We’re getting word that social bookmarking site Moblised has re-launched, or should we say re-launchised. The site will allow users to submit and tag links in various ways, while others can vote, comment and save to their favorites. In the future tag links can even be shared with friends, and of course the emphasis of all this is on the mobile Web, so users are “encouraged” to avoid those (i.e. bury) sites not viewable on mobile devices.
Mobilised with have integration with Twitter, and users can submit and tag stories directly from a handset’s browser via SMS. Additionally users can search for links and sort the latest submissions. To vote on a site or bury it is allowed without login/authentication, but could be removed if abused. Not that we expect that to ever happen. Abuse in a social networking site, please!
This is a site that might appeal to those that love to run with the crowd, but whether Mobilised will appeal to the masses still needs to be seen.
Mobilised
This Labor Day weekend marks the 15th anniversary since I moved to New York City from the Midwest. In that time I’ve seen stuff that you’d only see in New York (or maybe Las Vegas or Venice Beach). In that time I’ve seen the rolling blading nuns, the jogging Elvis and a sad homeless woman whose only attire were garbage bags (the final one I’ve heard is a hoax, she’s really just scamming for the money). And I should add this isn’t during the infamous Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village. This is every day stuff that you see in New York, like the guys with fly fishing pools in Central Park – who happen to be nowhere near any water. In other words this is the stuff that makes me wish I had a camera with me. Thanks to my mobile phone, I do carry around a 2megapixel digital camera, but showing off the images to my friends is tedious.
But today we at MobileCrunch heard about Phoja. This is a free “social photos discussion” site, where I can share the photos and then discuss with the rest of the community. Photos can be posted from a Web site as well, but the real key for people like me is that photos can be sent from a handheld.
OK, sure we’ll see more photos of celebrities without their panties on. Who cares? I’m more excited that people will finally believe that I saw a guy who looked like he was wearing a South American dictator’s uniform while riding a three-speed bike. The generalismo might be in exile and waiting for his chance to return to power, and has to stay in shape for his eventual return. That’s my theory anyway. And now I’ll be able to see what others think as well.
Phoja
If you are interested in propaganda, you may already be following Propaganda III, a world art tour of the best poster propaganda art there is. The tour accepts entries from all over and doesn’t discriminate as to content. Some exhibits are anti-war, left bent or virally anti-Semitic. The artist can be fascists, communist, or somewhere in between. All entries are based on their merit not content. These fine pieces of art are now available to you on your mobile phone.
The Propaganda III Mobile Widget makes political artwork from the World Tour available to mobile devices anywhere in the world, via a mobile content widget that can be added to any website in the world. But be careful, some of the content may be illegal in countries that don’t have strong freedom of speech laws. You don’t want to end up in a political re-education camp!
Mobile wallpapers can be downloaded from the Propaganda III Widget for the low price of $1.99. All proceeds go to the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, an institution what will archive the artwork from the Propaganda III tour.
Stop wearing your politics on your sleeve. This is the 21st Century. Make a political statement with your mobile phone, comrade.
Propaganda III Widget
Flickr (to review the art)
Center for the Study of Political Graphics
Bluepulse, a social networking application that was started in Australia, has entered the U.S. market with the help of $6 million from VantagePoint Venture Partners. Bluepulse enables users to communicate and meet new people through one-to-one and broadcast messaging, profiles, picture and video sharing, chat and a wide range of mobile widgets. In its beta phase, it already has over 2 million downloads across 150+ countries and is closing in on 100 million page views per month while adding thousands of new users each day.
Juniper Research, a market analysis firm forecasts that mobile operator revenues from user-generated content will increase tenfold over the next five years, rising from $576 million in 2007 to $5.74 billion by 2012. Juniper predicts that social networking service will account for 50% of that total, with the number of active mobile social network subscribers increasing from 14 million in 2007 to 600 million in 2012.
“Bluepulse has undoubtedly developed one of the most compelling social networking platforms for mobile. Because the app has been built for the handset from the ground up, it offers a mobile-specific social networking experience, rather than a pared down Web experience on a phone,” said Eric Ver Ploeg, Managing Director at VantagePoint Venture Partners. “We are excited to be investors in a company with such an innovative and global vision for the future of the Mobile Web.”
