Mobile Communications Gallery

Mobile phones add media and navigation

    by Douglas Dixon

Mobile Communications Trends

Mobile Services
    Mobile Internet and Data
        Mobile Wireless Data Services and cards
    Mobile Multimedia
        Verizon VCAST - Music and Video
        MobiTV - Sprint and AT&T
        Mobile Wireless TV - V CAST Mobile TV, MediaFLO

Mobile Phones
    Sample Mobile Phones
        Verizon Coupe - Casio G'zOne
    Sample Multimedia Phones
        LG Touch Watch Phone
    PDA Phones / Smartphones
        Apple iPhone
        Google / Android Phone - Verizon / Motorola Droid - T-Mobile G1
        Windows Phone / Windows Mobile Smartphones - AT&T HTC Pure
        BlackBerry / RIM - Storm
        Palm Pre webOS Phone - Palm Pixi
        Palm - Centro / Treo Smartphones

Netbooks
    Sony VAIO P - ASUS Eee PC - Dell Inspiron Mini - Verizon HP Mini

Portable Navigation / GPS
    Mobile Phone GPS
    Mobile Navigation Systems

Cellular Signal Boosters - ZBoost

Satellite Communications
    Satellite Phones:Iridium, Thuraya, Inmarsat, Globalstar
    Satellite Rescue Beacons: SPOT Satellite Messenger, ACR TerraFix and MicroFix PLBs

See also: 
    Portable Media Player Gallery -- MP3 / video players, Multifunction devices
    Portable Audio Accessories Gallery -- Headsets, speakers, Bluetooth
    Portable Power Accessories Gallery -- Batteries, chargers, adapters
    Portable Storage Gallery -- Cards and drives, Flash and hard disk

Find related Wireless Media articles in the Manifest Tech Blog
Find related Verizon Wireless articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

Mobile Communications Trends

See also:

• Digital Media Trends 2009
• Holiday Gadgets 2008

Mobile Communications Trends - Holiday 2009

• Mobile Broadband
  • Cellular Wi-Fi - Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot
• Smartphones
  • Media Phone - Apple iPhone - App Store
  • Cloud Phone - Google Android - VZW / Motorola Droid - Navigation
  • Windows Phone - AT&T HTC Pure - Windows Mobile
  • Organizer / PDA - Blackberry, Palm WebOS
  • See Flash presentation: Smartphones and Convergence Devices
• Netbooks
  • vs. Smartphones vs. Laptops
  • See Flash presentation: Netbooks

Smartphone Market - Canalys Q3 2009

• Global smart phone shipments grew 4% year on year, to 41.4 million units in Q3
              still outperforming the overall mobile phone market
• Smart phone integration: 45% with touchscreens (vs. 31% last year)
              80% with GPS, 75% with Wi-Fi
• Canalys PR 11/09 - http://www.canalys.com/pr/2009/r2009112.htm
• Apple Insider analysis - http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/03/canalys_q3_2009...

- Smart phone Hardware Vendors, worldwide market share, Q3 2009 vs. Q3 2008:

• Nokia - 40% (was 39%)
• RIM BlackBerry - 21% (was 15%)
• Apple iPhone - 18%, new high, significantly up from 14% in Q2 (was 17%)
• HTC - 5.3% (was 5.8%)
• Nokia, RIM, Apple and HTC combined have over 80% of the market
  • Demand for iPhone 3GS far outstripped supply
  • Apple’s satisfaction ratings consistently highest of any vendor

- Smart phone Operating System, worldwide market share, Q3 2009 vs. Q3 2008:

• Symbian - 46% (was 47%)
• RIM BlackBerry - 21% (was 15%)
• Apple iPhone -18% (was 17%)
• Microsoft / Windows Mobile - 8.8% (was 13.6%)
• Google / Android- 3.5% (just under 3% in Q2)

    Next: Mobile Broadband

Trends - Q1 2009

• Internet Smartphones - Palm Pre, T-Mobile G1/Google Android
• Watch Phone - LG Touch Watch Phone
• Netbooks - Sony VAIO P, ASUS

SanDisk - Smartphones with Storage

• Smartphones will account for 28% of wireless shipments in the U.S. in 2008 (SanDisk/CEA)
• 80% of cell phones will have memory slots by 2012 (SanDisk/Gartner)
• 20% of computing devices will have solid state drives by 2011/2012 (SanDisk/Gartner)

Mass Quantities of Mobile Devices

• 2.5 billion cell phones worldwide (500 million with Internet service)
• 100 million mobile computers
• 600 million Internet-connected PCs 
• By 2010, over 1 billion wireless Internet devices (cell phones, PDAs, laptops, and sensors)
• See article - Next-Generation Wireless: LTE & WiMAX

Broadband wireless - LTE & WiMAX

• LTE (Long Term Evolution) - 10 to 20 Mbps to users when deployed in 2010, potential of 40 to 100 Mbps
• WiMAX - Downloads 1 to 5 Mbps, total capacity up to 40 Mbps, up to 15 Mbps for mobile networks
• See article - Next-Generation Wireless: LTE & WiMAX

Parks Assoc., 1/09 - Fixed-Mobile Convergence

• 3G subscribers exceed 2.5 billion worldwide by 2013, over one billion in Asia alone
• Chart - www.parksassociates.com/research/reports/tocs/2008/fixedmobileconvergence.htm

The tremendous expansion of this large service population will catalyze the development of fixed-mobile convergence (FMC), creating new service options where users can access video, audio, and community offerings via mobile devices once limited to traditional voice applications.

IDC, CES 1/09, Semiconductor Demand and Technology Adoption in CE and Mobile Devices, www.idc.com

• Internet users:     1.4 billion 2008, 2 billion 2012
• Internet devices: 1.5 billion 2008, 3 billion 2012 - Almost half connected by 2012
• 3G/4G/WiMax subscribers over 1.4 billion by 2012 - Wireless broadband (100 Mbps)

ABI Research 1/09 - 1.21 billion handsets shipped in 2008, for annual growth of 5.4%, 2007 was 16%
    Nokia 38.6%, Samsung 16.2%, LG  8.3%, Sony Ericsson 8.0%, Motorola 8.3%
    RIM 1.9%, Kyocera 1.4%, Apple iPhone 1.1%, HTC 1.1%, Sharp 1.0%, Other 14.1%

ABI Research 1/09 - GPS-enabled Handsets
    Global handset shipments expected to drop 4-5% in 2009, GPS-enabled phones will increase 6.4% to 240 million units
    Demand for smartphones will increase at average annual unit shipment rate of 19% through 2014
        90% of smartphones will contain GPS ICs in 2014, compared with one in three in 2008

Apple 3/09 - sold over 30m units of iPhones and iPod touch, 17M 3G
   www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/live-from-apples-iphone-os-3-0-preview-event

Trends - 2008

There's Wi-Fi and WiMAX to the home and neighborhood, wireless mobile Internet to the PC, wireless HD video to the TV, wireless USB to devices, and even wireless power for recharging. Or you can just network over the existing power line. Or a simple approach like Bluetooth can continue to develop to really enable computers, players, phones, and headsets to share phone calls, stereo music, and controls through the air.

