Events

Research In Motion makes friends with MySpace

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:18:04 -0400

With its share of the U.S. smartphone market now at 54 percent, Research In Motion announced a series of new initiatives poised to increase its dominance in the segment, highlighted by an agreement with social networking giant MySpace to develop an integrated MySpace Mobile experience customized for BlackBerry devices. During his keynote appearance Thursday at the CTIA Wireless I.T. and Entertainment event in San Francisco, RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie also announced a new partnership with Microsoft to launch Live Search optimized for the BlackBerry platform, as well as an agreement with digital video recording solutions provider TiVo to introduce customized wireless TiVo services. "It's important to create an environment where you support diverse messaging [services]," Balsillie said. "We're now seeing a convergence of the four screens--your cell phone, your home phone, your home Internet and your home content."

MySpace for BlackBerry, launching in October, integrates MySpace's primary social networking components (e.g., messaging, status and mood updates, and photo management) with the BlackBerry platform to provide instant, push-based messaging to BlackBerry and MySpace users. RIM will also introduce a BlackBerry community page on MySpace for users to access the latest BlackBerry smartphone news, content, videos, games, ringtones, skins and related features. Balsillie cited a recent eMarketer forecast that anticipates more than 800 million people worldwide will access social networks via mobile devices by 2012, up from 82 million in 2007. "When you change access to information, you change your relationship to it," Balsillie said.

Research In Motion's partnership with TiVo will enable BlackBerry users to wirelessly browse television schedule guides and program recordings--according to Balsillie, the two firms plan to eventually introduce software applications that further expand mobile access to video content, including caching programming directly on the device. RIM will also team with Microsoft to integrate the software goliath's Live Search apps into the BlackBerry Browser and BlackBerry Maps service, enabling contextual, location-sensitive searches or information on nearby points of interest. Another upcoming partnership will pair RIM with concert ticketing provider TicketMaster.

For more:
- read this RIM and MySpace press release
- Click here for photos of the Day Two Keynotes...
- Click here for photos of the new Pearl Flip phone...

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Sprint introduces One Click

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:39:49 -0400

Sprint announced the launch of One Click, a new user interface design promising subscribers a customizable, carousel-style menu enabling one-step access to mobile data and entertainment services. According to Sprint, One Click allows users to personalize their device home screen by selecting and organizing features spanning from Google search to Sprint Navigation to mobile music--consumers may also add shortcuts to their favorite websites. Sprint said it will introduce One Click on its upcoming LG Lotus, Samsung Highnote and Samsung Rant handsets, all of which drop at retail in October.

For more on One Click:
- read this release

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Exit Games enters into IMS integration

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:07:57 -0400

Multiplayer gaming platform service provider Exit Games announced integration of IMS connectivity into its Neutron multiplayer platform, enabling mobile application and game developers to offer enhancements like real-time presence with friend lists, location-based services and in-application voice chat. According to Exit Games producer Thorsten Jonas, mobile operators worldwide have invested more than $20 million in IMS core technology: "It's important they have something to show they're using IMS and bringing its advantages to end users," Jonas said in an interview with FierceMobileContent. "The problem is it's hard for developers to integrate IMS capabilities into their games. This is where we step in by encapsulating IMS features into our existing Neutron library."

In addition, the Neutron platform offers cross-platform compatibility between mobiles and PCs as well as backwards compatibility that makes possible interconnectivity between devices with and without IMS capabilities. "If you want to move to IMS, you need to think about all the people that don't have IMS in their phones," Jonas said. "It's important to allow a mix of users--in fact, it's insane to lock out any users."

MapQuest finds its way to BlackBerry

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:56:44 -0400

AOL-owned mapping solutions provider MapQuest announced the beta launch of MapQuest 4 Mobile, a free downloadable application optimized for Research In Motion's BlackBerry smartphones. MapQuest 4 Mobile promises consumers the same directions and travel/traffic information as its web counterpart as well as an easy-to-use interface, hybrid imagery and a GPS-based "find me" feature that tracks users' progress to their destination. In addition, MapQuest 4 Mobile offers smaller map tiles allowing for speedier downloads and faster screen refresh. MapQuest 4 Mobile will debut on Sprint's BlackBerry 8830 and AT&T's BlackBerry 8800, 8820, and 8310, with additional devices scheduled to roll out in the months ahead.

