PhoneTalk

Visit the LetsTalk booth at the Stanford game

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter
Friday, October 10, 2008 (permalink)

Has getting settled into the Fall semester made you re-evaluate your cell phone choice? Think it’s time to upgrade to a BlackBerry? Then be sure to check out the LetsTalk.com booth at the Stanford vs. Arizona game on Saturday where you can sign up to get a new BlackBerry and $50 for your existing cell phone. That’s not all, you can also enter to win $50,000 to help pay off your school debt. It’s a deal that’s a win for everyone. If you can’t make it to the game, check out BlackBerry.LetsTalk.com for more details.

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Beyond the cell phone game tie-in

by Guest Blogger
Friday, October 10, 2008 (permalink)

The Fall TV line-up is in full-swing, with just a few more shows debuting this week. We wanted to hear from Bloggers around the Internet their thoughts about the emerging relationship between TVs and cell phones. Our final post comes from Joseph Hunkins. To read more from Joseph check out his Joe Duck blog.

Surprisingly there has not been as much convergence as one would expect between TV shows and the explosive growth in mobile phone internet access. This is likely to change though I think it will mostly take the form of simple rather than highly interactive viewer engagement - things along the lines of American Idol text messaging, call ins, and ringtones.

Vibes Media is a company that is leading some of the most innovative tie-in experiments. For example they have used Text messaging to increase engagement in a major TV sports event:
http://www.vibes.com/success_stories/film_television/versus/

Vibes also managed the Warner Brothers Gossip Girl mobile tie-in where viewers were encouraged to text information into the show and invited to purchase music and engage in other brand-building exercises.

One of the most ambitious attempts at converging new media and TV was CSI New York's Second Life episode which was not a mobile event but represented a highly interactive, real time innovative approach we may eventually see in the mobile space as well. The initial free publicity buzz was good though I haven't seen this approach duplicated elsewhere, perhaps indicating it was a commercial flop or perhaps not ready for prime time yet.

Several shows have created tie in mobile games and this appears to be working in many cases. CSI for example has a pocket game, reviewed here:
http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/CSI:+Las+Vegas/review.asp?c=6553

Viacom, the parent network of Nickelodeon TV for kids, is about to spend 100 million developing hundreds of new games for their online empire. Some will tie in to TV shows like Dora the Explorer, offering a way to leverage the TV brand to gain game traction, although it's not clear if there will be much if any highly interactive elements between the TV show and the game.

As is often the case, Japan appears to be far ahead of the USA in terms of innovative experiments. TV Asahi has developed a TV show called "‘Hoshi-ichi Owarairyoku Test" that will allow up to 100,000 (that is not a typo!) concurrent mobile users to appear as an avatar on the TV and engage in a comedy contest. In the same way that Asia has been the most fertile testing ground for mobile gaming innovation I think we'll see the same for TV to Mobile convergence even though Asian mobile successes don't always translate into US success.
More about the TV Asahi project: (Read more)

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Does screen size really matter?

by Guest Blogger
Thursday, October 09, 2008 (permalink)

The Fall TV line-up is in full-swing, with just a few more shows debuting this week. We wanted to hear from Bloggers around the Internet their thoughts about the emerging relationship between TVs and cell phones. Our next post comes from Matt Jansen. To read more from Matt check out his metaViper blog.

Mobile devices continue to trend toward providing tons of content in a small form factor, but video will remain an accessory media until screens become physically or virtually larger. Larger screens could take forms like malleable fold out sheets of electronic paper, or heads up displays that fit snugly over the eye that provide a virtually immersive experience. Until then, users will watch videos on their mobile phones in places where there aren't other good options like in airports, elevators, taxis, buses, subways. But, they will seek a larger screen for longer viewing sessions and an overall more satisfactory video experience.

That accessory status is one of the very reasons YouTube and other slapstick video sites are so popular on mobile devices. They provide brief spurts of entertainment that are easily digestible in the few spare moments someone traveling or waiting has before their next move. Also on a side, drivers also watch videos on their mobile phones which can easily be as distracting as sending a text message.