See also a summary of  Digital Holiday Trends 2007: Mobile Media 
    -- Video and Internet everywhere

Smarter Phones

• Integration - Phone + Organizer + Internet + Media Player
      Palm Treo -> Centro - $99
      Apple iPhone - iPod, touch, Wi-Fi
      T-Mobile G1 / Google Android
• Wi-Fi Networking
• GPS Navigation - Phone - Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator
      vs. PDA GPS vs. Handheld Navigation

Mobile Market - 11/08 - iPhone

NPD Group, 11/08 - Apple iPhone Most Popular Handset 

• Apple iPhone 3G surpassed Motorola RAZR in Q3 2008
      Leading handset purchased by adult consumers in the U.S.
      RAZR had been top-selling consumer handset for past 12 quarters
• Top handset models, based on unit sales in Q3: 
      Apple iPhone 3G, Motorola RAZR V3 (all models), 
      RIM Blackberry Curve (all models), LG Rumor, LG enV2
• Phone types purchased Q3 2008:
      Mobile phones with QWERTY keyboard had greatest year-over-year rise in sales
          30% of handsets purchased in Q3, vs 11% previous year 
      Bluetooth enabled: 83% in Q3, vs 72% last year
      Music enabled: 68% in Q3, vs 49% last year
• www.npd.com/press/releases/press_081110.html

Mobile Market - 2008 - Convergence 

• Converged-devices / smartphone devices - 10% of global phone market in 2007
      U.S. smartphone shipments up 222% 4Q 2007
• U.S. smartphone market - 4Q 2007- Research in Motion (RIM BlackBerry) 41%, iPhone 28%, Windows Mobile 21%
• Worldwide smartphone market - 4Q 2007 - Nokia 52.9%, RIM 11.4%, iPhone 6.5%, Motorola
• Europe, Middle East, and Africa region - 4Q 2007 - Nokia, RIM, HTC, Motorola, iPhone (partial), Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Palm
• Worldwide mobile operating system market - 4Q 2007 -  Symbian (mostly Nokia) 65%, Microsoft 12%, RIM 11%
• Linux phone shipments flat in 2007 compared to 2006
      Motorola Linux smartphone shipments dropped 28% in Asia Pacific compared to 2006
• Canalys (via Apple)
• www.infoworld.com/article/08/02/06/Apple-beats-Microsoft-Motorola-in-phone-sales_1.html

Mobile Market (07)

• 3 billion cell phones on market (OHA)
• U.S. smartphone shipments: 13.8 million in 2007, to 74.4 million in 2011 (Palm)
• iPhone sold 1.4 million units through September 2007
•    1.8% of smartphone market
• Microsoft Windows Mobile sell about 12 million phones this year
     about 10 percent of smartphone market (IDC)
     Microsoft projects 20 million phones next year (NYT)
• 2 B phones sold annually worldwide, 1.6 M (6%) Microsoft software
• 26 M smartphones sold Q2 07 - 72 Symbian, 13% Linux
      6% Windows Mobile, 5% RIM Blackberry, 1.6% Palm OS (RD)

Mobile Data Services

• Multimedia messaging, Email w/ attachments, Web w/ images,  music and video clips, Maps / GPS
• 3G Mobile broadband: 1X 60 - 80 kbps /  EDGE 2.5G 75 - 135 kbps / EV-DO 400 - 800
• Download + upload: EVDO Rev A upload 300 - 400
• Mobile + Wi-Fi: Apple iPhone 

Video on mobile phones

• Sprint TV / MobiTV - Live mass-market TV channels, digital radio
• Verizon Wireless V CAST Music - Purchase and download songs on demand
• Verizon Wireless V CAST Video - On-demand clips - news, sports, and entertainment
• Verizon Wireless V CAST Mobile TV -- Live TV - MediaFLO 

Top

Mobile Internet and Data Services

    Mobile access to information and games, texting and email, Web access

Mobile Broadband Wireless Data Services

    See Wireless Media Resources: Mobile Wireless Data Services - EDGE, CDMA, EV-DO, etc.

Broadband services

• Dial-up phone - 56 Kbps
• Verizon DSL - download 768 Kbps to 3 Mbps, upload 128 to 768 Kbps
• Comcast cable - download 6 and 8 Mbps, upload 384 and 768 Kbps, then 16 / 1 Mbps 
      (PowerBoost for download double speed , upload to 2 Mbps)
• Verizon FiOS - download 10 to 20 Mbps, upload 2 to 5 Mbps,  then 50 / 5 Mbps, soon 100 Mbps

AT&T (Cingular) EDGE Mobile Data Service

• Average data speeds between 75 - 135 Kbps

Verizon NationalAccess (CDMA 1xRTT)

• Typical download 60 to 80 Kbps, burst to 144 Kbps

Verizon BroadbandAccess EV-DO

• Typical download 400 to 700 Kbps, burst to 2.4 Mbps
• Typical upload of 40 to 60 Kbps

Verizon EV-DO Rev A

• Typical download 450 to 800 Kbps (600 kbps to 1.4 mbps), burst to 3.1 Mbps
• Typical upload 300 to 400 Kbps (500 to 800 Kbps), burst to 1.8 Mbps

Verizon Wireless - MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot (5/09)

• Share Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Broadband network as Wi-Fi hotspot
• Personal Wi-Fi connection with up to five wireless devices
• Pocket size: 3.5" x 2.3" x 0.4", 2.05 ounces
• Developed by Novatel Wireless
• Integrated CDMA and Wi-Fi antennas, advanced security & authentication
• Rechargeable battery, up to 4 hrs. active w/ one device, 40 hrs. standby
• 1x EV-DO Revision A (Rev. A) /0; 1xRTT; 800, 1900 MHz; Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• VPN compatible; WEP/WPA/WPA2-PSK, SPI firewall; MAC/Port filtering

5/09 - $99.99 w/ $50 mail-in rebate, new 2-year agreement Monthly access plans: monthly allowance + overage     - $39.99 / mo - 250 MB allowance, 10 cents per MB      - $59.99 / mo - 5 GB allowance, 5 cents per MB Or full price with pay as you go service (no monthly plan)     DayPass - $15 for 24-hour access PR 5/07 introduce - http://news.vzw.com/news/2009/05... www.verizonwireless.com     Find the Verizon MiFi 2000 on Amazon

    Next: Smartphones

Verizon Wireless - Sierra Wireless AirCard 595 - PC Card -- EV-DO Rev A (5/06)

BroadbandAccess and NationalAccess high-speed wireless data     CDMA EV-DO Rev. A Download up to 3.1 Mbps, upload 1.8 Mbps VZAccess Manager software for connection management External antenna connector 3/07, 2/08 - $99.99 (two-year contract), service $79.99 per month www.verizonwireless.com www.sierrawireless.com/product/ac595.aspx          Find the Verizon Wireless AirCard 595 on Amazon

Verizon Wireless - Kyocera KPC680 - ExpressCard (08)

• Dual-Band, 1X-EV-DO Rel. 0 & Rev. A ExpressCard PC Card
• Sturdy and durable with detachable corkscrew antenna
• Dual external antenna ports - External antenna provides 3dB increase in reception ($59)
• Optional PCMCIA adapter ($34) or USB adapter
• Download up to 3.1 Mbps, upload speeds 1.8 Mbps on EV-DO Rev. A 
• "If usage exceeds 5 GB/line/month, we reserve the right to reduce throughput speeds to a maximum of approximately 200 Kbps"

4.52 x 1.34 x 0.63 in (115 x 34 x 16 mm), 1.3 oz. (36.25 g) 4/08 - $99 (two-year contract) - $50 discount = $49 www.verizonwireless.com www.kyocera-wireless.com/kpc680-pc-card          Find the Kyocera ExpressCard on Amazon

Sprint / Novatel Wireless Ovation U727 Mobile Broadband - USB Modem  (9/07)

