By Aldo Panessidi

With the announcements at the recent CES – one has to wonder – what is 2012 the year of?” Will it be SmartTVs?  Perhaps it’s the year of the interactive technology?  Or maybe it is 4G LTE smartphones that will steal the spotlight this year. As of this early date, it is Android devices that look to have the competitive advantage this year. It very well could be a great opportunity to win over mind and market share, but they need to leverage the lead before Research In Motion (Blackberry)  and Apple bring their own 4G LTE devices to market later this year.

What kind of growth are we looking at? According to DigiTimes who published 2012 estimates, Monday, they are anticipating between 4% and 5% of smartphones shipped this year will be 4G LTE capable. When reviewing their sources it is really clear that Android manufacturers are months ahead of the competition. Samsung, LG, Pantech, Motorola Mobility and HTC were named as industry players that will be launching 4G LTE handsets.

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Depending on how quickly Apple and RIM work and how effective their messaging is, the gap could be quickly closed and the opportunity lost. More specifically, there is buzz around Apple’s to-be-released products this year, the iPhone 5 and iPad 3, which based on rumor will be 4G LTE capable.

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One point this writer would like clarified is what the ramifications of this technology coupled with the race to get smartphones with the capability to  use it will be.   Will the current trend continue  pattern of “sign long-term contract with service provider, get free smartphone”?    Or will we be able to break free from this carrier imposed yoke with unlocked cell phones that will empower us to choose our preferred service provider and negotiate a service contract that best meets our interactive needs at the right price!

Only time will tell what the implications will be. At the moment, 4G LTE has not been well-explained to the public and is potentially cost inhibitive. So, without a little tweaking it may turn out to not be the year of the 4G LTE network after all.

By John Castell

Anyone who followed the Consumer Electronics Show knows that Nokia is making some serious moves to win business and mindshare in the United States this year. The company has moved lightning fast since signing agreements with Microsoft last year with Nokia Lumia cell phones winning some great nods of approval.

Based on the announcement that Nokia will be launching its first Window mobile OS smartphone with T-Mobile in the United States, which will allow Nokia to extend market breadth and reach wider consumer base. Noted as an important part of their strategy, the next few months of product releases and announcements are bound to keep the good press rolling.

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While it does not have quite the jaw-dropping specs and capabilities as their flagship Lumia 900, which will be launching with AT&T in March…  the Nokia 710 smartphone will be available for $50.  Walmart will have it available for free with a service contract.  This will further expand Nokia’s to capture the consumers that want transition from their current feature phone to a smartphone. With these incredible deals, customers have more funds to accessorize their new handset with accessories such as; stylus & pens, micro SD memory cards, batteries, docking stations, Bluetooth headsets, data cables and glider gloves all specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

But what will customers get with this phone? To start, it is 4G capable with a great scratch-resistant ClearBlack screen that makes for easier outdoor viewing.  Browsing is made snappy with a Snapdragon processor and makes uploading photos taken from the 5 megapixel camera a breeze (and Nokia has some impressive camera technology at work). Even gamers will be satisfied with the interactive gaming experience through Xbox Live.  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.

While we can’t write to the accessory options available at Walmart or T-Mobile to accompany this purchase, there are an incredible number of peripheral devices and accessories to peruse online. And if you want a Nokia phone without being tied to a carrier, we will keep you posted on any unlocked options coming down the pipeline!

By Megan Fleet

Let’s be honest, the latest hero device from the Nokia cell phone line-up, the Lumia 900 wowed spectators  at the CES. From the keynote Microsoft address that showed an impressed audience the fruits of its partnership with Nokia and how the device works with Microsoft peripheral devices like the Xbox. The stellar performance of the Nokia Lumia 900 was duly recognized by CNET which named the smartphone as its category winner at the 2012 CES.

The move from Symbian to Windows mobile OS and the added bonus of BlueStack’s technology which will bring Android apps to those customers has sparked excitement and hope into both Nokia and Microsoft that 2012 will bring a 180 degree shift in sales and market share.

What is better news is that the vague announcement that the Nokia Lumia 900 will be available in “the next few months” may be whittled down to a more accurate date if the rumor mill is based in any kind of truth. Even more reliable is that the March 18^th date is being bandied about by Windows gurus Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley. These two “all about Windows” people came together to work on TWiT and discuss March as the release month in the latest Nokia developer newsletter.

