MarketingBeyond

Smartphones Invade River City

I live in River City, a mid-size city slightly west of the Mississippi. You probably haven’t visited our town. Doesn’t appear on many maps–including Googles’s–but you really should.

We’re what you might call a “mobile test city.” All the big cellular carriers think our town’s residents best represent a cross-section of America. Most people in town who use mobile phones don’t consider themselves guinea pigs. But we sure like the attention it brings.

Thought I’d tell you about mobile life in River City just in case you never visit.

“Ya Got Trouble in River City”: iPhones Come to Our Town

Changing of the Guard: Mobile Internet, Social Media and Journalism

Pictures and videos from Iran, recently taken by individuals using mobile phones, raise issues we don’t want to face. Despite Iran, China and other oppressive regimes seeking to stop the flow of information, it continues to grow–not from the eyes and ears of “journalists,” but from people like you and me.

Joe Wilcox, a blogger, wrote a powerful post called “Iran and the Internet Democracy.” Wilcox shows disturbing YouTube videos and pictures of angry Iranian protesters who oppose their government.

He also describes how corporate news organizations are losing media power to individuals, who snap pictures and record videos with mobile phones, write tweets and transmit all of it over the mobile Internet in real time. The reality of one person electronically communicating to the world resembles Edward R. Murrow’s “This is London” during World War II.

Story continues on MobileBeyond

Mobile Carriers and Manufacturers Fail to Engage Their Customers

During the past few evenings, I've had conversations on Twitter with disgruntled iPhone owners, new Palm Pre users, BlackBerry Crackheads like me and other passionate people who love mobile devices but are venting.

iPhone users, in particular, are mad as Hell about AT&T's lack of MMS and tethering support. They don't understand why Apple enabled these functions on the iPhone while AT&T waffles about their availability. Today AT&T slapped a programmer in the face who had devised a software work-a-round providing users with both functions, threatening customers with enormous data bills.

Read the rest of the story on MobileBeyond.

MobiChitter--Best Website in Town for Twitter Mobile Chitter Chatter

Calling all mobile geeks, mobile marketers, advertisers, mobile developers: MobiChitter, a new site featuring mobile tweets launched today. MobiChitter combines all the best tweets and conversations found on Twitter's MobileBeyond, MobiChirp, MobiMarketing and MobiChitter.

Everytime users refresh the pages, new mobile content appears. MobiChirp, a little bird that loves his iPhone, G1 and BlackBerry, along with Hopper, Chopper and MobiGeek, got so excited today, they made a video of the MobiChirp choir.

Why only chatter when you can chitter? Check Out MobiChitter.

eBay Deluged by iPhone Sellers Dumping Product Quickly

As reported on Mobile Telephone Marketing and her on MarketingBeyond in 2008, iPhone sellers continue dumping 1st and 3G versions of the iPhone on eBay WorldWide

Anticipating a new, more powerful OS and, possibly, new iPhone, sellers are creating a frenzy on ebay with over 4,000 units now for sale.

Read the full story on IM-Mobile.

Music Genome Project Improves Pandora Internet Radio

The "Music Genome Project," Internet radio broadcasting on your mobile and PC, personalized music selections using 400 categories? What's happening to the way we select and enjoy music?

Whether you're into rock, gospel, classical, hip-hop or jazz, Pandora Internet Radio wants to help you "play all music you like." The Oakland, CA based company streams music to your iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and around 40-50 mobile handsets running on AT&T Wireless and Sprint's "Now" network.

As of December, 2008, two million iPhone users had downloaded the Pandora application. More recently, over one million BlackBerry users did the same through the BlackBerry App Store. Pandora claims a base of 27 million subscribers with 3-4 million people listening on their mobile phones and the vast majority tuning in using their personal computers.

Listen to a fascinating podcast with Tom Conrad, Pandora's CTO on MobileBeyond.

The MobiMarketing Club Launches on Twitter

Join the exclusive MobiMarketing Club now forming on Twitter and elsewhere.

