If You Could Only Use One Tech Gadget?

You’d be hard pressed to find a given moment during the hours of 6:00 am to 6:00 pm when there is not some sort of electronic gadget in my hand, on my desk or in my pocket. In this electronic age, we demand our contacts, information and entertainment to be at our fingertips in a moments notice. From the desktop computer at work, to the netbook in our messenger bag, the smart phone in our pockets, the tablet in briefcase and the laptop on the coffee table. Do we really need every single type of technology? What if each of us could only use just one of these gadgets, which would you select? Read on for the personal answer from just another tech obsessed member of the technological age.

Cell Phone

I have to admit, I am better than most. My cellphone is not forever connected to my ear or hand. My family is constantly complaining that I take forever to return text messages and phones calls. It’s not that I don’t want to get back to them right away. I just don’t have my cell phone constantly on my body. I also keep my cell phone on vibrate during the work day, and I neglect to turn the volume up when I’m home. Also, as many who have previous work experience in a Call Center can tell you, I loathe talking on the telephone. Clearly, the cell phone is not going to be my gadget of choice.

PC/Desktop Computer

I sit at a desktop computer for 8 hours a day. While the PC has more memory than other gadgets, I do not enjoy using a Desktop computer outside of my workplace. For one, using a desktop means I have to sit on a usually uncomfortable chair while I read e-mails, research and write. For two, a desktop computer would not be conveniently located in my living room where my husband and children gather in the afternoon and evening; therefore taking away precious time from my family. The odds for the Personal Computer being my favorite gadget aren’t looking so hot either.

Netbook

In my opinion, the most convenient piece of technology that does not feel like a tracking device is the Netbook. The Netbook easily fits into any medium sized purse, bag, suitcase or briefcase. It does all the same stuff as a laptop, only in a smaller, more compact version. Rather than sit at a Desktop Computer, risking back and neck pain from being constantly hunched over, I sit quite relaxed on my sofa with my Netbook on my lap.

The Verdict

If I could only use one type of technology it would be the Netbook. With it’s extraordinary convenience, portability and flexibility; the Netbook gives me the technology I need without cramping my style. If you could only use one gadget, what would you use?

5 Reasons to Consider Prepaid Phones

1) No Commitment. This is a big one for a lot of people. Many cell phone customers get roped into a contract deal and continue on for years because they keep coming back for whatever high-end phone is offered in the latest low cost subsidized phone deal. For instance, with Verizon Wireless, customers may get excited about the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the new iPhone 5, and decide that they want to get the phone at a very discounted rate, and will sign a new contract just for the privilege of using this new phone.

With prepaid phone plans, there is no commitment and no contract so you can leave at any time. But, that being said, you are going to pay more upfront for a brand new phone. This is why it’s a good idea to get a slightly older phone or take advantage of a really good deal. Deals pop up quite often on prepaid plans because they need to compete with all of the other providers out there. This leads me to the second reason to consider prepaid cell phone plans.

2) Great Deals. The beautiful thing about prepaid phone plans is that you can often find really good deals on great phones. For instance, right now you can find pretty good offers on the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3, two of the best selling phones from last year. You might be wondering why you can get a pretty good deal on these phones from prepaid providers. The reason is that they are both about a year old and there are newer versions of the phones coming out, the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4. See how this works? If you are smart about it, you can find a solid deal on a slightly older but brand new smartphone. Now you have your prepaid smartphone, but just how good are prepaid plans? Let’s move on to point three.

3) Unlimited Plans. Most of the prepaid phone companies that offer high end smartphones have unlimited plans. This makes sense because smartphones need a lot of data and texting capabilities. Otherwise, what’s the point? Companies like Boost Mobile (Sprint owned), Virgin Mobile (Sprint owned), Straight Talk Wireless (America Movil owned), and Cricket all have unlimited phone plans that operate with their better quality phones like iPhone 5 (at the moment all of the providers above have the iPhone 5).

