Huawei
Powermat and PowerKiss Unite and Back PMA Standard
Powermat today announced that it has merged with PowerKiss. Powermat, based in the U.S., makes and markets wireless charging accessories. It backs the standard supported by the Power Matters Alliance. Before today, PowerKiss, which is based in Finland, backed a competing standard. Now that the two companies are one, they are together throwing their weight behind the PMA wireless charging standard. The PMA is mounting a challenge to competing standards Qi and the Alliance for Wireless Power. Earlier this year, the PMA won support from AT&T, BlackBerry, Google, HTC, Huawei, Kyocera, LG, Samsung, Starbucks, and ZTE. Further, AT&T mandated that its handset partners incorporate the PMA wireless charging standard into their devices by 2014. Verizon Wireless supports the Qi standard. The consumer electronics industry has yet to settle on a single standard.
Huawei's First Windows Phone Hits Walmart this Month
Huawei today announced that the W1, its first Windows Phone 8 smartphone, will be available at Walmart stores in the U.S. beginning later this month. The W1 is known as the Ascend W1 in other markets. It features a 4-inch LCD screen with 800 x 480 pixels, a dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, a 5-megapixel camera with 720p video capture, 1.7GB of internal storage, and support for microSD cards up to 32GB. Huawei did not say which carrier will provide service for the W1, but Walmart sells TracFone devices, and the W1 is compatible with TracFone's network. Pricing was not provided, nor was the exact release date.
Huawei Essentially Gives Up on U.S. Market Expansion
Huawei has revised sales estimates for its wireless networking business downward after reassessing its chances in the U.S. market. Huawei had hoped U.S. network operators, such as Sprint, would purchase its networking equipment and boost its presence here. The company met with resistance from members of the U.S. government, which cast suspicion on the company's ties to the Chinese government. Huawei has steadfastly denied such claims. However, it has not been able to gain the traction it wanted with U.S. companies. "We are not interested in the U.S. market anymore. Generally speaking, it's not a market that we pay much attention to," said executive VP Eric Xu. Huawei still sells cell phones though U.S. network operators.
Qi Rival Gains Strength with Handset Maker Support
The Power Matters Alliance, a group pitching a wireless charging standard that competes with the Qi and the Alliance for Wireless Power standards, has recently won new support from handset makers and carriers. The group announced this week that HTC, Huawei, LG, and Samsung have all joined the PMA, which already includes members such as AT&T, BlackBerry, Google, Kyocera, PowerMat, Starbucks, and ZTE. Further, existing PMA member AT&T is asking its handset partners to integrate PMA-compatible wireless charging technology into their handsets by 2014. According to the PMA, there are already some 1,500 PMA-certified wireless charging stations at Starbucks coffee shops, airports, and other locations around the country. The Power Matters Alliance uses a wireless charging technology that is slightly different from those offered by Qi and A4WP. Each of the three standards allows devices to charge wirelessly when placed on a compatible charging pad. Verizon's handsets have incorporated Qi for years, which already has wide support from other carriers and handset makers. The electronics industry as a whole has yet to settle on one of the standards for all devices moving forward.
Sprint and Softbank Tell U.S. Gov They'll Avoid Chinese Gear
Sprint and Softbank have agreed to unofficial terms requested by the U.S. government with respect to purchasing telecommunications and wireless networking equipment from Chinese vendors such as Huawei and ZTE. Softbank is in the process of acquiring a 70% stake in Sprint, and the agreement is meant to help ease the transaction though the approval process. Government regulators cannot mandate that Sprint and Softbank avoid equipment made by Chinese companies, but lawmakers wanted to make sure they had an ear to the ground when Sprint is purchasing gear. "I have met with SoftBank and Sprint regarding this merger and was assured they would not integrate Huawei in to the Sprint network and would take mitigation efforts to replace Huawei equipment in the Clearwire network," said Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The U.S. government is concerned that equipment made by Huawei and ZTE could be used by the Chinese government to spy on the U.S. Huawei flatly denies that its products pose any sort of security risk.
