Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News is going all out on ‘Throwback Tuesdays’, utilizing our archives to bring back the top headlines of the past. Fire up your time machine, put on your sepia shades, set your #TBT date, and enjoy your memories!
Smartphones keep PDAs out
STAMFORD, Connecticut – Two new studies show that the market for personal digital assistants continues to shrink as more and more users are attracted to smartphones. “By the end of 2004, smartphones in general will have a negative impact on the low-end PDA market, as many individual users will be ready to accept their personal information management and e-mail capabilities.” Gartner Computing Platforms Worldwide Group analysts: “These users tend to be less interested in low-end PDAs that offer these features.” Gartner’s new PDA figures show that global device shipments in 2003 were decreased by 5.3% to a total of 11.5 million units. PalmOne Inc. retained the top spot, followed closely by Hewlett-Packard Co., Sony Corp. and Research In Motion Ltd., according to Gartner. … read more
Voices Driving Wireless Use in 2004
NEW YORK-Deloitte Research expects wireless subscriber numbers to continue to grow in 2004, supported by steady use of traditional voice applications. Deloitte forecasts that mobile subscriber penetration will continue to rise in 2004 and that voice applications will continue to dominate mobile revenues and profits. The research firm also expects color and polyphonic sound to boost earnings. Meanwhile, the group expects mobile data growth to slow as consumer texting growth stagnates. 3G technology will continue to advance, but 3G won’t see mass adoption until the end of the year. … read more
The battle over home broadband
CAMBRIDGE, UK – Wireless operators are expected to compete with fixed-line operators for a portion of the broadband home market worth more than $100 billion by 2008, according to a report from Analysys. Margaret Hopkins said, “While the major share of the market goes to consumer electronics companies, content owners and packagers, broadband operators provide broadband home services such as communications, entertainment, IT and security services. This could generate up to $12.5 billion.” of the report. “These services can be delivered over fixed broadband internet, but many of them can also be delivered over television broadcast networks using mobile phones to provide interactivity,” Analysys reports. examines her two scenarios. In one scenario, broadband Internet service providers generated up to $38 per household per month, totaling $12.5 billion in 2008. In another scenario, mobile operators and broadcasters account for the majority of this revenue, with mobile operators adding up to $2.26 per month. Consumer ARPU, or $5 billion total in 2008. read more
‘RIM’s biggest competitor is ignorance,’ says CEO
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. faces obstacles big and small. But one challenge overshadows the other, according to the company’s president and co-CEO, Mike Lazaridis. “RIM’s biggest competitor is ignorance,” said Lazaridis. “Our challenge is ongoing, always getting someone to try it.” Because once you try BlackBerry, you can’t go back. In fact, legal, financial and telecom executives refuse to travel without it, which is why the device has earned him the nickname CrackBerry by enthusiasts. BlackBerrys (and a new color-screen version called BlueBerrys) are widely used at his tech conferences. These are common adornments of the leaders of the wireless industry trade group, the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association. Even the federal government has admitted to the addiction, and a congressman used his BlackBerrys to stay in touch during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Dozens of companies compete in the struggling wireless enterprise market. Business spending remains sluggish. Profit margins are thin. But according to Lazaridis, the key to sales is as simple as getting his BlackBerry into the customer’s hands. His RIM success over the past few months has made it hard to dismiss Lazaridis’ assessment. The company reported a record quarter in December, with revenue he surpassed $150 million, net income he surpassed $16 million, and an improved outlook for the year. And Wall Street roared. RIM’s stock price has nearly doubled since the release of its quarterly report. News of the jump made national business headlines. RIM’s stock now looks like it could break the $100 per share barrier soon. … read more
Huawei Invests in Free Space Optics
HONG KONG – Huawei Technologies Inc. has set out to strengthen its US operations and microwave products with a $2 million investment in free-space optics company LightPointe Communications Co. Huawei joins other investors to raise $17 million. Last year, LightPointe signed his OEM deal with a Chinese company to supply FSO products to his Huawei. … read more
Sprint says it’s sitting back on telecom merger frenzy
NEW YORK-Sprint Corp. told industry analysts at an investor conference that it plans to sit back in the merger frenzy currently sweeping the wireless industry, instead selling its wireless business wholesale. He noted a focus on expanding partner relationships and tighter integration with Sprint’s wireline. operation. Sprint President and Chief Operating Officer Len Lauer said: Sprint Chief Executive Gary Forsee added that the company hopes to benefit from customer uncertainty surrounding competitors… read more
Sprint Offers Videomail Service
Overland Park, Kansas – Sprint is offering a new video mail phone to customers nationwide. With the VM4050 phone, customers can send and receive video and audio directly to their mobile phone wherever they are in his Sprint’s her PCS network. The PCS Vision Video Phone is manufactured by Toshiba and distributed by Audiovox Communications Corp. Sprint sells this phone on his two-year contract for $180. … read more
camera phone gets its own meeting
MELVILLE, NY-Pulver.com and Next Generation Ventures announced the inaugural Cameraphone Summit: The Conference on Cameraphones and Convergent Mobile Media from April 27-30 in Maui, Hawaii. Executives from Nokia Corp. and his Hewlett-Packard Co. will deliver keynotes, and the summit will cover issues ranging from applications to privacy to hardware. Moses Ma, Managing Partner at Next Generation Ventures, said: “Industry analysts estimate that 125 million mobile phones with imaging capabilities will ship worldwide in 2005. read more
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