Some links for your delectation

New slides from Comscore’s GSMA Mobile Media Metrics (MMM) Mobile World Congress Seminar http://bit.ly/cXBF4A – good to see this initiative for measuring audiences and mobile marketing and advertising at operator level. One to keep an eye on.

John Strand on Nokia "....Bees don't go for the biggest garden, they go for the most beautiful flowers," http://bit.ly/aQ4t9m – a look at smartphone operating systems and who might win the race. (Thanks to Russell Buckley for the tip-off.)

Is a 21-hour working week a real possibility? Well the NEF seem to think so. And although I missed the event yesterday lunchtime at the RSA, the free accompanying report ‘The 21 hour society’ is worth a read. I’m eagerly awaiting the audio of the event to listen to.

My favourite post about Mobile World Congress 2010 from Tim Green at Mobile Entertainment Magazine ‘The Muggers have got into La Fira and stolen all the minutes from operators’.

Technorati Tags: linkage,mobile,MWC10,MWC,Mobile World congress,Comscore,Nokia

Next MoMoLo event: Where Mobile Meets Media – Tues 16 Feb 2010 in Barcelona

 

 

Yes, it’s not going to be on a Monday and it’s not in London, but Mobile Monday London is indeed off to Barcelona to Mobile World Congress. And as part of that, we’re putting on a panel session for you. So what’s it all about then?

Probably preaching to the converted here, but we all know how much mobile technology has changed our lives. By the same token, we also know that the world of traditional media is in trouble. Or at least, that's what we're led to believe with declining advertising revenues and fragmented audiences. With all this change, what is the role for mobile? What are the opportunities and challenges? Is traditional media dying, and if so, what should be done about it? And what are the secrets of success for mobile companies wanting a slice of the global media pie?

In this panel session, you'll be hearing from some of the UK's biggest mainstream media owners and some of their counterparts from the mobile industry. All will be sharing their pearls of wisdom with you. We’re just confirming all our speakers but Steve Ives, CEO of Taptu and Lucie Mclean, Senior Product Manager in BBC FM&T Audio & Music & Mobile will be two of them. They will be joined by an illustrious cast. We’ll be able to confirm in the next day or so.

We are opening the event to other Mobile Monday chapters so it’s a good chance to meet and mingle with some new people as well as some familiar faces and try and make sense of the madness that is Mobile World Congress. We will be providing refreshments too – drinks and tapas -  thanks to the generous support and hosting by the UKTI. You will need an exhibition pass for Mobile World Congress in order to attend as it is on site at La Fira.

This event is hosted by the UKTI.

Date: Tuesday 16th February 2010 – 4pm - 6pm

Place: Sala D, Mezzanine floor between Level 0 and Level 1 in Hall 2, Fira Barcelona in Montjuic. This is more or less opposite the UKTI stand so quite easy to find.

Agenda:

Doors open at 4pm. Please be on time. We have a tight schedule.

4.10pm - welcome and introductions

4.15pm - panel session with questions and discussion from the floor

5.00pm - 6.00pm - networking, tapas and drinks

Please RSVP at: http://momolo.org

* Places are limited. Early confirmation of acceptance is advisable *

Please contact Helen Keegan helen@[removethis]mobilemonday.org.uk or Daniel Appelquist dan@[removethis]mobilemonday.org.uk if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona!

Technorati Tags: mobile world congress,barcelona,ukti,mobile monday london,momolo,mobile monday

Women in Mobile Data Association informal lunch in Barcelona

Update: Venue is confirmed!

It's that time of year again and Barcelona and a bit of sunshine beckons us to the spectacle that is Mobile World Congress. And I know there'll be quite a few of ladies there. So I’m organising an informal lunch on Tuesday 16th February for the Women in Mobile Data Association. The restaurant, Aranega, is a short walk from Congress (less than 10 minutes) on Avenida Paral-lel and thanks to our fantastic sponsor, HipLogic, there'll be tapas and refreshments for everyone. So that's your lunch break sorted then!

The Lowdown:

Date: Tuesday 16th February at 12.30 until 14.30

Venue: We have the upstairs room booked at the lovely Aranega - just like last year - http://www.aranega.es which is on Avenida Paral-lel 188. Come out of La Fira, walk down Avenida Paral-lel, and it's on the * left* hand side at number 188 -just over the road from Congress and less than 10 minutes walk.

Agenda and timings:

12.30 Doors will open at for drinks and mingling.
12.50, HipLogic's CEO, Mark Anderson, will give us a short talk on his vision for HipLogic followed by a few questions and some discussion. He wants to know what women like us think of the service and how we might use it.
13.10 - Tapas and more drinks will be served. Lots of chat and networking.
14.45 - Doors close and it's back to Congress we go.

It’s free to attend, but space is limited and because of this, priority will be given to the ladies in our group. If any gentlemen would like to join us, please contact me and I'll be able to confirm any remaining places at the weekend.

Please RSVP to me by email or on Facebook http://bit.ly/dr3eH2. Spaces are limited.

About our sponsor HipLogic

HipLogic Live delivers content from real-time sources like Facebook, Twitter, Sky, Disney, Sports, Weather, newsfeeds and more, through a smartphone-like interface that works is delivers push content notifications to the phonetop without using SMS. This means that they bring the world of applications, widgets, live search and real-time notifications to the mass market without the need to invest in a new smartphone. You just need one, simple, free download. The technology relies on a JavaScript virtual machine running on the device that is connected to the cloud that aggregates information and feeds from network operators and the Web to create mash-ups for use on Symbian, Windows Mobile and Android mobile devices. The aim is to provide always-on, fast access and logical presentation of content and applications that can be cumbersome to access through current mobile phone browsers - especially on multimedia-phones.

