The Nation Newspaper

Tag: smartphones

  • ‘Innovation rules smartphones market’

    ‘Innovation rules smartphones market’

    Emmanouil Revmatas, Director of Information and Mobility, Samsung Electronics West Africa, speaks on the launch of Galaxy S7 edge and S7 smartphones. 

    Only last year, Samsung launched Galaxy S6 edge and S6 with much fanfare and few months into 2016 you are launching the Galaxy S7 edge and S7. Is the introduction of the new devices a result of less-than-stellar performance of the preceding model in the market?

    Not at all. Samsung as a brand has become synonymous with innovation. Our Galaxy S range is also regarded as the premium smartphone. Introducing the new Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and S7 is our commitment to our customers to meet their ever-evolving technology needs in the fast-paced world we live in. Samsung did not just redefine these devices, but also re-imagined what they could do based on the feedback from the people who use them, and what they need most from the devices. Our customers are the inspiration for any innovation.

    The Galaxy S7 series have been adjudged as stunning in both visual appeal and handling. Are the devices really as fine inside as they are on the outside? What are the major features that stand out?

    The key differentiators for the S7 edge and S7 range from IP68 water and dust resistance feature, which allows for submersion in up to 1.5meters of water for 30 minutes at a time. The S7 comes with 3,000mAh battery, while the S7 edge has 3,600mAh batteries which are great improvements from the S6. They also come with 4GB of RAM for improved multitasking and 30 percent more powerful processors with “thermal spreader” water-cooling technology to avoid the phones overheating. Both devices have support for microSD cards augmenting their 32GB of internal storage. The microSD card space can also be used as a second SIM slot for those who want to use two SIM cards on their device.Competition in the high end segment of the market for smartphones is very stiff. The phones are mainly running on the Android operating system except of course Apple’s iOS. Since all Android-based phones are basically running on the same platform, why should one be preferred to the other?Rather than answer this, I would prefer to say, let the consumer decide based on their own needs and wants.Still on the operating systems of smartphones, there is a widespread perception that Android-based phones consume far greater amount of data. Is this true and what can be done to minimise the amount users expend on data?

    Perception is not always reality. Perhaps, as research has shown, the ease of using Android-based phones means that consumers access the internet and do a lot more with their devices and therefore consume more data because of higher usage.

    There is the claim that the S7 series are water and dust resistant, that, in fact, they can survive being left in water for as long as 30 minutes. Isn’t this a sales enhancing gimmick?  

    An IP, which is “Ingress Protection” rating, can only be achieved after a rigorous assessment has been confirmed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The code is defined by the IEC who state that IP68, which the S7 is, can be immersed up to 1.5m for 30 minutes.

    Robustness of the devices brings me to the next question, which is on protecting the devices from accidental damage, which could occur at anytime. Considering the pricey nature of the smartphones, why is Samsung, being the leader in the smartphone market in Nigeria, not promoting insurance to reduce possible losses from buying these smart devices?

    As many know we were the initiators of this concept several years back, but now many retailers are offering this service in one form or another.

    We have seen the huge growth that the smartphone market has witnessed in Nigeria, which is not too different from other markets around the globe. Indeed, a recent report ranked Nigeria 17th globally in smartphone usage. What could be responsible for the huge growth that we are experiencing in this market?

    In fact, approximately 70 percent of the market is still feature phone based even though there is a significant growth year-on-year of smartphones. The huge growth is being driven by availability of broadband. Nigeria often leapfrogs technologies evidenced by the fact that most people will never have a landline. Another factor driving adoption is investment in 3G, and more recently LTE, coverage and capacity. A third factor is that smartphones are becoming more affordable and in addition, the need for people to be connected is also driving growth. Nigeria ranks extremely high in terms of social media trends and activity.

    With the world gradually moving into the era of Internet of Things, with virtually everything having connectivity to the internet, which role do you see the smartphone playing in this milieu? 

    A device that allows seamless integration of various tools, apps, wearable devices as well as household products.

    The smartphone market is always evolving, churning out smarter and sleeker devices. The devices have evolved from being just phones to an infotainment platform and are currently being used as a payment tool. Where do you see smartphones headed in the next few years?

    Our personalised device that can manage and connect to what, when and where we want. This could range from our TV or fridge to smart watches as such as the Gear S2 or virtual reality like the Gear VR, to gaming and now recording experiences using the brand new Samsung Gear 360 camera.

    After the launch of the S7 series devices that are packed with futuristic features, what is next for Samsung Galaxy series? 

