Posts Tagged ‘applications’
Written on September 1st, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
On September 7th, ESPN will celebrate thirty years of existence. But instead of perpetuating yesterday’s gameplan, the folks at ESPN are preparing for the future.And for ESPN, mobile marketing will factor heavily into the years ahead. Helping viewers embrace a more interactive, multi-platform fan experience is the big-picture goal. So what does that mean for sports fans? For starters, ESPN plans to aggressively target the iPhone market – a process already begun with its ScoreCenter app, which has now topped 2 million downloads.
The business model and marketing strategy employed by ESPN certainly bodes well for future advertising in the mobile sphere as well, given that ESPN’s mobile Web traffic now exceeds its PC traffic
Also on tap for mobile content from ESPN are:
- Hundreds of live events per year
- Seventy-five mobile video clips per day
- Complete episodes of many network broadcasts
“We’ve adopted a ‘best-screen-available’ approach–we’re trying to put our best product everywhere, wherever the sports fan is best served,” said ESPN president George Bodenheimer. Source: Mobile Marketing Watch
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Written on August 31st, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
SPB TV for Android phones, announced today, a subscription-free mobile IPTV viewer, designed for tuning in to publicly available digital TV channels from all over the world.
Developer SPB Software says the SPB TV features exclusive and patent-pending usability innovations like picture-in-picture mode, and gives the mobile subscribers easy access to over a hundred of international TV channels, directly from their phones.
The freeware version has limited features and channels. A full version is available for 9.95 USD from the Android Market. SPB TV requires a reliable 3G or WiFi network connection for proper streaming.
SPB TV 1.0 is available for smartphones running Android 1.5 with HVGA screen resolutions, as well as Windows Phones running Windows Mobile 5 and later Professional and Standard editions, S60 3d edition FP1 or higher, qVGA, VGA, Square QVGA, and WVGA screen resolutions are supported.
SPB Software says it’s been a stratigic partner for many carriers, who manage a wide range of mobile devices. With this release SPB TV becomes available for Windows Mobile, Symbian and Android platforms providing diverse mobile carrier customers with the next generation mobile TV experience.
In other video-related news, Portland’s Rick Turoczy, who writes Silicon Florist Blog, which covers local startups, is now producing a weekly video called memePDX.
Hosted by Rick and Cami Kaos of Strange Love Live, it features both local and national tech developments.
Newsy.com is a multiperspective online video news site that synthesizes video news clips.
Newser’s coverage of Apple’s rejection of Google Voice (above), illustrates their approach to video aggregating.
Source: Dailywireless
Written on August 31st, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
QR barcode scavenger hunts garner great publicity for the company running them if excuted successfully. This week, in NYC, online rare toy and art retailer Kidrobot is running one of the most clever mobile scavenger hunts I’ve seen. Using mobile barcodes, players have to scour the streets of NYC this week (Aug 31 – Sept 4) to find secret Dunny Hunt codes and win prizes.
Players must download a free QR Code Reader program to their iPhone, Blackberry or other smart phone. There are codes that can be found online, as well as in Manhattan. The more virtual “Dunnys” collected, the better chance of winning prizes. The website offers a map which gives clues to the locations of the hidden Dunnys.
Many Kidrobot toys are extremely rare and collectible and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Toy artists often choose to create a series of only a few hundred or a few thousand pieces, so once a toy is sold out, it’s sold out forever. Kidrobot toys retail from $6 to $20,000, and may appreciate in value over time. The Dunnys don’t come cheap, so the prizes, though they may look like toys, are also pricey collectors items worth scouring the city over.
According to Media Post, the company, whose products sell in over a thousand stores around the world, is using the New York program as a test, and plans to roll it out in the four other cities in which it has stores — and perhaps elsewhere.
Ad firm We Are Plus’s principal Jeremy Hollister and co-creative director Judy Wellfare at got the idea after spending time in Japan. “This technology has been used in Japan for some time, but it’s still relatively new here in America,” Hollister told Media Post. Source: Mobile Marketing Watch
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Written on August 31st, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
One of the major benefits of mobile advertising is being able to target your audience by location. A slew of iPhone apps are popping up trying to capture eyeballs based on GPS location, giving advertisers new opportunities to reach customers who are, literally, within reach.
Take Metromix.com, for example. Today, the online entertainment site launched an updated version of their iPhone app called “What’s Nearby.” Owned jointly by Gannett and the Tribune Company, Metromix is the traditional print company’s major digital player targeting 21 to 34 year olds in major cities. The online network attracts over 4.0 million monthly unique visitors and generates over 60 million monthly page views.
The free application lets users find nearby entertainment options based on their GPS location. It also lets you find restaurants, bars and clubs, events, music, movie theatres with showtimes, and other things to do within walking distance or a short drive.