CEO Mark Anderson describes HipLogic as being an “extreme makeover” for your phone that will deliver an iPhone-like experience to the mass market. And he wants our feedback - that's why he's sponsoring our WiMD lunch. He wants to know what women think about this since we're the ones who are predominantly sold feature-phones and have less time and inclination to explore the world of applications and content - or so we're led to believe. Is this true? Let's find out on Tuesday 16th February.

HipLogic Live is available as a free download from http://www.hiplogic.com

Technorati Tags: wimd,mwc10,mobile world congress,barcelona,lunch,hiplogic,mobile content

So good, Silverstreet had to sponsor it twice!

Yes, that’s right, the super team at Silverstreet had such a good time at Swedish Beers in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress last year that they’re sponsoring it again this year! And I’m thrilled to be welcoming them back to join us :)

So who are the folks at Silverstreet then and what do they do? Well they’re a specialist in messaging (SMS) offering global reach with MT termination options covering more than 700 networks worldwide (that’s going some). They have a focus on mission critical traffic (so making sure your message gets to the right place at the right time) and high volume (wholesale) clients. On top of this, they also maintain coverage for Premium Rate SMS in 32 countries and continue to expand their portfolio.

New to the Silverstreet suite of services is the introduction of its AirTime Transfer services which are geared towards Mobile Operators around the world who are interested in offering their subscribers a service where they can send airtime credits to their friends and family overseas.

Silverstreet has grown *a lot* since they were with us last year and now has local offices in Europe (where they started), the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia and most recently opened an office in the Philippines. With 10 years under their belt in the Mobile Industry, and members of the MEF, you’ll find the team a fun bunch and very happy to talk messaging and other mobile stuff until the cows come home. Much like the rest of us really!

Eric, Timo, Mitch and Mil will be there from Silverstreet so be sure to look out for them to say hello, chat about mobile stuff – messaging, airtime, PSMS or whatever. And if you ask nicely, I expect they’ll be more than happy to share their very generous amount of beer tokens with you.

Skål

Technorati Tags: silverstreet,swedish beers,barcelona,mobile world congress,mwc10

I’m really pleased to announce Monotype Imaging as a sponsor for Swedish Beers…

Yes, it’s true. I can confirm that the lovely people at Monotype Imaging will also be sponsoring Swedish Beers goes to Barcelona!

So you’ll be able to enjoy a beer with Monotype Imaging, the company that combines design with technology to help the world communicate consistently beautifully everywhere. Come and meet their team, a bold bunch of characters who have worked with all the leading players in the mobile world simply making text work. And I quote Julie Strawson, (who you might know already from speaking at Heroes of the Mobile Screen and being a regular at the Women in Mobile Data Association meet-ups), she says, ‘We’re proud to be sponsoring this great event.’ Hurrah!

You might want to take a look at the Monotype Imaging website before you search them out for beer tokens on the night and also download and try out their lovely little font app FlipFont. I’ve downloaded it myself and use it on my Nokia N95 and very nice it is too.

You can follow FlipFont on twitter as well if you like.

Shaping up to be a good one folks!

Skål

Technorati Tags: mwc10,swedish beers,sponsor,monotype imaging

Barcelona and Mobile World Congress – the bad and the ugly and how to avoid it

As much as I love the city, and I really do, I know it’s notorious for pickpockets and thefts. Too many of my friends have experienced this first hand…. like a friend of mine who had her laptop bag stolen and the thief called her up and ransomed it to her for 100 Euros. Or the fact that several of my male friends have had their wallets nicked when distracted by girls flirting with them. Or my pal who was beaten up for his laptop & wallet near La Rambla and ended up in casualty. Or the time when a group of colleagues all used the official cloakroom on site at La Fira during Mobile World Congress when going into a seminar. When they came to collect their bags and coats, they were all there, minus the laptops. Or the time in the expensive, fancy restaurant where a friend had his laptop stolen from under his chair whilst he was sitting on it. Or the one I’ve literally just heard about where they had a load of stuff stolen from their apartment by the ‘welcome’ guy – they got everything back when they challenged him, but even so…

I am so very thankful this hasn’t been my personal experience. Nevertheless, I take precautions and I am vigilant (and this applies to London, Barcelona, Rome, wherever).

Anyway, my advice is

• don’t carry a laptop or any valuables with you if you don’t need to. If you do bring a laptop, make sure it’s backed up and secure with relevant passwords or whatever so that if it got lost, stolen or damaged, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
• Don’t keep all your money together in one place. Use zipped pockets for your wallet and passport in your bag. Or a hidden money belt. Don’t carry more cash or credit cards than you need.
• Use your hotel or apartment safe if there is one.
• Leave the grey suit, the tie and the formal laptop bag at home. Avoid bringing your laptop to any of the networking parties *if* you can.
• Tuck your MWC pass inside your top or jacket when you leave La Fira.
• Have a spare phone and Pay as you go SIM just in case your main phone gets stolen.
• Back up your phone to your laptop and also to an online service like Synkia (my personal preference as it also stores my SMS), to Mobyko, Zyb, or whatever your preference so you can still access your numbers and transfer them if you need to.

And on top of this, it’s worth reading this blog post about what to avoid.

If you have any tips to share, please comment away and let’s avoid having a nasty experience mar what can be one of the most fantastic weeks of the mobile year.

Technorati Tags: theft,pickpocketing,mwc,barcelona,mwc10,mobile world congress,commonsense,tips