Skype announced that a Skype for iPhone app that can place calls over 3G networks is coming soon, now that Apple has changed its SDK. While iCall already offers one, Skype says its waiting until it can offer CD-quality sound, along with other benefits for customers.
- Skype is close to offering a solution that will let iPhone users place voice over IP calls over 3G networks, the company announced on its site on Feb. 3. Writing that Skype fans have been wondering when such a solution would arrive, Skype answered, “Well, the simple answer is soon.” Skyp...

On Feb. 4, the Symbian Foundation will release the first completely open-sourced version of its mobile phone operating system, a move it hopes will make it easier for developers to improve the software and create applications for use on Symbian-based phones. Starting tomorrow, programmers will be able to download, modify and use the software at no charge. The organization made pieces of its code available earlier.

The release marks the conclusion of the huge effort to turn Symbian, the most commonly used smartphone software, from a proprietary operating system only available to developers at companies like Nokia into an open-sourced one, accessible to programmers around the world. Symbian engineered the move as rival Google made a splash with Android, a rival open-source mobile operating system that's gaining steam. By 2012, Android will surpass Windows Phone and the iPhone to become the world's No. 2 most popular mobile operating system behind Symbian, according to Gartner. As rival software gained market share, support for Symbian began to flag. Symbian hopes the new, open-sourced software will help reverse the slide. "We'll see proliferation of converged devices based on Symbian happen this year," says Larry Berkin, general manager for Symbian in the U.S.

iCall announces that Apple has changed its developer SDK and VOIP calls over cellular networks can now be placed on the iPhone, iPod Touch and, theoretically, the iPad.
- The iPad wasn't the only Apple news to emerge on Jan. 27. iCall, a privately held VOIP (voice over IP) calling company, announced on the same day that Apple had updated its SDK (software development kit) to allow VOIP calls over cellular networks, and that iCall's eponymous application was ...

Does Apple's tablet computer, the newly announced iPad, live up to the
hype? There's no doubt Apple fans will flock to the device, with
its svelte build and 9.7-inch color screen. But Steve Jobs' confirmation of the long-rumored device was more striking for what wasn't announced than what was.

The iPad is designed to access the same applications available for
iPods and the iPhone on Apple's popular App Store. There's even
software that will automatically re-size existing applications for
better viewing on the larger screen.

But even Jobs, during his presentation in San Francisco, wondered
aloud whether Apple has what it takes to establish a third category of
products between smartphones and laptops. He says yes, but it's not that clear.

One reason is because there was no immediate word on any of the
rumored subscription content deals with Hollywood and other content
providers that might make the iPad a must-have gadget that moves beyond niche
markets such as education, health and graphics arts.

Much has been made about Apple's attempts to revive the markets for various forms of media, but little was said at the Apple event to clarify just how the iPad will do that.

Jobs' announcement of Apple's foray into the electronic book market also
left questions about the price of the books and whether consumers will
be able to seamlessly sync them among Apple devices.

The challenge for Apple is whether it can convince the millions of
consumers who already own an iPhone or iPod Touch, or are content with
their notebook computers, that it's worth shelling out at least
$499--the base price for six model categories -- for a larger
touch-screen machine. The iPad offers 10 hours of battery life even
when playing video, which should help. And the touch display helps distinguish the iPad from Apple's MacBook notebook computer lineup as well as Windows-based notebooks and netbooks.

Apple did strike what should be a consumer-pleasing deal with its
wireless carrier partner AT&T to offer two data plans, one for $14.99, the other for $29.99 unlimited monthly data. Combined with built-in Wi-Fi and free access to AT&T's national Wi-Fi hotspot network, the plans could make the iPad an all-around mobile device.

As expected, Apple announced it had struck deals with five of the major
book publishers to create its own store for downloading books in
electronic form. But many rival makers of mobile devices, including
Amazon's Kindle family and Sony's Reader ebooks, include mobile
broadband connections in the purchase price.

Early adopters enamored with all things Apple will flock to the iPad. But until Apple gets developers to create more iPad-specific applications that showcase the hardware, it may face the same mainstream consumer apathy that has plagued other tablet-specific devices created over the past decade by its rivals.

Google Jan. 26 rolled out a Web-based version of its popular Google Voice application for Apple's iPhone several months after Apple rejected Google's original submission to its App Store. The app will let Google Voice users do pretty much what they can do with the desktop version of the app, including listen to voice mail and read voice mail transcripts, send and receive text messages, and make inexpensive international calls. The Google Voice app represents a definite workaround to Google's standoff with Apple's App Store, which is incredibly strict if not inconsistent in its treatment of submissions.
- Google Jan. 26 rolled out an HTML5-based version of its popular Google Voice application for Apple's iPhone several months after Apple rejected Google's original submission to its App Store. Google Voice is a Web-based phone management application that lets users route calls to thei...

