Archive for September, 2008
Sprint on Monday launched its next-generation 4G wireless 
network in Baltimore. The network, which runs on WiMAX technology, could start a new era in mobile broadband.Dubbed XOHM, the WiMAX technology extends home and office Internet connections and mobile multimedia applications in two ways. First, it lets wireless users log onto the Internet outside their four walls. Second, the network makes way for additional devices beyond Sprint phones.
As Sprint describes it, XOHM will ultimately allow wireless consumers to experience new forms of interactive communications , mobile Internet browsing, social-networking tools, location-centric services, and multimedia, including music, video and on-demand products, at faster average downlink speeds of two to four Mbps.
“This is truly an historic day with the birth of a completely new Internet-based business model that alters the dynamics of the traditional telecom industry,” said Barry West, president of Sprint’s XOHM business unit. “Wireless consumers will experience WiMAX device and XOHM service innovation on multiple levels as the computer, Internet, telecom and consumer electronics industries converge to redefine wireless mobility.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 30th, 2008
Motorola is reportedly looking to beef up its Android development team, increasing its size from 50 to 350 people in hopes of getting in on the latest Google buzz. Motorola couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, but reports of insider leaks say the handset maker is working with a recruiter to find developers for Google’s open-source mobile operating system.Motorola is one of the founding members of the Open Handset Alliance, which has nearly three dozen technology, wireless and handset makers working together to push the Linux-based Android platform. However, Motorola also has its own Java-Linux initiative. If the news reports are true, hiring hundreds of Android developers could mark a dramatic shift in the struggling company’s strategy.
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 30th, 2008
Google has launched a free Web-based service to help organizations streamline question-and-answer sessions during large meetings. Dubbed Moderator, the tool lets group members submit questions to the meeting leaders, then vote for or against the questions they like or don’t like. The Moderator can then choose the most popular questions.The goal for Moderator is to improve on the familiar “raise your hand” method of questions and answers in group settings, and to get the most out of the time allotted for the session.
Google engineer Taliver Heath designed the program during his “20 percent time.” A “20 percent project” is a Google philosophy that allows employees to spend one day a week working on something not in the regular job description.
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 30th, 2008
The first Android-powered phone isn’t the only big news on the mobile front this week. Applications for the Android operating system are already making their way to market.On Thursday, Visa announced plans to make mobile payment-related services for the Android platform, while PacketVideo stepped out on Wednesday with news that it would launch CORE, a multimedia application framework that powers more than 260 million devices worldwide, for Android.
Meanwhile, Namco launched PacMan for the Android operating system. Glu Mobile announced that Bonsai Blast, an all-new action-puzzle game, will launch on Android. And Big in Japan announced ShopSavvy, an application designed to help people do comparative shopping via the Android Market.
“There’s money to be made in the Android marketplace,” said Bill Ho, an analyst at Current Analysis. “Developers, while they are intellectually stimulated by programming, at end of the day they are going into this to make money. So what we see is an ecosystem that’s been built for this.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 30th, 2008
Microsoft has confirmed it will release the first pre-beta version of Windows 7 to developers next month. Windows 7 is the next major version of the Windows client operating system.Developers will get their first look at an alpha version of the operating system at the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in October. Microsoft plans to demonstrate its progress on Windows 7 at the annual event. But the operating system itself won’t debut in retail stores until 2010.
“With Windows 7 at PDC2008, you will see advances across the full range of Windows — including the kernel, networking, hardware and devices, and user interface,” wrote Denise Begley, a marketing manager for Microsoft, on the company blog. “Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to attend 21 different sessions that drill down into the details of developing for Windows 7.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 26th, 2008
Now that analysts are getting their hands on the T-Mobile G1, talk is beginning about what the first Android-powered phone doesn’t offer. T-Mobile launched the HTC-made device Tuesday, complete with full touchscreen functionality and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for a mobile Web experience largely driven by Google products, including Search, Google Street View, Gmail and YouTube.The phone is making the intended splash. In fact, Neil Mawston, director of Wireless Device Strategies at Strategy Analytics, is forecasting a major Android impact on the 10.5 million smartphones to be sold in the United States during the fourth quarter of 2008.
“We estimate smartphones with Google’s Android operating system, led by HTC of Taiwan, will reach 0.4 million units in the quarter, for a four percent market share,” Mawston said. “Android is a relatively late entrant and it will join an increasingly crowded market alongside Blackberry, Microsoft , Apple, Palm, Symbian and LiMo.”
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 26th, 2008
Google is calling Tuesday’s announcement of the T-Mobile G1 an important milestone in the young history of Android. The first Android-powered handset to come to market is made by HTC with a touchscreen and a slide-out keyboard.The combination of Google’s open-source Android mobile operating system, T-Mobile service, and HTC manufacturing comes less than a year after the Open Handset Alliance unveiled plans for Android.
“Software developers are key to driving innovation on the Web, and also for mobile. That’s why, over the past year, we’ve released several early versions of the software developer kit (SDK) and worked with developers from around the world to make it better and more complete,” wrote Erick Tseng, lead product manager on the Android team, in the company’s blog.
Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.
September 25th, 2008
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