LG Plans VR Headset Promo
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – LG plans in February to give away a free VR for G3 virtual-reality headset with the purchase of a new LG G3 smartphone in select markets. Purchasers also get a free VR game, “Robobliteration.”
The headset which will be available in the U.S., is based on Google’s Cardboard design, which uses a smartphone’s display as the virtual-reality display. A smartphone is inserted into the viewer and held in place. Multiple third-party suppliers offer premade Cardboard headsets for phones of various brands and sizes up to $36.95.
NPD: Cell Tablet Sales Upswing
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. – The number of cellular- connected tablets in the U.S. grew 95 percent to almost 16 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to the year-ago quarter, a survey by NPD found.
Cellular-connected tablets, however, still represent only 14 percent of the 116 million tablets in use in the U.S., NPD said. Although the use of cellular-enabled tablets is growing rapidly, “for it to become a mass-market product, mobile carriers need to appeal to a massmarket audience,” said John Buffone, executive director.
Apple Tops In Q4 U.S. OS Share
LONDON – Apple’s fourth-quarter share of smartphone sales exceeded Android-phone sales in the U.S. for the first time in any quarter since the fourth quarter of 2012, although barely, a Kantar Worldpanel ComTech survey of consumers found.
Apple’s share rose 3.8 percentage points from the year-ago quarter to 47.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, while Android’s share slipped 3.8 percentage points to 47.6 percent.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Apple’s share of 49.7 percent exceed Android’s share of 46.2 percent. Apple’s share was below Android’s share in the previous three quarters of 2012. Statistics before 2012 were unavailable.
Verizon Adds More Data
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless is tossing in extra data on several More Everything shared-data plans and adding additional data-plan options.
Verizon’s More Everything shared-data allowances of 1GB to 3GB, costing $40 to $60 per month per phone, get an additional 1GB of data at the same price. The prices exclude a $40 monthly access fee per phone providing unlimited talk and text.
The carrier also launched a new $70 plan with 6GB of shared data, up from 4GB, and it added three new plans: $110 for 12GB, $120 for 14GB, and $130 for 16GB.
InfoSonics Targets Selfie Takers
SAN DIEGO – InfoSonics is targeting people who are very into themselves with the launch of a new Verykoolbrand smartphone.
The Verykool-brand S5015 smartphone, called Spark II, is the company’s first selfie-focused phone, which is available unlocked at $179. For improved selfies, the phone features 5-megapixel front-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash. The front camera includes a pre-loaded application that lets users take hands-free selfies by whistling.
The HSPA+21Mbps Android KitKat phone also comes with 8-megapixel 720p rear camera with dual flash, 5-inch 1,280 by 720p IPS-LCD display, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM, 32GB MicroSD card slot, dual SIM, Wi-Fi hot spot and 2,000 mAh lithium-ion battery.
