Author: Dan Graziano

A new report suggests that Google will unveil an update to its forgotten Wallet service later this month. According to AllThingsD, Google was originally planning to introduce a physical credit card at its annual I/O developers event, however it has since decided against it. The company will now reportedly announce new rewards, offers and loyalty points for Wallet users available from a wider selection of merchants to help the service better compete with Apple’s Passbook. Google’s vision of creating a mobile wallet has been hampered by carriers, which have favored an alternative mobile payment system known as ISIS. The lack of NFC-equipped devices and the limited number of compatible merchant sales terminals have also hurt Google’s efforts. A physical card would have allowed Google to bring its Wallet service to the masses, however CEO Larry Page was said to be displeased with a recent demo and decided to scrap the project.

The lack of applications on the Windows Phone platform is a serious problem Microsoft must fix if it wants to be a viable alternative to Android and the iPhone. The company on Friday revealed that the Windows Phone Store is now home to 145,000 apps and games, significantly less than Google and Apple’s offerings, and only slightly more than BlackBerry. It appears that developer interest for Microsoft’s mobile platform has slowed as well. Last June, the Windows Phone Store saw tremendous growth, doubling the number of apps in a six-month period to total 100,000. In the past 11 months, however, less than 45,000 new applications were added to the marketplace.

Microsoft believes it can be a viable competitor with Android and Apple, and is making a strong push with its Windows Phone operating system. The company has launched numerous campaigns to inform smartphone buyers of their mobile options, but despite a large advertising budget, Windows Phone remains a mystery to most consumers. The question remains, can Microsoft’s mobile platform really compete with Google and Apple?

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Verizon on Friday announced the upcoming availability of Nokia’s Lumia 928, the company’s latest flagship Windows Phone device. The Lumia 928 is equipped with a 4.5-inch 1280 x 768 pixel resolution ClearBlack display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and an 8.7-megapixel PureView rear camera with a Carl Zeiss lens. The handset also includes 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, wireless charging capabilities, NFC, 4G LTE connectivity and a 2,000 mAH battery. Verizon will launch the Lumia 928 in white and black on May 16th for $99.99 on contract after a $50 mail-in-rebate. Nokia is also offering buyers a $25 credit for Windows Phone apps and games for a limited time. Nokia’s promo video for the Lumia 928 follows below.

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Failing to drive down the price on its Windows Phone devices, Nokia on Thursday announced a refresh of its Asha mobile operating system and the affordable Asha 501 phone. The handset is equipped with a 3-inch display, a 3.2-megapixel rear camera and either a single-SIM or dual-SIM configuration. The new Asha 501 is remarkably efficient, with Nokia promising a whopping 48 days of standby battery life for the single-SIM model and 26 days for the dual-SIM option.

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A new report has found that mobile device shipments, including notebooks, tablets and smartphones, exceeded 300 million units in the first quarter of 2013. According to research from Canalys, shipments increased 37.4% year-over-year to reach 308.7 units. Android manufacturers continue to ship more devices than any other vendor, totaling 59.5% of all shipments. Strong demand for the iPhone and iPad gave Apple a 19.3% share, ahead of Microsoft’s 18.1% share from shipments of Windows-powered notebooks, tablets and smartphones.

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Google has long been rumored to be developing a high-end smartphone, codenamed the X Phone, in collaboration with its Motorola division that would be designed to push the boundaries of mobile innovation. New information suggests, however, that the company has abandoned the project because it could not achieve the level of innovation it had originally hoped for. The report comes from Chinese analyst Sun Changxu, who noted that the project has not been cancelled and instead is now being developed solely by Motorola. This could result in a device that doesn’t include the tight Google integration or stock version of Android earlier reports had indicated. While it was first reported that the X Phone would debut later this month at Google’s annual I/O Developers Conference, the latest rumors suggest the device will be announced later this year.

A new leak suggests that Huawei is planning to release a super thin flagship smartphone with a metal frame. Images published by Engadget reveal that the handset, code-named P6-U06, features a metal chassis similar to the iPhone and an ultra-thin 6.18mm body. The device is said to be equipped with a 4.7-inch 720p display, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and an 8-megapixel rear camera. Huawei is expected to announce its latest flagship smartphone at a press event on June 18th in London. Additional images follow below.

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Kevin Smithen of Macquarie Capital has become more optimistic about BlackBerry’s future, Barron’s reported. The analyst believes the QWERTY-equipped BlackBerry Q10 could be a bigger seller than the company’s first BlackBerry 10 smartphone, the BlackBerry Z10. Smithen notes that the Q10 will appeal to enterprise customers, who account for 13.4 million of the company’s total subscriber base. He estimates that as a whole the company will ship 4.3 million BlackBerry 10 devices in May but only 2.7 million in August, although he added that the “August estimate could prove to be conservative based on stronger enterprise demand for the Q10.” Smithen reiterated his Neutral rating on shares of BlackBerry with a price target of $17.

HTC’s “First” smartphone received mixed reviews from critics when it was released last month. The handset received praise for its affordable price — $99 with a new two-year agreement — and critics liked its decent internal hardware as well as the fact that it was running a nearly stock version of Android. Reviewers were less enthusiastic about the device’s rear camera and integrated Facebook Home software, however. BGR noted in a review last month that while Facebook Home is appealing for the frequent social network user, it is still a long way off from being a finished product. But despite the sizeable advertising budget, sales of the HTC First appear to be off to a slow start. AT&T this week slashed the price of the smartphone from $99 to $0.99 with a new two-year agreement and reduced the off-contract price from $450 to $350. Although no sales data has been released, the recent price cut suggests that Facebook may be in the midst of its First big mobile flop.

Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead firmly believes that both Windows Phone and BlackBerry play a crucial role in the mobile industry. The executive noted that it is important for there to be more than just two dominant operating systems. Mead revealed during a called with investors on Wednesday that the carrier has received good engagement from handset manufacturers and he is encouraged by what he has seen thus far.

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Nokia continues to tease the upcoming Lumia 928 smartphone ahead of its official debut. The company on Wednesday posted marketing images of the device and confirmed that it will be equipped with an 8.7-megapixel PureView camera and Carl Zeiss optics. Nokia also released a video showcasing the Lumia 928’s low-light camera performance as compared to the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III.

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The battle continues between two chief executives and their ambitions to acquire the third-largest wireless carrier in the United States. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and Dish chairman Charlie Ergen have taken shots at one another as they continue to fight for Sprint. Son previously claimed that Dish would ruin Sprint because it had no mobile experience, while Ergen said Sprint would be better off with a U.S. company that can speak English and not a foreign one like SoftBank.

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