From Yahoo Business.com Cell Phones and PDAs .
MINNETONKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2005--Aside from commercial or marine applications, most global positioning systems (GPS) are installed in cars--helping people get from point A to B while driving. But a new breed of navigation systems is about to change this as millions of consumers will soon get driving directions via their cell phone or PDA.
What is a necessity for this to work? There is one key component for implementation.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Microsoft's New Mobile OS?
From SunSentinel.com Microsoft launches new version of Windows for cell phones .
NEW YORK -- Microsoft Corp. unveiled Tuesday a new version of its Windows operating system for mobile devices that unifies the platform for cell phones and Pocket PC handheld computers.
There's one sentence in this story that could have enormous consequences, do you see it? Stay tuned.
NEW YORK -- Microsoft Corp. unveiled Tuesday a new version of its Windows operating system for mobile devices that unifies the platform for cell phones and Pocket PC handheld computers.
There's one sentence in this story that could have enormous consequences, do you see it? Stay tuned.
Monday, May 09, 2005
The Pondering Never Stops, But The Blogging Will Take A Short Break
While the blogging will take a short break, the pondering will be working overtime.
When I read Smart Mobs, I knew another industry was being created, perhaps the biggest ever. I wanted to be a part of it, because Phase2 of the Internet would be more exciting and lucrative than Phase 1. I also know that Phase 2will create new companies, and also have a profound impact on the current tech giants.
After speaking with Howard Rheingold I started offering some of my ideas to him. Howard suggested that I become a contributor to his blog, which I did, and I enjoyed it. However, all I did was blog Smart Mob related news stories, but that didn’t offer a way to express MY ideas.
While this blogging was going on, I was getting in touch with Microsoft, Google and other companies I felt would be interested in my ideas. Back then, only Robert Scoble from Microsoft listened. Scoble suggested I start a blog. He thought the ideas I presented and the interesting questions I raised would get more attention in a public forum
Hence, The Pondering Primate.
Pondering and writing are my passion. Pondering leads me to endless ideas, ideas I feel are invaluable to the right companies. I offered ideas to search engines, operating system companies, media companies, advertising agencies, brands and service providers. I have shared only a fraction of these on my blog.
As a result of this creativity, opportunities are being presented to me. These opportunities will take some time to review.
So while the blogging will take a short break, the pondering will be working overtime.
I can still be reached at vangorilla at aol dot com
Thank you Howard , Robert and John for the doors that you have opened.
When I read Smart Mobs, I knew another industry was being created, perhaps the biggest ever. I wanted to be a part of it, because Phase2 of the Internet would be more exciting and lucrative than Phase 1. I also know that Phase 2will create new companies, and also have a profound impact on the current tech giants.
After speaking with Howard Rheingold I started offering some of my ideas to him. Howard suggested that I become a contributor to his blog, which I did, and I enjoyed it. However, all I did was blog Smart Mob related news stories, but that didn’t offer a way to express MY ideas.
While this blogging was going on, I was getting in touch with Microsoft, Google and other companies I felt would be interested in my ideas. Back then, only Robert Scoble from Microsoft listened. Scoble suggested I start a blog. He thought the ideas I presented and the interesting questions I raised would get more attention in a public forum
Hence, The Pondering Primate.
Pondering and writing are my passion. Pondering leads me to endless ideas, ideas I feel are invaluable to the right companies. I offered ideas to search engines, operating system companies, media companies, advertising agencies, brands and service providers. I have shared only a fraction of these on my blog.
As a result of this creativity, opportunities are being presented to me. These opportunities will take some time to review.
So while the blogging will take a short break, the pondering will be working overtime.
I can still be reached at vangorilla at aol dot com
Thank you Howard , Robert and John for the doors that you have opened.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Forbes Interviews Microsoft's Scoble
Microsoft's evangelist Robert Scoble gets interviewed by Forbes. A summary of the interview can be found here.
What I found interesting is his background.
For a moment it sounded as if Robert Scoble was channeling Dustin Hoffman as Rain Man as he described how he once memorized over 6,000 product SKUs while working as a manager of a camera store.
Cameras and barcodes. Maybe he would be the guy that would recognize a "killer app" that combines these two when he sees it.
Hey Robert, maybe you can get Billy G to take a look at your version of a "killer app".
What I found interesting is his background.
For a moment it sounded as if Robert Scoble was channeling Dustin Hoffman as Rain Man as he described how he once memorized over 6,000 product SKUs while working as a manager of a camera store.
Cameras and barcodes. Maybe he would be the guy that would recognize a "killer app" that combines these two when he sees it.
Hey Robert, maybe you can get Billy G to take a look at your version of a "killer app".
The New American Business Model
After seeing Microsoft's announcement this week, I started pondering again. Could we be seeing a new way America does business?
I discuss how Microsoft is buying and licensing their intellectual property (patents) in my post here .
Is this the New American Business Model?
The Dot Com Bubble created and destroyed many business models. Strangely, however, the failure of many destroyed companies is playing a key role in the New American Business Model.
Many of these failed businesses left behind a plethora of intangible assets (patents and an abundance of intellectual property). In many instances, these patents are languishing because bankrupt companies and/or individuals lack the capital/capacity to pursue licensing deals, let alone patent enforcement.
Outsourcing by American businesses has moved manufacturing and services to countries with cheaper labor. However, American intellectual property is not outsourced and is being aggressively enforced. Hence, a new business model has developed in the venture capital and technology world. The pure patent play.