Auction site eBay is flooded with listings for Google Nexus One, which went on sale on Jan. 5. While Google sells the phone without a contract for $529, dozens of optimistic eBay sellers are trying to resell the gadget for as much as $1,000.

As of Jan. 14, a number of eBayers were peddling these smartphones for a much more realistic $300 or so, and I've even seen a price as low as $212. There were more than 300 Nexus One devices listed for sale. By comparison, the site offered 1,519 listings of iPhone 3GS devices that were also not tied to a carrier contract. Some of the more reasonably priced Nexus One offerings have garnered more than 10 bids; I'd counted a total of about 100 bids for the phones that were listed today.

The take-away: When the iPhone, for example, came out, it took expense and some effort for people to unlock it prior to selling it via eBay. So the iPhone typically sold for a premium to the retail price for weeks after coming out (with the exception of damaged iPhones). Nexus One discounts -- on new, undamaged phones -- seem to have arrived much more quickly. And it's unlikely resellers will be able to make an extra buck. I wouldn't expect to see an extensive resale market for the Google phone.

The relatively low number of bids may also indicate low interest in the device from shoppers from other countries. Google plans to make the phone available in other countries later in the year. Currently, the smartphone is only available in the U.S., and I suspect most of the people bidding for it on eBay live elsewhere.

In an effort to get Skype onto more mobile phones, on Jan. 13 Skype appointed a new chairman. Miles Flint, who has served as an advisor to one of Skype investors, Silver Lake, and used to be president of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications.

The appointment likely signals Skype's increasing determination to make further inroads into mobile, where it's not had as much traction as hoped. Several years ago, Hutchison Whampoa began offering 3 Skypephone. Skype has also made the service available as an application consumers can download onto some of the most popular smartphones, such as the iPhone. But Skype is yet to conquer mobile phones in a big way.

Flint may help change that. While at Sony Ericsson, he'd overseen the launch of popular phones like the Walkman line. And he may have the industry contacts and expertise necessary to launch more Skype-branded phones, and to get the software onto more handsets directly at the factory. He may also be able help Skype to make its software and its business model more attractive to handset makers and their carrier customers.

What's more, Flint also has connections and experience with consumer electronics other than mobile phones, having worked in marketing for Sony. Those connections could come in handy now: All consumer electronics, including digital photo frames, cameras and even televisions are getting connected to the Web. And Flint may be able to help Skype get onto more consumer electronics gear, wireless (as is increasingly the case) as well as hooked onto the Internet via cables.

Google sold 20,000 units of its new Nexus One smartphone in the first week since the phone was introduced on Jan. 5, estimates Flurry, which tracks applications loaded onto new mobile devices.

At first glance, that may not seem like much. Apple sold 1.6 million iPhone 3GS devices in the first week. Motorola sold 250,000 Droid handsets in the first week they became available last November. But here's a difference: iPhone carrier AT&T and Droid carrier Verizon Wireless have spent hundreds of millions of dollars promoting the devices in their TV ads, on the radio, and online. Google and its partners, T-Mobile USA and HTC, have spent virtually no money on advertising the Nexus. Google has promoted the phone on its search page. For a phone promoted and sold exclusively online, Nexus One has likely done quite well.

The unit volume may also have been affected by some stumbles, as Google and its partners figure out the best way to sell phones online. Some Nexus buyers have complained of confusing customer service and other issues. Some potential buyers may be waiting for Google and its partners to iron out the wrinkles before snapping up the device.

On Jan. 6, Qualcomm announced that accessories maker mophie has built an antenna to catch Qualcomm MediaFlo TV's programming into its cases for the iPhone and iPod touch. The move will allow Qualcomm to sell its TV service while bypassing wireless service providers, which haven't been as successful as hoped in pushing the service thus far.

Carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless have long offered the MediaFlo service for select phones carrying Qualcomm's antennas, but it's not taken off as fast as many analysts hoped. Many people balk at paying a monthly fee for the service when they can get plenty of free programming online. And the market growth has been inhibited by the limited availability of MediaFlo-ready phones. The iPhone -- one of the most popular smartphones in the world -- had lacked the feature.

Now that an antenna is being built into a smart smartphone case, at least one of the barriers to MediaFlo's adoption will come down. iPhone fans will no longer have to wait for Apple to built the antenna into the smartphone in order to receive MediaFlo broadcasts. They will still have to pay Qualcomm fees for using the service. But at least Qualcomm won't have to share the revenues with the carriers.

