http://best-Mobile-Handset-mobile-review.blogspot.in/ Dedicated Computing Appoints Former Motorola Executive to Chief Technology Officer Post
Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/02/28/3906870/dedicated-computing-appoints-former.html#storylink=cpy WAUKESHA, Wis., Feb. 28, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ -- Dedicated Computing, a Waukesha-based designer and manufacturer of purpose-specific compute platforms for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), announced that Bilal A. Khan has joined the company as Chief Technology Officer. In this role, Khan will drive the development and implementation of Dedicated's previously announced software and services strategy.
Khan comes to Dedicated with more than 15 years of technical leadership experience, most recently leading the R&D / Engineering activities for Nokia Siemens Networks (formerly Motorola Inc). Khan had responsibility for managing all phases of software engineering projects as part of their cellular networks technology.
"We are delighted to have Bilal join our leadership team to help drive this important transition in our company strategy," explained Don Schlidt, Chief Executive Officer for Dedicated Computing. "His significant experience and success in technology innovation, product development and operations management uniquely qualify him to take on this technology leadership role for Dedicated Computing."
Dedicated has recently made a number of investments to expand and accelerate the development of their software and services strategy, among them the June 2011 acquisition of Tushaus Computer Services, a leading provider of innovative technology solutions for businesses. Gregg Tushaus, who joined Dedicated after the transaction and now plays a leadership role for both Dedicated and Tushaus, will continue to serve as Chief Information Officer for both companies. He is responsible for the company's information technology infrastructure and service systems, and will continue to provide strategic technology leadership for key Tushaus and Dedicated clients.
About Dedicated Computing
Dedicated Computing (DC) designs, validates and builds high performing technical compute platforms to support the modeling, simulation and visualization of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Independent Software Vendor (ISV) applications. Based on Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology, these platforms are designed for long life, high availability, are environmentally hardened and are supported by a complete service system to deliver life cycle, software stack and remote management services. DC's customers represent many of the leading companies in the Healthcare, Industrial Security, Military/Aerospace, and Oil Exploration markets. Raj Rajput [ MBA ]
http://best-mobile-operator-review.blogspot.in/ Moving the Deck Chairs is Not Workng for Sprint-Nextel, Nokia or Republic Airways (RJET, S, NOK) Sprint-Nextel (NYSE: S), Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) and Republic Airways Holdings (NASDAQ: RJET) are three small cap-priced stocks that investors should realize are pushing strategies that are just not working.
Nokia Corporation is doubling down with sales of the smartphones. Sprint-Nextel continues to take on greater burdens. Republic Airways has still not ridded itself of Frontier Airlines. The stock for Republic Airways has risen based on the company's plans to sell or spin-off Frontier Airlines. It is obvious that no one want to buy Frontier Airlines. The spin-off had better please Wall Street or Republic Airways stock will be pounded.
The market over the past year has clearly told these companies that the strategies have not worked. Over the last year, Nokia Corporation is down 33.87%. Sprint-Nextel is down 41.65% over the last year. Republic Airways is off by 15.93% over the same period.
These failures have not come cheaply, either. The balance sheet of each company reflects the defeats of the market, particularly in the amount of debt held on each. Republic Airways has a debt-to-equity ration of 4.04. Sprint-Nextel has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77. Nokia Corporation as a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45.
Overall, the market is turning against each. For Republic Airways, higher fuel costs will be devastating with such a burdensome debt load. For Nokia Corporation, as detailed in a recent Wall Street Journal article, smartphone sales are not where they need to be for the company to survive. For Sprint-Nextel, as detailed in a recent Financial Times article, the company "will be cash flow negative in 2012 and beyond..."
http://best-blackberry-mobile-review.blogspot.in/ BlackBerry tricked out Porsche gives you a reason to want a PlayBook and NFC BlackBerry handset maker RIM has tricked out a Porsche 911 showing what is possible with its phones and tablet when combined with a car.
In a concept car being shown at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Research In Motion has shown why those who are the road will still want a BlackBerry.
Jump in the car and the first bit of tech that should make life easier is that the company has fitted the car with an NFC tag allowing you to pair your phone simply and quickly by simply tapping it on the dashboard (or in this case a tag hidden in the central storage aisle compartment).
