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| 12/27/2011 2:41:05 PM |
| Android Devices Cost Billions In Repairs To Carriers Says Industry Analyst |
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Wireless Dat Service (WDS) released a study that found Android devices costing wireless carriers billions in repairs 'as they try to evolve their customer service strategies to keep pace with the rapidly growing ecosystem.' WDS teams around the world conducted a study over the past year analyzing over 600,000 customer service calls. The study, entitled Controlling the Android, revealed the potential downside to the rapid adoption of Google's Android operating system across numerous wireless manufacturers and carriers alike.
WDS found that hardware failures among Android devices were more common than that of iPhone and Blackberry devices, most likely due to the sheer volume of phones across all makes running Google's operating system. As opposed to Android's open-source software, Apple and RIM's operating systems are developed in-house, allowing more control over user error.
Many Android devices are in fact low-end to appeal to consumers not wanting to spend money on super-smartphones with the latest technologies. Google's reach across manufacturers and consumers with Android allows for installation on low- and high-end devices. Not all manufacturers guarantee that their devices will get the latest iteration of Android, such as the upcoming 'Ice Cream Sandwich' update.
The result? Angry phone calls from consumers to wireless carriers and manufacturers asking why their hardware can't keep up with the latest technologies, thus prompting customer service departments to revamp their systems and spend even more funds to appeal to such inquiries, on top of other hardware failures. If these customers get too angry, they may take their business elsewhere. Newer low-end operating systems, as seen with Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' may become an increasingly appealing choice for these customers.
However, Google's widespread reach with Android devices has been their key success, with Mobiledia stating the following: 'This widespread availability gives Android an advantage, helping it launch devices powered by the OS into the top spot in the competitive smartphone market. Earlier this year, Google announced over 500,000 Android devices are activated daily.'
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| 12/13/2011 4:24:52 PM |
| Curious About Mobile Payments? Start With $10 in your Google Wallet |
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Google has opted to give customers $10 if they use Google Wallet to experience paying everyday vendors with one's smartphone. Due to lackluster adoption rates, Google is ramping up its Hamiltonian promotion for its mobile payment service at select stores across five major US cities and at participating merchants such as Walgreens, Jamba Juice, Footlocker, and Peet's Coffee & Tea.
Do you live in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C.? Between now and January 12, Google, Sprint, and Samsung representatives will hold demos at the aforementioned franchises (and other locations to be determined) to demonstrate Google Wallet on Samsung Nexus S demo phones.
'We're excited to give you a chance to try out Google Wallet and experience paying with a mobile phone,' said Google in their official blog.
Google's limited release of Google Wallet on Samsung Nexus S phones using the Sprint network has resulted in less than ideal adoption rates for the corporation. Google Wallet terminals are only available at a limited number of Google-partnered merchants in an even more limited number of cities-- another reason why people most likely haven't even seen the service in action.
Mobiledia reports on a few more downsides to Google Wallet. 'Wallet is also limited in that it supports just two payment methods, Citi MasterCard and Google pre-paid cards. Rival mobile payment companies Square and PayPal, which don't use NFC technology in their systems, allow all major credit cards, putting Wallet at a possible disadvantage. But the search giant reported licensing Visa's PayWave, which would let Wallet work at thousands of payment terminals already equipped with Visa technology. Google also says it has plans to bring Visa, Discover and American Express on board in the future.'
By having live demos coupled with the rise of NFC-equipped phones released in the near future, Google may find more potential customers as their demos commence throughout the holiday season. In addition to this, Google's partnerships with more and more established services will help to spread adoption of Google Wallet and other NFC services.
The NFC Forum, an industry group for the promotion of NFC technologies, has recently gained support from Isis, a coalition of credit card companies, carriers, and smartphone manufacturers. With more major corporations within the industry promoting mobile payments, it is still to early to tell the future of Google Wallet. Standardization of NFC technology by these groups may result in adoption of NFC-enabled payment terminals at more and more vendors.
Looking for Samsung Google Nexus S cell phone accessories? While you wait for Google Wallet to come to your city, PhoneSale is your place for Samsung cellphone accessories and other cheap cell phone accessories at warehouse pricing!
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| 12/9/2011 6:30:36 PM |
| Despite Legal Woes, HTC Attempts to Lure iPhone Customers with Record Q3 2011 Earnings |
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As HTC phones become more popular stateside, the handset manufacturer aims to lure iPhone customers and other potential smartphone shoppers with a 70% spike in shipments, as cited by the company's third quarter earnings. Despite a recent loss in the heated Apple Patent Cases, the 'Tiny Giant' of a phonemaker isn't doing so bad in the numbers that count.
'Here in the States, Taiwan's own HTC is pulling rank; the aforesaid handset maker edged out Apple and Samsung by shipping 5.7 million smartphones,' says Engadget in regards with the spike in HTC device shipments.
Mobiledia cites HTC's successes as a result of the company moving to differentiate its offerings with other Android-based smartphones as well as to lure potential iPhone customers as those waiting for Apple's latest 4S device are experiencing the expected wait times as seen with other iPhone launches. 'HTC pumped eight new smartphones into the market during the third quarter, putting new offerings in front of eager customers who had grown tired of waiting for the iPhone 4S.'
HTC is also trying to be more self-reliant and more of a namesake outside of 'yet another Android phone manufacturer.' One-third of the third quarter sales was attributed to the sale of Windows phones, with the latest 'Mango' operating system update offering future support that may switch potential iPhone customers to Windows Phone-based HTC devices.
HTC also signed content deals akin to what's seen with the likes of similar wireless corporations. HTC announced deals with competative streaming services, such as video streaming by Saffron and Onlive mobile gaming. Onlive, for example, could be in direct competition with the XBOX Live services that Microsoft will release in the near future for Windows Phones. In addition to the above, HTC has also partnered with the NFC forum, furthering HTC's plan to deliver high-end features with their devices off the bat with NFC-embedded phones not yet experienced by iPhone customers.
HTC, like Samsung and many others involved in the wireless industry, has been in legal bouts with Apple over patents. As the appeal of other potential smartphones such as HTC's EVO 3D pull iPhone customers away from Apple's coffers, HTC continues to make a name for itself by any (legal) means necessary.
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