• Broadband wireless connection for desktop or laptop
• 2-in-1 high-speed data access device, storage drive with microSD slot
• Surf the Web, check email at speeds similar to cable or DSL connection
• EV-DO Rev. A technology, Backwards compatible for EV-DO Rev. 0 and 1XRTT technology
      Average download from 600 kbps to 1.4 Mbps (peak 3.1 Mbps)
      Upload speeds from 350 to 500 Kbps (peak 1.8 Mbps)
• Support for Windows (Vista, XP, 2000), Mac OS X, Linux, Ovation U727
• Integrated dual band diversity antenna system  embedded and flip-up antenna
• Integrated microSD slot, for transport of up to 4 GB of files
• Sprint Mobile Broadband Lite Manager Software
• GPS locate-and-find capabilities

Just under three inches 10/07 - $279, $79 with a 2-year agreement and rebate     Service from $39.99/ mo. for 40 MB to $79.99 unlimited data,     $59.99 per month unlimited data with 2-year agreement www.novatelwireless.com - Fact sheet (PDF) PR - http://www2.sprint.com/mr/news_dtl.do?id=18120          Find the Verizon AirCard on Amazon

Mobile Multimedia Services

    Mobile access music and videos

Verizon Wireless V CAST - Video & Music on Demand

Verizon Wireless V CAST Music  (1/06)

Synch PC music collection to phone over USB to listen on the go     Sync over USB with Windows Media Player     Copy to memory card (microSD) Instant search and download new music directly to phone www.verizonwireless.com/music

MobiTV- Live TV & Radio

Watch live television on a variety of mobile phones and Palm / Windows Mobile PDAs MobiTV - Over 30 video channels     MSNBC, ABC News Now, CNN, FOX News, Fox Sports, ESPN 3GTV     NBC Mobile, CNBC, CSPAN, The Discovery Channel, TLC, The Weather Channel      cartoons, music videos and comedy MobiTV en Español - More than 15 channels MobiRadio - Over 50 channels of digital radio 2/07 - Interactive: Advertising, M-Commerce, Content rating, voting, sharing & community 06 - $9.99 per month TV www.mobitv.com

Mobile Wireless TV Services

    See Wireless Media Resources: Mobile Wireless TV Services - Open Mobile Video, MediaFLO, DVB-H

QUALCOMM MediaFLO - Verizon & AT&T

• Up to 20 live streaming video channels 

DVB-H - Global Mobile TV  (Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld)

• Based on DVB-T specification for digital terrestrial television

Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC)

• Mobile TV and on-demand video services - ATSC
• MPH -- Mobile-Pedestrian-Handheld Mobile DTV system
      Jointly developed by LG Electronics / Zenith and Harris Corporation
• A-VSB -- Advanced-VSB Mobile DTV system
      Co-developed by Samsung Electronics and Rohde & Schwarz
      Backers include Nokia Siemens Networks, MobiTV, SES Americom

• Launch in many major U.S. markets (20 - 30)
• 2/08 - Coverage in New York City, City of Philadelphia and contiguous stretching out to Reading, Pa. 
      Washington DC and Baltimore area, Norfolk and Richmond Va., Rochester and Syracuse, NY
• Scheduled live content and other programming 
      CBS, Comedy Central, Fox, MTV, NBC News, NBC Entertainment, Nickelodeon
• QUALCOMM MediaFLO service
• www.verizonwireless.com
• www.verizonwireless.com/mobiletv
• products.vzw.com/index.aspx?id=mobileTV

• Launch May 2008 on LG Vu and Samsung Access handsets, two exclusive channels
• www.wireless.att.com/entertainment
• Press announcement 2/07 - www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=23388
• Service announcement 3/08 - www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=25386

Sample Mobile Phones

Verizon Wireless / Coupe - Simplified (OLD - 9/07)

Smooth and simple: Simplified menus with large font     dedicated keys,  speakerphone, voice recognition Front sub display: 1.1" Mono STN (96 x 96)     Flip open for main display: 2.0" 262K Color TFT (176 x 220) Simplified menus with large font Dedicated keys: 3 ICE keys (In Case of Emergency), 911 key Color coded: White Volume keys, White Voice activated dialing key     Blue Headset port cover, Red Charging port cover, color coded travel charger Mobile Media, TXT Messaging, Voice Mail     Data & Text, Up to 9 lines of text, T9 predictive text     Phone book with up to 500 contacts Tools: Tip Calculator, Calculator, Calendar, World Clock, Notepad, Stop Watch Voice & Audio, Polyphonic ringer and sound capability Speakerphone, Vibrating alert, Voice activated dialing E911 capable, TTY compatible, Hearing aid compatibility rating: M4/T4 All Digital (800/1900 MHz CDMA) Trim and light: 3.8" (H) x 1.8" (W) x 0.8" (D), Weight: 3.3 ounces Battery usage up to 221 minutes, standby up to 229 hours CDM8630 - 2-yr Contract Price $39.99 America's Choice 65 Plus calling plans for customers 65 and older  www.verizonwireless.com

Verizon Wireless / Casio G'zOne Type-V -- Rugged (OLD - 10/06)

Built for outdoor lifestyles, withstand harsh environmental conditions Compliant to multiple Military Standards:     Ttemperatures in excess of 140ºF, extreme vibration, solar radiation     Storm conditions of two inches of rainfall per hour with high winds      Submersion in one meter of water 2.0 megapixel camera Get It Now, V CAST,  VZ Navigator GPS, Mobile Web 4.1 x 2.0 x 1.1", 5.3 ounces Verizon $299 www.verizonwireless.com/gzone          Find the Casio G'zOne on Amazon.com

Verizon Wireless / Motorola Adventure V750 - Push to Talk (7/08)

Sample Multimedia Phones

Plus music and videos

LG Touch Watch Phone (1/09)

Verizon Wireless / LG Chocolate 3 (VX8560) -- Music phone (7/08)

Next: Apple iPhone / Google Android

Top

PDA Phones / Smartphones

Mobile phones have become ubiquitous over almost all the planet, but once you have a tiny device in your pocket, why not use it for more than phone calls and texting? These phones are limited by the small screen and numeric keypad. But a larger screen, a real keyboard (or touchscreen), more processing power, and a high-speed Internet connection, and you have a smartphone -- a quite reasonable replacement for a laptop computer when you're on the go.

Smartphones are still a communications device at the core -- with phone, texting, picture and video messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, and Twittering and blog posting.

Plus they are PDAs -- with integrated address book, calendar, to-do list, and other productivity applications that sync to your desktop (Outlook) or to the cloud (Google Apps).

Even more, they are portable wireless computers -- You can check and send e-mail, including attachments, and browse the Web and download files. You can do office work, view and edit documents, including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation slides. And with GPS navigation, you can view live maps and search and track directions to near-by stores. And you can download additional applications to extend and customize your device.

And smartphones are also wireless media players -- You can download and play music, audio books, TV shows, and movies, and buy and download directly from the device. You can shoot and browse your own photos and videos, and upload and download photos and clips to share on online sites and even to your desktop. And browse media on the Web, including viewing YouTube videos and even watching live TV.

One clear theme is that connectivity is becoming embedded in our devices -- The Internet is no longer a destination that you explicitly go to, instead we've grown to expect it to be always present and connected. Whether at home or on the go, or with large devices or small, we're more and more able to access and share both commercial and personal content whenever, wherever, and however we want it.
Smartphone Market

The smartphone market has been staked out by products including the Palm Treo and Centro for consumers, the RIM BlackBerry more for business use, as well as a variety of Microsoft Windows Mobile devices. But the Apple iPhone has helped break open the smartphone category to make headway in the broad market in the face of the avalanche of simple and inexpensive cell phones.

