Pogoplug joins the long list of free cloud services with its new Pogoplug cloud. With apps for all major platforms for smartphones as well as computers. The new cloud offers seamless connectivity b/w all platforms.
The first 5Gb is free and you can upgrade to a bigger 50GB or 100GB for US $ 9.95 & $19.95 / month respectively. You also have the ability to make and share folders just like dropbox, and if you are the social type you can even share your activity of Facebook and Twitter.
[toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Pogoplug Introduces Free Cloud Storage for Mobile Phones Share and Stream Directly From Your Phone
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pogoplug, creators of the award-winning line of streaming and sharing devices, today unveiled a new service: Pogoplug Cloud. The service provides users with a secure online space to store personal content and instantly share and stream it from their mobile device. Users sign up directly from any mobile phone, tablet or web browser and immediately receive their free 5GB Pogoplug Cloud.
Pogoplug is the only service to offer infinite expansion. Users can purchase additional online storage from Pogoplug, or host a private, unlimited cloud for no monthly fees by buying a Pogoplug box and connecting it to a home or office network.
Pogoplug Cloud enables users to: – Store: Automatically upload photos and videos from your mobile phone to your Pogoplug Cloud-no sync required.
– Share: Instantly share anything in your cloud through email, Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Create shared folders and collaborate with friends and colleagues.
– Stream: Stream HD videos, photos and music from your Pogoplug Cloud to your phone.
“Mobile users are asking for more storage for their devices,” said Daniel Putterman, CEO and co-founder of Cloud Engines. “We designed Pogoplug Cloud to give everyone the freedom to interact with all of their personal content straight from their mobile phone.”
Pricing and Availability Pogoplug offers 5GB of free cloud storage. 50GB and 100GB of additional cloud storage are available for $9.95/month and $19.95/month, respectively. Pogoplug Cloud is available today at www.pogoplug.com. Pogoplug’s iOS and Android apps are FREE and available for download in the iTunes Store and Android Marketplace. The full range of Pogoplug hardware and software products are available at www.pogoplug.com.
ABOUT POGOPLUG
Pogoplug is cloud storage for your mobile life. The service enables users to store, share and stream personal content from any mobile device. Pogoplug is the only service that provides flexible expansion options by allowing users to purchase additional cloud-based storage or to host a private unlimited cloud for no monthly fees by purchasing a Pogoplug box.
Pogoplug is led by experienced entrepreneurs from the digital media and security space and backed by Foundry Group, Softbank and Morgan Stanley. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with a satellite office in Tel Aviv. For more information, please visit http://www.pogoplug.com.[/toggle]
A new twist of development has taken place in porting Siri to other Apple devices. A new exploit found would allow users that already own a iPhone 4S to enjoy the exploits of Siri on other iDevices. Sure a unique identifier could be formed but Apple would easily find it and ban it for abuse.
The best thing here is that this may actually hold possibility for Siri to be ported over to Android and other platforms. But the situation will always remain same. You will need an identified for the software to work with Apple’s servers.
So, its time to really see if the friend with an iPhone 4S is actually a true friend.
Nissan has been working quite hard in the electronic vehicle market, with the Leaf doing well in various parts of the world. The new EV concept dubbed “Pivo3” has a wonderfully interesting design. It will sit one driver in the front along with 2 passengers at the back. The Pivo 3 has a small four-meter turning circle and automatic parking. Nissan is not sure of productions of this vehicle, not before 2017 anyway. Check out the video below to see whats up- upclose and personal.
[toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]PIVO 3 – Smart Urban Commuter is EV of the Near Future
It all started in 2005. Since featuring PIVO 1 at the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan has introduced six other EV concepts, all demonstrating Nissan’s dedication to creating exciting and innovative zero emission mobility solutions. And at the upcoming 42nd Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan will be revealing the PIVO 3, its eighth EV concept. Yet this is not just a show car – PIVO 3 is what Nissan envisions to be a more “realistic” EV of the near future.
PIVO 3 takes Nissan’s EV portfolio another step forward. Building on the pioneering PIVO 1 and PIVO 2, the new PIVO 3 concept moves from the realm of imagination into a fully-evolved vehicle that envisions life in tomorrow’s cities. Where PIVO 2 was a highly innovative vehicle that stood alone as a concept car, PIVO 3 evolves in the direction of “smart community” with greater feasibility, credibility and an extended scope of mobile performance. Nissan believes PIVO 3 is very close to what the next step in urban mobility will be.
Francois Bancon, Deputy Division General Manager of Product Strategy and Product Planning Division, explains “PIVO is one of the answers for active urbanists living in mature markets. Through the three PIVO proposals, we have gained a deep understanding of their needs in such large, metropolitan areas. Each of the eight concepts that we have created address different needs, different communities, different lifestyles for different markets. That makes zero emission mobility an ambitious statement for the company… At Nissan, we believe that the world is changing and mobility has a role to play to make it better”.
As part of Nissan’s long-term commitment to lead the way in mass-marketed zero-emission mobility, PIVO 3 stands alongside the Nissan LEAF as a practical approach to sustainability for the real world. Nissan LEAF is a compact hatchback; PIVO is an ultra-compact city commuter targeting singles and couples living in and enjoying an urban lifestyle.
Comes when it’s called, with automated parking and automatic charging functions With Automated Valet Parking (AVP), PIVO 3 will revolutionize the parking experience by connecting to and responding to infrastructure. No longer does a driver need to find a parking space, physically park the car, or remember which space the car is parked. PIVO 3 can park automatically in specially-equipped parking lots. While the driver shops or takes care of business, PIVO 3 recharges itself or sells excess power to the grid. Later, the driver can call PIVO 3 and summon it to the driver’s location using a smartphone. This AVP function not only creates more freedom in private life, but it can also contribute to society and benefit the environment by supplying electric power on the regional grid. PIVO 3 points the way to mobility as a service – always on, available and reliable.
U-turn in 4 meters, with zero turn gap PIVO 3 is a remarkably compact package, measuring just under 3m in length and seating three in a 1+2 layout. The compact body and narrow-tread wheels with IWM (in-wheel motors) enable an extremely small turning radius with zero turn gap. PIVO 3 is very agile and can effortlessly park in tight spaces. Such maneuverability also aids the driver who has taken a wrong turn onto a narrow street. Instead of having to back out in reverse gear, PIVO 3 can make a legal U-turn in a road only 4m wide. Considering that most public roads around the world are at least 4m in width, this means that a U-turn is almost always possible because of its 2m minimum turning radius.
Package leverages electric drive, by-wire technology and in-wheel motors Like the previous PIVO 1 and PIVO 2, PIVO 3 uses electric power and by-wire control technology to permit freedom of layout and the downsizing or elimination of many mechanical parts. Again, similar to PIVO 2, PIVO 3 uses in-wheel motors (IWM) to give wheels great freedom of movement, and more space in the vehicle chassis. Moreover, PIVO 3 balances the advantages of IWM with user friendliness by keeping wheel rotation within a range that will maintain a natural steering feel for the typical driver.
Seamless mobility built on friendly innovation Guided by the philosophy of “friendly innovation”, Nissan seeks to ensure that the customer perceives cutting-edge technology as being truly easy to use and understand. In this context, one of the engaging features of PIVO 3 that it inherits from the previous PIVO 2 is the Robotic Agent interface. The car acts as a partner or personal assistant to the driver, with companionship conveyed by the Robotic Agent. Based on this approach, PIVO 3 supports a life of seamless mobility, using cloud computing and infrastructure (e.g. AVP and charging facilities) to connect with the city. A “smart” personal filter selects information relevant to the current driver, location and vehicle.
