GLG News by Mobile Handset Retailers

With weak consumer spending, Apple is trying to draw traffic to its own stores with iPhone offers such as registering online for store pickup and selling an unlocked version in Hong Kong.

The AT&T reorganization into four units lacks a separate division for Enterprise Mobile Solutions to promote field communications, realtime applications, and workforce productivity.

RIM’s consumer smartphones are well-timed with the enterprise spending slowdown, but the forecast of lower gross margins show the dependence on carrier’s marketing and subsidized pricing.

The AT&T and DirecTV contract indicates the mutual need to: 1) Replace DSL and satellite TV disconnects; 2) Compete against the cable triple play; 3) Acquire higher end customers.

While there is a definite impact on the low-income sector, and cable/telcos are seeing the impact with users canceling subscriptions, wireless/cellular does carry easy access (good for consumers) and higher margins (less susceptible economic low down) and will weather the storm. So yes there will...

Wireless services have become such an integral part of our everyday lives that the current financial turmoil will not significantly impact the mobile market.

Google's Android starts with one big disadvantage -- time -- and one big advantage -- brand name.  But they are competing against another huge brand in Apple who also controlled the hardware and software.  Though this is directly in line with their strategy, they are leaving part of the OS...

China Mobile is keen on the Android phones.  In addition to HTC, China Mobile has formed a joint venture with a local startup to build Android phones. 

The HTC Android phone will be closely compared with the 3G iPhone.  Most likely the look and feel won't be as sleek as the iPhone.  However, Android phones will have the processing speed that is hard to beat.  In addition, the open handset model features may not initially be impressive. ...

AT&T’s CTO tries to reduce the marketing impact of iPhone problems with comments about the ROI on technology improvements from smartphone subsidy costs and network upgrades.