Android’s Chinese Manufacturers Form Alliance To Defend From Apple and Microsoft Patent Lawsuits

Digitimes is reporting that Chinese OEM’s could be quietly banding together to fight off the ever looming threat of patent lawsuits from Android arch nemeses like Apple, Microsoft and Nokia. The Chinese coalition would be formed by ZTE, Lenovo, TCL, Coolpad and Konka who, it’s assumed, would pool their patent resources and share information on how to work around alleged patent infringements and keep from paying the dreaded “licensing fee.”
As the Chinese smartphone market grows — currently the largest in the world — OEM’s are sure to draw attention from Apple and Microsoft who spend much of their time attacking Android manufacturers.
[Digitimes via Electronista]

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ZTE pushes for the high end, starts with 7-inch V66 Verizon LTE tablet

At the moment, ZTE is one in a field of Chinese hardware makers that do well enough on low and mid-range devices here in the US. Like Huawei, the company hopes to change that in the upcoming year, and it looks like their first attempt will be with Verizon. The G-men at the FCC have got their hands on said device, and it looks promising.

The V66 was previously announced with a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, plus a 1280 x 800 resolution screen – an absolute must for a tablet that wants to be considered high-end. Android 3.2 will provide the software end, and while an Ice Cream Sandwich update before launch is technically possible, it would be much more likely to come afterwards. You can see from the filing and the logo that it uses Verizon’s LTE network. All these specifications add up to a device that just slightly beats the T-Mobile Springboard, AKA the Huawei Mediapad. That tablet didn’t fare well at all in our review, but not because of the hardware.
Verizon doesn’t currently offer and of ZTE’s Android devices, so a branded tablet could help bump up the company’s mindshare in the US… if it is ZTE branded. There’s nothing in the FCC filing to show the ZTE logo, and carriers have a nasty habit of simply ignoring smaller manufacturers, as in the Springboard, or even larger ones, as in LG’s “T-Mobile” G2x. And of course, it’s got to sell, but then there’s room in Verizon’s lineup for a smaller tablet device. We’ll see when the V66 launches, likely in Q1 2012.
[via Engadget]

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ZTE makes it so with Warp for Boost Mobile, available Nov. 2nd

As a prepaid MVNO, Boost Mobile doesn’t always get the latest and greatest of Android hardware. ZTE is aiming to change that with their new Warp Gingerbread phone, featuring a full 4.3-inch screen and a 1GHz processor. The phone is set to be available on November 2nd for $249.99, without contract.

The Warp isn’t quite ready to hold up to late-model phones like the Galaxy S II or DROID RAZR, but it easily outpaces the rest of Boost Mobile’s Android offerings. It’s only the second Boost phone to use Android 2.3 Gingerbread (after the Samsung Transform Ultra) and as of now it’s got the  largest screen on the carrier as well. Resolution isn’t mentioned in the press release or on Boost Mobile’s website, but a standard 800 x 480 LCD panel is more than likely. The Warp has an undetermined amount of on-board storage, but the MicroSD card slot is pre-packaged with a 2GB card, with support for cards as large as 32GB.
Boost is differentiating the phone with “ID packs,” packaged downloads of apps, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers along a particular theme, like sports or music. ID packs that will launch with the phone include MTV Music Pack, E!, Socially Connected, Professional, Entertainment, Lo2Yo Latino, Lo2Yo Mujer and Lo2Yo Futbol. The ZTE Warp will include the full suite of Google Apps and access to the Android Market.

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ZTE 10.1″ quad-core Tegra 3 tablet spotted

ZTE is better known for their feature phones and low priced Android offerings but has been surprising the world of Android lately. ZTE appears to be going big and have stepped into the quad-core tablet game with a few Honeycomb tablets of their own. We first saw the Tegra 3 touting 7″ version last week, and now it seems the 10.1″ tablet is also in the wild.



















Pictured above is the new ZTE 10.1″ Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet, nicely powered by the quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3, a 5MP camera, and a 3250 mAh battery. We don’t really have any other details at this point and the paperwork found with the tablet suggests Android 2.3 Gingerbread although this is most likely just an early developer unit not running the latest Honeycomb. I’m concerned with that small battery combined with a quad-core myself, but NVIDIA has stated a few times Kal-El is extremely efficient.
Do take note that the pictures don’t actual say Tegra 3 like the smaller sibling we saw last week, but we are betting it will carry the same internals. Looking at the images the device does seem very thin and to have a nice form factor, if they are able to fit all that into a thin package this would make for one truly awesome tablet.

