Searching for information on the web is the most popular activity for the new generation of tech-savvy phone owners, research into the mobile phone habits of Australians has revealed.

More than three-quarters of people with internet connected phones use them to hunt for information online while on the move – up from just 30 per cent a year ago.

Popular online activities for mobile phone users include:

CHECKING news and weather (59 per cent).

EMAIL (58 per cent).

MAPS or directions (56 per cent).

SOCIAL networking (39 per cent).

Facebook is by far the most popular social networking site accessed via the mobile Web, snaring 98 per cent of visitors, followed by Twitter and MySpace.

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The Nielsen internet and technology report shows new activities, such as buying items online, jumped 10 per cent to 17 per cent.

The previously popular pastime of downloading ringtones dropped 9 per cent to 21 per cent.

The survey comes as new social networking-oriented phones hit the market. They boast iPhone-style touch screens, Qwerty keyboards and the ability to snap and instantly upload photos to sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Samsung spokesman Tyler McGee said manufacturers were responding to the demands of consumers.

“Research shows that three out of five Australians under the age of 35 who access the internet claim to use social networking on their mobile phones,” he said.

Samsung has just released four internet-friendly phone models.

The survey said Nokia still leads the internet-capable mobile phone pack, controlling more than 35 per cent of the market. Apple’s iPhone has more than doubled its share to 28 per cent and is growing quickly.

About 13 per cent of Australians who have not yet used their mobile to go online plan to do so over the next 12 months.

“We’ve seen a big shift in the levels of activity among those who are using mobile internet,” Nielsen online spokesman Matt Bruce said.

Resource:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/mobile-phone-users-hungry-for-accessing-online-including-facebook/story-e6frf7l6-1225860323408

U.S. buyers who ordered one of three 3G versions before yesterday will still get their iPad by the end of April, as originally promised, Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said. The 3G model connects to the Internet using mobile-phone carriers’ third-generation service, in addition to Wi-Fi networks.

Apple said last week that demand for the iPad was “far higher” than predicted, leading the company to delay international sales of the device by one month, until the end of May. Cupertino, California-based Apple sold more than 500,000 iPads in the first week after its U.S. debut on April 3.

“There’s a learning curve at play here,” said Shaw Wu, an analyst with Kaufman Bros. in San Francisco. “This is the reality of manufacturing.”

The iPad’s initial release only included models that run on Wi-Fi networks, starting at $499. The newer versions will cost at least $629. Both types let users surf the Web, watch videos, listen to music and play games on a touch screen.

Apple fell 33 cents to $247.07 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading yesterday. The shares have doubled in the past year.

‘Production Bottleneck’

The company, which said on April 14 that demand will outpace supply for the next several weeks, may be struggling to get enough touch screens produced, according to ISuppli Corp.

Suppliers, challenged by the size of the display, may be unable to make usable screens in the quantities Apple needs, said Andrew Rassweiler, an ISuppli analyst in El Segundo, California. The 9.7-inch (25-centimeter) screen is made by LG Display Co., Samsung Electronics Co. and Seiko Epson Corp., according to ISuppli.

The iPad’s LED-backlit display is about 6 inches larger than the screen used in Apple’s iPhone. For the iPad, Apple opted for a screen technology called IPS, or in-plane switching, that the company says provides “crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide” viewing angle.

“We understand that the yields on the display have been low and that they’re creating a production bottleneck,” Rassweiler said. “That they have been doing it for the iPhone for some time is great, but once you go to 9.7 inches, it is a much more complicated process.”

Resource:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-20/apple-says-new-orders-of-the-ipad-3g-won-t-arrive-until-may-7.html

The Nokia C3 (pictured) is the vendor’s first Series 40 device to feature a QWERTY keyboard. It allows for Facebook, Twitter, and other network access directly from the home page. It also features Ovi Mail, Ovi Chat, Wi-Fi, a 2-megapixel camera, and a 2.4-inch screen. It will be available in a variety of colors.

The Nokia C6 runs full-blown Symbian, and features a 3.2-inch touch screen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It also includes a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash, Ovi Maps with free walk and drive navigation, and access to Nokia’s Ovi Store for browsing, buying, and downloading thousands of third-party apps, assuming it works.

Finally, the Nokia E5 is a business-focused smartphone in the vein of the E72. It features numerous productivity apps, Mail for Exchange, and Lotus Notes Traveler, plus access to the Ovi Store.

All three are due for release in the second and third quarters overseas; no word yet on U.S. versions. But Nokia seems to have finally figured out how to get carriers to subsidize its handsets; my money is on at least one of these appearing here.

