• ARM has launched a new software development tool suite which simplifies the development of Linux and Android native applications for ARM processor-based systems. The Keil Development Studio 5 (DS-5) Application Edition is the first of three planned DS-5 editions and supports Linux and Android native application development with a GNU compiler optimized for ARM Linux and an Ethernet or serial connection to the target. Future editions will include kernel and driver debug and trace, and the highly optimizing ARM Compiler.
• MetroPCS has teamed up with artist Mister Cartoon on a custom-designed Motorola VE4400. The limited edition black and chrome handset comes equipped with a 1GB MicroSD memory card featuring two unreleased full-length tracks Snoop Dogg and exclusive wallpapers and ringtones from both Mister Cartoon and Snoop Dogg. It also includes two interchangeable back covers featuring Mister Cartoon's custom artwork.
• In-Stat reports that leading 3G baseband chipset providers will not necessarily keep their leadership in LTE. Incumbent players like Broadcom, Infineon and Qualcomm will face new competition from the likes of Altair Semiconductor, Beceem, BitWave, Comsys, Sequans and Wavesat. In-Stat estimates the total value of global end-use device silicon will exceed $2 billion by 2013.
• ABI Research estimates that monthly mobile data traffic from embedded devices sent each month in 2014 will equal the total equivalent traffic measured in 2008. This traffic originates from laptops, netbooks and mobile Internet devices (MIDs) that are equipped with cellular or mobile broadband modems. ABI Research estimates that nearly 7,900 petabytes of data will be sent in 2014. Laptops and netbooks will account for about 90 percent of the traffic, with the contribution from MIDs and media tablets remaining fairly small.
• Rosum Corp. has launched a new GPS chip for indoor applications with femtocells, tracking devices and mobile television devices. The Alloy chip, developed together with mobile television chipmaker Siano, enables femtocell synchronization and location, tracking of people and assets, and localized advertising over mobile TV devices in deep indoor locations such as shopping malls.
• Text messaging will continue its dominance in the messaging arena for the foreseeable future and will evolve with additional features over the next three to five years, according Frost & Sullivan in a report exclusively licensed to Comverse. The research firm says operators will seek to avoid commoditization of the technology to curb potential competition from handset and Web companies.
• Deutsche Telekom and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) used the CeBIT 2010 event in Hannover, Germany, to demonstrate an HSPA+ data call with peak throughput of 42 Mbps over a 3G network. NSN says the demo highlights the availability of faster mobile broadband services and more efficient use of spectrum to support the growing numbers of mobile laptop and smart device users. The 42 Mbps data call was made using a Dual Cell HSPA+ platform based on NSN's commercial Flexi Multiradio Base Station and USB modems using Qualcomm's MDM8220 chipset.