Wibree and Bluetooth: Friends or rivals?
Nokia has celebrated the twentieth anniversary of its Research Center Nokia Research Center. This event is timed introduction of a new wireless technology to work for short distances. Technology called Wibree. Thus, in the global culture, a new word combination of letters «Wi». It's safe to say that the name of the new technology will be confused with home-grown Korean version of WiMAX - WiBro, because sounds like. Wibree specification is currently still being developed. The group of developers includes such big chip makers like Broadcom, CSR, Epson, Nordic Semiconductor, Taiyo Yuden and Suunto. Nokia expects the first commercial version of the specification will be presented in the second quarter of next year. In this case, for example, Nordic Semiconductor, plans to be finished by the beginning of the supply Wibree-chips in the second half of 2007.
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Wibree technology is designed to connect a variety of small peripherals to computers and mobile devices such as phones and PDAs. The main advantages of its design Nokia lists low-cost, low power consumption and small size of the chips. Thus, we have almost twin interfaces Bluetooth. Judge for yourself, the range of Wibree is comparable to the distance of Bluetooth - up to 10 meters. The claimed data transfer rate - 1 Mbps. For comparison - in the Bluetooth versions 1.1 and 1.2 data transfer rate of 723.1 kbit / s, and a version of Bluetooth 2.0 Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) - 2,1 Mbps. Wibree radio communications technology will be implemented free of license ISM-band (Industry, Science and Medicine) at a frequency of 2.4 MHz is similar to Bluetooth. Provides economical standby mode, data transmission «point-to-multipoint», data encryption, and other ideas, which showed itself in fine version of Bluetooth 2.0.
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| Nokia Wibree - replace Bluetooth? |
Nokia as one of the main advantages of Wibree considers easy integration with Bluetooth. Will be produced two types of chips - and single-mode Wibree dual-mode Wibree-Bluetooth. In the dual-mode Wibree chips will use the Bluetooth radio module and transmit data in the intervals between transmissions of Bluetooth. Single-mode chips will be used in gadgets, and dual-mode - mobile phones, PDAs and desktops. That is, we get chips with almost «Bluetooth» and with this Bluetooth. Nokia does not give specific figures on the gain in power consumption, size and cost of chips of the new standard. This may be two explanations: either at the final specification predyavlenii company is going to blow up an information bomb that will change the view of humanity on the world of wireless personal area networks, or new technology, and is not intended for a technical win, but serves other purposes, such as marketing.
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As the main scope of Wibree company considers the relationship between a computer or PDA / phone and devices such as wrist-watch display, wireless keyboard and mouse for medical or sports sensors, various kinds of toys. Of the widely used devices in this list are present except that the wireless keyboard and mouse.In principle, virtually all these devices, except maybe the medical and sports sensors to the computer is in use Bluetooth. At the same time, Nokia does not mention, as candidates for such widespread use of Wibree Bluetooth-tasks, such as wireless headsets, or synchronize your PDA with your computer. Selection of a rather strange, suggestive that the low power consumption and cost of solutions based on Wibree-oriented devices to transfer small "signal" of data packets. Perhaps we are talking about a certain analogue of standard ZigBee, adapted for the mobile world. At least in the area, medical and sports sensors, Wibree will compete with ZigBee directly. In general, now is not enough information to predict whether Wibree real breakthrough in the periphery for moblnyh devices, or it is another attempt to grab a piece of cake, do not offer anything fundamentally new in return. All will be decided, when will the final specification.
HP has brought to Russia a new GPS-PDA and PDA
Russian Mission Hewlett Packard formally presented in Moscow two new devices - GPS PDA HP iPAQ rx5000 Travel Companion PDA and HP iPAQ rw6815 Personal Messenger. Both devices are running the operating system Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0. On the navigation PDA iPAQ rx5000 Travel Companion already been written in the digest over the past week, when there was the announcement of its international, so just briefly recall the features and refine the details of it in Russia. HP iPAQ Travel Companion is designed primarily to address navigational problems in the car. The set includes a car holder and power supply. In the built-in flash memory of 1 GB or 2 GB (depending on model) pre-installed navigation software TomTom Navigator 6 and complete set of maps of Western Europe. Also provides a set of maps for Eastern Europe, including Russia (only Moscow and St. Petersburg). Despite the basic GPS-purpose, HP iPAQ Travel Companion is a full-featured Pocket PC. It allows you to work with documents, connect to Wi-Fi networks, listen to music.
