Security firm Lookout is sounding alarm of a growing trend in Android malware, while market research company Retrevo notes that Android users are the least prepared and informed about malicious mobile software. Both note that Apple's stringent control over iOS has resulted in a far safer mobile platform for users.
Google's chief legal officer has posted a public blog entry complaining that Apple, Microsoft, Oracle and others are waging an "organized campaign" against its Android operating system "waged through bogus patents."
Apple's iOS has surpassed Nokia's Symbian to become the world's second largest smartphone platform with a 19 percent market share, behind only Android's 48 percent share with multiple manufacturers, according to the latest figures from Canalys.
HTC Chief Executive Peter Chou attempted to calm investors on Friday by calling a recent ruling from the International Trade Commission, which found the Taiwanese handset maker guilty of infringing on two of Apple's patents, a mere "distraction" that will not affect his company's business.
Motorola Mobility posted better revenues than expected, but lost $56 million in the quarter and provided disappointing guidance that sent its shares down 6 percent.
The Android software platform led by Google is now installed on 39 percent of US consumer smartphones, but Apple remains the largest smartphone manufacturer with the iPhone (at 28 percent) and RIM is second largest with Blackberry (20 percent).
A US International Trade Commission judge has ruled that two patents held by S3 are being infringed by some of Apple's Mac computers, but invalidated two other patents and stated that Apple's iOS devices are not infringing any of the S3 patents.
An executive with smartphone maker HTC has indicated that his company is willing to broker a deal with Apple to settle their ongoing patent dispute.
Apple and Google's interest in securing wireless patents has driven up the cost of intellectual property so much that one potential acquisition is projected to command a 50 percent premium.
During an interview on Monday, Google Senior Vice President and General Counsel Kent Walker opened up about the company's loss to Apple in the Nortel patent auction, calling for patent reform in the U.S. as he characterized patents as "government-granted monopolies" that block innovation.
Manufacturers of Android devices continue to unite against Apple, with Acer joining the fray as the company's claims of patent infringement continue to threaten HTC.
Shipments of Apple's just-released MacBook Air will "remain strong" throughout this summer, possibly topping 1.5 million units, according to industry sources. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly weighing a bid to purchase InterDigital for its wireless technology patents. Also, a patent licensing group that won $8 million from Apple is now suing for additional royalties, this time from the iPhone and iPad.
Google executive Eric Schmidt has said his company will support HTC in its legal battle with Apple, and accused the company — where he was once a board member — for "responding with lawsuits" rather than innovating.
After negotiations for a buyout collapsed over the weekend, Borders is nearing liquidation. Also, China Unicom executives will soon travel to the U.S. to negotiate with Apple to bring the 3G iPad 2 to China.
Among consumers who plan to buy a smartphone in the next three months, the iPhone is the top choice, with nearly half of all prospective buyers choosing Apple.
Though activations of new Android devices are now significantly outpacing iOS, it is viewed as representative of a larger trend of surging growth in the smartphone market, which will also benefit Apple.
During an earnings call on Thursday, Google reported record quarterly revenue of more than $9 billion and reached a new milestone of 550,000 Android device activations per day, up from the 500,000 a day it disclosed in June.
Courts in both Canada and the U.S. have approved the proposed $4.5 billion purchase of more than 6,000 wireless patents from bankrupt Canadian telecommunications equipment maker Nortel by Apple and five other companies.
In spite of a seasonal drop in total tablet shipments in the first quarter of 2011, IDC raised its estimates for 2011 shipments to 53.5 million on the belief that Apple’s iPad 2 will continue to carry the tablet market.
Nortel's creditors are optimistic that the proceeds from an Apple-led consortium's $4.5 billion purchase of a cache of the company's patents will cover its remaining debt, while Microsoft has now secured patent licensing deals from five Android vendors. Finally, a new report claims Facebook's rumored Project Spartan HTML5 application platform is nearing completion and will reportedly launch by August 1.
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Daniel Eran Dilger
Katie Marsal
Josh Ong
Slash Lane
Sam Oliver
Neil Hughes
Blake Steven
