November 14, 2006
Radar
FROM : HARBUS.ORG
Last month I had the opportunity to interview John Poisson, founder and CEO of Tiny Pictures, on campus at HBS. Recently, Tiny Pictures unveiled Radar (www.radar.net) an exciting web service that combines aspects of social networking, web blogs, and camera phone photo-sharing all in an easy to use website.
What is Radar?
If you are like me, you rarely make use of the camera feature on your cell phone. Over the past three years I have taken less than a dozen candid shots using my phone. It is partly because the photo quality is substandard (grainy images and no flash), but mainly because there is not an easy way to download, organize and share the images from my phone. That is where Radar comes in.
Radar makes it simple to share a glimpse into your world. Snap photos on your camera phone, send them to your Radar account, and have your friends and family view and comment on your snapshots in chronological order.
At first blush I was not convinced of the value of a service like this. However after watching John Poisson use his Radar account during our interview I began to see the practical and entertainment value.
As a student I'm finding there just is not enough time to update all my friends and family on what I have been up to at HBS. So this is how I envision using my Radar account:
Clearly I'd setup two access lists-one for family, and the other for friends.
After snapping away photos of me studying in Baker, exploring the Boston landmarks, and participating in other noble activities, I would upload the shots to Radar and share with my family so they can actually see how hard I've been working. On the other hand, after taking candid photos of Section D debauchery, Boston nightlife, and Priscilla madness on my cell phone, I'd upload to Radar and share only with my friends. With Radar you are able to carefully control who views your images and unlike other photo sharing sites your photos are not broadcast to the entire world.
So how do I start?
The service is easy to use:
1) Sign up for a free account at www.radar.net
2) Add friends and family.
3) Snap photos on your phone.
4) Upload and share.
To send photos from your phone you need a built-in camera and the ability to send photo messages (also known as MMS) through your cell phone service provider. Each cell phone provider has a different name for this service. (SprintPCS calls it PCS Vision, while Verizon calls it Mobile Web 2.0)
My Reservations:
Though Radar exceeded my expectations and is a service that I would consider using regularly, I still have the following reservations:
Difficulty in signing up friends.
It has become almost impossible to convince my friends to sign up for YASNS (yet-another-social-networking-site).After persuading them to signup for friendster, hi5, linkedin, plaxo, myspace, I do not know if they can take it anymore. And let us face it, without friends using the service the excitement fizzes out rather quickly.
Limited quality photographs.
Fortunately this is only a short-term limitation, as each subsequent generation camera phone improves image quality and resolution. In the mean time, I will have to deal with my sub-one megapixel images from my phone.
Data plans.
As mentioned earlier in the article, to fully harness Radar you need a cell phone plan that offers reasonable rates for sending Photo Messages. Do your homework so you do not end up spending a fortune on photo message charges.
Radar is definitely in an exciting space-with an expected 1 billion camera phones to be in operation worldwide by the end of the year there are plenty of potential customers.
Excited about the service?
Sign up for a free account at www.radar.net
Really excited about the service?
Radar is looking to hire a campus ambassador to promote their service. Please drop me a note at aarora@mba2008.hbs.edu and I will get you connected!
Posted by akman - Alex Kummerman at 06:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 12, 2005
Active or Passive Location services ?
Many person ask about the difference beteen Active and passive services. Well here is a little more information on the matter.
First it is important to know that the EU commission has issued a directive on Location Based services.
Known as the Directive 2002/58/EC * The European commission has decided to regulate many aspects of electronic communications.
Most of the points covering Location Based Services in this Directive are as follows:
- Automated calling is not allowed without prior consent.
- Electronic messages that conceal the identity of the sender or are without a valid reply address are prohibited
- Location data may only be processed when it is made anonymous or with the consent of the user for the duration necessary for the provision of a service.
- The location must inform the user prior to obtaining their consent, of the type of location data that will be processed, of the purpose and duration of the processing, and whether the data will be transmitted to a third party
- Users shall be given the possibility to withdraw their consent for the processing of location data at any time.
- Users must have simple means, free of charge for temporarily refusing the processing of location data for each connection to the network.
If we look at the mobile operator point of view, such a directive could become an important cost, because operators are most likely to be the target of complains of people who receive unsolicited push messages.
This could explain why Vodafone has defined so strict requirements regarding the privacy management capabilities of its location middleware technology. As a result Vodafone has formulated a Privacy Management Code of Practice**. This code of practice is obligatory for third parties who want to provide location services to Vodafone customers ( 150 million ).
In this code of practice Vodafone distinguishes two type of location services:
- ACTIVE location services is when the end user initiates the location request (e.g., who are my buddies around me now ? )
- PASSIVE location services, where a third party locates an individual ( locatee )at the request of another ( locator ). Typical passive location is for fleet management or location based gaming.
