Smartphones

LTE users to hit 1 billion by 2016, says report

The rise in worldwide subscribers on 4G LTE has far exceeded expectations. In just three years since its nascent beginnings, the mobile technology has skyrocketed -- going from 600,000 users in 2010 to nearly 100 million subscribers in 2012.

Now, in a new report, market research firm IHS iSuppli is projecting that global users will double in 2013 and that by 2016 LTE will claim more than 1 billion subscribers.

"With LTE emerging as a true global technology standard, its ecosystem now faces both challenges and opportunities," iSuppli's senior analyst for wireless communications, Wayne Lam, said … Read more

How Korea's other phonemaker sells good, cheap phones

One of my favorite smartphones on today's market also happens to be one of the least expensive. It costs just $50, runs Android, boasts a rapid-fire processor and a 12.6-megapixel camera, and offers up some ergonomic design elements you won't see anywhere else.

Who makes this humble wonder device? I'll give you a hint: the Korean phonemaker isn't Samsung, or even Sammy's compatriot rival, LG. Instead, credit for the Discover goes to Pantech, the country's third-largest handset maker.

Although less well-known in the U.S., Pantech has managed to achieve some important milestones … Read more

More Google Motorola 'X Phone' details emerge

Google will announce the rumored Motorola X Phone at its annual Google I/O conference in May, according to the latest round of rumors.

A 600-page forum thread picked up by Droid Life spills a number of new details for the forthcoming Google and Motorola initiative.

Although the X Phone, as it's known now, may make its formal debut in mid-May at the developer conference, the handset isn't expected to arrive until July 8.

The Android smartphone will be reportedly offered on "all carriers," though it isn't clear if this simply means the big four … Read more

Apple's Chinese New Year sale hits Jan. 25 -- but only in Asia

Apple will kick off its Chinese New Year sale Friday, giving customers in the key Asia market access to discounts as part of its effort to attract buyers in the fast-growing region.

The sale will last from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 25 and will take place in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan.

Apple already has introduced a Chinese New Year gift guide, but it's unclear what discounts it will offer Friday. Deals in the past included 8 percent off iPads and 10 percent off iPod Touches, as … Read more

iPhone to shed market share this quarter, says analyst

The iPhone may be in store for a tough quarter, according to one analyst.

Apple will give up some of its smartphone market share in the March quarter, "raising concern about the on-going dominance of the iPhone," Citi analyst Glen Yeung said in an investors note out today. He cited strong demand for Samsung devices as the reason.

Recent reports say that Apple slashed iPhone 5 component orders for the current quarter, triggering concerns that demand for the flagship phone has diminished. Several analysts believe such concerns are overblown, instead attributing the cuts to improved manufacturing yields for … Read more

iPhone wins 51 percent of U.S. smartphone sales, says report

Apple's iOS continues to outshine Android, at least in the United States, according to data released today by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

For the final quarter of 2012, the iPhone won 51.2 percent of all U.S. smartphone sales. In second place, Android soaked up around 44.8 percent of U.S. sales, leaving Microsoft's Windows Phone with 2.6 percent.

Apple's flagship platform also scored well in Japan, proving tops among two-thirds of Japanese smartphone buyers.

"Apple's continual improvement is thanks to both the iPhone 5 and older models attracting various customer groups, from … Read more

GeeksPhone reveals Firefox OS phones for developers

A small Spanish startup called GeeksPhone has started selling phones that let developers get a taste of Mozilla's new Firefox OS.

GeeksPhone announced two 3G phones for the browser-based operating system, the lower-end Keon and higher-end Peak. The phones, while geared for programmers rather than mainstream customers, make Mozilla's open-source mobile OS a lot more real, since programmers will be able to develop apps as well as to debug and advance the underlying operating system.

Firefox OS is Mozilla's ambitious attempt to build an operating system that brings more openness to the walled gardens of Apple's … Read more

Samsung mobile head confirms 8-inch Galaxy Note

An 8-inch Samsung Galaxy Note no longer exists solely in the realm of unicorns and Apple TVs. A Korean news site is reporting that Samsung mobile honcho JK Shin has confirmed plans to release a midsize version of the tablet.

Samsung's game plan of late seems to be to cover all bases, with a wide array of smartphones and tablets that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and price points. An 8-inch Galaxy Note to continue the trend could debut at February's Mobile World Congress.… Read more

NFC: Not just for mobile payments anymore

Move over, mobile payments. NFC is finding other ways to make itself useful.

In fact, paying for items with one's phone seems to be the least common use for the close-range connectivity technology right now, at least based on gadgets unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show. Rather, essentially all products using NFC shown at the recent confab employed the technology in one of two ways: To set up a sort of digital handshake between a mobile device and another gadget or as a way to share information between products with just a tap.

"NFC really simplifies things," … Read more

Prizefight: Nokia Lumia 920 vs. HTC Windows Phone 8X

It's the first time for Windows Phone 8 to step into the Prizefight ring, and we're comparing the top two competitors with Nokia's Lumia 920 and HTC's Windows Phone 8X.

The Nokia Lumia 920 brings wireless charging and a modern pop art-style design with its big bold screen. The HTC Windows Phone 8X brings a sleeker design with built-in Beats audio technology.

Who takes Windows Phone 8 to the next level? It's a face-off between Nokia and HTC for Prizefight supremacy. Which phone is your Prizefight champion? Cast your vote!