Samsung Galaxy S II HD Coming to Canada, iPhone Resale Value 63% After One Year, Android 46% & Facebook Talks About Social Games and Mobile Apps

Vonage Brings Free Calling and Messaging to iPhone, Android
Vonage on Wednesday unveiled a new mobile app for the iPhone and Android smartphones that affords free calling and messaging along with cheap international calling rates. Vonage Mobile allows users to make free “high-definition” voice over IP calls among each other over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G data connections, and low-cost calls can also be placed through the app to any landline or cell phone globally.
BGR

Samsung Galaxy S II HD Coming to Canada
It seems Samsung is intent to keep making their brand known in Canada – according to our sources I can confirm that the next major device after the Galaxy Note will be the Galaxy SII HD (this is also known as the AT&T SkyRocket HD). The GS II HD will come packed with a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280 x 720.
MobileSyrup

iPhone Resale Value 63% After One Year, Android 46%
All smartphones do not depreciate equally. 18 months after purchase, iPhones can be sold for 53% of their original price, while Androids can only be sold for 42% and BlackBerries for 41% on average according to a study by Y Combinator second-hand price guide startup Priceonomics.
TechCrunch

Facebook Talks About Social Games and Mobile Apps for 2012
Facebook revealed its roadmap for social games and mobile apps for the rest of the year at the Inside Social Apps 2012 conference on Wednesday in San Francisco — and it’s good news for app developers. The mobile space presents a huge opportunity to create cross-platform social games, said Carl Sjogreen, director of product management at Facebook.
Mashable

Rogers Giving New and Existing Customers a Free 6-Month BBM Music, Kyocera DuraPlus Announced & LG Reports Second Straight Loss in Q4

Here’s The Supposed Launch Date For iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 will launch at Apple’s WWDC event, according to a report by Daiwa Securities cited by DigiTimes. WWDC is Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference, held in June each year. It’s an event where Apple showcases the latest and greatest of its technology for developer use.
Business Insider

Kyocera DuraPlus: a Sprint Phone So Masculine It’ll Kick Your Face in for Misdialing
Sprint’s announced that it’ll carry the Kyocera DuraPlus — a rugged cellphone that recalls a lifetime of tedious internet memes. It’s certified to “Military Standard 810G,” for its resistance to dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, humidity and it’s able to withstand water depths of one meter for, erm, up to half an hour.
Egadget

LG Reports Second Straight Loss in Q4
LG Electronics on Wednesday posted its second consecutive quarterly loss despite record flat-panel TV shipments and solid performance from its mobile handset division. The South Korea-based electronics vendor recorded revenue of KRW 13.81 trillion, or approximately $12.05 billion USD, in the fourth quarter of 2011 along with an operating profit of KRW 23 billion, or about $20 million USD.
BGR

Rogers Giving New and Existing Customers a Free 6-Month BBM Music Trial
RIM launched their BBM Music app back in November offered BlackBerry users the ability to discover and share music with their BBM contacts. RIM first offered up a 60-day trial, then recently extended it to 120-days for “new BBM Music users only”. After the trial period the cost is $4.99/month.
MobileSyrup

TELUS is Not Introducing a Premium 4G LTE-only Rate Plan, Google Tells Android Devs to Kick the Menu Button & Could a BBM App Save the BlackBerry?

TELUS is Not Introducing a Premium 4G LTE-only Rate Plan
TELUS’ LTE network is coming soon, very soon. Employees have just begun training and from an internal doc we’ve received it states that “TELUS’ network evolution to 4G LTE is on track to launch in early 2012, but most likely it’ll be live within weeks. It’s already known that they’ll be releasing the LTE-capable Samsung Galaxy Note and the Tab 8.9 – plus you’ll also probably see some internet sticks.
MobileSyrup

Google Tells Android Devs to Kick the Menu Button to the Curb
If you’ve seen Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus in action, then it should be clear that the menu button has no future in the Android ecosystem. In order to drive that point home, Google has posted over at the Android Developer blog urging app creators to “say goodbye to the menu button.”
Engadget