When one of the smartest guys in tech world and former chief tech officer at Microsoft (Nathan Myhrvold) starts a business you take notice. But when Microsoft starts backing a good portion of his project, then I want to get involved too.
To see what I'm talking about, do a Google on "Intellectual Ventures".
Do you see where this is headed? Intellectual Ventures is buying up patents/IP that Nathan and crew see that will/have significant value. Then Microsoft opens up their intellectual property library and licenses it out. This is another indirect way of dominating in the technology world for Microsoft.
They look like the good guy by offering up their IP for companies to create new businesses. They generate licensing revenues at the same time.
Microsoft can also afford to hire the best patent attorneys and see what companies are infringing on their patents and notify accordingly. What is a company going to do, fight Microsoft in court?
What bugs me is that Microsoft is behind the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), an organization that is dedicated to stopping patents that were issued recklessly. Isn't it more of a "I wish we would have thought of that" that really bothers them?
Microsoft got their hand slapped by the courts because they felt MSFT had a monopoly in the operating system world. Isn't the EFF trying to prevent a monopolistic like atmosphere in the world of IP? And Microsoft is backing this organization. Interesting.
Intellectual property is created in America, sold in America, and now aggressively being enforced in America.
The New American Business Model is being created, and all businesses will have to factor this into all decisions.
I discuss how Microsoft is buying and licensing their intellectual property (patents) in my post here .
Is this the New American Business Model?
The Dot Com Bubble created and destroyed many business models. Strangely, however, the failure of many destroyed companies is playing a key role in the New American Business Model.
Many of these failed businesses left behind a plethora of intangible assets (patents and an abundance of intellectual property). In many instances, these patents are languishing because bankrupt companies and/or individuals lack the capital/capacity to pursue licensing deals, let alone patent enforcement.
Outsourcing by American businesses has moved manufacturing and services to countries with cheaper labor. However, American intellectual property is not outsourced and is being aggressively enforced. Hence, a new business model has developed in the venture capital and technology world. The pure patent play.
When one of the smartest guys in tech world and former chief tech officer at Microsoft (Nathan Myhrvold) starts a business you take notice. But when Microsoft starts backing a good portion of his project, then I want to get involved too.
To see what I'm talking about, do a Google on "Intellectual Ventures".
Do you see where this is headed? Intellectual Ventures is buying up patents/IP that Nathan and crew see that will/have significant value. Then Microsoft opens up their intellectual property library and licenses it out. This is another indirect way of dominating in the technology world for Microsoft.
They look like the good guy by offering up their IP for companies to create new businesses. They generate licensing revenues at the same time.
Microsoft can also afford to hire the best patent attorneys and see what companies are infringing on their patents and notify accordingly. What is a company going to do, fight Microsoft in court?
What bugs me is that Microsoft is behind the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), an organization that is dedicated to stopping patents that were issued recklessly. Isn't it more of a "I wish we would have thought of that" that really bothers them?
Microsoft got their hand slapped by the courts because they felt MSFT had a monopoly in the operating system world. Isn't the EFF trying to prevent a monopolistic like atmosphere in the world of IP? And Microsoft is backing this organization. Interesting.
Intellectual property is created in America, sold in America, and now aggressively being enforced in America.
The New American Business Model is being created, and all businesses will have to factor this into all decisions.
What If.....
I have been pondering with the idea that service providers could one day be in big trouble. I mean with Wifi/Wimax being adopted everywhere (Starbucks, airports and even an entire city like Philadelphia), what happens if you can just hop from hotspot to hotspot with your "cell" phone. Would you even need a service provider?
I'm not a tech hardware guy by any stretch, so I would love input on this one.
I keep reading more and more about VoIP and WiFI, but does that only include voice? Couldn't data do the same thing?
Could cable companies place WiFi/WiMax hardware all throughout the country and create an entire network on the ground?
Is there technology that allows a phone to jump from hotspot to hotspot? What if you could use your service provider for voice, and when you wanted to surf the phone would automatically look for a hotspot (for broadband). Can this be done?
Could the service providers and the cable companies work together?
I can take my phone (I don't know if it would be my Uniden or my Treo) and I am connected through the WiFi in my house. When I leave my house, my Treo is constantly looking for hotspots and keeping me connected to receieve calls. Not only will this prevent dead spots (provided adoption is everywhere I go) but I would think mobile surfing using broadband would open up a ton of applications on my mobile phone.
Just like laptops have included a WiFi chip that allows Internet access, couldn't this be done with cellphones too? Could cellphone manuf include a WiFi/WiMax chip that would look for hotspots?
Do we even need 3G if we can do this?
What would the costs be to setup a national hotspot? Does Wimax facilitate this quicker? The license fees versus rollout of Wimax equipment..which is cheaper?
Is this the Iridium project but only on the ground? One phone number, one phone, everywhere?
GPS is being adopted by service providers, but I wonder, how can hot spot owners locate you this way? Does this feature stop VoIP from being adopted?
A new standard for WiFi, 802.11n is coming and that will allow speeads up to 200 Mbps. That would be plenty fast for data.
What I'm wondering is how many/close do WiFi/WiMax spots have to be in order to make this work. How many "spots" do you need in order to handle large volume of users (Manhattan would need how many per block). Could there ever be such a demand on a hotspot that calls/data couldn't get through?
I'm thinking of an event like the Superbowl where millions come into a town and the hotspots are overloaded.
