huawei

Microsoft and Huawei debut Windows Phone for Africa

Microsoft and Huawei announced today that they're partnering to bring a new Windows Phone to Africa. The two companies are targeting the continent, which is one of the fastest growing technology markets in the world but has seen few smartphones to date and whose majority of users still rely on feature phones.

"We believe there has never been a better time to invest in Africa and that access to technology -- particularly cloud services and smart devices -- can and will serve as a great accelerator for African competitiveness," president of Microsoft International Jean-Philippe Courtois said today … Read more

Huawei CFO linked to attempt to sell HP goods in Iran -- Reuters

Huawei, the China-based telecom equipment maker that has come under fire in the past for alleged links to Iran, is once again under the microscope.

Reuters today published a report detailing evidence linking Huawei CFO Cathy Meng to a firm that has allegedly tried to sell U.S. company products to Iran-based firms.

According to Reuters, Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, served on the board of a Hong Kong-based company called Skycom Tech between February 2008 and April 2009. In addition, Reuters found that a host of other people with varying ties to Skycom also … Read more

U.S. Cellular dials up $300 rebate for new family plans

U.S. Cellular is offering a limited time "Family Switcher Bonus" for new customers who activate at least two lines on a Family Plan. The deal, which runs through April 1, provides consumers with a $300 MasterCard debit card.

The catch? At least one of the new lines must be a smartphone.

To sweeten the deal, U.S. Cellular has discounted a number of smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S 3 for $150 and the Huawei Ascend Y, which now sells for just a penny.

What's more, the carrier is tossing in a free 4G LTE Samsung … Read more

Apple, Samsung get knocked down a peg

Apple isn't the only one feeling the heat despite a blow-out quarter; Samsung is seemingly getting punished for its success too.

Both companies have been posting explosive growth in recent quarters and generating the bulk of the mobile industry's profits. While Apple's net income was relatively flat in its fiscal first quarter, its sales still grew 18 percent. And Samsung last night said its fourth-quarter profit soared 76 percent as its sales jumped 19 percent.

For any other company, those sorts of results would be cheered. But for Apple and Samsung, record-breaking quarters just aren't enough. … Read more

This is the year Huawei smartphones break through

Huawei could not have asked for a better CES.

With best-selling heavyweights like Samsung, HTC, Morotola, and Nokia all but invisible from the show, the usually second-tier Huawei became a top dog when it announced two high-end Android phones -- the Ascend Mate and Ascend D2 -- and its first Windows Phone 8 device.

A relative unknown in the U.S, Huawei vowed two years ago to become a top-five vendor in three years. With one year left for it to achieve its own prophecy, things are finally looking good.

Better phones at last Back in August, I opined that … Read more

Your friendly Huawei at CES: Complete with uniformed security

LAS VEGAS--I've watched a few Bourne movies and read quite a bit of John Le Carre.

If I've learned anything -- a substantial if, of course -- it's that if someone accuses you of being a spy, it's best not to act paranoid.

The best spies are those whom you would never suspect of being anything but cheery, nice, and self-effacing.

It was with a little discomfort, therefore, that I found myself at Huawei's booth both yesterday and today.

It's not that the company's products don't look frightfully interesting. They look remarkably … Read more

Huawei unveils MediaQ, a smartphone, tablet companion

LAS VEGAS--Huawei's CES roll continues with the announcement of the Huawei MediaQ, a physical cube that shares content among multiple screens.

Huawei isn't divulging many details at the moment, except to say that the MediaQ -- a companion device for smartphones and tablets -- has voice search functionality and can facilitate HD video calls.

So far it doesn't sound like a complete imitation of Google's circular Nexus Q. I'll know more once I track the MediaQ down here at CES. Stay tuned for more details!

Hands on with Huawei's Ascend W1, a Nokia Lumia clone

LAS VEGAS--Coming in big with two extra-large Android smartphones wasn't enough of a splash for Huawei here at CES. This morning, the Chinese networking provider and handset-maker launched the Huawei Ascend W1, its first-ever Windows 8 phone.

The first thing that struck me, both when I first saw the press images and when I finally got three of the models in my hands, is how similar to W1 looks to Nokia's Lumia 900 and 920.

There's the same block shape with squared-off corners and a glossy display set onto bright colors. In fact, Huawei's W1 (as it's known in the U.S.) … Read more

Huawei reveals premium Mate, Ascend D2 'phablets' at CES (hands-on)

LAS VEGAS--As expected, Huawei announced two new super-premium Android smartphones at CES 2013, the Huawei Ascend Mate and the Huawei Ascend D2.

I got a chance to see them before the press conference kicked off. Let me just start by saying that these are exactly the products that Huawei has needed to gain attention in the U.S., a market it's strongly focused on right now.

Both are large, quad-core efforts that run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and come in glossy black-and-white colors to complement tall, very thin, shingle-like shapes.

The Huawei Ascend Mate has a whopping 6.… Read more