4) Great Phone Selection. I touched on this above already, but I’d like to highlight it once more here. Prepaid cell phone companies are now providing really good phones for use on their plans. It hasn’t always been this way. Three years ago, you would not have been that impressed with the smartphone selection most pay as you go companies had in their lineups. They were older phones and just not impressive. You would be more likely to find an older Motorola flip phone a few years out of date rather than anything too desirable. This has changed, and now that you can own an iPhone 5 with out contract, the rules of the game are never going to be the same. More selection-between prepaid companies and contract companies-is a really good thing for people looking for the plan and phone that works best for them.

5) Save Money. You won’t typically save money on the actual phone you use with your prepaid plan unless you’re opting for a lower end phone, in which case you can get a very good deal. For instance, with Boost Mobile, you can get a low end Kyocera smartphone and save a bunch of money. You can get a Tracfone of Cricket flip phone and save bunch of money. It really depends on what kind of phone you want. Even though you may pay full price for your prepaid smartphone, you will probably save money on your prepaid plan. With Virgin Mobile’s iPhone 5, you can pay only $35 per month for 300 anytime minutes and unlimited data. For 1200 minutes, you’re going to pay $45, which is just about equivalent with the unlimited plans you can get from Boost Mobile, Cricket, Straight Talk, and Net10.

Conclusion: Should You Buy a Prepaid Phone?

My answer to this question is that it totally depends on what you’re looking for out of your cell phone. Just like I wouldn’t be able to recommend a minivan or a sedan to someone who I don’t know unless I know what they’re looking for, I can’t tell you with any conviction whether or not you should buy a prepaid phone. What I do know and what I hope you’ve pulled from this article is that there have never been more prepaid options than there are now. One of the reasons people used to NOT buy prepaid phones is that they couldn’t get the new high end phones with this type of plan.

However, that trend is starting to disappear as more and more high end phones like iPhone and HTC One V are being made available with prepaid plans. I would take a look at what you pay for your cell phone bill every month and decide whether or not you could save by switching to a prepaid plan. For instance, if you are paying $80 per month to Verizon to use your iPhone 5, but you rarely pick up the phone to call anyone, you might save money by using the Virgin Mobile unlimited plan with 300 talk time minutes for only $35 per month. Of course, you need to check the coverage of the phone plan to see if it works for you. This is the type of analysis I think will help you make the appropriate decision in regards to your next cell phone purchase.

The Biggest Disappointments from WWDC 2013

Filipina during the A Run for Ilog Pasig | Photograph by © ROMMEL BANGIT | All rights reserved ref 2197

WWDC 2013 has come and gone, and with it, we have news on Apple’s latest new products, such as OS X Mavericks, iOS 7, the new Mac Pro, and the latest iteration of the MacBook Air. However, there were quite a few announcements many people were hoping would be made that were not, and several new product updates that never happened.

In this article, I will list the biggest disappointments from this year’s World Wide Developer’s Conference.

No new MacBook Pro Arguably, the biggest disappointment this year was the lack of a new MacBook Pro. With Intel’s new Haswell CPUs having been released, it was all but expected that Apple would announce new MacBook Pros to take advantage of the new technology.

While Apple did release new MacBook Airs that take advantage of the Haswell architecture to significantly improve the Air’s battery life, it would have been nice to see a new MacBook Pro with better battery life and graphics as well.

No iMac update Similar to the lack of an update to the MacBook Pro, the iMac didn’t receive any love at this year’s WWDC either. Again, it would have been nice to see a new iMac that took advantage of Intel’s Haswell processors, along with a new graphics card in the form of Nvidia’s GeForce 780M.

While there is still a chance that Apple may silently update the iMac sometime this year, it would have created a lot more buzz had they showed it off at WWDC 2013 along with the latest version of OS X.