Lots of pondering, hopefully I get some answers from people in this field.
I'm not a tech hardware guy by any stretch, so I would love input on this one.
I keep reading more and more about VoIP and WiFI, but does that only include voice? Couldn't data do the same thing?
Could cable companies place WiFi/WiMax hardware all throughout the country and create an entire network on the ground?
Is there technology that allows a phone to jump from hotspot to hotspot? What if you could use your service provider for voice, and when you wanted to surf the phone would automatically look for a hotspot (for broadband). Can this be done?
Could the service providers and the cable companies work together?
I can take my phone (I don't know if it would be my Uniden or my Treo) and I am connected through the WiFi in my house. When I leave my house, my Treo is constantly looking for hotspots and keeping me connected to receieve calls. Not only will this prevent dead spots (provided adoption is everywhere I go) but I would think mobile surfing using broadband would open up a ton of applications on my mobile phone.
Just like laptops have included a WiFi chip that allows Internet access, couldn't this be done with cellphones too? Could cellphone manuf include a WiFi/WiMax chip that would look for hotspots?
Do we even need 3G if we can do this?
What would the costs be to setup a national hotspot? Does Wimax facilitate this quicker? The license fees versus rollout of Wimax equipment..which is cheaper?
Is this the Iridium project but only on the ground? One phone number, one phone, everywhere?
GPS is being adopted by service providers, but I wonder, how can hot spot owners locate you this way? Does this feature stop VoIP from being adopted?
A new standard for WiFi, 802.11n is coming and that will allow speeads up to 200 Mbps. That would be plenty fast for data.
What I'm wondering is how many/close do WiFi/WiMax spots have to be in order to make this work. How many "spots" do you need in order to handle large volume of users (Manhattan would need how many per block). Could there ever be such a demand on a hotspot that calls/data couldn't get through?
I'm thinking of an event like the Superbowl where millions come into a town and the hotspots are overloaded.
Lots of pondering, hopefully I get some answers from people in this field.
Scanbuy A Breakout Company In 2005
From Fortune magazine 25 Breakout companies 2005 .
Bargain hunters have a new ally: the cellphone. Soon it will be easy to walk into a store, point your camera phone at the bar code on a product, and within seconds find the same item online for a comparable or better price.
Consumer bar-code technology, already common in Japan, is about to hit the U.S., says Olivier Attia. His 13-person company, Scanbuy , offers what he calls scancommerce software, which links any bar code to the Internet via camera phones.
(The square code—above left—is designed to be especially phone-friendly.) The Nokia Series 60 and other phones can read the codes; they connect users to Amazon or PriceGrabber websites.
I think GPS will play a e huge role in this ability. I explain how here .
Before rushing to the mall, customers must download ScanZoom, Scanbuy's free software, to their cells.
I just don't see people downloading software to the phones yet. In order for mass adoption, in my opinion, the application has to be on the phone already, or an incentive has to be so great for people to take the time to download.
I also don't see price comparison being that big with your cell phone. Will you compare prices on cereal, books, DVD's, TV's, cars? As the price of the item goes up, the more time I will take in making my purchase. So there's an inverse relationship between price and the impulse to buy.
Scanbuy makes money by selling decoding technology to handset makers and by taking a cut from online retailers when goods are purchased via ScanZoom. Attia says he'll know he's arrived when "the sign outside the store reads no pets, no food, and no bar-code scanning." — Julie Schlosser
If you want to create a killer app from barcodes, allow the phone to scan a barcode and retrieve information about the product, not just a Froogle like application.
I did an interview with Scanbuy here .
The 25 List .
Bargain hunters have a new ally: the cellphone. Soon it will be easy to walk into a store, point your camera phone at the bar code on a product, and within seconds find the same item online for a comparable or better price.
Consumer bar-code technology, already common in Japan, is about to hit the U.S., says Olivier Attia. His 13-person company, Scanbuy , offers what he calls scancommerce software, which links any bar code to the Internet via camera phones.
(The square code—above left—is designed to be especially phone-friendly.) The Nokia Series 60 and other phones can read the codes; they connect users to Amazon or PriceGrabber websites.
I think GPS will play a e huge role in this ability. I explain how here .
Before rushing to the mall, customers must download ScanZoom, Scanbuy's free software, to their cells.
I just don't see people downloading software to the phones yet. In order for mass adoption, in my opinion, the application has to be on the phone already, or an incentive has to be so great for people to take the time to download.
I also don't see price comparison being that big with your cell phone. Will you compare prices on cereal, books, DVD's, TV's, cars? As the price of the item goes up, the more time I will take in making my purchase. So there's an inverse relationship between price and the impulse to buy.
Scanbuy makes money by selling decoding technology to handset makers and by taking a cut from online retailers when goods are purchased via ScanZoom. Attia says he'll know he's arrived when "the sign outside the store reads no pets, no food, and no bar-code scanning." — Julie Schlosser
If you want to create a killer app from barcodes, allow the phone to scan a barcode and retrieve information about the product, not just a Froogle like application.
I did an interview with Scanbuy here .
The 25 List .
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Brands Taking Longer To Adapt And Adopt
This really isn't that surprising. Brands have always played "catch-up" when a new media was introduced. I'm sure brands had a hard time dealing when TV advertising replaced radio advertising too.
This time though, the introduction of the Internet created even more variables to contend with because it is a faster delivery media.
What happens when brands have to adapt to the new media of those four square inches?
From NewMediAge.com Brands admit to poor performance with new media channels .