Mister Thurrott is apparently not one for vagueness by making it clear that the Nokia Lumia 900 will be released precisely on March 18^th. Hopefully his crystal ball or tea leaves are accurate as anxious customers are bound to seek out this sleek unlocked cell phone as soon as possible.

Surely the smartphone manufacturer will make more accurate announcements that will include date of availability, the cost, and start touting more of the peripheral accessories that will heighten the handset’s popularity and longevity in a fickle, competitive and ever changing mobile tech market.

By Megan Fleet

Ah, Nokia – you are fast becoming a breath of fresh air! Sure, dumping Symbian for Windows as a mobile OS was a little harsh, but who can’t see the vividly dramatic humor in that? So in this week of consumer tech euphoria, what did Nokia dish out? A little love to its prospective customers in the United States: the first Nokia cell phone, the Lumia 900 4G LTE which was designed specifically with the US in mind. 

Let’s be honest – this is a striking phone. Not only does it have a 4.3 inch Clearblack AMOLED display, the polycarbonate shell (available in cyan and black) is indeed both “bold and beautiful.” As this device was designed with the States in mind and is sporting Nokia’s new mobile OS alliance, Windows, it is no surprise that this model will be exclusive to AT&T when it is released. Unfortunately for customers tied to other network carriers, this smartphone is not to be released unlocked.  Let our  trend setting fashionable cases and skin accessories express your unique style.  Make your mobile devices stand out.  Customize your look – how cool can you be?

The inner workings and benefits of the Windows OS (People Hub, Live tiles etc) will override some customer concerns about the exclusivity with AT&T. Sporting 4G speed, a long lasting 1830 mAh battery, a typical 16GB of storage (and for flexible storage options, supplementary memory cards are an option) and a 8MP camera, this device may well be the preference for AT&T customers considering the “aggressive pricing” we are being advise to anticipate when the Lumia 900 is made available later this year.  Discover an extensive selection of the latest lithium technology replacement cell phone and wireless devices batteries.  Ensure your device is powered by brand name batteries for longer operating life.

I will say that the mobile app to connect to AT&T’s U-Verse as a remote is pretty darn neat. As is the Nokia Drive app to give customers free GPS capabilities. For gamers, rock a great set of headphones or ear pieces and soak in some bragging rights. Nokia’s partnership with EA will bring over 20 of the most popular games to the Windows Phone marketplace. Of course, the Nokia Lumia devices will be the first to benefit from this liaison.  Enhance your mobility and turn your device into a power tool!  Discover select accessories such as; stylus & pens, micro SD memory cards, batteries, docking stations, Bluetooth headsets, data cables and glider gloves all specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

With a great start to 2012, Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of devices for AT&T surmised the year’s goals beautifully: “Together, we are working to supercharge the ecosystem around the Nokia Lumia 900 and the Windows Phone platform.”

By Aldo Panessidi

The CES extravaganza comes to an end today.   Many new and upcoming companies vied to showcase breakthrough products and technology this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV.  Like any successful mall, this convention has its premier companies at the show – like Microsoft.  Discover the convenience of online shopping at renowned retailers such as Pure Mobile – your one stop shop for cell phone and mobile device accessories.  PureMobile has an accessory solution for every lifestyle…. This is personal. This is you. This is Shopping Simplified.

In fact, it was in 1995 that Microsoft founder, Bill Gates first spoke at a CES workshop – at the Hilton. Addressing a small workshop of people, Gates told his freshman audience that the consumer electronics revolution would be social. In turn, the CES and Microsoft have had a symbiotic relationship and turned the event into a tech maelstrom quite unlike anything else.  Leaving your valuable mobile devices unprotected is risky!  Discover the latest innovative protection solutions… stylish top brand bags, sleeves and cases specifically designed to protect your devices from scratches and blemishes.  Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside these brand name protection accessories combine complete device coverage with sleek artistic expression.

