Posts » mobilegroove

This was a week for transparency in mobile with something for everyone. For consumers, there was movement on the privacy front with the Mobile Marketing Association releasing its Mobile Application Privacy Policy. The document is hailed as a first, providing precise guidelines that addresses the core privacy issues and data processes of many mobile applications.

For industry watchers, news from RIM and Apple gave us a deeper look at company performance and clues to the capabilities that likely play a lead role in deciding the leaders from the laggards.

National Retail Federation Show, New York City: This week the old Javits Center in the New York hosted retail folk from across the U.S. and shed some light on a technology play that may define a new industry I call Retail 2.0.

Indeed, the reality of a connected shopping experience with smartphones at the center may not be far off. However, this show was proof to me that we have to get past our focus on technology (and B2B) and walk in the shoes of our customers (understanding that it's B2C that is really at the core). And, since it is about the shopper experience, it's clear that winning Retail 2.0 strategies will be the ones that bring CIOs and CMOs to the table.

This last week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas will be remembered for innovation and limitation. The show — where approximately 3,100 companies took the wraps of more than 20,000 products — was big in more ways than one. I haven’t met a person who covered the over 1.85 million net square feet of exhibit space (more than 37 football fields), but I did glean enough from the reports I've read about the show highlights to know this year will be huge for gadgets. Innovation abounds. But, first, let’s talk about the limitation — and what's behind it.

In my view, technology won’t limit how we use, access and enjoy the world (digital and physical) on our wireless devices. The carriers and hardware and software makers will do that with closed approaches that limit what is possible.

For years, the carriers (mobile operators) have tightly controlled the services and featured available on handsets and delivered over their networks. Be it content or products, the carriers have acted as gatekeepers with a singular focus: look out for their interests first.

Today (!) marks the launch of The Pulse, a new vodcast series produced by Rob Woodbridge, founder and owner of UNTETHER.tv, in collaboration with MobileGroove. We welcome our guest Gary Schwartz, CEO of Impact Mobile, Inc., North America Chair of the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF) and author of THE IMPULSE ECONOMY, a book that examines the evolution and future opportunities around mobile commerce and transactions.

Gary's no-holds-barred analysis of mobile's impact on bricks-and-mortar retail suggests America's shopping malls are in for tough times in 2012 as users move from price comparison apps to making real-life purchases using cloud checkout services. We also discuss how Kindle Fire is blazing through the U.S. (and soon Europe), building on the analysis I just posted this week on MobileGroove. What is the likely impact on mobile marketing and how are users in key countries already embracing this new type of connected device? Tune in and find out! (You can follow Gary and all the tweets related to his new book at @impulseeconomy).

Amazon has been able to do what other Android tablets can only dream of – offer a highly compelling consumption device that not only undercuts the iPad on price (and admittedly features) but, in many cases, beats it on content availability. Scott Bown reveals the company's source of competitive advantage and what all this means for developers everywhere.

***

The Internet ushered in the age of free content, a shift in models that had a massive impact on the worlds of publishing, music, news and entertainment. We have seen large companies stumble (and fall) as they struggled to adapt their business models to the changing world.

The Carnival of the Mobilists (COM) sets up tents a last time this year here at MobileGroove, marking the end of a great year for the mobile industry and an even better one for the COM.

Indeed, the COM —the destination bringing you the best of mobile blogging from around the Web — has a new look, a new focus and a new schedule. With so much happening, I'd like to start off by running through the significant changes one at a time.