But it's not just about making pairing easier. User will be able to control the entire entertainment system via a customised PlayBook allowing them to access media from their phone, from the device itself, or the cloud.
Users will then be able to choice what content they want to display on what screen around the multiple screens in the car. In the case of the Porsche on the stand, two further PlayBook tablets mounted on the rear of the headrests for people in the back to enjoy.
RIM say the system is also supported by App world suggesting that you'll be able to get apps dedicated for your car rather than just your phone in the future.
But it isn't just about a fancy dashboard, RIM says that they've also added full stereo voice support for an even better handsfree experience.
The demo witnessed by Pocket-lint felt like the person on the other end of the phone was actually in the car, but how that will fair however at 70mph down the motorway with the top down in another matter.
As you would expect, and something that Jaguar has talked up in the past, RIM says the dashboard console where the speedo sits is fully customisable offering you different stats, and access to the media you are playing as well as GPS direction guidance.
When will it be coming out? RIM isn't saying, but in theory all of the technology is available to make this happen sooner rather than later. Raj Rajput [ MBA ]
http://best-iphones-reviews.blogspot.in/ Apple leads in mobile ad impressions Mobile web and apps usage on the iPhone is increasing thanks to its immense popularity The iPhone 4S has boosted Apple's (AAPL +1.08%) fortunes. The stock has recently hit all-time highs and was hovering Wednesday morning at nearly $542, up from around $400 in October last year when the iPhone 4S was launched.
Not only has the iPhone 4S helped Apple become the No. 1 global smartphone maker, but it has also helped narrow the gap with Google's (GOOG +0.49%) Android operating system in the U.S. in the last quarter.
Apple led the mobile ad impressions market in North America with a share of 35% from October 2011 to January 2012. Clearly, the launch of iPhone 4S helped Apple rise up to Android. Research In Motion's (RIMM -0.69%) BlackBerry operating system saw an even steeper decline than Android, dropping 8.9% to finish at third place with 11.6% share during the same period.
Mobile usage directly depends on smartphone popularity
Apple's growth in the mobile ad impressions market is a direct result of the iPhone's increasing popularity. According to one report, the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS took the top three spots in the U.S. smartphone market last quarter. And iOS, with a market share of 43%, narrowed the gap, with Android at 48% in the smartphone operating system market.
Even globally, Apple is now the leading smartphone arena. It recently overtook Samsung to gain the number one spot with a market share of 24% in Q4 2011. This goes to show that the more popular the smartphone, the higher is the mobile web and apps usage. The increase in this usage results in increased mobile ad impressions.
Our $550 price estimate for Apple's stock is about 5% above the current market price. Raj Rajput [ MBA ]
http://best-Mobile-Handset-mobile-review.blogspot.in/ 2Gig Recalls 40K GSM Modules Due to Fire Hazard By Jason Knott, February 27, 2012 Security manufacturer 2Gig Technologies has issued a voluntary product safety recall GSM radio modules contained in some of its Go!Control panels in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) due to potential fire or burn hazard .
The CPSC says 40,000 units are in the field and to date there are "22 reports of the product overheating including three reports of minor smoke, heat or fire damage to the wall where the panel is mounted." No injuries have been reported.
The GSM modules in question were sold between December 2010 and October 2011. Among the integrators who use the Go!Control panel is high-volume CE Pro 100 company Vivint. It is unknown if Vivint has installed the specific GSM module in question.
Consumers are advised to "stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed." The notice also says, "It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product" as an advisory to integrators who might have the product in stock.
According to the notice, "The GSM radio modules used inside Go!Control panels for home security systems can overheat and combust, resulting in a fire or burn hazard to consumers."
The Chinese-made GSM radio module in the 6x8.5-inch Go!Control panel enables wireless communication between the home security system and alarm monitoring companies. The Go!Control panels are 6-inches high and 8.5-inches wide and are made of white plastic.
