Top tech headlines: RIM to focus on enterprise, Nokia Lumia 900 to sell for $100, nano-SIM war
Hot topics in the tech blogs for the week ending March 30 include RIM’s announcement to focus on business clients after a worse than expected Q4, Apple, Nokia and RIM's debate on the future of nano-SIM, Nokia’s plans to offer the Lumia 900 smartphone for less than $100 in the US, Google's plan to sell its own tablets in 2012, and Apple TV rumors.
RIM to focus on business clients after poor Q4
Research In Motion (RIM) said that it would refocus on business clients and smartphone owners who used their devices for work after it announced that its fourth fiscal quarter sales and earnings had both fallen short of expectations. RIM reported BlackBerry smartphone shipments of 11.1 million in Q4, a 21% drop from the quarter before. IDC analyst Al Hilwa told PC World “RIM faces some decisions that involve dramatic changes to its business model. It will be a test for the new CEO.”
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/252893/rim_returning_to_roots_to_attempt_rebound.html
Apple wages nano-SIM war with Nokia, RIM
Apple, Nokia and RIM are debating about what next generation SIM card, aka the “nano-SIM,” standard should be. All three all have very different ideas about how to make the existing micro-SIM (currently used in the iPhone 4 & 4S and other newer smartphones) smaller to free up extra space. Apple proposes to make it smaller by removing all the plastic around the card to allow for backwards compatibility while both Nokia and RIM have proposed completely redesigned nano-SIMs.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/26/2904153/apple-vs-nokia-4ff-nano-sim
Nokia Lumia 900 to sell for less than $100
Nokia is aiming to make its Windows-powered Nokia Lumia 900 smartphone one of the most affordable flagship smartphones in the US market in an attempt to grow its market share within the country. It announced it would sell the device for a tiny $99.99 on a two-year contract. The Lumia 900 will hit AT&T stores in the country on Sunday, April 8 while pre-orders for the device will begin on March 30.
http://www.nokia.com/us-en/products/phone/lumia900/
Google to sell its own tablets in 2012
The Wall Street Journal reported that Google may start selling Google-branded tablets in 2012 in a bid to boost Android-powered tablet sales in a market that is dominated by Apple’s iPad. “The Internet search company will sell co-branded tablets directly to consumers through an online store like rivals Apple and Amazon.com Inc.,” said The Wall Street Journal. Various manufacturers including Samsung Electronics Co. and AsusTeK Computer Inc. are expected to be responsible for the hardware on the devices.
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052702303404704577312043639469540-lMyQjAxMTAyMDIwOTEyNDkyWj.html
Apple TV rumors
While some rumors have previously suggested that Apple will release its Apple TV in 2012, Asian research group SLSA has predicted its arrival in 2013. A second report said that Apple’s China-based factory Foxconn had formed an alliance with Sharp to work on new technology for large HDTVs. Patently Apple said that “the Foxconn – Sharp deal directly equates to a future Apple HDTV."
http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-tv-isnt-coming-until-2013-says-asian-research-group-clsa-2012-3?op=1
