IF / News

Chipsets

[MWC2018] Huawei has announced its first 5G chip Balong 5G01. The company claims that its Huawei Balong 5G01 chip is the first to support the new 3GPP standard for 5G networks, and that it should be able to download data at 2.3Gbps. Richard Yu, the head of Huawei’s consumer business group, said the company is aiming to launch a 5G phone with the new chipset in 2H18. (CN Beta, CNBC, The Verge, VentureBeat, WCCFTech)

[MWC2018] MediaTek has unveiled Helio P60 system-on-chip (SoC), the first SoC platform featuring a multi-core AI processing unit (mobile APU) and MediaTek’s NeuroPilot AI technology.  Its Arm Cortex A73 and A53 processor mix delivers up to a 70 percent CPU performance boost over the Helio P23 / P30, in addition to a 70% GPU performance enhancement. Built using new 12nm FinFET technology, MediaTek Helio P60 delivers incredible energy efficiency to extend device battery life. (CN Beta, Digital Trends, Android Authority, PR Newswire)

MediaTek Helio P60 (PRNewsfoto/MediaTek Inc.)

[MWC2018] Qualcomm has announced that it is providing highly differentiated chipset products, reference designs and more than 30 purpose-built platforms that are designed to make it easy for a broad array of leading brands to participate in the Internet of Things (IoT). As a result, Qualcomm’s fiscal 2017 IoT revenues exceeded USD1B. (Android Headlines, PR Newswire, Laoyaoba)

[MWC2018] Qualcomm has announced that its innovations in Wi-Fi are leading industry growth, redefining customer experiences and helping to enable smarter homes. The company has been leading the transition to mesh networking with its pioneering Qualcomm Mesh Networking Platform, with mesh networks accounting for nearly 40% of the US retail home Wi-Fi market, up from just 5% 18 months ago. (Android Headlines, Qualcomm, Laoyaoba)

Touch Display

[MWC2018] Samsung mobile CEO DJ Koh is concerned that the public will consider the foldable phone to be a gimmick. He needs complete confidence that they delivering the best user experience when they launching a new category. He has promised when the time comes to introduce “Galaxy X”, he will not hold back. (Phone Arena, CNET, ZOL, 163)

Connectivity

[MWC2018] Intel, NTT DoCoMo, and Toyota have announced their partnerships for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Intel expects it to be the largest commercial 5G deployment at that time. Specifically, the company promises 8K 360º video streams. (Android Headlines, Engadget, Quartz, Forbes, Laoyaoba, Sina, CN Beta)

[MWC2018] Nokia has announced that it acquires Unium, a Seattle-based company that helps improve WiFi speeds via mesh networking technology. Nokia giant plans to integrate Unium’s software into its “end-to-end, whole-home WiFi solution.” The acquisition is part of the company’s new expanded WiFi offering. Nokia has more than 47M “home gateways installed worldwide.” (CN Beta, TechCrunch, Nokia)

Major telecom operators are accelerating their timelines for adopting next-generation 5G networks by up to 1 year, boosting Nokia’s confidence of uplift for its own business later in 2018, says the Chief Executive Rajeev Suri. (CN Beta, Reuters, Barron’s, First Post)

[MWC2018] Qualcomm has been running simulations of real world 5G use. 2 different simulations were run by the chipmaker; one modeled an NSA 5G NR (New Radio) in Frankfurt running 100MHz of 3.5GHz spectrum working with a Gigabit LTE network operating across 5 LTE bands. (The Verge, Phone Arena, Qualcomm, Tencent, iFeng)

[MWC2018] MediaTek has announced it has joined the “China Mobile 5G Device Forerunner Initiative”. The joint effort will accelerate the maturity of 5G chips and end devices for field tests in 2018, preliminary rollout in 2019, and the commercial rollout targeted for 2020. (Android Headlines, Asia One, Sina)

[MWC2018] MediaTek and ZTE have announced the industry’s first certification of NB-IoT R14 for commercial applications. These two companies have been testing the NB-IoT R14 for a while now, the 2 companies have performed a number of high-speed tests of the NB-IoT R14 Cat-NB2 specification with uplink / downlink data speeds of over 150 / 100kbps. (Android Headlines, Yicai, Sohu)

Phones

[MWC2018] HMD Global says it is partnering with Google and committing to using the Android One software on all of its smartphones going forward. That means everything at the Nokia 3 level and above —Nokia 1 is an Android Go phone, Nokia 8110 is a feature phone. (HMD Global, Android Central, TechCrunch, 163)

[MWC2018] Richard Yu, chief executive of Huawei’s consumer business group believes that in the future, only 3~4 vendors can survive, maybe only less than 4. He reveals that if market share is less than 10% the company cannot be profitable. Over at 10%, at least, the company can break even (and) over 15% then the company can make money. (CN Beta, iFeng, JRJ, The Edge Markets)

[MWC2018] Richard Yu, chief executive of Huawei’s consumer business group indicates that Huawei’s competitors are worried about its strength and are using politics to kick the company out of the U.S. market. He called the developments in the U.S.  “ridiculous” and said that its rivals are playing politics. (Laoyaoba, CNBC)