Already downloaded over 100,000 times, “What’s Nearby” also provides Metromix’s four million monthly users – located across 37 U.S. markets – the ability to post reviews and photos to Metromix.com using their iPhone, as well as to share those submissions on Facebook using Facebook Connect.
Last week, Metromix competitor Yelp released an updated version of their iPhone app with a similiar nearby search functionality. The Yelp app features movable maps which let you search for special offers near your location. Registered Yelpers (members of Yelp) can even find special deals available just for them within walking or driving distance. Source: Mobile Marketng Watch
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Written on August 31st, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
AdMob has been growing steadily since its inception, dominating iPhone app advertising and getting closer to dominating mobile ads in general.
In a step to further its dominance, the ad network acquired AdWhirl- a competing mobile ad network – after controversy surrounding a move by AdMob to stop allowing other ad networks to deliver its ads as part of a multi-network service.
AdMob claims the reason for this move stemmed from user-complaints over broken ads and technical issues, but its obvious that the company was tired of splitting revenue when it could presumably be keeping 50% of the profits. AdWhirl, along with others, where profiting greatly by serving AdMob-based ads- With the shut-off, third-party ad networks where effectively left in the dark.
Looking at the larger picture- any ad network that can gain access to iPhone app developers can corner the market in a big way. AdMob, for a long time, was doing just that. Recently, however, other networks such as AdWhirl were coming on strong with those same app developers by offering them an ad exchange.
This method allows mobile app developers to switch from AdMob to other competing mobile ad networks such as Quattro, VideoEgg, or Mobclix on the fly. Although it launched only last April, AdWhirl was quickly becoming the preferred advertising interface for many developers because they could still serve AdMob ads through it, but not be tied to AdMob if a better deal came along.
This scared AdMob greatly, which had been enjoying Google-like dominance for a long time. It’s first move was to stop allowing ad exchange interfaces, like AdWhirl, from serving ads from its inventory. App developers quickly called them out on it and AdMob retreated. AdMob definitely doesn’t want to upset app developers in any way, simply because of the fact that they’re the reason they’ve seen so much success.
The next logical move by AdMob was to simply acquire AdWhirl, which they did shortly thereafter.
After the dust settles though, what will AdMob/AdWhirl do to calm those who believe AdMob will simply funnel more of its own ads through AdWhirl now that it controls it. It could also track all of the ad impression data of its competitors to improve its own ad products, making it even more unfair to competitors.
To be fair, AdMob has reiterated several times that it will open-source the underlying code of AdWhirl for more transparency, but it still leaves a lot of questions un-answered. AdMob is undoubtedly trying to keep its corner of the market to itself, but it will be increasingly harder to do so in the near future. Source: Mobile Marketing Watch
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Written on August 31st, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
With the search deal finally culminating between Yahoo and Microsoft, what does the future hold for mobile search between the two giants?
Obviously a significant push to out Google as the number one mobile search provider is the number one goal, but how will they do it? Will the two utilize Yahoo’s search technology, Bing’s quickly growing technology or combine the two moving forward. It’s a big decision, and one that won’t be decided on a whim.
So far, Yahoo said that it hasn’t made any definitive decision as of yet, stating only that it “will carefully consider whether and how to implement Microsoft’s mobile search services, and our approach may differ on a country-by-country basis,” according to Investor’s Business Daily.
Looking at the numbers, taking on Microsoft’s largely un-tested mobile search technology might not be the best idea- In June, Yahoo ranked No. 2 in mobile search with more than 5.5 million visitors, whereas Microsoft ranked No. 4 with more than 2 million visitors. Even together, the two wouldn’t be able to beat Google, which had a commanding lead with 22 million visitors.
The only saving grace in terms of the two companies competing against Google is the fact that together, Yahoo and Microsoft now have exclusive mobile search partnerships with 3 out of the 4 wireless carriers in the US- presumably making it the largest mobile search provider in the US. Still, having the upper hand with wireless carrier partnerships doesn’t mean it will un-seat Google anytime soon.
It’s a war that will be interesting to watch. In my opinion, Yahoo will likely hand over the search aspect of their business – both mobile and traditional – to Microsoft so they can focus more on investing in other technologies that have less competition. We’ll have to let this one play out and see what happens. Source: Mobile Marketing Watch
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Written on August 29th, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
Social review service Yelp has snuck the first Augmented Reality (AR) iPhone app specifically for the US into the iTunes App Store, reports ReadWriteWeb. It uses the phone’s GPS and compass to display markers for restaurants, bars and other nearby businesses on top of the camera’s view.
One hour later, ReadWriteWeb reports: The Wall Has Fallen: 3 Augmented Reality Apps Now Live in iPhone App Store.
Presselite, the same company made Paris Metro Subway, now has a London Bus app, updated to include AR overlays and is also live in the App Store.