The name ‘Mavericks’ A complaint I have seen numerous times on various Apple forums is that the name ‘Mavericks’ is either “too silly” or that it doesn’t fit well with OS X and Apple.

For those that do not know, Mavericks is the name of a famous surfing spot in northern California. Apple chose this name because of the surfing spot being located near Apple’s headquarters and that they believe the name embodies the company’s attitude.

While Apple presents a good argument for why they choose the name Mavericks for the latest version of OS X, many of their fans disagree and would have preferred to see “Sea Lion” instead, or for Apple to continue with the theme of naming each version after a big cat such as Mountain Lion and Snow Leopard.

The new Mac Pro design At WWDC this year, Apple announced a brand new version of the Mac Pro, including a completely new design, much to the dismay of many current Mac Pro users.

The idea behind the new design was to provide a powerful desktop Mac like traditional Mac Pros, but in a slim, compact design akin more to a Mac Mini. The new Mac Pro design is small, cylindrical, and black. Many have begun referring to it as a “trash can” design.

The biggest complaints about the new design come from current Mac Pro users who fear that the new design will limit upgradability and expandability, which the Mac Pro is typically known for. Apple has previously said that users will be able to expand the new Mac Pro using external means, such as external hard drives, however many users still complain as they do not wish to have several external devices cluttering their desks.

Conclusion While many of the complaints are warranted, it’s safe to assume that Apple knows what they’re doing. They are widely known as one of the biggest risk-taking companies in the business and so far, it has almost always paid off for them, so there is little reason to think it won’t this time as well.

As for the disappointments of not seeing a new MacBook Pro or iMac at WWDC: there are still rumors that Apple will update both very soon. However, it still would have been nice to see them show off the new tech at WWDC instead of having a silent update.

The ‘sell My iPhone’ Question-Good or Bad Idea?

Today, technology develops at a fast pace. New devices and gadgets appear all the time and even though in appearance they might have certain similarities, enthusiasts know that the improvements performed do make the difference. At least, this would explain the incredible popularity of the so called ‘sell my iPhone’ companies. Before discussing whether or not a company of this kind can be of help, it must be specified that these firms are part of the recycling market. This means that instead of throwing away your broken smartphones, you could send the devices to such a company which will either find a new home for it or responsibly dispose it to protect the environment. In return, the client may receive a set amount of money for his or her phone. So if you ask where I can ‘sell my phone for cash’ you should look for cell phone recycling companies which offer two benefits when disposing your cell phone responsibly.

No doubt that technology is a fun and entertaining industry, especially if the topic of interest is the smartphone. At the same time, newly released devices are expensive, sometimes beyond consumers financial capabilities. The fact that you could receive money for a device that you no longer use is any enthusiast’s dream. This gives the consumer greater ability to purchase the new model. ‘Sell my iPhone’ companies are interested in buying older smartphone models. For instance, if you own an iPhone 4 and you would like to purchase the iPhone 5, then you could utilize a recycling company and get a fair price for your phone. Keep in mind that even if the device doesn’t function properly, you could still receive money. So, from a financial point of view, the idea of selling your phone to such a firm is a good one. Most people are unaware of the fact that phone recycling companies use the parts that work to repair other phones, which are later on sold. Basically, it’s a win-win situation for all the parts involved. Everyone benefits.

There is only one catch in this entire practice. Interested clients have to be very careful which company they choose to sell their device to. Just like in any other industry, less professional recycling firms do exist, which could make the seller lose their money or phone. Considering how much reputable companies are paying for some devices you could be losing if choose the wrong company. However this is nothing some research can’t fix. Before you decide on who to sell your iphone to, be sure to carefully assess your options. Only after doing so, should you decide in favor of a particular ‘sell my iPhone for cash’ company! Read some reviews from former clients or even visit a forum. This is how you can gather topic related information. Other than that, it can be safely said that collaborating with a reputable recycling company is an advantageous decision. One that could bring you financial gains and get you closer to the gadget you desire! Therefore, if you have an old phone somewhere in collecting dust, try selling it and see how much money you could make!

