By Robert Kempf
Anybody out there? Looking for survivors of the worst economic downturn since ages…
-I have a great message for you guys: There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel and the most exciting event of the mobile industry is just around the corner – MWC 2010.
If you are still waiting to start-up again I can only recommend to hurry. A wider industry recognized the technical leadership and innovation potential of the mobile industry and is keen to leverage it to their products. Seamless connectivity, high data rates, value added services leveraging the cloud, marketplaces and the game changing user experience of some new mobile devices are only a few themes which come into my mind.
Already at CES 2010 we have seen many new devices like MIDs, Smartbooks, eBook readers and similar which leverage mobile technology and there is a clear sign of further convergence in this space in terms of the underlying technology used for all these kind of devices.
So let us exploit the full potential of our mobile industry solutions. I know it is easier saying that than making it happen, but we at Teleca can assure you that there are many ways of making this journey a success.
What are these success factors I am talking about?
I would only like to touch upon a few of them - we need to become smarter, we need to love open source solutions and we should never underestimate the power of communities.
You would like to have more details?
Just pass by our MWC booth in Hall 8, #B79 and we will explain in detail how we can help making your plans a success in this space.
We are active in one of the most exciting, and fastly transforming, industries with much undiscovered potential…
Yes, We Love Smart Solutions.
I hope we can explore this space together and looking forward to seeing you @ MWC! www.teleca.com/mwc2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Android+Google=always true? -February 8th
By Craig Turner
A very tech-savvy friend was telling me recently that he had heard of a phone that is under development with Android but not Google. He wanted to know how that could be possible. At first glance, the answer seemed obvious; of course it is possible; Android is available as OSS, you can skip getting it certified if you do not plan to include any Google services or get the Google branding on the phone.
But then I got to thinking. Can you really take the Google out of Android? The other side of the argument could be that, with Google as the original contributor of Android source code and acting as a key driver in the Open Handset Alliance which determines the contents and timelines of each Android release, it would be impossible to completely remove the influence of Google from Android. Even if you build a device purely on the OSS release of Android, the influence of Google on the core components of operating system is built in.
And what does it mean to separate Android from Google? Android is a mobile operating system with growing importance in the mobile computing sector. Google is an internet services provider and, more importantly, one of the world's strongest computing brands. The Android brand's real value comes from the association with Google. If you don’t get certified with the CTS, you are not allowed access to the online marketplace, which is called the “Android Market” not the “Google Market”. To again take the extreme case, the device owner can always claim to have built their product based on the Android OSS release – even there for the average consumer there is an automatic association with both the Android and Google brands.
So, which is more important, the operating system or the brand? Google would likely survive without Android, but the opposite is unclear. Nevertheless, the Google brand alone cannot make great mobile devices. That is the result of a combination of a high-quality operating system and Google's mobile services, certainly in concert with further software and services provided by the rest of the value chain, including ODMs, OEMs and operators. It will be an interesting case study in a few months to compare the success of the Google Nexus One with that of similar unbranded Android-based phones.
A very tech-savvy friend was telling me recently that he had heard of a phone that is under development with Android but not Google. He wanted to know how that could be possible. At first glance, the answer seemed obvious; of course it is possible; Android is available as OSS, you can skip getting it certified if you do not plan to include any Google services or get the Google branding on the phone.
But then I got to thinking. Can you really take the Google out of Android? The other side of the argument could be that, with Google as the original contributor of Android source code and acting as a key driver in the Open Handset Alliance which determines the contents and timelines of each Android release, it would be impossible to completely remove the influence of Google from Android. Even if you build a device purely on the OSS release of Android, the influence of Google on the core components of operating system is built in.
And what does it mean to separate Android from Google? Android is a mobile operating system with growing importance in the mobile computing sector. Google is an internet services provider and, more importantly, one of the world's strongest computing brands. The Android brand's real value comes from the association with Google. If you don’t get certified with the CTS, you are not allowed access to the online marketplace, which is called the “Android Market” not the “Google Market”. To again take the extreme case, the device owner can always claim to have built their product based on the Android OSS release – even there for the average consumer there is an automatic association with both the Android and Google brands.
