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Apple Sets Sights on Mobile Advertising
His highness, Lord Steve Jobs, has promised that Apple will control 48% of the mobile advertising market by the end of the year. How exactly? The iPhone HD comes with a built in advertising program called iAd. This is an advertising tool that will allow Apple and app developers to earn money from advertisements inside applications. Apple is offering developers a modest 60% of the earnings they generate from iAd. In a sense, iAd appears to be a glorified affiliate program, but as long as Apple and app developers are making money, it is doubtful that anyone will care. How Jobs came up with a figure of 48% isn’t exactly clear, but we can all assume that he isn’t blowing smoke out of his Apple. (Or can we?) Google has also announced that it plans to increase its presence in…
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Verizon to Offer Two New Group Services
In an effort to cater to large groups, Verizon has announced two new services that are aimed primarily at small businesses and families. The first service is called Family Group Contact and is designed for families to keep in touch with one another. Family Group Contact will allow users to contact 20 people via phone call or text message at one time. Those wishing to partake in the mass communication need to dial a 1-800 number in order to use the service. Family Group Contact costs $5 per month. The other new service is called Group Contact and is more robust, as it is aimed at the small business community. Group Contact is slightly more expensive at $7 per month, but it allows the subscriber to create seven groups, with a maximum of 20 lines for each group. How many…
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Hackers Plant Viruses in Mobile Games
A group of malicious mobile bandits have placed a virus on games for Windows Mobile. The mobile games 3D Anti-Terrorist and PDA Poker Art included a virus that dialed premium services in Somalia and Italy. Users were obviously not aware of what happened until they received their cell phone bill which included the surprising charges. With the increase in the amount of money we spend on mobile applications and games, it was only a matter of time before cyber pirates got in on the action. As society become more and more comfortable with providing credit card information via mobile, the number of mobile rogues will increase in tandem. A sound piece of advice to mobile users is to download mobile applications from certified app services like the App Store. There is good news…
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British Carriers Snubbed by European Court
EU court has rejected an appeal by four British carriers who oppose the cell phone cap that has been implemented by the highest level of government. The four British carriers in question are O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile and Orange. The four oppose the roaming fee cap on mobile devices that is designed to relieve ‘bill shock’ that many Europeans experience when travelling in their own ‘country’. While the British carriers may have a case from a financial perspective, they do not have a case from a political one. If the European Union is going to behave like a country, then it needs to abolish roaming fees entirely. As has been stated by many over the last few months, you cannot have a fiscal union without political union. If the British carriers don’t want to be part of the…
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The iPhone HD: Lots of Fat and Very Little Meat
Steve Jobs' state of the union address revealed what we were all expecting. Apple is set to release the iPhone HD and Steve Jobs could hardly contain his exaggerated excitement – unless of course he does feel that this latest generation iPhone is anything to smile about. Every single upgrade that will be part of the iPhone HD has already been available in the wireless industry for a number of years. From the 5 MP camera to multitasking, it really is been there done that. Even the magical land known as the App Store is slowly but surely losing its edge to the Android Market, which is scheduled to overtake the App Store in total apps available by the end of this year. Apple will sell a lot of iPhones because the Apple logo is still the most powerful brand in the world.…
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Which Countries and Carriers Will have the iPhone HD?
Apple fan boys have circled June 24th on their calendars. This is of course the big day in which the iPhone HD becomes available. The only question is where will it be available and which carriers will offer the device. For Yanks, everything is status quo. AT&T will be the only carrier to offer the iPhone in the United States, with the 32GB version coming in at a price tag of 300 USD with contract. Europeans will have more carrier selection for the most part. Brits can choose to go with any carrier currently offering the iPhone, as all three are scheduled to offer the new generation. The French are also fortunate in their selection of carriers, which will include Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom. The Germans are not as fortunate as their European counterparts, with…
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Foxconn and Apple Attempting to Revamp Image
Foxconn and Apple are determined to sweep away all the bad suicide related press that both companies have received of late. Foxconn, a Chinese based iPhone manufacturer, has been plagued recently by a rash of suicides. One of these suicides was cast under some suspicion as the victim was interrogated regarding a stolen iPhone prototype. In an effort to improve their image, Apple has ordered Foxconn to open its factory to international journalists. This policy carries very little weight because the Chinese government has to approve all reports coming out of the Foxconn factory. Also, Foxconn has announced that employees will receive a 66% pay raise. But wait just one minute. The pay raise is only in the event that the employee receives a favorable review after three…
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HTC EVO 4G Shatters Sprint Sales Record
Could there be a new top dog in the mobile industry? Sprint is announcing that the new HTC EVO 4G has posted the best 24 hour sales numbers in the carrier’s history. In addition, the HTC EVO 4G has sold more devices in 72 hours than previous best sellers, the Samsung Instinct and the Palm Pre, combined. While both of these devices have not done particularly well in the U.S. market, it appears that the HTC EVO 4G is on the right track. Sprint did not reveal exact number which dwarfs the excitement regarding the EVO 4G sales performance. Nevertheless, the HTC EVO 4G is yet another example of how HTC has become second to none in the Smartphone market. Reviews for the device appeared more to be like love letters from bloggers who couldn’t stop ranting and raving about the…
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AT&T Defecates on Customers Yet Again
Those of you interested in tethering with your new iPhone HD are in for a rude awakening. AT&T has announced that the tethering option will not be available with the old unlimited data plan and will only be possible with one of the new pay as you download plans. This represents quite a conundrum for current AT&T customers because they are not required to give up their unlimited plan, even when they upgrade to the new iPhone. The million dollar question is would you switch to the new data usage plan in order to take advantage of tethering? This is a bad move by AT&T in my opinion as it forces loyal customers to make choices that they detest. Either selection will result in consumers feeling jaded, regardless of the fact that they may not really need tethering on their…
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AT&T to Cap Date Usage
AT&T is plunging into some hot water, and may either come out stronger than ever or be burned to a crisp. Ahead of the iPhone HD release, AT&T has engaged in a massive overhaul of its data packages. Gone will be the unlimited data plans that were a staple of the Smartphone over the last several years. Instead, there are new limited plans for a customer to choose from. The leaner package will cost $15 for 200 megabytes and the pro type plan will cost $25 for two gigabytes. "Customers are getting a good deal, and if they can understand their usage, they can save some money," said Ralph de la Vega, the head of AT&T's consumer business. Ralphy baby, you couldn’t be more wrong. High end users and big spenders in the mobile market purchase Smartphones in order to…
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Jane 12/21/2011
"I just wanted to thank you guys for listening to the users!"
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