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| HP iPAQ rx5000 Travel Companion |
HP iPAQ rw6815 Personal Messenger - this is a communicator with obschirnym range of communication possibilities. His is a built-in Bluetooth 1.2, Wi-Fi (802.11b) and tri-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE (900/1800/1900 MHz). Operating system Windows Mobile 5.0 with Service Pack AKU2.3 supports Direct Push Technology to automatically synchronize your calendar, contacts, tasks and e-mail through the mobile network. The communicator is equipped with an integrated camera HP Photosmart. The touch screen has a diagonal of 2.7 inch, QVGA (240x320 pixels) and supports 65K colors. The work done on the basis of processor Intel XScale PXA272 clocked at 416 MHz, 64 MB RAM and 128 MB ROM. There are card slots for miniSD formats and SDIO.
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| HP iPAQ rw6815 Personal Messenger |
hprurw6815.jpg iPAQ rw6815 is a more simple model compared to other communicators from HP, which are also running the operating system Windows Mobile 5.0 (series hw6900). Communicator is made in a classic form-factor (no QWERTY-keyboard), in addition, it has not received integrated GPS-module has a display of smaller size, but smaller dimensions - mm 102h58h20 against 118h71h18 mm for hw6900. Of course, such a model herself suggested itself in the portfolio. If you take the other manufacturers, there is competition for the rw6815 is already done. In particular, the competition he will be able to make the following model.Communicators, built on the basis of HTC Wizard, for example, Qtek 9100. They generally have similar basic characteristics, but differ in the processor (Texas Instruments OMAP 850 CPU at 200 MHz), and sliding side QWERTY-keyboard. At the expense of the latter, they are more expensive categories of communicators. Qtek s200 - differs mainly processor (also TI OMAP 850), as well as more advanced communication capabilities: Bluetooth 2.0 (with Bluetooth A2DP profile to play stereo music through Bluetooth) compre 1.2, support for four, not three, frequency bands of GSM and WiFi 802.11b / g? And not only 802.11b. E-Ten M600 - different in the processor (Samsung S3C2440 clocked at 400 MHz), and support for four, not three, band network GSM, but this model does not support the standard EDGE. Models E-Ten M600 + is second in the amount of memory (256 MB ROM) and more advanced version of Bluetooth 2.0. The cost model HP iPAQ rw6815 according to unofficial data will be in Russia for about $ 550 - $ 600. According to the model HP iPAQ rx5000 data unavailable. Both models should be on sale in November.
WM-communicator with a numeric keypad on a little-known manufacturer
Company izenMobile not too well known. It was established in 2006 and based in San Diego. This company has developed several mobile devices running Windows Mobile, designed for small and medium businesses, but so far has presented only one model - the communicator izenMobile Krma. He is running Windows Mobile Pocket PC. In this Krma looks like a smartphone, as carried out in a candybar with a numeric keypad. The idea itself is not new - one of the most prominent representatives of this form factor is the ASUS P525.
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| Communicator izenMobile Krma |
It's quite simple by today's standards model. izenMobile Krma equipped with 2.2-inch display, a 2-megapixel camera, FM-tuner, a slot for memory cards miniSD, as well as the interface supports Bluetooth. Can operate in three frequency ranges networks GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz). Integrated support for wireless networking Wi-Fi is not provided. It is worth noting that in appearance resembles a smartphone model Axia A108, however, quite different from it in performance. Products izenMobile intended primarily for the U.S. market. It is expected that other models will be presented before the end of the year. In addition to mobile devices, the company plans to offer a range of services and software. Since the first model of anything special in itself does not present, its future is now quite difficult to predict. Everything will depend on what other models will be presented, and especially one who is actually behind the freshly formed company.
