There are more rumours doing the rounds again about the imminent release of the iPhone 5. At least that is what we all think it may be called, but given Apple's latest label for the iPad 3, actually referring to it as "The New iPad" it is a little more difficult to know what they might name the new iPhone.
The latest talk is around Apple placing substantial orders for 4" displays with their suppliers of screens. Naturally this indicates the new iPhone will offer a larger 4" display, up from the 3.5" used since the iPhone was first introduced back in 2007.
Given end users are using their mobile phones for more than making calls and SMS, and are taking advantage of the "Apps" available for social media and games, watching videos and photography with the higher specced cameras included in todays smart phones.... it only seems right that the next iPhone boasts a larger display. Especially to stay current with the latest crop of large screen displays from manufacturers such as Samsung, HTC, Sony and even the chinese brands
Who knows? The iPhone may even sport a Retina display like the new iPad, to help Apple push their Smart Phone ahead of the pack again. This could well be a smart ploy by Apple, given that Samsung Smart Phones now outsell the Apple iPhone.
Whatever Apple does with the new iPhone, we can be sure this next device will be the step up Apple fans have been waiting for, after being some-what disappointed with the minor upgrades of the iPhone4S.
Maybe the iPhone 4 will move to Pre-paid as well with the release of a new iPhone later this year. Although I am sure the price will be high for Pre-Paid, there is a market out there willing to pay a premium for Apple products.
Time will tell. Are you an Apple fan? Do you have an iPhone?
Where are we headed in Australia with the Mobile Networks?
We have all heard the hype around 4G, but what does this really mean to the consumer?
4G is the buzzword terminology being used in the market, but strictly speaking this is not what is on offer. In actual fact, the correct name for our "4G" network is LTE (Long Term Evolution) but I feel it is OK to call it 4G (and simpler) because this is the 4th generation of mobile service being offered in Australia and around the world today.
We started with an analogue Mobile network, which was the first introduction to Cell Networks where Mobile phones could roam between towers around the country. Then the introduction of Digital Mobile, known as the 2nd generation of Mobile communications. Following 2G, we saw improvements in data handling, leading to some networks naming the service 2.5G, and of course we now have 3G and even 3.5G offering fast data speeds and generally a better mobile experience. With the introduction of 3G came the widespread use of Mobile Broadband. This is still the fastest growing sector for 3G services but is now being challenged by huge take up of the "Smart Phone"... thanks to the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy products, and also the less expensive Prepaid Smart Phones now available in the market.
What do all these improvements mean to us? A faster data connection and a stronger signal basically. Optus have been testing LTE in regional NSW and Victoria, recording download speeds of 70Mbps. That's about 20 times faster than the typical broadband speed at home over the existing wired network. This means faster web browsing, quicker song and movie downloads and seamless streaming of content to our mobile devices.
What does this mean to retailers like you? It means more sales ! Consumers will want to upgrade their handsets and Broadband devices to take advantage of the faster speeds on offer using 4G (LTE) services. So, mobile products will continue to become a larger part of you business as Australians embrace technology, usually faster than the rest of the world, wanting the latest and best.
Keep watching, because this industry is not standing still.
A couple of weeks ago I loaded the new Android operating system on to my Samsung Galaxy S2.
Named as Icecream Sandwich...Google insist on having these strange names for their Android versions... this version 4.03 is designed for the latest crop of handsets and tablets running Android.
The main things I have noticed, as far as improvements are concerend are related to multi tasking. The phone generally runs smoother, and switches between applications swiftly and effectively.
It takes a little bit of time to recognise some of the changes as you delve deeper in to the day to day use of a smart phone. There has been upgrades to the Email client, using my work Exchange account, and it took me a couple of days to figure out some of the improvements. It's now easier to attach a file to an email, and like a desk top PC, I can attach any file on my phone, or I can take a photo and share that easily. Speaking of photos, renaming, cropping, rotating and editing photos is much easier. The Galaxy S2 takes great 8MP photos by the way, and I love the panorama shooting mode. (See photo of the Hiroshima Peace Park below)
The menu system has been changed slightly, and I have found the settings are easier to find and adjust. Things like accessing the the data usage menu, and being able to set data limits and warnings are great, given that a Smart phone can easily use a lot of data if you are not mindful of this. Power saving features have improved, and I am getting about 30% more from my battery life, which is fantastic!
If you are considering a Smart phone, or looking to upgrade one, I recommend the Samsung Galaxy S2 as one of the most user friendly and highly specced phones on the market today, and now with the upgrade to ANDROID 4.0, it's even better. As a matter of fact, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus that is being heavily promoted as the first ANDROID 4.0 phone on the Australian market is actually an older phone with lower features, so now that the Galaxy S2 has been given this upgrade... it's definitely my choice.
There's a lot of talk about where newspaper sales are going... on line, home delivery, shop sales. I have read that the publishers are not sure which direction to head, where to offer their support, or indeed where their business will be in the short and long term future.
