Daily News Courier

Samsung Galaxy S3 ‘most recommended’ smartphone in UK

Samsung's Android smartphones are most recommended by UK retailers, according to new market research, with the Galaxy S3 being the most recommended handset. According to research carried out by Informa Telecoms and Media, which carried out the survey in leading high-street and carrier stores, sales assistants were more likely to recommend Samsung handsets than competing phones from Apple, HTC, Nokia or others.

At the other end of the scale, Android rivals like ZTE, Motorola, LG, Huawei had next to no in-store presence in the UK, Informa found.

According to UK newspaper The Telegraph, Infroma considers it "likely that sales assistants see the Samsung devices as a safe bet to earn greater commissions."

"The mystery shop showed that the most recommended Samsung handsets were the Galaxy SIII and the Galaxy Note II, despite having been on the market longer than the latest handsets from Apple, Nokia and HTC," said Julian Jest of Informa.

"However, most surprising was the way that, despite an in-store advertising campaign and recent product launch, Apple was recommended in only two stores, 3 and Phones 4 U, with both recommending the iPhone 5."

The Galaxy S3 was the most successful Android phone of 2012, even outselling Apple's iPhone in certain quarters. Sales of the device recently topped 30 million worldwide, as total Galaxy S line shipments reached 100 million.

Source: The Telegraph; via: iMore

Why I’m Not Going Back to My iPhone

For now, at least, my dumb phone experiment has reached a strange equilibrium.

In early December, I lost my iPhone at a McDonald’s. I decided to do something a little crazy: not replace it (see “I’m Going Back to my ‘Dumb Phone’: Should You?”). I found there were certain joys of not being constantly connected (see “My Dumb Phone Experiment: Week One”); however, in some ways, the connected lifestyle was inescapable (see “My Dumb Phone Experiment: Week Two”). One thing was always sure, though: this experiment was only meant to last a month, tops. The only question was whether I would fall off the wagon sooner than the January 10 endpoint I was hoping to reach.

I’m Not Going Back to My iPhone

For now, at least, my dumb phone experiment has reached a strange equilibrium.

In early December, I lost my iPhone at a McDonald’s. I decided to do something a little crazy: not replace it (see “I’m Going Back to my ‘Dumb Phone’: Should You?”). I found there were certain joys of not being constantly connected (see “My Dumb Phone Experiment: Week One”); however, in some ways, the connected lifestyle was inescapable (see “My Dumb Phone Experiment: Week Two”). One thing was always sure, though: this experiment was only meant to last a month, tops. The only question was whether I would fall off the wagon sooner than the January 10 endpoint I was hoping to reach.

I’m Not Going Back to My iPhone

For now, at least, my dumb phone experiment has reached a strange equilibrium.

In early December, I lost my iPhone at a McDonald’s. I decided to do something a little crazy: not replace it (see “I’m Going Back to my ‘Dumb Phone’: Should You?”). I found there were certain joys of not being constantly connected (see “My Dumb Phone Experiment: Week One”); however, in some ways, the connected lifestyle was inescapable (see “My Dumb Phone Experiment: Week Two”). One thing was always sure, though: this experiment was only meant to last a month, tops. The only question was whether I would fall off the wagon sooner than the January 10 endpoint I was hoping to reach.

iPhone continues to dominate AT&T; the rest is Android?

AT&T has just posted its Q4 2012 earnings, showing strong growth in both wireless and wireline businesses. We'll be focusing here on the wireless business, naturally, so let's get right into the notable points:

Some 10.2 million smartphones were activated in the final three months of the year, the carrier said. Of that, 8.6 million were iPhones. AT&T didn't break down how much of the remaining 16 percent of sales were Android phones, but it did mention that our fare platform had its best-ever quarter. 

More of the financial stuff is after the break.

read more

LG Optimus G: One million units sold, heads to Europe and China in Q1

We have some solid news coming out of LG camp earlier today — the manufacturer managed to sell one million units of its flagship LG Optimus G Android smartphone.  With availability of the Optimus G in the United States, Korea, Canada, and Japan, one million units sold is a great feat for the company.  Unfortunately, the Optimus G is having a hard time eating away sales from the Galaxy S III and iPhone, but it has otherwise been a successful launch.

In other news, the Optimus G is expected to launch in a couple of other major markets in the next couple of weeks.  Specifically, the Optimus G will launch in Europe and China, which are two major markets and will allow the Optimus G gain exposure to many other customers.

The sales report and new market announcements comes amid a rumor circulating that LG is preparing an Optimus G Pro smartphone.  I wouldn’t be surprised if sales slowed for the Optimus G in order to see if the Optimus G Pro pans out.  Again, we’re looking for LG to make quite a splash at MWC 2013.

[AndroidCentral]

Related Stories

• LG Optimus G Pro leaks in media slide, offers 5 inch display 1080p resolution
• LG France discusses Nexus 4 production, claims it is not 100% at fault for lack of supply
• T-Mobile expects to sell Nexus 4 once again online on Jan. 23

Watch Out for the Startup Using Tiny Antennas to Show the Oscars on an iPhone

It might not survive legal challenges, but Aereo could force broadcasters into moving quicker to offer their shows online.

Over the last few years, big broadcast networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS have only slowly started to air their regular shows and big events online. A startup called Aereo has a brash plan to profit from that by making it possible for its customers to watch live broadcast programming on their computers, phones, and tablets. If it survives legal challenges, it could encourage more people to cancel their cable or satellite TV subscriptions.

Incoming Call: Facebook

Could the social network ever become something like a carrier?

Facebook has begun rolling out a new feature that lets iPhone users place free calls. Users of the Messenger for iPhone app have long been able to send messages among themselves; following a successful test in Canada of a free calling feature for that app, Facebook is now offering U.S. users the same possibility. Calls can be made over Wi-Fi or on cellular data. The Verge appears to have reported on it first.

Monday Brief: Our Post-CES Favorites

Samsung ships 100 million Galaxy S devices worldwide

Galaxy S2, S3 shipments stand at 40 million each

Samsung has announced that its Galaxy S line of Android phones has shifted a total of 100 million units “on the supply side” to date. Meanwhile, the manufacturer’s leading Galaxy S3 smartphone has reportedly moved some 40 million units.

Samsung broke the news through a Flickr post, in which it also revealed that the Galaxy S3 is currently selling at a rate of around 190,000 per day.  The S3’s predecessor, the Galaxy S2, also accounts for some 40 million of those units shipped, the company says. (Our last update on Galaxy S3 sales came in early November, when Samsung had moved 30 million units.)

The history of the series stretches back just over two and a half years, to the launch of the original Galaxy S in May 2010. Since then, Samsung has gone on to dominate the Android market, and in many countries its devices account for the majority of smartphone sales.

Desirable specs, broad international availability and aggressive marketing have seen the Galaxy S3 emerge as one of the biggest-selling handsets of the year, going toe-to-toe with Apple’s iPhone 5 in recent months.

As we move further into 2013, all eyes will be on the eventual successor to the Galaxy S3, though at present Samsung remains tight-lipped about any possible Galaxy S4 device.

Source: Flickr