D-Link's debut on the mobile phone market with a dual-mode models of V-CLICK
Mobile phones capable of operating in both cellular networks and networks of Wi-Fi, are increasingly popular among manufacturers. Especially much attention has been given all sorts of solutions that facilitates switching between the two types of networks, both software and hardware. Company D-Link debuted in the field of mobile phones by introducing a series of V-CLICK. Here it should be noted that the wireless phone company has already released, but here are models supporting mobile communications it has not happened.
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| Phone D-Link V-CLICK can operate in GSM and WiFi networks |
Unlike some other dual mode phones, V-CLICK does not offer some sort of complex automated systems, roaming, the company approached the problem of switching between networks is simple - on the unit, a special button «V-CLICK», clicking on that users will activate or deactivate Wi-Fi connection.Unfortunately, details about the characteristics of models, the company reported not so much. Phones in this series can operate in three frequency ranges networks GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz). They are relatively compact - the dimensions are 105.9 x43, 9x19 mm. To view the Internet sites set browser Opera Mobile. However, the displays are not very big - and 2-inch 176x220 pixels, so that the pages will not be too comfortable. Supported encryption WEP, WPA and WPA2. Hours reaches about 5 hours of talk time in GSM, or about 2 hours of Wi-Fi. Storage (documents, pictures, music and video) users will be available for up to 24 MB of memory. What exactly will be different models of this series, the company has not yet reported. Launch of supplies V-CLICK is scheduled for the first quarter of next year. Manufacturer's recommended price is $ 599.99.
Future UMPC - after all, "zilch" or "heaven in a box"?
When in the spring of this year, officially introduced the concept of ultra-mobile PCs, UMPC, it looked very appealing - compact devices that operate on the basis of a full version of Windows for PC (Tablet PC Edition), and even at a price of between $ 500 - $ 800. In reality, it was not so great - the size still is not as compact as you want, the prices were higher than was stated at the time of the original announcement, and most importantly, the operating time on one battery charge was too short. For example, the basic characteristics of one of the UMPC - Samsung Q1V000:
- The touch screen 7-inch with a resolution of WVGA (800x480 pixels)
- Celeron processor clocked at 900 MHz
- 512 MB of DDR2 memory
- HDD 40 GB
- Wireless Network Adapter Intel PRO / Wireless 3945BG, Bluetooth 2.0
- Lithium-ion battery (operating time on a single charge up to 4 hours)
- Operating System Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
- Dimensions - 227.5 h139, 5h24 ,5-26, 5 mm
- Weight - 777 grams
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| Samsung Q1V000 UMPC can be bought in Russia for 36 thousand rubles. |
Cost Samsung Q1V000 in Russian website of Samsung is 36225.1 rub. More compact machine than the traditional UMPC, the company already offers Sony Electronics. Notebooks Sony VAIO UX equipped with 4.5-inch display with a resolution WSVGA (1024x600 pixels). Dimensions they have, accordingly, far fewer - 150h95h32 ,3-38, 1 mm. VAIO UX equipped with QWERTY-keyboard, run on a processor Intel Core Solo, recommended by the manufacturer of the operating system - Windows XP Professional. Meals are also produced by a lithium-ioonnogo battery, which provides from 2,5 to 4,5 hours. However, the main drawback Sony VAIO UX - this is the price. In fact, 2,000 dollars for a younger model will scare many people.
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| Sony VAIO UX - compact and more expensive alternative to UMPC |
At a recent forum IDF Fall 2006, Intel has reported that in the first half of next year will be a platform for UMPC-second-generation devices. As promised to Intel, they will have a much smaller and much less than energopotrebleniem. On vague hints of the company, we can conclude that they will be based on the processor Intel Core Solo ULV. One can only hope that the issue of price, too, will not remain unaffected. The forum was also presented a couple of samples of design. As you can see in the picture, they are more diverse in form factor than is now produced the first generation of UMPC.
