Archive for October, 2010

As HTC is preparing to deliver its Q3 financial results on October 29 and a forecast for the subsequent quarter, we learn that the corporate has set a shipment target of 8.5 million units in Q4 2010. Revenues are expected to grow 20% sequentially, reaching $2.93-3 billion and shutting in to the ten% market share, in accordance with industry sources.

With new Android models just like the Desire HD and Desire Z, plus at the very least 4 Windows Phone 7 smartphones (Surround, Mozart, Trophy, HD7), HTC is determined to damage records over the following quarter. However, shortages of components have made the predictions of future shipments lower, regardless of the market expectations of 9-10 million units over a higher 3 months.

Meanwhile, so far as we all know, HTC shipped 7 million handsets in Q3, reaching a 9% market share and ranking fourth globally.

Via : GsmDome

Nokia has just announced the Mobile TV Headset (its first of this type, as far as I know), which receives DVB-H signal as a way to ” turn your mobile device into a conveyable television” while not having a web connection.

Of course, DBV-H is just not available everywhere, but there is coverage in countries like the Netherlands, Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Finland (Helsinki) and India (New Delhi).

The Mobile TV Headset (which features dedicated keys for changing channels, in addition as music controls) is compatible only with Symbian^3 smartphones. Yes, there aren’t any Symbian^3 smartphones available yet, but by the time the headset hits the market, there will probably be ( the N8 is coming at the tip of this month ).

Nokia says that the Mobile TV Headset might be available within the fourth quarter of the year. Its price before taxes must be around €40 ($51).

Via Nokia

Nokia has started searching for a new CEO since July, and now the company has finally found one.

The really interesting part about it is that the most recent CEO seriously isn’t from Finland, and not even from Europe. He’s Stephen Elop, a Canadian-born computer engineer who, formerly, was President of Microsoft’s Business Division.

As Microsoft puts it , the Business Division and Stephen Elop were ” chargeable for the Microsoft Office system of programs, servers and software-based services, Microsoft Dynamics, business applications for small and midsize businesses, large organizations and divisions of worldwide enterprises and Microsoft’s Unified Communications, products that offer complete software-based communications tools to business.”

Before Microsoft, Stephen Elop worked in top positions at Adobe Systems, Macromedia, Juniper Networks, and even a firm called Boston Chicken, Inc. (don’t be fooled by the name, the company activated inside the computer networking industry).

At Nokia, Elop shall be Chief Executive Officer starting September 21. The company’s current CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, might be released from function on September 20 – he’ll, however, ” continue to chair the Board of Nokia Siemens Networks in a non-executive capacity”.

OPK will receive severance payment and target incentive of about €4.6 million, plus ” the fair market value of 100,000 restricted Nokia shares.” I assume he won’t be too upset about all this, right?

Jorma Ollila, Chairman of the Nokia Board of Directors, justifies the naming of the brand new CEO this fashion:

“The time is true to accelerate the company’s renewal; to usher in new executive leadership with different skills and strengths as a way to drive company success. The Nokia Board believes that Stephen has the best industry experience and leadership skills to appreciate the entire potential of Nokia. His strong software background and proven record in change management can be valuable assets as we press harder to finish the transformation of the company. We believe that Stephen can be ready to drive both innovation and efficient execution of the company strategy with a purpose to deliver increased value to our shareholders.”

(not can we see Stephen Elop presenting Microsoft events, like within the photo above)

It’s really early to claim what the brand new CEO can bring to Nokia, but the company’s Board of Directors seems quite confident that he’s going to get the job done better than Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. Will he regain lost market share? Will he bring a new game-changing smartphone, like the N95 was back in its days? Let’s wait and  find out.

Via Press release

European retailer Germanos will launch two new dual SIM Motorola phones in October: Motorola EX115 and Motorola EX128.

Both handsets are unannounced, and they’re the first dual SIM Motorola devices to be available in Europe.

Germanos Romania says that the EX128 and EX115 can be launched on October 18.

Customers can already pre-order the two phones online, here and here .

The Motorola EX128 is a touchscreen handset so one can cost about €120 ($150). The Motorola EX115 has an average display and an entire QWERTY keyboard, and may cost only about €95 ($120).

According to CelularCafe , the Moto EX115 is usually called EX112, and it’d be available in Brazil, too, featuring GSM/GPRS, Bluetooth 2.1, 3.5mm headset jack, and a 3MP camera.

With Nokia , Pantech , and now Motorola entering the dual SIM phone market, Samsung could have some serious competition – although, for a long time as a minimum, it’s going to still be an important dual SIM handset maker (it has launched more than 10 models earlier).

Three days after Nokia announced it has replaced CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo with ex-Microsoft man Stephen Elop, the Finnish giant has unveiled that it’s changing its head of Mobile Solutions, too.

Anssi Vanjoki took over Nokia’s Mobile Solutions back in May, saying this was “the most exciting jobs inside the business”, and promising to get “Nokia back to being no 1 in high-end devices.” Now, lower than five months after, he announced he’s resigning, although he has a ” six months notice period and he’s going to continue in his current tasks for the time being” – this can allow Nokia to go looking for someone to interchange Anssi.

Anssi Vanjoki motivates his choice by saying:

“I felt the time has come to seek new opportunities in my life. Collectively, I am one hundred per cent committed to doing my best for Nokia until my very last working day. I am also really waiting for this year’s Nokia World and sharing news about exciting new devices and solutions.”

Nokia World is starting tomorrow and, as mentioned before, it’s the place where the Nokia E7 shall be unveiled as the company’s second Symbian^ smartphone.

Anssi Vanjoki mentioned ” new devices”, so there will be a minimum of another handset announced alongside the E7. Maybe the MeeGo-based N9 ? I don’t think so, but let’s wait and notice.

I don’t know who will replace Anssi Vanjoki, but some thing is definite: things are changing at Nokia. Let’s hope it’s for the easier.

Via Nokia