Nokia Lumia 710

The Lumia 710 follows Nokia’s first attempt at a Windows Phone 7 smartphone, the mid-range Lumia 800. We had mixed feelings about that phone, but the Lumia 710 is much more temptingly priced at around £300 without a contract. It may lack the gorgeous solid-plastic body of its bigger sibling, but we think it’s still a solid and stylish smartphone. In a throwback to earlier Nokia phones, the 710 has swappable plastic shells so you can change the phone’s colour.

By cutting a couple of corners to keep the price down, though, Nokia has (perhaps inadvertently) given the Lumia 710 a couple of key advantages over the Lumia 800. First is the case. By opting for a more traditional design with a snap-on back cover, Nokia has been able to equip the Lumia 710 with a removable battery. The Lumia 800’s battery was inaccessibly sealed inside its case – although, to be fair, many other smartphones have sealed batteries, too.

Second is the screen. The display used on the Lumia 710 lacks the Lumia 810’s striking convex shape, but it is just as bright and exactly the same size. More to the point, it’s also considerably clearer, since the standard LCD technology used here isn’t subject to the same fuzzy-looking text problem that the Lumia 810’s supposedly more sophisticated Amoled screen technology can suffer from.

Despite being £130 cheaper than the Lumia 800, the rest of the Lumia 710’s specification really isn’t that much lower. Storage capacity has been halved to 8GB and, since Windows Phone 7 doesn’t support memory card slots, that may be too little for anyone who likes to listen to a lot of music or watch lots of videos on the go. Nokia has trimmed the mobile network support too. The Lumia 710 is a tri-band smartphone rather than quad-band, which means it can’t be used in as many countries, but that’s something only the most globe-trotting users will have a problem with.

Otherwise, the Lumia 710 has the same fast processor as the Lumia 800, the same 512MB of memory and the same 480x800 pixel resolution screen as well as an identical array of sensors such as orientation sensors. Nokia has downgraded the autofocus digital camera from eight megapixels to five megapixels, though, and dropped the fancy Carl Zeiss lens that the Lumia 800 uses. That said, even though the Lumia 710’s photos are obviously lower resolution, their quality didn’t noticeably lower quality to our eyes, though perhaps that is only because we weren’t that impressed with the ones snapped by the Lumia 800.

We have no complaints with call quality and even battery life is respectable, with the Lumia 710 lasting for 33.5 hours in our MP3-playback test with the screen off and all wireless connections disabled.

Like the more-expensive Lumia 800, the Lumia 710 comes with Nokia’s free Drive app. This provides turn-by-turn driving directions and maps designed specifically for use by motorists. The phone also includes the free Nokia Music app, which lets you stream new music similar to the tracks you have already copied to the phone. It’s more like listening to a radio station than a true pick-what-you-want service such as Spotify, but it’s a handy extra to have.

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BlackBerry PlayBook tablet OS 2.0 review

