Microsoft’s free Windows Phone license for Lava, Karbonn could dent Android market share

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Last month, reports suggested that Microsoft was looking to slash its license fee to get more manufacturers on board, especially local manufacturers in growth markets such as India. And now it looks like the company is going to do one better.

A report in the Times of India quotes sources from Indian phone companies saying Microsoft has agreed to give them the OS without any licence fee. This after companies such as Lava, Karbonn and Micromax have been known to be in discussions with Microsoft to launch low-cost devices. Last month, Lava and Karbonn announced plans to produce Windows Phone devices. Xolo too is looking at Windows Phone and has already released plans for a Windows tablet. So obviously Microsoft has been making headway with companies here and the Indian connection with Satya Nadella now being the CEO must surely have helped in discussions, but as the report says, “the agreements were clinched only when Microsoft agreed to remove the licence fee.”

Microsoft has been known to charge between $20 and $35 per unit produced from companies which make Windows Phone devices. But in India even a low fee was not acceptable to manufacturers given Windows Phone’s low market share. Popular belief is that Android is free, but manufacturers still have to pay a fee to get access to Play Services and the Play Store. While Indian companies do not pay this fee directly (they are passed on to Google by the Chinese ODMs these companies use), they still have to absorb the cost. In the case of Android, they are more than happy to do this, given the demand and the market share of the OS, but that’s not the case with Windows Phone. Which is why Microsoft had to sweeten the deal.

“Free Windows Phone is part of a strategic partnership. For both Microsoft and us, it is an experiment. Windows Phone still doesn’t have lot of appeal in the market but now that it doesn’t have any licence fee, it becomes easier for us to experiment with it,” one executive with an Indian phone company was quoted as saying by the paper.

But the deal is essentially a two-pronged attack on the growth of Android. For Indian companies, having Windows Phone products gives them another front to chip away at the market share of biggies like Samsung, LG and Sony, who are fully focussed on Android. That’s one way to curb Android growth and it’s a win-win for both parties.

Secondly, having more device options in the market will lead to competitive pricing, which will also boost adoption rate. Indian companies are known for their aggressive pricing models and if there’s a repeat of anything like the Android smartphone explosion, you could soon have a huge number of Windows Phone devices in the market, at very attractive prices.

Things are not all bright though; there’s still the app hurdle, which will only go away gradually, but at least this is a bold move. And having more devices will convince more developers about the chances of the OS. With much of India still an untapped market for smartphones, Microsoft is finally making some shrewd business calls that could end up boosting its market share.

Report by : Nikhil Subramaniam

Nokia to launch Windows Phone-based phablet to rival Samsung's Galaxy Note series: Report

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Following reports of Microsoft's plans to update Windows Phone 8 to support full-HD displays, new rumours of Nokia working on a large screen smartphone or phablet that's similar in size to Samsung's Galaxy Note series have surfaced online.

According to a report by Financial Times, Nokia intends to launch a number of flagship devices later this year, including a supersized tablet phone. The publication cited people with knowledge of the company's plan to report the development. They said that the phablet would be similar in size to the Galaxy Note but will have advanced specifications.

Just a week back, a report had indicated that Microsoft will issue an update later this year that will bring support for 1080p resolution to Windows Phone 8. Presently, Windows Phone 8 supports only WVGA, WXGA, and 720p resolutions. The update will reportedly also add support for devices with displays that measure 5-inches and bigger. So the news might turn out to be accurate, however, it's difficult to estimate the exact time frame.

The FT report also confirms that Nokia intends to launch a Lumia phone that will use its Pureview imaging technology in July. The handset will sport a 40 megapixel camera and a flash.

We had earlier heard about about Nokia developing not one, but two models of Nokia Pureview 808-like devices, running Windows Phone, called Nokia EOS.

Both these smartphones are expected to feature exactly the same specifications apart from the processor. One of these smartphones could reportedly come with a dual-core processor while the other is expected to be powered by Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor. Though Nokia is reportedly working on both quad-core and dual-core version of Nokia EOS, the report mentioned that the company is likely to announce only one of these smartphones.

Report by : Anupam Saxena

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Obtains on Samsung Galaxy S3 with Windows Phone Ad

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Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) adds to the list of firms that has in use a dig at Samsung about the release of its Galaxy S4, even though the makers of Windows Phone are not attractive a dig at the newest version, other than the Galaxy S3 in its place.

