Monthly Archives: August 2011
iTunes App Store can’t offer loyalty discounts
Rating: Developer finds this out to its cost with upgrade
There’s no mechanism in Apple’s iTunes App Store for software developers to offer long-standing customers discounts when they upgrade to the very latest version of the app. A leading app developer talking to GoMo News on grounds of anonymity discovered this to its cost when it recently released an enhanced version of an existing app for the Apple iPhone. This has led to a dramatic increase in the number of reviewers awarding the app one single star, as they resent paying full-rice for what they regard as a standard upgrade. The developer attempted to head off this problem by selling the new version for half price for seven days. The company reasoned that existing customers would already be familiar with the value the app offers and would therefore mainly represent those buying the app at the discounted rate. However, the ploy didn’t work completely as many existing customers didn’t realise they would eventually have to pay the full price. Continue reading
InMobi acquires HTML5 specialist – Sprout
Rating: Former rival wil stay independent
Claiming to be the world’s largest independent mobile advertising network, InMobi has announced the acquisition of a former rival outfit, Sprout. The deal will enable InMobi to bring HTML5 rich media mobile ads to consumers in over 165 countries. InMobi claims Sprout’s technology solves the complexity of mobile rich media planning, creation, distribution, and measurement for brands and agencies on a worldwide basis. “InMobi’s commitment to an open and independent Sprout made them the clear choice for us. We will continue to work with all existing partners, including competitive ad networks, globally,” Carnet Williams, CEO with Sprout, explained. Continue reading
Buongiorno gets appy with Proximitips
Rating: Perfect example of So.Lo.Mo (Social-Location-Mobile)
Here at GoMo News we hadn’t even appreciated that mobile industry giant, Buongiorno , even has an Innovation Hub right in the heart of Tech City in London that produces mobile apps. But it does and it has – in the shape of Proximitips. The version of this app has just been released for the iPhone (iPad already being supported). According to Gaurav Katyal, senior project manager for Proximitips, an Android version should become available within four to six weeks and will be swiftly followed by an HTML5 version. What does Proximitips do? Well, it combines social feeds, tips and discounts, plus booking facilities to provide you with an excellent guide to the city’s trendiest hotspots and restaurants. Continue reading
RIM showcases version 7 of its OS
Rating: Launches 2 new BlackBerry Torches & 1 new Bold
RIM has unleashed the very latest version of its operating system – OS7 – into the big wide world by launching five new handsets based on it. These consist of two new BlackBerry Bold models and three new BlackBerry Torch models. With Os7 it appears RIM has gone with optimising the mobile web browsing experience as much as possible. The second important step it has taken is to build support for Near Field Communications (NFC) into the two the new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 models which will have a major effect on their use for mobile payments. For those that worry about such things, these BlackBerries are quite slim. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 series is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone yet at only 10.5 mm apparently. GoMo News has yet to meet somebody who wants to read their emails on the slimmest device available. But RIM’s marketing department obviously thinks such consumers exist. Continue reading
QR codes used to promote publicity stunt
Rating: Seems connected to location based advertising
Two QR codes were embedded in an email sent to GoMo News which appear to be tied in with some kind of publicity stunt for location based advertising. The QR codes link to videos on YouTube which promote a flashmob which will take place in Queen’s Road East, Central Building Corner in Hong Kong, today [August 3rd 2011]. The posting is entitled ‘Something Happening Here’. In the video you can clearly see a map and it is accompanied by Google ads. We’d guess this isn’t intentional, but one of the ads is very definitely for ladies of the night. Some-one should have done their homework more carefully. Continue reading
Survey finds in-app purchasing ousting app stores
Rating: Survey of app developers using Appcelerator
A survey of 2,012 Appcelerator developers carried out in conjunction with IDC has come up with some gripping conclusions. Others are more blatantly obvious – such as the significance given to Google +’s challenge to Facebook and the rise of cloud computing. We were most fascinated by the overall [...]
