5 LBS Apps on iPhone

Apple’s new iPhone software with the iPhone OS 3.0 update will include Google Maps integration. With this I feel there will be an explosion of location-based apps to start appearing in the App Store. This again will be followed by other app store hope-fulls like RIM, Nokia etc. There are already a few location-based apps available now and here are five that are worth a look.

uSonar (Free)

There are lots of apps available that let you keep up with your social networks while you’re on the go, but what about when you’re bored and want to find someone local to hang with? uSonar lets you know who’s around and what they’re up to, whether they are someone you already know or not. Members post “blips” about their activities and locations, then you can message them directly through your iPhone or iPod touch. Everything about uSonar is opt-in, so you’re in control of who can see where you are, or send you a message or email. You can even post anonymously if you’d like.

Loopt (Free)

If you want people outside your immediate location to be able to find you, try Loopt. This app lets you broadcast your whereabouts or send pictures to everyone in your social networks, like Twitter and Facebook. It works across all major mobile phone carriers and supports over 100 different models of phones so your buddies without iPhones can find you. It’s famous among youth of UK

Hear Planet (Free)

If you like to go sightseeing when you travel, then you’ll love Hear Planet. It uses geolocation to determine where you are, then feeds you tons of information about the area’s landmarks, famous buildings, historical sites, and more via your headphones. More than just an audio tour guide, listen while you drive around running errands and you just might learn something you never knew about your hometown.

Whrrl (Free)

Some folks love micro-blogging so much that they want to document every minute of their day. If that’s your thing, let Whrrl help. Use your iPhone’s camera to snap pictures of your lunch, trip to the market, and visit to the dentist, uploading to Whrrl as you go. You can even add text and messages if you choose. Your location and micro-stories are shown on a map, which is really neat if you happen to be around other Whrrl users doing the same thing as you. Imagine attending the IPL Cricket matches and updating the experience as it happens, while simultaneously watching someone else across the stadium do the same.

Traffic ($1.99)

This app will let you know what the traffic conditions are like in your area and display them in list form or superimposed on a map. Traffic gives you details on how severe the traffic situations are. The app automatically locates where you are, but you can enter the location of your choice so you can get traffic conditions anywhere.

pre-CTIA event summary 31 March ‘09

Here are interesting happenings from the halos of CTIA Wireless site in Vegas (the event starts tomorrow but there were interesting pre-event conferences/announcements)

• Skype released on iPhone and BlackBerry. We downloaded it and really like what we see. Only issue : it works only on WiFi networks. For now TruPhone wins on this one as TruPhone works on operator network also using its AnyWhere service. We are sure Skype will provide that later. Skype for BlackBerry to be made available this summer.
• RIM to unveil the BlackBerry App World (mobile app store). Nokia Ovi Store comes this summer. MSFT Windows Mobile App Store called Sky Market is later part of this year.
• Handango, one of the initial mobile app developer, launches App Store Accelerator, yet another app store for mobile.
• MSFT thinks that mobile devices are fashion accessories. As such it is teaming up with top designers for designing mobile phone colors and schemes.
• MSFT is collaborating with AT&T for its PlayReady triple-play content management software for synchronized content delivery on three channels – TV, broadband and mobile.
• Go2 Media to create app like experience in mobile browsers like Safari
• AT&T to launch in-vehicle satellite TV service called CruiseCast. If you have seen Uverse from AT&T, you know what AT&T has mastered TV
• Samsung launches first WiMAX device for ClearWire. It is an internet tablet PC.

Stay tuned for more from CTIA as the conference kicks off tomorrow in Vegas.

iPhone 3.0 OS Overview

I wanted to write about the new Apple news – that of iPhone 3.0 software. Apparently it is a version which will fulfill many of the things which were missing before :

- 100 new features
- Search iPhone
- Cut, copy and paste capability – sorely lacking in prior versions
- Send photos, contacts, audio files and locations via MMS
- Read and compose email and text in landscape mode. Earlier the safari browser allowed this but not the email and message box. Now the latter will allow landscape also.
- 1000 new APIs for developers
- enable in-app purchase of content like subscriptions, additional game levels and other content
- apps can communicate with other hardware via Bluetooth
- push is available to developers to push content
- multitasking so multiple apps can run simultaneously
- developers can use the map feature of iPhone in their apps
- developers can access the iPod music (or podcasts etc) library stored on the device and use them innovatively in their apps

 

This is a sample list – we will write more as we learn about this exciting new announcement from Apple – we remain die-hard fans of iPhone which is a true mobile revolution as far as we are concerned.

War on Mobile App Store Front soon…

I was at Nokia Forum yesterday in New Delhi while it was being organised by Nokia parallely in Malaysia too. Nokia has started organising these forums/ code camps regularly now to connect with third party developers who come out with very innovative applications every now and then from around the world.

Mostly present there were talking about how different manufacturers like Research In Motion (RIM), Google Inc., Microsoft and Nokia etc. are all tryting to get a pie of the app store market share, a trend started by Apple. Most of them agreed that Apple actually told the world that phone is not just for talking or sms but a lot more then that, through it’s iPhone and the app store. However in India, iPhone is not as popular in absence of 3G networks.

