In a remarkable turn of event, Google Android phones have toppled BlackBerry devices as the top-selling smartphones in the US during the second quarter of this year, according to a report released by the NPD Group.

In the report, Android phones accounted for 33 percent of all smartphones purchased between April and June, toppling BlackBerry devices which accounted for 28 percent.

“While Android-back phones have taken a significant market share from BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion (RIM), Apple iPhone has only experienced a small quarterly gain despite the recent launch of its latest version called iPhone 4”, NPD official Ross Rubin said.

iPhone accounted for 22 percent of purchased smartphones during the second quarter.

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Phone maker Research In Motion (RIM) on Tuesday has introduced its latest product BlackBerry Torch which is the company’s first mobile phone (priced at $199) that features touch-sensitive screen and slider keyboard.

In a statement, the company said the new phone will be available in the US market on August 12 and comes with a two-year contract with telecommunication giant AT&T.  Just like the phone’s predecessors, it has been designed for business professionals who rely on email and text messages.

And because the phone caters specifically for business travelers and professional users, it offers Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 b/g/n) which can be access through BlackBerry Internet Bundle and Enterprise Server.  The Internet connectivity also supports WPA and carrier services.

“The Torch is more powerful compared to its predecessors because it runs on BlackBerry 6 operating system”, the company during a press event held in New York City.

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LG Electronics has recently introduced its latest Android-equipped phone called LG Optimus (LG GT540) that boasts social networking features and account synchronization with Google mobile services.

This smartphone is specifically designed to allow consumers to have a flawless synchronization with Google applications such as Gmail, Google Maps, Gtalk, and YouTube.  In addition, the device can be downloaded with applications from the Android Market which currently offers more than 30,000 programs which range from games, office use, and entertainment programs.

With the growing popularity of social networking sites, the company has also decided to equip LG Optimus with a technology that will allow it to support multiple social media accounts such as Bebo, Facebook, and Twitter.  The good thing about this interactive technology is that it uses widgets designed to provide real-time updates which are automatically displayed on the phone’s home screen so that the users will no longer have to access other applications.

Aside from the social networking application, the smartphone also boasts other entertainment features such as video player that will allow users to watch DivX and Xvid format.  One of the most notable about the advanced media player is the impressive video quality in addition to the 3D thumbnail gallery and intuitive navigation tools for browsing multimedia files.

When it comes to the user interface, the smartphone can be customized for the most convenient use with its ability to include up to 10 categories which can be shown in the main menu.  In addition, the LG Optimus can support up to seven home screens which can display the most frequently used applications such as games, music, and news and weather updates (depending on the user’s preference).  Meanwhile, the device also allows people to view important notifications even if the screen is idle without having to unlock their phones.

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The HTC Evo 4G is a smartphone that uses Google Inc.’s Android 2.1 software and a new and faster network.  Unfortunately, 4G connectivity is not yet widely available in most parts of the US so people are still primarily dependent on the current-generation 3G.

If 4G wireless network is used (provided by communication company Sprint), the smartphone allows people to simultaneously use the Internet and phone chat at the same time, something which is not possible in 3G network.

The beauty of 4G is that it allows users to download large video files which may be hard, if not possible, through the use of 3G connection.

Compared to most smartphones today, the Evo 4G is relatively larger with its 4.3-inch screen.  While the downside is that the device cannot be put inside the pocket, at least the users can enjoy looking at a larger screen which also gives a comfortable viewing experience.

When it comes to menu navigation, the smartphone boasts touch-sensitive, bright icons that are easy and convenient to use.  In addition with this, the screen offers several shortcuts to certain programs and widget that can be moved or hidden according to the user’s preference.

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Microsoft has recently unveiled a mobile phone designed for social networking addicts who want to get convenient and fast access to popular online communities such as Facebook and Twitter.com.

The phone is named “Kin One” (its more powerful version is named “Kin Two) which will be available in the US next month through Verizon Wireless before being introduced to other European countries.

While there are countless of phones designed for social networking, Microsoft’s latest product does not stand out from the rest, or if it does, it is because it lacks features that would be considered by most consumers as deal-breakers.

One of the most disturbing downsides of this phone is the lack of application support despite the proliferation of smartphones in the market which offer thousands of apps.  Take for example Android phones, iPhone models, and BlackBerry phones which can support thousands of applications ranging from games, music, office use, to entertainment and GPS technology.

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Nokia N97 is a smartphone that features a wide array of multimedia technologies ideal for mobile users and business professionals.

This slider phone boasts a 3.2-inch touchscreen display which can support high-definition images, thus making this gadget ideal for people who like video streaming.  In addition, the phone allows users to access Internet videos, RSS feeds, and video podcasts so they can enjoy a wide selection of programs.

Another impressive feature is the phone’s Internet browsing capability which includes add-on applications and widgets support, email and attachment support, online sharing, HTML support, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

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XPERIA 2, Sony Ericsson’s latest Windows-powered smartphone, has been designed to meet the needs of mobile users, especially business travellers who need a reliable communication device that will allow them to connect to the Internet, organize their schedule, and use business applications that will allow them to maximize their work.

Because this phone uses Windows platform, people can use Microsoft Office Mobile documents and allow these to be synchronized in other applications including calendar and email.

In terms of Internet feature, XPERIA 2 has Wi-Fi connectivity that makes it possible for users to connect to the Internet signal which is commonly provided in most business establishments like cafeterias and restaurants.  In addition, the phone supports Internet Explorer, Google Search, Bookmarks, and Web feeds—features which are important for web-centric users.

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US technology giant Google Inc. has recently introduced its latest smartphone called Nexus One which uses Android platform and has been designed by Taiwanese mobile phone maker HTC.

Just like most multi-media phones today, this Google phone features Internet capability and supports 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.  And to prevent lagging while doing web browsing, the device also has a 512 MB RAM, something to be considered high for a mobile phone.

Consumers can also expect a relatively impressive built-in camera that features 5-megapixel resolution, video capability (at 720 x 480 pixels at 20 frames per second or higher), LED flash, geo-tagging capability for providing input in every photo, and autofocus from 6 cm to infinity.  However, one major downside of the built-in camera is that it only has 2 x digital zoom which is lower compared to other smartphones in the market today.

To allow users to conveniently browse the Internet, view photos, and watch videos, this mobile phone boasts a 3.7-inch (diagonal measurement) widescreen display that support 800 x 480 pixels, 1ms response rate, 100,000 x 1 contrast ratio, touchscreen feature, and WGA image technology.

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