminds me when feature phones where in their heyday. Every carrier had several different models with unique selling points. <P> The advantage of Android, of course, is in its ability to share common features across all models, regardless of the carrier or manufacturer. Features like Gmail, Google Maps, and the hundreds of thousands of apps in the various Android applications markets give users semi-consistent capabilities regardless of the model they buy. <P> AT&amp;T had the broadest selection of devices, numbering 21, followed by Verizon with its 17 models. Nearly a third of Big Red's selection bore the company's Droid brand. While T-Mobile and Sprint are a distant third and fourth place in market share, that isn't the case when it comes to Android phones. They launched 16 and 15 devices, respectively. The smaller carriers such as US Cellular, Cricket, and Virgin each had at least three Android launches this year. <P> 46 of the phones purport to be capable of 4G speed, but only 9 came with 4G LTE. Still, that group pretty much sums up the LTE market, since Blackberry, iOS, and Windows Phone devices didn't launch any LTE choices this year. <P> While this differentiation is liked by some people, it also causes problems. For example, Samsung puts its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TouchWiz">TouchWiz</a> interface on its Android phones. It also has various versions of TouchWiz on the Bada system, older Windows Mobile devices, and even the Symbian-based Samsung i8910. Samsung is so enamored with its custom interface, it has decided that Samsung Galaxy SII, released just this summer, won't get an upgrade to Android 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich. The brand new device <a href="http://wirelessandmobilenews.com/2011/12/android-4.0-ice-cream-sandwich-samsung-galaxy-fascinate-captivate-vibrant.html">doesn't have enough RAM or ROM</a> to run both ICS and TouchWiz. It probably never occurred to Samsung to release an update without TouchWiz and give its users the latest version of Android. <P> Having so many devices also makes it a nightmare to keep them all up to date. In fact, many manufacturers don't even try. A lot of Android phones are released one or even two <a href="http://theunderstatement.com/post/11982112928/android-orphans-visualizing-a-sad-history-of-support">OS versions behind</a> and many more are never updated once released. <P> It is a double-edged sword. Android has put inexpensive smartphones in the hands of millions of users that might not have otherwise been able to afford them, while fans of the platform have been able to buy some high powered devices. The update model though, is broken. <P>2011-12-28T09:25:13ZLongstanding rules that require you to turn off your iPads and Kindles during airplane takeoff and landing may have no basis in science.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232301085?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityAlec Baldwin recently made a fool of himself by refusing to put down his iPad during takeoff so the plane full of dozens of other people could make it to their destination on time. The rules of stowing electronics during takeoff and landing aren't made by airlines, rather the Federal Aviation Administration. The rules seem a little absurd for many devices. However, given FAA bureaucracy, even if it is reviewing the issue, don't expect to be allowed to read an ebook while taxiing, taking off, or landing. <P> The rules seem to have been put in place when these devices came into use. No studies existed on how these devices could interfere with the plane's electronics. It seems the rules remain in place because, well, just because. <P> I'm not sure exactly how the aircraft is more susceptible to radio interference during takeoff and landing as opposed to when it is at 30,000 feet, flying at nearly 600 mph. While in the air, not only can you use your device, the airline would like you to enable the Wi-Fi radio and pay to use the plane's network. Of course, the flight crew is allowed to, and does, use devices like the iPad during takeoff and landing. <P> What is the rationale here? Do they think that if there's is a problem in flight there is plenty of time for the pilot to rush back from the cockpit, have everyone turn their devices off, then rush back and pull the plane out of its iPhone-induced uncontrolled nose-dive? <P> According to Nick Biltin's blog in the <em>New York Times</em>, tests showed a <A HREF="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/disruptions-tests-cast-doubt-on-fcc-rules-on-kindle-and-ipad-html/">Kindle emits</a> an extremely low amount of radiation. One electronic device allowed by the FAA is the electronic voice recorder. It, too, was tested and found to emit <em>more</em> radiation than a Kindle. When in flight mode, I find it hard to believe that tablets, smartphones, MP3 players, and other e-readers would emit any more than a Kindle does. <P> Even if these rules were shown--beyond a reasonable doubt--to be of no benefit whatsoever, it would likely take years for the FAA to actually lift the ban. Until it does, though, turn your devices off and stick them in the seatback pocket in front of you. Arguing with the crew about the absurdity of the rule won't do you any good, and the guy next to you has a connecting flight to make.2011-12-22T10:55:00ZApple's App Store is the biggest, but it's the only one of seven app stores that didn't post double-digit growth in 2011.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232300955?