Apple iPhone

• Apple - www.apple.com/iphone
• AT&T - www.wireless.att.com/iphone
• AT&T -www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/iPhone3G/index.jsp

    Also see more details on the iPod Touch in my Media Player Gallery

Apple iPhone -- EDGE / WiFi  (6/07)

iPhone Features

• Touch-screen Mobile phone
• Widescreen iPod with touch controls: Cover Flow interface, album cover artwork
• Internet communications device: Email, web browsing, searching, maps
• Multi-touch display with new user interface, control with finger tips
• Multi-megapixel camera
• Built-in sensors: Accelerometer (rotate from portrait to landscape)
      Proximity sensor (display off when close to ear), Ambient light sensor (display brightness)
• App Store 11/09 - Over 100,000 apps available for App Store, largest applications store in the world
      Users have downloaded well over two billion apps
• App Store - 6/09 - Download 1 billion applications in 9 months; largest applications store in the world
      35,000 apps, available in 77 countries
• OS X Operating system
• iPhone OS 3.0 software - 6/09 - Cut & Paste, MMS, Spotlight Search, Landscape keyboard, Voice Memo app
      Find My iPhone with MobileMe / Remote Wipe 
• iPhone 2.0 software - 6/08 - App Store / MobileMe

iPhone 3G S - 6/09

• 6/09 - introduced - 16 GB $199, 32 GB $299, black and white 
      (AT&T upgrade existing plan 16 GB $399, 32 GB $499)
• Improved speed and performance (up to 2X iPhone 3G), longer battery life
      OpenGL ES 2.0 for high-quality 3D graphics; Supports 7.2 Mbps HSDPA for faster networking
• 3 MP autofocus camera, adjusts focus, exposure, color, contrast
      automatic macro focus, "tap to focus" touch area of interest on display
• Video recording, trim start and stop points
• Send photos and video by email or MMS, post to MobileMe or YouTube with one tap
• Hands free voice control for iPhone dial and iPod player functions, built-in or headset microphone 
• New built-in digital Compass app, orientation and GPS, Orients Maps direction
• Accessibility: VoiceOver screen reader, universal Zoom entire screen, White on Black higher contrast, Mono Audio
• 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 inches (115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm) (same), 4.8 ounces (135 grams)

iPhone 3G - 6/08

• 6/09 - reduced to 8 GB $99 (no 16 GB), black only
• 6/08 - 16 GB $299; 8 GB $199
• 3.5 inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display, 480 x 320 resolution (same), 163 dpi
• 2 MP camera, no video recording
• 3G networking - 2X faster, built-in GPS, iPhone 2.0 software - App Store
• 3G: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 inches (115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm), 4.7 ounces (133 grams)

iPhone - 6/07  (OLD)

• iPhone - 2/08 - New 16 GB $499; 8 GB $399
      9/07 - 8 GB $399; 6/07 - 4 GB $499, 8 GB $599
• 3.5 inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display,  480 x 320 resolution, 160 dpi
• 2 megapixel camera
• 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 inch (115 x 61 x 11.6 mm), 4.8 ounces (135 grams)
• Talk time: Up to 5 hours on 3G, 10 hours 2G, Standby 300 hours
      Internet use: Up to 5 hours on 3G, 6 hours on Wi-Fi
      Video playback: Up to 7 hours, Audio 24 hours

AT&T Cellular Service

• AT&T (Cingular) is exclusive iPhone carrier partner in the U.S.
• Most popular carrier in the US with over 58 million subscribers
• Edge network offers average data speeds between 75 - 135 kbps
• Voice and unlimited data plans (e-mail and Web browsing) start at $69.99 per month
• AT&T FamilyTalk starts at $129.99 a month for two lines, Up to 3 additional $39.99 each.

Android - Google Phone Platform

• Android site - http://www.android.com/
• Android Market - applications - http://market.android.com
• Open Hanset Alliance - www.openhandsetalliance.com
  
  
• See article - Verizon / Motorola Droid -- Android 2.0
• See article - The T-Mobile G1 / Google Android Smartphone

* Verizon / Motorola Droid -- Google Android  (11/09)

• Display: Brilliant 3.7” high-resolution TFT display, 16:9 widescreen
              854 x 480 WVGA, 400,000 pixels, 16 million colors - Capacitive Touch, Backlight
• Camera: 5.0 megapixel, 4X digital zoom
              Dual-LED flash, Auto focus, image stabilization
              Real-time color effects, scene modes, location tagging, Video capture and playback, 16:9
• Keyboard: Slide out full QWERTY keyboard for text, IM, e-mail
• Dedicated keys: Directional navigation key with center select
              Front bottom: Back, Search (hold for voice search), Menu (options), Home (hold for recent)
              Side: Volume control, Camera; Top: Power/Lock (hold for Airplane / Silent mode)
• Dual microphone noise reduction, Speakerphone
• Connectivity: 3.5mm Headset jack, microUSB 2.0 High Speed
• Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR, Profiles HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, PBAP, OPP for video/stills
• WiFi 802.11b/g, 3-axis accelerometer (screen auto rotates)
• Location Services: aGPS (assisted w/ cellular), sGPS (simultaneous)
• Sensors: Proximity, ambient light, eCompass
• Verizon - www.droiddoes.com -> http://phones.verizonwireless.com/motorola/droid/
• Motorola - http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/...

Processor: Arm Cortex A8 550 mHz Memory: 16 GB MicroSD card    included, up to 32 GB Band/Modes: CDMA 800/1900, EVDO rev A Battery 1400 mAh Talk time 385 min. / 6.4 hours,    Standby 270 hours / 11.25 days 60.00 x 115.80 x 13.70 mm    (2.36 x 4.56 x 0.54 in.),    169 g (5.96 oz) Released 11/09 - $199.99 with new 2-year agreement, $100 rebate Licorice w/brown sugar accents Find the Verizon Droid on Amazon.com

T-Mobile / HTC myTouch 3G -- Google Android  (8/09)

Personalize with new widgets, icons and wallpapers, add on home screen 8/09 - $199 with two-year agreement, black, white, merlot 3.2 Megapixel camera with Video Capture WiFi, GPS 2.2 x 4.5 x 0.6 in., 4.1 oz. Battery: 1340 mAh Lion, Talk time up to 7 hrs, Standby 16 days Band: 850 MHz;900 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz;2100 PR 8/09 - http://www.t-mobile.com/company/PressReleases_Article.aspx?... www.t-mobilemytouch.com

T-Mobile G1 - Google / Android Phone  (10/08)

