Android has finally overtaken Research in Motion and the Blackberry as the dominant platform of smartphones. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

In the war for supremacy in the market for smartphones, the Android operating system has finally toppled Research in Motion and the Blackberry line. Google’s popular Android line has spread quickly, overtaking Apple and Microsoft products within months of the the first launch of an Android phone. More than types of 170 devices use the Android system.

Blackberry loses some juice among consumers

The Blackberry line of phones made by Research in Motion has held the the top spot for sales of smartphones for a long time, but the company has finally been dethroned, according to CNN. The Google based Android platform has surpassed RIM in sales after steadily outpacing all other domestic competition and safely pulling into the lead with more than 31 percent of sales. The first phone using the Android operating system was the HTC G1, which was released in November 2009 and carried exclusively by T-Mobile. In early 2010, Android had only a 7 percent share of the smartphone market, but the platform has enjoyed constant growth since its introduction. An Android OS is now the base of more than 170 types of phones and tablet computers across numerous carriers.

Other phones have their jobs cut out for them

Of the four popular smartphone platforms in the U.S., the only one that has constantly grown market share is Android. Research in Motion at one point sold 42 percent of all smartphones, but RIM sales have dwindled to 30.4 percent between February of 2010 and the end of January of 2011. Windows phones have been constantly on the decline, and now make up less than 10 percent of the smartphone market. Apple, with its flagship product the iPhone, has held fairly constant. An estimated 350,000 new Android devices are activated daily. The Symbian OS offered by Nokia held a larger share of the market than Android until late 2010, when Symbian sales finally were eclipsed by Android.

Android Nokia phone not likely

Just about every phone company makes an Android phone, as Google licenses it for free, and adapting it is fairly easy for any developer, but Nokia isn’t having it, according to the Los Angeles Times. It was recently announced that Nokia is planning to revamp its offerings by partnering with Microsoft and installing Windows Mobile on Nokia phones. Microsoft is reportedly going to pay Nokia $1 billion for the rights to put Windows Phone 7 on Nokia devices, which could be a net benefit for both companies if it is successful.

Sources

CNN

Los Angeles Times

U.S. Cellular, a mostly regional cell phone carrier in the Midwest, ranked number one for cell phone carriers in a Consumer Reports survey. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Recently, Consumer Reports unleashed its rankings of cellular service providers, and U.S. Cellular came out on top. Oddly enough, AT&T, which carries the iPhone, was rated the worst of major providers. However, Apple disciples can rejoice as the iPhone was one of the best-rated smart phones.

US Cellular rated the best, serving mostly Midwest

U.S. Cellular, in the annual Consumer Reports cell phone survey about carriers and models, was rated best cell phone carrier, according to Computerworld. The small carrier, with about 6 million subscribers in 26 states mostly in the Midwest, scored an 82 out of 100. On the other hand, the mighty fell drastically, with AT&T rating only 60 out of 100. AT&T received less than 60 points on average with consumers in nearly all major metro markets. San Franciscans seemed to hate AT&T’s guts, as the carrier received a 52 out of 100 overall from the city by the bay. Verizon and T-mobile both lost a point since the same survey last year, dipping to 74 and 69, respectively. Sprint climbed to 73 to claim third overall.  AT&T was raked over the coals by consumers for poor reception, data access, dropped calls and customer service.

iPhone rated among best smartphones

The survey of about 58,000 consumers also rated smartphones. One of the best-scoring smartphones was the iPhone 4, which received a score from consumers of 76 out of 100. The iPhone tied for first with three other smartphones, all Samsung phones operating on Android. The three Samsung models were the Samsung Captivate, Epic 4G and Vibrant models. A brouhaha developed earlier this year between Apple and Consumer Reports, as Consumer Reports listed the iPhone 4 as a model of smartphone the organization did not recommend buying.

AT&T responds

AT&T immediate fired back, saying that the company is committed to quality and is going to set about changing its image in consumers’ eyes. It appears that the company has a lot of work to do for that to happen.

