Its new “Kin” range of mobile phones have slide-out qwerty keyboards.

Microsoft has been in the mobile phone market for almost a decade but has consistently failed to grab anything like the market share it has enjoyed in the PC world. Its share of the US smartphone market dropped to 15.1% in February from 19.1% in November, while Google’s Android platform has 9%, up from 3.8%, and Apple maintained its quarter share of the market, according to figures from Comscore.

Earlier this year Google launched its own phone, the Nexus One. It is manufactured by HTC but Google has controlled exactly how the device looks and works.

In a similar manner, the Kin devices are manufactured by Sharp but Microsoft has control over the software, online services and hardware. The phones are designed to make it easy for users to access Microsoft’s online services – including search engine Bing – as well as publish and share information with their contacts.

In the US the devices will be available on Verizon Wireless while in Europe, Vodafone will launch them in the autumn in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, with further markets to follow before the end of 2010.

Mobile social networking is increasingly having strong appeal for our customers. KIN has a unique and intuitive way of engaging with the user, enabling them easily to share experiences and stay in touch with their friends.

Pricing information and local availability dates will be announced by the markets closer to the launch date.

Of the two devices the Kin One is the smaller and has a 5 megapixel camera – the same as the Nexus One and better than the camera in the iPhone. The larger Kin Two has an 8 mega-pixel camera and can take high definition video.

Apple plans to release a new version of its current iPhone this summer, continuing its practice of annual upgrades at about the same time of year.

For  the American telephony firm AT&T, the Apple relationship has been crucial, helping to make the carrier the U.S. leader of the smart-phone market share.  Recent research has indicated that AT&T has over 43% of all U.S. smart-phone customers, compared with 23% for Verizon. These customers are especially attractive because they generally pay higher monthly rates for data plans.

For a while quarters, AT&T’s growth has come almost single-handedly from the iPhone. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the carrier said it activated 3.1 million new iPhones. In comparison, it counted only a net total of 2.7 million new subscribers as some customers moved from other phones to iPhones.

Making the iPhone available through Verizon, which has over 91 million customers,  could open up a significant new market.  In 2009, iPhone sales globally rose 83% to 25.1 million.  Since Apple already dominates smart-phone sales through existing partners, “sooner rather than later, Apple is going to have to look to find incremental distribution,” said Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi. He estimates Verizon could help Apple nearly double the number of iPhone users in the U.S.

Analysts estimate AT&T pays Apple more than $600 per phone, but sells most of them for $199 or less. Heavy iPhone users have also put an enormous load on AT&T’s wireless network, pushing the carrier to a breaking point in some markets such as New York and San Francisco

Below the screen are two soft keys, call and end buttons, plus four dedicated buttons. The home/menu key can’t be reassigned, but the others can, with one function for a short push, and one for a long one. By default, for example, pressing the calendar button briefly shows the calendar, while a long press creates a new entry.

Between these is the Navikey, a standard looking four-way navpad. It’s not entirely standard, as it has an optical sensor so, you can scroll through menus and lists by wiping a finger or thumb over it, which makes for much faster navigation – although some third party apps did seem to be a little confused by it at times. On the whole, it works well, and is a good improvement.

In applications like the web browser – which supports Flash, and had no problems with our various test pages – it makes navigating much simpler; a small mouse pointer appears and you can scoot round quite quickly. On the home screen, missed call, email or text notifications appear at the bottom; hover over the icon, and you see a pop-up with more information, and you can go directly to a specific SMS, for example.

The main keypad itself is quite small, but the keys are domed and feelgood. Call quality is clear, and we had no problems with signal, nor with setting up VoIP – though as with other recent Nokia phones, you need to download the SIP Settings application. Once that’s done, you can select ‘Internet call’ from an address book entry, or just dial a number and press the right soft key. It works well, and it’s good to see it integrated with contacts, though configuring SIP can be a bit tricky for novices.

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The touch-screen QWERTY keyboard is much improved, too, allowing for simultaneous double-touching, unlike the touchscreen on the iPhone, the BlackBerry keyboard mimics the feel of a real keyboard by clicking both audibly and physically under the fingertips. There’s wi-fi too, now an essential for this class of device.  Add to this the push e-mail and unrivalled security features that makes BlackBerry the default choice for industry worldwide, and the result is a very fine phone indeed.

Instant access to content on the move is no longer the exclusive privilege of the businessman on the go. It’s something we all now expect, as previously separate devices — the camera, the phone, the portable music player, the video player — now converge into one device.

Where once BlackBerry led the way in e-mail on the go, there is now a host of other touch-screen products that offer much the same services in a more user-friendly package.

