Everyone break your piggy banks, the Motorola BackFlip is coming! Or, not. AT&T (NYSE: T) has just stuck it to Google (NSDQ: GOOG) by going with Yahoo as the device’s primary search feature. Why they decided to go this route is up for debate, but all the upcoming AT&T Android devices coming out this year could be shipping with Yahoo from here on out. Ouch.

The Motorola (NYSE: MOT) BackFlip will be shipping on in just under a week, for on $99, which is a nice introductory price for their first Android device. That said, the BackFlip may not be for everyone, with its awkward flip-out keyboard that remains exposed when closed, and resistive touchscreen. The trackpad on the device, which is located behind the screen when it’s flipped open looks like it will have a bit of a learning curve, but should be easy enough to get used to.  The real story, however, is that AT&T just gave the finger to Google by going with Yahoo as their main search provider on their devices.

With only 18% of the mobile search market under their belt, Yahoo has ways to go before catching up to Google’s 61%. The new deal with AT&T could change that, and slowly start to shave off some share that Google has taken. Plus, with AT&T getting somewhere near five different Android devices this year, that should definitely get Yahoo’s share growing. Still, ‘Why?” is the question to be asked, but it really doesn’t matter. Google made an operating system that allows manufacturers and carrier to modify Android as they see fit. So, that’s what you get, Google.

The shift to Yahoo does not just stop with Android phones. No, this will be a change for all Media Net devices that the carrier sells, with the exception of the iPhone, which may be jumping off the Googleship at some point, too.

The Motorola BackFlip may not usher in a radical shift in Google’s mobile search marketshare, but when devices like the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, which is rumored to go to AT&T (or T-Mobile), begin to get into the hands of consumers, then we may see Yahoo’s share going up, up, up.

[Via: AndroidAndMe, InformationWeek ]

HTC has seemingly fallen in love with Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s Android mobile operating system – they’ve been launching Android phones left and right, as of late – but the company that got its start building smartphones powered by Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)’s Windows Mobile platform hasn’t forgotten its roots. At Mobile World Congress, HTC CEO Peter Chou reiterated his company’s commitment to all things Windows Phone. That’s good news for Windows Phone fans, especially considering the impressive new Windows Phone 7 Series user interface that Microsoft demonstrated at Mobile World Congress.

“Our commitment to Microsoft has never changed,” said HTC Chief Peter Chou, adding that HTC is “very committed to Android as well. We are very long-term committed to those two.” It’s clear that HTC is keeping their options open (and why shouldn’t they – Android is gaining steam and Windows Phone has proven that Microsoft still has a future in the smartphone space).

Last week, HTC unveiled three new phones in Barcelona, two of which were Android phones. The single Windows Mobile device that was announced is a miniaturized version of HTC’s HTC HD2, aptly called the HTC HD Mini. The bite-sized Windows Phone will run on Windows Mobile OS 6.5.3, which basically represents the last stop on the upgrade roadmap for “Windows Mobile.” The good news for Windows Mobile fans is that, going forward, HTC will apparently make room for Windows Phone 7 Series handsets in their increasingly Android-heavy smartphone lineup. HTC’s commitment to Windows Phone should also be good news to Microsoft, as it will guarantee Microsoft a sizable partner willing to pay licensing fees to use the Windows Phone platform.

We had a chance to play around with a preview of Windows Phone 7 Series, and we have to give Microsoft due credit for creating a truly innovative UI that provides an intuitive user experience. Check out the video here and let us know what you think!

[Via: Reuters]

Motorola (NYSE: MOT) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Israel-based provider of video on-demand for IPTV – BitBand. The company said that the acquisition will complement their existing on-demand product line that includes content management solution and streaming servers for on-demand networks. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

As you may know, Motorola has been on a spree lately, shopping for and investing in companies left and right. Among the companies that have been acquired by or got money from Motorola are TuneWiki, RadioFrame Networks (iDEN business), SecureMedia and Soundbuzz. So it looks like they’re preparing themselves for some serious restructuring while at the same time making sure they have a compelling offering across divisions…

[Via: TechCrunch]

The Qtel Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for an exclusive Strategic Marketing Partnership (SMP) with Universal Music Group to offer unlimited music for customers across key international markets.

Under the terms of the deal, Qtel will be able to offer unlimited music downloads via mobile and the Internet to its customers. In addition, the two companies will provide users with access to exclusive events, animations and special concerts.