The CPSC is advising homeowners to contact their professional security installer to identify the module in question. 2Gig is offering a free installed replacement.
http://best-mobile-operator-review.blogspot.in/ Telus Illuminates March 2 for Nokia Lumia 800 It only took a few measly months for Nokia to skyrocket itself as the top manufacturer of Windows Phone devices. While WP7 still lags behind iOS and Android, it’s certainly making some in-roads and that’s continuing with more in-roads into Canada early next month.
The Nokia Lumia 800 has been officially listed on the Telus Mobility website, coming with an official launch date of March 2. The product page is also saying that the Lumia 800 will be offered “only from Telus,” snatching up the exclusive away from Bell and Rogers. Quick highlights include the 3.7-inch ClearBlack AMOLED display, 16GB internal memory, and 8MP Carl Zeiss camera with LED flash.
No word on pricing just yet, but we can see that Telus will have the Lumia 800 in your choice of black, blue, or pink. And yes, it’ll take advantage of that 4G HSPA network too.
http://best-blackberry-mobile-review.blogspot.in/ Rovi Teams with Blackberry BlackBerry’s PlayBook device is using Rovi Corp. technology to power its new Video Store movie service, which offers both catalog titles and day-and-date releases.
“Rovi continues to lead as a technology provider for major brands that wish to add value and complement their devices with the addition of Internet-delivered premium entertainment,” said David Cook, SVP of Rovi Entertainment Store Sales at Rovi Corp. “We are extremely pleased to be associated with RIM’s release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 and to be helping provide users with new opportunities to enjoy entertainment on their PlayBook tablet.”
The Blackberry PlayBook Video Store allows users to watch content moments after a download begins, and the tablet device includes an HDMI output for connecting to an HDTV.
“The BlackBerry PlayBook offers an incredible multimedia experience with a stunning display, stereo sound, an HDMI TV connection and high-powered performance under the hood,” said Martyn Mallick, VP of global alliances and business development at Blackberry-maker Research In Motion. “
In other news, Rovi Feb. 28 announced its Rovi Entertainment Store would be used to power United Kingdom’s Dixons Retailer’s KnowHow Movies over-the-top video service.
The service, launching March 1, offers catalog video titles to connected devices, including HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players and gaming consoles. Dixon aims to expand the service to mobile devices later this year. The service uses Rovi’s DivX Plus streaming video technology, which includes 1080p video, subtitles and multiple language tracks.
“With KnowHow Movies, we are offering customers the most flexible service available — they will only pay for what they watch, will have access to the latest releases instantly, and can buy and view films and TV shows on any of their connected devices,” said Niall O’Keeffe, KnowHow development director for Dixons. “We chose Rovi for this service because of their considerable depth of expertise in the provision of over-the-top on-demand services and extensive reach across the globe.”
Dixons operates more than 1,300 retail and online stores across Europe.
http://best-iphones-reviews.blogspot.in/ Will the iPhone 5 Feature a 4 Inch Display? Will the iPhone 5 feature a 4 inch display or large among its new features and what other specifications should we expect from it? We take a look at the probable features alongside the most common rumours to suggest what the handset will offer.
The phone will be the fifth generation of the handset series from Apple and is set to replace the iPhone 4S which was released towards the end of 2011, and be released in the Summer of this year respectively. It will more than likely be released featuring the new iOS 5 operating system, as opposed to the rumours suggesting iOS 6 may be simultaneously released with the device. Although, it cannot be completely ruled out that iOS 6 or an updated iOS 5 are preinstalled on the handset. It may be a condition of enabling the phone to perform new hardware tasks, or simply allowing the phone to be faster not just through a likely 1.5 or even 2 gigahertz processor; but also an OS built to work with such processors.
The most likely hardware updates that the iPhone 5 will bring are the display, processor and camera, with some speculation regarding its Home button also. Firstly, as mentioned it is probable that the handset will feature a more powerful A5 chip, or even an A6 processor with dual core technology, and offering a clock speed of 1.5 to 2 gigahertz respectively. As other handset manufacturers have moved toward PC-grade processing power, it is likely that this phone will do the same to stay on top. This is the same case for the camera. Other phones now feature as much as 12 megapixel main camera and over 1 megapixel front cameras, with High Definition capability also. As the current phone, the 4S, offers 8 megapixels, the most likely next jump will be to 12 minimum, accompanied by a dual LED flash. Finally, it is almost certain that the device will include a larger Retina display, measuring a minimum of 4 inches diagonally. This may be achieved without a complete redesign of the handset, by simply removing the Home button from the front, and placing control keys at the side of the device.
