The website of Alex Kinch, live from London
Posts tagged social networking
Facebook mobile access in NZ rockets 700% in five months
Jun 17th
Mobile usage of Facebook in New Zealand has risen 700% since January 2009 according to figures released by Telecom New Zealand (Telecom), operators of the country’s second largest mobile network XT.
In a New Zealand first, Telecom customers with Facebook accounts can now also sign up to receive text notifications directly to their mobile phones from Facebook. Notifications include new messages, friends’ status updates or friend requests. Users can also update their status, search for phone numbers, or upload photos and videos from their mobile phone.
The Facebook notifications’ text is easy to set up online or simply by texting ‘f’ to 3223.
“Almost 2,500 Telecom customers are using Facebook messaging each day since the launch of XT, showing just how much social networking is in demand with our customers” says Liz Wilson, Telecom Head of Mobile Marketing.
“With New Zealand’s Twitter penetration of six percent, the highest in the world, we are going to where customers are online and making it easier for them to connect.”
Those using Twitter on mobiles can receive friends’ tweets, tweet their own message, and send and receive direct messages via a text message. This service is easy to set up by texting to 8987, with the ability to choose which friends’ updates are received and to turn off updates for selected periods of time (see www.telecom.co.nz/twitter for more information).
INQ1 handset owners are top mobile data users
Jun 10th
INQ Mobile, makers of the INQ1 mobile handset for 3, have released data on how the network’s UK customers use the handset.
According to the company an average of 65% of INQ1 customers are using Facebook, with the majority of users accessing once a day or more. 30% of INQ1 customers are regularly using email, and Windows Live Messenger usage is 3-4 times higher than other 3G phones on the 3 UK network – with approximately 50% of INQ1 owners using it at least once a month.
Unsurprisingly Skype usage is also quite high – with 19% of the INQ1 base using the VoIP service to chat and make calls.
“3 have always led the industry when it comes to widespread data and mobile internet activity amongst the base but the numbers we’re seeing on INQ’s Social Mobiles really pushes us to a new, truly mass level,” said Marc Allera, Director of Sales and Marketing at 3G only operator 3 UK. “The INQ results with high customer take-up of the integrated services, confirms that 3′s strategy of delivering easy to use, well priced mobile internet solutions for everyone is right. If an internet communication service is well designed, always on, and simple to use then the take-up potential on mobile is huge. The reason people don’t use internet services on most devices (except the iPhone) is because the user experience on nearly all devices isn’t good enough. The INQ team has very successfully addressed this.”
“The iPhone and Blackberry are great devices, but it is important to remember that smartphones only make up 12% of the market.* We see a huge opportunity to provide an internet and social networking experience on a handset that costs operators a fraction of what they’re paying for higher end phones,” said Frank Meehan, CEO of INQ Mobile. “Consumers with an INQ1 can get unlimited data, internet and texts on £15 pay as you go tariff. And now we have seen that they are actually using the phone to access data services like Skype, Windows Live Messenger, email and Facebook at an astonishing rate. We are very happy to see that the simple, well integrated approach we’ve taken to creating a Social Mobile is resonating with the other 88% of the market.”
INQ is also seeing strong numbers in the Hong Kong market, which launched with the INQ1 in March 2009. 50% of INQ1 customers regularly use data services on a level that is four times higher per subscriber than the typical 3G user base. Facebook usage is also three to four times higher than the average on other 3G devices on the 3 Hong Kong network.
GyPSii launches Java into China
Jun 3rd
GeoSentric Oyj’s (NASDAQ OMX: GEO1V), GyPSii business unit, developers of the award-winning GyPSii mobile social networking application (www.gypsii.com), today announced the launch of the Java version of its application, with both Chinese and English language support.
GyPSii created the Java application with the Chinese mobile consumer firmly in mind. Many Chinese users’ first and only access to the Internet is via a mobile device, and the new GyPSii Java app will appeal to the 70% of the 650 million phone owners in China who own Java-based phones.
GyPSii is already locally available in China for the major operators China Mobile and China Unicom, for download on compatible Java phones. GyPSii is also available globally across a wide range of devices, including Samsung, Nokia, LG, Apple iPhone and Blackberry smartphones.
“The arrival of GyPSii on Java is another milestone for us, which broadens the choice across all mass-market devices that consumers can use and enjoy GyPSii on – alongside the iPhone, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Blackberry (RIM), webtop and netbook applications already in our portfolio,” said GyPSii’s Chairman, Dan Harple.
