Adding in Smart Mail Karbonn’s Push Mail solution’ and ‘Karbonn Instant Messenger’ (KIM), the Karbonn KT-21 Express revolutionizes the Indian mobile market with a first of its kind integration of faster push mail services, thus providing the feature of E-mail on the go to the discerning mobile users of the country.

Providing a vista for Karbonn users to send and receive mails real time from their devices, the ‘Karbonn Smart Mail’, a push mail solution from Karbonn powered by Emoze allows users to easily and securely access both enterprise and personal email accounts, synchronize email contacts and calendar, view office attachments, send voice messages via email and chat in real time with their friends.

By reducing battery consumption and cutting down on data charges, the push mail facility also revolutionizes the way users access E-mails on the go while providing them a vista to integrate a range of email accounts like Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, GMail, Outlook, and POP3/IMAP, on their devices.

“The fully loaded Karbonn KT-21 Express also achieves an industry first by bringing in the Karbonn Instant Messenger (KIM), a PIN based real time text application which makes chatting easier with friends using the KT21 and also lets them stay connected to other friends buddies by configuring GTalk and Facebook accounts on their devices. Also by bringing live Television viewing experience into its fold, the Karbonn KT-21 Express affords to its users the revolutionary ‘NexgTV’ application which allows users to watch 50+ Live TV Channels on the phone”, Shashin Devsare, Executive Director, Karbonn Mobiles.

Article source: http://www.telecomtiger.com/fullstory.aspx?passfrom=vasstory&storyid=14293

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“Showrooming” … a new craze allowing shoppers to compare prices by scanning barcodes. Photo: Joe Armao

IMAGINE walking into a department store, trying on a pair of shoes or moisturiser, then pointing your mobile phone at the barcode to get a list of real time pricing information from competitors offering the same pair of shoes or facial cream a few dollars cheaper just a few doors away.

It is a phenomenon known as ”showrooming” and it is causing headaches for traditional retailers in the US, who are already under siege from the online price discounting that has wreaked havoc with their business models. For customers, the mobile commerce apps give them even greater power to compare prices while they are shopping.

In Australia, a few retailers have started experimenting with mobile apps but they have a long way to go to catch up to US retailers, says Paul Budde, a telecom consultant at BuddeComm.

Mr Budde estimates smartphones have more than 50 per cent penetration, which means it is only a matter of time before the apps are offered in Australia.

Woolworths was the first big retailer to launch an app last August, with limited offerings, which included the ability for customers to scan a product’s barcode with their smartphone, add it to their shopping list and then order and pay for their groceries, which are home delivered.

Big W went a step further and launched a mobile app in November, with a feature enabling customers to scan a product in any competitor’s store and get the comparable price at Big W. In the next few weeks, it plans to expand the price comparison to over 60,000 products and offer detailed product information on more than 20,000 items.

A spokeswoman for Big W, Clare Buchanan, said the upgrades will connect to online shopping to enable customers to compare prices as well as buy instantly from Big W for home delivery or layby.

”It will also give customers tracking information about the progress of their order and SMS them when it’s about to be delivered – this feature alone is anticipated to reduce call centre volumes by about 25 per cent,” she said.

Sportsgirl is another early adopter of mobile commerce. The group’s strategic brand manager, Prue Thomas, said the decision to introduce a mobile app was a no brainer and it was growing faster than website sales.

”Our girls are on the phones 24/7 and we should be too. They can purchase as much as they want from the mobile. If they are in a store that doesn’t have the product, they can use the mobile to order it,” she said.

Ms Thomas said Sportsgirl sees the mobile not as a threat but an opportunity.

Appy shoppers - Weekend Business

Article source: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/price-war-to-intensify-as-mobiles-give-power-to-buyers-20120518-1yw15.html

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MOBILE phones have a place in schools despite Ofsted’s top inspector calling for them to be banned.

That is the view of three Vale headteachers The Bucks Herald spoke to following a call by Sir Michael Wilshaw for a blanket ban on bringing mobiles to schools because of the disruption they can cause.

Rules regarding phones at The Grange, Cottesloe and Mandeville schools vary.

The Cottesloe has the strictest policy, banning mobiles from both the classroom and break times.

Headteacher Nigel Fox said: “Once pupils come into school they remain in their bags and should not be brought out.

“For some youngsters it is almost becoming an addiction to have the phone in their hands so we have to work hard on that.”

He said a handful of pupils flout the policy and have their phones confiscated until the end of the day.

However, Mr Fox resisted demands for a complete ban.

“You do have the safety aspect.

“Youngsters here are bused in so when it is dark or maybe they have missed the bus they can contact their parents. They can be extremely helpful in these instances.”