The Subway application can find nearby points of interest, wi-fi zones and cafes on a Google Map. Each subway station is represented by a red pin, a popup shows you the distance of localisation for each station, and it is updated live via GPS as you walk.
ReadWriteWeb says it has been widely reported that the API required to display Augmented Reality (AR) layers would not be publicly exposed until the launch of the next version of the iPhone Operating System, expected this Fall. Some, apparently, have found a way around the restriction.
Wikitude, Layar and an unlaunched iPhone browser from AcrossAir are also launching AR. Wikitude’s Wikitude.me markup language runs on Android handsets. It provides an open, free mobile information platform to provide location based information or services via mobile phones.
WeoGeo uses maps to help you find spatial data. The WeoGeo Library Appliance, which manages survey, engineering, architectural and other mapping files for large companies, acts like an iTunes Store for digital maps.
Source: Dailywireless
Written on August 29th, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
After a wait that seemed to span an eternity, we finally saw the green light yesterday for Facebook 3.0.
Having nearly jumped out of my seat last night after learning the news, I quickly found my excitement tempered by an app that didn’t seem to work at first attempt. And then I learned I wasn’t alone.
One friend tells me he can’t load his friends list. Another says the app closes every time she loads her Facebook wall.
My problems, meanwhile, are a hybrid of the two – a situation that even a trusty reboot and restore would not resolve.And after seeing several message boards I frequent light up with similar complaints, I phoned Apple to see if I could get any info. After two attempts, the advice I was given finally worked:
- Delete Facebook app from your iPhone
- Download app from iTunes
- Select app and sync to iPhone
- Reboot iPhone without opening app first
The update for Facebook is no small production, as the app is now closer to the desktop experience than ever before. And any upgrade of this magnitude almost can’t be expected to launch without a few hitches or bugs along the way. At this time at least I am unaware of any rash of phone crashes and data loss that would resemble an utter Facebook 3.0 catastrophe.
If anything, perhaps the excitement surrounding the upgrade is such that users like myself are finding their frustration compounded only by their own impatience to dive right into an app that has teased our appetite for far too long.
Source: Mobile Marketing Watch
Written on August 29th, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
Levi’s and JCPenney are adding mobile components to their “Tuition” campaign.
Levi’s and JCPenney are teaming with the Today Show iPhone application, which was built by Zumobi, for a click-to-enter promotion that features an opportunity to win one of two $50,000 college scholarships.
Apart from clicking on the ad within the iPhone app, interested entrants can enter the sweepstakes by sending the keyword TUITION to short code 36638.
Although both Levi’s and JCPenney are veterans of mobile marketing this marks a rare multiparty effort to reach new demographics.
Apart from the mobile campaign, Levi’s and JCPenney are also offering an additional $20,000 in tuition at www.levistuition.com/todayshow.
“Levi’s and JCPenney’s national promotion is giving away $50,000 in college tuition, and if you look at the cost of education today, this is offer has tremendous appeal,” said Cindy Spodek Dickey, vice president of marketing at Zumobi.
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Written on August 29th, 2009 by ADMINno shouts
Many have tried to speculate what the future holds for mobile marketing in terms of the technologies and methodologies we’ll see put in use, but none have the potential – in my opinion – as the concept of Augmented Reality (AR).
Augmented Reality is defined as “a live direct or indirect view of a real-world environment whose elements are supplemented with-, oraugmented by computer-generated imagery. The augmentation is conventionally in real-time and in meaningful context with environmental elements. In plain English, it’s the concept of layering computer-generated imagery over a real-world environment, thus creating “augmented” reality.
It’s a technology that’s been around since the early ’90s, but is gaining more momentum as mobile devices and hardware are finally as advanced as the technology itself. Combining Augmented Reality with other mobile technologies that are already in use today, such as GPS, opens the door to a plethora of new mobile marketing opportunities.
I’ve long been a proponent for the concept of “image-recognition” via mobile devices, especially in relation to the marketing potential it holds. Allowing consumers to point their camera-phones at an object, snap a photo and immediately be presented with hyperlinked data corresponding to that photo is a powerful marketing tool. Augmented Reality builds on that technology, but includes support for real-time “hyperlinking” and other informational data to be tied to an image, or more importantly, video taken in real-time.
There have already been several applications built around the concept of Augmented Reality combined with GPS functionality for devices running on Android, the iPhone and others. A particular Android-based application, for example, uses Augmented Reality and a user’s location to help direct the user to Subway stations in New York. The user can turn on the video camera on the device and a layer is displayed on top of the real-time image displaying arrows to the nearest Subway stations as the user walks the streets.
Other applications include enhanced navigation apps, social media tagging apps and even “Augmented Reality Browsers,” such as Layars- which is dubbed the world’s first Augmented Reality mobile browser.
The potential is huge, and the opportunities are limitless, but the technology is still very much evolving. Either way, I see it playing a huge role in the future of mobile marketing as well as mobile industry in general.
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