ML Technology

PHONES

General information

CNET

“Compared to the second quarter of 2008, global sales of mobile phones were down about 6.1 percent. This was the third consecutive quarter that fewer mobile handsets were sold worldwide when compared to the previous year. But analysts noted that the decline was at a much slower pace in the most recent quarter compared to the first quarter in 2009, in which the drop was 9.4 percent. Still, demand for smartphones remained high. And sales in this category actually grew 27 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago. For several quarters now, smartphones have represented the fastest growing segment of the mobile market, and this has been in spite of a global recession. Analysts believe the trend is the result of many consumers waiting to upgrade their phones, and those who do upgrade are gravitating toward more sophisticated smartphones. … As the economy picks up again, low-cost cell phones are also expected to sell well over the next few years. Market research firm Juniper Research predicts in a recent report that low-cost handset shipments will increase by 31 percent in 2014. And as smartphone sales also increase, Juniper says that the high end and low end of the cell phone market will dominate, with these two categories accounting for 79 percent of the mobile devices sold by 2014. Meanwhile, sales of midrange devices are expected to fall more than 41 percent during that period.”

Znet

Make


HANDHELDS

PDA

CNET. PDA (standalone, non smartphones) “In these days of smartphones it may seem a bit of an anachronism to use a standalone PDA.”
CNET editors’ PDA buying guide: What handheld fits my needs

HP iPAQ

PDA Phones or smartphones

CNET’s quick guide to handheld operating systems

RIM Blackberry

Nokia N-seriesT mobile G1

HTC Touch

Palm Pre

Iphone

Game Consoles

Nintendo DSI

Sony Play Station Portable PSP

Integrations

Mini-projectors

Samsung Pico Projector Phone


Prototype of Projector Phone finger-controlled

Solar batteries

Samsung Crest Solar


CNET Solar uptake for cell phones still ‘limited’. ”solar-powered battery chargers for a variety of mobile devices remain the “most practical application in the near-term. … Such battery chargers could even be integrated into backpacks, laptop cases or garments. However, these are a “supplemental” means of charging–in situations where grid connection is not possible or convenient. Due to their power limitations, integrated solar cells are not likely to replace batteries in mobile electronic devices,” said Hines. “Instead, they will be used in conjunction with energy storage devices such as batteries to extend their operating time.”

SERVICES & SERVERS

Developing countries

MTN

ZAIN (Zap mobile banking, Me2you)

SAFARICOM (M-Pesa)

GRAMEENPHONE (Village phone) - Bangaldesh, Cameroun, Rwanda, Indonesia, Uganda.

From the very beginning, Grameenphone placed emphasis on providing good after-sales services. In recent years, the focus has been to provide after-sales within a short distance from where the customers live. There are now more than 600 GP Service Desks across the country covering nearly all upazilas of 61 districts. In addition, there are 72 Grameenphone Centers in all the divisional cities and they remain open from 8am-7pm every day including all holidays.
GP has generated direct and indirect employment for a large number of people over the years. The company presently has more than 5,000 full and temporary employees. Another 100,000 people are directly dependent on Grameenphone for their livelihood, working for the Grameenphone dealers, retailers, scratch card outlets, suppliers, vendors, contractors and others.
In addition, the Village Phone Program, also started in 1997, provides a good income-earning opportunity to more than 210,000 mostly women Village Phone operators living in rural areas. The Village Phone Program is a unique initiative to provide universal access to telecommunications service in remote, rural areas. Administered by Grameen Telecom Corporation, it enables rural people who normally cannot afford to own a telephone to avail the service while providing the VP operators an opportunity to earn a living.

VODACOM

VODAFONE

FRANCE TELECOM

MILLICOM (prepayd cards)

PORTUGAL TELECOM

MOOV

VIVENDI MAROC TELECOM