Mobile Contents

Talking about open access network, the US House of Representatives will hold a hearing today for Wireless Consumer Protection bill (warning: pdf file), a proposed legislation which would force wireless carriers to offer their services even without entering into long-term contract.

As long as consumers buy mobile devices from wireless carriers which are not subsidized, they need not worry about long-term service plans. Moreover, this law mandates wireless operators to prorate early termination fees.

This is somewhat similar to the Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment Act of 2007 which also highlights prorated termination fees and flexibility to exit long-term service contracts within 30 days if the service is deemed unsatisfactory.

Let's just hope the big boys will not call its army of politicians to block this bill and prolong the outrageous rules in the industry today.

Via MoCoNews

See full article.

Related Entries:

Teens on Mobile Phones: It’s Not About Being Cool – 07 October 2007

Class-Action Suit Against T-Mobile a Small Victory for Mobile Users – 16 October 2007

Is 2008 the Year of the Cellphone? – 14 December 2007

Pay Bills and Deposit Paper Checks via Camera Phone – 29 January 2008

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.

I guess it's inevitable that most social networks will go mobile to survive. Now, the 19 million members of the world's largest professional online network LinkedIn can access this site via mobile phones. Just visit http://m.linkedin.com and enter your account information. It goes without saying that you must have a Web-enabled mobile phone.

Being an online business network, mobility is a necessity since most of its members are always on the move attending different business functions such as meetings, conferences and client calls. Actually, it's rather disappointing that LinkedIn failed to embrace mobile technology as quick as other social networks like MySpace, Facebook and Friendster.

Users can do basic functions including search for other profiles and common contacts, invite others to join your network, receive updates about your connection. Other useful features such as LinkedIn Answers and LinkedIn Experts are still in the works.

LinkedIn mobile is currently in beta version and final version is expected in Spring of this year.

Via pocket-lint

See full article.

Related Entries:

Mobile Ads Least Credible Form of Advertising – 10 October 2007

Why You Should Not Buy a New Mobile Phone this Holiday – 05 December 2007

Friendster Goes Mobile – 12 December 2007

Mobile Music Shifting from Mobile Operators to Mobile Makers – 14 December 2007

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.

Nokia has another futuristic mobile phone concept that might possibly redefine the way we use mobile phones. Introducing Morph – a joint project joint nanotechnology model created by Nokia Research Center and the University of Cambridge.

Morph is a concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their mobile device into radically different shapes. It demonstrates the ultimate functionality that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering: flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces.

The photo above is actually just one mobile phone that you can twist and stretch into different shapes such as bracelet, tablet forms or whatever weird design you want to do. It reminds me of the good old Play-Doh and its tag line: Imagination Taking Shape.

You can view the actual concepts at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York from February 24 to May 12, 2008.

Via Unwired View and PR Newswire

See full article.

Related Entries:

Nokia Makes a Killing in Low End Phones – 19 October 2007

Mobile Future Through the Eyes of Nokia – 23 October 2007

Why You Should Not Buy a New Mobile Phone this Holiday – 05 December 2007

ShakeSMS a Lazy Way to Read SMS – 30 January 2008

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.

Let's digress for a while and forget about the ongoing flat-rate price war and that latest buzz about Sprint's rumored move of undercutting other players with its $60 monthly unlimited plan.

Instead, venture in the world of boundless possibilities the convergence of mobility and digital world has to offer. A truly amazing futuristic concept is this ultra-thin transparent slide from PetitInvention:

This is what I wish the internet search will be able to do with a mobile device in the NEAR future. Touch screen, built in camera, scanner, WiFi, google map (hopefully google earth), google search, image search… all in one device. Like this way, when you can see a building through it, it gives you the image search result right on the spot.

Far from reality? Well, maybe. But the underlying technologies are on the way. Remember Magitti? The software that automatically recommends information about “local area” activities.

There's also the character-recognition and text-to-speech software powering the Nokia N82 for the visually impaired. Moreover, its design is heavily influenced by Amazon Kindle as well as its wireless features. Not to mention the power of QR codes.

I hope to see more brilliant design concepts in the future. More photos…

See full article.

Related Entries:

The Next Battle: User Experience 2.0 – 01 October 2007

Mobile Ads Least Credible Form of Advertising – 10 October 2007

Class-Action Suit Against T-Mobile a Small Victory for Mobile Users – 16 October 2007

Mobile Music Shifting from Mobile Operators to Mobile Makers – 14 December 2007

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.

The war has begun! Aside from Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T have rolled out their unlimited monthly plans for voice and SMS. Together, these 3 major operators comprise about 65% of wireless customers in the US. They are now ready to collide head-on against small flat-rate players Leap Wireless and Metro PCS.

Then again, what triggered this decision to shift from selling buckets of voice minutes to flat-rate scheme? Is it passion to serve their customers better? Envy? Pure generosity? Or a miracle?

No. It's all about MONEY and SURVIVAL. In the words of the Godfather Don Corleone: It's not personal. It's business.

According to a comprehensive and quite entertaining explanation of Telco 2.0, the non-operator voice-enabled applications such as Skype and Google are growing very fast. Thus, selling buckets of minutes may not be a very attractive future due to decreasing margins. The alternative is to divide the bulk product and distribute it in different ways.

The bottom line is that customers are winners this time so never mind the agenda.

See full article.

Related Entries:

Verizon Wireless’ "Unlimited" EVDO Data Plan Is… Limited – 26 July 2006

Sprint’s Unlimited Wireless in San Fran: Future of Mobile Access? – 16 March 2007

Will Verizon Wireless’ Unlimited Plans Trigger Price War? – 19 February 2008

Watch Out for Those Unlimited Plans! – 20 February 2008

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.