Apple’s Mobile Web Share Reportedly Slid in Q4 as Android Took No.1 Spot
Although Apple outsold all Android vendors in the fourth quarter, the Cupertino-based company’s share of mobile internet usage is reportedly beginning to slide. An analysis of last year’s Internet usage shows that in the United States, the proportion of Android mobile web visitors overtook Apple users by the end of the year, according to 51Degrees.mobi.
BGR

Could a BBM App Save the BlackBerry?
Salvation for RIM could lie in licensing its popular services to other handset makers and software companies. “We see a licensing deal and other potential software monetisation strategies as a path to unlocking value,” says Jefferies bank analyst Peter Misek, who suggests BBM be made available to Google and Apple phones as an app and that a similar deal be offered to enterprises for the secure email service.
Guardian

CIBC’s Site is Optimized for All Smartphones, Windows Phone Will Beat The iPhone By 2015 & Why Apple is Manufacturing Its iPhone in China, Not the U.S.

CIBC’s New Mobile Site is Optimized for All Smartphones
If you bank at CIBC and have a BlackBerry, iPhone or Android device you can download their app via the respected app stores. This gives you the usual features such as finding an ATM, looking up your account balances, transferring funds and contact a branch.
MobileSyrup

Leaked Sony Image: Is This the ST25i Kumquat?
It looks like one of the jilted partners in the Sony Ericsson split is doing all it can to ruin the nice surprises planned for next month’s MWC. An image has appeared at Xperia Blog that purports to be of the ST25i Kumquat, which, if you’ve been paying attention is the cheapest of the three phones due in April listed on the leaked roadmap from a few days ago.
Engadget

Another Analyst Firm Says That Windows Phone Will Beat The iPhone By 2015
Windows Phone will surpass iPhone in market share in 2015, according to research firm iSuppli.
iSuppli attributes the giant increase in market share over the next few years “largely” to the introduction of the Nokia Lumia 900.
Business Insider

Why Apple is Manufacturing Its iPhone in China, Not the U.S.
According to the Times, the decision to turn to China is in large part about scale, rather than costs. Had the iPhone been built in the U.S., the added cost for U.S. labor capital would amount to approximately $65 extra for each phone sold, but it would not be possible to innovate at the rate Apple is looking to drive change if the phone was made in the U.S.
GottaBeMobile

Maker Of Taxi-Ordering App myTaxi Raises €10 Million From Daimler, Lars Hinrichs

Intelligent Apps, the Hamburg, Germany-based startup behind popular taxi ordering smartphone application myTaxi, has raised 10 million euros in growth funding from car2go, a subsidiary of Daimler, Germany’s third largest carmaker. XING and Hackfwd founder Lars Hinrichs also participated in the financing round, as did previous backers T-Venture (Deutsche Telekom) and KfW Bankengruppe.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, Daimler took a 15 percent stake in the mobile apps developer.

Intelligent Apps claims myTaxi has a market share of no less than 80 percent in Europe, and is still growing fast. The app has been downloaded 800,000 times to date, and 7,000 taxi drivers have registered for the service so far. Currently available in over 30 cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Intelligent Apps says it aims to develop strategic partnerships with its investors, Deutsche Telekom and car2go.

For your background: Daimler is said to manufacture more than 60 percent of all taxis in Germany.

The startup says it will focus on expanding in countries like Spain, England and The Netherlands.

Last Summer, Sarah Lacy wrote a post about another European company in this space: Get Taxi.

CrunchBase Information

myTaxi

Information provided by CrunchBase

Galaxy Nexus Android Smartphone – How to Boost the VoIP Experience

Hundreds of android phones have been released over the past few years in the market, but none of them has been so much awaited for, as Galaxy Nexus Android Smartphone. The fundamental reason for this was Google’s AK Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich. It is virtually the first device that has come up with the latest and major Android updates, and it has officially been released to showcase Android 4.0 and its innovative features and applications.