ACTIVE location services assumes that the user is aware and agrees to be located. The code foresees that the user get at least one “awareness message” to inform that the position is being used and that the use of location shall not be “buried in the terms and conditions of the service”.
PASSIVE location services is of a higher risk of misuse by the end user and the third party providers, consequently imposes stricter requirements including the following.
- Explicit an written consent of the Locatee
- Clear information of the Locatee of the nature of the locator prior to consent
- Name and mobile number of the Locator
- Service name and service provider
- Exact description of the service
- Information on the duration and frequency of the location requests as well as circumstance
- Explicit and repeated notifications of location request happenings
- Direct access of the Locatee to a site that specifies who has the right to position oneself
- A direct and easy way to cancel a passive service.
With such a strict use of the Passive mode, MOSOSO builders have to be creative and think of alternative location solutions. The use of Active location service is still possible but is not as powerful in the design of an "always on" MOSOSO.
Dodgeball has found an interesting oblique way to get rid of this dualism.
* Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 12 july 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic comminication sector. Directive on Privacy and Electronic Commuication http://europa.eu.int
**The Privacy Management Code of Practice V1.0 August 2003 by Vodafone UK http://www.vodafone.com
Ressources: Location Based Services Jochen Schiller and Agnès Voisard ed. Morgan Kaufmann 2001.
Posted by akman - Alex Kummerman at 08:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 28, 2005
SMS.ac
Based in San Diego, California, SMS.ac, Inc. is a wireless communications company whose proprietary MMSbox technology enables the exchange of text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) mobile communications across any technology platform and deliverable to any enabled wireless device.
SMS.ac is host to the largest wireless community in the world, offering connectivity to more than 400 mobile networks worldwide. Through its core MMSbox™ technologies, SMS.ac, Inc. enables interoperable, worldwide wireless interaction between network operators, technology standards, the Internet, enterprises, consumers and application/content developers. Through its global initiatives, SMS.ac is igniting the widespread adoption and use of wireless data.
SMS.ac uses it’s proprietary and interoperable technology platform to unify consumers, mobile carriers, application developers, handset manufacturers, enterprises, content and service providers, and virtually anyone in the world interested in communicating via text and multimedia messaging.
SMS.ac partners with mobile carriers around the world to offer its members connectivity to the most mobile data networks, resulting in anytime, anywhere access to people, information and entertainment that are important to them.
Technology
SMS.ac’s technology MMSbox™ has many messaging tools and services that provide consumer SMS (and later, MMS) connectivity across any operating system or platform, from anywhere in the world, using mobile and web-enabled devices.
Business Model
SMS.ac is partnering with mobile operators around the world and integrates the billing systems of mobile operators, so that consumer activity through SMS.ac's systems appears on the users' monthly statements. SMS.ac partners include: Verizon Wireless, the joint venture of Verizon Communication (nyse: VZ - news - people ) and Vodaphone (nyse: VOD - news - people ); T-Mobile, a unit of Deutsche Telekom; Sprint (nyse: FON - news - people ); Nextel (nasdaq: NXTL - news - people ); South Africa's MTN Group and Globe Telecommunications of the Philippines. The largest revenue pool of embers living in the U.K., and spend an average $20 a month on short messaging. No matter the locale, wireless carrier partners of SMS.ac receive 50% of revenue in exchange for the billing arrangement. Revenues are also realized from mobile advertisements, technology licensing, subscriptions, sponsorships.
Products (subscribe to SMS.ac, and you can have the following features allowing you accessibility to a social and interactive network):
• Profile: How would you like to be famous? Completing your SMS.ac member profile means that people are far more likely to communicate with you, especially when you upload photographs. Member profiles make it easier to search for and find people around the world that share your interests. And you get Reward Points when you complete your profile!
• Flirt: Are you in search of your perfect soul mate, a passionate date, or just someone with whom you can share your thoughts? The smsFlirt "Enhanced Search" is the perfect way to instantly meet people that share your interests and attractions! Your next love affair might be as close as your mobile phone, so give smsFlirt a try... you never know where it may lead!
• Channels: Stay current on your favorite topics by receiving news, information and entertainment--directly on your mobile phone! Choose from Horoscopes, Weird News, Pick-up line of the day and lots more. Add or remove smsChannels anytime you want--the choice is yours!
• Clubs: Find people anywhere in the world that share your specific interests and exchange messages with them, using your mobile phone! Join a Club, or start your own. Some Clubs have thousands of people in them, so you'll be always connected with plenty of people that like the same things you do!
• Interactive: Welcome to Interactive! This is where you’ll find a variety of exciting games and services that you can enjoy with people around town, or around the world! Test your knowledge and skill with our interactive trivia games. Look to your horoscope for answers to your future. If you like Fun & Games, check out our cool new games like “Choose Your Own Adventure,” “Hot 21” and “Word Jumble.”