Mature exterior styling integrates narrow-tread rear tires Externally, PIVO 3 shows mature styling with bold surfaces and a new stance. Front fenders extending out of a crouching chassis with a sculptural front exude a look of agility. Long body lines and angular planes combine in a dynamically active form. Rear styling cues emphasize strong presence within compact dimensions. Trim and stylish mobility is promised by the new stance, which attractively reveals narrow rear track width.
Interior design Inside, PIVO 3 presents a distinctive design centering on driving controls that seamlessly integrate with interior and exterior styling. Side-view monitors take the place of mirrors, using Nissan’s Around View Monitor system to reveal the car’s surroundings and help minimize blind spots. The center console features an ultra-wide display for GPS and other information, and together with a sub-monitor and the Robotic Agent, is positioned to interact discreetly with the driver. Carefully stitched leather and silver-hued trim meld in a “snow white” and “EV blue” color scheme to produce a tasteful, high-quality ambience. Smooth surfaces add to the refined feel within the compact cabin dimensions, rather than emphasizing environmental frugality.
Next stage of urban mobility With its home charging capability, Nissan LEAF liberates the driver from dependence on gasoline. It also has the potential to store renewable energy and even supply the household with electricity. From this “LEAF to HOME” connection, PIVO 3 expands the possibilities to include the entire electrical grid. When EV’s represent a larger percentage of all cars, collectively serving as part of a city’s infrastructure, advanced electric vehicles like PIVO 3 could help balance electric power supply and demand – around the clock and around the town. Such a powerful synergy of smart cities, cloud computing and EVs opens the door to the urban society of tomorrow.
Here, once again, Nissan demonstrates its commitment as a responsible corporate citizen to zero emission mobility with an inspired vision of the way we will live and drive in the near future.[/toggle]
Sony Has awarded PS certification to the Xperia Arc and never seen outside Japan- Arco. These are the only other two phones apart from the Xperia Play to win the Sony playstation certification. These phones will now be able to access and download PS certified games from the Sony-Android Marketplace which was earlier limited to the Xperia Play.
Worried that your recent LG Optimus 2X purchase may not be future proof? Think again, LG has confirmed that the Optimus 2X will intact be getting the Android 4.0 update, and this information was put up on their FB page. There are no details as to when this will happen, or how, since most are still awaiting the 2.3 version of the LG firmware.
“[LG Official Statements on Ice Cream Sandwich OS Update] LG firmly denies the rumors that claim LG will not be providing the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) OS update for the LG Optimus 2X. These rumors are NOT true. LG is currently in the process of planning the ICS OS update for the LG Optimus 2X as well as other LG high-end smartphones. Detailed information on the ICS OS update schedule for specific models will be announced, once the ICS OS is publicly released by Google. Please stay tuned for more updates from LG. Thank you very much.”
The Galaxy Note has been launched in India for a price of 34,990/- at market price and will go on sale starting today. The first 100,000 buyers will get a complementary leather pouch with their device. The device features the worlds first 1.4 GHz Dual core processor and also the worlds first 5.3″ display on a Smartphone. The device features a Smart Pen which lets you bring back the memories of olden days with a modern twist, the Pen can be used to live annotate and edit files, draw, sketch etc all on the Galaxy Note. The company is pitching it as a replacement for a Tablet and a Phone and unifying the market. The price seems a bit high and expect it to fall under 30K pretty soon. Check out the specs below and wait for our exclusive hands on video.
To sum it up we have a 5.3 inch display, a 1.4 GHz dual core processor, 16GB storage, 32GB expandable a 8 megapixel camera at back and a 2MP in the front. We also get an impressive stylus and a beautiful screen and a 2500 mah battery pack .