Overall it is not certain as to exactly what the iPhone 5 will introduce to the World, but it can be easily speculated that a larger display and more powerful processor and cameras will be featured. Whatever new technology is presented it is sure to be another major launch.
Keep up to date with the iPhone 5, or alternatively check out the iPhone 4S
http://best-Mobile-Handset-mobile-review.blogspot.in/ Apple iCloud Harmony ad launches Apple has released a new commercial for its emerging cloud service and, in typical Apple fashion it features a whole bunch of videos of Apple products in different locations, showing a whole bunch of different screenshots showcasing the product in question. The ad, entitled iCloud Harmony, has no voice-over at all. That’s an interesting move considering the average consumer might need a bit of clarification on exactly what iCloud is. The commercial features the typical Apple style of music, and among the features that are highlighted are music, photo, calendar, and contact screens from iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It also shows off apps and e-books, trying to convey the message to consumers that all this content can be automatically kept and stored in the cloud for access anywhere at any time.
The ad ends with the text “Automatic. Everywhere. iCloud.” Cloud services are likely to be one of the biggest emerging trends in 2012, with iCloud facing competition from Web-based services like Dropbox and Amazon. Another service, Box, seems to want to be the Android standard. It recently offered 50 GB of free storage space to all Android users, though the offer is only available for a limited time.
http://best-mobile-operator-review.blogspot.in/ BARCELONA, SPAIN -- (Marketwire) -- 02/27/12 -- Mobile World Congress -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) -- Bell Mobility continues to build out its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile services with the Cisco® ASR 5000 Series mobile multimedia core platform. Bell Mobility now delivers 4G LTE services to its most populous markets in western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
The Cisco ASR 5000 Series is the foundation of the packet core for Bell Mobility's LTE network, delivering higher bandwidth and greater intelligence for faster mobile Internet services and improved user experiences.
Highlights/Key Facts
Bell Mobility has completed the rollout of 4G LTE services to customers in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Yellowknife, London, Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, Belleville, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax-Dartmouth. With capital expenditures of approximately $3 billion per year, Bell is rapidly expanding Canada's communications infrastructure with ongoing fibre and mobile broadband rollouts. Designated as a 4G mobile specification, LTE is designed to provide multi-megabit bandwidth, more efficient use of the radio network, latency reduction and improved mobility. This combination aims to enhance the user's interaction with the network and further drive the demand for mobile multimedia services. With mobile broadband, users can more readily access Internet services such as online video, social networking, and interactive gaming -- all on the go. The Cisco ASR 5000 Series is purpose-built for the complexities of the mobile network. It is a robust multimedia services platform that brings a new level of network and customer intelligence to the mobile network. Such intelligence is critical to delivering real-time, personalized mobile services. Key components of the Cisco ASR 5000 Series include: The Cisco Mobility Management Entity (MME), which manages multiple back-end functions, including authentication, paging, mobility with 3GPP, 2G and 3G nodes, roaming and other functions. The Cisco Serving Gateway provides superior throughput and processing Cisco Packet Data Network Gateway acts as policy enforcement and manages quality of service (QoS). By combining multiple functions into a single carrier-class platform like the Cisco ASR 5000 Series, Bell can reduce signaling overhead, distribute session management, and take full advantage of the network's control and user plane capabilities. According to the latest Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast for 2010 to 2015 released in February 2012, worldwide mobile data traffic will increase 18-fold over the next five years, reaching 130 exabytes per year. By 2016 Cisco anticipates that global mobile data traffic will outgrow global fixed data traffic by three times.
Supporting Quotes:
Stephen Howe, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Bell
"4G LTE is the next step in ensuring Bell continues to deliver the best networks across Canada to consumers and business customers. The Cisco ASR 5000 Series helps us provide a superior wireless experience and offer new and unique mobile services, now and in the future."
