Stories abound about iphone users being charged excessively for data whilst they are travelling. A recent tale was of a US customer who took his iphone to Europe. Although he never made a call and checked his emails once or twice, he received a $3000 bill for his troubles as his phone was set to check his email every 10 minutes. At least with a Blackberry it only checks the headers rather than downloading the whole email.
Still interested in an iphone I called O2 in the UK:
'What are the datacharges if I take my phone abroad?' I asked.
'The roaming charges for calls and SMS are published on our site' the representative told me.
Me: 'But what about data?'
O2: 'It depends on which country you travel to' (really? I thought data roaming charges were standard apart from a few exceptions).
Me: ' I got to France a lot, how much is it to get my email there?'
After checking with her supervisor I was told: 'The charges are set by the local network, its up to them.'
Me: 'That's simply not true. You charge me and it's on my bill. Contractually you would have to advise me of the charges, or at least publish them on your website.'
I searched their website to see, whilst the operator put me on hold to talk to her supervisor again. Finally, using a google search I found a page, clicked the link and it was dead.
O2: 'We don't know how much it is to use an iphone in France.'
Me: 'Most people take their phone abraod, surely if I'm going to buy an iphone I'll need to know how much it costs to use it?'
The conversation ended shortly afterwards. They didn't offer to find out, and were completely unable to give me the costs of data. In short, much as I like the functionality of the phone (I am a Mac user) the restrictions from the networks means I will never buy one until they drop the roaming data charges.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
3 and T-Mobile share data networks
Maybe, just maybe, the networks are beginning to take data more seriously. After Orange and Vodfone joined forces, now 3 and T-Mobile are sharing their masts for data:
Read the article here
Maybe now they actually believe that there is value in providing a low-cost mobile data for all users?
Read the article here
Maybe now they actually believe that there is value in providing a low-cost mobile data for all users?
Monday, December 17, 2007
Vodafone reformatting the mobile internet
Many small developers are up in arms about Vodafone reformatting mobile content.
Essentially what has happened is this:
Every browser - PC or mobile based, will show a user agent that allows content specifically formatted for that device/browser. This is particularly important with the mobile internet as there are many devices of various ages and sending the correct content is fundamental.
Vodafone, as many operators have done, essentially reformats the internet for mobile. In this case it uses a reformatting proxy from a company called Novarra.
Now in doing so it also changes the user agent - it is no longer possible for a third party website to know what content to deliver to a specific phone.
Many industry experts feel that reformatting or adapting proxies are not actually beneficial to the end user. The user experience can be poorer than the original site.
So where does this leave us? Quite simply put, many vodafone users downloading content via their phones will have problems and won't be able to recieve or play things like video, music or ringtones. There is nothing like poor user experience to put a user off - especially on mobile. Whilst the content provider will get the blame from the user (naturally) it is entirely down to the network.
The likes of vodafone need to lay off content adaptation and allow websites and content to be delivered to mobile in the way it was intended. If not, the whole mobile content industry will fall flat on it's face before it's had a chance to take off.
Essentially what has happened is this:
Every browser - PC or mobile based, will show a user agent that allows content specifically formatted for that device/browser. This is particularly important with the mobile internet as there are many devices of various ages and sending the correct content is fundamental.
Vodafone, as many operators have done, essentially reformats the internet for mobile. In this case it uses a reformatting proxy from a company called Novarra.
Now in doing so it also changes the user agent - it is no longer possible for a third party website to know what content to deliver to a specific phone.
Many industry experts feel that reformatting or adapting proxies are not actually beneficial to the end user. The user experience can be poorer than the original site.
So where does this leave us? Quite simply put, many vodafone users downloading content via their phones will have problems and won't be able to recieve or play things like video, music or ringtones. There is nothing like poor user experience to put a user off - especially on mobile. Whilst the content provider will get the blame from the user (naturally) it is entirely down to the network.
The likes of vodafone need to lay off content adaptation and allow websites and content to be delivered to mobile in the way it was intended. If not, the whole mobile content industry will fall flat on it's face before it's had a chance to take off.
The Killer Application for Mobile
The question that I often hear discussed is 'what will be the killer application for mobile'? People have considered everything from content to location-based services.
