FierceMobileContent

Holiday publishing update

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:39:21 -0400

FierceMobileContent will not publish on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day, but we're back to business as usual on Monday, July 7. Have a good holiday.

Japan ramps up mobile web security

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:37:59 -0400

Japanese mobile content providers agreed to institute a series of safeguards to protect young consumers after authorities ignored details of a mass-murder plot posted to the mobile web. Content providers this week agreed to a list of 22 criteria that would allow brands to label their mobile websites suitable for minors--sites wishing to adopt the seal of approval must closely monitor user posts and report suspicious messages to authorities. The knee-jerk reaction follows a recent spate of bad publicity across Japan as a segment of users have turned to the mobile web to arrange group suicides or announce their plans to commit crimes--last month, 25-year-old Tomohiro Kato killed seven people and injured 10 others by swerving his truck into a crowded pedestrian area and then stabbing random passers-by, a tragedy he foreshadowed in a series of web messages. Authorities were roundly criticized for failing to spot Kato's warnings, with the Japanese government agreeing to research new technologies designed to filter similar web messages.

For more on Japan's mobile web crackdown:
- read this AFP article

g8wave tees up PGA Tour mobile promotion

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:13:59 -0400

Mobile marketing firm g8wave announced a deal with beer making Goliath Anheuser-Busch and professional golf's PGA Tour to launch a text messaging promotion in advance of The Barclays, the first event of the 2008 FedExCup Playoffs series, which takes place August 21 through 24 in Paramus, New Jersey. g8wave will plan and create a mobile campaign encouraging fans to enter via text for their chance to play at Barclays host venue Ridgewood Country Club or claim VIP packages to New York Giants and New York Yankees games. Anheuser-Busch will also pony up a number of Michelob Golf prize packs. The SMS promotion launches in mid-July--Anheuser-Busch will promote the contest at point of sale and in pack.

For more on the g8wave PGA promotion:
- read this release

Related articles:
Sapporo goes mobile via g8wave
g8wave drums up mobile deal with Rush

Vodafone planning Live! portal makeover

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:54:33 -0400

European telecoms giant Vodafone is reportedly poised to relaunch its Live! mobile multimedia portal to emphasize richer personalization, new social networking features and a deeper integration with the operator's broadband service. Mobile Entertainment reports that Vodafone execs began plotting the Live! makeover during a June 19 meeting, with sources saying the strategy is about "85 percent" formed--scheduled to debut in April 2009, the revamped Live! will herald a move away from the portal's current retail storefront approach following Vodafone's recent acquisition of social networking outfit ZYB as well as its fledgling mobile music deal with social networking kingpin MySpace. Vodafone's director of Internet services Pieter Knook, hired away from Microsoft in February, will spearhead the Live! effort.

For more on the Live! makeover:
- read this Mobile Entertainment article

Nokia teams with Telenor on Ovi

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:24:52 -0400

Nokia announced an agreement with Norwegian operator Telenor to collaborate on mobile web services across the handset giant's Ovi platform. Per terms of the deal, Telenor will begin offering Ovi services in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Hungary during the second half of 2008--customized Nokia devices will provide access to selected services from both firms, among them Nokia Maps, N-Gage and Telenor Music Store and Mobile TV, with other services to follow. Nokia and Telenor also agreed on business models and further collaboration on mobile Internet services.

For more on the Nokia/Telenor deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
Nokia launches Ovi sharing, mobile ad network
Vodafone signs on for Nokia's Ovi platform
Nokia opens the door on Ovi

Driving progress

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:56:38 -0400

Exploring Chrysler's in-car mobile web initiative. Article

The Justice Department takes a closer look at the Yahoo/Google deal; MySpace Mobile inks partnership with MTS Russia;

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:53:59 -0400

> The Justice Department's antitrust division takes a closer look at the planned Yahoo/Google deal. Article

> MySpace Mobile inks partnership with MTS Russia. Release

> The Score and MyThum Interactive team for SMS sports content. Release

And finally... Long-lost segments of Fritz Lang's 1927 classic Metropolis discovered in Buenos Aires. Release

Study: Few users spending on mobile video

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:47:34 -0400

While most video-related spending remains focused on traditional outlets like DVD rentals and purchases, a growing number of consumers are turning to new platforms including online streaming and mobile video according to a new study issued by market research firm Knowledge Networks. While users ages 13 to 29 (and, to a lesser degree, users ages 30 to 43) are far ahead of users ages 44 to 54 in embracing emerging video sources, their spending on these new platforms is not significantly higher, Knowledge Networks notes--in all, the average consumer aged 13 to 54 spends roughly $31 per month on video-related content, of which $13 goes to TV service, another $13 to buying and renting DVDs and just $5 to emerging video distribution channels. Ten percent of users 13 to 29 now use mobile video services, compared to just 2 percent of both the 30 to 43 and the 44 to 54 groups--only 1 percent of all three demographic groups subscribe to monthly mobile video services, with just 26 cents of monthly video spending earmarked for mobile.