We also spot a few references to NFC support, something not many tablets currently offer, so that is another plus for the ZTE tablet. We don’t have any solid facts or details other than what sources have outlined but we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for more details.
[via PocketDroid]

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ZTE Skate vs Huawei Blaze

It's a battle of the budget Android this time around, as we compare the ZTE Skate with Huawei's Blaze

Not everyone has heaps of expendable income just waiting to be splashed on the latest dual-core Android or iPhone. Some of us set a budget and stick to it. But where does that leave us when it comes to picking up a smartphone?
Well, thankfully there's plenty of choice and among the leading sensibly priced devices Huawei's Blaze and ZTE's Skate stand-out as genuine contenders. But how do these two budget marvels stack up against each other?
Let's find out.

Display
ZTE's Skate features a 4.3-inch TFT touchscreen that operates at a resolution of 480 x 800 and displays 16 million colours. The device also offers a decent pixel density of 217ppi, putting it way above the likes of Samsung's Galaxy Ace, and other so-called budget smartphones.
The Huawei Blaze offers up a 3.2-inch TFT display that operates at a resolution of 480 x 320, displays 16 million colours and features a pixel density of 180ppi - which is considerably less than the Skate but still higher than the aforementioned Galaxy Ace.
Both of these devices pack a considerable punch in the display stakes, despite their modest price point but the extra screen real estate of the ZTE Skate gives it the advantage.
Winner - ZTE Skate

Power
Huawei's Blaze is powered by a single-core 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 CPU and features 512MB ROM, 256MB RAM and support for Micro SD cards up to 32GB in capacity.
While there's distinct lack of serious horsepower (and some lag at times) the smaller processor does cope amply with what it's intended to, making it a good balance of economy and necessary oomph.
The ZTE Skate raises the stakes (but not by much) with an 800MHz CPU and 512MB RAM, giving it a definite advantage over the little Huawei. The Skate offers support for Micro SD cards up to 32GB too.
Naturally we weren't expecting fire and brimstone from the device but the performance is surprisingly fluid overall!
Winner - ZTE Skate

Form
ZTE Skate - 125.9x67.8x10.4mm, 120g
Huawei Blaze - 110x56.5x11.2mm, 104g
Both of these contenders are solidly constructed, using mainly plastics. Neither are heavy, bulky or unusually uncomfortable to handle either.
The ZTE Skate definitely takes the tape ahead of the Huawei Blaze in terms of good looks though, with the latter looking like the jumbled offspring of a Nexus One and an LG Optimus P500.
Winner - ZTE Skate
Software
Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) is the order of the day here, with both devices operating on the popular Google platform.
There are minor customisations made by both Huawei and ZTE though, giving users a few widgets and apps to help spruce up their homescreen. And while the effort should be commended we wish that manufacturers would just let Android be unless they're planning on putting in some serious effort.
Both contenders perform well on the operating system, though the ZTE Skate clearly benefits from the extra 200MHz of grunt at its disposal.
Winner - ZTE Skate

CameraHuawei's Blaze features a 3.15-megapixel snapper with autofocus that performs as you'd expect it to, which is to say pretty poorly.
The device does benefit from a secondary camera though, which is a nice inclusion on a low-end smartphone.
ZTE has equipped the Skate with a solid 5-megapixel shooter that benefits from autofocus, LED flash and geo-tagging.
Performance is middling on the whole, but in decent light conditions you'll likely be pleasantly surprised with what the device is capable of producing.
Unlike the Huawei the Skate does not feature a front-facing camera though, so if video calling is a must-have you'll have to look elsewhere.
Winner - Draw

Despite its considerable charm the Huawei Blaze has been roundly beaten in this comparison, but that needn't reflect poorly on the overall appeal of the device.
At its price point (around £175) the Blaze is a very competitive little smartphone but for around £15 more you can pick up the ZTE Skate and in all honesty you couldn't spend that sum better if you tried.
The Skate is a really pleasing device to use and offers up solid performance, good looks and robust construction at an excellent price, and it's a worthy winner today.

