Category Archives: Microsoft
Nokia Lumia 925 – Full Technical Specs
The latest addition to Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 powered Lumia range
Launched in London on May 14th 2013 as the follow up to the Nokia Lumia 920. In addition to Europe with Vodafone, the Nokia Lumia 925 will be introduced into the USA by T-Mobile and into China by China Mobile and China Unicom. Sales are expected to start in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and China in June 2013, followed by the USA and a number of other markets. The Nokia Lumia 925 will be priced around €469 before taxes and subsidies. Continue reading
Nokia introduces Nokia Lumia 925
New interpretation of world’s most innovative smartphone captures the best low light images
Press release
May 14th 2013. Nokia has introduced the Nokia Lumia 925 , a new interpretation of its award-winning flagship, the Nokia Lumia 920. TheNokia Lumia 925 introduces a metal design and showcases the latest PureView camera innovation, new features and third party applications coming to the Nokia Lumia range. Continue reading
Microsoft overtakes Google in direct billing stakes
Not only the future but the present, too
The guys running the Windows Phone development blog here have come up with some very interesting stats on the WP ecosystem since the launch of Windows Phone 8. Microsoft has seen over a 100 per cent increase in app downloads and a nearly 140 per cent increase in paid app revenue. However, the most interesting revelation is that Windows Phone has added 15 new mobile operator billing partners since August 2012, That brings its total number of supported partners to 25 in 19 markets – which actually surpasses Google Play. As Michael Whelan, CEO with txtNation, points out, “Operator Billing is not only the future, it is the present.” It’s obviously the way to go. Continue reading
Nokia should definitely produce a Windows tablet
Why we think it makes sense
The news wires have been burning over the last few days ever since Amazon appears to have mistakenly ‘outed’ the Acer W3-810, a new 8.1-inch tablet which was listed for $379.99. The reason everyone got so excited is that the device seemed to be running the Windows 8 OS. It’s still about twice the price you might expect to pay for a popular Android such as the Google Nexus 7 or the Amazon Kindle Fire HD. However, it’s much closer in price than your typical Windows 9 or RT tablet. If it could competitively price a Microsoft tablet, GoMo News thinks that Nokia might be tempted into the tablet space. Continue reading
Six in ten smartphones sold in UK now Android, says Kantar
But the clouds still over BlackBerry
Latest figures from market researcher Kantar confirm Android’s overwhelming dominance of the UK smartphone market, accounting for six in every ten handsets sold. But, as with the rest of the world, Kantar’s quarterly survey up to February [2013] also reveals BlackBerry as continuing to lose ground, with the once dominant manufacturer taking just 5.1 per cent of sales in the period, down from 16.8 per cent a year ago.
Nokia’s failings cut CEO’s pay packet in half
Sluggish sales of Windows phones to blame
Finnish manufacturer Nokia has slashed in half the earnings of its CEO Stephen Elop as it battles to restore its fortunes. The former Microsoft executive received €4.3 million in cash and stock options last year [2012], according to US regulatory filings, down by 45 per cent from €7.9 million in 2011 when he received a €2 million “golden handshake” to join the phone giant. Continue reading
Big surge in UK sales of Windows phones
Consolidating position as No.3 platform
Sales of Windows smartphones have grown by a staggering 240 per cent in a year and now account for 6.2 per cent of the UK market, latest figures from research firm Kantar reveal. In the past year some 700,000 new Windows users were added, while in the three months up to end of January 2013 the Microsoft-based devices – spearheaded by Nokia’s Lumia 800 and HTC’s 8X – surpassed those of BlackBerry in Britain. Continue reading
Nokia WP7.8 OTA upgrade notification fails
Rating: Stealth release of the upgrade from W7 Mango
Here at GoMobile News we have been awaiting the upgrade to Windows Phone 7.8 (which replaces W7 Mango) with bated breath. Virtually every day since early January [2013] we have been going to the ‘phone update’ page within the handset hoping to see that the upgrade had finally been released. The screen kept saying “No updates found” – even though we had ticked the box which says, “Use my mobile data connection to check for updates.” Then on Friday [February 1st 2013] we needed to use Zune on a PC to check for a particular music track. Imagine our surprise when the screen suddenly asked if we wanted to upgrade. Windows Phone 7.8 (WP7.8) was suddenly there! Continue reading
RIM/BlackBerry may have ultimate BYOD killer app