So, which is more important, the operating system or the brand? Google would likely survive without Android, but the opposite is unclear. Nevertheless, the Google brand alone cannot make great mobile devices. That is the result of a combination of a high-quality operating system and Google's mobile services, certainly in concert with further software and services provided by the rest of the value chain, including ODMs, OEMs and operators. It will be an interesting case study in a few months to compare the success of the Google Nexus One with that of similar unbranded Android-based phones.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
More green gadgets -February 4th
By Mariappan Vaithilingam
Yesterday, I was watching a TV program about some school student’s science exhibition. One of the groups was explaining about the possible ways of going green and suggested more use of solar energy. I started thinking of that.
- How can we possibly make use of solar energy in mobile phones as well as in other portable gadgets?
I googled 'Mobile solar Power Charger' and got lots of information about the solar mobile charger. Basically this solar power charger gets power from Sun and stores it in the build-in battery which then powers the processor, display, illumination etc.
Some time back my dad used a small calculator which used solar power. During the day time it stores and uses solar power and at night time it uses a normal light bulb to power up, and that really worked well. Now I think why can’t we make use of the same technique for handheld devices? I understand that handhelds will consume more power than a calculator, but at least using solar generated power we can send an occasional SMS or execute small applications.
-Could this be the next display innovation to also have it function as a solar panel? Maybe there is something Steve did not tell us about the Ipad ?
Yesterday, I was watching a TV program about some school student’s science exhibition. One of the groups was explaining about the possible ways of going green and suggested more use of solar energy. I started thinking of that.
- How can we possibly make use of solar energy in mobile phones as well as in other portable gadgets?
I googled 'Mobile solar Power Charger' and got lots of information about the solar mobile charger. Basically this solar power charger gets power from Sun and stores it in the build-in battery which then powers the processor, display, illumination etc.
Some time back my dad used a small calculator which used solar power. During the day time it stores and uses solar power and at night time it uses a normal light bulb to power up, and that really worked well. Now I think why can’t we make use of the same technique for handheld devices? I understand that handhelds will consume more power than a calculator, but at least using solar generated power we can send an occasional SMS or execute small applications.
-Could this be the next display innovation to also have it function as a solar panel? Maybe there is something Steve did not tell us about the Ipad ?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Deploying successful services -January 25th
By Jari Saarhelo
The Mobile Internet is booming and will experience double digit growth during the next few years. This growth is driven by a marked shift towards using services, such as social networking, on Smartphone and other mobile devices as well as on the Desktop. The smartphone has become a service platform, where soon 50% of user activity is not voice nor text related.
Achieving high enough service penetration is one of the key challenges in offering a service globally. Ideally, a service should:
- Be deployable on as many devices as possible
- Deliver WoW user experience
- Be easily updatable a only a couple of clicks
- Be customized to match regional tastes
- Have a low incremental cost to support new devices
In practice, there is a need to balance these factors against each other to find an affordable solution delivering maximum benefits in an acceptable timeframe. Web (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML) based service for example are deployable on all the devices supporting a standard web browser, but the user experience will be limited.
Despite the growth of smartphones with webkit support most devices out there still have poor browser support. Going native will enable a huge improvement in the user experience and the ability to create unique experiences, but the development cost will typically be higher and additional skills will be needed. Which way to go will of course be dependent on the focus of the service and the user experience that needs to be delivered. However, which ever path you choose the era on of Mobile Internet services is clearly dawning.
We have recently released a white paper on Advanced Mobile Services (http://www.teleca.com/Home/solutions/end-to-end_solutions.aspx), if you want to read more on this topic.
The Mobile Internet is booming and will experience double digit growth during the next few years. This growth is driven by a marked shift towards using services, such as social networking, on Smartphone and other mobile devices as well as on the Desktop. The smartphone has become a service platform, where soon 50% of user activity is not voice nor text related.