• 10/08 - $179, with 2-year voice and data agreement - Black, white, brown
     ~ 10/09 - $129
      Available starting Oct. 22 in the U.S., at select T-Mobile retail stores and online
      Available in U.K. beginning in November, Europe in Q1 2009
      Requires voice + data plan: Unlimited data with 400 messages for $25 a month, unlimited messages $35
• 3.2-inch flat touch-sensitive screen, TFT-LCD , 320 x 480 (HVGA)
      Swipe to scroll, Long press for context menu
      Menu button below screen for common application options (also screen unlock)
      Dedicated buttons across bottom: Phone, Home, Back, Power
      Trackball with Enter button in middle for one-handed navigation
      Dedicated Volume, Camera buttons on side
• Hinged screen slides up to reveal keypad, closes to prevent accidental dialing
• Full QWERTY keyboard (landscape mode)
      5-row QWERTY keyboard, full row of number keys, Dedicated Menu and Search keys
• 3.2 MP camera, fixed focus , dedicated Camera key (activate, shutter)
      ** No built-in video recording, playback (beyond YouTube) -- Android Market
• Customizable home screen
      Drag and drop favorite applications, photos, or folders
      Drag tab to view full list of applications
• Full HTML Web browser (based on WebKit, same core as Chrome)
• Instant Messaging/text/e-mail
      IM: Google Talk, AOL, Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger
      HTML e-mail client, Gmail, POP3 or IMAP
      Syncs with Google services: Gmail e-mail, calendar, contacts
      ** No built-in desktop sync
• Built-in Google applications
      Google Search, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, YouTube
      Google Maps (with satellite, traffic, and street views), Compass mode - rotate phone to navigate 360 degrees
      Multitasks, read Web page downloading e-mail in background 
• Reads MS Word (and Excel?) and PDF documents  ** No Exchange (enterprise e-mail)
      ** No desktop sync
• Music player  ** No built-in video playback
      Amazon MP3 application - Amazon.com digital music download store, 6+ million DRM-free MP3 tracks
      YouTube video player - search, play
• Ring tone formats: AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, MIDI, MP3, WMA, WMV
      40 polyphonic and standard MIDI format 0 and 1 (SMF)/SP MIDI
• Built-in microphone and speaker
• GPS navigation: built-in GPS receiver and map software
• Digital Compass, Motion Sensor
• microSD memory card expansion slot (SD 2.0 compatible)
• HTC ExtUSB (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one) ** No standard headphone jack
• Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate for phone headset
• T-Mobile 3G and EDGE network, and Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g
      High-speed 3G network connection, Seamlessly transition to open Wi-Fi networks
      ** SIM locked to T-Mobile
      dual-band UMTS
• Network HSDPA/WCDMA: Europe: 2100 MHz, US:1700/2100 MHz
      Up to 7.2 Mbps down-link (HSDPA) and 2 Mbps up-link (HSUPA) speeds
      Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MH (operator dependent)
• Removable battery - Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, capacity: 1150 mAh - standard cell phone battery
      Estimated to last entire day under typical loads, Heavy usage requires portable charger, extra battery
      Talk time: Up to 350 min. WCDMA, 406 GSM; Standby : Up to 402 hours WCDMA, 319 GSM
• AC Adapter Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz, DC output: 5V and 1A
• HTC Corporation: Hardware
• Qualcomm MSM7201A processor, 528 MHz; Memory: 256 MB ROM, 192 MB RAM
• 117.7 x 55.7 x 17.1 mm (4.60 x 2.16 x 0.62 in), 158 grams (5.57 oz) with battery
• T-Mobile G1 - www.t-mobileg1.com
• HTC G1 - www.htc.com/www/product/g1

Android Market

• Software applications like games, social networking, on-the-go shopping
• Download applications wirelessly with a couple clicks
• Free and developer-set price
• User ratings, Disclosure of application capabilities (e.g., network, GPS)
• My Downloads to manage, uninstall to free space, reinstall if needed
• www.android.com/market

Open Handset Alliance (11/07)

• Open Handset Alliance, more than 30 members
      Leading makers of mobile phone chips, Broadcom, Intel, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments
      SiRF Technology Holdings, Marvell Technology Group, Nvidia, Synaptics
      EBay (Internet calling service Skype)
      Nuance Communications, NMS Communications, Wind River Systems
      Not: Apple (OS X/iPhone), Microsoft (Win Mobile), Palm,
          Nokia (Symbian), RIM (BlackBerry), Verizon, AT&T
• Smartphone technology
      Features and design similar to Apple iPhone, demonstrated hand-held touch-screen device
• Offered freely under "open source" licensing terms
• Products available second half 2008
      Manufactured by handset companies, including HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung
• Available in U.S. through T-Mobile and Sprint
      China Telecom, world's largest mobile operator, 332 million subscribers
      Leading carriers in Japan, NTT DoCoMo, KDDI
      T-Mobile in Germany, Telecom Italia in Italy, Telefónica in Spain
• Google will not brand phone
• www.openhandsetalliance.com
• Press Release - www.openhandsetalliance.com/press_110507.html

Android software platform for mobile devices

• Software stack for mobile devices, includes operating system, middleware, key applications
• Application framework enabling reuse and replacement of components
• Dalvik virtual machine optimized for mobile devices
• Integrated browser based on the open source WebKit engine
• Optimized graphics, custom 2D graphics; 3D graphics based on OpenGL ES 1.0
• SQLite for structured data storage
• Media support for common audio, video, and still image formats
      (MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG, GIF)
• GSM Telephony (hardware dependent)
• Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G, and WiFi (hardware dependent)
• Camera, GPS, compass, and accelerometer (hardware dependent)
• Rich development environment
• Built on open Linux Kernel
• Utilizes custom virtual machine to optimize memory and hardware resources in mobile environment
• Phone's core applications and third-party applications have equal access to phone's capabilities
• Entire platform is open, companies can add / remove functionality
• No copyleft clause in Apache license, can add proprietary functionality without needing to contribute back
• Google - Android Project - Development information - http://code.google.com/android
• www.android.com

Windows Phone / Windows Mobile Smartphones

• See article - Windows Phone -- AT&T / HTC Pure (11/2009)

Windows Phone (Windows Mobile 6.5)  (10/09)

• More touch-friendly, allows direct access to common operations
• Updated lock screen (Pro): Displays new messages and appointments while locked
• Updated Today screen (Pro): Customize, single-tap access to new e-mails, messages
• Updated Start screen (Pro):  Quickly browse and open programs; customize program order, add favorite web sites
• Internet Explorer Mobile 6: Full, rich web viewing experience similar on PC.
• Windows Marketplace for Mobile: Find and download latest apps
• Windows Media Player Mobile: improved - view full-screen video, playback enhancements, pause when receive call
• Microsoft My Phone: Sync phone data to web so backed up and accessible
• Social networking apps: Facebook Mobile and My Space Mobile, included on several phones
• Designer themes: Theme-based phones, or create your own custom
• MSN Widgets: Real-time information on weather and stocks
• PR 10/09 - Unveil Windows Phone - http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/...
• Windows Phone - www.windowsphone.com

AT&T HTC Pure - Touch screen, 5 MP  (10/09)

    Next: Netbooks

Verizon Wireless Samsung Omnia (SCH-i910) - Touch screen, 5 MP  (11/08)

Verizon Wireless / BlackBerry Storm Smartphone (11/08)   

