Following in Google’s digital ad footsteps, Yahoo have focused renewed energy into providing interactive experiences for viewers, by partnering with Alexx Henry Studios in the production of their latest ad product.  Alexx Henry, who specialise in developing platforms suitable for the iPad and other tablet devices, created a ‘digital magazine motion cover’ earlier this year, enabling the publication of content that is mobile centric.  As Yahoo explained at their latest conference: “reaching today’s connected consumers is a rapidly growing and constantly evolving challenge”.

According to Yahoo, their Living Ads format will provide users with an interactive experience that is driven by the advertiser; achieving improved user engagement with a product or brand:

“With Living Ads, advertisers drive the creative process, maintaining control over the entire experience consumers have with their brands. Living Ads combine the allure of television, magazine spreads, the Web, and tablets to provide an immersive environment with deeper consumer engagement.”

The launch of Yahoo’s Living Ads comes at the same time as the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) pushes two initiatives in the hope to achieve standardised tablet ads.  Currently the production of quality, tablet friendly display ads, requires financial investment as well as a lot of development time, that is not practicable, or feasible for most organisations.  Often, the results are not enough to deliver a return on investment, requiring custom work that can’t later be duplicated across other advertising formats.

According to the IAB These formats have the potential to revolutionise the way advertisers engage with their audience, through interactive, quality content, however there is currently a distinct lack of standard metrics to make the platform more accessible to advertisers.  The first of these initiatives is the publication of a roadmap for marketers to navigate the tablet market, as well as an interactive creative gallery providing insights into the best existing tablet advertisements.

The investment of time and money is worth considering, as a number of recent studies have revealed that tablets can offer even greater potential than standard mobile screens; this might just sway budgetary decisions when it comes to investing in the custom work that is required.

According to the Online Publishers Association almost 80% of all tablet owners have paid for an app, with paid content accounting for over a quarter of apps downloaded; according to their statistics, in the last year 43% of app downloaders spent more than $20, and 23% invested more than $50, compelling statistics for those looking to secure an ROI in the development of mobile friendly ads.

Related posts:

1. Yahoo Launches Latest Digital Media Marketing Platform ‘Living Ad’ Ads for Toyota’s new Prius V model were published in...
2. Yahoo revises its product strategy Yahoo have announced that they are making a concerted effort...
3. Yahoo to include Images and Video in Search Advertising Yahoo is today set to announce that it will be...

The successful candidate will be notified before the end of the year, and given six months to plan and complete the installation in order to have the network operational in time for the games.

The announcement was made on the corporate page of TFL’s website, accompanied by a statement from the Mayor of London Boris Johnson:

“The roll out of wi-fi technology across the platforms and public areas of our Tube stations will finally allow Londoners to use mobile devices to pick up their emails, access social media sites and stay in touch with the world above while they traverse our subterranean transport network”.

Following a trial with BT Openzone that started in November 2010 at the Charing Cross branch, TFL have used the test site to obtain passenger feedback, which, according to them, has been good.  The result of their survey indicates that commuters have been enthusiastic about the implementation of a Wi-Fi network: “Many people questioned have said they would like to see this service rolled out to more stations on the Underground”.

The early stages of the project would involve an extension of an existing Wi-Fi network, already in use at 16 tube stations, that are currently only available for staff use.

While the service will not operate on trains, it will provide hundreds of thousands of passengers the opportunity to get online during their daily commute, and according to TFL the possibilities are open to those travelling on the tube, and the transportation network, with the available revenue streams that will be generated by the inception of a Wi-Fi network on the underground: “as well as improving journeys for passengers, wi-fi services are a potential future revenue source for London Underground”.

The tender invitation to potential partners, will incorporate a section on the creation of a Wi-Fi network extending beyond the underground; one that will provide internet access at street level, around London’s bus shelters and hubs.