There's also a lot of talk about Mobile Recharge... the decline in sales in some areas, while other retailers grow recharge sales.
I see there is some similarity between Newspaper sales and Mobile Recharge sales. this is because I believe sales of such convenient items are really up to the retailer. It's one thing for the publishers or the Telco's to produce a product that creates demand at store level, but like any product being sold at retail, newspapers and recharge need the support and push from the retailer. After all, isn't that what retailing is about?
Promoting and driving sales in store is a part of day to day business in today's retail environment, and store owners and managers that have forgotten this fundamental sales tool are the one's that will be watching sales slip away. Don't get ne wrong, I have seen lots of good retailers out there, working hard on improving sales, keeping a clean tidy shop and looking for new products and ways to drive sales.
However, I think it is important to remember that core products still need sales effort! It's easy to focus on new products, and even easier to forget about the products that used to sell themselves. We are in a competitive retail market where there is little or no loyalty between shops in centres or strip shops.
As a retailer, it is up to you to promote and drive sales of both new lines and traditional core lines. Don't complain about the decline in newspaper sales, rather, do something about it. Simple things like knowing what the headlines are in todays paper gives you the opportunity to open discussion about the newspaper at the counter, allowing you to recommend a purchase that may have been missed.
Mobile recharge is another often forgotten product that has been around for years now, and typically most retailer wait to be asked. I think you should "prompt" the sale with a simple question. "Would you like some Mobile Recharge while you are here?"
I am simply trying to point out that in today's busy environment, it is easy to forget what retailing is all about. It's hard work and demands constant focus.
I would love to hear your thoughts about retailing... what works and what doesn't. Have you a good news story you would like to share with fellow retailers?
Well, it's now official. At least according to a Canadian survey reported by the Vancouver Sun. They state that 62 percent of Android users are likely to have sex on the first date, compared to 57percent of iPhone users and 48 percent of Blackberry users.
Does this mean Android users are sexier then iPhone users? Or does it actually mean that iPhone users are more loyal people less likely to change partners or phones.
We can read all sorts of things into such a survey, and many of the posts I have read do just that.
Mind you, the survey was conducted interviewing 1,000 users on "match.com"... so I reckon these people are more likely to be a little more promiscuous then if the survey was interviewing 1,000 members of "LinkedIn" or similar.
You can be the judge... are you sexier because you have a "Smart Phone"
If you are one of those people that likes to use their mobile phone to talk to family and friends, or call up to make a restaurant booking, phone the local cinema to find out what's playing... then maybe you need to think seriously about your Mobile Phone Plan.
There are plenty of offers in the market for all sorts of deals, but at the end of the day, the best deal is the one that suits you best.
How does $40 sound?
Pretty good when you consider for only $40 you can have UNLIMITED talk and UNLIMITED Text for 30 days. And just because you probably use a Smart Phone to make all these calls, how about an included 3GB of data as well? That's on top of the free access to FaceBook and Twitter.
Sounds pretyy good now doesn't it?
So all you retailers... isn't it time you made sure you stock the Boost Mobile $40 SIM Pack?
I was lucky enough to spend 10 days in Japan recently. In fact this was my second trip to Japan. The first time was a skiing holiday, and I have to say, the powder skiing in Japan is as good as they say.
So, this time in Japan was for my Nephews wedding. He and his fiance are both Australian and live here in Australia but have had the opportunity to work in Japan for a few months and obviously love it. That's why about 40 family and friends made the trek to Japan for their tradional Japanese style wedding. What an experience!
Naturally, I couldn't help myself and had to check out the mobile phone scene in Japan. The first thing that struck me whilst travelling on the excellent Japanese rail system was that just about all the younger generation are glued to their mobile phones, staring at the screen sending text, surfing the web, watching film clips, or something. The next thing I noticed was the considerable lack of the Apple iPhone. Honestly, I think I saw about 4, and I saw thousands of Mobiles whilst on the train, bus or even on the street.
So I decided that this needed further investigation. I went to the 2 main Mobile Carriers in Japan, JP DoCoMo and Softbank to check out their range and offers. This was no easy task, as I have next to no Japanese language skills and the very polite and attentive sales staff at these shops had about as much English. The above photos are taken from a very comprehensive catalogue I picked up and show typical handsets on offer. Flip and slide phones are very popular, as is Android based Smart Phones. No iPhone in the catalogue, although one store had a sign out the front stating the iPhone was available on a 24 month contract for 6000 YEN per month (about AU$85). Smart phones are the rage, and Android leads in Japan. There are many brands available, including the popular ones we know like Motorola, HTC, LG and Samsung, but there are also plenty of very good looking smart phones from Sharp, Pantech, Toshiba, and Casio.