Humans are a social creature. It only makes sense that as mobile computing increases in ability, people will demand social networking applications that keep them connected with their social circles.
Bluepulse
VantagePoint Venture Partners
Juniper Research
Handmark, a global distributor of mobile media has teamed up with I-play, a leader in mobile entertainment. Handmark now has the rights to distribute many of I-play’s most successful game titles worldwide for BlackBerry devices, through Handmark’s global distribution channels.
Handmark will handle distribution of such popular titles as The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo, which has topped 8 million downloads, and Jewel Quest. Jewel Quest is so popular that it has been downloaded over 40 million times since its debut in 2004. Other titles include, 3d Pool: High Roller, Mahjong Quest, My Dog, and Pillowfight. Other titles are sure to follow.
Handmark offers unique distribution through U.S. mobile operators, including on-device client and web portals, as well as both Handmark and operator branded desktop and on-device stores. Handmark distribution also includes on-device and web-based e-stores in Europe through relationships with major device manufacturers.
“I-play is pleased to work with Handmark and to be reaching the audience of BlackBerry users with our market leading casual oriented games,” said I-play’s CEO, David Gosen. “Our simple to play, difficult to master game development philosophy is a perfect fit for gaming on the BlackBerry device.”
“We are focused on building a robust portfolio focused on the very best mobile content for our customers and partners around the world,” said Douglas Edwards, Handmark co-founder and chief marketing officer. “I-play is a respected and well-known mobile entertainment creator that continues to develop top-quality titles and its products are a great addition to our catalogues.”
As readers of MobileCrunch know, the sales of mobile games are predicted to reach the $4 billion mark this year. This amount is predicted to double in the next four years. Big names in mobile software development and distribution are going to create partnerships like the one between Handmark and I-play to feed the need for mobile gaming entertainment.
Handmark
I-play
Are you one of those split personality types who has to be so connected that you carry two mobile phones? Such creatures do roam our streets, talking loudly and often incoherently into a device held up to the ear. While chatting away, a similar device displayed prominently on the belt will invariably ring, causing confusion and frustration. Canada’s largest cell phone carrier, Rogers Wireless, has come up with a cure for the hopeless souls who are addicted to a second cell phone. It is called the Second Voice Line Service.
Second Voice Line Service allows customers to have two phone lines in a single handset. There is no need to carry two mobile phones. This service also allows customers to have two location codes in a single phone, which is useful for users that travel between one location and another. They can assign one number to their city of residence and another to the place they frequently visit.
“This innovation in wireless technology provides increased productivity, convenience and real cost savings, up to 49 percent every month off the cost of your second wireless line,” commented Irv Witte, the vice president of Business Marketing at Rogers Wireless.
Ostentatious people won’t give this service a second thought, no matter how much money it can save them. But most Canadians are practical and have class. Second Voice Line Service should do well. I’m not sure that a similar service would go over well in New York or Los Angeles. Even unsuccessful people want to impress others with their importance and social standing. What better way to do this than a bandolier full of cell phones?
Rogers Wireless
There are over 1 million mobile Web sites available for your viewing pleasure. But keeping track of your favorites and sharing them with your friends can become tedious. The good people at Nubiq have launched a free beta service called Mobiseer which can help you tangle with all those Web sites. Mobiseer is a Web 2.0 service that allows users to bookmark, tag, share and personalize their favorite mobile websites.
Nubiq designed Mobiseer after feedback from users of its Zinadoo application. Zinadoo is a free mobile website creation tool.
“Soon after the launch of Zinadoo, feedback and interaction with our user’s highlighted the existing gap in the market for Mobile Web discovery and bookmarking tools; Mobiseer fills this gap.”
According to recent study 17% of the U.S. market browsed the Mobile Web in January of this year. Mobile browsing figures worldwide are continuing to climb; with Mobile Operators addressing issues such as slow download speeds and high mobile browsing costs that have previously hindered this market. These increases mean that new services that help people catalogue information gathered on mobile devices are needed. Easy access and sharing of Web 2.0 information should fuel the growth of Mobile Web use.
Free Web and Mobile Web registration information is listed below.