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| Second generation UMPC to show IDF Fall 2006 |
The idea of creating a truly portable computers that exceed the computing power of the CCP, is being developed now, not only Intel. For example, the exhibition CEATEC Japan 2006, Fujitsu has demonstrated an interesting concept design for ultra-mobile PCs unpretentious name Ultra Mobile. It combines the functions of a laptop and media player with built-in camera. Size of Ultra Mobile quite small - with the box for the CD, although the thickness of the course more. The housing has an unusual design - turning parts relative to each other, opens the microphone, camera lens is on the back side. The touch screen takes up almost the entire front surface of the device. Management is performed using a stylus and a few buttons. There are also several port USB. Detailed specifications of the concept, unfortunately, are not known.
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| Concept design of ultra-mobile PCs Fujitsu Ultra Mobile |
In general, the direction ultramoblnyh computers now makes its first steps. If last spring device, having the features and price are on sale now UMPC, looked quite fantastic, now already visible shortcomings of the concept and are working on the bugs. Therefore, the angry statements like "A lot of concepts from different companies promise paradise in a box. Often, in fact it turns zilch, or anything bulky, malorabotayuschee, but still expensive, "which appeared on our forum regarding the demonstrated concepts that seem somewhat unjustified. We need only recall the first PDA, and compare them with modern models.
Briefly about other events of the week
The exhibition CEATEC Japan 2006 iNNODISK Taiwanese company has introduced several types of flash drives for mobile and desktop computers. Such drives may be able to replace conventional hard drives. In fact, storage is the controller for flash memory cards. At a special board set or two memory cards standard Compact Flash, or six cards SD, the amount is added, and the system recognizes them as one hard drive. Both controllers are connected via a standard IDE-interface and have a size of 2,5 and 3,5-inch for use in notebook and desktop PCs, respectively.
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| Flash-Drives iNNODISK replace traditional hard disk drives |
Another novelty presented in the Japanese trade show CEATEC, became a pocket voice translator from the company Sharp. The device was developed by specialists Sharp using speech recognition technology from the company IBM, which are already used on a PC. The exhibition was presented a working prototype capable of translating it from Japanese into English and vice versa. It is equipped with a highly sensitive microphone, with which it is recorded in the user's device memory, then the translation is done and you can hear it. On a monochrome display duplicated words and phrases of the original language and translation. Tentatively scheduled to launch new product into production in late 2006 for about $ 500.
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| Voice Translator Sharp |
The company i-mate is going to release for a year about 15 new models of mobile devices based on Windows Mobile. The network began to appear the first information about possible updates. For example, an image and a brief description of a device with enough original appearance. Judging by the picture, the device is made in the clamshell, hidden inside horizontally oriented display and a QWERTY-keyboard. Name of new items not yet known, other information is also quite miserly. It is assumed that the communicator will run the operating system Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone with Service Pack AKU3. It also assumes that it is equipped with two displays, a processor from TI, a slot for memory cards miniSD, and also supports Bluetooth and wireless networking Wi-Fi. Who is the developer of the device, as well as the approximate dates of issue is not reported. Depending on the size and resolution of the display device can be a competitor to the HTC Universal or the model with retractable side of the QWERTY-keyboard. Although, judging by the picture, hardly the size and resolution of the display will be similar to HTC Universal.
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| New i-Mate PDA |
Apple is interested in the CPC. Resource AppleInsider reported that in spring 2006, some private company conducted a study commissioned by Apple. It involved a group of volunteers that offer various options for portable devices that resemble PDAs. Layouts have different dimensions, weight, screen size and style. According to one of the participants in the experiment, mock-ups for the most part looked like a hollow shell with fake screens, which were glued to print screenshots of Safari with the web site Yahoo. After studying the layout, they were asked to complete questionnaires, which should be noted, some form-factor devices and what features they find most interesting. The list is particularly significant, many functions: access to the Internet, read RSS, gain access to the network via a hot spot, the possibilities of mobile phones, as well as playback of movies, music and television. In addition, participants were asked various questions on the topic of value as a device or service that is intended device could support. For different variants of the concepts the price ranged from $ 200 to $ 900. The network has more details about the upcoming company RIM (Research In Motion) new device BlackBerry 8800. While the earlier information about the BlackBerry 8800, but the alleged lack of cameras, was confirmed - a subtlety, a full QWERTY-keyboard, and no reduction in SureType, support for wireless networking Wi-Fi, as well as a slot for memory cards microSD. Here are found the specification: support GSM / EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), QWERTY-keyboard, display with QVGA (320x240 pixels), 1.3-megapixel camera with video recording capability, and 5 times digital zoom, 64 MB ROM, slot for memory cards microSD, Interface Bluetooth 2.0, support for wireless networking Wi-Fi (802.11g), size - 106h60h15, 5 mm. All the data has not yet been confirmed officially. Probably closer to release (spring of next year) RIM announce official details.
