It was recently that I asked here on Mobility blog the question, for how much longer shall the smartphone market remain this profitable?

Many respondents were of the opinion that the smartphone market would yield greater returns for a long time. I deliberately kept quiet though I disagreed with that general flow of thought.

Well, we have it on good authority from Forbes that the feature phone market is now more profitable than the smartphone market. Here is how the Forbes article opens the subject:

For many handset vendors, the world has turned upside down. Nokia‘s $40 feature phones are vastly more profitable than Sony Ericsson‘s $200 Android models. This is not how the smartphone revolution was supposed to turn out.

Well, that didn’t take long! Just about four weeks after my article.

Yes; the feature phone market is shrinking, but also consider that there are now very, very few feature phone manufacturers (almost everyone has abandoned that field for smartphones), and your guess is as good as mine who are benefiting from this shift.

Most people will agree with the Forbes article that this is not how the smartphone revolution was supposed to turn out. Not me. I saw this coming.

Read the full Forbes article

Just over a week ago, we published information that our app for Symbian, MeeGo and Java phones has been downloaded over 6,000 times.

As at that times, it still carried the old “Mobility Nigeria” branding – logo and name. We have since modified it to bring it up-to-date in terms of branding.

The app is now called the “Mobility blog” app and carries the current logo and look.

You can easily find it by searching for “Mobility blog” in the Nokia Store or using any of the direct links in the sidebar of this blog.

The Mobility blog app is available for Java, Symbian and MeeGo devices. Android users can expect an app for their platform very soon

Of course, for everyone regardless of the OS you use, Mobility blog loads a mobile-friendly version when you visit it on any mobile.

Last night at the January 2012 edition of Mobile Monday Nigeria, I got a quick time to play with the Nokia Lumia 800.

Here are a few pictures that I took.

First Impressions

I have used two Windows Phone devices before now, and so I am already familiar with the OS and UI. It runs fluid on the Lumia 800. Very fluid.

In addition, Nokia’s homegrown services, Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive and Nokia Music are present.

Hardware-wise, the Lumia is almost a replica of the N9′s superb body. It is sleek in the hand and to the eyes. However, the display being 3.7 inches felt really cramped to me.

Personally, Windows Phone looks the most superb on displays of 4 inches and above. It works the same but larger displays certainly make it look better.

Nigeria Launch

We still do not have an official word on the launch date for Nokia’s Windows Phone devices here in Nigeria, so enthusiasts will have to wait a while.

Last man standing in the Nokia Dual SIM Promo, Miss Onyinye Achigbi, has carted home two Hyundai Accent cars in the recently concluded Nokia Dual SIM Promo. The promo which kicked off in November 2011 ended in December 2011 with 113 Nigerians who were presented with cash prizes ranging from N50,000 to N500, 000.

Miss Onyinye Achigbi, a Customer Service Executive at Airtel Nigeria, who resides in Abuja; was the lucky winner of the grand prize of the two Hyundai Accent cars. She expressed her gratitude to Nokia for making an owner of two cars. ‘I did not believe it when I was called. I thought it was a fraud’.

Assistant Director, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Abuja, Mr Henry Uwadia; Grand Prize Winner of Two Cars, Onyinye Achigbi; General Manager, Nokia West Africa, Chris Brown and Lagos State Lottery Board Compliance Officer, Mrs Toyin Daramola at the Nokia SIM Promo Grand Prize Presentation held in Lagos yesterday.

Onyinye Achigbi, Grand Prize Winner of 2 cars of the Nokia Dual SIM Promo posing with her two cars at the Grand Prize Presentation held in Lagos yesterday.

Assistant Director, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Abuja, Mr Henry Uwadie; Mr Henry Uwadia; Grand Prize Winner of Two Cars, Onyinye Achigbi and General Manager, Nokia West Africa, Chris Brown at the Grand Prize Presentation held in Lagos yesterday.

Our readers may not know this, but I used to draw comic books way back in secondary school. I created my own unique heroes, wrote my own scripts, drew out, inked and coloured the comic books. I am an artistic person by nature. Scratch that, I am many things by nature.

It wasn’t long before my teachers and the school authorities heard about it. I attended a boarding school. Eventually, I got the school’s permission to print out and sell my comic books in school.

My main hero was named “AquaLord”, a super-strong character with other powers that i won’t present here. According to my storyline, He was the product of the sexual union of two prominent Yoruba deities.

To think that I was already being entrepreneurial in secondary school. Some friends of mine pooled money together to get the comics printed and then sold them. Sheeesh.