BlackBerry fans, rejoice. Your reason for believing in the beleaguered Canadian manufacturer is here. The PlayBook was throwaway nonsense, an expensively wrapped tablet with a broken OS irritatingly tied to a smartphone. OS 2.0 breaks the shackles and allows the tablet to stand on its own. BlackBerry has opened my eyes to one of the best tablets on the market, one that now I hold in a higher regard than the iPad 2, thanks to the refurbished OS. Let’s see why.
Messaging powerhouse
It’s a BlackBerry, so there’s no reason that the messaging function shouldn’t be both powerful and immensely useable. So let’s welcome the new social networking feature built into OS 2.0. The previous OS sucked an almighty level of balls when it came to email, so now Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and practically any POP3 email account can be added to Messages. The inherent level of flexibility in Messages represents a step up for the PlayBook.
Even better, the keyboard is now autocorrect friendly and far easier to use. Even betterer, OS 2.0 supports SwiftKey, which adapts to the users writing style over time. With an amalgamation of social media, the PlayBook becomes a hub of contact, and it’s unlikely that you’ll need any other device to fill the gap.
I’ll touch briefly on the calendar which now has a Newsreel function which shows news about companies you are meeting with. It’s a nice way of bringing the online world into a mostly offline environment.
Browsing behemoth
HTML5 works like a dream in the new browser and in side-by-side comparisons with the iPad 2, pages load faster on the PlayBook. RIM has even gone the extra mile and included an iOS like “reader” function which cuts the clutter from a website, and presents it in an easy to read format. Look, the PlayBook is a tiny device when compared to the iPad 2, so for a 7-inch tablet to offer browsing at such a degree is a master class of design and functionality on RIM’s part. Best tablet browsing experience? I say, yes.
Crossing the Bridge
If you are still keen on linking your BlackBerry to the PlayBook, then the updated BlackBerry Bridge function should whet your whistle. Two years ago, this function was “the bomb” as in “why do I have to pair a smartphone to get email and calendar support, this thing blows.” BlackBerry Bridge is now a user friendly remote app which lets you control presentations and use your BlackBerry smartphone as an external keyboard and mouse. It works well and there’s barely any input lag.
A fuller package
I haven’t even mentioned how awesome the new BlackBerry store is, thanks to the PlayBook now supporting Android applications. Sure, there is still a shed-load of expensive BlackBerry exclusive apps on the marketplace, but as the app store (hopefully) grows, we’ll begin to see cheaper and more powerful apps emerge. I’m not positive about this though, mostly thanks to RIM’s poor support of its customer base.
What else? Video chat is supposedly improved, but I was unable to wrangle up another PlayBook user to test this. No Skype for now, so this is a major failing on RIM’s part.
Also, folders. Since iOS 4, the world has gone nutty for folders. Not the PlayBook though. But thanks to OS 2.0, users can now drag and drop apps into its respective folders and customise the quick dock with six of their favourite apps. Handy and ultimately, very necessary .
I’ve only included the highlights of the OS 2.0 update. The full details can be found here. Regardless, this is an OS upgrade which utterly changes the PlayBook, turning it into a useable device which, if it had benefited from Apple’s marketing machine, could have taken a healthy bite out of the tablet market.

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iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy S2 sans Android Ice Cream Sandwich top smartphone sales in United States

Apple’s iPhone tops lucrative smartphone market in the United States, while Samsung and its Galaxy S2 and Nexus steal the second place.

The iPhone, with the new iPhone 4S variant, is topping the smartphone sales chart in United States — and surprisingly, only the iPhone-less carrier, T-Mobile USA, hailed an Android phone.

According to a report posted by All Things D, Canaccord Genuity revealed that the iPhone 4S is the most popular smartphone of Sprint, AT&T and Verizon Wireless since December 2011, and last month, the iPhone 4S beats the Samsung Galaxy Note of AT&T, an LTE phone, and the new Droid RAZR Maxx of Verizon Wireless which offers LTE too.

The iPhone 4S market share, apparently, started growing its market share last quarter, and with no solid contender from the Android ecosystem, Apple’s smartphone reportedly outsells all other smartphones of Sprint and AT&T combined, and roughly equal volume to all Android-based smartphones of Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless carrier in the United States.

Unsurprisingly, Samsung Electronics and its Samsung Galaxy S2 and Samsung Galaxy Note grabbed the remaining spots, and based on the chart posted by the report, Samsung is the one and only Android smartphone maker that can compete against the iPhone 4S.

Samsung’s Galaxy S2 started its second place spree last year with the help of Sprint and AT&T’s networks, while the Galaxy S2-less Verizon Wireless hails the Samsung Galaxy Nexus as its second-most popular smartphone. However, Verizon’s attractive Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx, according to Canaccord Genuity, started outselling the Samsung Galaxy Nexus two months ago.

Meanwhile, T-Mobile’s Galaxy S2 is its most popular phone, while the HTC Amaze 4G is cemented on the second place.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Nexus which offers Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung’s Galaxy S2 is still running the old but respectable Android Gingerbread operating system, and no word yet from Samsung about the Galaxy S2 US variants’ ICS or Android 4.0 software update. It is worth noting that some Galaxy S2 variants in other countries are already enjoying the new operating system. ■

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Nokia T7-00 Smartphone gets through FCC

Once spotted in China the Nokia T7-00 has finally hit the FCC and got through it, at a glance the device is really trimmed-down version of Nokia’s flagship Smartphone Nokia N8. but when you make close look at the device you can see that rear camera has been dropped to 8MP from 12.
According to FCC documents the device is 1700MHz WCDMA band, a.k.a. AWS, the device was first surfaced back in March and a few days later, Images of the Smartphone spotted online and was enough to get much idea about the device.


