New WN Wi-Fi Network Extender Router from Green Packet

Green Packet(GP) introduced a new portable Wi-Fi router called WN Wi-Fi Network Extender last week. GP is one of the main shareholders in Packet One Networks(P1), a key WiMAX operator in Malaysia.

The WN Wi-Fi Network Extender is portable and a convenient wireless solution, featuring a blend of USB and Ethernet port allowing users to plug in a WiMAX USB dongle or wired ADSL gateway to deliver a complete WiFi connectivity to multiple WiFi-enabled devices. [...]

[Insider] Windows Phone Marketplace available now & Nokia Lumia RRP in Malaysia

Its eight days down the road before the official launching of the Nokia Lumia in Malaysia and there are already a lot of rumours on the Nokia Lumia pricing.

The official retail price of the Nokia Lumia 800 is RM1650 and the Nokia Lumia 710 is priced at RM999. Please ignore the estimated pricing that we revealed previously. [...]

[Update 1] U Mobile Network Goes Down Again

At least some 1 million U Mobile subscribers nationwide could be experiencing difficulties to make/receive calls, send SMS and use Internet. U Mobile is facing a network outage nationwide which started since 9PM yesterday(1 Feb).

Unfortunately, calls to U Mobile customer service hotline at 018-3881318 went unanswered. Angry customers turned to social networking site such as Twitter to express their disappointment.

At the point of writing, U Mobile customers would not notice the outage unless they try to make a call or send an SMS. Broadband, Internet and BlackBerry users would be experiencing intermittent connection.

About 1 hours and 45 minutes after the outage occurred, U Mobile posted the following message on its official Twitter account:

“Our 3G services in some areas in Kinta are currently disrupted. Some customers maybe affected. The rectification is in progress. Any inconvenience caused is much regretted. TQ. ^CS02″- Source

And about 20 minutes later it said that the outage was actually nationwide “in some areas”:

Our data services in some areas nationwide are currently having intermittent issue. Some customers maybe affected. The rectification is in progress. Any inconvenience caused is much regretted. TQ. ^CS02- Source

Last checked while this article is being written, no announcement about this outage was posted on its Facebook page despite having over 100 thousand fans. In comparison, U Mobile Twitter account has some 600 followers. [...]

[Insider] Nokia Lumia 800 & Lumia 710 available in Malaysia starting Feb 10

[Update]- Windows Phone Marketplace available now & Nokia Lumia RRP in Malaysia

Nokia is about to sell its first Window Phone in Malaysia. It is launching the Nokia Lumia 800 and the Nokia Lumia 710 on the 10th of February which is Friday next week. For those who are not aware, we leaked the estimated retail price of both Nokia Lumia two days ago.

The Nokia Lumia 710 is expected to go on sale for RM990 while the Nokia Lumia 800 has a price tag of RM1890. However both retail price are not official and yet to be finalised by Nokia Malaysia.

Our sources confirmed that Celcom & DiGi will be present at the LaBodega, Pavillion launch. We know Maxis will offer the two Lumia but we are not sure if they will be there at the launch. [...]

Nokia Siemens to cut over 4000 jobs in Europe

Nokia Siemens Network(NSN), the second largest mobile equipment maker in the world is about to cut 4,100 job in its home countries, including some 2,900 jobs in Germany and 1,200 in Finland.

The job cuts is part of its restructuring plans announced last November where it will lay off 17,000 jobs globally, or 23% of its work force of 74,000, to save €1 billion ($1.35 billion) in annual costs by 2013. [...]

Samsung Galaxy Note & Galaxy S II to get ICS Upgrade

After launching Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.0, the Norwegian branch of Samsung Electronic has confirmed now that the Samsung Galaxy Note & Galaxy S II will receive the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich(ICS) upgrade soon.

On it Facebook page, Samsung Norway has said that the update will be available toward the end of this quarter. Which means sometime this month or next month.

The Ice Cream Sandwich update will offer a number of improvement for the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note, including a new task manager, better notification manager, improved browser, Face unlock feature and more. [...]

