Are mobile ads viable?

According to a new study by research company Knowledge Networks/SRI called How People Use Mobile Video 2007, it was found that while mobile users are quite willing to watch ads, most mobile ads have nothing to really say to them. An estimated 80% of consumers who use phones and iPods with video capabilities, said that they are open to watching mobile ads if they are able to access free content. Less than 30% of respondents felt that ads were relevant to them.

According to David Tice, vice president and managing director of Knowledge Networks/SRI, “While mobile can indeed be part of larger campaigns, we need to recognize its differences, as well as the ways that different target groups use the medium.” The thing is that most consumers don't really differentiate between mobile video ads and those on the television and ads seen on personal video products are not more influential on users.

Keeping tab of communications

We live in a connected world today. We're connected by telephone, mobile phone, internet, pda and so on, and sometimes it still doesn't seem enough. For a large company, just telephone and internet billings can run into thousands each month and its essential to go in for a telecom audit to ensure that your company is not overcharging and that you are making the most of your telecom requirements and connections.

Small business phone systems

For any business, being able to communicate with its offices as well as clients is the most essential part of setting up an office. As technology is improving, systems like VoIP are able to save a lot of money and time for businesses. VOIP Small Business Phone Systems are one of the most popular ways to improve connectivity between offices and save time and money. The system provided by Xpander Communications is especially for small businesses as the system requires very limited cost and maintenance. All offices can have free 4 digit dialing system between all branches, satellite and home offices. The benefits for all small businesses are really stacked towards installing a VoIP system.

Global voice communications

As globalization increases, the online voice communication industry is making significant gains. Now is the time to make some investments to upgrade your voice communication systems. One of the leaders in online voice communications using Ventrilo Servers hosting is NationVoice, which has the highest level of customer service to offer. NationVoice is one company that provides the first of its kind Voice Over IP Ventrilo, that will be able to connect users from any PC in the world. The system is available for use for both companies and individuals. With 24/7 support, NationVoice seems like the best choice for global voice communications.

Customized phones for the masses

Now the masses can have customized cell phones just like the super rich do. Agenda writes about ModeLabs, one of the companies that makes customized cell phones, using well known branded phones and equipping them with extra functions that will appeal to niche customers. ModeLabs which makes the Elite phone, targets girls of the age 11-17 and prices its cell phone at 190 euros, while its MTV Networks phone is targeted at the 15-35 age group and costs 279 euros. ModeLabs sells only a limited number of its products, sometimes as less as just 10,000 phones of one model.

ModeLabs forecasts that branded products like those it makes for Elite, MTV and other clients will account for 19 percent of the total cellphone market in 2011, compared with less than 0.5 percent today.

"We are really at the beginning of this market for custom phones, but the demand is definitely there," Bohbot said. "We saw a window because the mobile phone manufacturing business has changed a lot from just five years ago. In 2001 you had 15 different companies making phones. Now you have five big ones that dominate, so there is less choice if you want to differentiate yourself."

Cost effective ways to communicate

As business expand globally, it is essential for them to update technologies of communication and networking. VoIP is one such new technology, that can save a lot of money as well as maintenance requirements, and is very well suited to small businesses. Using this technology, a small business that has branches across the country can use the same phone system and have the same private list of phone extensions in all branch offices. There is also an additional 4-digit dialing system between branches, to take care of all inter-office communications. The cost of such small business phone systems has been significantly reduced and the benefits such as free support and improvement on long distance as well as international plans have made it a very viable option, especially for small business owners.

Staying connected with your smartphone

Our quest to remain connected at all times has given rise to the smartphone. I work from home and one of the hardest things I find is the stop working through the night or first thing in the morning, but if I had a smartphone I wouldn't be off work anytime, which is a bit scary and workaholic I think. Smartphones are a great help when you are traveling, since it's the easiest thing to keep track of your mails and stay connected, but I'm not sure if I would want to use one all the time.

Well, I am in the minority on this one, as smartphones are rapidly increasing in sales and being adapted by users who normally would not use them. Isn't that the great praise for the product? I think that when a product starts being used by consumers outside of its usual circle, it is definitely more than a phenomenon. Wirefly Top 5 Smartphones of the year, which include the Cingular BlackJack, BlackBerry Pearl for Cingular and T-Mobile, Motorola Q for Verizon Wireless, # 8700 series for Cingular, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon and the Cingular BlackBerry 8800. Sales of smartphones grew by 70% in the first quarter of 2007, as compared to the last quarter of 2006, due to growing awareness by consumers, an increase in advertising programs and a greater selection of thinner and more stylish phones.

Charge your burger on your cell phone

The next time you buy a burger at McDonalds, you can pay via your mobile phone. Japan's leading mobile phone service provider NTT DoCoMo has teamed up with McDonalds for electronic payments via mobile phones, in a new way to make money from mobile phones. As usual Japan leads the way in this new type of interactive technology. But consumers should know that your purchases will be tracked by both companies for marketing purposes.

For Julie Ask, an analyst with research firm Jupiter, the partnership illustrates the need to have upfront agreements and co-operation for the chain needed for electronic payments to be a success.

"Otherwise it suffers from the chicken and egg problem. POS [Point of Sale] equipment is needed to interoperate with technology in the cell phones. Carriers and handset manufacturers need incentives to add cost into the cell phones. There has to be a network for it to be interesting to anyone," she said.

Flaunt your new cell phone

Choosing a cell phone is getting quite confusing with the number of new variants and options available these days. Since, it never just involves selecting a cell phone but also warrants a serious look at the wireless network provider, it has become quite complicated. It's a good idea to start with a good wireless network provider and then go on to the phone models, since its more important to have good and reliable coverage and cell phone models are constantly changing and being updated in any case.

So, which is the most reliable wireless provider? It has to be Verizon, right? They have one of the best wireless networks in the country, so you can be assured that you'll always have good coverage and clear connections. But, Verizon has never really been known for its state of the art phones, so you might have to take an average cell phone. Well, not so anymore, the company now is offering the latest phones such as the LG Mint Chocolate where you can get Verizon service for free. So no more hiding your phone each time it rings, just because you have an outdated model. You can now flaunt it all you want. Wirefly has lots of deals on Verizon cell phones including Verizon Razrs too for which no rebates or coupons are required, when you open an account with them.

I've been using either Nokia or Motorola phones for the longest time and have really become used to the way these phones work. As a consumer, I would rather have a great company as a wireless network provider and then select a cell phone, but fortunately, our system here allows us to keep the choice of network provider and cell phone completely separate, so one can mix and match just about any phone and network provider to get the best deal.

Russia's largest mobile handset retailing coming to India

Euroset, Russia’s largest mobile handset retailer will be opening its outlet in India by end of February. Euroset plans to set up 5,500 retail stores across Indian in the next two years. The company is reportedly in talks with real estate development company Ansals to partner with for its operations in India, although Ansals spokesperson declined to confirm any finalization of agreement between the companies.