samsung

Prediction 1: Motorola's handset division will cease to be - 2009 Predictions

Sue Marek — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:09:38 -0500

The company recently said it would implement a series of cost-cutting measures meant to stop the bleeding, but the bleeding continues and we expect Motorola will shutter the handset division. The company's debt was recently downgraded to junk status, meaning almost no one will be willing to loan it any money for future investments because its debt is essentially worthless. It lost $397 million in the third quarter of 2008--there are only so many quarters that can happen before a company goes bust.

Motorola has decided not to spin off the handset division, and instead to place most of its chips on Android and Windows Mobile-based phones, but has said an Android phone won't be out on the market until late 2009. If LG, Samsung and Sony Ericsson beat Motorola to the punch on that front, as they likely will, Motorola's last-best-chance at reviving itself will come at the tail-end of the Android march in the United States. We think the odds are stacked too high against Motorola and that its handset division will meet its demise.

2008 Year in Review: The iPhone 3G and iPhone clones

Phil Goldstein — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:38:40 -0500

The news: AT&T Mobility launched the Apple's iPhone 3G July 11, ushering in a new era of high-speed data capable smartphones. Apple's second-generation iPhone, which featured the same sleek look and innovative touchscreen user interface of the first-gen iPhone, now offered consumers the ability to surf the Web using AT&T's HSPA network and that sparked a flurry of iPhone clones.

T-Mobile USA jumped into the ring post-iPhone 3G, with the launch of the G1, the first phone based on Google's Android platform, which boasted a touchscreen and a QWERTY keyboard. Then came the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, formerly known as the Tube. Verizon Wireless followed up shortly thereafter with the Motorola Krave ZN4--billed as both a touchscreen phone and a flip phone.

Then, the deluge came: the Samsung Epix (AT&T); the HTC Touch Pro, a soup-ed up version of the HTC Touch Diamond (Sprint Nextel); the $800 Sony Ericsson Xperia X1; the Samsung Saga (Verizon) and Samsung Eternity (AT&T); Research In Motion's BlackBerry Storm--the first touchscreen BlackBerry (Verizon); the Samsung Omnia (Verizon); and the Nokia N97.

Why it was significant: It is easy to pronounce this or that as a paradigm shift, but the launch of the iPhone 3G truly was one. The genius lay behind its marketing, with each 30-second ad almost like an infomercial for how to use the multiple features and applications of the iPhone 3G, and then, at the end, reminding customers that it was a phone, too. Apple marketed the iPhone 3G as a mobile computer and digital media player first, and a phone second. And other handset makers felt they had to follow suit, launching a bevy of sleek phones with touchscreen UI's. While each pretender to the throne was looking to be an iPhone-Killer, so far the iPhone 3G remains at the top, simply by virtue that no other handset has achieved the same kind of brand recognition that the iPhone 3G has.

Samsung launching Android phones in Q2 2009

Phil Goldstein — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:42:57 -0500

Samsung will release its first phone based on Google's Android operating system in North America in the second quarter of 2009 for both Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA.

Samsung is said to have 80 people working on the development team for its Android phone. The news was first reported on the South Korean news site ET News.

"We are accelerating the development process for the Google phone in order to meet the specific need of local carriers," ET News quoted an anonymous Samsung official as saying. "We will be able to release the Google phone in the second quarter of the next year in the U.S. market."

The phone is said to look much like many of Samsung's other touchscreen phones, and will incorporate design factors from both the Omnia and Instinct. The news that it will run on both Sprint and T-Mobile's network indicates that Samsung will either include both a CDMA radio for Sprint customers and an HSDPA/UMTS radio for T-Mobile users, or make different versions for the different networks.

There is no exact release date or pricing details available. Currently, the T-Mobile G1, manufactured by HTC, is the only Android-based phone available in North America.

Huawei, which had announced that it was developing an Android phone for launch in 2009, indicated that it expected the launch to happen in the third quarter of 2009.

For more:
- see this article
- see this article on Huawei

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Consumer Reports names Samsung BlackJack II best smartphone

Phil Goldstein — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:57:15 -0500

Consumer Reports named the Samsung BlackJack II as its best smartphone, and two of the smartphones that have garnered the most attention in recent months--Apple's iPhone 3G and the T-Mobile G1--were not even in the top 5.

The HSDPA phone, which features Windows Mobile 6.1, a built-in GPS radio with an optional TeleNav GPS Navigator, a 2-megapixel camera and is compatible with AT&T's Video Share service, costs $80 after a $100 mail-in rebate.

