HTC loses to Nokia in Germany, must stop selling Android devices

Nokia has won an injunction to halt the sale of all HTC Android devices in Germany. The issue surrounds a Nokia-held patent which relates to peer-to-peer sharing via NFC or Bluetooth. The two companies have been tussling for some time, with HTC obtaining stays to allow the sales of their devices to continue elsewhere, but there will be no help this time around.

While we don’t know the specifics of the patent, Google has stepped in to try and have the patent invalidated. Whether or not that can be accomplished remains to be seen, but any success Google might have wouldn’t be helpful at this time. There is no quick reprieve that could come before the sales ban takes effect.

The patent is also believed to affect other Android OEMs, and perhaps even the Android platform itself. Nokia has apparently decided to go after OEMs rather than take the fight straight to Google in this matter, and it seems to be a race against time. As Nokia gains traction, and Google tries to have the patent invalidated (probably on the grounds that it’s commonly used tech), device manufacturers like HTC are the losers.

HTC is notably on a downward trend, also. As their business slumps and executives leave, HTC simply can’t afford (maybe literally) to lose sales. HTC is — of course — expected to appeal the decision, but they may have to end up removing or disabling features in their handsets to continue selling them in Germany, and perhaps elsewhere.




SOURCE: Android Community

[Continue reading...]

Zuckerberg introduces Internet.org partnership, wants to connect the world

Facebook‘s founder Mark Zuckerberg has introduced Internet.org, a partnership that spans the globe with a goal of connecting the entire world to the Internet. The collective encompasses many big name members, among them being Samsung, Nokia, and Opera, all of whom will work together to connect the two-thirds of the world that don’t have access to the Internet.

Presently, a tad over a third of the world’s population is connected the Internet, a number that comes in at 2.7 billion. That leaves another two-thirds without connection, with the reasons for this varying based on location and such. The rate of Internet adoption is said to be less than 9-percent per year, a number those behind Internet.org hope to see increase as a result of their efforts.

Said Zuckerberg: “Everything Facebook has done has been about giving all people around the world the power to connect. There are huge barriers in developing countries to connecting and joining the knowledge economy. Internet.org brings together a global partnership that will work to overcome these challenges, including making internet access available to those who cannot currently afford it.”

Under the initiative, members will work together to develop technologies – and their adoption – that make it cheaper for individuals to connect to the Internet while reducing the cost of data delivery. Among this effort will be the development of higher-quality smartphones that come with a smaller price tag, and partnerships to expand access in what Facebook calls areas that are lacking.

The technologies being development will also focus on more efficient use of data, decreasing the amount that apps and such use to help keep over all data use – and thusly costs – down. This will include things like cache systems and compression tools. And finally, the members will work towards creating and sustaining business models that facilitate Internet access.





SOURCE: Facebook Newsroom

[Continue reading...]