The Nokia T7-00 looks almost exactly like the N8 – except that the protruding camera module has been replaced by an 8MP (probably fixed-focus) unit that sits flush against the aluminum unibody. The HDMI port is gone too and the CPU supposedly ran at 700MHz (instead of 680MHz as the N8).
The FCC document shows both the the 850/1900MHz GSM bands and the 850/1700/1900 WCDMA bands . The label at the bottom of the device says TD-SCDMA/GSM, just like the Chinese model we’ve seen in the spy shots.
Anyway, anything is not pretty sure about the device and confusing with model and design, Anyway let’s wait a little to see things be clear.

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Pay As You Go Phones and Contract Phones - The Choice is in Your Hands

The age of civilization has glided into a technologically advanced stage, where gadgets and machines are your best friends. Speaking of best friends which are known to be a byproduct of technology "mobile phones" seemingly are top on our priority list. These tiny and wonderful devices have enhanced our communication approach and one can reap maximum benefits from its technology. The mobile community has woken up to the power of these communication devices and appreciated its magnificence. Mobile phone users also have to make a choice regarding their mobile services prior to the activation of their phone. The choice which they have to make is between pay-as-go-phones and contract phones. The user is sometimes in a dilemma to take the right decision while choosing for a specific deal.

The pay-as-you-go phone deal is well suited for college going students, teenagers, travellers and elderly as those availing its services can resort to limited talking and they can keep a tab on their mobile expenses. These phone deals are ideal for those who have limited finances and cannot afford to spend their hard-earned money on their mobile usage. The user of this deal would have to recharge their phone once their calling balance has been exhausted. The user can make a preference over a specific service provider and avail its services for as long he/she desires. However, the user of this plan has the disadvantage of not being able to make or receive calls beyond their balance. At times, a low balance demands that the user makes a short conversation which would not be desirable to the caller. Short conversations or incomplete conversations takes away the fun from the whole idea of having a mobile phone. Mobile phones are saviour in times of emergency conditions, but the inability to make calls due to nil balance is a disappointing affair.

To override this situation, the concept of contract phones is fast gaining momentum and popularity. These phone deals are designed for those who use their mobile phones extravagantly and have a high call percentage. It is ideal for businessmen and people who maintain a high-profile. The contract phone deal will enable the user to talk without any interruption. The deal requires an individual to sign a contract for usage of their handset. The duration of the contract can vary form 12 months to 18 months. It is the most preferred choice for those individuals who want to avail a specific mobile service for a long time. The user will be expected to pay a small amount to avail the services of a particular network operator. In addition to this the phone deal offers attractive incentives such as free text messages, free talktime, free gifts such as i pod and laptop. and subsidised call rates. According to the contract the user has to pay a specified amount for a period of time. The user with the availability of this deal can also upgrade his/her handset with the latest mobile technology. The user under this phone deal can sign up a contract with some of the esteemed service providers such as T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung. These phone deal are well supported by Samsung, Motorola and Nokia mobile phones. The user, once he/she is satisfied with the benefits and conditions offered by a specific network provider can select it to avail its services. Nowadays some of the latest and most desirable mobile phones are also available with this deal. By and large, the phone deal will give the user the privilege of uninterrupted communication and alluring benefits.
BCMPD offers Contract Phones and Pay as you go phones with Nokia Mobile Phones on UK mobile phone networks contract.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1673135

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Sim Free Phones: Communication Renewed

Handsets are of so many kinds but it depends on personal choice which phone a person will choose. Purchasing a mobile handset is not the toughest part but paying for the cell phone statements might be for some people. That is why it is always encouraged by the network providers that people should opt for deals. Even within deals there are some offers that are better than others. SIM Free Phones are known to be better than many other schemes.

Advantages to this scheme are numerous which will finally lead you to get reduced bills. The advantages are as follows. The SIM Free Phones are available in all the handsets. You name it and you will get it. This plan is very freely obtainable with all the network companies in the United Kingdom. All the renowned companies have this scheme. After opting for the deal you will have complete liberty to either stay with the service provider or change the service provider. This freedom to change networks is a complete enjoyment as some others schemes do not allow it. The liberty of changing networks gives the user an idea of all the network companies and even a better idea about their working. The list of advantages will just go on and on, this is how extraordinary this offer is.