    You will have to wait and see, but you can be guaranteed that we will continue to innovate and shape the future!

  • Smartphones insulated from global economic meltdown, says Huawei chief

    Smartphones insulated from global economic meltdown, says Huawei chief

    Ongoing global economic meltdown caused by falling oil prices in the international market will not affect the shipment of and purchase of mobile phones, the Vice President, Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG), Mr. Sandeep Saihgal has said.

    Speaking on the sideline of the launch of the firm’s flagship devices, Mate 8 and M2 Tablet at the Medinat Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE),  Saihgal said smartphones have become part of people’s lives, adding that no matter the condition, people will still continue to communicate, either through voice or data (internet).

    According to him, the advent of the smartphones have further broken the fetters existing among people, adding that increasingly, the world has become one small global village.

    He said:  “Look, smartphones have become part of people’s life style. People need smartphone for everything; whether it is just for email, social network. Customers want to get new experience. So the global economic meltdown will not affect sales and shipment of our range of superior mobile devices as long as people live, because they need smartphones such as Mate 8 to communicate, improve their businesses and make their living worthwhile.

    “There are segments for our products, we believe a lot of people will upgrade and embrace this product because the product itself will give the user experience which is very unique.”

    He said the new flagship devices feature the world’s most advanced smartphone and tablet technology ever: a new benchmark of amazing performance and long battery life

    Dubai became the second city globally for the Huawei Consumer Group to launch the new flagship devices after the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States (U.S).

    He said the device features the most powerful chipset, a high-capacity battery and stylish design – including a unique mocha brown color option – the Huawei Mate 8 is the ideal smartphone for today’s on-the-go professional. The Mate 8 is designed from the ground up for productivity and its hardware and software have been fine-tuned to provide an elegant, efficient experience.

    He said:  “Last year was a successful year for the Huawei Consumer Business Group here in the Middle East and we anticipate this year to be an even bigger one with immense growth in the region following the launch of these two flagship devices. The Mate 8 is the ultimate high-end smartphone designed for the professional, striking the perfect balance between high performance and long battery life. And when designing the M2, we equipped it with an impeccable sound system to take the user’s experience to the next level. Both of these devices reflect Huawei’s continued dedication to bringing the latest innovation and style to our consumers.’’

    Its Regional Manager, Product and Training, Middle East, George Al Kafrouni, explained that the Huawei Mate 8 was designed for performance and efficiency

    Featuring groundbreaking hardware, he said the Mate 8 is the first smartphone to run the Kirin 950 chipset, with CPU boosting power up 100 percent, GPU performance up 125 per cent, and power efficiency up 70 permcent vs. the Kirin 925.

  • Innjoo launches two new smartphones

    Innjoo, the fastest, growing smartphone brand in Middle East and Africa has launched two large battery Smartphone halo and fire plus. 5.0 inch halo comes with a 3,200mah battery while 5.5-inch fire plus is equipped with 3,600 mAh battery and enables fast charge. Both Smartphone are customized for Nigerian with longer battery usage.

    Speaking at the launch, the firm’s Managing Director, Robert Liang said: “To provide the most competitive product with considering the market requirement in the best time is the core of our strategy to establish leadership in a market.” With only 40percent of the Nigerian population connected to the energy grid, the challenge to constantly recharge phones has caused troubles to the Smartphone user and has influenced the decision to introduce these phones. Innjoo halo is equipped by 3,200mah long-lasting battery and powered by high energy density technology. It can keep the Smartphone under one-day full operation, 15 hours phone call, even for 300 hours stand-by time. The 5 inch HD IPS display, plus a 5mp rear and 2 mp front camera, it ensures a stunning display and bowsing effect as well as clear angle for capturing.

    Halo is equipped with a built-in 1GB RAM and internal storage of 8GB which can be further expanded to 32GB via microSD card. The built-in InnUI runs under the 1.2GHz Quad-core Processor, also ensures longer usage with its power saving settings, which allow users the comfort to enjoy browsing the Internet, playing games watching videos, listening to music and talking on the phone for longer periods.

    Another new model from Fire series, the 5.5inch 5.7mm thickness Fire Plus is coming soon with the large battery. The 3,600mAh battery ensures more than 24 hours of music playing, 22 hours phone call, 10 hours video playback and 330 hours stand-by, which is pretty average and lasts more than a day for moderate users. With the fast charge technology, it can be breezily feed up in just 2 hours.

    Liang said: “People are making the switch from feature phones to Smartphones while they now have to charge their phones once or twice a day, instead of once a week.

