Tuesday linkage

Found this very cool picture editing site, Picnik, via Katie's Blog. Dead easy to use and integrates with flickr too. Well spotted Katie.

And then I found LibraryThing which is an online social network about books. You can review books, you can discover books, you can discuss books, but it's not about selling books. It's a mine of information and there's a ton of stuff on there. I have barely scratched the surface but I can imagine, given some time, I could really get into it.

Sony Ericsson is focussing on phones that can surf the mobile internet for its next wave of marketing on the back of new flat rate data plans coming in from the major UK networks. This has to be good news and the kind of boost the industry needs to get to the next level.

Pepsi's bluespamming folks at bus shelters in the US. Great concept but why they have to bluespam I don't know. And if you take a look at the picture how would you even know what was going on? The words are teeny tiny right at the bottom of the poster. Thanks to Carlo Longino for the tip-off.

The Mobile Web is Generation Y.. well read this post to find out and see if you agree.

I need to give this a go - The Nokia Wellness application for Series 60 phones. Maybe *after* my trip to World Telemedia ;) via Tom Hume.

Top tips on Mobile Search from search specialist Andy Hagans. This area isn't my specialism at all but Andy seems to know his stuff and he's actively seeking feedback and comments as it's a work in progress.

And finally, if widgets are your thing, then it's nearly time for widget week which is a joint effort between Chinwag, NMK and MoMoLondon. And mobilists out there reading this, you need to have a look at widgets... it seems they're just the ticket on the Nokia N95 [must get that upgrade!]

Marketing to the Over 50s Podcast available

I know it's taken me a bit of time, but at last we have the podcast available of our last Women in Mobile Data meeting. Dick Stroud from 20plus30 was kind enough to come and talk to us about the issues, challenges and opportunities of marketing to the over 50s and a fascinating insight it was too. The podcast is quite a chunky file, and it's quite long, but if you have the time, I think you'll find it well worthwhile. It'll make you rethink where the money is in the market (clue: not with 18 to 24 y/o men) and how we can no longer segment by age and postcode. Dick's blog is also well worth a read with lots of really interesting facts and commentary on marketing to seniors (although how you can call a 50 year old a senior beats me these days - Madonna will be 50 next year and I wouldn't exactly call her old).

A big thank you to podcast and video specialists Sarah at Kinura for recording it and to Lloyd at Perfect Path for hosting it for us. And of course to Dick for coming to speak to us and all the ladies (and gents) who attended. We really appreciate you taking the time and trouble to do this for us and support Women in Mobile Data.

So the link to the podcast again is here. Hope you enjoy it and feel free to comment here on what you thought.

The mysterious case of the Missing Bumblebees and the Mobile Phone

It seems the Independent didn't get it *quite* right when they ran a story claiming that mobile phones were the cause of the mass disappearance of bees in the USA and Europe. The real story is here. That puts my mind at ease... a bit.

Via Dan Applequist.

Oh dear oh dear, those premium rate scams aren't going away

See to the end of the post to get the latest updates on the story.

The recent premium rate TV scams just won't go away (Richard and Judy, Channel 5, and even Blue Peter et al). TV production companies (for they are not blameless) as well as mobile services companies have had their knuckles well and truly rapped by ICSTIS and having their names trailed through the press. But it seems the media hasn't had enough, and they may well be right.

Tonight, at 8.30pm, on the BBC, there's going to be a Panorama programme which alleges that 1000s of GMTV viewers (GMTV is a very popular morning chatshow for all you non-UK readers out there) have been ripped off to the tune of £45k per day (that's allegedly £10m a year) by entering competitions they had no hope of winning. What's even worse, is that they allege that the telecoms firm behind it, Opera, knew all about it for the last FOUR years. The BBC news report summarises it here where there's also a link to a video clip about it. And Brand Republic and The Guardian cover it too.

To say it's not looking good for GMTV or Opera is an understatement whether or not they are guilty - it's trial by media and who knows what the *real* truth is but there will be a general feeling of there's no smoke without fire so I'll be watching with great interest. And the word on the street is that Channel 4 is planning it's own Despatches programme on the same issue. So it's not terribly good for the premium rate industry as a whole. So I suspect there'll be a lot of discussion at World Telemedia this week in Amsterdam about how it affects us all in the industry - both client and supplier-side.

There's already some good debate on the issue over at SMStextnews (although I don't agree with some of it - but read for yourself and contribute and make up your own mind).

I suppose the good news is that the public now understand their chances of actually winning anything in these competitions (the odds are slim), the roles ICSTIS and OFCOM play in regulating this area (OFCOM is already providing more specific guidance on 'impossible' quiz questions like the infamous 'What's in a ladies handbag? Ans: A rawl plug.') and forcing the premium rate telecoms suppliers to clean up their act and put proper audit processes and systems in place. And long overdue that is.

This one ain't over yet.

Update: Opera has a statement on its website about the situation...

"Earlier this year Opera Interactive Technology took positive steps to improve its administration procedures and can confirm that all competition contestant entries throughout the entire competition period are now considered equally and fairly, whether handled directly by Opera Interactive Technology or by its telecommunications partners, using a randomised computer programme.

This process implemented as at 1st March 2007 has been observed and reviewed by Deloitte’s and has been successfully passed as satisfactory and in full compliance with the latest ICSTIS guidelines.

Opera has in no way benefited financially from any errors in procedure in the past and will continue to keep its processes in line with any future OFCOM or ICSTIS guidelines.

Opera Interactive Technology has today removed relevant staff from normal duties with regard to GMTV competitions pending further investigation."

Update 2: GMTV dumps Opera Opera declines to comment. And these are the same people who won an award for 'best management team' from the folks who compile the annual Media Momentum list. Hmm.

I made it into Carnival of the Mobilists #70 this week

This week's Carnival of the Mobilists is up - no #70 in the series - and it's a very comprehensive round up of what's up in mobile in the last week by Michael Mace from Mobile Opportunity. And I make it in too which is even better! Go have a read and see what's going down.

You can find the links to previous Carnivals at the Carnival of the Mobilists website. You can also find out there how you can contribute to the Carnival.

Bango Nexus Cafe - How to make money on the mobile web

Just had an email pop into my inbox about a Bango Nexus Cafe breakfast briefing in London at the lovely Soho Hotel on Wednesday 16th May at 9am where you can learn how you can make more money on the mobile web.

If you're a content provider or brand with content ready to sell, or already selling mobile content via the traditional Premium SMS route, make sure you don't miss out as you'll find out more about the market opportunity, how it works and some interesting case studies to boot including some experiences from Houssain Elguertit from Gameloft and what they did around mCommerce. And I'm expecting the networking will be fun too (well, I'll be there if that's any help and I know the Bango folks are friendly!).

It's just £19.99 to attend if you book online, but if you're very quick and register before 24th April (that's tomorrow dear readers) then it's a bargain £9.99. To register for the £9.99 offer, just text GO CAFE to 85080. And all attendees get a copy of Bango's very useful 'Practical Guide to Mobile Marketing' as well. Can't be bad.