Sony Ericsson

More mobile makers join Android

Paul Mah — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:36:32 -0500

News came in earlier this week that another 14 companies have elected to join the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), a Google-led consortium dedicated to the Android open-sourced mobile operating system. Consisting mostly of manufacturers and a couple of Telcos, some of the new members include ARM, Asustek, Garmin, Huawei Technologies, Sony-Ericsson and Toshiba. Most notable would be the inclusion of Vodafone, with its 280 million customers worldwide.

The official statement is that the "New members will either deploy compatible Android devices, contribute significant code to the Android Open Source Project, or support the ecosystem through products and services that will accelerate the availability of Android-based devices."

Certainly, having the members coming on board does not mean that they have decided to forsake other platforms. Manufacturers like Sony Ericsson or existing member like HTC Corporation will continue making devices based on other platforms. What it does mean is that the sales of the only Android-based phone to date--the T-Mobile G1--must have been exceptional, if not outright phenomenal. Once dismissed by Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, Android's future is certainly more certain now than ever.

To read more on the article:
- check out this article from the Register
- check out this article from BusinessWeek

Nokia completes acquisition of Symbian

Paul Mah — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:26:19 -0500

Nokia has completed the acquisition of the world's biggest smartphone operating system company, according to Symbian Limited, the software company that develops and licenses the Symbian OS. Yes, that means Nokia now owns more than 99.9 percent of the above-mentioned company, having purchased the requisite shares from shareholders such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Motorola, among other former shareholders. As part of the changes, all Symbian employees are also planned to become Nokia employees as of February 1, 2009.

With the acquisition in place, the establishment of the announced Symbian Foundation looks set for smooth sailing. This also means that the first handsets based on the open-sourced Symbian operating system appear to be on track for the slated releases in 2010, as announced previously. For those new to the scene, the Symbian Foundation will consists of companies such as AT&T, Texas Instruments, Motorola and others, and is formed for joint work to create a royalty-free operating system.

With the fast moving mobile and smartphone landscape, it's still up in the air whether or not this deal can stunt the growth of other mobile platforms, notably that of Apple's the iPhone, and Google's own open-sourced Android platform.

To read more about this story:
- check out this article from CNET News
- check out this article from Unwired View

Open-sourced Symbian questioned

Paul Mah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:52:50 -0400

Richard Windsor, a research analyst for technology and communication equipment at Nomura International, questioned whether Nokia's move to open source the Symbian platform a "win" for everyone involved. In the wake of Nokia's acquisition of Symbian Limited, the Finnish phone giant announced its plans to open source the venerable Symbian operating system.

While the move bodes well for the Symbian platform, non-Nokia licensees like Sony Ericsson will have "a massive disadvantage against Nokia," noted Windsor. One of the reasons is that its sheer volume allows Nokia to sell S60-based hardware at a staggering 40 percent lower price than its competitors. This may be the reason Sony Ericsson came up with phones based on Windows Mobile, such as the Xperia X1 Smartphone, which was unveiled earlier this year.

To read more on the issue of open sourcing the Symbian platform:
- check out this EETimes.com article

Hands on: Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Just about the most hyped handset to come out of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year, the mysterious Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 has been lusted after by geeks ever since its initial showing. So we couldn't resist the urge to get hands-on with it at CTIA last week. Our thoughts? The phone is slick, shiny and feels awfully solid--not surprising given that it's manufactured by HTC. The hiptop-style slideout keypad is a pleasure to use and has a nice gliding motion to it. On the OS tip, it runs Windows Mobile 6.1 but manages to cover up WinMo with a number of user-selectable custom skins--there's one for Google users and one for world travelers, for example. Overall, the UI is fairly slick and looks good on the 800x400 resolution touchscreen, but during our hands-on was fairly laggy. That's somewhat understandable, however, when you consider that Sony has yet to announce a release date for this bad boy, outside of "late 2008." All-in-all, the Xperia looks like it could be a solid contender for Windows Mobile users with a case of hiptop envy.

For more on the Xperia X1:
- see this photo slideshow

Live from CTIA Wireless 2008

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0400

Though it feels like we've been out here forever, we're only on day 2 of 3 here at CTIA Wireless 2008 in Las Vegas. And while we've done our best to pack today's issue full of the most important announcements, devices and software from the show, the fact of the matter is that there's just way too much to fit in one newsletter. Want to see a hands-on with Sony Ericsson's hot new XPERIA device? Want a walkthrough of HTC's booth on the show floor, where they're showcasing all of their new Windows Mobile 6.1 devices? Want to see photos from all three days' keynotes? Well, you're going to have to head to our website, where we're updating throughout the week with live CTIA coverage. And if that's not enough for you, head over to FierceWireless, the official online show daily of CTIA Wireless 2008. There's a whole lot of exciting new technology to cover and we'll be bringing it to you all week long. -Mehan

Will the iPhone affect business phones?

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 19:01:37 -0500

Apple's iPhone has captured the attention of the press, some of whom have proclaimed it the solution to the enterprise's smartphone needs. Apple isn't pushing the iPhone as a business tool, but that doesn't mean that the media darling won't have an impact on corporate cellphone decisions. Just as the first generation of camera phones affected enterprise security policies, the media features of the iPhone--and its ability to use both cellular and WiFi networks--will shape business wireless decisions going forward. The phones that administrators will have to chose from will also be shaped by the iPhone as competitors such as Motorola, Sony-Ericsson, and RIM bring out new devices to compete with Apple's wireless offering.

For more on the iPhone's impact on business:
- read this article at Mobile Tech Today

QUICKLINKS: How SMS could be the key to the biggest mobile dangers; Copyright exemptions open up services' doors to cell users;

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 19:01:35 -0500

How SMS could be the key to the biggest mobile dangers. Article

Ways to boost laptop security while on the road. Article

Column: Why outsourcing wireless projects may be a good decision. Article

Sony, Ericsson commit to boost interoperability on wireless nets. Article

Why mobile commerce needs a good standard to move forward. Article

And finally...When tech support goes awry. Article

Making the phone-PC connection work

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:01:37 -0400

Ever been texting or on a call and wished you could grab some information or a file from your office PC? It's now possible thanks to a new service from SoonR, which has developed a system using Opera Mobile combined with Asynchronous Javascript and XML (Ajax) technology. You can not only connect to your PC, but also read files, view photos, access email and check your calendar all from a handy wireless device. The application, which is deployed on the PC, is compatible with dozens of phones from Nokia, Samsung, Sendo, Sony Ericsson and Motorola. Article