UPDATED 07:42 EDT / JANUARY 30 2013

RIM Set to Launch BB10 and New Devices Today

In today’s mobile news roundup: the world awaits BlackBerry’s big device launch; Apple and Samsung denied appeals for $1.05B case; and Nexus 4 back on Google Play.

World awaits new BlackBerry devices

Research in Motion is set to officially unveil the BlackBerry 10 mobile platform as well as two new devices, at its big event today.  Ahead of launch, BlackBerry World‘s app store is now offering music, movies and TV shows.  BlackBerry has spent over three years redesigning its mobile ecosystem to better compete with Apple and Google Android.

Though top carriers have stated that they will be offering the new BlackBerry devices, it seems that some of them are still a bit wary, especially with RIM demanding large orders and heavy promotion.  The carriers want RIM to cut service fees, and they are using the launch as leverage.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, carriers pay RIM a fee of $2 for retail customers, and between $7-$10 for corporate customers to be able to use RIM’s software and computer network that securely transmits email.

“Carriers are saying if you want us to order more devices, you have to give us a break on these service fees,” said Macquarie Capital analyst Kevin Smithen. “There is some horse trading going on.”

Nevertheless, this is a necessary move for RIM.  Some are even calling it a “Hail Mary” play for the phone maker, touching on RIM’s potential to win big or fall hard with BB10.  Here with more analysis on how BB10 could impact RIM’s market positioning in the long run is Contributing Editor John Casaretto, who appeared on this morning’s NewsDesk segment with Kristin Feledy.

Apple and Samsung denied appeals for $1.05B case

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose yesterday ruled that the $1.05 billion damages award for Apple will remain intact, despite the Cupertino company’s appeal to triple the amount, that Samsung did not willfully infringe Apple’s patents.

Judge Koh rejected Apple’s claims that the jury made a mistake when they stated that the trade dress, or how the iPad and iPad 2 look, are not protectable; denied motion for judgement that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 did not violate D’889 Patent; denied motion for judgement that the ’893, ’711, ’460, and ’516 Patents are invalid; denied motion for judgement that Samsung is liable to Apple for breach of contract and antitrust violations stemming from breach of the ETSI IPR Policy; and denied Apple’s motion for judgment that all accused Samsung phones infringe or dilute all Apple’s intellectual property as asserted, and finally that all acts of infringement or dilution by accused Samsung phones and tablets were willful and induced by SEC.

“The court will not speculate as to how, precisely, the jury calculated its damages award,” Koh wrote in her ruling. It is “reasonable to assume” that the award is “intended to compensate Apple for losses stemming from all of the violations the jury found.”

Samsung’s appeal for a retrial was also denied by Judge Koh and rejected the South Korean company’s argument that Apple’s patents are indefinite.

Nexus 4 back on Google Play

After months of unavailability, Nexus 4 is back on Google Play and is available for purchase in the US, Canada and Germany.  The Nexus 4 is available in 8GB and 16GB and devices ordered today will be available for shipping in one to two weeks.

Aside from its reappearance on Google Play, it seems that the Nexus 4 will soon be available in glittering white.  Engadget spotted the white Nexus 4 on Phone Arena, but Tinhte has more images of the Nexus 4.  Just to be clear, only the backside of the device is glittering white, the front remains black.


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