As per the experts’ opinion, Ice Cream Sandwich is not only a classic but also much simplified and polished version of Android. With large and animated display, decent battery and a polished Android 4.0, this cell phone offers great experience. However, for people, who want to save money and enjoy Smartphone utilities together, this device is a great gift. In the following lines, there is a brief but highly useful set of suggestions to boost your experience with the latest Nexus handset.  

Boosting the Experience with Reference to VoIP

There are lots of things that you can do, in general, to make your experience more joyful. The best thing that you can do is, download and install the additional optional applications, which may help you manage your life, business etc. One such example of optional apps is VoIP, the traditional voice over internet protocol service applications. By just installing VoIP apps on your smart device, you can avail regular VoIP services on your phone. The device offers a comprehensive range of VoIP apps which could enable VoIP calls on your device.

As everyone is aware of the fact, VoIP is a process, where you make regular calls by using your internet connections. Due to the growing popularity of Smartphone devices, almost every big VoIP provider is offering services for the smartphones. For Samsung Nexus, you can get a bulk of VoIP apps from Android market. Some of the most popular apps are Bria and Acrobit; however, you can select the one, which is compatible with the services of your provider.

By comparison and research, it has been proved that VoIP calls are far cheaper than that of cellular and landline. Hence, by using it on your device, you remain in charge of your budget control because you make regular calls using VoIP, which saves your precious credit and gives you joyful experience in a cost effective manner.

Many of us are unable to enjoy the devices only because of our inability to learn its control and management process. Nexus’ 4.65-inch 720p display has a great number of applications, which may irk you in the beginning.  Moreover, the bad news is that in the United States, its GSM version is not available yet.If you are not a tech savvy person, you may need to read the tutorials, reviews and guides to learn the device specifications and their usage.

How to Save Money?

People always love the areas, where they can have added benefits in a cost effective manner. In the case of smartphones, free apps provide the same opportunity to you, where anybody can download and use them. VoIP app is a good example of that, which enables any user to use his singed up VoIP services on the device.

The medium of activation is very easy, as you just need VoIP apps on your device and a signed up VoIP account if you have any. Moreover, if you do not have it, you can sign up for that by going to the official website of Vonage, Axvoice or Skype, and then download the preferred apps for that particular provider. Selection of the package should be made carefully, this may take a bit of your time and effort, but ultimately this will save you hundreds of dollars every year.  

Editor’s note: The above article is a guest post by Derek Miller, a researcher and technology analyst at Axvoice. He keeps focus on the industry trends, VoIP industry, comparative analysis, and VoIP apps and writes on various dimensions of industry, its products and players.

iPhones Account for 78% of Mobile Video Viewing, Sony Ericsson Teases Next Xperia Device & Android Market Is Poised To Pass Apple’s App Store

With 400,000 Apps, The Android Market Is Poised To Pass Apple’s App Store
Apple’s App Store still has a greater selection with more than 500,000 apps, but Distimo says the Android Market is closing the gap. Google had 300,000 apps as of August 2011, so it only took four months to reach 400,000. It took Apple seven months to jump from 300,000 to 400,000 apps.
Business Insider

iPhone 4S Coming to China and 21 Other Countries Jan. 13
Apple fans in China and 21 other countries can snag the iPhone 4S on Jan. 13 for the first time. The latest iPhone will land in mainland China 10 days before the Chinese New Year, Jan. 23.
Mashable

Sony Ericsson Teases Next Xperia Device to Launch at CES
We’ve seen a few leaks of upcoming Sony Ericsson devices, namely the Xperia arc HD aka Nozomi and another device, the yet-unseen LT28at. Both appear to have 720p displays and high-end specs, but Sony Ericsson is teasing one of these phones on their Facebook wall today, expected to launch next week at CES.
MobileSyrup

iPhones Account for 78% of Mobile Video Viewing
A new Infographic from Wistia explores where we watch the most video and how likely we are to watch the full video based on the device we are using. When it comes to consuming videos on the go, the iPhone is at the top with 78% of mobile viewing. Having used both an iPhone 4S and several Android devices this makes loads of sense.
GottaBeMobile

