Q4 2016: Apple retakes 1st place in Global smartphone shipments.

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments grew 3 percent annually to hit a record 1.5 billion units in 2016. Apple iPhone recaptured first position with 18 percent global smartphone marketshare in Q4 2016, while OPPO grew 99 percent annually and was the star performer.

Global smartphone shipments grew an improved 9 percent annually from 403.0 million units in Q4 2015 to 438.7 million in Q4 2016. This quarter was the smartphone industry’s fastest growth rate for over a year. Smartphone growth is recovering slightly due to stronger demand in major developing markets like China and Africa. Global smartphone shipments grew 3 percent annually from 1.44 billion in full-year 2015 to a record 1.49 billion in 2016.

Apple shipped 78.3 million smartphones worldwide and captured 18 percent marketshare in Q4 2016, rising a steady 5 percent annually from 74.8 million units in Q4 2015. This was the iPhone’s best performance for over a year, as Apple capitalized on Samsung’s recent missteps. Samsung shipped 77.5 million smartphones worldwide in Q4 2016, dipping 5 percent annually from 81.3 million units in Q4 2015.

Samsung lost momentum in the quarter as a result of its Note 7 battery fiasco. Samsung captured 18 percent share for the quarter and 21 percent share for the full year, its lowest level since 2011. Samsung will be banking on the rumored Galaxy S8 model in a few weeks’ time to reignite growth and return to the top spot in quarterly smartphone shipments. On an annualized basis, Samsung maintained first position with 309 million units shipped worldwide in 2016.

Huawei maintained third position with a record 10 percent global smartphone marketshare in Q4 2016, the first time the company has ever reached double figures. It was an impressive performance. Huawei is struggling at home in China against rivals like OPPO, but its overseas performance in markets like Western Europe is accelerating due to improved smartphone designs, more sophisticated marketing, and deeper retail distribution.

OPPO held on to fourth position and grew a robust 99 percent annually to capture a record 7 percent global smartphone marketshare in Q4 2016, almost doubling from 4 percent a year ago. OPPO has grown swiftly in China with popular Android models such as the R9. OPPO’s next challenge in 2017 is to expand beyond China and continue its momentum in emerging regions like India and Nigeria.

Vivo maintained fifth place with a record 6 percent marketshare in Q4 2016. Like OPPO, Vivo is very popular in China and it continues to strengthen its portfolio with upgraded smartphone models like the X9 and upcoming V5 Plus with 20MP dual-camera functionality.

Samsung keeps the Full Year 2016 lead with a 20.8% market share, followed by Apple 14.5%, Huawei 9,3%, OPPO 5.7% and Vivo 4.8%

ISE 2017: Samsung Display invites to Experience How Samsung’s Innovative Display Solutions Create Exciting Business Opportunities.

See in the video below how Samsung’s display solutions can help you establish “Your Future. On Display.”

At this year’s Integrated Systems Europe exhibition, the world’s largest AV systems integration show, Samsung Electronics will showcase a host of new technologies designed to help businesses foster more immersive and engaging visuals. Those in Amsterdam for the February 7-10 event are invited to see firsthand how Samsung’s industry-leading display solutions bring creative visions to life.

Samsung’s ISE 2017 lineup includes products optimized for specialty markets, including the retail, public, corporate and education sectors, as well as its new, innovation-inspiring SMART LED Signage and QLED Signage displays. Attendees are also invited to visit Samsung’s exclusive showroom to experience its vision for the next wave of engaging display innovations.

For more information, please follow the link here.

MWC 2017: Samsung sends out invitation for press conference.To unveil new products.Teases a Galaxy Tab.

Samsung is sending out invitations for the press conference at MWC 2017 and clearly teases the upcoming Galaxy Tab S3. (lower bezel is shown)

Rumors are saying the tablet will sport a Snapdragon 820 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera with a 5MP front-facing one, a 9.6-inch 2,048 x 1,535px display, versions in LTE and Wi-Fi variants.

At this time you know Samsung confirmed through one of their excutives that is not going to unveil the Galaxy S8/S8 Plus at the MWC 2017 as they are used to. Instead the company will present the two new models in March 29 in New York.