• Email: Spam-FREE email! You'll never miss another important email again, because you can have all, or part of your email messages sent directly to your mobile phone! You can choose to forward only the emails that are sent from pre-approved sources, making your email spam-free!
• Rewards: SMS.ac rewards you for using SMS.ac products and services. As you receive points, you can participate in auctions to receive fantastic prizes, such as digital cameras, iPods and more. The more you use SMS.ac, the more points you receive!
• Ringtones: Get all the latest ringtones, wallpaper, screen savers and more... everything you'd ever want to make your mobile phone super-sweet! Downloading is easy!
(taken from sms.ac)
Statistics:
SMS.ac launched its consumer suite of MMSbox-based wireless applications with significant advantages over would-be competition:
• SMS.ac applications are created specifically for mobile deployment. The Company's original applications are a result of more than $70 million spent in research, development and gauged consumer (Youth) adoption.
• SMS.ac products and services were designed to attract and retain Youth. Proof of concept is that SMS.ac remains the largest product launch of any company in history, as well as the largest community of mobile phone users in the world (35 million).
Why is it so important for SMS.ac to focus on Youth? Youth (ages 13-24) are perceived as being a vital demographic segment for a wide variety of industries. According to a recent mobile Youth report authored in the U.K., Youth disposable income globally rose to $1.14 trillion. The report indicates that as examples, Youth in the USA and Switzerland annually spend $4,903 and $4,798 in disposable income per head, respectively.
According to the same report compiled by Wireless World Forum, worldwide adoption of mobile phones is accelerating. In the U.S., there is an estimated 44.9 million mobile phone owners in this Youth segment, while that number is projected to jump to 52.2 million in 2006.
The numbers being tallied from mobile data are impressive-- and increasing:
• SMS currently generates around 18% of total mobile operator revenue in Europe.
• Mobile email generates 80% of data revenues for operators in Japan. With revenues realized from "voice" on the decline, mobile data is viewed as the avenue by which operator profits can be taken to new heights.
What is the possible impact on Youth within the mobile marketplace? Wireless World Forum states that Youth spent $11 billion globally on music in 2003. They spent eight times (8x) more on mobile phones than they did on music in that same time period. Worldwide, Youth mobile products now outsell Youth music products by 800%.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES SMS.ac
• Largest mobile community
• Most premium billing arrangements with mobile carriers
• Most data collectivity to more mobile data networks in more countries than anyone else
RANDOM but INTERESTING FACTS
• Number of wireless handsets in service around the world is approaching 2 billion and revenue from mobile services is projected to exceed $126 billion in a few years
• 1.5 billion mobile users worldwide
• Average mobile phone users sends in excess 40 SMS messages per month
• Nearly 5 billion text messages get sent and received via mobile phones each month in the U.S., according to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.
• The global mobile data market will exceed $200 billion by 2010, predict technology analysts at Frost & Sullivan.
• SMS.ac has 35 million subscribers.
Posted by adriana at 04:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Mamjam
Located in the UK, Mamjam uses an LBS instant messaging platform. By sending a message to the main server and users receive a person to chat with via SMS who is located in the same vicinity as them.
Interesting Statistics
-Mamjam users are matched with someone within 120 seconds of logging onto the service for the first time.
-The average Mamjam user sends and receives 24 SMS messages per session.
-The top 10% of our users send 60 SMS per month and generate an
additional 72 outbound messages. Generating an additional £18 for the network operators.
-The top 50% of Mamjam users send 20 SMS per month and generate an
additional 24 outbound messages, generating £6.30 of revenue for the network operator.
-Repeat usage of Mamjam is impressive: 30% of daily users are repeat users
Not so “ jammin’ ”
The downfall to Mamjam is the idea of pay as you go. For the service users are provided-- the cost is relatively expensive. It costs £1.50 for 3 chat messages, plus your normal network charges for sending messages. There are Mamjam credits available: 100 credits cost £1. Each Mamjam chat message you receive will then cost you 50 credits and system messages will cost you 5 credits.
Posted by adriana at 04:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
LBS update (current figures on location-based services)
Location Based Services certainly seem to be the wave of the future. According to a new report from research firm Berg Insight, revenues from mobile location based services in the European market will grow 153 percent during 2005 to reach € 274 million. In 2004 revenues from location-based service in the European market were approximately € 108 million. The average annual growth rate for the coming five years is expected to be 83 percent, increasing revenues to € 2,183 million. Over the next five years, this figure is expected to account for 4.5 percent of total non-voice revenue. Johan Fagerberg, a senior analyst at Berg Insight gives his insight on the emerging LBS market: “This year we have begun to see the expected shift in revenues from voice to non-voice services in the mobile industry. Increasingly user friendly handsets paired with a more mature approach to content services create the right conditions for launching new offerings on the market.”
Posted by adriana at 11:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack