Hardware
Mobile phone sales touch 32 mn in the US
MUMBAI: America’s NPD Group which provides market information for the wireless industry has released a report stating that mobile phone sales to consumers in the US reached 31.6 million units in the third quarter of this year.
This number represents solid incremental growth of seven per cent from the second quarter 2005 sales volume of 29.6 million units and an increase of more than 30 per cent compared to sales during the same period in 2004. NPD estimates total third quarter 2005 consumer sales of slightly more than $2 billion.
The report notes that the handset market was very robust in the third quarter. These numbers reflect strong replacement demand among consumers, coupled with more limited growth from new subscribers.”
According to NPD’s Mobile Phone Track, Motorola continued its leadership in the US market during the third quarter, boasting three of the top five best-selling models, including its popular RAZR device at Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile. During the third quarter, Motorola’s demonstrated strength was due in part to a significant gain in share within the Verizon Wireless handset portfolio. The battle continues to be intense among LG, Nokia and Samsung for the number two market position.
Motorola has a 30 per cent market share. LG, Nokia and Samsung each have a 16 per cent share.
In the GSM market, Motorola had the leading share with 39 per cent, followed by Nokia with 22 per cent and Samsung with 14 per cent. During third quarter, LG was the leader in CDMA handsets with a 27 per cent market share, with Samsung and Motorola tied in second place at 18 per cent.
The NPD Group’s Mobile Phone Track information service compiles and analyses mobile device sales data based on more than 150,000 completed online consumer research surveys each month. Surveys are based on a nationally-balanced and demographically-representative sample, and results are projected to represent the entire population of US consumers.
Hardware
Specs Inc. partners with Qualcomm for next-generation smart glasses
Snap subsidiary to power future Specs with Snapdragon XR platforms.
MUMBAI: Snap’s Specs are about to get a serious upgrade and this time, they’re teaming up with Qualcomm to make sure the future looks crystal clear. Specs Inc., a Snap subsidiary, has announced a multi-year strategic agreement with Qualcomm Technologies to power future generations of its advanced smart eyewear with Snapdragon system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology.
This marks the first flagship engagement for Specs Inc., which is preparing to launch its standalone, see-through smart glasses for consumers later this year. The Specs are designed to seamlessly blend digital experiences into the physical world, allowing users to see, hear, and interact with digital content as if it were part of their real surroundings.
By integrating Snapdragon XR platforms, the glasses will benefit from edge AI and high-performance, low-power computing. This combination enables intelligent, context-aware experiences to run directly on the device, delivering faster and more private interactions.
The partnership builds on more than five years of collaboration between Snap and Qualcomm, during which Snapdragon platforms have powered multiple generations of Snap’s Spectacles.
Snap Inc., co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel said, “We believe the future of computing will be more human and grounded in the real world. Our work with Qualcomm provides a strong foundation for the future of Specs, bringing advanced technology and performance that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.”
Qualcomm Incorporated president and CEO Cristiano Amon added, “The next era of computing will be defined by devices that understand what you see, hear and say, and respond instantly to the world around you. Our collaboration on Specs will enable power-efficient interactive AR devices that feel natural and intuitive.”
The agreement establishes a scalable foundation for developers and partners building experiences for Specs, supporting a predictable product roadmap and increasingly sophisticated digital interactions over time.
In a world racing toward augmented reality, Specs Inc. and Qualcomm are ensuring that the next pair of smart glasses doesn’t just look good on paper, they perform brilliantly in real life. The future of wearable computing just got a powerful new lens.
