High Tech Computer (HTC) saw its revenues grow 22.4% on year to hit a record high of NT$16.04 billion (US$489 million) in October buoyed by the launch of new models, including T-Mobile G1 phones, according to company data. For the 10 months of this year, revenues reached NT$121.22 billion, up 30.8% from a year earlier period. Despite growing uncertainty about the global economy, HTC has remained positive over its fourth-quarter revenue outlook, targeting a total of about NT$48 billion, according to sources at handset component suppliers. The sources even pointed out that HTC is actually under a tight production schedule, with part of its shipments already being affected.

  Samsung Electronics Co. overtook Motorola Inc. as the leading vendor of handsets in the U.S. for the first time in the third quarter, according to data from Strategy Analytics Inc. The South Korean company reached the milestone -- with 22.4% of the market compared with Motorola's 21.1% -- by offering carriers a full portfolio of devices, from high-end products such as the touch-screen Instinct to lower-end phones given free to customers who sign up with a particular carrier.

  In the area of mobile communications, innovative technologies such as "HSPA evolution," which is the successor to HSPA, and "LTE (long term evolution)," which features high-speed communications of more than 100Mbps, are drawing interest. For both of these technologies, Ericsson intends to proactively develop and market embedded modules, base station facilities and other products. During the conference, Ericsson mentioned its concept of a future mobile terminal as "a mobile device in 2012." According to the concept, high-function terminals, in the future, will be equipped with a 12- to 20-Mpixel camera and support full HD video shooting capability. "We have an image of a mobile terminal equipped with digital camera and camcorder capabilities of the future," said Jonas Lundstedt, Ericsson's Director Portfolio Management, Product and Portfolio Management. The terminal's display will have XGA resolution. And the operating frequency of the application processor will reach 1GHz, he said. As for its telecommunications functionality, Ericsson expects the device to support 100Mbps or faster LTE. The company considers that the market shift toward such a future mobile terminal is gradual. Current HSPA technology has a maximum transmission speed of 7.2Mbps,...

  LG has quietly released a new affordable clamshell, the LG KP152. For the moment, the handset officially appears only on the LG Brazil website, but it’s said it will be released in Europe too – in Russia for the beginning, starting this month. LG KP152 is surely an elegant device. Unfortunately, its features are not at all ones to crave for. The phone might represent the beginning of LG’s new campaign to conquer emerging markets with basic devices. Here are the main specs and capabilities of LG KP152: Tri band GSM/GPRS connectivity TFT display with 65K colors (its resolution is not known) FM radio SMS, MMS VGA photo camera 800 mAh Li-Ion battery Talk time: up to 3.5 hours Stand by time: up to 350hours 80 grams 88 x 47 x 17.3 millimeters LG KP152 will have a retail price of somewhere around $100. As seen in the images above, the clamshell will come in at least two color versions: red and black.

  Myvu today announced that Myvu Crystal is now fully compatible with Apple’s revolutionary iPhone, in addition to existing compatibility with all Apple iPod. Myvu Crystal includes a rechargeable battery, a USB charging cable and noise-cancelling earphones from Ultimate Ears. Available in black or amber, Myvu Crystal will be sold on Myvu website for $299.95 MSRP. The eyewear has built-in rechargable battery, at one full battery charge you can use the Myvu Crystal up to 4 hours. Myvu Crystal is compatible with all iPod with video models, iPhone and iPhone 3G, other portable media players and mobile phones (including Microsoft Zune, Nokia N95 and select Samsung models), portable DVD players and various game consoles.

  Samsung has only just introduced the T*Omnia in its home country but may already be enroute to the US within a matter of weeks, a claim from BusinessWeek. The company is reportedly in talks to bring the Windows Mobile touchscreen phone with an unspecified US carrier by the end of November, though whether it represents the fully-upgraded T*Omnia or its lower-resolution, lower-capacity ancestor is unknown. Recent leaks have suggested that versions of the Omnia may ultimately be available for two carriers, with both CDMA and GSM/WCDMA versions passing through the FCC. The GSM version has been listed as the i907, or an upgraded version of the original i900, and so points to the possibility of the T*Omnia being a candidate for AT&T. Samsung's newest model should support 3G on the American provider's network up to 7.2Mbps downstream. The CDMA version, however, is effectively unique to the US and combined with the apparent magazine leak would support claims of a Verizon Omnia due this month. The T*Omnia supports either 4GB or 16GB of storage and supplies a five-megapixel camera, GPS and Wi-Fi, making it a flagship device for any carrier that would pick it...

