Author: Dan Graziano

According to data from Canaccord Genuity, Apple and Samsung managed to capture 100% of the mobile industry’s profits last quarter. In the first quarter of 2013, Apple took home 57% of the global smartphone industry’s profits, while Samsung grabbed almost 43% to leave nothing for BlackBerry, Nokia or HTC. In fact, the only company that managed a mobile profit share above 0% was LG with its 1% share. Even at nearly 100%, however, Apple and Samsung’s share of mobile profit has actually declined from last year. The research firm previously reported that the two companies captured 103% of handset industry profits in 2012.

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AT&T nabbed the exclusive rights to carry the LG Optimus G Pro smartphone in the United States, however new information suggests a similar handset could debut on Sprint later this year. A User Agent Profile on Sprint’s website has revealed that the two companies are working on an Optimus smartphone with a full HD 1080p display, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and an upgraded quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. The device also carries the model number LS980, which is in line with the Optimus G Pro’s identification (E980) on AT&T. The Optimus G Pro is scheduled to arrive on AT&T on May 10th for $199 with a new two-year agreement. The smartphone is equipped with a 5.5-inch full HD 1080p display, a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, a micro SD slot and a 13-megapixel rear camera.

Nokia on Tuesday confirmed the existence of the upcoming Lumia 928 smartphone in an image published on the company’s website. The teaser image doesn’t reveal much, although it suggests the handset will have an upgraded rear camera. Engadget also spotted a magazine advertisement that confirms the Lumia 928 will arrive on Verizon’s 4G LTE network with a PureView camera and Carl Zeiss lens for stellar low light performance. Nokia is scheduled to hold a press conference on May 14th in London where it is expected to announce the Lumia 928, among other things. A second image follows below.

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A new report suggests that LG and Google will be teaming up to produce several new products including another smartphone and an OLED TV set. According to the Korea Times, Google CEO Larry Page met with LG’s chief executive Koo Bon-joon on a recent visit to South Korea. The two executives reportedly spoke for more than an hour and discussed ways to improve their business partnership, including more deals between the two companies. LG is now said to be working on a second Nexus-branded smartphone and is reportedly in talks to launch “an LG-Google OLED TV,” in addition to its current lineup of Google TV products. LG previously partnered with Google to release the popular Nexus 4 smartphone last fall.

LG has continued to make inroads in the lucrative mobile market that in recent years has become dominated by its South Korean rival Samsung. The company has taken an aggressive approach against Samsung and even attempted to steal the thunder away from its Galaxy S4 event earlier this year. LG’s original Optimus G smartphone was well received by critics and LG hopes its sequel will find even more success. But can the Optimus G Pro hold its own in a Galaxy controlled by Samsung?

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The United States Department of Defense will reportedly grant security approval to Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and Apple’s iPhone and iPad running iOS 6 for use by Pentagon officials, according to The Wall Street Journal. Both companies have been pressing officials to grant them clearance and allow Defense employees to switch from outdated BlackBerry devices. The Defense Information Systems Agency, which is in charge of sanctioning commercial technology for use in the Pentagon, will reportedly determine in the coming weeks that Samsung’s Galaxy line of smartphones that come preloaded with the company’s Knox security software comply with the agency’s Security Technology Implementation Guide. In a separate determination, the agency is also expected to allow Apple’s smartphones and tablets running iOS 6 to be used by military agencies for “nonclassified communications,” such as email and basic Web browsing.x

Google unlawfully used technology from Oracle, Microsoft and others when creating its Android and Chrome operating systems, leaving its vendor partners exposed. Rather than engaging in expensive and often drawn out lawsuits, a majority of Android vendors have signed licensing agreements with patent holders. Microsoft has already signed licensing agreements with more than 20 Android manufacturers, including big-name players such as HTC, Samsung and LG. The company claims that 80% of Android smartphones sold in the U.S. and most devices sold throughout the world are now covered under its various agreements.

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Apple is expected to announce the next version of its iOS operating system at its Worldwide Developers Conference later next month. According to a report from Bloomberg, design chief Jonathan Ive is “shunning realistic images” and bringing more “dramatic changes” to the email and calendar applications in iOS 7. The executive is reportedly encouraging collaboration between the software and hardware divisions, which is a different approach than his predecessors Steve Jobs and Scott Forstall. He is said to be “methodically reviewing” new designs in an attempt to avoid another controversial launch, as was the case with last year’s release of Apple Maps. There are some concerns, however, that iOS 7 may not be ready to be previewed at WWDC in June. The company is said to be so far behind schedule that it has members of its Mac team helping out in the mobile software division.

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