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Microsoft rounds off public cloud offering with Windows Azure Infrastructure Services

Apps

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28 Apr 2013

Microsoft rounds off public cloud offering with Windows Azure Infrastructure Services

Microsoft has just announces a major update to its cloud computing platform in the shape of Windows Azure. Azure enables customers to quickly and simply move existing apps to the cloud to preserve their existing in-site hardware, while leveraging on the cloud’s speed, economics and scale. This levels the playing field for smaller businesses who do not have the resources to handle the high CapEx and OpEx of their own servers.

The Windows Azure Infrastructure Services, Microsoft is now the only cloud provider that offers customers a comprehensive cloud hybris cloud solution that integrates existing IT infrastructure with all the benefits of the public cloud and lets them run side-by-side, allowing users to reap the effects of both.

The service will allow users to be billed through the use of a credit card, at a “pay-as-you-go” basis depending on several use factors. Signup is simple, and at the demo, a virtual server was made live and populated in a matter of minutes, with the ease of signing up for an email account. There is even a handy billing calculator that allows users to see approximately how much they will be billed based on space, amount of computing power and time they wish to use.

Local publishing company Vibal has switched to Azure’s cloud services, and has lauded its benefits. They noted the ability to deploy their website faster, making operations more efficient, and resulting in faster turnaround for the business as a whole. Of note was their users’ appreciating the quicker loading of the Vibal website.

Interested users can head over to www.windowsazure.com for more info.

BlackBerry Z10: an unboxing

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Ren Alcantara

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28 Apr 2013

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BlackBerry and BlackBerry 10 arrived in the body of the sexy new Z10. I was honestly never a big fan of the BlackBerry design in the past, but when the first pictures came out, it certainly got my attention. Over time, and as more and more images began to surface, I got even more curious. By the time I was able to handle the device for myself, I wanted to take it home. Just last week, this arrives at the office:

I swear, even the box is pretty sexy. It’s got very little heft to it, and opening it up reveals the sleek, shiny goodness inside

With the phone came a rather plain set of headphones, a micro USB cable and wall charger. There is no need for a pin for removing the sim tray, as it comes apart simply, with a removable back panel.

The Z10 itself is as it was when I first met it. It’s comfortably slim, and both angular and curved at just the right places. The screen is 4.2 inches on the diagonal, and has a beautiful resolution of about 355 PPI. The colors are vivid, with great contrast, making even fine text beautifully readable even in harsh lighting.

The nicely-textured back is home to the clear 8MP snapper, while the scratch-resistant glass front has a handy 2MP deal to handle video calls and selfies.

The right edge of the Z10 has the volume rocker and voice command button,

And the left edge has the MicroUSB and HDMI ports.

I have no idea how I will manage the will to give the phone back after the review, but that’s something future me will have to deal with. For everyone else, tell your future selves to grab the June issue of Gadgets Magazine and read the excellent BlackBerry Z10 review we have here. We’ll be posting extra content here every now and again, so watch the page to get extra info as we go along.

The Nokia Lumia 720: An unboxing

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Ren Alcantara

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28 Apr 2013

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One of the more hotly-anticipated devices from Nokia this year is, without a doubt, the Lumia 720. This mid-size contender is a solid offering from the Finnish phone manufacturer, and was announced at the MWC to go for 248 Euros or PHP 14,000. It’s hard not to want it.

The device follows the same slide-out design that the rest of the Lumia line comes with. It’s a pretty simple affair, and is smallish, reflecting the more compact size of the phone. Inside is a sim tray pin, manual, standard wall charger and micro USB cable, as well as a pair of plain old headphones wired with a mic–all standard stuff, really, but of course, the real star of the show is the Lumia 720 itself.

My first impression of the device was just how light it was. Compared to the Lumia 920 that I had reviewed prior, this this was a featherweight. Despite the lack of heft, it felt really solid, thanks in part to the lovely polycarbonate back, curved Gorilla Glass 2 screen and seamless construction. It is a phone the Lumia 920 would be honored to call its little brother, and feels great in the hand, without feeling like something with which you could bludgeon a man to death.

