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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

It's the wrong song

Mark Bridge writes:

“T’ain’t what you do (it’s the way that you do it)”

So sang Ella Fitzgerald, Bananarama and the Fun Boy Three - although sadly not on the same recording. But that message is no longer being followed by many companies. Instead, the new mantra seems to be the other way round. And I think that’s a good thing.

Today, Apple announced a new iTunes U application. The iTunes U service isn’t new; it’s been around for a few years and is all about enabling colleges and universities to put lectures and presentations online. However, the new educational app makes it easier for students with an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch to take an entire course on their Apple device - whether reading books or making notes - and also lets teachers manage these courses.

As long as you have an Apple device - perhaps an iPhone, perhaps an iPad - you can use iTunes U. There’s no need for a particular handset. Mobile is part of the mix... but it’s not essential.

Over in Nike Town USA, the winged goddess was talking about the NIKE+ FuelBand. It’s a wristband (don’t mention the Jawbone UP) that tracks everyday movement and measures it using ‘NikeFuel’. The more you move - whether running, walking or dancing - the more NikeFuel you generate. Alternatively, it’ll count steps or calculate calories if you prefer.

As well as displaying coloured LEDs that help the user see how they’re approaching their daily goal, the FuelBand also synchronises with the Nike+ website. You can plug it in to a PC or you can connect via Bluetooth to a mobile app.

Once again, mobile is there - but it’s a ‘nice to have’ option and isn’t mandatory.

And then there’s Facebook, with its 60 new applications for Timeline, letting users share where they’re going, what they’re eating, the films they like... on mobile and on non-mobile platforms.

We’re finally starting to see mobile being accepted more and more, being part of the bigger picture and not having a cameo role.

Finally, companies are moving away from simply showing off with mobile - and are starting to take advantage of mobile instead. At least, I hope they are.

It ain’t what you do?  It is now. And that’s what gets results.

You can hear Mark Bridge, Iain Graham and James Rosewell discuss the latest mobile industry headlines every Wednesday. Pick up their podcast from iTunes, find it via RSS or listen on the home page of TheFonecast.com.
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Opinion Articles

RIM boss ignores the questions when asked about BlackBerry difficulties and competitors

What went wrong? What did you learn from the iPhone?

Mark Bridge writes:

Live TV and radio interviews. They can be worrying things, even when you’re not expecting to be challenged too much. I know this from experience. So when your company is launching a much-delayed operating system, you’d expect a few difficult questions… and you’d be ready with a response.

The official response of RIM is apparently to ignore the questions.

Author: The Fonecast
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Mobile phones transform lives in Africa

Jennifer Lazuta of voanews.com writes:

Rene Mendy, a street vendor in Dakar, has never had enough money to open a bank account. But now, thanks to an emerging mobile phone banking service, he has access to many financial services.

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Last week at The Fonecast: 28th January 2013

Figuring out the figures

Mark Bridge writes:

I didn’t study economics at college, which is probably one of the reasons I have a very simple perspective on quarterly results. As far as I’m concerned, they fall into one of three categories: much as expected, better than expected or worse than expected. Anyway, it’s the time of year when some of the biggest names in the mobile telecoms industry publish their financial results – so here we go.

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Bringing personalised radio to your smartphone

We interview Shankar Meembat about the UTuneMe radio app

Mark Bridge writes:

Targeted advertising on mobile devices is something we’re all getting increasingly familiar with. Visit a web site and there’s a good chance you’ll see an advertisement that’s aimed directly at you, perhaps using information about the sites you’ve previously visited, the type of smartphone you’re using or even your location.

Yet listen to the radio or stream music on your smartphone and that same level of personalisation hasn’t been aavailable. That’s all changing now, with help from a new service called UTuneMe.

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Why Huawei should get out of the mobile handset market

Why Huawei should get out of the mobile handset market

or why Huawei need to spend their £1.6 billion profit on marketing

James Rosewell writes:

Huawei is a company one can’t miss at Mobile World Congress. They bring their own building!  Plus last year a wonderful “Pegasus” flying horse sculpture made using Ascend handsets was proudly displayed next to the main fountain to hail the launch of the Ascend series of handsets.

Huawei has been busy following MWC12. They now run major parts of Everything Everywhere, Three and O2’s network in the UK. On a less positive note they’re not welcome in the US.

But how has the devices side of the business performed?

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We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

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A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

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