Tag Archives: mobile

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“Gartner said it expects global mobile advertising spending to reach $18 billion this year, up from the estimated $13.1 billion in 2013. By 2017 it’s projecting the market will have sized up to be worth $41.9 billion.”

Key points:

  • Video will show the highest growth — with the category being driven by tablets and growth in tablet ownership.
  • Gartner added that it expects the display category to shift to mobile web display after several years of higher growth in in-app display. 
  • Search/map ad types –  Gartner expects them to benefit from increased use of location data gathered from mobile users opting in to location services or proactively checking in to the places they visit via their use of apps such as Foursquare and Pinterest.

Mobile Ad Market Spending To Hit $18BN In 2014, Rising To ~$42BN By 2017, Says Gartner | TechCrunch

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If this seems like an odd arena for T-Mobile to step into when it clearly has important things on the wireless side to tend to, you’re not alone. From the standpoint of building brand recognition with folks who are cost-sensitive, this certainly makes sense, and we’re sure a good number of people will actually take advantage of this. But how much does this distract away from T-Mobile’s objectives as a carrier? Only time can tell how this one will play out.

“The Uncarrier wants to be the Unbank of prepaid debit cards” via TechCrunch

As a small startup we are constantly wrestling with “wow, that new direction looks like shiny, let’s go after it.” Yet focus and clarity is important for our products and ultimately for our customers. 

I’m curious how T-Mobile will fare as they start to act like a bank, taking on the likes of Simple and potentially distracting from their goals as a telco.

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As the App Store Top Charts seem to prove, people don’t seem to be looking for “an inbox for everything,” but instead for sharply focused apps delivering solid value at a moment’s notice.

“Facebook plans suite of standalone mobile apps for 2014” via The Verge

“Calendar could be another opportunity for Facebook to embed itself into its users’ lives. Facebook Events are perhaps the most popular way to send out birthday party invites — yet Facebook has largely ignored its potential. All the while, free apps like Sunrise tastefully bundle Facebook events into your Google or iCloud calendar. A Facebook Calendar app, like the new Messenger, would have to be the best calendar app — not the best Facebook Calendar app — which means no spammy “Sponsored Events” or suggested parties. The app could plug into Google Calendar, like Fantastical or Sunrise, but provide the best Facebook Events experience, since that’s what people are using to track of events they’re attending. It’s also worth noting that Facebook is still the place most people check to keep up on birthdays — a sorely undervalued and essential functionality that Sunrise duly steals.”

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Upgrading your plan may be a good way to avoid overage charges, but Sprint might have another option: WiFi calling. 

Another carrier (potentially) allowing their users to make calls over WiFi. The value prop makes sense (“This will allow you to make calls when your cellular reception is poor”), but it is also a big defensive move to offer their own alternatives to 3rd-party OTT apps like Line.

Sprint might launch free WiFi calling for select Android devices

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App competition means there’s almost always a free app option consumers can choose instead of shelling out for a paid app. So the bar for what a paid app should be is pushed ever higher. By 2017, Gartner predicts that 94.5% of downloads will be for free apps.

“Gartner Says Less Than One Percent of Consumer Mobile Apps Will Be Considered a Financial Success by Their Developers Through 2018” via Gartner Reports

Key points:

  • By 2017, Gartner predicts that 94.5% of downloads will be for free apps.
  • Freemium app business models which rely on monetizing a free download after the fact via in-app purchases (IAP) will continue to grow in importance for developers. (As will app advertising.)
  • By 2016, 20 percent of enterprise bring your own device (BYOD) programs will fail due to enterprise deployment of mobile device management (MDM) measures that are too restrictive.
  • By 2017, the browser on mobile endpoint devices will be used as a sophisticated application delivery platform, with 50 percent of new Web apps involving complex client-side JavaScript.

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Apple won about 8% of global business and government spending on computers and tablets in 2012, Forrester Research says, up from 1% in 2009. By 2015, Forrester estimates that figure will climb to 11%. The numbers exclude the iPhone, which may be the most widely purchased Apple product by corporate customers. It is often Apple’s gateway into a business.

“Apple Devices Flow into the Corporate World” via WSJ

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A Microsoft spokesperson said today that Windows Phone had “record sales” during the recent holiday season, and that the company saw double the unit sales, year-over-year, for Christmas week.

I’ve recently made the switch to Android (after using iOS for a year, prior to that i was on WP), and articles like this remind me of how many things I really loved about the WP OS. Miss me some live tiles…

Microsoft claims to have seen “record sales of Windows Phone this holiday” – Neowin