[MWC2018] Samsung has introduced its new AR Emoji feature, available only on Samsung Galaxy S9 series. Samsung has entered into a partnership with Disney that allows for the creation of AR Emoji using the company’s famous characters.  (Ubergizmo, Phone Arena, Boxuu, Yesky)

[MWC2018] BlackBerry’s Chief Commercial Officer Francois Mahieu says he is hoping to capture at least 3%~5% of the premium smartphone market. BlackBerry is currently licensed to TCL Communication. (Android Headlines, Mobile Scout, CN Beta)

Xiaomi head of international Wang Xiang indicates that the company is building its “resources” to enter the U.S. market. When asked if this is a sign the Chinese electronics giant is seriously considering an entry into the U.S. with its smartphones, he has said the company is always looking closely at the market. (CN Beta, CNBC)

[MWC2018] Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are announced with Bixby: S9 – 5.8” 2960×1440 QHD+ AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 / Samsung Exynos 9810, rear 12MP OIS + front 8MP, 4GB+64 / 128 / 256GB, Android 8.0, IP68, 3000mAh, from USD720. S9+ – 6.2” 2960×1440 QHD+ AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 / Samsung Exynos 9810, rear dual 12MP OIS – 12MP + front 8MP, 6GB+64 / 128 / 256GB, Android 8.0, IP68, 3500mAh, from USD840.  (Android Central, Android Headlines, Android Headlines, CN Beta)

[MWC2018] ZTE launches 2 new Blade phones: Blade V9 – 5.7” 2160×1080 FHD+, Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, rear 16MP + front 5MP, 3GB+32GB / 4GB+64GB, Android 8.0, 3100mAh, from EUR269. Blade V9 Vita – 5.45” 1440×720 HD+, Qualcomm Snapdragon 435, rear dual 13MP-2MP + front 5MP, 2GB+16GB / 3GB+32GB, Android 8.0, 3200mAh, from EUR179. (CN Beta, GSM Arena, Phone Arena)

[MWC2018] Android Go phone ZTE Tempo Go is announced – 5” FWVGA, Qualcomm Snapdragon 210, rear 5MP + front 2MP, 1GB+8GB, 2200mAh, USD80. (Liliputing, GSM Arena, CN Beta)

[MWC2018] HMD Global unveils Nokia 6, 7, and 8 powered by Android One: Nokia 6 (2018) – 5.5” FHD, Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, rear 16MP + front 8MP, 3GB+32GB / 4GB+64GB, 3000mAh, from EUR279. Nokia 7 Plus – 6” 2160×1080 FHD+, Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, rear dual 13MP-12MP + front 16MP, 4GB+64GB, 3800mAh, EUR399. Nokia 8 Sirocco – 5.5” QHD pOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835,  rear dual 12MP-13MP + front 5MP, 6GB+128GB, IP67, 3260mAh, EUR749. (Liliputing, Android Headlines, CN Beta, Android Authority, NDTV, CN Beta, CN Beta, Android Central)

[MWC2018] HMD Global unveils Nokia 8110 4G curved feature phone – 2.4” QVGA colour display, 2MP camera, 512MB+4GB, FM radio, battery lasting up to 20 days on a single charge, EUR79. (Android Headlines, CN Beta)

[MWC2018] Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are announced, equipped with rear 19MP + front 5MP, 4GB+64GB, Android 8.0, IP68, rear fingerprint scanner: XZ2 – 5.7” 1920×1080 FHD+, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, 3180mAh.XZ2 Compact – 5” 1920×1080 FHD+, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 2870mAh. (GSM Arena, Phone Arena, Pocket-Lint, TechCrunch, The Verge, Money Control, Android Central)

PCs / Tablets

According to Huawei tablet and PC product line chairman Wang Yinfeng, though Huawei’s PC products are mainly priced at above CNY5000, the subsidy Honor brand would launch notebook at CNY3000~5000 price segment. (CN Beta, iFeng, Tencent)

[MWC2018] Huawei MediaPad M5 tablets are announced – 8.4” / 10.8” 2560×1600 IPS LCD, HiSilicon 960, 4GB+32 / 64 / 128GB, Android 8.0 (EMUI 8.0), M-Pen, 5100mAh / 7500mAh, stereo speakers / quad speakers by Harmon/Kardon, LTE optional, from EUR350. (GizChina, GSM Arena, Gizmo China, CN Beta)

[MWC2018] Huawei unveils MateBook X Pro notebook – 13.9” 3000×2000 bezel-free LTPS, Intel 8^th-gen Kaby Lake R (Core i5 / i7), 1MP camera, 8 / 16GB + 256 / 512GB, 57.4Wh, from EUR1499. (CN Beta, GizChina, CN Beta, The Verge, Forbes, Neowin)

Internet of Things

End of 2017, Baofeng Group TV business group received CNY800M funding, which helps the company alleviating its financial problem. The CEO and chairman Feng Xin believes that in 2018 the company TV business will have to face Xiaomi TV. The company will focus on the TV business in 2018. (CN Beta, JRJ, The Paper)