Phone Scoop

Samsung today indicated that moving forward, Google's Android mobile operating system and its own bada mobile operating system will be the focus of its smartphone efforts. "We are Prioritizing our Android platform. Android is very open and flexible, and there is a consumer demand for it," YH Lee, head of marketing at Samsung Mobile, told Reuters in an interview. This focus on Android and bada comes at the expense of Microsoft's Window Phone 7. Samsung plans to introduce one WP7 handset later this year. Lee said, "There is still some professional, specialized demand there." Samsung will not be developing WP7 handsets in significant numbers, though.

Skype has pushed out a minor update to its Skype for Android application. The revised application offers several new features. For example, it now supports incoming caller ID, so you'll be able to see your Skype contacts' names when they call you. Uses can now copy and paste within instant message conversations, as well as use emoticons. Users will see country names and flags when they dial international numbers, and users can set their location as their status message. Another important chance affects the Wi-Fi radio. The application no longer kills the Wi-Fi radio when Skype is turned on. Skype for Android can still only make phone calls via Verizon Wireless' voice network. Voice calling does not work over Wi-Fi yet. However, with this minor update, users of Skype for Android can at least have the Wi-Fi radio on, where previously the Wi-Fi radio was shut off by Skype. Verizon Wireless' Android and BlackBerry users can download the updated application for free.

Huawei today revealed its first Android handset that it expects to sell on a wide scale across Europe, Asia and the Americas. The IDEOS, which runs Android 2.2. Froyo, will come in both a GSM configuration and a CDMA configuration, based on documentation published by the FCC. The IDEOS U8150 has quad-band GSM/EDGE radios and 850/1900/2100MHz HSDPA at 7.2Mbps, making it compatible with AT&T. The C8150 will have tri-band 850/1700/1900MHz CDMA on board, making it compatible with networks such as Cricket and MetroPCS. Other features of the IDEOS Android phones includes GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and support for microSD cards. The IDEOS will also support the Android wireless hotspot feature. Huawei has said prices for the IDEOS will range between $127 and $179. Availability wasn't announced.

Adobe confirmed to Phone Scoop in a call that though Android 2.2 is required for Flash Player Mobile 10.1 to work, that doesn't mean that all Android 2.2 devices will be able to access and run Flash Player Mobile. According to Adobe, smartphones need to have a minimum set of specifications in order to run Flash PLlayer Mobile, including a fast enough processor and graphics support. Adobe's web site notes that devices with a VGA screen need to have at least a 550Mhz processor in addition to hardware vector FPU support. Devices with WVGA displays need to have a dedicated Cortex A8 800MHz processor or higher, with the same hardware vector FPU support. Adobe said that the Google Nexus One, HTC EVO 4G, HTC Desire, and Motorola Droid, Droid 2 and Droid X are all certified to run Flash. Adobe noted that it knows of several Android handsets that will be released later this year that won't meet the minimum spec requirements to support Flash, though Adobe couldn't name them because they haven't been announced by the manufacturer/carrier.