Microsoft is carrying its famed Smoked by Windows Phone campaign to American television, in a opportune move. The campaign rotated about a series of defies that the Microsoft team discarded to people using other smartphones on the roads and Microsoft retail stores.

The firm ran over 50,000 challenges in 54 countries. Microsoft prepared users of competitor operating systems hole in the ground their phones aligned with a Windows Phone. The users were requested to whip out their mobile phones and carry out tasks like removal the weather in two different cities earlier than Rudoplh on a Windows Phone to win the challenge. The exercise had its possess share of arguments with the challenged asserting that they had really won. Certainly, Microsoft made the rules of this game.

Coming to the stock performance in last Session Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) in last trading session end up at $28.32 by rising up 0.50% with traded volume of 35.45 million shares which is down the average volume of 41.92 million shares.

The stock price saw week’s volatility of 0.99% and month’s volatility is 1.31%, while the stock price of the company is moving up from its 20 days moving average with 1.45% and isolated positively from 50 days moving average with 2.98%.

Looking at Analytic Ratios; the price to sales ratio of MSFT in past twelve months was calculated as 3.25 and price to cash ratio as 3.47. Company return on equity ratio is recorded as 22.62% and its return on assets is 12.83%.

MSFT belongs to Technology sector. Yesterday Dow Jones U.S. Technology Index (STC) was at 759.72 with 0.53% change.

Report by : David Graves

BBC develops iPlayer app for Windows Phone

The BBC is developing an iPlayer app for Microsoft’s Windows Phone smartphone operating system, it has announced.

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The iPlayer apps on iOS and Android are among the most popular Photo: ALAMY

The app, due to be introduced in “the next few months” will plug a significant gap in the Windows Phone Store for British owners. The iPlayer apps for iOS and Android, which allow viewers to watch catch-up and live television, are among the most popular free apps in the UK.

Cyrus Saihan, the BBC’s head of business development, said the Windows Phone iPlayer app would help “reach as wide as possible an online audience in the UK”.

Windows Phone accounts for a relative small slice of the British smartphone market, however. According to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech’s latest figures, it has a 6 per cent share of smartphone sales, compared to 31 per cent for iOS and 56 per cent for Android.

The BBC said it “signed a deal” with Microsoft to create an iPlayer app for Windows Phone. But unlike the iOS and Android apps, the Windows Phone software will not be a full native app but a shortcut to the iPlayer mobile website via a 'live tile'.

Talk of a "deal" will fuel speculation that Microsoft will pay Media Applications Technologies Limited, a company owned by the BBC responsible for its mobile apps, in its effort to build an app store to match those run by Apple and Google. The software giant is known to have paid others, including the location-based social network Foursquare, to develop Windows Phone apps.

A BBC spokesman refused to be drawn on the details of its arrangement with Microsoft, however.

Microsoft is not the only bit-part player in the smartphone market to offer financial incentives to developers to try and break the iOS-Android duopoly. BlackBerry is paying a $10,000 bonus to small developers who create successful apps for its new BB10 operating system.

Report by : Christopher WIlliams

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Ever since the launch of the first Nokia PureView device, there have been speculations that Nokia may launch a similar camera smartphone based on the Windows Phone OS. And if reports by The Verge are to be believed then this smartphone could already be in the works.

The tech blog claims that Nokia is currently working on a smartphone that is codenamed "EOS" and it sports a camera sensor, which is similar to the one that is on Nokia's 808 PureView. Furthermore, it claims that unlike the recent devices in the Lumia series, the EOS smartphone might sport an aluminium exterior instead of polycarbonate.

The Verge also states that the EOS is expected to be a new flagship device from the company that will launch later in the year. For now, there are no more details available regarding specifications of the device.

Nokia had first showcased its 808 PureView at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012. This smartphone garnered a lot of attention, thanks to the massive 41-megapixel camera sensor that it has on-board. Other features of the smartphone include a 4-inch 360x640pixel AMOLED display, 16GB of internal storage, 1.3GHz processor and Nokia Symbian Belle OS.

Nokia 808 PureView debuted in India in June 2012. Its current price is mentioned as Rs. 26,499 but it is currently listed as out of stock on Nokia India official store.

Earlier in the month there were also reports doing the rounds that Nokia is working on a successor to its current flagship smartphone the Lumia 920, which is codenamed "Catwalk". The reports also claimed that this device will come with an aluminium body and will be lighter and thinner than the Lumia 920.