Alas, all good things must come to an end. Or at least to a pause. In Microsoft’s keynote speech which was delivered by the charismatic CEO, Steve Ballmer, wherein he  announced that in the foreseeable future Microsoft would not be attending the CES event. This certainly captured the audience’s attention. Ballmer followed up with an interview with the one-and-only Ryan Seacrest where they began reviewing Microsoft’s 2012 line.  As a well-known radio personality, Ryan Seacrest enjoys accessories that deliver high quality audio.   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.

The Windows Phone 7 and how it flips the focus to the consumer by making it people centric (i.e. the vision behind their smartphone’s mobile platform creation). Showing their strength in not only manufacturing their own device, but also integrating the OS with other phone manufacturers, the audience got a peek at Nokia cell phone line up which includes Lumia 710 and Lumia 800.

This has the whispers of “unlocked cell phone” to their smartphone strategy. The degree that Google Android has employed this has been a factor in its swift global growth. In pairing with other vendors and letting its mobile OS win over customers in conjunction with unlocked devices, they have a greater chance of catching up on some major market shares.

The presentation continued into ASUS tablets and then into the very exciting Xbox / Kinect technology. Interactive, they have touched on another love of consumers: streamlining devices and gaining meaningful, real world technology. The Kinect can be used as an accessory of sorts to the Lumia 900 (or perhaps the other way around?!). The demos were seriously cool and would challenge even the most dedicated Luddite to play and marvel.

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 Adhurim Murtezai

The Consumer Electronics Show this week in Vegas is shaping up to be a great soapbox for reintroducing the feature phone king, Nokia, to the global competitive stage of smartphones. Beginning with an agreement with Microsoft last year, the Finnish company is placing its initial bets on the United States market and its partnership with Microsoft.

During Nokia’s press conference at CES, the audience was treated to more news about the Nokia line up of smartphones. Also mentioned is how the Windows mobile OS pairs with Nokia specific apps for a top notch customer experience. To top off the conference, there was a glimpse of the AT&T exclusive partnership in store for US customers (looks as though at least the Lumia 900 will not be unlocked).

As the Lumia 900 will be its flagship 4G LTE phone in the US, this is not surprising. The flip side is that the Lumia 710 launched with T-Mobile last year may now be fair game to be made available as an unlocked device to appease customers who prefer to choose their carrier and their smartphone.  Leaving your valuable mobile devices unprotected is risky!  Discover the latest innovative protection solutions… stylish top brand bags, sleeves and cases specifically designed to protect your devices from scratches and blemishes.  Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside these brand name protection accessories combine complete device coverage with sleek artistic expression.

What’s really interesting is the pairing with Microsoft. The Windows Phone has not had an easy time of penetrating markets and neither has the ASUS tablet. But Microsoft isn’t a phone company per se. With a partnership between two companies that excel at what they do and have global brand recognition, 2012 could shape up to truly be Nokia / Microsoft’s year in consumer electronics. And, with the huge market shares of Windows Office there is great potential for business to business sales of smartphones (an audience member did inquire on a rumored RIM acquisition).

Enhance your mobility and turn your device into a power tool!  Discover select accessories such as; stylus & pens, micro SD memory cards, batteries, docking stations, Bluetooth headsets, data cables and glider gloves all specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

Jumping ahead to the use of the Lumia 900 as a remote for the Kinect technology for Xbox, the streamlining and integration potential of these two companies looks poised to seriously compete in the home, in the car (thank you, Nokia Drive), and in the office. Throw in a solid punch with those peripheral tech devices and accessories that make this kind of technology so much more meaningful in the real world, and we may have a great year of competition and innovation between Nokia / Microsoft, Google Android and Apple!

By Megan Fleet

Aptly named, Samsung’s event at the Consumer Electronics Show is “Pushing Boundaries.” Based on the successes of Samsung the past few years across the electronics industry, their breakout performance on the Android platform in the smartphone market is really no surprise as they really do continue to push the envelope of development.  Enhance your mobility and turn your device into a power tool! Discover select accessories, such as stylus & pens, SD Micro memory cards, batteries, speakers and glider gloves all specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

Taking a comprehensive approach, Samsung is looking to truly transform the user’s world with technology that ranges from their SmartTVs to a Smart washing machine. Seriously. The Samsung Galaxy tablets and Samsung Galaxy S II X cell phone will be ever more integrated into home life and interactive with home appliances and televisions.