Contrary to what many geeks believe, the adoption of converged mobile devices like smartphones remains very low. According to a study by In-Stat among US business people, users are still loyal to old technology. Here are some free insights from this expensive report:

• One positive sign of progress in convergence is that 8% of road warriors, businesspeople who travel frequently, have given up a desk phone to rely solely on their mobile number.
• Before employers can insist that employees use fewer devices, manufacturers need to address battery life and ergonomics issues for portable devices.
• The survey shows that many more users prefer to carry redundant devices than chose to have a single telephone number and a single computing device.

See full article.

Related Entries:

Car + Portable Devices = Good Selling Point – 07 June 2007

iPhone Alters Future Designs of Smartphones – 03 August 2007

Teens on Mobile Phones: It’s Not About Being Cool – 07 October 2007

Class-Action Suit Against T-Mobile a Small Victory for Mobile Users – 16 October 2007

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.

Contrary to what many geeks believe, the adoption of converged mobile devices like smartphones remains very low. According to a study by In-Stat among US business people, users are still loyal to old technology. Here are some free insights from this expensive report:

• One positive sign of progress in convergence is that 8% of road warriors, businesspeople who travel frequently, have given up a desk phone to rely solely on their mobile number.
• Before employers can insist that employees use fewer devices, manufacturers need to address battery life and ergonomics issues for portable devices.
• The survey shows that many more users prefer to carry redundant devices than chose to have a single telephone number and a single computing device.

See full article.

Related Entries:

Car + Portable Devices = Good Selling Point – 07 June 2007

iPhone Alters Future Designs of Smartphones – 03 August 2007

Teens on Mobile Phones: It’s Not About Being Cool – 07 October 2007

Class-Action Suit Against T-Mobile a Small Victory for Mobile Users – 16 October 2007

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.

JotYou is a unique SMS service which takes into consideration your location. It means your text message will only be received once the recipient reaches a certain location such as school or restaurant.

It's simple yet amazing service which you can use to remind of yourself or others once they are in certain locations. First you need to sign up at JotYou (It's free). The follow these simple steps:

Send messages from your computer or mobile phone. Send to one friend, many friends, or just yourself. Specify a location so your friends get a message when they arrive at school or the mall. When your friends arrive at the location you specify, JotYou alerts them by sending your text message to their cell phone, and delivering the message.

Aside from that, it can also be used for social activities like fun games, events, and contests.

via KillerStartups

See full article.

Related Entries:

Lost opportunities from SMS Messaging Reach $4.9 B Each Year – 29 August 2007

In Flight Text Messages to Reach 60 Million in 2010 – 11 December 2007

Brits Not Yet Ready for New Mobile Technologies – 25 January 2008

Mobile Messaging Abuse On the Rise – 11 February 2008

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.

In an effort to strengthen its hold to high end users, Verizon Wireless has rolled out unlimited voice and data plans known as Nationwide Unlimited Anytime Minute Plans. Thanks to Saunderslog.com, the tiers are simplified into the following:

$99.99: Unlimited talk
$119.99: Unlimited talk + SMS/MMS
$129.99: Unlimited talk + email
$139.99: Unlimited talk + SMS/MMS + HTML browsing
$149.99: Unlimited talk + global email
$149.99: Unlimited talk + SMS/MMS + HTML browsing + email
$169.99: Unlimited talk + SMS/MMS + HTML browsing + global email

More than the reduction on monthly payment plans, this move could set off a cutthroat price war which will hurt some operators but will make millions of mobile users very happy. A good start for 2008, don't you think?

But Verizon Wireless CEO Jack Plating quickly dismissed the idea of price war since this is targeted for “high value” customers or those who pay at least $100 a month. Unfortunately, the company has no intention of revising its “bucket” system for other customer segment.

See full article.

Related Entries:

Verizon Wireless’ "Unlimited" EVDO Data Plan Is… Limited – 26 July 2006

Verizon Counters Sprint’s Expansion Plans, Buys Rural Wireless – 30 July 2007

Verizon Wireless Gives Its Customers a (Tiny, Irrelevant) Gift… – 01 October 2007

The End of CDMA? Verizon Wireless Announces LTE Network Plans – 29 November 2007

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.

In an effort to strengthen its hold to high end users, Verizon Wireless has rolled out unlimited voice and data plans known as Nationwide Unlimited Anytime Minute Plans. Thanks to Saunderslog.com, the tiers are simplified into the following:

$99.99: Unlimited talk
$119.99: Unlimited talk + SMS/MMS
$129.99: Unlimited talk + email
$139.99: Unlimited talk + SMS/MMS + HTML browsing
$149.99: Unlimited talk + global email
$149.99: Unlimited talk + SMS/MMS + HTML browsing + email
$169.99: Unlimited talk + SMS/MMS + HTML browsing + global email

More than the reduction on monthly payment plans, this move could set off a cutthroat price war which will hurt some operators but will make millions of mobile users very happy. A good start for 2008, don't you think?

But Verizon Wireless CEO Jack Plating quickly dismissed the idea of price war since this is targeted for “high value” customers or those who pay at least $100 a month. Unfortunately, the company has no intention of revising its “bucket” system for other customer segment.

See full article.

Related Entries:

Verizon Wireless’ "Unlimited" EVDO Data Plan Is… Limited – 26 July 2006

Verizon Counters Sprint’s Expansion Plans, Buys Rural Wireless – 30 July 2007

Verizon Wireless Gives Its Customers a (Tiny, Irrelevant) Gift… – 01 October 2007

The End of CDMA? Verizon Wireless Announces LTE Network Plans – 29 November 2007

Advertisement

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you’d like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds – at – creative-weblogging.com.