What other products are going to unveil Samsung? 

Press conference:

Date: February 26 (Sun) 19:00 CET (Doors open at 18:00).

Venue: Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, Barcelona (Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 661-671, 08028 Barcelona, Spain). 

Samsung will unveil new products during a press conference that will be live streamed on www.samsung.com/galaxy and Samsung Newsroom.

Before related post: What is going to show Samsung at MWC 2017?

MWC 2017: ItsOn Recognized as Nominee for 2017 GSMA Glomo Awards.

ItsOn, the leader in mobile digital transformation, has been shortlisted as a nominee in the "Best Mobile Network Solution for Serving Customers" category for the 2017 GSMA Glomo Awards. This category recognizes the best solution or platform for its enhanced service delivery to mobile users.

The GSMA judges selected ItsOn as a nominee for its innovation in delivering a highly personalized digital experience to mobile users. By providing services through cloud technology, ItsOn enables mobile operators to deliver contextual and customizable offers and services directly to its end-users, while at the same time empowering them to be in full control of their mobile service without unexpected surprises.

"At ItsOn, it's our goal to build a platform that mobile operators need while concurrently creating a personalized and enjoyable experience for mobile users," said Robert Oberhofer, vice president of technical sales and marketing at ItsOn. "Through our work with global operators like STC and Telefónica Mexico, we're able to see first-hand the positive effect our platform has on end-users and we're honored to be recognized by the GSMA for our developments in this category."

ItsOn was selected as a nominee from hundreds of applications by a distinguished panel of journalists, analysts and industry experts. The Glomo Award winners will be announced on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

"We congratulate all of the nominees for the Glomo Awards, which once again saw an impressive number of entries," said Michael O'Hara, Chief Marketing Officer of GSMA. "The Glomo Awards recognise those companies and individuals that are driving innovation in the rapidly evolving mobile industry, and we are excited to this year introduce several new awards that highlight the very latest developments in this dynamic industry."

ItsOn was also selected as a nominee for the 2016 Glomo Awards in the "Best Mobile Cloud Service or App" category.

About ItsOn 

ItsOn is a proven leader in the telecommunications industry, having fundamentally changed how mobile services are delivered and consumed. The company launched its services platform for mobile operators in the U.S. and globally last year, and counts MTN, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Sprint, Telefónica Mexico and Virgin Mobile USA as customers. ItsOn investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Tenaya Capital, Vodafone Ventures, Verizon Investments, Cisco and Delta Capital Partners. The company is privately held and headquartered in Redwood City, California. For more information, please visit www.itsoninc.com or follow @ItsOnInc on Twitter.

SOURCE ItsOn

What is going to show Samsung at MWC 2017?

At this time you know Samsung confirmed through one of their excutives that is not going to unveil the Galaxy S8/S8 Plus at the MWC 2017 as they are used to. Instead the company will present the two new models in March 29 in New York.

However, Samsung will make presence at the MWC 2017 about LTE networks to 5G technologies

"Controlling the uncontrollable", "Enhancing indoor coverage", "Bolstering your Network", "Cloud Network", "5G"

Apparently Samsung and Verizon might show up some devices working on 5G. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

Samsung is ready to share with you technologies that will act as a steadfast foundation for operators’ networks. We are not only focused on bolstering current LTE networks but endeavoring to become the forerunner in designing and constructing future networks. As such, our exhibit will range from how to efficiently operate a busy LTE network to a full span of 5G technologies that is on the cusp of commercialization.

More information on: Why Samsung Networks

SAMSUNG MWC2017

ASUS ZenFone AR world`s first AR&VR with 8GB RAM features on pictures.

