Author Archives: Tony Dennis
Reader tries to post a free iPhone scam on GoMo
You probably won’t get vouchers let alone an iPhone
We’re not exactly sure what the point behind this scam is but we’re 100 per cent positive you won’t get a free iPhone out of it. A reader calling himself Jami Hermann left a comment for us here on GoMo News claiming that he’d found a totally free means of obtaining an iPhone 3 for free. He provided a URL for his ‘web site’ but actually it point at a YouTube video here. The video – made by one Steve Aoki is entitled ‘Cheap Iphone 3 | How to Legally Get a cheap Iphone 3′. The graphic accompanying the video, promises the chance to test and keep an iPhone 5 not an iPhone 3. If you do bother to try this, like us you’ll probably just end up on a voucher site. Continue reading
Microsoft overtakes Google in direct billing stakes
Not only the future but the present, too
The guys running the Windows Phone development blog here have come up with some very interesting stats on the WP ecosystem since the launch of Windows Phone 8. Microsoft has seen over a 100 per cent increase in app downloads and a nearly 140 per cent increase in paid app revenue. However, the most interesting revelation is that Windows Phone has added 15 new mobile operator billing partners since August 2012, That brings its total number of supported partners to 25 in 19 markets – which actually surpasses Google Play. As Michael Whelan, CEO with txtNation, points out, “Operator Billing is not only the future, it is the present.” It’s obviously the way to go. Continue reading
Nokia should definitely produce a Windows tablet
Why we think it makes sense
The news wires have been burning over the last few days ever since Amazon appears to have mistakenly ‘outed’ the Acer W3-810, a new 8.1-inch tablet which was listed for $379.99. The reason everyone got so excited is that the device seemed to be running the Windows 8 OS. It’s still about twice the price you might expect to pay for a popular Android such as the Google Nexus 7 or the Amazon Kindle Fire HD. However, it’s much closer in price than your typical Windows 9 or RT tablet. If it could competitively price a Microsoft tablet, GoMo News thinks that Nokia might be tempted into the tablet space. Continue reading
Nokia 720 promo confuses GoMo
Nothing to do with speculative May 14th new launch, apparently
Here at GoMo News Towers we were puzzled to be suddenly on the end of a Nokia e-shot for its Lumia 720 model. We regard this as a simple upgrade to the Nokia Lumia 800 which we have on contract from Orange/EE. Nokia’s numbering conventions have always puzzled the consumer but in this case, the 720 is a newer model than the 800. So it can run Windows Phone 8 whereas the Lumia 800 can’t. It is stuck with Windows Phone 7.8. Continue reading
May is month to get your adult web domain
We didn’t even know there was an adult search engine
It’s been brought to GoMo News‘ attention by ICM Registry, the registry operator for the .XXX top-level domain (TLD) for online adult entertainment, that new .XXX domain registrations created during May 2013 will be available at discount prices. So, if you were intending to launch an adult mobile web site, now is obviously the time. ICM kindly alerted us to the fact that there is even an adult search engine which we’ve never encountered before. XXX.xxx and Search.xxx point to it. Continue reading
Businesses impacted by poor indoor coverage
GoMo thinks it has something to do with operating frequencies
A study conducted by market research firm YouGov in the USA, Germany, Spain and Britain on behalf of SpiderCloud reveals the extent to which businesses are suffering from poor indoor coverage and capacity. The study finds that businesses in the USA are the most likely to suffer from poor indoor coverage and capacity with 61 per cent of IT decision makers reporting that they struggle with this issue. Whilst in Europe, Germany tops the tables with 50 per cent reporting this issue compared to 43 per cent in Spain and 39 per cent in Britain. Continue reading
The iWatch might look something like this …
Okay. We’re winding you up it’s just an iPhone 5 accessory
When GoMo News first spotted the photo (left), we really thought it might have something to do with the much-rumoured Apple iWatch. After all, the Cupertino based supplier really does need to come out with a new product line fast. However, it turns out to be simply a high quality timepiece for the iPhone 5 – made by the PTB Design Corporation in Vancouver, Canada. The firm appears to use the brand name Bissol to make it sounds luxurious. Actually, the product name is Calibre 788. Just don’t try to buy one just yet. Continue reading
JOYN or Big Data – two reactions to SMS losing to OTT
There must be gold in them there texts somewhere
The recent news (see here) from Informa Telecoms & Media that OTT (Over-The-Top) messaging services like WhatsApp are overtaking SMS/texting has created a flurry of activity within the mobile and cellular industry. For example, the solution proposed by Florent Stroppa, who is general manager for Europe with OnMobile, is that MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) should embrace joint initiatives like JOYN. By contrast, Gordon Rawling, who is director for EMEA marketing with Oracle Communications, thinks that Communication Service Providers (CSPs) should mine their customer data in order to stay relevant to subscribers and protect valuable revenue streams. In order words, the solution is Big Data. Continue reading