But not all passengers are welcoming the introduction of a Wi-Fi network on the tube; there are safety concerns about the increased risk of a terrorist attack, with mobile phones used in the past to remotely activate explosive devices.  With the implementation of the new services to allow commuters to get online, some commuters fear it will prove to be a disruption, rather than a useful service.

The tender will be published in the national press on Tuesday.

Related posts:

1. Virgin in “advanced conversations” about a free WiFi network in the capital The vast majority of people that utilise mobile technology look...
2. O2 to launch new Wi-Fi network across UK Mobile giants O2 have confirmed that they will soon be...
3. One, Nil binary score creates havoc online The BBCs live web stream has hit an all-time viewing...

Mobile web browser development forms an ever important role; providing a platform that will enable companies to generate new revenue streams from a variety of sources, primarily: advertising, content/application downloads, and subscriptions.  According to a report published in CBS News Business, newspapers and magazines are getting up to 5 times the amount for advertisements placed in iPad applications as in print.  Testament to the exposure an advert in a printed magazine will receive, compared with one published via an iPad app.

You may argue against Apple’s monopoly of the mobile market, but it is hard to deny the effect that their technology has had on the way we use the internet. Visongain’s comprehensive report: ‘The Mobile Web Browser Market’, profiling existing web trends and predicting their metamorphoses in the future, highlights the importance of Apple in the mobile arena, their early impact and continued influence on the way we use the web.  In their 2009 report, Visiongain found that in the UK alone, people who owned an iPhone were five times more likely to browse the web when compared to other mobile phone users.  Mainly thanks to faster processors, larger touch screens and intuitive interfaces, reinforced by increased bandwidths provided by mobile networks, the possibilities of mobile web access have developed exponentially over a relatively short period; inevitably, it was only a matter of time before Apple bridged the gap between the iPhone and Macbook to give users portability as well as enhancing web interactions.

To pluck one example from the plethora available, the adaptation of popular social networking sites to support mobile versions, is testament to the obvious early signs, way back when the iPhone was launched; mobility and the web made perfect bed fellows and a phenomenal money spinner; change the way people access the web, their data, photos, email, social networking sites, and not only do you introduce the potential need to purchase an app that will support you on the move, or to enhance your experience as a mobile user; but you have just added hours onto the average commuters exposure to the web, on a daily basis, in a week, a month, a year, that stacks up to an incredible number of hours that all provide, crucially, more opportunities to sell, and increased possibilities to capture information about your target market.

According to the Guardian, our fascination with, and desire to access the web anywhere will continue to increase at a phenomenal rate: “Gartner predicts that by 2013, 80% of businesses will support tablet computers for their staff, and that rather than providing employees with business services and devices – that is, PCs – 90% will support corporate applications on employees’ own consumer phones, tablets and laptops”.

The predictions are that business and consumer budgets will be invested in smartphones or tablet PC’s; motivated by the price point in comparison to a new PC or laptop; and crucially by their mobility.

Although the frenzy surrounding the unveiling of the iPad 2 for sale in the UK, is unlikely to mirror that of the launch of the first generation iPad, it will serve to further establish the culture of information anywhere; perpetuating the trend and changing the way consumers, and businesses, interact with global media in and outside of their working environs.

Related posts:

1. Google AdWords Enables Advertisers to Target Tablet Devices Google’s online advertising tool AdWords now provides users with the...
2. New rival to iPad launched by Samsung Fans of the Apple iPad could find themselves becoming disloyal,...
3. iOS vulnerability for Apple products Symantec, the US-based security firm, has issued a warning relating...

Catering for the mobile market, just as with any other form of SEO, only takes a few simple steps to make sure that users can access what they need, in the right way. As smartphones become more popular, and the trend for accessing the web ‘on the go’ increases, it’s becoming more important for site owners to tap in to the trend and deliver content which can be quickly downloaded, easily scrolled through, and refined for the mobile market.

Mobile phones are rapidly becoming more trusted and more widely used, as security is tightened up and consumers can use them for online purchases, bookings and research. As the market broadens, site owners need to sharpen up their use of coding online, to make sure that content is clean and simple. In a way, developing for the mobile market is like going back to basics – removing complex code, reducing frames and ensuring that content is presented in a simple and concise way.