Achieving high enough service penetration is one of the key challenges in offering a service globally. Ideally, a service should:
- Be deployable on as many devices as possible
- Deliver WoW user experience
- Be easily updatable a only a couple of clicks
- Be customized to match regional tastes
- Have a low incremental cost to support new devices
In practice, there is a need to balance these factors against each other to find an affordable solution delivering maximum benefits in an acceptable timeframe. Web (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML) based service for example are deployable on all the devices supporting a standard web browser, but the user experience will be limited.
Despite the growth of smartphones with webkit support most devices out there still have poor browser support. Going native will enable a huge improvement in the user experience and the ability to create unique experiences, but the development cost will typically be higher and additional skills will be needed. Which way to go will of course be dependent on the focus of the service and the user experience that needs to be delivered. However, which ever path you choose the era on of Mobile Internet services is clearly dawning.
We have recently released a white paper on Advanced Mobile Services (http://www.teleca.com/Home/solutions/end-to-end_solutions.aspx), if you want to read more on this topic.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Shameless plug –January 19th
By Andrew Till
Want a cool new application? Ever wished that with a single touch you could switch between silent and vibration mode. Well now you can with the new Teleca “Ringer Mode Toggler” for Android.
This useful application allows you to toggle between ringer modes.
Now it’s possible to turn on or off silent mode or vibrate mode with just one touch.
Download, use, enjoy. From the Android Market.
What do you think – Shameless plug !
Want a cool new application? Ever wished that with a single touch you could switch between silent and vibration mode. Well now you can with the new Teleca “Ringer Mode Toggler” for Android.
This useful application allows you to toggle between ringer modes.
Now it’s possible to turn on or off silent mode or vibrate mode with just one touch.
Download, use, enjoy. From the Android Market.
What do you think – Shameless plug !
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I love the smell of convergence -January 12th
By Najeeb Khan
Our industry has been suffering convergence fever and tablets are now being prescribed to relieve the symptoms. The terms UMPC & MID seem to have been dumped as manufacturers prepare a plethora of tablets, slates and eReaders to launch at consumers during 2010.
Small-screen-browsing has improved immeasurably in recent years thanks to devices such as the iPhone, Android phones and Nokia’s N900 and the wide spread adoption of webkit as a common rendering engine.
This experience, whilst portable and convenient, is still not quite as rich as a full PC-based experience for a variety of reasons with screen-real-estate being the most glaringly obvious one.
But this new generation of connected appliances will spawn ecosystems beyond the internet browsing, emailing and social networking that modern smartphones have recently been praised for:
Our industry has been suffering convergence fever and tablets are now being prescribed to relieve the symptoms. The terms UMPC & MID seem to have been dumped as manufacturers prepare a plethora of tablets, slates and eReaders to launch at consumers during 2010.
Small-screen-browsing has improved immeasurably in recent years thanks to devices such as the iPhone, Android phones and Nokia’s N900 and the wide spread adoption of webkit as a common rendering engine.
This experience, whilst portable and convenient, is still not quite as rich as a full PC-based experience for a variety of reasons with screen-real-estate being the most glaringly obvious one.
But this new generation of connected appliances will spawn ecosystems beyond the internet browsing, emailing and social networking that modern smartphones have recently been praised for:
- Traditional publishers of printed content such as Newscorp, TimeWarner, Hearst, Meredith and Conde Nast, seeking ways to monetise their content in the age of convergence, have formed a joint venture to publish their content called Next Issue Media aimed at creating a standard for formatting and charging for rich-media-content.
- Film and TV producers and broadcasters are increasingly making their content available for the PC, and other connected devices. Services such as Hulu in the USA and BBC iPlayer in the UK are already extremely popular. Some of these services already support small-screen-devices but a plethora of new, larger screen, portable devices dedicated to media consumption will no doubt stimulate renewed activity in harnessing the portable video revenue that is undoubtedly out there.