GoMo encounters low cost Android smartphones from THL
Rating: Low cost Android but its specs are missing
A while back GoMo News wrote about the emergence of a low cost ‘Mobile Phone Windows G3′ from Ananda Industrial (trading as Anandasy) - here. The company was adamant it was a genuine Windows Mobile Phone. Now the firm seems to have gone into the Android clone sector in a big way with a new brand ‘THL’. The manufacturer was particularly keen to interest me in a model called the ‘THL W8′. Continue reading
BlackBerry Q10 is Selfridges’ fastest-ever selling tech product
Rating: Plus you can now run Skype on a BB10 device
The very latest BB10 based handset, the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone went on sale on Friday 26th April [2013] and – in the UK and was exclusively available in Selfridges’ stores in London, Birmingham and Manchester stores. The leading High Street retailer has subsequently claimed that in less than 24 hours the Q10 gained the title as the department store’s fastest-ever selling consumer electronics product. Pre-orders for the BlackBerry Q10 on Selfridges.com, which launched on Wednesday, 24th April [2013], have exceeded all expectations with over 30,000 page views of the pre-order page within the first two days of the exclusive announcement. So the Brits obviously still get excited by BlackBerry’s smartphones. Continue reading
Vodafone/Mahindra claim first truly connected car
Rating: Vodafone provides M2M for India’s revolutionary e2o car
Talk about radio controlled cars. This isn’t a model – it is the real thing thanks to Vodafone’s M2M (machine-to-machine) communication service. The UK based operator is providing this capability to recently launched e2o electric vehicle. The e2o is built by Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles, part of the$15.9 billion Mahindra Group. “The e2o is the first and only Indian car, and among the few worldwide, to have telematics based features that enable ‘anytime, anywhere connectivity’ between our customers and their cars,” observed Chetan Maini, founder of Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles. Continue reading
Amazon is morphing into the new Apple
Rating: Magister says Amazon has major design on mobile space
It is so obvious that Amazon is et to become the ‘next Apple’ that, “Even Inspector Clouseau* would not have difficulty working out that Amazon is a business with a deep interest in being a serious mobile player,” says Victor Basta, md with Magister Advisors. Apple is a hardware business which went e-commerce. Amazon is an e-commerce business that has gone hardware (read Kindle Fire). Now it looks like Amazon is setting its sights on being a major player in the mobile space. Continue reading
Brit retail consortium sees 198% growth in tablet searches
Rating: Importance of omnichannel offering highlighted
This week the latest BRC [British Retail Consortium]-Google online retail monitor results were released. Total search volumes from UK consumers searching tablet devices increased a staggering 198 per cent and growth on smartphone devices was an impressive 66 per cent. Significantly, total search volumes from UK consumers searching overseas retailers increased by 18 per cent in Q1 compared with the previous year. However, whilst total overseas searches for UK brands rose a modest 16 per, there was particular interest from North America with searches up 75 per cent. “This reinforces how critical it is for retailers to be visible across all digital channels in order to reach today’s hyper connected shoppers,” commented Adam Stewart, marketing director, Rakuten’s Play.com. Continue reading
The eyeballs are moving to mobile says Adfonic’s Malachard
Rating: GoMo discusses mobile advertising with Adfonic’s CEO
A while back, GoMo News had the chance to sit down and have a cosy chat with Victor Malachard who is CEO and co-founder with Adfonic – almost certainly one of the world’s largest specialists in the mobile advertising sector. For example, Victor says his company can boast circa 100 billion impressions per month. That’s very definitely not chicken feed. As he says, “The eyballs are moving to mobile” and the mobile advertising is going to be the sector to watch – not just in digital and online advertising but in terms of advertising in its entirety. Continue reading
Goodspeed from UROS provides ideal tethering
Rating: Solves problems for tablets with no SIM cards
Having attended the recent MWC 2013 show in Barcelona, GoMo News has become something of an expert on avoiding bill shock from data roaming. We mentioned in a previous story ‘GoMo misses out on bill shock prevention from Uros‘ that hadn’t been able to take advantage of a specific product – the Goodspeed, offered by the Finnish company, Uros. Luckliy, we got a call from Uros’ Miikka Hätälä who solved the problem by sending us a loan unit. We’ve now concluded that its ideal for tablets with no SIM slots. Continue reading