Mobiseer Web
Mobiseer Mobile Web
Nubiq
Today Nokia announced its new Internet services brand, Ovi. (Ovi is Finnish for door). Nokia’s new Internet service will include Nokia Music Store, N-Gage and Nokia Maps. Music and maps can be downloaded from Nokia Music Store and Nokia Maps. As reported yesterday on MobileCrunch (The Return of Frankenphone), N-Gage is a mobile phone gaming service. All three services can be used on-the-go or downloaded to a PC. Downloading files to a PC and then installing them on a mobile device allows for the quick transfer of larger files.
“We know that people want integrated access to great content without the constraints of having to sit behind a computer or in front of a TV. With the Nokia Music Store and N-Gage services, you can access the best in music and games directly from your Nokia Nseries multimedia computer,” said Anssi Vanjoki, executive vice president and general manager, Multimedia, Nokia. “We expect the mobile device to become the most popular platform – the ‘fourth screen’ – for enjoying your digital content. Ovi brings our Internet services vision to life, where people can create, share and consume facts, feelings and emotions wherever and whenever.”
As mobile devices increase in computing ability, PC type applications are bound to be desired by consumers. Internet services that provide information and entertainment are bound to be as profitable for mobile devices as they are for stationary devices. I would love to see the day when I can have a mobile device that takes care of all my computing needs. On-the-go I could peer into its small but clear screen. When I got home it would interface with my 60” monitor for movie watching and game playing.
Nokia Internet Services
Boost Mobile, a division of Sprint Nextel, is offering its Unlimited by Boost to local youth charities for free. Unlimited by Boost is a mobile phone service that lets customers in parts of California and Texas make unlimited local and long distance calls from their home calling area for a fixed monthly price. Youth charities in these areas can signup for a year’s worth of this service for free.
“Giving back to the communities we serve and boosting the lives of today’s youth is fundamental to the way we live and work at Boost Mobile,” said Danielle Alvarez, community relations manger, Boost Mobile. “To commemorate the success of our recent California and Texas unlimited service launches, we want to donate Unlimited by Boost phones to local charities as a part of our company’s dedicated effort to help young people enhance their lifestyle and status in ways that matter.”
It is good to see that mobile service providers have a charitable conscience. Programs like this one are helpful to local communities and builds goodwill for the mobile phone company. If you are involved with a youth charity that is 501c eligible and in California or Texas, email phone service requests to communityrelations@boostmobile.com.
Boost Mobile
In mobile game news this week, Konami has announced that it will develop content specially for mobile phones based on the company’s popular videogame brands, with new storylines and original music. The first of these will be Castlevania: Order of Shadows for the mobile platform, which will arrive on September 18 on major carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Networks.
“As a worldwide leader in high quality, multi-platform videogames, Konami is looking to raise the entertainment standard of games for mobile phones,” said Joe Morris, Vice President of Konami Mobile. “Mobile technology has exploded, providing powerful new tools to enhance today’s mobile gaming experiences. Konami’s esteemed game developers will be creating original titles based on the company’s top franchises including Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid Mobile, Contra and others.”
Konami Mobile
If fighting vampires is your thing and the action of Castlevania is too kiddie for you, then maybe Capcom’s Devil May Cry will be more your speed. Capcom has announced that the mobile version will be doing its bloodsucking next year. The mobile version features Dante taking on a series of missions based on the Devil May Cry 2 console game. Rendered in 3D this survival horror action game promises to accurately recreate our favorite undead hunter.
Capcom Mobile
There is a different kind of blood to be hand, this time it isn’t so much spilt but rather used to save in I-play’s ER Rush. OK, it doesn’t have the plot twists and soapy drama of Gray’s Anatomy, but it is better than a trip to the ER! Set to launch on major North American carrier decks this month, the game lets you play out as a junior ER doctor, who is charged with saving lives during a rush. You need to race against the clock to mend broken limbs, treat rashes and discharge patients as possible. Fortunately you don’t need to worry about turning down insurance claims! You do need to beat the clock while facing some weird patients including werewolves and vampires. That seems to be a trend with the current gaming news!
