Mobile Behavior: an Omnicom Group Company

Recently we discussed how the auto industry could soon implement a network technology that will improve the way we use our automobiles. Already on the market are cell phone and Wi-Fi networks that aid in a completely hands-free communication.

The automotive industry is ready for the kind of apps that have revolutionized the mobile space over the last year, according to a report released from iSuppli. The appeal for app technology while in-car makes sense. Drivers could use such offerings for navigation purposes or locating reference points, such as a dealership for repairs, while passengers can play video games or access a social network.  According to Earth2Tech, a handful of automakers, like BMW, Nissan, Ford, GM, and Honda, have developed specific services using an iPhone app. WSJ calls it “the coolest way to pay” where consumers of the Mercedes Benz app use it to make a car payment, view their accounts, and find out how much they have left to pay on the car.

As smartphone app users are increasingly connected, we can also soon expect a host of other services with platforms cross-fertilizing with TV, portable music players, and gaming devices. For example, BMW recently unveiled a new app store that enables delivery of services directly to the vehicle or via a PC. At last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, Nokia presented a smartphone integrated into the car’s dashboard computer system, and Parrot talked of plans to build an Android-based device that offers a complete implementation of smartphone features to the automobile.

We are at the early stages of planning for a fully connected automobile experience and automakers cleverly innovating for the future. If watching the road ought to be the most important thing on our mind, we will see how these additions enhance or distract our driving experience.

• Why the Japanese Hate the iPhone [Wired] - The iPhone may be trendsetting on this side of the world, but in Japan ... meh. In fact, the phones are being given away for free with a two-year contract in order to boost popularity. Some top reasons for the discontent include video and picture capabilities and high pricing plans.
• UN study finds poor countries drive growth in global cell phone use [MSNBC] - Global cell phone use is increasing - six in ten people across the world use mobile phones and this includes developing countries which actually account for 2/3 of cell phones in use. This is a major trend we've been seeing and, so far, all signs point to its continuation!
• Smartphones Will Double Their Share of the Handset Market by 2013, According to In-Stat - According to a new study from In-Stat, smartphone use will swell to 20 percent of the market by 2013. Android-powered phones should lead the pack, with BlackBerry and Apple kicking around as well.
• Skittles.com is the worst thing to ever happen to social media branding [This is Going to be Big] - To follow up on Tuesday's post, here's one opinion on the new Skittles homepage from Charlie O'Donnell. He brings up a great point of comparison in the form of Jelly Belly - same category, totally different approach to social media.
• Land Rover, Jaguar to Spend $1.6m on Mobile Ads in '09 [Media Bistro] - 10 - 20 percent of Land Rover and Jaguar's media spend next year is projected to go towards mobile support. Both brands have been in the sphere since 2007, but even so, this bodes well for the mobile marketing industry - specifically, AdMob, who will be driving (pun intended) campaigns for both.
• comScore: Light PC Internet Users Are 30 Percent More Likely than Heavy ... - comScore reported that light PC Internet users are 30 percent more likely than heavy PC Internet users to use their mobile devices to access Internet content. While this may seem counter intuitive at first glance, it's also somewhat logical: People who are "active" aren't sitting at home in front of PCs. Rather they use the web while on-the-go and prefer the shorter, more practical mobile experience.
• Conveneer Raises $4.5 Million To Turn Cell Phones Into Servers [Tech Crunch] - Swedish mobile startup, Conveneer, is building a mobile platform called Mikz. Essentially, Mikz turns the cell phone into a web server by assigning a URL to the phone which, in turn, makes the content available on the online. They are slated to launch later this year. Godspeed, Swedes!
• Amazon launches free Kindle app for iPhone and iPod touch [Mobile Burn] - Books on phones! We love it. Amazon just launched a free Kindle app for the iPhone and iPod touch allowing users to purchase desired books off Amazon to transfer to their device. Some cool features include bookmarks, text size adjustment and highlighting.
• Emerging markets are fertile ground for mobile banking [RCRWireless] - Developing markets are ripe for mobile banking opportunities. Cellphones are more prevalent in these nations than landlines, allowing for the growth and expansion of m-banking. It is hoped that by 2012, an estimated 20 million untapped users can be reached.
• Why Imeem's Music Isn't Free on Cellphones [Bits Blog] - Gotta love Imeem. The music-oriented social network has now brought us a mobile music application. The only caveat is they want users to pay for tracks on their phone whereas music on the computer = free. Dry your eyes; the new application has a customizable Internet radio service that is free. Imeem's charm is still there. Kinda.
• Slowdown may snag smartphone newbies [RCR Wireless News] - Like cartoon coyotes that extend themselves to full height before an exaggerated pounce on prey, handset vendors have offered little this year — but portended much — before an expected lunge at the market. Analyst Takeaways: Device makers could be squeezed out of apps business; new entrants to have difficult time finding success; lower data plans would drive smartphone sales.
• Report: Mobile Music To Hit $14.6 Billion In 2013 [mocoNews] - The Mobile Music Services market is predicted to hit $14.6 Billion in 2013 - $3 Billion less than predicted one year ago. Participation from major labels in mobile ventures and improvements in technology will contribute to mobile music growth, countering the decline of ringtone revenues.
• By the numbers: Top 10 most popular U.S. handsets in December [RCR Wireless News] - AvianResearch L.L.C ranks the 10 most popular handsets in the United States in December 2008. The firm derives its ranking via  monthly survey of service representatives and store managers at retail stores of the four major U.S. wireless carriers (AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA Inc.). The iPhone is NOT #1.