Despite three quarters of big brands recognising the importance of online advertising in their marketing mix, most believe they aren't best utilising new media channels available to them.
I show how advertising has changed here .
70% of brands said they felt overwhelmed by complex digital technologies, and that there were 'not enough hours in the day' to stay on top of developments in the space.
This time though, the introduction of the Internet created even more variables to contend with because it is a faster delivery media.
What happens when brands have to adapt to the new media of those four square inches?
From NewMediAge.com Brands admit to poor performance with new media channels .
Despite three quarters of big brands recognising the importance of online advertising in their marketing mix, most believe they aren't best utilising new media channels available to them.
I show how advertising has changed here .
70% of brands said they felt overwhelmed by complex digital technologies, and that there were 'not enough hours in the day' to stay on top of developments in the space.
Suggestion For Google Lab Guys
I get Google alerts emailed throughout the day. Some days the mail can be pretty overwhelming, but I read every of them.
My suggestion is this. Can Google offer a "stop email delivery" service for this? Can I stop my email for a determined amount of time, and deliver when I request it? This is the same concept of stopping your mail when you're out of town.
When I check my mail via my Treo and I'm traveling, the mail gets so backed up from just from my Google alerts, and I miss seeing the email that requires immediate response.
Just a thought.
My suggestion is this. Can Google offer a "stop email delivery" service for this? Can I stop my email for a determined amount of time, and deliver when I request it? This is the same concept of stopping your mail when you're out of town.
When I check my mail via my Treo and I'm traveling, the mail gets so backed up from just from my Google alerts, and I miss seeing the email that requires immediate response.
Just a thought.
Microsoft Changes Its Spots
I'm trying to get a handle on this. Microsoft is now licensing their intellectual property. Microsoft is also on a patent filing binge too. On the other side of the coin, they are backing an organization (EFF) that is against some pretty broad patents.
Is this the "new American business model" ? Buy up IP and license it out?
You can't produce IP with cheap labor in another country. More companies are enforcing their IP (Ampex, Research In Motion, Intergraph). Plenty of pondering has been done already on this.
I will have a story on this soon and what I think is happening.
From WashingtonPost.com Microsoft to offer technology licensing .
Usually known for closely guarding the rights to its technology, Microsoft touts its new program as a bid to help startups by giving them access to fruits of the company's research and development arm.
"If we pull this off, if we're able to collaborate effectively ... we can create new companies and new jobs," said David Harnett, senior director of Microsoft's Intellectual Property Ventures
Is this the "new American business model" ? Buy up IP and license it out?
You can't produce IP with cheap labor in another country. More companies are enforcing their IP (Ampex, Research In Motion, Intergraph). Plenty of pondering has been done already on this.
I will have a story on this soon and what I think is happening.
From WashingtonPost.com Microsoft to offer technology licensing .
Usually known for closely guarding the rights to its technology, Microsoft touts its new program as a bid to help startups by giving them access to fruits of the company's research and development arm.
"If we pull this off, if we're able to collaborate effectively ... we can create new companies and new jobs," said David Harnett, senior director of Microsoft's Intellectual Property Ventures
Cell Phone : World Changing
I just like the title of the blog from the start, World Changing.
From World Changing.com The rise of participatory panopticon .
You may not be aware of it, but the cameraphone in your pocket is the harbinger of a massive social transformation, one already underway.
This transformation could be at least as big as the ones triggered by television and by computers, as the base technology -- mobile phones -- fills a new niche, different from both of these earlier technologies. TV is a “passive reception” medium; computers are an “active engagement” medium.
Mobile phones can be thought of as a “passive engagement” medium, available for connections and interaction without requiring user attention.
A few universities and activist groups are experimenting with applications allowing cameraphones to read bar codes, functioning like mobile networked bar code scanners. Users can snap a photo of a bar code on a product and get back information from a variety of websites on whether the product was produced sustainably, whether the company making it behaved ethically, even whether there's a better price to be had at a different store.
From World Changing.com The rise of participatory panopticon .
You may not be aware of it, but the cameraphone in your pocket is the harbinger of a massive social transformation, one already underway.
This transformation could be at least as big as the ones triggered by television and by computers, as the base technology -- mobile phones -- fills a new niche, different from both of these earlier technologies. TV is a “passive reception” medium; computers are an “active engagement” medium.
Mobile phones can be thought of as a “passive engagement” medium, available for connections and interaction without requiring user attention.
A few universities and activist groups are experimenting with applications allowing cameraphones to read bar codes, functioning like mobile networked bar code scanners. Users can snap a photo of a bar code on a product and get back information from a variety of websites on whether the product was produced sustainably, whether the company making it behaved ethically, even whether there's a better price to be had at a different store.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
AOL.... DOA or AOK?
I’ve been attacking Google and Microsoft lately for their inability to create a good mobile search application. Google is more creative than the rest, and it’s their “space” to lose at this point.
Microsoft is still working on their “Long-Gone” project” and if their attempts at mobile search are anything like their search on a PC, Bill Gates better get padded pants for another ass-kicking from Google.
But wait! Could there be another player in mobile search? Is there another “has-been” that is coming out of retirement and wants to give the “kids” a run for their money?
What company has already made their presence with a platform on the cell phone? What company has a foothold in both the PC and the cell phone? What company has a media conglomerate to provide endless consumer applications?
Quietly this company gained a foothold on 20 million cell phones and they are sitting on a mobile search platform.
