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Independent app vendor jumps to number three spot
Until now, independent app vendors have often lost out to the big names, a major and obvious criticism being lack of content. PocketGear are seeking to change that perception, and by acquiring Handango now have the ability to field a cross-platform marketplace with more than 140,000 titles, spread across Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian and Palm. The increase in scale for the two firms potentially makes them world number three, behind Apple and Google. PocketGear already provide the backbone for 40 storefronts, including those of Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, T-Mobile and AT&T.
Like to know more? press release here
We shall overcome
Apple’s current domination of the app store format is undoubted, but insular. Lots of alternatives exist, but the choice for consumers is fragmented between operator, operating system and handset manufacturer. This morning, the GSM Association announced an alliance between twenty-four leading telecommunications operators that may begin to change all that. The Wholesale Applications Community intends to provide an open platform to deliver applications to all mobile phone users, regardless of brand, device or chief executive’s decree.
Senior Telco players including AT&T, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone have committed to providing an open means of developing and marketing apps, regardless of platform, to the three billion customers their combined forces serve and support. An awesome marketplace. Big brand manufactures have been quick to get in on the deal, with LG Electronics, Samsung and Sony Ericsson becoming early supporters.
Like to know more? press release here
Roughly a quarter chargeable sales
 Market researcher Gartner publishes its latest report, revealing an incredible two and a half billion bits of software were downloaded across ‘i’ phones and pods last year. The number downloaded since the App Store launched in July 2008 has been catapulted above the three billion milestone.
Opinions differ on the quantity that were actual sales, but with only 16 million apps downloaded across *all* rival platforms, Apple are dominating the market with a percentage cut in the very high nineties, however you cut the cake.
Gartner forecast app sales and revenue to grow and grow. Other pundits suggest the smartphone segment of mobile sales is expected to grow by 10% in 2010. But with the early majority more hesitant about paying for downloads and instead focused on their social contacts, more revenue share will be drawn from advertising. Unsurprisingly Apple has just acquired its own mobile ad firm, Quattro Wireless.
Dozens of new tablet devices premiered at the CES show last week (more on these in another post), and the secret to driving consumer demand for them will be finding something worthwhile to use them for, that isn’t just as easy on a smartphone or laptop. What the killer app will be, or even if it exists is still up in the air, but expect thousands of attempts to claim the prize.
Navigate back to Android v1.6
New Google Map Navigation features released in beta for Android 2.0 phones have been rolled back to support phones running Android 1.6. It’s fantastic news for me and I just updated my T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream) with the latest version. The update was quick and easy, customers just need to select Google Maps from within Android Market. Best of all, it’s free.
The most juicy extras only work in the US at the moment, as a UK resident I have enhanced direction finding features and new map layers. First available on Java phones, Google Maps was the killer app that hooked me on Android when the G1 was released. I know I sound a bit gushy, but I’ve always loved maps. Google Earth and products like it really rock my world. I wish those Street View cars would dive around a bit faster.
Like to know more? Google blog here
Gartner report out
Gartner INC is a respected global provider of ICT research, analysis and advice to senior business movers and shakers. Their published report Dataquest Insight: The Top 10 Consumer Mobile Applications in 2012, is available to purchase but here’s a rundown of what they think the most popular mobile applications of next year will be.
- Money Transfer – Send cash to people by SMS. Amazing for the developing world, but hard to police
- Location-Based Services – Info and entertainment services, tailored to where you are
- Mobile Search – Search engines adjusting content for mobile consumers
- Mobile Browsing – Available on 60% of phones now, and ever increasing
- Mobile Health Monitoring – Heart rate, pedometers, remember-to-take-the-tablet alerts
- Mobile Payment – Small transactions through your phone and increased security to authenticate who you are
- Near Field Communication. Dump all the loyalty cards from your wallet, your phone will identify you as you walk past
- Mobile Advertising – We’ll all have to put up with more adverts
- Mobile Instant Messaging – Huge demand already but the price should come down, especially if they tag it with adverts
- Mobile Music – Continued attempts to get us to buy music through phones
I think games will continue be the real number one. I’d have liked education, online book and translation services to have featured, especially as connections multiply in the developing world.
Like to know more? purchase the report (but only if your employer pays)
Mad scientist talks about his product
Fring is a social hub application that allows users to merge their contacts from phonebooks, VoIP and IM clients, then interact with them all through one application.
Now available for Android devices it uses your existing internet connection or Wi-Fi, so it can give you free chat if your connection is already free or unlimited. I downloaded it from Android Market this morning and had a quick go. Icon styling and interface design give it friendly but definite youth-feel.
I can see the attraction of having all my cross-application contacts in one list, but I’d need to laboriously reorganise them as Fring doesn’t group contacts – James in my phonebook, Wolfboy on Skype and fangsforthememory99@hotmail.com on WLM may all be one person, but they appear all over the place in a very long list.
Customers will be using Fring, so it’s always good to know how these things work
Like to know more? fring fring
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