Formally known as Android 4.0, most people wanted the mobile phone simply to see how the new upgrade of the Android OS would operate as the actual specs of the Galaxy Nexus were not that stunning when placed on paper besides other.  However, toss in the new OS and a great 4.65” Super-AMOLED display and the balance is a bit better.

Of course, now that it is out, the real jury can actually start to weigh it up as people have now had about a month to use it. First off, in order to sport this much larger display the mobile has grown heavier which some users are responding to and others or not.  It does feel sturdier than the Samsung Galaxy S2, but once again it is up to the individual to decide if they like this or not and those who carry in their pockets may fall on the other side of the debate.

Taking a look at the top of the mobile phone you can see where the five megapixel camera eye is built into the mobile, which is a funny choice given the fact that Samsung usually installs much better cameras for its phones. It is nice that they left the logo out of the design of the phone because after paying a few hundred pounds for a mobile phone and locking yourself into an expensive contract it’s nice to know that you can carry your phone without offering free advertising of the product for the company.

The actual casing of the phone is made out of a thin plastic which is a bit flimsy looking but seems to hold up fine and nicely compliments the curved glass design of the front that was first seen on the Nexus S.  There is not one physical button on the mobile which is different than the previous Android phones which all had their set of basic commands (Menu, Back, Home, and Search).  Likely this was taken out to allow for the larger display and a trend that it would be nice to see continue on Android mobiles.

The top of the mobile does not have any ports or buttons which is nice since it’s always awkward to plug in something from the top, but along the bottom you will find a 3.5mm audio hack and a USB port allowing for full use of the phones capabilities.

Finally, if the Galaxy Nexus has one standout feature outside of the Ice Cream Sandwich it is the Super-AMOLED display which offers top of the line colour saturation and contrast, allowing images to come across the way they should.  The attention to detail is excellent due to the fact that every pixel on the phone emits its own light.

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Motorola recently announced the release of the XOOM 2 which it is hoping will be a device that is going to challenge the Apple iPad, and hopefully take its lead in the market. The device is aesthetically pleasing and has rubbery sides which make it easy to grip onto, which already give it an edge over the iPad 2 before you even switch it on.

The corners are angled and this means you can easily tell it apart from the original model that Motorola previously released. The long sides of the device are straight at the top and bottom have a slight curve which are reminiscent of the smart phones that Motorola released previously .

Unusually, the power button of the devices is located on the back which means that you can sometimes accidentally press it when you are holding the device with your fingers, it is also similarly easy to accidentally change the volume when you are holding the device.

There is also a long lag after you have pressed the power button and before the screen will switch on and this means you can be pressing the button continuously before you realise you’ve got a response. This device could learn a lot from Apple when you consider the placement of the volume and power buttons and how quickly they respond to touch.

This new device is lighter than its predecessor by a significant 130 grams. It is also lighter than the iPad 2 but is around the same thickness. As for an operating system, it uses Android version 3.2 but Motorola has added its own touch to the operating system. The device is also advertised as being splashproof as it did well in testing against this.

The streaming service that comes with the device has been greatly improved and it is possible to stream video, photos and music by using the MotoCast. You can even easily connect the device to your computer so that you can share files between the two. Intelligently, the software required for the computer is included in the tablet device so you can plug it into your laptop in order to install the sharing program.

The screen is 10.1 inches and is excellent for viewing media, especially media that is being streamed from MotoCast. Pictures don’t need to buffer most of the time and video only requires a short amount of time to start working. File sharing security is also excellent because your files are not uploaded to another server, they are directly accessed from your PC on your tablet.

The disadvantage of this is that your computer has to be on in order for you to access the documents. This system also has the advantage that you will not just be able to access the files from the tablet but at any computer that has an internet connection.

The processor in this new device is fast and it runs the new operating system very well. The only disadvantage that could be seen with the device is the placement of the power button but other than that it is a good contender to the iPad.