Please tap on each picture to enlarge the view:

• Specifications:
• Finish/Color
  Leather-like finish : Charcoal Black
  Premium-crafted metallic diamond-cut
• Dimensions
  158.67 x 77.7 x 4.6 ~ 8.95 mm (WxDxH)
• Weight
  170 g
• Operating System
  Android™ 7.0 with brand-new ASUS ZenUI 3.0
• Processor
  CPU:
  64-bit Qualcomm® Quad-Core ProcessorSnapdragon™ 821 @2.35Ghz
  GPU:
  Adreno™ 530
• Display
  5.7-inch
  WQHD (2560 x 1440) Super Amoled
  79% screen-to-body ratio
  Tru2life technology for high contrast and outdoor readable
  Bluelight Filter for Eye Care
  Corning® Gorilla® Glass4 (Super Anti Scratch)
  NTSC over 100% /3,000,000 : 1 dynamic contrast
  Touch:
  10-finger capacitive touch
  Industrial-leading 60ms touch response time for smooth gaming experience
  Support glove touch
• Memory
  RAM 6GB / 8GB LPDDR4
• Capacity
  Internal Storage:
  UFS 2.0 32GB / 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
  Micro SD:
  Micro SD(SDXC) Card up to2 TB
  
  ASUS WebStorage: 5GB free for life
  Google Drive: 100GB free space (2 years)
• Battery
  3300mAh (non-removable)
  BoostMaster Fast Charging : 60% battery capacity in 39 minutes (18W)
  PowerDelivery 2.0
  Quick Charge 3.0
  Depending on testing conditions, results may vary.
• Audio
  Speaker:
  Built-in Mono speaker
  “New” 5 magnet speaker for up to 40% better performance
  ASUS SonicMaster 3.0
  DTS Headphone:X™ for virtual 7.1 surround sound
  Hi-Res Audio 192kHz/24-bit standard that is 4 times better than CD quality
  NXP Smart AMP technology delivers up to 4X sound volume
• Video
  
  4K video recording
• Wireless Technology
  802.11a/b/g/n/ac
  5 Ghz 2x2 MIMO Support
  Bluetooth V 4.2 +A2DP +EDR
  Wi-Fi direct
• Navigation
  GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BDS
• SIM Cards
  Dual SIM card
  SIM 1: 2G/3G/4G Nano SIM Card
  SIM 2: 2G/3G/4G Nano SIM Card
  Dual SIM Dual Standby
  Only use the nano SIM card or the microSD card at a time
  Both SIM card slots support 3G WCDMA network band. But only one SIM card can connect to 3G WCDMA service at a time.
• Network Standard
  UMTS/WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/LTE/TDD-LTE/FDD-LTE
  Data Rate:
  HSPA+: UL 5.76 / DL 42.2 Mbps
  LTE Cat12: DL 600 Mbps
  LTE Cat11:UL 75 Mbps
  ASUS phone 4G/LTE band compatibility varies by region. Please check compatibility with local carriers If intending to use your ASUS phone outside the original purchase region.
  4G LTE is supported in specific countries/regions only.
• NFC
  Yes
• Sensor
  Accelerator/E-Compass/Gyroscope/Proximity sensor/Hall sensor/Ambient light sensor/RGB sensor/IR sensor (Laser Focus)/Fingerprint/Barometer
• I/O Ports
  USB Type-C 2.0
  3.5mm audio jack(1 Head phone / Mic-in)
• Camera
  Front:
  
  8MP Camera , f/2.0 aperture 85˚ wide-viewing angle
  Dual-LED real tone flash
  PixelMaster Camera Modes:
  Back Light (HDR) Mode
  Low Light Mode
  Manual Mode (for DSLR-like camera detail settings)
  Real Time Beautification Mode
  Super Resolution Mode (for up to 4X resolution photos)
  Night Mode
  Depth of Field Mode
  Photo Effect Mode
  Selfie Panorama
  Selfie Mode
  GIF Animation Mode
  Panorama Selfie Mode
  Miniature Mode
  Time Rewind Mode
  Smart Remove Mode
  All Smiles Mode
  Slow Motion Mode
  Time Lapse Mode
  Panorama Mode
  
  Rear:
  
