Another day, another batch of startup pitches, keynotes and mingling here at the Wireless Innovations 2007 conference in San Francisco. From Spark Parking, a mobile based parking system, to SpinVox, the voice to text voicemail service, you could find a myriad of innovative new businesses ranging the gamut across the wireless industry. The day included a full schedule of main stage presentations plus dozens of side pitching by startups throughout.
The morning kicked off with a panel of analysts discussing the potential of vertical category killer phones such as a music playing or web browsing ones, the importance of price competition between carriers in the low end market and the need for basic voice quality improvement. Next, Joe Sims, VP Product Development at T-Mobile, discussed in a keynote his employer’s new initiatives towards developing better relationships with and creating more transparency to the outside startup/business community. He also briefly described T-Mobile’s FMC trial program with an impromptu demo of turning on his phone and having it switch onto the hotel’s WiFi connection. This was then followed up with another panel as industry execs discussed the future of wireless networks.
In the afternoon Peter Taglia, Senior Director of Applications Product Strategy and CRM Mobile Applications at Oracle, gave a keynote on mobile in enterprise and gave an interesting look at the role it plays as a major market driver. The last segment of the day was a panel of venture capitalists describing their picks and pans of the day’s startup presentations. Some of their (and some of my) favorites included Smaato and GreyStripe in the mobile advertising space, SoonR, Zoove and 3Jam in the services space and Limbo 41414 and Vringo on the novelty plays.
Now that the conference is over I feel reinvigorated in my belief in the potential of this space. Some of the major themes it highlighted for me are the importance of diversity in the overall consumer data services market in the attempt to find success through “a spray and pray†method, the need for a strong new driver of communication besides SMS, MMS and typical voice such as possibly IM or mobile social networking and that there is still no M in mobile ad CPM quite yet. Apart from these lessons, the nonstop two day mobile overload was not a bad way to really get the pulse of the industry, and what I can say about that is that it sure is ready and waiting for some growth.
The infamous guys at the Late Night Players have done it again, combining the wonderful world of mobile technology with their zany comedy stylings, but this time, in conjunction with Mozes.com, I think they invented one of the most cleverest text messaging ideas to date, the idea of texting your own adventure. And they have launched the concept with an amazingly funny Spiderman video which can be seen bellow and here. It is, in my book, the first interactive video of its kind.
From a marketing perspective its a whole convergence of new media tools brining together web 2.0, mobile 2.0 and an extremely viral like humor and sensitivity. The people behind the marketing team for the new Spiderman movie can only wish they had the balls to think of this.
Watch it, make sure you check out all the endings and use the technology! (I like the “wins” ending the end of the “evil” ending).
I’m here today at Dow Jones’ Wireless Innovations 2007 conference in San Fransisco where VCs and startup CEO abound. As I’m writing this I’m sitting next to Sam Altman, founder of the LBS/social networking app Loopt. Just like his, there are over 60 other companies represented as well as top tier VCs and large corporations.
Today’s highlights includes keynotes by executives from Intel, Nokia and Qualcomm. Tero Ojanpera, CTO of Nokia, discussed his companies Web 2.0ish new services and applications including WidSets, their Java based widgets offering. In conversation, he told me about their efforts on the Mobile Augmented Reality front which I found very interesting.
Besides the keynotes, half of the small companies presented today in a “track” based format. Tracks included entertainment, location based services, infrastructure and voice services. Some of my favorites from these where Loopt, Intercasting Corp and Mobio.
Loopt offers Boost subscribers LBS based social networking functionalities such as a friend finder and proximity alerter. Intercasting is run by a friend of mine who is all about social networking. His app, Rabble, offers a cool mobile implementation of all the usual favorite social networking features plus those specifically for mobile. Mobio is a cool new service that offers server side processing and mashup-ing of services such as movie look ups and restaurant reservations.
All in all, a good first day, and I’m looking forward to posting tomorrow on more highlights and some more in depth coverage from here in the Bay Area.
‘If everyone in the UK who owns a mobile delayed its replacement by a year, it would equate to 187,000 cars being removed from the road annually.’
That’s O2’s estimate of how much CO2 is produced during the manufacturing of the UK’s mobile phones.So in order to do its bit for the environment, O2 is now offering a £95 cash back offer to any new or existing customers who choose to keep their existing phone rather than opting for a new handset.
US - Solution for waste
65,000 tons of cell phones are discarded every year.Instead of giving money to those who don’t buy the latest gadget, a few states are implementing cell phone recycling programs at retailer locations.Californiaand New York already have legislation in place.Vermont and Maineare working similar measures through.
Want to do your part regardless if your State makes cell phone recycling mandatory?Check out these sites:
The Wireless Foundation CALL TO PROTECT – This national non-profit program established by CTIA generates funds to provide phones, with matching airtime, to domestic violence agencies as well as grants to national organizations working to prevent domestic violence.
The Body Shop – This personal care products retailer began offering its “National Cell Phone Collection Program†in September 2002 at all Body Shop stores. Proceeds are donated to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
The Charitable Recycling Program - Provides a fundraising program for non-profit organizations and municipalities, or donats proceeds to a charity of your choice.
