Nokia

Motorola and RIM submit a Nano SIM compromise

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 18, 2012

Earlier this month, we showed you Apple's revised Nano SIM proposal the company submitted ahead of the final vote tally. The solution adds a small amount of plastic around the edges of the electrical contacts, making the upcoming tiny SIM card just long enough so that it can’t be forced lengthwise into an incompatible socket.

As you know, Research and Motion, Motorola and Nokia are pushing for their own variant. Both RIM and Motorola just submitted a Nano SIM compromise which borrows about 80 percent design solutions from Apple...

Nokia accuses Apple of recalibrating Siri to name iPhone the best phone

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 15, 2012

You've probably seen reports on how Siri was telling the world that Nokia's Lumia 900 was the best smartphone ever.

She was simply relaying a response provided by the Wolfram Alpha computational knowledge engine which averaged customer reviews across the web.

But Apple has taught Siri better so she now replies with "You're kidding, right?" or "The one you're holding in your hand" or somesuch response.

Needles to say, Nokia wasn't too happy and was quick to accuse Apple of recalibrating Siri, tarnishing her credibility in the process. As if Nokia didn't have other worries on its mind, mind you...

Nokia Lumia 900 no longer the “best smartphone ever”

Jeff Benjamin ∙ May 14, 2012

It was a silly story to begin with, but it appears that Apple has changed the answer that Siri responds with when you inquire about the "best smartphone ever".

Previously, Siri referred you to a Wolfram Alpha result where none other than the Nokia Lumia 900 — a direct iPhone 4S competitor — claimed the top spot.

Needless to say, Apple has now put an end to those shenanigans...

Apple’s modified Nano SIM gets a showing off ahead of the final vote

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 9, 2012

An Apple-proposed variant of the upcoming Nano SIM card standard is being shown off at the International CTIA Wireless show. Apple modified the design around Nokia's concerns and ahead of the final vote tally, which is mere days away. Voting for members of The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) began last month and wraps up in mid-May.

According to SIM card maker Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), the revised variant is being "driven by a supplier", in this case Apple. So, how has Apple changed the original design to counter Nokia's concerns? With a slight 'how come I didn't think of it' tweak, that's how...

Apple snagged nearly 10% of mobile phone market last quarter

Cody Lee ∙ Updated July 11, 2017

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone back in 2007, he said that Apple was looking to sell 10 million iPhones in 2008. This would've given it a measly 1% of the mobile phone market. Well Jobs would be happy to hear that Apple's marketshare is now roughly 10x that.

According to a new report from Strategy Analytics, the Cupertino company accounted for 9.5% of all global handset shipments in the first quarter of 2012. Apple also kept its spot as the third largest mobile phone manufacturer during the three month period...

Carriers to Nokia: Lumia cannot match the iPhone’s sexyness

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

You may have heard that some analysts consider Windows Phone a legitimate iPhone contender and have probably read nice things about the new Lumia smartphone brand from Nokia that debuted last October. Lumia is the ailing cellphone giant's inaugural Windows Phone lineup born out of their partnership with Microsoft.

The Lumia 900, Nokia's latest attempt to beat the iPhone at its own game, is backed by millions of Microsoft's marketing dollars and pushed with aggressive anti-Apple advertising. Nevertheless, the handset has apparently fell on def ear with both carriers and bankers.

Nokia lampoons the iPhone with web videos ahead of Lumia 900 launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 1, 2017

AT&T is saying its high-profile launch of the Nokia Lumia 900 in the United States will dwarf the iPhone. We'll see about that, but if a new Smartphone Betatest website is anything to go by, the Finnish cell phone giant isn't afraid at all to take pot shots at the carrier's 'hero' device.

Specifically, Nokia-posted videos on the site allude to the iPhone 4's perceived weaknesses, including the infamous cellular reception issue that culminated under the controversial Antennagate headline in 2010.

RIM accuses Apple of dirty tricks as ETSI postpones vote on Nano SIM

Oliver Haslam ∙ March 30, 2012

Apple's push for a new SIM card standard dubbed Nano SIM is in troubled waters as BlackBerry maker Research in Motion has sent a letter out suggesting that foul play may be afoot. Meanwhile, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has postponed vote on Nano SIM due to a dispute between Apple and Nokia over Nano SIM patents.

RIM's letter claims Apple's own personnel register themselves as working for the competition in order to try and rig a vote that will decide the outcome of a bid to make the Nano SIM a new standard.

The Canadian firm believes that members of Apple's team have registered to vote claiming to work for Bell Mobility, SK Telekom and KT Corp. If true, Apple may have some answering to do...

Nokia threatens not to license essential patents if Apple “imposes” its Nano SIM variant

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 28, 2012

Handset maker Nokia is increasing pressure on Apple ahead of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute’s (ETSI) ruling on the emerging SIM card standard, due later this week. The latest in the ongoing power struggle includes Nokia issuing another statement accusing Apple for bending unwritten rules and misusing the standardization process "to rubber stamp its proposal".

All that jazz for a smaller SIM card standard? Color me skeptical, but I'm questioning Nokia's motive here. Is the other Nano SIM variant backed by Nokia, Motorola and RIM really so much better than Apple's, which requires a tray (seen in the above shot)?

Apple granted Nano SIM-related patent that Nokia is “not aware” of

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 27, 2012

Once again, the Finnish cell phone giant Nokia is opposing Apple's proposal for a new requirement related to the emerging Nano SIM card standard, dated back to 2011. According to a rumor yesterday, Apple wants to license its version of the Nano SIM to others royalty-free in exchange for any Nano SIM-related patents held by other companies.

Today, Nokia said in a statement it does not know of any Apple patent related to the iPhone maker's Nano SIM variant. Essentially, Nokia just slammed Apple's recent strides aimed at promoting its Nano SIM variant ahead of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute's (ETSI) ruling later this week...

Nokia says Apple’s Nano SIM card proposal is no good

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2012

Espoo, Finland-headquartered Nokia is officially opposing Apple's requirement for an emerging mobile industry standard basically calling for a miniaturized SIM module roughly a third smaller than the Micro SIM used with the iPhone 4/4S. A proposal put forth by Motorola, RIM and Nokia has some technical advantages over the Apple-backed nano SIM that requires a “drawer” to protect it.

As a result, cell phones would need to be re-engineered with this in mind. Nokia says its variant of the Nano SIM doesn't require a tray and is even smaller than Apple's. Both camps have tabled proposals to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). With 92 votes, Nokia is the largest ETSI voting body, so no wonder Apple has filed multiple membership applications in order to increase its voting power.

Nokia has explained its stance in a lengthy statement issued to The Verge just this morning...

Apple imposing Nano SIM standard on Motorola, RIM and Nokia

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2012

When Apple was designing the iPhone 4, the company had adopted the smaller Micro SIM format for space constraints. Smaller in size compared to the standard Mini SIMs, Micro SIMs do the exact same job while using less space. But with mobile devices getting even slimmer these days, even Micro SIMs waste too much valuable space inside thin mobile gadgets.

Apple thinks smaller is better so last summer the company submitted a new requirement to the European Telecoms Standards Body for the use of even smaller SIM cards in mobile phones (AT&T followed suit). But the battle over the upcoming Nano SIM standard has put Apple once again on a collision course with its rivals in the smartphone space, namely the opposing group led by Android maker Google and joined by the ailing BlackBerry maker Research In Motion and Nokia of Finland, reports the Financial Times (subscription required)...