British Telecom (BT) Is Hating On Android, Sues Google Over Six Patents [updated]

It looks like British Telecom is not liking Google's deserts. According to FOSS Patent. British Telecom sued Google in Delaware over six patents. BT claim Google's Mobile OS Android infringes patents related to maps, navigation and even music.

UPDATED: To include lawsuit papers and to add that it seems BT is looking for a cheap stake on Google by claiming the overlay broad patents that is asserting against Google are used by most of Google services like Google Search, Android, AdSense, Gmail, Google+, Google Docs, Google Music and Google Maps.

See the the lawsuit text embedded below.

11-12-15 BT v Google Complaint

FOSS Patents

Apple iPhone Remains King In The USA [bestseller]

According to a Nielsen survey conducted on 300,000 Americans during the course of a year shows that smartphones will soon out pace featured phones. You know the one going the way of the dinosaurs. According to Nielsen smartphones account for 49% of cell phones in Americans hands.

And the number one device including smartphones and dumb-phones is Apple's iPhone. Yes Google's Android may be the top selling mobile OS on smartphone thanks to been put for free on good but mostly crappy devices from any manufacturer.

But no single Android device or any one else's can come close to the iPhone that since late 2009 reigns king as the number one sold device in the US.

The Best Membership You Can Have Only Cost $19/mo For Unlimited All Smartphone Plan [Republic Wireless]

We all know how crazy smartphone plans are. Specially when we are talking about unlimited ones. So far the cheaper "unlimited plans" go for $50 from the likes of MetroPCS and Virgin Mobile.

Plans from the big two At&t & Verizon are crazy expensive even on prepaid. While they claim to have $50 unlimited plans they are for "dumb" phones not smartphones not even low end ones.

So we are really exited about Bandwidth.com new Republic Wireless membership. Yes you got that right is a membership not a subscription and like most membership it comes with savings and some restrictions.

Republic Wireless will offer you unlimited calls, text and data on an Android smartphone for just $19 a month. The first and only handset available so far is the Android OS powered LG Optimus ($199 including first month of membership) and more handset are in the pipeline.

We mentioned this was a membership and it came with restrictions right? Republic Wireless is able to offer this amazing prize with no contract because it will shift most of the load from the cell networks (Sprint at the moment) to Wifi networks. 

Your call, text and data will be routed trough wifi networks you had setup like your home, office, friends and relatives houses. So when you are at any of this places that will be over 50% of the time the phone will automatically switch to them. You don't have to use any special apps or anything.

When you are on a place were no wifi network are available it will use the cell networks. Now here is were the restriction kicks in. You need to keep a balance on using wifi and cell networks you can't just buy the phone and join the membership and go your way to using the service all the time on cell networks.

The point of RW is to give you an affordable plan that will fit most of us that spend a lot of time on wifi network range. For me the plan is amazing and the resections on use that is basically one that you use wifi networks when possible is totally reasonable.

This is a plan I hope will start a shift in the wireless industry were we can start seeing more hybrid plans that take advantages of wifi and we only use and pay for cell networks when needed. 

Note that if you abuse the membership and most of your use is over cell networks for an extended period of time you may get kicked out. But even if you don't use wifi you will be able to log up to 550 minutes, 150 sms and 300mb of data without any worries.

I will said that the membership is perfect for those of us that spend at least 50% of our smartphone use on wifi serviced areas.

Republic Wireless Home Page

iOS vs Android & Your Personality [Infographic]

Your choice of smartphone can said a lot about your personality and the cool guys at Huntch had dig deep into it to find out how different that personality can be.

Google Buys Motorola for $12.5b, Android Partners React Positively.

Here is the big news of the day if not the week. Today Google announced that it will buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billions in cash.

The deal at $40 a share represents a 63% premium for Motorola shares and also mean that Google will be spending around 32% of its cash reserve that until recently hovered at $39 billions.

“Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies,” Google CEO Larry Page said in a statement.

Motorola will give Google an end to end user experience similar to Apple but Android is also licensed to may other OEM like Samsung, LG and HTC. Some of them had reacted in a surprisingly positive way.

“We welcome today’s news, which demonstrates Google’s deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem.”– J.K. Shin President, Samsung, Mobile Communications Division

“We welcome the news of today‘s acquisition, which demonstrates that Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem.”– Peter Chou CEO, HTC Corp

“We welcome Google‘s commitment to defending Android and its partners.” – Jong-Seok Park, Ph.D President & CEO, LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company

“I welcome Google‘s commitment to defending Android and its partners.” – Bert Nordberg President & CEO, Sony Ericsson

Google has stated that Motorola will work as an independent unit and that Android will remain open. 

Motorola has a big patent portfolio with 17,000 patents on hand and 7,500 pending that will help Google defend Android against rivals like Apple and Microsoft.

Full press release:

Combination will Supercharge Android, Enhance Competition, and Offer Wonderful User Experiences

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of about $12.5 billion, a premium of 63% to the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on Friday, August 12, 2011. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

“Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.

Larry Page, CEO of Google, said, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses.”

Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union and other jurisdictions, and the approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012.