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityThere are now one million apps for mobile devices available in the seven major app stores, though some of those are the same titles developed for different platforms. While Apple's App Store is the largest, it also posted the slowest growth. In fact, it was the only store not to at least double in size over the past year. <P> Distimo released its <A HREF="http://www.distimo.com/blog/2011_12_distimo-releases-full-year-2011-publication/">2011 report</A> on how the various marketplaces for smartphones and tablets shaped up. The app stores evaluated were: Amazon Appstore, Apple App Store for iPad, Apple App Store for iPhone, BlackBerry App World, Google Android Market, Nokia Ovi Store, and Windows Phone 7 Marketplace. <P> The Windows Phone Marketplace grew the most, increasing over 400% in the last 12 months. In the most important area, games, Microsoft's store is in fourth place behind the stores for the iPhone, Android, and iPad. Amazon's Appstore, launched this summer, is in fifth in terms of games. Games is the most popular category overall and generates the most downloads. There are 79,000 games available for the iPhone, which is larger than the total number of apps available in each of the Amazon, Nokia, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone stores. <P> One of the most interesting developments in 2011 is the rise of the freemium model. This model gives away apps for free, but in order to get more advanced features or additional content, the user has to pay a fee. Apple has the highest gross revenue from its application sales, but Android has the highest percentage of revenue from in-app purchases. Apple's in-app purchases generate just under half of the revenue for the App Store. With Android though, 65% of its revenue comes from the freemium model. Developers targeting Android should take note of that. It means creating apps that have the potential for extra content. <P> So what were the biggest apps of 2011? Angry Birds was at the top of the list, available in all markets except for BlackBerry's App World. Facebook came in second. I wonder if Facebook will continue to be a top-ranking app as operating system makers begin integrating it into the OS. The same can be said for Twitter, which is number 10 on the list. Platforms like iOS and Windows Phone have some level of integration with social networks, which may be enough for some people without downloading a full app. <P> Interestingly, the only platform you can download Google Maps on is Android, yet it is still the fifth most popular download. That is a testament to the sheer size of the Android market. <P> Yet, 2012 is sure to bring changes. Nokia's Ovi store is currently the fourth largest store overall, virtually tied with RIM's App World. Both are showing a slower growth curve in recent months. The Ovi Store will peak soon and start to decline, since Nokia is married to Windows Phone going forward. RIM's store will surely have some bumps in its growth as it moves to the BlackBerry 10 platform late in the year. <P> I don't expect much to change at the top though. Apple will continue to lead and Android will continue to close in on it, but it won't catch up, at least not in 2012.2011-12-21T11:15:33ZAfter two years on the rise, Google declined in mobile ad impressions in November. Will the Kindle Fire reverse the recent trend?http://www.informationweek.com/news/232300889?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityThere are multiple ways to measure the success of a platform. Sales is certainly one way, but usage can be just as important. Google Android still dominates ad impressions, but it fell over 10% in November, dropping from 56% to 50%. Apple and RIM were the biggest benefactors of Android's fall. <P> Millennial Media's November report shows that while <a href="http://www.millennialmedia.com/wp-content/images/mobilemix/MillennialMedia-MobileMix-Nov2011.pdf">Android dropped, iOS grew</a> from 28% to 30%. Apple was no doubt helped by the launch of the iPhone 4S in October. Research In Motion saw the biggest growth, jumping from 13% to 17%. RIM launched the BlackBerry 7 platform several months ago and has been rolling out devices like the Curve, Bold, and Torch. The improved browser in the platform, which includes HTML5 video support, has apparently encouraged its users to spend more time surfing. <P> When it comes to specific phones, the iPhone still reigns supreme. The iPhone represented 13.54% of total impressions. Keep in mind, though, that this figure really includes at least three phones, the 3GS, 4, and 4S, all of which are still being sold. With the exception of a few features on new devices, they all run the same platform, iOS 5. <P> The BlackBerry Curve came in second with 5.87% of the market. RIM captured five spots in the top 20. Android held the other 14. WebOS, Windows Phone, Symbian, and Bada didn't place at all. <P> Among connected device manufacturers, Apple was again in the top spot, garnering 25.66% of impressions. This includes the iPad and iPod Touch. Samsung was the number two manufacturer, which would combine all of the tablets and smartphones from the Galaxy line. <P> Missing from the list of manufacturers is Amazon. The Kindle Fire is one of the hottest devices this holiday season, but it didn't have an appreciable number of users in November browsing the Web. It may be too early to judge, though as the Fire wasn't released until mid-November. The report does say that impressions for the tablet are growing faster than the iPad's were when it launched in early 2010. Expect Amazon to make an appearance on the December report. <P> Do you think the Fire, which runs a heavily modified version of Android, will stem Android's losses or will Apple and RIM continue to show gains?2011-12-20T12:15:21ZEven BlackBerry owners don't want Research In Motion's tablet. When will RIM cut its losses and move on?http://www.informationweek.com/news/232300823?