The T-Mobile Wing, Motorola QC9, T-Mobile Shadow and Research In Motion's BlackBerry Pearl Flip rounded out the the list.

For more:
- see this post in Engadget
- see this post on ZDNet

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Verizon unlocks GPS on some of its WinMo phones

Phil Goldstein — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:01:30 -0500

Verizon Wireless has decided to allow a certain number of its Windows Mobile handsets to have standalone GPS, breaking them free from Verizon's proprietary navigation software.

Verizon previously had locked these phones so they could only use VZ Navigator. However, according to an official statement released from the carrier, the Samsung Omnia, Samsung Saga and HTC Touch Pro will all get firmware updates in the first half of 2009 allowing them to use standalone GPS software such as Google Maps.

According to a statement made by Steve Schwed, Verizon's HQ Executive Relations Supervisor, Verizon has worked out a solution with Windows Mobile to get a software upgrade for the three devices sometime in the first half of next year. Schwed said the reason that certain features--i.e. standalone GPS--may not be enabled on Verizon handsets is that they do not meet "performance goals."

"We will often choose to introduce the phone without that feature but ask that the manufacturer come back to us with revised software that has to be tested to make sure the service works the same across our entire wireless footprint--from Maine to Hawaii," he said in the statement. "In the case of open standalone GPS, we are partnering with the Windows Mobile device manufacturers to provide a software upgrade that will add this capability to the existing assisted GPS capability."

For more:
- see this article

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FCC approves 8-megapixel phone for T-Mobile

Phil Goldstein — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:21:52 -0500

The FCC approved an 8-megapixel camera phone that was rumored to be the Samsung Memoir. The phone seems destined to land at T-Mobile USA because it comes with a 1700 MHz radio.

The HSDPA phone will run on Samsung's TouchWhiz interface--the same as on the Samsung Behold--and is equipped with GPS and Bluetooth. There is no word on pricing or a release date. The phone will boost T-Mobile's lineup of smartphones, which has lagged behind those of other Tier 1 carriers as T-Mobile has built out its 3G UMTS/HSPA network in the United States.

For more:
- see this article
- see this picture

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Rumor Mill: T-Mobile to get 8 megapixel Samsung Memoir

Phil Goldstein — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:17:36 -0500

T-Mobile USA is reportedly going to be launching a Samsung phone with an 8-megapixel camera that is going to be called the "Memoir."

The report, which first appeared on T-Mobile's unofficial blog, TMoNews, was short on details but long on promise. The phone will reportedly run on the TouchWiz user interface--the same as on the Samsung Behold. While it will not be a top-of-the-line phone for T-Mobile like the G1, it could be one of the highest resolution subsidized camera phones offered in the United States. There are no details on a possible release date or pricing.

For more:
- see this article
- see this post

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Sprint to carry Samsung haptics phone - Rumor Mill Roundup

Phil Goldstein — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:46:49 -0500

Verdict: RIGHT

Why it went right: The word in January was that Samsung was releasing a touchscreen phone in Europe called the F490--a 5 megapixel camera-toting device running for about $700. The real news was that Sprint Nextel was going to launch a very similar CDMA/EV-DO phone with haptic feedback in the United States sometime in the second quarter of 2008. Leaked photos at the time, originally from the website Mobiledia, revealed a phone that looked a whole lot like the Samsung Instinct. The phone, in fact, turned out to be just that. Sprint launched the phone just before the start of the summer, and a few days later, when Sprint was trumpeting the phone's sales, it made sure to note its haptic feedback capability.

For more see - Sprint to carry Samsung haptics phone

Verizon Wireless launches Samsung Omnia

Phil Goldstein — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:20:30 -0500

Verizon Wireless added another smartphone to its lineup just ahead of the official start of the holiday shopping season.

The carrier launched the CMDA Samsung Omnia, a touchscreen phone running on Windows Mobile with a five-megapixel camera. The phone uses Samsung's Touchwiz user interface and has haptic feedback that provides a little vibration when a selection is made. The phone has an on-screen QWERTY keyboard, runs on Windows Mobile 6.1, the Opera 9.5 web browser and is Wi-Fi capable. The phone is similar in may ways to the Samsung Delve being offered by Alltel, but the five-megapixel camera puts in on par with the Motorola Zn5 being offered by T-Mobile USA.

The Omnia will be available for sale online Nov. 26 and in stores beginning Dec. 8 for $250 after a $70 mail-in rebate and with a two-year contract.