  23MP Camera, f/2.0 aperture, 6 P Largan lens
  
  Auto Focus
  0.03 second laser auto-focus
  32 second long exposure
  Close-up macro photography (5 cm)
  4-axis, 4 stops Optical Image Stabilization for steady photos
  0.03 sec Ultrafast TriTech auto focus
  Ultra-fast 0.03 sec TriTech Focus System : Phase Detection AF / 2nd gen Laser AF / Continuous AF
  Color correction (RGB) sensor for the best white balance and natural-looking colors
  RAW file support
  Blue Glass IR Filter
  Zero Shutter Lag
  LED flash
  Dual-LED real tone flash
  PixelMaster Camera Modes:
  Back Light (HDR) Mode
  Low Light Mode
  Manual Mode (for DSLR-like camera detail settings)
  Real Time Beautification Mode
  Super Resolution Mode (for up to 4X resolution photos)
  Night Mode
  Depth of Field Mode
  Photo Effect Mode
  Selfie Panorama
  Selfie Mode
  GIF Animation Mode
  Panorama Selfie Mode
  Miniature Mode
  Time Rewind Mode
  Smart Remove Mode
  All Smiles Mode
  Slow Motion Mode
  Time Lapse Mode
  Panorama Mode
  TriCam™ System for Tango:
  Motion tracking camera lets ZenFone AR track its location as it moves through space.
  Depth sensing camera with an infrared (IR) projector lets ZenFone AR measure its distance from real-world objects.
  High-resolution 23MP camera lets you view virtual objects in your actual environment in stunning detail.
• Power Adapter
  Output:
  9 V 2 A 18 W
  Input:
  100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal
  Support Fast Charging /Bundle Fast Charging
• Accessories
  Headset
  Adapter
• User Interface
  ASUS ZenUI 3.0
• Note
  2G:Support
  3G:Support WCDMA
  4G:Support FDD/TD/2CA/3CA

• Products certified by the Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada will be distributed in the United States and Canada. Please visit the ASUS USA and ASUS Canada websites for information about locally available products.
• All specifications are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers. Products may not be available in all markets.
• Specifications and features vary by model, and all images are illustrative. Please refer specification pages for full details.
• PCB color and bundled software versions are subject to change without notice.
• Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.

Download the product guide

ASUS ZS550KL ZenFone 3 Deluxe Unlocked Dual SIM Cell Phone, 5.5-inch 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, US Warranty (Glacier Silver)

SAMSUNG Galaxy S8 5.8 inch and S8 Plus 6.2 inch, both edge QHD Super AMOLED screens. Pics leaked.

SAMSUNG will finally unveil the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus in March the 29th in New York and to go on sale in April 21.

Both models will have edge displays.

The GALAXY S8 with a 5.8 inch edge QHD Super AMOLED screen. Battery 3000 mAh

The GALAXY  S8 Plus with a 6.2 inch edge QHD Super AMOLED screen. Battery 3500 mAh.

Aspect ratio at 18.5:9  deviates slightly from the industry-standard 16:9.

The Android Nougat-powered phones may include different systems-on-chip depending on sales region , Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 in some and Samsung Exynos in others , all will have processors made using 10-nanometer fabrication methods.

Performance compared to the Galaxy S7/S7edge will be 11% faster, 23% faster graphics processing and 20 % more energy efficient.

Both with a 4GB of RAM but with 64GB of internal storage and a micro SD card slot for micro SD cards up to 256GB, USB-C port,  a 3.5 m.m jack, and iris-scanning capability.

Cameras 12mpxls rear and 8 mpxls front, both of whose lenses possess f1.7 focal ratios.

New features to be confirmed by Samsung:

The main camera allegedly possesses a new visual search functionality, with icons appearing on screen that allow the user to indicate the type of search to be performed (OCR-enabled web search on photographed text, for instance, or a shopping-site search for products of interest)

The ability to connect the handsets to a monitor for a desktop view of Android that can be controlled via keyboard and mouse, like Microsoft Continuum, called Samsung DeX ,though it requires an optional, HDMI-equipped dock.

Another is Samsung’s version of the Google Assistant (and Apple’s Siri), known as Bixby. 

It’s said to be able to handle more complex commands than its competitors, such as multi-part instructions, and is launched by a dedicated button on the side of the devices.

Lastly, the pressure-sensitive input technology known as force touch is finally coming to the Galaxy brand, with the lower part of the display supposedly capable of distinguishing between different types of screen presses. Apple first included a similar technology on 2015’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

VentureBeat

China Year 2016: Smartphone Market share: Huawei 20.8%, OPPO 15.5%, Vivo 13% says TrendForce.

