Halliburton, based out of Houston, Texas, is one of the largest energy services companies in the world. It has operations in more than 70 countries and employs over 60,000 people.

Given that information, you can see why it’s such a big deal that the company has recently announced its intentions to ditch RIM’s BlackBerry platform in favor of the iPhone and iOS…(...)
Read the rest of Halliburton to Switch Entire Company From BlackBerry to iOS This Year

"Halliburton to Switch Entire Company From BlackBerry to iOS This Year" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

RIM’s new CEO Thorsten Heins may have inherited a sinking ship, but he seems determined to explore all avenues in his attempt to find an escape route for the ailing Canadian firm.

Having previously been very keen to keep its BlackBerry Messenger crown jewel as a key feature that is exclusive to its hardware, BlackBerry smartphones may not be the only ones to support it some time in the future. RIM’s new CEO outlined his company’s openness to such a move during an interview with CrackBerry.

If RIM was to license its SMS-like instant messaging system to third parties then it could stript the firm’s handsets of arguably their biggest feature…(...)
Read the rest of RIM Looking into BlackBerry Messenger for Other Platforms

"RIM Looking into BlackBerry Messenger for Other Platforms" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

RIM’s new CEO Thorsten Heins may have inherited a sinking ship, but he seems determined to explore all avenues in his attempt to find an escape route for the ailing Canadian firm.

Having previously been very keen to keep its BlackBerry Messenger crown jewel as a key feature that is exclusive to its hardware, BlackBerry smartphones may not be the only ones to support it some time in the future. RIM’s new CEO outlined his company’s openness to such a move during an interview with CrackBerry.

If RIM was to license its SMS-like instant messaging system to third parties then it could stript the firm’s handsets of arguably their biggest feature…(...)
Read the rest of RIM Looking into BlackBerry Messenger for Other Platforms

"RIM Looking into BlackBerry Messenger for Other Platforms" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Apple may appear to be the biggest tablet vendor on the planet with the company selling iPads hand over fist, but it seems that end-users are not the only ones taking a shine to the tablet.

According to new figures from enterprise mobile services vendor Good Technology, the iPad made up 96% of the tablets activated at the 2,000 companies that use its services.

The iPhone is proving popular in the enterprise also, with 53% of the smartphones activated being of the Apple variety…(...)
Read the rest of iPad Takes 96% of Tablets Activated in Enterprise, iPhone Takes 53%

"iPad Takes 96% of Tablets Activated in Enterprise, iPhone Takes 53%" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

According to a group of hackers in India, Apple, RIM and Nokia could be providing backdoor access to the Indian government, allowing them to monitor user data. The Indian government might be insisting on this access in exchange for allowing Apple and other smartphone vendors to offer their products and services in India, they have allegedly given them access to cellular communications. The agreement appears to be called RINOA (Rim, Nokia, Apple).

Several documents have been found referring to RINOA and how information was gathered from some of these government bodies. I know India is a large country but I’m not quite sure what is more damaging — not having a presence there at all or betraying your customers’ trust by allowing the local government to access data without their knowledge.

Source: ZDNet

Despite what is sure to be a record-breaking month for Apple’s iPhone sales, it appears that the handset’s usage share may have actually fallen by almost 5%, if new figures are to be believed.

Advertising network Chikita has released data based on the number of ad impressions across its network while highlighting the top smartphone makers in the arena, with the iPhone seeing a reduction in its share during December.

The big gains came from Android-loving HTC and Samsung during the same period…(...)
Read the rest of iPhone Usage Dropped Almost 5% During December

"iPhone Usage Dropped Almost 5% During December" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Argentina has blocked the sale of iPhone and BlackBerry devices in a move that is intended to boost its ailing economy. The ban is part of a selective consumer electronics ban aimed at slowing inflation and balancing its own pesos currency against the U.S. dollar.

The new ban is an extension of the Argentina Ministry Industry’s March 2011 decision to eliminate the automatic import license of certain smartphones, forcing Apple and RIM to wait 60 to 180 days for Customs Authority approval to sell their devices.

Source: Apple Insider

• Our podcast feed: Audio | Video
• Download directly: Audio | Video
• Subscribe in iTunes: Audio | Video

Chris, Ed, and Rene talk Apple value, RIM’s latest results, the uptake of Android, webOS going open source, Microsoft’s mobile chances, HTML5 platforms, the future of LTE, and the year ahead. This is Mobile Nations Stock Talk.