Among the first countries that will get the service are Kuwait, Qatar and Oman — all of which we’ll see the service being rolled-out later in the year. Additional markets will be announced shortly…

Indonesia’s Telkomsel and Opera Software announced a deal under which the operator will offer Opera Mini to its 82 million users. Opera on its end will prepare a custom version of Opera Mini 5, which will be “optimized for Telkomsel subscribers.” What that exactly means was not disclosed – I’m guessing Telkomsel gets to choose web sites which are included in bookmarks by default, and their logo is visible somewhere within the app.

Indonesia is already one of Opera Mini’s largest user bases, ranking second in usage worldwide.

Finally at the end of the press release, we learn that this is just the beginning and that the two companies will continue to develop the Opera Mini version for Telkomsel, adding new features in the future.

Scalado, which is known for its digital imaging technologies, and Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM) are co-operating to deliver a “significantly improved imaging experience on popular smartphones.” Existing handset makers which use the technology from both companies will be able to implement such technologies as Zero Shutter Lag and TimeWarp into their camera phones, and eventually make the overall experience better.

The problem with the today’s high-end camera phones is that it takes a while (few seconds) for a phone to load an image. With 8 and even 12 megapixel camera phones hitting the mainstream, this problem will further affect the user experience, as more waiting will be required to deal with large images. Hence, the two companies will do something — we’re not sure exactly what — about it.

No (phone) names were mentioned in the press release, and all we can do at this stage is hope that the likes of HTC, Acer and Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) (all of which make Android smartphones) are on board to implement the Qualcomm-Scalado’s imaging mumbo-jumbo alongside Qualcomm’s other popular product – Snapdragon processor.

Google would like you believe that the Nexus One was entirely their creation – the ultimate fruit of their Android loins – and ignore the fact that the Android superphone was developed and manufactured with a good deal of help from HTC. But, things could have gone differently if Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) had accepted Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s initial request to build the Nexus One. According to statements made by a Sony Ericsson exec, Google first approached Sony Ericsson to stamp out the metal and plastic bits to create the Nexus One. Sony Ericsson’s answer? Nope, not interested.

A new report from the Swedish publication Sydsvenskan has Sony Ericsson CEO Bert Nordberg confirming that his company was initially asked by Google to build the first Google-branded Android phone for the Mountain View, CA.-based search engine giant. Sony Ericsson turned them down. Nordberg apparently wasn’t willing to become just another sub-contractor for Google, preferring instead to focus on creating Android devices that push the Sony Ericsson brand – the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, for example.

The Nexus One hasn’t been selling all that well since it launched earlier this year, but that doesn’t mean the partnership between Google and HTC hasn’t been a beneficial one. HTC has been getting a lot of positive press for its involvement in the Nexus One, and probably doesn’t mind playing the sub-contractor fiddle every now and again (HTC started off making smartphones for other companies, after all). So, the question is – would Sony Ericsson have been wise to ride Google’s coat-tails all the way to the bank?

Find the original Swedish article (translated) here.

[Via: Engadget]

ZTE will deliver a range of Movistar-branded phones to Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) for 12 Latin American markets during this year, starting in the second quarter. More precisely, the Movistar-branded handsets will be available in Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama and Nicaragua.

Both companies have been involved in the design of new handsets, and at this moment we’ve no idea what kind of phones they are talking about. Most probably these will be entry-level handsets, made for first-time phone buyers and people on a budget…

Good Technology is teaming up with LG to include “Good for You” offering on a range of LG mobile phones across markets of Europe, Asia and Latin America. The first devices with Good’s software are also announced and they are GW520, GW550, GW620, GD510, GM730 and GM750. These phones packed with Good’s software will be available from carriers such as O2 (NYSE: TEF), Bouygues Telecom (France) and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD).

And in case you don’t know, Good for You provides users with great (or that’s good?) mobile messaging experience and it works across popular platforms — including Android, Symbian 60, Windows Mobile, BREW and Java. The solution consists of four components — Good Mobile Embedded , Good Mobile Email, Good Mobile Exchange Access and Good Mobile Social Networking — which work together to deliver the mentioned easy-to-use experience.

Both operators and end users benefit from Good’s offering – carriers get to increase their ARPU, whereas users get a powerful mobile messaging tool.

GyPSii and Genasys are teaming up with Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) to get their feet in the ever-growing mobile markets of Latin America. The application will be built on GyPSii’s OpenExperience API and will be initially launched in Mexico through Movistar in March of this year.

Genasys is the company with the contract to provide Telefonica with location based services and they’ve chosen GyPSii as their “partner in crime.” Telefonica operates in 13 markets across the continent, meaning that after Mexico, we may see the application being released in other markets.

This is a great news for GyPSii, the company which I argued some bigger company (handset maker or carrier) should acquire. If you haven’t believed me then, take a second look.