Smartphone Field Continues To Level

With the underestimated growth of Android, good advances on Windows Phone 7, WebOS 2.0 , and an ongoing slew of new models coming off the assembly lines from: Motorola, HTC, Samsung, Blackberry, et al., how much longer can Apple hold smartphone throne with one model released a year with a proprietary OS? Ultimately, the consumer wins this one.

Motorola Smacks Back At Steve Jobs

Let’s give Motorola credit for their current ‘No Jacket Required’ ad and its smack at Steve Jobs’ statement at the ‘Antennagate’ press conference, that all smartphones suffer reception problems. In a recent interview, Motorola CEO, Sanjay Jha stated that “the most popular voice message on the new iPhone was “Sorry, I can’t answer your call, but I’m holding my phone!”

Two Year Smartphone Contracts Are Too Long

As AT&T announces that early termination fees for smartphone users will increase, I wonder why those of us who want to keep up with mobile developments, have to be penalized for it.  I’ve had my Droid Eris for six months now, and would be happy to pay, say $100.00 or thereabouts for a new ‘Incredible.’  Instead, I have to wait for the end of my ubiquitous two-year contract before purchasing the state of the art.  Geesh!

2010 Looking Great For Smartphones

From last year’s advances, to recent developments, it appears that 2010 will certainly become a significant year for smartphone growth:

• Smartphone Sales – As contracts expire for regular cell phones, many buyers will make their first smartphone purchases.  With advancements in mobile technology, prices will continue to decrease and smartphone sales will grow.    
• The Application Industry — Apple has created a new, profitable industry with its app store business.  Currently, Apple has over 99% of a business which last year had sales of over 4 billion dollars, with nearly one billion dollars profit for the company.  It’s only natural that Android, Palm and Windows want some of that action.  The consumer could benefit from the competition.
• Social Media & the Smartphone –The smartphone versions of Twitter and Facebook successfully duplicate the user experience of their web counterparts.  A recent Ruder Finn study states that 91% of mobile users spend more time socializing than non-mobile users (79%).  Smartphones and social media are made for each other and will both benefit from each other’s success.

Business Week Covers The App Business

The November 6 cover story of ‘Business Week’ looks at the growing app economy.

Verizon Plays Hardass With Apple

I was hoping Verizon was going to pick up the iPhone next year, and though it looks like my hopes have been squashed, I’m pleased to say that it’s not bothering me like I thought it would.

Verizon is showing allegiance with Googles’ entry into the mobile market with its Android OS phone, called the ‘Droid’. We will soon be learning about its’ multitude of features, but as a Google phone, one is not surprised to see a ‘Quick Search’ box located at the top of the browser, allowing users to search the web directly from the home screen.

Android’s free ‘Open Source Project’ platform, will be developer-friendly and insure an extensive quantity of applications. Google has even offerred $250,000 in price money for best new applications.

And if you think Verizon is being delicate about superiority to the iPhone, check out the ad

This competition will be interesting to follow, with the consumer the ultimate beneficiary.

Take That, iPhone!

A deal has recently been announced whereby Google’s ‘Android’ platform will utilize the highly rated Verizon Wireless network. New phones are in development, expected to become available early next year.
What’s particularly pleasing about the news is that the Google Voice application will be included. Google Voice translates voice mails into texts and allows the same phone number to be used with multiple phone locations. Take that iPhone!

Sonny Social Media

79 year old jazz giant Sonny Rollins apparently has an iPhone app in development. His current newsletter states that in October we will see a Sonny Rollins app that will allow fans to listen to and purchase music, as well as view videos and photos. Sonny also keeps a presence on Facebook and Twitter. Cool dude.

Verizon Lashes Back At Pogue

Apparently David Pogue and his recent New York Times diatribe about all that is wrong with the cellphone business, struck a nerve with Verizon CEO, Lowell C. MacAdam.

David Pogue Vents On Cellphone Carriers

Phone/carrier exclusivity, overcharging for texting and billing, the New York Time’s Technology editor David Pogue, blasts the practices of the cellphone industry.