For more on the Knowledge Networks study:
- read this release

Related articles:
Study: Mobile will lead digital content investment
Study: Mobile video image quality, speed vex user

3 UK signs Yahoo for mobile ad exclusive

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:41:03 -0400

Web services giant Yahoo announced an exclusive deal with 3 UK to sell banner advertisements and sponsored links on the mobile operator's Planet 3 portal. Yahoo will begin selling ad inventory for the 3 UK portal later this month--the operator's ad-funded music video service, which offers subscribers free music videos in return for viewing brief, targeted commercial clips, already boasts more than 1.4 million registered users. Yahoo now offers mobile display advertising in 23 territories across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

For more on the Yahoo/3 UK deal:
- read this Cellular-News article

Related articles:
Yahoo extends OneSearch reach in Asia Pacific
Yahoo debuts mobile content management solution
Yahoo's Panama ad platform going mobile

Player X inks 'Hellboy' mobile video deal

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:27:02 -0400

Mobile media firm Player X announced a licensing agreement with Starz Media to create and publish new mobile video efforts based on the Hellboy franchise. With the live-action feature film Hellboy II: The Golden Army slated to hit theaters on July 11, Player X will develop a series of mobile clips based on the animated Hellboy efforts Sword of Storms and Blood and Iron. Player X will distribute the mobile videos in all global territories excluding Asia through its on-deck and off-deck distribution network--the clips are already live in the U.S. on Verizon Wireless.

For more on the Player X/Hellboy deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
Player X intros The Love Guru mobile game
Player X partners with Amobee on ad-funded game

Euro operators fight data pricing cap proposal

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:13:58 -0400

Europe's mobile operators are gearing up to make a last-ditch push against the EU's proposed pricing cap on cross-border text messages and data downloads, warning that regulation is limiting their capital spending and profit margins. EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding instituted a July 1 deadline for operators to either cut the cost of cross-border text messaging or face legislative restrictions, seeking to bring down consumer costs as much as 70 percent from their current levels. But the GSM Association global trade body says carriers' capital spending has already fallen from 13 percent of revenues in 2005 to 11 percent a year ago and could fall even further, arguing the drop contradicts Reding's claim that roaming services are a source of excessive profits. The GSMA adds that some operators have already made substantial cuts to their data roaming fees, with T-Mobile UK slashing charges by 80 percent and Vodafone cutting its price per megabyte by 45 percent. According to The Guardian, only 64 of 95 operators responded to a letter mailed by Reding last month asking executives to make public details of their retail roaming prices and confidential information on wholesale charges--some carriers said they would require months to provide those details.

For more on the data pricing controversy:
- read this Guardian article

Related articles:
European operators cut data roaming charges
EU: Harmonize mobile TV rules, regulation

Buzzwire adds content partners

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:53:23 -0400

Mobile streaming media service Buzzwire announced the addition of 22 new content partners, among them original web content and Internet TV brands including Next New Networks, 60Frames, Comedytime.tv, Tubemogul, Gagfilms.com, 5Min.com, 20 Minute Yoga and Versaly Entertainment. In addition, Buzzwire said that for a limited time it will offer users a free two-week trial. In mid-June, the Buzzwire service launched on AT&T.

For more on the Buzzwire content deals:
- read this release

Related articles:
Buzzwire inks syndication deal with RooftopComedy
Buzzwire scores $8 million in Series B

Social studies

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:43:48 -0400

Making sense of Nokia's social media strategy. Article

Atrinsic acquires Ringtone.com; European Commission approves Nokia/Navteq merger;

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:41:17 -0400

> Atrinsic acquires Ringtone.com. Release

> European Commission approves Nokia/Navteq merger. Release

> SilverBirch acquires Red Mile Entertainment. Release

And finally... RIP Clay Felker. Article

Survey: Texting remains top consumer draw

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:25:29 -0400

Almost three quarters of mobile phone users cite text messaging capabilities as the most important feature when purchasing a new handset, according to a consumer survey conducted by mobile solutions provider Access Systems Americas and independent research firm Amplitude Research. Given a list of 19 different mobile features and services, 73 percent of consumers cited texting as the most critical data component--cameras were second with 67 percent, followed by mobile email (63 percent) and web access (61 percent). Music (34 percent) and video (33 percent) also featured prominently in the poll. Conversely, only 0.5 percent of consumers said battery life plays a role in their phone purchase, with voice activation earning just 0.33 percent.

The Access survey also reports that 39 percent of respondents have added new applications to their handsets, with just over 21 percent adding six or more new apps. Forty-two percent of respondents cited stock tracking applications as the most necessary, followed by sports teams/game trackers (36.6 percent), business applications (10.3 percent), productivity apps (7.5 percent) and utilities (4.8 percent). Almost 40 percent of respondents said they use their cell phone for "alerts," e.g. traffic, weather and stock market updates. Nearly 30 percent of respondents said they use their phone for banking transactions or to check account balances.

For more on the Access/Amplitude survey:
- read this release

Related articles:
Verisign: Messaging enjoys record-setting Q1
Verizon, American Idol reach messaging milestones
Study: Users want practical mobile applications