To understand how search on the PC became so big we have to look at Google.
How did Google become so successful? They took a free consumer application and advertisers funneled money into it.
So who is this “has-been” that could be a serious threat to Google?
Who is this company? Their logo is a running man, very appropriate. PC’s and laptops don’t run, but the cell phone is always in motion.
When they unveiled --- Find Me they opened up an enormous can of worms for mobile search.
When you have 24 million users, you should expand the services you can offer to these people. These people carry cell phones too.
When AOL introduced their “Find Me” service, they (maybe they don’t realize it) created the perfect platform for mobile search. They have the perfect user base, the backing of a monster media conglomerate (Time Warner), and they are already on 20 million cell phones with their mobile AOL IM.
AOL with their mobile IM, and their “Find Me” application, has created a mobile search platform. They combine location based services (LBS/GPS) with a quicker way of mobile internet surfing (SMS/IM)
Does anyone else see this?
The only form of mobile search now is through an SMS request. Google and 4INFO offer this service. Internet surfing on a cell phone is too slow and there isn’t a true mobile search engine.
So that leads me to ask.
Why can’t you send an SMS request through an instant message?
By sending an instant message to a special username of AOL, can’t you let them resolve the query? Instead of sending an IM to an AOL member, you’re sending an SMS/search query to an AOL server requesting/doing a search. Instead of typing in 46645 (GOOGL) or 44636 (4INFO), AOL has created the short code for you with a special username.
Let AOL label this username as MOBLSRCH in our buddy list. AOL could automatically add this name when you download or reboot. AOL establishes an easy way to start a mobile search when you IM MOBLSRCH.
The “Find Me” buddy application is the GPS function, and the buddy list with MOBLSRCH creates the search window. They already have their own mobile search application on 20 million plus cell phones. Will they capitalize on this? Do they even know what they have?
Initiate an IM w/ MOBLSRCH and in subject box type “dominos” or “pizza”. AOL recognizes your location and sends back the closest Dominos or the pizzerias in your closest proximity. Could AOL “sell” these keywords to these companies? Would Domino’s pay to be included in this search? I discussed the googol possibilities here.
Include a map (with GPS function), address, phone number and website (if possible) in the search requests.
Could AOL make MOBLSRCH a group on your buddy list? If I’m AOL , in this group I would include “stock, sports and news”. MBLSTOCK, MBLSPORTS, and MBLNEWS are other “buddies”. You can send an IM to MBLSTCOCK for a quote on “GOOG”. Send an IM to MOBLSPORTS for the score of the “Yankees” game.
Do you see the endless possibilities? I do.
AOL has the Time Warner media conglomerate behind it. That includes magazines like Fortune, Money, People (already doing an SMS alert), Sports Illustrated (doing swimsuit screen savers), Time, Business 2.0 (one of my favs), Golf, Ski….TV stations like TBS, WB , HBO. Movie giants like New Line Cinema and Warner Brothers.
If Time Warner can’t figure out to make mobile advertising campaigns from this, I will be amazed. SI and People are already getting creative with their campaigns. The question I would ask them is “why didn’t you promote these mobile campaigns through your sister company AOL?”.
Looks like Time Warner has some cash to play with too. Hmm sell Google stock and fund the next search engine?
I see an endless supply of movie trailers, ringtones, screen savers, and alerts than can be created and delivered to the cell phone from this media powerhouse.
I see AOL turning a neat consumer application into a must have on the cell phone. Texting will be much easier w/ the Mobile AOL IM than looking for cell number on your phone to initiate the conversation.
I also see AOL offering the ability to store your mobile searches on your PC for when you get home. All search queries made under your username will be saved when you login on a PC or Laptop. AOL can call it “Things I Looked At Today”. I would call them “Electronic Post-Its”.
This is a good start in combining the physical world with the electronic one.
AOL is sitting on a perfect mobile search application and has 20 million plus people that could adopt it overnight.
Microsoft is still working on their “Long-Gone” project” and if their attempts at mobile search are anything like their search on a PC, Bill Gates better get padded pants for another ass-kicking from Google.
But wait! Could there be another player in mobile search? Is there another “has-been” that is coming out of retirement and wants to give the “kids” a run for their money?
What company has already made their presence with a platform on the cell phone? What company has a foothold in both the PC and the cell phone? What company has a media conglomerate to provide endless consumer applications?
Quietly this company gained a foothold on 20 million cell phones and they are sitting on a mobile search platform.
To understand how search on the PC became so big we have to look at Google.
How did Google become so successful? They took a free consumer application and advertisers funneled money into it.
So who is this “has-been” that could be a serious threat to Google?
Who is this company? Their logo is a running man, very appropriate. PC’s and laptops don’t run, but the cell phone is always in motion.
When they unveiled --- Find Me they opened up an enormous can of worms for mobile search.
When you have 24 million users, you should expand the services you can offer to these people. These people carry cell phones too.
When AOL introduced their “Find Me” service, they (maybe they don’t realize it) created the perfect platform for mobile search. They have the perfect user base, the backing of a monster media conglomerate (Time Warner), and they are already on 20 million cell phones with their mobile AOL IM.
AOL with their mobile IM, and their “Find Me” application, has created a mobile search platform. They combine location based services (LBS/GPS) with a quicker way of mobile internet surfing (SMS/IM)
Does anyone else see this?
The only form of mobile search now is through an SMS request. Google and 4INFO offer this service. Internet surfing on a cell phone is too slow and there isn’t a true mobile search engine.
