Senators Want FCC to Revisit Handset Exclusivity Right

The relationship between some handset manufacturers and network carriers may soon suffer a set back if the motion being moved by the US senators is adopted. The Senators want the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review the exclusivity arrangements between handset manufacturers and network carriers and how they affect competition, as reported by Reuters.
The senators who expressed their concerns about competition and choice and its effect on fairness in the market stated in a letter to FCC that “We ask that you examine this issue carefully and act expeditiously should you find that exclusivity agreements unfairly restrict consumer choice or adversely impact competition in the commercial wireless marketplace.”
In the US, it is not uncommon for some service providers and handset manufacturers to forge such agreement. We have recently reported some cases which involve players such as Sprint, AT&T, and Apple.

Microsoft has announced that due to budget cuts, it will no longer reimburse employees for use of competing smartphone devices other than Windows Mobile-powered handsets. Microsoft’s cost-cutting measures drove it to lay off some five thousands of employees. As expected, it also led to some perks being discontinued for its remaining employees.
This implies that Microsoft won’t pay for its employees’ Apple iPhone data service plans anymore, even if they’re used significantly for work purposes. Nor will it pay for Research In Motion (RIM) BlackBerry service, or a new Palm Pre. Instead, it will only reimburse data plans for Microsoft Windows Mobile-powered smartphones.
For many Microsoft employees who use their devices to do company work on the road, it no doubt feels like a shafting. Compared to the iPhone, new BlackBerry software, or even Google (GOOG) Android, some have complained that today’s Windows Mobile is clunky and unappealing.

Before the year runs to an end, LG electronics will be introducing three models of smartphones running Google’s Android. This is part of the plans of the electronics manufacturer giant to grab more of the world’s mobile phone market, with a promise to release more come by next year.
LG is currently the third global mobile manufacturer, trailing only Nokia and Samsung. Amidst a global economic downturn, LG is confident that not only will it maintain its 10% market share this year but it will grow to become the second global mobile manufacturer by the year 2012. That is certainly a lofty goal.
LG representative Chang Ma said: “The market is actually holding up versus last year. I think the recession impact is less than what we expected last year.”
In a similar development, manufacturer Haier is showing its H7 Android smartphone at the CommunicAsia conference. The device claims a 2.8-inch touchscreen display, FM radio, 2 megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth. It is expected to ship with Android Cupcake firmware but will use the upcoming Android 2.0 “Donut” firmware if it is available in time for the H7′s planned September release in France.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless have stated quite plainly in their testimony that neither company colluded to raise prices as claimed by the U.S. lawmakers that they worked together to set artificially high prices for text messages.
According to Reuters, The companies say that text message price hikes made last year affect only 1 percent of sent messages because most consumers have text message bundle plans.
The high prices of text messaging are not due to collusion or anti-competitive behavior from the major mobile carrier, according to testimony from AT&T and Verizon before a Senate subcommittee. In fact, say the carriers, prices are actually lower when you consider most customers pay a monthly fee for bulk messages.
The whole issue started last fall, when the head of the antitrust sub-commitee, Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), sent a letter to the CEOs of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile asking why text prices for all four companies had doubled from 10¢ to 20¢ shortly after mergers reduced the number of major mobile carriers from six to four.

Despite the tough economic tough times, Research In Motion (RIM) has continued to record increase in its income. Announcing its first quarter financial results, RIM revealed that it has recorded a net income of US$643 million, a 33 percent jump in profit from last year’s first quarter income of $482.5 million.
During the quarter, BlackBerry sales were solid in international markets, which tend to attract more business clients, he said. Healthy revenues were recorded in Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Asia.
Eighty per cent of those new subscribers were consumers as opposed to business clients. Consumers now account for more than half of the BlackBerry client base, RIM’s co-chief-executive officer Jim Balsillie said in a conference call with analysts.
Despite the usual slowdown in summer months, Balsillie said the company expects to ship 8.1 million to 8.7 million new smartphones in the current quarter and add 3.8 million to 4.1 million new subscribers.
According to the Associated Press. RIM beat the average 94-cent estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, excluding a one-time $175 million tax benefit.

Motorola has announced the released of Motorola Renew (W233) to be available at T-Mobile. The environmental standards Motorola has set with this phone are an impressive first start. The phone is carbon neutral, through the use of recycled materials, improved manufacturing techniques and the purchase of carbon credits to offset production. It comes in a simple cardboard box including nine hours of talk time, CrystalTalk technology and messaging capabilities to enable them enjoy quality talk time.
Being an eco-friendly phone, the phone will hopefully be found interesting to eco-conscious users. Motorola ensured that all the materials inside are printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. Another interesting point is the fact that it is possible to return a previous mobile phone for recycling at no cost by using a postage-paid recycling envelope available in the box.
The W233 was made from plastics comprised of recycled water bottles and this implies that 20 percent less energy is needed to create the phone compared to standard plastic processes. It is compact (4.4 inches tall by 1.8 inches wide by 0.6 inch thick) and lightweight, so it’s easy to carry around in a pocket or bag. Though its shell is entirely plastic, it feels somewhat solid in the hand. Still, this is not a phone for the danger-prone.
Although, it does almost nothing else well. Not Web browsing, not music playing, and it doesn’t even have a camera, or e-mail, or IM support. It’s the first phone we’ve seen in ages that doesn’t even have Bluetooth. Still, it makes good calls, it’s a friend to the environment.

