Both the Windows Phone 7 and Android operating systems are expected to overtake Apple iOS and Blackberry by 2015, as explained in a press release published via Gartner’s news room online:

“Gartner predicts that Apple’s iOS will remain the second biggest platform worldwide through 2014 despite its share deceasing slightly after 2011. This reflects Gartner’s underlying assumption that Apple will be interested in maintaining margins rather than pursuing market share by changing its pricing strategy.”

Due to the fact that Apple’s iOS is only compatible with the iPhone, the flexibility of Android, and it’s increasing popularity with a growing number of hardware manufacturers, means that by 2012 Android handsets are likely to be dominating the smartphone market, while Apple iOS is expected to slip to a 19% share, with Blackberry only maintaining a 13% stake-hold:

“Research In Motion’s share over the forecast period will decline, reflecting the stronger competitive environment in the consumer market, as well as increased competition in the business sector.”

It is anticipated that sales of smartphone technology worldwide is likely to rocket throughout the year, demonstrating a 58% increase in comparison to sales in 2010.

Gartner predict that the number of handsets sold this year will soar to 468 million units, with RIM investing in their much anticipated QNX platform, which will provide users with ‘more advanced features’ like those of the existing Android and iOS smartphones, for their Blackberry handsets and tablet ‘Playbook’:

“Gartner has factored in RIM’s migration from BlackBerry OS to QNX which is expected in 2012. Analysts said this transition makes sense because RIM can create a consistent experience going from smartphones to tablets with a single developer community and — given that QNX as a platform brings more advanced features than the classic BlackBerry OS — it can enable more competitive smartphone products.”

The rise in sales of affordable smartphone handsets is likely to push the number of units sold to an excess of 1 billion by 2015, with Gartner predicting that: “iOS share will peak in 2011, with volume growth well above the market average. This is driven by increased channel reach in key mature markets like the U.S. and Western Europe”.

Gartner’s research demonstrates that competition for the position of market leader is likely to be dominated by just four key contenders; each platform competing for supremacy, with Google’s Android operating system anticipated to be the most popular choice for consumers and businesses by 2015.

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The new service comes on the back of O2 offering free Wi-Fi services on some of its existing tariffs, through The Cloud and BT Openzone products. However, in the midst of reports that The Cloud is about to sign up to a new deal with Sky, it seems O2 are making their own way in the provision of Wi-Fi to their customers. The new service will be available to consumers by signing up to a simple system, which will enable users to access it even if they are not existing O2 customers.

Inudtsyr experts are delighted in the new announcement, suggesting that the move will go a long way to resolving O2’s existing capacity problems which have been caused by the popularity of smartphones, and the need for people to obtain internet access on the move. O2 have said that they intend to fund the new Wi-Fi service through a strong advertising strategy.

The business development director for O2, Tim Sefton has recently commented: “Only 20% of people who have access to free public wi-fi on 02 tariffs actively use it despite the majority of devices being wi-fi enabled. We know that wi-fi as a technology has great potential and can be a very fast service.”

“However, customers are discouraged by barriers which include complexity in activation, uncertainty of where wi-fi is free and the variable quality of the current experience. O2′s wi-fi network will have to go hand-in-hand with other network upgrades. O2 are continuing to invest in our existing network, but it will be years rather than months before we’ll have a commercial 4G network”.

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The Galaxy Tab tablet computer, which goes by the official name of GT-P1000, uses the Google Android 2.2 operating system for power, and looks set to challenge the market share which Apple have enjoyed through the popularity of their iPad.

The Tab is distinctly different from an offering which Samsung has previously provided to its customers, as it features a seven inch display. However, unlike the iPad, it can also be used to make telephone calls. The gadget features Multitouch web browsing, including HTML5 and Adobe Flash, email, voice and video calling. It also enables the addition of extra applications through the Android market. The gadget is designed for one-handed operation, and will be provided on the Vodaphone network later next month. As yet, there has been no announcement regarding how much the device will cost UK consumers interested in purchasing it.

The Tab will provide an eReader capability which is powered by Kobo among others. Samsung have announced that it will be offering access to over two million books, in addition to a range of magazines and newspapers for the device. The Tab will also provide users with social networking capability combined with contact information. With wifi capability, (including DLNA and 3G connections), a camera which is provided for video calling, music and video features, the Tab looks set to take the smartphone market by storm as users benefit from the host of useful features available though the device.

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The creator of the malicious application is taking the fees from the text messages and profiting from them. Kaspersky Labs, who discovered the application, are of the opinion that it is the first ever malicious application developed specifically to target Android phones.

It is believed to be the first booby-trapped application for Android. The report by Kaspersky stated: “The virus – Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a – is being spread by text message. The message prompts users to install an application, 13KB in size, which purports to be a media player. The huge growth in the number of Android applications is likely to make the phones tempting targets for criminals. We can expect to see a corresponding rise in the amount of malware targeting that platform.”

Russian users of the Android system are being targeted primarily, and it is thought that other users are not at high risk.
Google has precautions in place to prevent malicious software from being run on handsets. A spokesperson for the search engine giants commented:

“There are a significant number of Java based mobile viruses that do exactly the same malicious activity of sending out premium rate (i.e. reverse charge) SMS. Our application permissions model protects against this type of threat. When installing an application, users see a screen that explains clearly what information and system resources the application has permission to access, such as a user’s phone number or sending an SMS. Users must explicitly approve this access in order to continue with the installation, and they may uninstall applications at any time.”