    “But InnJoo Halo and Fire Plus will give it a change.”

  • Why smartphones’ battery runs down

    With the replacement of feature phones with smartphones came the challenge of batteries depleting at almost the speed of lightning. Smartphone users practically go out with either conventional chargers, desk top charger or even car chargers. People who do not even own car now buy car chargers and put them so they could charge while on public buses or given free rides.

    A Computer Village-based engineer, who specialises in mobile phone and laptops, Mr Rotimi,  said one of the reasons smartphones’ battery doesn’t last long is because it has a lot of applications running on it.

    He said this could not be said of a phone worth N3,000, which is only used to make and receive voice calls and text messages.

    He said applications, such as WhatsApp, BBM, Twitter,  Facebook, and Skype through which instant messages are sent run batteries down. He said the only the battery could be saved is by switching off your data connection.

    “Even if you are not online and your data connection is on, it as will deduct the percentage of your battery because several messages, chat, friend request are always going on online. So, my advice is that you shut down unnecessary applications,” he said.

    He also blamed this problem on people who buy mobile phones and fail to charge them ‘to the prescribed optimal percentages required by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). “They buy mobile phones and just start using it because there is the little charge that is on the battery which is known as test charge that is the lithium (the chemical use in producing battery) has not been added up to. So this can also cause the damage of smartphone batteries,” he said.

    He further said the battery capacity for smartphones start from 1400MH(megahertz); so; if you are having more application, then the chemical (lithium)should be increased because they are making more functions as well as  the application available on the smartphones

    “Additionally, people should be cognisant of the hours of charging new smartphones batteries. They must strive to complete the hours of charging the batteries of brand new smartphones and also during the hours of charging a quality charger must be used because the voltage of this batteries varies,” he added.

     

  • Sony, Microsoft display mid-range smartphones at World Fair

    Sony and Microsoft have opted to unveil mid-range smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Trade Fair in Barcelona.

    Microsoft indicated it would wait until the release of Windows 10 to announce a new flagship, despite its high-end Lumia 930 dating back to April, last year.

    Sony’s Xperia Z3 is less old, having launched in September. But the firm had previously refreshed its top model roughly once every six months.

    Sony said its focus was on “broadening its customer base” at this time.

    The companies’ decisions to leave more high-profile launches until later has one immediate benefit: the flagships do not risk being overshadowed by Samsung’s Galaxy S6, which was unveiled on Sunday evening.

    Sony M4 Aqua The M4 Aqua is waterproof despite a capless microUSB port

    Even so, one expert said the importance of the fast-growing mid-range market should not be underestimated.

    “It’s much harder to win over people at the high-end than the mid-tier, and it costs more money to do so, especially if you’re not one of the top few handset brands,”said Carolina Milanese, chief of research at KWP ComTech.

  • Nokia devises account for 7m smartphones, says MTN

    Nokia devises account for 7m smartphones, says MTN

    MTN, Usman Idris of the eight million 3G devices on the network of the  seven million are Nokia devices, its Manager, Data and Device, Usman Idris has said.

    He said:  79 per cent of the devices constitute cash cow for the telco as the fortunes of voice calls diminish paving way for data.

    Speaking during the launch of Lmia 930 in Lagos, Idris said the telco was exploring the option of expanding its channel links to drive revenue for the firm as earnings from voice calls continue to dip.

    He said the partnership the telco had with Microsoft Mobile Devices had worked very well as it has been a win-win situation for both parties, adding that there is more room for partnership.

    According to him, MTN will do more in the open channel space by making its presence felt in Slot, Otigba Market, Ikeja and other such open channels to get closer to the customers.

    Also Managing Director, Microsoft Mobile Devices & Services, Nick Imudia, said the firm partnered with MTN and Mansard Insurance to underscore the premium placed on providing exciting services to customers all the time in the country.

    He said it was not by accident that the three big Ms (Microsoft, MTN and Mansard) were coming together to form a formidable alliance all in the interest of the customers.

    According to him, while MTN will provide data bundle for the new device, Mansard will take care of the insurance aspect which is also covered by Microsoft Devices’ 12 months warranty.

    He said the device was beautifully crafted and designed with the customer’s ways pf life at the back of the mind of the firm. According to him,  it is a machine that combines work with play.

  • 5 common problems with Blackberry and how to fix them

    5 common problems with Blackberry and how to fix them

    Blackberry phones are among the best and preferable smart phones available in the market today.

    This is because Blackberry devices can record video, take photos, play music and also provides functions such as web-browsing, email messaging, and the multi platform Blackberry messenger service.