Online giants such as Facebook have built in mobile detection, meaning that the site is modified to cater for different types of surfer. Companies which have high levels of mobile traffic need to cater for this preference in the same was as we identify what browser people are using, before serving up the right format for their needs.

If a company is using their site for online transactions, the process needs to be tested thoroughly on as many different platforms as possible, to ensure that customers can get what they need with ease. Check out sites through Symbian, Android, Windows Mobile, Apple devices and others in order to make sure that business won’t be lost as a result of a poor user interface.

Related posts:

1. Online Retail Outlets for Smartphone Users Accounts for 95% Growth in Mobile Markets The retail sector is now the fastest growing in mobile...
2. Google Installs +1 Button on Display Ads for Desktop and Mobile Users Google has added the +1 feature on the Google Display...
3. PPC School: The rise of Mobile Internet (and what it means for you) Even the most casual followers of this year’s CES, will...

The new service comes on the back of O2 offering free Wi-Fi services on some of its existing tariffs, through The Cloud and BT Openzone products. However, in the midst of reports that The Cloud is about to sign up to a new deal with Sky, it seems O2 are making their own way in the provision of Wi-Fi to their customers. The new service will be available to consumers by signing up to a simple system, which will enable users to access it even if they are not existing O2 customers.

Inudtsyr experts are delighted in the new announcement, suggesting that the move will go a long way to resolving O2’s existing capacity problems which have been caused by the popularity of smartphones, and the need for people to obtain internet access on the move. O2 have said that they intend to fund the new Wi-Fi service through a strong advertising strategy.

The business development director for O2, Tim Sefton has recently commented: “Only 20% of people who have access to free public wi-fi on 02 tariffs actively use it despite the majority of devices being wi-fi enabled. We know that wi-fi as a technology has great potential and can be a very fast service.”

“However, customers are discouraged by barriers which include complexity in activation, uncertainty of where wi-fi is free and the variable quality of the current experience. O2′s wi-fi network will have to go hand-in-hand with other network upgrades. O2 are continuing to invest in our existing network, but it will be years rather than months before we’ll have a commercial 4G network”.

Related posts:

1. Virgin in “advanced conversations” about a free WiFi network in the capital The vast majority of people that utilise mobile technology look...
2. Net Neutrality Debate Intensifies as Data Transferred Over ISP Network Increases Demands on Internet Service Providers and mobile carriers has intensified...
3. Google agrees to settlement in lawsuit over Buzz network News reports suggest that the search engine giants Google have...

The Galaxy Tab tablet computer, which goes by the official name of GT-P1000, uses the Google Android 2.2 operating system for power, and looks set to challenge the market share which Apple have enjoyed through the popularity of their iPad.

The Tab is distinctly different from an offering which Samsung has previously provided to its customers, as it features a seven inch display. However, unlike the iPad, it can also be used to make telephone calls. The gadget features Multitouch web browsing, including HTML5 and Adobe Flash, email, voice and video calling. It also enables the addition of extra applications through the Android market. The gadget is designed for one-handed operation, and will be provided on the Vodaphone network later next month. As yet, there has been no announcement regarding how much the device will cost UK consumers interested in purchasing it.

The Tab will provide an eReader capability which is powered by Kobo among others. Samsung have announced that it will be offering access to over two million books, in addition to a range of magazines and newspapers for the device. The Tab will also provide users with social networking capability combined with contact information. With wifi capability, (including DLNA and 3G connections), a camera which is provided for video calling, music and video features, the Tab looks set to take the smartphone market by storm as users benefit from the host of useful features available though the device.

Related posts:

1. Media agencies increased revenue for advertisements placed in iPad applications Gartner estimate Apple are set to sell 40m iPads this...
2. Google poised to dominate Mobile Internet use Towards the end of 2007 Google unleashed Android, an operating...
3. Vodafone – HTC deal in the offing Today Vodafone is closing in on  a deal with mobile...