Report by : Surbhi Chawla

Microsoft releases Skype for Windows Phone 8

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An important app missing on Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 devices, which is available on other platforms, was the Skype app. According to Pocket-Lint, the Redmond-based company has released a Skype app for WP8 for the Nokia Lumia 920, Lumia 820, HTC 8X and 8S.

The app has been labelled as a preview release, as opposed to a final version. The WP8 Skype app offers additional features over the original WP7.5 version, and offers greater connectivity with the rest of the phone. The biggest new feature of the app is the ability to be left on in the background. Skype contacts can also be seen in the People Hub, thus letting you start new conversations with just a tap.

Now get Skype for WP8

Recently, Microsoft had announced that the company is phasing out its Messenger service, and has started migrating contacts to Skype. As per the blog post, Skype states that Messenger users will be able to reach their Messenger friends on Skype. Messenger users will have the ability to instant message (IM) and video-call their contacts by updating to Skype.

Skype states that this effort started with the release of Skype 6.0 for Mac and Windows a few weeks ago, which allows users to sign i

nto Skype using a Microsoft account. Now Messenger users need to update to the latest version of Skype, sign in using a Microsoft account, and they will find their Messenger contacts moved there.

Tony Bates, president, Skype division at Microsoft states, “Our goal remains to deliver the best communications experience for everyone, everywhere. We want to focus our efforts on making things simpler for our users while continuously improving the overall experience. We will retire Messenger in all countries worldwide in the first quarter of 2013 (with the exception of mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available).”

Skype states that over the next few months it will help users with the transition process and assist them with other information. To help users learn how to get the most out of Skype, the VoIP service states that they should be on the lookout for some special offers later this year as users join their Messenger friends in the migration.

Skype recently released its latest version, Skype 6.0, for Mac and Windows desktop users. The update brought to the table Microsoft and Facebook account integration. Users can now sign into Skype using either their Microsoft or Facebook accounts. In Skype 6.0, users can send instant messages to their Windows Live Messenger, Hotmail, and Outlook.com contacts via Skype. Users with Microsoft accounts can merge the MS account with Skype. All they have to do is sign in to Skype with their Microsoft accounts.

At the time, Skype announced that it has in the pipeline a feature with which users can make audio and video calls to Windows Live Messenger customers on Skype desktop clients. The feature will be rolled out in the weeks to come.

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Report by: by Shunal Doke

Evernote v2.5 for Windows Phone brings Note List tiles, new features

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Evernote for Windows Phone has been updated to version 2.5. According to the change list on the Windows Phone store, the updated Evernote app features a new tile layout design for note list. Each tile comes with the note title, date, and text from the note. Where the note contains an image, a preview of the image will take up the lower two-thirds of the tile. The tile also shows an icon indicating an audio or file attachment.

The login and registration screens have been redesigned too. For those looking to explore and discover the app, the update has introduced new popup tips. The note editing mode is now more spacious, making it easier for users to not only view content, but also edit it. The updated app for Windows Phone users introduces several performance improvements, including faster startup. Head over to the store, here to install the updated app. The app runs on Windows Phone 7.5 or higher.

Using the Evernote application, Windows Phone users can save content from notes to ideas to snapshots to recordings. The app promises to put everything into Evernote while synchronising your content in the phone with the web and your PC.

New app has a spacious Note Editor

Users can pin template tiles, create a new note complete with a title, tags, notebook, and content. Further, the app offers text templates that open up new note in the editor, photo templates that start the camera, and audio templates that start recording automatically.

At the fag end of last year, Evernote got a major Windows Phone update. The new version is 2.1, and the update got note pinning, language support, and more. Pinning notes to the home screen lets you access notes, notebooks, and features quicker. To access pinning, go to Evernote Settings > General > Pin to Start Page. Here you can choose to pin specific new note options, such as a new text note, snapshot note, and new audio note. Tapping these options from the home screen will launch them into the note. To pin a notebook or tag, swipe to the relevant screen, then tap the Pin button at the bottom of the screen. On the home screen the tile will include a number showing how many notes are related to the notebook or tag. To pin a note, open the note, tap the dots in the menu, and choose 'Pin this Note'.

Evernote for Mac got updated recently. The new Evernote for Mac 3.2 introduced a host of improvements. The highlight of the updated Evernote is the Activity Stream, which is a feature that keeps users updated with the on goings in one’s account. It also brings in update to all graphical elements to support the new MacBook Retina displays.

