App Downloads and Virtual Goods at CES

By Megan Fleet

Anyone with a tablet, smartphone, or is in the vicinity of someone with these devices knows about apps. Downloads of apps on smartphones and tablets are projected to be in the 41 billion range for 2012. With those kinds of numbers, there is some serious cash to be made on the focus and popularity of apps. The industry knows it and these small applications have become all the rage at this year’s CES.  More and more consumer are leveraging the power of unlocked cell phones to choose their preferred service providers and break away from long term service contracts… while customizing their phones with both apps and cell phone accessories of their choice.

The flip side of this is that costs of downloads is ever decreasing with the increase of competition. To counterbalance these declining revenues, players are looking to virtual goods. Already ahead of the curve, both Apple and Android are evolving to inhabit this space. In turn, they will keep customers hooked into their ecosystems and continue to diversify the different kinds of devices and accessories are integrated into consumers’ lives on their platforms.  Experience the mind blowing clarity of XMI Speakers.  Uncompromised sound quality and a revolutionary design accentuating today’s interactive lifestyle.   Our earpieces and headsets combine sophisticated style and precision engineering that deliver brilliant sound for your total listening pleasure

Both Apple and Android own the lion’s share of app downloads to date, but according to Josh Martin, Director of Apps Research at Strategy Analytics, “The introduction of tablets from Amazon and Barnes and Noble and a renewed push for Windows Phone ensure an intensifying battle for the third horse in the apps ecosystem race.” Customers are bound to vote with their wallets and their thumbs with consideration of unlocked devices as well. The industry is changing, becoming more competitive and giving consumers more options of how they receive their data and how they communicate.

Luckily for us customers, this spirited competition is the recipe for lower prices, more choices, and better technology as developers scramble to win us over with must have accessories that make life better and faster speeds. Clearly this is the free market at its best (ignoring carrier exclusivity in this last statement!).

By Megan Fleet

Many pro-business advocates will espouse the virtues of patents and their being upheld with patent law in the free market world. A clear comparison in the schools of thought: free market vs. controlled market is the US vs. China. The latter is known for its corporate espionage, systemic lack of creativity, and lack of respect for the rights of intellectual property. The former sometimes has the opposite problem where obscure patents and a muddy system work against entrepreneurs and fail to promote the sharing of information and technology. Strangely, the proprietary model of Apple and their inclination to sign carrier exclusive deals instead of providing carrier agnostic unlocked cell phones seems counterintuitive to this pro-business strategy they’ve pursued.

With these polar opposites at work in the global corporate world, the HTC / Apple patent infringement case actually made me a smile a bit as it is a rare case of patent law being meted out justly and under the intent of the law. On Monday, the United States International Trade Commission ruled that as of April 19^th, 2012 they will ban the import of certain HTC devices (no word on if any of these patent infringements extend to HTC specific after market phone and mobile accessories.  Leaving your valuable mobile devices unprotected is risky!  Protect your devices from scratches and blemishes with stylish top brand cases and skins accessories.

In response, HTC released this statement to BGR via email “We are gratified that the commission affirmed the judge’s determination on the ‘721 and ‘983 patents, and reversed its decision on the ‘263 patent and partially on the ‘647 patent […] We are very pleased with the determination and we respect it. However, the ‘647 patent is a small UI experience and HTC will completely remove it from all of our phones soon.”   Discover the select accessories, such as, stylus & pens, data cables, batteries, SD micro cards, desktop chargers, earpieces & headsets as well as glider gloves all specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

This is a ruling that was made after the July 16^th decision that determined a violation of two Apple owned patents by HTC. Luckily for the device manufacturer, it appears that they will be able to side step considerable losses in inventory, research & development, and market share by implementing the required changes before the April 2012 deadline.  The latest  trend setting fashionable bags, cases and sleeves accessories express your unique style.  Make your mobile devices stand out.  Customize your look – how cool can you be?

It looks as though we may see national legislation dealing with the use of cell phones while driving this coming year. It’ll probably be tucked into one of the highway bills that will be passed later in the year. This is the speculation coming from the National Safety Council. They have been pushing for cell phone bans while driving much more adamantly.

They are actually looking for a total ban on cell phone use. This includes those using a handheld or even the hands free cell phones. They are basing their recommendations on some of the research that they have been reviewing. They are citing a study by the Harvard Center for risk analysis that says about 6% of accidents can be associated with cell phone use.

With over 270 million mobile phone users, including unlocked cell phones, in the US, it is safe to say that probably over 80% of them use their phones while driving. I do not think that some of these statistics are out of line, but I think that may be the extent of the recommendations of banning cell phone use even if you use a hands-free device such as the Bluetooth headset, is harsh. If we begin to think about how many things we do in the car besides talking on the phone, we may even see legislation banning listening to the radio or talking to somebody in the passenger seat. All of these things can also be very distracting. I certainly agree that texting while you drive is a set up for an accident. I also think that holding the phone while you’re driving is also distracting. But I do know that a hands-free device that allows you to control your calls through voice activation is as safe as changing your radio station.

I am sure that the ban will not include hands-free use, but we should all try to stay on top of the news and to make sure we let our opinions heard. We certainly do not want accidents to be attributed cell phone use, and most certainly are new drivers should not engage in anything that would distract them from properly and safely, learning how to drive. Many of our states have already implemented some form of cell phone ban and the rest of the country will probably soon follow suit. Make sure that you have your Bluetooth or other hands-free devices now before many of the bans are in place.

   As we get closer and are now less then 3 weeks away it is getting down to that time.  America votes on November 4, 2008 and like last week we still have that burning question which cell phones do our leaders use?

   Last week we asked the question about John McCain.  This week we are wondering about Barack Obama himself.  We presume that Barack Obama is more technology friendly then John McCain.  Mr. Obama never stated that he doesn’t know how to use a computer or email.  Also Obama is 25 years younger then McCain at 47 years old.

   Now the question is what kind of cell phone does he use?  Is he a smart phone type or a simple make a call type like with a Razr?  Obama looks like a simple man.  He looks like a man that doesn’t get too tied down by technology, even though he is a big advocate for technology.

  For the answer to this question check back next Tuesday for the answer and for a new entry into our blog and until then why not check out our Bluetooth headsets for a safer driving experience

   With the impending US elections upon us once again it seems everyone is writing about what John McCain and Barack Obama are doing on the campaign trail.  You hear all sorts of stories about the main issues.  Well as a website devoted to everything cell phone we feel that our readers want to know what their leaders are using on the campaign trail.  Do the leaders even use cell phones?  If so which one?  Who’s their provider?  At The Insider we want to answer these questions and more.
   The big news recently, at least cell phone related, on the campaign trail recently was John McCain’s, well his aides claim actually, that he helped invent the Blackberry. The actual words were said by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a top McCain policy adviser, waving his BlackBerry around and talking about McCain’s work as a senator, telling reporters September 16, 2008, “You’re looking at the miracle that John McCain helped create.”
   Now although everyone knows he didn’t help create the Blackberry John McCain has been seen using both a Blackberry and a standard cell phone on the campaign trail.  What we want to know is what Blackberry does Mr. McCain use?  Is it a Bold? Is it a Curve? What about the lovely Pearl?  Before we reveal the answer we want to hear from you our readers. 

   Which Blackberry do you think John McCain uses?  We will reveal the answer on Thursday October 16, 2008.  In the meantime if you need some help check out our Blackberry page for the list of Blackberry phones.  You can find the page here