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After Google Latitude, What Will Google Launch? (iPhone)

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As any geek worth their page rank already knows, the search engine giant’s Google Latitude app has survived Apple’s tribunal and is now apart of the iOS family.

Starting today, you’ll never again have to answer (or ask) that question when you’re on the go with your iPhone. With the new Google Latitude app for iPhone, you can see where your friends are and now, continuously share where you are – even in the background once you’ve closed the app.

Since launching last year, Latitude’s focus has always been on one goal: make it simple to stay in touch with friends and family by sharing where you are with each other. Simple setup. Simple sharing without fumbling for your phone. Now, you can use Latitude on your iPhone just like the more than 9 million people actively using it from Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, and Windows Mobile smartphones. (Google Mobile Blog)

While it’s not surprising to see Google Latitdude’s appearance (especially in light of Google Voice being approved) it’s entrance could signal that Google is about to invade the iPhone with a slew of official iOS apps.

It’s still unclear as to which iOS apps Google will release upon the iPhone, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Google launch these apps early next year (if not by next summer). [Read more…]

Originally posted on December 13, 2010 @ 4:34 pm

Blackberry Users Overtake iOS Users In Mobile Web?

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It looks like RIM will have yet another reason to jest Steve Jobs (who previously dissed all of RIM’s phones) as apparently Blackberry lovers are more passionate about the web than iOS users.

BlackBerry OS overtook Apple’s iOS for the first time in the US in November in terms of mobile internet usage according to web analytics company, StatCounter. The company’s research arm, StatCounter Global Stats finds that for the first time in the US BlackBerry OS at 34.3% overtook Apple’s iOS which recorded 33% in November. […]

“These figures suggest that developers should not be developing solely for the iPhone to the exclusion of BlackBerry and Android,” commented Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter. He added that, if current trends continue, BlackBerry and Android combined are on course to become twice the size of iOS as regards mobile internet usage in the next year. (StatCounter Press)

It’s still unclear as to why Blackberry users are using the web more according to StatCounter as the iPhone and iPad’s browser is superior to RIM’s devices (even when compared against the Blackberry Torch).

However it could be the simple fact that more iOS users are spending time using apps instead of surfing the web, something which this author has been doing more of lately.

Either way StatCounter’s latest statistic will probably boost RIM’s confidence as the company prepares to go head to head against the iPad via the Blackberry Playbook (who still does not have a firm timetable of availability in the US).

Originally posted on December 1, 2010 @ 12:54 pm

Google Voice: Christmas Coming Early For Military Families

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In a gesture of appreciation for service men and women serving overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe and Asia, Google Voice is giving away extra calling credits to military families in North America.

Keeping in touch with family during the holiday season can be challenging for anyone, but it’s especially difficult for military families with loved ones serving around the country or overseas.

Gmail’s built in video chat and free calls to the U.S. and Canada can help keep friends and family in contact regardless of how far apart they may be. To make staying in touch this holiday season even easier for military families, we’re offering a $10 calling credit to help them reach their loved ones serving abroad.

These international call credits can be used to make calls with Google Voice or from right inside Gmail, and will provide families with roughly 30 minutes of call time to Afghanistan, 60 minutes to Iraq, or hundreds of minutes to many countries in Europe and around the world. (Official Google Voice Blog)

As you can tell from the picture above, Google is partnering with Sesame Street as well as Blue Star Families (the latter which is an organization that supports military families).

As an extra bonus, soldiers equipped with a smartphone (either Android or iPhone) will be able to call straight from their device without having to worry about using up too many minutes.

While Google should be praised for their generosity, hopefully the company will consider providing unlimited plans (similar to what Skype offers) in order to make it easier for soldiers to call their loves ones without counting down how many minuets they have left.

Image Credit: Sesame Workshop, 2010

Originally posted on December 3, 2010 @ 3:08 pm

EU Carriers To Google, Apple: Time To Pay For Data

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Thanks in part to smart phones like the iPhone and Android, carriers across Europe are straining to meet demands.

Despite the fact that they are charging smartphone users more money than the average feature phone (aka dumb phone), apparently it isn’t enough to sustain their networks.

Unfortunately it seems as if they’ve set their sites upon two tech giants with plenty of cash to spare.

As mobile and Web companies add videos, music and games, operators including France Telecom SA, Telecom Italia SpA and Vodafone Group Plc want a new deal that would require content providers like Apple and Google to pay fees linked to usage. […]

Richard, who addressed the issue at the “Le Web” conference in Paris today, has joined Telecom Italia CEO Franco Bernabe and Telefonica SA CEO Cesar Alierta in what could turn into a cold war with Web companies. As more consumers access the Internet on mobile devices, the cost of building bigger networks may outstrip revenue growth for wireless operators, slicing their return on investment. (Bloomberg)

Forcing Google and Apple to pay would obviously be bad business as it would only drive up the costs of the devices themselves as Apple will pass on the costs to the customer (forcing Google to pay would be harder since they give Android away for free).

What’s worrisome is that if carriers are able to force tech giants to pay for infrastructure improvements, then it might inspire American carriers to do something similar now that net neutrality is dead in all but name only.

If supporting data hogging users is expensive, carriers need to simply charge those data hogging users more money instead of collectively punishing everyone else instead.

Image Credit: TiPB, Hat Tip: Daring Fireball

Originally posted on December 8, 2010 @ 3:14 pm