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The German courts agreed with Apple and have banned the sale of it for infringement of patent. Similar skirmishes in the courts of Australia, South Korea and Japan are currently in progress and the outlook seems bleak after the German ruling,

It’s such a shame that it has come to this as it could so easily have been avoided. The current design team at Samsung seems to consist of one guy with a photocopier, which is a sharp contrast to the days when the Korean company where praised for the chic and elegant hardware they produced.

The ironic part of all this is that the Tab 10.1 is the best tablet by far that Samsung have so far produced, it has beautiful proportions and is also fast and very light. Do not confuse this however with the Tab 10.1V, which looks like the iPad’s incestuous cousin, but the one who ate all the pies.

This new and much improved Galaxy Tab 10.1 is slimmed down to the point that it is actually lighter than an iPad, but a tad wider. Herein lies the dilemma for the tablet buyer. If you can buy the iPad’s doppelganger for the same price that lacks the vast array of software available for your iPad, why would you bother not buying the real thing?

Apple currently command over 75% of the tablet market, and sell more iPad’s than all the other tablets put together, and unless Android suddenly makes a massive technological breakthrough that nobody saw coming, their dominance will continue. Sure, Android give you the old faithfuls on the tablets; Twitter, Facebook, Angry Birds etc, but the list isn’t very long compared the tens of thousands you can get from the Apple app store.

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Many loyal fans of Nokia’s have found that the operating system they previously ran on is not up to scratch and that is let down what otherwise excellent phones. Utilisation of Microsoft’s operating system is expected to greatly improve the overall phone experience and increase the number of people buying Nokia. Despite these advantages, it is facing some serious competition from the Samsung Galaxy S2 as well as the Apple iPhone 4S.

When you first look at the device, you will instantly notice that it is not as attractive as the Apple and Samsung counterparts. Compared to these beautiful devices it looks positively dull, nothing more than a plasticky black rectangle. The iPhone is a very nice looking device and it really feels as expensive as it is, and this is simply not true of the latest Nokia offering. Despite its aesthetic failings it is a much more sturdy device than the competitors and holding it you will really feel how it will be more resistant than an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy.

The operating system on the iPhone is incredibly intuitive and even if you are picking the phone up for the first time it is likely will very quickly be able to work out how to use it. Android is a system that is very nice looking, in a similar way to the iPhone, but it is not so easy to get used to. Many people have compared the android operating system to a desktop computer system.

The Windows system is also different and it has not been is tried and tested as it’s more established counterparts. First impressions have generally been positive though and something called ‘live tiles’ is particular popular.

The screen on the devices the same size as that on an iPhone, and this is slightly smaller than the Samsung’s. When comparing the iPhone to the Samsung Galaxy, most people would agree that the iPhone has a better screen. The whites are better and text appears more crisp which makes reading on it very easy. The screen that is seen on the new Nokia offering is as good as the iPhone’s and this is certainly good enough.

When you compare the speed of the device it is about the same as the Samsung but a little bit behind the Apple. Considering that it only has one core compared to the other devices dual cores this is rather impressive and is a testament to the quality of the operating system that Microsoft have supplied. Also, having the single core means that the battery is exhausted far less quickly than its dual core competitors.

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The 800 runs Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, and it has the unique Nokia Drive, which is a navigation system whereby users can download maps and save money on roaming charges.  It also offers a 3D view of the designated area, and voice control navigation.  In addition there’s an ESPN hub for sports fans, and a music platform that includes Mix Radio, allowing free preset music mixes with no subscription needed.

Nokia has set the price for the Lumia 800 at £365, but they are coming out with a more affordable version right on its heels.  The Lumia 710 will have very similar specs but the pricing is aimed at the mid-range market.  The 710 will reportedly list for £235 and appeal to new customers looking to upgrade to medium-priced smartphones.

Nokia stock had dropped in value by two thirds after the launch of Apple’s iPhone in 2007, and dropped  dramatically again following CEO Elop’s announcement of a partnership with Microsoft and a change in software platforms.  However, Elop is very optimistic about the future of his company; he said Nokia is a different company since his 13-month tenure began, and the Lumia 710 and 800 are just the beginning.