Evernote updated its app for Android too recently, especially for tablet users. The upgrades include a completely redesigned tablet interface coupled with a new note view. The popular note taking application has been spruced up to work well on 7-inch tablets such as the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire. The Evernote app for Android also boasts of a new homescreen. The user only needs to tap on the screen to create a new note or view his or her notebook, tags, and place views. The update also brought a host of swipe interactions, which Evernote believes improves navigation through the app. It allows users to swipe the note list to view it on full-screen mode or swipe it in the opposite direction to get back to the left panel. The design of the Note list, too has undergone a change in the update for Android.

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Report by: Reuters

Windows Phone challenging RIM for third place in Europe

Android and iOS still dominate the smartphone markets, sharing 93 percent of sales in the U.S. and 83 percent in Europe.

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Nokia's Lumia 900 is one of several new Windows Phones being introduced.

Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system is gaining on Research In Motion, a new study says, but it still has a long way to go before catching Android and iOS.

Windows Phone is vying with RIM for third place in Europe as low-end devices -- like the Nokia 610 -- drive sales in key markets such as Italy and France, according to a global smartphone sales report from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

But iOS and Android still make up the vast majority of sales in the region, sharing about 83 percent of the share in the big five European markets of Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, the report said. Their percentage is even higher in the U.S. at about 93 percent.

Google's Android operating system and Apple's iOS software have grabbed the lion's share of the smartphone market, but other players are vying to gain a piece as the smartphone market continues soaring. Microsoft has been pushing its Windows Phone operating system, but it hasn't gained much traction with users. However, that could change with the introduction of its revamped operating system later this month.

Dominic Sunnebo, Kantar global consumer insight director, said it's "highly likely" that Windows Phone will overtake RIM for the No. 3 spot in Europe before the end of the year due to "the momentum Windows 8 will bring towards the end of 2012."

Apple's iOS, Google's Android Jelly Bean and Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 are vying to be the top smartphone operating systems.

In the third quarter, Windows Phone had 5 percent market share in the five big European markets. A year ago, its share was 3.8 percent. RIM, by comparison, saw its market share drop to 6.4 percent from 12 percent in the year-earlier period.

In the U.S., Windows Phone was 2.7 percent of the market, while RIM was 1.7 percent.

Android, meanwhile, saw the biggest jump in Europe in the period, with its hold on the region soaring 20 percent to 69 percent. iOS slid 4.3 percent. In the U.S., Android retained the top position with 60 percemt of sales, with iOS following at 34 percent. However, Android's percentage was down 3.3 percent from the previous year while iOS climbed 9 percent.

Report by: Shara Tibken

Samsung, Nokia or HTC which has the most distruptive Windows Phone 8 line-up?

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In a world being ruled by iOS and Android, Microsoft hopes to bring in a whiff of fresh air with Windows Phone 8 operating system. For the ones, who have'nt been paying attention to what Microsoft has been up to, Windows Phone 8 is expected to be the next major version of its mobile phone OS.

Talking about this new operating system, Stephen Baker, Vice President of Industry Analysis for NPD's Consumer Technology Market Research says, "I think Windows 8 phones definitely represent a new, strong and different competitor in the smartphone market. Not only does Microsoft take a different approach to the usage model with their tile based architecture but the ability to leverage the huge installed base of Windows PCs and Xbox game consoles should help them, over time, create a viable third path for smartphone users."

Most smartphone makers have already announced their front runners for the Windows Phone 8 operating system. The first major announcement was made by Samsung, when it unveiled its ATIV S. This smartphone has a 4.8-inch display coated with Corning "Gorilla" glass, an 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera.

Nokia soon followed to take the wraps off its Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 windows Phone devices. Nokia Lumia 920 comes with 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ display, Wireless charging support and 2000 mAH battery. While the Nokia Lumia 820 is a mid-range smartphone that sports a 1.5GHz Qualcomm S4 dual-core processor, 4.3-inch Clearblack display and 8GB of internal storage.

Taiwanese manufacturer, HTC too expressed its love for Windows Phone by announcing the HTC 8X and 8S The HTC 8X comes with 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display, while the HTC 8S is a mid-segment smartphone, which has 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB internal memory.

Though these were the major announcements from the big league, even Huawei has come out in support of Windows Phone 8 and is expected to launch the Ascend W1 on September 25 according to reports. The Chinese telecom company also plans to launch more devices running on Microsoft's latest OS by the end of this year.

We have already done a head-to-head comparison of these flagship smartphones from HTC, Nokia and Samsung to understand where each stands. Now we quiz the analysts in this business to understand which amongst these three has the most disruptive Windows Phone 8 line-up.

