Mobile Solutions CI

Spreadtrum pushes Android into sub-$50 space - Rethink Wireless

Designs based on these platforms have already been though the China Mobile testing process, says Spreadtrum, and should appear in commercial products as soon as this month, with about 12 vendors, mainly low cost Chinese manufacturers, expected to use the chips.

via www.rethink-wireless.com

The Android team will see a key goal met as the chipset portion of the mobile ecosystem flattens this year to produce a $50 smartphone.

Product innovation cannot outpace the willingness of manufacturers to spend their way into the lower cost tiers of mobile markets. Winning share in 2012 and 2013 will require innovating on business model, not hardware features.

Verizon stitches up rivals with shock cableco deal - Rethink Wireless

But even sweeter for Verizon is that Comcast, TWC and Brighthouse will also stop reselling Clearwire's 4G services in mid-2012, presumably to ride on the larger carrier's LTE network. Despite all the competitive issues between Verizon and the cablecos, they have mutual interests too, and there are extensive cross-marketing arrangements in their new deal. These will weaken the cornerstone of Sprint's strategy to survive as a major third player - its wholesale business, in which it has traded on the fact it did not have the same conflicts of interest with cable as Verizon or AT&T, with their extensive wireline broadband and TV interests

via www.rethink-wireless.com

Verizon's crafty deal was the news of the week for the US wireless market. If Verizon truly moves to supplying wholesale service at competitive rates they will further carve out the market into the highest and lowest segments, owning the high end and collapsing mid-tier players and offers.