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Bharti Airtel taps China’s ZTE to begin 4G roll-out in India

It may not be long until Indian mobile users have 4G technology at their fingers as Bharti Airtel’s plan to deploy wireless broadband advances.
Bharti, India’s largest operator, has asked Chinese telcom equipment giant ZTE to begin phase one of its 4G network roll-out initially in the Kolkata region only, according to a report from Economics Times in India.
The report cites an official source which explains that, though ZTE will handle the first implementation, it is not guaranteed any other slices of $300 million valued roll-out Bharti has planned. Instead ZTE will face stiff competition – notably from fellow Chinese rival Huawei – to bring 4G to the three other regions Bharti won following last year’s auction.
Though there is no timeline or date specified for the work, it is widely believed that 4G wireless broadband will be available in India from early next year.
Though Bharti declined to respond to Economic Times, ZTE did confirm that it was starting initial work on the roll-out, while the paper also claims high level meetings have “formalised” ZTE’s initial role in proceedings.
Given that 3G mobile technology only arrived in India last year, the news that 4G is on its way is likely to be well received by many in the country. However, issues remain around mobile operator capacity while 3G-compatible smartphone ownership is low, let alone LTE-device ownership.
There is no doubt, however, that wireless Internet has huge potential in India.
India has emerged as a key market for technology and Internet companies keen to tap the country’s vast potential, with Facebook and Google just two of the many to have set up country offices in the past two years. However fixed-line Internet penetration is very low, reaching less than ten percent of its 1.2 billion population, sapping India’s potential to become a true online giant.
Infrastructure is a key issues with many in rural areas unable to access fixed-line Internet. For these people, wireless technology provides new possibilities for connectivity whilst catering to the millions for whom mobile will be their main Internet access point.
It is early days for India’s 4G network and it will be interesting to observe ZTE and Bharti working on the initial roll-out.

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HTC Radar vs ZTE Tania (Rumours)

We pit the HTC Radar up against the mysterious ZTE Tania – both devices are Windows Phone 7 Mango

We see how ZTE’s forthcoming Tania handset compares to HTC’s Radar in a battle of the budget Windows Mango smartphones.

Form:
HTC Radar - 120.5x61.5x10.9mm, 137g
ZTE Tania – Unknown
HTC is extending its signature ‘softly’ shaped handsets to its Windows Phone devices. The Radar looks pretty much like every other HTC handset ever made, which means it isn’t unattractive by any sense of the word, but it is rather generic.
ZTE has a habit of making handsets which look remarkably like HTC phones and the Tania is no exception, though it has to be said it does look a little cleaner and more elegant than HTC’s Radar.
From what we've seen, the Tania definitely seems to have more about it in the 'wow-factor' department. And for a budget handset, this is quite rare.
Winner – ZTE Tania

Display:
HTC’s Radar is fitted with a 3.8-inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen, the resolution is 480x800 pixels giving a pixel density of 246ppi.
As usual for HTC phones the screen is made from Gorilla Glass so it’s not going to smash easily, and features multi-touch input.
Accelerometer and gyro sensors allow for screen interface rotation.
The Tania uses a larger 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen at the same resolution as the Radar, giving a pixel density of 217ppi.
The Tania’s larger screen is nice but with the Radar you get the same resolution and a much higher pixel density, meaning it’ll have a much sharper picture.
Winner – HTC Radar

Storage:
ZTE’s Tania comes with 4GB of onboard storage and 512MB of RAM to boost the processor. The HTC has the same 512MB of RAM but doubles the internal storage with 8GB of space.
Windows Phone 7 handsets, for the most part, do not support microSD. This means your limited to internal storage, which is 4GB and 8GB respectively in this case.
Taking things as they are it seems the HTC Radar has more storage space to play with, which makes it the more appealing of the two given the RAM is on par.
If you want expandable storage and Windows Phone 7 Mango, you'll have to wait until Nokia's handsets arrive. They're the only ones that will support it – guess that was part of the deal all along.
Winner – HTC Radar