  Mobile Phone Helpdesk already wrote an article about the announcement Sony Ericsson will make tomorrow. In this message we reported about a new flagship modern that will get its official twist tomorrow, but we actually didn't think of the Sony Ericsson Rika. Not because the Sony Ericsson Rika, aka W705, is not special, but more because we had expected some more spectacular specifications. But well, that may not spoil the fun for tomorrow. A couple of official photos, of an early developing stadium of the devices, and a couple of official specifications ended up in our mailbox this morning. The Sony Ericsson W705 is already warming up for tomorrow. The website Cellphone Sail today published the first pictures of the Sony Ericsson W705. A juicy detail of the Sony Ericsson W705 is that it will become the first Walkman Phone with a 3.5 mm audio port. It will finally be possible to connect your own headphone to a true Walkman Phone! The newest Walkman Player software will be present to give your beats and bass a good view and userfriendliness and the same clear speakers as used in the Sony Ericsson W980 will be present. Information about the amount of internal memory is something we don't have yet, but we can say that Sony Ericsson delivers a 4 GB...

  A weekend report reveals a Japanese newspaper and news agency are reporting electronics maker Panasonic may buy majority stake in Sanyo Electric before 2009. While the news is unofficial, Sanyo has made a statement saying it is considering options of selling its preferred stock shares but is yet to make a decision. Panasonic's press release, meanwhile, simply reads the company has not made such an announcement, but nothing was yet decided in regards to the rumored purchase, confirming the two companies are in talks. This year's fall in stock prices would mean Panasonic would buy Sanyo shares for a third less than they cost as early back as July. If the deal goes through, it would let Panasonic add Sanyo's extensive battery business to its own, along with giving the giant access to Sanyo's solar panel business and enter that industry. Panasonic would need to deal with Sanyo's majority shareholders Goldman Sachs, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking and Daiwa Securities SMBC, which made a saving 300 billion yen ($3 billion) investment in Sanyo back in 2006. The rumors regarding the sale were reported by Japan's biggest business daily, the Nikkei, along with the Kyodo News agency. Struggling Sanyo was rescued in 2006 with by Goldman Sachs, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking...

  Can any company force you to forego your natural right to sell your used mobile phones through second-hand channels like eBay? Word on the street has it that Motorola might be trying to do just that with their Motorola AURA. A “source close to [Motorola]” has apparently told Register Hardware that Motorola will require any Motorola AURA buyer to sign a contract that prevents them from hocking their luxury handset on the secondary market. The contract makes provisions for selling the unwanted handset back to Motorola directly, but it’s unclear how much Moto will pony up for a used Motorola AURA. The move to lock down the Motorola AURA strictly to retail channels is said to be an effort to preserve the Motorola AURA’s air of exclusivity. The luxury handset market is a fiercely competitive market ripe options. Forcing customer to pay the expected retail price of $2,000 for the handset ensures that the AURA projects an image of wealth and privilege. We’re not sure how Motorola would prevent eBay sales or how Moto would enforce such a contract. But, if true, this could set a precedent for contract-tied handsets that goes beyond the multi-year wireless contracts we already have to deal with. The Motorola AURA isn’t...

  In its ongoing effort to bridge the digital divide, Nokia today introduced a range of affordable mobile devices and innovative new services specifically for people in emerging markets. In addition to Nokia's lowest cost handset to date, as well as its first handset for emerging markets with an integrated digital music player, Nokia unveiled a range of services that leverage the power of the Internet. Estimated retail prices of the new devices range from 25 to 90 EUR, with several models expected to begin shipping in 2008. Nokia's suite of Internet services for emerging markets will be available beginning in 2009. The first services Nokia will offer in emerging markets will focus on email, agriculture and education, which based on consumer feedback, present the strongest demand in emerging markets. Mail on Ovi, which is enabled on Nokia Series 40 devices, offers the possibility to create an email account directly on the mobile phone without having to use a personal computer, giving millions of users the possibility to create their first internet identity and communicate in new ways. Mail on Ovi is easy to find, set-up and use, for immediate email access from your mobile phone. A trial of Mail on Ovi will launch in a few select markets by the end of...

  Branding gadgets with speed monsters is a practice soon becoming a publicity gimmik. Why else would Vertu and Ferrari team up again after the Ascent Ferrari 1947-product line? Here is what the latest uber-luxury phone will offer the indulgent folks. The line up comes as one limited edition phone, the Nero, and two special edition phones, the Rosso and Giallo. The Nero boasts of a titanium body with crystal sapphire pillows, and is coated with scratchproof PVD. The Rosso and Giallo feature PVD-coated keyboards and battery covers, as well as ceramic pillows. The specs include Quad-band GSM/EDGE with WCDMA 2100, Stainless steel keys and sapphire crystal screen, Bluetooth, 3 MP camera with autofocus and flash, 4 GB user memory and Ferrari-inspired themes and ringtones. The phones will weigh 160 grams each and will support 5 hours talk time and 300 hours standby. They sync with Macs and PCs. Apparently only 2,009 limited edition Neros will surface. Since it's a Vertu it's pointless talking about the pricing. Availability is not yet known.