Now, other companies like RIM and Nokia are going to leverage that customer knowledge (imparted originally by Apple)  to monetise the huge opportunity available now as Nokia and RIM both have far greater market share in India then Apple’s iPhone.

Research in Motion (RIM) in October 2008 announced two major distribution initiatives for smartphone applications for its BlackBerry handheld, including an online store called BlackBerry Application Storefront and an application center. RIM began accepting applications and content from developers for inclusion in the storefront in December and the store is scheduled to launch this month. The storefront will allow developers to set their own prices for applications. RIM is working with PayPal, an online payment service, to provide consumers with a way to pay for applications from BlackBerry smartphones.

Nokia is launching their app store on OVI starting first from western world by end of first quarter and later entering in India by around mid of this year. Nokia is also tying up with various payment platforms including credit card payment gateways online for cutomers to pay for applications.

A key question for technology executives is what value, if any, do these app stores provide to business users? So far, experts say, the usefulness for business appears to be limited. But with the influx of new players in the market, the number of business applications might increase.

LG Mobiles in India to have pre-loaded Social Networking Application

LG mobile phone users will be the first in India to benefit from easy access to the rich mobile social networking. The latest version of the RockeTalk application includes a multiple Instant Messenger (IM) chat feature compatible with Yahoo, Google Talk, MSN, AIM and ICQ. RockeTalk is the only application in India that provides both mobile IM chat and a full-featured end-to-end mobile social network with voice, photo, and video messaging, communities, and user-generated and professional content.

For full story click here.

Motorola to opt for Android OS

Sources in India have mentioned that Motorola is soon going to opt for Google’s Android as operating system for its new range of phones. On the other hand, business-focused devices will be based on Microsoft Windows Mobile. The company however, will continue to use its own platform, P2K for low-end phones. The company is also looking to outsource production of some windows Mobile phones.

Vishal

New Business Models in Wireless Space at Barcamp Delhi…

Today I attended BCD5, the Barcamp event in IIT-Delhi. Although registrations for this event were many online. However, only a few turned up for the event actually. Quiet a few people were carrying laptops and PDAs to blog in real time about the event using wifi which in general IIT – Delhi auditoriums have for use by everybody but today there was’nt any due to security reasons.

Among others, I also spoke on new business models in wireless space, representing CellStrat. Though the attendees for this topic were very very less with a total of about just 10-15 peoplefrom close to 100+ . But it was appreciated quiet a lot as these were the only people who were either working in mobile space on these models for their clients abroad or would like to include them in their businesses in India.

Overall, the technology presentations or the one in tech space were quiet good.

Dream WiMAX Phone Coming to Russia

Imagine having access to broadband speeds on your phone without the need for a WiFi hotspot. Yes, such a phone is soon going to be launched in Russia. Dates are not know however, according to floating news, it will be soon enough. In addition to a WiMax radio, the device will have WiFi, tri-band GSM, microSD, dual cameras, 3.5mm audio, an A/V plug and a gargantuan 850 x 480 screen, which should blow the iPhone away.

You can read the full story here.

2008 Mobile Excellence Awards announced

The 2008 Mobile Excellence Awards, mobile entertainment awards program has announced the awards for this year.

MOBILE BUSINESS CATAGORIES

Best Start Up
Vringo
Zannel
EQO
Cha Cha Mobile

Best Comeback
Direct TV
Last Minute.com, FoneFood
FusionOne

TECHNOLOGY SERIES
Best Mobile Innovator, Mobile Technology
Recogmission
Alcatel-Lucent
Bango
2Ergo

Best Mobile Advertising
Jentro Technologies
GoTV Networks for Crescent Heights
Macrovision/TV Guide Mobile
Verve Wireless

Best Mobile Video
Intersport/Sprint Exclusive Entertainment
MediaFlo –Qualcomm
QuickPlay Media
Zannel

Best Social Network
Mobicious, Snap My Life
Juice Wireless, JuiceCaster 6.0
Zannel
Intersport

MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORIES

Best Innovator Mobile Entertainment
GoTV Networks
Macrovision/TV Guide Mobile
Artificial Life
Transpera

Best Mobile Games
Hands On Mobile, Guitar Hero Mobile III
Sony Pictures TV International, God of War, Betrayal
EA Mobile, Monopoly
Hands On Mobile, World Poker Tournament, Texas Hold’Em 2

Best Mobile Music

GoTV Networks, Hip Hop Official
LiveWire Mobile, Integrated Storefront
eMbience
Gracenote

Best Original Programming, Mobile
Sony Pictures TV International, Afterworld
Fun Little Movies, Turbo Dates (Speed Dating Series)

Read more here.

National Conference on Mobile VAS 2008

Hello Readers!

