Now iOS 5 Can Update Over 3G.

"Good news for those who travel a lot, iOS 5′s over-the-air update feature will work over your carrier’s 3G network, not just Wi-Fi. That means easy and PC-free updates, wherever you are.

Hopefully, for users on capped data plans, these over-the-air updates won’t be too huge. Especially considering Apple is making all iOS 5 updates 'delta updates,' which means you only download what’s new, and not an entirely new iOS like we’ve done up until now."

iOS 5: The Top 10 New Features.

"At long last, the most important feature of them all: You will not need iTunes and PC anymore to use your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. Apple has caught up with Android and Windows Phone 7. The new iOS 5 will allow you to set up your new device easily: Turn your new gadget on and a Welcome screen will appear. All software updates will happen over the air."

also see: Apple's iOS 5: all the details -- Engadget

"Headline feature: PC Free! No more cables required for syncing. Now we're talking. Setting up and activating a new iOS device can be done right on the device itself, and syncing will be wireless too -- there'll be no need to tether to a computer anymore. Over-the-air updates are also part of the new deal, and in better news still, they'll contain only the data that's changed, meaning you won't have to re-download the entire OS every time Apple opts to make a minor tweak."

iOS 5 may bring OTA updates to iPhone.

"9to5 Mac claims to have confirmed with multiple anonymous sources that updates delivered following Apple’s iOS 5 release could take advantage of a new OTA update mechanism that will deliver incremental updates directly to devices rather than to iTunes. The report specifically notes that Apple has been in talks with Verizon Wireless regarding OTA updates, though the feature would obviously be available to any carriers that agree to deliver the updates over their networks. OTA updates would certainly be a welcome addition to iOS."

Could Apple Be Your Next Phone Company?

Stacey Higginbotham writes: "Apple’s plans to once again change the dynamics of the mobile world are becoming clearer. Bloomberg reported today that the device maker has plans for a universal SIM card that I first reported on in October, and Apple is seeking a way to make it possible for consumers to pay for mobile access from multiple carriers via iTunes. The result of that hardware shift and business model change turns Apple into its own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and puts Apple, instead of the carrier, in control of the customer relationship."

European cellcos unite against Apple/Google "duopoly."

"... this is an issue of the 'utmost importance' to European mobile users, the carriers said, and they are now creating a more permanent alliance to try to clip the wings of what one insider called the Google/Apple 'duopoly'.

According to the report, though, the group has so far found no concrete evidence of 'unfair practises' to submit to the EC, and of course it will not gain real attention from the European executive authority without clear suspicions of antitrust."

Jobs Built an Organization.

Kyle Baxter writes: "Jobs didn’t build Apple to orbit around him; he built it as an organization that embodies his values—small, start-up teams; relentlessly making something as good as it possibly can be; focus on the company’s competencies; and only enter new markets that provide an opportunity for Apple to define them.

Whether this is when Jobs will retire or not, Apple will go on, and we’ll see what I think is his greatest achievement: building an organization that can succeed without one man."

Asmyco: Each iOS Device Has Downloaded More Than 60 Apps.

"Asmyco, the Helsinki-based app developer / industry analysis advisory firm founded and led by a longtime Nokia manager, has just published a new report on its blog with noteworthy data on the increase in iOS downloads by device.

The company reports that more than 60 apps have been downloaded for every iOS device sold. That’s up from 10 apps downloaded for every iPhone/iPod touch in 2008, says Asmyco."

Verizon holding media event January 11th in New York City; iPhone announcement imminent?

"What do you think? Is Tuesday, January 11th the day when all the speculation can end? Or is this just an oddly — and cruelly – timed press event on 1/11/11 at 11:00AM ET?"

Nielsen: Android now 40 percent of U.S. smartphone sales.

"Devices running Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android mobile operating system accounted for more than two fifths of all smartphones sold in the U.S. between June 2010 and November 2010, according to new Nielsen Company data. Android sales accounted for 40.8 percent of U.S. smartphone purchases at the end of November, up from 27.5 percent at midyear--Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS increased from 20.9 percent in June to 26.9 percent in November, while Research In Motion's (NASDAQ:RIMM) BlackBerry plummeted from 35.0 percent to 19.2 percent during the same timeframe."

Apple sued over iOS app privacy questions.

"Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and four of its iOS application developer partners are the targets of a lawsuit alleging violations of computer fraud and privacy laws by enabling advertising networks to access consumers' personal data via iPhone and iPad apps."

Why Verizon Needs the Apple iPhone Sooner Rather Than Later.

"Asymco’s Horace Dediu took the sales data a step further by comparing Verizon’s smartphone sales against those of AT&T’s iPhone. Assuming the ITG data is correct, Verizon’s strategy to offer several Android phones actually hasn’t competed well. Add up the total number of Android phones Verizon has sold in the last few quarters, and AT&T has still sold more iPhones. Even with a multi-device strategy based around Google Android, Verizon is losing sales ground to a device on a single platform."