Resource:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362564,00.asp

“It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world,” said Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, in a statement. “It’s going to be a game changer.”

Because Apple is hoping to popularize a new kind of computing device, one that combines elements of a laptop and smartphone, acceptance among consumers is likely to be slower than with previous Apple devices, said Michael Abramsky, an analyst with RBC Capital.

“This device is the leading edge in a market that is still being created, so lots of folks are still trying to figure out the relevance of the iPad to them,” he said. “But given that not everyone understands what it does yet, it’s a pretty good launch at the end of the day.”

Some buyers may be waiting for future versions of the iPad, perhaps with a camera or other new features, Mr. Abramsky said. His firm had been expecting Apple to sell 300,000 to 400,000 iPads over the whole weekend.

The version of the iPad that went on sale Saturday can connect to the Internet only via a Wi-Fi connection, leading analysts to wonder whether some consumers are waiting for the 3G version, which will work over a cellphone network.

“This is still the warm-ups,” said Craig Moffett, a senior analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein & Company. “The big unanswered question that remains is how many people are waiting for the 3G model to be released before committing to buy.”

Apple has said it plans to release 3G iPads this month, which will cost $629 to $829 depending on storage size.

Apple also said iPad users had downloaded more than one million apps from the company’s App Store and more than 250,000 electronic books from its iBookstore on Saturday. Some of the most popular applications include a word processing application made by Apple called Pages, an air-traffic control game called Flight Control, and National Public Radio’s application.

Mr. Abramsky said he expected many more apps to follow. “We’re seeing just the scratching of the surface,” he said. “We have the medium first and then the media.”

Apple sent invitations to journalists on Monday for a preview of the next version of the operating system that powers the iPhone and iPad, to be held Thursday at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

Shares in Apple rose 1 percent to close at $238.49.

Resource:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/technology/06ipad.html

Powered by Android 2.1, it offers the ability to use multiple applications at once and one of the world’s thinnest QWERTY sliders (13.7mm or 1.37cm). The MILESTONE also boasts a hi-resolution, pinch and zoom display.

A suite of Google mobile applications including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube are also integrated onto the device. Plus users have access to thousands of apps and widgets from Android Market.

MILESTONE comes preloaded with lifetime free access to fully voice-guided street-level navigable maps of 401 cities6 in India. This offers voice-guided navigation and routing in the cities and across major national and state highways. With this the Indian consumer can drive to 400,000 towns and villages6 and explore over one million6 points of interest like budget/premium hotels, petrol pumps, eating joints, ATMs, hospitals as well as tourist and religious spots. All the consumer needs to do is to launch ‘India’ maps from the MOTONAV application to enjoy an unparalleled navigation experience. The GPS navigation service is free with no activation or data charges, independent of mobile networks and can be used even without inserting the SIM card, as the maps are fully loaded on the MILESTONE1 & 6.

“MILESTONE is a smart phone without compromise, delivering a wiser, richer web and messaging experience. This is possible through the combination of Motorola’s expertise in design and a truly differentiated Android experience,” said Faisal Siddiqui, Country Head, Mobile Devices, Motorola India. “The MILESTONE is targeted at the well informed, ‘socially’ connected individual. This consumer is an accomplished, driven and engaged professional looking for an outstanding web experience as well as a high tier messaging device. So, we invite you all to come and experience the MILESTONE!”

“As an Android 2.1 device, MILESTONE does what other smartphones don’t. It was designed to enhance consumer experiences – and its full screen web browsing experience, ability to juggle between multiple apps, and suite of Google applications deliver. We have been delighted with the anticipation and demand for MILESTONE across the world and are pleased to announce its arrival in India today.”

Key MILESTONE features include:

9.39cm (3.7 inch) widescreen display with 854 pixel width and more than 400,000 total pixels
High-speed, cortex A8 processor
Pinch and zoom, double tap zoom
5 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, AutoFocus, and image stabilization.
Motorola Media Link and Motorola Phone Portal to manage and share media content across desktop, phone and the Web5
Stereo Bluetooth® / BT 2.1, USB 2.0 High Speed
3.5mm (0.35cm) headset jack
CrystalTalk Plus for superior talk quality
8GB memory card

Additional functionality and apps include:
Full suite of the Google applications: Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Talk
Unified Google, Microsoft Office and Facebook Contacts
Navigation: GPS, MOTONAV turn-by-turn navigation with India maps1 & 6
Email Support: IMAP, POP3, Gmail and Exchange
IM Support: Google Talk
Calendar: Exchange, syncs with Google Calendar?
Availability

MILESTONE will be available in India at select retails outlets in select cities at a MRP of Rs 32,990. To be one of the first in India to experience MILESTONE

Resource:
http://www.webnewswire.com/node/520897

1. It screams

   The early reviews all said that the iPad was “wicked fast,” and boy, they weren’t kidding. Applications literally fly open, and browsing the Web on Safari is way faster than on the iPhone. I could get used to this.