The sim tray is up top, and is cut for a the micro-sized card, there is a microUSB port at the bottom, volume rocker, power button and camera button on the right edge, and as a bonus, a Micro SD card slot on the left edge. Great news for those who want more storage than the smallish 8GB the device has internally. The back has the main 6.1-MP camera and the speaker grille at the bottom.

The screen is very nice, sharp and with true, vivid colors, and deep backs. It’s 4.3 inches on the diagonal, and is very responsive to even light touches. The system is quite fast, and behaves about the same as its bigger brother, the 920.

We’ve started putting the device through the ringer, so we’ll have a full review in Gadgets this coming May. Stay posted for a few more updates on the device as we spend more time with it.

Samsung Galaxy S 4 finally hits our shores [WITH PICTURES!]

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Gadgets Team

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27 Apr 2013

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 finally hits our shores [WITH PICTURES!]

Last night at the NBC Tent, the Samsung Galaxy S 4 was officially unveiled and launched in the Philippine market.

“With the GALAXY S 4, Samsung is again going to enhance the way we live,” said Eric Sulit, Samsung Electronics Philippines, Co. (SEPCO) Business Unit Director for Mobile. “All the innovative features of GALAXY S 4 were developed based on the insights and needs we found from our consumers all around the world. Following the successful GALAXY S series, this phone is yet another great proof point of people-inspired innovation,” he added.

The Samsung Galaxy S 4 runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, flaunts a 5.0-inch Full HD AMOLED screen with a pixel density of 441 ppi, and supports 4G LTE and LTE roaming. It hosts 2GB LPDDR3 RAM and comes with either 16, 32, or 64GB of internal memory. Out back is a 13-megapixel rear camera, while up front is a 2-megapixel front-facing snapper. The Galaxy S 4 currently comes in either Black Mist or White Frost, but Samsung claims that other color options will be available within the year.

Learn more about the features of the Galaxy S 4 in the stories [1/2] that we posted during the global launch.

Photos of the Samsung Galaxy S 4

Feast your eyes on the 5.0-inch Full HD AMOLED screen!

The device is only 7.9mm slim and weighs 130g.

Screen looks pretty good at a tilted angle.

Take continuous shots of a moving subject and merge them into a single image with the Drama Shot feature.

The S Health app can help you keep track of important aspects of your health.

Rhian Ramos posing with the Samsung Galaxy S 4

Unknown Android device appears on AnTuTu running Android 5.0.1 OS (Key Lime Pie)

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Gadgets Team

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26 Apr 2013

0

Unknown Android device appears on AnTuTu running Android 5.0.1 OS (Key Lime Pie)

A yet-to-be-named device codenamed the “X Phone” has appeared on Android’s AnTuTu benchmarking software as running Android 5.0.1 (Key Lime Pie). Google and Motorola are rumored to be behind the development of the so-called X Phone but neither company has confirmed the existence of such a phone.

AnTuTu has listed the X Phone as being tested in the United States, where both Google and Motorola are located. We do know a few specs, though—the X Phone has a 1.5 GHz processor, which could mean that either the Snapdragon 600, Snapdragon 800, or Tegra 4 is powering the device. We also know that it is running Android 5.0.1 (Key Lime Pie), which could mean the OS is in beta testing phase. However, those two specs alone aren’t much to go on.

Some reports also say that it could also be someone messing with the AnTuTu database. The AnTuTu database is easily editable by anyone who knows their way around Android devices. We’ll keep you up to date as more information comes available, but if it isn’t someone trolling AnTuTu, this could mean that Android 5.0.1 (Key Lime Pie) is on its way sooner than expected.

Source: GSMInsider

ZALORA mobile app now available on iTunes

Addie Mendoza

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25 Apr 2013

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ZALORA mobile app now available on iTunes

Online shopping just became easier with the release of ZALORA’s new mobile app on iTunes. As one of the leading online fashion stores in the Philippines, ZALORA offers over 1000 brands and 30,000 products which you can now view seamlessly using your Apple devices.