LG Becomes Top Brand Losing Trade in Value for the First Time in Months, According to 40 Sources Listed on CompareMyMobile.com

Christchurch, Bournemouth (PRWEB UK) 10 July 2013

See full hi-res data infographics here.

  • LG loses 28% in value across all devices
  • Apple Mac and Macbook devices drop 12.83% in value
  • Samsung continue to eat into Apple’s gadget trade-in market share
  • Games consoles plummet in value following increase surrounding new console announcements

Motorola have been knocked off the top spot as the brand losing value most quickly, according to fresh data from leading mobile phone recycling comparison site CompareMyMobile.com. LG saw a huge 28% dive in value across all devices to become the number one depreciating brand for the first time in months. The depreciation of Nokia devices has also seen an increase of 4.25%, climbing to 13.39% to almost knock Motorola off the number two spot.

There have also been huge changes in the list of top depreciating categories, according to site data, as Apple’s Mac and Macbook devices plummeted by 12.83% in value. This places them as the top category losing value most quickly with a total 20.48% drop. Laptops closely follow in second, losing 18.93% in value, while the phones category seem to be holding value well in comparison. Games consoles have plummeted back down, losing 18.54% in value, following an increase due to announcements of new game consoles like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Co-founder of CompareMyMobile.com, Ashley Turner says, “The decrease in value offered for the consoles was expected following the 18.79% increase back in May 2013. We were pleased to see that we offered the best trade in value compared to Game and CEX on 3 of the top 5 consoles.”

Samsung is continuing to climb in terms of trade-in market share – now holding 17.8% of the gadget trade in market. It’s eating into Apple’s share, which is now just 38.4%, down from 40.4% in June, according to CompareMyMobile data. This brings Samsung ever closer to overtaking BlackBerry to become the second top traded brand on the site – BlackBerry currently hold 18.6% of the trade-in market.

Phones continue to dominate the gadget trade-in market, with the mobile trade-in share increasing by 1.2% to hold 84.72%. The top traded phone continues to be Apple’s iPhone 4 16GB, a trend that the site expect to continue as strong rumours circulate about the iPhone 5S autumn release. Samsung’s Galaxy S2 i9100 and Galaxy S3 are the second and fourth most traded in devices respectively, following the release of the flagship Galaxy S4.

Interestingly, the Galaxy S4 is the seventh most traded-in Android device though, despite only being released a few months ago. The iPhone 5 was also in the list of top traded devices within months of its release, suggesting some disappointment with the device. This could also be suggested of the Galaxy S4 – issues with storage were widely reported.

However, the sales of these devices were huge – it was recently announced that Samsung Galaxy S4 shipments reached 20 million within a couple of months, as Apple’s iPhone 5 reached this number within just 25 days. CompareMyMobile would expect to see higher trade-ins of devices that sold in this large a volume. The site predicts that Samsung will continue to grow in terms of trade-in market share, with Apple biting back on the release of the much-awaited iPhone 5S.

About CompareMyMobile

Founded in 2009, CompareMyMobile.com is the UK’s #1 source for independent mobile phone, tablet, sat nav, laptop, iPad, iPod and games console recycling price comparison. It delivers customers confidence in making the difficult decision of where to recycle their old phone safely and for the most money. CompareMyMobile.com is 100% impartial, comparing prices from more than 40 recycling stores.

Please visit our website and press page for more details.

Tips and Tricks for the IPhone 5

These are some tips and tricks that enable you to use your iPhone to the fullest extent possible and possibly treasurer is even more.

Emoji’s Emoji’s are the emoticons that you can place into your texts. The iPhone 5 has them built in, but you have to select them first. By going into your settings and then under general, there is button for Keyboard. Select that. Then tap on “Add New Keyboard…” and scroll down to Emoji. By selecting that, you now have emoji’s on your keyboard when texting by selecting the globe icon.