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityWhen the iPad was launched in 2010 it created a new market, the hottest thing to hit computing since the netbook craze a few years earlier. And, like the netbook craze, just about everyone felt they had to jump in. <P> As a result, Android-based tablets have been popping up from a multitude of vendors, and Research In Motion decided to roll its own platform and develop a tablet uniquely suited to its core customer base. Now, nearly a year later, it is becoming increasingly obvious RIM needs to admit its mistake and drop the project. Otherwise, the tablet will continue to drag the company down. <P> I don't think it is unrealistic to say that the PlayBook hasn't won over any non-BlackBerry users. The tablet isn't a standalone device, as it requires a BlackBerry to partner with to get corporate email, contacts, and appointments. RIM had the audacity to say that this wasn't a missing feature but <A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal-tech/tablets/229401670">instead is a security feature</A>. If you don't own a BlackBerry, why would you buy a PlayBook? <P> Even BlackBerry owners who want a tablet aren't interested in the PlayBook: Only <A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/blog/mobility/232300212">8.5% of BlackBerry</A> owners that want a tablet want the PlayBook. Most want the iPad. <P> In developing the QNX platform for the tablet, RIM has expended a lot of resources. So far, it has been a very poor investment. Not only is the PlayBook not turning a profit, it has cost the <A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/handheld/232200614">company $485 million</A>. That money would have been better spent on getting BlackBerry 10 to market. That platform, the one that RIM desperately needs to change its fortunes, has been delayed until late 2012. <P> RIM needs to cut the PlayBook loose. It has caused the company to lose focus. It is contributing to the bad reputation RIM has garnered lately as a company that is out of touch with the market and its customers. Rather, 100% of the company's resources should be invested in ensuring a quick and successful release of BlackBerry 10. The PlayBook isn't going to win RIM a single new enterprise customer, but the current crop of BlackBerry 7.x devices is slowly causing the company to lose customers to the iPhone and various Android phones.2011-12-19T11:17:48ZThere potentially is more money to be made developing for Apple's iPhone, even though Android has more users.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232300703?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityAndroid surpassed iOS as the most popular mobile platform earlier this year. Market share for iOS hasn't move up much, if it all, yet Android continues its rise. Common sense suggests that developers would begin focusing initial releases of applications for Google's platform since it has more users. It might not be so simple though. <P> Google Chairman Eric Schmidt was asked in a <a href="http://informationweek.com/news/mobility/smart_phones/232300176">conference last week</a> what Google was doing to encourage developers to target Android first instead of iOS. You can see the question and answer starting at about 41:15 into the video. Schmidt replied: <P> <em>"Six months from now you will say the opposite because ultimately applications vendors are driven by volume and the volume is favored by the open approach that Google is taking. There are literally so many manufacturers who are working so hard to distribute Android phones globally that weather you like &#91;Ice Cream Sandwich&#93; or not ... you will want to develop for that platform and perhaps even first."</em> <P> As <em>InformationWeek</em> writer Eric Zeman correctly noted in the post, even though Android out-sells and out-activates iOS phones every day, the total number of iOS devices in the wild still outnumbers Android. To Schmidt, though, this is a pure numbers game. Assuming the current sales trend continues, he expects that within six months, Android phones will outnumber iOS phones and developers will change their priorities. <P> Yoni Heisler at <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/why-eric-schmidts-prediction-about-android-vs-ios-development-dead-wrong">isn't convinced</a>. His argument is that it isn't just the number of users, but the type of customers those users are. For the most part, developers are business people. As such, the goal is to maximize revenues while minimizing effort. Targeting iOS today as well as tomorrow is good business sense. Those users tend to be more likely to fork over money for an app, which is why Apple has been able to turn over $3.5 billion dollars back over to developers. Let that number roll around in your head for just a minute. <P> To enforce his point, Heisler points out that 1.3% of Android apps are paid for, whereas 13.5% of iOS apps are. Assuming that trend holds, it means Android would have to have over 10 times as many devices in use for the developers to be able to look at the market as equal. <P> When it comes to premium apps at least, I wouldn't expect the current trend of apps becoming available first for iOS devices to change anytime soon. <P>2011-12-16T13:13:50ZIt is no surprise that the younger generation is in love with smartphones, but all age groups are increasingly embracing the technology.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232300634?