Robert Enderle, Principal Analyst at Enderle Group opines that, "Samsung currently looks the most disruptive as they have a full set of phones, tablets and PCs so they cover all use cases for the platform which is operating on a 'better together" meme". He also adds that, "They are also the most motivated to go after Apple at the moment thanks to that $1 billion judgment".

In 2007, Samsung was one of the first to get on the Android wave and its strategy on that front seems to have paid off well. Now it's trying to replicate the same with Windows Phone 8. However, the major difference now is that Samsung seems to be juggling three hats at the moment with - Windows, Android and its own Bada operating system. So, the biggest challenge confronting Samsung right now is to come out with a prefect balancing act if it plans to score in the Windows Phone 8.

John Strand, CEO of Strand Consult feels that Nokia currently has an upper hand with its Windows Phone 8 line-up. "I will say that Nokia's Windows phones are cool. Some of the specs that they are advertising are ahead of the new iPhone. Also, Nokia is 100 percent dedicated to WP8, while Samsung and HTC's focus it primarily on the Android platform." He further goes on to elaborate that, the fact that Samsung and HTC are offering Windows Phone 8 will only help Nokia. This is because Nokia and Microsoft will now have a better bargaining power with operators because if the operator does not want to stock Windows Phone devices, it will have to say no to three separate vendors.

Having said that he still feels that being a new operating system, Microsoft and Nokia have a long way to go. "From my point of view it is up hill and I think that it will be difficult for both the companies. On the brighter side, Microsoft and Nokia have the necessary resources to emerge as winners."

Baker too agrees that though Microsoft is trying to bring in a lot of differentiation in the market, it may not be smooth sailing for them. "The real issue is how aggressively they market their unified philosophy and how tightly they tie the different aspects together, and finally, of course, while the analysts and the industry likes their approach it remains to be seen if the consumer will also find the integration a valuable differentiator."

Report by: Surbhi Chawla

HTC Windows Phone 8x

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	It’s here: A new, iconic design that keeps you connected while also reflecting you. Unique color options, a seamless look, a screen to personalize—all serving up people and passions that matter most. 8X features an ultra-wide-angle front camera lens that fits in every face in the group and the surrounding scenery. Share it all on the brilliant screen that is rich and vivid—even when viewed in bright sunlight.
Overview
	Key Features World-class camera.  Get more people in the shot, including you, with the new ultra-wide-angle front and back cameras. 8X takes sharp, crisp photos—even low-light conditions. Perfect-fit design.  This is the most comfortable phone you’ll ever hold. Its seamless form feels great in your hand and on your ear. The ultra-unique matte finish comes in a variety of distinctive colors. Exclusive built in amplifier for Beats Audio™.  Enjoy high-def, uncompromised sound for all you do. Boost sound with less distortion than other phones for the ultimate entertainment experience.
Capture twice the picture with the ultra-wide-angle front camera lens. How many times have you wanted to take a picture of you and your friends in front of somewhere cool, but the photo just captures your head and nothing of the background. Or, you don’t really get your friends in the shot, either. Get more people in the shot, including you! Now, easily fit more people in the shot with an exclusive 88° ultra-wide-angle front camera that captures nearly triple the area of most other front cameras. Enjoy more people, more background, more memories.
World-class camera for the photographer in you. Take amazing photos—even in low light. HTC ImageChip ensures you capture the highest-quality, crisp, true-to-life photos. The camera features our best-in-class f/2.0 lens, optimizing the experience for low-light, so your pictures will be great even when the lighting isn’t, such as dimly lit restaurants, indoor gatherings or at sunset.
Quickly capture every picture with the physical camera button. Capture the moment forever with instant activation (even from the lock screen!) with the distinctive external camera button. Instantly point, shoot, share.
Iconic design. The 8X provides a simple, human feel combined with an innovative, unique unibody construction resulting in a phone with a perfectly sculpted, continuous form, without bumps or protrusions – and for the camera, the buttons are completely flush with the body, adding to the iconic design aesthetic.
Unique colors and finish. The ultra-unique, premium matte finish comes in a variety of distinctive colors to be bold, sophisticated, and adventurous – just as diverse as the people who use them. The 8X will be available in California Blue, Graphite Black, Flame Red and Limelight Neon.
Brilliant display in any viewing condition. Images look better than ever—even in direct sunlight or at off-center angles—on the HTC laminated display screen with its brilliant color and crisp contrast. The tough, lightweight, scratch-resistant Gorilla® Glass screen fends off every day wear and tear so you enjoy a long-lasting beautiful, clear display.
Amplified by Beats Audio™. The 8X has a dedicated amp built right into the phone, so it pumps more power to your headphones than ever. Plus, Beats Audio is coming to Windows phones for the first time ever. Take that combination and transform your listening pleasure with deeper bass, crisper vocals and detailed high notes for music, games, movies and videos.
Your world delivered live. These days information is constant and updates are non-stop. Live Tiles let you arrange your Start screen just how you want it and make it easy to see everything that’s going on with the people and passions in your life in real-time. You can make a Live Tile for anyone and almost anything, and pin it right to your Start screen. Pin a person or an app and you instantly know what their latest updates, deals, changes just by looking at your phone. Resize, rearrange and recolor for easy access to what matters most to you.

