Starting a New Business? Do You Have a Mobile Strategy?
Global sales of smartphones and tablets have surpassed those of conventional computers. According to a recent study by Deloitte, “global mobile traffic as a percentage of total Internet traffic is expected to reach nearly 20 percent by the end of this year—compared with less than 5 percent at the end of 2010.”
The same report indicates “The prospect of outsized returns from investments in mobile has attracted startups and venture capitalists. Some of these firms are placing big bets on mobile-only initiatives and investments. In fact, a quarter of the firms and projects in a survey of venture capitalist and startup incubators have built their strategies on mobile technology.“
If you are starting a new venture, regardless of the size of your company, your ability to be competitive will depend on the strength of your mobile program.
To read the entire article, click here or below.
Google’s Android Market Share Surge
According to an article in today’s Wall Street Journal, a recent report from IDC reports that Google’s Android global market share is now at 79%, up from 69% at the end of the last year. Apple’ s market share slipped to 13% while Blackberry, once the market leader, now stands at under 3%.
Steve Mollenkopf, president and operating chief of mobile chip giant Qualcomm Inc. is quoted in the article that “You are seeing tremendous growth in the developing world. Companies selling there are picking up Android and driving that.”
What does this mean for Apple and Blackberry? Read the complete article below.
Googles Android Seizes Smartphone Market – WSJ.com.
In a related article, AllThingsD’S, Ina Fried reports that Blackberry continues to lose more top level executives.
How Are Your Texting Skills?
More people have found that making contact by texting is easier than calling.
Read the complete article below.
Why Millennials Chat and Text With Their Mothers From Work All Day – WSJ.com.
The open rate on texting is close to 100%. As for e-mail, it’s no secret that it might take hours or days to get an answer.
It’s not necessary to have a smartphone (iPhone, Android, or blackberry) to text. Although sending a text can be tedious on a basic cellphone, you have a better chance of reaching people than e-mailing or calling.
Running late for an appointment, need to ask a quick question, reach for your mobile phone and send a text!
Starbucks Ups the Stakes in Battle Over Wireless Charging
Now you can give your phone a caffeine fix along with your latte. Not ready for prime-time yet, but definitely a great idea.
Starbucks Ups the Stakes in Battle Over Wireless Charging – Ina Fried – Mobile – AllThingsD.
Biggest problem facing mobile phone users – – – – your battery running out of juice.
What do you do to increase your battery life?
Google Makes Another TV Push With $35 Chromecast Device
Are you ready to start watching Internet based content on your TV?
Do you really need cable TV?
All you need is a wireless network and a TV with an HDMI outlet.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Chromecast, is compatible with mobile devices powered by Google’s Android software as well as Apple iPhones and iPads. Read the full article below.
Google Makes Another TV Push With $35 Chromecast Device – WSJ.com.
Want To Upgrade Your Smartphone? – Read The Small Print
We all know that it is costly to upgrade your smartphone before the end of your contract (usually 2 years). According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, fewer people are upgrading their smartphones.
With this in mind, a couple of wireless provider, AT&T and T-Mobile, have decided to allow their customers to upgrade at any time. However before you leap at the offer, READ THE FINE PRINT.
Taking advantage of these offers require you to pay full retail for the phone. When you purchase or upgrade with a contract, you get it at a subsidized price. A subsidized phone could cost about $199, while the full retail price could be over $600. READ THE FINE PRINT CAREFULLY.
Before making a decision, be sure to evaluate whether or not the upgrade is worth it.
Mobile Device War Heats Up
Microsoft has started to reduce the price of its Surface RT tablet. Read about it in the Wall Street Journal
BlackBerry Z10 prices drop to $49. A disappointing decision just 4 months after its launch according to the Wall Street Journal
Sales of mobile devices continue to soar, with sales of tablets now exceeding those of personal computers.
The stakes are high as more hardware suppliers are rushing to catch up with the demand.
Are these failures indicative of poor planning or the high price points?
What do you think?
Are you part of the Digital Revolution?
The latest KPCB study of Internet Trends reveals how digital content (photos, videos, messaging, social media, etc.) have become part of our everyday lives.
According to this study, there are over 5 billion mobile phone users, 1.5 billion smartphone users, globally. The number of tablets in the market has doubled in the past year. More people are accessing the Internet through mobile devices that through Desktop computers.
The KPCB study below reveals how the Internet world has shifted in just the past year. Interesting reading.
Why you should consider the Cloud based version of Microsoft Office
Want to use Microsoft Office on the Road?
Are you spending more time out of your home or office? Would you like to be able to work on your documents from your mobile devices?
BY EDWARD MENDELSON. “The title above says Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium$94.99 at SoftwareSpeedy, which is Microsoft’s name for one of its many varieties of Office 2013—the subscription-based variety that you download from the cloud and use on your disk in exactly the same way youve used earlier versions of Office. The difference is that the new Office is designed to make it as easy to store documents in the cloud as it is on your disk, and Microsoft is pushing the idea that with Office 365, you can now edit Office documents anywhere—on any Windows-based desktop or tablet, on a Windows phone, in a Web browser, and even on your Mac, because your Office 365 subscription lets you have Office installed on five devices at any one time. This means you get Office 2013 on your Windows machines and Office 2011 for the Mac on your OS X machines. Office 2013 is an impressive upgrade to the worlds most powerful office application suite, with new features so smoothly built in that it requires almost no new learning or training. Office 365 is the best argument Ive seen for moving documents into the cloud without any compromise in features and flexibility compared to desktop-only applications”.
via Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium Review & Rating | PCMag.com.
The Mobile World is Now – Are You Prepared?
Over 700 million smartphones (Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android, RIM’s Blackberry, etc.) were shipped globally in 2012, according to Strategy Analytics. In an article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, major companies, such as Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon are all competing for a share of the global market. If you already own a smartphone or tablet (Apple’s iPad, Samsung’s Galaxy, Microsoft’s Surface, etc.), you are probably familiar with the world of apps, which is an abbreviation for application, a piece of software which is run on your phone and tablet.
How important is it for you to be a true “road warrior?” Well, the same article reveals that sales of smartphones were nearly double that of the traditional PC last year. Within the next two years, more people will be accessing the Internet through a mobile device than a computer.
If you find you are on the wrong side of the “Great Digital Divide,” and want to learn all about the mobile world, my e-book (pictured below) contains many useful tips. You can order it directly from Amazon by clicking on the image below.