Competition in the smartphone market is intense, with Apple, Motorola and Google all way ahead in terms of market shares.  However again, buyers and analysts who have scrutinized the new Nokia offerings are cautiously encouraging.  The feeling is that aiming at a presumably wider consumer base by offering good quality at less-than-peak prices will give Nokia the boost it needs to get back in the running.

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The most recent example of this is the Nexus S, this is on the market with three carriers in the US and carrying android 2.4 gingerbread, the latest inception of the OS.

As far as tablets are concerned, we have Motorola XOOM, available both on Verizon and also Wi-Fi only. This features the latest Android OS for tablets, Android 3.0 honeycomb. Whilst the Xoom hasn’t technically joined the naming scheme, every hero phone carrying Android is part of the Nexus collection, and thee next in the set will feature an Android system to tie together the tablets and phones; the Ice Cream Sandwich.

The Android number, 2.4, 4.0 etc, hasn’t yet been released, but some details have that are sure to have some of you salivating. The processor is the bit that has everyone guessing, while the Nexus S boasts a Samsung Humingbird, and the XOOM has an NVIDEA Tegra 2, the smart money is on Google teaming up for this venture with Texas instruments and implementing their OMAP4 SoC.

The launch date for the ice cream sandwich is estimated for late October and a leak from a tipster has given us some chassis specs. There will be a 4.6 inch HD display and the glass will be curved as the Nexus S is and the device will be 8.8mm thick with a predominantly metal chassis. The tipster also claims that it will have the name of Samsung Galaxy Nexus and since Google wallet was rolled out this week in the US, it’s seems safe to say that it will have the NFC capabilities.

The word is also out that Verizon will not carry the Galaxy S II as they want a Droid Prime exclusive. An unnamed droid source has said that the Prime, still devoid of the Droid part, is a completely separate entity from the Nexus, which gives the impression that Nexus Prime is merely a red herring. This source also mentioned that as well as the Prime, testing was also being done on the HTC Vigor, and the results so far indicated that the latter was a much better device.

There seem to been some misdirection back in August too when legal paperwork was sent out to various sites, again citing the Nexus prime name, and saying that they had codes for the device earlier than they should have done. Come mid-August we were given the impression that the Samsung Nexus would be coming out in October complete with the ice cream sandwich.

As far as the ice cream sandwich goes, it’s still all very cloak and dagger and we are awaiting the official announcements. Texas will most likely be the ones to join forces with Google, which is more important that who provides the chassis.

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NFC technology is utilised in the phone and this means that synchronising it with other devices is incredibly easy. All you have to do is merely tap the phone against another device in order to establish a wireless link. In testing, the phone was linked to a pair of speakers designed to be compatible with it and the linking process took less than three seconds. This is much faster than other technology currently available.

It is also utilising the latest Symbian operating system, known as Belle. This software is very user-friendly and makes the phone easy to use. It has a colourful icon-based interface and notifications on the phone are well-organised. The software is customisable and you will be up to choose what you want on your home screens. The phone is also capable of multitasking so you can run all your apps at the same time.

Physically, the phone is very stylish, polished glass and brushed metal give it a great feel. The quality of the handset gives it a very high-end feel and at less than 100 g it fits very nicely to the hand and pocket. Despite being so light and thin, the Nokia 700 feels like it could take some hits without being damaged. It is remarkably scratch resistant to keys when in your pocket with them.

In the tiny shell satellite navigation is also included. Maps of the entire UK are included which should help you be able to navigate roads immediately. Better yet, if you want to travel abroad you just have to go onto Nokia’s website where you will be up to download maps of the entire world, and these will also come at no extra charge.

The screen of the phone is one of its most striking features. It is a 3.2 inch screen that has a 640 x 360 resolution. This means that images are incredibly crisp and have great clarity. This screen makes the Nokia 700 one of the best phones around for viewing videos and photos. The phone also utilises Nokia’s ClearBack technology which helps to reduce reflections on the screen and ensures colours remain bright and vivid, even while in the sun.

What is really remarkable about this phone is the amount that it fits into its chassis. All of its applications and features mean that it is truly the only smart phone that you will need. This Nokia phone is widely regarded as one of the most anticipated releases of the year, and with all its features and beautiful design, this is hardly surprising.