The study results, which were published in the journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, suggest that there is a good foundation for further research based on initial findings. While the British Tinnitus Association has commented that there is no evidence yet that tinnitus and mobile phone use were linked, experts agree that even anecdotal evidence suggests that there is good reason to pursue the research to identify clear cases where the two are linked.

Even a slight risk to users, if identified, is worth sharing with the public. There are a number of factors thought to cause tinnitus, including loud noise, certain drugs and head trauma. There are a number of factors which could have influenced the study outcomes, including the fact that posture when using a mobile could affect blood flow to the ear.

A spokesperson for the British Tinnitus Association, commented: “The association between tinnitus and electromagnetic fields is not a new idea with electromagnetic fields being put forward both as a cause and treatment for tinnitus. Some people have attributed their tinnitus to the sounds generated by electromagnetic fields within modern electrical wiring or power plants. Electromagnetic therapy has also been used to treat tinnitus. This is an interesting study but there are a number of complex factors underlying tinnitus which have not been addressed in the study. The link between mobile phone use remains unproven with further work still needed.”

Related posts:

1. Enough mobile phones for everyone, including the family dog Wireless Intelligence, the organisation dedicated to providing wireless networks advice...
2. Facebook = Bad Grades A few weeks ago on this blog I wrote a...
3. Kin phone by Microsoft being pulled from sale Microsoft have this week announced the cancellation of their European...

This brings the global tally of mobile connections to over five billion. The study showed that many people have more than one phone connected, meaning that there are actually more mobile connections than people in some areas!

Wireless Intelligence are now predicting that by mid-2012, there will be six billion phone connections across the globe. This will make mobile phones the most popular gadget on the planet. By 2008, there were four billion connected mobiles, and the company has used the rate of uptake to predict the huge growth in connections.

China and India are the biggest growth areas for mobile phone use, with an increase of 47 percent this year. Use of phones for both work and personal matters has seen a huge rise in purchases, globally.

An analyst at CCS Insight commented: “The mobile phone may be the most prolific consumer device on the planet. If you just take the UK in 1987, when the first mobile companies launched, an industry insider predicted a maximum of 10,000 phones. Now almost every adult, child and domestic pet seems to have one, given that 30 million phones are sold every year in the UK. Five billion phones means there are more than three times as many phones as personal computers. This device has become part of the fabric of society, whether a teenage girl taking a Blackberry to bed with her, or a farmer in an African village trying to find out the latest crop prices.”

Related posts:

1. Yahoo looking to launch social-networking applications for mobile phones Yahoo! is looking to launch a social-networking application for smart-phone users...
2. Mobile Internet usage becomes the Norm in the US According to research collated by ComScore over the last year,...
3. German Hacker Cracks Mobile Phone Code A group of computer hackers led by German encryption expert,...

Following the departure of Robbie Bach (Microsoft’s former head of mobile), the company has switched focus to their latest product – Windows Phone 7 mobile software. The Kin represents Microsoft’s first foray in to the world of bespoke phone manufacture, and was intended to provide a gadget designed to support young people in social networking, on the go. The team who have been working on Kin sales and development will now be integrated within the wider gaming and mobile team at Microsoft.

The Kin met with criticism for a number of reasons, including its inability to integrate with third-party applications, and its expense in relation to other smartphones available from different suppliers. The target market for the Kin was younger users, and it is thought that Microsoft priced the gadget out of the market.

Forrester Research analyst Ian Fogg commented on the Microsoft decision: “The social networking model is a strong concept, but even the largest firms like Microsoft or Apple have to focus. The question is whether Microsoft was spreading itself too thin in mobile. Given there are all these established players, when they launch Windows Phone 7 it has to be striking and different from the competition.

“The Windows Phone 7 interface is different from the other smartphones out there; it has a concept of hubs rather than applications, so similar activities are grouped together, but they need to ship a product that is bug free, compelling, and responsive. Like Kin, there is a risk they’re coming to market too late, but they can’t do anything about that.”