However, the killer application already exists. I have heard some people claim that it already exists in the form of voice calls. I would argue that the killer application is, in fact, SMS.
With over 4.5 billion messages sent each month in the UK - more than voice calls - and growing all the time, you can only conclude that SMS is the most successful application for mobile.
Once again the strength of text messaging has been proven in the health sector, with a company claiming to have more than 10 million potential users receiving messages on everything from appointment reminders through to medication and health education information.
The business SMS market is still relatively small, but is bound to grow in 2008.
However, the killer application already exists. I have heard some people claim that it already exists in the form of voice calls. I would argue that the killer application is, in fact, SMS.
With over 4.5 billion messages sent each month in the UK - more than voice calls - and growing all the time, you can only conclude that SMS is the most successful application for mobile.
Once again the strength of text messaging has been proven in the health sector, with a company claiming to have more than 10 million potential users receiving messages on everything from appointment reminders through to medication and health education information.
The business SMS market is still relatively small, but is bound to grow in 2008.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Potential of SMS Revenues Not Reached
A recent study by Informa Telecoms and Media suggested that operators were missing out on around £2.5billion revenue a year from Premium SMS. Yet both the operators and business fail to see the potential of SMS as a revenue generating tool.
The advantage of SMS from a consumer's point of view is the usability - it's simple and everyone has it - and the low cost.
However, both operators and businesses have failed to see the potential in the simplicity of SMS. Their focus has been on MMS, WAP and now mobile WiFi.
The problem for the mobile user with these technologies is both usability and cost. I have blogged previously about these.
Obvious areas of commerce that can benefit both business and consumer are areas such as ticketing, auctions and information services. However businesses should consider taking this a stage further and incorporate SMS as a purchasing tool for their customers. With SMS the MSISDN can identify the user quickly and simply and whilst additional security measures can be taken, SMS can offer mobile users a fast simple and secure payment process. As the Premium SMS has severe limitations this may need to be linked to a credit card, but if done in a usable yet secure way the potential for businesses is massive.
There is more comment on this subject here: http://www.160characters.org/news.php?action=view&nid=2474
The advantage of SMS from a consumer's point of view is the usability - it's simple and everyone has it - and the low cost.
However, both operators and businesses have failed to see the potential in the simplicity of SMS. Their focus has been on MMS, WAP and now mobile WiFi.
The problem for the mobile user with these technologies is both usability and cost. I have blogged previously about these.
Obvious areas of commerce that can benefit both business and consumer are areas such as ticketing, auctions and information services. However businesses should consider taking this a stage further and incorporate SMS as a purchasing tool for their customers. With SMS the MSISDN can identify the user quickly and simply and whilst additional security measures can be taken, SMS can offer mobile users a fast simple and secure payment process. As the Premium SMS has severe limitations this may need to be linked to a credit card, but if done in a usable yet secure way the potential for businesses is massive.
There is more comment on this subject here: http://www.160characters.org/news.php?action=view&nid=2474
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Blowing our own trumpet
I rarely use this blog to promote our own services - we have systems for messaging to mobile, mobile markeing and mobile content delivery - however some recent conversations with both clients and potential investors has helped me realise the value of our service/applications.
What we have tried to do is to build web-based mobile communication systems that work really well and are easy to use. They should be low-cost to set up and use. But key to this is to provide an excellent level of customer service.
Time and again I am reminded by clients of the type of service offered by our competitors. Their systems, though apparently offering the same functionality are difficult to use, and often just don't work. And try getting hold of them on the phone! And when you do, try getting a straight answer.
A client pointed out to me yesterday that talking to other developers about their mobile content platform, the pound signs light up in their eyes and expect content creators to pay 1000s of pounds for systems that are poorly built backed by a poor service.
Maybe the reason is their background in the telecoms industry. The reputation there is of making a quick buck where they can and then moving on. Look at what happened with premium voice calls, then premium SMS and markets such as the ring-tone. Where possible they obsfucate informtion so the customer has no idea what things will cost. They charge as much as they can. Then when consumer pressure, or more likely, the regulators threaten to pull the plug they move on to the next quick buck.
