Handset Update Jan 2009

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New & Upcoming Handsets:

Acer Smartphone: DX 900 handset will be a Windows Mobile with dual-SIM support, 3G, GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity, a 2.8-inch TFT touch screen and 3 megapixel autofocus snapper. There is no official announcement of the Acer DX900 just yet, but we expect that to happen in mid-February at the Mobile World Congress.

Toshiba TG01: The TG01 will be the first mobile handset to incorporate the 1GHz snapdragon processor from Qualcomm and will sport a 4.1″ WVGA resistive touchscreen with on-screen trackpad, HSDPA, aGPS, G-sensor, microSDHC support and DivX support. The handset is reported to run Windows Mobile 6.1 with full flash support. With Toshiba boasting that “We’ve taken all the technology from our TVs and put that into the screen”, we are already lining up our favorite movies for viewing on this drool-worthy screen.

Nokia’s new range: Nokia announced three new handsets all falling under its classic line. Expanding upon its mid-range mass market appeal are the Nokia 6700, 6303 and 2700 classics. The smooth and slim 6700 candybar features a full metal keypad, 5 megapixel camera, GPS, Nokia Maps support and high speed data access. Next in line is the Nokia 6303, which features a 3.2 megapixel camera, 2.2″ display, Nokia Maps support, “excellent” battery life and a 3.5mm jack. Last is the Nokia 2700, an entry-level handset for the budget-minded individual. It will set you back a 2MP camera, integrated music player and full support of Nokia’s Share on Ovi online service. All three handsets are expected to ship in Q2 2009.

Preloaded Memory cards, Network locked: SanDisk and LG Electronics successfully demonstrated a new technology for mobile phones that enables mobile network operators (MNOs) to offer their customers multimedia-rich services using removable flash memory cards. Network operators can now freely distribute preloaded and downloaded content on removable flash memory cards, while restricting the accessibility of such premium content to only their network subscribers. This valuable content protection service is made possible by enabling memory cards to authenticate user credentials via data on the SIM card. International News: Nokia's Mail on Ovi Public Beta Goes 'Live' Around the World: Mail on Ovi, the free email account from Nokia, is now 'live' and can be set up directly on Nokia phones without requiring a PC to get started. People who use Nokia Series 40 devices can create their own email address directly on their mobile phones. Mobile phone users from India, Malaysia and the Philippines have been able to use the Beta service since November, with extremely encouraging results, and the availability is now being extended to the rest of the world. Nokia has launched more than 35 Nokia Series 40 device models which immediately enable the creation of the Mail on Ovi email account. As of October 2008, Nokia has shipped more than 110 million of such devices globally.

RIM to develop Blackberry connect for Nokia sets: Back in July, Nokia announced that it would be discontinuing development and support for its BlackBerry Connect solution. RIM is now gearing up to grab the reins and steer the ship. According to head of Nokia Messaging Tom Furlong, RIM is working on its own solution that will become available soon and Nokia will be happy to welcome BES

support on its Symbian handsets. Whatever the case may be, S60 users can look forward to a refreshed BlackBerry connectivity option, in the near future.

Rent a Mobile: Rentobile USA provides a wide variety of handsets on a per-month basis. Simply order up a new rental, pop in your SIM or activate it on your account and you are done. Once you grow tired of the device, whether that be one month later or one year later, simply return it to Rentobile and rent a new one.

Top Ten Handset Business predictions for 2009:

1. Global sales of mobile phones will shrink in 2009.

2. Sales of phones in emerging markets will buck the recession in 2009.

3. Most European networks will make mobile broadband their top priority in 2009.

4. Every operator in Western Europe will offer an “unlimited” tariff by the end of 2009.

5. Mobile advertising will fail to live up to the hype.

6. At least 20 Android phones will be announced in 2009.

7. Mobile TV still won’t take off in 2009.

8. The megapixel arms race will see 10- and 12-megapixel cameras appear in 2009.

9. In 2009, phone manufacturers will engage in memory “gigabyte wars”.

10. Manufacturers will launch “green” phones in 2009 but consumers will remain largely unimpressed unless saving the planet means a lower price tag.

Global Mobile Phone Shipments fell 10% during Q4 of 2008: Global mobile phone shipments during the fourth quarter of 2008 fell 10 per cent year over year, to reach 295 million units, marking the industry's slowest growth rate since 2001. King of the hill Nokia saw its quarterly volumes decline to 113.1 million, from 133.5 million in the same period a year earlier, leaving it with a market share of 39.8 per cent. Samsung fared better, boosting its Q4 2008 unit shipments to 52.8 million, up from 46.3 million the previous year, securing it 16.7 per cent of the market. Korean rival LG took third place with 8.6 per cent market share, after driving its Q4 2008 shipments up to 25.7 million from 23.7 million a year earlier. But Motorola remained in big trouble with its fourth quarter shipments in 2008 dropping by half to 19 million, compared to the previous year. Moto now has 8.5 per cent market share and is being chased by Sony Ericsson with 8.2 per cent of the market. The Swedish-Japanese joint venture saw its fourth quarter shipments drop from 30.8 million in 2007 to 24.2 million in 2008. Apple meanwhile, shipped a lower-than-expected 4.4 million iPhones worldwide in Q4 2008. Apple's annual growth rate of 88 per cent was far below the 516 per cent it registered in the previous quarter. The analyst notes that Apple continues to grow at an above-average pace, but the firm is not immune to the wider recession affecting the global economy and mobile device industry.

Local Market News

Cell phone companies to setup manufacturing plant in Pakistan: Pakistan Government is negotiating with Chinese companies to set up manufacturing plants for cell-phone sets in Pakistan. It is reported that government is negotiating Chinese cell-phone companies including Zong, China Mobile and Huawei to set up manufacturing plants of handset in Pakistan. President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit to China had taken up the issue of setting up manufacturing plants of cell-phone handsets in Pakistan. Pakistan was spending $500 million to $800 million annually on the import of mobile sets and manufacturing plants in Pakistan could result in saving valuable foreign exchange. Duties on mobile sets had been imposed to enhance revenues.

 Nokia is promoting Super Nova series on different mediums e.g. Media/Hafeez center pole signs etc

 Nokia is introducing E63, a new Business phone, and 5800, a touch screen phone in local market.

 Handset sales are still seeing a downturn but comparatively better as compared to last month.

 Nokia is still leading in sales with Samsung number 2 and LG number 3 with a slight difference. Sony

Ericsson and Motorola sales are quite low due to supply problems.

 Except Nokia and Motorola, all other handsets are available in limited range only in the Market.

 In Rawalpindi three Mobile Sales Plaza were branded each by Samsung, LG and Nokia exclusively while Handset market was on rise.

 A Pakistani content provider “UDHUM” is promoting Memory Cards pre loaded with fun content.

Prepared by Handset Department, Mobilink