Motorola Dumps $1 Billion Into China R&D

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Motorola has committed to investing another $1 billion into research and development in China. The company has invested a total of $3.8 billion in the country since they started doing business there. The R&D staff in China is now at 3,000 out of a total of 10,000 employees in the country.

“Our R&D centers in China are an important part of our global R&D system, and this strategy won’t change,” Kao Ruey-bin, President of Motorola’s business in China, told the China Daily. “Our China plants are already producing 3G equipment now for global sales, so we are well prepared, both in terms of R&D and production capability, for 3G business development in China.”

Motorola is currently banking on 3G technology in China being a big hit.

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Pantech C810 Duo Red Smartphone

The Pantech C810 Duo Red Smartphone offers something many other Smartphones do not, two slides- one for a full QWERTY keyboard and another for calling functions. The quad band/ 3G phone is equipped with Windows Mobile 6.0, an internal GPS that works with Telenav software, stereo bluetooth, a 1.2 megapixel camera/video recorder.

The Pantech C810 runs on AT&T’s 3G HSDPA/UMTS network for fast Internet browsing, high-speed music downloads, video streaming/casting. It has 50 MB of internal memory with expandable MicroSD memory cards.

This phone is serviced by AT&T and has a list price of $179.99, not including rebates, discounts or airtime.

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Little Tikes Recalls Chit N’ Chat Toy Cell Phone

If you’ve hooked junior up with a Chit N’ Chat toy cell phone made by Little Tikes, you’ll want to be sure that he isn’t playing with it.

The toy cell phone was recalled because it posed a choking hazard. A faulty hinge could break off and be a danger to young children. Chit n chat phones that have a screw visible at the hinge aren’t affected.

These toy cell phones were sold in stores from June 2006 to March 2008. The recall affects around 1 million toys that were made in China. Consumers can call 1-888-620-0930 for more information.

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Verizon Wireless Launches MobiGamz

Are you looking for yet another way to while away the hours on your Verizon Wireless cell phone?

Verizon Wireless recently announced that they’ve launched MobiGamz, a Flash Lite game that allows players to download, play, rate, and post high scores.

MobiGamz allows subscribers to play a number of popular flash games from different genres, including sport, arcade, puzzle, and board categories.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Mobitween to release its exciting assortment of Flash-based mobile entertainment. We are very excited and proud to be offering Mobigamz through Verizon Wireless – which has proven itself to be an innovator in the wireless market,” said Marc Alloul, Mobitween’s executive vice president. “Along with the acceleration of Web-mobile convergence and the growing availability of rich-media handsets, we hope these emerging and promising formats will contribute to an improved mobile gaming experience.”

MobiGamz is available on handsets that offer “Get It Now.” Mobile handsets that are compatible include the MOTORAZR™ V3c, MOTORAZR™ V3m and the MOTOKRZR™ K1m; the LG VX8100, LG VX8300, V by LG, enV™ by LG, and Chocolate by LG; and the Samsung SCH-a930 and the Samsung SCH-a950.

MobiGamz must be downloaded and costs $2.99 for a one-time use, $5.49 for three uses and $8.49 for six uses. You’ll find it at the Get Fun & Games shopping aisle in the Get It Now® virtual store.

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Western Europe Mobile Phone Sales Down

Gartner recently reported that sales of mobile phones in Western Europe has fallen by 16.4% for the first quarter of this year, as compared to sales from the same period last year.

It’s the first decline in sales recorded since Gartner Inc. began tracking sales in 2001.

The reasons cited for the decline in sales is longer wireless contracts, so people aren’t as likely to upgrade and a lack of exciting new mobile phone handsets in the last quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008.

Analysts expect that these sales will pick up in the second part of the year when manufacturers release new phones, but forecast that overall mobile phone handset sales will be “flat” in Western Europe in 2008.

Are you in the market for a new cell phone? Be sure to compare mobile phones before you buy.