For more:
- see this release

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InterDigital, Samsung resolve patent dispute

Sue Marek — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:56:09 -0500

Just days before the International Trade Commission was scheduled to decide whether or not to ban 3G Samsung phones from being imported into the U.S., the handset maker resolved its patent dispute with InterDigital and signed a deal to license InterDigital patents covering all of Samsung 3G products (including those with both W-CDMA and CDMA2000 standards) though 2012. The deal also ended all disputes regarding 2G products.

Samsung has 45 days to figure out how to pay InterDigital for its IPR. The value of the agreement was not disclosed, however a year ago a judge ruled that Samsung should pay InterDigital $134 million for royalties owed in 2G technologies.

For more:
- see this press release

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Samsung Instinct ad campaign - Wireless Turkeys 2008

Phil Goldstein — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:02:42 -0500

Why is it a turkey?

Heralded as an iPhone-Killer, the Samsung Instinct--sold at $130 with a two-year contract from Sprint after a $100 mail-in rebate--made a big splash on its debut, about three weeks before the launch of the iPhone 3G. Sprint trumpeted as its "fastest-selling EV-DO phone ever." And yet, as the Age of the iPhone dawned, the Instinct failed to catch on.

Sprint asked its customers to produce videos promoting the phone in their home videos and post them to YouTube. The first 1,000 videos were to be accepted and film makers would get $20. One video would win $10,000.

Then Sprint decided to do this itself, producing commercials for the Instinct that were faux-spoofs of movie genres, featuring the phone.

But the Instinct has yet to match the levels of enthusiasm that the iPhone 3G has experienced. Sprint seems to encourage the comparison between the two devices. The carrier mentioned the iPhone 3G in its ad campaign and there is even a link on the official Instinct website about why the Instinct is better than the iPhone 3G. According to the NPD Group, the iPhone 3G was the top-selling consumer handset in the United States in the third quarter. The Instinct was not in the top 5.

Spansion sues Samsung over flash memory patents

Phil Goldstein — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:04:42 -0500

Spansion has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics in federal court and lodged a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission over patents it says it holds for flash memory technology that it says Samsung violated.

The complaint seeks to block the importation of devices with the offending flash memory technology, and names Apple, Research In Motion, Lenovo, Sony and Sony Ericsson as companies who are customers of Samsung and are importing products in violation of the patent. Spansion estimates that the proposed blockade would stop the importation of more than 100 million products a year.

The ITC has become a battleground for tech companies to resolve patent disputes, most notably in the long-running saga between chip makers Broadcom and Qualcomm. However, as that experience has showed, the process of resolving technical disputes can take months, if not years, and never truly end. Spansion CEO Bernard Cambou said the company tried to resolve the matter with Samsung privately, but will pursue it and look to build a new patent-licensing business.

"This is not just a nuisance suit," Cambou said. "This company is going to go all the way--we are not going to stop unless we find a solution."

For more:
- see this WSJ article (sub. req.)

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Kodak sues LG, Samsung over camera phone patents

Phil Goldstein — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:51:22 -0500

Kodak is suing LG and Samsung over patent infringement in the design of camera phones, accusing the handset makers of using Kodak's design for the capture, data compression and storage of pictures.

Kodak usually inks licensing deals for its technology and it has done so with other camera manufacturers and cell phone makers, but the Rochester, N.Y.-based company said its negotiations with the two South Korean handset makers did not result in an agreement.

"Our digital-camera technology is different from the one used by Kodak. We haven't infringed upon Kodak's related patents," said LG Electronics spokesman Choi Jun-hyuk. "We'll actively deal with the case." Samsung said it works to protect intellectual property rights, but would respond actively to the litigation.

Kodak, which gets a significant portion of its revenue from licenses, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Rochester and also lodged a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission.

For more:
- see this article (sub. req.)

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T-Mobile launches Samsung Gravity

Phil Goldstein — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:17:16 -0500

T-Mobile USA seems to be getting the message.

The carrier launched a quick-messaging phone from Samsung, the Gravity, joining AT&T Mobility and Sprint Nextel in support a quick-texting phone from the handset maker. Earlier this fall AT&T came out with the Samsung Propel, Sprint launched the Samsung Rant and Verizon Wireless launched the Samsung Glyde.

The quad-band global and UMTS and EDGE-enabled Gravity has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 1.3 megapixel camera, supports multiple instant messaging services and is enabled with T-Mobile's myFaves. It also has stereo Bluetooth and an expandable microSD slot capable of holding up to 4GB. The phone will be available on Tuesday for $49.99 with a two-year service contract.