As a special treat, ZALORA is giving a 15% discount to all you Gadgeteers! Simply type in GadgetsApp as your Voucher Code before checking out your items to automatically get a discount on all your purchases. The code is valid from April 25-June 9, 2013.

You can also get a 20% discount upon downloading the ZALORA app on your device. Voucher Code will be revealed in app upon download. Per DTI-NCR permit No. 3904, series of 2013.

Check out what ZALORA has in store for you at www.zalora.com.ph and download the mobile app at http://itunes.com/apps/zalora

Alcatel launches world’s slimmest smartphone, One Touch Idol Ultra

Addie Mendoza

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25 Apr 2013

0

Alcatel launches world’s slimmest smartphone, One Touch Idol Ultra

One Touch Idol Ultra (6.45mm thin)

Alcatel recently launched a new line of smartphones under their One Touch product line. At the top of the tier is the One Touch Idol, and One Touch Idol Ultra, which are the lightest and slimmest, respectively, in their category.

The One Touch Idol Ultra is dubbed as the world’s slimmest smartphone at just 6.45mm thin. It has a crystal clear 4.7-inch HD AMOLED display, an 8-megapixel camera, and runs on a dual-core 1.2 GHz Android Jelly Bean processor.

Screen shot 2013-04-25 at 6.21.04 PM — One Touch Idol Ultra

According to Alaine Lejeune, Head of Research and Development for Alcatel One Touch, “The One Touch Idol Ultra represents a breakthrough in technology. We’ve pushed the barriers on design, resulting in a device that offers the perfect balance between ultra-slim form factor, large display, outstanding performance, and rich user experience.”

Meanwhile, the One Touch Idol, lightest among Alcatel’s smartphone category is super lightweight at only 110g and, like it’s bigger brother, is also slim at 7.9mm. It has a 4.7-inch qHD IPS display and is driven by a dual-core 1.2GHz Android Jelly Bean processor.

Among the other devices launched by Alcatel are their colorful smartphones that belonged to the 1^st series—One Touch Glory 2, One Touch Sapphire 2, and One Touch Inspire 2. All of them run on Android Jelly Bean and features Alcatel’s OneTouch UE for a guaranteed smooth user experience.

With the creative individual in mind, Alcatel also released the One Touch Scribe Easy, and One Touch Scribe HD phablet. Both boast of a large 5-inch display that allow you to scribble and sketch directly on the screen.

Last but not the least, is Alcatel’s new Wi-Fi tablet, the One Touch Tab 7 HD. It’s compact and light, has a 7-inch HD display, a front and rear camera, and is powered by a dual-core 1.6 GHz CPU.

For more information about Alcatel’s products, visit www.alcatelonetouch.com

Apple launches A Decade of iTunes timeline

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Gadgets Team

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25 Apr 2013

0

Apple launches A Decade of iTunes timeline

April 28th marks the tenth year since the launch of the iTunes Music Store, and to celebrate the anniversary, Apple launched an interactive timeline called A Decade of iTunes.

The timeline takes us on a walk down memory lane as it shows us significant milestones for iTunes from 2003 to 2013, whether it be a sales achievement, a new song or album that topped the charts, or the unveiling of a new Apple device.

You can find the timeline within iTunes itself, so go ahead and check it out yourself. You might learn a thing or two.

Tumblr for iOS gets update; allows sharing via social networks

Apps

Gadgets Team

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25 Apr 2013

1

Tumblr for iOS gets update; allows sharing via social networks

Just this week, the Tumblr staff rolled out a new update to their iOS app, which now enables users to share posts via Facebook, Twitter, and other key social networking sites. The update also adds integration with Instapaper and Pocket, so users can save posts for later reading.

