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A lot of analyst reports are churned out once the quarterly earnings season ends, but ABI Research’s quarterly handset roundup is one to take note of. ABI’s Michael Morgan checks out the world’s 10 largest branded cell phone makers in the first quarter of 2011, providing sales data as well as insight into their strategy and competitive position in the market. Though most research firms only list the market’s top five handset makers, ABI lists the full top 10 (and the firm is providing shipment numbers for all of the vendors listed). Which companies are sinking and which are on the rise? Special report

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Quick news from around the Web

@FierceWireless: Motorola provides a schedule of Android updates for its devices.  Article | Follow @FierceWireless

>   An FBI division that specializes in computer crimes has taken over the investigation into a security loophole at AT&T that allowed a  group to tap into some iPad 3G users’ personal e-mail addresses.  Article

> Fujitsu and Toshiba, which are both targeting the Japanese cell phone market, have decided to combine their handset operations. Article

> Location Based Technologies received approval for its PocketFinder and PetFinder devices for AT&T Mobility’s network. Release

> Broadcom has agreed to purchase near-field communications firm Innovision Research & Technology PLC in an all-cash offer. Release

> Clearwire issued a a reminder today that its previously announced rights offering will expire at 5:00 p.m., ET, on June 21, 2010. At the present time the Company does not anticipate extending the rights offering.  Release

> Nokia’s vice president of markets, Anssi Vanjoki, said that beginning in 2011 more of the company’s devices will include near field communications technology. Article

Mobile Content News

 > Research in Motion’s revamp of the BlackBerry OS can’t come soon enough as consumer interest in the platform is lagging. Commentary

> Kobo announced its availability across smartphones powered by Google’s Android mobile operating system.  Article

> Motricity finally began trading on the NASDAQ Friday, offering 6 million shares of common stock priced at per share. Article

And finally… Beer pong is now a competitive sport with a ,000 prize.  Article

FierceWireless

Quick news from around the Web

@FierceWireless: Mobile device security in the enterprise: patching up and catching up. Article | Follow @FierceWireless

> Handset vendor INQ is planning an Android phone for the fourth quarter. Article

> BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk predicts Sprint Nextel could sell up to 1 million HTC Evo devices in the gadget’s first month of availability. Post (sub. req.)

> Japanese handset vendors Fujitsu and Toshiba are in talks to merge their phones businesses, according to the Wall Street Journal. Article (sub. req.)

> The Indian spectrum auction has drawn to a close, raising .2 billion, and Qualcomm announced it is the provisional winner of Broadband Wireless Access–unpaired spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band–in four telecom circles in the country. Release

> Hewlett-Packard announced it will purchase Linux-based quick-boot OS and client virtualization assets from Phoenix for million. Article

> The Droid Life blog posted pictures of the purported Droid 2 from Motorola. Post

> Tellabs has denied speculation that it lost AT&T’s wireless backhaul business. Article

Mobile Content News

> Major record labels in the U.S. are reportedly pressuring digital streaming music service Spotify to jettison its current free content approach in favor of a guaranteed revenue model. Article

> Apple announced it is now accepting App Store submissions based on its upgraded iOS 4 operating system. Article

> Twitter announced its acquisition of Smallthought Systems, developer of the Trendly analytics service. Article

Developer News

> Apple released its iTunes Connect Mobile, which allows registered developers to track their app sales and trends. Article

> And finally… Microsoft’s planned retail outlet in San Diego will be just a few doors down from Apple’s own store, and will open the same day–June 24–that the iPhone 4 goes on sale. Post

FierceWireless

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