| News for wireless telecommunications professionals |  |
- BlackBerry opens Messenger, delivers Q5 for emerging markets
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins on Tuesday introduced the Q5, a midrange version of the new keyboard-enabled Q10, in a move aimed at buttressing the company's appeal in emerging markets where the brand still has broad appeal. BlackBerry also surprised analysts and investors by opening its popular Messenger service to Android and iOS users. “They are losing exclusivity, but counting on the fact that the BBM experience is much better than any of the other messaging apps," said Steven Li, a Raymond James analyst. Also, BlackBerry issued new server software for enterprises that walls off employees personal content from work-related content. The Wall Street Journal
(5/14), Bloomberg Businessweek
(5/14), Reuters
(5/14), Network World
(5/14), The Wall Street Journal/CIO Journal
(5/14)      
- T-Mobile's iPhone still discounted but costs $50 more upfront
T-Mobile US on Monday began charging $150 as the carrier's upfront price for the iPhone 5, a $50 increase from the initial fee, reducing the discount on the phone to $20 on the unsubsidized $630 price. A T-Mobile executive declined to discuss the carrier's strategy. Analysts speculated that T-Mobile needed to raise the price because of its heavy iPhone costs relative to its competitors due to the telecom's lower upfront cost and interest-free financing. The Wall Street Journal
(5/14)
- Newest MVNO wants to make it easier to GIV
In the sea of MVNOs comes GIV Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator from PlatinumTel that is trying to set itself apart through charitable donations. The T-Mobile US connected service, which launches today, says it will give 8% of each bill to the dozens of charities on its list, or up to $50 per year. GIV will offer two prepaid packages, a $40 plan with 250 megabytes of data and a $50 plan with 2 gigabytes. GigaOm
(5/14)
- Why Facebook Home on the HTC First is a disappointment
With reports flying that AT&T might drop the HTC First phone equipped with the Facebook Home interface, industry observers are wondering why the handset turned out to be a disappointment. Analysts say Facebook miscalculated in believing users would buy a device so devoted to the social network experience. “The whole of the past five years is about more than people. It’s about adding other stuff like games, apps, and other experiences," said Benedict Evans of Evans Analysis. Bloomberg Businessweek
(5/14)
 | UpdateLogic launches remote support solution for mobile
UpdateLogic's SupportView™ remote management system now supports mobile phones and tablets in addition TVs, Blu-ray disc players, and set-top boxes. The extension of SupportView into mobile enables operators and service providers to offer premium tech support programs for all devices in the "whole home." Download more information here. |
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| Mobile In Industry |  |  |
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- Mobile users are putting money down on games of skill
Startup Skillz has issued an open software development kit for mobile developers to write applications that allow users to bet real money on legally defined Android-based multiplayer "games of skill" in the 36 states where it is legal to do so. Players put up an entry fee that Skillz splits evenly with developers. The company, which calls its business model complementary to existing plans, said user engagement and retention has skyrocketed since Skillz issued its beta SDK in late April. All Things D
(5/14)
- Apps for enterprises find traction
Developers are seeing a hot new market for mobile applications aimed at businesses as companies discover such software can make them more efficient, according to a report from investment bank Rutberg. Developers are writing more enterprise-related apps, and startups are proliferating. "Enterprise apps today are where the consumer apps were three-four years ago," said Rajeev Chand, the head of research at Rutberg. Bloomberg Businessweek
(5/14)
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| Trends & Research | | |
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- No stopping rise in Android malware, reports warns
Cybercriminals are developing ever-more-sophisticated ways to distribute Android-related malware, according to F-Secure, a Finnish security firm, which issued a report noting that mobile threats rose by 49% in the first quarter with 91% of those threats aimed at Android. "The Android malware ecosystem is beginning to resemble that which surrounds Windows, where highly specialized suppliers provide commoditized malware services," F-Secure said in the report. Computerworld/IDG News Service
(5/14)
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 | That which is always within our reach is always the last thing we take; and the chances are, that what we can do every day, we never do at all."
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