For more on MapQuest 4 Mobile:
- read this release

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MTV debuts premium mobile VOD ad effort

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:39:41 -0400

MTV Networks announced the launch of its first-ever mobile video advertising effort, introducing pre-roll ads to content available via carrier-operated premium video-on-demand services. MTV will insert U.S. Air Force ads in front of episodes of its made-for-mobile series The How To Show--the USAF will also co-brand the program, which documents musicians, athletes and other celebs as they teach audiences the ins and outs of their respective trades. The mobile campaign, orchestrated by advertising agency GSD&M Idea City, will also span across MTV's mobile website.

MTV said it will also partner with carriers leveraging MobiTV's mobile broadcast platform to initiate research into the effectiveness and optimization of premium mobile VOD advertising. Over the course of the study, MTV and its research participants will explore how to program and optimize ads within the mobile VOD context, measuring metrics including viewer retention, advertising recall and user experience. The network said it will also trial pre-roll ads of varying lengths and formats.

For more on MTV's mobile ad outlook:
- read this release

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Verizon Wireless adds V Cast Video channels

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:29:27 -0400

Verizon Wireless announced a series of additions to its V Cast Video service programming lineup, targeting multiple niche demographics with HGTV and Food Network from Scripps Networks; TLC, Animal Planet, Planet Green and Discovery Kids from Discovery Communications; The G4 Channel from Comcast Entertainment Group's G4; The WB Channel from Warner Bros. Television Group; Tuned In from 60Frames; Comedy Time Latino from Comedy Time; ES Música and Rock On: Altitude from GoTV Networks; SayHeyHey from SayHeyHey.com; the Relix Channel from Zenbu Media; and DC Comics and Scooby-Doo & Friends from Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. In addition, Verizon Wireless said the V Cast Video slate will now include full-length episodes of primetime hits including NBC's 30 Rock and The Office, CBS' CSI and Numb3rs, and MTV's The Hills.

For more on the V Cast Video additions:
- read this release

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AdMob: iPhone browsing doubles in August

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:07:52 -0400

Smartphones accounted for 25.8 percent of worldwide mobile web traffic in August, up 3.4 percent since May 2008, according to mobile advertising marketplace AdMob's latest AdMob Mobile Metrics Report. AdMob reports that Apple's iPhone 3G accounted for 2.9 million requests per day in August, and with the other four top-selling smartphones in the U.S.--the BlackBerry Pearl, Palm Centro, BlackBerry Curve and Samsung Instinct--generated 12.9 percent of all nationwide traffic in August, up 2.4 percent month-over-month.

AdMob notes that Nokia devices yielded 62.4 percent of worldwide smartphone traffic in August, with more than 50 percent in every region except North America, while Research In Motion claimed second place worldwide with 10.8 percent of smartphone traffic, thanks in large part to its dominance in the U.S., where its devices generated 31.2 percent of smartphone traffic. Smartphones continue to build marketshare in the U.S., representing 23.7 percent of traffic in August, up 3.5 percent since May 2008.

For more on the AdMob Mobile Metrics Report:
-read this release

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MobiTV turns on Mobi4BIZ

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:55:14 -0400

Mobile broadcast services provider MobiTV announced the launch of Mobi4BIZ, a video-centric application targeting prosumers and business professionals via vertically-customized products and services including live video, video-on-demand and real-time data. Mobi4BIZ--which will make its U.S. market debut via RIM's BlackBerry Bold device--will target professionals with content culled from partners like CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business and TheStreet.com, offering stock data, business news and related information, including company-specific VOD content. Users may also further customize the Mobi4BIZ experience to receive alerts and detailed financial data on their portfolio companies as well as personalized stock tickers and financial graphs, analysis and tools.

According to MobiTV, Mobi4BIZ heralds the introduction of mobile media services within specific user segments, noting the strategy could extend to niche programming catering to families and sports enthusiasts as well as verticals like education. "We're still offering something for everybody, but we've begun a development program to create a better combination of content and devices targeted to specific verticals," said MobiTV's senior vice president of product, programming and marketing Ray DeRenzo in an interview with FierceMobileContent. "An application becomes more relevant when it's hyper-personalized--now you can define the types of programming you wish to see."

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Openwave debuts Passport, OpenMedia solutions

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:49:19 -0400

Software provider Openwave Systems announced a pair of new mobile web personalization services--Passport and OpenMedia--available via the firm's Integra service deployment platform. Openwave Passport enables operators to offer on-demand Internet access to casual mobile data users, introducing a range of subscriber options like day-long, hour-long and week-long passes. According to Openwave, Passport is targeted to new mobile users as well as roaming and visiting users who may not wish to sign up for contract data plans--in addition, it promises to intelligently intercept subscriber-initiated data transactions and offer personalized services relevant to each individual user.