    But still, there tends to be some down sides to the Blackberry phones, as they come up with different faults from time to time. Just like every other phone. The common problems that are associated with the blackberry phones are highlighted below with their solutions.

     

    • Poor Battery life

    This is one common problem with most blackberry mobile devices. Bear in mind that you will be using the new devices a lot more than in the first few days and that, it will require some extra juice to perform the initial email and social media accounts syncing.

     

    Solutions;

     

    * If you have 3G blackberry, turn it to 2G only. You will receive emails very quickly and unless web browsing is vital.

     

    *Turn off any features you are not using- GPS, NFC, data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth etc.

     

    *Sync your email and accounts less frequently.

     

    *Reduce screen brightness and use a black ground.

     

    *Reduce volume, turn off vibrate on notifications

     

    *Sometimes a specific app will be culprit, for example many Blackberry owners have Skype. If that’s the case for you, then make sure the app is up to date. If it’s still causing a problem then stop using it and contact the developer to let them know.

    * Get a spare battery just in case you find yourself in difficult situation.

     

    • Trackballs getting stuck

    Trackballs are notorious for getting stuck and overtime can cease to work properly due to the build-up of dust

     

    Solution;

    One trick is to turn your blackberry down and vigorously rub it over an A4 sheet of paper. It does really work.

     

    • Phone Screen Freezing

    Here’s another common problem with blackberry. It freezes when in use, it might go for several minutes, especially when browsing.

    There have been few reports from people about their Blackberry phones randomly freezing.

    Sometimes it seems to be related to syncing or BBM, for others, the keyboard is freezing up.

     

    Solutions;

     

    *There might be a problem with one of your apps, but it could be tough to find culprit. Make sure that all of your apps are up to date. If you notice an issue with a specific app, then try uninstalling it.

     

    *Make sure you have the latest updates via settings and then security update.

     

    *Try a master reset. Make sure everything on your internal storage is backed up and remove your media card to avoid any problem, then go to settings> security> privacy> security wipe. Type “blackberry” in the box , then tap delete data.

     

    • Overheating

    Overheating is becoming a bigger issue with mobile devices as we pack in more power and more features that encourage long term on intense use. A lot of users have been complaining about their blackberry handsets getting a little too hot to handle.

    Here is what you can do;

     

    *Use the phone less- The longer you use it continuously and the more intensive the task, the hotter it will get. There is no way around this.

     

    *Turn the phone off and remove the battery so it can cool faster.

     

    *Press and hold the power key up top until the phone restarts.

     

    • Blackberry BBM getting stuck on Waiting For Authorization

    Blackberry Messenger requires a friend to accept your contact request, to add him/her to your friend’s list. While waiting for him/her to accept, the friend’s status will reflect that authorization is pending. Occasionally, BBM will become stuck on the pending authorization status after the request is accepted. In most cases, it’s a resolvable problem related to software issue.

     

    Solution;

    *Hard reset – Another process on your blackberry could be interfering with the phone’s ability to properly send requests to contacts. The quickest way to eliminate that interference without erasing your phone’s data is to do a hard reset… pulling the battery for 30 seconds before replacing the battery and then re-launching BBM.

     

    *Update Application – Occasionally, Blackberry releases updates to address bugs in the BBM software. For example, pest problems with the application, including authorization issues. You’ll find any available software updates at the Blackberry App World website. During the update process your phone needs an active cellular data or Wi-Fi connection. After the update completes, you must restart your Blackberry.

     

    * Additional Troubleshooting – If authorization problems occur for just one contact, your option includes cancelling the request and resending it. As a last resort, you can completely uninstall the application from within the phone’s “Applications” list. After the removal of the app completes and you’ve restarted your smart-phone, you can reinstall BBM from Blackberry App World.

     

    Source: www.smallbusiness.chron.com, gurubase.com, www.smartphonedaily.co.uk

     

  • For adverts, consumers swing to smartphones

    A survey by a global adverts research firm has shown that Nigeria multi-screen users spend more time on smartphones before switching to other devices for advert receptivity, reports ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    How many times did you start reading an email on your phone while commuting, and later continued on your laptop at home? Or you saw a commercial for a new car and began searching for its specifications on your tablets? If these sound familiar, that is because they are part of the new norm in multi-screen behaviour which influences how the media select the medium to channel the advert budget and deliver returns for investors.