We got our hands on the large size Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000 pre-launch in India. The event is about to begin and our initial impressions are mixed, the device is ver very big. The device is quite a middle point between a Tablet and a Smartphone and is pretty comfortable for its size. The display even though is 5.3 inches is very crisp with a Super Amoled screen. The device remains very slim and fares almost close to the iPhone 4S at just 9.65mm. The Note is possibly the first smartphone you will enjoy using a stylus on, the precision of the point is great. The Stylus is also a great sketch and edit instrument and you will actually use it a lot if you get this device.
The stylus does not work with other screens and not at all with the iPhone (trust us we tested). The device fits into the pockets of your denim in a very uncomfortable fashion, but would do well for a coat/blazer pocket (for those corporate types). Check out our hands on images below and stay tuned for the full hands on Video by the end of the day. The camera is a pretty good snapper and we have attached a bunch of samples we got from it including an indoor 1080p video which should go up by the end of the day.
To sum it up we have a 5.3 inch display, a 1.4 GHz dual core processor, 16GB storage, 32GB expandable a 8 megapixel camera at back and a 2MP in the front. We also get an impressive stylus and a beautiful screen a 2500 mah battery pack . So far so good right.
Update : The price is now confirmed at an MRP of INR 34,990/-
HTC has issued its Q3 results and their profits are up by 68%. The total net income rose to $624.6 million this quarter
Revenue rose by 79 percent on the year toaround $4.54 billion
The reasons cited by HTC for this growth are :
“strong brand recognition, leading product portfolio and expanded distribution channels.”
“We aim to lead the way as the smartphone market continues to expand and change rapidly,We pride ourselves on anticipating market and consumer needs and addressing them before they are realized. We are growing rapidly and responsibly around the globe and continue to expand our leadership in new areas, such as LTE.”
– Peter Chou, CEO of HTC.
HTC saw the strongest growth in China where the sales were up nine times, which may also possibly the main reason for the increase in handset shipments, which increased 93 percent over the year, to 13.2 million units.
QUARTERLY REVENUES, NET PROFITS AND EPS ALL HIT NEW HIGHS
Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C. October 31, 2011 – HTC Corporation (“HTC”, or the “Company”, TWSE: 2498), a global leader in smartphone innovation and design, today announced consolidated results of the Company and its subsidiaries for the third quarter of 2011.
3Q Highlights
After-tax profit was NT$18.68bn, up 68% year-on-year; EPS was NT$22.07
Total revenues grew for the sixth consecutive quarter since 1Q 2010 and reached
NT$135.82bn, up 79% year-on-year
Handset shipments totalled 13.2mn units, up 93% year-on-year
ASP was US$344, up 0.6% year-on-year
Gross profit margin and operating margin were both in line with original guidance at 28.0%
and 14.9%, respectively
3Q 2011 Results
HTC’s diverse product offerings, expanded distribution network and growing global brand recognition, have helped the Company deliver a record-high quarterly revenue of NT$135.82bn in the third quarter of 2011, resulting in after-tax earnings of NT$18.68bn and EPS of NT$22.07.
HTC sold 13.2 million smartphones in 3Q 2011: 93% more than the same period last year, and 9% more than the second quarter of this year.
New products launched during 3Q addressed a wide variety of customers and market segments. Co- branded with Beats, HTC Sensation XE and HTC Sensation XL offer a studio-quality experience to consumers. HTC Rhyme bundled a new HTC Sense experience and sleek accessories to create a lifestyle device. The Company expanded its entry-level offerings by launching HTC Explorer into emerging markets, such as India, on the heels of HTC Wildfire’s success. And HTC Titan and HTC Radar were the first smartphones to launch with the new Windows Phone “Mango” platform.
China is one of the most important growth regions for HTC, and China reported top sales growth across all regions this quarter – 9x more than its sales volume in the same period last year. HTC Wildfire has become an iconic, mainstream smartphone in the region, and HTC launched the flagship HTC Sensation into two major operators (China Mobile and China Unicom) networks. Two highly- customized social networking devices – HTC ?? with Sina Weibo and HTC ChaCha with QQ – showed HTC’s strong committment to deepen Chinese comsumers’ experience. The Company aims to capture early brand preference in China, as smartphone penetration is at an early stage.