Report by: R.Shah

Windows Phone

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Expand your horizons

Windows Phone 8X by HTC

Take vibrant, wide-angle pictures even in low light. Then jam to your favorite tunes with Beats Audio™.

The perfect phone for work or play

Windows Phone 8S by HTC

Business and pleasure in a single versatile device.

Slip on something smart

Nokia Lumia 820

Choose from a range of shells in eye-catching colors, including one that charges your phone wirelessly.

Big, bold, and ready for a smile

Nokia Lumia 920

Take stunning photos, wherever life takes you. Then show them off on a PureMotion HD+ display.

Big screen. Bigger potential

Samsung ATIV S

Ultra-thin, comfortable, and powerful. This elegant smartphone has it all.

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HTC

Powerfully personal, amplified by Beats Audio™.

With Windows Phone 8X by HTC, you can capture your greatest moments with an ultra-wide-angle front-facing camera—perfect for self-portraits and full-screen Skype calls. And if it's too dark, don't fret. The built-in f2.0 lens, Back Side Illumination, and Image Chip ensure that photos turn out well in any light. Add exclusive Beats Audio and a brilliant display optimized for varied lighting and viewing angles, and you've got a phone that's bursting with life.

• Ultra-wide-angle, low-light front camera
• Lightweight, scratch-resistant Gorilla® Glass screen
• Exclusive Beats Audio with built-in amplifier

Windows Phone 8X by HTC specs

• Display - 4.3 inch screen
• Storage - 1 GB RAM, 16 GB memory
• Camera - f2.0 aperture, Back Side Illumination, Image Chip Megapixel
• Processor - 1.5 GHz dual core processor
• Battery - Integrated Li-ion battery (1800 mAh)
• Network - GSM/GPRS/EDGE, HSPA/WCDMA

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Windows Phone 8S by HTC

The smartphone to match your life at work or play

Whether you’re emailing your boss at work or taking pictures of friends over the weekend, Windows Phone 8S by HTC gets the job done with flair and style. It stands apart from other smartphones with its boldly colored design. Yet with its 1 GHz dual-core processor and strong, long-lasting battery, Windows Phone 8S by HTC can handle any task with ease. Shoot and share unique photos from the 5 MP, 720p, auto-flash camera, or groove to your favorite tunes in studio quality with built-in Beats Audio™. Windows Phone 8S by HTC can do it all.

• Bold colors and striking design
• Beats Audio for richer sound quality
• 5 MP auto-flash camera for taking inspiring photos anywhere

Windows Phone 8S by HTC specs

• Display - 4 inch super LCD touch screen with WVGA resolution, Gorilla® Glass
• Storage - 512 MB RAM, 4 GB memory, expansion SD card slot
• Camera - 5 MP, 720p HD video recording, auto-focus and LED flash, f2.8 aperture and 35 mm lens
• Processor - Qualcomm® S4 1 GHz, dual-core
• Battery - Li-ion Polymer battery 1700 mAh
• Network - GSM/GPRS/EDGE, HSPA/WCDMA

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Nokia Lumia 820

The versatile Lumia with your choice of outer shells

The Nokia Lumia 820 is the most versatile Lumia to date. It’s packed full of features that help you take amazing photos and explore your city. It also comes with a 4.3” ClearBlack display that’s easy to see in broad daylight. And with SkyDrive, you can access all your photos, videos, and Office files wherever you are. Make your phone truly yours with a shell that fits your style. Pick one in your favorite color, or choose one that charges wirelessly.

