Netsize » mobilegroove

Mobile industry data points across 40+ countries, exclusive C-level interviews with over a dozen companies and organizations shaping our mobile future, three over-arching mobile mega-trends that define next year's business agenda (and our society), and everything (!) you need to understand the state of mobile and prepare for the future.

True to its 10-year tradition the new Netsize Guide — titled Netsize Guide by Gemalto: Truly Mobile — offers us all this and more in one comprehensive industry resource, available from today for free download.

The proliferation of connected devices and platforms has encouraged more than 120 companies and providers – including online retail giant Amazon – to establish an application storefront and get in on the action. More application stores may mean more choice for consumers, but it also turns up the pressure on application store providers to choose the right business model, one that that will bring them mass-market success and competitive advantage. Alexander Vlasblom reveals the characteristics of winning and competitive app stores.

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What matters most to developers as they learn to market and merchandize their apps? What separates successful app stores from

When Netsize published its first report (Application Store Billing) in May 2010, it was the first in the space to identify and document the characteristics of a winning and competitive app store. Based on a survey of 1,000+ mobile professionals and practitioners across 67 countries, the report concluded that the four C’s - Convenience, Compatibility, Choice, and Charging are the top enablers of application store success.

The new, updated Netsize Guide (released in December 2010) counts over almost 2,500 downloads. A main attraction is the exclusive interview with Tom Daly, Coca-Cola Group Manager, Global Connections, a mover in the mobile space who walks us through some of the brands' recent marketing campaigns -- and impressive results.

Few major brands are as sophisticated in their use of the mobile channel as Coca-Cola. To date the company has embraced a wide variety of activities and mechanisms, including apps, games, high-performing SMS campaigns, and even a music download store. At the other end of the spectrum, Coca-Cola has also reported successful mobile commerce trials involving mobile phones and specially

With nearly 1,000 downloads in the first week (!) since releasing an update to the Netsize Guide 2010, it's clear this comprehensive mobile analysis has succeeded in documenting the topics and trends that matter most. This new edition has also identified a unique distribution model that has allowed Smarter Agent -- a provider of a real estate MLS (Multiple Listing Service) search application that allows users in the U.S. to conduct a local search of houses for sale and apartments for rent – to become the largest mobile real estate network in the world.

This year marks the first time in almost a decade that Netsize has released an update to the Netsize Guide, the staggeringly popular mobile analysis and almanac I am proud to have authored for four years.

The brand new edition of Netsize Guide 2010: Mobile Renaissance features five new interviews and hot new 2010 telecommunications market data from Informa Telecoms & Media, the publication research partner.

First off, kudos to Matthew Dawes, Managing Director of All Amber, a U.K.-based conference company leading the charge to change with a progressive series of mobile conferences focusing on mobile Web and app development in Africa, for a job well done!

Last week the saw the second annual Mobile Web In Africa event take place in Johannesburg. It again sold-out and brought together stakeholders, startups and developers to facilitate learning, relationship building and networking with a purpose. Presentations from top-notch execs and entrepreneurs outlined the ingredients for success in emerging markets and mapped how mobile devices are transforming communication