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityWalk into any Apple store and look around--chances are most of the patrons are under 35. Young adults tend to embrace new technology faster than other age brackets. Smartphones bring many of these technologies together. Social networks are one of the biggest drivers, with apps like Facebook, Foursquare, and Twitter being among the most popular. All other age groups are showing increasing data usage in the last twelve months, with teens showing the biggest increase. <P> <a href="http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/report-the-rise-of-smartphones-apps-and-the-mobile-web">Nielsen's report</a> on the "Rise of Smartphones" shows that 53% of 18-24 year olds and 64% of 25-34 year olds own a smartphone. While that shows great success for makers of smartphones and wireless carriers, it also means the vendors need to start heavily targeting other markets as growth is limited in this age range. <P> When it comes to SMS, teens are hands down the <a href="http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/new-mobile-obsession-u-s-teens-triple-data-usage">texting kings</a>. On average, teens between 13 and 17 years old exchange 3,417 messages per month. That is more than 100 messages per day. Those in the 65+ age bracket only exchange 64 messages per month. <P> When it comes to data usage, that 18-35 age range is again on top, transferring between 500 MB and 600 MB of data a month. Given that average, carriers are making a killing charging for 2 GB data plans while the most aggressive data using customers barely uses 25% of that. <P> The teens in the 13-17 age bracket are the fastest growing data users. Their usage increased 256% to 321 MB per month. <P> About the only thing in decline is voice usage. Voice usage by teens dropped from 685 minutes to 572 minutes. They claim texting is faster, easier, and more fun. I'm not sure that it is so much fun that it is worth exchanging over 3,400 messages per month. <P> It will be interesting to see how advertising changes in order to reach the older groups. The current crop of technically oriented ads appeal to people that understand the terminology, but they don't do much to explain how a retiree could benefit from a shiny new Droid.2011-12-15T13:30:27ZA smartphone may be smaller than a computer, and many are also tougher to update.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232300584?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityWe've come to expect that our computer hardware will be upgradable to at least one new operating system version, not to mention able to add the myriad of security updates and patches that come out over a platform's life. Since we tend to view smartphones as small computers, we carry that expectation over to our mobile devices. But, it isn't quite so simple for phone manufacturers. <P> Perhaps the easiest computer to update is a Mac. Only one company makes the hardware for it, and peripherals are tightly controlled, compared to the rest of the industry. Apple's updates know exactly what to expect as they get installed. Windows PCs are more difficult, but still manageable as long as hardware vendors stick to the specs laid out by Microsoft. PCs also have comparatively infinite resources to handle an upgrade, compared to a phone. Service packs are several hundred MB and platforms are several GB, some of which is code designed to adapt the update to your specific machine. If your PC should have something that the update cannot handle, it can usually be disabled temporarily, or the update can go online to see if the necessary files are in Microsoft's online Windows Update database. <P> With phones though, the update has to know exactly what it is going to hit when installing. It cannot have dozens of video drivers and then pick the right one during the install, for example. <P> Again, Apple seems to have it easy compared to the competition. They sell one phone and it usually has two options. 1) How much memory do you want? 2) What color: black or white? The update doesn't care about color, and ROM storage doesn't impact the upgrade process much, if at all. Now, I've oversimplified it a bit, as there are GSM and CDMA radios, and the updates have to be tailored to several generations of the iPhone, but you get the idea--the potential options are limited. <P> Windows Phone is more complex. Microsoft has its Chassis 1 spec, which lays out certain requirements, but the hardware manufacturer still has some freedom to tweak the phone to differentiate it from the competition. <A HREF="http://www.withinwindows.com/2011/11/22/its-a-miracle-mango-rolled-out-as-smoothly-as-it-did/">Within Windows</A> took a look at how the Mango update went. You'd think there would be one update needed per phone, perhaps two if there were CDMA versus GSM issues, but you'd be wrong. Take the Samsung Focus as an example. There are four different flavors of that first-generation device and anyone with a Focus knows Microsoft had a bit of a hiccup dealing with the 1.3 and 1.4 versions. Each manufacturer has similar issues. When you look at the 11 models out before Mango shipped, and then consider all of those subsets of devices and versions, it isn't hard to imagine Mango had to target 35-50 different phones and know <em>exactly</em> what was on each one. <P> Microsoft has it easy, though, compared to Android updates. Android--far and away--has the <A HREF="http://theunderstatement.com/post/11982112928/android-orphans-visualizing-a-sad-history-of-support">worst record</A> for having users one, two, and even three generations behind. Some of this has to do with carrier or manufacturer laziness, but fragmentation is also to blame. Android is the Wild West when it comes to customization, both in hardware and software. It makes for a great phone when you open the box, but it also makes for a difficult process to get upgrades ready