Rating: Lost in the BB10 disappointment is BlackBerry Balance
Of course, it was about time that Research In Motion (RIM) finally got wise to the fact that in future we can finally refer to the maker of the BlackBerry smartphone as BlackBerry instead. Good move. Years too late, though. RIM displayed an obvious ignorance of the power of brands by not renaming beforehand, of course. Overall, the industry reaction to the new Z10 hasn’t been very positive. However, that’s probably because mobile generalists fail to appreciate what put the BlackBerry up the top in the first place. It is a corporate tool. And the introduction of the new BlackBerry Balance feature means that organisations will feel a lot safer about deploying these smartphones within their own BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) strategy. Continue reading
GoMo rant: RIM’s PlayBook let down by lack of Skype
Rating: Skype app doesn’t migrate over from Android
A loyal GoMobile News reader recently acquired a RIM PlayBook tablet from her local electronics retail outlet in the UK. She wanted a low cost tablet and the Playbook fits neatly inside her handbag [pocketbook]. Imagine her anger when she discovered that the PlayBook doesn’t possess an official Skype app. What’s the point of providing a front facing video camera with your tablet if it isn’t capable of supporting the world’s most popular video conferencing system, was her reasoning? And she’s got a good point. The PlayBook was conceived as a useful adjunct to a BlackBerry smartphone and it shows. Hopefully, in 2013 RIM will be offering a new tablet which is designed to go head to head with the market leaders – like the iPad. Continue reading
Tizen mobile OS 101: Understanding Tizen’s origins
Rating: Yet another mobile OS – this one backed by Samsung and intel
Whilst Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS continue to dominate the mobile OS scene, there are still a number of alternatives vying for attention in the mobile sector. One of these is Tizen which – like Google’s Chrome and H-P’s webOS all use Webkit and a Linux kernel. By contrast, Mozilla’s Firefox (see here) has its own runtime environment in terms of Geko not Webkit. Where has Tizen sprung from? Well it’s really a joint effort by Intel and Samsung which spearhead the Technical Steering Group (TSG) which leads the Tizen Project. To give Tizen a bit of marketing clout there is also a Tizen Association which can be found here. Continue reading
Windows Phone will fail to rule the world by 2017 says Analysys Mason
Rating: Apparently this will happen sometime in 2017
According to new research from Analysys Mason, Microsoft will ship as many Windows Phone units by 2017 as Apple will ship in 2012. This is taken from a recently published report, ‘Smartphone markets: worldwide trends, forecasts and strategies 2012–2017′. The firm reckons that Windows Phone will become the fastest-growing mobile OS in terms of number of shipments within the next five years. GoMobile News has followed the fortunes of Microsoft for many years and this conclusion is indeed very hard to swallow. Continue reading
Unholy alliance to swoop in on Kodak’s IPR
Rating: Google & Apple join forces – shurley shome mishtake
An Unholy Alliance between Apple and Google appears to have sprung up over the IPR portfolio of Eastman Kodak – the bankrupt company best known for producing cameras. Kodak recently obtained $830 million of exit financing in November which was contingent on its sale of the digital-imaging patents for at least $500 million. The smartphone arch rivals appear to be interested in getting their hands on the circa 1,100 imaging inventions to strengthen hands in the series of vicious legal battles which has engulfed the mobile sector. Continue reading
Nokia’s Chinese win helps wipe $35bn off Apple
Finnish manufacturer triumphs in major tie-up with China Mobile
All eyes will return to Nasdaq today [6th December 2012] to see what happens to Apple after its shares fell 6.4 per cent last night, wiping $35 billion off its value. The fall came as analysts raised fears that it was losing ground to Nokia in China where the latter has just clinched a deal with the world’s biggest mobile operator, China Mobile. Though China Mobile has more than 700 million subscribers, it has no contract to sell iPhones – leaving the field open to the Finnish maker to supply a version of its flagship Lumia 920 smartphone. Continue reading
Apple’s iPhone 5 regains the top spot in America
But elsewhere in the world Android is storming ahead
Apple has snatched back its lead of the US smartphone market from Google’s Android platform, though it’s at the expense of RIM’s BlackBerry devices and Microsoft’s Windows Phone. It is the first time since February [2012], when sales of the previous iPhone 4S were declining, that Apple has regained its No.1 slot in America. Continue reading