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We’ve all seen the sites that buy old mobiles phones, but did you know that most of them either fix up your phone and sell it on or recycle it? When most of us think of recycling, we think of the cardboard, glass, plastic etc that we put in our wheelie bins every week. We don’t think of the components in an old mobile phone being re-used to repair other phones.

This is all part of the recycling process and has a great impact on the waste that is discarded and sent to the landfill sites. Check out the websites that promote recycling so you know that you are making a bit of money but also helping the environment. If your phone doesn’t work anymore or is faulty, you could still sell it on ebay or somewhere similar, just list it as for spares and repairs. You can bet that there are more parts working than not and many people make up phones from old ones and sell them on.

If you decide to go with one of the online mobile recycling companies, the process is extremely easy. When you log onto their website you just input the make and model of the phone and whether it is working or not. They make you an offer instantly and you can refuse or accept this. Should you accept it, you will be sent a prepaid envelope through the post to send your phone in. After they have checked it out you will receive your payment.

So next time your old mobile gives up the ghost, don’t just throw it into the rubbish bin and forget about it. There is money to be made from that old phone, and you can also help the environment. Get looking through you drawers and cupboards, guaranteed there will be some old phones lurking there that for whatever reason you didn’t throw away. It only takes a few clicks of a mouse to turn these dinosaurs into hard cash.

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Mobile advertising, or mobile marketing, is simply the new way in which businesses are contacting customers to inform them about their products. Rather than being simply a broadcast media, these adverts are specifically designed, and targeted at a particular customer demographic, to improve the likelihood of turning a customer enquiry into a sale. Campaigns are designed for a variety of platforms, such as the Internet and smartphone or Internet-ready mobiles.

2. Why does my business need mobile marketing?

Quite simply, mobile advertising is the fastest growing advertising medium. The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) revealed that mobile advertising was worth £28.6 million in 2008; by 2009 that figure, as reported by Enders Analysis in the Financial Times, had reached £46 million. Experts predict that by 2015, this will have risen to around £419 million.

In essence, there is no better way for a business to contact customers with information about their products in an immediate, meaningful and relevant way at a cost that is suited to a business, regardless of size. Mobile campaigns can be the most efficient and cost-effective way of turning potential customers into sales.

3. Just how targeted is mobile advertising?

This is the real strength of mobile advertising, in that the campaigns can be targeted in far more detail than ever before. Say you have developed an iPhone app aimed at teenagers; you could run an iPhone advertising campaign that not only targets iPhone users but can specifically target users within this demographic.

This is a far more effective use of advertising budget for many businesses. You are spending less than on a general broadcasts or advertisements to reach more of the people who are likely to be interested in buying your product. Instead of placing an advert on an undiscriminating platform that you hope will generate business, mobile advertising targets those people who are shown to be interested in the product or service you are offering.

4. Will it prove a profitable move for my business?

A clever, well-run and targeted mobile marketing campaign can certainly improve customer awareness of your product, which in turn can lead to greater sales. The Guardian newspaper reported that major companies such as Nike and Nestle are investing increasing amounts in mobile advertising to drive product sales. Nestle, for example, ran a mobile Internet campaign for its Kit Kat chocolate bar, which improved product awareness by 35 per cent. In addition, 600 people who visited the sites where the advert was featured were asked to name the first chocolate bar they could think of. Kit Kat’s results had improved by 247 per cent.

Of course, there is more to a successful mobile marketing campaign than simply coming up with a gimmicky advert or a clever competition. Targeting the right user group in a way that is relevant and meaningful for them, preferably in a relevant context, is vital. Luckily, business owners can call upon the expertise offered by mobile marketing specialists in order to ensure that their adverts are reaching the right potential customer base.

5. Is mobile marketing the new way advertisers will get in touch with customers in the future?

It seems likely that advertising will exist in its many and varied forms for a good while yet. Despite this and given the growth of the mobile phone market over the past decade, the spread of the Internet globally and the uptake in the number of smartphones and Internet-ready handsets in usage across the globe, mobile marketing looks likely to have an increasingly important role in the advertising strategy for any future business.