Other updates include being able to search one’s Following list and to email an entire post with Tumblr’s new template. Additionally, on the iPad 2, 3 and 4, iPad Mini, iPod Touch 5th Generation, and iPhone 4S and 5, GIFs animate while you scroll through the Dashboard.

iOS users can download the update HERE.

Honda PH: The All New CR-Z coming in August

Gadgets Team

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25 Apr 2013

0

Honda PH: The All New CR-Z coming in August

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) announced today that the All-New CR-Z will be available for retail in 2013.

The All-New CR-Z makes use of a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine as the main source of power with an electric motor, Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). It also features what they call the “Three-mode Drive System,” which lets drivers freely shift to Sport, Normal or Econ modes to suit different driving situations. The system applies integrated control over the engine’s Drive by Wire control, motor assist, CVT shift control, and air conditioner. It also has an additional selection called the Plus-Sport System or S+ Button option, which enables more responsive acceleration.

CR-Z Modulo variant

The CR-Z will come in Manual transmission and Continuously Variable transmission (CVT with paddle shifters) options and will be available in three variants: the standard model, the CR-Z Modulo variant (with Modulo aero kit) and the CR-Z MUGEN variant, which will be equipped not only with aero kits but also with an exhaust system and alloy wheels.

CR-Z MUGEN variant

Customers can reserve the All New Honda CR-Z in any of the 28 authorized Honda dealerships nationwide starting April 26, but actual deliveries will commence by August of this year.

There are six colors to choose from: White Pearl, Crystal Black, Polished Metal, Milano Red, and exclusive colors for the CR-Z the Turquoise Blue and Cosmo Flash Violet.

Here are the price images of the All New CR-Z:

Standard (Manual Transmission)	PHP 1,400,000
Standard (CVT with Paddle Shifters)	PHP 1,500,000
Modulo (Manual Transmission)	PHP 1,500,000
Modulo (CVT with Paddle Shifters)	PHP 1,600,000
MUGEN (Manual Transmission)	PHP 2,000,000
MUGEN (CVT with Paddle Shifters)	PHP 2,100,000

For more details, visit www.hondaphil.com.

Lotus F1 Road Show Manila to take place May 4-5, will feature Filipino racing sensation Marlon Stockinger

Gadgets Team

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25 Apr 2013

0

Lotus F1 Road Show Manila to take place May 4-5, will feature Filipino racing sensation Marlon Stockinger

On May 4 and 5, the streets of Manila will be transformed into a racing circuit for the Lotus F1 Road Show in Manila. One of the highlights of the event will be the presence of Filipino racing personality Marlon Stockinger, the first Filipino driver to ever win a formula race in Europe. Stockinger is a member of the Lotus Formula One team.

The Lotus F1 Road Show Manila, presented by Globe Tattoo, will start with the unveiling at the Quirino Grandstand on May 4, and will finish with exhibitions and award ceremonies at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium the next day. Other highlights of the event will include Formula One car demonstrations and exceptional luxury car displays.

Stockinger will drive an actual Lotus F1 car that will be flown in for the event. Since winning the 2012 GP3 series in Monaco, Stockinger became one of the seven junior team drivers who have received backing from the British F1 racing team in all facets of their young auto racing careers. Stockinger made his grand debut in the 2013 World Series by Renault in Monza, Italy, and made another appearance at the Aragon leg in Spain. Stockinger’s Formula Renault 3.5 series will continue in Monte Carlo from May 25-26 and wrap up in Catalunya, Spain on October 19-20.

Stockinger’s team, Lotus F1, debuted in the 2012 Formula One season. The team also finished first in the Australian Grand Prix last March. Stockinger’s presence in the Formula One scene will also be instrumental in bringing the Philippines into the global arena when it comes to racing. For more information, you can go to www.lotusf1roadshowmanila.com or like the official Facebook page.