But what about TV shows that integrate text messaging into their viewing experience. They're pushing the envelope from passive entertainment to interactive, which also happens to be the most addictive aspect of online entertainment. The problem is that shows often don't offer incentives good enough to lure large quantities of participants, and that's what makes the cost of prizes worthwhile. Of course, for some TV shows quantity isn't their goal. For example, the Stargate Atlantis series on SciFi channel often will run text message promotions slipped in between commercials to reward viewers that don't skip through them (they want to make all of you Tivo users feel like you're missing out! Is it working?)

One exception to that rule of thumb seems to be reality TV, especially talent competitions like Amercian Idol and it's spinoffs like America's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance. In those cases viewers quickly become fans of their favorite rising star and feel a sense of loyalty and obligation to vote that's hard to replicate in other genres.

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Miss the debate? Watch it on your Verizon V Cast phone

by Joni Blecher Follow me on Twitter
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 (permalink)

In case you missed the Presidential debate last night or just want to see it again, you should be able to catch it on a Verizon Wireless' V Cast-enabled cell phone. The company broadcast the debate live last night on its V Cast service via CBS News and will do the same for the next Presidential debate on October 15th at 9:00 pm EST. No worries if you don't have the monthly service (cost $15 a month for unlimited basic video service). If you have a Verizon Wireless V Cast-enabled cell phone you can check out the service (and catch the debate) for 24 hours for $3.00. This is just another way that TV is making an extension to the cell phone.

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Is the Internet the key to mobile TV application?

by Guest Blogger
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 (permalink)

The Fall TV line-up is in full-swing, with just a few more shows debuting this week. We wanted to hear from Bloggers around the Internet their thoughts about the emerging relationship between TVs and cell phones. Our first post comes from David Cassel. To read more from David check out his blog on Blorge.com.

Right now it's possible to experience the ultimate TV tie-in: watching the actual shows on your cell phone! NBC's mobile site lists 37 different programs that are mobile-ready, including Saturday Night Live, Heroes, and y Name is Earl. They've even reached into their vault for canceled shows like Las Vegas, The A-Team, and the original Battlestar Galactica.

But cell phones are still overlooked when promoting popular shows — at least judging from the networks' web sites. CBS's mobile site offers some wallpaper promoting their shows — including Survivor and CSI, plus the stars of various NBA basketball teams. (And they've tapped their archive for wallpaper images and ringtones from classic shows like the original Star Trek, plus The Brady Bunch and Happy Days.) But for some reason, the biggest feature on the network's mobile site is a large, but completely unrelated, collection of pop music ringtones. And the biggest feature on ABC's site is the ability to peek in on your favorite show...via text alerts!

It's a pretty unglamorous way to promote a series, but at least ABC has alerts for seven different shows. The other networks are only offering a limited selection of TV alerts, mostly about news (though NBC will also send alerts about soap operas like Days of Our Lives and Passions). ABC does also have the standard ringtones and wallpapers — but you have to click around their site to find them.

I was really surprised to see that the networks aren't creating more mobile content around their shows. NBC's mobile site offers a few games based on Deal or No Deal,plus a Heroes trivia game, and one based on Law and Order. But it's obviously going to be much more compelling to simply watch video. (I'm still amazed that you can watch Jay Leno's Tonight Show monologues in their entirety.) NBC has tried to differentiate themselves further by creating original digital content, like a science fiction program called Gemini Division (Read more)

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Deal of the Week

by Michael Cera
Tuesday, October 07, 2008 (permalink)

What is it? The LG Rumor is a texting, calling, and picture taking machine all-in-one. Text lovers will appreciate the full sliding QWERTY keyboard for the always important conversations without talking. The 1.3-megapixel camera/camcorder with 2x digital zoom, helps make those nights out on the town more memorable than ever. And, with integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling and an MP3 player for those times when you need to hear your favorite tunes, the LG Rumor won’t disappoint. The Rumor comes in four colors (black, blue, green, and white) and is compact in size. You can also download NFL Mobile Live free, Sprint's exclusive service that brings the NFL to your cell phone anytime, anywhere.