The long awaited Samsung Omnia SCH-i910 is finally released for US and it is available at Verizon Wireless. It is an all-in-one smartphone with state-of-the-art features, including Samsung’s innovative TouchWiz™ user interface which has specially designed widgets to customize and personalize the way customers use the phone.

The Samsung Omnia is four and a half inches by just over two inches, and about a half inch thick. In other words, it carries the same dimension as the older iPhone. It feels lightweight, however, perhaps because of the smooth, plastic backing and the equally smooth Plexiglas-style front. It isn’t a featherweight – you won’t forget it in the laundry – but it is a lot lighter than it or other comparable smartphones look. And, equally surprising, the phone seems to have a solid grip despite no visible grooves.

With Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, customers have access to a powerful personal computing experience in a slim, compact device. Microsoft Outlook Mobile keeps customers connected to e-mail,
schedules and contacts; and Office Mobile enhances productivity with the ability to manage Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents – all while on-the-go.

The Samsung Omnia is a GSM/GPRS/EDGE phone, tri-band 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz, and is available in America through Verizon. The Internet browsing was rather creaky through traditional cell towers, but the
Omnia can also use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It equally supports Verizon’s EV-DO Rev. A high-speed broadband network for faster file downloads, Web browsing and email.

The Samsung Omnia is enhanced by a high-quality 5.0 megapixel camera with digital zoom and power LED flash, camcorder, stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology and Wi-Fi technology that helps customers capture special moments and stay connected to friends and family anytime, anywhere.

Verizon Wireless has continued is contribution to ensure it remains relevant in the forefront of telecommunication. This time around the company has announced the availability of the Samsung Trance U490, a slim, slider phone designed for users with an ear for music and an eye for style.

As mentioned, the Samsung Trance U490 is a slider style phone and is available in two color options: Piano Black and Electric Red. It has a 2.1” 176×220 pixel display which takes up most of the front real
estate. Located at the top (next to the earpiece) is a proximity sensor that will automatically lock the touch-sensitive buttons while you are on a call and the phone is placed next to your face. Once you
move the phone away from your face, the display will turn back on and the buttons will light up.

Sliding open the Samsung Trance U490 reveals the hidden numeric keypad with white backlighting. Along the sides are the volume rocker, lock/unlock button, speakerphone button, charging/data port,3.5mm
headset jack, and microSDHC slot that accepts up to 16GB memory cards. The Trance comes in a slider form factor and has hidden touch-sensitive buttons on it’s face. A 1.3 megapixel camera is included and it has 1GB of internal memory which can be boosted up another 16GB by using microSDHC. Output for music is provided through a standard 3.5mm stereo audio jack and there is also a fairly large speaker on the back. The Trance U490 is a mid level phone.

The handset uses technology developed by Samsung and Bang & Olufsen to improve audio performance. The built-in ICEpower amp delivers a deeper bass and clearer treble for better sounding music without draining battery life. Verizon customers can use VCAST Music with Rhapsody to choose and download from over five million songs or sync tracks, albums and playlists from a computer using a USB cable.

Additional features include Bluetooth wireless technology with Bluetooth Music Sharing to listen to music through two stereo devices simultaneously, a 1.3-megapixel camera with Multi-Shot, VZ Navigator
for turn-by-turn GPS directions and threaded messaging. The Samsung Trance costs $50 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year contract.

The Novatel Wireless USB1000 Global Modem, made available courtesy Verizon Wireless, is a high-speed 3G modem that plugs into a laptop’s USB port. This wireless modem USB1000 combines CDMA EVDO Rev A on
850/1900 MHz, HSDPA/HSUPA on 850/1900/2100 MHz, and GSM/EDGE on 850/900/1800/1900 MHz.
This implies that it can access high-speed networks here and abroad; it comes with a special SIM built in for when travelers leave the US. All that network switching comes thanks to a Qualcomm MDM1000 Gobi
chip set.

The global services that the wireless operator offers to its customers include GlobalEmail, with access to personal or corporate e-mail inboxes, a Global Travel Program, which enables those who travel for
less than 21 days in countries with GSM coverage to use a “no rental fee” voice or data device, and a Global Value Program, aimed at those who travel abroad more frequently, offering them discounted rates from around 150 GSM destinations for only a monthly charge of $4.99 per line.

To use the global modem, you’ll need a global service plan. The USB1000 Global Modem is now available with a 2-yr contract agreement and after a $50 mail-in rebate, the USB1000 costs $149.99.

US Cellular is now offering the Samsung Axle, a simple flip phone from Samsung. The Axle is a low-cost flip phone and an entry-level handset that sports a VGA camera and voice dialing with Bluetooth wireless
connectivity, and a speakerphone.
It’s measures 45.0mm x 89.9mm x 19.6mm (1.8in x 3.5in x 0.8in) in size and weighs 95.6g (3.37oz). Other features include a dual color displays and the battery offers up to 4 hours of talk time on a single charge.
The Samsung Axle will cost $50 after rebate with new agreement for new customers, and $40 for existing U.S. Cellular customers after rebate with new agreement.