U.S. Wants Oversight of Sprint-Softbank Network Purchases
In order to win U.S. government approval of its equity sale to Softbank, Sprint may have to allow government officials to unofficially greenlight networking equipment purchases. According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, the intent of the provision would be to keep Chinese suppliers Huawei and ZTE from selling their gear to U.S. companies. The U.S. government has long been wary of allowing Huawei and ZTE to provide telecommunications infrastructure due to fears about espionage. Sprint is selling 70% of itself to Japanese network operator Softbank for $20 billion. The Journal notes that any such provisions could not be spelled out explicitly, as that would violate international trade law, and would instead only require Sprint to let the government know when it is making telecommunications gear purchases. A law signed by President Barack Obama last week included a new cyber-espionage review process for U.S. government technology purchases. This law more explicitly states that the U.S. government needs to approve of IT purchases made by NASA, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The intent behind this new law is the same as that being applied to the Sprint deal: the government wants to be able to restrict the sale of Chinese networking equipment to U.S. agencies. Huawei spokesperson Bill Plummer said to the Journal, "The adoption of such a policy would seem little more than a market-distorting political or protectionist exercise."
Huawei Premia Added to MetroPCS Roster
MetroPCS today announced the Huawei Premia 4G, a new Android smartphone that costs just $149. The Premia boasts a 4-inch 800 x 480 pixel display and a dual-core 1.5GHz processor with 1GB of RAM. The Premia features a 5-megapixel main camera with LED flash and 720p HD video capture, as well as a 1.3-megapixel user-facing camera. It is compatible with MetroPCS' joyn messaging service, and ships with Rhapsody preinstalled. Other features include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and support for MetroPCS' LTE 4G network. The Huawei Premia 4G runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is available online and in stores beginning today.
Hands-On: Huawei Ascend P2
Here is a quick look at the Huawei Ascend P2, the company's flagship smartphone for 2013. It is incredibly thin and light, and still manages to include an impressive array of features. Here are our initial thoughts.
from Huawei
ITC Agrees to Review InterDigital's Complaint Against Samsung
The U.S. International Trade Commission indicated that it will review InterDigital's patent-related complaints against Samsung, Nokia, Huawei, and ZTE. The complaint was filed in January and alleges that the companies are violating its 3G and 4G technology patents. InterDigital is asking the ITC to block the offending products. In particular, the patents cover WCDMA, cdma2000, LTE, and Wi-Fi technology as used in the infringing companies' phones, laptop dongles, hotspots, laptops, and tablets. The complaint will be given to an administrative law judge, who will hold a hearing and issue a preliminary ruling. The ruling will then be reviewed by the full committee. InterDigital is a patent-holding company.
Consumer Cellular Expands Device Selection at Sears
Consumer Cellular today announced that more of its devices will be available at Sears retail stores beginning later this month. The Huawei 8800, an Android smartphone, and the Doro PhoneEasy 618 feature phone are among the new handsets being made available for $149.99 and $59.99, respectively. The Motorola WX416 will continue to be available for $34.99, but now in red and black colors. Consumer Cellular's plans start as low as $10 per month.
Kodak's Patent Sale Approved
The court overseeing Eastman Kodak's bankruptcy proceedings has approved the company's $525 million patent sale to a consortium of companies. The consortium, which is led by Intellectual Ventures and RPX Corp., includes Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Fujifilm, Google, HTC, Huawei, Microsoft, Research In Motion, Samsung, and Shutterfly. Under the terms of the agreement, Intellectual Ventures (which is itself a patent-licensing firm) and RPX gain ownership of the patents, while the other firms are all contributing licensing fees for access to the patents. The patent sale allows Kodak to move forward with its restructuring plans.
Hands On: Huawei Ascend W1
Huawei's first Windows Phone, the Ascend W1, was on display at CES and we spent a few moments with it. Here are our first impressions.
