mobiquityinc.com - Research firm Strategy Analytics has released a statement saying the number of Android phones shipped worldwide in 2014 eclipsed 1 billion devices. That's a fairly big boost from the 800 million smartphones shipped in 2013 with Google's mobile operating system. Overall, Android's tally accounts for about 81% of the 2014 market. However, before you discount Apple's score, note that the Cupertino company managed to ship 192.7 million phones in 2014 and claimed 15 percent of the market. Coming in at a distant third place was Microsoft, who shipped around 39 million devices for a 3 percent share of the overall market. Android appears to be firmly in the lead when it comes to volume, but the monster release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus should still have Google worried over the long term.

truste.com - As online trust remains at a three year low, US Internet users say more transparency from companies is key to reducing concern
San Francisco, January 28, 2015 - The latest edition of the annual TRUSTe Consumer Confidence Index shows that online privacy is a hot button issue for Americans with 92 percent concerned about their privacy when using the internet and 42 percent are more concerned than a year ago. Most surprisingly, when presented with the statement 'Personal online privacy is not as important as national security', 45 percent disagreed. As online trust remains at a three year low, the business impact is significant with 77 percent moderating their online behavior over the last 12 months due to privacy concerns.
The top cause of concern is the possibility of companies sharing personal data with other companies (38 percent), ahead of online security threats such as the Heartbleed bug (36 percent) and Government surveillance through programs such as the NSA's PRISM (28 percent).
Among those who worry about their privacy, 37 percent said companies being more transparent about how they are collecting and using data and more active in enforcement of measures to protect privacy online were the best ways to lower their concerns. Last week, President Obama announced a package of measures in his State of the Union address to enhance consumers' security and improve privacy online; 27 percent say that Governments passing more legislation to protect their personal information online would help alleviate their concerns.
The TRUSTe 2015 US Consumer Confidence Privacy Index, is based on data from two online surveys conducted by Ipsos with around 1,000 US Internet users between November 28 and January 15. The research was commissioned by TRUSTe, the leading data privacy management company and released to coincide with Data Privacy Day #DPD2015. The full findings will be presented during the first exclusive Roundtable event of the TRUSTe Privacy Insight Series today in San Francisco CA. Comparable research was also conducted in Great Britain.
Chris Babel CEO, TRUSTe commented:
"With the highest number of data breaches on record in 2014, it is hardly surprising that the privacy and security of online data is a hot button issue for Americans and a growing concern. But with frequent terrorist threats reported on the news it is surprising that so many people consider their personal privacy more important than countering that threat.
Governments tread a fine line between balancing national security and consumer privacy rights; for businesses the stakes are high too. In an increasingly interconnected world, lack of trust can limit growth and strangle innovation as companies are deprived of the data they need to drive sales.
These findings show the scale of the impact as 3 out of 4 Americans who are concerned about their privacy have modified their online behavior in the last year meaning less data, fewer clicks and lost sales. The message is simple: don't wait for legislation or the next data breach - act now to get your privacy strategy in order and rebuild trust with your customers."
Detailed findings from 2015 US Consumer Confidence Privacy Research:
Overall, the research found that consumer online privacy concerns remain extremely high with 92 percent of American internet users worrying to some extent about their privacy online - the same percentage as in January 2014. 44 percent said they were frequently or always concerned and 42 percent agreed they were more concerned than one year ago.
When those who worry about their privacy online were asked what had contributed most to this feeling, 38 percent said companies sharing their personal information with other companies, while 36 percent were concerned about recent security threats such as the Heartbleed bug. 28 percent listed government surveillance programs such as the NSA's PRISM as a reason for their increased concern - a slight increase over the previous year.
In general, consumer trust remains low. Just over half of American Internet users (55 percent) agreed that they trust most companies with their personal information online. This is the same percentage as in 2014 having fallen from 57 percent in January 2013 and 59 percent in January 2012. The business impact of this is growing, as 91 percent say they avoid doing business with companies they do not believe protect their privacy.