2. It’s heavier than I thought it would be

   One-and-a-half pounds sounds pretty light, especially when you consider that the flyweight MacBook Air weighs in at about 3.5 pounds. That said, the iPad felt surprisingly heavy the first time I hefted it—not so heavy that I’m bursting a blood vessel or anything, but I’m curious to see how it’ll feel after an hour or so of reading an iBook, what Apple is calling the e-books you can download onto the device.

3. Good luck reading e-books in direct sunlight

   Yes, the iPad has it all over the Kindle when it comes to its eye-catching color screen and sleek page-flicking animations. The beauty of the Kindle’s black-and-white e-ink screen, however, is that text stands out quite nicely when you’re reading in the sun; on the iPad, however, the color display looks disappointingly washed out in direct sunlight, problematic for reading e-books poolside.

4. Virtual QWERTY keypad isn’t as bad as I’d feared

   No, it’s nothing like typing on a real keyboard, but for me, the iPad’s virtual QWERTY keypad isn’t nearly as terrible as many had warned. I’ve managed to bang out a few decent-sized emails on the thing, and it’s certainly better than typing on the iPhone. The key, I’ve found, is to relax and let the automatic error correction do its thing; if you keep hitting backspace to fix your errors (and there will be errors, trust me), you’ll be tapping all day. That said, keep in mind that to type on the iPad, you must do one of several things:

   Prop it (awkwardly) in your lap to type

   Place it flat on a table—not the best solution due to the iPad’s curved back

   Hold it in one hand and tap with the other, effectively slashing your possible WPM

   Invest in Apple’s $79 iPad keyboard dock

   Use Apple’s $39 case to prop the iPad up at a good typing angle

5. Can’t charge iPad over a USB port

   First I tried it on my USB hub, then on the powered USB port on my MacBook Pro, but nope…no juice—not even when the iPad’s syncing with iTunes. Looks like the only way to charge the iPad, apparently, is using the included AC wall adapter. Good thing the iPad’s battery is rated for 10-plus hours.
   Update: Actually, according to Macworld, you can charge iPad via a high-power USB port, but for low-power USB ports (something that an “older Mac, most Windows PCs and most USB hubs” don’t have, Macworld notes) the iPad will only charge (“slowly”) when it’s asleep. Still surprising in my book, but apologies for the error.

6. HD videos look amazing

   Practically the first thing I did after unpacking the iPad was queue up the 720p trailer for “Avatar,” and…whoa. Absolutely gorgeous. Watching movies on the plane will never be the same again.

7. Reflections on the display are pretty distracting

   The moment the wife and I were done “oohing” and “ahhing” over that “Avatar” video, we started complaining about our reflections in the iPad’s glass display. It’s not bad at all when you’re surfing or composing email, but if you’re watching a movie—and especially during a darkly lit scene—prepare to see your reflected self looking back at you. (Yes, the iPhone’s screen suffers from glare, too, but at least I couldn’t see my entire head reflected in the glass.)

8. Location-based services work fine in a pinch

   One of the problems with the Wi-Fi-only iPad versus the upcoming 3G-embedded model is that it lacks A-GPS, a system that combines satellite data with cell-tower triangulation to pinpoint your location, even when you’re indoors. That said, the Wi-Fi-only version can still attempt to find where you are using nearby Wi-Fi signals, and I was impressed when my new iPad immediately zeroed in on my apartment, within half a block. Not bad.

9. The iPad makes calls, with a little help from Skype

   Yes, Apple had promised that “almost” all iPhone apps would work on the iPad, but I had my doubts about Skype. Today, though, I was finally able to put Skype on the iPad to the test: I loaded it up, logged into my (for-pay) Skype Out account, and dialed 777-FILM. The next thing I heard? “Hello, welcome to Moviefone! If you know the name of the movie you want to see, press one now!” (Of course, this would all be a little more amazing if the iPad had a front-facing camera for video calls.)

10. My iPhone seems really, really small now

    After testing the iPad for about an hour or so, I went to check my iPhone for a second and…yikes, what is this tiny little thing? So puny!
    Stay tuned for my full iPad review, including my decision on whether to return it or not, early next week. In the meantime…anyone else buy an iPad today? Skipping it?

Resource:
Yahoo News

A wi-fi connection offers better indoor reception, faster download speeds and quality streaming compared with a normal phone network. And it allows users to preserve their network minutes.