"The carrier can identify when a user doesn't have a data plan, and offer a splash page to sign up for pay-as-you-go services," said Openwave product marketing strategist Michael Rodgers in an interview with FierceMobileContent. "It's particularly important for prepaid users, who might be scared of going to the web on their phone and eating up all their prepaid credits. Now the operator can bring in new users and provide them with easy-to-understand data plans. [Passport] is also a perfect method to introduce new services and launch mobile advertising--you could offer cheaper web access in exchange for viewing an ad." Rodgers added that a "U.S. Tier-1 carrier"--which we can safely assume to be Verizon Wireless--currently sells roughly 15,000 on-demand web passes each day via Passport, generating $8 million in annual revenue.

Openwave's other new service, OpenMedia, converts files like PDFs, MS Office documents, embedded Flash and audio/video clips to a format optimized for mobile devices. The new format is presented as a web page, an image, a resized media file or a stream. The service operates in collaboration with Openwave's existing OpenWeb mobile content reformatting solution, said product manager Ed Moore. "People want to do on their mobiles everything they do on their PCs," Moore said. "OpenMedia decides whether a file needs adapting to work, and helps people get content wherever they want it."

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Thumbplay inks mobile content deal with Comcast

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:11:08 -0400

Mobile entertainment destination Thumbplay announced a partnership with Comcast to launch the Comcast.net Mobile entertainment library, enabling the cable giant's subscribers to download ringtones, games and videos directly to their wireless handsets via the m.Comcast.net site. In addition, Comcast.net Mobile will offer information and entertainment as well as mobile access to email and search.

For more on the Thumbplay/Comcast deal:
-read this release

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John Faith talks Myspace iPhone App

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:20:01 -0400

Social networking giant MySpace will launch its much-anticipated MySpace Music venture later this month, with the company also planning a mobile incarnation of the service, said MySpace Mobile GM and VP John Faith during an appearance at Tuesday's Mobile Entertainment Live! event. MySpace's mobile ambitions also include deeper integration with its web platform as well as geo-spatial networking, although the latter still poses a series of security and privacy issues, Faith said. He added that more than a million consumers have downloaded MySpace's iPhone application since the launch of Apple's App Store this July.

Click here to see our Mobile Entertainment Live! slideshow...

MediaFLO USA to expand to new handsets in Q4

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:18:32 -0400

Qualcomm's mobile broadcast unit MediaFLO USA will expand to two new handsets during the fourth quarter, announced SVP of programming and advertising Jonathan Barzilay during his appearance at Tuesday's Mobile Entertainment Live! event. While Barzilay (click here for photo and bio) was unable to address specifics of the handset deals, he did confirm the MediaFLO mobile TV service--presently available in the U.S. via AT&T and Verizon Wireless--will be available across the country in February 2009, in tandem with the Congress-mandated switch from analog to digital broadcast television. (MediaFLO will use frequency spectrum 716-722 MHz, which was previously allocated to UHF TV channel 55.)

Expect more opportunistic programming efforts from MediaFLO, Barzilay said, citing the success of the network's recent broadcasts spotlighting the Summer Olympics and ESPN's X Games. "We're trying to figure out the holes and increase the number of brands we offer," Barzilay said, pointing to MediaFLO's recent decision to spin off cable channels CNBC, MSNBC and Fox News from the existing NBC and Fox mobile networks. "The mobile platform shines with live news and sports," Barzilay said. "It's a simple use case. Having the ability to tune in to a game or the Super Tuesday primaries is very compelling."

While Barzilay said he believes the current scope of MediaFLO's programming slate is properly sized for the mobile platform--"People get 200 channels at home and only watch 12 of them"--he said Qualcomm is presently exploring new methods to exploit 3G technology, which would offer MediaFLO the ability to feature on-demand content alongside its live streaming service. For now, however, MediaFLO USA's broadcast partners are increasingly high on the possibilities of mobile TV.

"We feel like the wind is at our backs with programmers," Barzilay said. "They're so excited to have a new field to play on, and to figure out things like what is the mobile equivalent of primetime. We're starting to see a lot of counter-programming on mobile--you see things like people putting [CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman] on against dramatic hours on other networks. They're trying to figure out the right windows."