When the Pre, Palm’s make-or-break handset, was launched in the US in June, it was touted as an “iPhone killer”, the first mobile phone truly capable of taking on Apple’s flagship device. It has enjoyed critical acclaim and steady sales in the US, with around a million handsets sold, but it remains to be seen whether it can knock the iPhone off the top spot.

Palm has made much of the Pre’s music capabilities, but it finds itself locked in a cat-and-mouse game with Apple over iTunes support: Palm wants the Pre to be able to synchronise with a user’s iTunes library and import music directly from there; Apple appears less keen on this arrangement, and a recent iTunes software update disabled this function, only for Palm to reinstate it.

If the Pre’s glossy, curved design and slick interface feel familiar, it’s not surprising – Palm’s executive chairman, Jon Rubenstein, is a former Apple employee and was part of its hardware engineering and iPod division. So you have a familiar centre button on the device taking users back to the “home” screen, from which they can check their emails, make a call or surf the internet, and a “dock” at the bottom of the screen from which programs are launched.

Tapping on icons in the dock produces a rippling animation, to show that your touch command has been understood. There’s also an area on the screen’s surround, to the left of the “home” button, that allows you to skip back through menus just by running your finger from right to left.

The Pre’s major selling point – and the one that could tempt even the staunchest Apple fans away from their iPhones – is its operating system, webOS. The software, built entirely from scratch by Palm, is designed to make the most of cloud computing, by making it really easy to access content and contacts stored on other websites.

This technology, known as Palm Synergy, pulls contacts, calendar events, emails and photos, your personal and work email addresses, and instant-messaging accounts – in to a single “phone book”, through which you can get in touch with people. It means that you can keep a single “thread” of correspondence with contacts, even if some of that correspondence took place via email, text or instant messaging.

Web browsing is quick and intuitive, thanks to the Pre’s Wi-Fi and 3G support – enter a search, and the Pre will try to guess whether your question is best answered by searching the web.

This small circular pad allows you to charge the Pre without a plug, thanks to inductive technology. You’ll need to change the back cover of the Pre to a rubberised version in order for the wireless charging function to work: it uses inductive coils inside the Touchstone pad to generate a small, oscillating electromagnetic field that is transmitted through the backplate to charge the Pre.

The Apple iPhone still remains the best touch-screen smartphone on the market, but the Pre certainly gives it a run for its money.

It is thought Apple is likely to announce at least one new handset with up to 32 gigabytes of memory with features including 32 gigabytes of memory, video recording, an improved camera, a compass and improved battery.

It is rumoured that Apple is considering releasing a stripped down cheaper version of the iPhone with only 4GB of memory and fewer features with the price believed to be around £62.

Apple has sold more than 21 million iPhone in more than 80 countries since their launc in 2007. The iPhone has give Apple about 10% of the world smartphone market.

The number one challenger to the iPhone in the US this summer is likely to be the Palm Pre smartphone. The Pre has a touchscreen and a keyboard and has received glowing reports recently.

Before you consider buying a Smartphone it is probably a good idea to consider why you want or need a smartphone.  You should consider your requirements before you buy, are you able to work on the move?  Do you want the phone for home or work use? Do you want the latest multimedia applications?  Are you looking for some features you may have found on a PDA or portable laptop?

Operating System

The average Smartphone is different from a mobile phone in that it is designed to run different applications and will normally have an operating system.  Windows operating system is compatible with desktop systems and familiar applications such as Outlook, Excel and Windows Media player.  The Symbiam OS is more robust and stable than the Windows one.  This is partly due to the length of development time for this system and the number of handsets deployed with Symbian.  For a business user the Microsoft OS may have the edge given the intergration between popular applications and the mobile OS. Palm makes a highly stable OS for a mobile platform with its low history on running on low powered PDA’s makes it ideal for use with a Smartphone. Symbian helps make  the handsets very secure and the mix of business tools is excellent.

 Connectivity

You need to check that your Smartphone is Tri band or even quad band, don’t make any assumptions with this always check.  Smartphone connectivity really comes down to data connectivity.  Wireless is the key, so key out the range of wireless options available.

Data

Over the aim connections are probably the most important feature of a Smartphone, we all know of GPRS and 3G dataso check tour phone supportd them.  You are really looking for a 2.5 or 3G data service with speeds of at least 300k.  With this speed you can use Microsoft’s active or Push email services and also browse the internet.

Storage

The area to look at is how can you add more storage if you need to.  So look for CF or SD / MMC card slots, sizes up to 4gb are now available. 