“Our GyPSii members in China are already extremely active mobile social networkers. With Java platform compatibility, they are now free to create, share and connect with the rest of the GyPSii community – across even more devices and networks, at anytime, from any location,” added Harple. “We plan to expand our reach on Java platforms into other countries, extending our mass market coverage further on a global basis”
GyPSii delivers an all-in-one mobile lifestyle experience – featuring simple to use content creation tools, social networking capabilities, and location context. It allows people to instantly capture and share what they are actually doing in their daily lives, building a multi-media virtual world – the places they have been, the things that they are doing and where they are going.
Utilising a wide range of location and multimedia creation technologies for today’s mobile phones, GyPSii empowers people to share their experiences as they happen – including with photos, video, comments, status and information captured and uploaded from their mobile phone, with location context.
Jeff Lin, GyPSii’s Managing Director APAC added, “With GyPSii, you can share what you are doing or planning to do in real time with your community of friends and followers, who are then free to respond and comment, instantly without having to wait until they’re next sitting at their PC. We expect Java phone owners to quickly become GyPSii fans and use the application to record their lives and stay connected to their communities – no matter what network or devices they use.”
The GyPSii application is already available and can be downloaded directly onto your mobile at www.gypsii.com/m and http://gypsii.com.cn/m (for a full list of supported devices). Java phone owners in China can now download the new Java application from GyPSii at http://wap.gypsii.com.cn.
All-In-One Mobile Social Networking Arrives on the iPhone
May 14th
The award-winning GyPSii location aware mobile social networking application has found a new home: on Apple’s iPhone application store.
From today, iPhone owners can download GyPSii directly from the popular iPhone App store and immediately start creating and sharing “geotagged” content in real time with friends, family, and the growing global community of GyPSii members. The places and experiences users create then become true Internet-searchable destinations, available for friends and communities to share and comment on, not only in GyPSii, but also across other social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
GyPSii delivers an all-in-one mobile social networking experience. It allows people to instantly capture and share what they are actually doing, building a multi-media virtual diary on their world – the places they have been and the things that they have done.
From America to China, and across Western Europe, the GyPSii community offers a global snapshot of local events and activities, where users can share what they are doing, where they are, and what they recommend with as few or many people as they desire.
Developed by GeoSentric Oyj (NASDAQ OMX: GEO1V), GyPSii is the only Social Network created solely to cater for today’s mobile lifestyle and a generation of people who want to be socially networked on the move. Whether on holiday, at a family event or on a night out with friends, GyPSii makes it easy for people to share what they are doing, at the touch of a button.
Utilising the iPhone’s built-in location technologies, GyPSii empowers people to share their experiences in real time, tagging their location with related images, comments, status and information.
What’s more, GyPSii members can create, connect and share their social networking information and status with Facebook friends, Twitter followers and the wider GyPSii community – all from within the easy-to-use GyPSii Connect™ technology platform.
Launching GyPSii into the Apple store, Chairman Dan Harple said: “GyPSii and the iPhone is the perfect partnership for user experiences. GyPSii is the only mobile application totally designed to record a users life in real-time, to tell their life story, and help people explore their world using the one device that is with them at all times – the mobile phone.
“With GyPSii, people can share what they are doing or planning with their community of friends and followers, and comment on it instantly without having to wait until they’re next at their PC. We expect iPhone users to quickly become GyPSii fans and use the application to stay connected to their communities, no matter what network or devices they use.”
The GyPSii application is already available on a wide range of devices from companies including Samsung, Nokia, LG, and Blackberry SmartPhones and users of those devices can download it directly at www.gypsii.com/m
“The launch of our iPhone app, also marks the launch of our next generation of user experience (UX),” explains Shane Lennon, SVP Product Management and Marketing at GyPSii. “iPhone has blazed the trail for how mobile phones are being used today. Our next generation UX has been created after close study of how people want to create content, share it and connect with others while on the move.”
Clickatell Social Network Customers Poised to Monetize Demand; SMS Proven to Build Communities, Increase Interaction and Enable Advertising Revenues
May 12th
Even during tough economic times, the mobile social networking phenomenon is here to stay. People want to stay connected and in touch while on the go, and the addition of text messaging to social networks makes it possible anywhere, anytime. Especially in times of high job loss, people want to stay in touch with friends, colleagues, past employers, and others to keep up to date on job status and conversations regarding possible work opportunities. Immediately opened when received, text messaging is the fastest growing communications method in mobile social networking today. Brightkite, mig33 and Mobiluck agree—they’ve chosen Clickatell as their trusted SMS provider to deliver reliable text messages to millions of their community members around the world.
Brightkite, available independently on Brightkite.com or via Facebook, is a mobile location-based social network, which allows friends to be found or find others–a great way to meet up any time. “Finding the best party, meeting up for dinner, or meeting new people are some of the reasons customers enjoy Brightkite,” commented Brady Becker, Co-Founder. “Working with Clickatell made it incredibly easy for us to implement our SMS strategy and we count on the reliability, ubiquity, and global appeal Clickatell provides. We look forward to working with Clickatell as we expand in 2009 and beyond.”