What about Prepaid? Well, this is interesting. Unlike Australia, or Hong Kong, Canada, USA, UK, etc, Japan has a distinct lack of Prepaid. Softbank offers one handset for 1050 YEN (AU$150) outright with no credit, and credit is another 600 YEN (AU$85). That was about the only Prepaid Mobile I could find. Only available in a phone shop and credit could only be bought there as well from what I could gather. There was certainly no convenience shops, or the equivalent of a newsagency, etc selling any type of Prepaid Mobile.
When I arrived in Japan I thought I would do the same thing I did in Hong Kong recently, and pick up a Prepaid WiFi to allow me internet access whilst there. Guess what? There is no Prepaid Wifi in Japan! They do offer a Pocket WiFi on 4G. This is very fast at 42 Mps (6 x times our current speed) but is only available on a 24 month contract for 6000 YEN per month (AU$85)
Seems to me there could be a great opportunity for Prepaid Mobile in Japan, but I am sure many others have considered this and there must be a reason that Prepaid is not popular. Maybe the carriers have more than they need on contracts and with 2 major carriers and some 127 million people, I am sure they are doing just fine.
On a good note, the mobile service in Japan proved to be very good whilst roaming, and data speeds were excellent. There are a number of Free WiFi spots to be found and the mobile carriers offer their customers WiFi access just about everywhere, including on public transport.
If you have been to another country and would like to share your expereince, then please do so. I would love to hear about other countries Mobile carriers, service and offers.
You can enjoy full navigation on the latest Samsung Smart Phones.
One of the best things about the latest breed of Smart Phones from Samsung running Googles Android operating system is the inclusion of spoken, turn by turn Australia wide navigation from Navigon.
The complete Australian Mapping is included on the supplied Micro SD card with most Samsung Android Smart Phones. This means you can enjoy full navigation with out the need for an internet or data connection, as the mapping works seemlessly in the background and location is plotted via the built in GPS of the Samsung Smart Phone.
So, for as little as $149 you can enjoy all the benefits of having one of the latest Android powered Samsung Smart Phones as well as full spoken turn by turn navigation by Navigon. By the way, Navigon is a Garmin company. Garmin is the biggest name in Navigation in the world.
Check out the Boost Samsung Galaxy Mini in White or Black and the Optus Samsung Gio. These fabulous Prepaid handsets come with FREE Navigon spoken turn by turn navigation from Garmin.
Price Drops on Two Popular Handsets
The Boost Mobile Samsung Galaxy Mini drops to $149 rrp tomorrow (1st September 2011). This fabulous little Android Phone running Froyo 2.2 offers customers all the benefits of the latest smart phone operating system from Google, bundled into one sleek and modern handset with 3.15" capacative Touch screen and a super smooth form factor. Available in Black or white, this is a must have for the mobile trendy.
Also reduced in price for September is the ultra clever business phone from Nokia. The Nokia E5 features an easy to use QWERTY keyboard for fast and accurate SMS and emails. There is assisted GPS with Lifetime Drive and Walk mapping from Nokia. Also included in this clever business phone is "push" email comaptible with Microsoft Exchange, a 5MP camera and Dual Band connectivity, along with WiFi.
Make sure you include these phones in your range, as consumer demand is certain to spike with these price drops.
Android outsells iOS in Australia It's official Googles Android operating system for smart phones now surpasses sales of Apples' iOS operating system for the iPhone in Australia, making Android the most commonly used Smart Phone operating system around the world.
For almost 12 months, Android has out sold iOS in Europe and America, but last week finally made the cut to overtake iOS in Australia.
Local Telco's are selling many different branded Android handsets from the likes of Motorola, Samsung, Huawei, Sony Ericsson, LG and many others, both on Post Paid and Pre Paid.
The cost benefits are part reason for Android outselling iOS as is the fact that multiple manufacturers have embraced the open operating system from Google.
Another interesting fact is, 1 in 2 handsets sold in Australia are now Smart Phones with internet access. This used to be an area reserved for the business market, but all consumers are wanting the benefits of smart "connected" mobiles.
If you haven't tried one of the new smart phones, then maybe it's time you upgraded your handset to one of many Android powered Smart Phones available today.
Prices have plummeted in recent months and you can now pick up a great bargain on Prepaid for as little as $79 rrp.
My suggestion would be that if you are thinking of buying an Android powered smart phone, buy one that runs Android Operating System 2.2 (Froyo) or above for the best user experience.
Where are we headed in Australia with the Mobile Networks?
The menu system has been changed slightly, and I have found the settings are easier to find and adjust. Things like accessing the the data usage menu, and being able to set data limits and warnings are great, given that a Smart phone can easily use a lot of data if you are not mindful of this. Power saving features have improved, and I am getting about 30% more from my battery life, which is fantastic!
Well, it's now official. At least according to a Canadian survey reported by the Vancouver Sun. They state that 62 percent of Android users are likely to have sex on the first date, compared to 57percent of iPhone users and 48 percent of Blackberry users. 
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