Samsung Will Seek To Block iPhone 4S Sales In France And Italy.

Apple vs Samsung http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Apple vs Samsung is entering another phase with the introduction of the new (old) iphone 4S, which even sent Apple stocks down.
Samsung has already filed a claim in USA regarding the WCDMA patents it holds and Apple violates. France and Italy both uses GSM networks and according to existing law, companies can seek and courts can order a ban on sales of a product even before the product reaches markets according to a Samsung spokesman, James Chung.
"Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology, and we will steadfastly protect our intellectual property," .... “The infringed technology is essential to the reliable functioning of telecom networks and devices and Samsung believes that Apple’s violation [is] too severe and that the iPhone 4S should be barred from sales,” said Samsung.
Apple managed to block sales of Samsung products in the Netherlands and Germany and is almost succeeding doing the same  in Australia. Samsung has asked a court in the Netherlands to stop Apple from selling iPhones and iPad tablets.

Unlocked iPhone 4S, May be coming!

I have been looking for the pricing on Unlocked iPhone 0.5, oops unlocked iPhone 4S but I could not find anywhere. But after reading Apple's iPhone FAQ, it looks like there will be unlocked iPhone 4S. I do not like to mess around with my carrier and since the phone is dual mode, I do not want to be locked in to AT&T for another two years (But the stories of AT&T improving it's network has me thinking about it again as I still have an unlimited data plan with the carrier.). As per AT&T's pricing, I guess it will be phone's price plus $325 so 16GB iPhone 4S will be about $525, 32GB for about $625. Yes I will get one! Could I have a black one please!
In any case, I think I will get an iPhone 0.5. If not for anything, just to show my friends who laughs at me for my bad accent "look my iPhone can understand me why can't you?" But will it understand me? is the question now.
Here is what apple FAQ says;

When I buy from the Apple Online Store, does my iPhone come ready to use?

Yes, if you have selected a mobile phone carrier. When your iPhone arrives, all you have to do is turn it on and follow the onscreen instructions to set it up. There's no need to call the carrier or visit a store to complete the activation. If you have selected an unlocked GSM phone, you will need to acquire a micro-SIM from the supported GSM carrier of your choice and activate it in order to use your iPhone.

Macrumors is telling us that the unlocked iPhone 4S will cost $649 and $749 for 16GB and 32GB phones. If that is the case, it might be cheaper to buy AT&T phone and cancel the contract at $325 penalty.

Apple No Longer The Most Valuable Company!

Apple down after no iPhone 5 News http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Investors did not like the Tim Cook style and no iPhone 5 even less. So the stocks were down and with after hours trading standing at Exxon at the top with Market Cap of 354.11B versus Apple's Market Cap standing at 345.34B.
So Apple is not the most valuable company in the world. It looks Tim Cook is not Steve Jobs (Duh), and lacks the spark. Perhaps he should have named iPhone 4S, iPhone .5, that is 0.5.

So Apple is not the most valuable company in the world. It looks Tim Cook is not Steve Jobs, and lacks the spark. Perhaps he should have named iPhone 4S, iPhone .5, thei is 0.5.

Innovatio Goes After Small Business' Providing WiFi, Sounds Like Another Patent Troll

It seems there are no end to patent trolls these days. The latest is a firm with 31 patents related to WiFi but which does not produce or market anything related to WiFi going around suing small business like coffee shops and hotels providing WiFi. Unlike other patent trolls, Innovatio is at least innovative in the way they sue these people. They sue for small lump sum amounts that is much cheaper than defending oneself in a court. The firm has not ruled out, coming after other WiFi users, like you and I, at home.
Geemodo: Another Patent Troll In Your WiFI Space, Innovatio

Pre Release iPhone 5 Love, Where is it? Not In The Markets!

iPhone 5 http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
With ever increasing Android phones, looking and doing better or equal to what iPhone does, there are so much that iPhone 5 can bring us.
Just without thinking much deeper, two enhancements that iPhone 5 could bring are NFC and a Front facing camera. But those to have existed on Android phones for ages. So only thing Apple could do is to make enhancements like those two more sexier. But how sexier could NFC on iPhone be? Front facing camera, that can certainly be done by not doing what Apple did with iPad 2
Yes I halted a purchase of a new phone in anticipation of iPhone 5 but if Apple cannot show that it is worth my money, I would turn to an Android phone in a blink. Perhaps I might even think of an iPhone 4, or iPhone 4S that is circulating around rumor mills.
It seems it is not only me but investors too have changed their tunes towards iPhone launch. According to WSJ, the traders are not making money in the pre release market of iPhone 5 like they did in the previous iPhone releases;

Money is Usually Made Leading Up to iPhone Event but Not in 2011. WithApple set to announce the iPhone 5 this Tuesday (October 4), we analyzed the stock price performance around prior iPhone launches.
Looking overApple's stock price performance surrounding the past four iPhone launches,the real money was made leading up to the iPhone event. In each of the pastfour years, Apple stock has always moved higher in the two weeks prior to theiPhone event, however, this year appears to be the exception with an 8%decline in Apple's stock price (vs. down 6% for S&P 500) registered ahead ofthe October 4 event.

How Apple is doing in the market (Also you will notice everybody else is also in the same boat.)
WSJ