Ping Corp, the company behind immedia24, txt4ever and txt4everywhere has a background of web and design. We are more service focussed. Our interest is not in the quick buck but developing a long term on-going relationship with our customers. What's the point in trying to fleece customers short-term, if there is no long-term relationship?
It's been hard to explain why our company is unique - sometimes it just takes a bit of experience in the market to see that. But on a regular basis our clients tell us that the decision to use our system was a 'no brainer'.
What we have tried to do is to build web-based mobile communication systems that work really well and are easy to use. They should be low-cost to set up and use. But key to this is to provide an excellent level of customer service.
Time and again I am reminded by clients of the type of service offered by our competitors. Their systems, though apparently offering the same functionality are difficult to use, and often just don't work. And try getting hold of them on the phone! And when you do, try getting a straight answer.
A client pointed out to me yesterday that talking to other developers about their mobile content platform, the pound signs light up in their eyes and expect content creators to pay 1000s of pounds for systems that are poorly built backed by a poor service.
Maybe the reason is their background in the telecoms industry. The reputation there is of making a quick buck where they can and then moving on. Look at what happened with premium voice calls, then premium SMS and markets such as the ring-tone. Where possible they obsfucate informtion so the customer has no idea what things will cost. They charge as much as they can. Then when consumer pressure, or more likely, the regulators threaten to pull the plug they move on to the next quick buck.
Ping Corp, the company behind immedia24, txt4ever and txt4everywhere has a background of web and design. We are more service focussed. Our interest is not in the quick buck but developing a long term on-going relationship with our customers. What's the point in trying to fleece customers short-term, if there is no long-term relationship?
It's been hard to explain why our company is unique - sometimes it just takes a bit of experience in the market to see that. But on a regular basis our clients tell us that the decision to use our system was a 'no brainer'.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
hppy brthday 2 SMS
SMS is so ubiquitous these days, it's hard to imagine that the first message was only sent 15 years ago.
On 3rd December 1992 a young engineer at Airwide Solutions, Neil Papworth sent the world's first ever commercial text message to Vodafone Director Richard Jarvis at a staff Christmas party. It took a while before the txting language and smileys caught on though. The first message simply said: 'Happy Christmas'.
It was intended originally as a pager service, so it was some years before users discovered they could send SMS to each other.
What's Made SMS so successful?
Four main factors have been identified:
1. Every phone has SMS - installed and working and nothing is required of the user to activate it.
2. Interoperability - users do not need to know what network the other person is on.
3. Utility and ease of use - SMS certainly has utility and can in many cases convey a message better than a voice call and while not perhaps the easiest it is easy enough to use.
4. Affordability - it is cheaper than making a phone call
There is a fifth factor that I would add to that is brevity. The fact that an SMS is only 160 characters means that users open and reply to them quickly. An email can be of unlimited length and for many the process is delayed until a suitable moment. SMS elicits far quicker resonpses.
It has now moved beyond peer to peer messaging, with bulk messages system such as txt4ever offering a complete business and marketing tool.
On 3rd December 1992 a young engineer at Airwide Solutions, Neil Papworth sent the world's first ever commercial text message to Vodafone Director Richard Jarvis at a staff Christmas party. It took a while before the txting language and smileys caught on though. The first message simply said: 'Happy Christmas'.
It was intended originally as a pager service, so it was some years before users discovered they could send SMS to each other.
What's Made SMS so successful?
Four main factors have been identified:
1. Every phone has SMS - installed and working and nothing is required of the user to activate it.
2. Interoperability - users do not need to know what network the other person is on.
3. Utility and ease of use - SMS certainly has utility and can in many cases convey a message better than a voice call and while not perhaps the easiest it is easy enough to use.
4. Affordability - it is cheaper than making a phone call
There is a fifth factor that I would add to that is brevity. The fact that an SMS is only 160 characters means that users open and reply to them quickly. An email can be of unlimited length and for many the process is delayed until a suitable moment. SMS elicits far quicker resonpses.
It has now moved beyond peer to peer messaging, with bulk messages system such as txt4ever offering a complete business and marketing tool.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)