25 FEBRUARY 2011
THE GLOVES ARE OFF IN GOOGLE VERSUS FACEBOOK...

You could call it App Wars as the undisputed Number 1 of the mobile and technology heavy hitters Google starts to play dirty with Facebook - but what's it all about.

Basically Google has delivered the first blow in its data battle with Facebook by narrowing the capability the social networking site's app has on Googles Android phones.

An update for Androids latest mobile operating system will see Facebook users contacts disappear from the phone's address book.

Google says that it took the action as it was no 'longer willing to exempt Facebook' from its data-sharing rules. The decision certainly looks to move towards growing tensions between the 2 ‘web heavy weights’.

The contact-altering update applies to the latest Gingerbread version of Google's Android mobile operating system, makers of other Android- based mobiles are expected to make the Gingerbread upgrade available, such as Samsung - in the coming months.

This would mean more owners would find Facebook contacts wiped from their address book. Originally, Facebook's Android app allowed users to populate the phone's address book with Facebook contacts.

More than 200 million people accessed Facebook via a mobile device in 2010, according to its own figures - up from 65 million in the previous year. The question is will Facebook feel confident enough in its own power base to return a punch or two. Time will tell.

Note. Some details in this article were sourced from the BBC Technoiogy web page.

10 FEBRUARY 2011
NOKIA MOVES CLOSER TO THE EDGE...

Once the leader in the world of mobile phones, Finnish manufacturer Nokia is now slowly losing its market share and is according to new head Stephen Elop, "Standing on a burning platform" - while its competitors continue to innovate.

The key thing here is Nokia have yet to really create a handset which Challenges the iPhone and while HTC, Samsung and BlackBerry, to name a few have brought out credible alternatives Nokia are still lacking a smartphone which provides a similar user experience.

Adding to Nokias woes is the insurgence of the Google Andriod operating system, Which along with Windows Mobile and the iPhone have drastically carved into Nokia's market share. 2010 saw a 10% drop from 38% down to 28% and in 2011 things are set to get even worse.

As if things weren't bad enough for Nokia, the low end market has also see Far Eastern competitors snap at their heels. Under pressure at both ends of the mobile spectrum could lead to troubled times ahead for Mr Elop.

13 DECEMBER 2010
IS THE APPLE IPHONE GETTING SQUEEZED...

The iPhone 4 is certainly the biggest thing to hit the business mobile market in recent years and has meant the established players like Nokia and BlackBerry have had to respond. Additionally there is Samsung, who are growing in popularity and relatively new boys HTC.

There are now 3 big operating systems out there on the smartphone platform all fighting for market share. Direct Mobile Phones approached some of it's customers and asked for there feedback to how the iPhone stacked up against the others.

The response overall was positive, but there was a few niggles, namely signal issues, which have been well reported and to a degree satisfied, the other is battery life.

The big pluses are the user interface, something Apple has always worked at perfecting - the customer experience. Also the actual hardware, the iPhone feels the most robust and 'valuable', the materials used and the quality really set it apart. But don't think Apple has this corner sewn up, the business mobile market is a fierce and dangerous place were complacency is rewarded with loss in share - and sales.

The outcome is - better products for the business mobile user and better service, also an unrelenting progression towards ever more sophisticated and technology packed mobile devices.

30 NOVEMBER 2010
SMARTPHONES MAYBE SMART BUT IS USING THEM CHEAP...

You could say the smartphone took some time in coming, the 3G network opened the door for more sophisticated mobile phones and the major manufacturers have thrown a whole host of 'clever' mobile phones at us ever since.

But there is a catch which goes unmentioned - the cost of using the services to look at video, email, use the web and apps.

Well, Vodafone have taken the lead and lowered smartphone prices in Europe for business mobile users and consumers, believing the smartphone market will grow by over 70% In the next few years, if they make it cheaper to use their network - for UK customers in Europe, more frequent travellers will opt for Vodafone ahead of its rivals.

Vodafone reckons its new tariff is both simpler and cheaper and customers will be able to access the new tariffs in all Vodafone's European countries, plus France, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria.

20 NOVEMBER 2010
DIRECT MOBILE PHONES REVAMP...

Direct Mobile Phones have updated their website! It is now even easier to get the best mobile deals available for your business whether it be large or small. You can simply fill in our online form designed to make supplying your key details straight forward.

DMP are part of the Premier Telecom group of companies, who have the highest level of accreditation as a Vodafone Platinum Partner, Orange Business Partner and BlackBerry Alliance Member. This enables our sales service team to provide commercially effective, flexible solutions to multiple mobile deals.

So if your business is looking to upgrade its mobile contracts then DMP is the right place to come. With over 10 years experience working with and partnering some of the most demanding and high profile companies in the UK.