- Portable gaming could potentially begin to compete with, and will certainly enhance, the experience available in the living room, location based services could offer you that much more simultaneously and instantaneously related to your location, mobile advertising could be that much more impactful and one-to-one selling/teaching/counselling could be more personal.
The new generation of portable, instant on, easy-to-use connected appliances will take the drag of computing. Traditional PCs/laptops, will of course still have their place but will likely take a back seat to this new generation of lifestyle companions.
Perhaps 2010 will be remembered as the year that began the revolution in portable lifestyle companions.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
2010-the year of passionate handsets
By Magnus Ingelsten
In spring 2007 the iPhone was launched and so much has been written about its success. It have had the whole mobile industry asking itself several key questions; How to explain its success? What is the recipe? Can it be repeated?
An immense success among consumers. What makes people fall in love with it? I have tried to find a parallel. Such as buying a car? Not really… For most it is just a practical means of transportation, unless you are a petrol head like myself.
However, is it like going on a date? While for some it may be a practical means of finding someone you get on well with, for most it’s about finding someone that you’re attracted to on many levels and is a process that is driven by the heart rather than the head.
To select a handset these days, if you do not consider low cost in relation to the operator and handset as your first priority, is like being on a date! You may meet someone that is very clever, possesses good looks, the right balance of professional skills and leisure/fun time… but there are quite a few of them around. But to find someone that really speaks to you and tickles your senses, someone that you really want to get to know and who creates the feeling within you that is called lust is harder to come by.
And someone that is not pretending to be something they’re not – in essence being authentic and sincere. As well as someone being open for new ideas, impressions and develops with the relationship. See where I am going?
So what are the right keywords and ingredients for the recipe? Well here is what I think you need to materialize your own perfect handset:
1 spoon of Youthfulness
1 big cup of Brand
1 cup of Intelligence
1 large spoon Simplicity
½ spoon Quality
1 spoon Authenticity
1 cup of Freshness
1 big bowl of Looks-to-kill-for
1 gallon Lust
-Make sure it is based on an open OS, spiced with music, movies and cool apps.
This recipe is free for all to use and we hope that together with Teleca, vendors will introduce new devices, created with passion and lust, for 2010.
A happy new year to all of you!
In spring 2007 the iPhone was launched and so much has been written about its success. It have had the whole mobile industry asking itself several key questions; How to explain its success? What is the recipe? Can it be repeated?
An immense success among consumers. What makes people fall in love with it? I have tried to find a parallel. Such as buying a car? Not really… For most it is just a practical means of transportation, unless you are a petrol head like myself.
However, is it like going on a date? While for some it may be a practical means of finding someone you get on well with, for most it’s about finding someone that you’re attracted to on many levels and is a process that is driven by the heart rather than the head.
To select a handset these days, if you do not consider low cost in relation to the operator and handset as your first priority, is like being on a date! You may meet someone that is very clever, possesses good looks, the right balance of professional skills and leisure/fun time… but there are quite a few of them around. But to find someone that really speaks to you and tickles your senses, someone that you really want to get to know and who creates the feeling within you that is called lust is harder to come by.
And someone that is not pretending to be something they’re not – in essence being authentic and sincere. As well as someone being open for new ideas, impressions and develops with the relationship. See where I am going?
So what are the right keywords and ingredients for the recipe? Well here is what I think you need to materialize your own perfect handset:
1 spoon of Youthfulness
1 big cup of Brand
1 cup of Intelligence
1 large spoon Simplicity
½ spoon Quality
1 spoon Authenticity
1 cup of Freshness
1 big bowl of Looks-to-kill-for
1 gallon Lust
-Make sure it is based on an open OS, spiced with music, movies and cool apps.
This recipe is free for all to use and we hope that together with Teleca, vendors will introduce new devices, created with passion and lust, for 2010.
A happy new year to all of you!
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