As Twitter bursts into the mainstream, the social networking phenomenon continues to astound Wall Street – billions of people engaged, yet little monetization. People won’t pay for services to connect with peers, but companies are highly interested in reaching these people in new ways. Growing three times faster than the overall rate of Internet growth, social networking applications stand to attract many customers as they connect and interact with friends, family and business associates around the globe.
“Read within minutes, text messages can reach millions instantly. Research has shown, SMS is surpassing voice as the preferred way to communicate – it’s quick, easy, direct. As social sites continue experiencing phenomenal growth – they are introducing mobile advertising and location-aware services via SMS,” said Pieter de Villiers, CEO of Clickatell. “If, for example, a restaurant or retailer sent a text message offering a free beverage or point-of-sale coupon to someone passing the physical store, chances are customers would stop in for a free drink and maybe also purchase other items as well. They might also text friends, further extending the value of mobile communities. Sent to the masses via mobile social networking, retailers of all kinds could drive traffic into their store during slow times, reaching new customers through these circles, ultimately increasing the bottom line.”
At pennies per message, implementing SMS is the best way to get started immediately. Using www.Clickatell.com — the world’s #1 mobile messaging self-service website — all developers and marketers simply need to do is go to www.Clickatell.com, create an account, enter a credit card number to purchase future message quantities and then access their favorite social networking messaging solution. Clickatell has made it incredibly easy to SMS-enable any existing application. There is no need for heavy software installation, long purchase processes or complex implementation. In a matter of minutes, organizations of all sizes can rapidly deploy SMS-based mobile social strategies and campaigns. Clickatell’s easy-to-use social mobile messaging solutions include seven API choices, developer tools and provide one central point to quickly integrate new SMS capabilities into existing or new offerings. And, Clickatell has years of experience and deep relationships with mobile carriers and can reach more than 775 networks in more than 200 countries around the world.
The uptake in social networking is being driven by popular global sites, including mySpace, Twitter, Facebook, Friendster, Hi5, Orkut, Bebo, and others. Further, the social networking sector is undergoing a rapid transformation as these and other community sites are embracing mobilization strategies of their rapidly growing communities to facilitate even more member interaction and collaboration. eMarketer predicts that over 800 million people worldwide will be participating in a social network via their mobile phones by 2012, up from 82 million in 2007. The global social networking market will grow to a massive $28.9 billion for revenues generated from all business models in this industry by 2012, according to Informa. Within that market, SMS is rapidly being used to mobilize the social networking experience to create greater member stickiness, usage and community growth, as well as to achieve monetization business objectives.
For more information about Clickatell’s solutions for Mobile Social Networking, please visit http://www.clickatell.com/solutions/social_networking.php
Clickatell Customers Agree: Mobile Social Networking via SMS Adds Value
Founded in 2005, Brightkite brings social networking back into the real world. Brightkite’s location-aware mobile service helps people connect with friends and share real world experiences. More than two million people use Brightkite’s free service every month. Use Brightkite to meet people, keep track of friends, explore and discover new places, and annotate places with notes and photos. Best of all, Brightkite is available to anyone, anywhere, worldwide. All you need is a mobile phone or Web browser to bring friends together in the real world, wherever you are.
mig33 is a leading mobile community with more than 18 million users, globally, providing a choice of communications and entertainment services for users to connect on their mobile phone. In over 200 countries, members engage in the vibrant chat community, instant messaging, email, photo sharing, virtual gifting, profiles, as well as cheap voice calls and SMS. “Clickatell has been a good partner over the past four years in helping us build our global community, so we can deliver the kind of service our customers deserve and have come to expect,” said Steve Boom, CEO, mig33.
Mobiluck, the world’s fastest growing mobile location-based social network, now has one million mobile members with 5,000 new people joining daily from all over the world. Mobiluck allows people to find nearby people, places and events, sorted by distance. In just a minute, people and businesses can create a free mobile webpage in order to be easily found on the mobile web. Mobiluck is available on all cell phones and PCs, in all countries, on all operator networks, and without any download. Members receive free Clickatell-powered SMS alerts to inform members of interesting events such as nearby friends or recent profile views. “Clickatell has proven to be the best choice for us in terms of global reach, performance and price point to deliver the millions of monthly SMS alerts around the world that are essential to the interactivity, relevance and fun of our service for members’,” said Olivier Chouraki, Mobiluck CEO.
Popular iPhone Social Networking App Introduces “Jerk Filter” in Latest Release
May 4th
WhosHere™ version 1.0 has been released on Apple’s iTunes App Store. WhosHere 1.0 includes many new features including the Jerk Filter™. The Jerk Filter uses a proprietary algorithm to rate users based on numerous criteria, including how they use WhosHere and how other users react to them.