Processor:
Both phones run single core 1GHz processors with graphics processing units (GPU). The Radar uses a Qualcomm Scorpion on the MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset paired with an Adreno 205 GPU.
Each handset should be quite capable of decent performance thanks to the 1GHz clock speed and good optimisation of single core processors on the Windows Phone operating system.
Winner -Draw

Operating System:
These are both Windows Phone Mango powered handsets running the latest build of Microsoft’s operating system for smartphones.
Microsoft has added plenty of changes to the new build, but when running it you actually find it’s all rather subtle and contributes to an overall more slick and intuitive platform without being able to put your finger on precisely why.
Part of it is down to a greater integration of communication and social networking services, along with the system pushing more information out to you at all levels.
Mango’s ‘People’ hub goes to great efforts to aggregate all message and social network information from all your contacts into one easily accessible place, and it lets you respond simultaneously to multiple contacts across multiple mediums including webmail, exchange email, SMS and MMS text, instant messaging, Facebook statuses and Tweeting on Twitter.
Email inboxes can also be merged and pinned to the start menu keeping your emails right where you want them.
Performance has noticeably improved, which is saying something as it was pretty good before. You also get an excellent multi-tasking system this time round which keeps your non-active apps in hibernation, so they only cause minimal battery drain.
One of the really nice things about Windows Phone Mango is, because of Microsoft’s licensing agreements, manufacturers aren’t allowed to load their handsets with interface overlays and bloatware, so you’re getting the same build as the next guy with a different brand phone and it should run quite well all round.
Generally we’re pretty impressed with Windows Phone Mango, it’s easy to use and has a lot to offer most users. Android and iOS should be looking worried right now.
Winner - Draw

Camera:
Both phones are fitted with 5-megapixel cameras at 2560х1920 pixels and with LED flash, the Radar also has a VGA secondary camera. HTC’s device features autofocus, digital zoom, geo-tagging, video calling and 720p HD video capture.
Quite an even match on cameras here, both are adequate offerings without being anything exceptional.
Winner - Draw

Final Thoughts:
These phones are equally matched power-wise with equal processor specs, the camera setup is also very similar on both devices.
However, the HTC Radar comes out ahead on storage and display even if the ZTE Tania is a better looking phone.
As budget handsets they’re not earth-shattering but they’re a cheaper way of getting access to a very appealing operating system and, in fairness, they punch above their weight in terms of performance.

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ZTE Smart 7″ Android Tab clears the FCC

We saw the ZTE Smart tablets back at IFA 2011 but no details confirmed where it would launch. Now the 7″ Honeycomb tablet from ZTE has cleared the FCC making us hopeful it will see a U.S launch soon. It’s about time we get a few more 7″ tablets in for some competition although I have a feeling we’ll have plenty to choose from very soon.

Looking through the FCC filing we see a rear facing camera, Google stamped on the back, as well as support for both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. We are looking at a soft coated rubber texture type backside for easy grip, as well as Android 3.2 Honeycomb but the rest of the details remain pretty tight lipped. We did see an ZTE Tab with 4G LTE back in March, so this new tablet could have the same fate although we only se 3G stamped on the image above.
Along with the Vodafone versions we can expect Android 3.2 Honeycomb and a dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, and coming in both 16 and 32GB flavors. The rest of the details regarding the ZTE Smart Tab are a bit scant but once we dig up further details we’ll be sure to update you all. Pricing and availability is still unknown at this point.
[via SlashGear]

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ZTE Score smartphone heads to Cricket with Muve Music in tow

ZTE has announced the Score, its first smartphone for prepaid carrier Cricket. The Score features Android 2.3 Gingerbread and integration with Cricket's Muve Music service.
A performance machine the Score is not, but based on the $129.99 asking price and no contract commitment required, one can't complain about that too much. It is powered by a 600MHz processor and includes a 3.5-inch, HVGA (320 x 480 pixel) resolution touchscreen. It has a 3.2 megapixel camera with camcorder, and supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.
ZTE has customized Android 2.3 Gingerbread with its own interface for the Score. The Muve Music support allows users to enjoy unlimited song downloads, ringtones, and ringback tones on their handset.
Cricket will be offering the ZTE Score in Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile locations on September 25 for $129.99. It will be available from Cricket stores and authorized retailers soon after that.

