smartphones

For years, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM have used Linux to lower the cost of their hardware and software-based solutions, while keeping profit margins fat and healthy. Google, ever the quick learner, is now doing the same with Android.

The mobile market will never be the same.

Just as Google and others are using open-source software to lower barriers to adoption of their proprietary cloud offerings, so, too, is Google using open source to reduce the cost of mobile computing in order to drive uptake of its proprietary search-related advertising business in mobile.

Google CFO Patrick Pichette said as much in … Read more

As if checking e-mail on your BlackBerry wasn't addicting enough, there may be an accessory in the works that may just fuel your habit. CrackBerry.com has posted images of what it's claiming to be actual renderings of a BlackBerry watch.

The site claims that the Bluetooth accessory is being developed by a new, dedicated BlackBerry accessory company and will be branded as the inPulse Smartwatch. It's not meant to be a replacement for your BlackBerry but rather shows your notifications and previews of incoming messages for those times when you can't pull out your BlackBerry; … Read more

On Monday, MetroPCS introduced its first Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone, the Samsung Code. Though it's not running the latest Windows Mobile 6.5, the Code does give MetroPCS customers another smartphone choice, which is a bit lacking to say the least (the carrier's only other smartphone is the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330).

The Code offers the standard WinMo features, including Outlook synchronization and the Microsoft Office Mobile Suite, as well as 3G support, stereo Bluetooth, and a 2-megapixel camera. It also has a full QWERTY keyboard, up to 32GB expandable memory, and an optional WizPro interface, which … Read more

There's been some debate as of late about whether Verizon Wireless will offer the Palm Pre in the new year. Though Verizon CEO Lowell McAdams said the company plans to sell the Pre in early 2010, TheStreet.com caused a bit of ruckus when it reported in late September that the carrier decided against selling the Pre. Subsequently, analysts called shenanigans on the TheStreet.com's story, and it looks like Verizon has reconfirmed its commitment to the Palm WebOS smartphone.

Responding to a customer's tweet over the weekend, Verizon said through its official Twitter account that it … Read more

Could the new Droid finally be the smartphone to knock the Apple iPhone off its pedestal? Droid partners Verizon, Motorola, and Google are positioning it as such.

The latest Android-based smartphone, the Droid, could debut as early as October 30, according to a cryptic countdown code on Verizon's Web site that promotes the new device.

Verizon has set up its Droid promo page with direct challenges to the iPhone, with such slap-in-the face headlines as: "iDon't have a real keyboard," "iDon't run simultaneous apps," and "iDon't allow open development." And &… Read more

We've been waiting a long time for the Google Android Motorola Sholes to clear the Federal Communications Commission, so you can imagine our disappointment when we saw just the GSM version of the handset get certification this week. It's the CDMA model for Verizon that we want, so we'll just have to hold out a little longer. The FCC also gave the nod to Acer's first crop of smartphones and the Nokia Booklet 3G. We know that the latter isn't a smartphone, but we threw it in anyway.

Because the FCC has to certify every … Read more

Nokia may still dominate the overall cell phone market, but a steady slide in its smartphone market share could threaten the company's long-term standing.

On Thursday Nokia announced third-quarter earnings that, despite an unexpected loss of $832 million in its telecommunications equipment unit, beat expectations. The company managed to ship about 3 million more handsets than analysts had expected. But it also reported that its share in the growing smartphone market is on the decline, a sign that Nokia is losing ground to competitors, such as Apple and Research In Motion.

Nokia's cell phone shipments and revenue were not as good as they were in 2008. But no one expected them to be. Still, the third quarter of 2009 showed a glimmer of hope that the global recession might be subsiding and people may be returning to normal buying patterns in the mobile market.

Nokia's executives told investors that the company's overall global market share is expected to remain unchanged for the year at about 38 percent, good news considering aggressive attacks from competitors, such as Samsung and LG.

Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, Nokia's CEO, said in a statement that the company sold more mobile phones in the third quarter than in the second quarter. And the company revised its expectations for the entire mobile phone market. Instead of seeing a total sales decline in 2009 of 10 percent, Nokia now sees a decline of only 7 percent compared to 2008.

Even though, Nokia appears to be holding its own in the overall handset business, it is losing ground in a very important segment of this market, which could hurt the company in the long run.… Read more

Let's be honest. Research In Motion's first foray in the world of the touch-screen smartphones wasn't exactly a smashing success. The RIM BlackBerry Storm was riddled with bugs and performance issues, which were resolved with subsequent software updates, but still, the damage had been done. However, there are high hopes that the RIM BlackBerry Storm 2 will wash away all those bad memories and start afresh.

As of press time, Verizon Wireless did not reveal pricing or an exact release date for the Storm successor, but RIM dropped by our offices and left us a near-final product … Read more

Acer President Gianfranco Lanci is feeling confident these days. At a news conference in London Wednesday, he declared that his company is on the verge of overtaking Dell as the second-largest PC maker in the world.

"We don't expect revenue to decline this year, which is outstanding, compared to our competitors. Therefore, we're (expecting) good growth in 2010 again," Lanci said. "Between this quarter and the next, we can finally pass Dell."

Dell currently sits behind Hewlett-Packard, which has been the world leader in PCs with approximately 20 percent of all units sold worldwide, … Read more