Russell Bickley, chief of the Mobile Marketing Association, revealed that mobile advertising as a medium has experienced rapid expansion in the past five years, outstripping the pace of such technological developments as the Internet in some areas. The Guardian newspaper further reports: “Growth is likely to accelerate as handsets equipped with new technology, including mobile broadband, become ubiquitous and consumer behaviour changes.”

In short, mobile marketing is certainly the marketing media for the future. It is targeted, immediate, cheap and yet able to react to market trends and the wishes of the customer. It can be interactive, competitive, informative or educational. It is truly the first form of advertising to fulfil these criteria and given the sheer volume of Internet-ready mobile phones in the world, the current mobile advertising market is just the start of bigger things to come.

For sustainable future growth, your business needs to be a part of that. 

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1. The growth of the smartphone market: It may seem a somewhat spurious link at first, but the fact remains that more and more people are trading their old mobile phone for a brand new smartphone model. This presents businesses aware of mobile advertising with an opportunity.

2. More smartphones are also being used more frequently: The market growth of smartphones is one thing, another key aspect for any company considering mobile advertising is that people are using their phones with increasing frequency every day. Therefore, if you want your company or product to get noticed, then targeting mobile advertising makes perfect sense.

3. A mobile advertising campaign can be easy to set up: The days of requiring a computer expert to implement a mobile advertising campaign are long gone. Nowadays, mobile advertising can be set up quickly and easily by anybody with a rudimentary understanding of computers and smartphone devices. Furthermore, companies exist to help you ensure your mobile campaign is precisely as you want it to be and targeted to the correct audience.

4. The cost of running a mobile advertising campaign is not prohibitive: A few years back, the cost of running a nationwide advertising campaign was beyond the remit of many businesses. Nowadays, mobile advertising is a much cheaper and far more cost effective way to get your business promoted. Campaigns can be devised of varying sizes and frequency, ensuring that its cost is within the budget your business can afford. Mobile advertising has levelled the playing field somewhat in advertising, allowing smaller businesses to compete fairly alongside some of the biggest names in commerce and industry.

5. Your mobile advertising campaign will be delivered to a targeted audience: If you are looking to sell a product for the iPhone then you can deliver your advert in a targeted way to customers likely to be interested in iPhone advertising. The greatest strength of mobile advertising is its ability to target the customers likely to want what you are offering, which results in improved conversion rates.

6. Your advertisements are more likely to be viewed positively by those who receive them: Receiving unwanted and unnecessary advertisements can impact negatively on how a company is perceived by consumers. A carefully targeted mobile advertising campaign can drastically reduce this by sending adverts to people who are likely to need your product and therefore they will be viewed as being useful and relevant by the recipient.

7. Your advertisements can generate immediate sales from the moment they go live: Placing an advertisement in the traditional sense often means waiting weeks for the advert to be printed and then hoping customers see it before a sale is made. The process can take days, weeks or even months to pay off. Mobile advertising is immediate. Customers receive your advert and are just a couple of clicks or a phone call away from making a purchase. The moment your campaign goes live, you can start taking the first orders.

8. Keeping your mobile advertisements up to date is simple and gives a campaign added credibility: One of the best things about mobile advertising is that it is simple to update in line with real-time world events. This endows your campaign with an impressive level of immediacy and gives businesses the chance to improve and enhance their advertisements to reflect the ever changing situation in the real world, giving the campaign greater visibility and impact for the customer.

9. Your competitors are likely to be exploring the mobile advertising option: You may not be considering mobile advertising at present, but with mobile advertising spending expected to go from £46 million in 2009 to £419 million by 2015 (as stated by Enders Analysis and reported in the Financial Times), your competitors will be seeking to exploit this vast and relatively under-exposed base of new custom.

10. Targeted mobility is the future of advertising: The future of advertising lies in using these mobile devices to send targeted, informative and relevant adverts to potential customers. This is the dawn of a new era in advertising and for any type of business, large or small, understanding mobile advertising is key to sustaining future growth.

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