So that leads me to ask.
Why can’t you send an SMS request through an instant message?
By sending an instant message to a special username of AOL, can’t you let them resolve the query? Instead of sending an IM to an AOL member, you’re sending an SMS/search query to an AOL server requesting/doing a search. Instead of typing in 46645 (GOOGL) or 44636 (4INFO), AOL has created the short code for you with a special username.
Let AOL label this username as MOBLSRCH in our buddy list. AOL could automatically add this name when you download or reboot. AOL establishes an easy way to start a mobile search when you IM MOBLSRCH.
The “Find Me” buddy application is the GPS function, and the buddy list with MOBLSRCH creates the search window. They already have their own mobile search application on 20 million plus cell phones. Will they capitalize on this? Do they even know what they have?
Initiate an IM w/ MOBLSRCH and in subject box type “dominos” or “pizza”. AOL recognizes your location and sends back the closest Dominos or the pizzerias in your closest proximity. Could AOL “sell” these keywords to these companies? Would Domino’s pay to be included in this search? I discussed the googol possibilities here.
Include a map (with GPS function), address, phone number and website (if possible) in the search requests.
Could AOL make MOBLSRCH a group on your buddy list? If I’m AOL , in this group I would include “stock, sports and news”. MBLSTOCK, MBLSPORTS, and MBLNEWS are other “buddies”. You can send an IM to MBLSTCOCK for a quote on “GOOG”. Send an IM to MOBLSPORTS for the score of the “Yankees” game.
Do you see the endless possibilities? I do.
AOL has the Time Warner media conglomerate behind it. That includes magazines like Fortune, Money, People (already doing an SMS alert), Sports Illustrated (doing swimsuit screen savers), Time, Business 2.0 (one of my favs), Golf, Ski….TV stations like TBS, WB , HBO. Movie giants like New Line Cinema and Warner Brothers.
If Time Warner can’t figure out to make mobile advertising campaigns from this, I will be amazed. SI and People are already getting creative with their campaigns. The question I would ask them is “why didn’t you promote these mobile campaigns through your sister company AOL?”.
Looks like Time Warner has some cash to play with too. Hmm sell Google stock and fund the next search engine?
I see an endless supply of movie trailers, ringtones, screen savers, and alerts than can be created and delivered to the cell phone from this media powerhouse.
I see AOL turning a neat consumer application into a must have on the cell phone. Texting will be much easier w/ the Mobile AOL IM than looking for cell number on your phone to initiate the conversation.
I also see AOL offering the ability to store your mobile searches on your PC for when you get home. All search queries made under your username will be saved when you login on a PC or Laptop. AOL can call it “Things I Looked At Today”. I would call them “Electronic Post-Its”.
This is a good start in combining the physical world with the electronic one.
AOL is sitting on a perfect mobile search application and has 20 million plus people that could adopt it overnight.
The Next Real Estate Market To Invest In.
Experts have said the real estate market is frothy and values are hard to find. I have discovered some real estate that is going to be invaluable soon.
Want to know where it is?
Oceanfront property? No it's four square inches.
From The NY Times.com As cellphones bulk up, how much is too much? .
There is a digital land rush going on, driven by rapid advances in technology that make it possible to put more and more tools of higher and higher quality into phones.
The recognition that talk is only part of the cellphone's future -that it is becoming a personal window into an evolving blend of communications, computing and media - has the existing players in the cellphone market scrambling, and new entrants looking for a way in.
In surveys of cellphone users, respondents say there are three things they always take with them when they leave home: wallet, keys and cellphone.
The wallet will merge into the cellphone with a contactless credit card application .
MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are in trials with Nokia and Motorola for this feature. One reason why I stated credit card companies and service providers should get together.
Yes those four square inches will be very valuable to the companies that figure out how to make a consumer friendly application and the advertisers that get permission.
Imagine if search engines had to get permission to advertise when you did a search on your PC. Would advertisers get creative to reach you?
They will have to now.
Want to know where it is?
Oceanfront property? No it's four square inches.
From The NY Times.com As cellphones bulk up, how much is too much? .
There is a digital land rush going on, driven by rapid advances in technology that make it possible to put more and more tools of higher and higher quality into phones.
The recognition that talk is only part of the cellphone's future -that it is becoming a personal window into an evolving blend of communications, computing and media - has the existing players in the cellphone market scrambling, and new entrants looking for a way in.
In surveys of cellphone users, respondents say there are three things they always take with them when they leave home: wallet, keys and cellphone.
The wallet will merge into the cellphone with a contactless credit card application .
MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are in trials with Nokia and Motorola for this feature. One reason why I stated credit card companies and service providers should get together.
Yes those four square inches will be very valuable to the companies that figure out how to make a consumer friendly application and the advertisers that get permission.
Imagine if search engines had to get permission to advertise when you did a search on your PC. Would advertisers get creative to reach you?
They will have to now.
The Single Most Important Medium People Have
From The Feature.com Why mobile advertising will be more important than TV advertising .
Another great story from Mike Masnick.
In a sign that advertisers are finally recognizing that mobile spam doesn't work, one big advertising agency outlines the challenges in making people want to get mobile advertising.
You have no way to interrupt because they can choose what they can do. The opportunity is if you can create some content that they want to engage with, they can do that all of the time from anywhere
In other words, the whole mindset behind the entire advertising industry needs to change from one that's about getting as many eyeballs on the ad as possible to getting people to actually want to see the ad.