• 3.25" color display, 480 x 360 (HVGA) TFT LCD, Touch screen with touch and click, light sensing
• 11/08 - $199 w/ $50 rebate, 2 year activation
• 10/09 - $49
• 528-MHz processor
• 3.2 MP camera, photo and video capture
• Memory: 1 GB onboard, 128 MB Flash, expandable microSD slot (8 GB included, up to 16 GB)
• BlackBerry navigation keys (phone, menu, escape)
• SurePress 'clickable' touch-screen
      Feel screen being pressed and released with a gentle 'click' (like physical keyboard)
      With multi-touches, taps, slides and other touch-screen gestures
          highlight, slide to scroll and pan, tap to zoom
• Accelerometer: Automatically switch landscape and portrait when rotated
      RIM SureType keyboard in portrait, full QWERTY in landscape
• Multi-task - While on the phone
      Use email, browse the Web, update GPS directions or maps, take and send photo, edit  MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint files
• Organizer: Calendar, Address Book, Task List, MemoPad, Calculator
      Sync with BlackBerry Desktop Software
• Blackberry Device Software 4.7 - View and edit Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Personal and corporate e-mail with attachments (MS office, PDF, images, ZIP archives)
      Text  and picture messaging (SMS and MMS)
      Instant messaging: AOL, Google Talk, ICQ, Windows Live, Yahoo! Messager
      Social networking: Flickr Photo Uploader, Facebook, MySpace
• GPS: BlackBerry Maps, www.blackberry.com/maps
      VZ Navigator with turn-by-turn directions
• Web browser: Full HTML or mobile - mobile.backberry.com
      Icons at bottom of display for quick access to web sites, Page / Column view, Pan / Cursor mode
      Supports file downloading, streaming audio and video
      YouTube: 3GPP RTSP mobile streaming websites
• Sync desktop iTunes music files with BlackBerry Media Sync (Windows), www.blackberry.com/mediasync
      Sync music and videos with Roxio Media Manager
• Audio formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WMA ProPlus
      Video formats: MPEG-4 H.263, MPEG-4 Part 2 Simple Profile, H.264, WMV
      Image formats: JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG and TIFF ??
• Integrated earpiece/ microphone, noise cancellation
      Low-noise speakerphone, 3.5 mm stereo headset jack
      USB 2.0
      Bluetooth v2.0; mono/stereo headset, handsfree, phone book access, serial port profile
• Removable battery (1400 mAh): Up to 15 days standby, 5.5 hours talk time
• 3G modem: tethered via USB, untethered via Bluetooth (DUN)
• Exclusive to Verizon Wireless in the U.S. and Vodafone in Europe, India, Australia, New Zealand
• Global connectivity: Global phone and e-mail
      BlackBerry Storm 9530 from Verizon Wireless for U.S. - 3G EV-DO Rev. A/CDMA (800/1900 MHz), UMTS/HSPA (2100 MHz), 
          quad-band GPRS / GSM / EDGE networks for global use (850/1900 MHz U.S., 900/1800 MHz Europe/Asia Pacific)
      BlackBerry Storm 9500 from Vodafone - UMTS/HSPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM
• Includes: International travel charger, SIM card, 8 GB microSD card, USB cable, battery
• 4.43 x  2.45 x 0.55",  5.5 oz (112.5 x 62.2 x 13.95, 155g)
• www.blackberry.com/storm
• www.verizonwireless.com/storm

         Find the Verizon / BlackBerry Storm on Amazon.com

Palm Pre webOS Phone   

• Palm - www.palm.com/us/products/phones/pre
• Sprint - www.sprint.com/palmpre

    See full article - Palm Pre: Product Summary

    See my Mobile Communications Gallery  for more on smartphones

Palm Pre / Palm Pixi - WebOS (6/09, 11/09)

• New Palm WebOS platform: Linked contacts, layered calendars, combined messaging
• Sprint 3G network, EVDO Rev A
• 11/09 - Unlimited mobile calling and Web browsing plans start at $69.99 per month
  • Simply Everything unlimited voice, data, media for $99.99
  • Sprint Networks (inclusive of data roaming) have more than twice the coverage of AT&T’s current 3G network, more than 15 times the coverage of T-Mobile’s current 3G network, based on square miles

Palm Pixi (11/09)

• Second phone running the Palm webOS mobile platform
• Thinner profile, fully visible keyboard, fashionable personalization options
• Palm Synergy adds Yahoo! and LinkedIn integration to Google, Facebook, Exchange ActiveSync
• New Facebook application - Update status, see and comment on news from friends
• Palm Beta App Catalog - Download applications

11/15/09 - Available from Sprintfor $99.99 with 2-year service agreement,             after $50 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate 2.63" multi-touch screen, vibrant, 18-bit color, 320x400 TFT display 2 MP fixed-focus camera with LED flash Exposed QWERTY keyboard 8 GB internal memory (~7 GB user available) 4.37 x 2.17x 0.43 in. (111 x 55 x 10.85 mm), 3.26 oz. (92.5 g) Removable 1150 mAh battery, up to 5 hours continuous talk time (Same: microUSB, mass storage support; Integrated GPS Sensors: Proximity, Light and Accelerometer Speakerphone, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Pixi Artist Series - Numbered, limited-edition back covers, www.palm.com/artistseries Palm PR 9/09 - Announce - http://investor.palm.com/releaseDetail... Sprint PR 10/09 - Available Nov. - http://newsreleases.sprint.com/... Palm - www.palm.com/pixi

Palm Pre - Original Palm WebOS phone - Slider (6/09)

6/09 - Available from Sprint for $199.99 with 2-year agreement and $100 rebate To be followed by world-ready UMTS version for other regions 9/09 - reduced - $149 ($549 - $300 savings - $100 rebate) 3.1" touch screen, 24-bit color, HVGA 320x480 3 megapixel digital camera, LED flash, extended depth of field     ** NO video capture or voice recording? Slide out QWERTY keyboard for faster texting and e-mail     Close and rotate for widescreen music, websites, photos, videos 8 GB built-in memory (~7 GB user available), USB mass storage support     ** NO card slot for expansion memory 3.9 x 2.3 x 0.67 in. (59.5 x 100.5 x 16.95 mm), 4.76 oz. (135 g) Palm - www.palm.com/us/products/phones/pre Sprint - www.sprint.com/palmpre

Palm Pre - landscape playback

Palm WebOS - Design

• Synergy feature: Applications communicate dynamically to the web
• Integrated view: Contacts, calendar, e-mail, messaging from multiple sources
• "Card" interface model: Switch easily between multiple activities
• Universal search: Start typing to search contacts, applications, then Google, Wikipedia -- and Twitter
• Gesture / multi-touch user interface
• App Catalog - WebOS platform for developers, industry-standard technologies, CSS, XHTML, JavaScript

Interface Features

• "Activity Card" interface model - flip through, organize, throw off-screen when done
      Switch easily between multiple applications / activities
• Synergy feature: Applications integrate information from multiple sources: Outlook, Google, Facebook 
      11/09 - Add Yahoo! and LinkedIn to above and Exchange ActiveSync
• Intuitive Notifications: Notifications bar at bottom of screen: text messages, calendar appointments
      Unobtrusive, Information without interrupting your current task
• Linked Contacts: Contacts from multiple sources, without duplicate entries
      Pull photo from Facebook, Contacts as hub for all types of communications
• Layered Calendar: Calendar with one logical view: from Outlook, Google, Facebook
• E-mail: Combined view from all accounts, or favorite folders
      Outlook or personal accounts like Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo!
      Choose account when sending message
• Combined Messaging: Threaded conversation with same person in one chat-style view
      IM and/or text messages
      Check if person online from contacts, start new conversation with one touch
• Multimedia: Palm media sync: iTunes DRM-free music, photos, videos
      Mass storage drive: Drag and drop media from desktop as 
      Amazon MP3 store: Purchase songs or albums on device, over-the-air

Common Specs

• Physical keyboard for faster texting and e-mail
• Gesture area below screen, enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation
• Ambient light sensor (dim display), accelerometer, proximity sensor (display off when near face)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g wireless with WPA, WPA2, 802.1X authentication
      Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, A2DP stereo
• GPS built in - look up directions or nearby points of interest 
• Ringer switch, silences phone with one touch
• MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
      3.5mm stereo headphone jack
• Removable, rechargeable battery
• Palm webOS
• Microsoft Outlook email with Direct Push, POP3 / IMAP (Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, etc)
      Integrated messaging, IM, SMS / MMS text and media messaging
• Multimedia performance (pictures, video playback, music)
      Audio: MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV
      Video: MPEG-4, H.263, H.264
      Image: GIF, Animated GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP
• High-performance, desktop-class web browser
• Phone as laptop modem Bluetooth tethering
• Palm Touchstone charging dock accessory
      Magnets align phone in correct position for charging
      Requires Palm Pre back cover for Touchstone charging dock, sold separately
      www.palm.com/us/products/accessories/dock.html

Palm - Centro / Treo Smartphones

Palm Centro Smartphone (10/07)