At the Grange phones are allowed to be used at break times – but those who abuse the rules can have their mobiles confiscated for up to a week.

Headteacher Vince Murray said: “Our policy is no mobile phones in and around the building – but if you are in the playground, yes, by all means. It is something we have had in place for a number of years and parents are generally supportive.”

Although phones can be confiscated for a week, Mr Murray added there is a ‘caveat’ that mobiles are returned if parents can prove a genuine need for them.

But he said he could understand where Mr Wilshaw was ‘coming from’.

“It is not a massive concern for us but at the same time if you are in a situation where students are texting and emailing and the phones are going ping all the time then clearly it is disruptive to teaching taking place.”

Mandeville School used to have a blanket ban in place – but headteacher Peter Patchett said rules have been relaxed and that phones can actually ‘improve learning by allowing access to databases and statistics’.

However, unless a teacher instructs that a mobile can be brought out, they must otherwise remain on silent in the pupils’ bags, he said.

But he said the school was always re-evaluating the policy.

“If we feel young people are abusing that privilege then we will ban the devices from coming into school.”

Have you got an education story? Contact news editor Adam King on 01296 619764.

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Article source: http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/local-news/mobiles-do-have-a-use-in-school-1-3854082

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Samsung’s mobile phone sales hit 86.6 million – a massive 25.9% jump from last year and now accounts for every one in five mobiles sold.

Nokia still managed to get the No.2 spot, however, with 83.1 m sales.

This figure was much lower than estimates by Strategy Analytics, who crowned Samsung as the phone industry’s “star performer” last month after it was believed to have sold a massive 93.5 m handsets in Q1 ’12. (Samsung does not release the precise number of handsets sold).

But although knocked off the top spot, Apple still grew a whopping 96% following the release of iPhone 4S, selling 33.1 m iPhones and massive sales in China, now its No. 2 market outside the US.

Although iPhone sales grew phenomenally, it wasn’t enough to prevent the Galaxy S II maker from becoming the king of smartphones.

“Samsung took back the world’s No. 1 smartphone position from Apple, selling 38 million smartphones worldwide,” Gartner confirmed.

Google’s Android OS was also a winner – accounting for more than 50% of all smarties sold (56.1%) globally in the first three months 2012.

And it looks like Samsung is also king of Android with sales of its devices, which includes the S II, Y and Nexus on Ice Cream Sandwich, representing over 40% of all Droid sales globally.

Chinese brand ZTE, LG, Huawei and BlackBerry all made it into the top 10.

But significantly, no other Droid Vendor including HTC, LG or Sony achieved more than 10% sales overall. Analysts also noted  most Droid makers are “finding it hard to break the mould” and differenciate their phones in a flooded market. 

But it looks like smarties like the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy S II and HTC One X are on all on the up –  with sales soaring a whopping 45%, which suggests high end devices are now eating into basic or ‘dumb’ phones marketshare.

“Smartphone sales are becoming of paramount importance at a worldwide level,” Gartner analyst, Anshul Gupta, confirmed.

Smartphones contributed to almost 44% of Samsung’s overall sales compared to just 16 per cent for Nokia.
Smartie penetration in Australia is a massive 52% – one of the highest in the world.

Sales of high end handsets continued to drive mobile growth overall, reaching 144.4 million in Q1, up 44.7% year-over-year, Gartner confirmed.

However, sales of basic mobile or what Samsung refers to as “dumb” phones dropped 2% compared to same time 2011 – to 419.1 million – the first fall since ’09.

And as noted by previous analysts the smartphone market has become a two horse race with the top two vendors, Apple and Samsung, raising their combined share to almost 50%  – a 20% jump on a year ago.

Both iPhone and Samsung devices are widening their lead over Nokia – which saw its smartphone market share drop to 9.2%, Garnet confirmed.

“Global sales of mobile devices declined more than expected due to a slowdown in demand from the Asia/Pacific region,” said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner.

“The first quarter, traditionally the strongest quarter for Asia – driven by Chinese New Year, saw a lack of new product launches, and users delayed upgrades in the hope of better smartphone deals arriving later in the year.”

“White-box” vendors including Nokia seem to have suffered the most during Q1 due to a fall in mobiles sales and were unable to adjust production as demand slumped.

Gartner expects some of this volume to be sold during the next quarters, and anticipates a price drop as retailers look to dispose of stock – good news for consumers on a bargain hunt.

The lower results in Q1 have led us to be cautious about sales for the remainder of the year, said Annette Zimmermann, research analyst at Gartner.

However, the arrival of new versions of the Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Windows Phone OS, and iPhone 5 should drive sales in H2 in Europe and US, Gartner analysts predict.