Huawei Debuts Its First Windows Phone, the Ascend W1
Huawei today officially announced the Ascend W1, its first foray into the Windows Phone business. The W1 runs Windows Phone 8 and features a 4-inch IPS LCD 480 x 800 pixel display. The W1 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, which is paired with 512MB of RAM and an Adreno 305 GPU for graphics performance. The W1 measures 10.15mm thick and has a 1,950mAh battery. Huawei claims its 470 hours of standby time is longer than any other Windows Phone. The W1 also includes a 5-megapixel main camera with a flash and a VGA user-facing camera. It inclues 4GB of on-board storage and supports microSD cards up to 32GB. It will be available in multiple colors. The Ascend W1 goes on sale in Russia and other countries later this month, and should reach the U.S. later this year. Pricing and carrier details were not provided.
Hands On with the Huawei Ascend Mate
Huawei has a new entry in the phablet market with the Ascend Mate. This large phone (or small tablet) has a massive 6.1-inch screen and a 4,000-mAh battery to power it. Read on for our first impressions.
Huawei Intros Ascend Mate Phablet
Huawei today announced the Ascend Mate, a phone/tablet with a 6.1-inch display. The features and appearance are similar to the Ascend D2 - also announced today - with a few differences. The Ascend Mate has an 8-megapixel camera and 4,000 mAh battery, but the same quad-core processor. The Mate has a few extra software features for the larger screen, such as a set of pop-up windows that float over regular apps, for limited real-time multi-tasking. Available pop-ups include a calculator, calendar, notepad and video player. The Ascend Mate also sports a modified keyboard that shifts all of the keys toward one side, making it easier to type one-handed. Pricing and U.S. availability was not announced.
Hands On with the Huawei Ascend D2
We spent a few moments with Huawei's new flagship phone to take on the iPhone. This 5-inch phone has a solid metal frame with exposed sides, like the iPhone. Huawei is proud of the hundreds of manufacturing steps to make the phone. Is it worth the effort. Read on for our impressions.
Huawei Joins 5-Inch Club With Ascend D2
Huawei today showed off its newest flagship phone, the Ascend D2, with a 5-inch 1080 x 1920 pixel "Super Retina" 443 ppi display. The phone also sports a touch-screen sensor that works through gloves, a 13-megapixel camera with BSI sensor, and a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor. The dust- and water-resistant body body sports a flat glass front with on-screen Android controls, curved sides formed from machined solid metal frame, and a curved glossy plastic back. Thd 3,000-mAh battery is sealed inside. The phone sports 32 GB of internal storage plus 2 GB of RAM. It runs Android 4.1 with Huawei's Emotion UI 1.5.
from Huawei
Samsung Says Tizen Devices to Be Released This Year
Samsung today indicated that it plans to bring smartphones with its Tizen operating system to market by the end of the year. The company said the devices would be competitive, but didn't provide any details about the hardware or which carriers around the world might sell them. Tizen is a version of Linux that's being developed by Samsung and Intel, with support from Huawei, Sprint, LiMo, and The Linux Foundation. Tizen has been in development since 2011 and reached 1.0 status in May 2012.
Huawei, Nokia, Samsung, and ZTE Hit with Patent Suit
InterDigital today filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against Huawei, Nokia, Samsung, and ZTE. InterDigital alleges that the companies are violating its 3G and 4G technology patents, and is asking the ITC to block the offending products. In particular, the patents cover WCDMA, cdma2000, LTE, and Wi-Fi technology as used in the infringing companies' phones, laptop dongles, hotspots, laptops, and tablets. InterDigital filed similar litigation with the U.S. District Court of Delaware. There, it is seeking a permanent injunction against the companies, as well as compensatory damages. Earlier this week, InterDigital announced that Research In Motion agreed to license its LTE 4G patents.
Apple, Google, HTC, RIM, Others Buy Kodak Patents
Eastman Kodak today announced that it has sold a collection of its imaging patents to a consortium of companies for a total of $525 million. The consortium, which is led by Intellectual Ventures and RPX Corp., includes Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Fujifilm, Google, HTC, Huawei, Microsoft, Research In Motion, Samsung, and Shutterfly. Under the terms of the agreement, Intellectual Ventures (which is itself a patent-licensing firm) and RPX gain ownership of the patents, while the other firms are all contributing licensing fees for access to the patents. The patent sale is one measure being taken by Kodak to recover while undergoing bankruptcy reorganization. The patent sale also concludes any litigation between Kodak and the new licensees.
