AlleyInsider reports on a new analyst report from Friedman Billings Ramsey which claims that Apple's iPhone production could fall "more than 40%" in the 4th Quarter of 2008. AlleyInsider points out this may simply represent a surplus of iPhone production from Q3 2008 and the decrease in Q4 is to adjust inventory to match demand. Another contributing factor is believed to be the recent economic downturn: That the firm's iPhone production plans are being revised lower suggests that the global macroecomomic weakness is impacting even high-end consumers, those that are more likely to buy Apple's expensive gadgets, and that no market segment will be spared in this global downturn. This is a negative signal for global demand, in our view. The analyst bases his findings on "recent checks" on the chip industry which supplies parts for Apple's iPhone. The news comes shortly after Apple reported record iPhone earnings capturing 2.3% of the mobile phone market. Source

  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

  ComScore, Inc. reports for the first time the demographics of iPhone owners and reveals that while 43 percent of iPhone owners earn in excess of $100,000 annually, the strongest growth in users is coming from those earning less than the median household income, particularly since the launch of the iPhone 3G. According to a new comScore report, “All about iPhone,” iPhone adoption since June 2008 rose 48 percent among those earning between $25,000 and $50,000 per year and by 46 percent among those earning between $25,000 and $75,000. These growth rates are three times that of those earning more than $100,000 per year. Overall, iPhone penetration grew 21 percent. While the number of consumers in the $25,000 to $50,000 income demographic declined marginally from June to August 2008, their ranks among smartphone owners and mobile content users grew, in most cases above the rate of the overall market. According to comScore Mobile, the number of people earning between $25,000 and $50,000 accessing news and information via their mobile browser grew by five percent since June, while the market overall grew by three percent. comScore also reported seven percent growth in mobile e-mail usage and five percent growth in mobile music consumption among

  According to a new study, people are increasingly choosing which phone to buy based on the ability to customise their applications. The study, conducted by Mformation, reveals that 68% of mobile phone users find it frustrating being locked into the apps that come preinstalled on their smartphone. It's a situation Apple has recently tried to take advantage of, with the launch of its apps store for the iPhone and iPod touch. A similar, though free, service is expected to be offered on Google's Android platform. The apps store has already been a runaway hit for Apple, shifting 200 million applications since launch. The survey suggests 67% of mobile phone buyers are willing to pay a premium for a similar service on their handsets. Indeed, the survey argues that 81% are so attracted by the ability pick and choose their apps that they're willing to switch provider to achieve it. "Services are very locked down. You get a device and that's what you have until you upgrade," Rob Dalgety, Mformation's marketing director tells PC Pro. "There's a lot of pent-up demand - people would use services more if there was more flexibility in provisioning. If you target services to customers and segment needs, you get more usage." This is backed up by the findings that

  According to the latest forecasts from Informa Telecoms & Media, there will be four billion global mobile subscriptions at the end of this year! To put the number in perspective, it took five full quarters for the latest billion net additions. Naturally emerging markets such as India and China are to “blame” for this rapid growth. The two mentioned countries have seen over 50 million new mobile subscriptions during the last six months. Other countries that also saw a significant growth in mobile phone penetration include Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan and Brazil. On the down side, though, this growth is set to slow, and Informa predicts the five billionth subscription will be signed during Q4 2011, with worldwide penetration reaching in excess of 70% by this time. Only in Africa will penetration at the end of 2011 still be below 50%. The world’s largest mobile operators know the market will stop growing at some point, hence they’re broadening, and in some cases reconsidering their strategic thinking. Informa’s “Mobile Operator Strategies” report studies the parallel business lines being assumed by the likes of Vodafone, China Mobile and Telenor. On the one hand, the extension of basic mobile connectivity

  These days, anyone with Photoshop and a fanboy bent can come up with fake (or, as they are known, "concept") product design. To achieve smart, desirable simplicity, though, requires some talent. Mac Funamizu has it, as we saw with his transparent tablet computer, which overlays the internet on the real world. Now he has theoretically embedded e-ink into simple plastic block to make a smart phone. Based on the Nokia Aeon (another concept), the Nanokia has no buttons. The interface is configured on-the-fly, like the iPhone, but the e-ink makes you forget thare is a screen involved. The planned haptic interface furthers the illusion of real, solid buttons. I love it. Especially the slide-out-screen configuration. It's one step closer to something that was already perfected 11 years ago.

Q3 highlights: Break even results, excluding restructuring charges, as challenging business conditions continued C902 Cyber-shot™ camera phone is hit model of the quarter First Xperia™ branded multimedia phone X1 began shipping   Expansion of music service offering with announcement of PlayNow™ plus   Units shipped in the quarter were 25.7 million, a sequential increase but flat year-on-year, while sales for the quarter were Euro 2,808 million, a decrease of 10% compared to the third quarter of 2007. Most of this decrease reflects the impact of exchange rate fluctuations, as well as a shift of the product mix to more lower priced phones. Gross margin also decreased year-on-year and sequentially due to continued price pressure at a time of adverse cost trends in the supplier base. This was partially mitigated by the introduction of new products at the end of the second quarter, such as the C902 Cyber-shot™ camera phone, which is selling well; however, strong competition continues, particularly in Europe. Income before taxes for the quarter was Euro 12 million, excluding restructuring charges of Euro 35 million, a decrease compared to the third quarter of 2007. Average selling price (ASP)

  Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) announced that volume of mobile phone shipments in Japan dropped by 47.9% year-on-year (YoY) to 2,084,000 units in August 2008. Shipment volume of PHS terminals decreased by 62.4% YoY to 82,000 units. JEITA pointed out that the summer selling season did not last long because of the small number of new functions equipped in mobile phones released in the summer. Another reason for the sluggish handset sales is that, due to a change in marketing method, users now have to pay more for a handset than before, according to JEITA. Shipment of mobile phones with a 1seg broadcasting reception function increased by 20.9% to 1,774,000 units, accounting for a record 85.1% of all mobile phone shipments in Japan. The cumulative shipments of handsets in Japan have reached 41,488,000 units since the research started.

Reliance Communications and Research In Motion (RIM) launched the first prepaid service for the BlackBerry® wireless solution in India. This first of its kind ‘pay as you use’ pricing model in India is in line with Reliance Communications’ strategy to extend BlackBerry services to customers who are looking for cost-effective options, giving customers flexibility and control over their expenses for wireless services. Reliance Communications has been on the forefront of offering a wide range of prepaid options to consumers across its data cards, mobile phones and fixed wireless phones offering. This prepaid service option is available on a range of BlackBerry smartphones including: The BlackBerry® 8830 World Edition smartphone, which operates on both CDMA & GSM networks The BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 smartphone on CDMA networks The BlackBerry® Curve™ 8300 smartphone on GSM networks The BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8100 smartphone on GSM networks The BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130 smartphone on CDMA networks, and  The BlackBerry® 8703e smartphone on CDMA networks For further query, customers can visit any Reliance World or Reliance Communications