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Social networks driving Britain’s mobile Internet growth

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texting-teenagerWith an increase in Internet-friendly mobile phone handsets and “all you can eat” tariffs in the UK, it’s no surprise that a recent survey finds that mobile Internet usage in Britain is soaring.

The CCS Insight survey of 1,000 adults aged between 16 and 35 found that a third of them accessed Facebook and Twitter from their handsets (despite some teens suggesting Twitter is for “old people”).

Men are twice as likely as women to access the Net via their mobile phone, while this age group particularly expects mobile content, and in particular music and video, to be free. [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 15, 2009 @ 3:23 am

Glu launches Transformers G1: Awakening on mobile phones

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Glu Mobile Inc. has launched Transformers G1: Awakening, a mobile strategy game based on one of the most recognizable and hugely popular entertainment franchises, Transformers. Transformers G1: Awakening follows the highly successful 2007 mobile game Transformers and is the second title Glu has developed and published from Hasbro’s Transformers franchise.

Originally posted on November 13, 2008 @ 6:41 am

Hiogi launches community-based Q&A solution for Skype

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Chat is the favorite way of communication for millions of teenagers and even smartphones support instant messaging today. “Hiogi for Skype” is the world’s first question and answer service that enables users to ask for advice by simply typing a question into their Skype chat window. Each question receives an accurate answer from the online community.

“Hiogi for Skype mobile is the easiest way to receive quick answers while traveling,” says Bjoern Behrendt, CEO of hiogi. “It’s like chatting with a good friend, who is always willing to help and who knows everything.”

This is how it works:

Add the Skype name on the site and approve hiogi to be added in your contact list. Afterwards any question can be send to hiogi directly on Skype by writing the keyword ASK in front of the question. The answer plus references or comments show up in the Skype chat window minutes later. A list of all functions can be requested by typing in the keyword HELP into the Skype chat window.

Originally posted on November 10, 2008 @ 6:47 am

AdMob raises $15.7 million funding to increase lead in mobile advertising

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AdMob announced that it has achieved cash flow positive results and secured a new $15.7 million Series C investment round, led by Sequoia Capital’s Growth Fund with existing investor Accel Partners participating, to expand its global leadership position. The company has experienced strong growth over the past year, more than tripling the number of ads served on a monthly basis to 4.5 billion in September 2008.

Fueled by this funding, AdMob will make significant strategic investments to increase the company’s clear lead in mobile advertising, including:

• Accelerating the growth of worldwide operations by hiring local staff in key markets and adding new language interfaces, with an emphasis in Western Europe, India, South Africa and Japan;

• Deepening the investment in the company’s mobile technology platform, including its targeting, optimization and ad serving algorithm;

• Expanding the breadth of offerings for both publishers and advertisers; and

• Increasing leadership position in the U.S. by growing AdMob’s sales and business development teams

AdMob also announced that its publisher network now includes more than 6,000 partners worldwide giving it an unmatched scale. New publishers in 2008 include MySpace and MovieTickets.com.

Originally posted on October 22, 2008 @ 6:59 am

MySpace Mobile announces Android application

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MySpace announced a new mobile experience customized for Android and available via the Android Market.

“MySpace users will love the new Android integration with cool features like instant photo uploading and access to the latest shows from their favorite bands,” said John Faith, vice president and general manager of Mobile for MySpace. “We want to ensure that all users have access to their global MySpace network while they’re on-the-go, and we believe Android is a natural fit for an optimized MySpace Mobile experience.”

The MySpace Android application lends itself to a personal, unique MySpace experience and allows for a deep integration with the device including:

  • Instant photo uploading from an Android device to a MySpace profile
  • Check out tour schedules on band profiles
  • View and comment on photos, profiles, and bulletins
  • Search and add new friends
  • Send and read messages
  • Update and view mood and status

The MySpace Android application is integrated exclusively with Shazam, the mobile music discovery provider. The integration allows MySpace users to identify music by holding the phone towards an unknown song and connect to the artist’s MySpace page. From there you can see band information, check out photos of the band or artists and even check Upcoming Shows schedules.

Originally posted on October 22, 2008 @ 10:51 am