Bryant Harris, founder and CEO said, “The Jerk Filter is significantly improving the user experience, especially for our female users. Fundamentally, the Jerk Filter groups people of similar personalities. So women that are just on WhosHere to chat and make friends will not be spammed by aggressive guys.”
Other features included in WhosHere 1.0 include:
• A separate “Chats” tab that serves as an inbox for everyone you have previously chatted with
• Let’s users add captions to their profile pictures
• Ability to read unread messages while your iPhone or iPod touch does not have a signal
• A ‘flip side’ to My Profile – given users access to more controls on who they see and who sees them
• Improved emoticons that can be dropped into any text message
WhosHere is used by nearly 400,000 users from 148 countries. WhosHere is the 15th most popular application, out of over 500, in iTunes’ Social Networking category. Over 30 million text messages are sent in the WhosHere network each month.
WhosHere is a social proximity application that enables users to meet friends, potential dates or just network through an exceptionally simple interface. WhosHere will show you matches that are near you or anywhere in the world based on your answers to a few questions about yourself and who you are interested in meeting. It takes the chance out of the chance encounter. When you find someone you want to talk with, you can send unlimited, free text and image messages to them within the WhosHere application.
WhosHere runs on Apple’s iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod touch and is available for free download on the iTunes App Store and can easily be found at myRete.com/download. Users of WhosHere can find online help at myRete.com/support and on the WhosHere page on YouTube.
Consumers still believe that it’s good to talk
Apr 22nd
Consumers view call and text prices as more important than 3G and social networking capabilities, research commissioned by OpenCloud has found. In a survey of 1,000 consumers, over 80 per cent of consumers see call and text prices as the most important factors when looking for a new phone, whereas two-thirds of respondents view social networking applications as luxury additions and non-essential.
The ‘My Mobile Lifestyle’ survey, looking at consumer attitudes to mobile phone usage and types of services they desire, found the current economic uncertainty to be affecting the penetration of social media and 3G applications into the nation’s consciousness. Respondents indicated that when mobile belt-tightening occurs, the first service to go is internet-based applications. Over two-thirds (69 per cent) of respondents say they would reduce their usage of mobile internet and social networking to decrease mobile bill payments.
Consumers are also willing to jump ship to another operator, for the right bundle at the right price. Over half (59 per cent) of consumers would look to move their mobile provider to downsize their bills, whilst a similar percentage would look to transfer to pre-pay services to limit costs. Cost is key for customer purchasing decisions; the three most important for consumers is handset price, call price and text price. Social networking applications are only rated as extremely important for 5.5 per cent of respondents.
“It’s no surprise consumers are looking to be increasingly savvy with their spending as a result of the credit crunch,” said Jeff Gordon, CEO at OpenCloud. “The results support the proposition that the fundamental reason people have phones is to communicate with each other. Consumers view 3G and social networking applications as luxury tools, and not essential for their mobile lifestyle. With 95 per cent of operators’ revenue still coming from person-to-person communications, this research indicates that it will remain this way for the foreseeable future. Operators would be better placed focusing their energies on this side of the communications business, and innovating here, rather than putting all of their eggs in the luxury application market.”
Buongiorno launches new ‘peoplesound’ mobile social network
Apr 21st
Buongiorno have just officially launched their new mobile-centric social network ‘peoplesound‘ – which claims to offers an alternative way to keep actively in touch with your close circle of friends and family through sharing personal experiences in a genuine and sincere way through the mobile phone.
Formerly known as ‘blinko’, peoplesound allows you to keep track of your favourite 20 friends whilst on the go, not only using your mobile Internet connection but SMS as well. The service also offers ‘channels’ for different sharing conversations about different interests, like music and sports, of which you can follow up to 10.
“The meaning of peoplesound truly reflects the project’s philosophy: a social network characterised by genuine relationships and empathy among people”, says Mauro Del Rio at Buongiorno. “peoplesound is the result of extensive R&D and related enhancements, made possible thanks to the valuable contributions of the over 300,000 users, during the beta phase of blinko. The aim is to communicate and share our most important moments anywhere at anytime, with the people we really care about. With an exclusive option of either mobile internet or SMS based interactions, peoplesound provides users a real differentiator to all other networks.”
Luca Pagano, MD of Buongiorno UK further adds: “With almost 10 years experience working closely with over 120 telecom operators in the mobile industry, Buongiorno is ideally positioned to design and implement a mobile centric social networking solution”.
You can subscribe to the service (for free) from your computer via http://www.peoplesound.com or at http://m.peoplesound.com on your mobile.
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