The potential of m-commerce (infographic)

Here is the potential of m-commerce in a Mashable infographic.

http://mashable.com/2012/03/07/mobile-commerce-outlook/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

Innovation of the month: GroupMe of Skype

GroupMe is the newest member of the Skype family. GroupMe is an easy way to chat with the people and groups you really know, wherever you are. GroupMe works on almost every cell phone¹ and there’s an app available for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7. You’ll be connecting with all your friends in no time at all.

What is interesting is the fact that you can chat in group among different smartphones OS owners. More people are registered to Skype than Blackberry Messenger or other proprietary applications.

The app is free if you have a WiFi connection or a mobile data plan that emables to chat with your group in-app.

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

Android has a collective evolution

According to Andy Rubin of Google, there are 850,000 activations of Android devices, whether mobile or tablets a day. Rubin explains the motivations behind the acquisition of Motorola: "The advantage of having a firm that makes it able to dial to where we think the future will, but it won't make anything exclusive that it may damage the rest... We believe in an open ecosystem."

As it happens, Motorola released the Android 3.0 Xoom tablet. Samsung offers version 4.0, which unifies tablets and phones. "Without balance you can not make an ecosystem. " Within this logic fits the fact that many manufacturers such as Motorola's own Motoblur, Samsung or HTC Sense Hub, provide their own equipment and adaptable interface. "I know it's controversial, some may prefer the pure system, as it comes, it also helps handled who are not familiar or want to customize. Anything to give consumers more choices seems right. "

Rubin has revealed that in 2011 12 million tablets with Google software were sold, excluding the Amazon Kindle Fire. They just doubled those sold in 2010.

First came Google Music, Google Books and later, YouTube was acquired... Just after they released Android. Now they need to combine both worlds ... "We will add more content, but for now we can not advertise. We have to improve to do business. "

Android still has some issues to solve: such as hiw you can't have good Facebook application in tablets? All board members have agreed that what is seen in the 10 inch version does not seem very consistent with the social network. "We will try to mark a path as the application of Gmail or YouTube, which detects the device and adapts, but it is a question for us, but for Facebook it does offer a version for iPhone and one for iPad" . A few hours later the head of Facebook's Technology has announced its commitment to a web-based, open mobile HTML5.

Rubin says high-end phones today will become the minimum within a window of 18 months. "The important thing is to be brave enough to set trends." When he arrived at Google, the firms invested in Android because, he says, Google knew that their business model, with free services and advertising revenue, was the only one who could succeed with their vision completely. It is unfair to think that all innovation comes from a company. The evolution is collective. "

Neither ruled out at some point a launch of a Google e-reader, but it does not seem too logical: "There is already an application in our Kindle Store."

The future, according to Rubin, is the era postPC. Once you have set in tablets and phones the next frontier is in the home, when you come home and leave the keys, mobile and work. "I feel that if we put Android at home, this will not work. We must be imaginative to join more traveling companions. If not, others will come up with another ecosystem. It is an industry that we want to lead by giving intelligence to home," he argues. It fits with the line of home automation smart labels, just a day before Sony had introduced its new handsets.

Source: El Pais

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

Alternatives to SMS are cutting wireless operators revenues

According to GigaOM, new competitors such as Viber, WhatsApp, Facebook Chat and Google Voice are all alternative ways to send instant messages or texts across mobile platforms and join the usual suspects such as BlackBerry Messenger, iMessage and Skype as ways Internet businesses are again challenging the mobile carriers at their own game. The rise in third-party IM and voice applications has been noted in Europe, but reports out today show that carriers are running out of time. They need to hurry to co-opt their competition by playing to their strengths.

Ovum estimates operators lost $13.9 billion of potential SMS revenue in 2011 through subscribers using social messaging apps on their mobile phone, a loss in revenue that is both high margin and creates a virtuous cycle of use. When I sign up for a new social messaging service, I get my friends on it too, causing a loss in potential revenue that spreads virally. That’s how Viber, a social messaging service that was relatively unknown six months ago, can suddenly shoot up to consume 2 percent of mobile bandwidth six months later, according to data from Allot.

Wireless operators must build a good portfolio of innovation projects where some "winners" will emerge. Innovation is the solution to revenues loss.

Source: http://gigaom.com/mobile/random-startups-are-eating-almost-14b-in-operator-sales/

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

Tablets offer a similar opportunity as consoles in video games

According to the creator of the blockbuster video game Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi, tablets offer a similar opportunity as consoles for developers in video games. Final Fantasy had 80 million users and was among the most popular game in the 1990's. Sakaguchi bets on mobile and tablets as the formats of the future. He gave an interview to El Pais.

Question: How do you envision the future role of video games?

