- Google's Nexus One phone considered a flop due to lagging sales.
Turns out that the Google has only moved about 135,000 of these units. This is staggering when you take into account that Apple had already sold a million iPhones by the same time in that product's life cycle.
- Google is now the proud recipient of a location-based advertising patent.
The full description of the patent is available over on the other side of the click. Do all mobile carriers and device makers (oh, hi Apple) have something to worry about now that Google has acquired this patent?
- What do you want written on your wireless tombstone? PLACE DEVICE HERE.
Objecs announced today that it has developed 'enhanced memorial products' that add Near Field Communications tags to cemetery markers, which allow text and photos to be 'embedded' in a headstone and retrieved whenever a cell phone is touched against its surface.
- Mobile firms get together create viable competitor to Apple's app store.
Not one, not two, not three, but twenty-four mobile providers will take part in this effort to kill off Apple's dominance in this arena. It kind of reminds of when the Destructicons would band together to form Devastator. The problem here is that the Autobots usually had Omega Supreme waiting in the wings.
- AT&T decides that pouring another two billion dollars into their mobile network is worth it.
AT&T plans to spend between $18 billion and $19 billion in 2010 upgrading its wireless and backhaul networks to handle the onslaught of new traffic. This is roughly $2 billion more than the company had invested in the previous year.
- Google to host their very own Android press gathering on January 5th.
This just might be (and probably will be) the day that Google unveils their brand new mobile phone that they intend to sell directly via their website. Also, T-Mobile may or may not be the carrier of choice for this device.
- Ford would like to turn your automobile into a wifi hotspot on the highway.
Great, so now you wardrive for wifi by actually wardriving for wifi. 'Quick, follow that blue car, they've got a good signal!' Something about this whole thing tells me that all roads will be a little less safer.
- Yes, it's quite possible to ring up $22,000 worth of charges on your cell phone.
The charges in question were actually caused by the data usage of a thirteen year old boy. The bright side to all of this is that Verizon has stepped in and made a promise to credit the entire amount of astronomical charges.
- Google phone might break the industry model. Who would've guessed?
But Google's latest plans appear to be aimed at countering that 'closed loop' business model with a product that can run any application on any network -- a tactic that reminds experts of the battles between Microsoft and Apple over computer operating systems in the 1980s.
- Google acquires AdMob to further dominate advertising on mobile devices.
The purchase of AdMob compliments Google's full-steam-ahead push into mobile phones, namely by growing the number of phones that use its Android open operating system platform.
- Apple would like you to know there are now over 100,000 apps to choose from.
...choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. App Store users have downloaded well over two billion apps, continuing to make it the world’s most popular applications store.
- Your genes may be the reason as to why you're a bad driver.
To their surprise, they found that those with the mutant gene did worse, consistently. The gene controls a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which affects memory.
- Google pulls the curtain back on GPS system for Android 2.0 devices.
This bit of Google software might be just the reason why Apple decided to recently acquire their own little map company. Also, this can't be good news for the folks over at TomTom.
- Seven weird and wonderful vehicles from this year's Tokyo auto show.
Hey look at that, whitewall tires might be making a comeback. Also, with that bubble top doesn't this look a little bit like the concept car Homer Simpson once tried to build?
- Amazon pulls the curtain back on mobile payment system.
A customer just needs to choose the Pay with Amazon option while making an online transaction through their smartphone and the service will seamlessly connect with the Amazon server to validate and complete the transaction.
- Full version of Flash coming to all smartphones... except that one.
Smartphone users will soon be rid of 'Flash Lite' in favor of a full blown version capable of HD streaming. The article mentions Apple's unavailability twice.
- Palm decides to partner up with Amazon instead of hacking their way into iTunes.
But what Palm should really do is to make an iTunes rival, a media-playing, content-syncing, Amazon MP3-friendly application. And it should make it work not just with the Pre, but with any device you might own, including the iPhone.
- Dream vehicles through the wondrous eye of Photoshop.
This was supposed to be the future. Where is my jetpack? Where is my robotic companion? Where is my dinner in pill form? Where is my nuclear-powered levitating house? And where is my flying car?
- In the future, your cell phone also acts as your wallet. George approves.
Some analysts say that within five years, mobile phones in the United States will be able to make electronic payments, open doors, access subways, clip coupons and possibly act as another form of identification.
- Microsoft and Nokia partner up for strategic mobile alliance.
The Nokia deal is potentially quite good for Microsoft, but for other reasons than Mobile Office. But, for Microsoft, Mobile Office must be the strategic priority, because the company needs to extend Office desktop software's relevance to the handset and the cloud.
- Sprint decides to up and acquire Virgin Mobile for about $483 million.
Welcome to the Now Network, Virgin Mobile.
- Microsoft opens up their mobile app store to developers.
Developers will also be charged $99 annually to submit applications to WMM. The first year's fee will cover submitting up to five applications to the app store, and every program after that will cost $99 per submission.
- A closer look at whether or not you'll actually have a need for Google Voice.
Handy overview for those thinking about taking the plunge when the service becomes available.
- Intel and Nokia team up to make 'exciting' new mobile computer products.
They really do seem to be quite excited about their partnership.
- Adobe Flash coming to smartphones this October.
Well, mostly all smartphones. Except for you know... that one.
- FCC decides to look into the whole mobile phone / exclusive carrier business.
Paul Roth, AT&T’s president of retail sales, defended the practice to lawmakers, saying that the deals drive innovation by guaranteeing device makers that enough will be purchased to make innovation worthwhile.
- Yes, everyone but you is being rude with their mobile device of choice.
Human self-awareness being an inconstant phenomenon, a remarkable number of adults claimed they never, ever do such terrible things. Just 28% admit to discussing private matters in public, while only 38% say they've texted or typing in the company of others.
- IBM decides to put $100 million towards cell phone research.
The company provided few specifics about its research goals but said it broadly hopes to improve mobile payment methods, security, privacy, and user interface and, chiefly, to enhance the ability of corporations to used mobile devices to interact with customers and employees.

















































































































