But as this is the Consumer Electronics Show, what devices are we to be treated with in 2012 that we can hold in our hot little hands? First on the table is the Galaxy Note which is to be initially launched with AT&T and which will likely go toe-to-toe with the Nokia Lumia 900 as the LTE choice.  What kind of wait does this means for customers to get unlocked cell phones is unknown, but this Android darling is not one to disappoint.

What will set this smartphone apart is the Super AMOLED HD display and Samsung’s latest stylus technology, the “S Pen”.  What is neat about this stylus is that it actually reads pressure. The harder you press on it, the thicker the line will appear. This particular technology has this writer very curious to see what other applications and accessories will dovetail customer needs in the coming months. No doubt this stylus and screen technology will be brought to the Samsung tablet and the Smart TV.

And last on our recap is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE. With the popularity of the Galaxy family of smartphones, the company’s tablet offerings have been closely watched by Android fans, and this beauty should not disappoint. It will initially be a Verizon Wireless exclusive with 4G LTE support. When considering the plays made with device manufacturers and carriers in the US market, this is a smart move to reach AT&T customers with the LTE Galaxy Note and then Verizon fans with the 4G LTE Galaxy Tab 7.7.

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2012 is shaping up to be another stellar year!

By Aldo Panessidi

The world’s greatest tech show – CES 2012 – kicked off on Monday,  January 9th… and will run until Friday January 13th.

With more than four decades of success, the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) reaches across global markets, connects the industry and enables CE innovations to grow and thrive.   The show is produced by Consumer electronic Association, the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $186 billion U.S. consumer technology industry. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of consumer electronics products. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

This year’s show is held at the Hilton Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas and will cover more than 1.8 million square feet which is equivalent to 35 American football fields with over 2700 exhibitors and close to 200,000 attendees from across the globe.

Most of the leading smartphone and wireless mobile device (such as tablets) manufacturers and vendors will be unveiling their latest product and technology.  In the same breath, these manufacturers will be showcasing their latest in innovative protection solutions… … stylish top brand bags, sleeves and cases specifically designed to protect your devices from scratches and blemishes.  Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside these brand name protection accessories combine complete device coverage with sleek artistic expression.

The following capture the most important CES smartphone and wireless mobile device news and product video overview:

	LTE-packing Nokia Lumia 900 is finally official, exclusive to AT&T HTC Titan II vs. Nokia Lumia 900 vs. Samsung Focus S – the ultimate WP showdown [TABLE]  Nokia Lumia 900 – specs • hands-on
	New Samsung Series 9 ultrabook comes in 13.3″ and 15″ versions, the small one weighs just 1.16kg Samsung and AT&T unveil Note, Skyrocket HD and Exhilarate Android-powered webcam-like device, the Samsung inTouch, adds Smart TV magic to your boring HDTV Sprint unveils Samsung Galaxy Nexus LTE Verizon debuts Galaxy Tab LTE   Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE- specs • hands-on • second hands-on AT&T Galaxy Note LTE – specs • hands-on • second hands-on Samsung Skyrocket HD – specs Samsung Exhilarate – specs Samsung Galaxy Nexus LTE – specs
	Sony Ericsson LiveView successor spotted at CES, announcement seems imminent The Sony Xperia ion coming to AT&T in Q2 2012 Sony announces Xperia S with a 12MP camera and HD screen  Sony Xperia ion – specs • hands-on Sony Xperia S – specs • hands-on
	LG brings a ton of new HDTV stuff to CES, 3D is everywhere, and there’s a motion-controlled remote with voice input LG Spectrum goes official, joins the Verizon LTE gang on Jan 19 Sprint unveils LG Viper  LG Viper- specs LG Spectrum – specs • hands-on
	HTC Titan II vs. Nokia Lumia 900 vs. Samsung Focus S – the ultimate WP showdown [TABLE] LTE HTC Titan II with 16 MP camera revealed, heads for AT&T HTC Titan II - specs • hands-on • camera samples
	Acer announces Aspire S5 and Aspire Timeline Ultra Ultrabooks, claims the former to be the world’s thinnest Acer showcases the new Iconia Tab A700, comes with a quad-core processor and a full HD display
	Verizon announces several Droid RAZRs  Motorola RAZR MAXX – specs • hands-on Motorola Droid 4 - specs • hands-on
	Lenovo continues CES invasion with IdeaCentre B-series all-in-ones and refreshed desktops Lenovo announces IdeaPad S200 and IdeaPad S206 netbooks, will launch in June Lenovo IdeaPad U310 and U410 new Ultrabook laptops get under the spotlight Lenovo unveils Ideapad S2, the S2 smartphone and K91 TV
	Huawei Ascend P1 and Ascend P1 S droid beasts announced  Huawei Ascend P1 – specs • hands-on Huawei Ascend P1 S – specs • hands-on
Misc	Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update starts rolling out for the ASUS Transformer Prime ASUS and NVidia CEOs show a 7-inch Tegra 3-powered tablet with ICS for $249 Gigabyte keeps Atom dream alive with Cedar Trail powered T1006M convertibe netbook and tablet, Windows 7 on board In case of emergency: The new SpareOne mobile phone promises to hold its charge for up to 15 years Fujitsu showcases quad-core Tegra 3 smartphone at CES Parrot shows AR.Drone 2.0 at CES – now with 720p video recording, easy sharing and sturdier hardware OCZ Lightfoot SSD boasts Thunderbolt connectivity, speeds beyond belief Canon PowerShot G1 X is a 14MP compact with a DSLR-sized 4:3 image sensor • Canon G1 X hands-on Fujifilm announced rangefinder-style, mirrorless X-Pro1 camera, to cost $1,700 at launch SanDisk unveils the world’s fastest SDXC card, promises write speeds of up to 45MB/sToshiba showcase three mysterious tablets at CES and tell us nothing about them Razer reveals Project Fiona, a tablet with controllers attached to it running on a Core i7 and Windows 8