The MC is an interactive online and email club sharing unique content about mobile technology and mobile marketing and advertising. Want to discover how mobile affects human communications? Launch your own mobile site or market globally?

Then The MC is for you. Sign up by entering your first name and email address when the box appears on your screen.

Why are There So Many Mobile Blogs?

Mobile blog posts these days are growing like roosters in Kauai (another story, Google it.)

Speaking of Google, my quick "mobile blog" search 30 seconds ago revealed over 6 million! Top entry on page one is, naturally, The Official Google Mobile Blog, followed by the Mobile Phone Blog, described as:

• #1 Mobile Phone Blog. An Insiders Perspective on the Mobile Phone Industry, smartphone hardware, iPhone and Android applications, opinions on cell phone content, reviews of mobile games, critiquing new firms in the market and the health of the global wireless industry.

Amazing. Mobile blog readers can stop right there. Between Google and Mobile Phone Blog, you'll have 0 time left for reading the other 6 million.

Just in case you have a spare moment, you surely want to visit Anthony's Mobile Blog, despite his announcement that his employment elsewhere may indicate bias; so he's ended the posts, although he occupies position three on Google's first page:

This would be my last posting on Antony’s Mobile Blog. I will not blog here anymore.

• Why do I decide to stop blogging here? As some of you may know that I am currently working in one of the mobile phones manufacturers. Although I have written disclaimer in the About page that everything written here is purely my personal rants, there might still be a conflict of interests. People may think that this blog is related to the company where I’m working.
• In order to avoid any further conflicts, it’s better if I just close the chapters of this blog.
• PS: I am still maintaining two other blogs, i.e. Antony’s Life Blog and S60Tips.com. The first one is about my life (unless you know me in person, this may not be interesting for you). The second one is about tips, tricks and tutorials of using S60 phones (a.k.a. multimedia computers).

I think every mobile blog should have "tips and tricks." Goes along nicely with the picture of Anthony's sleeping cat (probably tired of the blog posts). Since I don't know Anthony, I'll skip his life blog.

If you're a night owl and need a glass of warm milk and more mobile blog stuff to sleep, don't miss Jason Langridge's Mr. Mobile Blog, which he describes as: A blog dedicated to everything to do with Mobile technology, solutions and applications. (Wikipedia could probably use his expertise.)

However, there's an alternative for blog readers who are tired reading more smartphone reviews, industry news, Engaget snippets that entice anger from its readers and such: MobileBeyond.

MobileBeyond is my "mobile journey," with a promise to avoid the usual two line Twitter tripe, "why I hate this mobile phone" crowd and "let me tell you everything you need to know about things mobile" bloggers.

You'll find two flavors of MobileBeyond. If you like podcasts on mobile marketing and advertising, then click on over to my podcast site. But if you like hard-core, tell-it-like-it-is blog posts, you'll love the new MobileBeyond.

For example, where in the mobile blogosphere will you find blog titles like this one?:

Wire-Less in a Mobile Age: The Threat of Cybercrime and Sabotage

Now, there's a post that should draw from a well diversified audience. Forget the latest iPhone app, go to MobileBeyond, as Paul Harvey used to say, for "the rest of the story."

Fellow mobile bloggers--all six million of you--"live well and prosper."

P.S. Like in an ice cream store, buy two scoops and follow MobileBeyond on Twitter. Goes well with a glass of warm milk.

Multimedia Mobile Advertising: David Miller & Mobile Discovery Podcast

Today's marketers are searching for new, innovative methods to increase marketing campaign results, whether for lead generation, branding effectiveness, events and direct sales. By combining multiple media channels, including mobile, marketers and advertisers can boost their overall effectiveness substantially.

In our Web 2.0 age, advertisers are finding ways to generate impact through integration of traditional off-line media, such as print, broadcast, billboards and email,  with social media, mobile and other technologies. This increases the possibility of marketing campaigns going viral.