Nielsen: Apple passed RIM to take top U.S. smartphone spot in October.

"Considering Android’s rapid growth rate — which shows no signs of slowing — it’s a safe bet that Apple’s reign will be short-lived. At its current pace, Android should overtake the No. 1 position sometime in the first quarter of 2011."

Apple gearing up for enterprise battle, poaching RIM employees?

"The Wall Street Journal is reporting that in the last 18 months, Apple has hired at least five employees of the RIM enterprise team. They also speculate that there are many more employees that have, or are considering, jumping ship. Some of the employees that left RIM includes the Head of Strategy Sales who is now Head of Enterprise iPhone Sales at Apple. With over 80% of Fortune 500 companies trialling or using iPhones, there’s little doubt that Apple is gearing for a huge battle in the enterprise sector."

Rumor: Apple abandons plans for integrated iPhone SIM.

"According to an unconfirmed report in The Telegraph Sunday morning, Apple has abandoned its plans to develop an integrated SIM card for the iPhone. The report, which cites a senior source at a mobile operator, suggests that Apple backed down from its plans in light of pressures from European carriers."

No, MobileMe Isn’t Totally Free, But Find My iPhone/iPad Now Is.

"You see, with iOS 4.2, Apple is making one part of MobileMe available for free: Find My iPhone/iPad. Users will be able to sign up for a free MobileMe account for the first time in order to use the service, which works on iOS devices in the form of an app. However, those users signing up for free accounts will not be able to use the other MobileMe services without paying the regular $99-a-year price, we’ve confirmed with Apple.

Find My iPhone/iPad allows users to remotely find a missing or misplaced device by using location based services to locate it. You can send messages to it, tell it to make noises so you can find it in your home, remote lock it, or remote wipe it (if it is stolen)."

Carrier Organization Changes Rules to Allow the “Apple SIM."

"The GSMA today announced the formation of a task force of mobile operators to explore the development of an embedded SIM that can be remotely activated. The move is expected to enable the design of exciting new form factors for mobile communications. It will also speed the development of M2M services by making it easier to bring mobile broadband to non-traditional devices such as cameras, MP3 players, navigation devices and e-Readers, as well as smart meters."

Apple passes RIM to become fourth largest phone vendor.

"IDC reveals Apple has passed RIM to become the fourth largest cell phone vendor in the world. Last quarter, Apple sold 14.1 million iPhone units to snag 4.1% of the global market. RIM rang up about 12.3 million units over the same period and slipped into fifth place globally. Sony Ericsson was displaced from the top five list. The top three manufacturers on the list remained unchanged, with Nokia having sold 110.4 million units (32.4% market share), Samsung unloading 71.4 units (21% market share) and LG hawking 28.4 million phones (8.3% market share)."

A Verizon iPhone: Winners and losers.

"Which companies are the winners and losers in such a scenario? FierceWireless put together this handy guide to the companies we believe will rise and fall should the rumor become a reality."

In brief:


Read the entire article here.

Is Apple About To Cut Out the Carriers?

"However, if Apple is doing an end run around the carrier by putting its own SIM inside the iPhone it could do what Google with its NexusOne could not, which is create an easy way to sell a handset via the web without carrier involvement. Much like it helped cut operators out of the app store game, Apple could be taking them out of the device retail game. Yes, carriers will still have to allow the phone to operate on their networks, which appears to be why executives from various French carriers have been to Cupertino in recent weeks.

The Gemalto SIM, according to my sources, is embedded in a chip that has an upgradeable flash component and a ROM area. The ROM area contains data provided by Gemalto with everything related to IT and network security, except for the carrier related information. The flash component will receive the carrier related data via a local connection which could be the PC or a dedicated device, so it can be activated on the network. Gemalto will provide the back-end infrastructure that allows service and number provisioning on the carrier network."

also see: With Their Carrier-Crippling SIM, Can Apple Do What Google Chickened Out Of?

also see: An Apple Integrated SIM: What it Could Mean

Rumor: Verizon Wireless on a pre-iPhone hiring spree.

"As 2010 comes to a close, Verizon Wireless is rumored to be on a hiring spree prior to carrying the iPhone. CNET reports that the company is hiring 'hundreds' of call center personnel, who will be trained to handle support calls for 'personal computers and portable devices like MP3 players and smartphones.'

Of course, Apple, the iPhone and Verizon are never mentioned in this story, and any connection is based upon supposition. Customer service call center staffing companies Teleperformance and Ryla are said to be recruiting on behalf of a 'major wireless cell phone service retailer.' Both companies have prior experience supporting Verizon and Teleperformance has worked with Apple."