Mobile Entertainment Live! Insight on Advertising

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:08:14 -0400

Fewer than half of mobile media consumers presently view mobile ads, according to The Nielsen Company's VP of mobile media Kanishka Agarwal. Speaking at Tuesday's Mobile Entertainment Live! event, Agarwal reports that among the 179 million mobile media consumers in the U.S. market, only 77 million have viewed mobile ads, in comparison with 138 million text messaging users and 43 million mobile web users. Among the mobile ad viewer population, 63 percent of subscribers glimpse mobile ads just once a month or less, Agarwal notes--moreover, a third of mobile web landing page views have no ads, and half of all ads served are house ads.

Click here to see the next speaker in this series...

Solving the mobile music malaise

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:59:17 -0400

While acknowledging the mobile subscriber population represents "the largest market the entertainment industry has ever had," Warner Music Group EVP of digital strategy and business development Michael Nash argued the current a la carte premium model does not work, pointing to subscription-based services like Nokia's Comes With Music effort as the future of mobile multimedia. Speaking Tuesday at the Mobile Entertainment Live! event, Nash--joined onstage by Nokia's head of major label relations Paul Smith--said the mobile content segment is flatlining, blaming the divide between consumer demands and existing business models. "Digital connectivity is all about accessing data and content," Nash said. "The a la carte model doesn't make sense to consumers. It's a disconnect to have a business model completely disassociated from consumer behaviors."

Needless to say, Smith agreed with Nash's assessment. Last week, Nokia announced its Comes With Music all-you-can-eat subscription service will launch in the U.K. in next month. "There's a real need for new business models," Smith said. "Giving the consumer a choice is really important. The idea of keeping your music is hugely compelling. Consumers don't want to see their music disappear."

Content bundles are also essential to the growth of mobile music, Nash said. "There's no reason why network operators can't create interesting propositions around the bundle--bundling content and connectivity is a logical equation," he said. "We're at the beginning of the evolution of this space--we need different approaches to the content and connectivity equation." Nash contrasted the Japanese mobile music market with its U.S. counterpart, noting that while sales of mastertones have declined in both regions, Japan enjoys a 34 percent compound annual revenue growth on mobile music, compared to just 5 percent CAGR in the U.S. "Bundling the full track and the mastertone [in Japan] has livened up the proposition," Nash said. "It's a simple element of the equation: We've got to make a relevant product for our consumers."

The U.S. market nevertheless remains a major proposition for Nokia, Smith said. "It's a key market for us," he said, and said a U.S. Comes with Music service is in the planning stages. "We want to be able to secure the right content deals--our mantra is all about localization," Smith said. "We have a dialogue with [U.S.] carriers going on. We'll be there when we're ready to be there."

A wide-open race for OS dominance

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:08:43 -0400

What a difference a few months can make. Consider how much the mobile software landscape has transformed in the time since CTIA Wireless 2008 took place in early April: First and foremost, of course, Apple introduced its iPhone 3G as well as its App Store mobile application storefront--in the first month after the App Store launched, consumers downloaded more than 60 million iPhone applications, earning developers about $21 million in the process. But that's not all: The open source arena opened up wide when Nokia acquired the remaining shares of mobile software licensing company Symbian Limited, announcing it plans to team with Sony Ericsson, Motorola and NTT DoCoMo to pool the Symbian OS, S60, UIQ and MOAP technologies to create a single open mobile software platform. At the same time, Google maintained the first devices powered by its Android mobile OS would hit retail by year's end, despite recurring rumors to the contrary, and Verizon Wireless formally committed to the LiMo Foundation's mobile Linux standard.

So while the mobile software community arrives at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2008 with more momentum and energy than ever before, applications developers also find themselves at the crossroads between opportunity and fragmentation, faced with the prospect of three major open-source operating systems (Symbian, Android and LiMo) as well as the iPhone and perennials BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. There's no clear favorite: Despite the breakout success of the App Store, which effectively revolutionized application sales and distribution in a matter of days, the iPhone still represents a relatively small segment of the overall device population--moreover, Apple's mysterious internal review process, erratic update protocol and my-way-or-the-highway approach to pricing have all rubbed some developers the wrong way. Google also alienated its fair share of developers by secretly making a new version of the Android OS SDK available only to finalists of its Android Developer Challenge contest. And let's not count out Microsoft, either--the software giant recently revealed the number of Windows Mobile licenses grew by 81 percent in the past year, and there are now some 18,000 WinMo apps in all. Pay close attention to which operating systems the breakout apps of CTIA Wireless I.T. target: The battle for OS supremacy is about to get very interesting.