I-play
Yahoo!, one of the largest Web mail services, will now provide free mobile phone text messaging for users. Yahoo! Mail now allows users to send free text messages to mobile phone numbers in the Untied States, Canada, India and the Philippines. Instant messaging and enhanced e-mail services have also been added.
The new Yahoo! Mail allows people to connect in real-time to their contacts in Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger or Windows Live Messenger. Users can convert their e-mail messages into IM chats or switch to a text message dialogue with the click of a button, for when friends come online or go mobile.
“We have always been focused on making it easy for people to connect to those who matter most to them, and during the beta testing period of the new Yahoo! Mail, we were able to incorporate a number of enhancements based on valuable feedback from our users,” said Yahoo! Mail. “Now, with the all-new Yahoo! Mail, we’re creating a more social e-mail experience. In addition, we wanted to make sure that people have the best possible Web mail experience regardless of their geographic location, preferences or system, so we’re continuing to offer our trusted Yahoo! Mail Classic interface.”
It is too early to tell if Yahoo!’s new services will be embraced, but from where I’m sitting it sounds good. Free can’t go wrong, can it?
Yahoo!
FlickIM, a company that went into service on July 15, 2007, listens to its subscribers and adds services to its AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) chat application that is tailored for the iPhone through democratic methods. Users can send lists of services that they would like to see provided on the application and FlickIM adds the most popular services.
FlickIM has recently added text messaging, email modification and user generated skin options. To test user’s creativity, FlickIM has started a contest called “Show Us Some Skin.” Winners will be given prizes that range from iPhone Bluetooth headsets to Apple gift cards. Well-received entries will be made available to all customers.
The FlickIM service will now inform a user that a text message or email has come in, even if the user has navigated away from the FlickIM chat window or turned off the iPhone. In response to the iPhone’s inability to provide an audible alert to web browser-based activity, FlickIM developed a text messaging system which notifies the iPhone user via text message that an incoming instant message has been received. Email notification provides the same alert service with the incoming message being recorded and delivered to a specified email address. Customers can manage incoming messages while using other functions without a diversion.
FlickIM is clearly a hungry company that wants to provide services customers desire. Sometimes large companies create services that come from focus-groups, and end up flops. Sitting around in a conference room talking about a desirable application isn’t the same as real life needs. By letting customers vote on what they want, FlickIM is able to release useful upgrades without spending resources on things that may end up unpopular.
FlickIM
In 2003 Nokia launched the N-Gage, a taco-shaped video game and mobile phone hybrid. The device was so poorly designed that it got the nickname Frankenphone. The battery actually had to be removed to insert a game cartridge. To make a call, the bulky N-Gage had to be hoisted up to the head and held sideways. Sales were so poor that Nokia stopped making the N-Gage in 2005.
Since then the worldwide market for mobile phone games has blossomed. It is estimated that this year $4 billion worth of mobile game software will be sold to an entertainment starved planet. This number is predicted to double by 2011. Not wanting to be left out of the lucrative market, Nokia is re-launching the N-Gage service on some of its Series 60 smartphones this week. The rest of Series 60 smartphones will be N-Gage compatible by 2008.
Popular game publishers like Electronic Arts, Digital Chocolate and Capcom will develop the software gamers crave.
“With our global reach, it’s important to have strong, well respected global partners,” said Gregg Sauter, Director of Third Party Publishing, Nokia. “For many years, Capcom has been entertaining consumers around the world with exceptional gaming experiences. We’ve now reached a point with mobile technologies where companies like Capcom can deliver a whole new level of mobile entertainment. The N-Gage platform will enable this evolution with devices that deliver enhanced graphics and a development tool kit that allows for online tournaments, communities, multiplayer games and, of course, global distribution.”
Many N-Gage games will allow payers to connect with each other for head-to-head or cooperative play. Games can be downloaded over wirelesss networks or through the internet to a user’s PC. Games installed from a PC will contain larger files for an enhanced audio and visual experience. If Nokia is getting back into the game business after its failed Frankenphone, there must be a pile of money to be made from mobile games.
Nokia
Electronic Arts
Digital Chocolate
Capcom
Zannel, a company that specializes in mobile phone social networking has teamed up with Ripe Digital Entertainment, a provider of photo and video clips. Zannel users can now watch and share favorite clips and videos with friends by utilizing Zannel’s Send-To-Phone player.
