FierceMobileContent

Blyk's big score

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:59:00 -0500

The ad-funded mobile operator rakes in $51 million in funding. Article

Citysearch goes mobile

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:55:50 -0500

Online local guide Citysearch announced the launch of Mobile by Citysearch, promising an optimized mobile browsing experience for local content complete with the service's millions of business listings, editorial reviews and user-generated recommendations. According to Citysearch, the mobile app enables users to write reviews directly from their phones as well as share business listings via text-to-phone service--all interactive content is tailored specifically to each unique device interface, optimizing key attributes, including content layout and keystrokes required to surface search results. Navigation tools and drop-down fields on select phones allow users to narrow their searches based on various attributes or distance--subscribers may also access the "Best of Citysearch" listings for suggestions on local hotspots.

For more on Mobile by Citysearch:
- read this release

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Volantis debuts Feed Builder platform

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:38:16 -0500

Mobile content adaptation solutions provider Volantis Systems announced the launch of Feed Builder, a web-based platform promising subscribers the tools to manage, aggregate and design their own mobile information and content feeds. Designed as a complement to Volantis' existing BuzzCast information and content service management and delivery product, Feed Builder enables consumers to select from a range of pre-populated feeds and share them with others--its web interface also allows users to add their own personal feeds, blogs or photo streams, as well as add comments and ratings to existing feeds created either by the operator or by other subscribers. Feed Builder will fully support BuzzCast's iPhone and Google Android clients as well as third-party and browser-based BuzzCast clients.

According to Volantis, Feed Builder offers operators the ability to promote "Featured Feeds" from their preferred content partners, supervising branding and presentation of feeds by applying specific templates, both globally and per feed; subscribers may also choose their own templates on a per-feed basis. "Smart Feeds" enables the creation of feed-based "mash-ups" personalized according to each individual subscriber--for example, notifications about employment opportunities in their area, or keyword-based news and blog feeds. Volantis adds the Feed Builder platform can support different operator business models, including bundled and ad-subsidized pricing options. The company will officially introduce Feed Builder during the first quarter of 2009.

For more on Feed Builder:
- read this release

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China Mobile planning applications storefront

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:05:27 -0500

China Mobile announced plans to launch a mobile applications storefront to rival Apple's App Store and Google's Android Market. "We will set up our own shop, and we hope, welcome all content providers to sell their software applications and games and songs and any other products in our application shop," said China Mobile chairman and CEO Wang Jianzhou during an appearance at the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress in Macau, China.

Such a venture promises an unprecedented windfall for mobile software developers: China Mobile is the world's largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers, boasting a customer base in excess of 436 million--more than the total U.S. population. Moreover, China Mobile sells handsets from most major manufacturers, effectively guaranteeing its applications storefront will support multiple operating systems.

For more on the China Mobile app storefront:
- read this Computerworld article

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AdMob: Mobile ad requests grow to 5.8B in October

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:50:18 -0500

Worldwide mobile advertising requests grew 13.8 percent month over month to 5.8 billion according to mobile advertising marketplace AdMob's October 2008 Mobile Metrics Report, which aggregates monthly handset and operator data from every ad request in the firm's network to optimize ad serving. Requests from U.S. subscribers grew 7.9 percent to 2.2 billion, while AdMob reports that highlighted traffic from Latin America and the Caribbean has more than doubled in the past year to 109 million requests.

Per the results of the AdMob October 2008 Mobile Metrics Report, Apple's iPhone is now the number one device worldwide in terms of mobile ad traffic, with 37 percent of requests originating from outside the U.S. market. In October AdMob reached 4.5 million iPhones, or one out of every three in the market. The top 10 devices worldwide, in descending order: Apple iPhone, Motorola RAZR V3, Nokia N70, Motorola KRZR K1c, Motorola W385, Nokia 6300, Nokia 3110c, Nokia N73, Motorola Z6m and RIM BlackBerry 8300.

For more on the AdMob October 2008 Mobile Metrics Report:
- read this release

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