Hosts

• Chris Umiastowski
• Edward Zabitsky
• Rene Ritchie

Feedback

Got something to say? Agree or disagree with something we said? Have something you want us to discuss on a future show? Don’t just sit there yelling at the screen, dammit, let us know!

• Email: podcast@mobilenations.com
• Twitter: @mobilenations
• Web: www.mobilenations.com

Credits

Thanks to the Mobile Nations network of store for sponsoring this podcast, and to our fantastic live chat members for keeping us honest and making us smart!

Things aren’t looking good for Research in Motion. The Blackberry makers have failed to produce a viable smartphone competitor for the market year after year, and stock has continued tanking to new lows.

With RIM’s stock reaching $13.44 per share, the total company value was at $7.04 billion as of last week. The App Store is worth $7.08 billion, making the entirety of RIM worth less than only one part of Apple’s business.(...)
Read the rest of Apple’s App Store is Worth More Than All of RIM

"Apple’s App Store is Worth More Than All of RIM" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.

A new survey carried about by comScore claims that only 1 out of 10 American mobile subscribers own an iPhone, with Apple’s handset reaching the 10.8% mark as of October 2011.

The survey also suggests that Samsung is currently the top OEM in the country, with their phones currently in the hands of a quarter of all cellphone owners.

In fact, of the top five OEMs in comScore’s chart, Apple sits fourth, behind Samsung (25.5%), LG (20.6%) and Motorola (13.6%). Canadian firm Research In Motion takes fifth place with an ever-decreasing share of the market. Not great times for BlackBerry fans at all…(...)
Read the rest of 10% of US Mobile Subscribers Own iPhones

"10% of US Mobile Subscribers Own iPhones" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.

There’s a new jailbreak in town, and it isn’t for the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Research In Motion PlayBook tablet has been jailbroken. For the first time in the Blackberry maker’s history, hackers have gained root access to the OS.

Why is this a big deal? Not only is it the first official “jailbreak” to occur outside of Apple’s ecosystem, but it’s also a slap in the face to RIM’s enterprise-minded, security-conscious mindset.(...)
Read the rest of Apple Isn’t the Only Company Who Worries About Jailbreaking

"Apple Isn’t the Only Company Who Worries About Jailbreaking" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.

RIM today announced BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, something they’re touting as “The Next Generation Enterprise Mobility Solution for BlackBerry, Android and iOS Smartphones and Tablets”. Really. Says so right here:

We are pleased to introduce BlackBerry Mobile Fusion – RIM’s next generation enterprise mobility solution – to make it easier for our business and government customers to manage the diversity of devices in their operations today,” said Alan Panezic, Vice President, Enterprise Product Management and Marketing at Research In Motion. “BlackBerry Mobile Fusion brings together our industry-leading BlackBerry Enterprise Server technology for BlackBerry devices with mobile device management capabilities for iOS and Android devices, all managed from one web-based console. It provides the necessary management capabilities to allow IT departments to confidently oversee the use of both company-owned and employee-owned mobile devices within their organizations.

While RIM is still struggling to get PlayBook to 2.0 and BBX superphones into the hungry hands of the CrackBerry Nation, this could be an interesting way to hedge against Enterprise BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trends that skew users away from traditional BlackBerry’s and towards iPhones.

Still, consumers would probably still prefer BBM for iOS…

Source: CrackBerry.com

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That’s the approach BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is taking with its ailing smartphone market. The company has announced that it will be offering an easy way to get iPhones and Android users plugged into its enterprise tools.

The move by the once-dominant force in the business smartphone industry illustrates the relevance that Apple and Google have made in a sector that was almost entirely owned by RIM not that long ago.

Perhaps more importantly, this may well be the first sign of RIM trying to move away from offering hardware, in an attempt to concentrate on the software and security their past successes were built on.(...)
Read the rest of RIM to Offer Enterprise Tools for iPhone and Android

"RIM to Offer Enterprise Tools for iPhone and Android" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.

With third-party instant messaging apps, Apple’s own iMessage, and VoIP services becoming more prevalent, it is to be expected that at some point mobile networks will see a reduction in revenue as people move away from using SMS and voice calling.

What we didn’t really expect is the move to start happening so soon. But according to one report, carriers are already feeling the pinch.

Research carried out by infrastructure solutions provider Mavenir Systems on behalf of mobileSQUARED suggests that carriers are already finding that third-party solutions are beginning to impact their business, and it’s only going to get worse for the bottom line…(...)
Read the rest of VoIP-Based Services Like iMessage Reportedly Eating Carriers’ Lunches

"VoIP-Based Services Like iMessage Reportedly Eating Carriers’ Lunches" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.