“The demand for instant entertainment on mobile phones is at an all-time high and Zannel is dedicated to filling this need with an easy and compelling mobile entertainment experience,” said Adam Zbar, CEO, Zannel. “Ripe’s devoted fan base can now watch their favorite shows on-the-go and share them with their friends at any moment.”
Ripe Digital Entertainment’s videos are geared towards the fast life that many mobile phone users live. Videos are between 5 and 15 minutes in length, and target audiences between the ages of 18-34. Currently, Zannel has three customized channels from Ripe.
RipeTV: Hot targets men. Content includes supermodels, comedy and shows like, “Sexy & Single,” “Spring Break” and “Stuff 4 Dudes.” If you have a jealous girlfriend you may want to hide viewing this one.
OctaneTV features street racing, auto stunts and automotive news. Don’t tell your insurance company you watch this.
FlowTV is for the hip-hop nation crowd. The language, music and culture of hip-hop is examined for the urban warrior in us all.
“Zannel provides a perfect demo for Ripe Digital’s highly entertaining programming, and a solid mobile infrastructure,” said Ryan Magnussen, CEO of Ripe Digital Entertainment. “We also look forward to users discussing their favorite Ripe shows with each other via Zannel’s new IMM (Instant Media Messaging) features.”
Ripe Digital Entertainment
Zannel
This week Truphone introduced their new InTones service, which is free for both callers and recipients. This new feature offers a selection of ringtone sounds that their calls where hear. The choices are rock, jazz, bluegrass, hip-hop, ska, disco, Euro house, “standard” and something called Truphone. These InTones are played by the Truphone servers before the call is connected.
“Truphone InTones use the Internet to bring an enjoyable and free service to customers,” said James Tagg, Truphone’s chief executive officer, “typifying Truphone’s fresh approach to mobile communications.”
Anyone with a suitable handset can add a bit of the Truphone vibe by sending an SMS with the word “Tru” to 44 7624 000000.
While adding some music might be pleasant for some callers, I’ll take the basic ring, ring sound any day. What’s music to my ears, a call that goes through while I’m in the concrete canyons of New York City.
Truphone Press Release
There are more than 700 wireless devices on the market in U.S. today estimates the CTIA, and that means a lot of options for mobile content providers. So is now the time for action? Well it is according to Action Engine Corporation of Bellevue, Washington, which announced support for Windows Mobile 6.0 powered devices including the T-Mobile DASH and WING phones.
“Device support is the most critical issue facing any mobile application developer today,” said Scott G. Silk, president and CEO of Action Engine. “Media companies and content providers must deliver their wireless data services on today’s most popular handsets to get the consumer reach necessary to drive uptake and generate significant revenues. Action Engine considers wide device support an essential component of our offering, and we are pleased to be one of the first ODP vendors to support the newest Windows Mobile 6.0 powered devices.” Action Engine recently partnered with MSNBC.com to create a Windows Mobile 6.0 version of the news site.
IDC has forecast that Windows Mobile could experience the largest growth of any mobile operating system by 2010. Despite this forecast, Action Engine isn’t fully hedging its bets with just Windows Mobile 6.0 devices. The company also supports popular Java, Brew and Windows Mobile 5.0 devices. Clearly it is nice to have all the bases covered!
MSNBC Mobile
Action Engine
When I was in grade school I had a friend who had a set of Legos that we played with for hours at a time. When I asked for my own set for Christmas, I was disappointed to open a set of cheap knockoffs called Lock Blocks. Thanks to the good people at Emdigo, I can finally overcome my disappointment with LEGO 3D Action Screens.
Emdigo is a company founded by a group of graphics and video game industry gurus. The goal of the company is to take mobile phone software to new heights in the graphics entertainment arena. By teaming up with HandsOn Mobile, Emdigo has created a visual smorgasbord for Lego fans. Some may even call it art.
Emdigo
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology are working with extremely high radio frequencies that have already achieved broad bandwidth and high data transmission rates over short distances. The hope is that within three years 60 gigahertz (60 GHz) can be broadcast over vast networks like lower frequencies that are now being utilized. This could create a revolution in new mobile applications.