And it looks like Samsung Co may have something to worry about in the form of new Chinese manaufacturers like Huawei and ZTE who will stiffen competition, say analysts.

However, it downgraded its estimates for 2012 mobile sales, by 20 million units, saying it “is unavoidable.”

Article source: http://smarthouse.com.au/Home_Office/Platforms/G3K8P2V6

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PUBLISHED:

16:00 EST, 19 May 2012

|

UPDATED:

18:00 EST, 19 May 2012

They’re more powerful than your PC (and the iPhone) but who will come out on top in the duel of the smartphones?

Oh no, I don’t use iPhones – I just don’t get Apple’ has become one of those conversational H-bombs that you drop to seem interesting.

A bit like not having a television or saying that you don’t ‘believe in’ using soap.

I should know. I do it all the time (the Apple one, not the one about the soap).

SAMSUNG GALAXY SIII

Out May 29. From free, samsung.com

Processor 1.4GHz

Memory 16, 32 or
64GB

Screen 4.8in

Weight 133g

HTC ONE X

From free, htc.com

Processor 1.5GHz

Memory 32GB

Screen 4.7in

Weight 130g

This year – as happened last year – Apple’s Android rivals have played their aces before Apple has even admitted it’s coming to the table with a new iPhone.

And it’s even clearer who the big boys are.

Samsung and HTC have unveiled ludicrously powerful ‘super-phones’.

If you’re wondering about the word ‘superphone’ – yes, people are using it, and the only reason I can think of is that ‘megaphone’ was already taken.

Samsung Galaxy SIII phones have a NFC (near field communication) chip to transfer files simply by tapping phones together. Clever, but I couldn’t think of a use for it other than sharing photos, and the SIII already has that covered – it recognises your friends’ faces and shares pictures with them automatically. Now that’s really clever.

Both HTC’s One X and Samsung’s Galaxy SIII are ultra-slim, HD Androids with quad-core processors – the phone equivalent of putting a fighter-jet afterburner into a Honda Civic.

Both feel almost queasily fast.

I can’t do a proper, fair comparison – I’ve had a One X in my pocket for weeks, and have been going on about the slim, slick handset like a teenager in love, but my only time with the Galaxy SIII was with a chained-down handset overseen by an affable bouncer whose eyes told me I’d die before I even got to the door if I tried to steal it.

It might be the extras that swing it, though.

No need to choose between a picture or video with the One X. It records both – 1080p HD video and 8MP image – at the same time.

The HTC’s screen is sharper, and it feels a shade faster – but Samsung’s got far more gimmicks, such as eye-tracking gizmos that keep the phone turned on if you’re still reading (essential) and a wireless charger (good to bore people with at parties – just after you’ve dropped the ‘I don’t DO Apple’ comment…).

The really big question is how Apple can possibly up the ante with these beasts already on the table.

If it actually does, of course, I’ll just think ‘conversational openers be damned’ and turn Android traitor in an instant…

Make a note of this: A really useful app

Scrapbook app Evernote: Once you start using it, you never shut up about it

The scrapbook app Evernote is like one of those hobbies such as yoga or meditation: once you start doing it, you never shut up about it.

I dabbled in Evernote’s ‘digital hoarding’ a couple of years back, but never became a wide-eyed Evernote zealot – like the people who photograph every meal they eat and store it in the app as part of their diet plans.

Sadly, I’m not even joking. This really happens.

This time round, though, a spruced-up, great-looking iPad and Android app has me tempted – although I’m unlikely to start photographing bacon rolls any time soon.

For research, work – or just unhealthy obsessions with a new hobby – it’s unbeatable

A smooth, simple interface lets you clip, post and tag everything from photos to audio files to web pages (the option to share via Evernote will pop up in your browser) – and it also works on PC, with a simple option to ‘tag’ photos and voice files to keep ‘scrapbooks’ forever.

You can search pictures for text using a built-in text-recognition system – although my spidery doctor’s prescription scrawl foxes it a lot of the time.

For research, work – or just unhealthy obsessions with a new hobby – it’s unbeatable, and the new HD iPad app is one of the most gorgeous on the new tablet, full stop.

Free, evernote.com

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Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/article-2145517/HTCs-One-X-Samsung-s-Galaxy-SIII-They-tech-worlds-hottest-mobiles-better.html

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• 63% of people admit leaving their mobile phone on the table at dinner
• More than a third of people said they cannot live without their television

By
Rob Cooper

PUBLISHED:

10:44 EST, 16 May 2012

|

UPDATED:

19:05 EST, 16 May 2012

Paying attention to your companion during a special meal out might be considered a basic courtesy.

