Nokia Siemens Networks Buys Motorola Network Assets

Nokia Siemens Networks will acquire the majority of Motorola’s wireless network infrastructure assets for US $1.2 billion in cash. The companies expect to complete closing activities by the end of 2010, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals.

That removes Motorola from a mobile infrastructure business it has been in for decades. The move does not affect the Motorola handset business.

Nokia Siemens Networks to Acquire Network Infrastructure Assets of Motorola

Google Boosts Data Center Spending

Google reported capital expenditures of $476 million in the second quarter of 2010, more than doubling its spending from the previous quarter.

The latest capital expenditure number marks the company’s heaviest investment in its data center operations since the second quarter of 2008, when Google was wrapping up a flurry of construction projects in North Carolina, South Carolina and Iowa.

Google Boosts Data Center Spending

Search Optimization in the Mobile Age

The most significant change to how consumers are using smartphones to find companies is the widespread popularity of mobile apps. The big change for marketers is that people do not necessarily use a browser get information, such as restaurant reviews and product recommendations.

That in turn means traditional search engine optimization tactics are less effective. Also, social networking sites increasingly are being to search for content, information or products, which likewise has implications for online and mobile marketers.

Search Optimization in the Mobile Age

Mobile Value Shifting to Internet, Text, Trefis Says

The mobile phone business is the largest contributor of value to the stocks of three major carriers with interests in landline and wireless services. About 43 percent of AT&T's equity value is attributable to mobile revenue, Verizon 34 percent of Verizon's equity value and 89 percent of Sprint's value, according to Trefis.

The shift from mobile voice to mobile data has implications for where the value of each stock comes from and how the mobile carriers will compete in the future, as well. For example, 55 percent of Sprint’s value comes from its mobile voice plans and phones business, while another 34 percent of value comes from Sprint’s mobile Internet business. The value of the Internet segment will grow.

Trefis estimates that AT&T’s text messaging and Internet revenue per mobile subscriber for 2009 increased by 21 percent to $14.5 per subscriber, for example.

AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ) and Sprint (S) Stocks: Mobile Internet and Texting Crucial

What Will LTE Mobile Operators Do About Voice?

Though it isn't by any means a show stopper, mobile operators launching Long Term Evolution networks still are considering several different ways of handling voice services.

In some, perhaps nearly all cases, LTE will be introduced as a data-only service. Mobile handsets typically will be introduced gradually as consumers decide to jump from their 3G services to 4G. Aside from native 4G voice protocols, operators always have the option to default back to 3G for voice.

That's the way the communications business is: there are many "legacy" applications, processes and issues that must be incorporated when migrating to a next-generation network.

Voice and LTE – What’s An Operator to Do? | BMI-TechKnowledge

RIM Execs Deny Apple Test Data on Signal Fade

The Research in Motion "BlackBerry Bold" device, as tested by Apple, appears to show the same signal fade issues as the Apple iPhone 4 when held in certain ways. RIM executives deny they have a signal reception problem.

watch the demo: signal fades

"Apple's claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public's understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple's difficult situation," say Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, RIM Co-CEOs. They don't specifically refute the Apple test data, though, which is odd.

They simply say "RIM is a global leader in antenna design" and say RIM "has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage."

Again, that doesn't specifically address the Apple test data.

link

Smartphone Antenna Performance: BlackBerry, Droid Have the Same Problem?

Apple says other smartphones, such as the BlackBerry Bold and Droid Eris, have the same problem with signal attenuation when the devices are held.

Mobile phone signal attenuation happens whenever a signal is obstructed, Apple notes. The density and composition of the human hand can cause attenuation to a greater degree than some other materials.

On a mobile phone, signal loss typically occurs when your hand attenuates the most sensitive part of the antenna. Apple even has put together videos demonstrating how different grips cause attenuation on many popular smartphones, not just the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

Apple - Smartphone Antenna Performance

See Steve Jobs Discuss "Antenna-gate"

watch the video (you may need QuickTime). You didn't think Apple would post on YouTube, did you?

Droid X Sells Out

The Motorola Droid X is sold out online and in certain parts of the country at retail Verizon and Best Buy stores, despite Verizon Wireless' insistence on Wednesday that it would have plenty of the phones in stock.

You will now have to wait until July 23 if you want a Droid X if you didn't get one Thursday.

Droid X Sells Out Despite Verizon Preparation - PCWorld

Verizon Wireless Launches Droid X

Verizon Wireless now is selling the Droid X, manufactured by Motorola, for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

The Droid X runs Android and features a 4.3-inch screen, an HD camcorder, 8 megapixel camera, 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities, 8 gigabyte of memory onboard and a 16GB memory card. The new 32GB SanDisk "microSDHC" card allows customers to expand Droid X’s memory to 40GB. Verizon Wireless is the only retailer that offers customers the 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card.

Droid X Launched Today by Verizon Wireless

You might be spending so much time following Apple's iPhone 4 fix that this one didn't get the attention it deserves. It happens, sometimes.

Free Bumpers for All iPhone 4 Buyers, Apple Says

Apple CEO Steve Jobs says the signal reception issue "affects a very-small percentage of users," Jobs says. "I have gotten 5,000 emails from users who say they never see the problem and can't figure it out."

The data suggests this (issue) has been blown out of proportion," he says.

What does Apple plan to do? IoS 4 fixed the signal strength display problem. We have bumper cases and will give one for every iPhone 4, through Sept. 30, 2010. Users who bought a bumper will get a refund. "But we can't make enough ourselves, so we'll source some other cases and give you a choice," he says.

Full refunds will be given for any iPhone 4 units returned undamaged within 30 days.

Lack of Cases an Issue, Steve Jobs Suggests

About 80 percent of new iPhones go out of the store with a case," says Steve Jobs, Apple CEO. "Just 20 percent of iPhone 4s left the store with a case." That means many more people were using an iPhone 4 without the case that would prevent the antenna signal strength problem.

iPhone 4 Drops 1 More Call Per 100, AT&T Data Shows

"AT&T has given us call drop information and that shows call drop data and that is proprietary, but the delta from the iPhone 3GS to the iPhone 4 shows that, for every 100 calls made, call drops on the iPhone 4 does drop more calls than the 3GS," says Steve Jobs, Apple CEO. But how many more? "Less than one additional call per 100, compared to the iPhone 3GS."

iPhone 4 Return Rates A Third of iPhone 3GS, Jobs Says

The iPhone 3GS is the best-selling smartphone in history, and return rates were six percent, Jobs said. For the iPhone 4, return rates are 1.7 percent.