Operating profit continued to grow from NT$12.40 billion in the same period last year, to NT$20.18 billion this quarter- up 63% year-on-year and 5% quarter-on-quarter – on the back of expansion inoperating scale and increased revenue. HTC is focused on driving economic scale to achieve efficient operating leverage and a healthy operating margin level.
“We aim to lead the way as the smartphone market continues to expand and change rapidly,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC. “We pride ourselves on anticipating market and consumer needs and addressing them before they are realized. We are growing rapidly and responsibly around the globe and continue to expand our leadership in new areas, such as LTE.”
LTE technology is expected to be the next generation wireless communication technology for high- speed data. Since 2009, HTC has maintained its leadership position in 4G, developing and shipping more 4G devices than any other company. An LTE device upgrade cycle is foreseeable in 2012 in both the United States and some advanced markets in Asia (e.g., Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong). HTC is poised to capture an advantage in this market.
In addition to LTE, HTC has invested in delivering innovation to the entry-level smartphone sector. HTC Wildfire has become one of the Company’s top selling products, and the newly-launched HTC Explorer continues to attract first-time smartphone buyers. The Company is committed to drive innovation, not only with high-end LTE devices, but also to the mass market.
Despite uncertainties in the macro-economic environment, HTC believes in its ability to continue to drive strong growth, and is committed to continue investing in marketing, operations and R&D. Going into fourth quarter this year, HTC’s retail presence in China is expected to expand, totaling up to 2,000 outlets. A new factory in Taoyuan is scheduled to complete beginning of next year, which has the potential to increase capacity by up to 40 million units per year. Last but not least, the Company continues its focus on creating global brand preference and emotional connection with customers.
4Q 2011 Outlook
The Company’s outlook for the fourth quarter of 2011 is as follows:
4Q revenue expected to be around NT$125 to 135bn, up 20% to 30% year-on-year
4Q shipment expected to be around 12.0 to 13.0mn units, up 31% to 42% year-on-year
Gross margin expected to be around 28.0%±0.5%
Operating margin expected to be in the range of 14.5%±0.5%
Conference Call and Webcast
HTC will host its quarterly conference call in Chinese beginning at 4 p.m. (Taiwan Time, GMT+8), and quarterly conference call in English beginning at 8 p.m. (Taiwan Time, GMT+8) on Monday, October 31st, 2011. The conference call in Chinese will be webcast live with audio and slides at:
http://www.mzcan.com/cancast/taiwan/index.php?id=tw2498_143&version=c and webcast link for the call in English is http://www.mzcan.com/cancast/taiwan/index.php?id=tw2498_143&version=e.
About HTC
PRESS RELEASE
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones and tablets that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.
###
HTC, the HTC logo are the trademarks of HTC Corporation. All other names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
HTC IR & PR Contacts
HTC IR / Finance & Accounting Division
Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements which may include projections of future results of operations, financial condition or business prospects based on our own information and other sources. Our actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to market demand, price fluctuations, competition, international economic conditions, supply chain issues, exchange rate fluctuations and other risks and factors beyond our control. The forward-looking statements in this release reflect the current belief of HTC as of the date of this release. HTC undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such date.
Blackberry has finally made a massive design change to their lineup and it comes from another company. Porsche and Blackberry have tied up to release the worlds first stainless steel and alloy Porsche Design P’9981 it has hand-wrapped leather back cover, sculpted QWERTY keyboard, and “crystal clear touch display.”
The UI is completely redesigned by Porsche and the device will also feature a bespoke Wikitude World Browser with augmented reality. The limited edition phone will ship with unique pin’s and the ability to easily identify other P’9981 users.