Apple iOS Dominates Mobile Browsing Market, Rogers and Fido Launching the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on January 10th & Nokia Lumia 900 Specs Trickle Out

Apple iOS Dominates Mobile Browsing Market in December
According to statistics from NetApplications, Apple’s iOS platform made up over a majority (52%) of mobile web access last month, besting Android 16.2% mobile market share. In fact, Android placed third in December behind Java ME (21.27%). Rounding out the top five was Nokia’s Symbian platform (5.8%) and BlackBerry (3.5%).
Mashable

Rogers and Fido Launching the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on January 10th
Good news has come forth today as we’ve been given word that Galaxy Nexus will be making its way to both Rogers and Fido on Tuesday, January 10th. According to this internal doc it states that stores will be receiving them shortly and it’ll be widely available for sale in just 1-week.
MobileSyrup

LG Optimus 2 Graces LG Web Site
LG has revealed details of the LG Optimus 2 on its web site. This follow-up device runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and features a 3.2-inch touch display with 320 x 480 pixels. The Optimus 2 is powered by an 800MHz processor and supports CDMA EVDO Rev. A networks in the 800/1900MHz bands. Other features include a 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus and video capture; Bluetooth 3.0+EDR, GPS, and Wi-Fi; and support for microSD cards up to 32GB.
Phone Scoop

Nokia Ace (Lumia 900) Specs Trickle Out
Until now the 4G LTE-capable Nokia Ace (or Lumia 900, if you prefer) has been largely a mystery. Today, however, PocketNow claims to have confirmed the specs on this bad boy. If true, we’re looking at a 4.3-inch WVGA display (a tad larger than what we’ve seen so far out of the Lumia line), an 8-megapixel camera, a front-facing camera, and 512MB of RAM.
TechCrunch

Bell Re-launches the Early Hardware Upgrade Program, SkyDrive and Windows Phone Cozy Up & Samsung Claims 300 Million Phones Sold in 2011

Bell Re-launches the Early Hardware Upgrade Program
Bell gave customers in a contract the option to upgrade early by their “Early Hardware Upgrade” Program (HUP). The associated costs would be $15 multiplied by the number of months you have left on your contract.
MobileSyrup

Samsung Claims 300 Million Phones Sold in 2011
We may not be total whizzes when it comes to numbers, but 300 million sure seems like a big one and Samsung is no doubt pretty chuffed with it. Unsurprisingly, it attributes much of those sales to its flagship Galaxy S2 phone, which has been phenomenally popular in the smart phone world since its launch in April.
Cnet

Top 10 Tips for Using Your Feature Phone as a Smartphone
Maybe you don’t need a smartphone, or you don’t want the high monthly data bill. Don’t worry, because you can do nearly all the mobile tricks they can if you know how to use your feature phone.
Mashable

SkyDrive and Windows Phone Cozy up, Apps Can Now Directly Integrate With the Cloud
Microsoft, in an effort to continue integrating SkyDrive into Windows Phone, made a few changes to the cloud service’s API this week. The new adjustments now give third-party Windows Phone apps full access to SkyDrive, complete with the ability to upload and share pictures, videos and docs.
Engadget

iPhone 4S Deemed Best iPhone Yet by Owners, Galaxy Nexus Runs Impressive 4G LTE Speed Test & Public Mobile Introduces U.S. Roaming

iPhone 4S Deemed Best iPhone Yet by Owners
A recent study carried out by ChangeWave Research found that 96% of iPhone 4S owners are satisfied with their smartphone, with 77% of survey respondents having said they were very satisfied with the new iPhone and 19% claiming to be somewhat satisfied. About 1% said they were somewhat unsatisfied with the phone and another 1% said they were very unsatisfied.
BGR