Power of broadband smartphone (Treo) at price of standard 12-key phone Full-color 320 x 320 touch screen, 16-bit color (65K colors) and full keyboard Palm OS 5.4.9  Full applications: Communicate - Voice, text, IM, email, Web             Sprint Picture Mail, eMail, IM Organize - Contact, calendar, tasks, memos Browse - YouTube videos; Google Maps PocketTunes Deluxe - Manage music Sprint TV - Live TV or video-on-demand On Demand - Customized news, sports, movies, weather updates 1.3 megapixel camera, photo and video, 2x digital zoom 64 MB memory, expansion microSD card (up to 4GB) Removable battery 1150mAh, lithium-ion     3.5 hours talk time, up to 300 hours standby time  Radio Dual-band CDMA2000 EvDO backward compatible with 1XRTT and IS95 Bluetooth 1.2 4.22 x 2.11 x 0.73", 4.2 oz   10/07 - Sprint exclusive in United States for 90 days, Onyx black or ruby red     $99.99 with two-year service agreement, $50 savings, and $100 rebate www.sprint.com/Centro www.palm.com/centro -- Press release          Find the Palm Centro on Amazon.com

Palm Treo 700p Smartphone -- Palm OS (OLD - 06)

Touch screen, backlit QWERTY keypad and 5-way navigator control  320 x 320 touchscreen, 65K color Palm OS 5.4     Documents to Go Office sync, e-mail,.Browser w/ WMV Photos and videos Pocket Tunes MP3 player: Sync to Windows Media Player  Camera: 1.3 MP, 1280 x 1024, 352 x 288 video 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.9 in., 6.3 oz. 06 - Verizon $299 Intel XScale 312 MHz, 128 MB (60 avail) 128 MB (60 MB avail), SD/SDIO/MMC expansion slot EV-DO, 1xRTT / Bluetooth www.palm.com/us/products/smartphones          Find the Palm Treo 700p on Amazon.com

Palm Treo 700w Smartphone -- Windows Mobile  (OLD - 06)

Top

Netbooks

Not a notebook, not a PDA

Sample Netbook Computers

• ASUS Eee PC - http://eeepc.asus.com
• MSI Wind - www.msimobile.com
• HP Mini - www.shopping.hp.com/mini
• Acer Aspire One - www.acer.com/aspireone
• Dell Inspiron Mini - www.dell.com/home/netbooks
• Samsung N mini notebooks - www.samsung.com
• Sony VAIO P series Lifestyle PC - www.sony.com/vaio
• Wikipeda - Netbook comparison - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_netbooks

ABI Research 1/09 - 2009 netbook worldwide shipment forecast nearly 35 million, estimated 139 million in 2013

ABI Research - 4/09 - www.abiresearch.com

• 75% of netbooks shipped in 2008 ran Windows XP
• 2012 will see the tipping-point at which netbooks running Linux-based and mobile operating systems 
      outnumber those running Windows XP

One Laptop per Child (OLPC) XO

ASUS Eee PC

• Eee -  "Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play"
• PR 3/08 - Pre-installed Windows XP - http://eeepc.asus.com/global/news080305.html?n=4
• http://eeepc.asus.com
• http://usa.asus.com
• Product comparison - http://event.asus.com/eeepc/comparison/eeepc_comparison.htm
• Wikipeda - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_PC

ASUS Eee PC 2G / 4G Surf [700]

ASUS Eee PC 1000HE - 10", 160 GB, 3.2 lbs., 9.5 hours (1Q 09)

Sony VAIO P series Lifestyle PC (2/09)  

• 8-inch display, 1.4 pounds, length of business envelope, thin as a cell phone, slip into jacket pocket or handbag
• Sony XBRITE-ECO LCD, 8" ultra-wide display, 1600 x 768, LED backlit
• 1.33 GHz Intel processor, 2 GB RAM, up to 60 GB hard drive or 128 GB SSD
• Built-in wireless: Mobile Broadband WAN 3G (subscription to third-party carrier required), 
      802.11n Wi-Fi , Bluetooth for peripherals
• Real-time GPS, for turn-by-turn directions
• Built-in MOTION EYE webcam and microphone
• Keyboard extends to perimeters of the chassis, maximizing typing area
• Memory Stick PRO (Standard/Duo) media slot with MagicGate, Multi-media Card (MMC) slot, SD memory card slot
• Instant-mode option launches directly into Sony Xross Media Bar interface
      Rapid boot up to access music, video, photos, and Web
• Full-functioning Windows Vista Home Premium or Home Basic, 
      office applications, software routinely found in full-size notebooks
• 4  hour battery life with included standard capacity battery, 8 hours with optional large capacity battery
• 9.65"(W) x 0.78"(H) x 4.72"(D), 1.4 / 1.5 lbs (SSD/HDD, with standard battery)
• Available 2/09 - $899 with 60 GB HDD, $1199 with 64GB SSD, $1499 with 128 GB SSD
      garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white, classic black
• www.sony.com/vaio
• www.sony.com/pr/pseries
• PR 1/09 - http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/computer_peripheral/notebooks/release/38231.html

    Find the Sony VAIO P on Amazon.com

Dell Inspiron Mini 9

Compact, easy-to-carry Internet companion featuring wireless and entertainment capabilities
    help keep kids, tweens, teens, travelers and "Tweeters" 
        chatting, blogging, streaming content, sharing photos, watching videos and more

• Inspiron Mini 9 - 9/08 - 8.9 inch display (1024x600), starting at 2.28 lbs. - starting at $279
      9.13 x 1.07-1.25 x 6.77", 89% size of standard keyboard, up to 1 GB, 16 or 32 GB SSD, Windows XP or Ubuntu Linux
      1/09 - Promo to bundle with two-year AT&T LaptopConnect agreement - $99 (regularly $449, after $350 mail-in rebate)
• Inspiron Mini 10 - 2/09 - 10.1 inch WSVGA display (1024 x 576), starting at 2.86 lbs, starting at $349 (was $399)
      WSVGA "edge-to-edge" 16:9 widescreen display, Atom Z520 (1.33GHz), Integrated 1.3 MP webcam
      10.28 x 1.12-1.25 x 7.19", 92% size of standard keyboard, up to 1 GB, up to 160 GB HD, Windows XP only
• Inspiron Mini 10v - 5/09 - 10.1 inch WSVGA 16:9 widescreen display, 2.5 lbs, starting at $299
      Atom  N270, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB HDD - VGA, not HDMI
      120 or 160 GB HDD, 8 GB SSD (Ubuntu) or 16 GB SSD (XP and Ubuntu)
• Inspiron Mini 12 - 11/08 - 12.1 inch WXGA display (1280 x 800), 0.92 in. thick, 2.72 lbs., starting at $399
          11.77 x 0.84-0.94 x 9.02", 92% size of standard keyboard, up to 1 GB, up to 80 GB HD, Windows XP  Ubuntu Linux
• Mini-10: Keyboard 92% of full-size, Multi-touch gestures touchpad, HDMI output
      Future options: Internal digital TV tuner, HD resolution and external USB DVD player
          Vista, Internal GPS, 250 GB HDD
• Box.net web-based file storage, free 2 GB, upgrade to 25 GB, www.box.net/dell
      Safely and securely upload files of any type, access files from almost anywhere on any device
      No software to download, edit documents and photos directly from web browser
• PR - 10/08 - Introduce Inspiron Mini 12 - http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/press-releases/2008-10-26-00-Dell-Inspiron-Mini-12.aspx
• PR - 9/08 - Introduce Inspiron Mini 9 - http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/press-releases/2008-09-04-00-inspn-mini9.aspx.aspx
• PR 1/09 - AT&T - http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/press-releases/2009-01-09-ATT-Mini9-Bundle.aspx
• PR 2/09 - Introduce Inspiron Mini 10 - http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/press-releases/2009-02-19-Inspiron-Mini-10.aspx
• Dell Netbooks - www.dell.com/home/netbooks