I haven’t done any AquaLord writings or drawings until recently, but AquaLord is on his way back as a character in a novel I am working on. I have been writing the novel for some time now and it is coming out nicely. Early reviews and critiques have been positive.

Enough of AquaLord. Enter Mr. Mobility

Well, here on Mobility blog, we have introduced a science fiction section and your favourite superhero, Mr. Mobility (certainly not me! We only share the name).

I haven’t done any serious comic book drawings in about 10 years, but today one of the items on my agenda is creating a look for Mr. Mobility – his stature, costume and general brand.

I will be including his images/pictures in the series that is running here on Mobility blog and elsewhere.

This is going to be interesting going, as I am hoping that I can incorporate certain elements of the look and feel of today’s smartphones in his costume. For example, a helmet that has a full display (just like full touchscreen devices) for his face instead of just holes for the eyes and mouth.

How about his armour being powered by Android? Nah; I wouldn’t want Google coming after me. But then, maybe I can strike a deal with Google to actually do that as a way to further promote Android?

I might as well just invent my own OS for the armour to run on Ha, the things you can do when you live and breath in creativity – create your own worlds, rules, physics, and pretty much anything that catches your fancy.

Your Input?

So, any ideas from you guys? What would you like Earth2′s superhero, Mr. Mobility to look like? Feel free to be as descriptive as possible. Colours too?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Android fanboys are quick to jump to their favourite OS’ defence when we mention its data guzzling weakness.

I have published articles here to show that Android OS guzzles much more data than any other mobile OS – even when it is idle. I have owned and reviewed several Android devices and seen data consumption that is simply outrageous even when I am not doing anything with the devices.

I remember a particular discussion on this blog during which someone said that he had been using Android and had never had data issues. However, several comments down the line, he mentioned that he managed data consumption on his Android devices with certain 3rd party apps. That was hilarious! I was quite decent and let it pass without a comment from me – till now.

Well, here is news that finally a network operator is calling Google out on Android’s data consumption levels. Japan’s largest network, NTT DoCoMo is reported to be asking Google to reduce the amount of data its mobile OS consumes after a recent disruption to their network caused by an android app.

If anyone should know about data consumption, it is DoCoMo. You see, they are one of the world’s most advanced networks. They are also a network that have had tons of Symbian-powered devices used on their networks (Japan’s advanced mobile networks have been mostly dominated for years by Symbian-powered phones).

DoCoMo knows the difference.

Now, this is not a Symbian versus Android article. It is an article to make a case that is so obvious that NO-ONE should be arguing it – Android is a data guzzling beast.

An excerpt from the news item:

NTT DoCoMo Inc will ask Google Inc to modify its Android operating system so that smartphones running on it will generate less data traffic, the Nikkei reported.

The leading Japanese mobile phone service provider identified an Android application, which enables free-of-charge voice communication, as a major cause behind a service disruption that occurred on Wednesday, the business daily said.

This is probably the first time that any mobile operator is approaching a smartphone operating system provider to amend how its software operates. Telling.

But does this make Android a failure? No.

Does this mean that Android is a terrible OS? No.

Should anyone stop using Android phones because of that? Their choice.

But facts are facts.

It is better that potential users and buyers know upfront what they are getting, so that they can make informed decisions. Nothing more. Android guzzles data (and power too). Yes; it can be managed. If that’s okay with you, buy. If not, get something else.

Now, where is my Android-powered Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro? I was in the middle of a WhatsApp chat….

Source via TNW

The following was submitted by our regular, Harry Echemco:

I just got this text from Airtel:

Re-live exciting browsing moments with the NEW Airtel Surf Plan. Dial *141*712*12# to enjoy 500MB worth of data for N1300 only valid for 30 days!

Any other person in the house got the same message? I’ve not confirmed this from their website or elsewhere, if this is true, then this year is going to be wonderful in the mobile space, notwithstanding the fuel subsidy removal.

My present plan on Etisalat runs out on the 9th of next month, I will be able to tell then, but I hope this is not repeat of what they did last year. In any case, I’m going to confirm this before subscribing to the plan.

Personally, I haven’t received such a message on my Airtel line yet, but who wouldn’t hope that this is true? The ripple effects would be nice for consumers’ pockets.

Have you received a similar message from Airtel, or have access to any info to confirm the above?

I enjoy good movies. A lot. Even better, I enjoy movies on the big screen more. The big screen, the group reactions, and the company of one or more friends simply make the movie experience better.