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| Communicator BlackBerry 8800 |
Nokia continues to strengthen the musical direction of its portfolio.She released another musical version of the original music is not too smart phone - Nokia 5500 Sport. Special Issue called the Nokia 5500 Sport Music Edition. Filling apparatus has not undergone changes. All innovations relate kit, software and body-colored. The complete music production Nokia 5500 Sport include microSD memory card with 512 MB, a special holder for carrying your phone on your arm or waist, and handlebar mount and sports headset. There were additional software Nokia Music Manager to transfer music from your PC and manage them. Nokia 5500 Sport Music Edition will appear soon in Europe. Recommended price (excluding taxes) on it is 350 euros, about $ 450.
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| Nokia 5500 Sport Music Edition |
The company SoftMaker Software has released a beta version of Office 2006 software for Pocket PC. In fact, this set of office applications, consisting of programs TextMaker and PlanMaker. Module PlanMaker 2006 beta makes working with files directly from Microsoft Excel, without conversion and with full formatting. TextMaker - is a text editor, it is positioned as a solution to a comparable level of functionality with solutions for desktops. At this time Office 2006 is available for testing, which will last till October 31. One of the most popular media player for mobile devices - The Core Pocket Media Player (TCPMP) is close to final release. TCPMP development project lasted for more than two years, he is considered the best and most importantly - a free, player for Pocket PCs, smartphones and communicators based on Windows Mobile and Palm OS. As reported at the site of the developer, the commercial version CorePlayer 1.0 will be released on October 16 this year. While information about it is the most common: to be supported by almost all audio and video formats. The player will be presented in several versions, which will cover the following platforms: Windows XP, Vista, UMPC, CE, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, Palm and Symbian. Probably, the program will no longer be so free, as before, but will be Shareware. The beta version Flexmail 2007 for Windows-smartphones. Company Web Information Solution prepares a new version of the popular e-mail client for mobile devices - Flexmail 2007 Build 1055. It finally adds support for smartphones running the Windows operating system Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone. Also supported by traditional platforms Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC and Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC. Now available only early beta version, for those wishing to test the program. As the developers themselves, is the first version for smart phones, so that from it should not expect too much. DataVIZ revealed details about Documents To Go 9. Company DataViz released details about the new version of the software for devices based on Palm OS - Documents To Go 9. Version 9 has not yet been released, it is only offered in the future as a free bonus to those who buy Documents To Go Premium Edition 8 (or upgrade version) after October 1. Documents To Go - a popular suite of office software that allows you to work with text documents, spreadsheets, presentations and so on. Here are some innovations in the Documents To Go 9: File explorer - fast access to files, technology InTact - editing and sending files via e-mail without losing formatting, advanced Word To Go - view table of contents, viewing and editing footnotes, notes, comments, um. etc.; Advanced Sheet To Go - Support for XY scatter plot preparation and additional editing of cells, advanced Slideshow To Go - editing files PowerPoint; optimized PDF To Go for higher speeds. It is expected that the release of Documents To Go 9 is held until the end of the year. Company SEPT Solutions has released the first version of Mobile Office applications for mobile devices, file viewer in an open format OpenDocument.Now the application can only read documents OpenDocument. Later will be added ability to create and edit files. At the moment the application only supports smartphones running the Symbian operating system based on S60 3rd Edition. Subsequently, a version for smartphones based on S60 2nd Edition, Series80, and UIQ. In the Mobile Office 1.0 supports the following features: Opening text documents (. Odt), spreadsheets (. Ods) and presentations (. Odp); thumbnail view, getting the metadata, including