Tracking your Runs If you like to listen to music while you run, why not keep track of it as well! In the App Store, search “Nike+ Running.” This app uses your GPS and accelerometer on your iPhone to keep track of your workouts. You can sync it up with Facebook to compete and show off to your friends.

Quick Pictures Trick Taking pictures to capture a moment is now easier than ever. When on the locked screen, flick up the camera icon that is next to the “slide to unlock” bar. It gives you access to the camera to take photos and videos. However, you can’t see the rest of your photos from there. You have to log in first.

Picture Clicker When taking pictures or filming a movie, you can actually activate the shutter by clicking the volume keys on the side. The up volume and down volume both work and is a useful tool for steady one-handed photos.

Pandora Pandora radio is available on your iPhone 5 as well. You have access to all the same stations and you may listen to them anywhere you go.

Double tap the home key If you double tap the home key while the phone is locked out, buttons for the music show. You may hit next, play/pause, back, or adjust the volume. It also shows the title of what is playing. This works for Pandora as well.

Shazam Shazam is a free app you may download from the App Store where it can identify any song you come across on TV or the radio. It also keeps track of the songs, or “tags” them, so you can refer back to the song later.

Vibrate Mode and Silent Mode To activate vibrate mode, go into “Sounds” under “Settings.” Under the Vibrate heading, select “Vibrate on Silent” so it is “on.” Under this setting, when the bar on the slide is showing red, the phone will vibrate when getting called or being notified. When the bar is not showing red, the phone is on ring. For silent mode, select “Vibrate on Silent” to be “off.” The phone will not vibrate or ring while the bar on the side is showing red. The screen should still light up though.

Battery Life Saver The two biggest wasters of battery life, is the vibration when you get an email and the screen being on while you are not using it. To change these settings, go to “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” in Settings. Change the Fetch selection to less infrequent such as “Manually.” This will allow you to only be notified of new mail once you open the mail app and refresh it. To change how long your screen will be on until it locks out and turns black, select “General” under Settings. Select Auto-Lock and decrease the time. The optimal setting is 1 minute.

iBooks This app, made by Apple, allows you to sync up the books you may have purchased on iTunes to your phone. You can now read your eBooks anywhere. You can also change it from a white background and black text to a black background and white text so it is easier for your eyes if reading in bed.

These were just a few tips and tricks you can do to increase the usefulness of your iPhone.

From Android to iPhone 4S

I never thought after I got my first Motorola Droid that I would ever use anything but an Android phone. I had played around with the iPhone 3 before, and I was impressed. But as a Google user, I didn’t see much that would sway me to buy one. I fell in love with the Droid from the moment I got it. Yes, there were some operating glitches here and there to start out with, which I expected, but it was a great overall experience. The abundance of free applications, ease of integration of all the tools that I use constantly and the smooth touch screen had me using this phone all the time. Then, after two years of faithful service to me, it died. I was dismayed because I really loved the phone and everything I could do with it. I felt completely lost without it. However, about a month of being without my Droid, I tuned into the Apple product announcement for the iPhone 4s and became very intrigued by the idea of actually owning an iPhone. In the interim of my upgrades, I was using a BlackBerry Storm. I loathed it, every single bit of it, and I would take anything to get a better phone. The iPhone 4s was appealing for not only the new Siri application but also the 8MP camera and ease of use. I’ve always known that Apple products were superior, but I wouldn’t find out exactly how much until I actually got the phone. So I took the chance and pre-ordered the iPhone 4s.

When my iPhone 4s came, I was ecstatic, mostly because I could chuck the useless BlackBerry I was using out the window and actually have a real phone. From the moment I took the iPhone 4s out of the box, the amazing abilities of this phone were apparent. The phone was exceedingly simple to set up and activate on the Verizon network, and I instantly fell in love with how smooth everything went. I created an iCloud account, set up my email, set up iTunes, imported my contacts and then set up my personal preferences in fewer than 20 minutes. It was ridiculously easy, so easy in fact that I was waiting for something to go wrong. When I originally received my Droid, it took me an hour to set up everything and so the iPhone 4s was a breeze in comparison.