But a survey reveals that for 68 per cent of Britons, this is no longer the case, for they would happily take a mobile phone call during a dinner date – even if they know it is not important.

The study reveals the rise of ‘Rude Britannia’ since the proliferation of smartphones, with  63 per cent leaving their devices on the table while out for dinner with a friend.

Can’t live without it: A woman looks at her mobile phone in a restaurant. 68 per cent of us would take a call while on a date, a survey has found

More than a third of those questioned admitted they would struggle to live without their mobiles.

More than half (59 per cent) keep their phones with them at all times, and 16 per cent walk around with them in their hands all the time.

One in seven of the 1,000 people polled even take their phones to the toilet with them to send text messages or check Facebook.

‘The British have always been synonymous with good manners and politeness, said Hannah Bouckley of the mobile phone company Recombu, which conducted the study.

She added: ‘The research shows we are shunning our manners due to obsessive phone addiction.

‘It was only 10 to 15 years ago when high earners and business people were the only owners of clunky mobile phones. Now everyone from young children to pensioners relies heavily on a mobile phone.

‘If we are not accepting calls and texts at dinner, we are playing games, watching videos or organising our lives with them.’

The research suggests people Britain cannot bear to be separated from their smartphones, with more than a third admitting they would struggle to live without their mobiles.

Addicted: 63 per cent of us leave our phones on the table so we don’t miss any text or call updates

Around a third – 35 per cent – said they couldn’t live without their television, 23 per cent without their laptop, three per cent would be at a loss if they did not have their iPod, and two per cent would struggle without their tablet.

The survey also found Brits never want to miss anything, with more than half – 59 per cent – keeping their phones on them at all times and 16 per cent continuously walking around with their mobile in their hands.

One in seven of the 1,000 people polled (14 per cent) even take their phone to the toilet with them to bash out a text or check Facebook while they are at work.

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Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2145338/Rude-Britannia-A-happy-mobile-dinner-date.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

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IMAGINE walking into a department store, trying on a pair of shoes or moisturiser, then pointing your mobile phone at the barcode to get a list of real time pricing information from competitors offering the same pair of shoes or facial cream a few dollars cheaper just a few doors away.

It is a phenomenon known as ”showrooming” and it is causing headaches for traditional retailers in the US, who are already under siege from the online price discounting that has wreaked havoc with their business models. For customers, the mobile commerce apps give them even greater power to compare prices while they are shopping.

In Australia, a few retailers have started experimenting with mobile apps but they have a long way to go to catch up to US retailers, says Paul Budde, a telecom consultant at BuddeComm.

Mr Budde estimates smartphones have more than 50 per cent penetration, which means it is only a matter of time before the apps are offered in Australia.

Woolworths was the first big retailer to launch an app last August, with limited offerings, which included the ability for customers to scan a product’s barcode with their smartphone, add it to their shopping list and then order and pay for their groceries, which are home delivered.

Big W went a step further and launched a mobile app in November, with a feature enabling customers to scan a product in any competitor’s store and get the comparable price at Big W. In the next few weeks, it plans to expand the price comparison to over 60,000 products and offer detailed product information on more than 20,000 items.

A spokeswoman for Big W, Clare Buchanan, said the upgrades will connect to online shopping to enable customers to compare prices as well as buy instantly from Big W for home delivery or layby.

”It will also give customers tracking information about the progress of their order and SMS them when it’s about to be delivered – this feature alone is anticipated to reduce call centre volumes by about 25 per cent,” she said.

Sportsgirl is another early adopter of mobile commerce. The group’s strategic brand manager, Prue Thomas, said the decision to introduce a mobile app was a no brainer and it was growing faster than website sales.

”Our girls are on the phones 24/7 and we should be too. They can purchase as much as they want from the mobile. If they are in a store that doesn’t have the product, they can use the mobile to order it,” she said.

Ms Thomas said Sportsgirl sees the mobile not as a threat but an opportunity.

Appy shoppers – Weekend Business

Article source: http://www.portstephensexaminer.com.au/news/national/national/general/price-war-to-intensify-as-mobiles-give-power-to-buyers/2561827.aspx

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‘Karbonn
Smart Mail’ is a push mail service, which will enable Karbonn users to
send and receive mails in real-time fromKT-21. This feature is powered
by Emoze that allows users to securely access both enterprise and
personal email accounts, synchronise email contacts and calendar, and
view office attachments.

Company has also included its own instant messenger KIM on the phone, which supports GTalk and Facebook accounts.

