25.02.2009
Content portability and touch screens are buzz at Mobile World Congress
Mobile World Congress, the world's largest mobile event, has attracted close to 50,000 delegates, down 10% from last year. What were they discussing? The economy, mobile's upward trajectory, content portability, new touch screens and applications. Here are first-hand accounts from four delegates and exhibitors at the event in Barcelona, Spain.
Michael Neidhöfer, CEO of Netbiscuits: Yes, the economic slowdown has arrived at the Mobile World Congress, too. Here and there, the GSMA has some booth space left and the halls seem to be a little less crowded than the year before. But talking to people tells you that the atmosphere isn’t bad at all. The business partners I met generally welcome the market adjustments that are just going on. These adjustments make sure that only the most efficient and cost-effective solutions for the mobilization of content and services will make it.
Additionally, in-sourcing seems to become an option for more and more players. Netbiscuits is looking forward to this becoming a trend in 2009. The publishing industry is keen on mobile. Their losing ground in print continues and mobile is seen as a promising way to open up additional revenue streams. One of the preferred ways to monetize seems to be the mix of mobile virtual network operator and mobile advertising strategies. Therefore, publishers are forming mobile advertising alliances in various markets.
Regarding devices, the iPhone 3G is still gadget No. 1. It keeps setting the standard which Nokia’s N97 or the Android-enabled G1 are not able to reach. But Android is generally seen much more positively today. After various handset manufacturers announced they will embrace Android, the content industry is looking forward to a larger set of devices that will enable a great mobile user experience.
Lars Aase, Marketing VP at Momail, Stockholm, Sweden: Most people are quite positive and traffic there is OK with people visiting the stands. Hardware will increase the possibilities for greater user experience for mobile usage and, of course, mobile marketing, or mobile email, if you like. It's about "TTT" – touch, touch and touch! All major handset vendors launched touch devices.
Jaime Lanchares, CEO of Unkasoft: The economic situation has affected the show and there are less visitors, but there is still a sense of quality surrounding the conference. Being an emerging company involved in the mobile marketing industry, we were very pleased to see very knowledgeable visitors at our stand. These attendees know exactly what we offer in the mobile marketing arena, asking for the latest in advergaming and advertising. More mobile marketing agencies came to our stand to see the latest trends. Microsoft presented a new great colored QR codes, faster to read than the regular DataMatrix. Really liked them. Back to advertising – brands enjoy more and improved mobile marketing tools. Also Microsoft unveiled the new version of Windows Mobile 6.5, bringing enhancements like an application store – more new features to strengthen Windows Mobile. DoCoMo presented a new separable mobile phone. It was a prototype with display and keypad separate from each other for greater functionality. More devices are improving user experience for games and applications. And Nokia presented the light and powerful N97, fiercely competing with HTC G1, the new generation in mobile technology with access to Android Market.
Mohan Sadashiva, Senior VP of Marketing at FusionOne: Led by Microsoft, Apple, Google and FusionOne, it is evident that the next wave of software development is creating content security in order to ensure consumers can transfer their content with ease from one mobile device to the other. Google’s Sync for the iPhone, licensed by Microsoft, is also leading the charge in content portability by syncing up your Google contacts and calendar. The service allows users to update phone contacts from a Gmail account and download Google calendar items back to your mobile device. According to Google, Sync uses push technology to ensure your changes made are reflected on the device within minutes.
Fonte: Mobile Marketer
« back
GS&MD - Gouvêa de Souza