Currently the lab has been able to transfer data at a rate of 15 gigabits per second (Gbps) at a distance of one meter. This translates to a data transfer of nearly two gigabytes (GB) per second. If the broadcast distance can be increased, it won’t be long before you can download an entire move onto your mobile phone in seconds. Diverse devices such as external hard drives, lap tops, and other wireless wonders are well suited for this break-through.
If you are worried that 60 GHz will melt the chocolate in your pocket or interfere with the workstation next to yours, don’t. The transmitted power is extremely low, in the vicinity of 10 milliwatts. A 60 GHz frequency is stopped by human skin and can’t penetrate walls that separate people in an office or apartment setting. This thing won’t pop your popcorn for you while you download a good movie.
Caveat: before you invest money in the 60 GHz miracle, remember the laws of nature apply even to mobile devices. To date, high data transfers haven’t been made over distances more than a few meters. Equipment that boosts these distances may not be economically feasible or physically possible. It is going to be a long time before you can stand on the moor and download your favorite movie in high definition on the 60 GHz frequency.
Georgia Institute of Technology
MobileCrunch reported earlier this month that Chinese Pirates Copy (the) iPhone. Not to be undone by China, American pirates have unlocked the iPhone booty chest. 17-year-old George Hotz spent 500 hours this summer with a twelve-pounder soldering iron and a T-Mobile SIM card grappling hook to steal AT&T’s and Apple’s pieces-of-eight. Other pirates also claim to have cracked AT&T’s exclusive license with Apple that is imbedded into the iPhone.
Modified iPhones are appearing for sale on places like eBay, and instructions for modifying the popular mobile device are springing up all over the Web. Apple built the iPhone with a locked SIM card to keep people from inserting a SIM that competes with AT&T. This lock has been picked, and both companies could lose millions of dollars.
AT&T has a five year agreement with Apple for the license to provide wireless service for the iPhone in the United States. An iPhone in America requires the user to sign a two year contract with AT&T. Apple is paid a percentage from AT&T for each call made on an iPhone over AT&T’s airwaves.
Pirate activity could interfere with negotiations between Apple and European operators who want an exclusive iPhone franchise in their countries. MobileCrunch reported earlier this month that Apple is to Share Operators Revenue in the lucrative European market. Three companies, T-Mobile of Germany, Orange of France, and O2 UK have agreed to pay Apple 10% of all revenues generated from iPhone calls and data functions. If the iPhone can’t be locked down, these agreements may be in jeopardy.
AT&T and Apple may be forced to hire pirate hunters to stop iPhone piracy. They could sue distributors of modified iPhones under copyright law. And if the companies’ lawyers are worth their salt, they can argue that distributing modified iPhones interferes with the business relationship between Apple and AT&T. It will be more difficult to go after people who distribute information on how to modify an iPhone, but anyone who bought an iPhone from a legal distributor signed a contract promising not to modify the device. It’s conceivable that Apple may demand the return of any iPhones that have been modified.
If you are a swashbuckler trying to take advantage of this new development beware: piracy is a hanging offence.
AT&T
Apple
Want better mobile Internet access? Well, moving to the British Isles might be in order, or at least a trip to Ireland and the U.K. Vodafone has announced that has teamed up with Google, Myspace, eBay and YouTube in an effort to provide a more enhanced and robust service with those sites.
Additionally Vodafone mobile Internet users will access compressed and rearranged content of these and other Web sites to make it more mobile-friendly. The debate continues to wage on what is the best method for displaying Web sites on a mobile phone, but Vodafone is taking the route of compressing the content for its specific phones. Hopefully this should allow more streamlined use of the mobile Web. We’d hate to think anyone might fail to put in that eBay bid!
The service will be available to Vodafone’s 3G and 2.5G customers, and will allow users to surf the mobile Web for a fee of 99 (Euro) cents, or pay a fee of €9.99 per month. Of course there will be what Vodafone is calling “fair usage” price caps. Considering that YouTube and MySpace are in the mix we can hope that usage cap is actually fair.
[Via Irish Times]