I don't know of it's "wanting to see the ad" or it's getting an advertisement in addition to the info you request. It's a tradeoff.
As Robertson says: "we are rapidly getting to the point where the single most important medium that people have is their wireless device. It's with them every single moment of the day." The challenge, which Robertson appears to see clearly, is figuring out a way to include advertising in that context
Another great story from Mike Masnick.
In a sign that advertisers are finally recognizing that mobile spam doesn't work, one big advertising agency outlines the challenges in making people want to get mobile advertising.
You have no way to interrupt because they can choose what they can do. The opportunity is if you can create some content that they want to engage with, they can do that all of the time from anywhere
In other words, the whole mindset behind the entire advertising industry needs to change from one that's about getting as many eyeballs on the ad as possible to getting people to actually want to see the ad.
I don't know of it's "wanting to see the ad" or it's getting an advertisement in addition to the info you request. It's a tradeoff.
As Robertson says: "we are rapidly getting to the point where the single most important medium that people have is their wireless device. It's with them every single moment of the day." The challenge, which Robertson appears to see clearly, is figuring out a way to include advertising in that context
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
The Cell Phone Can Do It
From The New York Times.com The cellphone's potential as a search tool gets tapped .
Nothing really new in this article that hasn't been discussed in detail on PP.
Search engines like Google and Yahoo are betting that most consumers will catch on to what Mr. Goyal has already figured out - that mobile phones can search the Web when a computer is not nearby
"This is a chicken and egg problem that is going to go away," he added, as soon as Web developers realize "there are 1.2 billion phones out there that can connect to information."
Would Google and MSFT take a closer look if they could tap 1.2 billion PC's?
Nothing really new in this article that hasn't been discussed in detail on PP.
Search engines like Google and Yahoo are betting that most consumers will catch on to what Mr. Goyal has already figured out - that mobile phones can search the Web when a computer is not nearby
"This is a chicken and egg problem that is going to go away," he added, as soon as Web developers realize "there are 1.2 billion phones out there that can connect to information."
Would Google and MSFT take a closer look if they could tap 1.2 billion PC's?
Monday, May 02, 2005
Is That A Jingle In Your RFID Tag Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?
From RFID Weblog Jingle in an RFID tag .
When you buy something at the shops, would you want to hear an advertising jingle for the product ring out across the store as the cashier scans your purchase?
Florian Wesch, a computer science student from Durlach in Germany, has worked out a way to store a tune on the radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags now attached to most goods.
When the tag is scanned at the checkout, it would send the tune to be played by the tag reader.
I see lots of advertising opportunities here. Wave your RFID reading cell phone and hear a song on your phone. Wave the reader to see if you have won a prize, sound notification.
The full article .
When you buy something at the shops, would you want to hear an advertising jingle for the product ring out across the store as the cashier scans your purchase?
Florian Wesch, a computer science student from Durlach in Germany, has worked out a way to store a tune on the radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags now attached to most goods.
When the tag is scanned at the checkout, it would send the tune to be played by the tag reader.
I see lots of advertising opportunities here. Wave your RFID reading cell phone and hear a song on your phone. Wave the reader to see if you have won a prize, sound notification.
The full article .
Verisign Gets Creative
From PR Newsire Verisign to sponsor first-ever industry contest for EPC and RFID development .
Like the innovative software and Web applications that promoted world-wide Internet
growth, the contest is aimed at driving a new generation of network
applications that help companies store, share, and secure RFID-generated data
over the EPC Network.
The Electronic Product Code (EPC) and radio frequency identification
(RFID) hold great promise for the automation of product identification within
the supply chain.
The next stage of RFID development requires data sharing among multiple partners. Tags and readers are merely the hardware used to put information into a network that can then store, share, secure and distribute that information intelligently to users upon demand.
Verisign will provide a domain address for an RFID tag. That's almost like a barcode that is directed to the Internet, isn't it?
Like the innovative software and Web applications that promoted world-wide Internet
growth, the contest is aimed at driving a new generation of network
applications that help companies store, share, and secure RFID-generated data
over the EPC Network.
The Electronic Product Code (EPC) and radio frequency identification
(RFID) hold great promise for the automation of product identification within
the supply chain.
The next stage of RFID development requires data sharing among multiple partners. Tags and readers are merely the hardware used to put information into a network that can then store, share, secure and distribute that information intelligently to users upon demand.
Verisign will provide a domain address for an RFID tag. That's almost like a barcode that is directed to the Internet, isn't it?
Four One One, What City And State Please?
After thinking about last weeks 2 big stories in the mobile space, I realized service providers could play a much bigger role in mobile search. There are a couple obstacles to overcome.
When it comes to mobile search there are two things I want on my cell phone. I want the Yellow pages (of the city I am in), and a map.
Your 411 call gets you to a phone number and or address of a business/person.
The operator performs a “search” of their own within the cities yellow pages.
411 is the universal yellow pages.
But, with all this information, how can service providers dominate mobile search?
Service providers tell cell phone manufacturers what software/platform to put on specific models. In the future this could be a search window or a toolbar.
They have the GPS coordinates that allow location based services (LBS). This provides location and eliminates the user from saying “Manhattan”.
They have access to the yellow pages data of every city directory, but up till now, the feedback is in oral form from the operator.
What they don’t have.