As for the specs
1.2GHz processor
HD video recording capabilities
8GB of onboard memory
Liquid Graphics technology
microSD expansion slot
Inbuilt NFC module
BlackBerry OS 7
Want the Price?, don’t hold your breath because this one will cost upwards of US$ 2000 or about 80,000 Indian and will be available in limited supply.
STUTTGART, GERMANY and WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Oct. 27, 2011) –
Today, Porsche Design and Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) announced the elite new Porsche Design P’9981 smartphone from BlackBerry®. Designed by Porsche Design, in collaboration with RIM, the luxury brand’s first smartphone delivers engineered luxury and performance.
The Porsche Design P’9981 smartphone from BlackBerry is instantly identifiable as a Porsche Design product. The exclusive material choices for this unique smartphone include a forged stainless steel frame, hand-wrapped leather back cover, sculpted QWERTY keyboard, and crystal clear touch display. This customized Porsche Design P’9981 comes with an exclusive Porsche Design UI and a bespoke Wikitude World Browser augmented reality app experience. It also includes premium, exclusive PINs that help easily identify another P’9981 smartphone user.
“Since 1972 Porsche Design has presented milestone products with iconic style, and the P’9981 smartphone from BlackBerry will be our next landmark,” said Dr. Juergen Gessler, CEO Porsche Design Group. “The pure and distinctive design, coupled with authentic materials and an emphasis on the manufacturing process, perfectly match our philosophy and complement the Porsche Design product assortment.”
“This collaboration stems from a shared belief that form equals function,” said Todd Wood, SVP for Industrial Design, Research In Motion. “The Porsche Design P’9981 is a truly modern luxury smartphone, where the timeless style of Porsche Design meets the unmatched mobile experience provided by BlackBerry.”
Powerful hardware and software
The Porsche Design P’9981 is built on a performance driven platform that features a 1.2 GHz processor, HD video recording, 24-bit high resolution graphics, and advanced sensors enabling new augmented reality applications. It comes with 8GB of on-board memory, expandable up to 40GB with a micro SD card.
BlackBerry® 7, the operating system for the new Porsche Design P’9981, includes a next generation BlackBerry® browser with a fast, fluid web browsing experience that is among the best in the industry. It also features Liquid Graphics™ technology, which delivers a highly responsive touch experience with incredibly fast and smooth graphics.
The Porsche Design P’9981 includes built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), which will enable many new and exciting capabilities.
The Porsche Design P’9981 smartphone from BlackBerry will be available from Porsche Design stores later this year.
For more information please visit www.BlackBerry.com/ae/P9981smartphone or www.BlackBerry.com/sa/P9981smartphone
About Porsche Design
Porsche Design is a luxury brand with a special focus on products that are technically inspired. The brand Porsche Design was founded in 1972 by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. The products are the embodiment of functionality, timelessness and purist design. They impress by the technical innovations they incorporate. The product portfolio includes watches, sunglasses, luggage, electronic products, a line of fragrances for men as well as a sport and fashion collection. All products of the brand are designed at the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See, Austria, and are sold worldwide in the brand’s own stores, in franchise stores, shop-in-shops, quality department stores and exclusive retailers.[/toggle]
Rumors are all out, and put to an end. Sony has confirmed that it will buy out its stake from the JV of Sony Ericsson for a whopping €1.05 billion in exchange for its 50 percent. This will give Sony full ownership of the company soon to be rebranded worldwide. This will also enable the company to have a more systematic alignment with the arsenal of tablets and PCs it plans in the future.
The buyout will also give IP cross-licensing agreement and ownership of “five essential patent families” to ensure they stay in the mobile phone business. The separation will be finalized in Jan 2012.
[toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Ericsson: Sony to acquire Ericsson’s share of Sony Ericsson
October 27, 2011, 08:16 (CEST)
Sony Ericsson to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony and integrated into Sony’s broad platform of network-connected consumer electronics products The transaction also provides Sony with a broad IP cross-licensing agreement and ownership of five essential patent families Ericsson to receive EUR 1.05 billion cash payment Sony and Ericsson to create wireless connectivity initiative to drive connectivity across multiple platforms Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and Sony Corporation (“Sony”) today announced that Sony will acquire Ericsson’s 50 percent stake in Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”), making the mobile handset business a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.
