Sony Ericsson’s first Android phone

November 4, 2009 — Damien

Sony Ericsson delivered a blow to Microsoft on Tuesday when it unveiled its latest Xperia handset, which unlike its Windows-powered predecessors is based on Google’s Android operating system.

Called X10, the flagship smartphone comes with a new Sony Ericsson-designed user interface that aggregates the user’s contacts and communications from the likes of Facebook and Twitter into a single address book.

The system is akin to HTC’s Sense interface, and Motorola’s Motoblur interface, both of which feature on the respective companies’ new Android phones.

“It’s time for Sony Ericsson to put more focus on the smartphone market and Android is a good platform for them to do this,” said Roberta Cozza, principal analyst at Gartner.

source: http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=450402&mail=128&C=0

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Does building an iPhone App make cents? sense?

November 2, 2009 — Damien

With the boom in the number of apps in the App Store (over 100,000) and total downloads in excess of 2bn … someone has got to be making money … right?

In part, the iPhone does offer a better platform for apps – it’s about to overtake RIM as the leading consumer smartphone, sold more than 34 million units and got some of the highest mobile internet usage rates we’ve seen so far.

It’s not fair to say that Developers, Ad agencies or Brands are making money out of the app store.

The problem is discovery – you have to do a lot to get your app to the Featured or Popular lists and that has got to start with spending money on good PR and a Viral / Word of Mouth campaign. For small time developers and startups, who might not account for these costs – they do expect GOOD PR and WoM to equal GREAT results.

Whatever you spend on building the app and promoting the app is not going to be made back in app revenue, consider that the majority of apps are given away for ‘free’. How does anyone make money?

I attended the NMAlive workshop in London last week which looked at Why You Need an App … I agree with all the presenters, which is you have to do something mobile … but expecting it to be a new revenue stream from Day 0 is misleading.

Posted in Apple, Mobile, mobile internet, strategy. Tags: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Giving Great Service – learning from Turkey’s positive over employment

October 29, 2009 — Damien

Turkey_wp 042.jpgExcellence in customer service is one thing that Turkey can be proud of. As a direct result of years of high unemployment businesses and individuals are finding ways to ‘add value’ and earn a few Lira. There are many positiv arguments for employing people in ‘low paid’ jobs that improve everyones living.

It’s been 2 years since I was living in Istanbul. I’ve returned for a week and was looking out for signs of the impact of the ‘credit crunch’. Some things haven’t changed and going the extra mile to give good service is still very evident. Here are a couple of examples we can all learn from:

1. Car Park Minders – not meters and wardens.
It’s very normal in Istanbul to find Car Park Minders … This is a legitimate business. You drive up, park where you’re told, pay them and when you come back your car is there. Smiles for good service

In the western world … what happens … you park, you try to pay but the meter is broken, you come back to find your car broken into or worse ticketed, clamped or taken away by a zealous tow-truck drive.

On the negative side – we pay meter people to fix and mend the machines, we pay parking wardens to issue tickets and they probably all get at least minimum wage. I’d assume the people in Istanbul get paid less than minimum wage but probably get tips for service above the fees.

Guess what service I like more? Car insurance companies should fund this, we could all benefit from knowing the car is being watched and could reduce premiums.

2. Petrol Stations – full service forecourts
A friend of mine tells a tale of an adventure in America. He had to fill up the oil. Driving into the service station, no one was there to help him. The guy has never changed a tyre, checked oil or possibly even used a petrol pump. He goes into the store and asks for service – of course the response was no way.

So in Istanbul, you drive in to the station and a Boss person comes up and asks what you want then 2 or 3 others come do the service. This makes you feel like a pit stop at the F1 … you hand over the cash and then drive off without dirty hands.

what’s your experience of business in Turkey?

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Is Android Lagging Behind in Sales? Not Likely

October 26, 2009 — Damien

Recently the blogosphere has gone a bit crazy, excuse my lack of hyperbole about the Android platform. Was this ‘Android’ supposed to do battle with the iPhone?

Just because no operators or manufacturers have openly commented about their smart phone sales figures doesn’t mean its bad news. Looking at the number of Android powered phones out now or due in the next 2 months shows a lot of promise

  • HTC Hero – some bloggers say it’s the best Android yet
  • G1 – the funny one with the flip out keyboard, still only with T-Mobile
  • Magic – Vodafone took this and the Android platform global
  • Tattoo – coming out again to Vodafone before xmas
  • Motorola DEXT – a lifesaver for Motorola – probably the phone that saves them. Reviewers go crazy about its Moto Blur interface

As well we know that Sony Ericsson have robot phones coming and the other manufacturers have been toying with this platform.