Related posts:

1. Microsoft’s big Mobile Push (Part 1) Considering the burgeoning commercial and critical successes of the mobile...
2. CES to offer clues on Windows 7 but not Zune Phone Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, has indicated that MIcrosoft will be...
3. German Hacker Cracks Mobile Phone Code A group of computer hackers led by German encryption expert,...

Whilst HTC phones have met with a generally favourable reception critically, consumers still seem, for the most part, to prefer the Blackberry and the iPhone. All that could be about to change however (or at least that’s what Sergei Brin would tell you), thanks to the Google Nexus One, the latest handset to be produced by the search engine giant.

Nexus One will be the first phone to run, the latest version of Google’s operating system, Android 2.1, which boasts a raft of cool features like interactive wallpaper and improved customisation, even if it lacks some of the iPhone OS’s flashier features. The specifications also look excellent, the headlines being a 1 GHz snapdragon processor (the most powerful processor to ever feature in a phone), a 5 megapixel camera and a pretty impressive screen, that compares very favourably indeed with the screen on the Motorola Droid that wowed the industry when it was released at the back end of last year.

The phone is available unlocked and can be purchased for around £325 pounds off contract, £40 less than an iPhone. The first UK network to get it will be Vodafone though as of yet there is no announcement as to how much it will cost to get one on contract. However, if you want a guess (buckle up, conjecture fans) I would have to anticipate that it will be cheaper than the iPhone is on other networks.

Why? Well, the nearest contemporary of the Nexus in terms of individual price is the Nokia E72, for which Vodafone charge £30 a month (600 minutes, unlimited texts, 500 MB of mobile internet and webmail). It would certainly be hard to justify charging more. This price compares very favourably with the iPhone’s, a comparable deal for which will cost £35 from O2.

So, arguably better specs, comparable functionality for less money, logically this should be a decent rival for the iPhone. Only time will tell of course, though Apple would do well not to dismiss the challenge from Google, especially as the Nexus is unlikely to simply rest with Vodafone, like the iPhone has done withO2. The Nexus is expected to roll out across all, or at least many, networks in the near future, meaning that it could well become ubiquitous pretty quickly.

Related posts:

1. Palm Pre may be a iPhone Competitor We’ve spoken on this blog at length about how important...
2. Vodafone – HTC deal in the offing Today Vodafone is closing in on  a deal with mobile...
3. Blackberry Storm costs more than iPhone to make The nicest thing you can say about the Blackberry Storm...

According to Nohl, the hack, that promises to force mobile phone companies into a costly security upgrade, was organised to demonstrate the weaknesses of security measures supposedly protecting the GSM (global system for mobile communication). Speaking at Chaos Communication Congress, a four day computer hacker’s conference, Nohl stated…

“We have given up hope that network operators will move to improve security on their own, but we are hoping that with this added attention, there will be increased demand from customers for them to do this,”

Nohl was also due to run a practical demonstration of the code in action, though he shelved that plan at the last minute, pending advice from his lawyers regarding whether or not it would actually be legal to do so.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft’s big Mobile Push (Part 1) Considering the burgeoning commercial and critical successes of the mobile...
2. PPC School: Mobile Ads The workplace is becoming less defined by desks and terminals...
3. Is a phone case going to appease disappointed Apple fans? The Apple iPhone 4 has been hit with controversy since...

To that end, we’ve decided to let you in on a few of Top Click Media’s main mobile advertising tips, so sit back and prepare for liftoff.

1. Target devices individually. Don’t forget that one campaign will not work for every type of phone. Research the different demographics of say, smartphones as opposed to traditional devices and make decisions based on that. You’ll also need to think about the capabilities of various mobile operating systems and handsets.

2. Think beyond search. Your message can appear to mobile phone users who are searching via text ads as well as to site visitors via display ads. Have a think about which suits your message best and spend time researching the best and most visited mobile friendly sites for your business.