Kelly Ahuja, senior vice president, general manager, Service Provider Mobility, Cisco
"We are pleased to partner with Bell Mobility as it deploys its LTE network. As the expectations of mobile users increase, the need for intelligent traffic management, scale, performance and accurate reporting increases. With the Cisco ASR 5000 Series, Bell has a market-leading packet core, built upon an intelligent platform that can integrate multiple functions and is uniquely equipped to accelerate Bell's ability to meet customer needs and grow its business."
Supporting Resources
Bell Mobility Cisco Service Provider Solutions Cisco ASR 5000 Series Mobile Multimedia Core Platform Cisco Mobile Internet Solutions (MOVE) Read more about Cisco's mobile Internet products and solutions Cisco Visual Networking Index home page Read the complete Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Forecast, 2010-2016 For more information about Cisco's service provider news and activities visit the SP360 Blog or follow us on Twitter @SP360
Tags/Keywords
Bell Canada, Bell Mobility, Cisco, ASR 5000 Series Aggregation Service Routers, ASR 5000, mobile Internet, Visual Networking Index Forecast, VNI
http://best-blackberry-mobile-review.blogspot.in/
BlackBerry Bets on Europe to Gain Market Share from Rivals Research In Motion, whose US sales plunged 45 percent last quarter, is counting on Europe to regain ground lost to Apple and Google as the BlackBerry maker races to introduce a new operating system.
Thorsten Heins, who took the top job at RIM last month, heads to Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress this week to convince carriers he has the products European consumers want. His challenge is to bolster market share in the region, where sales in Britain, for example, have begun to drop.
“In Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, BlackBerry is a very strong brand, a leading brand — we can really rely on that,” Heins, a 54-year-old German who spent more than two decades at Siemens before joining RIM in 2007, said in an interview at the RIM’s headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario, before leaving for Barcelona. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have to earn this every day again. We have to do that.’’
BlackBerry demand has held up better in markets such as the Netherlands and Britain than in the United States, where sales tumbled as American consumers and businesses opted for Apple’s iPhone and touch-screen devices built on Google’s Android software. While RIM made its name by targeting Washington politicians and Wall Street bankers, Europe’s portion of its sales has increased to about a third, said Matt Thornton, an analyst at Avian Securities in Boston.
“The brand is still stronger in Europe than it is here,” Thornton said.
Still, a lack of new BlackBerry models is making Heins’s job tougher and threatens to undermine RIM’s position in Europe, Thornton said.
In Barcelona, Heins will show a new version of the PlayBook tablet and smartphones introduced six months ago, while seeking to build excitement about new BlackBerrys coming on the BB10 platform in the latter part of the year, Thornton said.
That leaves RIM vulnerable to attacks by rivals such as Nokia, Samsung Electronics and HTC, which are preparing to showcase newer models at the Barcelona event starting today.
Samsung and HTC’s latest models run Android and include larger screens than the BlackBerry, and Nokia is displaying handsets using Microsoft’s Windows software, marking the first time the Finnish company is showing new products at the trade show in three years.
While RIM says the BlackBerry is still the top-selling smartphone in Britain, its sales in the country fell to $588 million last quarter from $685 million a year earlier. The traction RIM is retaining in Europe is mostly due to cheaper devices such as the Curve, according to Thornton. “It’s not the high-end stuff that’s working for them there, it’s the Curve and lower-end phones,” he said.
In a speech to BlackBerry developers in Amsterdam last month, Heins opened his remarks by pointing out where BlackBerry is the top prepaid smartphone or top smartphone overall, reeling off the Netherlands, Britain, Spain as well as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
RIM had 8.5 million subscribers in Britain at the end of last year and a 26 percent share of phone sales in December, according to data from GfK released by RIM.
“In the UK, they’ve done really well and in the Netherlands, they’ve hit a home run; in Germany and France, not so much,” said Tavis McCourt, an analyst at Morgan Keegan Inc.
Getting the BlackBerry Messenger messaging software, or BBM, to catch on in Britain and Holland was key to that success, said McCourt, who is based in Nashville and rates RIM shares “market perform.”
