Nokia, Motorola, Research in Motion, Apple (yes, even Apple) and six other cell phone makers have agreed to a European Commission request to develop a universal charger. The agreement was announced today by the the EC. The new handsets will use Micro-USB connectors, and will be available in Europe beginning next year. The GSM Association […]
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Global revenue growth from mobile phone subscriptions has slowed, according to data released today by research firm Telegeography. The firm notes that the top 20 global service providers generated $251 billion during the first three months of 2009, which was only up 3 percent from the same period last year. Part of the slowed growth […]

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The Open Mobile Video Coalition said today that it will begin broadcasting over-the-air mobile television to devices in Washington, D.C., later this summer. Also today, Qualcomm, which operates a competing over-the-air television technology, said it’s licensed its FLO software to ProTelevision Technologies (formerly Philips TV Test Equipment). That means Qualcomm’s MediaFLO technology could become available […]

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Watch phone from LG, very cool.

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Today Qualcomm scored a huge coup for its MediaFLO mobile television service by winning the right to broadcast the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and to create a 27/7 channel devoted to the event. All MediaFLO subscribers will be able to watch the broadcast when it airs on Dec. 3. The fashion show pulled in a television audience last year of 6.5 million, exactly mirroring the number of people who are watching any form of mobile TV, which includes options other than MediaFLO.

But as the February transition to digital television looms, groups such as the National Association of Broadcasters and the Open Mobile Video Coalition (pushing a jointly developed LG and Samsung standard)  are seeking to develop alternate methods to watch TV on the go to avoid being beholden to wireless providers. The OMVC and it’s backers are branching out beyond cellular networks, hoping to install their technology in cars and laptops. Should those efforts succeed, Qualcomm’s investments in MediaFLO won’t pan out.

With its Ultra Mobile Broadband 4G wireless effort officially shuttered last week, Qualcomm needs to find another way to mint money. It still has a platform effort in Gobi, MediaFLO is still around, and 3G networks aren’t going anywhere for a while, but Qualcomm built its success on controlling the IP for THE widely adopted mobile standard CDMA. It can certainly play in other fields, but without a choke hold on some widely needed intellectual property, its negotiating power and royalty rates will be lessened.

Image from CBS

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Apple’s 3G iPhone was the best-selling handset in the U.S. during the third quarter of 2008, according to data compiled by The NPD Group. Apple had previously reported that it sold about 6.89 million iPhones (3G) in the quarter. The research group identifies Apple’s new device “as the leading handset purchased by adult consumers in the U.S.”

It beat out Motorola’s RZR V3 (all models), RIM’s Blackberry Curve, the LG Rumor and the LG enV2, the Port Washington, N.Y.-based research group said. RAZR was ranked as the top seller for past 12 quarters. That is bad news for Motorola, which is already on the mat after being pummeled with losses and declining market share. Funnily enough, phones with a QWERTY keyboard were in high demand — 30 percent of the handsets sold in this quarter had keyboards, versus just 11 percent the year prior. According to NPD Group, the domestic handset purchases by adult consumers declined 15 percent year over year in third quarter to 32 million units. Consumer handset sales revenue fell 10 percent to $2.9 billion.

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Will Nokia’s TouchPhone Beat iPhone?

Better production, distribution and footprint will make them overtake iPhone soon
Probably not, for iPhone has gained an iconic status
Anything but Nokia or iPhone for me

Nokia is going to release a touch-screen phone on Oct. 2nd, Reuters is reporting today. Based on comments the company made earlier this summer, […]

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While not as easy to set TV technology firsts like Olympic swimming trials world records, still, it’s pretty impress that LG plans to launch the world’s first frameless plasma TV.

The new model, dubbed PG61, the new plasma resembles a seamless black sheet of glass. The unique combination of frameless design, enhanced audio performance and amazing viewing experience earned the PG61 the ”Best of innovations Award” at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show.

According to the CEA SmartBrief newsletter, LG says numerous consumer surveys showed that consumers wanted to see something more than just a conventional plain black TV. 

Taking TV to the edge … and beyond?

Check out domain-b.com for more.

Tags: CEA SmartBrief, domain-b.com, LG, plasma TV

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Blogged about the intriguing Netflix/Roku deal back on May 20, but now an interesting piece on VentureBeat makes it even more (and more!) interesting.

The new Roku box (doesn’t look like much, does it?) lets you stream any of Netflix’s 10,000+ “Watch Now” movies (movies that can be watched immediately over the internet for free with your subscription) to your TV set instantly. However, a new wrinkle may make the device even more attractive — with a simple software download, other services beyond Netflix will soon be able to use it, according to Forbes.

This changes the device from a nice little purchase (it’s only $99), into a potential Trojan horse for digital content in your living room. Of course, it entirely depends on what other services reach agreements to use the device. Roku would only say that other “big name” providers could bring their services to the device with a simple update.

At the same time, Netflix plans to release another box featuring its “Watch Now” service in conjunction with LG later this year. There’s also an intriguing rumor that the service could come to Microsoft’s Xbox 360. 

Tags: Forbes, LG, Microsoft, Netflix, Roku, VentureBeat, Xbox 360

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