Samsung Android Phone Coming In Q2 2009: in response to pressure from wireless carriers Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile, Samsung has added 30 new Linux and Java developers to its team in order to have an Android phone shipping to North America in the second quarter of 2009. Specifications haven’t been released, but it’s expected to have a touchscreen and 3G connectivity on Sprint’s EVDO Rev. A network and T-Mobile’s HSPA.
Trimble Acquires KOREC: GPS solution provider Trimble has acquired privately held United Kingdom distributor KOREC for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition nets Trimble KOREC’s FastMap software suite used for field-based geographical information system data collection, and GeoSite, a data management software solution for surveyors. Trimble says the acquisition will help expand its reach into Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Android Gets A ‘Cupcake’ Development Branch: an outgrowth of Android’s main roadmap, ‘cupcake’ offers a ton of bug fixes and application enhancements. Built on the updated Linux 2.6.27, ‘cupcake’ offers x86 support and will allow handset manufacturers to embed their own API’s. System enhancements include enhanced Bluetooth support and HTTP handling, as well as a new JavaScript engine. Application enhancements aside from a variety of bug fixes include a video recorder and the option to save MMS attachments. ‘Cupcake’ is a development branch currently but will likely merge with Android’s main roadmap in mid-January 2009.
Palm’s Poor Q2: Palm’s Q2 earnings call yesterday confirmed that the handset manufacturer better roll out a new operating system at the very least, early next year. For the period ending November 28, Palm’s revenues sat at $191.6 million–at the lower end of its December 1 warning that earnings would be lower than expected. At that time the company estimated Q2 earnings to be between $190 million and $195 million. It’s a sharp decline from Q1 revenues of $366.9 million. The net loss for the second quarter totaled $508.6 million prompting the company to say it’ll work to cut next quarter’s expenses by $20 million.
Research In Motion In Line With Revised Expectations: like Palm, Research in Motion (RIM) also cut its earnings forecast on December 2 and its Q3 earnings announcement yesterday fell in line with the revision. Revenue for the 3rd quarter of fiscal year 2009 came in at $2.78 billion, up 7.9 percent from last quarter and a huge 66.3 percent from the same quarter last year. The company also net 2.6 million new Blackberry subscribers due to Blackberry’s Bold and Storm appealing to mainstream consumers. While Q3 revenues were a record for RIM, substantial expenses resulted from product development and a push into the mainstream market, leaving the company with a net income of $396.3 million.
Loopt Launches In Beta On AT&T: Loopt has always been available on the iPhone, but not so on other AT&T phones. Finally, the location-based social networking company has rolled out Loopt in beta on the AT&T network. Because it’s a beta launch, Loopt will only be available on three phones: Motorola’s V9x and z9n, and Nokia’s 6650. And of course the iPhone.
Huawei Android Handset Coming In Q3 2009: Huawei Technologies, a new member of the Open Handset Alliance, has said that its first Android phone will be available to wireless providers in Q3 2009–later than the Q2 date the company announced in November. While it’s expected the Huawei handset will be initially released in Australia, the manufacturer said other nations are by no means excluded from acquiring its Android phone. Other Android phones we’ve seen recently–other than T-Mobile’s G1–include Kogan Technologies’ Agora which will be released January 29, 2009 and Lenovo’s Ophone.
Tele Atlas Hits Africa And The Middle East: mapping provider Tele Atlas has partnered with Morocco’s geo-tech company CADTECH to provide the first complete digital maps of the North African country. Street-level coverage is provided for major Moroccon cities but less detailed coverage is included for the road and highway networks. Portable navigation device manufacturer NDrive recently launched the G280 PND in Morocco with Tele Atlas maps enabling user-friendly navigation in the country for the first time. The G280 will likely be available in other North African countries in the future. In other Tele Atlas news, the company has paired up with consumer electronics company Hügel GmbH to release the Power2Point personal navigation device in Dubai. Further releases are likely for other Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the Middle East. Huge economic growth in the area has caused new road networks to pop up everywhere, enabling the two companies to snatch a huge market opportunity.