Still, BBM wasn’t enough to keep users addicted to the BlackBerry in the United States as the larger screens and faster Web browsers of the iPhone and Android appealed to consumers. The competition is beating RIM on Web-browsing, Chavez says, even as she still plans to stick with her BlackBerry for messaging.
RIM’s US smartphone market share dropped to 16 percent in the three months through December from 19 percent in the previous quarter, according to ComScore. In that time Apple’s share rose to 30 percent from 27 percent and Android’s climbed to 47 percent from 45 percent.
Heins is counting on four new BlackBerry models introduced in September to catch on better in Europe than they have in the United States. He said last month that RIM needs to do a better job of marketing the BlackBerry 7 phones and their improved browsers and touch-screen navigation.
A PlayBook software upgrade, which delivers dedicated e-mail, calendar and contacts programs to the tablet, was pushed out to BlackBerry users last week after repeated delays under his predecessors’ management.
Heins’s bigger challenge is to get the next round of BlackBerry smartphones, using the new BB10 operating system, into stores before the year-end holiday shopping season. Lazaridis said in December the first BB10 device would come out “in the latter part” of 2012.
BB10 will position RIM to capitalize on the changing ways people are using smartphones in the United States and Europe, Heins said.
One thing playing for RIM’s advantage is the missteps of former market leader Nokia, which have left Apple and Android dominating the market. As long as Nokia is still struggling, executives from European carriers that Heins meets with in Barcelona will want him to succeed, McCourt said.
“Carriers around the globe, whether it’s Europe or the US, would love to see another successful platform,” he said. “They don’t want be just to be low-margin resellers of Apple and Android.” Cisco ASR 5000 Series Mobile Multimedia Core Platform Cisco Mobile Internet Solutions (MOVE) Read more about Cisco's mobile Internet products and solutions Cisco Visual Networking Index home page Read the complete Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Forecast, 2010-2016 For more information about Cisco's service provider news and activities visit the SP360 Blog or follow us on Twitter @SP360
http://best-iphones-reviews.blogspot.in/ IPhone's Crutch of Subsidies BARCELONA—For Google Inc., Europe's economic turmoil has had a silver lining: Smartphones that use the Internet giant's software are crushing the iPhone in countries hard hit by the continent's debt crisis.
Last year, despite Apple Inc.'s high-profile launch of the new iPhone 4S, only 5% of the smartphones sold in Greece and 9% of those sold in Portugal were iPhones, according to research firm IDC. Most of the rest were phones running Google's Android operating system, which the company is promoting heavily as it seeks a firmer foothold in the wireless industry.
Enlarge Image SUBSIDY SUBSIDY
The results point to a rare weak spot for Apple—its heavy reliance on subsidies from wireless carriers to make its iPhones affordable to a wider range of consumers. The practice has proved to be a big advantage for Apple, which posted a 73% jump in revenue in its latest quarter, at the expense of carriers such as Sprint Nextel Corp., which started carrying the iPhone last fall but doesn't expect to make a profit on the device until 2015.
In countries like the U.S. and the U.K., carrier subsidies helped the iPhone win more than 20% of the smartphone market last year. But its performance in parts of southern Europe where most consumers don't sign contracts and have to pay full freight for phones suggests Apple's position could suffer if carriers tire of underwriting most of the cost of the devices, as some are in countries such as Denmark and Spain.
"Smartphone penetration and adoption is being helped by the entry of lower-price devices, which basically are Android devices," said Carlos Alberto Silva, a spokesman for Portuguese carrier Optimus.
Android phones that cost less than $200 without a contract are widely available in Europe, helping Google undercut the much more expensive iPhone. In Portugal, at wireless carrier Vodafone Group PLC, the cheapest Apple phone—an eight-gigabyte version of the older-model iPhone 4—sells for $680, according to the carrier's website. Phones running Android can be had for as little as $106, and even Samsung Electronics Co.'s high-end Galaxy S II is cheaper than the cheapest iPhone.
In markets like the U.S., where consumers generally pay $200 or $300 for smartphones regardless of the brand, price isn't as much of a factor. The reverse is true in Greece, Portugal, and elsewhere, where carriers don't subsidize most smartphones.