Hardware

Is key to your purchase, so check out that the processor speed is at least 400Mhz.  Where this speed is what is required to run current applications.

User Friendly

Check that the screen is a good size and that the backlight is good and strong.  Check the input method, keypads might be ok but few are good for typing in a lengthy email.  Many Smartphones have a full qwerty keyboard but check that your fingers are not too big for the keyboard.  You should avoid handwriting recognition Smartphones as they are not very good.

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A smartphones’s operating system (OS) dictates its basic features and what third-party software you can install.  Windows Mobile 6.1 has the familiar look and feel of Windows and is the best option for Microsoft Exchange email.  It also allows you to buy software from numerous online providers.

The iPhone uses an OS based on Apple’s OS X. Although very slick, it won’t run any software that hasn’t been approved by Apple.  Google has rececently launched its open-source Android mobile OS, which should benefit from a wide range of freely available software.

All smartphones come with a colour screen, but look out for our the quality of the screen if you are viewing photos or video clips. 

Cameras are common in smartphones, but resolutions are limited to around 8 megapixels.

Many of the latest handsets have touchcreen interfaces, but a  keyboard can be more suitable for entering text quickly and accurately.  Windows Mobile and Palm OS have handwriting recognition features for stylus based smartphones, once you get used to these, you can enter text very quickly.

Be careful when choosing a mobile contract.  Look for a contract with a large data allowance if you want to use the internet regularly; note that all unlimited allowances actually have caps on usage. 

Built in WiFI can help you avoid high data charges by connectingy to the Internet using wireless hotspots, or via your router when at home.

Bluetooth compatibility can allow your alptop to connect wirelessly to your smartphone for web access on the move, and you can synchronise contacts using the same connection.

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 Apart from seamless connectivity and unlimited features, a user also gets free gifts with mobile phones. All the mobile phone manufacturers and network providers have been working together to come up with free gifts and special offers.

So, it is a win-win situation for a customer who gets these offers, which are accompanied by attractive free gifts. Many of these deals are also backed up by cash back offers and mobile phone accessories to add more into your benefits.

You will also notice that it’s mainly the mobile phone retailers offering these gift deals and not the networks direct, though O2 and Vodafone offer some Pay as You Go phones as gift. However, Orange, T-Mobile, Three and Virgin mobile currently don’t entice customer with gifts. There are many attractive incentives and multiple free gifts on the usability of various pay monthly mobile phone deals.

Customers can obtain cashback offer, redeemable gift points and also discounted line rentals such as 12 months free line rental and 18 months half price line rental on top network providers like Vodafone, Orange and 3-mobile. There are many free gifts with mobile phones in the UK.

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Samsung telecommunications is a subsidiary of the South Korean Samsung Group the world’s largest conglomerate. In 2008 Samsung became the largest mobile phone manufacturer in the United States and the 2nd largest in the World. Samsung mobile phones are divided into 6 major categories – Style, Infotainment, Multimedia, Connected, Essential and Business. They produce a full spectrum of products from mobile phones and devices such as MP3 players and laptop computers to telecomm network infrastructure.

Motorola is an American multinational which in 2003 introduced the world’s first handset to combine a Linux operating system and Java with full PDA functionality. The Motorola RAZR mobile phone line had sold over 120 million units by 2005.

Sony Ericsson is a joint venture between the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecomms company Ericsson to make mobile phones. Sony Ericsson has had great success with Cyber-shot brand which became very popular very quickly due to its very good media package and camera. Sony Ericsson launched ther Xperian rrange of mobile phones in 2008, which has opened the door for integration of Windows Mobile Operating System into Sony Ericsson smartphones.

LG is part of the Korean Consumer Electonics Manufacturer LG Electronics. The recent success of the Black Label Series has boosted LG, where it has placed a large emphasis upon the actual design of the phobile phone with slide style opening etc.

Blackberry was introduced in 1999 and developed by the Canadian company Research In Motion. Blackberry is a smartphone which supports push e-mail, mobile phone, text messaging, internet faxing as well as a multi-touch interface. The Blackberry has a number of PDA applications (address book, calendar, to-do lists, etc) as well as telephone capabilities. The Blackberry is primarily known for its ability to send and receive e-mail whereever it can access a wireless network of the mobile phone operators.

We have a comprehensive section on mobile phones with practical articles on…..Smartphone buyers guide…Mobile deals with free gifts…Pay As You Go deals...Mobile Phone Manufacturers….Mobile Phone Networks….Defining your mobile phone and tariff requirements….A to Z of Mobile Phone Features……Mobile Phone FAQ’s