The transaction gives Sony an opportunity to rapidly integrate smartphones into its broad array of network-connected consumer electronics devices – including tablets, televisions and personal computers – for the benefit of consumers and the growth of its business. The transaction also provides Sony with a broad intellectual property (IP) cross-licensing agreement covering all products and services of Sony as well as ownership of five essential patent families relating to wireless handset technology.
As part of the transaction, Ericsson will receive a cash consideration of EUR 1.05 billion.
During the past ten years the mobile market has shifted focus from simple mobile phones to rich smartphones that include access to internet services and content. The transaction is a logical strategic step that takes into account the nature of this evolution and its impact on the marketplace.
This means that the synergies for Ericsson in having both a world leading technology and telecoms services portfolio and a handset operation are decreasing. Today Ericsson’s focus is on the global wireless market as a whole; how wireless connectivity can benefit people, business and society beyond just phones. Consistent with that mission, by setting up a wireless connectivity initiative, Ericsson and Sony will work to drive and develop the market’s adoption of connectivity across multiple platforms.
“This acquisition makes sense for Sony and Ericsson, and it will make the difference for consumers, who want to connect with content wherever they are, whenever they want. With a vibrant smartphone business and by gaining access to important strategic IP, notably a broad cross-license agreement, our four-screen strategy is in place. We can more rapidly and more widely offer consumers smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions that seamlessly connect with one another and open up new worlds of online entertainment. This includes Sony’s own acclaimed network services, like the PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network,” said Sir Howard Stringer, Sony’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr Stringer also noted that the acquisition will afford Sony operational efficiencies in engineering, network development and marketing, among other areas. “We can help people enjoy all our content – from movies to music and games – through our many devices, in a way no one else can.”
“Ten years ago when we formed the joint venture, thereby combining Sony’s consumer products knowledge with Ericsson’s telecommunication technology expertise, it was a perfect match to drive the development of feature phones. Today we take an equally logical step as Sony acquires our stake in Sony Ericsson and makes it a part of its broad range of consumer devices. We will now enhance our focus on enabling connectivity for all devices, using our R&D and industry leading patent portfolio to realize a truly connected world” said Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson.
When Sony Ericsson started its operations on October 1, 2001, it combined the unprofitable handset operations from Ericsson and Sony. Following a successful turnaround the company has become a market leader in the development of feature phones by integrating Sony’s strong consumer products knowledge and Ericsson’s telecommunications technology leadership. The WalkmanTM phone and Cyber-shotTM phone are well known examples.
With the successful introduction of the P1 in 2007, Sony Ericsson early on established itself in the smartphone segment. More recently, the company has successfully made the transition from feature phones to Android-based Xperia(TM) smartphones. By the end of the third quarter of 2011, Sony Ericsson held a market share of 11 percent (by value) in the Android phone market, representing 80 percent of the company’s third quarter sales. During its ten years in operation Sony Ericsson has generated approximately EUR 1.5 billion of profit and paid dividends totalling approximately EUR 1.9 billion to its parent companies. Prominent models include “XperiaTM arc” and “XperiaTM mini” which received 2011 EISA Awards, while recent notable additions to the lineup include “XperiaTM PLAY” and “XperiaTM arc S”.
The transaction, which has been approved by appropriate decision-making bodies of both companies, is expected to close in January 2012, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
Ericsson has accounted for its 50 percent share in Sony Ericsson according to the equity method. Following completion of the transaction, Ericsson will have no outstanding guarantees relating to Sony Ericsson and will no longer account for Sony Ericsson as an investment on balance sheet. The transaction will result in a positive capital gain for Ericsson which will be defined after closing of the transaction.