The two major aspects of the iPhone 4s that make it superior to any Android phone are iCloud and Siri. The iCloud allows you to back up documents, photos, music and so much more. While the Android does the same with Google, it isn’t swiftly done or integrated into the system. The iCloud is an automatic backup of your media and stores it securely. It’s a great asset to users like me who do a great deal of work on their phone. But let’s not forget about Siri. She’s definitely the best assistant you will ever have. Simply by pressing the home button and speaking to your iPhone 4s, you can have Siri do things instantly and easily. I can tell Siri to text my husband “I love you,” and since I’ve identified my spouse to her before, she automatically sends him that text. I can even ask her to remind me to pick up toothpaste at the Walmart near where I live and when I reach that location, I will receive a reminder to pick up toothpaste. Pretty cool eh? Now, it should be mentioned here that all the bugs are not worked out with either the iCloud and Siri. Siri was unable to connect, and I had to manually disable and then enable it before it would work properly again. Siri also relies on the network heavily, and when it’s overloaded it can be a bit annoying. However, even with the glitches these aspects blow any Android phone out of the water.

In addition, the iPhone 4s has a crystal clear screen with an automatic brightness that adjusts to your environment. Even after a few demonstrations of the newer Android phones, I haven’t found a display that is quite as crisp and clear as the iPhone 4s. The user interface is smoother, and, unlike my Android phone, I have never had to forcefully quit an application because it stopped working. That, in itself, is enough reason for me never to switch back to an Android phone. I never thought I would ever say that I’ve converted to Apple, but with the iPhone 4s’ superiority to any Android phone that I’ve used, I have to admit I’m impressed and will probably use an iPhone and its successors for the rest of the time I have a phone. If you are wondering whether or not making the switch is for you, let me assure you that you will not be disappointed.

Even More Handy Iphone Tricks And Applications To Have

Here are some more great tips and applications people have discovered for their IPhones:

Whether it be changing the appearance of your icons on your iPhone, or changing the way you can type an e-mail to a person, there are tons of simple tricks that can make using your iPhone even easier.

Double Tapping, Multiple Meaning

Double-tapping the phone can allow you do many different things with your phone. It all depends on what you’re doing when you double-tap. If you’re viewing pictures, it can magnify them, making them larger and more easily seen.

Usually, double-tapping the screen means you want to increase the size of what you’re viewing. This will also mean that if you’re watching a video. it will go to full-screen size when you double-tap it, to make viewing easier.

Apollo

Apollo is an application that can help you stay in contact with your friends and family more frequently. It’s the original messaging program that was designed specifically for the iPhone. It’s compatible with AOL, MSN, ICQ and other familiar messaging services that are around now. Having this application on your phone can save a lot in text and other charges that you may incur. It’s definitely a thought for you to consider.

There are a ton of applications that a person can download to their iPhone. Look into what the iPhone website has to offer and see what catches your eye. You’ll be amazed at the options that are there to choose from.

Find out more

If you’re unsure of what some of these applications and tricks are for, then surf the internet. You’ll find a large amount of information that can prove to be very helpful for you when it comes to getting the most out of your iPhone. There are tons of comments and suggestions that have been contributed to websites in an effort to help others with using their iPhones.

How to Find Your Way Using iPhone GPS

Many newer cars come equipped with Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and there are other GPS options available for installation in cars that don’t already have one. But — what about the people who rarely drive? Or people who don’t have room in their cars for bulky GPS add-ons? For those people with an iPhone, there’s a built-in GPS application, called Maps.

Using this iPhone application, you can find a location on the map, use a compass to determine your location, or get turn-by-turn directions to where you need to go. If you’d rather not follow turn-by-turn directions, you can also see a map with a highlighted route, and follow that route.

