After a whole lotta time, lack of effort from manufacturers and complaints from users, it look like we’ll finally have Flash for iPhone and other devices.
Since Flash Lite has not become a success, even though it earned Adobe 115 million dollars last year (by no means a small figure, yet little compared to the 3.6 billion dollars of the total revenue), the company decided to take the matter into its hands and bet on a version that works with PCs as well as iPhone and BlackBerry and devices from several other manufacturers.
To show how serious they are, since February Adobe and Nokia have created a 10 million dollar fund for developers who wish to create apps for mobile devices. More info here and here.
Nokia officialy launched today its online app store, called Ovi. Starting in Australia and Cingapure, the company promised that it’ll be available for the rest of the world until the end of the week.
According to a Strategy Analytics’ research, we should experience a huge increase of Android-based cell phones this year – up to 8 million devices with Google’s OS. Even though it’s still way behind iPhone and BlackBerry sales, that’s a boost of 1,000%.
A big part of the increase's explanation is the OS’ support and adoption by manufacturers, who will take advantage of its semi-open source code and low cost to provide cheaper devices and estimulate the after crisis market. Nokia was the only major player who did not show any interest at this time to have the system – and Apple, of course.
The overall smartphone market, which sold over 150 million devices last year, should also expand at a 10-20% ratio this year. Any bets on Windows Mobile?
The guys here at Maya have started developing Augmented Reality apps for cell phones. It's already possible to reproduce in the devices apps with the same quality of those developed in flash.
Systems/devices supported:
- iPhone
- Nokia Series 60
- Windows Mobile
Our next step will be migrating the engine to Android.
And clients are already taking advantage of the technology. We're producing an AR app for a great agency in London. and enjoying every minute, for this is a fun job. =o)
In case you are interested in this sort of apps, drop us a line.
Lots happening in the mobile world this week. Some news:
BlackBerry announced its app store, the BlackBerry App World. It’ll be available for devices running OS 4.2 or higher and the purchase of apps will use PayPal (no credit cards?). You may register and be told as soon as it’s up and running here.
Coincidence or not, focusing on the girl power in the market, RIM also launched Pearl Flip 8230 which, besides other features, is pink. =o) Starting at 50 bucks for a 3-year contract.
Nokia, following Motorola’s example, has a music series of its phones. The 3 new XpressMusic models are the 5030, 5330 and 5730. Should be out every quarter from now for 50, 150 and 350 dollars. Depending on the model you’ll get a speaker in the back of the phone, gps, camera, wi-fi, qwerty keypad, etc.
The bands ought to think this whole stuff is great, since they can explore a developing and exciting distribution channel. And U2, who recently signed with BlackBerry for a world tour sponsorship.
Related to the last 2 posts we wrote and that you can read below, isn’t it interesting when things start to get connected?
Nokia admitted to be seriously considering joining the notebook market. Due to digital convergence, I’d bet that they’ll move from smartphones to netbooks, but then again this is just an exercise of imagination.
Asus, famous for computer parts, notebooks and netbooks, launched its own smartphone. And so did Acer.
Microsoft declared yesterday that the deal with Universal is closed, so you can now download movies from Xbox Live.
The App Store’s idea of selling music streaming has already a follower. Netflix is about to offer its clients video streaming. Already part of a 15-dollar subscription, the service should turn into a single option with cheaper prices.
Even with the competition of iPhone, which sold over 25 thousand units in the opening day in Saudi Arabia, Sony must have checked the research before us: UK’s Amazon was elected the preferred online store for music, movies and games.
Some more highlights from the Mobile World Congress:
Verizon announced it’ll start marketing next year the LTE technology, which could be called 4G. In some speed tests it downloaded files between 50 and 60 Mbps. In Japan they reached 250. How about it?
Market tests started with Vodafone last year, and the companies selected to take this step forward were Nokia, Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson. China, the “big prize” nowadays with its over 600 million users, already showed some interest in adopting the technology .
And here are some winners of the Global Mobile Awards: INQ1 for best device, combining design, technology and functionalities, best game for Real Football 2009 and best internet service for Nokia Sports Tracker.
Here are some of yesterday’s highlights at the Mobile World Congress:
The CEOs of Telefónica, Vodafone and Telenor declared their companies as great allies of governments to get back on the economy growth track. A sign that investments and news should keep popping throughout the year.
Manufacturers finally came to agreement and will have a single charger – micro-USB. Great news for those who have more than one device, when you run out of juice and have to borrow and for the world in general, since you won’t trash the planet even more every time you get a new phone. Starting in 2012, this single action should reduce the production of chargers in 50%.
Vodafone released its first Android phone, called Magic. It’s an HTC, thinner than G1 and totally touch.
Nokia teamed up with Qualcomm to develop 3G devices based on WCDMA tech. That puts and end to their long term quarrel over 3G patent, which will result in a device being released some time next year, running Symbian S60 on MSM chipsets.
Coincidence or not, we just did a post down here talking about the new Nokia N97, and Skype’s president Josh Silverman announced during MWC that the model will be one of the first phones to come with the app pre-installed from factory – which certainly ensures a better integration.
For the carriers that are afraid of that, he spoke about the british 3, which not only had a 20% increase in average income from clients with skype phones, but also, because of fixed price plans, used more the devices and the company’s other services.
Bottom line is, this produced a higher loyalty rate among clients. Who have already made 300 million skype-skype calls on the phone, with an average of 1 million minutes a day.
About once a week someone launches a new cell phone and another someone writes the new smartphone will be an iPhone killer. It won’t, but ok.
The new promise is Nokia N97, the first model designed thinking particularly of the company’s app store. It’s got a qwerty keypad, 32GB of storage (good call, Nokia!), 5 Mpx camera and, of course, touchscreen.
According to a Nokia VP, the great advantage of OVI Store (compared to Apple’s App Store and Microsoft Marketplace) is the fact that it will learn what you like and suggest apps and widgets based on what you’ve already downloaded. Online in May, and the N97 out in June.
PS: we ain’t saying the device will not be a hit, market leader, etc, etc. it’s just it’s getting really boring having to read iPhone killer all the time…
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