U.S. Cellular Expands Retail Footprint to Walmart
U.S. Cellular announced plans to increase the availability of its phones through a distribution deal with Walmart. Consumers can now purchase U.S. Cellular phones at 460 Walmart stores around the country. U.S. Cellular said that the Samsung Galaxy S III, Chrono 2, and Freeform 4, as well as the Huawei Ascend II will be some of the phones available at Walmart stores. Customers who activate a U.S. Cellular postpaid plan at a Walmart store will be eligible for rewards, such as early device upgrades and discounts on certain services.
Huawei Ascend Y from U.S. Cellular Costs Just a Penny
U.S. Cellular recently made the Huawei Ascend Y available for purchase from its web site. The Ascend Y runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and features a 3.5-inch HVGA display, an 800MHz processor, 3.2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The Ascend Y ships with a 2GB microSD card, but supports cards up to 32GB. The Huawei Ascend Y costs $0.01 when purchased with a contract or $99.99 when purchased for use with U.S. Cellular's prepaid service.
Huawei Verge Reaches MetroPCS
MetroPCS recently began selling the Huawei Verge via its web site. The Verge is a bar-style feature phone that has a 2.4-inch screen with 640 x 480 resolution. The Verge also has a camera, Bluetooth, 192MHz processor and runs the BREW platform. The Verge has 30MB of internal storage and does not support microSD. The Verge is selling for $49.99 and does not require a contract.
Huawei Summit Shows Up on T-Mobile.com for $49
T-Mobile USA recently listed the Huawei Summit for sale on its web site. This bar-style device appears to be almost identical to the Prism, also made by Huawei and on sale with T-Mobile since May. Both phones feature a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, 3.2-megapixel camera, and support for T-Mobile USA's HSPA+ high-speed network. Other features include Wi-Fi (with Wi-Fi Calling), GPS, and Bluetooth. According to T-Mobile's web site, the Huawei Summit runs a proprietary operating system. The software appears to be based on Android. The user manual describes an Android interface, except lacking Gmail and possibly Google's Play Store. It costs $49.99 with a new contract.
Cricket Makes an LTE Gamble in Las Vegas
Cricket Wireless today announced that LTE 4G service is now up and running in the Las Vegas market. Las Vegas marks the second LTE market for Cricket, which first launched in Tucson, Ariz., on a trial basis last year. According to Cricket, about 80% of the Las Vegas area has access to its LTE service. The company plans to cover 21 million POPs with LTE by the end of this year, and two-thirds of its current CDMA network footprint by the end of 2015. The only LTE device available is Huawei-made Boltz USB modem. Leap has not said when LTE-capable phones will become available. LTE data plans range from $35 to $80 per month.
Leap's LTE Network to Launch Starting Next Week
Leap Wireless is prepared to officially launch its first LTE market at some point next week. The first market has yet to be named, but it will be followed by others in November and December. The company plans to cover 21 million POPs with LTE by the end of this year, and two-thirds of its current CDMA network footprint by the end of 2015. The company has been testing LTE in Tucson, Ariz. As in Tucson, the only LTE device available in the launch market will be a Huawei-made mobile hotspot. Leap has not said when LTE-capable phones will become available.
Congress Brands Huawei and ZTE as Security Threats
A draft report written by the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee concludes that both Huawei and ZTE should be prevented from expanding their businesses in the U.S. due the possibility that they could threaten the national security of the U.S. The draft report, which is set to be published in final form October 8, is the culmination of an 11-month investigation into the two corporations, which make wireless networking gear and cellular telephones. "U.S. network providers and system developers are strongly encouraged to seek other vendors for their projects," said a portion of the report. It also said Huawei and ZTE "cannot be trusted to be free of foreign state influence and thus pose a security threat to the United States and to our systems." The authors of the report said that both companies were reluctant to hand over key documents about their relationships with the Chinese government. The authors also said they received "credible allegations" that suggested Huawei is guilty of bribery, corruption, discriminatory behavior, and other malfeasance. Huawei spokesperson Bill Plummer rejected the reports conclusions. "Baseless suggestions...that Huawei is somehow uniquely vulnerable to cyber mischief ignore technical and commercial realities, recklessly threaten American jobs and innovation, do nothing to protect national security, and should be exposed as dangerous political distractions from legitimate public-private initiatives to address what are global and industry-wide cyber challenges." Plummer's comments went submitted to Reuters via email. It's not clear how the report will affect Huawei and ZTE's existing business relationships. MetroPCS, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile USA all sell Huawei and/or ZTE handsets.