Internet has increased the scope for doing so many things which otherwise would be restricted. There are instances when you feel like doing nothing at all but it is absolutely essential for you to buy a mobile deal as your bills are shooting of the roof. Then you need not worry because even if you are not willing to go to the company you can just log on to the various web sites for this deal and order it from there. SIM Free Phones are very easily available for the people unlike some other plans which are very hard to find.

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Samsung Galaxy S3 May Look Like This

This could be the best Galaxy S3 leak to-date or simply a fake, but either way here’s the photo that’s claimed to be of Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphone!

Does it look like the real thing to you?

A tipster send this image to the guys over at PhoneArena, and it’s said to be a press shot of the “final design” of the S3 handset.

There are a few things to note with this supposed snapshot of the next Galaxy S premium handset, including the fact there are no physical keys on the phone. Unlike on the original Galaxy S and the SII, there is no rectangular Home key on this device – although this doesn’t necessarily means it’s not real. Perhaps Samsung has decided to alter the design of its successor Galaxy S smartphone. After all, the upcoming iPhone 5 is expected to boast a different design to its predecessors.

If this is the S3 model, the screen certainly looks bigger, which fits with expectations. However, one thing that doesn’t is the photo of the display itself – the font doesn’t look quite right, it’s suspicious that the date is 22 March as this is when an announcement could be made, and the notifications section is a bit on the blurry side.

The rumours are coming thick and fast now, as we all eagerly await the official unveiling. Only yesterday, we heard from Russian tech blogger Eldar Murtazin that the S3 is coming with a ceramic finish, as well as reports of the next Galaxy S phone being waterproof.

All we do know is the Samsung Galaxy S3 is bound to be worth the wait and all the speculation.

Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts on whether you think this picture is of the Galaxy S3!

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HTC One X & S Phones 4U pre-order with freebie

Under: HTC
Date: March 16th, 2012

Two of the most anticipated upcoming smartphones are the HTC One X and the HTC One S. Both have been making big waves in the smartphone world, particularly the HTC One X with its quad-core processor action. Today we have news that you can now pre-order the HTC One X or S through Phones 4U and those that do will get a freebie, always a nice bonus.

Customers who pre-order either of these Android smartphones with Phones 4u will also receive a free HTC Media Link HD, normally worth £79.99. This useful device allows users to share their favourite content from their handsets, streaming it to an HDMI-equipped TV by plugging it into any HDMI port.
Because the Media Link HD also features Dual-Screening technology, at the same time as you’re streaming media to your TV you can still use thephone display for other things, such as emailing, Internet browsing and more. The HTC Media Link HD is also portable as it’s small and compact so to get one free one free of charge with pre-orders for the HTC One X or One S seems like a pretty good deal to us.
HTC One series phones run on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system (the very latest) along with HTC Sense 4 and also feature Beats by Dr. Dre Audio. Phones 4u Chief Commercial Officer Scott Hooton said, “Not only does the HTC One series range bolster our existing range of high-end HTC smartphones, it offers our customers superior sound and image quality in the form of the HTC One X and HTC One S.”
The flagship HTC One X is a quad-core beast with 1.5GHZ quad-core chip, huge 4.7-inch display with resolution of 1280×720, an 8-megapixel rear camera, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and also courtesy of Dropbox 25GB of Cloud storage. The HTC One S has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 8-megapixel camera, 1GB of RAM and internal storage of 16GB with another 25GB of Cloud storage from Dropbox.
The HTC One X will be available at Phones 4u stores and online from April 5. It will be free with a contract from £36 monthly while the HTC One S will also be free with a contract costing from £31 per month. A choice of networks is available for both. You can pre-order now from the Phones 4u website where you can also see hands on reviews of both. For the HTC One X headhere or for the HTC One S head here.
In case you want to find out more about how the HTC Media Link HD works we’ve embedded a video below this story to help you out. Are you waiting for either of these phones and if so will you be taking advantage of the freebie offer from Phones 4u?

Sony Xperia Sola brings floating touch navigation

Forget touch screens. You don’t even need to caress the screen of Sony’s “magical” smartphone to interact with it -- just hover your finger over the screen to navigate through the menus.

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Samsung Galaxy Beam about to Hit the Store Shelves!