Sources

Computerworld

Reports have come out that a man was sent to the ER because his Droid cell phone exploded. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

There have been occasional reports around the world of a cell phone that explodes, injuring the user or worse. Recently, a man in Cedar Hill, Tex., suffered facial lacerations when his Motorola Droid exploded. Explosion is not a standard Droid feature.

Cell phone explodes in Texas

Recently, Aron Embry was using his Motorola Droid, one of the most popular brands of smartphones, when he heard a popping sound, according to KHOU 11 of Houston, Tex. He said he heard the noise after completing a phone call, and noticed the screen had fragmented. He felt liquid coursing down his face, and he realized it was blood. He was immediately rushed to the emergency room at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas for treatment as the wound began gushing. He did not suffer any hearing loss and only required four stitches to repair the wound to his ear. Reports of a Droid that exploded began circulating soon after. The phone was still functional, and the screen appears only to have cracked. Embry had purchased the phone only a few days before the incident.

Not unheard of

There have been reports of cellular phones exploding or catching fire for years. According to AOL News, incidents of exploding cellular phones have been recorded since at least 2005, when a young boy suffered burns when his cellular phone caught fire in his pocket. In 2007, a 22-year-old Chinese man was killed when his cellular phone expl0ded in his shirt pocket after being freshly charged. Apple Inc. has not escaped reports of burning cell phones either, as the screen of an iPhone reportedly exploded in France, and an iPhone 4 was reported as having caught fire earlier this year.

Motorola intends on reaching out

After the reports of Embry’s injury surfaced, Motorola released a statement, announcing that it intended on reaching out to the man and his family. The company said it intends to fully investigate and that safety is a high priority. There is no word on whether Embry wants to switch to an iPhone instead of an Android.

Sources

KHOU

AOL

The successor to the Nexus One, pictured here, may be the first to run the Gingerbread Android system. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Black Friday is nearing, and the showdown between Android and Apple just heated up with the rumored Gingerbread Android platform. Gingerbread may be Android 2.3, and the rumors have been fueled by Google posting a Twitter picture of Android shaped gingerbread cookies. Speculation is that Android 2.3 will come stock on the upcoming Nexus S.

Gingerbread Android rumors begin

New versions of the Android OS are hotly awaited, just like Apple updates are. The most recent Android OS was Android 2.2, dubbed Froyo, was released in late 2009. The previous Android system had been named Eclair. A release date has not been confirmed yet for the Gingerbread Android OS, but Google set the rumor mill turning when the Google Twitter page posted a picture of gingerbread cookies shaped like the Android logo. Some amateur video footage from the Google campus also revealed a new statue in the Android statue area, according to PC Magazine. The features of the new OS for the smartphones are not completely known, as the finer points are not being fully disclosed yet. The release date for Gingerbread isn’t known yet.

May come with Nexus S

The next generation of Google phones, or rather a sequel to the Nexus One, has been talked about for ages. The new Nexus phone, by HTC, or the Nexus S, is an eagerly awaited phone release. It may also be the first phone to come with Android 2.3, according to Daily Tech. It isn’t confirmed yet, but it is entirely possible that the Nexus S is going to be the first phone to come with Gingerbread standard. The sooner it releases, the better for Google.

The brawl for it all at the mall

The retail year revolves around Christmas. The Android Gingerbread OS and the Nexus S are just rumors at this point. That said, with the looming release of iOS 4.2, the stage for an epic showdown for Black Friday supremacy is seemingly set.

Sources

PC Magazine

Daily Tech

Gemalto alleges that Android developers and retailers stole the JavaCard technoloogy Gemalto patented. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Dutch technology company Gemalto has served a huge patent infringement lawsuit to a number of companies. The allegation is Google and makers of Android smartphones such as Samsung and Motorola have infringed on patents held by Gemalto. Gemalto is claiming that Android makers intentionally used Java Card technology developed by Gemalto in Android systems. Gemalto developed its Java Card technology in the 1990s at its labs in Texas.