• Smart Shoot combines shots for the perfect portrait
• Nokia City Lens reveals local landmarks, restaurants, and more
• Shell options include a range of colors and an option for wireless charging

Nokia Lumia 820 specs

• Display - 4.3 inch screen
• Storage - 1 GB RAM, 8 GB memory
• Camera - 8 MP with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash; front-facing camera (VGA)
• Processor - 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core processor
• Battery - Removable battery BP-5T (1650 mAh)
• - Wireless charging support with separate wireless charging covers
• Network - GSM, LTE, WCDMA

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Nokia Lumia 920

The most innovative Lumia yet, with PureView™

The Nokia Lumia 920 has PureView™ camera technology with Optical Image Stabilization and a Carl Zeiss lens that captures blur-free pictures & videos even if your hand is shaky, or in low light conditions. The PureMotion HD+ display is Nokia’s brightest, fastest and most sensitive touchscreen. It comes with a shell that works with the Nokia Wireless Charging Plate. Add Nokia City Lens, Mix Radio, and SkyDrive, and you’ve got a great device.

• PureView™ and optical image stabilization for best low light pictures
• Smart Shoot combines shots for the perfect portrait
• PureMotion HD+, Nokia’s brightest, fastest and most sensitive touchscreen

Nokia Lumia 920 specs

• Display - 4.5 inch screen
• Storage - 1 GB RAM, 32 GB memory
• Camera - 8.7 MP with Optical Image Stabilization and Carl Zeiss optics; short-pulse, high-power LED flash
• Processor - 1.5 GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor
• Battery - Integrated BP-4GW battery (2000 mAh)
• - Wireless charging support
• Network - GSM, LTE, WCDMA

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Samsung ATIV S

A stunning combination of power and elegance.

The Samsung ATIV S packs a powerful punch for an ultra-thin smartphone. The brushed aluminum chassis—a mere 8.7 mm—holds an impressive 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display made of durable Corning Gorilla Glass 2. Though one of the larger smartphones on the market, it manages to feel just right in your hands thanks to a uniquely shaped bezel that keeps your fingers off the screen while holding it. With a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and long-lasting 2300 mAh battery, the ATIV S will keep you going all day—and then some.

• 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display
• Ultra-durable Corning Gorilla Glass 2
• MicroSD slot for expanded storage

Samsung ATIV S specs

• Display - 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED screen with Gorilla Glass
• Storage - 1 GB RAM, 16 or 32 GB memory
• Camera - 8 MP auto-focus rear camera; 1.9 MP front camera
• Processor - 1.5 GHz dual core processor
• Battery - 2300 mAh battery

Report by: R.Shah

Windows Phone to be bigger than iOS, Android - in Nokia's Finnish homeland, that is

Summary: Nokia's decline and swingeing job cuts have been tough on Finland, particularly on its software industry. The country's developers are staking their future on Windows Phone - could the gamble be just what the Finnish tech sector needs to get back on its feet?

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Finnish mobile developers are rallying behind Nokia's new platform Windows Phone, yet the handset maker's precipitous decline could be the sour medicine the nation's software industry needed, according to researchers at Finland's Aalto University.

Nokia's new smartphone platform is Windows Phone, which in 2011 replaced Symbian and its short-lived successor MeeGo as the handset maker's OS of choice. It's no shock then to find in the Aalto University BIT Research Centre's 2012 Software Industry Survey (PDF) of Finnish software companies, the seven percent that built on MeeGo or Symbian in 2011 is expected to fall to two percent by 2013.

However, an even more dramatic shift is expected to occur by then: 34 percent of Finnish developers plan to be building for Windows Phone, leaving Android (33.4 percent) and iOS (24.3 percent) as the second and third most popular mobile platforms.

Source: Aalto University BIT Research Centre 2012 Software Industry Survey

While it may seem counterintuitive – Windows Phone has just a single digit share of the global mobile market – it has a greater presence in Finland. According to one local report, Windows Phone has a 32-percent market share in the country, and analytics company StatCounter is also tracking a rapid rise for Windows Phone in Finland, which overtook former Nokia golden child Symbian this August.

While there is some loyalty to Nokia amongst Finnish consumers, developer interest in Windows Phone more likely stems from delivering services to local businesses, according to BIT Research Centre's researcher manager, Mikko Rönkkö.

"It used to be almost a de facto standard that Finnish companies provided Nokia phones for their employees," he tells Norse Code, adding that BlackBerry is almost non-existent in Finland.

"A large share of Finnish software companies are serving other Finnish companies. Because of the earlier popularity of Nokia phones in Finnish enterprises, many software vendors probably assume that Nokia phones will be popular in the future as well."