Strong performances from Chinese brands with Huawei, OPPO and Vivo edging closer to leader Samsung and second-place Apple.

Huawei’s heavy investments on R&D, particularly within its chip subsidiary HiSilicon, continue to pay off dividends in terms of obtaining in-house application processors and the accumulation of IPs.

The Chinese brands therefore have the strength to expand into overseas markets with products of comparable qualities to those from its international competitors. At the same time, it is able to avoid legal challenges to its technology patents. 

Huawei currently uses in-house, Kirin-series application processors for all its high-end devices and continues to work with Qualcomm and MediaTek in the mid-range and low-end device segments. 

Huawei also has developed good relationships with major telecom companies worldwide. After surpassing the 100 million mark in 2015, Huawei’s production volume increased by 21.3% annually in 2016 to reach 131 million units, giving the brand a secured third-place spot in the ranking.

OPPO and Vivo are two Chinese smartphone brands that burst into the market in 2016 with successful sales strategies and higher product specifications. Added together, OPPO and Vivo’s production volume for last year amounted to 180 million units. Furthermore, OPPO and Vivo respectively displaced Lenovo and Xiaomi to take the fourth and fifth place in the worldwide ranking.

The return of Nokia-branded products in the smartphone market is going to be one of the highly anticipated events in the early 2017. Last May, Foxconn’s subsidiary FIH Mobile acquired the Nokia brand and its mobile phone business from Microsoft and at the same time entered a brand licensing and patent agreement with HMD Global Oy (HMD). Supported by Foxconn’s vast resources, Nokia is expected to release a new device at the start of this year, generating new buzz in the market.

Year 2016: Smartphones Global Market share: Samsung 22.8%, Apple 15.3%, Huawei 9.6%, OPPO 7.2% says TrendForce.

The global smartphone production volume for 2016 grew 4.7% annually to reach 1.36 billion units in total, according to market research firm TrendForce.

Samsung continued to top the annual global ranking despite the discontinuation of Galaxy Note 7, suffering a marginal decline of 3.3% compared with the 2015 figure. Chinese brands Huawei, OPPO and Vivo respectively occupied the last three spots in the global top five and followed closely behind the second-place Apple.

TrendForce points out that the total production volume of all Chinese brands for 2016 was 629 million units, surpassing the volume of 519 million units jointly from Apple and Samsung. Going forward, Chinese smartphone makers together are expected to account for around 50% of the global market in 2017, posing even greater challenges to other international brands.

Samsung saw declines for the second consecutive year and Apple’s performance fell short of expectations

Samsung had a difficult 2016 in the smartphone market and the company did not achieve its annual shipment target due to the fallout from the battery defect in Galaxy Note 7. Samsung’s global market share also contracted steadily, from 28% in 2014 to 25% in 2015 and then to 23% by the end of 2016. 

Much of the market share loss was attributed to the stiff competition from Chinese brands across all market segments, from high-end to mid-range and low-end models. 

Samsung’s production volume registered its second consecutive year of decline in 2016, falling by 3.3% compared with the prior year. Nonetheless, the brand was still the leader in the annual global ranking. TrendForce anticipates that Samsung’s smartphone business will keep struggling this year as well and will likely post another drop in the annual production volume.

Apple’s iPhone production volume fell 11.5% annually to 209 million units in 2016. The general reception to the major iPhone releases last year – iPhone 7 and 7 Plus – was average at best as both models lacked innovations that excite consumers. Though Apple was second place in 2016 ranking with 15.3% of the global market share, the market share difference with the third-place Huawei was just around five percentage points. 

The general market expectation for 2017 is that the next iPhone release, which is the 10th anniversary edition (and currently labeled “iPhone 8”), will shoulder the burden of driving sales for Apple. However, TrendForce’s latest projection indicates single-digit growth for this year’s iPhone production volume.

LG’s production volume performance not particularly impressive during 2016 as its flagship G5 did not gain significant traction in the market upon release during the year’s first half. The brand’s performances in mid-range and low-end segments were also generally lackluster. As a result, LG was only able to increase its production volume by 10% annually to 75 million units.