The South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung has announced the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Beam smartphone handset. Now, the Galaxy Beam is not just another run of the mill smartphone device. It is one smartphone comes fitted with an ultra bright 15 lumens built-in projector which Samsung claims can function to full effect even outdoors.

Needless to mention, the Samsung Galaxy Beam may prove to be the ideal handset for those who are always on the move and need to make those presentations every now and then. Samsung though has not mentioned any launch date.

Here, let us take a closer look at the likely technical specifications that the Samsung Galaxy Beam will come equipped with. The Galaxy Beam packs a four inch wide 480 x 800 WVGA TFT touch sensitive display screen and a 2000 mAh battery.

You also have the dual core 1 GHz processor alongside the 8 GB of RAM. The Android 2.3 Gingerbread version of the operating system will run the show. The five mega pixel camera attached on the rear of the phone device is accompanied by the 1.3 pixels front video telephony camera. The snappers will be able to deliver 720p high definition video recordings and playback and that too at 30 fps.

The e on board memory of the Samsung Galaxy Beam is 8 GB and this storage capacity can be enhanced to another 32 GB by using the microSD memory card.

HTC One X competes with better photo features

It's becoming very hard to choose between Android phones -- and the manufacturers know it. As a result, many of them are now concentrating on try to differentiate their devices, either by making them more stylish (such as the ultra-thin Motorola Droid Razr) or more like a tablet, such as the recently introduced (to the U.S., anyway) Samsung Galaxy Note or more attractive to music lovers, such as the HTC Rezound.

Cameras have also become popular with smartphone buyers, to the point where they're no longer considered modest add-ons, but important features. The ability to create higher-quality photos and video will certainly be a large part of the marketing push for HTC's latest line of smartphones: HTC One.

Announced yesterday at the Mobile World Congress, the HTC One thus far consists of three phones (none of which will ship for at least a couple of months): the HTC One X, which has a 4.7-in. screen and will be sold by AT&T; the HTC One S, which has a 4.3-in. display and will be sold by T-Mobile, and the HTC One V, which will have a 3.7-in. display and will be sold in the pre-pay market (and about which, so far, there is not much information).

Both HTC One X and One S will come with the same Beat Audio sound enhancement as their Rezound predecessor, but they will also offer HTC's new ImageSense technology: a suite of features designed to try to convince consumers that having a separate camera is a thing of the past. According to HTC, they've give the One X an 8 megapixel camera, an f2.0 lens, backsensor illumination, and an HTC ImageChip to speed up the graphic processing.

Giving it a try 

I had a chance to try out the HTC One X this morning at an HTC press event here in NYC (see video below), and the camera interface was certainly nice. You can access the camera directly from the Android lock screen (the One X will come with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) overlaid by HTC's Sense environment). Once in the camera app, two large icons give you the choice between still photos and video -- click on the video icon and you're immediately recording.

There are a number of interesting features, such as the ability to take up to 99 continuous photos by pressing and holding the shutter button (and then easily choose the best of the group. While recording a video, you can capture a frame without stopping the shoot, essentially creating a video and a still photo simultaneously. There are also a number of special effects and setups (for group shots or panoramic shots) which you can access via menus.

I only played with the HTC One X for a short time, but from what I could see, the photo and video-taking ability of the camera seemed to have the a lot of potential -- it could, at the very least, satisfy casual photographers who would like to be able to grab a photo or throw a video up on YouTube quickly, cleanly and with some extras added.

HTC isn't the only phone vendor looking to making itself more visible by making the phone's camera more useful. Nokia has just announced that it is launching a phone called the Nokia 808 PureView which will be capable of 5-megapixel, 8-megapixel and 38-megapixel photos. (Unfortunately and, rather strangely, it will also be one of the last Nokia phones running Symbian and not Windows Phone.)

As someone who used to always carry a small point-and-shoot in my bag in order to be able to take photos or videos whenever the opportunity might arise (and living in a large city, the opportunity arises frequently), I count myself among those who would welcome better, faster and higher-quality cameras as part of my smartphone. However, even if Nokia's new smartphones fulfill their photographic promise, there may be a slight hitch in HTC's specs.

How well will the battery hold up? 

The battery for the One X will be a reasonable but not impressive 1800mAh -- and will not be user-replaceable. (The HTC One S, which will also feature the same photo/video enhancements, will have a 1600mAh battery.) As the owner of a Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which came with an 1850mAh battery, I know how power-hungry these smartphones can be, especially when using them as video cameras or viewers.