CollectiveGood – CollectiveGood collects cell phones to benefit charities specified at its website through the mail (mailing costs may be covered by selected charity) and through collections organized by local partners (including Staples retail stores).
ECO-CELL – ECO-CELL partners with conservation and public organizations to set up profitable local collection programs.
GRC Wireless Recycling – Through its “Recycling Alliance†and “Shelter Alliance†programs, GRC Wireless offers cell phone fundraising and recycling programs for schools, non-profits, religious organizations, community groups,, municipal recyclers, shelters, and social service groups. Donations of used cell phones are accepted from businesses and consumers.
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Program (RBRC) – RBRC accepts cell phones for recycling through its rechargeable battery collection program. RBRC collection boxes are currently available at over 150 retail locations throughout Maine ; RBRC provides free collection boxes and shipping to municipalities.
ReCellular – ReCellular offers cell phone collection and recycling program support to all kinds of organizations, including big box retailers, to help these organizations raise funds for charitable and environmental programs.
I am someone who LOVES small phones, so I could not wait for my carrier to carry the Razr when it first came out.The release was even marked on my calendar and I had plans to walk down to the store the day of the release to get it.
Without a doubt the Razr was the worst phone I have ever had.The first time my callers could not hear me… I thought it was nothing and took it into the shop for attention… but after the 11th time of taking it into Verizon for the SAME reason, I just had it!Once the Verizon staff even handed me a replacement phone with a screen that would not illuminate.They assured me “don’t worry, it can still makes calls†you just need to know the number by heart.Ugh! What a headache!
Hopefully this will soon be a problem of the past.After a similar problem with the Moto Q (are you seeing a trend here), Rep. Susana Mendoza of Illinois vowed to prevent this headache in the future by sponsoring a cell-phone lemon law.
The proposal would allow the state’s 8.5 million wireless customers to cancel their contracts without paying early termination fees if a phone must be replaced or repaired at least three times within a contract period.
Consumers would also have the option to upgrade or downgrade phones without extending their service agreements, and companies would have to provide customers with a written statement informing them of their rights. Damage caused by consumers would not be covered.
No other state has such a law on the books, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, though Tennessee is considering a similar lemon law. Other states have proposed legislation targeting poor service and dropped calls.
For the fifth straight study, T-Mobile ranks highest when it comes to customer satisfaction in all six regions of the US (including 3 ties), providing outstanding results particularly in customer care, cost of service, and billing. Verizon Wireless is tied for first in three of the six regions.
Study results by region are:
Northeast: T-Mobile
Mid-Atlantic: T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless (tie)
Southeast Region: Alltel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless (tie)
North Central Region: AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon Wireless (tie)
One of the topics at next week’s NCAA board of directors meeting will be a ban on text messaging. Unlike phone calls and in-person visits, there are no coach limits on text messaging.Apparently, many college basketball coaches have discovered this loophole and are constantly sending text messages asking recruits to call them — calls that would violate NCAA rules if the coach made the call.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Council, which represents college athletes, complained that the number of text messages had become intrusive and costly.
“I think student-athletes wanted to see this eliminated for their own sanity,†said Kate Hickey, the management council’s chairwoman whose term is about to expire. “And to get rid of some of these bills.â€
There was one 10-digit number I knew by heart in college, Wings Over Albany (pdf), 518.862.9464.Let’s just say, they kept me from staving for four years.Of course, three years AFTER I graduate, they start accepting orders via SMS.I so COULD have been ordering my dinner while still IN class, but no.Because I could not text to order, I had to wait.
Campusfood.com, the nation’s leading online network of restaurants (one of which is Wings Over… ), bought a shortcode after much demand from the students.Â
Give it a try.Oh, and I recommend DC-10, all honey mustard with an extra large side of honey mustard (the small is just too small).
PennState is no stranger to technology.The university’s “PSUTXT” service, which began in August, sends information from the University directly to students’ cell phones, including emergency notices, concert information, school delays and cancellations, and sports alerts.
The State of Pennsylvania got straight to business today, a mere day after the shooting at Virginia Tech.State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Bellefonte, unveiled a resolution requesting universities statewide to have an effective system in place to alert students of potential threats — and he wants to use Penn State’ PSUTXT as a template. Under the Reso, each univeristy would be required to have a database which contains instant access to student’s cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses. “Every student owns a cell phone and text messaging in the event of an emergency is the most logical way to contact them.”
Hopefully the events yesterday service as a wake-up call for universities all over the nation that they need to have some sort of emergency notification in place, just in case.
Another day, another batch of startup pitches, keynotes and mingling here at the Wireless Innovations 2007 conference in San Francisco. From Spark Parking, a mobile based parking system, to SpinVox, the voice to text voicemail service, you could find a myriad of innovative new businesses ranging the gamut across the wireless industry. The day included a full schedule of main stage presentations plus dozens of side pitching by startups throughout.