If you are a cinema buff like me, then you will appreciate a handy app on your mobile to check movie locations, listings and special deals; right? Right.

Enter SeeNeeMa

SeeNeeMa is a home-grown application that makes checking movie listings on the go a whole lot easier.

The user interface is neat and easy – anyone can use this app.

Launch it and the home screen presents you with options to check:

• What’s Hot – currently showing movies
• Coming Soon – upcoming movies
• Cinema Info – listing of cinemas across the countyry
• Movie Reviews – weekly movie reviews
• Special Discounts – where you check which cinemas are offering special deals

That’s it. Simple. Net. Straightforward. Useful. Very.

Multi-Platform Too

Guess what? SeeNeeMa is available for several platforms, including:

• Blackberry smartphones & PlayBook
• Android 2.1 & above
• iOS (still in development)
• Java/J2ME
• Mobile Web

The version that I tested is the Android version, and it works as I have described in this review. It is possible that the different versions for other platforms work slightly different.

Verdict

This one gets a 4-star rating from me. Why did I leave out one star? If the developers, Quadtech Mobile, can add a way to book movie tickets right on the app…. HALLELUJAH! 5 Stars promptly.

Download SeeNeeMa

Before the advent of GSM mobile services in Nigeria in 2001, CDMA services (fixed and mobile) had been in operation. Multilinks was the first private company to roll out CDMA fixed wireless services on our shores back in 1997.

Even with the introduction of GSM in 2001, CDMA was still the preferred choice for a large majority of Nigerians. This was especially because of the astronomical tariffs that GSM services offered then.

Today, the story is different. CDMA subscription is going down, along with its fortunes. Reports from NCC show that CDMA networks operating in Nigeria dropped by 1,069,485 lines from January to October in 2011. That is a 17 percent drop.

The CDMA networks comprising of Visafone, Starcomms, Multilinks, Zoommobile opened business in January 2011 with a total number of 6,186,442 subscribers in all.

There Was A Rising Demand Once…

In 2008, it was reported that a survey was conducted in Abuja. This survey showed that there was a growing demand for CDMA despite the domination of the market by GSM technology.

Affordability of CDMA phones and clarity of communication when compared with GSM where cited for this rising demand. According to telecommunications consultants, CDMA technology has the capacity to provide quicker transmission of data and internet than GSM.

…Then The Killer

GSM has been fished out as the killer of CDMA in Nigeria. According to Mobitel’s boss, the pervasive nature of GSM and its allied data technologies like SMS, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA, all contributed to the decline of CDMA in the country.

While CDMA has being losing subscribers, GSM networks comprising of MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and Etisalat, have gained a subscriber base of 93.9 million at at October 2011 as against 82.6 million in January 2011.

CDMA networks are also losing money as the drop in subscribers represents a loss of an estimated N10bn in revenues that would have accrued to the networks during the period under review. This figure was calculated using the Average Revenue Per User ARPU which is pegged at N1000 in Nigeria by industry experts.

Is this the beginning of the end of CDMA in Nigeria? Only time will tell.

Across the world, Nokia adopted a strategy that has worked so well for them in the past and is still working up to some extent.

The strategy is very simple,create a phone and then split it into different variants with certain features removes. A classic example of this is the Nokia 5800 split into two different phones namely the 5230 and the 5530.

The Nokia 5230 features the same screen size of 3.2 inches that is on the 5800 and has 3G connectivity while the Nokia 5530 features a 2.8 inches screen with XpressMusic branding and WiFi.

Even on lower end phones like the Nokia C1 and C2. The main difference between the two is that the C1 is a single SIM phone while  C2 is a dual SIM phone.

Samsung on the other hand seems to have widely fine-tuned and adopted the strategy across their whole mobile product line and across the different operating systems that they support.

A very good example of this is their Galaxy line of phone and tablets. Do you want a 4 inch mobile? Get a Galaxy S. Is it a 3.5 inch display that you fancy? Get a Galaxy Ace. For 3.2 inches, you can get the Galaxy Gio.

If you want to get a tablet, you are offered different choices too with Samsung making a tablet for practically anybody that wants to get a tablet.

You can either get a 10.1 inch version, a 8.9 inch version or a 7.7 or 7 inch version, should you want a tablet of more compact size.

Even when you look at lower end Samsung phones like the Chat series, there is the the Ch@t 222 and Ch@t 322 with one of the major differences been the optical trackpad.

Platforms

On the Operating System level, Samsung has various operating systems running on their wide array of phones. These include: Android, Windows Phone 7, Bada and TiZen.