Apple had their big Let’s talk iPhone event a couple of weeks ago and have now released [iOS 5](http://www.tipb.com/iOS 5) and iCloud, and launched the iPhone 4S — now it’s RIM’s and Google’s turn.

Kevin and Adam from CrackBerry.com are live at BlackBerry Dev Con 2011, hoping to get their keyboard-crunching hands on a next generation BBX (QNX) based superphone and Playbook OS 2.0.

• Full BlackBerry Dev Con 2011 coverage

Phil and the gang over at Android Central are waiting for the big Ice Cream Sandwich and Galaxy Nexus (Prime) reveal from Google and Samsung tonight.

• Full Ice Cream Sandwich and Galaxy Nexus coverage

Keep an eye on both, then run — don’t walk! — back here and tell us how you think they compete with iOS 5, iCloud, and iPhone 4S. Did they raise the stakes?

iPhone owners are the most loyal smartphone users around, according to a new survey by UBS Research. Apple’s iPhone boasts a 89% retention rate, indicating that nearly 9 out 10 iPhone owners will never buy another brand of smartphone.

Surprisingly, the company with the second highest retention rate is actually HTC, with 39% of its customers sticking around for the long haul. Apple claims a 50% retention rate lead over all other smartphone makers in terms of customer loyalty…(...)
Read the rest of 9 Out of 10 iPhone Owners Will Never Buy Another Brand of Smartphone

"9 Out of 10 iPhone Owners Will Never Buy Another Brand of Smartphone" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.

A new UBS survey suggests Apple currently holds the top spot in smartphone retention rates by a long shot, holding a strong 89% rating over the nearest hardware competitor HTC at just 39%. Apple also had no trouble beating out the Android platform in general, although being a platform gave Google an added “stickiness” of around 60% retention among consumers.

Despite Android holding a higher rate than most other hardware manufacturers in this space, roughly 31 percent of current Android device owners are planning on jumping ship to the iPhone as their next purchase.

UBS also noted that the app catalog for platforms has had limited importance in the determining factors involved when consumers choose their next smartphone. That really says something about the iPhone 4 specifically, of which the hardware is over a year old yet still continues to beat out the newest, cutting edge smarthphone offerings.

[AppleInsider]

• Our podcast feed
• Download Directly
• Subscribe in iTunes
• Subscribe in Zune

Phil, Kevin, and Rene beta test a new video rig, survive technical problems, and talk RIM results, BlackBerry striking back, next generation Android phones, Windows 8 tablets, and a tale of two iPhones. This is Mobile Nations!

Agenda

• Research In Motion Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2012 Results
• Thoughts from RIM’s Q2 Financial Results Conference Call
• Samsung Galaxy S II Sprint Epic 4G Touch now available online from Sprint
• Motorola Droid Bionic review
• Windows 8 Developer Preview now available
• Two new iPhones to be announced this month, iPhone 5 may be in short supply

Feedback

Got something to say? Agree or disagree with something we said? Have something you want us to discuss on a future show? Don’t just sit there yelling at the screen, dammit, let us know!

• Email: podcast@mobilenations.com
• Twitter: @mobilenations
• Web: www.mobilenations.com

Hosts

Credits

Our music is pROgraM vs. Us3R by by morgantj. Introduction by Joseph Holder.

Thanks to the Smartphone Experts network of store for sponsoring this podcast, and to our fantastic live chat members for keeping us honest and making us smart!

Everyone loves sales numbers, right? If that’s true, everyone really loves sales numbers that claim that either Android or iOS is winning the mobile war.

It seems different numbers point to a different winner in this war, or at least a different winner in each battle. And this time around it’s Android’s turn to be the victor…(...)
Read the rest of Europeans Love Android More Than iOS?

"Europeans Love Android More Than iOS?" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.

The race to kill SMS is on. Instant messaging apps have flooded both the App Store and Android Market, with WhatsApp and others seeking to replace SMS by offering free, cross-platform messaging in (sometimes) fancy-looking apps that allow not only the sending and receiving of text, but also the sending of pictures and video.

Even Samsung is set to join the fray, with ChatON being the company’s first foray into the world of instant messaging. Samsung promises to release apps on just about every platform. It seems that everyone has it in for SMS, and the carriers must surely know what’s going. And let’s not forget Apple’s iMessage…(...)
Read the rest of Why Gtalk is Already the SMS Replacement that iMessage Wants to Be

"Why Gtalk is Already the SMS Replacement that iMessage Wants to Be" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.