Concern about online privacy has a negative impact on business. In the last 12 months, 77 percent of those who worry about their online privacy moderated their online activity due to their concerns:
57 percent have not clicked on an online ad
51 percent withheld some personal information they were asked for
35 percent have not downloaded an app/product
25 percent stopped an online transaction before completing it
9 percent deleted an online account
86 percent have taken active steps to protect their privacy in the last 12 months but around half (49 percent) say they still don't think they dedicate enough time to this. In the last year:
63 percent say that they have deleted cookies
44 percent have changed their privacy settings on their browser or social media sites
23 percent have read the privacy policy on a website or app
25 percent have turned off location tracking on their smartphone
10 percent have opted out of behavioral ads
Businesses can take steps to rebuild trust. Of those who worry about their privacy online, almost half (47 percent) say that providing clear procedures for removing personal information could improve the extent to which companies that handle personal data are trusted. 31 percent would like companies to ask for permission before using cookies and offer notice and ways to opt out of targeted ads. 30 percent would like information on how their personal information is used and easy opportunities to stop being contacted by third parties. 21 percent would like privacy policies to be written in language that is easy to understand.
The 2015 Privacy Insight Series Roundtable in San Francisco is just one of a number of events in which TRUSTe is participating, speaking or sponsoring in support of Data Privacy Day 2014 #DPD15. Data Privacy Day is an international day of awareness designed to educate people on privacy issues and how to safeguard personal information. TRUSTe has been named as a Data Privacy Day Champion by the National Cyber Security Alliance.

techradar.com - Last year, we saw an increase in the number of businesses using converged technologies (unified communications) to help drive efficiencies, better collaboration and customer service. Continued demand from employees for mobile and better ways of working also played a part in this upward trend, which was further fuelled by the change in legislation at the end of June 2014 giving all employees the right to request flexible working from their employer.
So what will happen this year? In this article, we'll chew over some of the key trends that will shape 2015.
Demanding employees
In 2015, technology, more than ever, will be expected to keep up with business growth, the need for transformation, but most of all, employees' demands. In the last five years, it's been challenging for businesses to keep up with the rate at which technology has evolved, but now the tables have turned.
Employees' expectations around having the freedom to choose the type of device and operating system they use for work, as well as capability for fast, seamless delivery of content and information, continues to increase at a rapid pace due to device innovation and increasing 4G coverage.
The projected uptake of tablets, in particular, will be a strong example of these growing consumer expectations as these devices become even more prominent within large and small businesses, as well as across the public sector.
Tablets provide greater ease and portability than a traditional laptop, and this combined with people's ever increasing demand for high speed access to information anytime, anywhere, is expected to drive wider adoption across all business sectors through 2015.
Therefore, by acknowledging employees' desires for 'bring your own' tablets, and organisations ensuring they are able to offer staff the devices and systems they prefer and need to be more productive, businesses can support the wider trend while fostering greater information sharing and cost efficiencies across the company.
Security worries
However, business investment in technology and architecture that fully supports BYOD and multiple operating systems and devices - be it tablets, smartphones or laptops - remains stifled by concerns around security. These concerns have heightened as cyber-attacks and malware become ever more sophisticated.
A further business challenge is navigating the various enterprise ICT systems that support a range of operating systems and keeping up with employees' preference for certain smartphones and tablets over others. ICT providers will need to continue to look for ways to remove the complexity for businesses and offer simple to manage, integrated and converged services that support multiple devices and operating systems, across fixed, mobile and IT.
The significance of businesses addressing these challenges and the way in which employees want to work, while helping them to become more productive, is highlighted by the demand for flexible working and the influx of Generation Y into the workforce.
Only recently have businesses begun understanding and adapting to the way generation Y wants and expects to work, which is 'mobile' - not tied down to any desk - let alone preparing for the entry of generation Z into the workforce in another five to ten years' time.
Major opportunities
Businesses needing to equip employees with the tools required to do their job to the best of their abilities, from wherever and on whatever device, therefore becomes more relevant. By embracing new and better ways of working, and by leveraging both fixed and mobile technology, companies can unearth even greater opportunities for efficiency within areas such as frontline workers, customer service or in the reduction of office space. This is a trend that is set to increase throughout 2015 as businesses of all kinds continue to look for ways to drive efficiencies, as economic conditions continue to be tough.
The pressure on technology to keep up with consumer demand for information becomes even greater as expectations around network coverage continue to increase with every 4G rollout. However, it is here where network investment can be a key differentiator for network suppliers by taking advantage of the overall network infrastructure to offer enterprise applications that are further converged across both fixed and mobile. Convergence will enable a greater scope of applications that can benefit businesses of any size.
Therefore, 2015 will see a significant increase in demand - and hence investment - amongst IT leaders, from businesses of every size, for technology which supports a maturing BYOD environment and mobile workforce whilst ensuring optimal security.