App Store feature categories give mixed fortunes — Distimo
Having apps ‘featured’ in the App Store could be hugely beneficial for downloads and revenue but …
GSMA calls for baseline standard for app privacy
Key stakeholders in the mobile apps industry need to agree on “baseline standards” to ensure customers can know their privacy is being protected, Pat Walshe, director of Privacy at the GSMA, told Mobile Apps Briefing.
Google poaches apps guru from GetJar
Google has made a major hire in the apps space, poaching GetJar’s Patrick Mork (pictured) to become its new Marketing Director for Mobile Applications. Mork has been GetJar’s Chief Marketing Officer for three years and is a high profile figure in the industry. Mork’s new role is likely to ratchet up the war of words between Google and Apple regarding their respective apps strategies.
Writedowns push TI into the red in H1
Telecom Italia published its results for the first six months of 2011, which saw it reporting a loss at the bottom line due to a goodwill writedown in its home market. In a statement, Franco Bernabe (pictured), chairman and CEO, noted that 34 percent of the company’s revenue during the period came from its Brazilian and Argentinean operations.
DeNA launches Mobage in China, English-speaking markets
DeNA announced the long-anticipated international rollout of its Mobage social gaming network, with launches in China and for “English-speaking countries around the world.”
Clearwire confirms LTE rollout plans, as losses grow
US wholesale operator Clearwire confirmed that it intends deploying LTE technology alongside its existing WiMAX deployments, but noted that this rollout will be “subject to additional funding.” The company made its strategy announcement in line with its second quarter 2011 results, which saw it report a net loss of US$168.74 million.
Telefonica opened its BlueVia developer platform in Germany, stating that “software companies in Germany can register as a developer for BlueVia and O2 customers can download the first BlueVia apps on their smartphones.”
RIM claims largest global BlackBerry launch
RIM announced what it described as its “largest global launch ever,” with five new handsets set to be released based on BlackBerry 7 OS from later this month. The company said that “more than 225 carriers and distribution partners” have either started or completed certification tests for the range, indicating it is expecting a broad early availability of the new handsets.
Apple lawsuit sees Samsung pull Galaxy Tab from Australia
Samsung has agreed to suspend sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in Australia until its patents lawsuit with Apple in the country is resolved. Bloomberg reports that Apple’s lawyers sought an Australian injunction preventing Samsung from selling the device in the country – and hinted that it may attempt similar action in other markets too.
US planning patent probe, as Google strengthens hand
The Wall Street Journal reported that the US Justice Department is “intensifying” an investigation into whether companies including Apple, Microsoft and RIM could use the patent portfolio they recently acquired from Nortel Networks to “unfairly hobble competing smartphones using Google’s Android software,” as it was separately reported that Google had strengthened its own patent armoury with an acquisition of intellectual property from IBM.