How much? The LG Rumor cell phone is available for free when purchased with a new 2-year Sprint Service Contract or free after a Sprint Mail-in-rebate with a 2-year Contract Extension.

Why is it such a good deal? The LG Rumor is a text-centric, music toting, Internet surfing device all-in-one. It’s not only free, but it also comes with a free 2GB MicroSD memory card for storing more pictures and music on this cell phone. This Rumor is one to be spread around.

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What does an open mobile OS means to existing mobile OS players?

by Guest Blogger
Friday, October 03, 2008 (permalink)

Following the unveiling of the first Google Android cell phone, the HTC G1 for T-Mobile, we asked Bloggers around the Internet for their opinion on having multiple open-source platforms available for cell phones. Our next post comes from Joseph Hunkins. To read more from Joseph, check out his Duck blog.

I think open sourcing Symbian was probably a good strategic move given the explosive potential for Google Android to shake up the market as it becomes widely adopted. Nokia appears to be trying to maintain the market share for Symbian at some initial cost - Symbian gets about 2.50-5.00 per mobile device and this may go down, perhaps even to zero, with the competitive pressure from Android.

I think initially there will be competition but as developers work with both systems there will be pressure to adopt increasing levels of standardization, so I see Symbian and Android as the two key mobile OS flavors going forward. Users should be winners here as the pressure from Android and consumers and the abundance of new mobile devices force all players to create highly innovative new devices. With the iPhone as the *starting point* of the new innovation, look for large numbers of great new phones to hit markets by Christmas of 2008. Sprint's new touch phone is a quality addition to the landscape, and many more will be coming soon. Rather than device differentiation, I think there will be a lot of attempts to bring every possible feature into single devices - sort of the Swiss Army Knife approach. I think this will succeed thanks to the small form factor innovation we have already seen, where very powerful phones can be packed very tightly and stylishly.

How will the closed software systems fare in a landscape where "open innovations" are the new "proprietary innovations"? They will open, and probably fast. iPhones have already opened somewhat and this trend will continue.

As the key market leader for mobile operating systems Symbian is likely to be around for a long time, but it will face increasing challenges from Android to innovate and work with developers to bring users a great mobile experience.

Lastly, note the following consumer technology benchmarks which are a very clear indication of how much broader this market will become in the coming years:

• 291.6 million mobile phones shipped in Q1 2008
• 1.7 million iPhones shipped in the quarter ending March 2008
• 10.6 million iPods shipped in the quarter ending March 2008
• 2.18 million BlackBerry subscriber accounts and 4.4 million devices shipped in the quarter March 2008
• 1.24 billion (Read more)

  Tags:	Somethin' To Talk About	Nokia	Blackberry	Symbian
  	Smart phones	GPS

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Is Linux a good example of the path for open source mobile operating systems?

by Guest Blogger
Thursday, October 02, 2008 (permalink)

Following the unveiling of the first Google Android cell phone, the HTC G1 for T-Mobile, we asked Bloggers around the Internet for their opinion on having multiple open-source platforms available for cell phones. Our next post comes from David Mould. To read more from David, check out his Orient Expression blog.

Direct parallels between movements towards open source mobile operating systems and Linux can be drawn. How many consumers think to use Linux over the traditional offerings of Windows or Mac OS? it's still very much the remit of technically minded individuals. Despite the best efforts of communities like Ubuntu with their more user friendly solutions the take up is low.

The reason is that of time and effort spent making it all work together. Having many versions of seemingly similar operating systems will confuse the average consumer. Cell phone usage is so ubiquitous that the vast majority of users want something they buy, charge up, turn on and start using. They don't want to or even know how to reinstall a component that hasn't worked properly. The average user's approach to upgrading their operating system (if they care at all) is to buy a new phone, not to update the firmware.