PLDT launches heyÜ VoIP app

Technology News

Gadgets Team

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25 Apr 2013

0

PLDT has launched heyÜ, an exclusive, all-in call service app that allows PLDT subscribers to make free calls from heyÜ to heyÜ, or from heyÜ to any PLDT landline nationwide through any Android device. It also provides affordable ways of making calls to any Smart, Sun, and Talk n’ Text number as well as being able to enjoy the company’s lowest international call rates if you want to call friends and family abroad.

Although heyÜ is similar to current VoIP applications that provide users free and unlimited calls when calling each other, such as Skype, heyÜ is the only voice calling app that allows users to call any PLDT landline anywhere in the country. heyÜ also provides subscribers with the lowest PLDT rates for international calls (PHP 1.50 per minute for calls to the United States, Canada and Hawaii) and for calls made to Smart, Sun and Talk n’ Text (PHP 5.00 per minute).

“heyÜ subscribers get best value for their money because it combines the best things about digital and traditional communication platforms,” head of PLDT HOME Voice Solutions Patrick Tang said. “heyÜ is what PLDT envisions communication to be—simple, fast and reliable.”

“heyÜ perfectly fits in our Connected HOME concept as it allows families to stay connected with relatives and friends, either locally or overseas,” said Ariel Fermin, Executive Vice President and head of PLDT Home Business. “heyÜ is another innovative communications solution from PLDT that brings great value particularly for Filipinos who want to interconnect with every member of their family. There might be VoIP alternatives in the market today but heyÜ is “VoIP Plus” for it takes the technology further by offering additional features that will surely transform the way people make voice calls.”

heyÜ can be downloaded from the PLDT e-Shop and Google Play [and soon from the Apple App Store] to any Android device, including the PLDT Telpad. heyÜ is free to all Telpad subscribers on any plan while existing PLDT landline subscribers only need a monthly add-on of P100. heyÜ lets users make and receive calls from anywhere and anyone, as long as there is an internet connection. Subscribers only need to pay for actual toll usages that were made.

Sony PH unveils new Bravia models with Triluminos tech

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Gadgets Team

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24 Apr 2013

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Sony PH unveils new Bravia models with Triluminos tech

Sony hopes to make the resolution and color reproduction of their TVs comparable to real life with the introduction of what they call Triluminos technology packed into their newest line-up of Bravia models.

Triluminos technology expands the color gamut of the TV’s display, thus producing a broader color space. In other words, you get to see more shades of red, blue, green and any other color in a picture onscreen. Sony claims that the colors produced by their Bravia models with Triluminos technology remain as faithful as possible to the colors of the subjects in real life. The technology also produces greater depth of field and more pronounced detail in the images.

Sony says that their newest Bravia models, including the ones that feature Triluminos technology, will be available in June 2013. The star of the line-up is the X9004A, which incorporates both Triluminos display and Sony’s 4K X-Reality Pro picture engine, and comes in 65- and 55-inch variants. With 4K technology built into it, the X9004A is able to play four times bigger than Full HD, and with the X-Reality Pro picture engine, it will be able to bring out more detail in the images and upscale the quality of standard-definition and 720p videos. The X9004A also hosts Sony’s unique Magnetic Fluid Speaker, which utilizes NASA-built technology to eliminate unnecessary noise, thus producing clear, crisp audio.

Next in the line-up are the non-4K resolution W954A and W904A that use both Triluminos technology and the X-Reality Pro picture engine. The W804A, W704A, W654A and W674A do not use 4K and Triluminos technology, but also run on X-Reality Pro. Tailing the line-up is the R550A, which uses Clear Resolution Enhancer technology.

Models X9004A, W954A, W904A, W804A and W704A incorporate One-touch Mirroring—Sony’s NFC-based technology that enables users to stream any content from any picture source, such as a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone, and optimizes the picture for a better viewing experience using the TVs.

Sony holds that each new Bravia model evokes a “sense of quartz” because of its sleek, modern design with a glass slate that seemingly hovers over a ring-shaped base.