At Greece's largest wireless carrier, Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications SA, the most popular smartphone sold last year was Samsung's Galaxy Mini, said Dimitris Koutsonas, head of mobile data and services. The price: $188 without a contract. "In this economic situation, we had to push the low-end smartphone," Mr. Koutsonas said.
As a result, more than 60% of the smartphones sold by Cosmote last year were Android phones, Mr. Koutsonas said.
The success of Android helps Google to ensure that its search engine—its most important source of revenue—as well as mapping and other services, are preloaded on mobile devices, through which consumers are spending more time online.
Google licenses Android to hardware manufacturers essentially free, doesn't get a cut of device sales and takes only a small share of revenue generated from app sales for Android devices.
The software company hopes the wider range of prices for Android phones boosts their adoption—and helps the operating system gain traction with carriers wary of subsidies and customers leery of contracts.
"Our competitors are much more dependent on such subsidies," said John Lagerling, Google's director of Android partnerships. "From a sustainability standpoint, if you have very expensive devices as the only ones available to access your ecosystem, then that can come with a pretty severe hangover in the long run."
In the U.S., carriers pay Apple an estimated $400 every time a customer buys an iPhone with a two-year contract, analysts say. Sprint has acknowledged that iPhone subsidies run 40% higher than they do for other smartphones on average. The goal is to make it easy to buy the phone then make the money back and a profit over time on service contracts. Contract-free "prepaid" carriers, on the other hand, leave consumers to pay the full price of a phone.
Wall Street has grilled Apple on its strategy for prepaid carriers, even as the company sold a record 37 million iPhones in its most recent quarter, more than double the year-earlier tally. The company has kept a nearly three-year-old model, the iPhone 3GS, on the market to appeal to budget-minded buyers, including prepaid users. But the 3GS still sells for $535 without a contract at Greece's Cosmote.
Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook told analysts in January that it "was too early to tell" how the lower-priced versions would perform in the prepaid market over time but that the company was "thrilled" with iPhones sales as a whole.
At an investor conference this month, Mr. Cook added that emerging markets, which often use the prepaid model, are "critical" for the company, but that each country is different and some may evolve over time. "I don't really subscribe to the premise that a prepaid market is a prepaid market is a prepaid market," he said. Apple, he said, had persuaded China Unicom to try a contract and subsidies approach in addition to its prepaid one, and that it had performed well.
"You can bet that we are into details in every single country in the world trying to learn what we can to adjust, maybe to do better into the future," Mr. Cook said.
The debate over device subsidies is part of a tug of war between mobile operators, Internet companies and phone makers seeking control and profits in the wireless industry. All three camps are gathering in Barcelona this week for an annual industry conference.
Carriers around the world are having second thoughts about subsidizing phones, presenting a risk for all phone makers—not just Apple. That became clear in Denmark last year after several leading wireless carriers stopped subsidizing phones and lowered their monthly rates to keep up with lower-priced competitors. "We saw that the customers valued lower prices on calling plans, and simpler calling plans, higher than the subsidy on the phone," said Jon Erik Haug, CEO of the Denmark unit of Oslo-based wireless operator Telenor ASA.
In the second half of last year, after Danish carriers stopped offering subsidies, phone sales declined about 10% from the second half of 2010, according to IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo. Smartphone sales continued to grow, but at a much lower rate than in 2010.
In Spain, telecom giant Telefónica SA also is having doubts. "We can't keep subsidies at these levels," José Miguel Gilpérez, CEO of Telefónica Spain, recently told Spanish newspaper El País. "When you buy a TV or any other consumer good, you pay for it. It is healthier that users pay for their devices and operators invest in networks and services."
For phone makers, any change by carriers could have an impact on the sales of high-end devices.
In the U.S., where contract plans and phone subsidies dominate, IDC says that around 90% of smartphone shipments over the past four years were for devices that cost more than $300—despite the recession and uncertain recovery. In Italy, where prepaid plans dominate, that proportion was 67% last year, and in crisis-hit Greece and Portugal, only about 40% of the smartphones shipped in 2011 cost more than $300.