3. Consider Bidding for Calls not Clicks. A very useful thing that’s started to happen recently is that you can now pay per call, meaning that you’re only charged when someone actually makes a call as a result of your mobile ad, which for some businesses could potentially be very useful indeed. I really cannot overstate how useful this can be if you get it right. It works by showing a link of your number number on the ad, when that option is selected you pay, and not a moment before. Not only is it a great deal, it’s probably the first proper mass market technique for tracking phone calls.

Related posts:

1. German Hacker Cracks Mobile Phone Code A group of computer hackers led by German encryption expert,...
2. Mobile Internet usage becomes the Norm in the US According to research collated by ComScore over the last year,...
3. PPC School: The rise of Mobile Internet (and what it means for you) Even the most casual followers of this year’s CES, will...

One thing that’s been pointed out is that, despite months of fevered publicity, the Pre failed to generate the kind of crowds that have greeted the release of the G1, the iPhone and even new Blackberries in recent years. In my opinion, an unfair comparison, for one thing, Palm doesn’t have the brand strength that Apple enjoy (no one does), so they were always going to come of second best there, they also don’t have the gimmick of the first ever specific mobile phone OS, like the G1 did.

Also, the technology behind SmartPhones is now pretty old – the law of diminishing returns is going to be a factor, as is the fact that many of the people who were ever going to get one of these phones already have one. As a result, I don’t really think we can judge the Pre on launch hype as it’s just not a level playing field.

What will be crucial for Palm is whether or not they can keep up the momentum for the next few weeks. This may be hampered by the fact that demand has outstripped supply, meaning that, in the words of Tim Donahue, vice president of business marketing – Sprint, “There will be constrained inventory for some time. And there will be spot shortages for the foreseeable future.”

The Pre has been touted as a hybrid of both the Blackberry and the IPhone. It’s touch screen and similar in functionality to an iPhone, though it also has a slide out keyboard and the ability to run several programmes at once, which is expected to appeal to the business users who keep Blackberry afloat.

Overall, I think that Palm have reason to be cautiously optimistic, a possible 100,000 in sales over a weekend is not to be sneezed at and the press have, thus far, been incredibly kind. It could be that Palm is back.

Related posts:

1. Details of new Palm Device Over the past few months we’ve been telling you all...
2. Palm cut jobs as Smart Phone competition intensifies Palm Inc, the once highly successful personal organiser manufacturer, plans...
3. Palm unveils Software Store In a move no doubt inspired by Apple’s ‘App Store,’...

Nokia’s Ovi Store was supposed to be the solution to this problem. It was supposed to be an all singing, all dancing rival to the app store where developers would have almost free reign to innovate and create exciting new programmes for Nokia devices. Much noise was made about the launch of the project yesterday and users logged on in droves to get their first impressions of the new store.

Unfortunately for Nokia those impressions are unlikely to have been good. According to reports when attempting to use the site last night users found that pages either didn’t load or were incredibly slow. Now, some slowness you could forgive due to increased usage just after the launch however, the issue continued for hours. There were also reports of products disappearing for no apparent reason and even very generic search terms yielding no results.

As anyone who’s ever launched a site, or anything for that matter, will know, the hours and days immediately after the launch are hugely important… So, not a good day for Nokia.

Here’s what the company had to say for themselves…

“Shortly after launching the Ovi Store at 2 am ET, we began experiencing extraordinarily high spikes of traffic that resulted in some performance issues for users accessing store.ovi.com and store.ovi.mobi. We immediately began to address this issue by adding servers, which resulted in intermittent performance improvements.”

Related posts:

1. Nokia Opens up its System to Developers In these days of iPhones, Blackberries, Palm Pres, etc., it...
2. Palm unveils Software Store In a move no doubt inspired by Apple’s ‘App Store,’...
3. Google Mobile App Launch delayed by Apple engineers Google Mobile App, the iPhone application that lets users speak...