David H. Miller, President and CEO of MobileDiscovery, an integrated multi-channel advertising company, shares his views in this podcast about multimedia advertising, product branding, FaceBook, MySpace and other social media channels, media tags and more.

David explains how to integrate mobile applications with advertising and discusses how the Mobile Discovery platform has been successfully used for QVC, U.S.A Today and other clients.

Moreover, he outlines Mobile Discovery's applications and campaigns with FaceBook, MySpace and other social media sites, portals and RSS feeds.

Commenting on "channel shifting" (enabling consumers to move among PC's, mobile phones and other communication channels), along with "time shifting" (consumers using media content at their own leisure), David outlines a vision of the future that's compelling and fascinating, including the embedding of mobile devices in the human body!

Listen to this futuristic podcast with David Miller.

For further information, see the links below:

Implementing a Multi-Channel Mobile Advertising Platform (Mobile Advertising Alliance)

For further reading, click here.

Letter to Dan Hesse at Sprint: Salesmanship and Customer Service

(A podcast version of this post is at MobileBeyond.)

November 22, 2008

Dear Dan:

Today, Dan, I walked into one of your stores--the one at Newpark Mall in Newark, CA, not far from my home. I'm a Sprint customer, qualify for a phone upgrade and thought I'd check out a few of your phones that caught my eye of late: The BlackBerry Curve, HTC Diamond Touch and even the Instinct--your "iPhone Killer"--although I'm not heavy into multi-media or touch-based keypad phones.

Dan, let me be candid. If you're wondering why you're losing millions of customers to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, it's because you haven't trained your staff how to sell and offer superior customer service. You haven't even conveyed to your staff a sense of urgency in our economically troubled times.

When I walked in the door, four--that's FOUR--Sprint employees were cracking jokes and having a great time behind the counter. I yelled out "Hi" to everyone, got a slight acknowledgment I existed and started playing with the BlackBerry Curve. (The demo Curve's screen, by the way, was full of finger prints and looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a week.)

Not one of your employees approached me. I looked at several phones, thought about upgrading and signing another two year contract, then walked out the door.

Meanwhile, excited T-Mobile salespeople at the kiosk outside your Sprint store were actively soliciting business from people walking near the kiosk. I heard one say: "Hey, would you like a free phone?" Further down the mall thoroughfare were TWO AT&T kiosks. Positive, excited salespeople were showing off shiny new phones from your competitor. Down further was Verizon's kiosk with a giant BlackBerry Bold display and sharp-looking employees showing off Verizon's line-up.

You know, Dan, I was almost tempted to stop by each of those kiosks, if only to listen to how excited, positive people offer superior salesmanship and customer service. But time was passing and I had to leave the mall.

Dan, just so you know I'm not knocking Sprint alone, read by blog post on AT&T: "Training Retail People People to Become Marketers and Delight Customers." In the post, I relate a negative experience I had at an AT&T store. Or, if you're in the mood for some humor, take a look at my blast against Verizon: "News Release: Verizon Wireless Announces $99 'Talk All You Want' with Rollover Plan."

Sprint is running some VERY cool online flash videos of your phone line-up and expensive broadcast and print advertising portraying Sprint as the leader in wireless technology. So, I'm very sorry to see that, having spent millions of dollars on quality advertising, you would allow its impact destroyed by your retail employees. It doesn't make sense.

Here's what should have happened today at your Sprint store:

1. A pleasant, well-dressed trained Sprint sales rep meets me at the door
2. Through a series of questions and rapport building, the rep makes me feel comfortable and helps me find several phones that meet my needs
3. The rep answers all my questions and skillfully handles my objections by presenting features and benefits of the phone, the plan and Sprint as a quality company
4. The rep closes the deal with appropriate statements and quesitons ("this phone does meet your needs, yes?")
5. The trained sales rep upsells me at the counter with accessories, phone insurance, a better voice and data plan
6. After handling the transaction, the Sprint rep gives me a business card, asks me to call him/her at any time if I have questions, thanks me for buying from Sprint, walks me to the front of the store, thanks me again for my business and wishes me well

Dan, I know you have a training program in place for your sales reps. But you disappointed me today. You made me feel that, just maybe, I made the wrong decision going with Sprint. Your reps' lack of care, attention and professionalism didn't jive with your cool, high tech ads. I walked out the door feeling negative about Sprint.

