Mountain View Cellphones

Sprint has just issued a news release (see it here: http://newsreleases.sprint.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=127149&p=irol-newsArticle_newsroom&ID=1426179) detailing the release of the highly anticipated HTC EVO, the first 4G handset available in the country.  A few highlights from the release:

• Release date is scheduled for June 4th, 2010
• Quantities will be extremely limited at release
• The EVO will be the first handset to access Sprint’s 4G data network, the first 4G data network in the country
• The EVO will come loaded with Android version 2.1

If you are interested in pre-ordering the EVO, Guide Services is hosting a group buy discount program. If 50 customers pre-register, the price of the device will be discounted by $50.  If 100+ customers pre-register, the discount deepens to $60!

For more information or to be put on the pre-registration list, please email HTCEVO@guideservices.us TODAY!

Android, the mobile operating system developed in large part by Google, has leapfrogged Apple’s iPhone OS in terms of U.S. market share.

Android, which is supported by multiple cellular  manufacturers and mobile carriers, has jumped from a 20% market share to a 28 percent market share (which it currently lays stake to) in only a few months time. The implementation of Android through each manufacturer’s product lines has helped Android to gain users, third party developer support, and establish itself as the most exciting smartphone OS to date.

Sprint’s current lineup of Android powered devices, the HTC Hero, Samsung Moment, and upcoming HTC EVO - the nation’s first 4G capable handset - has Sprint poised to offer the most diverse and complete Android offerings to their customers.

5/11/2010 www.mountainviewcellphones.com

In a jumbled up press release between Samsung, Sprint, and Citrix, Sprint announces the Samsung Moment is now a certified Citrix Ready device. 

The Citrix Receiver allows companies using Citrix to get access to enterprise applications from a mobile device.  The XenApp is I guess now Citrix for everything it looks like.  From what I’ve see, this looks fantastic as a way to get your enterprise applications mobilized.  It’s not perfect for searching, execution, and looks very window intensive to execute things, but it’s a real evolution and provides a great ability to get things on the handheld not done before.  I think the best use is for viewing and perhaps basic system functions (like processing an expense report or hours of work etc…). 

Now, you mix 4G Evo with real data speeds, then you can get a better use of your Citrix systems wherever you are at.   

This is a big step forward.  As a milestone of affirmation, Android is now here with Blackberry and IPhone.

Guide Services has put together an amazing Collective Buying agreement. Pre-register for the soon to be released HTC Evo, the first 4G capable handset available in North America. If we can reach 50 qualified preregistrations, each registrant will receive $50 off of their EVO handset purchase. If preregistrations reach capapacity, 110 preregistration maximum, each registrant will receive $60 off of their EVO handset.

Grab a friend, talk to coworkers, sign up the entire family, and receive the most advanced handset available, on the nation’s first 4G Data network, as soon as it is released. No lines, no waiting, no hassle.

Registration details below:

To register: Please send an email to HTCEVO@guideservices.us. Be sure to include the following information:

Name:

Email Address:

Number of handsets requested:

Current Sprint customer:

5/1/2010 by mountainviewcellphones.com

We are starting a series on how businesses can best use the Android apps and platform for their needs.  We will be looking at several ways to increase productivity, have fun, and use Android to save time, money, and have more fun with your phone.

Look forward to blogging more on this topic for the Month of May.

We realize our customers have busy lives and that sending in a Mail In Rebate form may not always be at the top of their To-Do lists. That’s why Guide Services now handles Mail In Rebate forms for our customers. Once the form has been completed, we handle all mailing, tracking, and help to resolve any issues that may arise. This is just another service that Sprint customers can only receive from Guide Services.

4/28/2010 by mountainviewcellphones.com

AlertSCC is a new service from Santa Clara county to distribute information during disasters. It is a text based messaging service.

As text is a more reliable communication method when there are overloaded towers, this is a great way to get information in disasters.

This is a free service for our tax dollars in Santa Clara. To sign up please go to www.alertscc.com.

4/21/2010 by www.MountainViewCellphones.com

Sprint is now offering a 30 day free trial. It’s a real test drive so you can experience the network and confirm or dispell any preconceived notions of what the network can do. Business customers or professionals that want to take advantage of this, feel free to give us a jingle.

This is a great offer in many ways.

1.  You can try the form factor of the phone you like.

2.  You can test the network.

3.  You can test the service.

You can truly test the Best Value in Wireless.

www.mountainviewcellphones.com  4/2/2010

Although most technology is target towards the age group of teens thru 30’s, there are people that still just want a phone.  Many seniors just want communications and it’s getting harder in the marketplace to find a simple phone, especially a flip phone. 