For more:
- see this article
- see this picture of the Samsung Gravity

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Verizon, AT&T launch new Samsung phones

Phil Goldstein — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:31:28 -0500

Both Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility launched new Samsung phones, adding to their holiday lineup as the holiday shopping season sets to kick off.

Verizon debuted two global phones, one a high-end smartphone and the other a lower-tier flip phone. The Samsung Saga is a QWERTY-keyboard toting smartphone with quad-band GSM/GPRS capability, an optical mouse, WiFi capability, the Opera browser and Windows Mobile 6.1. It also has a 2 megapixel camera, a microSD slot capable of holding 16GB and stereo Bluetooth. The phone will sell for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after a $70 mail-in rebate and will be available Dec 1.

Verizon also launched the Samsung Renown, a a quad-band flip phone that has all of the basics. The phone has a 2 megapixel camera, visual voicemail and a microSD slot capable of holding 8GB. The phone will retail for $179.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate and will be in stores Dec. 1 and available through business sales channels Nov. 19.

AT&T is also getting into the mix, and launched the Samsung Eternity, a MediaFLO phone that has access to AT&T Mobile TV. The HSDPA touchscreen phone has a full QWERTY keyboard, an accelerometer and Samsung's TouchWiz user interface. The phone also has a 3 megapixel camera and GPS with AT&T Navigator. The phone is selling for $149.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. AT&T is also offering new AT&T Mobile TV subscribers a 30-day free trial of the service.

For more:
- see this Verizon release
- see this AT&T release
- see FierceWireless' Holiday Handset Guide

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Video: Samsung commercial featuring Ozzy Osbourne

Mike Dolan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:00:54 -0500

Check out this new Samsung commercial featuring Ozzy Osbourne.

Samsung passes Motorola as top U.S. handset maker

Phil Goldstein — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:55:45 -0500

For the first time Samsung has surpassed Motorola as the top handset maker in the United States, according to the research firm Strategy Analytics.

The South Korean handset vendor had 22.4 percent of the U.S. market, compared to Motorola's 21.1 percent share, mostly because of the wide array of handsets that it offered.

The news comes as Motorola is radically shifting gears in its handset division, slashing jobs and repositioning its handsets to focus more on Google's Android platform. When Motorola announced its third quarter results, posting a $397 million loss, the company said that it would focus on low-tier devices as well as Windows Mobile and Android-based mid-to-high-tier devices in 2009. In addition, it expected to have an Android phone at the end of next year.

For more:
- see this article (sub. req.)
- see FierceWireless' handset metrics chart
- see some pictures of Samsung and Motorolla's holiday handset offerings in our slideshow

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Q1-Q3 handset metrics analyzed

Phil Goldstein — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:31:00 -0400

With the release of Motorola's third quarter results Thursday, the five major handset makers have now revealed their handset shipment numbers for the first three quarters of 2008. FierceWireless breaks down the numbers. Graphic

IDC: 3Q Cell phone shipments suffered from economy

Phil Goldstein — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:54:52 -0400

Research firm IDC says that global cell phone shipments fell in the third quarter in the face of worsening macroeconomic conditions. Mobile phone makers shipped 299 million handsets in third quarter, up 3.2 percent from last year and down 0.4 percent from the second quarter of this year. IDC said that historically the third quarter has been a ramp-up quarter as manufacturers load their sales channels with handsets in preparation for the fourth quarter holiday buying season. This year, that ramp up is small, which IDC says is because of the economy.

According to IDC, Nokia remained the top handset maker, with 39.4 percent market share, followed by Samsung at 17.3 percent, Sony Ericsson at 8.6 percent and Motorola at 8.5 percent market share.

For more:
- see this press release

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Verizon may launch femtocells in 2009

Phil Goldstein — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:39:42 -0400

Verizon Wireless said it may introduce its first femtocell product next year, following rival Sprint Nextel's move into the home base station arena.

"We are looking at femtocell technology and will soon be performing user tests," a company spokesman said. "We could well have a product on the market early next year, but we have made no public announcements about that yet."

A Samsung-made "Ubicell" femtocell branded by Verizon is now at the FCC awaiting approval. Verizon Wireless CTO Tony Melone had hinted earlier in the spring that Verizon may consider a femtocell deployment as an option.

Over the summer, Sprint expanded its femtocell partnership with Samsung, pushing its Airwave femtocells to the nationwide market.

For more:
- see this article

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