• Tweet, tweet went the congressman [CNN] - Many Republicans apparently learned from Obama's media strategy during the election, as CNN was quick to point to several members of Congress tweeting away on their BlackBerries during the president's speach. @BarackObama U Suk ... LOLZ ... :P
• MWC 2009 Recap [Next Generation Mobile Content] - One observant Mobile World Congress attendee notes the hot trends including touch UIs and app stores, as well as a conspicuous lack of mobile content.
• Mattel Digital Network - After the success of Barbie's virtual world (BarbieWorld.com) and the debut of some very cool brain-powered games like MattelMindFlex, Mattel announced  its intentions to become a bigger player in the digital space with the "Mattel Digital Network," an online destination for interactive programming and content.
• The Mobile Web Is for Fun and the PC Web Is for Everything Else [GigaOM] - There's a correlation between those who access the internet on their phone and those on a PC. A little shocking? Not really. But a study determined that the heaviest mobile internet users are Males between 18-44...and apparently iPhone users have more fun. Again, not so shocking.
• ‘Mission Impossible’ movies to be included on Samsung phones [RCR Wireless News] - This phone will self-destruct in five seconds. Samsung is teaming up with Paramount Digital Entertainment to package the entire "Mission Impossible" trilogy onto phones sold through Alltel. In order to blunt this action-packed offensive and up the ante, Apple is rumored to be forcing new subscribers to defeat Michael Dudikoff in hand-to-hand combat at select AT&T locations.
• Study Finds iPhone Users Stop Using Downloaded Apps Soon After Purchasing Them [Geek Sugar] - Sure, the app store is posting some impressive numbers, but how many neglected HammerTime download have been relegated to the back page and forgotten? But you'll keep it, just in case you ever want to watch the full version of 2 Legit 2 Quit.
• Combi iPod Bouncer [Think Geek] - Keep on rocking my baby ... Combi's iPod bouncer is way cooler than some animatronic penquin that gyrates to a classic rock midi. Let your infant rock out to hits from Ben Folds Five, Britney Spears or maybe even some old school Kreator. Don't be surprised if they skip walking and go straight to dancing!
• Twitter first to publish dramatic crash pictures [CNN] - Twitter is news you can trust - at least this one time. They were the first to document photos of the the Turkish Airlines crash in Amsterdam ahead of traditional media. After seeing it on the popular website, CNN confirmed the details of the crash then reported the story..
• iPhone 3G to finally hit China this spring [Unwired View] - China is finally getting the iPhone. This spring Apple will at last tap into this market of 130 million cell phone customer and for once, America had it first - savor this moment, for it is fleeting and will not last.
• Archdiocese of St.Louis to announce new Archbishop via SMS - The announcement of St. Louis's new Archbishop of will be broadcast live via text message. Anyone who has signed up on the website will receive a text as soon as the announcement is made.

• Industry Pitching Cellphones as a Teaching Tool [New York Times] - CTIA is making the case for cellphones in the classroom and, you know, it makes sense. By pitching them as a viable educational tool due to their inexpensiveness (relative to laptops) and convenience, they're also tagging a trend that's been sweeping developing countries like India and Brazil, where mobile users have essentially skipped computers and gone straight to handsets.
• Surgeons send 'tweets' from operating room [CNN] - We mentioned surgery tweeting awhile back and it happened again the other day. Let's just hope no one @'s your surgeon that hilarious kitten video during your appendectomy.
• Shazam Seeing 1M Song Tags a Day [Media Bistro] - Shazam seems to be a hit for Apple's App store, generating about one million song tags a day. It is not to be confused with its semantic cousin, Kazaam, which did not generate millions of anything.
• Microsoft targets its own smartphone store [Financial Times] - Microsoft is hoping to borrow some application thunder from Apple and Android by putting out the news that a Windows Mobile storefront is brewing.
• Mobile Web Becoming a Necessity [Media Bistro] - Mobile data plans are a necessity. If you're on this site, you probably already know that. However, in a recent survey by Nielsen, for Tellabs, they found that 71 percent of those surveyed agreed. Internet is the most popular reason (duh), followed by e-mail and messaging. :D
• Implementation of Universal Phone Chargers [Mobile Burn] - Universal phone chargers! It may seem minor, but if you've ever been to a friend's house and found your phone gasping for air and about to go under - only to discover that your friend doesn't have a charger to fit your set - then you know why this is hot.
• Twitter Triumphant [Mobility Site] - In this great piece by Zealot, Twitter is positioned as the horse on which to pin our colors in the race towards actually connecting the world via web. It's not that it's doing anything essentially new, it's simply doing it in a unique, easy and engaging way. It requires only a matter of seconds to drop into someone else's world and, in turn, bring them into ours.
• The Cellphone, Navigating Our Lives [New York Times] - As John Markoff points out in this piece, social map applications are quickly turning us into Sims-esque characters on a grid, with flashing green lights above our heads.