[Insider] Price of Nokia Lumia 800 & Lumia 710 in Malaysia

[Update1]- Nokia Lumia 800 & Lumia 710 available in Malaysia starting Feb 10

[Update 2]- Windows Phone Marketplace available now & Nokia Lumia RRP in Malaysia

About two weeks ago, Nokia Malaysia invited a couple of Bloggers in Malaysia for a special preview of the new Lumia 800 and the Lumia 710. However the most important information was missing, the retail price & date of availability.

Nokia Malaysia said that the two Lumia will be available after Chinese New Year, “within weeks”. As for the pricing, we(Bloggers) were asked to share with them our estimated price as they were still deciding on it. However Nokia Malaysia did say that they have an internal pricing for the two Lumia unfortunately they did not reveal it. [...]

[Business] Nokia got (USD)250m from Microsoft to use Windows Phone OS

Nokia revealed in its Q4 Financial Earnings that Microsoft paid Nokia $250 million in the quarter for “platform support payments”. In other words, the payment is for Nokia to adopt Windows Phone 7. Some reports online suggested that Nokia will be receiving more, in the billion, to further promote and use Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.

“Our broad strategic agreement with Microsoft includes platform support payments from Microsoft to us as well as software royalty payments from us to Microsoft.  In the fourth quarter 2011, we received the first quarterly platform support payment of USD 250 million (EUR 180 million).  We have a competitive software royalty structure, which includes minimum software royalty commitments. Over the life of the agreement, both the platform support payments and the minimum software royalty commitments are expected to measure in the billions of US Dollars.” Nokia’s earning statement reveals.

Nokia said it had sales of 10 billion euros ($13.2 billion) in the quarter, down 21% from the same period a year ago. It had lost €954 million (about $1,260 million) this quarter alone or a total of €1,073 million ($1,413 million) for the whole 2011. [...]

[Video] Chinese New Year Greeting from U Mobile

Last week U Mobile CEO, Dr. Kaizad Heerjee was on ground at the U Mobile flagship store in Berjaya Times Square to serve, meet & greet customers. Check out this video greeting made specially for U Mobile customers and the public as we usher-in the year of the Dragon.

According to Chinese Five Element Astrology Calendar, 2012 is the Year of Water Dragon. Expert says that people who born in dragon years (which include 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 and 2000) are imaginative and full of energy.

Based on the horoscope, Dragon is a legendary animal and it is symbol of emperor in China. Since the Dragon is coated with mysterious color, Chinese consider that the dragon is unpredictable, untouchable and people cannot see its head and tail at the same time. Therefore, we might see something unexpected happening in 2012.

P.s: MalaysianWireless would like to wish Happy CNY and Happy Holidays to all of you out there!

Android will replace iOS as the most important platform to developers

According to Ovum, Android has replaced Apple’s iOS in terms of importance to developers in the Asia-Pacific region in the last 12 months. However, it is clear that iOS and Android form the core of developer support and that although these two platforms may vie for ultimate supremacy almost all developers support both platforms.

In its second annual developer survey, the analysts firm reveals that while iOS and Android form the core of developer support, there is significant drive behind Blackberry OS and an increasing interest from developers in Microsoft’s Windows phone.

Adam Leach, devices & platforms practice leader at Ovum and author of the research commented: “The growing momentum behind Windows Phone indicates that Microsoft has managed to convince developers that its platform is worthy of investment. However, its main challenge now is to persuade consumers.”

In this year survey, the trends mirror closely changes in the wider smartphone market. Developers have been quick to respond to the exit of once-important smartphone platforms such as Windows Mobile, Symbian and WebOS and have embraced opportunities that have arisen through emerging platforms. [...]

[Video] Meet Thorsten Heins, the new President & CEO of RIM

Research In Motion (RIM) has named Thorsten Heins as the new President and Chief Executive Officer. The announcement comes with the resignation of Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie as co-CEOs and co-chairmen of RIM.

Mike Lazaridis is now the Vice Chairman of RIM’s Board and Chairman of the Board’s new Innovation Committee while Jim Balsillie will remain as board member. Barbara Stymiest a member of RIM’s Board since 2007, has been named the independent Board Chairman. [...]

Huawei Honor available in Malaysia at RM1099

Still remember the Huawei Honor that we wrote about last November? It is now available in Malaysia at the retail price of RM1099.

Huawei Honor is upgradable to the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, which will be officially released by Q2 of 2012. Specifications of the Huawei Honor below: [...]