Karbonn
KT-21 features a 7.1cm TFT QVGA capacitive display, 16GB memory
support, Java applications, PC Sync, Bluetooth, GPRS, 3.5mm universal
audio jack, 3.2 MP camera and a 1000 mAh Li-ion battery. IT also comes
with NexgTv that allows users to watch 50+ Live TV Channels on the
phone.

Article source: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/shownews.aspx?id=GADEN20120203649&Sec=NEWS&nid=213093

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Sliderphones aside, Qwerty mobiles have smaller screens and typically benefit from a longer battery life. And, apart from the smartest of the smart that suit the suits, they tend to be cheaper too, making them an ideal choice as the call-from-the-campsite blower. Yet even though Qwerty phones are becoming an endangered species, they can still be spotted in the wild – here are ten we found.

Alcatel One Touch 358

Alcatel offers a wide range of budget Qwertys that rarely set the room alight, but will never dent your wallet. And, as I found out many a time with my super girly One Touch 808, Alcatel handsets can be a very handy to have as a backup. The One Touch 358 doesn’t compare with the old clamshell OT 808, though. The buttons are squeaky, clicking in a tacky fashion and I often found myself mistyping while quickly tapping out messages. It’s fairly unresponsive too, which can be frustrating if you’re a frenetic phone user.

Its 220 x 176 dot 2in display, like the VGA camera, is very old school. While there’s an FM radio and music player, its 650mAh battery isn’t built to keep such tasks running for long periods. It also has a microSD card limit of just 4GB. At 15 quid, the Alcatel OT 358 was always going to have shortcomings. Still, you get what you pay for and this could fill the bill as the bargain blower for emergencies.

BlackBerry Curve 9320

Pitched at the shallow pocketed youth market, RIM’s cheapest Curve is packed with social apps with the side Convenience Key defaulting to fire up BlackBerry Messenger. Typing fast on this Qwerty caller isn’t an issue, although the more chiclet-style array does feel clacky and unlike most BlackBerry keyboards, its smooth surface design impacts on typing accuracy.

BlackBerry OS 7.1 churns away fluidly powered by a 800MHz processor with 512MB of RAM, but the on-board apps hardly overtax it, although RIM’s App World gives some alternative offerings. The 2.4in, 320×240 display is no touchscreen either – its optical trackpad does the navigation duties. RIM’s Curve has been its most popular handset range for some time and this model offers an affordable entry into the enduring BlackBerry Messenger mindset.

Next page: BlackBerry Bold 9790

Article source: http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.reghardware.com/2012/05/19/ten_qwerty_keyboard_mobiles/

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Sliderphones aside, Qwerty mobiles have smaller screens and typically benefit from a longer battery life. And, apart from the smartest of the smart that suit the suits, they tend to be cheaper too, making them an ideal choice as the call-from-the-campsite blower. Yet even though Qwerty phones are becoming an endangered species, they can still be spotted in the wild – here are ten we found.

Alcatel One Touch 358

Alcatel offers a wide range of budget Qwertys that rarely set the room alight, but will never dent your wallet. And, as I found out many a time with my super girly One Touch 808, Alcatel handsets can be a very handy to have as a backup. The One Touch 358 doesn’t compare with the old clamshell OT 808, though. The buttons are squeaky, clicking in a tacky fashion and I often found myself mistyping while quickly tapping out messages. It’s fairly unresponsive too, which can be frustrating if you’re a frenetic phone user.

Its 220 x 176 dot 2in display, like the VGA camera, is very old school. While there’s an FM radio and music player, its 650mAh battery isn’t built to keep such tasks running for long periods. It also has a microSD card limit of just 4GB. At 15 quid, the Alcatel OT 358 was always going to have shortcomings. Still, you get what you pay for and this could fill the bill as the bargain blower for emergencies.

BlackBerry Curve 9320

Pitched at the shallow pocketed youth market, RIM’s cheapest Curve is packed with social apps with the side Convenience Key defaulting to fire up BlackBerry Messenger. Typing fast on this Qwerty caller isn’t an issue, although the more chiclet-style array does feel clacky and unlike most BlackBerry keyboards, its smooth surface design impacts on typing accuracy.

BlackBerry OS 7.1 churns away fluidly powered by a 800MHz processor with 512MB of RAM, but the on-board apps hardly overtax it, although RIM’s App World gives some alternative offerings. The 2.4in, 320×240 display is no touchscreen either – its optical trackpad does the navigation duties. RIM’s Curve has been its most popular handset range for some time and this model offers an affordable entry into the enduring BlackBerry Messenger mindset.

Next page: BlackBerry Bold 9790

Article source: http://www.reghardware.com/2012/05/19/ten_qwerty_keyboard_mobiles/

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