title and keywords, zooming and full screen mode; search; diff. YourCall Palm OS 1.0-is the manager calls and contacts from the company iambic. The program is a tool for managing calls and contacts. Upon completion of the call, depending on whether there is room in your contact list or not, are invited to add it to an existing contact or create a new contact, you can also call back to view contact information, send an SMS or simply withdraw from the dialogue. Use the drop down menu to select one of the proposed further action to the contact, for example, plan a meeting with him to create a task with a link to a contact, a note referring to a contact, send SMS, call, send e-mail. To work YourCall required Palm OS 5.2 or higher, 130 KB of free memory. The company has released a utility Orneta Scissors Mobile for smartphones based on Windows Mobile, which provides advanced editing features to Outlook Mobile. The possibilities for editing documents and text in the box outside (from the Edit menu allows you to copy text, etc.) when you create a message in the contacts when editing contacts, tasks, while creating new problems. That is, you can copy information from one message to another, and between contacts and tasks. In addition, you can migrate data from Outlook Mobile in other applications. The Edit menu offers the following steps: copy, cut, paste, undo and return. The interface is adapted to control with one hand. There are also some other possibilities. In order to select the text and start working with him, you must enable Mark. Scissors Mobile is designed to work with Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone. Toshiba Matsushita introduced a TFT-LCD thickness of less than 1 mm. Last week, LG.Philips LCD has presented the world's slimmest TFT-LCD for mobile phones. The thickness of the module was 1.3 mm. Company Toshiba Matsushita did not give LG.Philips relish to enjoy the laurels and has announced a TFT-LCD 0.99 mm thick. By size and resolution both modules are equal - 2 inch diagonal, 240h230 pixels (QVGA). As well as product LG.Philips, the novelty will be used in ultra-thin mobile phones. As asserted in its announcement of LG.Philips, its development will make the mobile in a candybar thinner than 6.9 mm, and a slider form factor - is thinner than 10 mm. We must assume that the display of Toshiba Matsushita mobile phone manufacturers will be able to slow down even 0.31 mm thickness. Toshiba Matsushita plans to start shipping samples in April next year. Fujitsu demonstrates color flexible display format A5. At CEATEC Japan 2006, Fujitsu introduced a flexible display based on electronic paper with a diagonal of 7.8 inches. Colour display, can display up to 4K colors. At the exhibition shows several applications using this display, in particular, a prototype device for reading electronic books. The gadget has turned out very light - only 177 grams. Mainly a lightness was achieved through the use of plastic substrates in the display, rather than traditional LCD glass. Page updated at the touch of a button. Update time depends on the number of shades of colors. Complex picture is drawn about 4 seconds, while a simple image using 8 colors appear in a second. Thanko FMP3 - Wristwatch with MP3-player and FM-transmitter. Japanese company Thanko known for its unusual gadgets, introduced wristwatch FMP3. In appearance it is the usual sports watches, but there is one feature: they can reproduce and broadcast the music. Simply put, FMP3 integrated MP3-player (which is not too original) and FM-transmitter, which allows you to broadcast music from hours on the radio. To play the music formats supported MP3 and WMA.Watches are fitted with built-in memory from 512 MB to 1 GB. The Russian market of smartphones continues to grow. Estimated analyst firm J `son and Partners, in the first half of 2006, sales of smart phones reached 505 thousand units, or 200 million dollars. It is noted that both indices are higher than for all last year. Sector smartphones continues to grow against the backdrop of slowing down the whole market of cellular phones. The share of smartphone shipments increased more than threefold compared with the figures for the first half of 2005 (accounting for share of 3% and 1% respectively). Estimated J & P, up to the end of 2006 the total sales of smartphones will reach 1.2 million units. J & P defines a smartphone as a multifunctional device that works with the operating systems Symbian (version 6.0 or higher), Windows (versions for handheld devices), Palm OS and Linux. The authors, translation:
K. Nemo