Verizon Wireless - HP Mini 1151NR Netbook (5/09)

• Access the Internet, e-mail, browse the Web quickly and reliably

Verizon high-speed network (EV-DO Rev A)

• Covers more than 90% of the U.S. population
      more than 280 million people in 259 major metropolitan areas and 250 primary airports in the U.S.
• Typical download speeds - 600 Kbps - 1.4 Mbps
• Typical upload speeds - 500 Kbps - 800 Kbps
• In Extended Broadband Rate and Services area
      download speeds 400 - 700 Kbps, upload speeds of 60 - 80 Kbp
• Add Verizon Wireless Global Service for more than 175 destinations; more than 45 offer 3G speeds
• Verizon Approximate Data Usage Examples
      E-mail (1 text page without attachments) - 3 KB
      Word Document (5 text pages) - 70 KB
      Typical Web Page lookup - 300 KB
      Low Resolution Digital Photo - 500 KB
      PowerPoint Presentation (20 pages text & light graphics) - 3 MB

Top

  Next: Mobile Wireless Data Services

Mobile Phone GPS

Verizon Wireless - VZ Navigator

Real-time route calculation, mapping, turn-by-turn directions, voice with name of street General location by triangulating from cell towers Plus GPS chip (Global Positioning System) for precise positioning. 1/07 - $9.99 per month www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/turnbyturn.jsp

Google Maps for Mobile  (10/06) / My Location (12/07)

View interactive maps, dynamic zoom and scroll Switch to satellite imagery view Overlay live traffic conditions (highlighting busy roads) Step through point-to-point driving directions Search for local businesses (Not linked to a live GPS signal to track your actual location) 10/06 - Available on Palm OS-based Treos 1/07 - Available on Palm Treo 750, 700wx and 700w smartphones 12/07 - Google Mobile Maps with My Location service, beta     location approximated based on nearby cell towers, within 1000 meters on average  www.google.com/gmm Google Maps on Treo 700p

Next: Cellular Signal Boosters

ALK CoPilot Live

Add GPS navigation to smartphone or PDA with products Communicate via Bluetooth to a wireless GPS antenna  Optionally to phone for real-time tracing and messaging  06 - $199 to $399, with map data on miniSD card and GPS receiver www.alk.com/copilot          Find the ALK CoPilot Live on Amazon.com

Top

Mobile Navigation Systems

Car navigation systems go portable (breaking away from the dashboard like satellite radio)
Adding media playback on the color screen, and Bluetooth integration to act as display for mobile phone.

Navigation is typically quick and accurate

• Quick to lock GPS signal, accurate position tracking , even rolling slowly up to an intersection.
• Quick to re-compute routes when take a different path, update within the next block.

User interfaces vary significantly: live map display and entering and managing destinations

• Main display for the driver should be simple and clear
      Easy to understand at a glance
      Good prompts for upcoming turns (in addition to voice prompts)
      Plus more detailed option for passenger to monitor along the route
      Zoom in and out to review step-by-step directions along the entire route
• Route planning should be very flexible in entering destinations
      By street address, closest intersection, nearby point of interest

Top

Cellular Signal Boosters

Wi-Ex- zBoost - Cell phone signal boosters (07)   

• Wireless Extenders (Wi-Ex): Extend the cell zone for the home, office, car
• Improves signal strength for better voice and data
• Improves battery life of wireless phones
• Increases in-building coverage by up to 2500 sq ft
•     (10,000 sq ft with optional upgrade antennas)
• Consumer / SOHO signal boosters under $100, dual-band for multiple carriers
• www.wi-ex.com

       
        zBoost zPersonal (zP) and zBoost Home / Office

Next: Satellite Phones / Audio Accessories

zBoost zPersonal (zP) - $169 / $159 - YX300

• Dual 800 MHz or 1900 MHz (except Nextel, iDEN)
• Creates a cell zone of 4 - 6 ft. radius, for single user (one call at a time)
• 20 ft. cord, separate base unit and antenna at least 10 feet

zBoost Home / Office - $299 - YX500

• YX500-CEL - 800 MHz Cellular - some Verizon and Cingular
      Cellular frequency range (824 - 896 MHz)
• YX500-PCS - 1900 MHz PCS - Sprint, T-Mobile
      PCS frequency range (1850 - 1990 MHz)
• Coverage up to 2500 sq ft, Multiple phones simultaneously

zBoost Dual Band - $399 / $306 - YX510-PCS-CEL

• Both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz  
• Coverage up to 3,000 sq ft

zBoost for the Car - $299 / $215 - YX200

• Works with all phones simultaneously - both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz  - not Nextel

zBoost for the Professional Installer - YX600 series - single frequencies or dual-band

• Bi-Directional Amplifier (BDA), Coverage up to 10,000 sq ft
• YX600-PCS model improves all 6 PCS sub-bands
• YX600-CEL model improves both Cellular sub-bands

Top

Satellite Phones (as of 10/08)

• See article: Satellite Phones (Iridium, Thuraya, Inmarsat, Globalstar)

Iridium Satellite Phones

• Only mobile satellite service with full coverage around the globe, pole to pole
      Constellation of 66 low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellites
      Best if broad view of sky to connect to passing satellites
• Incoming calls dialed as an international call (Iridium prefix +88) 
• Dial long distance though Iridium number in North America, or dedicated +1 number
• www.iridium.com

Thuraya Satellite Phones

• Regional service in Middle East, Africa and Europe, most of Asia and Australia 
• Geostationary satellites
• Consumer-friendly (but less rugged) handsets, small and light,
• GSM service for calls roaming on cellular networks
• Notebook Internet access device, 144 kbps, DSL-like
• www.thuraya.com

Immarsat BGAN Data Terminals

• 10 geostationary satellites, coverage around globe, around 85 per cent of world's landmass
• BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network)
      Broadband-like data rates up to 492 Kbps, simultaneous voice calls
      Terminals available from several manufacturers
• www.inmarsat.com

Top

Satellite Rescue Beacons (as of 10/08)

• See article: Satellite Rescue Beacons: Calling for Help
      (ACR TerraFix and MicroFix PLBs, SPOT Satellite Messenger)

SPOT Satellite Messenger

• Request emergency help, or send update messages with GPS location
      911: call out emergency search and rescue like a PLB
      OK and Help: Send notifications text message and/or e-mail to list of contacts
• Drop-resistant, waterproof, floats. LED lights indicate active and sending message
• SPOT is subsidiary of Globalstar, transmit-only
• www.findmespot.com

4.38 x 2.75 x 1.5 in., 7.37 oz. SPOT $149, annual service plan $99 a year to forward messages     Tracking option $49 per year, updates on shared Google Maps website     GEOS Search and Rescue option $7.95 per year,         manage rescue process, use private resources if needed          Find the SPOT Satellite Messenger on Amazon.com

---

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) - ACR Electronics

• Broadcast distress signal in life-threatening emergency
• Activates international Search and Rescue (SAR) system
      Cospas-Sarsat international satellite system 
          used for marine and aircraft distress, www.cospas-sarsat.org
      U.S. operated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• SAR satellites triangulate within 2 to 3 miles, add GPS to pinpoint to 100 meters
      Include low-power homing beacon to guide rescue forces
• Rugged and waterproof, down to -40 C, transmit 20 to 40 hours, restricted visibility to sky
• Available from outdoor and sporting supply retailers, or rent $60 a week
• Register the device with your emergency contact information
• No additional costs or annual subscription fees
• Batteries 5 year replacement (11 years in storage)