Many thanks to GSM Arena for the above references and links.

By  Aldo Panessidi

A new report from industry luminary ABI Research indicates that more than 50% of all unlocked cell phones will be capable of running on 4G or 3G data networks.  Jake Saunders, VP of Forecasting for ABI Research suggests that . “As the festive cheer of the holiday season dies away, the mood among handset vendors remains quietly confident regarding 2012.   The outlook will yield growth in the order of 8%, netting 1.67 billion handsets shipped worldwide by the end of 2012. Particularly notable is for the first time, 3G and 4G handset shipments will capture more than 50% of total handsets shipped.”  The consumer’s appetite for  high end mobile devices will also drive the after sales cell phone and tablet accessories market.

Leaving your valuable mobile devices unprotected is risky!  Discover the latest innovative protection solutions… stylish top brand bags, sleeves and cases specifically designed to protect your devices from scratches and blemishes.  Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside these brand name protection accessories combine complete device coverage with sleek artistic expression.

In an earlier report ABI Research identified the worldwide after-market wireless devices accessories sales increasing to more than $50 Billion by 2015.  Key accessory market indicators were identified as:

Protective Solutions – Bags, Sleeves, Cases and Screen Protectors – $1.2 billion

Hands Free Solution – BlueTooth Headsets and BlueTotth Car Kits – $920 million

Power Solutions – Desktop Chargers, Car Chargers, Wall Chargers, Batteries – $766 million

Memory Solutions – Micro SD Cards and Data Cables – $529 million

Personalization Solutions – Cases & Skins – $520 million

Audio Solutions – Speakers, Earpieces & Headsets – $308 million

In the second half of 2011, top tier mobile device vendors unleashed marketing promotions targeting the upward mobile market audience in emerging smartphone and table markets.   Samsung, used clever ads downgrading Apple users while extolling the benefits of the Galaxy S II X phones and Galaxy Tablet lines of business to make substantial inroads  into these market spaces. Apple is expanding sales channels in emerging markets, with greater success in China than it’s having in India, but is also targeting South American markets such as Brazil. HTC is gaining traction in China, but developed markets such as North America and Europe continue to be the mainstay of its “ship into” markets. RIM, despite its weakness in apps-capable smartphone markets, continues to do well in messaging-centric emerging markets such as Indonesia. Nokia hopes to benefit from Windows Phone 7 Lumia series launches in India (Dec-2011) and China (in 1Q-2012).