With Sprint, we have the best simple phone.  It’s the Sanyo 3810 device.  This device has the features you need if you just want a simple phone.  It also has features that make it a higher quality device as well.

• Large display and font, 2.4″ QVGA screen
• Big dial pad buttons
• Great volume and sound
• Speakerphone button
• Great battery life  (4 hours talk but longer stand by)
• Bluetooth
• 1.3 MP Camera
• GPS Navigation

Contact us if you want a free phone with upgrade or 2 year activation or call us at 650-331-7244.  We ship for free across the country as well.

The design of the device allows users who have poorer vision and hearing to use the device effectively.  The larger font size, screen size, and buttons make the phone very user friendly. 

It’s a simple phone, but it’s definitely a hit for the basic cellular user.  It serves and underserved market.

www.mountainviewcellphones.com  3/22/2009

Android is hot.  Not only is it being requested by name, customers are seeking out the product.  Value oriented customers know that Sprint offers the best deal for Android solutions.  Starting at $69.99/month, you can get unlimited talk, text, and data.  Call us if you want a better deal than this, we can ship across the country.  Talking is unlimited to mobile phones, but that’s how people talk these days so no big woop about landline minutes.

As for the strategic balance for the smartphone market, Android is killing all other competitors.  Market share growth is zooming, Iphone is stalling, and all the carriers and manufacturers are putting out Android handsets.  My prediction is that there will be a Blackberry Android handset coming in next year or thereafter…it’s inevitable. 

You may ask what facts I’m basing this on. 

1.  Store traffic data indicates a clear change away from Blackberry and WebOS to Android.  Windows doesn’t even get mentioned anymore. 

2.  All the carriers now have an Android phone.  Each carrier has more than 1 form factor, one with keyboard and one without.  This is definitely a challenge to the IPhone in two ways.  Better form factors make a larger market of buyers.  Secondly, better distribution and the combined promotion of all carriers against Apple.  Sprint, Verizon, ATT, and T-Mobile all carry Android. 

3.  The tipping point, when Android really takes off is when Sprint gets ”Supersonic.”  This will be the unchallenged 4G device.  This will lead to breakthru experience in speed and usability of phone applications.  I’m certain the screen, form factor, and other things will come along as well.  The only worry is battery life for me, but performance will definitely be there.  1 Ghz processor (yes this is now a Netbook) with 4g wireless networks.

4.  Developers structurally will prefer Android.  First, it starts with Java which is a very common web language and has a large base of developers that can code in this language.  2nd, with IPhone, you need to line up the stars to get in the App Store.  For a young innovative software company, you need to get the product right, the marketing right, the Apple relationship right, the approval right, the testing right, etc…before you are let onto the App Store.  The good news is that App Store products generally are high quality and work.  However, for breakthru game changing applications, the App Store is not the easiest way to get to market.  Android code it, test it, market it, is much easier.  There is no Apple gatekeeper you need to please, just the consumer.  This allows applications to be more iterative in design and adapt faster to market needs.  You can fail 2 or 3 times on Android without spending the resources of 1 App Store application.  If you can learn fast enough from those failures, you can have a better app that’s test in Android and then shine it up for Apple approval “afterwards.”  This will slowly but surely make the IPhone the 2nd launch market versus Android.  Bank of America even released their mobile Android banking app already after the IPhone app.  In 2 years, Android will be the first release and IPhone the second.       

5.  Developers will have a larger market to get their apps on.  As Android will hopefully solve the problem of write once and run on any Android phone, this will make the market much easier to accept applications.  The application will run on 9-10 devices rather than 1 form factor.   

6.  Google’s information business model will continue to promote giving away of hardware, software, and other items to recoup the costs in managing and marketing information and use of the device.  Android is free…so to speak…and this makes it attractive for hardware vendors to use (Look at HTC, Samsung, and LG firmly committing to Android next year).  Samsung and LG are the big boys in the cellular market and they have the muscle to push the product across all GSM and CDMA rapidly.  

7.  IPhone fatigue.  The IPhone has been the “in” thing for the last 3 years.  People are tired of it.  People are going to want to be “different.”  Android is the new “cool” thing.  Sure there are still tons of IPhones selling but it’s not gaining market share anymore.  People are of course tired of ATT and their bottom of the barrel customer service.  Your Mom has an IPhone now…as the young generation…you want something better and newer than she has.  IPhone users will begin to switch to Android as well for price point and performance parity, as you will get more bang for the buck with Android ($100-$200 less per year).  With 4G on Sprint, you will get much more performance for less price.      

These are my observations.  The rise of Android has already begun and it’s only gaining speed.  Apple’s lawsuit of HTC was the sign that they fear the competition.