Another explanation, according to fellow researcher Juhana Peltonen, is that firms that develop Windows desktop software see a continuum to high-growth mobile through Windows Phone.

"They're not making the next Angry Birds, but there are a lot of these small business-to-business firms that have been able to sell this software to small manufacturing plants perhaps. And they think, OK, it works on Windows, so why don't we try it a mobile version of this."

Nokia's stamp on Finland's window to change

The shift towards Windows Phone among mobile developers comes at a time of upheaval in the wider Finnish software industry, which not so long ago faced a serious shortage of software engineers but is now facing a sustained oversupply, and not just due to Nokia's layoffs.

One of the challenges the industry has faced is that Finland has had a handful of large buyers — Nokia being one, along with manufacturing and government — that concentrated contracting with a few large suppliers.

"Finnish public-sector IT procurement has been a lot about buying from the biggest service companies and then on the other hand you have Nokia. So you think about where do growth companies come from — you have these big firms that are blocking the sunlight," says Peltonen.

Nokia's research centre in Helsinki, Finland. Image: Nokia

Along with Nokia's mass layoffs, other large IT services firms in Finland, including Digia (which bought Nokia's QT in August), Ixonos, and Accenture (which absorbed 1,200 Finnish Symbian developers in 2011), have laid off hundreds of staff in the past year — some of these decisions were related to the Nokia cut backs, and some independent of them.

None of these have the visibility of Nokia's layoffs, but says Rönkkö "when Nokia announces something, usually within a few months [these companies] follow up".

Peltonen's "conservative" estimate of the overall number of Finns laid off between 2011 to 2013 as a consequence of Nokia's downsizing is 10,000, a figure that includes both laid-off Nokia staff and those at contractors that depend on the handset maker for their bread and butter. "That's in Finland, not the world," says Peltonen, noting Nokia itself accounts for 6,900 of the 10,000.

Nokia's contraction has doubless been painful for Finland. However, Peltonen points out the concentration of the software industry with the company was not good for the country either.

"It's a good idea that there is more space for firms to come and grow and even out the infrastructure, both in terms of the software industry but also overall in Finland. It kind of gets us on this path of renewal, but on the other hand it came so quickly and so massively, so it's hard to say that it's all good."

"There was an unmet demand for software talent, but [the change] has been like putting out somebody's thirst with a fire hose" — Juhana Peltonen

Luminous lining to dark clouds

The Finnish employment market for software engineers has been turned on its head in the past four years.

Around 2008-9 there was not a lot of software engineers. A lot of SMBs were complaining about it, there were active recruiting campaigns, firms teamed up and bought ad space from major papers and TV stations. There was an unmet demand for software talent, but [the change] has been like putting out somebody's thirst with a fire hose," says Peltonen.

Peltonen estimates there won't be a similar shortage of software engineers in Finland for the next four to five years.

By settling on Windows Phone, Nokia changed its own course, but also made third-party software firms that built on Symbian and MeeGo redundant. This wiped out one escape hatch that ousted Nokians had turned to find employment prior to Nokia's platform shift.

"There was a lot of other companies doing Symbian and MeeGo development and these had been hiring a lot of folks that had been coming out of Nokia. But now these companies developing for Symbian and MeeGo — it's collapsing," says Peltonen.

Rönkkö and Peltonen's survey found that mostly small software companies that build on Android and iOS had little intention of hiring former Nokia workers. While they estimate small software development firms have absorbed about 800 ex-Nokians, they won't be able to keep up with the looming batch, which will be exacerbated by the collapse in demand for Symbian and MeeGo skills. On the other hand, there was some interest in Nokia employees with server-side Java development skills.

"One reason why these mobile [development] companies might not be so interested in people from Nokia is the image that they are used to this big company culture and most of these mobile development companies are small. So those companies that hire Java developers typically might be a bit larger than the mobile development companies," speculates Rönkkö.

As for the middle-management and marketing folk, whom Peltonen estimates made up half of those laid off in Helsinki, there are even fewer options.

"It might be more difficult to employ these middle management people because there is really no other company that is like Nokia."

While the immediate future might be tough for the thousands of Nokia staff exiting the company, the software companies betting on Windows Phone could come out very well should the platform take root outside of Nokia's Finnish heartland.

"Certainly it's risk-taking, but you could say if Windows Phone takes off, then Finland could be in a good position — and not just through Nokia," says Peltonen.

Report by: Liam Tung for Norse Code