Yesterday I attended the national conference on Mobile VAS organized by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). It was a wonderful event. Most of the Who’s who community was present there. They are Sanjiv Mital (Vice Chairman, Bharti Telesoft), Prabhakar Seshan (Country Manager, IBM India), S.M.Talwar (Exe. Director, MTNL), N K Goyal (President, CMAI); Vijay Shukla, (Country Head, Valuefirst), Milind Pathak, (CEO & Country Manager, Buongiorno), Suresh Narasimha (CEO, Telibrahma), Prasad Narasimhan (CMO, Virgin Mobile), Gaurav Mishra (COO, Guruji.com), Debasis Chatterji (Director Operations, Netxcell), Probir Roy (Co-founder, Paymate), Suresh Anantpurkar (VP-Products, mCheck), Shekher Shrivastava, (VP – Marketing, ItzCash Card), Ravi Shankar (EVP, Yes Bank), Niranjan Gosavi (CMO, Atom Technologies), Rajat Mukarji (Idea Cellular), AD Mehta (CEO, CellNext), Ajay Vaishnavi (Director Telecom, Times Internet), Rajesh Jain, MD, Netcore Solutions), Jagdish Mitra (CEO, CanvasM Technologies), A.R.Vishwanath(CEO, IMI Mobile), Salil Bhargava (CEO, Jump Games), RajSingh (MD, ActiveMedia), Chetan Jain (CEO, i2i Telesource), Zubin Dubash (GM, Tata Teleservices).

                                                                               

The conference covered all VAS topics, such as SMS and MMS boosting strategies, business models for mobile marketing and advertisement, mobile payment, content products, music, games, mobile TV, entertainment, 3G services and others products available for the telecom market.

 

Mr.Sanjiv Mital said that Indian companies will not remain Indian but will become global soon after 3G services are rolled out. He also mentioned that when Bharti tries to acquire or partner with telecom or VAS related companies in Europe, they welcome the move and also feel proud to be associated with fast emerging countries like India.

 

Mr. Talwar of MTNL said that VAS is the only mode left for telecom companies to survive in wake of ever decreasing call rates. If a company is not able to differentiate and provide better and innovative services day in and day out, nobody can stop it’s exit from the market.

 

Mr. Vijay Shukla from Value First said that in today’s VAS world, there are 8 categories of people involved i.e. Subscriber content companies, Government and Associations like IAMAI, Advertising Agencies, Mobile Marketing Companies, Telecom Operators, Technology enabling companies like IBM, Handset Manufacturers, and Marketers who spend money.

 

Mr. Suresh from Telibrahma said that brand in India today is about people, community, interactivity and dialogue. But when it comes to Mobile Marketing, first two of the above don’t want to receive advertisements on Mobile as they consider it as a spam. Thus challenges in building the Mobile Marketing are setting right expectations like in terms of ROI and measurablility and setting the right pricing…Talent (both business wise and understanding technology), scaling and integration with the advertising industry.

 

Mr. Milind Pathak of Buongiorno said that now increasingly digital media like internet and mobile are getting more penetration then modes like radio and press. According to him, to succeed in Mobile Marketing, we need customer engagement i.e. linking of consumption of medium with the brand message. This will happen when there is a blend of virtual with real. Eg. Sites like 2^nd. Life are doing so.

 

M. Prasad of Virgin Mobile said that opportunities and challenges are basically same. He says Mobile Marketing serves effectiveness (by personalization and language freedom), is targetable (segmentation of customers), is highly interactive and; last but not the least is measurable.

 

Mr. Mishra of Guruji.com said that mobile marketing should quickly move from push to pull strategy else it will die. ROI will be biggest when relevance and pull strategy will be adopted. For mobile search to succeed and be effective, it should be location sensitive, according to customer preference and has relevant content.

 

Mr. Rajat of Idea Cellular said that fundamental core of mobility is “Ability to receive a call.” On enterprise level, foremost use is for productivity and comfort. Connectivity bearers are four i.e. voice, sms, ussd and gprs. Fundamental requirements of enterprises thus are encryption of messages, compression and scale of an application.

 

Mr. Chetan from i2i said that for content enablement four factors play key role: branded content (i.e. unique and coming for well established name), presentation (language sensitivity), mobile advertising and analytics (relevance).

 

Mr. Zubin from Tata Teleservices said that infotainment needs to know customer needs. Today connections are 90% pre-paid and 10% paid. This differentiates the customer into first being budget customer and later being hungry customer. Thus infotainment should be given to pre-paid customers in sachets i.e. according to customer requirement and his budget, not in bulk as company wants, else company will loose the customer. Paid subscribers are hungry for infotainment and always ask for more thus they should be given full version for e.g. A full video or song instead of a clipping. Rural customers also come in pre-paid segment and buy mobile services in order to enhance their livelihood and always see what value addition it will do to their livelihood and lifestyle. Thus, they need to be given highly specific highly targeted VAS which will help them in making their lives better. Eg. Providing them with just in time services like informing them about best market rates in which they will be able to sell their crop or right kind of seed or medicine they should put in different kinds of soil or seasons etc.

 

Overall it was a great conference and lot business networking for the audience attending the event.