Verizon-branded Galaxy Nexus Runs Impressive 4G LTE Speed Test on Two Bars
How fast can the Samsung Galaxy Nexus run on Verizon’s 4G network? Pretty darn fast, according to a freshly leaked video. Originally spotted by the folks over at Phandroid, the clip shows a Verizon-branded Galaxy Nexus performing rather admirably on a speed trial from Speedtest.net, reaching download speeds of 8.5Mbps, and upstream rates of 2Mbps — all on just two bars of signal.
Engadget

Public Mobile Introduces U.S. Roaming
Today Public went south. The ber entry level cost conscious carrier has introduced U.S roaming. In an internal doc we received it states that their “roaming coverage has expanded with the addition of a new US roaming partner. Customers can now talk and text in the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (Alaska and Montana are not included).
MobileSyrup

Want to Find If Your Phone Has Carrier IQ? There’s an App for That
It’s hard to even find out if your phone has Carrier IQ installed, but now an Android developer created an app that does exactly that. Voodoo Carrier IQ detector is an Android app, and it’s currently available for free on the Android Market.
Mashable

Lumia Line to Get Nokia Drive Update, 18% of Canadian Drivers Admit to Talking While Driving & HTC Tapped to Build Facebook Phone

Survey Finds That 18% of Canadian Drivers Admit to Talking/Texting While Driving
A new survey has been released by insurance company Kanetix that reveals talking and texting while driving is still very prevalent. The survey was conducted between October 24th and October 26th of 1,344 Canadians and found that 18% of voters admitted to “Talking/Texting on my cell while driving”.
MobileSyrup

Lumia Line to Get Nokia Drive Update, Fully Cuts the Network Cord
Since the announcement of the Nokia Lumia launch, Nokia Drive’s been wrestled free from its polycarbonate chains, but the perks of being a Lumia owner are still incoming.
Engadget

HTC Reportedly Tapped to Build Facebook Phone, Code-named ‘Buffy’
On Monday, AllThingsD said it has learned that Facebook is working closely with HTC on a new phone currently codenamed “Buffy.” The device will supposedly run a modified version of Android that, obviously, will put Facebook’s services smack in the faces of its users.
BGR

Apple on Track to Be the World’s No. 1 PC Vendor Next Year
Apple‘s long climb back from the margins of the PC industry will culminate in world domination next year, according to one researcher — but only if you consider the iPad a PC. Canalys is projecting that Apple will overtake Hewlett-Packard as the leading global PC vendor sometime before the second half of 2012.
Mashable

Virgin Launches New Incoming 35 Plan, RIM is Committed to the Keyboard & Nokia`s Planning a High-End Lumia

Virgin Launches New Incoming 35 Plan, Gives Unlimited Incoming Calls
The best feature of the new Virgin “Incoming 35 plan is that it gives you Unlimited incoming calls. In addition, included is 200 anytime minutes, evenings starting at 5pm, unlimited weekends, Unlimited Canada, U.S. and International text and picture messaging.
MobileSyrup

RIM: ‘We’re Committed to the Keyboard’
In spite of all the gossip about BBX screens becoming more tablet-like and the rumored BlackBerry ‘London’ being QWERTY-less, RIM will “maintain choice within its product portfolio” and is “absolutely committed to building more great keyboard-based smartphones.”
Engadget

Google Voice for Android Updated With Group Text Support
Google updated its Google Voice client for Android smartphones on Tuesday with support for group texting. In addition, the client now supports the ability to prefetch voicemails so that you can listen to them when you’re outside data coverage.
BGR

Nokia Planning a Windows 8 Tablet and a High-End Lumia
“(Lumia 800) is just the equivalent of the BMW 5 Series. We will soon have a full range with a Series 7 and Series 3,” said Amsellem in an interview with French newspaper LesEchos.
Mashable