SEB Enskilda is acting as Ericsson’s sole financial advisor in the transaction.[/toggle]
The folks over at iFixit cant refrain from their antic and this time around they ripped the Jesus phone before it reached out to people. They have a humorously documented rip down of the new “Siri” laden smartphone. A looksie i promise will bring a smile to your face follow the link below!
The findings are not too shocking with the same 512MB of Ram Courtesy Samsung/Elpida (both DDR2), and the following chips:
Qualcomm RTR8605 Multi-band/mode RF Transceiver.
Skyworks 77464-20 Load-Insensitive Power Amplifier (LIPA®) module developed for WCDMA applications)
Avago ACPM-7181 Power Amplifier
TriQuint TQM9M9030 Multi-Mode Quad-Band Power Amplifier Module.
TriQuint TQM66052 (possibly a PA-Duplexer Module)
Qualcomm MDM6610 chipset (an upgrade from the iPhone 4’s MDM6600)
Apple 338S0973, newer version of the Cirrus Logic audio codec found in the original iPhone 4
“PM8028,” which is a Qualcomm power management IC.
Looks like we finally have confirmation that the Galaxy Nexus Prime and the Ice Cream Sandwich release, which were earlier to be released on the 11th of Oct will now be released on the 19th of Oct 2011. The event has been moved to the 19th and some are speculating that despite Google and Samsung used Steve Jobs’ passing as an excuse the real reason was their FCC clearance delays.
Either way we will have more on this shorty, and expect full coverage during launch time.
Have a Hundred rupees ? You can now get a Samsung Galaxy S2 for 2 Dollars (Australian) if you are in Sydney. The line apparently stretches beyond the one at the Apple Store, the first 10 people in line at the store get the device at $2.
Customers queuing outside of Apple’s George Street store in Sydney waiting for Friday’s iPhone 4S launch have reportedly been approached by Samsung representatives, encouraging them to switch queues and stand in line at the Samsung store instead.
Unfortunately for Samsung, it doesn’t seem to be working on most, with student Tom Mosca noting:
There’s this guy who has come up to us trying to convince us to buy the Samsung Galaxy S II two days in a row now. He’s an idiot.
Apple Goes on to break its previous record by selling a record 1 Million Devices in the US alone during the first 24 hours of commencement of preorder for the iPhone 4s. Those who didn’t manage to snag an order can try their luck at the already forming lines outside the Apple Stores.
These numbers will continue to rise as Apple plans a rollout in 22 other countries by Oct End including : Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland
iPhone 4S Pre-Orders Top One Million in First 24 Hours
CUPERTINO, California-October 10, 2011-Apple® today announced pre-orders of its iPhone® 4S have topped one million in a single day, surpassing the previous single day pre-order record of 600,000 held by iPhone 4. iPhone 4S is the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including Apple’s dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics; an all new camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD resolution video recording; and Siri™, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking.
“We are blown away with the incredible customer response to iPhone 4S,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched and we are thrilled that customers love iPhone 4S as much as we do.”
iPhone 4S will be available at all 245 Apple retail stores in the US beginning at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, October 14. Every customer who buys an iPhone 4S at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPhone 4S by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store™ and more, so they’ll be up and running with their new iPhone before they leave the store.
iPhone 4S includes iOS 5, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features, and iCloud®, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that work seamlessly with your iPhone, iPad®, iPod touch®, Mac® or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices.
Pricing & Availability iPhone 4S comes in either black or white and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the new 64GB model.* iPhone 4S will be available from the Apple Online Store, Apple’s retail stores and through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and select Best Buy, Target and Walmart stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 4 is available for just $99 (US) and iPhone 3GS is available for free with a two year contract.
iPhone 4S will roll out worldwide to 22 more countries by the end of October including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
*Qualified customers only. Requires a new two year rate plan, sold separately.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.