Gemalto v. Android lawsuit alleges infringement

Recently, the Netherlands based technology company Gemalto joined others in suing the various purveyors of Android smartphones, according to Bloomberg. The suit was filed in the United States District Court in East Texas. The companies named in the suit include HTC, Google, Samsung, Exedea and Motorola. Gemalto is alleging that these companies deliberately used Gemalto JavaCard technology in Android phones. JavaCard allows for a SIM card to run the Java programming language. A Gemalto smart card was developed in the 1990s and is extensively used in credit cards, among other uses. In the complaint Gemalto stresses that its patented technologies were used without its permission in Android phones. The suit also alleges that the phones use the Gemalto Dalvik virtual programming.

Android suits pending

Other lawsuits are pending against the various makers and carriers of Android technology. Earlier this year, suits were filed against Android by both Apple Inc. and Oracle. The Apple suit and the Oracle suit both concern patent or copyright infringement on the part of Android or at least an Android provider and Android’s use of Java. The Gemalto suit is the third.

War of the smartphones

The battle between Android seems to be turning from just Apple and Android to Android and nearly everyone. If Android did commit any patent infringement, it remains for courts to determine. Android and Apple have become the largest competitors in the market of smartphones, as the RIM Blackberry has been slipping this year.

Sources

Bloomberg

Steve Jobs let iPhone competitors have it at an Apple earnings conference, citing Apple's sales dominance. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Steve Jobs recently participated in an Apple earnings press conference. During the discussion of how well Apple Inc. stock is doing, Jobs took time to let loose on RIM (Blackberry) and Android platforms. He touted the fact that Apple sells more units of the iPhone than either platform and has better software to boot. An Apple event is scheduled soon, called “Back to the Mac” The event will likely discuss upcoming computers from Apple.

Jobs blasts RIM and Android at Apple earnings meeting

Steve Jobs made a surprise visit to a recent Apple earnings press conference. Earnings for Apple Inc. for the fourth quarter were substantial. He opened by saying he usually doesn’t attend such meetings, but he couldn’t resist talking about the first $20 billion quarter for Apple, according to Apple Insider. He also took some time to slam the competition. He pointed out that the iPhone outsold RIM Blackberry by 2 million units, and that Research In Motion had too far to go to catch up. He also pointed out that Android smartphones by Google activated 200,000 units a day to Apple’s 275,000.

Android tablets to die quickly

On the heels of the best quarter ever for the Apple stock price — AAPL just hit $300 a share — Jobs also felt he would weigh in on gripes about software and tablets. He said that Google’s claims about the iPhone being “closed” and Android being “open” were misleading. He also pointed out that the Android tablet PCs due out soon will be “dead on arrival” because a 7-inch screen is only a bit bigger than a smart phone. He opined that because Apple makes everything in house, the iPad is more bang for less buck than the competition.

Getting ‘Back to the Mac’

An Apple event is scheduled for Wednesday. It is called “Back to the Mac” and the topic, according to CNET will be the new hardware and Mac operating system.

Sources

CNET

Apple Insider

Apple Inc. stock is shooting through the roof. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Steve Jobs and other shareholders in Apple, Inc. may be cracking open champagne. The Apple company stock has just hit a record high point. For the first time ever, a share of Apple stock is now going for more than $300. The technology giant has been having a banner year. The iPad and continued success of the iPhone and iPod assure that Apple is going to be a heavyweight for a long time to come.

Apple Inc. hits a new high

It was announced that stock for Apple Inc. has hit a new high point in premarket trading for Oct. 13, according to the New York Times. Apple Inc. stock hit a high point of $301.50 and is holding at higher than $300. It is the highest ever trade price for Apple company stock. Brokerage houses have been raising prices for acquiring Apple stock accordingly. Bank of America is selling shares at $400 per. Oppenheimer raised its price for shares of Apple to $345. The company is having a great year. The iPad has been the first successful tablet computer, despite several previous attempts by other companies. The iPhone 4.0 and the iPod continue to sell. The company is due to release a fourth quarter report soon.