I know you're working hard, Dan, to turn the company around. You're moving ahead with WIMAX and other new telecom technologies and services. But, today, Dan, you disappointed me.

I thought you would like to know.

Regards,

Brian

 

Used 3G iPhones on eBay: "I Found it in the River"

eBay continues its lead as the "go to market" haven of iPhone users selling off their devices. As of August 30th, they're nearly 4,800 listings for V1 and V2 iphones. 3G iPhones clock in at 1,688 out of which 162 are listed as "used."

Sellers ditching their used 3G iphones are a curious lot. I reviewed 45 listings due to close today and found, among sellers who would reveal, multiple reasons for eliminating this prize jewel from their lives.

Most iPhone listings on eBay remind me of the grade school crayola generation--sloppy listings thrown together in minutes with blurred pictures and misspelled words. If the listings were for any product other than iPhones on eBay, few buyers would ever review the offers, let alone buy the phones. But presentation quality with the iPhone crowd doesn't seem to matter to buyers unable to obtain iPhones through retail channels.

23 of the 45 sellers wouldn't reveal their reasons for selling, although listings alluded to potential reasons: unlockability, firmware problems, lots of white 16GB models and dropped calls or slow 3G data downloads. One seller said he bought the iPhone due to "an emergency at work," while some sellers talked about locked phone problems with FIDO and Rogers in Canada.

iPhone sellers, who revealed their reasons for selling, spoke about "wanting another phone," touch screen data entry, reception/dropped call problems, needing money or the complexity of the device.

The "damaged iPhone" owners were in abundance today. 9 of the 45 sellers listed phones with cracked screens, SIM plates missing and the biggest problem: water damage. Here are a few stories reported in the listings edited for brevity:

"This iPhone didn't make it a week before it was dropped on a tile floor, shattering the protective glass and the case. Since the accident, I can get the phone to power up only sporadically, and only with some prodding. When I can get the phone to turn on (50% of the time), all areas of the touch screen seem to work, permitting normal operation...I cannot vouch for the phone sending/receiving any data, though, and I have not tested any calling functions."

""I purchased the iPhone from AT&T...used it for about 2 1/2 weeks and then I dropped it in the sink as I was rinsing off the dishes. The iPhone did not come into contact with soap, chlorinated or salt water."

"I dropped my iPhone only a couple weeks after I bought it and the glass cracked (the LCD is in perfect condition). The phone still works like new, including all the touch/motion functionality. It's as if nothing had ever happened."

"The iPhone will not turn on. It hasn't turned on for about two weeks. The iPhone does not show any signs of water damage. Nothing happens when it is plugged into the computer or the wall."

"Broken iPhone 3G needs a glass screen replaced but in working condition. You can buy the screen on eBay for $20 or have Apple fix it for $199. If anything else is wrong, Apple will fix and should be covered under warranty for up to one year. I don't need it anymore. I have another phone."

"No reserve. Broken, water damaged iPhone 3G 16 gigabyte model. Dropped in water. Inner LCD is cracked. I cracked it when I was putting it back together. I opened it to allow the phone to dry, thoroughly for a week. The phone turns on, battery charges...and it pretty much still functional minus the earpiece speaker--no sound. The home button does not work consistently as well...When turned on now, it asks for a sim card to be inserted and ready to activate."