Huawei Fusion 2 Pops Up on AT&T's GoPhone Roster
AT&T recently added the Huawei Fusion 2 to its selection of devices available through its GoPhone prepaid wireless service. The Fusion 2 runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, has an 800MHz processor, 3.2-megapixel camera, 512MB of RAM and 2GB of internal storage. The Fusion 2 has a 3.5-inch display with 320 x 480 pixels, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. The Fusion 2 is available for $99.99 without a contract.
MetroPCS Debuts the Huawei Pinnacle 2
MetroPCS today made the Huawei Pinnacle 2 available for sale via its web site. The Pinnacle 2 is a bar-style feature phone with a full QWERTY keyboard for messaging. It runs Qualcomm's BREW operating system with a 192MHz processor and features a 1.3-megapixel camera, 2.4-inch display, stereo Bluetooth, GPS, email, music player, and support for microSD cards up to 32GB. The Pinnacle 2 costs $59 and does not require a contract.
Huawei Mulling Its Own Smartphone OS
Huawei CEO Wan Biao said that the company may develop its own smartphone platform as a back-up plan in case its relationships with Google and Microsoft sour. "We're devoting resources into coming up with a phone operating system based on our current platform in case other companies won't let us use their system one day," said Biao in an interview with Reuters. "Whatever consumers like, we'll develop." Biao did say, however, that its immediate plans call for more Android and more Windows Phone devices. In particular, Huawei plans to target high-end smartphones, which are more profitable.
Consumer Cellular Intros the Huawei 8652
Consumer Cellular today announced the addition of the Huawei 8652 to its lineup of Android smartphones. The 8652, which is sold by AT&T as the Fusion, runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, has a 3.5-inch display with 320 x 480 pixels, and is powered by a 600MHz processor. It includes a 3.2-megapixel camera with video capture; microSD support up to 32GB; and 3G, Bluetooth 2.1, and Wi-Fi/GPS. The Fusion sells for $100 and does not require a contract.
In Order to Close Deals, Huawei Promises It Won't Spy
Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer Huawei has issued a report calling for global cooperation in creating a set of legal and technical standards for security. Huawei didn't suggest any specific measures, but said it will work with the International Telecommunication Union , 3GPP, and others to create industry-wide standards. The report is the latest move by Huawei to ease fears that it will be used by the Chinese government to spy in the U.S. Such fears have prevented Huawei from winning certain business deals in the U.S. over the past few years. In 2011, Huawei had to abandon its attempt to purchase 3Leaf Systems, as it was never able to win U.S. regulatory approval for the acquisition. Huawei also went so far as to pledge it wouldn't partake in what it deemed to be illegal activities. "We have never damaged any nation or had the intent to steal any national intelligence, enterprise secrets or breach personal privacy and we will never support or tolerate such activities, nor will we support any entity from any country who may wish us to undertake an activity that would be deemed illegal in any country," said Huawei in the report. Huawei also denied that it has been asked by the Chinese government to spy on foreign companies or countries. Though Huawei has been stymied from making certain telecommunications deals, it continues to sell cellular phones in the U.S.
RadioShack and Cricket Partner on New Wireless Service
RadioShack today announced its own, branded prepaid wireless service that will run on Cricket Wireless's network. RadioShack No-Contract Wireless service will be available starting September 5 at RadioShack stores, and includes several smartphones, a feature phone, and services such as Cricket's Muve Music. The Huawei Pillar feature phone and the Huawei Mercury Ice smartphone will both be available this week, with two more devices to follow by the end of the month. The Mercury Ice (a white-colored Huawei Mercury) is a RadioShack exclusive and costs $149.99. Service plans mirror those of Cricket Wireless. They start at $25 per month and range up to $60 per month, depending on features and services.