Verizon iPhone rumors will not die

Rumors of the iPhone moving to another network have been persisting for some time. The fabled Verizon iPhone causes a great stir almost once a month. However, neither Verizon nor Apple have confirmed it officially yet. The problem in a Verizon iPhone, according to the Wall Street Journal, is that Verizon uses CDMA technology. The Verizon iPhone will have to be retooled for CDMA use before it can be released. That said, Android has been edging on the iPhone for some time among owners of smartphones.

Apple of the markets’ eye

Apple Inc. has had an incredible year so far. It appears that the company won’t be letting up. The company has hit a record high stock price for good reason.

Sources

Wall Street Journal

New York Times

The Motorola Droid Pro may well give Blackberry users a true alternative. Image: Titanis / Flickr / CC-BY-SA

Scientists have long been seeking the “missing link” — and it has been found, at least in the Droid Pro. With the operating system of a Droid, and the form and function of a Blackberry, the Droid Pro is making waves. Specifically designed for businesses, Droid Pro has been called the the “killer” of RIM’s business dominance.

Droid Pro features

The Droid Pro by Motorola was announced as a part of a six-phone rollout by the manufacturer. A built-in keyboard and portrait-style layout make the phone look and feel much like a traditional Blackberry. The Android operating system supports a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and global roaming. What makes the Droid Pro truly business-ready, though, is the full enterprise support. Multi-VPN network support, complex passwords and on-board encryption are all built into the device.

Droid Pro crosses the Blackberry line

The line that has kept many businesses and governments using Blackberry devices has been security. Research in Motion, the Canadian company that makes Blackberry devices, is well-known for its nearly uncrackable encryption. Combined with strong support for business functions, and the Blackberry has been the undisputed king. The Droid Pro, however, may well give RIM a run for its money.

Is Droid Pro the Blackberry kill shot?

With more and more consumers already defecting from Blackberry devices to Android devices, some are saying that the Droid Pro may well prove to be a “kill shot.” This, however, most likely will not be the case. Though Android is a powerful operating system, and the Droid Pro has built-in security features that make it attractive to the business consumer, it may not match up. The intricacies of RIM devices are what make Blackberry popular, and with the Blackberry PlayBook soon to hit the market, the rivalry will most likely continue in earnest for a long while.

Sources

Droid Life
Venture Beat

More smartphones on the way. (Verizon Droid Eris not pictured.)

Everyone has heard of the Motorola Droid, set for retail release tomorrow. We’ve all seen the commercial publicizing Droid’s quest to one-up the iPhone. However, today it has gotten out that another Droid, the Verizon Droid Eris, will also be available, and for half the price.

Consumers who were considering getting same day loans tomorrow so they could buy the Motorola Droid tomorrow just want think about avoiding debt and getting the Verizon Droid Eris instead. The Motorola model costs $199 after a mail-in rebate, while the Verizon Droid Eris, also to be released tomorrow, will cost $99.

A world of Droids

The main difference between the Motorola Droid and the Verizon Droid Eris appears to be the manufacturing company. The Verizon Droid Eris is made by HTC, a company based in Taiwan. HTC certainly doesn’t have the brand recognition that Motorola has, and of course the Verizon Droid Eris lacks some of the features of the Motorola Droid.

Motorola is an American company based in Illinois. The economy may play a big factor in which Droid becomes the best-seller. Americans who have the luxury of being a tad altruistic might be motivated to buy the Motorola Droid in order to spur the U.S. economy. However, many people’s budgets are tighter than ever, and in this recession, saving  money is the new cool trend.

What’s the difference?

Naturally, you get what you pay for, and the case is no different with the Verizon Droid Eris. Some of the features the Droid commercial boasts about, including a “real keyboard,” are not present on the Verizon Droid Eris.

Naturally, in order to carry the Droid moniker a smartphone must run on the Android processing system. Verizon Droid Eriz does run on Android, but it runs on version 1.5 rather than Android 2.0. Translation: the Verizon Droid Eris is slower.

Don’t worry, we still have something to look forward to after tomorrow. Motorola has another Droid model on the way.