With this great GPS application, you’ll never have to worry about getting lost again. You can easily share your location with others, find an alternate route if you’re stuck in traffic, or get directions to another location on the fly. Gone are the days of following a friend from one location to another. Instead, you can use your iPhone and meet him or her there.

Many times, when you’re driving somewhere new and following the directions of someone else, you’ll run into a closed road or new construction you have to avoid. In situations such as these, it’s easy to get lost or wander around with your fingers crossed, hoping to find your way again. With the iPhone GPS, you can quickly find your location on a map, and get a new set of directions — or just look at the map and plot your own. If you’re adventurous and want to try your own way, you can use your compass to ensure you’re always heading the right direction.

The Maps application is the new wave of GPS technology. You’ll never have to worry that you might get lost if you’re driving with someone else, because you don’t have your GPS to rely on. From now on, you’ll have GPS on your iPhone, and you can easily find what you need at a moment’s notice.

The GPS application is a great way to ensure that you always know where you are, where you are going, and that you can always find an alternate route to have a plan B. With so many useful iPhone applications, it can be tough to decide which are the most relevant and important to have. Luckily, the choice to use the GPS application is an easy one. Once you begin using it, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.

Sony and HTC Smartphone Sales Show Signs of a Rebound in May While ZTE Struggles

Hong Kong and London, UK (PRWEB) July 03, 2013

Counterpoint Technology Market Research (Counterpoint Research hereafter), announced its May global smartphone report which shows the market getting competitive as Sony and HTC rebound while ZTE falls behind. The report analyzes sales data gathered from 26 countries globally.

The smartphone market has cooled down a bit in April and May, mostly due to the slowdown of sales in developed markets like Europe and Japan. However, shipments from vendors have increased, forewarning potential inventory problems in the market. Samsung continues to lead with Apple trailing behind, but there have been some changes within the other brands following the Big 2.

LG maintains its lead over Huawei holding third place but Sony has surpassed ZTE, jumping to 5th place, with HTC also surpassing Lenovo during May. Sony’s Xperia Z has proven to be a global hit, as it now sells 1 million units a month. It has helped propel Sony to the No. 1 spot in the Japan for the first time. Sony beat both Apple and Sharp by a whisker in the Japanese mobile handset market.

HTC has been successful in Europe, as the new HTC One gains traction. This is despite Samsung’s onslaught of marketing for the Galaxy S 4. We expect more growth from HTC in the coming months as the roll out of the HTC One gathers pace.

Major Chinese brands like ZTE and Lenovo showed weakness as their sales in China slumped due to heavy competition from local brands like Coolpad, Hisense, TCL and Skyworth. Prospects for overseas sales also look challenging as Samsung is launching an array of smartphones targeted at the sweet spot of these major Chinese brands.

June sales look better in total volume, though the Premium segment continues to contract for the 4th consecutive month.

Counterpoint Research Director Peter Richardson comments, "This will probably hurt the profitability of the smartphone market in the second quarter of 2013. iPhone sales and Galaxy S4 sales will be the most impacted during this period of low spend on Premium smartphones."

The iPhone 5 remained to be the bestselling smartphone in May. It sold more than 8 million units in May alone.

Nokia’s Asha line shows weakness as most of its models fall out of the list of top 10 global hit models in the month of May save the Asha 311.

Blackberry Z10 sell through is 1 million units a month now but Q10 sales are still slow causing Blackberry market share to erode.

Figure 1. Top 5 Global smartphone brands in May 2013

1. Samsung

2. Apple

3. LG

4. Huawei

5. Sony

(Source: Counterpoint Research May 2013)

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in Technology products in the TMT industry. It services major technology firms and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analysis of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are experts in the industry with an average tenure of 13 years in the high tech industry.

For press inquiries please contact info(at)counterpointresearch(dot)com

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