Wi-fi has been popular with notebook computers, but the technology is still at a nascent stage with mobile phones.

The feature is gradually being made available on more handsets and customers have started to ask for it while making purchases.

“Before, it used to be a neat, add-on feature. Now it’s an absolute must-have,” ABI Research analyst Michael Morgan said. “You have to bring this to the table if you want to have a successful smartphone device.”

It is only recently that carriers have started to trust wi-fi, Morgan said. Initially they viewed it as a competition to their cellular networks, he added.

The wi-fi feature was available on about 55 percent of smartphones shipped in 2009, and that is expected to increase to 65 percent to 70 percent in 2010, Morgan said.

Wi-fi capable smartphones, which received a shot in the arm with the launch of the Apple iPhone, are offered by Nokia, Research in Motion, Motorola, HTC Corp and Samsung Electronics.

Nokia is the leading market-share vendor for dual-mode wi-fi handsets, according to market researcher In-Stat.

While about 12 percent of all mobile handsets had wi-fi capability in 2009, it could be a feature on nearly a third of mobile phones four years from now, figures from In-Stat show.

“We are forecasting about 183 million phones with wi-fi in 2010,” In-Stat analyst Allen Nogee said. The total phone market is expected to be about 1.2 billion for the year.

With the growing market for smartphones, consumption of data on mobile devices is growing significantly, creating a lot of pressure on carrier networks.

Wi-fi in phones is seen as an alternative to core carrier networks, not just helping carriers offload traffic but offering consumers with a cheaper and faster option over third generation or the next generation networks like long term evolution.

“Operators are putting wi-fi in phones to offload some of the traffic from their 3G networks because they are finding that many of the 3G networks are being overloaded with data usage,” analyst Nogee said.

Service providers are also using wi-fi to expand their touchpoints with customers.

“Major service providers provide free wi-fi for their customers at places like McDonald’s and Starbucks,” Dell’Oro Group analyst Loren Shalinsky said.

Apart from accessing the Internet, wi-fi is used to make long distance calls via voice over Internet protocol at lower prices. But 90 percent of wi-fi use on phones is still for data, ABI’s Morgan said.

“Wi-fi offload is certainly an effective strategy for carriers to help manage the capacity demands on their network and it is one of the tools that carriers and handset makers will take advantage of,” Forrester Research analyst Charles Golvin said.

“But it’s not the silver bullet to solve the problem. It’s just one of a number of pieces of the overall solution.”

The market for wi-fi in phones includes not only handset manufacturers and the carrier providers, but also chipmakers and network equipment makers.

Chipmakers like Broadcom, Atheros Communications Inc, Qualcomm Inc and Marvell Technology Group are expected to be among the prime beneficiaries as demand for the technology grows.

Companies like Aruba Networks and NetGear Inc, which sell the access points, will indirectly benefit as more devices that are connected to wi-fi will create more demand for bandwidth carried by the wireless networks. Despite the growth ahead, wi-fi has its drawbacks: integration between cellular and wi-fi networks, poor power efficiency and low awareness that such a feature exists. There are also issues in getting quality signals.

“I think people will use wi-fi in certain situations such as at their homes or in places where wi-fi is available. But wi-fi is not available in many places and probably never will be,” Nogee said.

Resource:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62O4CR20100325

The beta version provides integration of Opera Mini with the Windows Mobile platform. "Opera is able to deliver an optimized version of the popular Opera Mini browser that dramatically improves performance and the overall user experience," a company press release said.

The Opera Mini will work on any Windows Mobile phone, as it does not requires Java.

The Opera Mini 5 beta for Windows Mobile includes the same rich feature set as the Java-based version, the company said. Such features as tabbed browsing, password manager, bookmarks and Speed Dial, are built-in.

One of Opera Mini’s claimed benefits is that it compresses data traffic by up to 90 percent, resulting in significantly improved page-loading and speed. "This results in a dramatically reduced data load, which can translate to lower browsing costs when on a pay-per-MB data plan or when on expensive roaming," the company said.

"Windows Mobile deserves a mobile browser that looks better, handles better and delivers better than the default browser," said Dag Olav Norem, Vice President of Products, Opera Software. "Even though Opera has 50 million satisfied Opera Mini users, we always seek ways to improve our browser for each and every mobile phone user out there. Now, we are pleased to offer the world’s most popular mobile Web browser as a native Windows Mobile application."

Download
Windows Mobile 5 and 6 users can download Opera Mini directly to their phone free from http://m.opera.com/next/ or read more at http://www.opera.com/mini/next/.