Later on, mophie could make similar cases available for other devices, such as BlackBerry and Android-based phones, I suspect. Qualcomm is sure to benefit from no longer having to depend on carriers for so much of its MediaFlo traction and revenues.

Fewer people shopping for smartphones were interested in buying Apple's iPhone in December than in September, according to a new ChangeWave Research survey. Last month, 28% of more than 4,000 people surveyed were planning to buy an iPhone in the next three months. That's down from 32% in September.

What happened? Some of the decline in consumer interest could be due to the fact that the latest iPhone model, released over the summer, is getting older, and many people who wanted to buy it have already snapped it up. What's more, competitors such as Motorola, HTC and Research In Motion have come out with new, compelling smartphones in the last couple of months. Motorola's Droid in particular is gaining traction; the gadget is based on Android operating system that allows users to buys and use apps similarly to the iPhone. In December, some 21% of the survey respondents were planning to buy an Android-based smartphone in the next 90 days, according to ChangeWave. That's up from 6% in September.

It's not a big leap to assume that Android-based smartphones are starting to eat in a major way into iPhone's mindshare with consumers.

Consumer awareness of Android, an operating system for smartphones pushed by Google, is on a steep climb, which bodes well for vendors like Motorola and HTC. Of consumers expecting to shop for smartphones in the next three months, 17% are considering an Android-based device, according to comScore's new survey of 2,300 consumers. In fact, devices based on Android aren't far behind the iPhone. Some 20% of consumers are in the market for the Apple device.

The results represent a stark contrast to consumer sentiment of only a few months ago. In August, 7% of consumers were contemplating buying an Android device, while 21% of them were considering the iPhone.

The splash that Motorola's Droid phone, based on Android, has made recently is partly responsible for increased attention that Android is getting. "In August 2009, just 22 percent of mobile users had heard of the Android, while in November 2009 this figure had reached 37 percent, largely prompted by the Verizon Droid advertising campaign launched in the fall," according to the report. Android may get a further boost next year, when more Android devices should come onto the market. While the Android movement could still get derailed -- for instance, if Google decides to release Android phones under its own brand -- it certainly appears to be on the right track now, and rolling along with an ever-increasing speed.

While, initially, many consumers snapped up iPhones for their touch screens, that's changed. Nowadays, it's the apps that are the biggest driver of iPhone purchases, according to a new report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.

That should come as no surprise: Apple and its official U.S. carrier distributor, AT&T, have been touting apps such as Bump, which allows iPhones to exchange contacts and photos by bumping two phones against each other, in their TV commercials. Today, Apple is the mobile apps leader, with more than 100,000 apps offered through its iTunes store. And this could be just the beginning.

Apps currently available in the Apple App Store have "just scratched the surface of what the iPhone can do," Munster wrote in a Dec. 9 report. "With the addition of various accessories, or built-in features like RFID, the iPhone could become even more functional," he wrote in a Dec.9 report.

Mobile payment applications could represent one big future opportunity. "....Apple, with the iPhone, iPod touch and iTunes accounts that each have an associated credit card, is uniquely positioned to make mobile payment a reality in the U.S.," Munster writes. Related mobile apps may help people track their spending or transfer funds, for example.

Long talked about, smartphone pico projectors -- small accessories that allow phones to project video and photos onto 40- to 60-inch screens -- have finally begun to ship.

Later in December, AT&T will offer LG eXpo smartphone with an add-on pico projector that clips right onto the device. In November, Sparkz Products released its expensive pico projector for the iPhone; the device balances on a tripod stand. Microvision has recently announced that its pico projector design will soon debut in Asia. Indeed, 2010 just could be the year when such video accessories for smartphones will come out in droves, says Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD Group.

With the devices finally out, what remains to be seen is whether they catch consumers' eye. Consultant In-Stat recently forecasted that pico projectors will turn into a $1.1 billion market by 2014.

As holiday shopping ramps up, an increasing number of consumers are using their smartphones to locate stores, to get coupons and to make purchases. More than 40% of 173 iPhone users surveyed by Sanford C. Bernstein reported a substantial increase in their online shopping, the result of greater use of smartphones, according to a Dec. 1 report. Nearly 30% of 187 BlackBerry users surveyed had reported to have experienced the same effect.

Most of these consumers have likely simply used their phones to find stores, to compare prices and to research products, writes Bernstein analyst Jeffrey Lindsay. But chances are, some have actually purchased goods via their mobiles. Some 25% of nearly 11,000 consumers Deloitte recently surveyed had also made online purchases via their mobile phones.

As more people acquire smartphones in the coming years, and as their smartphones' usage increases, mobile commerce should flourish. Bernstein's survey showed that 46% of respondents have increased their smartphone usage in the past 12 months. Frequency of Web browsing has risen as well -- and so has mobile shopping.