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Nokia And Samsung Take Market Share From Motorola

Nokia and Samsung Electronics are the number one and number two maker of cell phones, as judged by total units shipped. Motorola has lost more market share to fall further behind into third place.

Nokia raised its market share by unit sales to 39.1% from 35.5% a year earlier, Gartner said. Samsung increased its share to 14.4% from 12.4%, while Motorola fell to 10.2% from 18.4%. LG Electronics increased its share to 8% from 6.2%.

Nokia benefited from the broadest product portfolio, which ranges from entry-level phones to models with satellite navigation. The Finnish company faces tougher competition in the high-end section and needs to improve user friendliness and design of its phones, Ms Milanesi said.

Samsung and LG, both from South Korea, benefited from demand for touch-screen models, a feature that Apple introduced on its iPhone last year. Both companies also increased their market share sequentially, while Nokia and Motorola lost ground.

The main reason for Motorola slipping so far behind in the race has been the lack of blockbuster models, as well as their lack of low entry phones in emerging markets. Analysts don’t expect these trends to change that rapidly.

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Samsung Buying Mobile Chipsets From Infineon

Samsung has begun buying mobile chipsets from German supplier Infineon, reducing their dependence on chipsets from QualComm. The company says the move is strictly related to being more cost competitive.

“In order to raise cost competitiveness, we have been supplied by Infineon,” Samsung spokesman Kwak Bum-joon told Reuters. “We have been diversifying parts supply sources.”

According to another official at Samsung, the chipsets from Infineon are 20% cheaper than comparable ones by Qualcomm with no noticeable decline in quality.

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Rwanda Estimates 5 Million Mobile Subscribers By 2012

The use of cell phones is on the rise everywhere. Romain Murenzi, the Minister in the Office of the President in Charge of Science and Technology estimates that by 2012 there will be 5 million cell phone subscribers in Rwanda. There are approximately 600,000 mobile subscribers in the country now.

Romain Murenzi said in a recent telephone interview

“We will be the first country in Africa to reach 50 percent of the population being mobile subscribers and 100 percent of eligible users (over 16 years) In the next three years, MTN and Rwandatel targets to reach 2million and with a 3rd mobile operator expected next year, 5 million mobile subscribers are viable.”

Rwanda is primarily serviced by MTN Rwandacell. Rwandatel is soon going to be offering wireless service and hopes to service 600,000 subscribers. The Rwandan Government is working with these companies to improve wireless infrastructure to improve connectivity in rural areas and hope to fill gaps in coverage.

It come as no surprise that Africa wants more wireless, it can make life a heck of a lot easier after all.

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LG Electronics May Cut Handset Prices

After watching their competitors, LG Electronics may end up cutting handset prices. Rumors that Nokia would be cutting their handset prices by up to 20% ended up sending shivers up the spines of LG investors, who gave the stock a haircut. LG says they’ll fight fire with fire when it comes to a price war.

“Price competition is inevitable unless we can create a unique value to differentiate (our products) from Nokia’s,” said LG Electronics Vice Chairman and CEO Nam Yong.

“That’s the market principle. (But) we will try to attract new customers with competitive products rather than cheap prices,” he said.

As always, the danger with cutting price is that is that market share comes at the cost of profitability. With cell phone makers margins already under pressure, a prolonged price war might prove quite damaging.

The plus side is: more cheap phones for consumers.

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Japanese Fear Mobile Phone Safety

The Japanese have been the most gung-ho country in the world when it comes to embracing wireless technology, but now that enthusiasm has some people in Japanese society concerned about the effect this has on safety.

A Japanese official said that some parents had gone too far with how easily they’ll give a child a cell phone.

“Japanese parents are giving mobile phones to their children without giving it enough thought. In Japan, mobile phones have become an expensive toy,” he said.

With more and more wireless devices connected to the world, and the internet, it’s understandable how privacy issues will continue to be a greater concern for everyone in coming years.

Hiroya Masuda, Japan’s telecommunications minister, said the government will be putting more pressure on cell phone makers to build security into their products.

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