By Megan Fleet

Let’s be honest, the latest hero device from the Nokia cell phone line-up, the Lumia 900 wowed spectators at the CES. From the keynote Microsoft address that showed an impressed audience the fruits of its partnership with Nokia and how the device works with Microsoft peripheral devices like the Xbox. The stellar performance of the Nokia Lumia 900 was duly recognized by CNET which named the smartphone as its category winner at the 2012 CES.

The move from Symbian to Windows mobile OS and the added bonus of BlueStack’s technology which will bring Android apps to those customers has sparked excitement and hope into both Nokia and Microsoft that 2012 will bring a 180 degree shift in sales and market share.

What is better news is that the vague announcement that the Nokia Lumia 900 will be available in “the next few months” may be whittled down to a more accurate date if the rumor mill is based in any kind of truth. Even more reliable is that the March 18^th date is being bandied about by Windows gurus Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley. These two “all about Windows” people came together to work on TWiT and discuss March as the release month in the latest Nokia developer newsletter.

Mister Thurrott is apparently not one for vagueness by making it clear that the Nokia Lumia 900 will be released precisely on March 18^th. Hopefully his crystal ball or tea leaves are accurate as anxious customers are bound to seek out this sleek unlocked cell phone as soon as possible.

Surely the smartphone manufacturer will make more accurate announcements that will include date of availability, the cost, and start touting more of the peripheral accessories that will heighten the handset’s popularity and longevity in a fickle, competitive and ever changing mobile tech market.

App Downloads and Virtual Goods at CES

By Megan Fleet

Anyone with a tablet, smartphone, or is in the vicinity of someone with these devices knows about apps. Downloads of apps on smartphones and tablets are projected to be in the 41 billion range for 2012. With those kinds of numbers, there is some serious cash to be made on the focus and popularity of apps. The industry knows it and these small applications have become all the rage at this year’s CES. More and more consumer are leveraging the power of unlocked cell phones to choose their preferred service providers and break away from long term service contracts… while customizing their phones with both apps and cell phone accessories of their choice.

The flip side of this is that costs of downloads is ever decreasing with the increase of competition. To counterbalance these declining revenues, players are looking to virtual goods. Already ahead of the curve, both Apple and Android are evolving to inhabit this space. In turn, they will keep customers hooked into their ecosystems and continue to diversify the different kinds of devices and accessories are integrated into consumers’ lives on their platforms. Experience the mind blowing clarity of XMI Speakers. Uncompromised sound quality and a revolutionary design accentuating today’s interactive lifestyle. Our earpieces and headsets combine sophisticated style and precision engineering that deliver brilliant sound for your total listening pleasure

Both Apple and Android own the lion’s share of app downloads to date, but according to Josh Martin, Director of Apps Research at Strategy Analytics, “The introduction of tablets from Amazon and Barnes and Noble and a renewed push for Windows Phone ensure an intensifying battle for the third horse in the apps ecosystem race.” Customers are bound to vote with their wallets and their thumbs with consideration of unlocked devices as well. The industry is changing, becoming more competitive and giving consumers more options of how they receive their data and how they communicate.

Luckily for us customers, this spirited competition is the recipe for lower prices, more choices, and better technology as developers scramble to win us over with must have accessories that make life better and faster speeds. Clearly this is the free market at its best (ignoring carrier exclusivity in this last statement!).

By Aldo Panessidi

Despite its performance to date in the mobile tech, Microsoft, who currently owns 2% of the market share, is still managing to effectively keep itself in the public eye with newsworthy and surprising actions. Case and point is the Microsoft sanctioned and collaborated jailbroken Windows Phone 7.   Discover an extensive array of Android wireless devices innovative protective cases and skin accessories designed to  deliver modern style, stunning design and smart protection.  Make your mobile devices stand out.  Customize your look – how cool can you be?

Announced in November of 2011 by the Chevron WP7 team that had initially brought the technology and work-around to Microsoft, the mobile world was set back on its heels. Considering the reaction of Research In Motion after the Blackberry PlayBook tablet, jailbreak, this writer is inclined to say Microsoft marketed itself well in taking the high road.

What did this sanctioned jailbreak really mean though? Between Chevron WP7 and Microsoft they created a device that would empower users to actively break into their Windows Phone OS and install their « homebrew applications » while bypassing the huge Marketplace availability  of side loaded apps. This is indicative of an ever growing community of consumers that leverage the power of unlocked cell phones to choose their preferred service providers and break away from long term service contracts… while customizing their phones with both apps and cell phone accessories of their choice.

For the more tech savvy crowd out there, the ability the customize a smartphone is a huge selling point that could make Microsoft more competitive in this market. In fact, the Chevron WP7 team is sold out! Clearly demand has been higher than expected and the initial 10,000 unlocked tokens went fast. According to Rafael Rivera, a spokesperson, those tokens were sold at $9 a piece with the revenue to be split between Microsoft and the Chevron WP7 team.   Enhance your mobility and turn your device into a power tool! Discover select accessories, such as stylus & pens, SD Micro memory cards, batteries, speakers and glider gloves all specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

So what is next? Why not simply make additional tokens available with another agreement with Microsoft and continue to increase sales and promote the Windows Phone? Well, it looks as though the team does not want to press its luck with the Goliath technology company. In the interim, WP7 customers can invest in accessorizing their device with peripheral technologies (speaker docks, hands-free headsets, and the myriad of other fun gadgets available). For those not satisfied with acquisition, there are other jailbreak methods available to Samsung Galaxy cell phones or HTC Jetstream tablets, but these are not manufacturer endorsed. But, customers may have an easier time finding these same devices unlocked to exercise some of their consumer power.

By Aldo Panessidi

As a typical profile… mobile consumers are highly socially engaged, remain continuously connected and rely more and more on their both carrier based or unlocked smartphone’s features and applications on a daily basis.

Smartphone penetration has seen a meteoric rise, spiraling from just 18% in late 2009 to 44% in October 2011.  A recent ‘State of the Media: The Mobile Media Report‘  conducted by Nielsen indicates that 64% of 25-34 year olds and 53% of 18-24 year olds own a snmartphone and have led in smartphone penetration compared to every other age group since 2009.  The individuals in these generation groups also understand that mobile accessories are designed to protect, personalize and enhance your mobile devices.

Some of the more popular smrtphones include the iPhone4s, Blackberry bold 9900, Samsung Galaxy S II and the Motorola Droid Razr.   Apple is the top smartphone manufacturer by operating system with 28.6% of the market followed by Blackberry and HTC at 17% and 158% market share respectively.  Android outdistanced every other smartphone platform with an ever-growing 42.8% market share… leading Apple iOS at 28.6%, Blackberry at 17% and Windows at a paltry 5.3% market share

The top market leaders are also currently jockeying for top position in the tablet market… with Apple iPad 3, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10, Blackberry PlayBook and  the Motorola Xoom.  Enhance your mobility… turn your device into a power tool.  Discover the select accessories, such as, stylus & pens, data cables, batteries, SD micro cards, desktop chargers, earpieces & headsets as well as glider gloves all specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

Currently, Android leads all other platforms in every age group, followed by a strong showing from Apple iOS.