Some form of standards will be required if true interoperability is to be achieved but this doesn't even happen in the well established Linux communities.

The net effect will be the major players sticking with what they know, or an open version of it, i.e. Symbian. Potential uptake of niche handsets for the uber-geeks that want to play with features, assuming they will work on their network.

The bottom line is that a phone is designed to be used. Many operators with branded handsets disable some phone features as they know they won't work on their network. Therefore any open source projects will need to either limit the functionality they deliver or run the risk of their applications only working on one (or limited numbers) of operators around the world.

At some point open source phone operatong systems will be absorbed by the phone companies. This is already happening with Linux (Suse to Novell, MySQL to Sun etc) so any open source movement will have a finite life. I would question the need to add to the momentum.

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7 Keys to a successful Open Mobile Platform

by Guest Blogger
Wednesday, October 01, 2008 (permalink)

Following the unveiling of the first Google Android cell phone, the HTC G1 for T-Mobile, we asked Bloggers around the Internet for their opinion on having multiple open-source platforms available for cell phones. Our first post comes from Matt Jansen. To read more from Matt, check out his metaViper blog.

Open Mobile Platforms are Worthless Without a Vibrant Community. Even though a clear cut recipe for success may not exist for building and growing an open source community, there are some common patterns that emerge when considering currently successful projects. Though mobile devices really are a different and unique medium, many concepts that drive open source overall apply here too, especially as platforms like Google Android, Symbian and Openmoko continue to seek new talent and expand their communities.

First and most important, any new open source project that's looking to add quality members needs to seek them out in sufficient numbers to create a diverse set of perspectives. Once that's in place the conversations tend to take on a life of their own. Google Android began its community by relying on the search giant's ubiquitous reputation in creating easy-to-use and free software. Google generated lots of buzz by making an announcement that it would be supporting an open source mobile platform and people flocked toward the idea.

But, even with Google's name behind the project, Android is facing delays.

Another feature that Google emphasizes in most of its projects is easy communication between members. That's key because then the exchange of ideas and points and counterpoints encourages innovation and the discovery of new efficiencies.

A problem that occurs more frequently with open source projects than with their commercial counterparts is the availability of documentation. How will a new user learn to use the system? Are there easy-to-understand manuals that speak in a language anyone can understand? Sometimes open source projects have a very active and large communities but they begin to ignore new visitors, instead just expecting everyone to begin at their water level. Nothing will push a new visitor away faster than a difficult to understand interface with no appropriate documentation.

Here is a list of items that will significantly influence the success or failure of an open source initiative -- including mobile open source platforms like Google Android, Symbian (new to the open source landscape) and Openmoko.

• Large, regularly active community
• Direction for the hive mind, provided by a core team of respected experts
• Tools for easy communication d2d and d2c
• Public change log to publish changes between versions
• Easy-to-use documentation that quickly brings a new user up to speed
• Strong marketing arm that creates a unique brand identity and ensures the community is easily findable online
• Forum moderators that make sure questions by end users are answered and a baseline of professionalism is established

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Deal of the Week

by Guest Blogger
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 (permalink)

This week's deal comes from LetsTalk.com's Merchandising Manager for AT&T, Jack Cooper.

What is it? The AT&T Mercury USB Connect wireless modem provides enhanced mobile broadband performance for quick and easy access to email, the Internet and business applications from your computer while on-the-go. AT&T Mercury USB Connect’s compact USB drive form factor is designed with the latest in wireless data technology for use on the nation's fastest 3G network. The integrated microSD card slot provides a portable file transfer and storage solution, eliminating the need for additional hardware. The Mercury is backwards compatible to the national EDGE network ensuring network coverage wherever you roam.

How much? Get the AT&T Mercury USB Connect for FREE when purchased with any two year AT&T wireless data service plan.

Why is it such a good deal? The AT&T Mercury USB Connect wireless modem puts AT&T's 3G network at your fingertips. Don't let its small size fool you, the Mercury USB Connect wireless data modem enables you to surf AT&T's 3G network on your laptop at monster speeds!

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