to go. <P> Take a look at the latest Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 upgrade for <A HREF="http://www.motorola.com/blog/2011/12/07/motorola-update-on-ice-cream-sandwich/">Motorola devices</A>. Because there is no minimum spec for Android, what works great with Gingerbread may be a dog when Ice Cream Sandwich gets loaded, so right off the bat your new phone may never get an upgrade. If it works well according to Motorola, it still has to work with chipset vendors like Qualcomm and nVidia to make sure the Ice Cream Sandwich bits for their hardware work with the rest of the software on the phone. When all of that is done, Motorola can then start working on their own special sauce, which includes MotoCast and Smart Actions. When all of that is done, it goes to the carrier for certification to test the upgrade process. <P> Sony Ericsson has <A HREF="http://developer.sonyericsson.com/wp/2011/12/07/ice-cream-sandwich-from-source-code-release-to-software-upgrade/">gone into some detail</A> on the process from its side as well, focusing heavily on obtaining certifications for various components like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other radio stacks. Everything has to be recertified with a new OS upgrade. Sony Ericsson says this is the most time-consuming part of the process and one that custom ROM burners get to sidestep. <P> Quality is another issue manufacturers have to deal with. The upgrade experience has to go smoothly. Each one that doesn't costs the carrier money in support calls. Again, custom burners don't worry about this. You use a custom ROM and you are on your own if the update goes south. Your carrier won't help. <P> You could be a while waiting for Android 4.0, if you get it at all. If you don't get it, it may have nothing to do with your phone, either. It could just be the manufacturer decided to skip your model and focus resources on new devices that can be sold for additional revenue.2011-12-14T13:00:57ZWhile many states have laws covering driver texting and mobile phone use, it's a patchwork of rules, with different levels of enforcement.http://www.informationweek.com/news/232300465?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Wireless_security_mobilityTuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made a recommendation to ban the use of cellphones and messaging devices by drivers. This doesn't <em>just</em> mean you cannot hold a phone to your head. The <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/smart_phones/232300458">proposed ban</a> includes hands-free devices. The only phone system allowed would be a device installed in the vehicle. Passengers would be unaffected. <P> Many states have laws prohibiting texting and handheld devices, but it is a patchwork of laws with different levels of enforcement. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, only nine states plus Washington D.C. require drivers to use hands-free devices. Some states, like Hawaii, have no ban, but every county has a distracted driving ordinance. While that purports to do the same thing, the enforcement is a bit more subjective. <P> Illinois bans hand-held devices when driving through school zones or construction zones, but Main Street is fair game. South Carolina, Texas, Utah, New Hampshire, and other states have their own twist on distracted driving and cellphone use. You can see it quickly gets tough to figure out what the law is in a given jurisdiction. <P> Making the issue even worse is another layer on top of that aimed at novice drivers, which are those who are under 18, have a permit, are in their first year of driving, or have a combination of two or more of those conditions. <P> Texting laws have their own maze of rules and regulations. Quick--what is the law in your state for texting and handheld devices? <A HREF="http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html">Check out the chart</A> to see if you are correct. <P> The issue here is being distracted while moving down the road at 50 mph. Traveling at that speed you are covering just over 73 feet per second. A five-second distraction is 367 feet--more than a football field. That's about how long it took you to read this sentence, which would easily fit in a text message. If you had to unlock your phone to read the message and you reply with a quick "ok," the amount of attention being diverted away from driving goes up exponentially. At 70 mph on the interstate, you cover over 500 feet in the same time. A lot can happen in that distance. <P> The NTSB has no actual authority to implement such a ban. It is only an advisory board. The federal government, likewise, has limited authority over the states. However, it carries a big stick in the way of funding. To get uniform laws passed in all 50 states, the federal government just has to withhold federal highway funding. This is how a national 55 mph speed limit was enacted in the 1970s. <P> Note that while the NTSB has no actual authority, its recommendations carry a lot of weight. Most of its <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Transportation_Safety_Board">recommendations are carried out</A>. Highway laws passed due to NTSB recommendations include age 21 drinking laws, high-mount brake lights, and the commercial drivers' license. Expect the cellphone ban proposal to get some traction quickly. <P> It looks like we may lose some of the productivity gained in the past 10 years from people doing work behind the wheel. Somehow though, the world managed to work in the decades before widespread cellphone usage. It is a question of what is more important, a human life or a closing a deal at high speed rather than pulling into a Starbucks to hammer out the final details.