1. A search function
2. A way to resolve the query in data form
When I type in pizza in the search window, they don’t have the technology to resolve that. Using Google on the cell phone doesn’t work for mobile search. It isn’t mobile search. I want the closest pizzeria displayed on my cell phone, not the origins of making a pizza.
They also do not have Internet enabled yellow pages.
What they need is.
1. The Internet yellow pages
2. A search engine resolver application that recognizes keyword/queries..ie pizza, Starbucks, plumber
How do the Yellow Pages get enabled for the Internet?
A search engine (Google) could solicit/request data from every small business. However, I realized it’s way too big of a task and some of the listings probably don’t have email let alone a website …ie ( plumbers, contractors, service cos).
So let’s start from the top down, by letting the yellow pages listings come to them
Yellow pages should start to offer a mobile yellow pages database. This way, one could get an operator provided phone number and a business listing in their Sprint mobile search.
The mobile search engine resolver identifies the keyword, matches up the GPS coordinates and provides relevant search results.
The race for cell phone real estate is on.
When it comes to mobile search there are two things I want on my cell phone. I want the Yellow pages (of the city I am in), and a map.
Your 411 call gets you to a phone number and or address of a business/person.
The operator performs a “search” of their own within the cities yellow pages.
411 is the universal yellow pages.
But, with all this information, how can service providers dominate mobile search?
Service providers tell cell phone manufacturers what software/platform to put on specific models. In the future this could be a search window or a toolbar.
They have the GPS coordinates that allow location based services (LBS). This provides location and eliminates the user from saying “Manhattan”.
They have access to the yellow pages data of every city directory, but up till now, the feedback is in oral form from the operator.
What they don’t have.
1. A search function
2. A way to resolve the query in data form
When I type in pizza in the search window, they don’t have the technology to resolve that. Using Google on the cell phone doesn’t work for mobile search. It isn’t mobile search. I want the closest pizzeria displayed on my cell phone, not the origins of making a pizza.
They also do not have Internet enabled yellow pages.
What they need is.
1. The Internet yellow pages
2. A search engine resolver application that recognizes keyword/queries..ie pizza, Starbucks, plumber
How do the Yellow Pages get enabled for the Internet?
A search engine (Google) could solicit/request data from every small business. However, I realized it’s way too big of a task and some of the listings probably don’t have email let alone a website …ie ( plumbers, contractors, service cos).
So let’s start from the top down, by letting the yellow pages listings come to them
Yellow pages should start to offer a mobile yellow pages database. This way, one could get an operator provided phone number and a business listing in their Sprint mobile search.
The mobile search engine resolver identifies the keyword, matches up the GPS coordinates and provides relevant search results.
The race for cell phone real estate is on.
Another Physical World Connection Company
Backed by Hewlett Packard, Mobile Bristol is another player in the physical world connection space.
From PicturePhoning.com ,
Active Posters are standard printed advertising posters that would be found on hoardings, at bus stops, outside cinemas or the Underground. Unlike standard posters, they have special "barcodes" printed on them.
These are read using standard camera phones and link the poster to online content, applications and services. For example, one could "click" on a poster to download music, buy tickets to a show, order a taxi or answer quiz questions. Each active poster can have its own unique barcode, so the service offered can be specific to a particular location.
For example, a shop near to a particular bus stop could offer a special discount on an advertised product. The special barcodes can link any printable surfaces such as books, magazines, leaflets and stickers in addition to certain types of digital display screens to on-line content in all kinds of urban/suburban/rural situations."
From PicturePhoning.com ,
Active Posters are standard printed advertising posters that would be found on hoardings, at bus stops, outside cinemas or the Underground. Unlike standard posters, they have special "barcodes" printed on them.
These are read using standard camera phones and link the poster to online content, applications and services. For example, one could "click" on a poster to download music, buy tickets to a show, order a taxi or answer quiz questions. Each active poster can have its own unique barcode, so the service offered can be specific to a particular location.
For example, a shop near to a particular bus stop could offer a special discount on an advertised product. The special barcodes can link any printable surfaces such as books, magazines, leaflets and stickers in addition to certain types of digital display screens to on-line content in all kinds of urban/suburban/rural situations."
Next Stop : The Cell Phone
From Seattle Time.com How searchis redefining the Web- and our lives .
So where does search go from here? Some experts say the technology will jump digital boundaries from the browser to other platforms. Its next stop is the cellphone; in the future, television.
Search will play a huge role in cellphones and mobile devices, said Jim Voelker, chief executive of InfoSpace, the Bellevue company that is launching a mobile search engine this year.
"It's going to become very easy to get any kind of information and data you want where you want it," he said. "The device increasingly knows where you are and what you like to do when you're there."
John Battelle, a co-founder of Wired magazine whose book on the search industry is due out Sept. 12, said he expects that search and TV eventually will merge. The things you search for, the Web sites you visit and the history of programs you watch could influence which ads come over your TV.
So where does search go from here? Some experts say the technology will jump digital boundaries from the browser to other platforms. Its next stop is the cellphone; in the future, television.
Search will play a huge role in cellphones and mobile devices, said Jim Voelker, chief executive of InfoSpace, the Bellevue company that is launching a mobile search engine this year.
"It's going to become very easy to get any kind of information and data you want where you want it," he said. "The device increasingly knows where you are and what you like to do when you're there."
John Battelle, a co-founder of Wired magazine whose book on the search industry is due out Sept. 12, said he expects that search and TV eventually will merge. The things you search for, the Web sites you visit and the history of programs you watch could influence which ads come over your TV.
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