And...the story that takes center stage:

"Found this phone in a river, jumped in after it, cleaned it, dried it out, and now it actually turns on!!. Still in really good shape, no dents or scratches!!!. My computer will recognize it and when plugged into an outlet the 'Connect to iTunes' screen comes on clearly. The only problem is that when I plug it into iTunes it says that an 'unknown error occurred (1601)'. I'm not very tech savvy so I don't know how to get past this point, which is why I'm selling it. It still is possible for this phone to work. I just don't know what to do to fix it, and Apple won't help me. I'll take it for any price!"

Surely, a story worthy of a Wikipedia article under "strange and unusual stories of the iPhone."

The iPhone Competition: Nokia & Alcatel Come On Strong (Podcast)

So much has been written about the iPhone and other high-end mobile phones of late that you'd think they represent the majority of mobile devices sold around the world. That's not the case.


Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and other established manufacturers sell tens of millions of mobile handsets globally each year, while Apple's iPhone and other touch and non-touch handsets are a drop in the bucket.

To answer many questions I've received: Yes, MobileDiscoveries sells mobile handsets and useful accessories. As you surf the store, you'll find dozens of useful items, including Nokia and Alcatel handsets, Windows SmartPhones, and a variety of accessories: batteries, chargers, Bluetooth headsets, cases, wired headsets, sync s/w for Motos, external bluetoth speaker, portable speakers for iphone,  mobile handsfree car kits (a legal necessity for California drivers) from Nokia and wireless keyboards.

This podcast covers some of the features of the more interesting mobile handsets and accessories on MobileDiscoveries.

Mobile Phones:

Nokia 6300

Nokia N73.



Nokia E62




N76 Flip Phone Black




Nokia N82



Alcatel C820a Slider Phone w Camera




Alcatel E801a MP3 Player Phone



Playboy Camera Phone - Pink

Clearboost Antenna for iPhone




Remember to use code MD-NEW for your 15% discount.

Podcast on MobileBeyond or iTunes.

iPhone & Other Data-Intensive Handsets Sucking U.S. Carrier Bandwidth

The mobile growth age in the United States of expanded handset data usage is challenging AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and other carriers to deliver web content, email and other services. In a recent InfoWorld article, "AT&T Lays Down the Law for Apple," it becomes clear that the iPhone, claimed by many as the first "handset computer," is just the beginning of other sophisticated voice/data handsets sucking bandwidth from the carrier's networks.

Listen to the podcast on MobileBeyond.

CrackBerry User Addiction: Opiates are Flooding Your Brain

According to research by Irving Biederman, who directs the Image Understanding Laboratory at USC, humans are turned on by stimulating brain neurons with new, novel information. He points out in his Los Angeles Times article--"The 411 to Avoid Boredom"-- that this might account for 24/7 BlackBerry users.

Fascinating research, explaining why we find new information interesting and, possibly, why BlackBerry heads glue their BB's to them, waiting for the next email.

Well worth reading.

Xora Mobile Resource Market: Multi-Channel Marketing Example

Xora, a Silicon Valley Mobile Resource Market (MRM), company, provides location-specific reporting and alerts to companies with a mobile workforce. Many industries, including transportation, government, health care, construction and field services, need real-time data obtained from mobile handsets with or without GPS on employee & vehicle locations, project management status and other location-specific information. This increases operational efficiency for companies who have many mobile-intensive employees. The technology is also used to solve criminal cases, lawsuits and other personal matters more quickly and accurately with the aid of GPS/Satellite or cell phone triangulation capabilities.

Xora's use of multi-channel marketing, however, is the more interesting aspect of their approach. When you first see their website home page, which is very clean and uncluttered, you can select industry descriptions of Xora's applications ("industry smart") or choose multi-media ("Hear from Customers") or recent news ("Company Spotlight'). 

The "Hear from Customers" link leads to a web page offering case studies, podcasts or videos.
Visitors then have the choice of viewing text, audio or multi-media case studies and testimonials, arranged by vertical market and applications. This multi-channel approach accommodates prospects who prefer specific communication channels and reinforces Zora's marketing message across channels.

Visit Xora's website for further information.