Everything is going Pete Tong with Nokia
Rating:O2 offers the app of a lifetime
Displaying its continuing faith in the Finnish handset maker, O2 has teamed up with Nokia to offer an amasing prize for UK clubbing fans (the musical type). 45 pairs of tickets (equating to 90 lucky people) will enable the holders to see the last night of ‘All Gone Pete Tong’ in Ibiza. To stand the best chance, you need to own one of four latest Nokia handsets. Then all you need to do is download the Symbian app created by b@TV, the online global clubbing gurus. Obviously both Nokia and O2 are anxious to maintain their ‘trendy image’ amongst the younger generation. Or amongst anyone who has ever yearned to go to Ibiza’s Pacha nightclub of course. Continue reading
Quiz TV show runs on iOS, Android and Facebook
Rating: Sophisticated collection and payments tech behind it
Claiming to be the first ever 24 hour Quiz TV channel which runs on mobile (iOS and Android) and a social network (Facebook), CashPlayTV has just launched. The channel gives players the chance to win instant cash prizes. It’s also sophisticated because it enables players to gamble by paying through PRS (Premium Rate SMS) or via a premium rate call (and costs about £1.50 a throw). Perhaps the most interesting aspect is that app developers can embed the game in unique revenue sharing model. CashPlayTV is being supported with the launch of a £100,000 digital marketing campaign to promote the channel across multiple platforms. Continue reading
Lifeline thrown to Symbian app developers – in German
Rating: How to program for Maemo, MeeG, Symbian and Android
A book released written by by Tamoggemon founder, Tam Hanna, throws a lifeline to Symbian developers. The catch is that you need to be able to read German! QT-Entwicklung für Symbian, Android und Desktop (Qt programming for Symbian, Android and the Desktop) explains how both platforms can be reached with a single code base.This should help developers create high profile Android apps whilst simultaneously targeting the vast number of installed Symbian phones. The book even explains how to ‘immobilize’ mobile apps to create desktop apps. In short, this book is aimed at those who want to save development time and effort creating mobile apps. GoMo News is currently trying to work out how English speakers could read a translation. Continue reading
Verizon hooks up with American Express on wireless payments
Rating: Existing alliance with Payfone to oil the wheels
US mobile operator, Verizon Wireless has announced that it will integrate American Express’ Serve, as a payment mechanism inside future Verizon mobile phones and tablets. One of the attractions for Verizon is that the millions of merchants across the USA who accept American Express will also accept Serve. The idea is that payments for the likes of games credits; MP3 downloads and ringtones can be made from the phone. Verizon is building on its existing relationship with Payfone to provide the back-end authentification. See our previous story here. In essence, the system uses the mobile phone telephone number to authenticate payments. Continue reading
Nokia loses 2nd place to Apple’s iOS
Rating: Nailed its colours to wrong mast
The latest stats from market watchers, Canalys, have shown that Apple’s iOS has now taken over from Symbian as the second most popular mobile OS globally. The first is Android, naturally. Canalys says that iOS overtook the Nokia/Symbian platform during Q2 2011 to take second place worldwide. Apparently, Apple shipped some 20.3 million iPhones which gives it a smartphone market share of 19 per cent. By contrast, according to Canalys’ Tim Shepherd, Nokia only had a 15.5 per cent share of the market. There’s extra bad news because historically Nokia has always provided the largest number of smartphones to come from a single supplier. Now Apple holds that position, too. Worse still, Microsoft’s share actually dropped, too. Oh, whoops Continue reading
Re-charge your handset by pedalling
Rating: Pedal powered phone chargers found @ WOMAD
It’s easy to get carried away with mobile web surfing (especially if you’re using Wi-fi) and drain your mobile’s battery. What do you do if you’re at a music festival? You dig out your Portable Phone Charger which you won as a prize from Carling (the beer company). And, if that doesn’t work, what could you do then? Pay £3 to one of the stall holders at the festival. Or you could pedal like mad and recharge your mobile for free thanks to Electric Pedals. That’s what we did last weekend at the WOMAD festival in Wiltshire, England. Well, almost. Continue reading
Alpha offers unlimited calls to overseas No:s as PAYG
Rating: New MVNO, Alpha Mobile, piggybacks on Vodafone
In an unprecedented move in the telecoms industry, Alpha Mobile is to become the only UK MVNO to offer unlimited calls to UK and international landlines and mobiles on a pre-paid service. The new company, Alpha Mobile, is a provider of prepaid SIM services and unlimited call time for the consumers. The new company has been created by international telecoms provider, Alpha Telecom. The new £30 pay-as-you-go (PAYG) SIM from Alpha Mobile should will be available in over 90,000 retail stores across the UK by Q1 2012. “Alpha Mobile is the ideal service for anyone wanting to save money on UK and international calls when using their mobile device,” claimed Zafar Mirza, CEO, withAlpha Mobile. Continue reading