    To help advertisers and their media buyers understand this behavioural change, a global advert reseach firm, Millward Brown, in a survey, quizzed consumers across 30 countries, including Nigeria to know the screen device that engages their time more and understand the motivations that drive sequential usage across screens in order to give marketers an insight into the market. Of the 30 countries sampled, one of the findings revealed that Nigerians spend more time on smartphones than other screen devices to get market information with 193 minutes per day, 31 per cent higher than the global average of 147 minutes daily.

    In its report, Millward Brown’s 2014 AdReaction, the firm noted that for advertisers to reach more Nigerians, they must explore the smartphone. According to the firm, consumers in Nigeria spend more time on smartphone screen than other countries. The move to digital screen can become a threat to traditional media, such as television, radio, newspapers and magazines and outdoor publicity.

    According to Millward Brown, multi-screen users spend five hours daily consuming seven hours of screen media, hence, providing opportunities for advertisers and marketers to connect with people and drive brand growth.

    “All screens, though, are not created equal. The study analyses multi-screen use and behaviour across 30 countries, and explores consumer receptivity to advertising on television, smartphones, laptops, and tablets.The findings help marketers build integrated media plans that take advantage of each screen’s strength and drive brand growth. While we know intuitively that people are spending more time multi-screening, we analysed both the quantity and the quality of screen use to uncover specific insights to help marketers optimise media investments,” Millward Brown’s Global Brand Director for Digital, Duncan Southgate, noted.

    “Understanding how much time consumers spend with each screen, alone and simultaneously, combined with their receptivity to adverts is critical to building a media plan in today’s multi-screen world,” he added.

    According to the survey, simultaneous multi-screening accounts for 35 per cent of screen time, and includes a mix of “meshing”, the use of television and a second screen for related content (14 per cent), and “stacking”, the use of television and a second screen for unrelated content (22 per cent). At 65 per cent of screen time, “shifting”among individual screens throughout the day remains the dominant form of screen use. The study noted: “When consumers port an individual task across screens, they most often begin on television and move to a Smartphone, but all screen sequences are possible.”

    With consumers simultaneously using multiple screens, it was observed that “just one-third of the time, marketers’ larger opportunity is delivering consistent, integrated campaigns as users shift between screens.”

    While revealing how consumers behave in relation to specific screens, each screen has its own advantage, which brand managers can adopt to suit the consumers they want to target. The survey noted that “TV remains strong for brand building, and in particular drives salience and affinity.” While it is no longer the most consumed screen globally, it was revealed that “TV delivers strong reach and enjoys the highest advertising receptivity. It does remain the most used screen in the UK, France and Spain.”

    Smartphones remain the most used screen globally including Nigeria. “With strong daytime use, Smartphone are good for delivering salience, difference and setting trends. While they deliver only moderate advert receptivity globally, attitudes towards Smartphone adverts are much more positive in Kenya, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Multi-screen users in Nigeria report the highest time spent on Smartphones, at more than 193 minutes per day, 31 percent higher than the global average of 147 minutes per day,” the survey revealed.

    Besides television and Smartphones, the survey noted that laptops deliver salience and relevance for marketers as trends in some countries showed. “Consumers report 108 minutes of use per day on laptops, the majority (71 percent) being exclusive. However, laptops deliver only moderate advertising receptivity. They are the top screen for multi-screeners in Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic,” the survey showed.

    Tablets reportedly deliver difference for brands, and nearly half of the tablets used is simultaneous with television accounting for 49 per cent. “Peaking during the evening, tablets deliver difference, but only moderate receptivity. Receptivity to adverts on tablets was notably high in Kenya, Nigeria and the Philippines,” the survey said.

    The study also showed that “consumers are most receptive to micro-video; television adverts with interactivity; and television adverts promoting mobile apps, Facebook pages and websites. Marketing that delivers more entertainment and rewards are generally preferred over multi-screen campaigns which simply offer more information.

    “We know that media and technology will continue to evolve and that consumers are leading the way. Marketers who adapt and embrace this change – and understand how to effectively and consistently reach and engage people in a multi-screen world – will benefit from brand growth,” Southgate added.

    To stay ahead of the new market challenge, as revealed by the survey done through Smartphone, among 12,000 multi-screen users between 16 and 44 years, the Managing Director of MediaShare, Mr. Dele Odugbemi, told The Nation that going digital would help the media that could be affected negatively by digital revolution.

    “Radio and TV continue to thrive because they have incorporated digital media into their offering, so a radio station can interact with its audience via its facebook page or twitter account. Digital media raises the game. Media Innovation is a noteworthy reason for the increase in media spends in Nigeria,” Odugbemi added.