“Superior resolution, motion, and functionality have all improved the quality of viewing, but the 4K resolution display with the 4K X-Reality Pro and Triluminos Display will change the game in delivering unimaginable depth of color for a truly immersive experience,” stated Mr. Yasushi Asaoka, Sony Philippines President and Managing Director.

No word yet on the pricing of the new Bravia models.

Could Microsoft Office be coming to iOS and Android?

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Gadgets Team

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24 Apr 2013

0

Could Microsoft Office be coming to iOS and Android?

Hedge fund giant ValueAct Holdings LP has taken a nearly US$2 billion stake in Microsoft—provided they port Microsoft Office to both iOS and Android. Currently, Microsoft Office is currently available on Windows and Mac OS X. In a tech environment that is becoming increasingly mobile, one would think that Microsoft Office, one of the most widely used programs in the world, would also be available on mobile devices.

According to Colin Gillis, an analyst at BGC Partners, ValueAct Holdings LP is more than just an investor—they also seek to have an influence within the company. “They’re value investors who don’t mind being activists. If things aren’t working out, they would become more active,” he said.

The Wall Street Journal described ValueAct Holdings LP as a company that also seeks out positions on a company’s board of directors. “ValueAct typically holds shares in a small number of companies, and it has been known for seeking board seats or asking for other changes at companies in which the fund invests,” they reported.

Analysts have said that Microsoft only seeks to gain from porting one of their most widely-used programs onto iOS and Android. Accroding to Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Holt, Microsoft could get an additional US$2.5 billion in Office revenue by releasing Office for iOS. Gerry Purdy, principal of MobileTrax, said that Microsoft could gain US$1.25 billion in revenue in the first year Microsoft releases iOS and Android versions of Office, and also said that number could grow to US$6 billion by 2017.

Holt and Purdy’s numbers are different namely because it is assumed that Microsoft will sell standalone versions for iOS and Android rather than include it in its Microsoft 365 subscription service. Although it is not yet final whether or not Microsoft Office will be released for iOS and/or Android, some reports are pointing towards a fall 2014 release. One of the reasons it may not even happen is because Microsoft wants to give its Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets an edge over iOS and Android by keeping Microsoft Office exclusive for Windows products only, and to keep Office out of reach of the iPad and the various Android tablets.

Could ValueAct’s US$2 billion investment force Microsoft to change their hand? According to this article, US$2 billion only amounts to 1% of Microsoft, so it might not happen, and given ValueAct’s penchant for activism, it could even entrench Microsoft to keep Microsoft Office a Windows RT and Windows 8 affair only. Nothing is 100% confirmed yet, as is the nature of rumors in the tech world and elsewhere, but we’ll keep you posted.

Source: ComputerWorld

Huawei not interested in the US market for now

Technology News

Gadgets Team

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24 Apr 2013

0

Huawei not interested in the US market for now

Huawei is one of the biggest tech firms in the world—they produce smartphones and networking equipment, in particular the USB sticks that get us on the Internet when we’re mobile. Today, it announced that they would not be focusing on one of the biggest tech markets in the world—the United States.

“Apparently, due to whatever the geopolitical reasons, we are not focusing on the U.S. market,” said Li Sanqi, Huawei’s chief technology officer. These geopolitical reasons happen to be outlined in a U.S. congressional report that advised U.S. telecom companies to not buy Huawei’s networking equipment because of their ties to the Chinese government. Huawei was trying to establish a relationship with U.S. telecom companies, but U.S. officials feared that Huawei technology could be used by China to secretly conduct cyberespionage or hacking attacks, a claim that Huawei has denied.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to get into the U.S. market. Thirty percent, it’s a high-value market,” Li said. But the carrier business in other parts of the world continues to grow, which he said was an encouraging sign for the company. “We today face reality. We will focus on the rest of the world, which is reasonably big enough and is growing significantly.”

Huawei plans to focus on China, where new 4G networks will be rolling out. Huawei also plans to focus on Europe as well, where Huawei has doubled its workforce and invested USD$2 billion in research and development in the United Kingdom.

Sources: Ars Technica, PC World