Last year, Samsung shipped a total of 300 Million devices which goes to prove that they may finally overtake Nokia this year as the number one handset maker in the world, thanks to their versatility in production and distribution.

In December 2011, in publishing the news of Sony taking over Sony Ericsson, I made a brief mention of the Ericsson R380 as the very first Symbian smartphone.

In this feature article, I am going down memory lane to talk about that elegant device. Being my very first smartphone, the Ericsson R380 holds a special place in my mind.

The very first time that I saw it, it was love at first sight. Gadget lust waxed strong within me and I told myself that I was getting one.

But it wasn’t just my first smartphone, it was the first smartphone ever!

Meet The Great Grandfather Smartphone

Released in 2000AD, two years after Psion became Symbian, I didn’t get my hands on one until December 2002.

The R380 was the first device to be marketed as a smartphone – PDA and phone wrapped into one, and in a nice form. As such, sentiments aside, this guy is the grand-daddy of every smartphone circulating around today. Even the first of my beloved Communicators didn’t show up until 2001 in the form of the Nokia 9210.

The R380 looked and worked like any other mobile phone of its day when closed up. But you can open the front flip to reveal the large landscape display. It weighed only 164g.

The R380′s main specs:

• WAP 1.1 browser (an improved version later shipped with WAP 1.2.1)
• Large 3.5-inch backlit monochrome STN touchscreen display (120 x 360 pixels)
• Flip cover with regular alpha-numeric keyboard for use as a regular phone
• Stylus for use with the resistive touchscreen
• POP3/IMAP Email
• Calendar & notes
• Synchronization with Microsoft® Outlook and Lotus® Notes and Organizer
• Symbian OS version 5
• Infrared port
• GSM 900/1800 dual band phone
• 2MB RAM
• 1.2 MB user-accessible storage
• Handwriting recognition
• Voice notes
• Speakerphone functionality
• Dial-up (CSD) internet connectivity
• 1 -chord (monophonic) ringtones
• Built-in Games:
• Built-in modem
• RS-232 cable for PC connectivity

Though running Symbian, the OS was “closed” at the time, as no 3rd party apps could be installed on it. But it came with pretty much what everyone used then.

Here are some screenshots:

The R380 was a delight to use back then. I subscribed to CSD (circuit Switched Data AKA dial-up internet) with MTN back then, with which I browsed and managed my emails. At that time, this was magic to almost everyone I met here in Nigeria then. Very few of us used mobile internet on mobile back then.

There were no expansion slots yet, and Bluetooth wasn’t on the table either. But infrared was king of the day for wireless connectivity.

I wish I had details of the processor (if someone can help me out with that, I’d be delighted), but the R380 performed admirably. It wasn’t a perfect smartphone. I also remember some occasional freezing up, especially when using internet connectivity (which in retrospect may have been network issues).

It is such a privilege to have been around early enough to use the very first smartphone on the planet as my first smartphone. Ladies and gentlemen, a hat tip to the stately Ericsson R380.

Apple’s tablet offering in form of the iPad (1 and 2) has not seen any competitor from the Android camp beat it and for good reason too. You see, even if the competition can beat Apple on the hardware front, they still have to play a game of catch-up on the software front.

Asus announced and promptly released the Transformer Prime, an Android tablet that has many geeks and Android fan boys (me included) drooling over the wonderful hardware that it packs in such a slim package.

At just 8.3mm, it is slimmer than both the iPad2 (8.8mm) and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (8.6mm). Around the back it features an all aluminum panel with the front packing a 10.1 Super IPS+ display. It also features a sharp 8mp camera that does 1080p/HD video recording.

With all these specs, you may be asking about the interface and processing power. Ask no more. This baby packs a Tegra 3 Quad-Core processor with console type gaming ability for those that want to really hammer out games on the tab.

The name ‘Transformer’ is gotten from the fact that the Asus has a keyboard dock that it can be plugged into. The battery life of the tablet clocks in at around 12 hours with the tablet only and 18 hours while docked with the keyboard.

What I like most about this tablet is that unlike Sammy, it doesn’t imitate the iPad curve for curve but instead brings a design of its own in a slimmer, more powerful and longer lasting way.

In conclusion, this tablet (to me) is the messiah of the Android Tablet and the only major gripes that end users might have with it is that it only has a WiFi only version and it does not have enough apps or games to really beat what obtains in the iOS ecosystem. Otherwise trumps the iPad in every other aspect.

So if you wanted to get a tablet that is not an iPad, this is the tablet to get, chikenah!