As far as smartphones go though – Nokia admitted recently they have lost some of their steam to Apple and have not being able to come up with a device that is just as iconic. Some sales figures for Q2 2009 still show Blackberry as the most popular Manufacturer.

So for Xmas will you want an Android?

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MacOSx Converts: XNJB get your Creative audio player to charge on a Mac

October 26, 2009 — Damien

xnjb.pngXNJB: is the app of the day for people who have used MP3 players from Creative technology. Moving to a Mac I was at a lose as to how to copy music to my Creative Zen and how to charge my Creative on my Mac.

This is where XNJB comes to the rescue and lets you copy music or charge your Creative while running Mac OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard.

XNJB should be bundled with Creative Media Players … after all these years and all the marketing hype around the Mac not having official support for Mac is sometimes a death knell or ‘dirge’ for any brand.

But how do I make this work?

  1. Install XNJB and Launch the Application
  2. Plug in your Creative with the USB lead and adapter
  3. Turn it on and XNJB will recognise it and dock
  4. Once you have done with moving music to your Creative
  5. Exit XNJB and leaving your player plugged in, it will continue to charge.
Posted in Apple, Music, software. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

App of the day: Balsamiq – wireframing and user experience design

September 30, 2009 — Damien

Balsamiq – I love it – the fonts and stuff can seem a bit cheesy … but I’ve take to this like a duck to water. Its much more useful than powerpoint, visio or other tools as its designed for wireframing.

Being built on Adobe Air means anyone can use it.

my phoney cellfone

my phoney cellfone

It’s very quick to create a UE design and while I couldn’t find a template or mockup for cell phone / mobile phone. I now made my own.

You can get my balsamiq mock fone here

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An Apple a Day … more operators to sell iPhone

September 29, 2009 — Damien

Following on yesterday’s news that Orange Uk will start selling iPhone … ending O2 / Telefonica’s virtual monopoly in the UK. Today, Vodafone in UK and Ireland  announced their plans to sell Apple iPhones.

Good news for the operators? well ending the monopoly of iPhone was a good move. An operator with a data usage strategy will want to be selling iPhones along side other data hungry phones like RIM, Android, Symbian devices.

Many first mover customers coming out of their 24 month agreements on the iPhone 2G will be happy to wait a few months, but 3G and 3GS users probably will be waiting another 12 – 24 months.

For Christmas does this mean an Apple under the tree??? I don’t think so.

Posted in 3G, Apple, Mobile, Networks, UK, operators, strategy. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Tip of the Day: Windows Vista SP2 won’t install on a partitioned drive

September 29, 2009 — Damien

Tip of the day: Windows Vista clean install doesn’t work on a partitioned drive AND if you then partition the drive after installing Vista, the SP2 will not install as well.

Effectively this means you should keep your primary drive as 1 partition … or wait til after you’ve installed Vista and all the service packs.

There is a short microsoft kb on this ….

Will this affect installing Windows 7 for the same reason … I think so.

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Orange UK to get Apple

September 28, 2009 — Damien

ORANGE UK announce that Apple is coming soon

Apple’s iPhone will be available to Orange customers in the UK later this year, ending rival O2’s exclusive deal over the must-have handset, the mobile operator said.

The announcement by Orange ends months of speculation that it was trying to muscle in on O2’s deal with Apple, which gave it exclusive UK rights to the iPhone in 2007. The 3G and 3GS versions will be available to Orange UK customers “later this year”, but no further details of dates, handset costs or tariffs are available yet, the firm said.

Operator exclusivity over Apple’s iPhone for the past 2 years has probably been good for boosting retention and aquisition in customers who love Apple or were already using smartphones.

This makes sense for the possible soon to be bigger operator. Customers on Orange are already offered a choice of Android, Symbian and Blackberry smartphones. Adding Apple to the range improves the chances of them staying with Orange and increasing ARPU and data usage.

What do you think? A smart move ??

 

*** 4 November – updated *** Orange is sending out emails to everyone who signed up to their Apple database. Orange claimed over 200,000 people signed up

 

Posted in Apple, Mobile, Networks, UK, operators. Leave a Comment »

3 rewards customers who get customers

September 28, 2009 — Damien

From today 3 UK will reward customers with cashback for referrals.

Join 3’s Free Agent team and get paid for promoting our free SIMs online. You get £5 cash when each friend first tops up their SIM by a minimum of £10, and they get an extra £2 credit. There’s no limit to the amount of money you can make.

see also: http://freeagent.three.co.uk/

Posted in Mobile, UK, operators. Tags: , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »
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