Answer: The graphics and sound will continue to evolve. Not only in this format. We will see more and more advanced phones.

P. Do you think the tablets and phones can compete with the consoles?

R. The hardware offers similar architecture. For example, PlayStation Vita, coming out next week on sale in Europe, has some very similar to the iPhone. The tablets will have a similar power to home consoles. I think as a developer, it proposes an interesting scenario.

P. Do you think Sony and Nintendo will succumb to this phenomenon and stop making consoles?

R. That's a business decision. The fact is that the devices increasingly look more technically. In the future there will be much difference between supports. Soon we will see games made for television. The important thing is what the content send on the support.

P. How has meaning to re-direct 'The Last Story' after 20 years?

R. The role of producer and director is more diffuse than before. In Final Fantasy VI said goodbye to the address, but I stayed close to each creation. After, the Last Story, I took a year to think about new ideas. I realized I had to be getting involved and above all the process.

P. The critical stress games how to leverage the Wii graphics, do you think has peaked?

R. The graphics are complex.I always try to look after the maximum artistic aspect, but I think the limit is imagination.

P. One of its hallmarks is the characters, how is the process of creation?

R. Tactfully and making clear to the player who is who. Sometimes you come up with details, other times with conversations between them or commenting on aspects of the scenario to create some mystery and awaken interest.

P. In all his titles the characters have suffered some trauma vital, why?

R. All human beings have some kind of trauma. The important thing is to make it a motivation to do something, change things, brand personality.

P. Despite this depressing and very personal air has allowed users to customize to your liking, is to be projected on them?

R. The designer did not agree with me in doing something so open. It seemed to me very important that users feel closer and identified with a character with which they will live a long adventure.

P. The Last Story was released in Japan last year and has now reached Europe. Why is America? Is there much difference between these three regions?

R. The decision to take him to the U.S. is Nintendo of America. I hope so. I have great confidence in its success in Europe. I do not think that is both a cultural issue as to find the right niche audience. Depends on gender, age, interests ... When I create a new title I don't put the focus on a particular market.

P. The latter title is a renewal of the genre of role-playing games on consoles. What is the perfect combination of strategy and action to be successful?

R. I wish I had the recipe. I try always, with varying success.

P. Do you plan to create a game of this style to 3DS?

R. I have no plans for this platform. Instead I am making three games for IOS for both iPhone and iPad.

P. For five years is almost impossible to find a great production to dispense with an online version and a cooperative mode, how do you prepare for this format?

R. It is one of the most difficult aspects of the creative process. The whole team together, we discussed and we took it as an adventure completely different from zero. We have differentiated in the way of communicating because many games have the voice chat feature and I hate to use foul language. We decided that they would be used in the game dialogues themselves, which are written to communicate between players. In Japan it worked great. I hope that in Europe also like this integration.

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

The world of smartphones at Mobile World Congress

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) is actually in Barcelona, Spain. In a world where data is growing, SMS, short message provides 14% of the income of wireless operators.

But now is the time of the proliferation of data on smartphones: What's App and social networks are killing the SMS. Moreover, the future of any business depends on its adaptation to the smartphone and its connection to the Internet.

Smartphones grew 53.5% in 2011, 432 million of these devices were sold worldwide, 34% of the total. At year end there will be a billion humans with a smartphone in their hands, according to Telecoms and Media. The smartphone is not, as predicted a couple of years ago, a luxury, but a necessary good. Within the next four years, the penetration of these devices will be multiplied by nine in Pakistan, by six in Indonesia, five in Japan and Nigeria, three in China and Brazil.

Penetration exceeds 50% in Spain, creating a new economy. Half of their owners used to make purchases, according to research from ComScore, among other activities.

The rapid expansion of mobile phone is no stranger to the business the ability to exploit someone else to operators and manufacturers. It is an income source for everyone from the automotive industry to public health. The smartphone saves routine visits to the doctor, permanent driver serves our vital signs, medication or view monitors in its early stage disease.

At the fair of Barcelona, ​​the spotlight is going to lead to spectacular new phones, but the most important thing is not: are operating systems, with news W8 Mozilla and Microsoft - and especially the chips becoming more and more quick and ready. The quad-core Qualcomm (Snapdragon 4) and Nvidia (Tegra 39), born for the smartphone are able to get along with computers and television sets, connect to social networks, make payments or play real-time events and HD. All at once, in a single chip, and using less energy; an essential step for the nightmare of any owner of a mobile phone: the battery life, an area where progress is not enough for physical reasons.

In 2011, the biggest mobile sectors were: mobile games (31.5% of all admissions), music (21%) and applications (16%), but in four years it will be payments and applications.