Many of the Nexus owners I know have opted to purchase the 2100mAh extended battery; when I first purchased my phone and couldn't get the extended battery in time for a business trip, I opted for a second 1850mAh battery so that I could switch off when I needed to. If the HTC One X turns out to be as power-hungry as many of the other feature-heavy smartphones out there, there's a good possibility that its owners will need to either be very careful about power use or get used to carrying around mobile power devices.

Or not. When the new HTC phones ship (they are expected to be available in two or three months), we expect to be able to provide a more thorough review.

 Via: blogs.computerworld

Samsung: 'We're not doing very well in the tablet market'

BARCELONA, Spain--Samsung Electronics admitted that its attempt to breach the tablet market has largely been a flop, with one executive offering a sobering summary of its performance. "Honestly, we're not doing very well in the tablet market," Hankil Yoon, a product strategy executive for Samsung, said today during a media roundtable here. 

That's about as frank a statement as it gets from any executive at the Mobile World Congress trade show this week. 

That Samsung hasn't met expectations in its tablet business isn't a huge surprise; the company lags well behind Apple's iPad and even Amazon's Kindle Fire in the US market. But for an executive to acknowledge the weakness is refreshing at a time when corporate-speak and jargon dominate conversations--particularly ones of a sensitive nature. 

Unlike Apple and other tablet vendors, Samsung has tried a shotgun approach at pushing its Galaxy Tab line of tablets. Initially offering a 7-inch version, it moved up to 10 inches and filled in the rest of the portfolio with sizes in between. Samsung, for the most part, was experimenting with the sizes and using the market as a testbed for what resonates with consumers. 

Samsung, however, appears to remain confident that the Galaxy Note will take off. The 5-inch version, which is already out in the market, has been hit by a string of criticism, largely due to its a size. While it acts as a phone, it looks more like a tweener product in between a smartphone and tablet, calling some to label it a "phablet." 

Yoon said he expects to ship 10 million units of the 5-inch Galaxy Note, lofty expectations for a company still smarting in the tablet business. He believes the S-Pen--the stylus that comes with the device--allows users to more easily create content, rather than consume it. 

Samsung earlier this week announced a 10.1-inch version of the Galaxy Note. When asked about the threat of redundant products, Yoon said he hoped the Note cannibalized sales of the original 10.1-inch Tab "The best thing to survive in the market is to kill your products," Yoon said. "We want to stay competitive in the market." 

That's why Samsung has been focused on pushing the Note and its S-Pen. Having struggled in the traditional tablet market, Samsung wanted to do something different in the category, Yoon said. He added that he no longer carries a physical notepad or papers, and does all of his note-taking on the 5-inch Note. 

"Even if the design is similar, how you use the (Note) is totally different," he said. Yoon dismissed the early criticism of the device, saying it would take some education for consumers to get comfortable with the larger size. He noted that three years ago, the largest phone in its line up had a 3.7-inch display, while the Galaxy S II has a 4.3-inch screen. It's just a matter of adapting to a larger screen. 

"Once I used this, the Galaxy S II looks too small," he said. "I don't go back to any other smartphone or tablet." 

Via CNET
Source asia.cnet

Report: Apple's iPhone 4 was most purchased smartphone in 2011

The three top-selling smartphones in the U.S. last year all belonged to Apple, according to data released by ComScore on Thursday. The iPhone 4 held the number one spot, with the 3GS following in second and the 4S in third, despite an October release. (The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 and HTC EVO 4G came in line at fourth and fifth, respectively.)

ComScore's annual Mobile Future in Focus report also shows that Apple is the top-selling manufacturer of smartphones in the U.S., with 29.6 percent of the smartphone market.

Although three different iPhone models account for the most popular individual smartphones sold in 2011, iPhones only make up roughly 30 percent of the total smartphone market. With more than just one hardware manufacturer building phones for the platform, Android reigns as the leading smartphone platform at 47.3 percent of the market. Still, comScore data suggests that RIM BlackBerry users are more likely to switch from a RIM device to an Android device, rather than an iPhone.