Huawei myTouch Camera Rates 3.9MP, Not 5MP
Phone Scoop has confirmed that the cameras of the Huawei myTouch and myTouch Q do not capture 5-megapixel images. Because the devices shoot only in a 16:9 aspect ratio, the images captured measure 2,560 x 1,536 pixels. This calculates to 3.9 megapixels and not the 5 megapixels advertised by Huawei and T-Mobile. The issue was first noted by Consumer Reports, and Phone Scoop was able to duplicate the results with review units on hand.
Cricket Now Selling the Huawei Ascend Q
Cricket Wireless recently made the Huawei Ascend Q available for sale via its web site. The Ascend Q is a bar-style phone that includes both a 3.2-inch touch screen and full QWERTY keyboard for messaging. The Ascend Q runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and is powered by an 800MHz processor. Other features include a 3.2-megapixel fixed-focus camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. The Ascend Q ships with a 4GB microSD card, and supports cards up to 32GB. The Ascend Q costs $140.
Patent Licensing Firm Hits Phone Makers with Lawsuits
Alliacense today announced new patent litigation it is filing against 13 different companies, many of which make mobile products. Alliacense alleges that the companies involved are violating the patents held by MMP Portfolio, which is a patent-holding and licensing firm contributed to and run by a number of other organizations. The companies being sued include Acer, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Garmin, HTC, Huawei, Kyocera, LG Electronics, Nintendo, Novatel Wireless, Samsung Electronics, Sierra Wireless, and ZTE. Alliacense and MMP have filed complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission seeking to prevent the companies involved from importing the infringing products. It also filed action seeking damages for past infringement that includes triple unpaid royalties and interest, plus attorney's fees; and injunctions barring future products from entering the U.S. Alliacense and MMP Portfolio didn't specify the nature of the patents involved in the litigation.
AT&T Getting More Fusion From Huawei
The unannounced Huawei Fusion 2 for AT&T made an appearance on the FCC web site this weekend. The user manual and photos submitted to the FCC describe a phone with features identical to the original Fusion, including a 3.2-megapixel camera, FM radio, Swype, and a memory card slot. The Fusion is a basic Android phone for AT&T's GoPhone prepaid service.
T-Mobile Offering Two Huawei-Made myTouch Phones
T-Mobile USA today announced two new myTouch Android smartphones, both of which will go on sale August 8. The myTouch (pictured) and myTouch Q are made by Huawei and share nearly all specs and features, but the myTouch Q has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. They feature 4-inch WVGA displays with Swype, a fourth-generation Genius button with voice search, and a redesigned app drawer for easier access to applications. The myTouch and myTouch Q run Android 2.3 Gingerbread, are powered by 1.4GHz processors, include 5-megapixel cameras with autofocus and LED flash, and support T-Mobile's HSPA+ wireless network. Both the myTouch and myTouch Q will cost $49.99 after $50 mail-in rebate.
Consumer Cellular Adds Huawei 8800 to Android Ranks
Consumer Cellular today added the Huawei 8800 to its Android smartphone offerings. The 8800, sold as the Impulse 4G by AT&T, has a 3.8-inch touch display with 480 x 800 pixels and features a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus, flash, and 720p HD video capture. It also includes Wi-Fi; GPS; Bluetooth 2.0+EDR; and 512MB of internal memory with support for microSD cards up to 32GB. It is powered by an 800MHz Qualcomm processor. The Huawei 8800 costs $175, and is sold with free shipping and no activation fee.
Microsoft Names Initial Windows Phone 8 Hardware Partners
Microsoft today named the first few hardware partners that are expected to debut Windows Phone 8 devices later this year. They include Nokia, HTC, Huawei, Samsung, and Qualcomm. Microsoft said that Windows Phone 8 should be available in 50 countries and 180 languages at launch, which is expected this holiday season.
from Microsoft
