Today’s mobile news roundup features RIM’s NFC device launch, a continuously soaring smartphone market, Oracle-Google trial deliberation and more.

First day of BlackBerry World

Research in Motion’s BlackBerry World 2012 is kicking off at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Florida starting today and running through May 3.  And to start things off, RIM launched the the Blackberry Music Gateway – a gadget that enables music streaming via near field communication or NFC.

“Customers can sync their personal music library, purchase albums and songs from the BlackBerry Music Store or stream music from the numerous BlackBerry App World music apps such as BBM Music, Pandora or Slacker, for a rich multimedia experience,” a RIM spokesperson said.

The device is small enough to fit into your pockets and can stream music from BlackBerry phones via NFC or from any phone via Bluetooth.  It can also function as a remote control so you can always play the tunes you want even if you’re 30 feet away from the source.

The BlackBerry Music Gateway is set to be released by June 2012 and will cost $49.99 (£30).

Smartphone market soars

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, the worldwide mobile phone market declined 1.5% year over year in the first quarter of 2012 (1Q12), vendors shipped 398.4 million units in 1Q12 compared to 404.3 million units in the first quarter of 2011.vendors shipped 398.4 million units in 1Q12, compared to 404.3 million units in the first quarter of 2011.  Though there was a decline in smartphone shipments, Samsung still managed to oust longtime leader Nokia to become the world’s top mobile phone vendor.

The report also stated that the worldwide smartphone market grew 42.5% year over year in 1Q12, Samsung overtaking Apple for the smartphone leadership position. Vendors shipped 144.9 million smartphones in 1Q12 compared to 101.7 million units in 1Q11. The 42.5% year-over-year growth was 1% higher than IDC’s forecast of 41.5% for the quarter, and lower than the 57.4% growth in the fourth quarter of 2011.

“The race between Apple and Samsung remained tight during the quarter, even as both companies posted growth in key areas,” said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Phone Technology and Trends program. “Apple launched its popular iPhone 4S in additional key markets, most notably in China, and Samsung experienced continued success from its Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet and other Galaxy smartphones. With other companies in the midst of major strategic transitions, the contest between Apple and Samsung will bear close observation as hotly-anticipated new models are launched.”

Oracle-Google deliberation

The copyright phase of the Oracle-Google trial is now under deliberation from the jury.  They will not be able to move on to the second phase, the patent phase, if the first phase hasn’t been resolved.  US District Judge William Alsup instructed the jury to look at APIs as something that can be copyrighted during deliberation but Alsup will still be the one to decide whether they are indeed copyrightable at the end of the trial.  Oracle’s case against Google relies on whether the judge and jury deem that APIs are copyrightable, and that Google infringed Oracle’s Java APIs.

GrubHub’s restaurant tablet technology

GrubHub, the online and mobile food ordering service, announced the release of the OrderHub tablet technology for restaurants. OrderHub simplifies the food ordering process, making it the easiest and most efficient way for restaurants to manage the thousands of new online orders they get through GrubHub.

“While the fax and phone process has always worked well for our restaurants, this technology really takes us to the next level,” said Matt Maloney, GrubHub co-founder and CEO. “OrderHub allows restaurants to spend more time preparing food instead of taking orders.”