Mobile users are taking advantage of broadband and connectivity in every corner. While traffic has tripled with just pictures, the application was multiplied by 15, by 13 for publications and video by 22. Telephone traffic will grow by 62% each year until 2016, the minority will be voice.

New mobile opportunities emerged: a computer is a company,and can be an application developer. Major events in the world today have not taken more than half a dozen people, as is the case of the most successful mobile game in the world: Angry Birds, which is only possible with a smartphone. It is the rule of smartphone.

Source: El Pais

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

The vast majority of smartphones and tablets at work are owned by employees

According to new data from Forrester Research, 73% of smartphones and 66% of tablets being used at work are bought and owned by employees. Surveying almost 10,000 workers across 17 countries, the findings revealed that half of laptops are also employee-owned.

But with this Bring Your Own Device trend seems to come perhaps too many net devices. Forrester says that three-quarters of workers wield two or more devices and over half wield three or more.

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

Forrester Research forecasts 1 billion smartphones and tablets by 2016

According to Forrester Research, smartphones and tablets consumers will reach a billion global consumers by 2016.

"Mobile is not simply another device for IT to support with a shrunken website or a screen-scraped SAP application. Rather, mobile is the manifestation of a much broader shift to new systems of engagement. These systems of engagement help firms empower their customers, partners, and employees with context-aware apps and smart products. To remain vital in this business technology reformation, CIOs must step up and work with other executives to establish an "office of the chief mobility officer" to implement an enterprisewide mobile strategy. This team will coordinate the business and technology investments under a "design for mobile first" mantra that delivers four immediate benefits:

1) fuel profitable growth with stickier offerings and mobile self-service;
2) move faster along the mobile learning curve;
3) aggregate mobile project budgets to fund needed engagement technology; and
4) grow from an IT group focused on systems of record to a business technology group focused on systems of engagement".

Infocom Intelligence covered the Canadian wireless market in a 2007 report, analyzing technologies and strategies. The report is available online for US$85 (with taxes). For more information see http://www.infocomintelligence.com/newreports.htm

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

New article on Seeking Alpha about Research in Motion

Our new article about Research in Motion is available on Seeking Alpha:

RIM'S New CEO Is Buying Time To Postpone Sale.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/321346-rim-s-new-ceo-is-buying-time-to-postpone-sale

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

New article on Seeking Alpha: The battle of smartphones manufacturers

My new article "The battle of smartphones manufacturers" is now available on Seeking Alpha.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/309935-the-battle-of-smart-phones-manufacturers

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

Apple has 90% of the mobile revenues in applications

Google's mobile operating system, Android, has become the top platform in some countries, even eclipsing Apple's iOS. And this makes sense—after all, their are many, many more Android devices to choose from, including more budget options. But when it comes down to developers' earnings, there's no competition.

However, new data released by Piper Jaffray revealed that the Android platform has generated just 7% of the revenue that Apple's iOS has—a meagre $330 million compared to a staggering $4.9 billion. While an impressive 14% of iOS apps downloaded are paid, only 1% of downloaded Android apps are. I guess that's what happens when a platform's core demographic are those with tighter budgets. Apple boasts as much as 90% of the mobile marketshare in terms of app revenue.

Source: http://www.techvibes.com/blog/apple-owns-90-of-mobile-revenue-marketshare-ios-developers-make-14x-as-much-as-android-developers-2011-11-21

Louis Rhéaume
infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com
Twitter: @InfocomAnalysis

What are the hot products in the Mobile World Congress of 2011?

Some new features are emerging at the Mobile World Congress of 2011.


-First there are new 3D smartphones where you can take 3D videos (i.e. LG Optimus 3D on Android) and uppload them directly to Youtube.


-Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is also a key feature.  A lot of new smartphones are incorporating NFC enabling payless mobile payments with some merchants.


-HTC is offering phones with "Facebook buttons" enabling faster access to the social network.


-Sony is offering a "Playstation phone" (Sony Xperia Play).


-Wrist watch devices (Sony Ericsson LiveView) where you can access apps, emails and texts without bringing your phone with you.


-More powerful tablets (HP TouchPad WebOS Tablet and Motorola Xoom).


Loluis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com

Who is still the leader in smartphones?

Blackberry is still the most popular operating system (OS) platform for smartphones around the world with a presence in around 70% of firms in North America and Europe in Q1 2010. However, among consumers and business smartphones users, RIM is also the leader but is challenged by the growth of Android of Google.  Even though Apple experienced fast growth with its iPhone, they lost a bit of market share between May and August this year.  Finally, Microsoft just announced the launch of Windows phone 7 which resemble Android http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101011/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_microsoft_phones

Louis Rhéaume
Infocom Intelligence
louis@infocomintelligence.com