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Samsung Galaxy Y vs ZTE Skate

Samsung's Galaxy Y takes on ZTE's Skate this time around, as we aim to see which budget friendly Android smartphone packs the biggest punch

Smartphones are no longer devices reserved for the tech obsessed among us - they're part of most people's every day existence.
Whether it's checking your calendar to keep tabs on a birthday, or killing some time playing a game on your commute, your smartphone keeps you in touch, entertained and organised. And most people can't live without their shiny little box of tricks.
Thankfully this level of general acceptance has led to companies investing time and effort into producing high quality, low cost products, with the aim of allowing people on a budget to embrace the smartphone revolution without breaking the bank.
Two such devices are Samsung's Galaxy Y and ZTE's Skate. The question is - which one represents true value for money?

Screen
Samsung's Galaxy Y ships with a 3-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen that operates at a resolution of 240x320 pixels and displays 256K colours. While we weren't expecting one of Samsung's sterling AMOLED's in a budget conscious device, we were hoping for something a little more potent than what's on offer here.
The ZTE Skate comes with a bit more tech, in the shape of a 4.3-inch TFT touchscreen that operates at a resolution of 480x800, displays 16 million colours and offers an impressive pixel density of 217ppi.
Winner - ZTE Skate

Power
ZTE's Skate runs on an 800MHz single-core CPU, which is sufficient enough to run the OS without any major lag or hiccups but let's be honest, it won't set the world alight (nor is it intended to).
Similarly, the Galaxy Y runs on an 832MHz processor, which offers up a tiny bit more power but, again, don't expect miracles. These processors are intended for the distance, not a sprint.
The ZTE Skate comes with a fairly respectable 512MB RAM, though, which should give the device a more spritely feel when multi-tasking or opening up applications. Samsung's Galaxy Y features a so-far undisclosed amount of RAM, but we wouldn't bet our shirts on it rivalling the Skate in the memory stakes.
Both device's do, however, offer support for Micro SD cards up to 32GB in size, so you shouldn't be stuck for space to store your MP3s and photos.
Winner - ZTE Skate

Form and Build
Samsung Galaxy Y - 104 x 58 x 11.5 mm, 97.5g
ZTE Skate - 125.9 x 67.8 x 10.4 mm, 120g
The Galaxy Y is a neat, pocketable device that isn't heavy or unnecessarily ugly. It's constructed out of lightweight plastics and the level of craftsmanship on offer is vintage Samsung, which is to say, fine, but rather undistinguished.
The ZTE Skate is a larger, more premium looking (and feeling) device, which feels robust and well assembled, though, its extra bulk makes it a little cumbersome at times.
Winner - Draw

Software
Both devices run on version 2.3 of Google's popular Android OS.
The Samsung Galaxy Y features the company's nice UI overlay, TouchWiz, which gives it some nice additions such as widgets, apps and social networking integration.
The ZTE Skate also offers a tweaked UI, with custom widgets and apps and, surprisingly, it's quite intuitive and pleasing to use.
As you'd expect both devices also offer all the other trappings associated with Android, such as apps, games and huge customisation potential and in this respect both are light years ahead of other similarly low priced 'dumb' phones.
Winner - Draw

Camera
Budget conscious smartphones aren't usually known for their photographic prowess but the ZTE Skate does pack a pretty decent 5-megapixel camera, which also offers autofocus, LED flash and geo-tagging.
The Samsung Galaxy Y keeps to tradition with a bog-standard 2-megapixel offering that borders on awful.
Both devices capture video, the Galaxy Y at QVGA (15FPS), while the Skate's capabilities are unconfirmed.
We know these device's aren't going to be made or broken off the back of their photographic chops but if we're talking bang for buck the Skate takes the round, hands down, and the Galaxy Y looks pitiful in comparison.
Winner - ZTE Skate

Verdict
So it's a win for the Chinese-made ZTE Skate, almost with no contest.
If you're looking for a low priced smartphone that offers a decent level of performance you could do far worse than the Skate. Sure, it isn't one of the latest, greatest dual-core beasties, but it works and works well.
The Samsung Galaxy Y on the other hand, is underwhelming in almost every respect.

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