“Users should only install apps they trust. In particular, users should exercise caution when installing applications outside of Android Market.”

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Experts are convinced that the decision to leave has come from the controversy surrounding the launch of the iPhone 4, which has been slated by users for being difficult to use. The Smartphone’s antenna caused problems with signal reception, when the phone was held in a certain way. This issue has led to a number of refund requests, and the decision by Apple to issue free covers to all iPhone 4 customers in order to address the signal problem.

The problem was traced to the iPhone’s use of its metal casing to house its antennas. Bridging the short gap between two antennas on the lower left-hand side of the case caused signal strength to leak away.

An investigation by the influential Consumer Reports organisation confirmed the problem and led to it declaring that it could not recommend the product.

Apple would not comment on the reasons for his departure or whether he resigned or was fired. An Apple spokesman said Mr. Papermaster’s responsibilities would be assumed by Bob Mansfield, who currently oversees engineering efforts for the company’s Macintosh products. He also has a role in guiding development of some of the components for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Papermaster generated publicity upon his departure from IBM after twenty-five years of service, when the company stated that his leaving to join Apple in 2008 breached contract terms. As a result, he was not able to commence work with the new company until a year later.

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Lebanon has now expressed fears that the Blackberry phones, provided by company Research in Motion (RiM) are not compliant with the country’s Telecoms Regulatory Authority, who will be assessing the levels of security on the phones. In addition, Saudi Arabian officials have called for the messenger function on Blackberries in their country to be disabled, as of August 6th, due to security concerns.

A Lebanese spokesperson commented on the decision: “This is prompted by the increase of security issues that have been found with the telecommunications networks in Lebanon. This is related to the ability of law enforcement agencies to access the data as may be required by law. We need to make an arrangement with BlackBerry or come to an understanding with them that satisfies law enforcement concerns. We intend to start talks with Research in Motion next week.”

A spokesperson for RIM retaliated: “Our products are designed to preclude RIM, or any third party, from reading encrypted information under any circumstances since RIM does not store or have access to the encrypted data. RIM cannot accommodate any request for a copy of a customer’s encryption key, since at no time does RIM, or any wireless network operator or any third party, ever possess a copy of the key. We cooperate with all governments with a consistent standard and the same degree of respect. Any claims that we provide, or have ever provided, something unique to the government of one country that we have not offered to the governments of all countries, are unfounded.”

Following the announcements from Saudi and Lebanon, the Indian government has also stated that they are currently considering withdrawing Blackberry services.

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That’s not to say that they aren’t worried by the new players encroaching on their territory. On the contrary, over the past few years, Nokia has seen its market share shrink as users seek to upgrade from their last generation phone to Blackberries, G1s and iPhones. In response, it seems they are taking a leaf out of the smart phone book and opening their technology up to developers.

One of the main reasons that the G1 and the iPhone have been so successful is the baffling range of innovative software available to users. This range has been achieved thanks to platforms like the App store that allow developers access to their devices’ technology and operating systems. This has allowed independent developers to build and release programmes for those phones.

This is a good relationship for all as it allows developers to make money and garner publicity from downloads and provides the device with an almost limitless array of programmes games and applications.

The Nokia platform is in its early stages of development though it’s fair to assume that it will have some kind of payment element to attract the hundreds of developers now making a living solely out of designing programmes for mobile devices.

This new initiative comes during an intense period of change for the company, they are about to make around 450 of their
workers redundant to eliminate duplications resulting from acquisitions they have made recently. The company is also taking steps to make sure its various mobile programmes are better linked.

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The so called G2 is likely to be only one part of a glut of new Android phones expected to flood the market in the coming months. Numerous manufacturers, including industry giants like Samsung, Motorola and LG are currently working on their own versions. However, HTC are expected to have the edge since they are the only company with actual market experience selling an Android phone.

It’s the sheer variety of Android based devices that will have Apple worried. Over the next couple of years or so, innovation in the Android market is going to be powered forward by the kind of competition impossible for one company, however big or innovative they are.

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Dell does have some prior experience with smartphone type devices, until 2007 the company sold a PDA entitled Amixa. Perhaps a bigger clue to the veracity of the rumours however, is the appointment of Ron Garriques in 2007. Garriques is a former head of phone development at Motorola.

Only time will tell whether this is the real thing, or just another blog rumour.

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The delay is a little embarrassing, particularly after a conference in November where Adobe claimed as part of a company presentation to be “Taking the full Flash Player and making that run on the higher end of the mobile market.” – Kevin Lynch, Chief Technology Officer.

It’s worth remembering that the word iPhone was absent totally from that presentation. They did however claim that they would be 1 billion Flash-enabled phones by the close of 2009. Right now it looks as if they’re going to have to do that without the market leader.

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Basically the Pre is, on many levels a comparable device to the iPhone. The only real innovation that separates it is its slide out QWERTY keyboard. As anyone who has tried to type anything of any length on Apple’s touch screen will tell you, this could prove to be a real selling point.

Taking on the market leader is still a big task however and a good device alone may not be enough.

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