When looking at mobile traffic across all portable devices, Apple is the clear winner in the U.S. at 60.1 percent, thanks to the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch models. A breakdown of iOS traffic shows that 90.4 percent of all tablet traffic came from the iPad in December 2011, where 37.7 percent of smartphone traffic came from the iPhone. As for app use, the most popular mobile apps amongst iPhone users are YouTube, Google Maps, and Facebook.

Overall smartphone adoption in the U.S. has grown from 27 percent in 2010 to 41.8 percent in 2011, thanks in part to a wide variety of phone models at different price points across multiple carriers.

For a full report, visit comScore's Mobile Future in Focus press release.

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Nokia’s Windows Phones Get a Good Start in Europe

In the United States, the chances of seeing someone using a Windows Phone 7 handset seem about as good as spotting a leprechaun riding a unicorn. Sales here of the new Windows smartphones have been so tiny that Microsoft has shied away from sharing numbers.

Simon Dawson/Bloomberg News

The Nokia Lumia 800

But your odds are better in Europe. Recent signs suggest that Nokia’s Lumia handsets with the Windows Phone 7 software are doing reasonably well there. In Austria, the European carrier Orange lists the Nokia Lumia 800 as a best seller. And in London, sales of Nokia’s Lumia 800 drove Windows Phone 7’s market share up to 2.2 percent, from 0.4 percent a year ago, according to estimates by Kantar WorldPanel, a research firm. The largest number of Lumia shipments — about 200,000 units — went to Germany in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to the research firm Canalys.

Of course, Europeans have always been fonder of Nokia phones than Americans. “Europe has traditionally been a really strong market for Nokia, but Nokia’s been under pressure ever since the introduction of the iPhone, which is when the tide turned,” said Pete Cunningham, a principal analyst at Canalys. “They’ve found competition to be really tough, but this is the beginning of recovery for Nokia.”

Mr. Cunningham said Nokia’s new Lumia Windows phone was selling exceptionally well in London, largely because of a promotion with Orange. Microsoft, Nokia and Orange were offering a free Xbox 360 to people who purchased a Lumia 800 with a two-year contract.

Although these are positive signs for Nokia, the struggling Finnish phone maker still has a long way to go to reverse its slump. Nokia is still the world’s No. 1 maker of mobile phones when you include both traditional cellphones and smartphones, but its dominance of the global phone market has been fading. In 2011 its share of the market dropped to 23.8 percent, down from 28.9 percent in 2010, according to Gartner. Apple, meanwhile, has become the world’s biggest smartphone maker.

How will Nokia and Microsoft fare in the United States? The big test will be the debut of the Nokia Lumia 900, which will be exclusive to AT&T‘s network when it is released in the coming months. No price tag has been confirmed, but Nokia has said it intends to be “quite aggressive” with pricing.

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Apple could release iPhone 5 in Fall 2012

iPhone 5 could come by September or October

According to a "reliable source", Apple will release the new iPhone 5 in fall 2012.  Japanese publication Macotakara initially reported the rumor which, if true, could mean Apple will launch the sixth-generation iPhone in either September or October 2012 - starting a new trend in which iPhone will be released in the fall.

Up until the launch of Apple's iPhone 4S in October 2011, Apple had a tendency to launch their new iPhones during the summer.  The original iPhone, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4 all launched in June, while the iPhone 3G launched in July.  It wasn't until the iPhone 4S launched in October of last year that the pattern was broken.

It wasn't long ago, however, that we were hearing rumors of Apple planning to return to the summer release schedule - with the iPhone 4S October launch being nothing more than one time thing.  Back in January, a "reliable source at Foxconn" claimed Apple was gearing up for iPhone 5 production which, following the five-month estimated lead time pointed towards a summer 2012 release.

If these newest rumors from Macotakara are true, then they are actually in line with previous reports of an alleged Best Buy document referencing an October release for the iPhone 5. 

With the iPhone 5 fall launch, Apple could be trying to replicate the success from the iPhone 4S fall launch which yielded some impressive Q1 2012 results. In the company's latest earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced Apple sold a record-breaking 37 million iPhones - partially thanks to the holiday shopping season.

In related news, an iPhone 5 October release could also allow the iPad 3, rumored for a March release, to have the spotlight for quite a few months.  In all honesty, a spring release for the iPad 3 and a fall release for the iPhone 5 would effectively allow Apple to dominate the mobile market for a good portion of the year.

Source